Your Religion

[NazzerDawk]

Yes, i know everyone in the world has heard this a thousand times over. But I'm not here to convince others of anything, I'm here to learn. The best way to learn about people's belief is to ask specific questions, and I am intensely interested in what the zeitgeist of this board is in regard to religion.

So here's the question: What is your religion? Or, are you religion-less?

By Religion, I mean any supernatural beliefs regarding the creation or governance of the universe. This would include Christianity, Scientology, Raëlism, Buddhism, and even modest deism.

I describe myself as an Implicitly Agnostic Explicit Atheist. This is simply the most accurate label i have found for my position, which is that I do not claim to know whether gods exist, though I think it is also impossible to now if they do, but I do not happen to accept that any do. If I am asked by anyone in person, I just say "I'm an atheist".

Please keep this discussion civil. Disagreements are fine with me and I think they are likely to occur, but lets at least avoid needless rudeness or name-calling.

[Easy180]

Guess I am in the same boat...My brain just doesn't buy into the supernatural but completely understand those that do

[NazzerDawk]

I wouldn't say that I am understanding. I mean, I know why a lot of people buy into it (Faulty reasoning, absence of reasoning, lack of skepticism, etc) but I don't think that any such belief is justified until such a time as the individual is presented with good evidence.

[Double Edge]

Who the F---- is jmarkross?!!!

It's unimportant and was actually almost a compliment, much like the way love/hate goes.

[Roadhawg]

I'm Spiritual but not Religious. I don't believe in organized religion and not sure if I believe they is this one big guy in the sky that made everything and sometimes grants wishes.

[BBatesokc]

I think the labels placed on people and their beliefs are part of the problem I have with organized religion - that and the rampant hypocrisy and air of superiority. If I don't 'believe' then I am 'Atheist' according to many. I however don't consider myself an Atheist - as I don't reject the idea of a 'God' I simply don't subscribe to the idea. My 'religion' is my own and I don't need threat or fear to convince me what is good and bad. I've personally only known one truly full-time religious person that I respected - a pastor on S. Central who also operates the Christian Service Center on S. Robinson Ave.

[NazzerDawk]

I think the labels placed on people and their beliefs are part of the problem I have with organized religion - that and the rampant hypocrisy and air of superiority. If I don't 'believe' then I am 'Atheist' according to many. I however don't consider myself an Atheist - as I don't reject the idea of a 'God' I simply don't subscribe to the idea. My 'religion' is my own and I don't need threat or fear to convince me what is good and bad. I've personally only known one truly full-time religious person that I respected - a pastor on S. Central who also operates the Christian Service Center on S. Robinson Ave.

"Just not subscribing to the idea" is what atheism is. It means "Without theism". Kinda like how saying "I am a non-smoker" doesn't automatically mean you think smoking or smokers are bad, just that you don't happen to smoke.


And don't think of them as labels for yourself, rather think of them as labels for your position. Besides, I don't see how labeling of positions is a problem with organized religion, after all, I don't see too many people becoming distressed that they were told they were a Christian. "NOOO, I'm a Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912! This labeling has to stop!"

[BBatesokc]

"Just not subscribing to the idea" is what atheism is. It means "Without theism". Kinda like how saying "I am a non-smoker" doesn't automatically mean you think smoking or smokers are bad, just that you don't happen to smoke."

Most printed and spoken definitions are not so kind. Most specifically say an Atheist either rejects or does not believe. I don't do either. I'm open to the idea, I've just never felt the need, seen the proof or think most religious people have it 'correct.'

[HewenttoJared]

http://www.bahai.org/

[HewenttoJared]

Yea but people who are labeled atheists around here can suffer some pretty serious consequences at work and with their families. It's a label with consequences.

Unless you just want to quibble over agnosticism v atheism for a few pages. In that case, carry on : )

[sacolton]

I'm a non-denominational Christian/Agnostic.

Christian agnosticism means being a Christian despite uncertainty about whether Christian teachings are true. It is not an oxymoron because the two terms refer to different things - agnosticism to knowledge, and Christianity to belief.

The Christian agnostic acknowledges that it is not possible to know for certain if God exists. And if God does exist then there are additional unanswerable questions such as Why is there suffering? Why would God create a world knowing the pain we would all endure? What's the meaning of life? How can we know what God wants from us? Does God interact with the world? If so, in what ways? Of all religions, how does one know Christianity is true? And so on. Religion often uses storytelling to explore these questions. But belief is a matter of faith and not a matter of what can be proven or disproven. So we should not fault each other for believing or disbelieving.

Christianity requires additional leaps of faith. Various Christians may differ on particular points of belief, but this short list is common to all Christians: belief in God the Father; Jesus Christ as the risen Son of God through whom new life is extended to humanity; the Holy Spirit; the Bible as a foundational expression of Christian belief; and the Church as a community of believers.

Christian disagreements over the details of theology are many and will never be completely resolved. But the Christian agnostic understands that the most important thing is not to battle over who is right and who is wrong, but rather to try to understand each other through respectful dialogue.

[HewenttoJared]

I think most people who have faith should maintain a sliver of agnosticism. If you can't accept that you might be wrong how can you ever grow?

[Jersey Boss]

“Religion is what keeps the poor man from murdering the rich” (Napoleon Bonaparte)

[Caboose]

I describe myself as an Implicitly Agnostic Explicit Atheist. This is simply the most accurate label i have found for my position, which is that I do not claim to know whether gods exist, though I think it is also impossible to now if they do, but I do not happen to accept that any do. If I am asked by anyone in person, I just say "I'm an atheist".

Agnostic. There are things I know, and things I don't. I don't "believe in" anything. This applies to all subjects, not just religion. There is nothing worse than an religious agnostic who is a damn brain-dead cultist when it comes to politics, for example.

Also, I have found that as I have gotten older my religious agnosticism has morphed more into apathy. Its not even so much that I don't know anymore, it's that I don't even care. Sure, if I am feeling spry I will debate it with some "God Magic Believer" (And the worst kind of God Magic Believer is the kind that belittles other God Magic Believers for not believing in the exact same God Magic that he believes in).... but in my daily life it is not something I even bother to think about it.

[HewenttoJared]

Agnostic. There are things I know, and things I don't. I don't "believe in" anything. This applies to all subjects, not just religion. There is nothing worse than an religious agnostic who is a damn brain-dead cultist when it comes to politics, for example.

Also, I have found that as I have gotten older my religious agnosticism has morphed more into apathy. Its not even so much that I don't know anymore, it's that I don't even care. Sure, if I am feeling spry I will debate it with some "God Magic Believer" (And the worst kind of God Magic Believer is the kind that belittles other God Magic Believers for not believing in the exact same God Magic that he believes in).... but in my daily life it is not something I even bother to think about it.

I don't believe in any God magic. Nice swipe though.

[Caboose]

I don't believe in any God magic. Nice swipe though.

Yes you do.

[HewenttoJared]

Yes you do.

I really, really don't. But your general apathy towards religion and dislike of me personally prevents you from actually sinking your mind into it enough to grasp it.

[bandnerd]

I'll bite. Hardcore atheist. Midtowner loves to tell people this fact, even if I myself have not told them. Not that it's any of their business. My atheism comes from quite a few years of soul-searching, not from any one experience.

I am, however, open to possibilities. I just haven't come across anything else that I find convincing at this point in my life.

[Easy180]

I'll bite. Hardcore atheist. Midtowner loves to tell people this fact, even if I myself have not told them. Not that it's any of their business. My atheism comes from quite a few years of soul-searching, not from any one experience.

I am, however, open to possibilities. I just haven't come across anything else that I find convincing at this point in my life.

Same here...Total free agent who will sign with the first team with a convincing contract

[Double Edge]

I'll cop to non-believer, with an interest in the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

[Thunder]

The religion I am active within is Puritanism. Why? Do I really need to go into details?

[Maynard]

The religion I am active within is Puritanism. Why? Do I really need to go into details?

"Wowser"

[PennyQuilts]

Pagan.

I think we are hardwired to embrace religion - most of us. This is an "if the shoe fits comment," so don't take offence if it doesn't apply to you, but some of the most holier than thou folks I've ever met are those that lack a religious faith. They seem proud of the fact and never miss an opportunity to point out signs of ignorance, racism, sexism, blah, blah, blah in others. For some, politics and the belief that you can tell how moral or intelligent people are based on their politics is the real new age religion.

But I should also point out that some of the most ethical people I know, kind, wise, tolerant and the like, are nonbelievers.

[HewenttoJared]

But I should also point out that some of the most ethical people I know, kind, wise, tolerant and the like, are nonbelievers.

agreed

[Martin]

caboose, this thread has the potential to be an interesting discussion regarding different beliefs. while i won't discount your position regarding mysticism in religion, i do think that this can be a more meaningful discussion if you don't resort to using pejoratives when describing others' beliefs. -M