How Would You Classify Your Religious Beliefs?

[Geiseric]

Do you honestly believe that if we all believed *strictly* in rationalized Darwinian theory that conflict over belief would cease? Religion isn't the cause of the conflict, its one of the MANY excuses used to abuse other humans. I see the same elitist "My way is right, and you are foolish for believing otherwise" bullshit coming from the mouths of Darwinian evolutionists, and I am sure it is only a matter of time until we have radical factions of atheists committing atrocities to the un-educated god-believers, and feeling perfectly justified in their actions, as the religious masses are obviously less intelligent and therefore less important. The Human vs. Other methodology of inequality is certainly not limited to religion or culture, so what excludes "science" from it? Edited February 11, 2008 by Geiseric

[Texico]

lol @ Phish's picture.

It's a bit too simplistic for me, but I understand its point. I think the only way for it to be more blunt would be to say "Imagine a world without Islam..." That's really what it means, unless it's trying to ignore millenia of history.

It's almost impossible to say that the world as we know it today would exist without the influences of religion. I also find it EXTREMELY hard to believe that the world would be a better place without religion. In a world where the human race developed without religion there would just be stronger racial and nationalist prejudices, at least that's what I believe. I honestly don't know, though, believing that the world would be a better place without religion just seems to be a naive and simplistic view.

Just to let people know (in case you just skipped to the end like I sometimes do XD) I stated that I am agnostic. I'm open to the possibility that there is a greater power. I was born and raised Roman Catholic, and some would say that's why I'm not religious any more . I still believe that religion serves a good cause in teaching young people morals, it's just that the morals taught by religion don't necessarily adapt to the current times.

It's a simplistic view, and it defeats the purpose of cognitive thought in my opinion, to decry religion as evil. It is evil people who warp religion to suit their purposes who cause people to make this petty generalization. Just because someone doesn't believe, that does not give that person the right to claim that everyone who does believe is ignorant. Conversely, just because someone does believe, it doesn't give that person the right to claim the opposite.

A hard line stance on either side of the issue is ignorant in my opinion. It just shows that neither side is open-minded and both sides are wrong.

[raytrace]

I would have preferred Atheist and Agnostics as two seperate selections since they are completely and totally different.

But to clarify, I'm Agnostic.

[raytrace]

lol @ Phish's picture.

It's a bit too simplistic for me, but I understand its point. I think the only way for it to be more blunt would be to say "Imagine a world without Islam..." That's really what it means, unless it's trying to ignore millenia of history.

It's almost impossible to say that the world as we know it today would exist without the influences of religion. I also find it EXTREMELY hard to believe that the world would be a better place without religion. In a world where the human race developed without religion there would just be stronger racial and nationalist prejudices, at least that's what I believe. I honestly don't know, though, believing that the world would be a better place without religion just seems to be a naive and simplistic view.

Just to let people know (in case you just skipped to the end like I sometimes do XD) I stated that I am agnostic. I'm open to the possibility that there is a greater power. I was born and raised Roman Catholic, and some would say that's why I'm not religious any more . I still believe that religion serves a good cause in teaching young people morals, it's just that the morals taught by religion don't necessarily adapt to the current times.

It's a simplistic view, and it defeats the purpose of cognitive thought in my opinion, to decry religion as evil. It is evil people who warp religion to suit their purposes who cause people to make this petty generalization. Just because someone doesn't believe, that does not give that person the right to claim that everyone who does believe is ignorant. Conversely, just because someone does believe, it doesn't give that person the right to claim the opposite.

A hard line stance on either side of the issue is ignorant in my opinion. It just shows that neither side is open-minded and both sides are wrong.

Actually, religion has been the cause or influence of more racial and national prejudices than any other factor. For centuries Christians, Muslims, and Jews waged war all in the name of 'God' even though they followed the same god. They each claim they are decendents of Abraham.

The Crusades were orchestrated by popes and Christian kings citing the Bible as justification to go to war with the Moslems.

Hitler used the Bible to help reinforce his persecution of the Jews.

....the personification of the devil as the symbol of all evil assumes the living shape of the Jew.

- Adolf Hitler (following the position of Martin Luther), Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 11

Not to mention radical Islam mis-uses quotes from the Q'uran daily.

Even Mayans and Egyptians waged war and commited murder in the name of their gods.

Hell, other than a few civil wars, name me a war that didn't have some form of ethnic or religious clensing justified by religious quotes and carried out by so called religious "people of peace"?

Now I'm not saying that religion is inherently evil by any means. The problem arises when people who desire a co-mingling of religion and power is when it all becomes unbalanced. Which is why I shudder when a politician says "I'm a devout Christian" and then actually acts like one. Quite frankly, I don't care what religion you are. I just want you to follow the intention of the Founding Fathers and the Constitution and above all, protect my rights and the rights of fellow citizens granted and protected by the Constitution... regardless of what "God" tells you what he thinks is right. Edited February 11, 2008 by raytrace

[Geiseric]

"Actually, religion has been the cause or influence of more racial and national prejudices than any other factor. For centuries Christians, Muslims, and Jews waged war all in the name of 'God' even though they followed the same god. They each claim they are decendents of Abraham."

That is simply historically inaccurate. I'm not even going to bother going to bother to lay out why for you... open a history book before making such claims, please. I'm not saying either side was in the right, but the conflicts surrounding the early Christians and the Muslims were most definitely two sided.

And btw, if you want to look for the origin of prejudice (and therefore inequality and subsequent conflict) , the majority of sociological theorists will take it all the way to Patriarchy. Not religion. Not saying its not a factor. Just saying the seemingly popular viewpoint today that the world would be beautiful, shiny, and filled with pink butterflies if religion didn't exist is just plain foolishness.

[gaia.plateau]

I think we'll be okay as long as we can keep those fucking otters under control.

Do you honestly believe that if we all believed *strictly* in rationalized Darwinian theory that conflict over belief would cease? Religion isn't the cause of the conflict, its one of the MANY excuses used to abuse other humans. I see the same elitist "My way is right, and you are foolish for believing otherwise" bullshit coming from the mouths of Darwinian evolutionists, and I am sure it is only a matter of time until we have radical factions of atheists committing atrocities to the un-educated god-believers, and feeling perfectly justified in their actions, as the religious masses are obviously less intelligent and therefore less important. The Human vs. Other methodology of inequality is certainly not limited to religion or culture, so what excludes "science" from it?

Edited February 12, 2008 by gaia.plateau

[raytrace]

"Actually, religion has been the cause or influence of more racial and national prejudices than any other factor. For centuries Christians, Muslims, and Jews waged war all in the name of 'God' even though they followed the same god. They each claim they are decendents of Abraham."

That is simply historically inaccurate. I'm not even going to bother going to bother to lay out why for you... open a history book before making such claims, please. I'm not saying either side was in the right, but the conflicts surrounding the early Christians and the Muslims were most definitely two sided.

And btw, if you want to look for the origin of prejudice (and therefore inequality and subsequent conflict) , the majority of sociological theorists will take it all the way to Patriarchy. Not religion. Not saying its not a factor. Just saying the seemingly popular viewpoint today that the world would be beautiful, shiny, and filled with pink butterflies if religion didn't exist is just plain foolishness.

Didn't say that the world would be better without religion. I was just pointing out that most ethnic and racial strife in human history has been justified or outright caused by religious leaders.

And yes, I am right when I say that most wars throughout history have been justified by, if not propogated in the name of religion.

Even in the era of Patriarchy and others such as the feudal system, kings declared that it was their "Divine Right" to rule. Hell, even the idea of patriarchy was defined BY religion. Just because a history book doesn't delve into that part doesn't deny the fact.

A patriarch is a man who has great influence on his family or society. Some historical societies claimed descent from one great man. For example, the Romans believed they were descended from Romulus who founded Rome. The traditional founder of Athens is Erectheus, and of Sparta Lacedæmon. Similarly, the Jewish tradition in the Torah says Jews are descended from Abraham through Isaac. Both the Torah and Qur'an say Arabs are descended from Abraham through Ishmael,^{[2] [3]} Abraham's first son, Isaac's half-brother. Traditional founders are often called patriarchs. The feminine form of patriarch is matriarch, for example see Matriarchs (Bible). Patriarch is also a name for the most senior leaders of Eastern Christianity, roughly comparable to the western arch-bishop (archē as above).

The adjective for patriarchy is patriarchal; and patriarchalism and, more commonly, paternalism refer to the practice or defence of patriarchy. Patron is a related word used generically (that is, it is not gender or sex specific). Women and men who provide financial support to activities within a community can be termed patrons. The verb form patronize can be used positively, to describe the activity of patrons, or negatively, to describe adopting a superior attitude. If the superior attitude is adopted by a man, he can be called paternalistic.

Edited February 12, 2008 by raytrace

[Geiseric]

"era of Patriarchy"

Way to wikipedia.
There is no "era of patriarchy" Patriarchy is is system that puts males in the dominant position.

Here's a definition by a publication that has actual credibility.

"Main Entry:
pa·tri·ar·chy
Pronunciation:
\-ˌär-kē\
Function:
noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural pa·tri·ar·chies
Date:
1632

1: social organization marked by the supremacy of the father in the clan or family, the legal dependence of wives and children, and the reckoning of descent and inheritance in the male line; broadly : control by men of a disproportionately large share of power2: a society or institution organized according to the principles or practices of patriarchy" (Merriam-Webster)

BTW, I'm not trying to insult you, I just find it amusing that anyone thinks of patriarchy as a historical problem. Male dominance is in no way gone. We just have new ways of biologically justifying it. And... credit your references when making a quote from a academic resource *using the term loosely*. Edited February 12, 2008 by Geiseric

[viRus]

Just want to ask a really quick question....

With the table displayed on the first or second page, they state 'non-religious' as well as 'atheist'. I was under the impression that they were the same.

Theist = believe
Atheists = non-believe?

I was under the impression that anybody who lacks a religious belief (non-religious) was an atheist

[AKammenzind]

Just want to ask a really quick question....

With the table displayed on the first or second page, they state 'non-religious' as well as 'atheist'. I was under the impression that they were the same.

Theist = believe
Atheists = non-believe?

I was under the impression that anybody who lacks a religious belief (non-religious) was an atheist

Well, the word atheist is generally used to refer to those who have a defined non-belief in god(s). For well-known examples take Richard Dawkins, or Christopher Hitchens. They believe that there is no god, which is very different from just not worshipping one.

Non-religious is just that... not religious. They might simply not care about religion, and not feel that it should play any role in their lives.

The world isn't so clearly defined between theists and atheists.

[ilikemyusername]

i would call myself a hookah smoking chaos philosopher. i need to start a church.

[r1v3th3ad]

i would call myself a hookah smoking chaos philosopher. i need to start a church.

I'd join

[ilikemyusername]

i would call myself a hookah smoking chaos philosopher. i need to start a church.

I'd join

sweet, as the first member of a nonexistant church i declare you reverand R1V3THAD

[velcro123]

Why are Hinduism and Buddhism as one? And Agnostic and Atheist? Judaism, Christianity and Islam are far closer (considering the latter two of the three are rooted in Judaism) than Hinduism and Buddhism's beliefs, and Agnosticism and Atheism are far from close as well.

1 more vote for Atheism here.

In fact there kind of opposite, +1 for Agnostic

[AlphaJuno]

In after atheists chiding believers.

Anyways, I'm a Quran-alone Moslem.

[SmokinMoose]

I am the tenth Muslim.

Woohoo.

Islam is truly a religion of peace I just wish people would truly take the time to understand it.

Peace to all.

[AlphaJuno]

Werd to that MooseMan.

[paiintballa182]

At the moment?

Nonexistant

[LycanLovesthePipe]

Guess I fall under a mix of Paganism, Chaos Magick and abit of Discordianism

[Big Boss]

I'd call myself a spiritualist who's roots are based in Christianity. Not sure if that makes a lot of sense but oh well.

[momatik]

Asalaamalaikum my brothas!

For those that don't know, that means peace be upon you.

14th Muslim here.

This sums it up pretty damn well in my opinion...

Talk about blatant propoganda.

Like other dude said, this is basically saying "Imagine a world without Islam."

I don't think a religion of over 1 billion strong is to blame for the actions of a few radicals, assuming that is the truth about what happened that day.

Rediculous.

[Apoc Genesis]

I don't believe any one religion is 'right'. There are many different positive paths to take, even though I feel they all lead to a greater level of understanding. I have my own experiences and I cant put them in any one category other than my own.

However I do like the way Buddhists do things, so while I dont follow their scriptures I do try to live in a simple fashion =)

[skaplayer89]

Einstein's law: Energy cannot be created or destroyed.

I believe some sort of supreme being created energy and then let natural events take their place. I will throw that in to the trash, however, if humans ever learn how to create energy.

Anyone heard of that religion before? I've been looking for something similar to it and the closest I've gotten is deism

[TBatcho07]

I would classify myself as a non-conformist

I beleive whatever the hell I want to....I beleive in god but I do NOT beleive in the devil or hell.Got a problem with it?...Take it up with my boot to your face.

[eVasKo*]

I'm a Karmist. I got really confused back in my days as a Christian(it's how I was raised).. I started questioning things once my preacher raped his adopted daughter who was my friend....

Break down every religion, and its basis is Karma. I believe that if there is a higher power, and you were a good person... you should have a place. And if not, if you burn eternally in a pit of fire for not grobbling on your feet for this "God," while he claims to love you, then he is a dick anyway.

Basically, be a good person at heart, and live your life by it.