Back in my searching-for-whatever days, I came across Scientific Pantheism and it really hit the spot. I still occasionally call myself a pantheist - just with a small "p". I think some of you might like this, if you haven't visited the site already.

https://www.pantheism.net/beliefs/

Jo6359, I am sorry for what your nephew is enduring - and your family with him. It's a head-scratcher how nature can suck and be so beautiful at the same time, but at least we non-believers don't waste time getting tied in knots assigning blame or credit to some gigantic airborne coin-flipper. It gives us more time to cherish our loved ones in the here and now. 💙

alice-Nature can be so stunning it takes ones breath away. On the other hand there are times it really sucks. I'm thinking of tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters which can be so beautiful they take your breath away. Yet the devastation is immeasurable. I'm not searching for answers from God or any other entity. Whilel sitting outside yesterday evening laughing at my dogs antics made me appreciate those moments of joy.

Alice, I like pantheism, especially this: “It is only here that we will ever get the chance to see paradise.“

And the statement of pantheistic principles resonates with me:

• Reverence for Nature and the wider Universe.
• Active respect and care for the rights of all humans and other living beings.
• Celebration of our lives in our bodies on this beautiful earth as a joy and a privilege.
• Strong naturalism, without belief in supernatural realms, afterlives, beings or forces.
• Respect for reason, evidence and the scientific method as our best ways of understanding nature and the Universe.
• Promotion of religious tolerance, freedom of religion and complete separation of state and religion.

But as Jo said, nature can be devastating as well as beautiful. And illness can make it difficult to celebrate “our lives in our bodies as a joy". So how do we make sense of suffering and destruction?

I don't have any answers, but wonder how others come to terms with this dark side of life. I think the promise of paradise is what leads many people to religion.

Thank you Wrenn. That is very moving.

❤️

Interesting stuff, nice poems. I like the non-theist label, if I need a label. Works for me.

Living in a very religious state, we have been asked about what church we attend on more than one occasion.  I tell people that we are not religious.  That is so vague that it means almost nothing at all, yet seems to satisfy those that inquire.

My state has one church for every 500 people and church is a big part of the culture.

Th pat list of pantheistic principles is almost identical to the 7 principles of Unitarian Universalism. The only thing that is missing is "respect for the democratic process." 

Using the phrase "unchurched" in my area would result in people knocking on your door.  There are all sorts of strategies to reach the unchurched. 

I agree with Ananda - saying you’re unchurched in my neck of the woods is just asking for an intervention!

Illimae - I’m sorry about your boss’s parents. That’s sad. Life can sure turn on a dime. I imagine the funeral will feel different for you now. I’m only stage 1 but there’s something about chemo that makes mortality a much more real concept.

Coming up with labels is interesting to me since I have never been asked about my beliefs (live in Canada) and rarely know any friends or acquaintances beliefs. We never know whether our politicians or leaders have any religious beliefs either except for a few very conservative ones and even then they are careful. It is very private here.

I'm lucky to live in Seattle. The majority of people here would rather be in the wilderness than in a building on Sunday. We can be on the ski slopes in a couple of hours.

Alice: I agree the second response is much more specific as I think many folks who are not 'churchy' are very 'goddy'.

I go to church weddings and funerals. I'm pretty good at having a movie playing in my head when I'm bored, so it's a handy trait to have! When it's time for Their Lord's Prayer, I quietly recite Wordsworth's My Heart Leaps Up (The Rainbow). The hard part, as a churchy friend who switched to an Episcopalian congregation put it, is keeping up with the choreography. 💃

I live in the "Bible belt" of Ontario surrounded by Mennonites. My husbands family either are or were Mennonite. The ones that were are now in fundamentalist groups. We get asked all the time "so where do you fellowship?". For many years I lied and said we were going to a church in the near by city ( not total lie we did go there years ago). No i just say no where. Then we get asked how our relationship is with the lord, my answer is usually fine, to avoid any sermon. Definitely would get a visit at the door if we said un-churched lol. Sad to say but we avoid family gatherings so we don't get asked and made to feel bad about yourselves. I know many of my husbands family think i lead him away for the lord but we dont care what they say.

illimae- I'm pleased for you that the service went well. Wind Beneath My Wings always make me tear up. I haven't been to a funeral or memorial service since being diagnosed a year ago. A friend's mother died approx. 6 months ago. I politely declined attending the service. I figured cooking enough food for a hundred people for the repast was far easier than attending the service.

We are still awaiting results from my nephew's tests. The bible-thumping crazies from Tennessee and Kentucky have all arrived. Then we need to throw in my sanctimonious sister-in-law (wife of the minister) . I am so thankful none of them know I have cancer. My Sil has not shown up or called to visit my nephew since he's been hospitalized. Now that the whole family is at the hospital she shows up with her Bible. Most of them mean well. When my former sister-in-law informed me today she was going to pray for my worthless soul anyhow because she's a good Christian. I believe a family member must have mentioned it to her that I didn't participate in one of the prayer circles. She made it very clear she prays for those heathens who don't deserve it only because God commands it. Im thankful there were 240 miles separating the two of us. Instead I politely told her to have a nice day and I hung up the phone. I'm going for a run now. I need to clear my head.