What denomination are you? Tell me one interesting fact that very few may know.

1. 61

   ReneeDC1979posted 11 years ago

   What denomination are you?  Tell me one interesting fact that very few may know.
   
   I know with Christianity there are many denominations (i.e. episcopalian, a.m.e., baptist, church of God, etc., etc.) But please don't limit this to Christianity - this is just a search for knowledge about religion and faith in general.

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2. 89

   Theophanesposted 11 years ago

   I'm a non-denominational pantheist - that is someone who believes in an energy that connects all things in the universe but is not a personalized God like you see in Christianity. Pantheist can also mean someone who believes in multiple gods but I think that is an older use for the word.

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      ReneeDC1979posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      thanks Theophanes - hmmm pantheism - i think i've heard of it- will have to research more.  Thanks for stopping by and keep hubbing!

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3. 65

   TNT Huskyposted 11 years ago

   I don't actually adhere to religion very much. Rather, I strive to improve myself through observation of my past and present experiences. I find peace in this manner, and i find it allowing me to learn from many things, religion included

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      ReneeDC1979posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you TNT Husky.  I can say one of my favorite college courses was the Philosophy of Religion where we learned about different religions and faiths based on the ideas and theories of many philosophers.  It was very interesting.  Keep hubbing!

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4. 73

   d.williamposted 11 years ago

   I am a Gnostic - the same religious beliefs that Jesus had.
   Did you know that after J.C. was executed by the Roman Government, for rebelling against them, they then in turn banned Gnosticism as heretic, and then created the Roman Catholic church that was then dubbed "Christianity". 
   This was done because the people of the time were outraged that J.C. was murdered,  by the government, and they (the government) saw an opportunity to created the illusion of ''christianity''.
   They then created their own 'version' of a bible, then mandated it to be the only "holy book" recognized by the R.C. church - all this was done for the sole purpose of having total control over the people.
   And so the government was then redeemed by those very same people for killing their messiah.
   Odd, that even 2000+ years later the governments still maintain that control over the people and promote and cultivate the fears, and the misgivings, of the churches to do so.

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   1. 61

      ReneeDC1979posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for stopping by d.william - why do you say Christianity is an illusion?  Just curious.  And what made you choose Gnosticism, if it was a choice?

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   2. 73

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Gnosis:belief in spirituality as part of man's makeup-not associated with any specific religion. illusions R  false"truths" designed 2 deceive 4 the wrong purpose. religions R based on fairytale stories,mysticism+superstition. God is not a religion

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   3. 75

      Randy M.posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Gnosticism is a big category with a lot of diversity.  What strain of it appeals to you?  Just curious.

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   4. 73

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      RM: certainly no organized versions, simply as stated above. We don't need a middleman 2 commune with our spirits, or pave a way 2 any heaven. Good is in our nature by choice.As bad is rejected by that same choice. Love always trumps hate

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   5. 75

      Randy M.posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      William - I find the inner journey aspects of the Gnostic writings appealing.  That is liberating crack in the hard crust of traditional Christianity.  But it calls for sustained personal effort to realize the fruits of this path -centering prayer.

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      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      RM: sustained personal effort? not so much. i have been practicing for over 50 years & it is never an effort. Inner peace & love R easy 2 maintain. All inspiration comes from the universe not other humans laden with frailties & hidden age

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5. 71

   getitriteposted 11 years ago

   I was raised Pentecostal, but after carefully, and critically, examining the claims of religions, I prefer reality over superstition.  And being black, that has not been easy.  It should come as no surprise that atheists are very uncommon in the black community.
   
   http://aahumanism.net/

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      ReneeDC1979posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am not sure I follow getitrite - how does your race affect your decision to follow or not follow a religion??

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   2. 71

      getitriteposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am a black atheist.  Most  black people are extremely religious.  Of course that had no bearing on my decision to become an atheist or not, but it's when I assert my beliefs that  the community levels all kinds of accusations & threats against

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      ReneeDC1979posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Oh I see - well how do you assert your beliefs?  I'm always curious -other than this type of forum- how religion -non religion, etc come up in conversations?

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      getitriteposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      In the bible belt, I could rarely have a conversation with a black person where God wasn't thrown in.  Anyone who is slightly observant can see this.  It became so annoying that I started asserting my oppositions.

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6. 60

   MickSposted 11 years ago

   Living, thinking, breathing, human being, probably no interesting facts that very few others know.

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      ReneeDC1979posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for playing Mick S - keep hubbing!

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7. 61

   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   I am a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.  We believe that the Bible is the inerrant and inspired Word of God.  We also believe that the Pastor of our church has a Divine Call to be in that position so he is not am employee of the church and cannot be removed unless he chooses to go, or commits some kind of immoral (or criminal) act that would cause him to be de-frocked.

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      ReneeDC1979posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you duffsmom.  So he is not an employee of the church, but he is getting paid correct?  Is he held to a higher standard than every other member of the church?

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      duffsmomposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, he is paid.  He is expected to be there for his members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. My husband was a Lutheran pastor before his retirement and I can honestly say sometimes 24/7 isn't enough for some people. Higher standards, yes absolutely.

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8. 75

   Randy M.posted 11 years ago

   Raised in the United Methodist Church and still believe in many things, not all things promulgated by this strain of Christianity.  My curiosity and healing journey led me to discover truths within Taoism and Buddhism, and towards a path of personal knowledge versus second hand knowledge of spiritual truths.  We all have to figure this out for ourselves, or not, the choice to do so is in each of our paths.  Some prefer delusion, others awakening.

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9. 76

   jlparkposted 11 years ago

   I'm a Humanist Agnostic.  Basically put (by a friend of mine) - I don't know how we got here, but I don't really care either. Which is true for me.
   
   However, what this does is give me the freedom to learn about other religions without the veil of my own 'faith' clouding what I learn and see.  What I mean by this is that those of 'faith' may not consciously realise it but there is a piece of them that when viewing something that is different to theirs may think "hmmm, thats not like my religion." - I just think "Hmmm, thats interesting"
   
   I don't mean offense at all by this - I feel that people find what religion works for them and stick with it - because it works for them, and have no issue with that.
   And I accept that by having no faith - it may be a veil all in itself!

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10. 72

    SidKempposted 11 years ago

    I am a human being, and I will not put a label on myself that maakes me a part of any sub-group smaller than the human family. Division of the human family is one of the sources of violence, war, and ethnic hatred. No, thank you!
    
    That said, I am a Buddhist minister and a Christian minister. These are expressions of my spiritual practice of following Wisdom and Love and sharing them. I focus, however, on praying, meditating, and living as wise ones have always done.

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       lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Beautiful, Sid. Division and separateness is a function of ego, the source of all evil.

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11. 59

    Apostle Jackposted 11 years ago

    There are no name that represent Christians but Christianity. The denominations that you have named are call Religions, which are separated from the Christian faith.
    Read 2 Tim 4 v 3, 4..... and they shall turn away their ears from the truth ,and be turn unto fables.
    If you study history you will see that each religion have its own founder.None of which was establish by Christ nor the Apostles.
    They were call Christians and nothing else. ACTS 11 V 261.... Peter 4 v 16
    Not Baptist,Catholic,A.M.E nor any other made-up-title of self agenda.

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    1. 72

       SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Even the name "Christians" was a name given by other people, and not by God. During Jesus' lifetime, and in the period of Acts, Jesus and his followers called themselves "Jews."

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       ReneeDC1979posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I see 2 Timothy differently -I think as a whole we have-gotten away from teaching about God and His word-2Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

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    3. 59

       Apostle Jackposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       @SidKemp The name Christian was and is taken from Christ as those that followed Him and live by God's teachings  through His spirit to our spirits.
       Eternal Life and to be spiritually born again is a gift to those that do so.

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12. 74

    lone77starposted 11 years ago

    I have studied many religions throughout my life. I currently consider myself a non-denominational Christian.
    
    My maternal grandfather was a Southern Baptist minister. My father was a non-denominational minister.
    
    I have studied Christianity, Scientology, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) and Christianity, again.
    
    I have experienced many miracles in my life, one of them even like that of Moses parting the sea.
    
    I see Truth in many religions, but rarely in the interpretations of man. Too often the ideas of mortal man muddy the Truth and mangle it until it is unrecognizable.
    
    I sincerely believe that most Christians do not truly know what it means to "follow Christ." Some do, but most don't. I also sincerely believe that Gautama Siddhartha Buddha followed Christ in the purest sense of the word.
    
    So many fundamentalists help to create divisions in our world by their limiting, lazy and arrogant interpretations of the Bible. That's sad. They think they are right and that's not a humble attitude. They have stopped looking for Truth, thinking that their shallow interpretation is all they need. They stand in judgment of others and I fear that they will not make it and will become surprised when they discover this.
    
    Despite experiencing dozens of miracles, I still don't know if I'll make it. I hunger to, but I'm not yet worthy. I still have too much ego. I have been outside of my physical body, so I know with a rock solid certainty that I am a child of God and not a Homo sapiens body.
    
    And I have discovered many a hidden wisdom in the Bible, yet I remain humble so that I may discover more.
    
    I'm hoping to finish a book on my research. I'm preparing a crowd funding campaign at IndieGoGo.com to support this effort. I've already posted a video on YouTube about the campaign (which starts Friday).
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1Nv8Mgh0z8
    
    "The Bible's Hidden Wisdom, God's Reason for Noah's Flood"

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       ReneeDC1979posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Great response lonestar77.  I agree with what you said.  I think it is important to study other religions and denominations in order to have a conversation on a deeper level. As they say 'knowledge is power.' Thanks for stopping by and keep hubbing!

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