Religion & Beliefs (new)

[Master J]

This is the new religion poll.Could sumone remove the old one, I don't know how.

[YODA]

Other: Humanist :D

[Master J]

Damn! forgot that one yoda. can i put more than 10 in a poll. anyway

[wayofthedragon]

christian, at least I try hard to be anyway:)

[Saz]

I put Other, because I don't know what I believe in, and there was no 'Don't have a clue' option

[Brad Ellin]

Buddhist. Not a very good one if you ask the mainstream, but I try to be compassionate to the jerks anyway.

[aikiMac]

Christian.

[Greg-VT]

Other, because I really don't know... my beliefs don't really fit into the other options.

[Fuzzy Panther]

I'm a "born again"/"Jesus Freak" Christian! :D

Fuzzy Panther
:Angel:

[beth]

I would say atheist except that denotes certainty. I do not know if there is a god(s) or not and truthfully I do not care. Nothing will ever be able to prove the existence of god(s) to me and I do not need a supernatural paradigm in order to live a moral and ehtical life. I have nothing against those with religious faith, as long as they do not impose it on others.

[Kenpo_Mike]

Im a door knocker!!!

[Sweeet]

I'm an atheist.

'Strong' atheist, as the popular 2 sided definition goes, as you have 'determined' and 'default' or 'lack of belief, not determined belief' (weak atheism).

It was a fairly steady progression:

Atheist (baby) --> Christian --> Agnostic --> Atheist.

I've done the full circle :) I like the discuss the stuff occasionally and thats when I go to http://www.philosophyforums.com/ .

[47Ronin]

Shinto- I realise I do not live in Japan, but oh well. (not yet anyways)

[judojedi]

what, no option for us sexist's?
:D

i'm an atheist really.

[Cudgel]

Roman Catholic

[chi-hawk]

Paganism should stick out there some where I think.:Alien:

[Qasim]

Muslim... I read Qur'an and follow the sunnah (example) of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). I don't blindly follow what someone says so that I end up doing something against Islam. 'Nuff said. :cool:

[inacan]

Well recently I've been told that "in basic tenents I'm a Christian who has a affinity for the study of other religions and cultures".

[saikyou]

Christian

[Chazz]

I do think there is a God. I thank him everyday that i can do what i can do. I thank him for good friends and family as well as ask him to watch over my GF and her lil girl (who i wish was mine).

I saw this prayer in a movie and fell in love with it and say it every night for my 2 girls.

Angels to east, angels to the west, North and south just do your best, to watch and guard them as they rest.

[yangtaichi]

un confirmed catholic (new to it) but try to maintain buddhist tendencies.

[nzric]

Atheist. I live a good and ethical life, and if I'm a decent person I think that will get me into heaven/wherever if I turn out to be wrong.

I just can't accept any religion that says you'll fry unless you read a particular book or wear funny clothes, etc. If that's more important to some god than being true to yourself and others, I don't want to hang out with him anyway.

Oh, and I'm more and more Taoist in my old age.

[quartermaster]

i say other simply because i believe that organised religion is the main cause of that which it forbids, eg. killing, rape, etc.

dont get me wrong, i have many beliefs that i have found expressed particularly well within religious context but i am content to seek continued self developement.

"when hunting for the eagle, aim for the stars"

[Disciple]

Roman Catholic. :)

INteresting similarities between buddhism and christianity. I like the 4 nobel truths and 8 fold path. I try to think in terms of them . I like the philosphy ery much.

[Capt Ann]

If by "Jesus Freak" you mean "someone who loves the Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength, and tries by the grace of God to live their life loving their neighbor as themself", then A.) Yes, I'm a Jesus Freak, and B.) America needs more Freaks.

I was kinda shocked to see that Atheists outnumbered Agnostics on this list alomst three-to-one. Atheism usually means a kind of cetainty in belief, and requires at least as much faith as being a Christian. That's why, usually, Agnostics tend to outnumber Atheists by about this margin. I'm curious. For those atheists that responded to this survey could you please post back with some more details? (like current age, age when you decided you were really an atheist, religious experiences before this point, etc.)

Thanks!
Ann R.

[ptcruiser]

Originally posted by Capt Ann
If by "Jesus Freak" you mean "someone who loves the Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength, and tries by the grace of God to live their life loving their neighbor as themself", then A.) Yes, I'm a Jesus Freak, and B.) America needs more Freaks.

Thanks!
Ann R.

Add another to the list Capt Ann.

[booksie_girl]

Originally posted by Capt Ann
I was kinda shocked to see that Atheists outnumbered Agnostics on this list alomst three-to-one. Atheism usually means a kind of cetainty in belief, and requires at least as much faith as being a Christian. That's why, usually, Agnostics tend to outnumber Atheists by about this margin. I'm curious. For those atheists that responded to this survey could you please post back with some more details? (like current age, age when you decided you were really an atheist, religious experiences before this point, etc.)


I voted Atheist. I'll be 16 in a week, female, and grew up in an Atheistic household. However, I guess I really decided in about Yr. 6, when I read a Christian book that inspired me. I tried to become Christian, I tried really hard. My best friend was Christian, and I wanted to be too. I realised after about a week that there was no way it was for me. Even at that age, my mind rebelled against it as being illogical, and I simply couldn't feel anything there. Since that time, I have grown convinced that there is no god, I find it illogical to think there is, however, I admit there are some things that are hard to explain without a god. The introduction of a god, however, introduces a whole new series of questions that cannot be rationally explained. I don't try to impose my way of seeing this things on anyone else, althoug I do enjoy a discussion of theoris, which is more than can be said for serveral people in my (very) Christian school. One of my best friends is a Christian 'freak' and she is unable to accept my way of thinking.

However, I have to disagree with the statement that Atheism requires as much belief as being a Christian. I do not hold faith in any outside being, the definiton of religion. Saying that Atheism requires faith, turns it into a religion, which is exactly what Atheism is not.

Sorry for the length of my post, and if anything needs clarification, feel free to ask.

[Southern Mantis]

I am also a Christian

[David]

Gah, you can only select one!

[khafra]

Soylent Green.

No, actually Taoist/Discordian.

[zun]

Is it possible to have:

Non-practising, pacifist and muslim with martial artist

in the same sentence???! :)

Booksie_girl: great things come to who wait. If Christianism doesn't agree with you. Try others. Try philosophy.

Anyhow, last time I looked atheism was also counted as a religion - the belief of no-god! :)

Do good, as you others do good unto to you. Otherwise do nothing and still let others do good unto to you.

[Capt Ann]

Originally posted by booksie_girl

However, I have to disagree with the statement that Atheism requires as much belief as being a Christian. I do not hold faith in any outside being, the definiton of religion. Saying that Atheism requires faith, turns it into a religion, which is exactly what Atheism is not.



My reason for saying that Atheism requires as much faith as Christianity was that you have to accept it as true without conclusive proof or repeatable scientific evidence. That's why I DO consider Atheism a religion (and I'm guessing here, but probably why Atheism was included in a poll on religion, too).

Most Atheists I know (and most Christians, for that matter ;) ) are willing to admit that they don't know everything. If we even know HALF the total things in the universe (highly unlikely), then there's still a 50-50 chance that the information in that "other half" proves we're wrong. It's something I have to watch when I speak about different doctrines, and something you might need to consider in a discussion of Atheism. If either one of us elevates our faith in ourself too high, we aren't really denying God exists.....we're just claiming to be Him.

Thanks for taking the time to write back. I really do enjoy hearing others' thoughts on these things, especially when they're thought-out and honest.

[shunyadragon]

I'm a Baha'i from a Buddhist/Christian background. My religious philosophy is strongly Buddhist/Taoist. Since this reflects the origins of Arts of the Way (Martial Arts) I feel it gives me a better spiritual foundation for understanding the 'Way'.

[Eero]

I'm proud to be an atheist.

[abby]

I'm Christian.

[Beehe]

taost christian i realy dont have a religion but that is what i would catogrize myself as

[Hannibal]

My reason for saying that Atheism requires as much faith as Christianity was that you have to accept it as true without conclusive proof or repeatable scientific evidence.

Not actually true. Atheists are far more pragmatic in my experience in so far as they will re-evaluate what they believe EXACTLY in terms of repeatable scientific evidence. They can switch a belief or opinion on the basis of new evidence

Science cannot explain or prove God, so that is why religion relies on faith - it has no proof. It is therefore much harder for an individual to change their belief should they be faced with a challenge to it.

I am not Atheist or Christian by the way - I am a practicing "other"

[redi knight]

agnostic..rastafarian,..human, w/e, its all good.

[ns_oni]

buddhist, i like the ideas from taoism and shintoism though.

Just wondering, do atheists believe that when you die you turn into dust and there is no life after death?

[Darkflames21]

I am Roman Catholic and proud of it:D.

[Capt Ann]

Originally posted by Hannibal
Not actually true. Atheists are far more pragmatic in my experience in so far as they will re-evaluate what they believe EXACTLY in terms of repeatable scientific evidence. They can switch a belief or opinion on the basis of new evidence
More pragmatic? You really need to meet more people :D

Watch blanket statements like this. Threads like these exist precisely because people are willing to stress, test, and examine their beliefs, as well as others' beliefs, and allow others to scrutinize and poke at their foundations (kind of like "peer review", noly without the journal citations)

Science cannot explain or prove God, so that is why religion relies on faith - it has no proof.
Sorry, can't let you slide with that one, either. Faith in God and atheism have the same type of scientific evidence (i.e., none). Science hasn't proven or disproven the existence of God. Belief in God has other types of proof, though. If interested, check out some of the other threads ('God?' and 'Why why why! ;) ', for instance)


I am not Atheist or Christian by the way - I am a practicing "other"
I'm curious. What is your 'other'?, Hannibal?

[Hannibal]

Hi Ann!

Blanket statements aside, I did put "in my experience", which is quite extensive both on and offline (check out www.randi.org for the debators I usually hang with).

Also, you are putting forward a non-argument and I cannot let that slide!

Science cannot disprove the existence of Zeus or Quetzlcoatl and they are far older than the Christian God - does that mean they exist? Atheists GENERALLY (my empahsis!) believe that absence of evidence is evidence of absence and will explain their beliefs with what the current scientific thinking is. If that changes they re-evaluate in light of the new. Can religion say the same thing? No, which is why it relies on faith.

If you need to identify my other...well, I suppose "pagan" is closest.

[Poop-Loops]

Originally posted by wayofthedragon
christian, at least I try hard to be anyway:)

Same.

Kgirl, that's Agnostic. No clue what to believe in.

PL

[Hayzil]

I'm a Muslim, will always claim to be a Muslim, but only in culture and tradition. I simply don't believe in God, but in a way I also don't care if he is there since there is no way to find proof...So ummm....Muslim in tradition but with agnostic beliefs and a sprinkle of atheism for flavour.

[Serpico]

Agnostic. I lack the faith to believe that this is all there is. I believe in a higher good/evil God/Satan (whatever you want to call them, the names are unimportant IMO). I cannot comprehend how some people can live happily without a belief that there is more to life than just what's outside the front door. So yes I do believe in afterlife or reincarnation (not sure which is right, nor do I care at this point), and as stated earlier, I do believe in greater good/evil, if not a god(s) then it's simply the energies created by the people of the world, etc... And as far as organized religion, I respect people who can devote themselves to such an endeavor, however, it's not for me. One, every Church I've ever been to (and believe me I've been to quite a few) has tried to suppress free thought. For example. I asked a question. I got an answer. I asked for clarification of the answer. I got the same answer. I offer a different answer. I'm told that I'm wrong, end of story. Oh. And the number one problem with organized religion. It's run by people. ;) I suppose if I really had to classify my religion beliefs it would be called "Religious philosophy based on the Jeet Kune Do principle of self defense".
Also as a noted point I have an extensive background in God based religions:
Born into Catholic home attended Catholic school until 3rd grade. Went to public school 4th through 8th. During this time went from Catholic religions to misc. religions until finally deciding upon a nondenominational Church (basically Protestant, but by declaring Non denomination it allows the Church to exercise it's own individual beliefs, I.E: gifts of God (speaking in tongues, etc...) it should also be noted that these Churches were not my choice to make, I went where I was told to go. During this time it was my parents privilege to enroll me into a Private Christian Academy for 9th through 12th grade. After moving out of my Parents house I spent many years studying different religions (mostly Eastern, and some pagan), and 8 years later, I'm just as confused as ever, but I do have some basis of a belief, and as far as I'm concerned it's the right path for me, and where it leads I may even find out someday. *phew*

[praying-mantis]

I voted Jewish because I am.
However, I'm 17 years old, so I don't know much about religion.

[Guerilla Fists]

Agnostic adopting buddhist principles to guide my life. Bordering on Gnostic.

[Albert]

I have no religion. I do not like any of them. I feel they are not only a waste of time, but a very big problem in our world. Id explain the facts, but once i start talking about religon, i never stop, so im going to keep my mouth shut. :)

[booksie_girl]

Originally posted by Albert
... but once i start talking about religon, i never stop, so im going to keep my mouth shut. :)

A truly wise person :D

[Intan86]

I'm a muslim. How many muslims are here?

[booksie_girl]

Looking at the poll, 4