Poll: ReligiousBeliefs

[epiphany65]

This has probably already been done before, but I'm curious... I'm still relatively new here and due to the number and popularity of political threads I've sort of got a grasp on where everyone stands politically, but I wonder where y'all fall when it comes to religion. I'm not looking to start a debate. What someone believes doesn't bother me. It's just out of curiousity and trying to get to know people so... are you...

 

[cloudy]

"other"

 

[impressive]

"other"

Ditto.

I believe in the divine... so I suppose I'm not entirely atheist. Pantheist fits best for me, if I must pick a label.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I like to think of myself as a pantheist, or something, but when it comes right down to it, and given the overwhelming definition of 'god' as a self-aware entity with the power of primary creation--

Atheist.

And anti-religionist.

 

[Equinoxe]

Buddhist on Tuesdays.

 

[fieryjen]

I considered myself an agnostic until I worked for the boy scouts - they insist you have to believe in something to wear a boy scout uniform, at least formally. So I picked the invisible pink unicorn and built my own religion around it. I just warned them never to ask me to lead prayer if they didn't actually want to hear about the glory that is the Unicorn.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Definite Other. Believe in a higher power, but absolutely HATE all organized religions.

 

[epiphany65]

Definite Other. Believe in a higher power, but absolutely HATE all organized religions.

There are so many religions out there... I neglected to put Buddhism on the list and wish I had. Sorry. But even within the pagan community for instance there are those who worship Norse and Greek gods/goddesses and groups like The OTO and Golden Dawn... the Other list could have a dozen categories. Even Buddhsim has 3 or 4. I guess Other could be anything not on the list that includes a belief in an afterlife.

 

[impressive]

I guess Other could be anything not on the list that includes a belief in an afterlife.

But is an afterlife a prerequisite for religion? Hrm...

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Pastafarian.

All hail the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

 

[epiphany65]

But is an afterlife a prerequisite for religion? Hrm...

I guess it all depends on one's concept of an afterlife. Buddhism, for example, says nothing about there being a God, souls or Heaven.

 

[past_perfect]

I guess it all depends on one's concept of an afterlife. Buddhism, for example, says nothing about there being a God, souls or Heaven.

Um ... sorry, but it does:

Buddhism

 

[Safe_Bet]

There are so many religions out there... I neglected to put Buddhism on the list and wish I had. Sorry. But even within the pagan community for instance there are those who worship Norse and Greek gods/goddesses and groups like The OTO and Golden Dawn... the Other list could have a dozen categories. Even Buddhsim has 3 or 4. I guess Other could be anything not on the list that includes a belief in an afterlife.

Umm, no. You'll need to add another "Other" then, unless you include just plain dead and acting as fertilizer as an afterlife.

 

[epiphany65]

Um ... sorry, but it does:

Buddhism

Those are temporary stages of The Bardo and not permanent in the way that, for example, Christianity talks about a heaven. Like the article says "Hell, like other realms is not permanent..." We pass through them before reincarnating, not remain for eternity.

 

[epiphany65]

Umm, no. You'll need to add another "Other" then, unless you include just plain dead and acting as fertilizer as an afterlife.

To most, an afterlife means an existence or state where one is conscious, sentient -- where a part of us (the soul or mind) goes after death. The key to it is the "life" part of the word.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Umm, no. You'll need to add another "Other" then, unless you include just plain dead and acting as fertilizer as an afterlife.

I'm gonna be a pretty flower!

 

[impressive]

I'm gonna be a pretty flower!

Oh, baby! Give me your hairy stamen now!

 

[past_perfect]

Those are temporary stages of The Bardo and not permanent in the way that, for example, Christianity talks about a heaven. Like the article says "Hell, like other realms is not permanent..." We pass through them before reincarnating, not remain for eternity.

Well, eons and eons sound long enough to me... And for some reasons, I read Heaven in your post and starting looking for a a quote on Hell - I should stop writing horror for a while....

 

[epiphany65]

Well, eons and eons sound long enough to me... And for some reasons, I read Heaven in your post and starting looking for a a quote on Hell - I should stop writing horror for a while....

LOL!

 

[Stella_Omega]

Oh, baby! Give me your hairy stamen now!

don't you want me to shave first?

 

[impressive]

don't you want me to shave first?

Heh. Naw. I like a little contact burn.

 

[SlickTony]

I was raised in a Protestant religion, and now belong to another Protestant religion by marriage and convenience, but my believe has a strong agnostic tinge.

 

[epiphany65]

I was raised in a devout Catholic home, but now I consider myself a Roamin' Catholic. My beliefs lean more towards Judaism and mysticism now, although I don't belong to any organized religion.

 

[Paratrooper7073]

After a life time of thought & experience, I have come to the conclusion that religion is mostly hype and hysteria, intersperced with brief, and intense, moments of lies and deceit. If this makes you angry, then you represent that which I find most objectionable about the myth of religion and religious dogma. If this makes you fell sorry for me, or pity me, then you are totally lost, and incapable of believing that which you profess to believe. If you believe in God and the religious myth, then you must by extension believe absolutely in Harry Potter and the myth of magic. They are philsophically exactly the same. Enjoy the day. I am, and will

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

I'm gonna be a pretty flower!

You already are.