Religious Poll: Are you a believer or a nonbeliever?

[BurtWorm]

For the sake of simplicity, let's define believer as someone who believes in a spiritual realm above nature. This would include any person who more or less actively believes in a deity, as well as people who tend to their "souls" or "spirit" as something totally apart from the body.

Let's define nonbeliever as someone who does not actively believe in the spiritual realm. This would include any atheist or agnostic.

[truthspeaker]

1. Nonbeliever here

I am pretty confident that there is a rational scientific explanation for everything that has ever happened and everything that ever will.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Science and spiritual are not mutually exclusive

I just happen to believe there is a divine spirit out there who actually knows what anti-matter is made of. (S)He created evolution too. ;)

[daveskilt]

7. me too. but physics trumps god everytime

of course god might know more about physics than me.

[truthspeaker]

12. What is the divine entity made of?

I accept that such an entity might exist, but I have seen nothing to indicate that it does, so I don't believe in it.

[mark414]

2. ha

12 to 2? haha we're all a bunch of heathens.

well, at least there's SOME truth behind the godless pinko commie liberal line.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Welcome, Mark :)

[Ysabel]

4. i'm the "other"...

don't even ask me to explain - it changes all the time - it isn't even the same as when i started typing this sentence...

[BurtWorm]

8. That's why I included "other"

There's always one or two in the crowd! ;)

[Az]

23. That is the nature of belief and the mind

Some issues are clearly defined for some and thus can be labeled easier. Others find themself changing the balance of their understanding of the universe on a continuous basis and thus may not be able to provide the same answer to the same question in two sittings.

[VOX]

5. Believer, but no specific creed or dogma...

Nor do I believe in some all-seeing, outside force controlling all events, like some celestial puppeteer.

Without delving into it, I'm more spiritual than anything else, I suppose.

[Doctor Pedantic]

9. A very strong believer here

My spiritual beliefs are a big part of why I am a Democrat. I honestly don't know how Christianity, and in particular Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christianity, got hijacked by the right wing. Jesus never mentioned things like abortion or homosexuality - He was too busy teaching that we should love our neighbors as ourselves, including those of different religions, ethnicities, and genders, teaching that we have an obligation to be compassionate towards the poor, stepping in to prevent capital punishment, railing against greed, and generally peace-mongering. Doesn't sound like any Republican I know.

[truthspeaker]

13. Look at the history of Christianity and organized religion in general

This is not the first time that Christianity has been hijacked to promote unChristian ends. The Inquisition, divine right of kings, slavery, just to name a few.

[Az]

24. The right inherited those that feared science

Dogmatic religions have long struggled with what to do about those that seek the truth for themself indipendent of their teachings. If their claims are true they should not fear those seeking the truth for it will eventually lead them to their churches front door. But that has historically not been the case.

Orthodox churches initially were the main funders of science. They believed that by delving into the nature of things they could better explain god's plans. But as science unseated claim after claim they found themselves at odds.

As religions evolve some adopt the current understanding of the nature of the universe as professed by a combination of social and learned sources. Other religions choose to continue to try to impose their views on the world around them.

It is in this late day with advanced science that the religious right finds themself hemmed in on many sides by science. Unable to weather the coming storm they have decided to try to unseat science instead of adapting to its findings. Since the progressive elements of politics have sided with a secular model to public education they were forced to see the government as part of the problem.

A strong central government has succeeded in stopping their attempts to unseat science (and other secular programs) in the public square. Their attempts at grass root take overs and stealth campaigns at local levels have also been thwarted by the strong central governmental protections. Thus they find a shared hatred with Corporations of a strong federal government that protects the citizens from the excesses of both their desires.

[dae]

10. I'm a strong believer also. n/t

edited to remove first b/c I wasn't by the time I posted.:)

[lapislzi]

11. Other...although I do not believe in supernatural beings

...I have a rich and active spiritual life. I BELIEVE the universe is a wondrous place.

I also BELIEVE there's a rational explanation for it all.

What does that make me?

[FreeState]

14. A believer in...

humanity. I was raised LDS (Mormon) and now I am part Buddhist part atheist.

What gets me is I watch these wackos on TV that are Christian and HATE so much- I just don't get it, that was not the Jesus I was taught about. The Jesus I learned about was the God of Love not hate. (I do realize not all Christians are this way).

[Screaming Lord Byron]

15. I believe in the planet, humanity and the universe, but no deity.

The universe is my god.

[dawn]

16. I suppose I qualify as a believer.

I'm Buddhist. Don't believe in a deity. But since my belief is an "ism", I guess I qualify.

:)

[BurtWorm]

17. I might have put you down as a nonbeliever.

Do you believe in a spiritual realm, above nature? Or do you view your Buddhism as essentially philosophical?

[no_hypocrisy]

18. Freethinking humanist checking in.

n/t

[FrankBooth]

19. I don't believe in a personal god

But in a Universal god. You, me and everything in between.

[Az]

20. Unitarian Universalist/Taoist/Atheist/Humanist here

Sheesh thats a mouthful.

I am by association a Unitarian Universalist. I am a Taoist by acknowledgement of similarity of my obsevations to those of Lao Tzu's. I am Atheist by definition of my lack of belief in god or gods. I am Humanist in my descision to derive morality from the shared society of humanity.

Oh yes, and I happen to be a Democrat. :kick:

[TahitiNut]

22. U.T.A.H.? A state close to my own.

:silly: Universalist/Deist/Buddhist/Taoist/Humanist ... aka "boutique".

[Kenneth ken]

21. don't know

to quote Iris DeMent, 'I think I'll just let the mystery be.'

I try to choose 'good' over 'evil' as I understand it; if any gods appreciate that, fine; if it isn't enough for them, also fine. If there aren't any gods, that's fine too.

As far as I know there's no way to know one way or the other for certain, but if there's anything after death, I'll find out then. Till then I'm not 'dying to find out the truth.'

[guitar man]

25. I have my own beliefs

I was raised Southern Baptist :puke:

I had to get away from that mess when I got older. I find the Native American brand of spirituality with it's reverence of nature to be close to what I believe now. I also believe the teachings of Jesus in relation to how we are to treat our fellow travelers are right on. Unlike the "human sacrifice" brand of Christians,I believe the signifigance of his existence is his life,not his death.

[Cleita]

26. Could you be more specific?

I guess I'm a non-believer in established religions, but my mind is open to new ideas, so nothing is that black and white with me.

[Mountainman]

27. Non believer in religious dogmas

My religion comes from with in me, not from some institution.

[kher-heb]

28. deity, no.

duality, no.
spirituality, yes.

[myopic4141]

29. non-belief vs disbelief

If God ever existed and created everything that led to existence of everything now; then, in the process known as "free will", God created all the information gathered, all the methods of gathering, and all the methods of analysis required to make the "free will" choice. In short, God created the attribute boxes that each individual is built into for viewing the universe used to determine the existence of God. The result is that God is in control either directly or indirectly about each individuals choice to believe or not believe in God's existence unless God gave each individual the power to break out of the attribute box each was built into. Since God built the attribute box and God is the most powerful being in existence, then if God gave the individuals the power to break out of an attribute box built by God, those individuals must be at least as powerful as God to accomplish the task; otherwise, the individual's breaking out would only be according to the rules of God which means that God is still in control of the choice. Being equal to God implies that God's implementation of "free will" was to abdicate the position of being God so that God would have no control, either directly or indirectly, over the "free will" choice. Abdication means that God does not exist as God today whether or not God existed yesterday.
Would this position be a non-belief or a disbelief?