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Which alternative religion is right for you?
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When you ask people these days if they are religious, many say they are "spiritual but not really religious." Let's face it, with all the infighting going on among Christians about various "hot topics," many of us are seeking an alternative to the church we were brought up in, one that will satisfy our longing to acknowledge a creator greater than ourselves without requiring us to step into the fray. So...what other choices do we have?
Alternative religions come in all varieties and flavors: Zoroastrianism, Scientology, Jediism, Rastafari, Satanism, Baha'i, and many others. There is bound to be one to suit our tastes. Let's look at some of the components of religious systems and identify some elements that may appeal to us.
First, religions can be monotheistic or polytheistic. An example of a monotheistic religion would be Rastafari, where there is one god, the Emperor Hailie Selassie. Polythestic religions such as Paganism worship multiple gods and goddesses and other entities who help out, such as faeries.
You might also believe in pantheism, the belief that the god or spirit is inherent in all living creatures and in everything in the universe. Pantheism fits in well with Christianity to a certain degree, and with Paganism too. Maybe an athestic viewpoint is the one that appeals to you most, a belief that there is no god, no creator of the universe. The Church of Satan is atheistic; it denies the existence of a god at all. Jediism, a belief system based on the Star Wars movies, is "non-theistic" or having no creator associated with it. It is based on moral principles and its followers have a creed or set of beliefs that they observe. They are rather like the knights of the Round Table in the modern-day world; chivalry and bravery are not out of place with the Jedi.
Some religions honor and revere nature. For instance, Celtic and Pagan traditions have a deep respect for the earth and its creatures. This is a very important element in Pagan, Celtic, and Wiccan worship, and many rituals and ceremonies are performed outside.
Does the religion have a "golden rule"? Most spiritual traditions do. For Christians, it's "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." For Wiccans, it's the Wiccan Rede, "an ye harm none, do what ye will," or in plain English, "Do what you will, as long as it harms no one." I have only found one belief system that does not include a form of this moral guideline: it's found in Buddhism, Baha'i Faith, Islam, Hinduism, and Islam, to name a few. If this rule is important to you in how you live your life, chances are that any religion you investigate will include it. However, if you feel that kindnesses should only be bestowed on those who are deserving, then it could be Satanism that you seek.
Does historical tradition appeal to you? Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religious traditions
A certain open-mindedness is needed to start investigating alternative religions. For instance, I've found that, even though the very name, Satanism, conjures up scary images in my mind, the Church of Satan's actual beliefs are more palatable to me than I would have expected.
For more info: See about.com's Quick Reference Chart of alternative religions. Although the chart is not all-inclusive, it does name several of the most well-known alternative religions.
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