How religious are you?

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'm in a weird spot because, while I don't have any sort of faith, I'm growing increasingly fond of some philosophical systems derived from religion. Is there a name for this?

Voted no.

[Antonio the Sixth]

At the risk of triggering BRTD, wouldn't this be an aspect of "cultural Catholicism" (or any other religion)?

In a way, yes (I'd be at least somewhat "culturally Catholic" and working my way toward some degree of "cultural Orthodoxy" and "cultural Protestantism" and hoping that some day I might find the time gain some basic notions of "cultural Judaism", "cultural Buddhism" and "cultural Hinduism" ), but I don't think it's how most Americans would think of that term.

Godfearer, was a term applied pre-Christ to Gentiles who liked Jewish morality and monotheism, and sometimes went to synagogue, but never actually joined the religion. That might be a good term for your views.

That's very interesting. I had no idea such people existed in significant numbers.

The term itself kind of reminds of Pascal's wager ante litteram though, doesn't it? Pascal's wager is not one of the Christian ideas I find of much interest.

[Antonio the Sixth]

It sounds like it, but I'm not so sure. What was the state of Jewish views of the afterlife at the time? It wouldn't really apply if they believed mainly in Sheol, since Sheol doesn't really discriminate That's beyond my knowledge though.

I'm pretty sure I know far less than you do about pre-Christ Judaism, but didn't it already espouse the belief in a Final Judgement that would bring eternal blessing to the virtuous and eternal damnation to the impious? If so, Sheol would be seen as a temporary condition and not the real point of the afterlife, wouldn't it?

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I mean, Pascal's wager is incompatible with any remotely rigorous Christian soteriology (and I'm sure our Christian posters of any denomination would agree), but the fact that Reformed thought rejects it so categorically is certainly a point in its favor. Though as you know I have fundamental issues with it.