What do you guys like about specific religions?

[TMA_1]

hey, Ithought this post would be pretty darn original! pretty proud of myself (not really.lol)

Instead of the constant bickering about religion, lets talk about what we like about the specific faiths? and please dont make any smart remarks like "I like how christians love to kill eachother".lol Because though statements like that could potentially be funny, it would be rude on this thread. I really would like people to be sincere about their likings of certain religions. I will give a list of a few of them to comment your likings on.

Islam.

Christianity.

Buddhism.

hinduism.

Judaeism.

Taoism.

Other. (others that you would like to comment on.)

Please try to post a like about the ones listed above, and dont skip any if you could.

[TMA_1]

Islam: I like the standards to truth and justice in islam. For example they will almost always only read the koran in it's original language, and those who are devout will always try to follow the laws to the detail. I also like their stictness to monotheism.

Christianity: Well, its my faith... It is what I believe above all others as absolute truth. But that is just personal opinion. I like christianity because it rings true above all other religions to me the idea of forgiveness and redemption. It is amazing in the fact that even the worst person in the world could be redeemed for evils.

Buddhism: I like buddhism because of it's focus on sacrifice, and its idea of losing ego to attain enlightenment. It is selfless in many ways.

Hinduism: I like hinduism because it is probably the coolest of all religions as far as the mythology of it goes. Some of the best reading you will ever have.

Judaeism: It is the primal mother of beliefs in a sense that it focuses on the God if christianity as well, and brings home monotheism. It is a faith that holds much tradition and many great laws that are still acted upon to this day. It is amazing to me.

Taoism: Probably the coolest contemplative belief out there. I love reading the writings of Lao Tzu because they are so different from other "oriental" faiths. It really sparks thought and imagination and is one of the more philisophical of faiths.

Well how about you guys? got any thoughts on why you like these faiths? Not trying to be politically correct or anything, but just would like to hear from some of you who are on both sides of the ideological spectrum to write on this thread and see your ideas, it would be interesting.

[ordos45]

Islam- Learning the Quran in Arabic, and keeping the language alive through the centuries is quite an accomplishment.

Christianity- It's my faith...I find it rings true to me.  But the growth of Churchianity has been most disturbing.

Buddhism- Nice sacrifice influence.

Hinduism- Cool mythology, and there was a girl involved in me studying this...

Judaism- Wow, keeping alive all those traditions when everyone on the face of the Earth seems to be intent on wiping you out is an accomplishment indeed.  It must take a great deal of faith.

Taoism- Incites imagination and deep thought.

Paganism- Clusters of beliefs.  Eclectic enough in its groups you can almost never run out of new belief systems to explore.

[Anathema]

Islam

If anything, I admire the devotion of most muslims. They have some good and some pretty harsh ideas. Haven't read the Qu'ran, but intend to do so some time.

Christianity

As a social-cultural movement, christianity has watered down quite a bit. Wealth and luxury has lead to many "christians" to treat their doctrines very lightly, even they would deny such an accusiton. As for the Bible itself, it contains some pretty deep stuff.

Buddhism.

I don't know enough about it to say anything sensible.

hinduism.

Likewise. Didn't hinduism have a caste system? Bad thing...

Judaeism.

I admire the jews for the fact that they retained much of their cultural identity after several millenia. The Old Testament (or Torah, wichever you prefer) contains a lot of interesting history and wisdom.

Taoism.

Again, don't know much about it.

Mormonism

Twisted and hypocritical, I don't understand how they could call themselves christian.

[TMA_1]

interesting and cool comments guys! keep it up! :)

[Wolf]

Islam: I admire how Islam has, in many ways, presented monotheistic religion in an epic light. Of the three main, monotheistic faiths, Islam is, shall I say, the most adventurous. Perhaps that is because I am foreign to it, I do not know. Islam also has many short, often witty, and extremely truthful statements.

Christianity: I feel that Christianity strikes a balance of faith. I feel it is rational, yet, it sparks emotion. I like how it is philosophical and moral; I feel that Christianity is, of all religions, the one that tried the best to mold society into one that was good. Christianity, also, is dynamic, yet it is complete. There's not much I can say about it in these few lines, and I fear that what I've already said might not make sense. Well, it did to me when I said it. I'll clarify, if need be.

Buddhism: I like Buddhism's intense focus on individual enlightment. On how any one human can make his destiny himself.

Hinduism: Like Islam, the Hindu faith is epic in proportion. Sadly, I do not know enough about it.

Judaeism: I feel that Judaeism is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, religious faith. I admire that it has remained relatively intact and alive for more or less the width and breadth of human history. I admire the ability of the faith to survive, and I would not be surprised to find that planet of Jewish believers Frank Herbert talked about so many tens of thousands of years in the future.

Taoism: I don't know enough about Lao Tzu to make commentary.

Native American: I think that this faith is perhaps the most unknown, and yet one of the most interesting. It borders, at times, from polytheistic to almost-Christian. It is existential. It is almost-Buddhist. Themes of the personification of nature, personal enlightenment, and a world spirit intrigue me. I only wish I knew more about Native American faiths.

[GUNWOUNDS]

awesome thread TMA .. 5 stars man 

i will collect my thoughts and post later.

[Usul]

Islam - I like the five pillars (or is it more, it's been a while since I've studied Islam), especially the charity needed.

Christianity - I like some of the origianal ideas given in the bible but I fear many have been misinterpreted now.

Buddhism - I like the fact that it focuses on achiving enlightenment within yourself and not through prayer or oferings.

Hinduism - Very interesting mythology but very boring to learn about otherwise (sorry but I study it for my A-levels and it's hard). I agree with many of the ideas within although I don't like the caste system.

Judaeism - I don't know a lot about it but I admire the fact that they are strong in there faith despite being persecuted for hundreds of years.

Taoism - Again I know little but one of my friends is a Taoist and I agree with much of what he says. Also I agree with the few quotes of Lao Tzu that I have read.

Combat Wicca - Well it's my form of Wicca, I agree with the general teachings and ideas of Wicca but I don't agree with the Wiccan rede saying you should harm none. Sometimes fighting, war and death are necessary and I am willing to fight for my beliefs.

[Caid Ivik]

Islam - religion of absolute fatalism and believe. What I like on it, is fact it is the strongest and most true religion. Like Kierkegard defined religious view on life: going even against whole society, sacrifice everything for own transcendental highness. Tough it's true, that it causes even such things as crazy guys blowing up buses, I think I don't have to explain the difference between perversion and religion.

Christianity - my favored religion. Promotes freedom and love. Subjectivization of each individual human, and friendly relationship with God. However, this could be said only about roman Church and few others.

Buddhism - most interesting from earthly religions. While it's hard to get rid of own individuality, to even accept such possibility, for our own body control it's the best way. This courageous try of soul sacrifice is truly fascinating.

Hinduism - a vulgarized ancestor of buddhism, maybe instead of sattva code I wouldn't be able to find something positive on it.

Judaism - most rationally developed religion with the strongest foundation. If there would be no belief of Jesus' deity in me, I would be a 100% Jew. They take the wisdom to maximum, try to squeeze all possibilities from brain before setting something. No "blind believe", they start to rely on higher principles only if all rational possibilities have been tried. Even christians copy their practices (like explanation why Law should be followed; however, while Jews use arguments a la Sirach, christians usually stay with pathetic science...except for dominicans, of course) from them, tough not with such grace, as only a good jewish teacher can. Also their astonishing mysticism.

Taoism - a way to live a nice life. Without problems, finding pleasure in everything. Tao itself seems to me too passive, but effects can be found to many people's liking.

ancient greek religion - could be said also about nordic or slavonic pagans. Their fear (in honorable sense of word) for gods was the pillar of their cultures. Strong believe in gods' help if they will believe in them...such view remained even in todays' european christianity! Believe, and your task will be fulfilled. Ora et labora. That's what made our civilization so powerful.

[TMA_1]

thanks gunwounds :)

Other:

One I choose to comment on with the "other" selection is Zeroastrianism. I just really thought it is a very original faith, though it has strong roots in my belief with judaeism. I think in fact that a lot of it came directly from judaeism with some other faiths. I especially like how they treated the Gods. Thinking it foolish to worship them as they are just demons or emessaries of Ahura Mazda.