What's your religion/ non-religion/ lack of religion?

[Bossy Monkey]

Does that cover everything?

Edit: red-faced me; left off Wicca. So it will replace WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN ASK SOMETHING AS PERSONAL AS THIS? and if you want to answer the latter you'll have to do so below.

[youthere]

1. Christian-Presbyterian...

but becoming increasingly frustrated, disgusted and skeptical.

[Phillycat]

2. Jedi. nt

[Bossy Monkey]

40. Jedi? Or Jedi knight?

Does George already have a schism on his hands?:)

[imperial jedi]

61. I'm Jedi as well.

:-)

[QMPMom]

3. Roman Catholic.

[ghostsofgiants]

4. Atheist, but in an agnostic sense, I guess.

I don't believe in God, but I don't know for sure that it doesn't exist.

[LanternWaste]

5. Presbyterian

Presbyterian-- an interesting cross between Catholicism and Baptists. It's both intellectually and spiritually challenging while avoiding most of the most common cultural pitfalls many associate with, and in doing so blame on, organized religion.

And a very nice pastor at my church to boot. He's highly educated and very mild in manner-- a great combination for a speaker in any type of organization.

:)

[deucemagnet]

6. Lately I find myself migrating from agnosticism into atheism.

I can't state with complete certainty that there is no god, but then again I can't state with complete certaintly that there is no tooth fairy, but I'm pretty sure both are myths.

[billyskank]

7. Hindu

but Hare Krishna to be most specific.

[blogslut]

8. I am a SubGenius

Have been for 22 years. God spelled backwards is doG. But Bob is always boB. :)

[Mutley]

9. Mine should be pretty obvious to the observant.

:P

[Patiod]

11. Wacky Racerist?

(I have sigs turned off)

[Mutley]

12. Ha! No

My sig says: "Atheistically submitted, Mutley_R_Us, Resident Weather Godless."

[Montauk6]

18. Does that mean, instead of monk chants, you do the Muttley Snicker?

[zappa_parappa]

10. Atheist/Agnostic...

Atheist in the sense that I don't believe in the God/Gods presented in any of the religious texts...Agnostic in that I can't say for certain there isn't some kind of higher power controlling things...but i have a feeling whatever it is would be insanely different that what humans invented.

[BarenakedLady]

14. Yup

That about explains it for me. :thumbsup:

[anarch]

13. the One True Religion

obviously...I mean, jeez, really.

[Bossy Monkey]

56. I should have put that on the poll, shouldn't I have?

Maybe next time.:)

[Raffi Ella]

15. Religion has never appealed to me

and I've never really participated in it but before bush took office I would've said Christian/Episcopalian if asked because that's what some of my family identifies themselves as...and because religion was a part of life,right?Wrong,as I've learned over the last 5 or so years: religion is not a "given".

I don't even like the term agnostic or atheist for myself since it's a stance against religion.I don't even care that much to proclaim opposition to or disbelief in it.If there is a God,fine.If there isn't,that's fine too.whatever.


I believe in Karma,we are all created equal and that life is precious and too short.

Carpe Diem! B-)

[KyndCulture]

16. Agnostic-Buddhist-Druid-Witch.

on a good day.

[NewWaveChick1981]

17. Agnostic here.

:hi: My mom is pretty religious, but thankfully she's not a fundie. She raised us as Presbyterians. My dad isn't particularly religious. When I hit my teens, I started questioning my beliefs, and I eventually realized I was an agnostic. I have reexamined my beliefs and/or lack thereof several times, and I have come to the same conclusion each time.

My sister is fairly religious, and my brother is sort of. However, I'm the dissenter in the group. :)

[WindRavenX]

19. non-believer NT

[noonwitch]

20. Liberal Christian (Unity)

I attend a Unity church. The denomination considers itself to be "New Thought", and having a "christian backround". A lot of people who are members don't necessarily consider themselves christians. I do consider myself to be a christian, though.

[YankeyMCC]

21. Atheist

Atheist is the lack of belief and that covers me.

Agnostic means that you think the question is unanswerable. There is a bit of that in my world view.

What new forces or laws of nature we discover as we continue to examine the universe that might seem 'godlike' in one sense or another I can't say. But whatever we find it will be by definition part of nature therefore I do believe we can answer the question 'Does the supernatural exist?', which is part of the question of the existence of 'gods' since they usually reside in the supernatural realm (violating laws of nature etc...) I think the answer is known and it is No. The bit of agnosticism that lives in me is the part that recognizes that we (as we exist today) are not likely to have the capacity to fully understand the universe.

However, I will not assert that I can prove there are no gods. Since I see no evidence of supernatural gods I leave the burden of proof on those that assert that there is a god. That is if they care to try and prove it, and since faith by it's nature doesn't require proof I think most theists have no burning desire to prove it to people. And why should they? It's their belief and it matters not one bit what I think.


You might also say there's a bit of pantheism in my world view since I do consider the natural world and the universe at large as a single sacred entity in a way. Sacred to me does not mean supernatural or magical, but important, vital for life and consciousness and therefore we have the responsibility to care for it when we can, conduct ourselves with respect within our niche and just in general treat the world around us with respect.

[Taverner]

22. Secular Humanist Deist

I believe in a prime mover, and I believe that prime mover has sentience.

Beyond that, I can't speculate.

[Pendrench]

23. Roman Catholic n/t

[LaraMN]

24. Agnostic. Clarence Darrow summed it up well, for me:

- "I am an agnostic; I do not pretend to know what many ignorant men are sure of. "

[WritingIsMyReligion]

25. Agnostic/atheist. Though I may start answering "other: writer."

It is fitting. :P

[u4ic]

26. Unitarian Universalist

leaning towards Pagan.

I don't believe in a 'god', per se. I do believe there is some sort of Universal energy/life force, but it is neutral. I've had too many unusual experiences, which I cannot explain, for me to believe that there is nothing beyond this.

[Oeditpus Rex]

27. Atheist, but maybe with an asterisk

I believe in some sort of natural energy force — y'know, "A butterfly flaps its wings" and all that.

I also believe that's possible with mental energy.

[Shine]

28. Pagan, wiccan, goddess-based: The earth is my church.

:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

29. I am spiritual, but not religious..............

I was raised Roman Catholic, but from early on felt that they did not have the answers......

Too much guilt, and not enough joy...

I strongly feel that we have souls, and that our souls survive our body's death......

And that somehow, we are all joined together.........

I also believe that there is something, some sort of sentient being, that caused the universe to come into being.........

Beyond that? NO ideas.........I'd like to know, but am nowhere near ready to die to find out!

:grouphug:

[Kerrytravelers]

30. Roman Catholic.

[nosillies]

31. Methodist n/t

[yellowdogintexas]

64. another Methodist nt

[tigereye]

32. part Christian populist and part nature/ Goddess worshipper?

also recovering Catholic.

[lizziegrace]

33. Methodist n/t

[otherlander]

34. Agnostic, and if there is a God, I don't particularly like him.

The whole creating-the-universe thing was kind of a stupid move...

[NJ Democrats]

35. Reform Jew

[Lethe]

36. weak atheism with respect for norse paganism

and all tribal earth religions.

[Guava Jelly]

37. Former Baptist turned Athiest

:)

[Mojambo]

38. I'm an "I-don't-care-ist" n/t

[Akoto]

39. Buddhist.

Zen Buddhist, to be precise! :)

[Throd]

41. There is no god

There is a scientific explanation for everything. We just have a long way to go to get them.

[cobalt1999]

42. Atheist

Silly me, I actually require a little proof before believing in something.

[Skittles]

43. Agnostic and absolutely SICK of all religion

I just wish people would keep it betweem themselves and whoever the f*** they believe in and LEAVE ME THE F*** OUT OF IT.

[Shell Beau]

44. Episcopal! I am glad to say one of the most liberal of Christian religions!

[shanti]

45. self-define melange

and i'm spiritual, not religious...

[ismnotwasm]

46. Agnostic

I don't believe in any creation myths. I'm kind of a science fiction fan and I like the idea of alternate realities and universes.

I tend toward pagan thinking though, which is why I'm agnostic rather than a pure atheist. Plus there is that whole cosmic conscienceness thing, maybe everything is connected in some way.

Asimov spoiled me as a kid with his Foundation series. I've wondered about the universe ever since-- it's based on math and science and more math and science and as science evolves we'll be able to answer more questions.

If there was some sort of God, life after death-- whatever, it would be have to be science based as well.

[Haole Girl]

47. Christian

I attend church, occasionally, since my husband is Catholic. I was raised Baptist. We have a few philosophical differences. While I do drink, I also advocate birth control and pro-choice. I've been told by his relatives to not even bother trying to "convert" because, and I'll quote, "They probably wouldn't take you." I guess that makes me a Catholic reject! :eyes:

[Redstone]

48. None of the above.

Redstone

[tinfoil tiaras]

49. Christian-baptist, but not like crazy insane fundie baptist

and not Southern Baptist. Like liberal baptist...like the Sojurners folks....

[Lyric]

50. I'm thinking about converting to Reform Judaism.

For complex reasons that involve recent revelations about my family history, among other things. I actually typed out the whole soap opera story here, but decided against posting it. Suffice it to say that my son is 3/4 Jewish genetically, and there is a part of me that feels like he deserves the chance to grow up in the culture that he descends from. As far as religions go, Reform Judaism is probably the most benign one that I know of.

[Shell Beau]

51. But to me, you should be a part of a religion because you

believe in it. Because your heart is in it, you know?

[Lyric]

53. Perhaps.

But then again, people choose their faiths for their own reasons. I highly doubt that every person who identifies as "Christian" or "Jewish" actually believes fully in their chosen religion. I know my Jewish ex didn't--he was an Agnostic at best, but he was still as strongly Jewish, culturally, as anyone I've ever met.

He told me that his Rabbi said that being Agnostic wasn't incompatible with Judaism. So long as he wasn't worshipping any OTHER Gods, he wasn't breaking any rules. *smiles*

[Shell Beau]

54. I guess you are right! I guess I would want

to believe inmy faith and have my heart in it! But people do choose religions for different reasons.

[rockymountaindem]

52. Reform/Conservative Jew n/t

[kiahzero]

55. Other: Deist Pagan

With a touch of Discordianism. :D

[Lethe]

75. Deist Pagan.....oh do explain

WTF is discordianism?

[stellanoir]

57. humor

[scarlet_owl]

58. Roman Catholic.

[Irishonly]

59. Disciple of Christ

I can't speak for the south but in the midwest and west we are considered one of "those" liberal demoninations. We like and welcome everyone.

I am lucky to live close to Pilgrim Place in Claremont, CA. Pilgrim Place is a retirement center/nursing home for those who have spent their lives in service to a church. You may think it would be a stuffy community but they rock. They have done more to promote peace vigils since the start of the invasion than most other groups. We have members who reside there and my daughter has been blessed to meet and learn from people who walked with Dr. King, worked with Native American tribes to maintain their traditions and religious customes to working in Ireland to promote peace. To this day I cannot bring my self to call T. J. Ligget anything but Dr. Ligget. I have so much respect for him.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

60. Pretty much diest. But because of diest belief, I refuse to classify

myself as any religious grou :P ah, the hypocrasy!

[BuddhaGirl]

62. recovering Catholic

I have dabbled in Tibetan Buddhism (I'm initiated in a Nyingma order) but I am also interested in the heart-centered philosophy of Sufism.

[hippywife]

63. Christian.

No denomination or church affiliation but if I had to pick one it would be my local UCC.

[REDKING]

65. Does heretic count...

:P

[Rob H.]

66. Melange

I'm spiritual but not religious; I also like a lot of the ideas in Lao Tsu's Tao Te Ching.

[Truebrit71sbruv]

67. hmmmm.... other.... I registered as Jedi at the last 2001 national census in the UK...

... which led to it being officially recognised as a religion in the country...

... but then I moved to Denmark... perhaps the strange machinations of the force at work... although... would Scandinavia necessarily be regarded as the dark side I wonder...

[Dastard Stepchild]

68. Errrr.... probably "none of the above"...

That seems to fit the best. It's not something I ever think about, so I can't say I've some up with any way to define myself. I was raised Catholic, though. I think nothing - but not in an atheist or agnostic way. It's kind of like when I can't figure out what to eat for dinner, so I don't think about it and then I kind of just don't eat.

[Generic Brad]

69. Talk about synchronistic

I'm listening to R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" as I select "Agnostic". It's as if some God who did not care decided to make a snarky cosmic joke that only I would get. You've got to love the snarky God!

[Alexander]

70. Weak atheist.

I say "weak" because I understand strong atheism as belief that there is no God or life force, and weak atheism as non-belief in a God or life force. They may sound the same, but strong atheism implies the kind of certainty that one would normally find with hardcore religious zealots.

Above all, I seek evidence and proof. But the scientific method doesn't work very well when applied to religion, and while the existence of a deity or life force can't be proven or disproven, I don't see any verifiable evidence of a deity existing, so I can't be bothered to believe in a known unknown, to borrow a Rummy phrase.

However I enjoy religious studies and am taking a surprisingly informative class on the history of the world's major religions. There are many lessons, guidelines and morals that I believe are beneficial to people and society when applied properly in just about every religion.

[Lethe]

76. right

i am a "weak" atheist too.

[Neoma]

71. Atheistic buddhist.

[MikeH]

72. I would say closest to being a deist

I chose agnostic in the poll; I consider myself to be just on the believing side of agnostic, and closest to being a deist.

I post fairly frequently in the Religion/Theology forum.

I used to be a Protestant Christian (Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist at different times) but found that Christianity had not been of help to me in enabling me to deal with any major source of pain, frustration, or unhappiness in my life.

On the other hand, I cannot quite accept or believe that our reasoning ability and our moral sense, and our sense of truth, beauty, and goodness, are not rooted in some reality higher than ourselves or the purely natural universe. I used to especially like the Christian writer C. S. Lewis, and I like his philosophical arguments along these lines.

I recently (in the past year) discovered some web sites about Deism, and found that their thinking is very similar to my own. In particular, Deists do not accept any alleged revelation of God (such as the Bible or the Koran). Any such alleged revelation is at best second-hand, or hearsay, and I would agree with them about that.

I particularly do not accept fundamentalist Christianity or fundamentalist any other religion. Fundamentalism is a particular pet peeve of mine.

[UrbScotty]

73. Catholic - just like Kerry, Kennedy, Granholm, Clark, Kucinich... (nt)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

74. I'm flexible.