Post: #31

BadMoon  Wrote:

FreedomStands  Wrote:

Conservative Hippy  Wrote:

ALL RELIGIONS ARE LIES TO CONTROL PEOPLE. ALL RELIGIONS ARE FALSE. AND YOURS IS NO EXCEPTION.

Thanks for the friendly reminder. I really appreciate your concern.

Religions are sets of beliefs. Even if one does not have a name for the things they believe in, it can still be considered their "religion". These are the beliefs they live by and understand things through.

Everyone living and thinking, has beliefs. Ultimately, belief is the most anyone can have. What you "know", can only ultimately be what you believe. What you believe is your religion.

So if your belief is that all beliefs are lies to control people, all beliefs are false, and mine is no exception, that is part of what might be called your religion.

Do religions really control people?

Is there something false in saying that everything came from one thing, and everything is powered by and animated by this one source of all power and activity? It seems like truth to me.

The older I get, the more I let go of "beliefs"....I will probably end up with none.

For all our technology, mythology, conspiracies, science, etc....

In truth, we are hardly different than our not-so-ancient ancestors who trembled in fear at lightening, and earthquakes, and volcanoes, etc.

We don't really know any better than they did about the nature of our existence, we just have more stories..

And I am fine with that...

Thank you! I agree that humans have changed little from their ancient ancestors. I believe that beliefs include tested information. For example we believe in air, even if we didn't believe in air, we would still probably be breathing something.

I agree that nothing is known for certain. This leaves us with only beliefs.

It can be widdled down to one essential belief "there is something". This seems an unavoidable belief to anyone who exists and has any senses. That there is something, something that may be called many things, whatever we are seeing and experiencing is the something. We can define the various parts of it, but ultimately its all something.

A blind person, who can't hear also, nor even feel anything, may also be experiencing something for as long as they are alive, though may not be able to express what it is they are experiencing.

Most would probably agree that there is "something" and there is not "nothing".

If there was "nothing" there wouldn't be you, or me, or anything else either. There would be absolutely nothing at all, nothing existing. So it is safe to say that there is no such thing as "nothing" and there is definitely "something", whatever it may be.

Now we've established what may be the only sure knowledge or belief.

We come to the next step.

There is something, but did this something always exist as it is, or did it change?

From our experience, change seems evident. The something changes, it is not entirely static, it is in motion.

What powers this motion of the something? We have two options here:

The something powers itself. The something is powered and moved by "the power" or the "animator".

Both of these options are true, they both are the same.

The something powers whatever is included within it, and it is powered by "the power", the "animator".

So to recap briefly:

There is no such thing as nothing.

There is something.

The something is in motion.

For something to move it must be powered.

The something is powered, animated.

Here we come onto what the ancients, and myself call "God".

God encompasses the reality and is the reality, if there was no reality, there would still be God who is the power that is the base that sustains and animates everything.

Everything in reality is sustained by God, and ultimately there is only God. Whatever there is, is powered, animated, and sustained. If all these things were removed and there were no things, no black or white, there would still be the essential power. If there was not this power that animates and move things, nothing would move, nor would anything come into existence.

The romans knew this as the Numen. The Japanese as Kami. The Hebrew people as Eloah and Elohim. The Muslims as Allah. The Proto Aryans called it Daeus. The Vedas called it The Brahmin. The Shaivites call it Shiva. The Vishnaivists call it Vishnu. The Egyptians called it Amun. The Platonists called it The One, or The Good.

Post: #32

FreedomStands  Wrote:

Everyone living and thinking, has beliefs. Ultimately, belief is the most anyone can have. What you "know", can only ultimately be what you believe. What you believe is your religion.

What I believe, I believe beause I KNOW AND HAVE PUT THE PRINCIPLES TO THE TEST AND GET THE RESULTS. I HAVE TANGIBLE PROOF IN MY LIFE.

That is not based upon someone's ideas.

Post: #33

Conservative Hippy  Wrote:

FreedomStands  Wrote:

Everyone living and thinking, has beliefs. Ultimately, belief is the most anyone can have. What you "know", can only ultimately be what you believe. What you believe is your religion.

What I believe, I believe beause I KNOW AND HAVE PUT THE PRINCIPLES TO THE TEST AND GET THE RESULTS. I HAVE TANGIBLE PROOF IN MY LIFE.

That is not based upon someone's ideas.

And that is personal to you, my dear. As are all "beliefs". So the idea of "go tell it on the Mountain" is always counterproductive.

Post: #34

JimmyK  Wrote:

Greetings,

When I read the title of your post I was attracted to it. When I consider my beliefs, if one were to ask me to put them in a nutshell I would have to go with...

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

The second line is my sig line hence the attraction to your title.

Regards

JimmyK

Is that the entire quote? Or is the entire quote as follows:

Mark 12:28
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

Mark 12:29
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: (Deuteronomy 6:4) 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One."

Mark 12:30
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'"

Mark 12:31
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

________________

That is the entire quote. I included where in the Old Testament that commandment can be found as well. I think the first part of the commandment should not be cut out. God is one, there is only one God, there is no other.

Post: #35

FreedomStands  Wrote:

Conservative Hippy  Wrote:

I believe in an Infinite, All-Loving Supreme Creator, who created this Earth for The Creator's most loved creation, mankind, who was made spiritually in The Creator's image. I also believe in Free Will and that some of the creation-mankind took that Free Will to the extreme to make themselves 'god' and spread lies about The Truth of The Supreme Creator and keep as many as possible in a state of fear about life so they could be controlled.

How does your belief system differ from what I presented in my initial post? Did you even read what I wrote? Thanks for sharing. I agree with your beliefs, and my initial post promotes the same beliefs. I don't know why you posted that hostile seeming post initially, especially if you didn't even read what I wrote, while your beliefs are totally the same.

YES I READ WHAT YOU POSTED, AND THIS IS WHY I WROTE WHAT I DID IN MY FIRST POSTING:

Quote:FreedomStands  Wrote:

This God has all the power to harm and benefit, and nothing has any power besides this God, so it is this God that all help is asked for from and worshipped devoutly.

THE CREATOR OF ALL CREATION DOES NOT HARM CREATION OR ANY PART OF CREATION.

Post: #36

FreedomStands  Wrote:

Hi. This is my first topic post. I've posted before but never made my own topic. Some of you may know me or have heard of me. I haven't been frequenting this site as often as I used to. I usually like making religious posts. Many people may not like religion very much, but I enjoy learning about it. I wrote this document, and I thought some of you might be interested in reading it. It is what I consider the most simple religion, but I may have written it in a complicated seeming way, and I'm very sorry if that is the case. I hope you find it as simple and beautiful as I do.

I apologize if this document I just wrote is repetitive. Please take the time to read it and feel free to send me messages if you liked it and want to know more. I've removed the name of the religion, but many of you will be able to guess it. It is my favorite religion and the one that I highly recommend to everyone for its simplicity. Contrary to popular belief, it has been practiced since ancient times throughout the world, from Egypt to Ancient Han China and Northern India.

Enjoy!

"There is a religion, a system of beliefs, and a way of life and it is the most simple religion and religious system.

It is the easiest to understand and believe.

It can be simply stated as the following:

"There is only one God who has all power absolutely. This God alone can harm or benefit anyone. The harm is to be avoided, the benefit is to be sought. This can be done through goodness (charity) and worship of the One God."

If one asks what the qualities of the One God are, they are as follows:
"God is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient. This means that God has all power and control over everything absolutely, is absolutely everywhere surrounding/encompassing everything inside and out and is infinite in size, and knows/hears/sees/remembers everything everywhere in everyway."

Further qualities are that "This God is free from limitations, is infinite, unlike anything, and can not be contained. This God is in the image of nothing, everything is immersed in this God entirely. This God animates everything in existence and all events, and all actions are powered and sustained by this God."

Once again:

There is only one God who has all the power, is everywhere, knows/hears/sees/remembers everything everywhere in everyway, and all prayer and worship is directed only to this God directly.

This God has all the power to harm and benefit, and nothing has any power besides this God, so it is this God that all help is asked for from and worshipped devoutly.

There is no God besides the one God, nor are there any intercessors or intercessory powers (middlemen). The communication is direct and instant.

For further elaboration:

First, there is only one God. There was nothing before this God, and this God was not created but always existed, even before time.

This God never "came into being" or "became God", but was always existing, while this God created everything else. This creation we are existing in now is probably not the first, nor is it the last. God is limitless in power and can create infinitely. God is the only one that can create anything.

(If there was no God, and only nothing, nothing would have happened, and nothing would exist, because nothing can't do anything. But there was only God in the image of nothing, and God has the power to create and set creation in motion. It is God who animates everything absolutely and always. Nothing can't create, produce, maintain, or sustain anything. Nothing is just nothing, and there would still be nothing.)

This God is not like anything, and is not like a creation, but is infinite in size, without limits (form), and is imageless. This God is not male or female, but is not like anything. God alone is God and God alone is like God.

This God is alone and one, there are no other Gods or powers besides God, and there are no divisions to God. God is one, absolute, having absolutely all power and force.

This God created absolutely everything from nothing, and needs nothing to create. This means that God is entirely self sufficient, having absolutely no needs or requirements for creating or executing an event. Nothing can exist without God, and if there was no God there would be nothing at all.

This God sustains everything it creates (allows it to exist), and everything is encompassed within it.

This God is the base and basis of all existence and reality.

This God is All Powerful (omnipotent), meaning having absolutely all power. Nothing besides this God has any real power to do anything, and God ultimately controls everything everywhere. Nothing can happen without God.

This God is All Present (omnipresent), meaning that this God is absolutely present everywhere, surrounding everything, inside and out. You are currently entirely immersed and surrounded by this God, who is right infront of you and all around you like the air, while reaching as far as the sun and beyond infinitely without limits. If you were in an ocean, the ocean would be both near you and far away, everywhere above and below.

Nothing can encompass or contain God, but God encompasses and contains absolutely everything. This includes this universe and whatever is beyond it. There is no place or space where God is not.

(The the example of air and ocean was used, God is far beyond both these things, because both the air and ocean are limited despite their immense size, and they are made of matter and particles where God is free of these things).

(God is supporting the existence of everything everywhere, and is literally present everywhere. It is God who is the base of all reality, underneath all existence. It is God who encompasses all universes, while nothing encompasses God who is infinite and borderless)

This God is All Knowing (omniscient), meaning that this God knows absolutely everything, the things we can see and hear, and the things we can't. This God knows what exists and doesn't exist, and this God knows all secrets, all the thoughts a person has, every detail of everything everywhere. Not only is this God present absolutely everywhere, but is absolutely aware of everything. Nothing can be hidden from this God.

It is this God that enables any action to be taken or any event to occur.

This God pure, without division, limitations, created container, crude form or matter. This God created all matter, forms, images, and supporting systems (scientific laws) from nothing, and supports the existence of these things, and is what powers these things, nothing can operate, move, or function without God.

It is through God that anything operates, functions, moves, exists.

This God, having all the power, has the power to judge, discern, and decide anything and everything. This God can choose to bring harmful events to a person, or pleasant experiences. Nothing besides this God has the power to bring wellbeing or harm upon anyone.

Because this God alone has any and all power to bring harm or benefit to us, it is this God that we pray to, ask for help and protection from, and worship with the highest respect and dignity.

It is this God that designed our forms, gave us life and all our experiences, and allowed us to have the opportunity to know and acknowledge and worship this God.

All requests, all prayers, all worship is directed only to the One God.

Worship is in the form of prayers, praise, and devotional gestures such as bowing in deep respect while praising, kneeling, and prostrating with the forehead to the ground. These have been the ways of worshipping God since the earliest times by people around the world from Africa to India and China.

This form of worship is done throughout the day at general times of the day: before sunrise, noon, afternoon, after sunset, and night.

Before the prayer, one cleans or washes their arms up to their elbows, lightly rubs their head with water and usually the face as well, and feet up to the ankles. This again is a sign of respect, that one approaches God with purity of body and intent.

If the body is unclean, one should wash themselves entirely, and if anyone goes to the bathroom they should wash themselves as well. This is called ablution, and was always a part of religious practices around the world.

God is the most bountiful and provides everything to everyone, and all creatures.

God is the most merciful, and it is God who can forgive anything in an instant.

There is no system or set of laws controlling God or beyond God, it is God alone who is the ultimate controller of everything. It is God who can choose to punish people for their conduct, and it is God who can choose to forgive them despite anything they do. God alone has absolutely all power and control over every aspect of existence. It is God who creates Laws and is free from these Laws. Nothing at all can restrict or restrain God.

Charity is the most highly reccomended good deed, to help the poor, the needy, the injured, or anyone with finances or other forms of help. This counts towards a persons benefit and helps another, ultimately improving life as a whole. Nothing is to be asked in return, it is God alone who rewards people for what they do.

Fasting is prescribed for learning self restraint and patience.

Pilgrimage is prescribed for devotion if anyone is able.

Worship is prescribed for steadfastness, regularity, and regular rememberance and relaxation.

Pork is prohibited because it is bad for the body.

Alcohol is prohibited because it is harmful and makes people less sensible.

Gambling is prohibited because it is harmful, risky, and can create conflict.

Interest (on loans) is prohibited because it is unfair.

Lying is prohibited because it misleads.

Killing is prohibited because it disables people.

Killing and fighting is allowed only in cases of direct self defense to protect yourself and your families.

Stealing is prohibited because it hurts people.

Pre marital sex is prohibited because it is dangerous and there are responsibilities between couples that shouldn't be avoided and mutual rights that shouldn't be discarded.

Adultry is prohibited because it hurts people.

Swear words and mean nicknames are prohibited because they hurt people.

Hitting people is prohibited because it hurts people.

Shouting is prohibited unless in need because it frightens people and creates anxiety and can prompt conflict.

Certain unclean foods are prohibited such as roadkill or things left rotting.

All these things are obvious if one thinks.

Men and women are equal but are slightly different with different recommended responsibilities at different times such as childbirth, but are otherwise equal.

It is recommended to men and women to dress in ways that protect their private parts and the individual from harassment.

Everyone is judged based on their conduct and intentions.

Those who do harmful things to themselves and others may be judged according to what they did.

Those who do beneficial things for themselves and others may be judged according to what they did.

Only God knows what these things are and only God has the power to execute any judgment.

When one dies, they don't experience anything, but they are ressurected. This is a very ancient belief that existed even in ancient Egypt and prior to Egypt among some hunter gatherers such as the Khoisan who may be one of the most ancient groups of people in the world today.

At the ressurection, a person is shown a record of everything they did with nothing missing, and is given either paradise or punishment. It is only in God's power to decide and there can be no intercessor that can overide what God decides.

God does not require sacrifices of any kind, but sacrifices are for feeding the poor and ones own family and kin as an act of charity. God does not require anything, nor does God need food.

God does not require blood sacrifices or the sacrifices of people or the drawing of blood to be satisfied or in order to forgive people.

Nobody can bear the burden of another, nor can any carry the misdeeds of another, nor will anyone receive punishment for anothers misconduct. No death or sacrifice is needed or required to forgive people of their misconduct, but God can be asked directly, and God can forgive directly.

There is no original sin, nor is any child born with any misconduct. Children and animals are entirely innocent and free from blame. They are to be protected and treated well. This applies to those with mental problems and severely disabled people as well.

Nobody has to die to forgive sins, nor can anyone carry the bad deeds or cleanse the bad deeds of another, God alone can do these things, and for God it is easy.

It is God who can blame people for their misconduct, and there is no system of laws besides what God decides, nor does any system bind God or force God to do anything.

God invented and designed everything that exists, even things invented by humans such as ships on the sea, were created by God.

This is because nothing can exist if God has not made it exist. Absolutely everything that can possibly exist, everything one can possibly think, has already been created by God as a possibility. All credit goes to God ultimately and always.

This religion has a name. The name of this religion in its full meaning may be "Finding Peace/Ease/Safety/Security/Joy through Surrendering/Acknowledging/Obeying/Worshipping/Devoting/Submitting/ to the Reality/Truth/Existence of the One and Only God"

The follower of this religion is a devotee of God, and the meaning of what they are called may be "One who finds peace through surrendering to God"

______________________

God is not a creature with a body or form, God has no children, no spouse/partner/co-creator, and God has no equal. Nothing is like God in any way, God alone is God, and God alone is like God. Nothing but God has any power. God does not sleep, nor does God die.

There is no subordinate power that helps God, nor does God need any help.

Worship of God is for the individuals benefit, to receive benefit from God. God receives no benefit or sustenance from anything, nor does God require any benefit or sustenance from anything.

God provided the same message to people throughout the world, repeatedly. You can find this religion in the most ancient religious texts from around the world, and it is still being practiced by a large multitude. Mastering this belief system has truly brought peace and joy to some. To acknowledge the immediate presence of God can bring a feeling of security.

God is not a bearded man sitting in a body at some great distance, nor is God the son or child of anyone or anything. God is not a human, nor an alien, nor a creature of any kind. God is right with you, infront of you, behind you, above you, below you, surrounding you inside and out entirely. You can communicate to God immediately and there is no delay.

The message of this one God was brought to people throughout history, through messengers, and books dictated or written by them recording their inspiration. It was the religion of the earliest people, and this included these advanced beliefs in the omnipresence of God as well as the form of purification (ablution/washing) and worship through bowing, prostrating, and praising.

The religion has not changed in all this time. People would confuse the qualities of God by personifying them in symbolic imagery which would confuse and mislead latter generations, there is only One God without image, and this is said in the most ancient religious scriptures as well.

There is no further need for any messengers, as the message is widely available today, nor is it corrupted.

This God has been called by many names throughout history, but you can know when it is the One God based on the qualities of the God. The names were always merely attributes or honorific titles, and often were just words for the qualities of God.

Please feel free to message me, and I hope this has offended no one.

And may I add a working knowledge of God....

The beginning and ending of all wisdom.



http://kjv.us/proverbs/3.htm

Now heres the cool thing......
(and the good news)
Christ has fullfilled the law...

Know the truth and the truth shall set you free..

Post: #37

FreedomStands  Wrote:

Hi. This is my first topic post. I've posted before but never made my own topic. Some of you may know me or have heard of me. I haven't been frequenting this site as often as I used to. I usually like making religious

<snip for brevity>

Please feel free to message me, and I hope this has offended no one.

Do not like this god much. I have found a better one.

Post: #38

BadMoon  Wrote:

Conservative Hippy  Wrote:

FreedomStands  Wrote:

Everyone living and thinking, has beliefs. Ultimately, belief is the most anyone can have. What you "know", can only ultimately be what you believe. What you believe is your religion.

What I believe, I believe beause I KNOW AND HAVE PUT THE PRINCIPLES TO THE TEST AND GET THE RESULTS. I HAVE TANGIBLE PROOF IN MY LIFE.

That is not based upon someone's ideas.

And that is personal to you, my dear. As are all "beliefs". So the idea of "go tell it on the Mountain" is always counterproductive.

NO THEY ARE NOT BELIEFS. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CREATOR TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE TANGIBLE, EXPERIENCES I HAVE, THEREFORE YOU LACK UNDERSTANDING.

YOU CAN CHANGE ALL THAT AT ANY TIME.

Post: #39

LysaStrata  Wrote:

religion means to "bind back to God"

how does a person do that? by getting to know God and His expectations

how? the Bible is the "how to" book put out by God


The Bible is a difficult book--it is like learning to speak a foreign language and it takes a LOT of time to get comfortable.

This path of learning requires daily work. We must nourish our relationship every day by HEARING the word of God ("seeing" is usually symbolic of bad stuff, "hearing" is good stuff --in the Bible)--just like we nourish our bodies by eating EVERY day.



but I stay FAR away from those businesses that "sell God" (mixed with philosophy and self help motivational speaking)

lysa i really like and respect your posts.

faith

yet mans interpretation is questionable in this life

at least to me

Post: #40

Conservative Hippy  Wrote:

BadMoon  Wrote:

Conservative Hippy  Wrote:

What I believe, I believe beause I KNOW AND HAVE PUT THE PRINCIPLES TO THE TEST AND GET THE RESULTS. I HAVE TANGIBLE PROOF IN MY LIFE.

That is not based upon someone's ideas.

And that is personal to you, my dear. As are all "beliefs". So the idea of "go tell it on the Mountain" is always counterproductive.

NO THEY ARE NOT BELIEFS. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CREATOR TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE TANGIBLE, EXPERIENCES I HAVE, THEREFORE YOU LACK UNDERSTANDING.

YOU CAN CHANGE ALL THAT AT ANY TIME.

Yes, yes ...you are a "true believer"

So, good for you. Does this require typing in all "caps"?

Post: #41

BadMoon  Wrote:

Conservative Hippy  Wrote:

BadMoon  Wrote:

And that is personal to you, my dear. As are all "beliefs". So the idea of "go tell it on the Mountain" is always counterproductive.

NO THEY ARE NOT BELIEFS. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CREATOR TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE TANGIBLE, EXPERIENCES I HAVE, THEREFORE YOU LACK UNDERSTANDING.

YOU CAN CHANGE ALL THAT AT ANY TIME.

Yes, yes ...you are a "true believer"

So, good for you. Does this require typing in all "caps"?

You don't GET IT, AND YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL WITH THAT ATTITUDE.

YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT I BELIEVE, SO WHY EMBARRASS YOURSELF WITH TRYING TO DISCUSS SOMETHING YOU ARE UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND.

Post: #42

Conservative Hippy  Wrote:

BadMoon  Wrote:

Conservative Hippy  Wrote:

NO THEY ARE NOT BELIEFS. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CREATOR TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE TANGIBLE, EXPERIENCES I HAVE, THEREFORE YOU LACK UNDERSTANDING.

YOU CAN CHANGE ALL THAT AT ANY TIME.

Yes, yes ...you are a "true believer"

So, good for you. Does this require typing in all "caps"?

You don't GET IT, AND YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL WITH THAT ATTITUDE.

YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT I BELIEVE, SO WHY EMBARRASS YOURSELF WITH TRYING TO DISCUSS SOMETHING YOU ARE UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND.

You can believe whatever you wish, my dear...if you believe it benefits you, then well and good...

Post: #43

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z44cCi0eDG8

Post: #44

Thank you so much for taking the time to verify and check on all that I've written, I appreciate your effort so much, it was so kind of you to do that, and you've done an excellent job.

As far as at least some Jewish scholars are concerned, the statements about the "image" of God are symbolic and not literal, at least some, if not most agree that God is without any literal image or form.

This is often understood as a statement about the thinking nature of man, man's soul and ability to discern things and make judgments. This also may be a reference to the authority given to mankind over the Earth and animals, which is referenced in scriptures.

So some Christians and Jewish people do not accept that God has a body, but rather they say that God is "spirit", bodiless and pure, infinite and always existing.

Pilgrimage was often a part of religious systems from around the world, though the places visited have varied. It was likely a devotional act.

Post: #45

Conservative Hippy  Wrote:

FreedomStands  Wrote:

Everyone living and thinking, has beliefs. Ultimately, belief is the most anyone can have. What you "know", can only ultimately be what you believe. What you believe is your religion.

What I believe, I believe beause I KNOW AND HAVE PUT THE PRINCIPLES TO THE TEST AND GET THE RESULTS. I HAVE TANGIBLE PROOF IN MY LIFE.

That is not based upon someone's ideas.

Some people listen to what other people say and think about what they present. Then through their own thinking processes come to accept those ideas. I agree that it is important to think to yourself. If you come to believe in things that are similar or the same as others, it may not mean you are just following them, but rather that you've come to understand those things for yourself.

What you described as your belief system earlier seemed nearly identical to what I was presenting in my post if you've read it. So I found it strange that you would be calling it false, while saying the same thing yourself.