What's yours?

[rosember]

I ring in on the Pagan side here. Eclectic, combining mostly Celtic and Native American (Crow). First degree priestess of the correllian tradition, studying for 2nd degree. But I am also a huge fan of the quote out of Robert Heinlein's Notebooks of Lazarus Long - ""God split himself into a myriad parts that he might have friends" this may not be true, but it sounds good - and is no sillier than any other theology" I was a religion major in college, and love to study all kinds of different religions.

[_ID_]

I checked other. I believe in a higher power, though I don't know about an after life, or life on other planets. I don't base my beliefs on anything other than gut feeling. I have issues with organized religion, as I feel that nearly every war in human earth history was due to religion in whole or in part. I grew up mormon, and they taught that there was a war over religion even in heaven (sounded out there to me at the time even then). I don't debate religion with people if for any other reason than to just get em in a fit, I find it fun more than anything else, as I always take the opposing side to whatever they say.

I respect other choices of religion, and don't tell them they are wrong or misled or anything else. To me Faith is what brings peace to your soul. So believe in what brings you peace.

V/R
ID

[Alex Bragi]

I respect other choices of religion, and don't tell them they are wrong or misled or anything else. To me Faith is what brings peace to your soul. So believe in what brings you peace.

V/R
ID

Absolutely! I concur!

I'm an agnostic. That is to say, I'm really not sure what I believe.

Some people might rather unfairly call me a 'fence sitter', that is, someone who's hedging her bets with no real commitment or conviction. I like to think of myself in less harsh terms-- some one who's honest enough to freely admit that, "I just don't know". I'm simply ignorant about whether, or not God, or a higher being exists. I'm a true 'non-believer'. I really am.

It's really just an accident of birth that determines how we become initially indoctrinated. Just as where and when we're born will determine our education and general social behaviours. It's just a matter of time, who we socialise with and come in contact with throughout life that determines whether or not we alter our ideas and believes. I think perhaps it's even a little conceited to say that we make up our own minds on the issue of religion.

And, isn't it just a bit ironic that fundamentally what theists have in common with atheists is that neither can possibly be certain of their own beliefs?

Wouldn't life be so much easier if we just knew for sure? Perhaps some day science, or even 'God' himself, will provide us with the answer? Until then, I suppose, it will remain infinitely intriguing and a fully debateable conundrum.

[cheeseburger]

Although I was raised by Jewish parents, I consider myself agnostic.

I'm not atheist, that is I don't firmly believe there is no god. In a sense thats really the same as believing there is a god. Either way, you are forced to 'believe' in something.

As long as no one tries to force-feed their belief to anyone else, its fine by me.

[wistan]

I am a "weak atheist". And in case you don't know, that does NOT mean I'm not very convinced of my atheism!

I agree with the statement "I lack belief in god", but definitely not with the statement "I believe god does not exist".

For me, it is all about the evidence (ha, I'm Grissom off CSI!). I am incapable of faith in this matter, and indeed in most matters. I have spent an enormous amount of time over the last 20+ years thinking about religion and discussing it with believers of all kinds, and have come to the conclusion that there is simply no credible evidence that god exists; therefore I lack belief in him/her/it.

[MsUther]

A firm non beliver of gods.
They can excist for all i care,
but i do not belive in them.

[Uzukasai]

I am an agnostic but not in the sense that I don't know, I just believe that you can never provide proof for or against the belief in a god, it can never been fully proven and therefore....I don't care.

[bluebutterfly]

I am a Christian. I was raised in Methodist and Protestant churches. I believe in God, but I don't go to church now.

[Asia]

*Again, just my humble opinion*
I am repeating myself but I have a Pa raised as a Muslim (he is now agnostic) and a Ma who was raised as a Catholic (she still practices), two of my uncles are Roman Catholic priests in Paris. However my scientific and linear mind has led me to the more rational ideologies (if not the practicalities) of the Communist Manifesto (Karl Marx). As such, I'm a hypocrite. I have active religious fetishes (I would have loved to have fucked Christ and am a shameless hussy in the company of the Clergy of all demoninations) but I wish all those who believe in their chosen faiths well but organised religion to me is ultimately a zeitgeist related form of propaganda. The proletariat were fed these marvellous mind-controlling stories of Heaven, Hell, Angels, Saints, Redemption, Holy judgements, etc as an early form of social control, law and order by the Bourgeois.

As Marx said: Religion is the opiate of the masses

~Sorry if this offends, this was not my intention~
Asia
xxx

[StillBehindBlueEyes]

*Again, just my humble opinion*
I am repeating myself but I have a Pa raised as a Muslim (he is now agnostic) and a Ma who was raised as a Catholic (she still practices), two of my uncles are Roman Catholic priests in Paris. However my scientific and linear mind has led me to the more rational ideologies (if not the practicalities) of the Communist Manifesto (Karl Marx). As such, I'm a hypocrite. I have active religious fetishes (I would have loved to have fucked Christ and am a shameless hussy in the company of the Clergy of all demoninations) but I wish all those who believe in their chosen faiths well but organised religion to me is ultimately a zeitgeist related form of propaganda. The proletariat were fed these marvellous mind-controlling stories of Heaven, Hell, Angels, Saints, Redemption, Holy judgements, etc as an early form of social control, law and order by the Bourgeois.

As Marx said: Religion is the opiate of the masses

~Sorry if this offends, this was not my intention~
Asia
xxx

Giggle now sbbe heads for the big dictionary in the hall closet. Then she will look up the big words and see if she can get it all worked out in her head.

[Asia]

*Smiles with sbbe*

I'm sorry - I kinda feel passionate about this!
Zeitgeist:
Proletariat:
Bourgeois:
Opiate:

Asia
xxx
Defintions removed to make things interesting for sbbe - sorry!

[StillBehindBlueEyes]

Thanks Asia
But I love my dictionary. I'm one of those people who open one and look up half an hour later and say. Oh no what was I looking for? Giggle

[Asia]

Thanks Asia
But I love my dictionary. I'm one of those people who open one and look up half an hour later and say. Oh no what was I looking for? Giggle

*whoops*
I'll edit and delete the definitions - sorry!
~Kiss~
Asia
xxx

[StillBehindBlueEyes]

*whoops*
I'll edit and delete the definitions - sorry!
~Kiss~
Asia
xxx

No whoops at all, smiles.
Just wanted to tell you thank you.

[Timberwolf]

I believe that no matter what I believe has no effect on the actual answer of "is there a God". That is after all, how reality does function. Believeing or not believing something doesn't make it true. I'll know the answer soon enough, life isn't that long a ride.

I guess that makes me an "other".

[Asia]

I believe that no matter what I believe has no effect on the actual answer of "is there a God". That is after all, how reality does function. Believeing or not believing something doesn't make it true. I'll know the answer soon enough, life isn't that long a ride.

I guess that makes me an "other".

But Wolf, if we didn't think about and explore these questions, place them in context with past and present knowledge, wouldn't we still think the Earth was still flat? Life is long enough for us to ponder upon these questions - or am I becoming the thing I fear the most - a preacher *smiles*
I feel we owe it to the next generation to explain that there is no 'heaven' and 'hell' and that thunder is not 'God' when he's shouting - or is that what thunder is? *looks worried and runs*
Asia
xxx

[Timberwolf]

We all ponder it. It's human nature.

But like most genuinely philosophical questions, we know full well we can't answer it with 100% certainty. At least, not in this case while we're alive. I have far more pressing concerns, that I perhaps *can* answer. I shall focus on those and leave that which is out of my hands.

I'd honestly be far more concerned if the answer to "is there a God" turns out to be "yes". He/she/it must be one seriously mad scientist.

As for organized religion itself, I find very little in any of them that appeals to me in any way, but it does make a good example of the "if everyone else jumped off a bidge, would you do it too?" scenario.

[Asia]

But Wolfie, maybe it isn't a philosopical or theological question - simply a scientific question? I am more than willing to be proven wrong and punished accordingly (burning eternally in hell apparently) - in the mean time, I'll search for evidence while absorbing the words of the Conflict Theorists while sliding down my dancing pole (another sin apparently) *smiles*

[Timberwolf]

If "God" exists as some sort of life, then yes he would have to fit within the scientific definition of being "alive" so it is also a scientific question, yes. But in order for God to be proven to exist, in the scientific sense, would require a pretty seemingly unlikely set of circumstances.

I'm prepared to accept either outcome, there is a God or there is not a God, as the truth. But I hope to wait about 100 more years (give or take) to find out the answer!

I'd much rather discuss/observe that dancing pole sometime. Though if one comes with the other... what an interesting date that would be.

[Asia]

You could play God and I could play your pole dancing devil - I'm sure that would prove to be a lively debate. *smiles*

[Shaded]

For the record, I was raised Christian in small town America. A couple of years ago, I saw the light (metaphorically speaking) in that most Christians, and indeed most of Christianity (in my opinion, mind) was a hypocracy, and very little of it was what Christ taught. (Historically speaking.) From there, I went soul searching.. and found my current religion. Buddhism. I did my research, and its jsut right for me. But just to make things interesting, I do believe firmly in the teachings of Fredrich Nietzche, and Niccolo Machiavelli. Makes for an interesting, if complicated system. But it works.

[Dundee]

Asia, Shaded, I agree with you both but I'm converting to Islam because Asia has told me I can have a hareem, and looking at Asia and her sisters ....enuff said

[Asia]

Dundee!
And you a good Orange proddy from the Kirk of Scotland - watch it, your blue nose will fall off *laughs*
Asia
~kiss~
xxx

[Uzukasai]

Asia, Shaded, I agree with you both but I'm converting to Islam because Asia has told me I can have a hareem, and looking at Asia and her sisters ....enuff said

Well think about this, I have heard two that in Islam when you die, in heaven you are greeted by seventy two virgins but I assume that in order for virgins to get into heaven they would have to die virgins so lyou would probaly denie seventy-one of those seventy-two.

Also, I agree with Timberwolf, I believe that the existance of a god or gods can never be proven with 100% accuracy so it should just be unimportant to human life. However I am gaining some interest in Buddhism but I would never go as far as to join it I think becuase joining a religion means you accept it as 100% truth and I could never be swayed to do that.

[Gr1m'sGirl]

I wasn't raised with any type of religion. My father had wanted to raise me Catholic, but my Mom said, "Well, you'll be the one bringing her to Church."

He changed his mind pretty fast. :P

I started exploring religions at the age of 12. I was always interested in anything Nature based, and anything out of the ordinary, and now consider myself an Eclectic Pagan with Egyptian tendencies. :]

<3Fae

[Lillypad]

Born and raised Jewish, but I'm more of an atheist now.

[poetic_justice]

Wiccan.

Voted as Pagan, closest thing to it on the poll
I enjoyed reading the many responses here.

[~hellish one~]

Voted as Pagan also...

I was born and raised Southern Baptist for 15 years. I went to church like a good little girl on Sundays and even on Wednesdays. I was baptized and saved because it was what we were supposed to do. Little did I know that once I turned 16 I would realize that none of it meant anything to me. I began to read and explore all different kinds of faith at that point. Christianity isn't the religion for me, but that isn't to say it can't be the right religion for someone else.

I have no particular pagan beliefs (ie: Wicca) but do believe in Gods and Goddesses...oh and reincarnation. I am currently studying Celtic Druidism. My daughter is 7 and so far I've tried to expose her to all different kinds of religions. She knows about Christianity and Wicca and Buddhism and Islam. She knows what I believe and I told her that once she is old enough, she can decide what faith works for her. I DO NOT believe there is only one true religion and all others will rot in hell. Take Buddhism for example. How can a faith that began nearly 6 centuries before the birth of Jesus be false? And comically speaking, How can over 700 million Buddhists worldwide be wrong? LOL

Actually I should correct myself...I do believe there is one true faith...I just happen to believe that it can be found in all the different types of religion in the world. The right religion is the one that works for you. It's what you need it to be.

[riverwindsong]

Technically, I'm a pagan. I believe in the Goddess and Her consort, and follow the Threefold Law. Other than that, my basic tenet is this: play nicely, don't pee in the sandbox and have warm cookies and cold milk before naptime, and we'll all get along just fine. In other words - I don't judge you, you don't judge me, and we'll be friends. Life's too short to argue about what happens to us when we die.

[Smoke's-Slut]

I was raised Mormon, converted Southern Baptist. I have found organized religion is not for me, I have beliefs that don't fit into one religions teachings.