what are your religious views?

[Napoleon Iven Quinnly]

Bob the Walrus all you need to cure ur agnosticness is some good ol fashioned southern baptist preaching....we southern baptist have the best stories, have the best potlucks, and preach the gospel

[collver]

For the first 8 years of my life I had no idea what I was, I had no clear understanding of the concept of a god, at 10 I realized that there might not be such a being, and in high school I jumped in the pool and have been an atheist ever since.

[Zuune]

I'm Jewish!

[Evander]

I'm an Agnostic Jew. Since Judaism is about actions (specifically, following the 613 commandments) and there is no explicit command to believe in God, there is no contradiction there.

I was raised in a Conservative household (as in Judaism; both of my parents were Democrats), and sent to a Jewish private school, and I even minored in Judaic Studies in college, so I am rather knowledgable about my religion; I like to think.

For those who don't know, Judaism's commandments can be split up in to different catagories in different ways, but one of the ways is to split them in to two groups, called "between man and man" and "between man and God". An example of the former would be the commandment not to bear false witness, and of the latter would be hings like dietary laws, or keeping the sabbath.

Personally, I focus primarily on the "between man and man" laws, because I feel that they are more important. If God does exist, he can surely take care of himself, with all his omnipotence, but his creations are a bit more fragile, and so they take a higher priority in my eyes. On top of that, to show respect for God's creations is to show respect for God himself, so by focussing on the one I am focussing on both. Were I to go the other way, and focus only on God, I would be ignoring his creation, and thereby ignoring him as well, acomplishing absolutely nothing. This is, I believe, one of the primarily pitfalls of the religious, regardless of their religion. Far too many people focus on God to the point where they ignore his creations, and in doing so accomplish nothing.

My favorite religious text is Pirke Avot, or "Teachings of the Fathers", which is a section of the Talmud. If you're familiar with the text, the fact that it is my favorite should explain a lot about how I look at religion.


As far as my Agnosticism, I was endowed, whether by God or by random chance, with a rational and scientific brain. I cannot take the leap of faith required to believe in God without proof. I also recognize that there is absolutely zero proof of non-existance as well. I figure, I'll live my life in the way I consider to be proper, and if turns out that there is a God, I have nothing to be sorry for. If there isn't one,then I've made no regrets either.

Originally Posted by Napoleon Iven Quinnly

wow this forum is only 50 percent christian.......dont make me go find some tracks!

Don't you mean tracts?

Go for the Jack Chick ones. Those things are hilarious. I'd love to meet the guy who had never considered Christianity before, but was suddenly convinced by one of those.

[Zunesi]

I'm a Christian,
Got baptized about 11 i think, that was when i went to a baptist church,
I'm kinda from a relaxed church now, wouldn't really put it under any category,
A shout out to all you other Christians out there,
Brothers (and sisters) in Christ!

[Atrocious]

Now, Atheist. I'm too old for imaginary friends.

[1wdc]

I call what I believe protheism, but it is very closely related to Satanism in the sense that I oppose religious oppression.

I believe that if you want to believe a tea pot orbits the sun then so be it worship that tea pot. Just don't come on TV asking for money to fund steeples for the teapot in the sky, please.

[daneboyzzz]

I was raised to be a Christian, and I would've stayed 100% Christian, but now I feel Christianity failed me. More of the governments fault and the way modern culture is. Everyones like believe this, or this is right. I'd like our culture to be where you can make up your own idea of "god" or supreme being. I personally do not know what I am, and I think its accurate to say all of us have sometimes in our life been "controlled" by the oppressiuon of the government, who tried to manipulate us by having us all be Christians.

[jake128]

Born A Christian
Raised A Christian
Thought about things
Still A Christian

[_AnF_]

Christian here...specifically Pentecostal (Based on Acts 2:38 in case you are wondering)...I have been Pentecostal my whole life and do not plan on changing that...

[icecavern]

Hm...I'm not really sure what I am..I used to be Christian, Atheist, Pagan, and now I haven't really thought about religion in a while...or at least not my religious orientation...more of the history and customs of different ones is all I've been interested in. Actually, I was never really Pagan either...just infatuated with the customs and culture.

[MackinawTJ]

I've been an atheist for about a year now. Also, I'm a pastafarian.

[MackinawTJ]

Good to see some atheists here, nearly 1/4! That's better than America's estimate at only about 10% last time I checked. The atheist population has been growing over the years though, and hopefully America (aka Jesusland) will continue to have a larger and larger atheist population in the future

[Zunesi]

Maybe atheists are just more likely to do a poll on religion?
I hardly think you can make even small assumptions on America's religion percentages on a poll where only 61 people have voted,
Btw Christians ftw!
I just find atheists depressing really...
Also what about having a poll like this on the homepage?
I know it's not zuney but male/female isn't zuney but it's on there.
Also, wouldn't Hinduism have been a better choice than 'Wiccan' (never heard of it)

[Atrocious]

Originally Posted by MackinawTJ

I've been an atheist for about a year now. Also, I'm a pastafarian.

Be touched by his noodly appendage!

[argondey]

Originally Posted by MackinawTJ

Good to see some atheists here, nearly 1/4! That's better than America's estimate at only about 10% last time I checked. The atheist population has been growing over the years though, and hopefully America (aka Jesusland) will continue to have a larger and larger atheist population in the future

i think we have more of a quote on quote...following than we think, there are alot of people out there afraid to say that they dont believe in anything. heck it was only a couple hundred years ago that it became legal to not believe in god(in old england religon was required and whichever one was in power was generally shoved down your throat). Anyway, i for one am an atheistic agnostic(in other words no specific belief but inclined to not believe in any god) and i am living in my mormon parents house(this will be a tough talk when they try to get me to preach false doctrine to people for two years). So i know how oppreassive religon can be. sorry about all the thoughts , just couldnt help myself.

Oh and for anyone who cares to know, i think the, your screwed if your atheist either way, but if you theist your only screwed one way arguement is completely retarded, for one, there are like a hundred thousand different religons out there, what are the chances of choosing the right one, and for two, most religons have worse consequences for believing in another religon than for just not believing. Just food for thought...or lack of it.

[avril57]

I was Catholic then Christian when I got older now Native Indian Spiritualality believe in higher power but don`t blast other beliefs but accept others for who they are.

[Toast]

Originally Posted by putis

That's not always the case. I, like most people, tend to surround myself with people that are similar to me, and hold similar beliefs.

If I'm indifferent to god's existence, than I'm most certainly indifferent to whether or not god's existence determines how we/I do things. It's entirely possible to not care either way, and still interact with people who do believe in god.

Im completely the same way i dont spend my time trying to disprove/prove/believe the existence of God but i spend mine learning about things i want to learn about. i dont let it affect me and i have many friends that are religious and many different kinds at that. i am whole heartedly Apatheist.

Originally Posted by dead jim

let's say that you're a homosexual and you want to get married: then it matters.
let's say you get pregnant or you get someone pregnant, and the two of you want an abortion: then it matters.
let's say that you have some disease which is likely to be cured if stem cell research was allowed to flourish: then it matters.
let's say researchers believe they have developed a method of cloning human organs, but there is a current ban on doing any such thing because it is tantamount to acting like God, and you will die without getting a new kidney: then it matters.
let's say that you're on death row, and the newly elected governor is a catholic and, hence, opposed to capital punishment: then it matters.
let's say you live in an area ravaged by natural disaster such as new orleans, and christian organizations feel they are commanded by God to help such individuals: then it matters.

the list goes on and on. whether you realize it or not, you are affected daily by the belief in some god. islamic militancy, christian charity, protestant work ethic, all these things and more affect the world we all live in, and they all depend on some belief about god's existence. i'm telling you: it matters.

Thats not true because im not trying to prove he exists nor do i accept/decline he exists so all of my choices are based on my own choice not one of higher power saying i can/cant do that. so being homosexual or getting an abortion doesnt affect me because i make that choice on my own and i dont have to go through trying to ask if it is okay.

[hahaitslacey]

Atheist, because I have many reasons not to believe. I find religion silly and, a lot of times, a negative thing.