Heathen, Pagan, Atheist...

mdigenakis

soulsinging wrote:

wow, i've never seen someone knock mother theresa before... she brought comfort to the sick and dying people that nobody else wanted to touch. she helped them die with dignity and helped some survive and get back on their feet. she worked in the worst slums in the world, period. she tried to ease the poverty of the most poor, diseased, downtrodden people in the world. i cannot believe someone's actually acting like that's no big deal. i'd like to see get the fuck off this board and try helping some people like that, instead of spewing your masturbatory rhetoric here and acting like you're doing the world a whole bunch of good by "bringing the truth" to the 50 people that actually read the pearl jam message board political forum.

agreed!

mdigenakis

Byrnzie wrote:

Well I feel drawn to paganism and to Gnosticism:

pa·gan /ˈpeɪgən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[pey-guhn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. one of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks.
2. a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim.
3. an irreligious or hedonistic person.
–adjective
4. pertaining to the worship or worshipers of any religion that is neither Christian, Jewish, nor Muslim.
5. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of pagans.
6. irreligious or hedonistic.

pol·y·the·ism /ˈpɒliθiˌɪzəm, ˌpɒliˈθiɪzəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[pol-ee-thee-iz-uhm, pol-ee-thee-iz-uhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
the doctrine of or belief in more than one god or in many gods.

Dionysus is my favoured God:

Di·o·ny·sus /ˌdaɪəˈnaɪsəs/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[dahy-uh-nahy-suhs] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun Classical Mythology.
the god of fertility, wine, and drama; Bacchus.

Di·o·ny·sus (dī'ə-nī'səs, -nē'-) Pronunciation Key
n. Greek & Roman Mythology
The god of wine and of an orgiastic religion celebrating the power and fertility of nature. Also called Bacchus.

Gnos·ti·cism (nŏs'tĭ-sĭz'əm) Pronunciation Key
n. The doctrines of certain pre-Christian pagan, Jewish, and early Christian sects that valued the revealed knowledge of God and of the origin and end of the human race as a means to attain redemption for the spiritual element in humans and that distinguished the Demiurge from the unknowable Divine Being.

noun
a religious orientation advocating gnosis as the way to release a person's spiritual element; considered heresy by Christian churches

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism

'The Gospel of Thomas is mystical and emphasizes a direct and unmediated experience of the Divine through becoming a Christ. In Thomas v.108, Jesus said, "Whoever drinks from my mouth will become as I am; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed to him." Furthermore, salvation is personal and found through spiritual (psychological) introspection. In Thomas v.70, Jesus says, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you have will save you. If you do not bring it forth, what you do not have within you will kill you." As such, this form of salvation is idiosyncratic and without literal explanation unless read from a psychological perspective related to Self vs. ego. In Thomas v.3, Jesus says,

...the Kingdom of God is within you...

In the other four gospels, Jesus is frequently called upon to explain the meanings of parables or the correct procedure for prayer. In Thomas v.6, his disciples asked him, "Do you want us to fast? How should we pray? Should we give to charity? What diet should we observe?" Jesus dismissess the relevance of the questions with his reply, "Don't lie, and don't do what you hate, because all things are disclosed before heaven. After all, there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and there is nothing covered up that will remain concealed;" correlating a state of unconflicted awareness with the external experience of the Real.

In contrast to the Gospel of John, where Jesus is likened to a feudal (albeit divine and beloved) Lord, the Thomas gospel portrays Jesus as more the ubiquitous vehicle of mystical inspiration and enlightenment. In Thomas v. 77 where Jesus said,

I am the light that shines over all things. I am everywhere. From me all came forth, and to me all return.
Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift a stone, and you will find me there,

In most other respects, the Thomas gospel offers terse yet familiar if not identical accounts of the sayings of Jesus as seen in the synoptic gospels.'

helpful. glad somebody listed this.

Vedderlution_Baby

I am a rocker. I have many gods. Including but not limited too Page, Hendrix, Allman, etc...

I'd discuss further but i can't hear you over my music. Sorry.