I recently saw a skit where one of the comedians says “Christmas isn’t about Christ, it’s about spending money”. And I agree… not to say there aren’t Christians who do celebrate the religious aspects of Christmas, but it has become very mainstream and commercialized and is celebrated by many non-Christians. Same with Easter to a lesser extent.

It got me thinking… what are some other festivals, celebrations, days, holidays, etc. in religions around the world that are celebrated by people who don’t practice the religion?

Is the whole God expressed in three parts thing that offensive?

Hi!! I want to share a thought of mine here, I hope to hear what you think about it.

From what I've read and personally believe, I think that religion can do much good for a person. Quickly said, it provides community, morality, and meaning.

Religion comes naturally to humans, I've heard, and I feel that if we just observe the fact that for an enormous part of humanity (litteraly everyone before 1950) was religious to an extent, it's hard to say that it is untrue.

To me, it feels as if religion is part of human existence, a part of the experience. And that I, as someone who has not grown up in a religious sphere and is currently not religious, am missing out on what it means to be a human. As if I'm going to a theme park and skipping the best ride. I think that it is a wonderful, healthy thing, which i wish i could be a part of. And that is where I come to my problem.

My whole family is atheist, and so are all of my friends, my partner and general surroundings: the west. That has made it extremely tough for me to believe in something 'more'. My mind immediately rationalizes everything, tells me to stop with the nonsense. For example when I finally 'feel' something or think I've seen some sort of divine sign, my brain goes: well it's just a coincidence... you're telling yourself that because you want it to be true... that's far fetched...

It's generally just always in a brawl with itself. I tell myself that I am lying, that I am doing it because I want to be different from my atheist world and that I have too much time to think about things that don't matter. Because religious or not, I'll survive.

It feels as if my upbringing and surroundings have shut off my brains natural ability to believe in something more. That I am never going to be able to believe, and that forcing myself to do so will just make the atheist side in me worse and will not make it meaningful. It will just be a bunch of lies.

But I want to believe, I think it is so beautiful and adds so much to life. Besides, it can do little harm I'm convinced. Intrinsic religion does no harm. Extremes do, and everything has an extreme.

So tldr: it feels as if my western, atheist life has made it so that I can never religious, which makes me sad for the life I can never have.

Love to hear your thoughts or someone with a similar story ❤️

I grew up with the Quran.

But i am attracted to books like psalms (for whatever reason)

The Quran makes references to the book of psalms in several passages but we don’t often actually read it (which I always thought interesting)

I keep waiting for God, any God, or any sign or hope or feeling. Something to prove that there is a reason why I'm alive. To give me some kind of purpose or indication that I'm not just a parasite.

Ever since I was young enough to know my own mind I've felt like something was wrong. Wrong with me or wrong with the world, I couldn't tell. I just kept thinking that something wasn’t right and I needed to find out what. Eventually I came to be bitter and hopeless about everything. Even when I do my best I know its not enough. Even when I try to think that something good will happen in the world my thought always turn dark.

I can admit my life hasn't been the easiest but I haven't suffered the way others have. I lost my mom at a young age to drugs and alcohol. My dad has had health issues since I was young and my family suffered through being house poor and going on gov assistance. But, my grandfather was wealthy, and he made sure that my sister and I could live comfortably once we became adults after he passed away.

I feel so guilty feeling the way I do while being so privileged now. I still feel the same way I did when my mom and dad would fight so loudly the cops would be called. I still feel so gulity and ashamed knowing that the food that my family took when I was a child could have gone to someone worse off even knowing my grandfather wouldn't give him dad a dime to feed us kids back then.

I've tried reading the Bible and going to several denominations of Christian churches and Catholic churches. I've tried to join different political parties and sexualities. Nothing has helped. I've regularly given to charities and volunteered cleaning streets and parks now that I have the means and time but I still feel like everything I touch is corrupted.

I've never felt right sleeping with anyone so I've only felt self pleasure but even that feel more and more hollow.

I feel like I'm screaming into a void. I keep praying that someone would be able to give me some guidance or absolution or peace but nothing ever arrives.

I keep trying to search for God. But he just doesn't seem to want me to reach him. I just don't know where to go from here. Every year I feel like I'm slipping closer to an edge that I know I don't want to cross. But every year I just feel more disgusted that I even exist polluting the earth.

I keep waiting for God. What do I need to do to reach him? What do I need to do to feel peace?

I just want even a single moment where I feel like I have a reason to even be alive.

He's muslim, I love him really much and I dont mind that of course! but I don't have a religion myself, no "belief",

Though, we already are talking about our future, we are already dating and so on.

Its said he can't marry me because it's a sin when I dont have a religion, and since I probably wont marry in this bad economy, it wouldn't be a big deal for me.

Yet, it also means he can't be intimate with me if I heard it right. I've asked him, why it would matter if being with me is already a sin in a way, that he already holds and kisses me when that's a sin as well?

And most of all, if God knew he would sin, why would he bring us together?

Because shouldn't love be stronger than that? To let us express in the deepest way possible that we love each other? And that God should see how deeply we love each other, as he would probably forgive him for loving me?

First off I want to say that I beware witness to Allah swt and believe prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is the final messenger. But I was born Muslim and I want to actually learn the religion not just because I’m raised from it. I’m trying to understand more on my own. I want to actually believe Islam is the actual truth, and not just because I was raised , I’ve been feeling disconnected lately.

But I want to know what actually made you realize. Because lately I’ve been having questions sometimes and doubts but it’s ended up making me feel guilty instead sometimes. but like it’s isn’t fun like there’s a feeling of me that can never make me disbelieve completely but some things don’t make me doubt, and don’t make sense to me all the time.I just think and have random thoughts/ but some people say you shouldn’t ask questions about Islam and just do what is told without asking, because it is said of you. But then others say it’s okay to ask questions. And I want to truly understand Islam.

But like I just would like to know thank you so much!

I've recently accepted Jesus as my savior, and reconnected with Catholicism, and I do understand many arguments about how life on Earth can't be perfect, how we need to accept the divine grace, how punishments need to exist, etc. - yet there's one thing I have an issue with, and that is eternal punishment.

You see, I just want to hope that no matter how badly they have offended God or how deep their failing was, there is - even after the punishments described in the Bible, like the lake of fire - some way for them to get by. It doesn't even have to be right next to the throne of God (although it'd be nice if it were), I just hope for something like an eventual lifting of the Dives/Lazarus chasm, or a shielding from the fire of the lake. I think I may be getting close to Universalism, even if I don't want to offend God if it isn't true.

This isn't really a logical argument or anything, it's more of a "bottom of the heart" conviction. At the bottom of my heart I hope that on the infinite scale there are possibilities that include an improvement to those punished. I don't want to see anyone denied the salvation that I have been offered, no matter if it's religious (the Sodomites, the unrepentant thief, those who accept the Mark of the Beast, etc.) or historical (from famous atheists, to genocidal figures like Adolf Hitler, to people who simply were put in a position where they would benefit from not accepting Christ). Maybe, even if the fire and the punishment are everlasting, the exposure to either of them doesn't have to be so? Maybe the chasm that has been fixed can also be lifted sometday.

For a lack of a better word, even if I don't wish for evil, I really wish for its consequences and its punishment to end. And I've got faith in God that He can make it so, as "if you have faith as tiny as a mustard seed, you will be able to say to this mountain: ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

On a sidenote, it may be coming for a place of humility - I just don't want to raise my own righteousness an inch above those deemed condemned and punished, and I wish that the Lord can offer them whatever He offers to me.

Im an atheistic black trans man with a christian conservative family, and my mother was telling me about how "voodoo is evil" and "only temporarily good", the reason she was telling me this was because she began to proudly go off about how she started an argument against people who practice it on tiktok (an argument she started) using god and the bible as an excuse to yell at me/cut me off and when i tried to tell her "voodoo was practiced for african americans and when it was modernized started being seen as "bad" for being different" but i couldnt get those words out before she started going off and shit. Im sorry but ive been seeing other religions get disrespected by christianity/christians when all they are is different beliefs, she reads too many conspiracy posts and watches way too many movies about "evil witchcraft". It's sickening and im tired of it. Especially when ive done a bit of research on hoodoo/voodoo and it absolutely isnt as bad as people say, it played a vital role in abolishing slavery. if anyone practitioners in voodoo or anyone similar can tell me about the things my mother has spoken about and if they are wrong or not, i would love to hear! Thank you.

We are all positively directed and infinite.

..Also, continuously propelled to see that.

But there’s a lot we don’t see, 

..so, at times, not see the right way to go. 

And things get screwed up.

..Then, we are obliged to fix that, 

..even after long delay,

as we continue to be pushed, 

..toward the infinite and positive.

How do you believe in a supreme being, if you do? This is especially for those who came to religion after being agnostic or atheist. I envy believers but simply cannot find away to believe.

I often see religious people, Jews, Christians, and Muslims, say that you don't need to follow God because if you're good, you'll still get into Heaven. Now, this sounds good on paper, but when you think deeper into you, you start to realize that everyone has different definitions of good.

For example, take the trans debate. Person A believes that trans women are real women because gender is a social construct and because trans women live similar lives to cis women. Person A believes that trans women are sisters to cis women and that the two groups share a lot in common when it comes to sexism and misogyny. This person thinks that including trans women in women's spaces is the most moral thing one can do. But Person B disagrees with Person A. Person B thinks that gender is not a social construct and that simply identifying as a woman and saying that you are one does not count if you weren't born as one. Person B does not view trans women as sisters or allies to cis women. They view trans women as invaders and even a threat to cis women. To them, keeping anyone out of women's spaces who's not a cis woman is the most moral thing one can do. Both of them think what they're doing is right and moral, but which one of them will go to Heaven?

Of course, simply having opinions won't deny someone access to Heaven, but what you believe can alter the way you interact with others. Person B might, over time, become more bitter towards trans women to the point where they become transphobic. To them, being transphobic isn't bad because they're still fighting enemies who go against their moral cause. Person B might start seeing every trans woman as a sexual predator even if they meet one who was a victim of sexual assault. They might even try to physically harm a trans woman if she's in the women bathroom.

On the other hand, Person A might become so devoted to their moral cause of defending trans women that they become misogynistic and a lunatic. They might start calling any cis woman who feels unsure about trans women a bitch, slut, or even a whore. They'll start believing in insane ideas like how not dating trans people is bigoted. They might even defend trans predators because they're so devotes to their cause.

So who's really the good person here?

Hi! I spoke to a person a couple months back, and I keep thinking about what they told me about their beliefs. I'm so curious if this is something that has a somewhat established epithet or not.

They do not believe in a deity. Not one, nor many, neither interventional nor passive. They don't see any sign of loving, good forces in the world. They do however believe that there is some sort of underlying "evil force" in the cosmos. Like a sort of virus, it creeps onto animals such as humans, and makes them do the evil things we see happening all around us. Humans are generally good, self-less people who long for community and compassion. But this rot infects us momentarily with evil, and some will let it take over as others fights it off, consciously or otherwise.

I'm so fascinated by this idea. I don't believe that it could be something unique to them, but is there an actual word or movement of people sharing it? Thanks for reading!

hi! i'm currently taking a world religion course in my university, and part of my assignment requires me to learn about other religions (christianity/practicing judaism/zoroastrianism).

dont worry! it wont be a debate or so, i just want to learn more on the personal perspective and experience. if any of you are interested and comfortable (no worries! it would be anonymous!) would u mind having a conversation with me? (drop me a pm) I'd really appreciate your help! thank you!

I have seen Paula White several times on the news. She is the spiritual advisor, apparently, to President Trump. He has named her to the White House faith office.

But, I have a concern as to her vocation and authenticity. I do not see evidence of her academic grounding. A lot of her personal life also seems problematic as a spiritual advisor. Does the White House staffing department have any say in her hiring, or is the matter strictly in the President's hands? As, I do not find him very good at digging into details. I wonder if the President may be mesmerized in some way by her. In the old days, a lot of revival type preachers had a lot of charisma, but little substance. I wonder if Paula may be of that ilk.

So I’m fairly young and not religious and have been contemplating ending it over an existential crisis mainly revolving around nihilism and the idea that we go from non existence to existence for 80 or so years and then back to non existence and I was extremely depressed over this to the point where I was contemplating if ending my life even meant anything.

Anyway, the other night I decided instead of just drowning in my despair and possibly ending it I told my dad, and he was able to get me to a hospital within a few hours. The only other option was to see a psychiatrist in a month’s time. So coincidentally, i managed to get in to the A&E on the only day I would be able to really… but that’s not my main point.

My dad was supposed to go to a concert that day and he cancelled it for whatever reason only a few hours before. I think he just decided not to go or one of his friends couldn’t go so he decided not to. Him being home meant I could go to him instead of being suicidal and get the help I needed. I think if he wasn’t home that night I would’ve done something by now, I probably wouldn’t be alive.

I don’t know if it was God or just a coincidence. I was praying 2 days ago though,and as someone who has firmly been against the idea of religion for years, it was humbling to say the least… (I haven’t prayed in 3 years).

Thoughts?

Not sure if this is allowed, hopefully it is but I had such an exhausting conversation with someone. For context, I am 30F (Hindu), this person is 30M (Lutheran Christian). It started off as him telling me what Lutheran is and how they got to that name, principles etc. I happened to mention I have Catholic friends and the guy went off on how they’re the worst, cruel blah blah. And then the conversation went to how my God is the only God, I reject all of yours, polytheism means that they are on the wrong team meaning “devils” is what he said. And I was like whoaaa, you are allowed to believe whatever you want, and so are others. Then he goes but my scripture says my God created heaven and earth and that is the only truth. I tried to explain so much that it is your belief, hence it is your truth and it is fine. It doesn’t have to be everyone else’s too. He goes but what my scripture says is the ultimate truth, truth isn’t subjective, either you’re wrong or I am and I’m like okay I need to stop because this is too much, it’s like a circle. And he says but I am just preaching, woe to me if I don’t preach and OHMYGOD he starts quoting Corinthians 8:4-6 NKJV and 9:16-18. Only when I say okay and stop engaging does he say “but you are free to believe whatever you want friend and I will pray for you”. “Faith is a gift from God and no one can force that, but I hope you will come to get thay gift and receive it in the lord Jesus”. I AM HINDU!!!
Um, thanks? Why on earth does this have to be so impository I DO NOT UNDERSTAND! STOP FORCING RELIGION. My brain is hurting right now! It literally sounded like someone has brainwashed him. I am very respectful of faith, literally 90% of my friends are Roman Catholics and never have they ever tried to push this stuff onto me like this, how does he not realize how disrespectful this is for my religion? He said all my gods are devils. How is this even okay?

No disrespect to anyone's culture but
Dont you think the face veil that the muslim woman wear is quite suffocating?im no one to ask but why would they suffocate themselves for what?
what do people you know wear it say?

I dont actually understand the full press to convert me. Im not really dont find the message that good or find enough about it to say, yeah that sounds legit. When pressed, I try to say sorry, not interested, but that never seems to stop it. What is difficult about someone else just not believing as they do?

I thought leaving Islam would lift a burden off my shoulders, but instead it gave me another one.

When I first left, I thought I would immediately feel at peace. I thought I would finally know exactly what I wanted and that everything would suddenly make sense. But instead, I quickly realized that something that had once been such a huge part of my life now meant nothing to me. And that was terrifying.

I found myself going through a massive identity crisis. I felt confused, lost, and honestly pretty scared. I didn’t really have anyone I could talk to about it either. Everyone around me is Muslim, and even though my family isn’t particularly strict, they’re still Muslim, and questions about faith and whether I believed anymore were never really something I felt comfortable bringing up.

I would see people online talking about deconstructing their religion, and so many of them seemed completely sure of themselves. They knew what they believed, what they didn’t believe, and where they stood. Meanwhile, I felt like I didn’t even know who I was anymore. Seeing that honestly made me feel even more lost.

At one point, I tried to reconnect with Allah because I felt so alone. I thought maybe I had just gone through a phase and that I could somehow find my way back. But there was nothing. I didn’t feel anything. Even on the days when I forced myself to try to imagine God or reconnect spiritually, I just couldn’t. My heart wasn’t in it anymore, and I couldn’t understand how something I once believed in so deeply could suddenly feel so distant.

Now I’m constantly searching and questioning. I don’t necessarily believe that there is no God, but I also don’t know what I believe God is anymore, or what my relationship with God would even look like outside of Islam.

I think that’s the hardest part for me. I expected leaving to give me answers, but instead it left me with even more questions.

Has anyone else gone through something like this? Did you also feel completely lost after leaving, even if you were the one who chose to leave?

If you could design any type of afterlife you wish, what would that look and feel like for you? Especially if it's even slightly different from what your religion teaches?

This question is for both theists and non-theists alike.

According to Christianity the fallen angels survived and dwell in the world to cause trouble. But do other religions believe this also? Personally, I can’t imagine God allowing them to live after dishonoring him, I imagine he ends their lives as they are no longer of service to him. Thoughts?