NationStates Jolt Archive

Whats your religion, and why?

I am a self-polytheist because I am an arrogant schizophrenic.

I'm a Jew.

WHY I AM A JEW

I am a Jew because the faith of Israel demands of me no abdication of the mind.

I am a Jew because the faith of israel requires of me all the devotion of my heart.

I am a Jew because in every place where suffering weeps, the Jew weeps.

I am a Jew because the word of Israel is the oldest and the newest.

I am a Jew because the promise of Israel is the universal promise.

I am a Jew because for Israel, the world is not completed; we are completing it.

I am a Jew because Israel places humanity and its unity above the nations and above Israel itself.

I am a Jew because, above the image of humanity, image of the divine Unity, Israel places the unity which is divine.

Edmund Fleg: 'Why I am a Jew' - A letter to an Unborn Grandson, 1927

I think that about sums it up.

I'm the right religion... whichever that may be...

Kidding.

Lutheran.

No religion. I'm athiest because I dispise organized religion and have no reason to believe an all powerful God exists. Religion is just an excuse to control people, in my experience.

I am a Muslim

My parents are Mulim and raised me the same way.

Besides, I see the other major religons and see nothing but a history of hypocrites and disagreements. Although my religon is not itself, free from hypocrites and disagreements...I still think that it the right one, for my beliefs.

I am a protestant christian, baptist particularly if I must choose. Really I've yet to decide on a particular church but my family does baptist so I go with that while half of my family goes with assembly of god etc. which I think is crazy because I'm not into the whole demons and harry potter is evil and lets all speak in tongues bs. But I also have my issues with baptists they are to uptight really they need to loosen up and I prefer and use king james version just like they do but I like my NIV as well which bugs them. I am my own church my mind is my church and I attend daily. There ya go.

I am a Muslim

My parents are Mulim and raised me the same way.

Besides, I see the other major religons and see nothing but a history of hypocrites and disagreements. Although my religon is not itself, free from hypocrites and disagreements...I still think that it the right one, for my beliefs.
I never knew that! You never seemed Muslim to me... But what would I know anyway?

No religion. I'm athiest because I dispise organized religion and have no reason to believe an all powerful God exists. Religion is just an excuse to control people, in my experience.
I think your an intelligent person capable of understand something that not everyone can handle. No, that was not an insult.

Here I am, a Muslim. Uncontrolled. I believe in gay rights. What more do you need?

nerd.

If that classes as a religion.. :rolleyes:


No religion, no faith, just a realist. I don't belive in things unless i can see it for myself.

I never knew that! You never seemed Muslim to me... But what would I know anyway?
probably because I am pro-gay marriage, and a Democrat

No religion. I'm athiest because I dispise organized religion and have no reason to believe an all powerful God exists. Religion is just an excuse to control people, in my experience.

To which I agree. Therefore I am simply Spiritual.

that self-polytheist thing was funny. i liked it. on the subject im not really sure. i believe in some form of god, im not sure the extent or his/her/its power, but i dont see a way we could be here without a god. and other than that i just believe in being good for the sake of myself and people around me. if some god has a problem with me being a good person, but not worshipping him/her/it then they can just kiss my ass. its not the motivation behind your actions that matters, it is those actions.

way to leave Judaism off your list.

Why am I a Jew? Simply put, no other organized religion will allow me so much room for skepticism. One can be a good Jew without a great deal of faith.. and unlike, say, Catholicism, Jews don't threaten you with Hell for breaking arcane rules. Just live your life in a good way.

I think your an intelligent person capable of understand something that not everyone can handle. No, that was not an insult.
And I think you're a sensible person who doesn't believe everything you're told.

OK, I don't know what I'm talking about. I don't know what you're talking about either.

Did you know that god exists, and that SHE is a WOMAN?

www.principia-discordia.com

Be not lost among the precepts of order! Hail Eris, She wot Done it All!

way to leave Judaism off your list.

I have nothing against the Jews. I just found a list of religions and used it.

a protestant religion. i am because i do not like many policies of the catholic church and I do likemethodisms bible study and great hymns. um, yeah, that poll was silly . it left many religions out. on top of that only 4% of americans are athiest. that is interesting in light of the results of the poll........this site, my oh my.

yeah guys, wicked public poll you put down like 5 different sect's of christianity but leave out judaism, islam, never mind shintoism and taoism. come on guys. re-do the poll get a better picture of the religous diversity by actually including other religons then christian sects hey? someone stop taking their pills today? didnt think this through huh?

I am a very devout atheist -- as in, even if you proved God's existence to me, or He/She plopped down on the sofa next to me for a chat, I still wouldn't believe in God. It just doesn't work for me.

On the other hand, I think the human race was genetically-engineered by extraterrestrial colonists... so what do I know, right?

You can only have 10 poll answers..

Poll should be "What sect of Christianity are you?"

Baptised as Roman Catholic, did some Methodist Sunday schooling as a very young boy. Had no religious instruction outside of school assemblies & RE lessons until my early-to-mid 20's when I started reading up on stuff. For a few years in my late 20's, I classed myself as a Pagan, (following Wicca-based rituals and teachings, but not initiated).

Currently just think of myself as having a spirituality as opposed to a religious belief.

i personally chose other, despite what my country name is (aryan catholics) i am not a catholic, i used to be catholic until i decided i didnt like how uptight and structured everything was, then i really paid attention to all the shit the catholics did (spanish inquisition, smuggling nazis, etc.) and i really decided i didnt want to be a part of that, i dont go to any organized church, i just basically believe in one god and that jesus is the messiah, and other than that, im pretty open, especially to other religions, i have no problem with any other religion, i think islam is pretty neat even though i personally dont believe in all of it, but i think it teaches good lessons, other than the whole muslim extremest thing, but thats just a select few....

I used to be a Catholic, but left because I just had some serious issues with the dogma, and some other assorted things.

I'm athiest.

I believed in god a a kid but i lost faith when i chould not find any proof of god.

Only reson why I did believe in the frist place because of my Nana is a strong beleiver. She made be believe against the will of my parents who are both athiest as well.

I am an agnostic because I know I am not smart enough to know what is out there, nor can I, with any certainty, say that anything I might believe is more right than anyone elses.

united states:
51% protestant
25% catholic
11% believe in god but not a specific religion
6% are too stupid to have an opinion at all
4% are atheists
2% are jewish
1% are unsecified other religions

I am a member of the Religious Society of Friends and attend an Orthodox meeting, although my personal beliefs favor more Hicksite leanings.

I spent a lot of time searching for a spiritual identity. I grew disenchanted with the extreme conservativism and religious fundamanetalism I was brought up with and went through a period of wandering from one belief system to another. Ultimately, though, I disavowed any belief in God, but less from a logical thought process and more as a sort of "punishment" or "revenge" for the useless suffering and pain I saw in my own life and around me. However, I never truly quit believing in God and, though personal experiences and questioning, I eventually began to dip my toe back into the pool of religion, going very slowly this time, not willing to give up one iota of the morality or principles I had developed during my time as an athiest/agnostic. While I found many religious teachers and paths that were interesting and profoundly moving for their adherants, none spoke to me. A friend and I were going to local chruches, trying to find a spirituality we could endorse. At this point, I had given up finding a religion that felt like home spiritually and was more concerned with finding a fellowship that satisfied me and left me alone to do my own spiritual questioning.

We attended a Quaker meeting at the advice of a friend of hers. It was weird, but the moment I walked through the door, I felt like I was home. The Orthodox RSF meeting for worship is very different from most religious services. It begins the moment a meeting member walks through the door and is silent. There are no sermons or readings or, indeed, talking of any kind. No preachers or ministers. Simply people meeting together to share a moment of silent meditation in an otherwise loud and deafening world. My friend was bored after the first few minutes and began jingling her keys (which I eventually took from her because it just felt profoundly wrong to me) and bouncing her knee, but I was hooked by a feeling. A sense of community and questing purpose that, while common to all those present, was also highly individual. I had never felt anything like it and I spent the next hour and a half in silent contemplation of myself and my spiritual path. The Orthodox RSF meeting for worship ends when two predesignated meeting members, at the appropriate time, walk to either the front of the meeting house or the center of the circle and shake hands. To this day, just typing this, I begin to get tears in my eyes thinking about the amazing release I felt when I saw that first handshake and felt this feeling recede. Not disappear, mind you, just not be as focused in my mind.

My friend never went back to that meeting and eventually found her own bliss at Unity Church (which freaked me out by having a sermon that basically asked for money for two hours and then had evenone joining hands and singing, "Let there be peace on earth." Sorry, Sarah, but that's still just plain weird). I began to attend regularly and do research on the faith.

I found a myriad of parallels with my personal beliefs and those generally espoused by Quaker faiths of all "flavors". Pacifism, a sound basis in Christian lore but a willingness to greet change openly and in a loving spirit, a highly personal relationship with God and a respect for the nature of that relationship in others, a necessity to develop one's spirituality not just through inward searching but through outward actions, a fundamental equality of all people, the use of the Bible as an inspirational source but not as a literal word of God. Modern Quakers also were more accepting and open to the teachings of other religions, preferring to find points of correspondence instead of areas of disagreement. This had always seemed a fundamentally important point as there are people of good quality in every faith and every religion (and, indeed, many who have no religious affiliation at all) who I refused to believe were somehow "less than" because they refused to adhere to the specific tennents of a given faith. They also put their beliefs into action, working hard both in past and present to effect change in their physical worlds and their spiritual worlds.

It's not the right path for everyone and you get a lot of flak for being a pacifist and liking oatmeal more than is strictly necessary, but for the first time in my aware life, I feel intimately tied to a spiritual path that is open and accepting and more encouraging of my own spiritual growth and the growth of others than any I had previously known.

Not to proseletyze, but if you're interested, you can find out more info on Quakers, both the modern day version and the roots of the movement, at www.quaker.org. You can also find out about our community action initiatives and efforts at the American Friends Service Committee website at http://www.afsc.org/. I strongly feel you can judge a religion by the causes it endorses as well as the effort it puts forth in achieving them.

just having a list and using it is a poor ass excuse for making a bad poll, you have a list so what, you have a brain too, use it, do it right, btw islam is the second most popular religon in the world christianity is the most popular, if you include all the sects as well, which do have to be included. aethism i believe is the 3rd most popular belief(if u can call it that) then buddhism, followed by judaism. im pretty certain thats how the lay out goes.

I am a member of the Religious Society of Friends and attend an Orthodox meeting, although my personal beliefs favor more Hicksite leanings.
I went to a Quaker meeting once. I'm not sure what you'd classify it as; it was a circle of people sitting in a room silently, "communing with god". I didn't get it.

I've been to a lot of church services. The variety of beliefs and the intolerance I found out there put me off organized religion for, if not ever, a long time.

idk about europe ect. but here in the usa our media forces us to share equal time at the holidays of christmas, hannaka and 'kwansa'. now more than 3/4 of the country is professed to be christian, ie, christmas. only about 1/50 of the country celebrates jewish holidays. less than 1/100 people celebrate this new kwansa thing. but they are all given equal time by the media out of fear of not being 'politicly correct' . in my opinon this is a sad state of affairs.

6% are too stupid to have an opinion at all
Haha, you know that's really clever.................... not. Did you make that up?

that was me paraphrasing. that was the 'not sure' answer all polls have. i hate those. sorry.

that was me paraphrasing. that was the 'not sure' answer all polls have. i hate those. sorry.
lol, no need to apologize. digs at the intelligence of americans get really old after a while, though.

i resent our stupid media here.

i couldve sworn that there are more muslims than christians but then again i guess i havent seen anything stating that, somebody probably told me and i just believed it, but whatever 1st, 2nd it doesnt really matter what religion is in what order, i think that as long as you live a good life and at least try to do good things, you at least get something in return whether you believe in an afterlife, heaven, or even reincarnation, i think organized religion focuses too much on rules, and not enough on the actual belief

None. I don't really like the term "atheism" because I don't see why we need a special word for not believing in a god or gods.

Oh my gosh your religion isn't on that, get over it. I don't have anything against anyones religion.

americans are devout in faith but you woudnt know it from the schooling we get or the way the dominant media acts. for a country who is only 4% athiest and has all its elected officials sworn in on bibles and whos national motto is " in god we trust" there is certainly a purposful effort to make it seem as if that wasnt true.

americans are devout in faith but you woudnt know it from the schooling we get or the way the dominant media acts. for a country who is only 4% athiest and has all its elected officials sworn in on bibles and whos national motto is " in god we trust" there is certainly a purposful effort to make it seem as if that wasnt true.
Yeah I know and it drives me mad. If only every politician would stop ending their speech with "god bless America" I could die happy.

i couldve sworn that there are more muslims than christians but then again i guess i havent seen anything stating that, somebody probably told me and i just believed it, but whatever 1st, 2nd it doesnt really matter what religion is in what order, i think that as long as you live a good life and at least try to do good things, you at least get something in return whether you believe in an afterlife, heaven, or even reincarnation, i think organized religion focuses too much on rules, and not enough on the actual belief
Christianity is the largest religion
Islam is the fastest growing religion

we have had 41 protestant presidents and 1 catholic, no athiests

Hopefully 2 Catholics soon.

Christianity is the largest religion
Islam is the fastest growing religion

oh okay, thats probably what i was told then, i dont really remember, but either way, i think that people should at least try and understand other religions, because a lot of people truly dont realize how close christianity, islam, and judaism are related to one another, and almost every religion, not just those three, teaches things such as love, unity, mercy, kindness, etc. so it makes me wonder where people like zionist jews, muslim extremists, and others get their ideas from

I went to a Quaker meeting once. I'm not sure what you'd classify it as; it was a circle of people sitting in a room silently, "communing with god". I didn't get it.

I've been to a lot of church services. The variety of beliefs and the intolerance I found out there put me off organized religion for, if not ever, a long time.

Well, yes, it's not everyone's cup of tea. Indeed, not all Quakers even observe silent meetings for worship. We ourselves have the quite meeting for worship which may then be followed by a meeting for business.

The idea behind it is our belief that there is a spark of divinity in everyone and that, if you listen close enough, you can develop a direct channel of communication with "that of God" in you. Silent worship (very much like meditation) serves as a chance to focus one's thoughts and attempt to commune with the divinity within us. It may be just a general questing or there may be a specific issue in mind. Indeed, when a topic or "minute" concerns our meeting, we may all be focusing our silent worship on that question or we may openly exploring individual possibilities.

"Religion is the opiate of the masses"

I believe it's been attributed to Karl Marx, though I've also heard it attributed elsewhere.

I feel that religion is a way to keep people from thinking too hard that this is the only chance at life they'll ever get. Every religion I've come across promises that something comes after death and that you will have another chance at happiness. It dulls the mind and passes blame.

That is why I'm on the atheistic side of agnosticism. I don't think there's any sort of god, but since I can't tell, I won't say for sure.

I am a Latterday Saint from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.
Darn(I posted but the stupid system erased my post, logged me out...)
Anyway, great post i had but I'll do my best.

We have the Preisthood: Both aaronic seen in other churches and the rare Melchezdiak found only in our church.

We don't want sheep we want those who wish to join the church pray over it first.
If you recieve a answer go with it: if answer is join great but don't just join because we seem cool.
Its bad to join without talking to your creator through prayer since we believe in prayer.
If you ever disagree with what the Prophet said listen to Joseph Smith:
After speaking in the early years, he said , " Pray on what I have said" If God tells you I'm being truthfull see you next time, but if not see you later hope you have a good life.

You should ask God, ask him if your church is right. Don't just accept its best you can find.
I also think ours is the True Church as should all people Why would you be in a church you do'nt think is?
Not that all churches are 100% wrong because that is'nt true, they are mistaken on a couple of points but all have their pieces of truth. However ours has the most truths lol

According to Christians we do'nt count as Christian, funny huh?

The idea behind it is our belief that there is a spark of divinity in everyone and that, if you listen close enough, you can develop a direct channel of communication with "that of God" in you. Silent worship (very much like meditation) serves as a chance to focus one's thoughts and attempt to commune with the divinity within us. It may be just a general questing or there may be a specific issue in mind. Indeed, when a topic or "minute" concerns our meeting, we may all be focusing our silent worship on that question or we may openly exploring individual possibilities.
I guess that makes sense; most religions I've explored seem to think you need to cultive that "spark of divinity." The only times in my life I've felt at all spiritual I've been outside, hiking or something, "communing with nature" (if that makes sense).

Oh, and I absolutely dispise LDS. That religion has a controlling aspect about it that I just can't take.

agnostic humanist with buddhist leanings.

i'm an agnostic humanist because i don't know whether there's a god/afterlife/fixed reason for existence or not, yet while searching is interesting, i realise that it's more important to enjoy the one life i'm certain that i have.
and i lean towards buddhism because of all the religions i've studied, it's the only one that resonates with me and really, i hope that they got it right. (i.e. reincarnation)

I have nothing against the Jews. I just found a list of religions and used it.

five of those "religions" are the same one: christianity.

i mean, you might as well have put sunni, sikh, muslim up there for all your baptists, jehovah's witnesses, catholics et c.

americans are devout in faith but you woudnt know it from the schooling we get or the way the dominant media acts. for a country who is only 4% athiest and has all its elected officials sworn in on bibles
They don't have to; it's just tradition.

and whos national motto is " in god we trust" there is certainly a purposful effort to make it seem as if that wasnt true.
No there isn't.

yeah hey have you noticed that the three major religons or renowned religons, christianity, islam and judaism all started in the same city, wow guess which city harboured all those wonderful feelings of love and friendship? isnt that cool? i mean all three of those religons list one of its holy places to be jerusalem, and if you ever get to go there the city is divided in thirds its cool my brother lived there there is actually walls seperating the thirds one third is the islamic sector, another the christian sector and finally a jewish sector...heh and all three of those religons are monotheist, so really guys whatever you name your ultimate reality whether that be god, allah, Yahweh, realize this. Its all really the same thing.

im a mix.

athiest, agnostic, nihilistic

athiest- you are all morons.

agnostic- i could be a moron too, though

nihilistic- maybe nothing really exists. i havent died yet. maybe thats because its all a dream i havent woken up from yet.

I guess that makes sense; most religions I've explored seem to think you need to cultive that "spark of divinity." The only times in my life I've felt at all spiritual I've been outside, hiking or something, "communing with nature" (if that makes sense).

It makes perfect sense and that's a great way to touch that of God in you, whatever that may actually be. Never sacrifice God for religion, is my motto. If you feel something while hiking or being outside, then that is as excellent a place to explore your spirituality and find out what you believe as any church, synogogue or temple.

I am a Neopagan Druid Reserectionist (god what long words sociologist come upo with!) I am also a Theologen, but that isn't really a religion, more like a pasttime.

I believe I am an agnostic, but in a sense of the word I have not yet encountered. I don't believe an any particular personal, judeo-christian God. Furthermore I don't believe in any specific creator to whom I owe my existance and to whom I should show reverence and praise. I do however, believe in a measure of existence beyond the physical realm we encounter every day. I believe that at the base of physicality there is a measure of connectedness that we do not yet understand. The connection between quantum pairs, the spontaneous existence and dissmisal of sub-atomic particles, the true nature of the consciousness... these are all things about which we are very much ignorant. I believe that to say that when our body ceases to function that everything about "us" and who we "are" is lost in a moment of irreversable and unrelenting entropy. It seems more possible that there is something about us, perhaps not conscious or personal, but something that extends beyond this physical realm to which we are now bound. I am not proposing the existence of some goofy spiritual dimension full of ghosts and spirits or whatnot, but rather the perpetuation after death of some part of us which we do not fully understand. We have proven through physical experiments that the world around us is not wholy objective, and that there are things we cannot know (i.e. the exact velocity vector, and position of a particle simultaneously). We have shown that our world is shaped and affected by our very perception of it. Perhaps quantum mechanics is as Einstein said "spooky force acting from a distance" or perhaps it is the key to the nature of reality which is not so grim as some might think, and which does not come to an undeniable end at the moment of our "death"

I'm Christian because Christianity has something that every single other faith lacks: Jesus Christ. I've heard a lot on these boards how every religion is like every other: just be a good person, love your neighbor, live a pure life, etc.

I like having a religion that says that isn't enough. I like having a religion that says that isn't even the point. The biggest complaint I hear against Christianity (usually Catholicism) is that it feels too much like threatening you with hellfire if you break the rules. But following the rules isn't important, now. Faith in Jesus Christ is.

So why is it that people always think of Christianity as this big "Thou shalt not" monolithic oppressive thing? Is it the way we preach? I'd be interested to find out.

So that's my 2 cents.

I dont follow any religion

I am very spiritual though and believe in natural spirituality, like what Shamans practice.

Pagan but I was baptised as a Roman Catholic. Paganism just made more sense to me along with many other reasons that I stopped being catholic. I'm also a bit turned off by religions that consider themselves to be "right". I see all religions as having equal value and, worth, being equally true as long as they're based on love and, respect. It's just that not every faith is for everyone.

Islamic Jesusism with a hint of Buddhist and Satanic ideals. And throw in some Confuciusism too.

I'm Christian because Christianity has something that every single other faith lacks: Jesus Christ. I've heard a lot on these boards how every religion is like every other: just be a good person, love your neighbor, live a pure life, etc.

I like having a religion that says that isn't enough. I like having a religion that says that isn't even the point. The biggest complaint I hear against Christianity (usually Catholicism) is that it feels too much like threatening you with hellfire if you break the rules. But following the rules isn't important, now. Faith in Jesus Christ is.

So why is it that people always think of Christianity as this big "Thou shalt not" monolithic oppressive thing? Is it the way we preach? I'd be interested to find out.

So that's my 2 cents.

well, because the whole needing jesus as a saviour thing comes out of everyone being a sinner, i mean, i buy the last loaf of bread at a store and someone comes up who hasn't eaten in a week to buy some bread after i've left. they don't get their bread, they starve, it was my fault, therefore i sinned and need salvation. that may be a rather convulted path and all, but it's pretty much that little things (hell, even disbelief) are sins and everything is worthy of an eternity in hellfire if you don't believe. quite frankly, i find it stupid. i find it stupid that i have to depend on another person for my salvation, i find it stupid that doing what feels right for me is considered a sin.
i also find it funny how jesus christ is quite similar to mithras, a character in zoroastrianism who was written about thousands of years before jesus' supposed birth. everything's the same, right down to the details of the birth, witnessed by shephards, gifts from magi et c. the only thing that's changed are the names, mithras to jesus and ahura mazda to jhvh.

I'm a Christian to be more specific Protestant or to be even more specific Presbyterian. Why? Well I was raised as a Christian and it's always made sense to me so I've stayed a Christian.

*sigh* and yet again agnosticism is ignored by a poll on religious orientation, even though more people in America identify as "agnostic" or "secular/undecided" than all non-Christian religions COMBINED.

well, because the whole needing jesus as a saviour thing comes out of everyone being a sinner, i mean, i buy the last loaf of bread at a store and someone comes up who hasn't eaten in a week to buy some bread after i've left. they don't get their bread, they starve, it was my fault, therefore i sinned and need salvation. that may be a rather convulted path and all, but it's pretty much that little things (hell, even disbelief) are sins and everything is worthy of an eternity in hellfire if you don't believe. quite frankly, i find it stupid. i find it stupid that i have to depend on another person for my salvation, i find it stupid that doing what feels right for me is considered a sin.
i also find it funny how jesus christ is quite similar to mithras, a character in zoroastrianism who was written about thousands of years before jesus' supposed birth. everything's the same, right down to the details of the birth, witnessed by shephards, gifts from magi et c. the only thing that's changed are the names, mithras to jesus and ahura mazda to jhvh.
There's quite a few messiahs in many different religions all have similar stories as well, like Krishna, Buddha and, I think Quetzelcoatl as well if I remember correctly

Unfortunately, I am a catholic since I've recently found out you can't actually leave once you are baptised. So basically they baptise you when you can't even realize what the hell is going on and expect you to stay in the church forever.

well, because the whole needing jesus as a saviour thing comes out of everyone being a sinner, i mean, i buy the last loaf of bread at a store and someone comes up who hasn't eaten in a week to buy some bread after i've left. they don't get their bread, they starve, it was my fault, therefore i sinned and need salvation. that may be a rather convulted path and all, but it's pretty much that little things (hell, even disbelief) are sins and everything is worthy of an eternity in hellfire if you don't believe. quite frankly, i find it stupid. i find it stupid that i have to depend on another person for my salvation, i find it stupid that doing what feels right for me is considered a sin.

You say that you find it stupid that you have to depend on another person for your salvation. That's what I love about it. I guess there's no accounting for taste.

Unfortunately, I am a catholic since I've recently found out you can't actually leave once you are baptised. So basically they baptise you when you can't even realize what the hell is going on and expect you to stay in the church forever.

so are you saying you don't believe in Catholicism? because, frankly, what they think of you shouldn't be a factor...just because they think that sprinkling water on a baby makes that baby Property Of Catholicism don't make it true, any more than their belief that bread magically changes into human tissue makes that a fact. if you are Catholic it can ONLY be because you believe you are, and what some Catholic thinks doesn't make the slightest difference.

Pagan...

Not quite a Wiccan, but definately in touch with the Earth and seeking enlightenment through Her. I do have some Buddhist tendancies too. lol Pagan is probably the best answer at the moment.

Pagan (Earth/Nature worshipping religions) existed thousands of years before Christians came to the scene. Their forms are as various as the Christian denominations, but they are well documented if not widely accepted. Many Christian traditions and definately the holidays are based on Pagan traditions and observances. One could make the argument that Christianity borrows enough from Paganism to say that it is modified Paganism.

As for reasons ... Well, I was raised Christian and I even accepted it for a time, but I never felt the spiritual energy I feel when I'm just alone in the forest or meditating. The aggressive nature of Christianity always put me off; the missionaries and the constant arguing and stuff. That's probably one of the major reasons why I'm generally against organized religion in any form, even the Chruch and School of Wicca.

Im a Protestant Christian. Not really of any defined church, even though i went to a CofE school, i generally consider myself a Calvinist with Methodist leanings if that makes any sense, lol. :)

I refuse to prove I exist, says God, for proof denies faith and without faith I am nothing.

So, for the sake of contradiction, let us assume God exists. Then the First-Order Sentence E(x)God(x) is true. Therefore, by the Gödel Completeness Theorem, there exists a proof of E(x)God(x). But then there is a proof that God exists, proof denies faith, and therefore God is nothing. So God does not exist. Reductio Ad Absurdium, therefore our original assumption must be wrong.

Therefore God does not exist.

There's quite a few messiahs in many different religions all have similar stories as well, like Krishna, Buddha and, I think Quetzelcoatl as well if I remember correctly

umm... the buddha wasn't a saviour. you don't have to believe in the buddha (though he was a historical person) to attain nirvana, in fact, there's a group of iconoclastic buddhists (ever hear the saying "if you meet the buddha on a road, kill him"?) it's not so much that they want to kill anyone but that they don't want to remain attached to symbols. the buddha simply taught a way to attain nirvana. you follow the teachings, not the man.

i don't know much about krishna, but in hindhuism, you don't depend on anyone else for the status you attain in your next life either, it's entirely a matter of what kind of person you are in this life (if i remember correctly)

but with jesus and mithras, only those who believe shall be saved...

You say that you find it stupid that you have to depend on another person for your salvation. That's what I love about it. I guess there's no accounting for taste.

i don't know why you have to depend on someone else.
it's not even like it's just a matter of oh yeah, you did this and that wrong, you could do nothing wrong, be a wonderful person, and still sin by not believing in jesus...

I am an atheist. Why? Because:
-There is no evidence that god exists, and it doesn't seem very probable that he/she/it could.
-Religion tends to breed intolerance, not only towards other religions, but towards groups such as homosexuals & minority racial groups(no matter how much love they claim to have for their fellow humans)
-You know what we now call roman/egyptian/greek/whatever myths now? Those used to be religion. Logically, then, modern-day religion is also myth.
-Gay marriage debate. Religious people not wanting gays to have that right because "god thinks its wrong". And similar things(such as the KKK).
-Religion/religous people tend(s) to supress knowledge of things that conflict with the beliefs it holds.
-I don't need religion to tell me what's right and wrong. A combination of my own morals & the law tells me that.
-I have better uses of my time than going to church once a week, praying, & stuff like that.
-Whenever people bring religion into an issue, they seem to ignore FACT. Which leaves them with bad arguments that are more like "I said this so it's RIGHT".

I'm Christian because Christianity has something that every single other faith lacks: Jesus Christ.
Just like Buddisim has something every single other religion lacks:Buddha? Just like how Shinto-ism has Kami-s(nature spirits) along with a few major gods? Just like how Judaism has ONLY the "old" testament, and nothing else in their bible? What makes "Jesus"(if he really existed. Yes, I doubt that he ever existed.) so special that the unique qualities of other religions plae in comparision?

So why is it that people always think of Christianity as this big "Thou shalt not" monolithic oppressive thing? Is it the way we preach? I'd be interested to find out.
Well, seeing as you mostly hear about what the religous lobby DOESN'T want you to do...also, in case you didn't notice, once Christans got out from being the minority, they started doing what their former oppressors did.

i don't know why you have to depend on someone else.
it's not even like it's just a matter of oh yeah, you did this and that wrong, you could do nothing wrong, be a wonderful person, and still sin by not believing in jesus...

I'm not sure I made myself clear a couple posts ago. That legalistic "You did this and that wrong" is what Christianity is commonly perceived as by non-Christians. On the contrary, Christianity is to me the only religion that denies that you need to play by the rules to win the game.

to be fair, there were a lot of people named jesus in jerusalem. the jews were an oppressed and occupied people in need of a savior to free them. the prophesized messiah was supposed to do just that.

Catholic, Latin Rite, joined this past Easter as a convert.

umm... the buddha wasn't a saviour. you don't have to believe in the buddha (though he was a historical person) to attain nirvana, in fact, there's a group of iconoclastic buddhists (ever hear the saying "if you meet the buddha on a road, kill him"?) it's not so much that they want to kill anyone but that they don't want to remain attached to symbols. the buddha simply taught a way to attain nirvana. you follow the teachings, not the man.

i don't know much about krishna, but in hindhuism, you don't depend on anyone else for the status you attain in your next life either, it's entirely a matter of what kind of person you are in this life (if i remember correctly)

but with jesus and mithras, only those who believe shall be saved...
Did I say you have to believe in them in those religions? I was merely pointing out the similarities in their stories although I admit messiah was a bad label but again, I was meremly pointing out similarities.

I don't have a religion, nor am I an athiest; I have no such label, but, I do have my beliefs and I believe that there is no God, that there is a spiritual world and that we are merely beings, who haven't been born or killed yet. Until we are no longer reincarnated, we will never die, we will just come back in another life form.

I also believe in human rights! And the more the better!

I'm not sure I made myself clear a couple posts ago. That legalistic "You did this and that wrong" is what Christianity is commonly perceived as by non-Christians. On the contrary, Christianity is to me the only religion that denies that you need to play by the rules to win the game.

oh, but there is a rule: you have to believe in jesus. if you don't, then you go to hell. doesn't matter of you're the most peaceful, loving person there is, you didn't take jesus as your saviour, so you go to hell. if you're a serial murderer and you accept jesus as your saviour, then you're set.

No religion, no faith, just a realist. I don't belive in things unless i can see it for myself.

Just out of curiosity, do you believe in atoms? People cannot see atoms.

Did I say you have to believe in them in those religions? I was merely pointing out the similarities in their stories although I admit messiah was a bad label but again, I was meremly pointing out similarities.

but the thing is that buddha wasn't a saviour figure. he was a teacher.

Just out of curiosity, do you believe in atoms? People cannot see atoms.

with electron microscopes you can, what are you on about?

I refuse to prove I exist, says God, for proof denies faith and without faith I am nothing.

So, for the sake of contradiction, let us assume God exists. Then the First-Order Sentence E(x)God(x) is true. Therefore, by the Gödel Completeness Theorem, there exists a proof of E(x)God(x). But then there is a proof that God exists, proof denies faith, and therefore God is nothing. So God does not exist. Reductio Ad Absurdium, therefore our original assumption must be wrong.

Therefore God does not exist.

Epur si muove

with electron microscopes you can, what are you on about?

Actually, you can't "see" atoms with electron microscopes. You can "visualize" them, but not see them like focusing a magnifying glass on an ant.

oh, but there is a rule: you have to believe in jesus. if you don't, then you go to hell. doesn't matter of you're the most peaceful, loving person there is, you didn't take jesus as your saviour, so you go to hell. if you're a serial murderer and you accept jesus as your saviour, then you're set.

Not all Christians believes this. Just the Right Wing ones like Gary farwell and Pat Roberson.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, we don't believe you are going to hell if you were a good person even without the belief in Christ. You get Paradise, but its up to God if you also receive Celestrial Kingdom. I'd say not till after you are preached in Heaven about Jesus but that is just me.

Pagan. If anyone has an issue with that, feel free to telegram me; I'm almost never on the forums.

Why? Because I feel draw to the divine feminie, which is expressed in only hinduism, paganism, and buddhism. Paganism is the oldest of all religions, and has been reborn over the last 50 years or so. It leaves me free to worship as I feel best suits my goddess, and to choose a Deity I can identify with. We preach peace and tolerance, and since there is no long holy book, only a few codes of ethics and rules, there is not nearly as much discrimination and hatred. Not to insult other religions, but I've found the pagan community to be one of the most accepting groups I have ever encountered.

Just out of curiosity, do you believe in atoms? People cannot see atoms.
I believe in them! *inhales deeply* yay! I'm getting high off the atoms in the air!! :p

Not all Christians believes this. Just the Right Wing ones like Gary farwell and Pat Roberson.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, we don't believe you are going to hell if you were a good person even without the belief in Christ. You get Paradise, but its up to God if you also receive Celestrial Kingdom. I'd say not till after you are preached in Heaven about Jesus but that is just me.

considering that this guy said that you don't have to play by the rules to win, i'm guessing that he falls into that category.

and i went to a presbyterian church where they taught that without believing in jesus, you're fucked.

Actually, you can't "see" atoms with electron microscopes. You can "visualize" them, but not see them like focusing a magnifying glass on an ant.

i think the word "see" was being used loosely by the original poster. "experience" is probably closer to the intended term, since (for instance) you cannot "see" soundwaves themselves, but only perceive them through your ears or see representations of them generated by equipment...but i am sure the poster believes in music.

It makes perfect sense and that's a great way to touch that of God in you, whatever that may actually be. Never sacrifice God for religion, is my motto. If you feel something while hiking or being outside, then that is as excellent a place to explore your spirituality and find out what you believe as any church, synogogue or temple.
Yeah, most of the reason I call myself athiest is that I dispise organized religion and have an extreme distaste for the intolerance and hate most religions seem to spread. I don't think of myself as a spiritual person either, but I can't deny there've been moments when I'm not so sure that it's impossible for God to exist.

I'm trying to be a gnostic.

I'm trying to be a gnostic.
trying?

I am a qquestioning athiest. I don't fit into any of the categories. The old arguement is that in the beginning, there was nothing. Then GOD created everything. YOU CAN'T CREATE SOMETHING FROM NOTHING! Then, I look at what's going on in the world. Sudan genosides, Crusades, Ethnic cleansing, Terrorists running amok, and finally... the word of god. Written by MAN. People always forget that last part.

I believe that, if there is a God up there, he understands my reasoning, and should accept it as perfectly logical.

Lapsed Catholic.

More like a Dualist now.

i also find it funny how jesus christ is quite similar to mithras, a character in zoroastrianism who was written about thousands of years before jesus' supposed birth. everything's the same, right down to the details of the birth, witnessed by shephards, gifts from magi et c. the only thing that's changed are the names, mithras to jesus and ahura mazda to jhvh.

There is very little in christianity, other than the historical Jesus, that is original. Baptism was an ancient egyptian rite, and most of the holidays are stolen from pagan cultures. For example, Easter was originally Eostre, or Ostara, which was a rite of spring celebrating the saxon goddess Eostre, goddess of fertility. The rabbits and eggs come from her myth. Christmas was once Yule, the pagan festival of the winter solstice. On the British isles, they decorated trees for this. (Historians believe that Jesus was actually born sometime in March). Halloween was Samhain. Even their idea of Satan is just a perversion of the Pagan (NOT evil) god Pan, originally portrayed as a satyr (yes, that's right, with horns and a tail). The "Devils pitchfork" was a perversion of Poseidon's Trident. These perversions were intentional, to cast the Pagans in a poor light and cause our gods to be associated with evil. Even the idea of being the son of god is not original. In many pagan cultures, that was the name for any child concieved at the great rite, where the god enters the body of a man and impregnates a woman. In addition, the Greek myths were full of Zeus's demigod children by ordinary women.

If you're interested in learning more, or want to debate this, please telegram me. Like I said on my other post, I'm rarely on the forum.

There is very little in christianity, other than the historical Jesus, that is original. Baptism was an ancient egyptian rite, and most of the holidays are stolen from pagan cultures. For example, Easter was originally Eostre, or Ostara, which was a rite of spring celebrating the saxon goddess Eostre, goddess of fertility. The rabbits and eggs come from her myth. Christmas was once Yule, the pagan festival of the winter solstice. On the British isles, they decorated trees for this. (Historians believe that Jesus was actually born sometime in March). Halloween was Samhain. Even their idea of Satan is just a perversion of the Pagan (NOT evil) god Pan, originally portrayed as a satyr (yes, that's right, with horns and a tail). The "Devils pitchfork" was a perversion of Poseidon's Trident. These perversions were intentional, to cast the Pagans in a poor light and cause our gods to be associated with evil. Even the idea of being the son of god is not original. In many pagan cultures, that was the name for any child concieved at the great rite, where the god enters the body of a man and impregnates a woman. In addition, the Greek myths were full of Zeus's demigod children by ordinary women.

If you're interested in learning more, or want to debate this, please telegram me. Like I said on my other post, I'm rarely on the forum.You forgot the act of communion, oor "God-eating"...

Dan Brown = great researcher.

I am a qquestioning athiest. I don't fit into any of the categories. The old arguement is that in the beginning, there was nothing. Then GOD created everything. YOU CAN'T CREATE SOMETHING FROM NOTHING! Then, I look at what's going on in the world. Sudan genosides, Crusades, Ethnic cleansing, Terrorists running amok, and finally... the word of god. Written by MAN. People always forget that last part.

I believe that, if there is a God up there, he understands my reasoning, and should accept it as perfectly logical.

you sound like an agnostic to me. if you believe there is insufficient evidence to conclude on God's existence, and that, in view of that insufficiency, it is not appropriate for us to assume God's existence and to worship Him, then you are agnostic. just so you know.

Unfortunately, I am a catholic since I've recently found out you can't actually leave once you are baptised. So basically they baptise you when you can't even realize what the hell is going on and expect you to stay in the church forever.


That's ridiculous. No one can force your faith, regardless ofa ny rite that was performed. You can be expected to live up to it if you, fully conscious of what you were doing, took an oath, but a ritual performed when you were a baby cannot bind your life. They are not going to hunt you down if you refuse to go to church, and I, at least, think God will understand if you find some way you can worship him more fittingly for you, outside the Catholic religion.

Originally Posted by Al-Kair
Unfortunately, I am a catholic since I've recently found out you can't actually leave once you are baptised. So basically they baptise you when you can't even realize what the hell is going on and expect you to stay in the church forever.

Have you tried to be ex-communicated?

Also you aren't fully a Catholic until you have taken Confirmation.

But look on the bright side, you can do what you want, and still go to heaven ;)

I refuse to prove I exist, says God, for proof denies faith and without faith I am nothing.

So, for the sake of contradiction, let us assume God exists. Then the First-Order Sentence E(x)God(x) is true. Therefore, by the Gödel Completeness Theorem, there exists a proof of E(x)God(x). But then there is a proof that God exists, proof denies faith, and therefore God is nothing. So God does not exist. Reductio Ad Absurdium, therefore our original assumption must be wrong.

Therefore God does not exist.

But if, with the new information, you rethink this on the assumption that God does not exist, it becomes absurd, and falls apart. Nice try.

You can believe whatever the hell you want about God, but it should stem from a sincere belief one way or the other, not a stupid logical paradox.

I would have to say agnostic.

you sound like an agnostic to me. if you believe there is insufficient evidence to conclude on God's existence, and that, in view of that insufficiency, it is not appropriate for us to assume God's existence and to worship Him, then you are agnostic. just so you know.
But I don't believe in god.

what about JEWISH or MUSLIM. are you racist or what?

Aphrael Elen, to add to that, the prayer position was stolen from the Buddhist religions. The prayer position connects the minor chakra circuits in the hands. The Trio (Jehova, Jesus and the Holy Ghost) were already present in many other religions predating Chrsitianity. Ressurection was a common theme. The Church steeple was a copy of the obelisks of ancient Egypt, which represented the phallus of Geb (which makes me laugh to think that a church steeple is a wang with a cross on top). Those are the ones I can remember off the top of my head.

To simplify matters I am an Atheist, though I am influenced by Paganism, Shamanism and True (Gnostic, Old) Satanism (very old religion, predating Egyptian, practiced by the Yezidi of the Middle East, does not fit the Xian version of Satanism (no sacrifices), quite a lot like Buddhism, only very materialistic).

Atheism, because I don't believe in the existence of God(s). Though that should be self-explanatory.

You forgot the act of communion, oor "God-eating"...

Dan Brown = great researcher.

The Correct term is Grubbin' on Jesus

You can believe whatever the hell you want about God, but it should stem from a sincere belief one way or the other, not a stupid logical paradox.
I would whole heartedly agree there. The argument that the odds are in favor of believing in god (you only lose a little if you believe in god and he doesn’t exist, but you lose a lot of you don't believe and he does exist) is false to me simply because if you're going to base your faith in god on a gamble, that's got to be anathema to someone like the god Christians believe in.

My family has been Jewish as far back as I can trace. I still struggle over exactly which aspects of the tradition and theology I believe (right now I'm leaning towards theistic Reconstructionism. I've spent several years doing independent research into Jewish history and ideology, and last year took two Judaism-related classes at school, one of which was pretty Kabbalah-heavy (I'd love to punch the Kabbalah-chic Hollywood folks in the face).

Some links, if anyone's curious.

http://www.jrf.org/recon/rjis.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstructionist_Judaism

http://judaism.about.com/library/3_intro/level1/bl_denom_recon.htm

I like how the christians are all so pretentious in stating that they are mormon or baptist or some other sect of CHRISTIANITY! catholicism is not a religion. it is a sect of christianity dammit.

Edit: I am a believer in the cosmic potato that crashed into our planet and spawned all life because me and my friends got bored one summer when we were 14.

I like how the christians are all so pretentious in stating that they are mormon or baptist or some other sect of CHRISTIANITY! catholicism is not a religion. it is a sect of christianity dammit.
Not according to this guy (http://www.chick.com/information/religions/catholicism/#Church).

Well he's wrong.

Not according to this guy (http://www.chick.com/information/religions/catholicism/#Church).

DAMNIT! You keep posting that damn Jack Chick link without warning people.

I am atheist, but sometimes agnostic. sometimes I paray to a god, and really believe what i'm praying may come true, but i don't actually believe in a specific god, if i even believe in a god at all.

Jewish, Reform

the prayer position was stolen from the Buddhist religions.

Prove it.

The Trio (Jehova, Jesus and the Holy Ghost) were already present in many other religions predating Chrsitianity.

Really? There was someone called Jesus who was born in Jerusalem in 1 AD in many religions? I dont think so. If you mean that there is some sort of generalised trio then thats something different, though id still like you to elaborate.

Ressurection was a common theme.

So?

The Church steeple was a copy of the obelisks of ancient Egypt, which represented the phallus of Geb

Prove it.

Prove it.



Really? There was someone called Jesus who was born in Jerusalem in 1 AD in many religions? I dont think so. If you mean that there is some sort of generalised trio then thats something different, though id still like you to elaborate.



So?



Prove it.

It is all in a book called The Da Vinci Code/ :rolleyes:

The poll SHOULD have been designed like:

Atheist/Agnostic/Secularist
Protestant Christian
Buddhist
Hindu
Jehovah's Witness/Mormon
Catholic/Pentacostal/Evanglist
Muslim
Judiasm
Wicca/Druid/Pagan
Other

Wiccan with just a touch of hindu and zen buddhism thrown in.
Why? because it makes sense.

They're right about the inspiration for Christianity from other ancient religions, but it is a natural progression. Logically, the later religion would be inspired by other faiths that predated it. There is nothing wrong with that, but people still seem to take offense when you mention it.

The poll SHOULD have been designed like:

Atheist/Agnostic/Secularist
Protestant Christian
Buddhist
Hindu
Jehovah's Witness/Mormon
Catholic/Pentacostal/Evanglist
Muslim
Judiasm
Wicca/Druid/Pagan
Other

Why would you lump so many different beliefs in togethor? Obviously you have no respect for the nuances of the separate faiths.

They're right about the inspiration for Christianity from other ancient religions, but it is a natural progression. Logically, the later religion would be inspired by other faiths that predated it. There is nothing wrong with that, but people still seem to take offense when you mention it.

No it is fine, but personally, I'd prefer it if people didn't cite fictional books (unless it is a literary based debate and such)

I am also an orthodox christian. I'd like to say I'm a Quaker, but I prefer going to hear a sermon once in a while or participate in a very vocal Bible study.

Having different "nuances" doesn't mean that protestantism and catholicism aren't both christianty... which is another thing wrong with his proposed 'better' choices for the poll

Having different "nuances" doesn't mean that protestantism and catholicism aren't both christianty... which is another thing wrong with his proposed 'better' choices for the poll

If you plan to make changes, then keep it specific for all forms of religion. If you lump all Christian sects into one big thing labelled 'Christianity' then you are turning bias towards Christians instead of achieving truly unbiased polls.

Having different "nuances" doesn't mean that protestantism and catholicism aren't both christianty... which is another thing wrong with his proposed 'better' choices for the poll
So it is better to ignore all non-Christian religions to accomadate the differences in Christianity then to recognise then all, but in broad brush-strokes?

i don't get how people acknowledging the fact that no matter how specific the religion is still christianity creates bias... or is unfair to other religions in the poll.

edit: and it doesn't create bias because it is fact that christianity is the largest religion in the world. followed by like islam then judaism or buddhism

The poll SHOULD have been designed like:

Atheist/Agnostic/Secularist
Protestant Christian
Buddhist
Hindu
Jehovah's Witness/Mormon
Catholic/Pentacostal/Evanglist
Muslim
Judiasm
Wicca/Druid/Pagan
Other
You forgot Latterday Saints or "Mormons" like you guys like to nickname them. Why don't you call Witches Spellcasters since we love nicknames

And what is with the grouping of Witnesses with them?

So it is better to ignore all non-Christian religions to accomadate the differences in Christianity then to recognise then all, but in broad brush-strokes?

Accomodate all of them specifically. This only reveals your bias towards Christianity. It is like saying that because Buddhists and Hindus both believe in reincarnation then they should be put in one category, or because Atheists and agnostics do not believe in a specific God, they should be put into one category. Obviously, there are strong differences in these faiths.

The poll is 'what religion are you', not 'what are the specific attributes of your faith that set you apart from other people who share the same religion as you'
and since people probly missed my edit. lumping christianity does not create bias because it is fact that christianity is the largest religion in the world.

You forgot Latterday Saints or "Mormons" like you guys like to nickname them. Why don't you call Witches Spellcasters since we love nicknames

And what is with the grouping of Witnesses with them?
Actually, Mormons were listed there, but, I designed the list so ti would fit in the 10 poll slots.

I'm Christian (Protestant), Presbyterian to be exact. I've grown up Christian, and I think this religion has good morals.

just having a list and using it is a poor ass excuse for making a bad poll, you have a list so what, you have a brain too, use it, do it right, btw islam is the second most popular religon in the world christianity is the most popular, if you include all the sects as well, which do have to be included. aethism i believe is the 3rd most popular belief(if u can call it that) then buddhism, followed by judaism. im pretty certain thats how the lay out goes.

Nope, sorry.

http://adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

Major Religions of the World
Ranked by Number of Adherents

Last modified 6 September 2002.

1. Christianity: 2 billion

2. Islam: 1.3 billion

3. Hinduism: 900 million

4. Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 850 million

5. Buddhism: 360 million

6. Chinese traditional religion: 225 million

7. primal-indigenous: 150 million

8. African Traditional & Diasporic: 95 million

9. Sikhism: 23 million

10. Juche: 19 million

11. Spiritism: 14 million

12. Judaism: 14 million

13. Baha'i: 6 million

14. Jainism: 4 million

15. Shinto: 4 million

16. Cao Dai: 3 million

17. Tenrikyo: 2.4 million

18. Neo-Paganism: 1 million

19. Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand

20. Rastafarianism: 700 thousand

21. Scientology: 600 thousand

22. Zoroastrianism: 150 thousand

americans are devout in faith but you woudnt know it from the schooling we get or the way the dominant media acts. for a country who is only 4% athiest and has all its elected officials sworn in on bibles and whos national motto is " in god we trust" there is certainly a purposful effort to make it seem as if that wasnt true.

Actually, the figure is more like 10%. But what you're also forgetting is that there are many people who believe in God (this ranges from being very religious to non-religious but "spiritual") and who LIKE the separation of C &
C, particularly in public.

we have had 41 protestant presidents and 1 catholic, no athiests

Actually, that's pretty debateable, and largely contingent on what parameters you use to define "protestant".

http://www.sullivan-county.com/news/ffnc/

The early presidents and patriots were generally Deists or Unitarians, believing in some form of impersonal Providence but rejecting the divinity of Jesus and the absurdities of the Old and New testaments.

The site goes on to give specific quotes and examples for individual Founding Fathers.

Other good links:

http://salemos.tripod.com/index-26.html

http://www.gospelcom.net/watkins/foundingfathers.htm

http://monotheism.us/

http://www.anotherperspective.org/advoc550.html

http://altreligion.about.com/library/weekly/aa070202a.htm

Edit: One last quote.

Richard Shenkman- I loved Paul Revere, whether he rode or not

“As for the beliefs of the founding fathers, the remarkable thing is not that so many believed in Christianity, but that so many expressed doubt about it... Ben Franklin never believed in the divinity of Christ and as a young man he toyed with polytheism... as an old man John Adams became fascinated with paganism... Thomas Jefferson believed in God and considered himself a Christian, but he seemed to reject the divinity of Christ and considered Calvin's sermons blasphemous. Alexander Hamilton, both at the beginning of his life and near the end, expressed faith in Christianity, but during the revolutionary period he was utterly indifferent to it... Thomas Paine condemned the "monstrous belief" that God had ever spoken to man. George Washington, though he belonged to the Episcopal church, never mentioned Christ in any of his writings and he was a deist.

Certainly the founders weren't hostile either to religion or the clergy... but neither did they insist, one and all, that religion was a pillar of liberty. Indeed, many of the most illustrious founders plainly rejected the idea. Historian John Diggins says those involved in writing and defeding the Constitution, men like James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, "expressed profound ambivalence about religion, often seeing it as divisive rather than cohesive." And some of those who later came to believe in the necessity of religion, such as Adams, originally thought religiosity was of little matter.

... The founders have been pressed into the service of religion so long now and with such force that it is almost impossible to recover what they really thought. But we can certainly reconstruct their actions... Consider the practice of public prayers [such as] opening meetings of Congress with a prayer... we do more of it than they ever did (not because they opposed praying but because they thought politics and praying didn't mix). The Constitutional Convention opened without a single prayer and several of the first presidents, including both Jefferson and Madison, generally refused to issue prayers, despite importunings that they do so. Under pressure, Madison relented in the War of 1812, but held to his belief that chaplains shouldn't be appointed to the military or be allowed to open Congress.”

The poll is 'what religion are you', not 'what are the specific attributes of your faith that set you apart from other people who share the same religion as you'
and since people probly missed my edit. lumping christianity does not create bias because it is fact that christianity is the largest religion in the world.

They do not share the same religion. The difference between a Catholic and a baptist is strong enough to represent two completely different religions. Why does the fact that Christianity is the largest religion make you an automatic bigot when you claim that you are a Christian, ro a Catholic, or a Morman. If you want to remain unbiased, allow people to choose exactly what relgion they are. The poll was 'what religion are you,' not 'what religions am I similar to.'

Accomodate all of them specifically. This only reveals your bias towards Christianity. It is like saying that because Buddhists and Hindus both believe in reincarnation then they should be put in one category, or because Atheists and agnostics do not believe in a specific God, they should be put into one category. Obviously, there are strong differences in these faiths.
Yes, but when you can only have ten options.......

It is impossible to accomadate all of them. And Baptists have more in common with Catholics then Hindus do with Buddhists.

and mormon, baptist, lutheran, catholic, and whatever the hell else are all sects. not religions. how am i a bigot for stating fact that is popularly recognized by people wiht common sense as true?

Yes, but when you can only have ten options.......

It is impossible to accomadate all of them. And Baptists have more in common with Catholics then Hindus do with Buddhists.

I simply don't understand why being a Christian makes you liable to be lumped into a stereotype, while people will do anything to prevent other religions from being stereotyped. I consider myself a 'Catholic' (among other things) not a 'Christian,' and I am certain a Mormon, considers himself a Mormon, as much as a Hindu considers himself a hindu or a muslim a muslim. In all of your attempts to disrepute Christianity, you have only moved the world's bias.

I simply don't understand why being a Christian makes you liable to be lumped into a stereotype, while people will do anything to prevent other religions from being stereotyped. I consider myself a 'Catholic' (among other things) not a 'Christian,' and I am certain a Mormon, considers himself a Mormon, as much as a Hindu considers himself a hindu or a muslim a muslim. In all of your attempts to disrepute Christianity, you have only moved the world's bias.
That's bull. I used to be Presbyterian, and I'll be the first to say that's a definite Christian religion.

so you don't believe in christ as your savior, but you believe in the priests who touch little boys?

i could eat alphabet soup and crap better points for your arguments against lumping christianity

I simply don't understand why being a Christian makes you liable to be lumped into a stereotype, while people will do anything to prevent other religions from being stereotyped. I consider myself a 'Catholic' (among other things) not a 'Christian,' and I am certain a Mormon, considers himself a Mormon, as much as a Hindu considers himself a hindu or a muslim a muslim. In all of your attempts to disrepute Christianity, you have only moved the world's bias.

There is no Mormon, they don't exist they are a nickname made by non believers. Use Latterday Saint, its actually a religion. :P

so you don't believe in christ as your savior, but you believe in the priests who touch little boys?

i could eat alphabet soup and crap better points for your arguments against lumping christianity

So you feel it is necessary to not make an argument, but instead insult the Catholic faith?

There is no Mormon, they don't exist they are a nickname made by non believers. Use Latterday Saint, its actually a religion. :P

My apologies. I am not a latter Day Saint.

mormons live down the street from me and they call themselves mormons. in fact he goes by mike the mormon and makes no protest to his nomenclature

he said he isn't a christian, which i find to be retarded as he says he is a catholic.

edit: you, not he

he said he isn't a christian, which i find to be retarded as he says he is a catholic.

I am talking about what people consider themselves. If you want an unbiased oppinion, then let people class themselves as they see fit. Not having poll choices at all would be ideal.

but there is a poll and christianity is one religion, are you blind?

in regard to people classing themselves as whatever the hell they want, i'm a high school student. does that tell you anything about what religion i am? establishing correct boundaries makes sense.

Actually, you can't "see" atoms with electron microscopes. You can "visualize" them, but not see them like focusing a magnifying glass on an ant.

Correct. An electron microscope measures the diffraction and scattering of a beam of electrons to create an image of what you are 'seeing'. The 'atoms' you see in a tunneling electron microscope image look pretty much like spherical blobs, which is not what an atom should really look like according to the modern scientific understanding. We have data that strongly suggests atoms exist, but we have never observed one directly.

I brought this up because I don't understand how people can say they don't believe in a higher power of any sort because they cannot see one. It just isn't logical because there are plenty of things that people believe in but cannot see. There is data that suggests things such as atoms and gravity exist, but it is not absolute proof since we cannot see it. It's the same with a higher power. A more logical stance would be to say "I don't believe in a higher power because I believe the data doesn't support the notion".

I'm an independant spiritualist that believes in reincarnation.

I simply don't understand why being a Christian makes you liable to be lumped into a stereotype, while people will do anything to prevent other religions from being stereotyped. I consider myself a 'Catholic' (among other things) not a 'Christian,' and I am certain a Mormon, considers himself a Mormon, as much as a Hindu considers himself a hindu or a muslim a muslim. In all of your attempts to disrepute Christianity, you have only moved the world's bias.
I understand, when I was a Catholic, when people asked me "Are you a Christian" I'd occasionally say "No, Catholic."

I'm not trying to disrepute Christianity, just saying that to even make a decent stab at putting all religion on a 10 answers max poll you would have to use umbrella terms.

but there is a poll and christianity is one religion, are you blind?

No, I am not blind. Are you? Do you recognize the fact that this is a debate on how it should be, not how it is? I didn't bring it up. I am not devoutly religious at all, but I do think that you people are insane for trying to cover world religion with a few basic categories.

when you were?

ge: when they believe in the same deities, then grouping them makes sense. how can you not see that?

re·li·gion ** (*P*)**Pronunciation Key**(r-ljn)
n.

1.
a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.

2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

The set of beliefs, values, and practices of a Catholic are very different from those of a Baptist. According to definition 3, they are therefore different religions.

I understand, when I was a Catholic, when people asked me "Are you a Christian" I'd occasionally say "No, Catholic."

I'm not trying to disrepute Christianity, just saying that to even make a decent stab at putting all religion on a 10 answers max poll you would have to use umbrella terms.

Completely reasonable.

also mentioned in 3, the spiritual leader....Jesus Christ maybe? same guy for both religions you mentioned

Accomodate all of them specifically. This only reveals your bias towards Christianity. It is like saying that because Buddhists and Hindus both believe in reincarnation then they should be put in one category, or because Atheists and agnostics do not believe in a specific God, they should be put into one category. Obviously, there are strong differences in these faiths.

There are differences, but they're all still branches of the same religion (although some of them would be more appropriately considered "sects").

If you think about it, most organized religions have different groups within them. That doesn't mean that they're considered different religions. Orthodox Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism are both still Judaism. Sunni Islam and Shi'ite Islam are both still Islam. Similarly, Catholicism and the god-knows how many denominations of Protestantism are all still Christianity.

I don't see what would be wrong with having one "Christianity" option, with the caveat that this was meant to encompass all the various Christian denominations, and then letting people clarify their vote, if they so desired. After all, it would at least be more specific than having Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Shintos, Baha'is, Pagans, etc... be under "other".

Edit: More info:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/christ.htm

We define "Christian" as including any group or individual who seriously, devoutly, prayerfully describes themselves as Christian. This is the same inclusive definition as public opinion pollsters use. Under this definition, Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, United Church members, even a few Unitarian Universalists, etc. are all considered to be Christian.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/christ1.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_defn.htm

There are also many distinct definitions of the term "Christian" (pronounced 'kristee`ân). Different people have defined a "Christian" as a person who has:

1. Heard the Gospel in a certain way, and accepted its message, or
2. Become "saved" -- i.e. they have trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior), or
3. Been baptized as an infant, or
4. Gone to church regularly, or
5. Recited and agreed with a specific church creed or creeds, or
6. Simply tried to understand and follow Jesus' teachings, or
7. Led a decent life.

Following these different definitions, the percentage of North American adults who are Christians currently ranges from less than 1% to about 75%.

...There are on the order of 1,000 denominations, para-church organizations, and other groups in the U.S. who consider themselves to be Christian. 13 One could assemble a random group of adults and ask each individual to sort the 1,000 groups into two piles: those which are "truly" Christian, and those that are not. In many cases, an individual will select their own faith group as the only truly Christian denomination, and define all of the other 999 as sub-Christian, quasi-Christian, or non-Christian. Other individuals might say that all 1,000 denominations are Christian. Most likely, a given individual will select most of the 1,000 groups as Christian, and reject the others. There is no possibility of reaching a common definition which would identify which groups are "truly" Christian.

re·li·gion ** (*P*)**Pronunciation Key**(r-ljn)
n.

1.
a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.

2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

The set of beliefs, values, and practices of a Catholic are very different from those of a Baptist. According to definition 3, they are therefore different religions.

According to definition 4 Communism, Fascism, (all other political theories), watching soaps/big brother/etc, are all religions.

But how are the beliefs, values and practises of a Catholic "very different" to those of a Baptist.

I like to dabble in witch craft and pagan rituals from time to time.

There are differences, but they're all still branches of the same religion (although some of them would be more appropriately considered "sects").

If you think about it, most organized religions have different groups within them. That doesn't mean that they're considered different religions. Orthodox Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism are both still Judaism. Sunni Islam and Shi'ite Islam are both still Islam. Similarly, Catholicism and the god-knows how many denominations of Protestantism are all still Christianity.

I don't see what would be wrong with having one "Christianity" option, with the caveat that this was meant to encompass all the various Christian denominations, and then letting people clarify their vote, if they so desired. After all, it would at least be more specific than having Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Shintos, Baha'is, Pagans, etc... be under "other".

I see your logic, but the thing that annoys me is that Christians are never accorded the same respect or recognition of nuances that other eligions are given. That's my only qualm.

Respect? I spent no time in history learning about how the different sects of islam came to be, but an entire quarter was spent on the Chistian Reformation... how can you say you aren't respected as different, here comes that word again, sects (notice how i didn't use religions)?

Respect? I spent no time in history learning about how the different sects of islam came to be, but an entire quarter was spent on the Chistian Reformation... how can you say you aren't respected as different, here comes that word again, sects (notice how i didn't use religions)?

I really don't care one way or the other if i'm respected as different, but it is hypocritical to work for equality, by making things unequal in a different way.

mormons live down the street from me and they call themselves mormons. in fact he goes by mike the mormon and makes no protest to his nomenclature
I know they are technically LDS, but I've never met one in RL who objects so strongly to the term.

I just wanted to introduce myself and my community Loving Balance. As one might deduce from my nation name, I consider myself to be a pagan witch, though not a strictly practicing wiccan. I feel that this question is a good one, especially in a debate among nations, since one's religious leanings will always guide even the steadiest of hands in making moral and ethical decisions. I've been reading all of your posts in seeking a compatible region. BTW, I was once an atheist, an agnostic, and a liberal Quaker (a faith I highly respect BTW.) I rejected atheism because I feel that judging others as stupid for believing in God is every bit as stupid and closeminded as any other position adopted by fundementalists. Liberal Quakerism was beautiful in it's simplicity, but I did not want to commit to God in one particular form. Agnostic still fits me, in the sense that I find myself to be completely fallible...I may have a strong faith in the God/Godess Lifeforce, but what the Hell do I know? There I said it. My faith is as much a way of life as a religion....my leanings are towards balance, acceptance, and personal responsibility for my actions and my small part in helping others. I tend to think globally but set my sights locally. I do not believe because I am right....I simply believe because everyone is entitled to an opinion. Feel free to Replay or just send a telegram to say hi if I sound like your cup of tea (or more accurately Iced Caramel Macchiato). ;)
Blessed Be!
The Founder Of Loving Balance

I see your logic, but the thing that annoys me is that Christians are never accorded the same respect or recognition of nuances that other eligions are given. That's my only qualm.

And I'd say your qualm is not without some legitimacy. That said, the fact that the nuance between various branches of Christianity sometimes goes unrecognized does not mean that the various branches are separate religions in of themselves.

Furthermore, I would say that many people are more inclined to lump various religious denominations according to their political positions than anything else.

And I'd say your qualm is not without some legitimacy. That said, the fact that the nuance between various branches of Christianity sometimes goes unrecognized does not mean that the various branches are separate religions in of themselves.

Furthermore, I would say that many people are more inclined to lump various religious denominations according to their political positions than anything else.

Very true. Politics play a huge role in classifying religions.

Aryan Supremacy, here (http://www.freewebs.com/see_the_truth/New%20Testament.html). I said The Trio was a common theme, not the specifics.

The Holy Spirit was also stolen. So was Baptism through water.
The Cincture is a parallel to the Witch's Cord or Girdle
The Alb is a Ceremonial Robe
The Bishop's Miter is a copy of the Ancient Egyptian Crowns of the Gods and the Pharaohs
The Crosier represents the sorcerer's blasting rod and bears a strong resemblance to the Ancient Egyptian Crook
The Church was originally represented by a lamb. Which was originally a sacrificial lamb in Pagan celebrations. The lamb was also carried by Osiris and Hermes.
Halos were also stolen from the Buddhist religions.

Aryan Supremacy, here (http://www.freewebs.com/see_the_truth/New%20Testament.html). I said The Trio was a common theme, not the specifics.

The Holy Spirit was also stolen. So was Baptism through water.
The Cincture is a parallel to the Witch's Cord or Girdle
The Alb is a Ceremonial Robe
The Bishop's Miter is a copy of the Ancient Egyptian Crowns of the Gods and the Pharaohs
The Crosier represents the sorcerer's blasting rod and bears a strong resemblance to the Ancient Egyptian Crook
The Church was originally represented by a lamb. Which was originally a sacrificial lamb in Pagan celebrations. The lamb was also carried by Osiris and Hermes.
Halos were also stolen from the Buddhist religions.

Don't you understand? It does not matter if these beliefs were stolen. It's logical that they were stolen. It's believable that they were stolen. It is good that they were stolen, because the customs live on. It should not be offensive to anyone, and it should not be a big deal.

I just wanted to introduce myself and my community Loving Balance. As one might deduce from my nation name, I consider myself to be a pagan witch, though not a strictly practicing wiccan. I feel that this question is a good one, especially in a debate among nations, since one's religious leanings will always guide even the steadiest of hands in making moral and ethical decisions. I've been reading all of your posts in seeking a compatible region. BTW, I was once an atheist, an agnostic, and a liberal Quaker (a faith I highly respect BTW.) I rejected atheism because I feel that judging others as stupid for believing in God is every bit as stupid and closeminded as any other position adopted by fundementalists. Liberal Quakerism was beautiful in it's simplicity, but I did not want to commit to God in one particular form. Agnostic still fits me, in the sense that I find myself to be completely fallible...I may have a strong faith in the God/Godess Lifeforce, but what the Hell do I know? There I said it. My faith is as much a way of life as a religion....my leanings are towards balance, acceptance, and personal responsibility for my actions and my small part in helping others. I tend to think globally but set my sights locally. I do not believe because I am right....I simply believe because everyone is entitled to an opinion. Feel free to Replay or just send a telegram to say hi if I sound like your cup of tea (or more accurately Iced Caramel Macchiato). ;)
Blessed Be!
The Founder Of Loving Balance

Heh, welcome Loving Balance. Be careful. Relgious threads tend to turn into flame wars around here.

Aryan Supremacy, here (http://www.freewebs.com/see_the_truth/New%20Testament.html). I said The Trio was a common theme, not the specifics.

The Holy Spirit was also stolen. So was Baptism through water.
The Cincture is a parallel to the Witch's Cord or Girdle
The Alb is a Ceremonial Robe
The Bishop's Miter is a copy of the Ancient Egyptian Crowns of the Gods and the Pharaohs
The Crosier represents the sorcerer's blasting rod and bears a strong resemblance to the Ancient Egyptian Crook
The Church was originally represented by a lamb. Which was originally a sacrificial lamb in Pagan celebrations. The lamb was also carried by Osiris and Hermes.
Halos were also stolen from the Buddhist religions.

And all these religious ideals were most likely 'adopted' (stolen is a rather harsh word) from religious ideals that went on before them as well. I'm still not sure I see the point in all this. Borrowing happens and no religious thought is free of it.

Don't you understand? It does not matter if these beliefs were stolen. It's logical that they were stolen. It's believable that they were stolen. It is good that they were stolen, because the customs live on. It should not be offensive to anyone, and it should not be a big deal.
Yes you are right it is both believable and logical. Most of them still live on in their proper religions. Those that aren't have been perverted or their true meaning has been forgotten. So the fact they were stolen is both good and bad depending on the case. It isn't offensive that they were stolen, it is offensive that very few people know the origin of the symbols that are all around them.

Yes you are right it is both believable and logical. Most of them still live on in their proper religions. Those that aren't have been perverted or their true meaning has been forgotten. So the fact they were stolen is both good and bad depending on the case. It isn't offensive that they were stolen, it is offensive that very few people know the origin of the symbols that are all around them.

To most people it simply doesn't matter where the symbols came from or what they represent. That should not be offensive either.

i think people need something to believe in, and a way of explaining certain things. but despite most organised religions teaching peace and love to all those around you, religion is the single biggest cause of war, and a major contributor towards terrorism.

so i don't believe in any religion. i believe in myself to give me the strength to do the things i need to do, and i have faith in my own judgement and abilities. i have respect for those around me, and don't need some overpowering all seeing being to tell me how to do this. science and common sense explain all i need to know about the world i live in.

There is a reason the motto here in Karistan is "All gods are bastards" - and it's not just because Terry Pratchett rocks....


We checked "other" because agnostic is not listed!

All gods as defined by most religions... ones that are monotheistic, at least... simply proves..

all gods are bastards!

There is a reason the motto here in Karistan is "All gods are bastards" - and it's not just because Terry Pratchett rocks....


We checked "other" because agnostic is not listed!

All gods as defined by most religions... ones that are monotheistic, at least... simply proves..

all gods are bastards!
If you check the other thread like this, you'll find fewer Christian options and more of the other options, including agnostic.

I shunned religion at an early age as my teachers at school tried to force christianity upon me through "hyme (sp?) practice" and church visits. I despise the lack of free will most religions steal from their young when they indoctrinate them. eg christenings, circumcision (although has advantages) etc.
you might hear people say "i was raised <religion> and have stayed faithful cos it feels right". I see people trapped in a way of thinking they cannot escape.
Agnostic, feeling adventurous today, might look up paganism. Someone tell me a little more about it?

But how are the beliefs, values and practises of a Catholic "very different" to those of a Baptist.

If you want to find out, find a devout, practicing Baptist, and try to convince him/her of as many of the following as you can:

1. Praying to Mary (and other saints) is a perfectly Christian practice
2. The bread and wine of a Catholic communion really is the body and blood of Jesus
3. Purgatory is real
4. Baptism is not symbolic
5. Drinking, smoking, and gambling are not sinful by nature
6. Statues are not idolatrous
7. Salvation is not granted through faith alone
8. The Bible is not the sole Christian authority
9. Priests have the power to absolve sins
10. The Bible actually contains seven more books than they acknowledge

If you ask an extremely fundamental Baptist, you'll probably get to hear how Catholicism is the whore of Babylon.

Atheism - It just makes the most sense to me. The others (at least for me) insults my intelligence.

We were raised catholic. However, we have grown to despise how it it is marketed as a product. We also have great distain for the sense of elitism that christianity in general seems to create amongst the different sects within itself ie baptists, protestants, catholics, luthern, etc. We pray privately
with the christian prayers that we know for it is the only way we know how to practice. We do however believe that every living thing has a soul whether it be a rabbit, tree, or even a blade of grass. This leads people to believe that we are pagan since this is a general pagan beliefe. We do not however believe in multiple gods like the pagans and do not claim to know what god or the "energy" is. We know(in faith) it merley exists and cannot claim to explain it any further.

I'm an atheist because of these reasons:

1. I wish to live my life the way I wish to. I want no guilt in my actions, or the thought of, " I shoundn't do this, I will go to hell." Being raised in a strict Christian home, my mom instilled this value into me that if I do anything bad, I will burn in hell for an eternity.

2. The paradox of Omnipotence/Problems with Divine Omnipotence http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/omnipotence.html

3. The Argument from Autonomy
The argument from autonomy is the argument that the existence of morally autonomous agents is inconsistent with the existence of God, and so that the fact that morally autonomous agents do exist disproves the existence of God. God, if he exists, is worthy of worship. If a being is truly worthy of worship, though, then he is entitled to our unconditional obedience. Moral agents, however, cannot be required to give unconditional obedience to any agent. Moral agency requires autonomy, and so the idea of a moral duty to give up one's autonomy is incoherent; in giving up one's autonomy one would cease to be a moral agent so would cease to have moral duties at all. We cannot, therefore, have a duty of unconditional obedience to any agent, and there therefore cannot be any agent that worthy of worship. There can therefore be no God. (Source:
http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/atheisticproofs.html)

by Allegheri
Why am I a Jew? Simply put, no other organized religion will allow me so much room for skepticism. One can be a good Jew without a great deal of faith.. and unlike, say, Catholicism, Jews don't threaten you with Hell for breaking arcane rules. Just live your life in a good way.


I am Catholic. And being a Christian, we believe Jesus was God's Son and he taught about Hell or Gehenna. He told people to mend their ways or suffer in Gehenna.

What is considered a good way to live?
What is considered a bad way to live?
Who told you these ways were good or bad?
God of the Torah punished people, sometimes by having them destroyed, killed, etc. Was that treating humans badly? Maybe there is a good way to live and it is to follow the commandments. Christians go by the Mosaic laws, the 10 Commandments, I thought Jews had like 613 laws or rules.

Other.

Specifically, a pagan-oriented spiritual agnostic. Or agnostic for simplicity, but even that wasn't on your list.

I am Catholic. And being a Christian, we believe Jesus was God's Son and he taught about Hell or Gehenna. He told people to mend their ways or suffer in Gehenna.

What is considered a good way to live?
What is considered a bad way to live?
Who told you these ways were good or bad?
God of the Torah punished people, sometimes by having them destroyed, killed, etc. Was that treating humans badly? Maybe there is a good way to live and it is to follow the commandments. Christians go by the Mosaic laws,
the 10 Commandments, I thought Jews had like 613 laws or rules.

Depends which Jews you talk to. Orthodox Jews believe in observing all (well, most) of the 613 mitzvot. Everyone else works on a sliding scale.

Furthermore, it is not just the Torah which tells Jews how to live and what is good or bad. We also have the benefit of 3,000 years of scholarly dialogue and debate- thank you, Talmud (and latter-day theologians).

Well, I am an Atheist Unitarian Universalist.

Why? Well, Atheism found me a few years ago and I have not been able to argue with it.

Paganism, because it supports freedom of choice and views.

I shape my path around me as I walk it.

I am a spiritualist with a strong understanding of paganism.