Religious New Year resolutions anyone?

Philosophy Forums Religion and Spirituality
1

Does anyone go in for New Year resolutions that have a religious flavor?

Last year I decided to read the bible through in a year using a different version than I usually use. I admit that wasn’t very imaginative. But, I’m happy to report that I fought through Leviticus and Isaiah and I’m nearly done now.

Not sure what I’ll try for this year. Any ideas anyone?

And I’d be interested in hearing if anyone has their own ideas from whatever religious background you come from.

I don’t want to leave out you athiests either. Maybe your planning on having Bertrand Russell-fest in 2008?

2

I might eat cactus slime once a month to open my third eye to the infinte possibilities of the universe. hehe.

But seriously why don’t we each try and teach ourselves more about other people’s religions and cultures?

Then we can understand each other a little better. Especially in this era of great cultural and relgious tension…

3

I’ve gotten an early start on it, but I’d like to read through the Yijing (I Ching) with commentary. If I manage to complete that, I imagine next year my resolution will be something along the lines of, “Try to make some semblance of sense out of the darned thing.”

4

I would like to try observing Lent this coming year.

5

I would like to try observing Lent this coming year.

6

I want to practice understanding. Every scrap of joy that I have is very dependent on other people. I want to be more empathetic and compassionate towards others, because others is the only thing that makes life worth while.

7

I’d like to reread all of the works of Nietzsche, plus expand a bit to philosophers I haven’t read much. For instance, I bought Derrida’s The Gift of Death but haven’t had a chance to read it.

I guess that brings me to an important resolution I really want to stick with: to spend at least one hour per day reading something worthwhile. A second would be to actively listen to good music for an hour a day, too. Both will challenging- I start school in January and will still be working as full time as I can. Hopefully I can utilize the two or three hours between my last class and the start of work in a useful manner instead of just dicking around online.

8

Yeah, that sounds challenging. But it sounds like something you could manage if you put your mind to it.

Does that mean you don’t celebrate New Year? If not, why not?

I really like New Year and find it a lot more spiritually meaningful that Christmas. Time for look at what worked and what didn’t in the previous year. A little introspection and the hope of a new beginning, you can’t beat it. It’s my favorite holiday after easter. Christmas ranks down somewhere after haloween and valentines day. Strange me being a Christian and all. But I just don’t get all the fuss of Christmas and I really despise Christmas carols!

9

Good luck with school. What are you studying?

10

I’m not waiting until the new year to do this, and don’t make new year resolutions, but these are some of the things I’ve been thinking about…

I want to put the Old Testament into chronological order, combining the repeats so they don’t repeat, and read my copy of “The Life of Christ in Stereo” (a harmonizing of the gospels). I want to also finish reading the book I have on early church history. Finish researching the self thread. Maybe find out more about ‘processism’ and all that (it’s not good, so far as I’ve seen).

There’s this cool thing starting in February I want to get involved in, and I need to start recycling. I want to go to the library with the boys more.

There’s more, but that’s enough for now. Just take it a little bit at a time, and before you know it, it’s done.

11

Computers. Network Administration. I’m a “non-trad,” btw- age 38.

12

I know nothing about computers.

Hey, you’re almost the same age as me. All the best for for your new mid-life career change! I hope it works out.