Identify my Religion

What is your religion? What are your expectations from your religion?

E.g: Religion: Christian. Expectations: Sense of belonging, inner peace, guidance and freedom from guilt.

Rosh Hashana and Ramadaan – both seems to start on 13th Sep.

I read on a webpage that the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year.

The Ramadaan month has three parts: Rahmath(mercy of God), Maghfirat (forgiveness of God) and Nijat(salvation).

In short both the the festivals are quite related to introspection and repentance.

And then the Jewish “Day of Atonement” or Yom Kippur festival soon follows on the 22nd, which is on the same theme.

The alpha course is starting on 4th Oct, btw.

I went to the church today. I went because somewhere I hopped some miracle would happen and things would change just like that. Whether things change or not, I have succeeded in making some new local friends. After church we went to a pub for lunch and had a good laugh.

Christianity gives so much of importance on fellowship and it helps some people emotionally and mentally. That is one of the few things I like about this religion.

I want to thank Katie who put up this link to a Personality Quiz about Beliefs.

I tried that and got the response as (only the first five):
1. Reform Judaism (100%)
2. Bahá’í Faith (90%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (89%)
4. Sikhism (89%)
5. Orthodox Judaism (87%)

Christianity was not even one among the 27 religions listed. Islam was the 10th. I can’t believe that Hinduism is on 9th, because I can’t digest the concept of incarnation or having multiple deities.

Well, at least now I know where to start.

No!!!

I don’t want to be an atheist, because the concept of God has been a consolation and encouragement to me.

‘Belief’ softens the hardships, even can make them pleasant. In God man can find very strong consolation and support. Without Him, the man has to depend upon himself. To stand upon one’s own legs amid storms and hurricanes is not a child’s play. At such testing moments, vanity, if any, evaporates, and man cannot dare to defy the general beliefs, if he does, then we must conclude that he has got certain other strength than mere vanity.

And I would admit publicly that I am NOT a strong person who can face all life’s hardships alone. I would rather have an omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent friend with me (even if it is just in my imagination) and call him God!

I was born into a Christian family. But for the past few months, I find myself questioning a lot of things about my religion and spirituality, in general. So I decided I could add this to my list here.