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Aug 1, 2006, 01:45 pm
| #922 (permalink) (top) |
| Absolutely Superb  Posts: 774 | I do not have a religion. The only thing I am certain about is that we, being humans, need to do what is best for humans. In other words, if it turns out that God exists, we should obey God or not depending on what he does to us, and if the universe is impersonal, it's impersonality needs to be overridden by progress as such impersonality is dangerous for well, persons. Beyond that, I can make no conclusive statements concerning the usual issues religion deals with. I do however, not necessarily view a limited perspective as a bad thing. I think if all humans had a full idea of our signifigance(i.e. whether we are the center of our universe or nothing compared to it), we will either become selfish egomaniacs or defeatists. This cannot be argued by logic to a full extent so I count it amongst one of the few faiths I have concerning the nature of man in correlation to the universe. |
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Aug 1, 2006, 01:46 pm
| #923 (permalink) (top) |
 The Cake is a lie... Location: St. Louis Posts: 2,330 | Raised Catholic. Currently, not so much. I would say I'm a cross between a non-denominational christian and an agnostic. I'm open minded enough and tolerant that I'm fairly accepting of any faith (or lack there of) that ultimately comes down to being a good person, which most do regardless of how people pervert them for their own motives. I firmly believe that if there is a god, he/she/it is not wrapped up in what you call yourself but how you lived your life. I grew up seeing too many super-catholics showing up and putting on a show for mass and then treating other people like shit not even back outside yet. Two things I can't tolerate in people regarding religion on any level A.) Being told "As blank you believe" this. I'm an individual. I can call myself whatever I want, and I can believe whatever I want. I'm not even talking about other members of the same faith either. I had a poli-sci professor tell me that as a catholic I believed in transubstantiation once. Let alone most catholic grade schools don't even teach transubstantiation as being literal, it just pisses me off when people do that at all. God forbid someone be slightly more liberal in their views than a fundamentalist. B.) Attempting to project or force your beliefs onto others. Athiests complain about this all the time and then many (not all, but I continue to use "many" as representative of the atheists I've met throughout my life) tell religious people that they're brainwashed or ignorant because ultimately, their belief in a god is contrary to their belief that there isn't one. A lot of people seem to not understand that atheism is a belief structure in and of itself. For anyone, religious, or not to tell another person what they believe is idiotic is just wrong. I can believe what I want. You can believe what you want. They can believe what they want. Let's all get a beer. Unless you're against drinking in which case you can be the designated driver. What makes a man turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality? |
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Aug 11, 2006, 10:59 pm
| #925 (permalink) (top) |
| It's simply logical  Location: San Diego Posts: 4,333 | . I too am a Unitarian Universalist.... or at least that's the only church I've attended recently. I sat with believers, Buddhists and non-believers. I'm guessing they're goal is simply fellowship and community among open-minded folks and the soothing spirituality of a non-judgemental liturgy. . I don't suffer from insanity... I thoroughly enjoy it |
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Aug 21, 2006, 08:25 pm
| #927 (permalink) (top) |
| Sedimentary Rock Posts: 11 | I believe in not believing. I am a practicing atheist. That is to say that, I actively do not believe in anything supernatural. This includes but is not limited to ghosts, spirits, miricles, magic, mystics, seers, angels, saints, gods, god, or any supernatural being. The foundation for my disbelief is a total and convincing lack of any first hand evidence that anything supernatural ever occured outside of the imagination.I have been looking for 53 years so agnostic (without knowlage) is no longer an option, at this point I kinda know. I am astounded by the lengths that otherwise intelligent people will go to in order to convince themselves and others that super natural forces are at work in their lives. The lack of real evidence is often surplanted with shady and hard to define terms such as "spirtual" or "soul". I generally don't reveal what I truly think of this kind of pretense but since you asked ,here goes: I feel, and have always felt that ones devotion to the supernatural is a demonstration of weak will and self serving intelectual arrested development. Let me illustrate. As children we all belived in santa claus and at some stage in our development we relised that the concept was mostly a way to controll the behavior of children for at least one month of the year. But for a while we were still willing to put up a front, pretending to believe long after the evidence would allow full belief. Free gifts and enchantment were so comforting that the evidence could be ignored . At some point it became obvious that other equally supernatural beings were also without substancial evidence but now the stakes were higher. If we didn't pretend to believe, the profound and difficult questions of life would go unanswered ...I.E. Where did we come from? Why are we here? and the big one; Where do we go when we die?? Our survival instinct is such a dominant part of our psycological makeup that the thought of no longer existing is beyond concept or at least beyond "comfortable " concept. So when faced with the conundrum, to believe is comforting and even enchanting but is not supported by any real evidence., to not believe is intelectualy satisfying but is deeply emotionaly disturbing, admitting that existance can cease. Guess where most of us come in ??? The latter is easier to live with.as we get on with the mundane reality of every day life.The former in my opinion shows a more rational and mature view of life in the human condition. Thanks for asking. |
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Aug 22, 2006, 12:24 am
| #928 (permalink) (top) |
  formerly Isherwood  Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,277 | Welcome, free thinker. You'll find a few of us that share your outlook here. :) The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant) |
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Aug 24, 2006, 10:19 am
| #931 (permalink) (top) |
| Risen From The Ashes  Location: Rural Southern Indiana Posts: 263 | Can I respectfully decline to answer this question? I think it causes undue prejudice. Religion is one thing that divides people like no other. I realize, I could just act like I'm ignoring this thread, but I wanted you all to know that I wasn't, I am intentionally not answering. :) |
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Aug 24, 2006, 10:21 am
| #932 (permalink) (top) | |
| Shifting Paradigms  Location: Flowery Branch, GA Posts: 3,102 | Quote:
Do all things with love. | |
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Aug 24, 2006, 10:37 am
| #935 (permalink) (top) | |
| formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,277 | Quote:
The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant) | |
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Aug 24, 2006, 10:38 am
| #936 (permalink) (top) | |
| Shifting Paradigms Location: Flowery Branch, GA Posts: 3,102 | Quote:
Do all things with love. | |
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Aug 24, 2006, 11:28 am
| #939 (permalink) (top) |
| Risen From The Ashes Location: Rural Southern Indiana Posts: 263 | Can I respectfully decline an answer to that question? I mean, sexual habits are things that divide people like no other.... HA, you thought I was serious didn't you!!! Once in a while, when he deserves it, or asks for it, or both.  It's all just a game. |
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