Religion = Longevity

[deviadah]

Well saw a science documentary that discussed longevity and religious belief. According to the scientists featured religious people live about ten years longer because they put their faith in the afterlife and in the concept of some being watching over them. In short they suffer less from stress and feel less alone etc.

Now this doesn't imply that an atheist can't rid their life of stress... but it is interesting all the same.

:cool:

[Naomi]

Yeah maybe there is some being watching over them...

[Kuroyagi]

I think being *truely* religious isn't bad at all...most negative things seem to come from ridiculous fanatics, anyhow. In Europe many of the intellectuals of my generation are practical atheists anyway...I myself also cannot believe in a god-*I practically cannot* but that doesnt mean that I dont look for some form of god or research into that phenomenon...(and tbh I have and always had my own god in some place which isnt myself either so in some form I maybe am religious too in fact though this is a very deep secret, even to myself at times).

Ppl in the US seem to be more fanatical- either in their distorted unnnatural "belief" or in their extreme antagonism to such principles as God (as encountered on such occult forums and pages)...somehow I believe that on the new continent the extremes of European Enlightenment have conglomerated with very primitive spiritistic and animalistic notions of the natives there...

[Naomi]

I don't know what you're talking about Kuroyagi maybe you could provide some examples for this conglomeration of very primitive native beliefs and European enlightenment beliefs.

[Kuroyagi]

No sorry but I do not want to- travel to Europe and you'll maybe find out- or just take my word for it, you non-beliver! lol.

[Naomi]

Well I would say, travel to America. But what right do you have to make such claims without being able to explain why you hold such assertions? I have been to Europe and I remember it clearly....didn't seem that much different except a bit bigger...(i was shorter then)

I find your comments incorrect actually because you know, it's just arrogance of the worst kind to say our beliefs are primitive. I think you are judging from internet contacts and not real life which tends to blow things out of proportion.

[Kuroyagi]

I have been to America...

[Naomi]

Well then why can't you be more specific? I was at a show downtown featuring Pain Tribe and I thought that their performance was very similar to the Sun Dance but I liked it alot, and it was much darker and spookier, I used the energy from that to summon a huge storm....

So I like the union of the indigenous and the neo culture, whether you think it is ugly or not is a matter of taste or not, I don't know, you won't say...lol

[Kuroyagi]

So you'd agree with me about the phenomenon itself but only disagree about your own taste...I actually also think its interesting, yet not that great. Look for example at this page and where it draws its major components from (m1/abra I mean) : yeah exactly: China and Greek- the modern Satanist and atheist and Enlightenment philosophy is just some fancy drappings...but if you think that that conglomeration is great -and why not?- then its also not your place to think that e.g. x-tianity is complete BS only cause you have experienced it only in a very degenerate form of American pseudo-cultism...you really need to be more open minded- not only the American view is correct, maybe consider that before getting "angry" e.g. next time when I happen to not understand your (American) phrases out of lack of language ability...consider these things when talking to foreigners on the net too...dont be provincial, check your emotions...

[Naomi]

I'm not angry at all, excuse me....have to go shopping...

[erilaz]

Ppl in the US seem to be more fanatical- either in their distorted unnnatural "belief" or in their extreme antagonism to such principles as God (as encountered on such occult forums and pages)

I've met quite a few outside the occult sphere who can't wait to pounce on some poor sap. They are extremely religious about being "not religious."

On a more academic note, I have pretty much left the counseling field behind, but the studies I have been familiar with during my time in this field pointed toward spiritual practices extending life spans and increasing immunity. Sorry I'm not as up on the research now. It stopped being useful in my professional life.

[Kuroyagi]

What kind of counseling are you talking about? (I also have gotten the impression that many who seek occultish help face probs of life-extension so to speak ;))

Yes maybe if ppl just were able to discuss those things more "objectively" it would be great. Both in the US or in Europe, many say that they are so "tolerant"- but then if they are confronted with others who dont hold their own believes -be it atheism, be it "religions"- they often dont act tolerant, dont even seem to know what to "tolerate" means (namely not "indifference" but rather "I dont like what youre saying but still I'lll let you LIVE"...thats pretty extreme- but the moderns dont "tolerate" this view- they want their own relativism and their own defacto atheistic beliefs be absolute in fact..)...I plead for a culture of discussion between those of other/different beliefs...

[Naomi]

So you'd agree with me about the phenomenon itself but only disagree about your own taste...I actually also think its interesting, yet not that great. Look for example at this page and where it draws its major components from (m1/abra I mean) : yeah exactly: China and Greek- the modern Satanist and atheist and Enlightenment philosophy is just some fancy drappings...but if you think that that conglomeration is great -and why not?- then its also not your place to think that e.g. x-tianity is complete BS only cause you have experienced it only in a very degenerate form of American pseudo-cultism...you really need to be more open minded- not only the American view is correct, maybe consider that before getting "angry" e.g. next time when I happen to not understand your (American) phrases out of lack of language ability...consider these things when talking to foreigners on the net too...dont be provincial, check your emotions...

Christianity is complete BS in my opinion because I don't agree with the teachings of Jesus nor the testaments of the apostles - any of them.

I have read the second testament cover to cover about 3 times, and the book of revelations maybe a dozen times. I also know the history of Christianity from the time of Jesus to the present.

Their proselytizing offends my senses as does their genocidal practices, that does not mean I am happy to allow anyone to practice it, I just won't agree to partake in any religion at all. When I do take on "beliefs" it is in an effort to extract truth and not blind faith. I do have faith I just have to choose carefully because faith is a big risk.

I like to explore the universe on my own terms and not someone else's potentially faulty creation.

Greece. Think about it.

I like some of what Jesus said but I don't care for the religion it spawned at all, it's mish mash of different beliefs that doesn't seem consistant or powerful enough to warrant my attention. Some of the saints seem to have achieved incredible Bhakti accomplishments, but that is far from what the Church itself seems to foster. Hitman told me on the phone once he thought of Jesus as a god, a god of war, and he was sort of chiding me for not listening to Ningishzidda. Hmm what did he say. Oh he said "He's your patron you need to listen to what he says and do what you're told" and I was like "oh" and so you know, I do think there are some unique individuals out there who really get a lot out of Jesusianism....but that was a very Christianized statement too "Do what you're told" funny...

Fyi, coincidentally my son announced this morning he was going to be a Jesusian for the day and was even a wiseass at the bookstore and said he was going to buy Bible Stories for Children....I shrunk away in terror.

I actually think Jesus is a real guy just like Ng. To be perfectly honest, I actually think we're on the same side too...but you know, I really can't tell anyone that...

[m1thr0s]

I don't think I even know what Xianity is anymore...and I don't think Xians know either...there does not exist a single Xian tenet that cannot and/or is not interpreted in a thousand different ways...not one. Religions become generalized over time until the only outstanding difference between the Hindu or the Taoist or the Xian is in the clothes they wear or the calendars they might happen to observe...

Still, I am none of these things personally and all of these things as required. I think that what is despicable in human behavior is the behavior itself and is nowhere rooted in ideologies which - at their best - might mean a thousand different things to a thousand different people.

I can understand where a belief in immortality might cause people to live a little longer for instance...I don't think it has anything to do with religion per se.

m1

[erilaz]

What kind of counseling are you talking about? (I also have gotten the impression that many who seek occultish help face probs of life-extension so to speak ;))

Substance abuse and criminal behavior...

Mithros, I noticed in the language of those professions there was often a distinction made between the terms "religion" and "spirituality," so your last observation is interesting.

[deviadah]

I don't think I even know what Xianity is anymore...
I can answer that!

It has evolved and become Capitalism!

:cool: