Your religion

[Francisco Montana]

I want this in the Pit because Im really more interested in the political aspects of religion and your stance on various societal issues as a result of such beliefs (or non-beliefs if the case may be.)

Most importantly, I want this to be a civil discource and I do NOT want this to turn into a Im right and your wrong so f you type thread.

Please.

Honesty.

Openess.

Empathy.

Try to understand the other side here, not convince or hate.

If you youve seen my posts in the Pit over the years you should know Im a libertarian leaning conservative. I have huge social gaps with the rest of mainstream conservatism. Dont come here to question what Ive said about my leanings. This is off topic. I yust want you to know my track record (which you are more than free to research if you dont get too many database errors to some of my distant past here. On those, others can attest to my political claims here on this post (at least I hope they can.)

I. Do. Not. Believe. In. God.


Gasp! Gruffles is an athiest?

I desperately want to. But the scientist in me says its very unlikely.

However. Through the same science Ive seen that we dont even remotely know the half of it when it comes to what is possible in this universe. Furthermore, and knowing that, I have accepted that, get this, I could be --wrong!

I yust dont know. The God I want to believe in isnt half as crappy as the followers he has in so many forms.

Many have learned from past mistakes with regards to organized religion. The vast mayority I think. But there are enough rotten eggs left roaming the lands that they alone continue to give the whole thing a bad stink.

Why do I vote with the religious right? Theyre good people and we agree on many things. They have every right to practice their religion. Europe has a different past. They had to fight off the Muslims in France not too many centuries ago. Neither side was right or wrong really. It was yust human nature back then. But weve reached something called the enlightenment (a while back I might add) and we need to get on with things and stop being so freakin annoying to eachother.

Islaam has conquered huge tracks of land over the years. They had a great society and advanced science in antiquety as much as we have today in the West. Yes, they made mistakes like burning the library in Alexandria. But frankly, those more apathetic know all religions have committed crimes against decency and history itself.

But Americas religion is truely, again for the most part, peaceful. I say Americas religion meaning all of them here in this country. Yes, some churches, synagogs and mosques preach hate and we need to put a spot light on those cockaroach nests and stamp them out.

So there you go. I want to believe...but Im not sure. I often wondered if that was a metaphore in the X-Files. I want to believe.

I was raised by a mother who grew up in a Catholic and Yewish family (my keyboard wont type out the letter after I lol!) I was partly raised at a young age by Marines of all religions, Ningraros (in the yungles of The Philipines who believed in pagan like gods), The Church of England in school in Surrey for 6 years, a mix of Protestant religions in Sweden, A Catholic chaplin I loved dearly (no nothing wierd... get your mind out of the gutter ) I have many gay men and woman I have cared for dearly and loved over the years (again, in a humanistic way get your mind out of the gutter ), umm, a few hippies here and there, a ton of punk rockers (thanks Seriously. --my sister), conservatives, anarchists, libertarians.

My life is very unique and complex. Im not special or better than anyone. Ive yust seen a butt-load and in the first 20 some odd years in a very short time.

Ok, Ill stop editing. Im yust brainstorming.


Peace. Lurve and all those Peas.

[Talbaz]

am a atheist that see the world as a realist but choices to be a idealist because even if the rest of the world has gone to i will act better then that even if i think it stuipd

[Adrian]

Religion breeds extremism right now religion its just propaganda a tool to control the weak minded.

Every religion has rotten eggs as you say but some go beyond I saw a show about a us family of religious nuts who would go protest at soldiers funerals swear at them saying that they died for nothing. Those people should be ing shot my blood boils even now when I think about it.

and dont even get me started on Islam .


Ban religion destroy every sign that it ever existed just in your own house you should have the right to practice religion but not on state property or in public.

Extreme measures has to be taken to stop the spread of this disease that corrodes society from the inside .

[Francisco Montana]

I honestly appreciate both of your replies. Let it out. Speak your mind. But no attacks on any other post or anyones past posting.

Lets yust get all our cards peacefully out on the table.

Carry on.

[Elzabar]

I'm one of them people who is born into a christian family, but doesn't believe in God. I believe in the morals and such, which probably sway my political views. If there was a christian and an athiest running for prime minister in my country, I'd probably vote for the christian, unless they were some wacko, or the athiest had far better policies and experience.

[MaximiIian]

In terms of religion, I'm a Solitary Wiccan. A form of modern neopaganism that blends Hermeticism, folk magic, British folklore, and an increasingly broad polytheism. Often misunderstood because of the ridiculous stereotypes which portray a very inaccurate view of Wiccans, and neopagans in general. Please, don't turn this into another derailment about the origins of my religion. It'd be off-topic.
I am a polytheist, though more of a soft polytheist. Though I believe in multiple gods, I also view the God and Goddess venerated in Wicca as the primordial manifestations of nature and all that is. The source of all the other gods, so to speak, and what those gods personify; though the God and Goddess are themselves emanations of The All. Again, it's hard to understand unless you know the in's and out's of Heremeticism, which Wicca borrows a lot of philosophy from.
However, this does not impede my steadfast support of the tried-and-true scientific method and currently-understood scientific ideas.

How it relates to my political views: generally, I am a classical liberal with some socialist economic leanings, and a monarchist view of administration. Wicca fits decently with this, because its ethical system is based on the pretext of taking personal responsibility for one's actions, as well as baseline tolerance for other people's opinions and beliefs. Especially in America, where personal liberty and democracy is a founding pillar of our society. I think that in striving for true equality for all religions, it is helping advance towards a more equal and liberated society in general.

[Francisco Montana]

I freakin love this. So much insight.


Keep it coming!

[Viking Prince]

I am Lutheran. It suits me because I believe that my relationship with God is personal and does not need an interpreter to guide the way. But churches are much more than building and places to pray and learn of the Lord. Religous institutions are critical in serving to the material needs of the poor and the sick. This is true with Lutherans, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and all the other religions that I have not mentioned. This suits my political stand since charity must by it's nature be voluntary. Government assistance is never given with freely donated resources, but acquired in the most coercive manner.

[Sven788]

I got no religion in my raising because my parents find I should chose myself what I support.

I don't call myself an atheist because I find it too anti religion.

I believe in flesh and blood and maybe there is something but I don't care just what I can feel see and touch.

I may not believe in God but I favor christian values in a country, I believe that's needed to stop Islam.

[Lord de Lyonesse]

I am an agnostic, i was brought up as an Anglican and still have friends that are Anglican but myself question the likely hood of god. I don't really know and i am waiting for more proof to resurrect my fallen faith.

[Pyrebound]

Born in lutheran family, rejected god in age of ~13,5..

Mainly because the bible is such a mess by different authores, who place women below men and speak of crazy nonsense that supposedly happened thousands of years ago.

Just looking at my relatives is enough to reject God to be honest, they are just fanatical about it. Always asking me about something related to the religion (They don't know I am not an atheist), and they all just 'attacked' my aunt who did not baptize her child -> the child was baptized.


I believe that theres better chances that some pagan god exists than the God of Christianity/Judaism/Islam, but I won't believe in any God(s) until a huge sign "I AM UP HERE" falls from the sky when I ask for evidence.

[Osceola]

I call myself an atheist out of convenience, but to be honest.. I've no clue if I really am or not.

I think I'm an agnostic, but I find that too.. empty. If I'm going to say "well there could be something out there" as opposed to saying "LAWL NAH DUDE THERE AINT JACK CHIT" I want to.. think more into it.

To be honest I was recently introduced to Hinduism and when my friend explained to me that "true Hinduism" didn't involve believing in 1,000's of God's, or even one, and seemed to worship the essence of "Truth" (pivra back me up here) I dunno I can .. consider that.


But religion in government? I just can't tolerate it. You can't legislate morality, but then again I don't believe in some sort of enforced atheist government, and I think people should be able to pray or do whatever, wherever the hell they want.

I will say I was raised Christian, abandoned that after being brainwashed into terror of Hell and such , and haven't looked back since. With exception to Greek Orthodoxy, I quite like them. But they require me believing in this Jesus fellow, bit difficult to do.

[Каие]

I desperately want to. But the scientist in me says its very unlikely.

Science makes an Invisible giant man in the sky impossible, but God doesn;t exist in such forms. It's entirely possible for a creator to exist in another form other than giant man with white beard and a son.

[Atterdag]

Personally I was born into a non practicing Lutheran family (my mother had originally left the church, but later returned for the strange reason that the church is a part of our culture and thus somewhat important to support).

Religion to me is somewhat ambivalent. On one hand I simply do not have the need of religious practice at the moment, how horrible late-modern that sounds. On the other, I find the message of Protestantism appealing to me especially if you look at it from a Bultmann point of view. On top of that, I really dislike the current trend in my society to pick and choose amongst the religions and especially within the lutheran church. Many of my previous class mates were nonfirmated (a secular party) in contrast to the traditional Confirmation. Of course they only did so because they wanted the huge amounts of gifts, money and the party. People seem okay with that, even though there's nothing to celebrate.

But bottom line is the fact that my religion is a personal thing. My choice of it or from it is mine and mine alone. I don't want to have a prime minister telling me at his new years speech that God and him had a little chat about Afghanistan. Religion in government is absolute anathema to me.

[Medicus]

I will post more on my beliefs later, but aren't there several threads like this already? Perhaps a "master thread" could be created, listing each member's personal religious/political/etc beliefs, and maybe a little of their background, if they so choose?

[MaximiIian]

I will post more on my beliefs later, but aren't there several threads like this already? Perhaps a "master thread" could be created, listing each member's personal religious/political/etc beliefs, and maybe a little of their background, if they so choose?

Already exists, in the Ethos section. It was stickied, but got unstickied and sank far away.
This is that thread.

[Noble Savage]

Already exists, in the Ethos section. It was stickied, but got unstickied and sank far away.
This is that thread.

Thanks for the heads up.It has been re-stuck to the Ethos forum .

Please lets keep this thread political though .

Ta

Noble Savage

[MaximiIian]

Science makes an Invisible giant man in the sky impossible, but God doesn;t exist in such forms. It's entirely possible for a creator to exist in another form other than giant man with white beard and a son.

In many ways, that's how I think of the gods. Not anthropomorphic in their original, natural form. No, I view that as some kind of conscious energy. However, I think that they can project themselves to our perceptions as anthropomorphic forms, to make it easier for us to relate to them and understand them. And that is where I think popular perceptions on what the gods look like, in different cultures, come from.

But bottom line is the fact that my religion is a personal thing. My choice of it or from it is mine and mine alone. I don't want to have a prime minister telling me at his new years speech that God and him had a little chat about Afghanistan. Religion in government is absolute anathema to me.

Agreed. Governments should be secular, even if it is a monarchy. Religion in government makes it biased towards a certain faith's ideals when dealing with social issues; and government in religion prevents people from making personal choices about religious options.

[Каие]

In many ways, that's how I think of the gods. Not anthropomorphic in their original, natural form. No, I view that some kind of intrinsically conscious energy form. However, I think that they can project themselves to our perceptions as anthropomorphic forms, to make it easier for us to relate to them and understand them. Hence where popular perceptions on what the gods look like in different cultures come from.

Them? More than one? That's what I find highly unlikely, i can believe one formless one but many...it's too much.

[Francisco Montana]

Science makes an Invisible giant man in the sky impossible, but God doesn;t exist in such forms. It's entirely possible for a creator to exist in another form other than giant man with white beard and a son.

Oh, believe me. I dont envision God sitting on a thrown in the sky. I envision God as living within our hearts and our minds, in the trees, in the air we breathe, in the mountains, the oceans, etc.

A little hippy sure, but a lot more likely than some dude with a crown on his head.

I dont believe in Religion but I find it hard at the same time to not believe that there is no God or supernatural force out there.

Im similar. People ask, Are you religion? (btw my quotation marks dont work on this keyboard either lol) Are you religious? And I say not particularly. But that doesnt mean Im not spiritual. If there is a God outside my own conscious I do believe s/he-it-whatever would be a very one on one sort of fellow.