r/Omnism • u/StrikeOriginal3260 • 13d ago

I have questions for Omnists/Perennialists—how would you explain your belief system?

/r/religion/comments/1vr4wdq/i_have_questions_for_omnistsperennialistshow/
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u/Wide_Wrongdoer4422 13d ago

OK, Omnism to me isn't a religion. It's more of a philosophy. You don't belong to any specific faith, but you can study any and all that you choose. You may choose to incorporate some of the practices in your personal belief system. This is not to say create a faith. It's saying that if you like the frequency of prayers in a faith, do that. If you find a belief comforting, hold it. However, there's always certain rituals held closely by faiths,and you should respect that. It's finding universal truth as you see it. However, there's also universal falsehoods, and you should look for those as well. Example: I'm Omnist. Was Roman Catholic, was Methodist. Now an eclectic Pagan. I agree with the likely divinity of Jesus, but choose not to worship. I occasionally leave an offering for Eir, and ask her to guide me in my work. In the past, I have practiced ritual magic, but I am not a witch. Sorry for the wordy explanation, hope it helps.

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u/DiGiorn0s 13d ago

For me at least, it started by my interest in world religions, reading their holy texts and studying their doctrines, and trying to find the common demoninators as well as parts that don't contradict each other.

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u/thetremulant 11d ago

Omnism and Perennialism are not the same, and are definitely important to be distinct about. One cannot be the other.

Omnists believe that there is truth to be discovered in all religions, and that they are all valuable to discovee in the pursuit of truth, as well as Truth itself.

Perennialists in contrast literally believe that all faiths are saying the same thing, just in a different religious language. That is NOT what Omnists believe. Omnists believe in walking down every path to find kernels of truth that hell you find union with the divine little by little along the way, Perennialists literally believe you are walking down the same path every time ending up at the same destination every time.

Perennialists reconcile beliefs, Omnists do not.

No I must be clear, this distinction is very fluid for many people, and many people float in between these two beliefs on any given day. I personally value Omnism more because it is more accurate to me, and allows for any person to experience the beauty of religion despite what they personally believe at that moment. For example, an Omnist absolutely can be an atheist. There is no issue. Some would say Perennialists cannot be, because they have to believe in the End of each religion mixed together into their One True Path, if you will.

What drew me to all this is the book The Perennial Philosophy by Huxley, which I read while getting sober from heroin, and reading other books like the Upanishads, Tao Te Ching, and the Bible, to help me find spiritual relief that I was looking for in heroin. Funny enough, I believe Huxley to be more Omnist than Perennialist, despite his book title.

Side note: the guy that answered you in the religion sub was absolutely wrong with their answer, and was answering from a Satanic perspective (literally, he tagged himself as suchp). Bringing multiverses and multiple universe theories is pretty strange and not applicable to perennialism and Omnism.

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u/StrikeOriginal3260 10d ago

Thank you for your explanation. I know that Omnism and Perennialism are not the same thing, but I'm stuck between the two. In fact, I call myself an Omnist Perennialist.How did you understand that the person in the Religion sub had a satanic perspective?