Ok, I know this may seems confusing, drawn out or even silly, but I have this burning question for me…
Quick Background: Born in a protestant/Uniate family, then when I was 15 or so “professed” (if I can use that) as an atheist and within a few years ago consider myself an agnostic.
But…
I do believe in higher powers, I believe in the existance Christian God, in YHWH, Allah, the Hindu Partheon. Hell, I even believe in the existance of the Olympic/Roman Gods, Norse, Egyptian, etc.
To me, this means that I’m not an Agnostic but then I think of myself as what I call “Universalist”, which, in my opinion means “one who believes in all gods and all heavens” yet the term Universalist is “One who believes in Universalism; one of a denomination of Christians holding this faith.” (dictionary.com).
So my question is, what am I? (other than an idiot, etc. according to friends).
What exactly do you mean? Do think all of these gods are valid ways of understanding the devine reality, or do you think they all exist seperately in their own rights? Some of these deities hold conflicting claims (or at least their believers do.) The Christian, Jewish, and Islamic God are the same postulated being, of course, but Christians believe that God is triune, and was made incarnate in Jesus Christ. Jews and Muslims believe that God is by nature inseperable and indivisable and could not be fully present in a human being, even in theory. All three (especially Muslims, I suspect) would claim that the nature of God precludes by definition anything else that could properly be called a “god.” Are there any deities you don’t believe in? What about clearly fictional ones, like Aslan, the “Old Ones”, or the Force (not to mention whoever it is Tolkein’s Elves worship in the Simarillion)? If so, I think your friends might be right!
I think you are what I would call a Theist…
the stories that people tell about god(s) are all important tools in understanding humanity’s relationship with the ultimate being, but the nature of that being remains a mystery.
By the way, Aslan and the god that the Elves in LOTR worship (Eru) are coherent theological constructs, IMO; both Lewis and Tolkien were deeply religious and imaginative writers.
Well, what if you believe that whatever a person believes in, is true for for him/her?
Because that’s what I happen to believe. I think whatever someone believes in, is real for him or her, and therefor respect it.
I myself do not believe in a god-concept. I class myself under the “spiritual” umbrella rather than under the “religious” one.
Who you calling fictional? :dubious:
Back to the OP:
I just don’t see how your belief system can work - as the very nature of some reglions directly contradict other religions. For example, in Greco-Roman theology, you go to Hades when you die; in Judaism, Christanity, and Islam, you either go to heavan or helll (or somtimes purgatory, depending on the denomination.) Reincarnation is popular in Eastern religions, like Hindu and Buddism, and there are quite a few othe beliefs in other religions. So, what do you believe happans to us when we die?
I understand your point, and you are correct that there are contradictions between different faiths. However the above is not necessarily one of them. Greek Hades incorporates two seperates spheres, the Ellysian Fields for the good guys and a seperate one (can’t remember the name) for the bod guys. This, it could be argued, is very similar to the idea of Heaven and Hell.
Re-reading your post, I realize that you could be pointing out the dffernces between the soul going to some special place and the idea of reincarnation. If so, I 'm sorry for misinterpreting.
Please don’t let your friends determine who you are. It is not necessary to associate yourself with any group or organization, you are an individual, unique, there will never be another like you. So many think they must belong to something, call themseves a theist, atheist, or agnostic, just anything, but it is not really necessary, you can just be you.
When you started to list all the things you believed, I was reminded of the wisdom of knowledge. Believing all things, and not believing anything is the same path, the path to wisdom.
