[robg]

I'm also a devoted Humanist. To me, most of religious doctrines are noble lies. The aim is to make us good humans to each other. The teachings have value. The power of Churches adulterates the messages.

I was raised a Jew, but now most resonant with Jesus. The Old Testament God is a bitchy megalomanic. Jesus was a human being and I'd argue a Humanist searching for a new theological basis.

[gobots]

I'm glad you said this – I recently had the same thought. Jesus seems more like a humanist than a religious zealot. I would not be shocked to learn some day that the claims of being god, or god's son were later additions to his teachings.

[gress]

You seem to have a specific view of what it means to be 'god', or the 'son of god', and are judging all religion through this lens.

The Quakers, for example hold that 'there is that of god in everyone'

Many forms of tantric Hinduism hold that the ultimate state of being is realizing one's unity with god.

The Sufi's (and some parts of non fundamentalist Islam) claim that one's experience of god is personal and cannot come through an intermediary.

What these ideas have in common is that god is not placed outside the human, but is an inner experience of the human, or a stage of development that can be reached.

What could be more humanist than the idea that humans are or can be in direct contact with the ultimate reality?

[gobots]

What proof do any of these religions have?

[gress]

Proof of what?

[gobots]

Sorry I misread your comment earlier in the tone that you were attempting to get an atheist to consider other religions.

I believe there is a difference in the aspects of religion I am interested in from what you are describing. I simply am not interested in making a study of the worlds various minor religions, and I know a great deal about the major ones already. I am more interested in the psychological damage that is done to people by fundamentalist religion and the negative impact it has on their lives.

I'm not sure why you are pushing other Eastern religions though – I'm aware of many of these teachings, it's just not my primary focus.

As for personal beliefs and what not – I don't care to learn how "god is in me" or "around me". The esoteric nature of religion is bothersome as are the delusional lies of the people who founded them.

[gress]

You are painting everything connected with religion as if it is fundamentalism.

[dllthomas]

"The Quakers, for example hold that 'there is that of god in everyone'"

All that groks is god.