I personally follow a close philosophy based around http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_LaVey Anton LaVey's writings. There are parts of it that is simply poetic dribble - but the underlying concept of "we are our own gods" has always stuck with me - especially how it applies to Buddhism - again the idea that once we are born our choices seem like they are made by others but in truth it is the decisions you make yourself that makes you either good or bad - and of course the 'metal philosophy' of "don't be a dick" goes right along with it

The last note is that although I'm not Norwegian and instead a boring white American I can only have an opinion on the Norse Black Metal message that Christianity is a scourge that needs cleansed - but at the same time I do see how "those who think they are the word of god" tend to push to the point of fanaticism - no matter which religion it may be. Again - I like the "don't be a dick" - haha

oh and no i don't believe in god - i'm a scientist by trade and it is really difficult for me to rationalize a supreme being - only that life (anywhere) is a happenstance between luck and environment.

There's one thing I always thought about religions: they're here just to comfort people's feelings of uselessness, emptiness and obviously lack of meaning. I've seen that some of the more intelligent people around end up believing in higher beings, because standing in front of an endless void would surely eat away all your sanity. This is what happened with some philosophers.

On the other hand you have people that refuses to believe, interpreting it as a "weakness" of the mind. They prefer to focus on earthly experiences instead of looking for undetermined, non-defined deities and supreme powers. There's a clear example, Nietzsche, who lost his sanity by the end of his life. That's something to learn about maybe.

I'm at a middle stage here. I don't believe that there's such a thing as God, but I'm deeply concerned about this topic and always opened to think deeper, and obviously accepting the human existence as a biological causality leads to torture yourself a great deal if you're the kind of person that tends to ask questions without any satisfactory answer. But I guess that, even so, I'd never believe in God, because scientific truth is the only we can know about.
Our senses are deceitful and they only show reality from a human perspective. We know nothing, and we'll never do. Starting from this point, you can fill your beliefs with whatever you want, but you'll never be 100% sure unless you've got faith, and I seem to lack a bit of it (because it proves nothing).
I prefer to find meaning in Arts, from literature to metal music. Sometimes it's enough. Sometimes don't.

I read all your posts. The subject rises controversy and there are many opinions. I respect each and everyone of them, but, in everyday life you must admit that you worship yourself and the most used philosophy is the survival of thy self - by any means. When you're young you have the time to think about all this. grow older... then everyday survival begins. Man...I'm old... and sure miss those days with spiritual and philosophical debates.

Eh whatever it is you believe in don't go jamming it down other peoples' throats. Anything is justified if you are open to hearing what others have to say but not if you're going to be a zealot. I am Pagan and though it is sad to live in a world where people are still stigmatizing thanks to the Inquisition, I still live each day to the fullest and to love everything living and breathing on this earth so that it may prosper. The future seems bleak at times but all will be well when the Earth swallows up everything we don't need to survive. Most Christians seem to think that they're getting a free ticket into a magical place where all your dreams come true as long as you apologize and brainwash as many people as possible and not many of them are smart enough to sift through all the biased garbage. Besides Lucifer is a symbol for knowledge, light, the eternal flame. I know many Satanists who, just like Pagans, have the insatiable hunger for knowledge and understanding, an appreciation for metaphor...though they won't take any bullshit from anyone regardless of who they are or were. Not really my thing, nor is atheism because well...it just doesn't appeal to me to think there is nothing more than just this. It is more important to be more godlike or Christlike than to walk around mindlessly baaaaaing at everyone, I think anyone can see that. Nihilism isn't necessarily depressing either, those people appreciate and value their time here most of all and find solace in sticking to one astral plane.

Nihilism.

(09-29-2012, 12:16 PM)Shatanka Писал(а): Yesterday some users were talking on chat about religion/life's philosophy so that inspired me to posting this thread. As we're social community, maybe someone of us would like to share his opinion about that. Do you belive in God or any higher power? What is the philosophy of life that you support?

Hello about the existence of god i believe that not necesary god exist only a high and superior entity exist, where from the magic? in this time we dont use it but she exist, about my life philosophy i live hearing metal reading books, studyng and i think that someday i will back to the battlefield, i miss her, when in the nights my eyes shine for the magic of the night.

i don't know...maybe there is something more like a god or higher energy, whatever. but definetely it's not personalized nor a being for itself. that was a story old thousands of years for people then so they could understand. i strongly believe in myself and althoughi'm a born christian i don't believe in a bible nor in a christ like he walked on a water (walking on a water was a hebrew's fishing ritual, not real walking on a water haha so it was understood incorectly). it just doesn't make sense that life has no point and that only materialistic exists, that would be stupid. also i understand that people believe in god because it's ok and positive, mostly if it gives you strenght when times are tough. what i cannot stand are the religion extremists. and that is mainly what gives a religiona bad reputation. i believe in myself, in my choices and what i do. if you don't make something for yourself, no one else will, that's for sure.

Every person views their life through a filter. For example, optimists see opportunity in every situation they face, while pessimists can only see defeat and failure. Both could be facing the same circumstances, but their filter determines how they respond. That filter could also be called their philosophy.

A philosophy is simply a way of thinking. And whether you know it or not, the direction that your life is going has been influenced and controlled by your personal philosophy or your dominant way of thinking.

Maybe your parents told you that you would never amount to anything, or a previous mate convinced you that you were worthless. Or perhaps a religious leader told you that you were cursed because of your behavior, and you believed him or her. Whatever the root cause for your belief (philosophy), you are being spoiled, and your treasure is being stolen.

In my own life, as I began to change the way I thought, it opened the door to the blessings that God had for me all along. I was actually limiting God by my small thinking; i.e., my philosophy. You may be doing the same thing. If you are, don’t waste any more time—change your mind.

when i turned 27 i had similar to a near death experience, never believed in a higher power until then. I was a punk rocker/death head in bands and extremely anti religious/deity until then.. I also respect everybodys opinions and beliefs, this is just what i know to be. I told my family and close friends about it...half believed i either had possibly a schizophrenic episode, or an endorphine rush causing hallucination....in which i did not. It was far too vivid, and now i know better. I recently read something from an amazon review if you can believe that of a book i was purchasing, and i respected this comment alot from a man named tony, it made people really think, and i think its very good reading for people. ill paste it here:

Tony: It's easy to understand atheist's like yourself. I'm not passing any type of judgement on you, but I would like you hear what I have tyo say.
As an ex-special forces member, I was used to seeing death, pain, suffering and grief. It seemed as the more I tried to numb myself to what I was seeing nearly everyday, the more I realized I could not.
After leaving the service, I found myself wondering, why, in almost every instance one of my team members died his injuries, they seem to be looking at and talking to someone I could not see. In any case, what they saw and heard brought them great comfort and a type of reassurance that I could see on their face. Every one of my team members was a believer in Christ. I lost 7 men.
In 2003, I accepted a contract as a private security contractor in Iraq and later in Afghanistan. I led an Alpha team consisting of 26 ex-SOG members. Two of them, were devout atheists and laughed at the thought of a God and seeing me lead a prayer prior to each shift.. I tried to explain to them that If I was wrong, I had nothing to lose, but if they were wrong, they everything to lose.
Shortly after leaving our compound in the Green Zone on 6-11-94, our convoy came under heavy fire from the roof tops. I lost 3 men that day. The 1st was the atheist that ridiculed me.He had taken a round between his hip and groin, most like severing the femoral artery. As our paramedic was trying to get an IV started, I held him as he looked beyond me. I saw his eyes open wide and heard him say, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please, please" Then he died. My second casualty was the counterpart to the 1st. Although I was not present when he died, I was told he said something similar to the 1st. The final casualty was a believer and again, I was not with him, but I told later that he was peaking to someone named Donnie within the last 15 seconds of his. He smiled, reached out his hand and said 'OK, OK, I'm ready"
I wrote to his parents a few day later and for some reason, I told them what he had said. I got a letter from his mother about a month later. Donnie was his older brother who had been killed in a car accident in 1997.
My only daughter was killed on June 10th 2009. I was on leave in the US for Fathers Day. I stand before God and say, that what happened just prior to her death is proof that God is here. If you want to know that story, I will provide you with my email below and I will send you her story.
You see Tony, you are wrong in your statement the only one person at a time has seen God. In fact, no man has. Those, Abraham, Moses, Daniel etc., witnessed the spirit of God. Their works, under the direction of God, were miracles and could not have been performed by man alone. Jesus, after his crucifixion, was seen and witnessed by more than 40 people. The Greek historian Josephus, not a believer, writes about this and the official Roman records of Pilate support the empty tomb and subsequent sightings.
My brother, it is easy to be a non-believer and live without any thought of recourse for ones actions. On the other hand, is is difficult to be a true believer. One must regard others before ones
self, bestow compassion, love and with hold judgement of any. Above all, one must trust completely in the Lord and be led by a steadfast faith.
I will, regardless, include you in my prayers tonight. I will ask our Savior, to open your eyes to the truth. I know, that within the next 24 hours, something will happen in your life that will lead you to him. fdshumock @ yahoo.com

thanks for your eyes, and great thread q&a
glen

edit im now 36, still a punk and death head and etc...nothing has changed, accept everything. i learned that one day how little i really know, some things really put you in your place.

Well, i'm an aithest 100% i don't believe in anything out from my will, and i hate religion with all of myself. It caused a lot of clashes with a lot of people around me, but this is a thing i'm trying to overcome with age.
Death? Well, i don't care: like an old greek prophet said: "don't fear death: if you're there, it isn't here. If it's there you aren't"