What do you think about Ayyavazhi religion?
608859
Really complex, but interesting\n\nAyyavazhi அய்யாவழி (Tamil: "path of the father"), officially a Tamil monistic religion that originated in South India in the mid-19th century. The 'zhi' (ழி) in the word, 'Ayyavazhi', is a retroflex, ri.\n\nAyyavazhi functions autonomously. But since it was not recognised as a separate religion it was officially considered as an offshoot of Hinduism. Though it has not received official recognition, it has evolved into a distinctive religious phenomenon, making its presence felt in India's southern districts of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin. As one of the fastest growing religions of southern India, its rapid growth had been noted in the Christian missionary reports of the mid-19th century.\n\nAyyavazhi focuses on Ayya Vaikundar; according to Akilattirattu Ammanai, the holy book of the religion, he was the Manu avatar of Trimurthi. The ideas and philosophy of the religion is based on the teachings of Ayya Vaikundar and the religious texts Akilattirattu Ammanai and Arul Nool.
901954
Yes, I read it and found it very interesting.  The reader should keep in mind, though, that the author does not claim to be anything but human, that is, he does not claim to be God made manifest in a human form like Moses, Jesus Christ, Mohammed, The Bab, and Baha'u'llah.  Therefore, his interpretation of what God is revealing to him is subject to error.  Only the Manifestations of God are perfect and flawless.  Even the highest saint is still human and subject to error.\n\nwww.bahai.org
373544
What a great question!!!!! Thanks for asking. This is really neat.\n\nI'm a practicing Hindu.\n\nMy second-favorite religion would probably be Jainism. It stresses Ahimsa..nonviolence...of which I am a big fan of this sacred principal (practiced in Hinduism and Buddhism, too, but not to the degree of Jainism). I find myself very fascinated with so many of the teachings of Jainism and many of the similar practices between Hinduism and Jainism, and yet their differences...especially theologically.\n\nNow, just in case you are one of those folks that considers Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism to all be part of the "Hindu" branch....then just in case, my answer would then be the religion of Baha'i (it's technically Abrahamic since it comes from Babism which comes from Islam which comes from Christianity which comes from Judaism...long strand there!). The Baha'i religion is very tolerant, very respectful of other religions (just as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Taoism are). The Baha'is teachings are somewhat similar to Hinduism is some areas, but follow a more Abrahamic traditional approach. While their houses of worship are very different from Hindu worship and even Christianity's worship, it is still great. It is sort of like Unitarian-Universalism where there is a reading, some discussion, maybe some songs, etc. \n\nMy third would be Unitarian-Universalism....assuming you consider it a seperate religion....some consider it a denomination of Christianity. Mainly because of their tolerant views and their focus, not on a creed or religion, but on the inherent worth and dignity of every human being.
380525
Its opened my eyes about alot actually.  I see how people react to religion. I have learned alot about different religions and understand them a little better.  It has given me links to read more on them and I have and I feel that has given me a better perspective on them.  I havent converted to anything as I am happy being the little witch but it has given me more of an appreciation for it.  It has given me thought on my own faith. And has even given me a little guidance along the way.\nI thoroughly enjoy this section best.  There is too much to learn and understand.  I enjoy learning about religions and societies (ancient and modern) so this place has been perfect for me!
1068721
I see it as a religion of those who don't believe in a supreme being. Since religion is a belief in something then same goes for them.
859842
I believe that Hinduism is a very ancient religion, that has some very philosophical thoughts put into its religion. I am speaking from the perspective as a Hindu myself. Some of the traditions that we have, are just so interesting, that i always want to know more abotu it. all of the religious occasions that we have, has so much ancient background into it, that it really amazes me. I am really proud of who i am, and for what i represent, cause honestly, the religion of Hinduism is really interesting to learn or know more about...i was born in America, but i taught myself alot about Hinduism and was quite amazed.
603101
Go here, plenty to read on them...\nhttp://www.rickross.com/groups/krishna.html
565325
Your perception of God is your own.\n\nAs a Hindu I believe that there is one God, but that God is so vast and large that we each individually experience and approach God differently (thus lots of different religions). That all will discover the same ultimate truth in any religion because it dwells within our inner self (and every religion ultimately takes the practictioner to look within). Thus all religions are valid paths. "Truth is one, though humanity calls it by different names." Rig Veda\nAs a Hindu I believe that God always listens to us regardless of what name we call God by that whatever form we meditate upon God, God will always come to us. "What I am is utterly beyond your minds ability to fully comprehend, thus call me by whatever name and worship me and meditate upon me in whatever form. I promise that by whatever name you call upon me I shall hear you and by whatever form you worship me I shall come to you." Tripura Rahasya. \nUltimate God is beyond name and form, and yet manifested the entire cosmos into existences and thereby took form, too. \nHindus believe that when one dies our consciousness projects the experience we will have. Thus, when we die it is our consciousness that creates the temporary heaven we go to. If we have expected heaven to be a place where we gather with our ancestors...then our consciousness will project a heaven with our ancestors and God will take on the form of ancestors to be with us. If we expect a heaven with, say, Jesus, then our consciousness will project a heaven and God will take the form of Jesus. Heaven is just temporary and our karma (actions) and desires will lead us back to samsara (the cycle of birth, death, rebirth) and we will reincarnate. The ultimate goal of a Hindu is moksha or liberation of samsara and union with God completely. They often use the example of an ocean. The water evaporates and forms clouds, the clouds get so heavy that eventually the water falls in the form of rain. The rain forms streams and the streams come together and form rivers. The rivers ultimately merge back into the ocean. God is the ocean and we are the droplets of water. The rivers and streams are just religions and paths back to God.\n\nAnd that is what I believe, as a Hindu.
695866
Funny I remember reading that and I was going to E-Mail you too. I was going to say how much we had in common though. A lot of what you said does fit with Buddhist belief. I dont agree with their views on reincarnation but you would need to study that for yourself!  I think of them as Atheists because they dont worship a God or Goddess. They may pray in front of an image of The Buddha but they are not worshipping it as a God!\nIt doesn't make you a Buddhist but you might like it if you are seeking a religion! It is only my opinion on Atheism someone will say I'm wrong because Atheism is a personal belief.We dont all agree what makes someone an Atheist!
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hinduism. i am already part of it . though Hinduism may not be called religion in the sense other religions are known. It has no founder. It is much more than a religion. It is a total way of life.  \n\nWhen religion becomes organized, man ceases to be free. It is not God that is worshipped but the group or the authority that claims to speak in his name. It is not faith, but just social idolatry. God is not like a father in a patriarchal society, who has His favorite children to whom He communicates. This idea seems rather archaic and crude. Hinduism believes in behavior than belief and  experience over authority. \n\nThe genius of Hinduism is assimilative. Puritanism is alien to its life and thought. It never opposed scientific enquiry. \n\nHinduism's greatest feature has been its positive ideas and those who do not belong to it are not infidels or heretics. Hinduism does not believe in bringing about a mechanical uniformity of belief and worship by a forcible elimination of all that is not in agreement with a particular creed. Hindus have never conquered, plundered or committed genocides on other peoples and they never will, primarily because the deeper values enshrined in the Sanatana Dharma are against such mindless violence and expansionism. At one level every true Hindu sees his/her self being one with the Universal Self . At a more samsaric level, a Hindu also understands more than any other religionist in the world, the concept of a harmonious global society that should unite, prosper and live in peace.\n\nHinduism, in its plethora of symbols and images, is endlessly complex and therefore endlessly misunderstood, but its true mission is both simple and universal: soul-enlightenment. Hinduism is goal-oriented, not way-oriented. In other words, its focus is the ultimate attainment, Self-realization, in God. Symbolism helps the seeker to concentrate his mind on the worship and meditation of god.idols are just symbolic:\n\nYes, said he, but just how many gods are there Yajnavalkya?" "Thirty three". "yes," said he, but just how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?" "One."    \n                                                                        - Brhadaranyaka Upanishad III, IX, I\n\nGod's innumerable forms, and the acknowledgement of His Presence in everything, are an expression of the extraordinary vitality of India's collective imagination down through the ages. \n\nAccording to Thomas Berry, "In quality, in quantity, in significance for man's intellectual, cultural, and spiritual life, this literature in its totality is unsurpassed among all other literary traditions of the world."\n\n"Hinduism is a process - for this reason, Hinduism must be studied not as a fixed body of doctrine, but as a developing tradition that has changed considerably throughout the centuries and which is still changing in a creative direction. Everything in India makes sense in the light of the changing process. Nothing makes sense without it. Hinduism is still a living, changing process and must be seen as such."
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The "church" as an institution I think has really used spirituality to hype the political agenda of it's rulers (witness the Inquisition). But the confirmation of rules that really help a society work (don't steal, murder, cop another person's spouse or property) I think would be something that a "God" would be all in favor of.  I think that there are God ordained humans whose life's work is to remind those of a lesser spiritual bent that "to treat others as you would be treated" is the ideal.  These people SHOULD be "the church" but like you say there are those who for milllineums have used the claim that they have a "direct line to God" to control whole populations.  I figure if there IS a God, and He created me, why wouldn't He care what happens to me and if I am living a worthwhile life or not. I'm not sure about a heaven or hell type of judgement, but once again, if there IS a God/Creator then I figure he cares if I am a hurter or a helper and when I go back to Him He will care about an accounting that I have for my actions while I passed through his Creation.
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1. Christ, a great guy, noble and fair teachings, not attached to material stuff... but totally warped by today's Xian churches (some more than others - some denominations I don't know so well. The best I know is Roman Catholic - very removed from primitive Xtianity). The part I like is Jesus' prechings of LOVE. The rest - no thanks.\n\n2. Islam, also an Abrahamic religion, based on the revelations to Muhammad, imposed by force of arms and bloodshed, very discriminative of women. No thanks.\n\n3. Hinduism - very attached to nature and its cycles, a "mother" to buddhism. With commom notions with buddhism (reincarnations, karma, nirvana). Complicated, sophisticated, worthy of study.\n\n4. Judaism - don't know it too well but since it's the origin of Xtian I can imagine. Their god seems a vindicative, jealous and angry one. No thanks.\n\n5. Mormon - That's a Xtian denomination. Not very familiar with its idiosyncrasies.\n\n6. Buddhist - ah, this is good. I mean apart the folkloric part, and you've got to conider the two strems - Therevada and Mahayana. I prefer the ZEN version (part of Therevada). Noble teachings, good advice, unattachment to material stuff, peace, not harming others and ANIMALS, I like it. Best part - NO GOD TO WORSHIP.  More of a philosophy or ethic code than religion. I definitrly could embrace Zen buddhism.\n\n7. Others. All that is related with Nature appeals to me. pagan, wicca, druid, etc. Special mention to NATURAL SCIENTIFIC PANTHEISM. Great if you are disappointed with present day religions. Connection to Nature, the Universe, reverence of the All. No need for a personal god. A philosophy rather than a religion, but with the component of awe, respect, delight, wonder and reverence for Nature and the Universe.\n\nLast word for Taoism - read the TAO-TE-QING. It's beautifully written, and great noble teachings. Unforgettable!! Truly impressive!!
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indiebaptist, I would say go jump in a lake and die except that my religion teaches me tolerance [unlike yours, apparently] and I wish the best for all [even pieces of scum]\n\n\nHinduism involves the belief that God is in everything and that God may be present in many forms. Therefore, we consider all life sacred [ because all life has the God force] and are often considered a polytheistic religion. The three main Gods are often said to be Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer. We believe that God is both male and female, so we worship God equally in female form. Our goddesses include Parvati, Saraswati, and Lakshmi. One very powerful Goddess is Durga, who the all forms of God turn to as the remover of obstacles. In her role as destroyer, she becomes Kali. All these Gods and Goddesses are part of the eternal, the universe, known as Brahman, one entity. Our human souls are considered to be part of Brahman. The soul transcends death. We are encouraged to fulfill our duty, whatever that may be, depending on the person, and become conscious of God. Once that happens, once our souls are cleansed, we can become part of the ultimate reality. What other religions refer to as "hell" is, for us, separation from God. Heaven is the perfect bliss that comes from being one with Brahman. We are reincarnated until we finally reach that state of perfect order and bliss. We wish to be liberated from an Earthly existence because, to put it simply, the further we get from our Earthly existence, the closer we get to becoming part of Brahman. \n\nHope that helped : )
651187
Im a Wiccan and yes it definately is a religion. We have collective worship in the form of covern meetings (although not essential as one can be a solitary witch) and a core central belief system in the form of the Wiccan Rede (an ye harm none, do what thou wilt.)\n\nSure we dont have the structure of other more mainstream religions but we have a strong sense of community and teach tolerance of other religions.)\n\nYou will probably get a few responses from the right wing Christian/Muslim factions saying we should all be burnt at the steak but i feel this is more a reflection at their own lack of faith rather than coherent argument.
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LITTE is a CHRISTIAN ORGANISATION. \n\nPRABHAKARAN IS VERY MUCH CHRISTIAN. \n\nPrabhakaran the cheif of LITTE Is a Christian who plans attacks.Prabhakaran's son is Charles Anthony !!\n\nAnton Balasingham, theoretician and main spokesman of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, is a christian.\n\nChristians keep the old Hindu names and castes names even  after conversion. It is interesting that when Christians do questionable things they call even converted Tribals or castes or groups as Hindu!!.\n\nLITTE is Tamil but not run by Hindus. not all Tamils are Hindus.\n\nWhy do you think it has contacts with other Christian Terrorist organisations of North east India.\n\nKillers of of Rajiv Gandhi were christian .\n\nHere read this Sri Lankan article written by a Buddhist.:\n\n".............While the Christian Administration and the world press are quick to pounce on the Buddhists for all the wrong reasons the same is not true for all the crimes committed by the CHRISTIAN LTTE in Sri Lanka.\n\nAll press reports on the atrocities committed by the Tamil insurgency led by the Christian LTTE are justified and legitimized in two simple sentences which always read as follows:\n\n“The Tiger insurgency was launched in 1983 on behalf of minority Hindu Tamils, who allege discrimination at the hands of the mostly Buddhist Sinhalese majority. The war has left 65,000 people dead.”\n\nThe Hindus and Buddhists are now slowly coming to the inevitable conclusion that they are staring at each other for all the wrong reasons in the world. Buddhists and Hindus lived side by side for hundreds of years visiting each others temples and kovils till the Christian powers and the Christian Church came to Sri Lanka!..........."\n\nIn north east they are doing the same in the name of NAGA ethenic tribal.\n\n".........Kunduthasan (Fat-thasan) was we found the same Jesuthasan Croos arrested in the Mannar bazaar referred to above. Jesuthasan was a brother of Hakkim, who died a member of the LTTE, making his family a hero’s family." \n\n"..... Human Rights would seem an abstraction where life is ceasing to be human. One sees the same indifference on the part of the LTTE to families, wives and children, no concern about how they live or die. Many young couples with young families suddenly find themselves devoid of the breadwinner. These young men who had started families and had young mouths to feed had been forcibly taken away by the LTTE for 1 to 3 years of military service, promising a monthly allowance for the upkeep of the families. The money comes for about 3 months and ceases. A number of these young men were LTTE cadres who left during the ceasefire and got married. \n\nAn official connected with a church establishment expressed alarm that several of these abandoned families ".\n\n"........They discovered that the LTTE had forcibly taken them into the interior jungle for military training, saying it was for ten days. But the men had not returned for more than two weeks. One of those who escaped was forcibly taken back by the LTTE."\n"...If a person left Mutur, the LTTE would abduct other members of the family, hold them hostage and send messages for the person to come back. Once a young person was on their list, the LTTE would go on making inquiries tracing the person. .........".\n\n\nHindu or christian LITTE does not have mass support and forces innocents to join its ranks.\n\nIt did killed even Christians who refused to join.\n\n"....Staying and killed with their sons upstairs was a business partner Navaratnam Ganesh whose daughter was married to a LTTE man in the Vanni. The Sellathurai family were Pentecostal Christians, who have a number of times got into trouble with the LTTE for their opposition to violence and its agents.."\n\n"...Our investigations show that Moorthy Martin had been approached by the LTTE several times to plant a claymore mine on the Vankalia road to destroy a
208428
Hi..I'm Indian [Hindu]. I COMPLETELY agree with your irritation at missionaries who go to India and other such countries and do community projects with the agenda to convert the "savages" in mind. It drives me nuts when ignorant crazy people like Pat Robertson go to India, visit religious places and watch sacred ceremonies and then criticize everything, including the most obviously positive aspects of Hinduism, such as its tolerance and the belief that all life is sacred. It is sickening that rather than trying to do good in these underprivileged areas, they are trying to spread their religion like a commercialized gimmick. I think that you may be pleased to know that the VHP [Vishwa Hindu Parishad] has been off late arranging re-conversion drives where converts who are unhappy with Christianity may accept their native religions again. These events are peaceful and voluntary, and allow people to rejoin and become active in their religions again.\nBy the way, I like how the word convert sounds negative even to the people who are attempting to do it. \n\nWhile I have the greatest tolerance for Christianity and respect for some aspects, it sounds ridiculous to those of us who are supposedly on the wrong path to be told that all Christian missionaries are trying to do is spread Jesus' love to us, when we are already given the love and protection of what can be seen as hundreds of different Gods or one force of compassion, forgiveness, kindness, and wealth. \n\nHeron-by-the-sea, thanks for bringing up this issue.. there are other people who feel strongly on these topics as well.
476760
I changed my faith to Hinduism from what I was brought up with, after YEARS of studying all I could about various religions, the Bible, and other Scriptures, ancient and world history, archaeology, etc.  I also "studied" myself.  I prayed a lot and came to understood that Hinduism is the religion of my soul, the religion I was when I was a child, before I was told what to believe.