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Below are the results of my personal religious compatibility test. I try to avoid including my personal views and opinions
regarding the subjects covered on the PRSMS web page. However, since the following test results are mine, then I feel that it's
safe to express my views when appropriate. The test states that I'm about 78% Neo-Pagan. After reading all of the descriptions
of world religions on this web site, I believe, as I have for many years, that my religious beliefs have a good deal in common,
as well as a good deal views that differ from the religions addressed. The text in red are
my own musings and explanations concerning my spiritual beliefs.
The religion that has the greatest affinity with your belief
system is: Your belief system is 78% compatible with Neo-Pagan religious beliefs. Neo-Pagan groups like Wicca and
Druidism and the others, have different faiths, but tend to be polytheistic, they believe in multiple gods and goddesses (I am not polytheistic). Most groups also have a highly personal relationship with nature and its seasons,
observing important rituals throughout the year to express their faith (again, I don't do this).
It appears that you are also interested in the natural world and the significance it has in your life. Recent attempts to
reconstruct the ancient pagan faith — nearly wiped out after years of persecution — have unearthed spiritual texts
and a highly secretive oral tradition. While the history of their religion is important, most Neo-Pagan practitioners worship
in solitude, performing rituals of personal significance to express their own highly individual spirituality. Perhaps you
too enjoy being alone when you want to reflect about your spirituality (Now this is me).
Modern paganism, called Neo-Paganism,
encompasses many religions that are adopted from the original tribal faiths of ancient Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas,
Oceania, and Australia, which were generally interested in the natural world and their place within it. The desire to revive
these ancient religions emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, and in 1954, Gerald Brousseau Gardner published Witchcraft Today,
one of the pivotal books on Neo-Paganism. His book documented the secret lore of a nearly extinct pagan religion that he learned
about through a pagan woman's first-hand accounts. Since then, many Neo-Pagan religions have formed, including Wicca, Druidism,
and Goddess worship. And since the advent of the Internet, there has been an unusually high growth rate of Neo-Pagan religions
due to the increased availability of information. Some estimate that Neo-Paganism is doubling in size every two and a half
years. Is Neo-Paganism beginning to resonate with you? Well, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Get specific information
about Neo-Paganism's god and goddesses, its beliefs about the origin of the world, its take on the afterlife, and some key
aspects that make the religion unique in the Core Religious Beliefs and You section below.
In addition to more information about the religion you're most compatible with, find out how closely aligned your
belief system is with the other 9 major world religions we tested for. Use this information not only to become more aware
of what you might share with other traditions seemingly outside your faith, but also to gain a greater understanding of and
tolerance for the people who practice different religions from yours.
You're 78% compatible with Neo-Pagan beliefs.
Neo-Pagans believe that there are multiple gods and goddesses that oversee different aspects
of nature. For example, in most Neo-Pagan religions, the Goddess represents an amalgam of many goddesses from varied ancient
pagan traditions and she guides us through the transitions in our lives. First, there is the Maiden who represents the vigor
and sexuality of our youth, then the Mother who symbolizes a powerful confidence, fertility, and nurturing, and finally, the
Crone who is wise, experienced, and compassionate. She is the one who would guide you through to death. (As
stated before, I am not polytheistic. My personal view of God is similar to the concept of universal consciousness.)
Ancient pagan beliefs about the origin of
the world are many and varied. Today's Neo-Pagans may or may not believe the ancient creation stories to be true, but most
are probably interested in the symbolism they offer. Here's an example of an ancient pagan creation story told by Nordic peoples:
In the beginning, there was a void called Ginnungagap, which means something akin to "yawning gap." Alongside
the Ginnungagap, there existed two lands: the Niflheim — the northern land of fog and ice — and the Muspelheim
— the southern land of fire. In the north, 11 rivers sprang from a spring that flowed toward the gap and froze until
it filled a portion of the gap. At the same time, lava and other molten material flowed from the south into the southern portion
of the gap. Then, the fire and ice mingled and formed a giant called Ymir and a cow called Audhumla. Ymir drank the cow's
milk and drifted off into a deep sleep. As he slept, the sweat of his armpit formed two frost giants, male and female, and
from his legs, another male frost giant. Meanwhile, the cow licked salty ice to gain nourishment, and this licking created
the god Buri. Buri had a son named Bor, who killed Ymir. As Ymir died, his blood drained from his body and caused a huge flood
that drowned all of the frost giants, leaving only the god Bor and his three sons. The three sons of Bor placed Ymir's body
into the Ginnungagap and created the Earth from it.
Most Neo-Pagans do believe
in some form of reincarnation; however, beliefs about the specifics are not consistent within Neo-Paganism. Because the religion
tends to draw solo practitioners, the beliefs from one Neo-Pagan to the next are largely individual. (My
belief is that while the body dies, the consciousness remains. However, it does not return to the Earth in another physical
body, but rather ascends to the next plane of existense.).
Neo-Pagans tend to worship outside in nature whenever possible because much of
their spirituality is tied to the cycles of life and the changing of the seasons. The majority of Neo-Pagans worship by designing
private rituals; a few do, however, form small groups so that they can worship in the company and support of others. (I'm very much in line with this form of ritualism. At this point in my life I generally worship alone, but
I very much enjoy meeting with like minded individuals to experience open spiritual discussions. The closest I've come
to finding this type of practice is through the New Thought Movement.I also share many of the beliefs of the Buddhist,
the Baha'i Movement and the Unitarian Universalist. If I ever had the desire to establish a religion, it would be a blend
of many of the elements of the Buddhist, New Thought Movement, Baha'i Movement, Neo Paganism and the Unitarian Universalist.
I guess that explains why my compatability score falls within a point or so among these believe systems)
You're 75% compatible with Unitarian Universalist beliefs.(I actually feel that my beliefs
are more in line with Unitairian Universalist than the Neo-Pagan)
Unitarian
Universalists have widely varying beliefs about God — from agnostic to polytheistic. As such, it is an extremely tolerant
religion and welcomes diverse individual spiritual orientation and many views on the concept of God.
Unitarian Universalism believes that the creation
stories of all world religions are mythical — some adherents just enjoy them for their symbolism. The organization's
official position on the origin of the world supports the big bang theory — that a cosmic explosion marked the beginning
of the universe — and further scientific exploration.
Unitarian
Universalist beliefs about the afterlife are as varied as their beliefs about God. For the most part, however, Unitarian Universalists
do not believe that the soul is reincarnated after death. In fact, the organization's official position on the matter is disbelief
in reincarnation, but a Unitarian Universalist church would not disapprove of a member's belief in reincarnation.
What sets Unitarian Universalism apart
from other religions is their view on religious tolerance. The church is organized around a broad set of moral ideologies,
which invites a diverse congregation that welcomes any member. Since members are actively encouraged to seek the spiritual
truth that is most true for them as individuals, there is a diverse variety of ideas and this can be confusing or stimulating,
depending on your perspective.
You're 74% compatible with Buddhist beliefs. It might surprise you to learn that Buddhism also has a good amount
in common with Hinduism. Here's why: First of all, Buddhism grew out of a Hindu culture and both religions are informed by
the sacred texts known as the Vedas and as such are called the Vedic Faiths. Also, both religions believe in the combination
of reincarnation — the cycle of birth-death-rebirth — and Karma, the notion that a person's good and bad deeds
will have an effect on their future lives, for better or worse.
The
Buddha did not try to explain the existence of a God, gods, or goddesses or document the proper rituals and sacrifices to
achieve oneness with God, but he did offer a wealth of specific teachings whose principles encourage a spiritual connection
through commitment to self-discipline, meditation, and important moral rules. (At one point I felt that
Buddhism most parralelled my belief system based on their refusal to insist upon a God while at same time not
denying the possibility of a Supreme Being)
Here, Buddhism also
diverges from traditional Vedic religious beliefs. Buddhists do not believe that there was a "God of creation," but rather
that the universe is constantly being created and destroyed as it evolves in time. (I've recently heard
several speakers discuss different forms of this theory, though in no way related to the Buddhist practice. I can definitely
appreciate the potential of this theory)
The
Vedic Faiths both agree that after multiple rebirths one can reach Enlightenment — a state of being where you do not
experience suffering or desire — but this is where their similarities end. Buddhists reject the notion of a social hierarchy,
and with it, the idea that good Karma will allow one's soul to be reborn into a higher social position. In addition, they
do not believe that there is one permanent soul that moves from one life to the next, but that an individual's character is
changing constantly throughout one's life transitions, whether it is a transition from adolescence to early adulthood or a
transition from this life to the next. (I agree to a point. My belief is more in line with the concept
that individual consciousness remains after death, evolving along different planes or dimensions. Individual consciousness
continues to travel through higher and higher planes, or dimensions until full enightenment is achieved. At that point
individual consciousness joins the universal consciousness. Universal consciousness is the closest I can come to describing
what I believe to be God)
What
sets Buddhism apart from the other religions is the Buddha's teachings that as a group are called the Tripitaka. After
he reached Enlightenment, the Buddha taught his revelations in the form of three doctrines. The Four Noble Truths are the
core Buddhist lessons and principles: (1) Suffering is real and universal, (2) Suffering is caused by a need for control,
(3) Suffering ceases to exist when you reach enlightenment and (4) The Eightfold Path leads to Enlightenment. (I
can certainly subscribe to the Four Noble Truths). The Five Precepts are the rules
to live by: Do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not be immodest, and do not consume drugs. (Four
out of five isn't bad). And the Eightfold Path, also called the Middle Path (the path to Enlightenment) is the approach
that helps end craving and attachment: (1) Right Understanding, (2) Right Thinking, (3) Right Speech, (4) Right Conduct, (5)
Right Livelihood, (6) Right Effort, (7) Right Mindfulness, and (8) Right Concentration. By studying these lessons, a Buddhist
may, in time, reach Enlightenment. (I agree 100%)
You're 62% compatible with Baha'i beliefs.
The
Baha'i believe in a single, all-powerful, all-knowing God. Like Islam, the Baha'i believe that God has sent a series of prophets
to Earth. However, unlike Islam, the Baha'i believe that God will continue to send prophets over and above the 10 prophets
he's sent so far, including Krishna, Jesus, Buddha, and Muhammad, as well as the two prophets of the Baha'i religion, The
Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. (As stated previously, I do agree with some of the Baha'i concepts. I'm very
intrigued by the lineage of the prophets. I feel that these prophets, or Ascended Masters are the extremely rare exception
to my believe that reicarnation does not occur)
The Baha'i religion does not contain a creation story. It interprets the stories in the sacred
texts of the major world religions as primarily mythical and seeks to understand their symbolism. (Again,
I agree. I believe most of the stories related in the ancient religious texts to be analagous. I believe the stories of the
Bible (old and new testament), Koran, Veda and Torah to be loosely based on actual events, but altered so as to provide
a moral lesson. Although I don't believe that these text are the word of God, I do believe that if adhered to in their purest
sense, large portions of these texts can assist humanity in achieving a global peace and understanding of each other. Unfortunately,
it is also my believe that these text have been misinterpreted by religious elders to meet their personal needs, as well
as those of their religious affiliations. There is strong belief within the metaphysical community that a huge globe
shift is in our not too distant future. Unfortunately this shift is misunderstood by most religious believers, and is viewed
in terms of the "Apocolypse" or "End Times." My belief is that End Times is an appropriate term, but not because it will be
the end of the world, but rather the end of the world as we know it. Although the global shift will possibly be catastrophic
for many people on the earth, the end result will be the beginning of a new cycle of consciousness. A cycle that will at least
briefly* allow humanity to obtain enlightenmnet, or ultimate consciousness, on earth. This enlightment will assist humanity
in living in unity with the planet and all of it's creaturesand environs, rather than trying to control and manipulate them.
*When i say 'briefly' I am speaking in universal terms. In universal terms, 'briefly could last hundreds or even thousands
of years. Remember, the Earth in reportedly billions of years old. The unverse could have existed for trillions of years.
Therefore hundreds or thousands of years could would be mere hours or days in the universal concept of time).
The
Baha'i religion teaches that each person's soul lives on after death and is then free to travel the spirit world, which they
conceive of as an extension of this world. (Absolutely!!!!)
Unlike the other 9 major world religions, the Baha'i religion believes that peace
will come when the world unifies under a single religion and a single government (again, I agree).
It attempts to resolve the differences among Abrahamic Faiths and between the Vedic Faiths and unify all people under the
Baha'i religion. To support the cause of world peace, the Baha'i World Faith is among the most socially active, if not the
most socially active religious organization on the planet. They work toward equality for all people and are concerned with
human rights issues worldwide. (I happen to know a Baha'i family living in Honduras fairly well. In fact I spent a year teaching
5th grade at their school, Daystar School..
You're 59% compatible with Native American religious beliefs.
Native Americans believe that their multiple gods and goddesses rule different aspects
of nature. For example, Estsanatlehi (meaning "changing woman") is the ageless Navajo goddess of time and change. She's responsible
for the changing of the seasons and for birth and death. Some Native American religions also believe in a primary God, referred
to as the Great Spirit, who is the Earth's creator and the overseer of humankind.
There are a variety of traditional Native American beliefs about the origin
of the world. Generally speaking, however, most believe that the world was started by a "God of creation." For example, this
is the Chippewa's creation story:
Long ago the Creator sat alone in the darkness thinking, and with His thoughts formed Mother Earth. Then He
covered Mother Earth lovingly with many trees, plants, and animals. The world He created was beautiful, yet he grew lonely.
From the soil of the Earth, he formed the first man and the first woman and gave them tools to aid in their survival. To the
man, He gave a bow and arrow for hunting. To the woman, he gave a basket for gathering seeds. He then blew life into each
of them, first the woman, then the man. When the humans first lived, they accepted their duty to take care of Mother Earth,
to not be greedy, and to give back equally what they had taken.
Most Native American religions
do not have firm beliefs about what happens after death. Some are comfortable not having a definitive explanation, some believe
in a spiritual life after death, and some believe you are reincarnated, either into an animal or a human. (As
I explained in detail in the Baha'i section, it is here that I can accept the "spiritual life after death" concept)
What sets the Native American religions
apart from others is their passion for the Earth and the natural world They have traditionally stressed the close relationship
between man and nature and the need to protect the Earth and the environment. This belief is completely integrated into their
religions. In their eyes, the Divine and nature are one. (This is another of the Native American concepts
that I believe to be essential to the survival of humanity. I believe that despite whatever damage man might reap on
the planet, nature will eventually say 'enough' and reduce humanity as the dominating force on the planet ).
You're 54% compatible with Spiritualist beliefs.
Belief
about God widely varies among Spiritualists, but many believe in the almighty God of the Old Testament. For most of
the Spiritualists, however, their primary connection to the Divine is through a spiritual medium. Mediums are believed to
be highly sensitive psychics who can communicate with the spirit world through séances, trances, and other psychic techniques.
Most Spiritualists see the creation story
they are most familiar with — that of the Old Testament — as a mythology (I concur).
They have no official position on the origin of the world.
Spiritualists
believe that death is a transition from existence on a physical plane to the very same on a spiritual plane Once on a spiritual
plane, they believe that even the most sinful people can grow and improve. They also believe that while you're on the physical
plane, you can take the knowledge you gain about the spiritual plane to help you better make the transition. This is the main
reason mediums contact the spirit world.(This is what I've been trying to say! It is through my formal
study of Metaphysics, That I am trying to gain the knowledge that will assist me once my time comes to transition to
the higher plane).
What
sets the Spiritualists apart from other religions is the deep faith they place in the ability of psychics and mediums to see
what lies beyond in the spiritual plane. Many Spiritualists seek to hone their own psychic abilities so they can gather better
knowledge.
You're 49% compatible with Hindu beliefs. It might surprise you to learn that Hinduism also has a good amount
in common with Buddhism. Here's why: Both religions are informed by the sacred texts known as the Vedas and because
of that are called the Vedic Faiths. Also, both religions believe in the combination of reincarnation— the cycle of
birth-death-rebirth — and Karma — the notion that a person's good and bad deeds will have an effect on their future
lives, for better or worse.
Hindus
believe that there are multiple gods and goddesses that rule different aspects of life, but that they all make up one Divine
essence. For example, they believe in Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god of success and overcoming obstacles, who is also
associated with wisdom and power. They also believe in the Divine Mother called Devi (meaning "mother goddess"). She is both
gentle in her efforts to bring and protect life, and terrible in her efforts to bring death and destruction.
There are many Hindu explanations for the
origin of the world, but all recognize Brahma as the God of creation. Here's a version of the Hindu creation story:
In the beginning all was undifferentiated and in perfect harmony and Vishnu lay relaxed on his serpent, Sheshnag.
As Vishnu opened his eyes, creation began. A lotus flower emerged from his navel and birthed the god of creation, Brahma.
Brahma proceeded to create the universe in the form of a golden egg, called the Hiranyagarbha, which means "the golden womb."
Hindus believe that the soul
is reincarnated through something called transmigration — at death, the soul is reborn into another body. In this way,
each soul engages in a continual process of birth-death-rebirth over many lifetimes and in each its Karma will dictate the
kind of life it will have. For example, if a soul has accumulated enough good Karma, it may be reborn into a life where it
enjoys more comfort and has more opportunity to share the knowledge it has gained through behaving the right way. After living
many lives of continued good Karma, one may reach a state of Nirvana where it will be free finally from the cycle of birth-death-rebirth.
(Although I have a strong felt belief in Karma, I don't believe that it transfers from life time to life
time. I don't believe in reincarnation and therefore believe that a persons actions affect their karma during that same lifetime.)
The Hindus' belief that their social position
in this life is entirely due to their behavior in the last creates a rigid social hierarchy. If you were to give it a motto,
it might read, "You get what you deserve." They believe that it's only through concentrated effort in this life that you may
be able to positively affect your social position in the next and move further along your path toward Enlightenment. (As stated before, I don't believe in reincarnation. But I do believe that ones positive and negative actions
affect their current quality of life and the quality of existence they experience once they reach the next plane of esistence).
You're 40% compatible with Judaic religious beliefs. It might surprise you to learn that Judaism also has a good
amount in common with Islam and Christianity. Here's why: All three religions embrace the Old Testament and trace their
roots back to Abraham, which is why they're known as the Abrahamic Faiths. Isn't it interesting how these three share roots
(and more!), and they are still constantly in conflict with each other?
Jews
believe in the single, all-powerful God of the Abrahamic Faiths, just as the Christians and the Muslims do. Also like their
fellow Abrahamic believers, they accept that God has delivered a series of moral codes and laws that will guide them toward
living a good and holy life. At some point, they expect God to flush the world of sin and bring peace.
They also believe
that God entered into a covenant with Abraham, promising to make him and his descendants his "chosen people," in return for
their love and obedience. (I just have a problem with this concept simply because there are too many individuals
,the Dalai Lama for instance, that do not subscribe to the Abrahamic beliefs, yet in my mind are deserving of a position of
respect in the future dimensions).
The
Abrahamic Faiths also have very similar beliefs about how the world was created. Here's the creation story from the book of
Genesis:
Long ago, before the Earth existed, there was nothing and all was dark. Then God created Heaven and the Earth
in six days. On the first day, God said "Let there be light" and a flash of light drove away the darkness, creating the day
and the night. On the second day, God created the beautiful sky. On the third day, God gathered the water together to form
oceans, rivers and lakes and covered the land of the Earth with many varieties of plants, including trees and grasses. On
the fourth day, God created the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the fifth day, God created many types of fish and birds.
On the sixth day, God created all of the rest of the animals on Earth. Then He created the first man and the first woman,
named Adam and Eve, in his own image to be the rulers of Earth. On the seventh day, God rested. (
The Abrahamic Faiths believe
that after death individual human souls will be judged by God, who will then decide whether they go to Heaven or Hell (I believe that the concepts of heaven and hell are simply creations of early church leaders in an effort to
control the populace through fear). Some Jews believe, however, that souls can be reincarnated up to three times, the
idea being that you get to learn additional lessons on Earth, and then, after the third lifetime, the souls are judged and
sent to either Heaven or Hell.
Judaism
differs from both Christianity and Islam in their beliefs about Jesus and the Messiah. Jews do not believe that Jesus was
the Son of God, nor do they believe he was a prophet or a Savior sent by God. Some Jews believe that Jesus was a wise teacher
of religious ethics. They do not believe that it's necessary to be saved from "original sin," which comes from the Christian
belief that all people have inherited the first sin committed by Adam and Eve. Instead, Jews anticipate the coming of the
Messiah, who will lead them back to the Promised Land and usher in a period of peace.
You're 37% compatible with Islamic beliefs. It might surprise you to learn that Islam also has a good amount
in common with Judaism and Christianity. Here's why: All three religions embrace the Old Testament and trace their
roots back to Abraham, which is why they're known as the Abrahamic Faiths. Isn't it interesting how these three share roots
(and more!), and they are still constantly in conflict with each other?
Muslims
believe in the single, all-powerful God of the Abrahamic Faiths, just as the Christians and the Jews do. Also like their fellow
Abrahamic believers, they accept that God has delivered a series of moral codes and laws that will guide them toward living
a good and holy life. (I also believe that humanity has been presented with a series of moral codes and
laws, but not carved into stone tablets and presented to Moses to deliver. Instead I believe that they are presented to us
through our inherent understanding of right vs. wrong) At some point, they expect God to flush the world of sin and
bring peace. (I believe that a global shift will come upon man very soon. Again, I'm speaking in
the universal sense of time, not in the human concept. 'very soon' could easily refer to next week, or in several centuries.
Howver, I have no doubt that this global shift has already begun, it's just a matter of how long it will take to reach the
next level of consciousness)Islam traces its lineage back to Abraham through Ishmael, the son of Abraham and
Hagar.
Islam's interpretation
of the creation story in the book of Genesis differs somewhat from that of Judaism and Christianity. Instead of believing
the world was created in six days, Muslims believe that God created the world in six periods, each of which could have been
millions or billions of years long. (If we overlook the fact that I don't share the Abrahamic view of
God, I do believe in the concept of the Earth being created over several significant periods. How many there were, and yet
to come I'm not sure), Read the Genesis story.
The Abrahamic Faiths believe
that after death individual human souls will be judged by God, who will then decide whether they go to Heaven or Hell.
Islam recognizes Muhammad as the last true
prophet sent to Earth by God. There are 25 prophets mentioned in the Qur'an (Islam's most well-known sacred text),
including Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally, Muhammad. Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet sent by God
but not that he was the Son of God. They believe that when he died on the cross, he ascended to Heaven and was not resurrected.
You're 32% compatible with Christian beliefs. It might surprise you to learn that Christianity also has a good
amount in common with Judaism and Islam. Here's why: All three religions embrace the Old Testament and trace their
roots back to Abraham, which is why they're known as the Abrahamic Faiths. Isn't it interesting how these three share roots
(and more!), and they are still constantly in conflict with each other?
Christians
believe in the single, all-powerful God of the Abrahamic Faiths, just as the Jews and the Muslims do. However, Christians
differ on one point; they see God as the Holy Trinity — God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. But like their
fellow Abrahamic believers, they accept that God has delivered a series of moral codes and laws that will guide them toward
living a good and holy life. At some point, they expect God to flush the world of sin and bring peace. Christianity
traces its lineage back to Abraham through Jesus, born the Son of God in the line of David, who was a descendant of Abraham.
The Abrahamic Faiths also have very similar beliefs about how the world was created. Here's the creation story from the book
of Genesis: Long ago, before the Earth existed, there was nothing and all was dark. Then God created Heaven and the Earth
in six days. On the first day, God said "Let there be light" and a flash of light drove away the darkness, creating the day
and the night. On the second day, God created the beautiful sky. On the third day, God gathered the water together to form
oceans, rivers, and lakes and covered the land of the Earth with many varieties of plants, including trees and grasses. On
the fourth day, God created the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the fifth day, God created many types of fish and birds.
On the sixth day, God created all of the rest of the animals on Earth. Then He created the first man and the first woman,
named Adam and Eve, in his own image to be the rulers of Earth. On the seventh day, God rested.
The Abrahamic Faiths believe
that after death all souls will be judged by God, who will then decide whether they go to Heaven or Hell, but not all Christians
believe in Hell as a literal place of suffering in the Afterlife. Some believe that Hell is purely metaphorical — that
it represents a state of suffering even here on Earth — and some reject the concept of Hell completely.
There are literally thousands of Christian
denominations, which have widely varying beliefs about many things, including the historical validity of the Bible,
the existence of Hell, and the Immaculate Conception.
However, all Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Son
of God who lived on Earth and that he died on the cross to save people from "original sin," which is the concept that all
people have inherited the first sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
How ironic that I was raised a Christian, but the Christian belief system seems to be that which
I relate to the least.
So, to clarify my position on the Ascended Masters, including the Biblical
Prophets, as well as those of the Asian belief systems such as Buddha. I feel that the Ascended Masters are the only
exception to my dismissal of the concept of reincarnation. I believe that at some point in prehistory an individual
point of energy developed a level of consciousness that far surpassed all levels of consciousness in the universe common
at that time. This level of consciousness was formed eons before man appeared on the planet. Once man joined the life forces
of our planet, this highly developed gathering of consciousness eventually took residence in humanity. A mortal host of exceptional
goodness and love for his/her fellow man was chosen to share this consciousness with the rest of humanity. During the
mortal hosts lifetime the enlightenment increased. In addition, as the mortal hosts of this consciousness used up their time
on Earth, the extreme level of consciuosness re-entered the universal consciousness and continued to become increasingly enlightened.
From time to time a human being is chosen to host this consciousness. Each host throughout time was gifted with greater enlightenment
than the previous host. I use the term "chosen" when refering to these individuals, this "choosing" was not the result of
a conscious being making a decision, but rather a recognition by the cosmos of the individuals worthiness and ability to do
that which is required for the improvement of humanity at large.
I also feel that there were far more elightened beings than the major religions teach us. This elevated
consciousness fails to recogize or be influenced by the religious beliefs of it's host. The only criteria needed to host this
consciousness is the individuals desire, ability and strength to share the increased enlightenment for the increased well
being of humanity world wide, not just within individual religious beliefs or global regions.
About this test:
To develop Tickle's Religious Compatibility Test, our experts researched the world's major religions to find the 10 with
the largest number of believers and the clearest ideologies. The 10 that appear in this report are the top 10 organized religions
in the United States, based on the results of the American Religious Identity Survey (ARIS) conducted by the Graduate School
of the City University of New York in 2001. The chart below shows the estimated numbers and percentages of Americans
that identify as believers in each of the top 10 American religions.
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 |
Religion |
 |
Estimated Number of
Believers in U.S. Adult Population
|
|
Percentage of
Believers in U.S. Adult Population
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christianity |
159,030,000 |
76.50% |
|
|
|
|
|
Judaism |
2,831,000 |
1.30% |
|
|
|
|
|
Islam |
1,104,000 |
0.50% |
|
|
|
|
|
Buddhism |
1,082,000 |
0.50% |
|
|
|
|
|
Hinduism |
766,000 |
0.40% |
|
|
|
|
|
Unitarian
Universalism |
629,000 |
0.30% |
|
|
|
|
|
Neo-Paganism |
307,000 |
0.10% |
|
|
|
|
|
Spiritualism |
116,000 |
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
Native American |
103,000 |
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
Baha'i |
84,000 |
-- |
|
 | After selecting the religions, our experts researched each one intensively, drawing distinctions
between them and taking note of similarities. A preliminary survey of 3,000 persons with varying religious identities revealed
the questions that helped us identify your religious compatibility.
Breuilly, Elizabeth, Joanne O'Brien, Martin E. Marty (Editor) and Martin Palmer. Religions
of the World: The Illustrated Guide to Origins, Beliefs, Traditions & Festivals. (NY: Checkmark Books), 1997. Gellman,
Rabbi Marc and Monsignor Thomas Hartman. Religion for Dummies. (NY: Wiley Publishing), 2002. Hopfe, Lewis M.
and Mark R. Woodward. Religions of the World, 8th Edition. (NY: Prentice Hall), 2000. Novak, Philip and Huston
Smith. The World's Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World's Religions. (NY:HarperCollins), 1994. Religious statistics
and index. Adherents.com. http://www.adherents.com/Religious tolerance information. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. http://www.religioustolerance.orgToropov, Brandon and Father Luke Buckles. The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Religions,
second edition.
(IN:Alpha Books), 2002. Westerdale Bowker, John. World Religions. (NY: DK Publishing), 1997.
|
