[BrandyHagz]

I see a lot of posts here on the forums made by Christians, Catholics and Jewish folks, but rarely see any made by people of other beliefs/faiths. I did see a post yesterday referencing the Dalai Lama, but I rarely…or maybe even never, see post in references to other people’s spiritual beliefs.

I was just wondering if there are people out there of other faiths/beliefs…if so, why don’t we see more posts referring to these faiths/beliefs?

I’m not trying to intrude…just a curious question I had for my forum friends

[CeltiaSkye]

I've had bad experiences on other forums (not anywhere on this site) where as soon as I announce that I'm Pagan I get several Christian posters either condemning me to hell or trying to save my soul. It gets old rather quickly, so now I usually keep quiet about my religion.

[79nic]

This is an old thread, but spirituality and the nature of reality has been on my mind a lot lately....... in part because of Katrina, in part because of where I'm at in my own life....

When people ask, I tell them I'm agnostic. But (and I know very little still about it as a religion/set of beliefs)--but--the more I learn these days of Buddhism/eastern philosophy, the more I am leaning that way.....

I didn't set out to look into it, and become convinced... like I said, I still know very little..... What I'm actually learning about is physics, which is starting to look a lot like Buddhism and eastern philosophy, these days.

Wonder if there are any Buddhists here?????

[BrandyHagz]

Nicole,

I think Bessette (if that's spelled correctly) over on the Guatemalan Forum is Buddhist...you might give her a PM and ask

[BrandyHagz]

I thought I'd bump this up - I also thought I'd point out that this thread is in the "Other Faith-based Adoptions" forum - it'd be nice to see this forum (which is not specific like the above ones) become a little more active

[Tudu]

My experience in life id simular to CeltiaSkye, the minute I mention I am not Christian I am bombarded with folks trying to save me and my family. We live in the South and some folks are VERY judgemental, so we just usually don't share.
I am Unitarian Universalist.

[Montraviatommyg]

Bumping this up as I've just found it. I go to a church that is on the lines of Pentecostal churches but have noticed I haven't seen any posts on the Budhist faith...have a lot of respect for them.

Pip

[Mihoshi]

I am now Buddhist and I do get a lot of condesending responses whenever I announce that online.

I asked on another forum how to withdraw from my old sorority because it was Catholic based (joined while undecided on religion) and the person who responded kept saying I had alterier motives and that I was a liar to say it was a religious based decision and that my religion was just a "cop out" for leaving! She was a Protestant and very condesending, demanding that the issues were because of the girls in the sorority and not my faith, and that I was being disrespectful to the sorority for asking to leave because of religious convictions.

I've also had Christian's follow me through Wal-Mart saying "Buddha didn't die for your, Jesus did!" That's so incredibly rude and they try to justify it by saying they're doing the "Lord's work." I can't stand that level of ignorance and bigotry!

[SquirlyGirl]

I am from the South and am exploring my religious options right now.

When you did your homestudy did you lay it out that you were Pagan or what ever the case may be?

The person doing our hs did kind of push the issue and asked if I was Christian to which I responded that I believe in God, I just didn't elaborate that I believe in a Goddess also.

[heartbeat]

Hmmm...very nice. Thank you for this thread.

I, too, have learned that it's easier to be quiet when it comes to 'religion'.

Personally, I'm anti-religion, but pro-spirituality. I, like others here, have thoughts similar to Buddhism, as well as a definite nature-bent. I tend to call whatever it is, a 'Universal Power'. It's the feeling of awe and purity and goodness I get when I'm at the ocean or looking up at the stars, or even looking at the leaf colors in crisp outline against a fall sky so blue it brings tears to my eyes. I've never labeled it, not because I'm anti-label, I just don't know what to label it! LOL

I don't pray, but I do send positive thoughts and feelings. Does the Universe grant things to me similar to the way the Christian God does to those who pray and ask? Yes, I believe so, and I ask by meditating. "When you remember to open yourself up to the flow, the universe will somehow nudge everything you need within reach."

I know that not all Christians are the same. But to be entirely honest, in my opinion, less than 20% of the people I've met who say they are, actually walk the walk. Another 5-10% have out and out hurt me and been cruel.

I honestly don't care what anyone believes. It's personal and it's their business and I won't fight about it. It doesn't take anything away from me. But I really am bothered and angered by those who have some deep-seated need to announce to the world how they believe, and not only that, but go on to tell me how I should believe also. From what I understand, that's not a christian way to behave.

Warmly, heartbeat

[yogi1125]

I am Christian and my husband is a Muslim. This has never been a problem for us because we decided early in our marriage that the label given to our religions was not important to us what was important is that we both believed in God. We have been truly bless and have been happily married for 19 years. We were very disappointed when we looked into adoption and found that most of the private adoption agencies required that we both be christians. I guess we could have lied to them and said that we both were christians. How would they have known the difference? Is there a christian test?

People tend to assume that because you say you are a christian that makes you a good person. Only God truly knows our hearts so in my opinion as far as adoption is concerned it should not matter what label you place on your religious beliefs you should be judged by the total content of you character. My husband and I decided to go through the state and do our homestudy instead of dealing with all of the religious hipocracy. We are now foster/adoptive parents.

[kpaul63]

Originally Posted by 79nic

Wonder if there are any Buddhists here?????

I am a Buddhist, and my wife is a wiccan. We are in the very beginning of the adoption process following infertility treatment. Tomorrow (9/11, of all days) we learn if we are pregnant. If we aren't, then likely we won't ever become so. We will then move to adoption, which is something we wanted to do anyway. My wife is adopted, and we always assumed we would have one natural and one adopted child.

Anyway, my main concern is with domestic adoption. I am worried that our religious beliefs, which are non-negotiable, will prevent us from being selected by a birth mother. If we just don't mention our religious affiliation, then there might be conflict later on in an open adoption situation. Neither of us want that.

Does anyone here have any experience in that regard?

~Kevin McD

[lahdh4]

I wouldn't hide them. Bfather is Wicca and I lean that way but not as much as he does and had it listed on our paperwork. When we met the paparents they asked what Wicca was about and he explained and they were comfortable with that.