Coeur d'Alene Press Newspaper | CDAPress.com

Local and National News - Kootenai County, Idaho

Religious differences at the door

Posted: Monday, Jul 30, 2007 - 08:57:33 pm PDT
Email this story Printer friendly version
 
Sholeh Patrick

Proselytizing must be in this hot air of late.

In just the last few days, our neighborhood has been visited by members of several churches knocking on doors or leaving tracts. The diversity of sources reminded me of some research I'd collected on very unusual religions, and a few who may refer to themselves as churches.

The following partial list ranges from the quite serious to the facetious, in any case exemplifying that faiths and beliefs are as diverse as personalities among the human species.

Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn: A combination of western and eastern spiritual beliefs with seven grades of initiation linked to the seven chakras of yogis (heart, throat, third eye, etc.), seven planets, and seven metals.

The Church for the Churchless: Self-described as church for anyone who needs to belong but can't make the commitment, for people of all faiths and no faith to come together, with no confession, eternal damnation or judgment.

The Temple of Love, a.k.a., "The world peace religion": Its goal is to save life on Earth from extinction by human beings by uniting Christianity, Islam, and all religions with a common goal of world peace.

Shamanism: Based on the belief that the visible world is pervaded by invisible forces or spirits that affect the lives of the living. Shamans drive them out.

The Rational Universal Church: Rationalism is the belief that reason is the basis for establishment of religious truth, not revelation or authority, without regard to dogma.

The Church of Critical Thinking: "Your suspicion is our mission;" not a religious organization, nor does it acknowledge the existence of any deities. Believes separation of church and state has become too blurred, and teaches people to use critical thinking to independently analyze everything they're told and reject what doesn't survive that process.

And on the lighter side:

The Church Of Googlism: States a convincing argument can be made that the search engine Google is the uniting force among contemporary religions, because those of all religions from around the world use Google, collectively approaching the divine. "Muslims, Christians, Jews and even Scientologists use Google and Her mighty Algorithms in search of life's great mysteries ... bringing hope for religious peace."

"Difference of opinion is helpful in religion." -- Thomas Jefferson

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Send e-mail to sholehjo@hotmail.com.


Email this story Printer friendly version
POST YOUR OPINION
 View all of the latest commented stories!
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.

Registered users sign in here:

Become a Registered User
*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
 

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

*Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
*E-mail Address:
*Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

 

"A good community newspaper is a community in conversation with itself." - Walter Lippmann

The Press invites you to contribute your online comments, with positive statements whenever possible and, when necessary, your constructive, negative thoughts.

Commenting Rules
NEW- You must REGISTER in order to post on this forum. None of the information you provide will be used for anything that could be considered commercial in nature. The Press simply uses this information as a means to identify the poster.
- Do not use the comments area to promote commercial ventures.
- No libel (that means no NAME CALLING, OR USING PRIVATE CITIZEN'S NAMES)
- Use good taste
- Be positive whenever possible
- Do not Spam - post an advertisement or flood forum with the same message.
- Do not type entire post in CAPITALS - it means you are screaming. 
- THINK BEFORE YOUPOST and ask yourself these questions;
Is it a positive remark?
Will I be hurting anyone?
Children can come to this site, is it appropriate for their eyes?
Most importantly, would I want my name on this forum?

Wait wrote on Aug 2, 2007 9:42 AM:

" Don't forget Pastafarianism, the only True Faith. RAmen. "

Logic wrote on Aug 2, 2007 9:15 AM:

" Thank you "Believer" for you good wishes directed toward me. I appreciate your point and do not mean to diminish the intent of good people donating to good causes. I simply do not find it necessary to use a third person or a bureaucratic organization to do good deeds. I do not believe Christ intended ANYONE to make a living off his Word. Nor do I believe it is necessary to pay a salary to one in order to spread it. Caring and compassion spread by osmosis from direct contact. Giving through a third person detatches you from the deed, transfers the "goodness" to the organization and insulates the giver from grace. I believe in Christ, His message and His work. I just don't feel it is necessary to buy some pot banging, drum beating preacher a new car to prove it. "

beleiver wrote on Aug 1, 2007 11:15 PM:

" If one has spiritual christian faith they naturally want to help others hear the Gospel and to do that sometimes it takes money. Money is not evil, nor is accumulating it. How it is used is what matters. I'm not radical in my faith and I don't impose my beliefs on others but it is important to me and I have a desire to see everyone find the peace that passes all understanding. Some people get to hung up on keeping their money that they forget the good it can do for others. It's not about accumulating it's about things eternal.Some people have a hard time parting with theirs but since we are blessed by Him, we should freely give back to his cause which is discipleship and being "fishers of men", helping others. Christians have done more charitable work and donated more money than just about any other single group or entity. They are often the first to lend aid, comfort, food, shelter and clothing to those in need. I hope your money is not THAT important to your happiness. It certainly isn't important to your spiritual wellbeing. God bless you Logic. "

Logic wrote on Aug 1, 2007 2:39 PM:

" Fear exists as a reaction to ignorance. Faith exists to neutralize fear. Faith therefore depends on ignorance. Simple sylogism but is it God's plan or man's? My test is easy...if they pass a basket and ask for money it's man's! "

Well wrote on Aug 1, 2007 11:48 AM:

" As we learned in Highlander: "There can be only one". So, get ready to ruuuummmbbllle "

Next Ad