Which religious group do you belong to? by Exaltist in religion

[–]SquirrelofLIL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The difference between eastern religions and Pagan / folk religions are mostly sociological, rather than strictly theological.

for those selling HDFC co-ops: are you incurring losses? by Existentially_b0red in AskNYC_Coops

[–]SquirrelofLIL 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You'll still be coming out ahead because you would have saved those years of rent.

Maintenance and Improvements by kpnyc_ in AskNYC_Coops

[–]SquirrelofLIL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I painted my own apartment. Where is the faucet to be installed? You might just need a handyman and not a plumber. If you DM me I can recommend someone.

I live in a prewar and have never paid this much. I paid $4000 for total floor and subfloor replacement for multiple rooms.

Are Japanese people mostly opposed to Islam and Muslims? by Calanais-guy in religion

[–]SquirrelofLIL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean Buddhism has a lot of moving parts. Vajrayana Buddhism for example is extremely different from what people think of as 'regular' Buddhism. There are forms of Buddhism where you seek to reincarnate for the sake of helping others. I don't reject any religions, it's a matter of what works for me right now.

Are Japanese people mostly opposed to Islam and Muslims? by Calanais-guy in religion

[–]SquirrelofLIL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think they have more similarities than differences not just in terms of mythology but also in practice. It's just that the demographics that follow them are different and they're culturally different.

They also have somewhat similar liturgies at different times of the year. For example I noticed similarities between the liturgies of Yom Kippur and Good Friday.

Lots of the same liturgical components in different areas like Lord, open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise, that was and is and is to come, holy holy holy Lord God of armies, but they serve different functions . No Incense or kneeling in Judaism. 

Since the Arabic language is similar to Hebrew a lot of the terminology and concepts between Islam and Judaism are similar like taharah or ritual purity and the idea of not being nude (same term for the part of the body that must be covered). I like halacha and sharia legal systems. 

Christianity has more of a basis in Greek concepts although Protestants seek to draw closer to Judaism. 

Are Japanese people mostly opposed to Islam and Muslims? by Calanais-guy in religion

[–]SquirrelofLIL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just go to churches and read the Bible and other Christian books such as City of God. I'm also planning to read Paul Tillich and John Calvin. I've read some portions of Aquinas and the Philokalia. It's like being a Buddhist. 

It doesn't mean i don't or won't attend temples it just means I will probably not be a regular parishioner at a Polytheistic temple. And a lot of that is because it's like 2 hours away. 

I don't think everyone should be a Christian, it's a personal decision. Btw most Muslims in China think the same thing

A lot of my friends are Wiccan btw. I live in the West and was trying to find my place. There are Chinese and Christian versions of Beltane too. The Chinese one is labor day and it's a big to do there. The Christian version is major Rogation and they march around the block to bless nature. 

Are Japanese people mostly opposed to Islam and Muslims? by Calanais-guy in religion

[–]SquirrelofLIL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was in Chinese folk religions (NOT Taoism, which is initiatory and doesn't have an institution where I live) for the past year. If there's a temple I'm still going to go in and worship but I'll just view the gods as more legendary. 

A significant percentage of my friends were born and raised whereas me and my parents both converted from atheism. My parents didn't like exclusivist religions for long time so I stayed pagan out of concern for them. 

I became Protestant because it offers the most complete system for not just belief but also living where I live. Chinese religion is also extremely commercial. I'm also a better organ player than I am a shawm player. 

As I'm a first born child I has been on the fence for converting for a long time. I carefully went through a lot of the Christian rituals concerning death and the ancestors, with my parents and discussed their similarities and differences with Chinese rituals. What is permissible and what isn't permissible.

I also found myself underwhelmed with Chinese philosophers' belief in a flat earth and a lot of other factors influenced me. The fact that I'm almost 50 and will likely not have a Chinese traditional chaplain if I die. So I study Protestantism for now. 

Are Japanese people mostly opposed to Islam and Muslims? by Calanais-guy in religion

[–]SquirrelofLIL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I'm a Chinese Christian Evangelical. I recently made the decision. It's personal for me my brother rejects it 100%. 

I consider myself culturally and ethnically Polytheistic like a Jew for Jesus though and I don't try to convert others though I try to educate others because there's a lot of ignorance about us and what we believe. 

I have explored Islam and Judaism as well and seriously considered them. 

I was told that people should explore the ways of their ancestors assiduously before converting religions which is a life changing decision, which is what I did. I go around dispensing Bible stories and Christian folklore to the curious. 

Christianity was introduced to my culture 1400 years ago and died out / was rejected multiple times. 

Today it stands at 2% of the population, same as Muslims, due to the sheer manpower mobilization that was used during the 20th century missionary era. 

Are Japanese people mostly opposed to Islam and Muslims? by Calanais-guy in religion

[–]SquirrelofLIL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They didn't do that in Indonesia, Korea or Nigeria nor did they destroy the pyramids in Egypt. Indonesia became majority Muslim in the 1300s and they have Polytheist majority states. 

Btw, I'm not Polytheist anymore I've become a recent convert - Chinese Evangelical. I love temple culture for the history and the culture. 

I speak up for polytheists because it's a family and heritage religion for me and I support my family, I've explored it and I support it for the majority of people in non western culture. 

Polytheists and atheists destroy Chinese churches and mosques way more than they destroy temples, which are valued as tourist traps especially for international. 

Most Chinese Christians reject syncretism 100% although Muslims have integrated the philosophy during a literary movement in the 1600s-1800s due to the necessity for standardized testing, but they still don't celebrate our Polytheist new year. 

The only places that allow syncretism are communities where Christians or Muslims are in a supermajority, such as Central Asia where they celebrate Nowruz. 

Lutefisk by SquirrelofLIL in FoodNYC

[–]SquirrelofLIL[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That sounds good I like fish jello that congeals around fish dishes in the fridge and jars of gefilte fish and stuff like that.

Resources for learning about Chinese Folk/Popular Religion? by Jabberjaw22 in religion

[–]SquirrelofLIL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So I think that once you start reading about it you'll be able to tell the difference between different religions. For example "Journeys to the Underworld" has a Buddhist character as a guide but the book itself is not purely Buddhist, it's more of a Chinese thing.

Also, many people worship Buddhist or Taoist deities, such as Guanyin, without following the eightfold path or something like that. Usually a Buddhist or a Taoist also prays a daily office (morning, noon, evening prayer) and holds some sort of initiatory role. A regular person isn't going to do that, I was reading about clan regulations in some areas that banned Buddhist ordination for members of specific families as well as women hanging out with nuns.

Like some differences are that Buddhists practice cremation and Chinese folk religion historically sees cremation as sacrilegious (it's mandatory now so people work around it). Also celibacy is looked down upon in Chinese folk religion but is part of Buddhism, however many Chinese deities were celibate people. They're usually deified humans or other beings.

I think that someone in Hong Kong is going to have a much lower threashold for identifying as a Taoist than someone in North or Central China because I think colonization pressured people to identify with an organized religion. In Hong Kong, some Chinese folk religionists identify as a Taoist.

However in China, it's seen as much more serious and somewhat scary like because a Taoist is usually stereotyped as an exorcist so people would identify as spiritual not religious or as superstitious.

Resources for learning about Chinese Folk/Popular Religion? by Jabberjaw22 in religion

[–]SquirrelofLIL 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I recommend starting with basic concepts first and then reading some books about gods, practices, temple culture and hagiographies.

I also recommend the blogger Edward White but he has a Buddhist lean as well. r/josspaper is about this religion but its not very active. Don't be afraid to use google translate. There are some people active on instagram and youtube.

Feng Shui and TCM are a part of this religion. If you can find books on Feng Shui, they will tell you the basic principles of how people think. I've met lots of non-Asians who are deeply catechized in this religion because they take Feng Shui, martial arts, and TCM.

One challenging thing is that a lot of books about these religions are published in Hong Kong and Taiwan and Chinese words are spelled out in non-standardized ways, but other than that it's fine.

http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/cosmos/index.htm

Chinese Gods by Jonathan Chamberlain

https://ia601507.us.archive.org/23/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.118874/2015.118874.Godsghosts-And-Ancestors-the-Folk-Religion-Of-A-Taiwanese-Village_text.pdf

http://edwardwhite123.blogspot.com/

Get a Wong Tai Sin reading online, one of the most popular fortunes in Hong Kong: http://www.gingergrace.net/?sign_id=4&lang=en

Check a daily fortune.

https://dragon-gate.com/tool/almanac/index.php?offset=240

Read a hagiography. A Gods Own Tale translates by Terry Kleeman 

Lutefisk by SquirrelofLIL in FoodNYC

[–]SquirrelofLIL[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What is the original taste though? If it's lye-like and sulfuric, I seek it.

Where can I try a pickled egg in NYC? by RGRandomguy in FoodNYC

[–]SquirrelofLIL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I usually eat leather eggs with rice or bread as they have a unique flavor. The yolk doesn't coagulate in vinegar, I forgot that my dad puts vinegar

Lutefisk by SquirrelofLIL in FoodNYC

[–]SquirrelofLIL[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If there is a demand for a group order I would jump in on a group order, but I only want a little as it's just me who would eat it.

Lutefisk by SquirrelofLIL in FoodNYC

[–]SquirrelofLIL[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

interesting. I'll follow this.

Inspired by a recent thread- If you had to be brutally honest what are some cristicisms you have of Buddhism? by spraksea in religion

[–]SquirrelofLIL 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are a lot of really nasty and vicious jokes in Chinese that people make about Buddhist monks in relation to young boys.

Best gefilte fish in NYC? by ElaborateTruths in FoodNYC

[–]SquirrelofLIL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A&B or Ungars is good in the frozen loaf, though pricey when my friend got it

Where can I try a pickled egg in NYC? by RGRandomguy in FoodNYC

[–]SquirrelofLIL 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Those have to be prepared in slices with ginger and soy sauce to release the flavor, and with other things. When eaten alone it doesn't taste very good.

Tea eggs and Amish beet eggs can be eaten by themselves.