Building Bridges Between Beliefs.

[mooxim]

Introduction
After watching a program called 'Around the world in 80 faiths', I was struck by the integral part that faith plays in a lot of cultures around the world. It inspired me to try to convey to atheists on YouTube that there are good things about religion, despite what a lot of them may think. But also to give atheists a chance to express how they get along just fine without it and hopefully dispel some of the fears that stop people from opening their minds to other world views and belief systems.

I compiled a list of questions which ask what my viewers belief systems do for them and was hoping to make a series of videos addressing each role that religion can play and asking YouTubers to explain how their different belief systems fulfill that role, even unreligious people.


Questions

1. How do you console yourself about a loved one dying/ the thought of yourself dying?

2. What makes you hopeful for the future/ what do you do when you feel you have no control?

3. Who do you turn to when you feel alone/ what would you do if you had no one to turn to?

4. What community/ies do you associate yourself with?

5. What is your purpose in life/ how do you know this is your purpose?

6. Who are you accountable to?

7. Who or what, if anything, do you worship, idolise, revere or cherish and why is it important to you that you do?

8. What do you celebrate/ what rituals/traditions do you practice?

9. What would you die for?

10. What would you kill for?

11. Have you ever felt euphoria, how did it happen?

12. What charities do you give to, why?

13. What makes you proud to be human?

old 14. What makes you proud to be the person you are?
(Ignore if you want. There doesn't seem to be much religious influence on peoples' answers to this one)

14. What consoles you when you are not proud, or even ashamed of yourself?

15. Why do you do good deeds/ why don't you do bad things/ where do you get your morals from?

16. What do you do for personal reflection? (Pray, diary, blog)

17. Do you enjoy becoming part of a mob/crowd and/or joining sing-alongs? Who do you do this with? Where?

18. What do you do when you feel tempted to question your faith? Why?

19. Has reading other peoples' answers allowed you to understand how they can cope with different beliefs to yours?

20. Has it opened your mind, at all, to other ways of thinking?

21. To atheists, has reading other peoples' answers given you an appreciation of the roles of religion in some peoples' lives and of why their beliefs might be so firm and unwavering?[/b]

I've numbered them so that you can easily refer to them.
Some questions are quite similar or feed into others really well.

What I'd like the Pogo tribe to do.

a) Answer as many or as few as you like of questions 1 to 21 here on the forums.

and/or

b) Offer criticism, advice or help with my idea, my questions or on how best to present my project so that it reaches a lot of people.

[shawa]

Are you asking non-theists to answer here? If so I'd be more than happy to oblige. After seeing the conversation between Dan & TBOC, I've taken a completely different stance on talking to people of faith.

[sightedkarma]

Hey I'd be happy to help out

I'm Wiccan so our beliefs tend to be misunderstood very easily.
So let me know if you want it in video form and where to send you the file.

Good Luck!

[mooxim]

Mar 30, 2010 17:32:22 GMT -5 shawa said:

Are you asking non-theists to answer here?

I was really hoping for the bit I put in bold:
Take up my idea and run with it.

But if you'd like to answer here then I suppose it would help for when the project gets organised and compiled.

To answer your question though, yes I was hoping for everyone of all belief systems to answer the questions. Obviously you don't have to answer all of them.

[mooxim]

I've rejigged the first post to hopefully offer a better description of what I'm asking for.

[shawa]

Ah, ok. Didn't read it thoroughly enough. I'll have a set of responses up here before the day is out!

[rachelcity]

I'm an agnostic, and I'm quite interested in faith and religion. I thought it'd be enjoyable to answer these questions and give some insight on how living without faith sn't hard at all, as many people think it is. Hope it doesn't bother you that I'm answering on here ;D

Questions

1. How do you console yourself about a loved one dying/ the thought of yourself dying?

I tend to think of all of the possibilities for an afterlife. Each religion depicts something different; reincarnation, Heaven, Hell, and also the possibility of just ceasing to exist. Each of these, (with the exception of Hell), do not reult in suffering. (And, if you think about it, if God is who people say He is then he would not allow people to be sent to Hell or for Hell to even exist). Also, none of these options are under my cotrol, so there is no use worrying for every person will go through it or has gone through it.

2. What makes you hopeful for the future/ what do you do when you feel you have no control?

I don't think that I have ever felt that I have no control over my own life. With no believe of some supernatural being directing my every move, I feel as if I can do anything if only I feel the desire. Any path I choose is mine. I see the future asightplace because it is whatever I want it to be.

3. Who do you turn to when you feel alone/ what would you do if you had no one to turn to?

I turn to friends whom I can trust. This sems to be the most logical approach. Although, if I have people to turn to then I have no reason to feel alone. If I have no one to turn to, then I write, discussing my issues with myself.



5. What is your purpose in life/ how do you know this is your purpose?

My purpose in life is to be happy and to make it what I want it to be. I know it is my purpose because I made it my purpose. This is what I want it to be. I believe that a person's purpose in life is up to them to decide and pursue, and that no one else can determine it.

6. Who are you accountable to?

Myself and the people that I care about.

7. Who or what, if anything, do you worship, idolise, revere or cherish and why is it important to you that you do?

I don't see a reason to worship any one/thing. This would require me to devote some part of myself so that i doesn't benifit me. Although it sounds selfish, I believe that there isn't anything worth 'worshipping'.

8. What do you celebrate/ what rituals/traditions do you practice?

I celebrate basic holidays like Easter and Christmas, but with no religious relation.

9. What would you die for?

The well-being of a person I love or for a cause I believe in.

10. What would you kill for?

Nothing. I don't believe in killing others.

[Skipped 11 because I don't see relevance to the subject]

12. What charities do you give to, why?

I try to contribute to charities benifitting humans such as suicide prevention, world hunger, etc. because I find people to be the most important thing to protect and help.

13. What makes you proud to be human?

Humans are capable of so many beautiful things and of comprehending those things.

14. What makes you proud to be the person you are?

I have no reason not to be proud. I have a good future ahead of me, work hard, and am I am confident in myself.

15. What consoles you when you are not proud, or even ashamed of yourself?

Th fact that I can change whatever I am not proud of, or that I can change my viewpoint.

16. Why do you do good deeds/ why don't you do bad things/ where do you get your morals from?

I simply believe in making other people as well as myself happy. Happiness is the main goal for everyone, right? I feel that certain people deserve happiness, and I do my best to attribute to their well-being. Some people may say that I d bad things, but the view of 'good' and 'bad' are opinions. To me, they are not bad.

18. What do you do when you feel tempted to question your faith? Why?

I have no faith. This allows me to be open to every faith there is, and to question all of it. I enjoy questioning things, and believe that to question something means that you are thinking for yourself.

19. Has reading other peoples' answers allowed you to understand how they can cope with different beliefs to yours?

I understand how religion brings comfort, whether or not the fact that it may be a false comfort. People need something solid in their lifes, and for some, this is God.

20. Has it opened your mind, at all, to other ways of thinking?

My mind has always been open. I accept everyone's choice in faith, whether or not I belief it myself.

21. To atheists, has reading other peoples' answers given you an appreciation of the roles of religion in some peoples' lives and of why their beliefs might be so firm and unwavering?

I see religion as a comfort mechanism. Although I do appreciate it, I belief that people should question things instead of saying they are true because it was how they were raised. (My mother has raised me in an attempt to force her Catholic religion on me, which I believe is wrong).

[sightedkarma]

I'm Wiccan as I stated before, here are my answers

1. How do you console yourself about a loved one dying/ the thought of yourself dying?

When a loved one passes we have a ceremony for the body, to help ensure the soul passes on to the next life without much time in limbo. Afterward we mourn the loss of our friend or family member, but rejoice in knowing they get a new life to persue happiness again.

2. What makes you hopeful for the future/ what do you do when you feel you have no control?

When I feel I have no control I remind myself that the Goddess would not give me something I didn't need. Meaning if I'm meant to be tested, there is a reason, so that I'm more prepared in life, or so that the reward will help me continue. Also that I have my fellow coven members for support and clarity when I lose my way.

3. Who do you turn to when you feel alone/ what would you do if you had no one to turn to?

I turn to friends and family, the same way most people do. If I had no one to turn to, I would probably meditate and commune with the Goddess, to remind myself I'm not alone. Then seek out coven comfort.

4. What community/ies do you associate yourself with?

I am an Electentric Wiccan, and I hail from the Crescent Moon Coven.

5. What is your purpose in life/ how do you know this is your purpose?

Our purpose in life is to always do our best to make the world a better place, to go after the happiness and success we have for that life span, and to bring others along with us, hold up the community.

6. Who are you accountable to?

I am accountable to myself, and the Goddess. As a Wiccan Priestess I help lead my coven, but if I need guidance I can go to my lesser Priestess or Priest, or my local High Priestess.

7. Who or what, if anything, do you worship, idolise, revere or cherish and why is it important to you that you do?

The Mother Goddess/Moon Mother/Mother Earth...she has many names, and her Consort/God. But many of us also worship the Greek/Norse/ect gods from other cultures, as they all originated in the Pagan religions. In Wicca we have certain ones we cling to more then others.

8. What do you celebrate/ what rituals/traditions do you practice?

Well we have several 'Holidays' that we celebrate.
Samhain - Otherwise known as the day of the dead. Generally on Oct. 31st, to pay homage to our ancestors and those who've passed before us.

Beltane - April 30th, Celebrating the Sun God and his coming back to the seasons. Usually big feasts and Ceremonies. Also known as May day...you have have heard of the May Pole...yea.

Yule - Dec. 21st. There are 12 days of Yule where we celebrate the Solstice and the Dark Half of the year coming and going.

There are more, but those are the main three for now. We like to eat, and always have ceremonies involved.

9. What would you die for?

Friends and Family

10. What would you kill for?

Friends and Family

11. Have you ever felt euphoria, how did it happen?

When I meditate I do.

12. What charities do you give to, why?

Cancer research and Local Charities, for community support and for my family.

13. What makes you proud to be human?

Emotions. They are a beautiful thing.

14. What makes you proud to be the person you are?

I know who I am, I'm a strong person and my beliefs make me stronger, giving me a basis for my decisions and the family and friends I have.

15. What consoles you when you are not proud, or even ashamed of yourself?

Knowing I have a second chance, that the Goddess and Life will always provide.

16. Why do you do good deeds/ why don't you do bad things/ where do you get your morals from?

Three fold rule. Everything you do, will come back to you three fold. If your a good person, good things will happen. If you do bad things, they'll come back to you too.

[mooxim]

Wow thanks you two. It means a lot to me to get some responses and I'm looking forward to using your contributions when I set this up. The feedback has encouraged me to continue with the project. I think I'll be putting it up as one video at a time asking my viewers to give their answers. Ideally I want someone of each of the major religious doctrines to answer the questions so the first Muslim, Christian, Jew, Sikh or any other new religion to answer my questions get extra credit. I've already got a set of answers from a buddhist but, of course, beliefs vary from person to person within a faith so multiple people from similar faiths are more than welcome to have a go. Or alternatively just reply to any of the questions that you can offer a different answer to. I'm not looking to find out how many people do each thing.

[Deleted]

Mar 30, 2010 16:49:45 GMT -5 mooxim said:

Introduction
After watching a program called 'Around the world in 80 faiths', I was struck by the integral part that faith plays in a lot of cultures around the world. It inspired me to try to convey to atheists on YouTube that there are good things about religion, despite what a lot of them may think. But also to give atheists a chance to express how they get along just fine without it and hopefully dispel some of the fears that stop people from opening their minds to other world views and belief systems.

I compiled a list of questions which ask what my viewers belief systems do for them and was hoping to make a series of videos addressing each role that religion can play and asking YouTubers to explain how their different belief systems fulfill that role, even unreligious people.

It's been a long time since I came up with the idea and I can't see myself completing it by myself.

After reading the values of Pogotribe I felt motivated to let the tribe know so that if anyone wants to, they can help me develop and complete my idea.

I may eventually make a video for each but to start off, the best approach may be to give each question a SPOTM Wiki page.

Anyway. Here are the questions.

Questions



I've numbered them so that you can easily refer to them.
Some questions are quite similar or feed into others really well.

What I'd like the Pogo tribe to do.
a) I'd love it if anyone of any beliefs would answer as many or as little questions as they want, in as much or as little detail as they like.
If you answer them here then they can be used in whatever form the project takes at a later date.
b) Offer criticism or advice on my idea, my questions or on how to present my project.

One thing I want to say before answering the questions: Atheist don't necessarily believe religion is a bad thing, they just don't believe

I went to Christian school both elementary and high school, but I consider myself an atheist.

1. How do you console yourself about a loved one dying/ the thought of yourself dying?
I'm not quite sure about this one yet. The only person I loved that died so far is my grandfather, and that was only a month and 3 weeks ago, so it's not like I'm an expert. However, I tend to think that death is just a necessary part of living and my grandfather had a good life and I loved him a lot, so I just like to think about how happily he lived and how serene he passed away.

2. What makes you hopeful for the future/ what do you do when you feel you have no control?
Things like the PogoTribe, where people strive not for their own good, but for the general well-being of the human race and this planet.
Also knowing that I never have had any problems with making friends and that I will always have people to relate to.
I don't really ever feel like I'm not in control of my own life.

3. Who do you turn to when you feel alone/ what would you do if you had no one to turn to?
I don't know.. I don't feel alone very often I guess :/

4. What community/ies do you associate yourself with?
a) My university
b) My scoutsgroup
c) The wonderfull people in the PogoTribe (in specific) and on the internet in general
d) My family
e) My friends
f) ...
(no specific order)

5. What is your purpose in life/ how do you know this is your purpose?
To not become boring to myself. To achieve at least one thing of which I can be genuinely proud. (I don't mean this egocentric, I can easily be replaced by we)

6. Who are you accountable to?
Society, my immediate surrounding, earth

7. Who or what, if anything, do you worship, idolise, revere or cherish and why is it important to you that you do?
Anyone who thinks and acts for the good of others. I don't believe in true altruism, but I do believe that people have the intention to do good and people who do are awesome. Also people who are 30+ and still do what they love to do.

8. What do you celebrate/ what rituals/traditions do you practice?
I try to meditate daily, but it's more like weekly My family (not my parents' generation, but 1 generation older) celebrate the Christian things, and I attend to those, but only to show respect to the people I love.

9. What would you die for?
Everlasting world peace. No doubt. also equality throughout the world in a way that the weight on the planet humongously decreases. I'd require a statue though.

10. What would you kill for?
Nothing. I would not be able to kill.

11. Have you ever felt euphoria, how did it happen?
When my first girlfriend kissed me. Took me half an hour to actually realise it and by that time I was already at home.

12. What charities do you give to, why?
At the moment I don't have the budget to donate to charity, as I'm just a uni student, but my parents donate to various charity programs. I do volunteer from time to time though.

13. What makes you proud to be human?
At the moment there are more things that make me feel ashamed to be human than things that make me proud.. But whenever I see pure love between two people I'm glad to be able to witness that and to be able to feel such feelings. Is that actually an answer to your question? I'm not sure.

14. What makes you proud to be the person you are?
This question should be posed to my friends and family and be "What makes you happy that you know Rik?" Because my biggest care in the world is to make others happy around me, so I can share in their happiness and they in mine.

15. What consoles you when you are not proud, or even ashamed of yourself?
Not much to be honest I guess I kind of suppress those feelings

16. Why do you do good deeds/ why don't you do bad things/ where do you get your morals from?
I don't know. I think it's just basic human nature combined with a decent education.

17. What do you do for personal reflection? (Pray, diary, blog)
I just think basically. And if possible I like to debate with people about what I'm thinking
I am starting a blog though, but it's going to be mainly for stuff that I review. I might use it for posting personal rants or stuff as well, don't know yet.

18. Do you enjoy becoming part of a mob/crowd and/or joining sing-alongs? Who do you do this with? Where?
Not really my thing to be honest..

[cmc413 (aka Chrissy)]

I think that this is a really interesting topic and a great idea. From the few people that have posted I've learned about other people's viewpoints. I'm a Catholic, which might make my viewpoints a bit different from other Christians', but not too much different.

1. How do you console yourself about a loved one dying/ the thought of yourself dying?

I believe that as long as people do good during their lives and ask for forgiveness when they have done something wrong, they have a good chance of getting into Heaven. I try my best to do the right thing and pray for forgiveness when I've screwed up, so I'm not very worried about what happens after I die.

2. What makes you hopeful for the future/ what do you do when you feel you have no control?

I know that as long as there is a future, there is a chance that things will get better, so I know that even if things are currently bad, there's a good chance that things will get better. When I feel like I have no control, it's usually a situation that isn't that serious (forgot my textbook, dog ate my essay, etc.), so I mostly try to calm myself down and put my "mini-crisis" into perspective with other things going on in the world.

3. Who do you turn to when you feel alone/ what would you do if you had no one to turn to?

I turn to my family and friends, sometimes I'll write how I'm feeling. If I had no one to turn to, I would pray.

4. What community/ies do you associate yourself with?

My communities are like stacking dolls. I have my immediate family, my school, my local community, the USA, and the much larger global community.

5. What is your purpose in life/ how do you know this is your purpose?

My purpose in life is to spread life, love, and happiness. I know this for a few reasons. First of all, Jesus created two commandments: love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. Besides, I'm sure that pretty much anyone can agree that doing good things for others makes everyone feel better.

6. Who are you accountable to?

I am accountable to myself and everyone else in the world because we all live on this planet.

7. Who or what, if anything, do you worship, idolise, revere or cherish and why is it important to you that you do?

I worship the three parts of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I think that this is important because God created everything, and to me it's important to thank Him for it, because without God I wouldn't be typing all of this right now. Getting into Heaven is also important, but that should never be the main motivation for worshipping God.

8. What do you celebrate/ what rituals/traditions do you practice?

I celebrate Christmas and Easter in a religious way and try not to let commercialism get in the way. I also celebrate all of the different national holidays. I used to celebrate other religious holidays when I was in Catholic school, but now that I'm in public school I mostly forget when they are (mostly because I would get time off school for some of them).

9. What would you die for?

I would die for my family and friends.

10. What would you kill for?

I have no idea. I would probably only kill for my family in a very worst case scenario.

11. Have you ever felt euphoria, how did it happen?

I have never felt euphoria.

12. What charities do you give to, why?

I give to charities that will improve the lives of others directly, whether it is for cancer research, relief effort, or long-term development. One of my favorite charities is Invisible Children because it focuses on rebuilding schools and helping people to save money.

13. What makes you proud to be human?

The fact that I can think about others and learn new things instead of focusing on my own survival makes me proud to be human.

14. What makes you proud to be the person you are?

I try to do my best to do the right thing and show the world who I really am.

15. What consoles you when you are not proud, or even ashamed of yourself?

If I am not proud of myself, I know that I can always be forgiven by God.

16. Why do you do good deeds/ why don't you do bad things/ where do you get your morals from?

Most of my morals come from my faith. I do good deeds because they make the world a better place and they make me feel better when I do them. I don't do bad things because I don't have any reason to do them when I can live perfectly well without them.

*16. What do you do for personal reflection? (Pray, diary, blog)
Every night I pray and write something in my diary.

17. Do you enjoy becoming part of a mob/crowd and/or joining sing-alongs? Who do you do this with? Where?
I'm not a huge fan of crowds because they can get kind of loud and annoying, but I don't mind joining sing-alongs with my musical friends.

18. What do you do when you feel tempted to question your faith? Why?
I think about the times that my faith has helped in my life and in other people's lives because it helps me to see that my life wouldn't be as good as it is now if I didn't have faith.

19. Has reading other peoples' answers allowed you to understand how they can cope with different beliefs to yours?
Yes, definitely. I have a much better understanding of other people's beliefs.

20. Has it opened your mind, at all, to other ways of thinking?
Yes, I'm more interested in learning about the beliefs of other cultures and religions.

I'm curious to see what other people post here because this is a really good way to see that people may have some different beliefs but they are not really that different.

EDIT: Answered the rest of the questions. It's been a great experience reading other people's responses.

[Deleted]

oh yeah, to be specific, I'd have to say I went to Catholic schools

[mooxim]

This is brilliant guys thank you so much. I really appreciate the positive feedback as well.

[mooxim]

I added an extra couple to the end of the list of questions.

[Deleted]

answered to them edited them in my other post

[kernoll]

1. How do you console yourself about a loved one dying/ the thought of yourself dying?
I think about it like life goes on and dont bother. Its not like i think about him like he went away. That is not important. The important think is that he is not here and that is kind of sad...

2. What makes you hopeful for the future/ what do you do when you feel you have no control?
Im always trying to have control with my life and i think i am doing it pretty well.

3. Who do you turn to when you feel alone/ what would you do if you had no one to turn to?
If i am alone there is no need to be anyone else. I can go with my own company. But that doesnt mean i dont like presence of toher people. I love it. But i just dont need. Its like spice of life. It tasets better but its not necessary ingredient of food...

4. What community/ies do you associate yourself with?
My scout group, my Bros (only the closest friends) and school.

5. What is your purpose in life/ how do you know this is your purpose?
At this moment my purpose of life is "Have fun and be awsome" that was my purpose even before the Tribe was founded.

6. Who are you accountable to?
I am accountable to the society, my friends and surrounding in general.

7. Who or what, if anything, do you worship, idolise, revere or cherish and why is it important to you that you do?
Myself

8. What do you celebrate/ what rituals/traditions do you practice?
Mostly just routine events with my friends and some stuff i

9. What would you die for?
My friends and family.

10. What would you kill for?
For happyness of my surrounding.

11. Have you ever felt euphoria, how did it happen?
It happens all the time... Probalby becouse of my point of view of the world...

12. What charities do you give to, why?
I work for scouts which is actually help for society (as part of educational system)

13. What makes you proud to be human?
Im not proud to be human at all. I am ashamed.

14. What makes you proud to be the person you are?
I am not proud but satisfied...

16. Why do you do good deeds/ why don't you do bad things/ where do you get your morals from?
Dont do to other what you dont want to be done to you...

17. What do you do for personal reflection? (Pray, diary, blog)
thinking about my life

18. Do you enjoy becoming part of a mob/crowd and/or joining sing-alongs? Who do you do this with? Where?
I enjoy become part of group of individuals. Because we are in group but still we are ourselves...

[mooxim]

A couple of youtubers answered an early version of the questions which I thought I'd put on here for everyone else to see and for my easy access.

Buddhist
1.How do you console yourself about a loved one dying/ the thought of yourself dying?
With the reality of impermanence all compound things are subject to impermanence, with birth comes death and decay of the body. I know that matter and energy are not created nor destroyed, they simply change forms I believe the mind, the true nature of mind not the ordinary grasping, craving conditioned mind is energy simply moving on changing forms.

I do not fear death for myself or others ( not saying I do not wish to live as long as I can) I fear the suffering of beings.


2. What makes you hopeful for the future/ what do you do when you feel you have no control?

I have only control over me, over my emotions ( work to) actions over my loving kindness, respect and compassion for all living beings. I seek nor desire control over anything or any one else such can not be done and only causes suffering.

I am hopeful that through my actions of compassions others will suffer less and be come more loving and help others who help others. The seeds of compassion produce endless more seeds when the causes and conditions are right.


3. Who do you turn to when you feel alone/ what would you do if you had no one to turn to?

Been there done that and it is I that I must turn to. I do love my Buddhist beliefs but not as a teddy bear to protect me there is nothing in reality to fear it is an illusion in the greatest reality.

4. What community/ies do you associate yourself with?

Humans. Walls, categories titles only separate the belief that there is a us and them is just that an illusion which causes suffering, wars death.

5. What is your purpose in life/ how do you know this is your purpose?
To love all beings to just love them, to help care for them to have compassion for them. To love my family and teach them ( my kids) to be kind and loving and help others.

If there is nothing after this life is fine with me I would change nothing.
I believe Theist who seek to do what is good and right, to cause no harm to others only out of fear of a god, out of respect of a god, seeking reward from god and not the respect or love of the beings the real known living humans are in no way moral.

6. What, if anything, do you worship and why is it important to you that you do?

Living things, their suffering no matter who they are, what they look like, talk like, who they may love what they believe .

7. What do you celebrate/ what rituals do you practice?

I being raised Christian still have a xmas for my son but it has to do with giving loving. I do love the cultural things of Tibet and other places and beliefs but more so Buddhist. As a Buddhist we see these as just rituals and having no magical powers or pleasing a god.

8. What would you die for?
To save other lives.

9. What would you kill for?
To save other lives but would be heart broken to take a life. I look at all beings regardless though the eyes of a Longfellow quote, in fact have it tattooed on my left forearm .
"If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility." ---- [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]
The person who I would kill to save others I know no matter how evil his act was rooted in personal suffering.


10. Have you ever felt euphoria, how did it happen?

This is hard; I have a life time of depression rooted in sexual and physical abuse starting as a small child. For years it controlled me now I control it and that started by loving and forgiving the people who harmed me knowing it was done to them. Hate became compassion and my freedom started. BUT depression, self hatred are part of me and will not be gone in this life and thats cool. I once had a Dr ask me the first time I was hospitalized for depression if I was ever felt euphoria, I was 24 and had no idea what he meant after he explained it was a simple no. I feel close in my love for my wife and kids and seeing others suffering ease. I should meditate as it would be freedom for me but my mind never stops so meditation is so hard. Ill get it some day not perhaps this life but will. I will say just once I was able to in meditation reach what is just the 2nd level I would say for a few moments I was filled with bliss it was so shocking to me I grasped to it and it was lost


11. What charities do you give to, if it's not too difficult a question, why?

Well as you can see I founded one The Giving Circle and that is my fav..lol But I do to many. Why ? because people suffer.

Atheist

1. How do you console yourself about a loved one dying/ the thought of yourself dying?

I show them that Hell is a human invention. I've done that already, and several people have been comforted by that.

2. What makes you hopeful for the future/ what do you do when you feel you have no control?

If I have control I do the right thing. If I have no control it makes no difference.

3. Who do you turn to when you feel alone/ what would you do if you had no one to turn to?

Relieved. I love having time to myself.

4. What community/ies do you associate yourself with?

Family, friends, neighbors, in that order.

5. What do you feel is your purpose in life/ how do you know this is your purpose?

Make other people happy. I know because I made it myself.

6. What, if anything, do you worship and why is it important to you that you do?

Tea. I can't get through the day without it.

7. What do you celebrate/ what rituals do you practice?

Birthdays, Xmas, New Years / Breakfast in bed.

8. What would you die for?

To save my children's lives.

9. Would you ever kill another human being, if so why might you?

If I had to, if they were going to do serious harm.

10. Have you ever felt euphoria, how did it happen?

Too many times to relate.

11. What charities do you give to, if it's not too difficult a question, why?

Medecins sans frontieres. I rarely give to charities, though. My wife and I spend money for the education of intelligent children in the Philippines who otherwise would not get one.

[jaw]

1. How do you console yourself about a loved one dying/ the thought of yourself dying?
I just realize that it's all a part life and that wanting the person to live is selfish since the person could be in a better place now. The thought of me dying is terrifying to me, it's not something that is easy for me to comprehend that I can die any minute.

2. What makes you hopeful for the future/ what do you do when you feel you have no control?
Realizing things get better. Nothing, I realize you cannot control everything in life, and I haven't really gotten that feeling

3. Who do you turn to when you feel alone/ what would you do if you had no one to turn to?
I rarely turn to people when I'm feeling lonely, I turn to music.

4. What community/ies do you associate yourself with?
Dunno

5. What is your purpose in life/ how do you know this is your purpose?
I want to make the world a better place.

6. Who are you accountable to?

7. Who or what, if anything, do you worship, idolise, revere or cherish and why is it important to you that you do?
Music. Music is always there for you, the opinions of it's authors and stories inside the music are something you can always relate to.

8. What do you celebrate/ what rituals/traditions do you practice?
The basic holidays (Christmas, Easter, Birthdays etc.)

9. What would you die for?
I'm not sure.
10. What would you kill for?
I wouldn't, I don't believe in violence.
11. Have you ever felt euphoria, how did it happen?
Nope. I've been happy, but I've never been happy enough to call it euphoria.
12. What charities do you give to, why?

13. What makes you proud to be human?
Our intelegence and ability to analyze and choose.

14. What makes you proud to be the person you are?
I'm a nice person and I try to think in a positive way.

15. What consoles you when you are not proud, or even ashamed of yourself?
music.

16. Why do you do good deeds/ why don't you do bad things/ where do you get your morals from?
Because I believe that it takes less effort to do good deeds than to do bad ones, and that it will benifit me and the world if i do good deeds.

17. What do you do for personal reflection? (Pray, diary, blog)
I just listen to music and think.

18. Do you enjoy becoming part of a mob/crowd and/or joining sing-alongs? Who do you do this with
Uhm not sure.

[speakmouthwords]

1. How do you console yourself about a loved one dying/ the thought of yourself dying?

I come up with and cycle through a number of ideas as to what happens when you die, involving quantum immortality, infinite lucid dream etc

2. What makes you hopeful for the future/ what do you do when you feel you have no control?

Just flow with it, do the best you can.

3. Who do you turn to when you feel alone/ what would you do if you had no one to turn to?

I revel in solitude so this isn't an issue for me.

4. What community/ies do you associate yourself with?

First and foremost, the metalhead community. Then europeans, then the internet in general, then you guys, then other people with concave chests. We are mighty.

5. What is your purpose in life/ how do you know this is your purpose?

My purpose in life is to help save the world by going into clean energy research.

6. Who are you accountable to?

Humanity.

7. Who or what, if anything, do you worship, idolise, revere or cherish and why is it important to you that you do?

I revere epic music, it brings to me sense of power and joy that is just as strong as the religious experience I had.

8. What do you celebrate/ what rituals/traditions do you practice?

I don't tolerate illogical, ritualistic, dogmatic behaviour.

9. What would you die for?

I would die for a dignified/glorious/awe-inspiring death and no less.

10. What would you kill for?

A Unified European Nation.

11. Have you ever felt euphoria, how did it happen?

Had a buddhist religious experience in a beautiful malaysian temple.

When my parents found my copy of pokemon gold I thought I'd lost for months.

At the climax of certain songs.

Out of all of these, the pokemon one was strongest, but I was like 9.

12. What charities do you give to, why?

Only climate change and cancer research. Both due to their universal nature.

13. What makes you proud to be human?

www.phys.ncku.edu.tw/~astrolab/mirrors/apod_e/image/0104/columbia_sts1_big.jpg

14. What makes you proud to be the person you are?

Oxford University.

15. What consoles you when you are not proud, or even ashamed of yourself?

"Oh poor Alex, children the world over are dying in immensely poor conditions and you just admitted you liked Single Ladies Put A Ring On It to all your friends. Boo friggin hoo."

16. Why do you do good deeds/ why don't you do bad things/ where do you get your morals from?

Buddhism.

17. What do you do for personal reflection? (Pray, diary, blog)

Blog (http://www.gloriousodyssey.blogspot.com/)

and meditation.

18. Do you enjoy becoming part of a mob/crowd and/or joining sing-alongs? Who do you do this with? Where?

Sing along at gigs, when drunk, when at festivals, on buses. I'm a singing type o' guy!

[mooxim]

Thanks jaw and speakmouthwords.

I think I'm going to get rid of question 14. There doesn't seem to be any religious influence on peoples' answers for that one.