User:The Ungovernable Force/Poll
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Ok, so I decided to start a page where I can hold straw polls to get people's opinions on various things, either related to wiki or not. Right now, I want to know what religious text people think I should read. I personally lean towards a mix of agnostic atheism, strong agnosticism, and I just saw the term "spiritual agnosticism" on the agnosticism page and that sounded sort of good as well. I also lean towards a somewhat animistic way of thinking. Basically I have trouble believing, and in fact dislike the concept, of God(s/ess/esses) as actual beings with any kind of power that control things. I have less of an issue with "god" defined from a pantheistic (or maybe even a panentheist) viewpoint.
Anyway, this isn't meant to be "find the religious or spiritual text you think will fit my beliefs best." As an anthropologist, I just want to get exposed to some ideas that I may or may not agree with, but that I hopefully haven't had much exposure to yet. In other words, the Bible or Torah probably aren't great options since the society I live in, America, is flooded with those ideas. The Qur'an might be ok, but I still would prefer to get away from a monotheistic view. Perhaps some of the Vedas, or some other Eastern thing. Any ideas? BTW, this poll is non-binding as I have the right to choose not to read whatever most people think I should. Also, please give reasons as to why you think I should read the text you propose. Thanks! Ungovernable ForceGot something to say? 07:03, 17 January 2007 (UTC)
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[edit] Snow Crash and The Alphabet vs. The Goddess
[edit] Support
ok, i've had a few beers, so i hope i don't make a mess of your poll. i very much recommend reading The Alphabet vs. The Goddess[1] by Leonard Shlain, and Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. The first is basically this guy's case for the idea that the written language has increased patriarchy (by altering the way our brains function) in every culture it's touched. at the same time, it's a rad history of the world, and it's ("major") religions. to add a little more, it kinda goes through the history of religions, and they were changed once they either came into contact with highly literate societies, or how they changed once they were written down. talks about christianity, islam, confucianism, buddhism, and tons of other stuff. i definitely can't feel that every single point is proven to unquestionable lengths, but all of it is very interesting to think about. Snow Crash is a cyberpunk novel that touches on a lot of interesting things having to do with how language and religion have affected the world, and how people function because of them.
[edit] Oppose
meh, i don't oppose reading ANYthing. it's all interesting in some way. even the Book of Mormon.
[edit] Neutral
i suppose i'm kinda neutral on folks reading things like the bible or the koran, as that shit seems to just seep into everybody's psyches whether they like it or not. bleecchhh.
[edit] Comments
hopefully, i'll have some more ideas tomorrow, as i find religions just as fascinating as they are disturbing/unbelievable/mind-numbing/and terribly influential. Murderbike 10:07, 20 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Siddhartha (novel)
[edit] Support
This book is pretty good at supporting any kind of individualist spirituality. it reads like poetry and is full of symbolism. the basic point in my opinion is that everyone reaches spiritual enlightenment in their own way. yes (band) based their awesome song "close to the edge" on the novel, it's not punk but it kicks my ass. Amirman 23:10, 20 January 2007 (UTC)
