Have you fully read a religious text?

[JA]

Examples of these sacred texts would obviously include the Bible, Quran, Torah, and so on... Also, by "speak" to you, I obviously mean if you felt some religious feeling or felt moved by them.

Personally, I have only read some of the Bible and some of the Quran. While I found them fascinating from a philosophical and historical perspective, there was nothing in those texts that "spoke" to me or moved me in any way. I can appreciate some of the beauty in their message and especially how revolutionary they were for their times, but they caused absolutely no religious/spiritual feeling in me. Honestly, I have never had that and largely believe it is solely a particular psychological experience with no greater explanation or meaning. But, obviously, I could be wrong.

[JA]

No, but I want to change that soon.

Which religious text(s) are you wanting to read? Are you trying to become more religious or just satiate curiosity?

I've read every book of the bible at one point or another, but there are several that I haven't read in a long time. As far as being "spoken to", well, with stuff that has a clear commandment or moral message  to it, I've definitely felt like god is teaching me something. But with stuff that's more history-oriented and either has commands that aren't for us or no commands at all (Genesis, Deuteronomy, Acts), no, I don't feel "spoken to", but that doesn't mean we shouldn't read that stuff. The more Christians know about the bible, the better.

As for other religious texts - No.

What makes you believe that it is "God" speaking to you? How do you draw a distinction between something that is moving because it's beautiful/inspiring and something that moves you due to the divine?

Yes.

Tao Te Ching (a few times).
Bhagavad Gita.

Have started the Qur'an.

Currently doing the New Testament.

What are some of the key insights you've gathered from those texts? Did you feel you were being "spoken to" from more than one of them?

[JA]

No, but I want to change that soon.

Which religious text(s) are you wanting to read? Are you trying to become more religious or just satiate curiosity?

It wouldn't make sense for me not to start with the Bible. It's the single most influential work of the culture I grew up into, and as such it's already shaped my thinking to a considerable extent. I'd like to broaden my scope to other faiths later, but there is only right place to start.

As for why, I'm not entirely sure how I'd put it myself. "Satiate curiosity" sounds a bit shallow, but I can't honestly say I'm becoming religious in any sense of the word. Mainly, I'm looking for guides to help me think deeper about a number of issues, especially regarding morality. I've gotten a lot of fascinating insights from studying secular moral philosophy, but there's something about it that I've found missing - I'm not quite sure what.

I think I know what you mean. It's almost like there's only so far you can go with secular philosophy, yet a part of you demands more because it doesn't feel like that's all there is to this world or philosophy. At the same time, you can't logically or emotionally make (or necessarily want to make) that leap to religiosity/god. That's my current conundrum as well :/

[JA]

The Christian and Jewish Bibles, and the Quran.

Yes, all three of them "spoke" to me.

To which religious faith do you adhere if the sacred text of those three all "spoke" to you? Why did you settle upon your current faith instead of a different one?

[JA]

No, but I want to change that soon.

Which religious text(s) are you wanting to read? Are you trying to become more religious or just satiate curiosity?

It wouldn't make sense for me not to start with the Bible. It's the single most influential work of the culture I grew up into, and as such it's already shaped my thinking to a considerable extent. I'd like to broaden my scope to other faiths later, but there is only right place to start.

As for why, I'm not entirely sure how I'd put it myself. "Satiate curiosity" sounds a bit shallow, but I can't honestly say I'm becoming religious in any sense of the word. Mainly, I'm looking for guides to help me think deeper about a number of issues, especially regarding morality. I've gotten a lot of fascinating insights from studying secular moral philosophy, but there's something about it that I've found missing - I'm not quite sure what.

I think I know what you mean. It's almost like there's only so far you can go with secular philosophy, yet a part of you demands more because it doesn't feel like that's all there is to this world or philosophy. At the same time, you can't logically or emotionally make (or necessarily want to make) that leap to religiosity/god. That's my current conundrum as well :/

Glad I'm not the only one in this situation. It's pretty awkward (especially when I try to explain it to non-religious people who don't have this issue), but I definitely feel like I'm making some progress.

I tried going the religious route before, but I felt nothing. It was all academic and going through the motions. That's why I ask questions in the religion & philosophy subforum more than make comments; I'm searching for something, yet I have no solid grasp of what it is.

Most people seem to be either irreligious and confident/secure in that, or spiritual/religious and confident/secure in that as well. They may have doubts and so on, but generally, they know where they stand. Personally, I don't believe, neither logically nor emotionally, yet some part of me is pulling me towards something unexplainable. Perhaps we are sentimentalists trapped within minds trained for scientific thinking. I have always felt the "identity," poetry, and beauty of religion was far more compelling than religion itself. For example, I love novels with religious inspirations (Les Miserables brings me to tears with its beauty and depth) and religious architecture and art (the Renaissance is the high point of art to me). Not to mention how much I love religious holidays. Yet, I feel I am more of an observor of these things than a full participant.

[JA]

Antonio,

Not to pry, but I am curious how connected you feel; like as part of a community? That is one of the theories I have been considering is that a large part of these desires stems from a sense of atomization or alienation from important social bonds. Like you, I am a (highly) introverted person, so I always felt more comfortable studying religion from a distance (i.e. never immersing myself in a religious community). Based upon my conversations with religious persons, it seems that the communal aspect is one of the most important benefits of religiosity.

Discovering a coherent and fulfilling philosophical system is certainly not an easy task. But, perhaps, like me, you simply live too much in your head and are over-analyzing these things. Maybe you must simply begin to live those theological concepts and incorporate them into your lifestyle. Do not focus on them as abstractions to be pondered, but rather as words of wisdom by which you live. I should practice what I preach...

Btw have you read any of the works of Rumi or The Philokalia? I strongly recommend both of those.

The Philokalia