Which religious "ism" is best?

[Elijah John]

Which outlook/worldview is best, most likely to be real, and helpful to everyday life? And why?

-Atheism
-Polytheism
-Monotheism.
-Trinitarianism
-Pantheism
-Panentheism
-Agnosticism
-Ignosticism
-Gnosticism
-Deism

Make your case for your favored view.

Some of the above may overlap, and some be included in another choice. For example, it can be argued that Trinitarianism is a form of Monotheism.

[Mithrae]

Many are heavily emotionally invested in the dogma with which they were indoctrinated (usually as children). After constructing a life around what 'God wants', it can be traumatic to cast that aside and do the hard work of deciding on courses of action without imagined 'guidance from above'.

It can be easier to keep defending old habits than to form new ones (religion included).

Similarly, it can be easiest to maintain the 'antithesis' stage - primarily opposing those things one became disillusioned with - without ever really attempting to find a 'synthesis' of what the original 'thesis' may have found to be useful over prior millennia alongside whatever modifications, corrections or simply falsifications have since been proven.

[William]

William: Mysticism is another for the list. There are so many 'isms',

For me - in my understanding of - Panentheism strikes a chord.

Mainly because it is useful in its necessity to embrace all 'isms' as aspects of something greater than any separate isms on their own or directly in opposition to other isms.

Non-Judgmentalism has been on my radar most of 2019 as I have experimented with the concept since realizing that both theism and non-theism positions both appear to depend upon it as part of their ... keeping their favored platform afloat. It is the things which opposing platforms have in common which intrigue me. I am finding it easier to maintain the position in line with focusing upon exactly what it is so I can recognize it more quickly and deal with it within my self. Once I stopped verbalizing judgmental opinions, I soon also learned how to stop the internal verbalizing of opinions.

It seems to be quite liberating and since I am still practicing it is not yet second nature to me, although I am sure that when it is, that liberating feeling will take on a new level.

All The Best to The Members for 2020.

[Zzyzx]

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[Replying to post 11 by Mithrae]

Once one decides, based on real life experience, that Santa Claus tales are not true, is there any reason to rehash the matter?

Same goes for tales of the thousands of proposed 'gods'.

[Mithrae]

[Replying to post 13 by Zzyzx]

A more appropriate analogy would be coming to the decision that doctrines such as laissez-faire capitalism or state socialism are incorrect, and therefore "casting them aside" as you say and devoting considerable effort going forwards to critiquing and mocking those positions without ever attempting to offer a positive alternative nor to recognize and learn from the reasons which made those doctrines such powerful social forces in the first place.

Former Christians on this forum obviously are rehashing the questions and issues which they decided to be untrue, and those issues have historically been far more prevalent, enduring and influential than modern economic doctrines: Making a comparison with Santa Claus seems a little misleading.

[Difflugia]

[Replying to post 1 by Elijah John]

Atheist Humanism.

As a goal, treat every human being is as deserving of happiness, dignity, and security as any other in the broadest possible terms without exception. Whether or not they exist, the gods haven't deigned to help bring about a reality in which every human being actually is happy and secure, so as far as anyone can tell, it's up to people to make all the progress.

Is it the best? I value fairness and that's what I imagine Humanism to strive for more than any other "ism" does.

Most likely to be true? There don't seem to be any gods that care to intervene in our human reality, so a plan that relies only on people is at least attainable in principle. It's possible that not enough people will ever be willing to work toward fairness, but we at least know for sure that people are real.

Most useful in everyday life? That's tough. I guess it depends on what one values. I find it worthwhile to have an overall goal that I care about. Even if I don't (or can't) attain it, the attempt and small successes along the way help me stay happy.