NationStates Jolt Archive

Which religion annoys you the most? (a poll will be up momentarily)

RULES:
1. List a logical reason for disliking it (no respones like "I H473 73H J3WS!!1!!1 J3WS SUXX0RZ!!1!11!1!! S3IG H3IL!1!11lol!!!!1!1shift+1!1!")
2. Buddhism is not a religion so much as a philosophy. This really doesn't bother me, but if someone says that Buddhism is a religion, a Buddhist will invariably appear from the nether space of the internet and treat us all to a lecture about how it is a philosophy, not a religion.
3. No Flaming
4. No being offended just for the Hell of it
5. No questioning the word and eternal greatness that is Hajekistan, God Among Gerbils, Warrior of Many A Bar, and creater of all that is microwavable and mispeeled.

All of them..

And btw, Atheism is NOT a religion.

I hate the religions that claim they are the only one cause their "holy" scriptures say so. Such arrogance. Yes. I mean X-tianity, Judaism and Islam.
And it's Hinduism.

There is no religion that irritates me in any way.
There are many religious people who want to ram their religion, morality and perspective down my throat that I find extremely irritating, but that is another question.

Scientology. John Travolta, Battlefield Earth. Nuff Said

Wicca, not so much the philosophy behind than the girls who watch too much Buffy and think it is cool (btw, I'm not doubting that there are real Wiccan, just that there are many who identify with Wicca because they think it is cool).

Almost as bad as the people who watch films like Ghost Dog, and think they are Samarai

Religion does not irritate me.

The followers tend to irritate me. ;)

All of them..

And btw, Atheism is NOT a religion.
For my own fiendish purposes I'm defining religion as your belief on the existence/non-existence of god/gods/goddess/godesses.
You are also in violation of rule 5, one doesn't become God Among Gerbils by being flouted or changing their opinion, even in the face of people whose name uses "ph" to create an "f" sound. I suppose some people might also be afraid of mods, but really, how much scarier do you get than the letters "p" and "h" being used together.
Think about it what is scarier than a telephone. Especially, when your boss is on the other end, and you haven't shown up for work in a couple fo days.

Wicca, not so much the philosophy behind than the girls who watch too much Buffy and think it is cool
Fool. They watch Charmed.

gee, what religion do you suppose annoys Bottle the most? i'll give you three guesses, and the first two don't count :P.

gee, what religion do you suppose annoys Bottle the most? i'll give you three guesses, and the first two don't count :P.
Can't be Christianity, surely that goes beyond irritation ? ;)

Christanity- but only those extremists that would force me to live thier morals and beliefs. Its a minority of the group but very vocal and with $$ to buy thier way.
I miss my old bumpersticker. It said-
"Please God, Save me from your followers."
When I stuck it in my porch window, the religious nutjobs finally stopped leaving me pamphlets. . .

Fool. They watch Charmed.
Mah, my bad

gee, what religion do you suppose annoys Bottle the most? i'll give you three guesses, and the first two don't count :P.
Atheism.

Mah, my bad
I'm disgusted that you badmouth wicca eventhough you don't even understand the very basics of it. :D ;) :p

I hate the religions that claim they are the only one cause their "holy" scriptures say so. Such arrogance. Yes. I mean X-tianity, Judaism and Islam.
And it's Hinduism.

Ah, but the Jews don't go around trying to convert people. That's nice of them.

Ah, but the Jews don't go around trying to convert people. That's nice of them.
So?

So?

They might be arrogant (i.e. their belief that they're the chosen people), but they're not ramming it down people throats, like funamentalist Catholics.

However, I had to go with Scientology. For several reasons...

1. The first impression you get of the name which is shattered when you realize how BS the religion actually is (worse than Christianity).

2. It uses a derivitive of "science" in its name (relate to answer 1).

Enough said.

So?

So that's why a lot of people don't like Christians, mostly the fundamentalist, holier than thou kinds of Christians. Christianity, of course, is the only religion I really know, like most Americans, and is therefore the religion I have the most problems with.

FYI...different branches of Christianity have incredibly different characteristics, so almost everyone is probably offended by at least one of them.

And btw, Atheism is NOT a religion.

A religion is a belief or system of beliefs you hold to - therefore, athiesm is a religion.
It's the one I dislike most because it's the only one that shortens your life expectancy. 'Religious' people live an average of 2-4 years longer than athiests (depending on where you live); ie athiests live 2-4 years less than everyone else. We have health warnings on cigarrette packets - why none on athiest propoganda?

BTW, amusing that Christianity is outpolling Scientology........I'd love to know what inspires that decision!

They might be arrogant (i.e. their belief that they're the chosen people), but they're not ramming it down people throats, like funamentalist Catholics.
Judaism is more like a nationality. A child born from a Jewish parent is a Jew by default. The more conservative Jews see children from a Jewish mother as Jews while moderate Jews also claim children from a Jewish father as Jews.
But like all Abrahamic cults they believe they have the universal truth.

Wicca, not so much the philosophy behind than the girls who watch too much Buffy and think it is cool (btw, I'm not doubting that there are real Wiccan, just that there are many who identify with Wicca because they think it is cool).
Kudos to the Buffy series for having a go at them - what was Willow's quote? Something like "any girl with a spice rack thinks she's a witch"? (Season 4, when she first meets her girlfriend).

Judaism is more like a nationality. A child born from a Jewish parent is a Jew by default. The more conservative Jews see children from a Jewish mother as Jews while moderate Jews also claim children from a Jewish father as Jews.
But like all Abrahamic cults they believe they have the universal truth.

I agree completely. That is why they don't go ramming it down people's throats! :D Just kidding, Jews rock!

Other - fundamentalism

Religion does not irritate me.

The followers tend to irritate me. ;)

What he said!

Scientology: Religion for Profit.

Scientology was created by L. Ron Hubbard, who, prior to creating the religion he is quoted as having said the real way to make money is to start a religion.

Upon the creation of this cult crazy stories right out of a Sci-Fi novel were cooked up. The stories were only revealed to individuals until they had undergone enough training (brainwashing) and given enough money, so that by the time they were told, no matter how crackpot the stories were they were conditioned to believe them.

Scientology has attempted to take over a town by attempting to make it a requirement, practically, to be a member to live there.

The fact that the scientologists copyright their ludicrous religious writings and sue anyone who releases them also doesn't seem nice.

Everything listed in your poll.

Kudos to the Buffy series for having a go at them - what was Willow's quote? Something like "any girl with a spice rack thinks she's a witch"? (Season 4, when she first meets her girlfriend).
GOD DAMNED!!! Doesn't anyone here bother to learn the basics of Wicca? It's Charmed!!!!

A religion is a belief or system of beliefs you hold to - therefore, athiesm is a religion.

Whatever you believe, although I assure you we (atheists) don't do any thing that is uniform like people of religion do. We have no set of rules.There are no songs to learn, no praying and we don't gather once a week to compare clothing. Atheism may indeed be a belief, but it is certainly not a religion.

I am not "irritated" with other religions as much as I pity them, for they shall never know the divine joys in the afterlife. As much as I am a merciful God, only those who show Me the proper worship in life shall be rewarded by Me in death. So, the unfortunate who do not worship Me do not irritate Me, but as a loving God, I wish that they realize the errors of their ways and come to Me.

All of them piss me off.

If Buddhism can be a philosophy I don't see why atheism isn't. If you burned all the texts, followers and histories of any of those religions they would cease to exist forever, except for atheism, which would spring up again. Atheism has no teachings, no books (although countless have surely been written about it), no moral code, nothing arbitrary about it at all. Atheism is merely the belief that all religion is inherently nonsense.
Monotheism is a collection of religions, polytheism likewise. Atheism is a collection of exactly zero religions. All we need now are terms for religions with negative, complex and imaginary gods and we'd be set ;)

Eidt: Apologies, Stephistan appeared to get there first (and do a far better job than me)

"those who don't believe in God talk about thier belifs most"
or sumpin like that. :p

GOD DAMNED!!! Doesn't anyone here bother to learn the basics of Wicca? It's Charmed!!!!

I have a black jacket, somewhere in the back of my closet, maybe, that makes me kind of wicca doesn't it?

I'd say either Scientology or LaVeyan satanism.

Oh and I'd vote for Scientology except I found their anti-drugs pamphlet highly entertaining :D

I have a black jacket, somewhere in the back of my closet, maybe, that makes me kind of wicca doesn't it?
Not unless you watched the first 3 seasons of Charmed at least 3 times.

I am sorry but wicca is my secound most iratting religion simply because there is no magic
what used to be thought to be magic is moder medicine,drugs,poisons and gunpowder (last one had strage story behind it)

atheism is most annyoying because most of them call any religion blind followers
well they are most ofter blind followers because they can't even back up what they say only make uselless attacks on my christainty

ps Catholics annoy me too
many of their ceremonies are pointless and outdated

Jedis.

Cuz they're fat and stinky and can't spell.

I'd say either Scientology or LaVeyan satanism.
Satanism is cool. I knew a Satanist once. Although he leaned more to sorcery. Trying to conjure up demons to destroy the world. Satanists don't believe in Satan.

atheism is most annyoying because most of them call any religion blind followers
well they are most ofter blind followers because they can't even back up what they say only make uselless attacks on my christainty

Alright dude, you got my vote ;)

I have two right now.

1) Christianity. Despite my membership in it, I get annoyed at how many people don't know a Biblical quote from something I pulled out of my ass. If you're going to claim to be Christian, at least read the damned holy book.

2) Science. "Oh, it's not a religion!" Bullshit. Creation myth or myths? Check (Big Bang and evolution). Clergy? Check (scientists, boards that review their works, etc.) Holy book or books? Check (Origin of Species, anyone?). Beliefs that require more faith than proof? Check (black holes, global warming, evolution, Big Bang all lack sufficient evidence to prove them as nothing more than misinterpretation of the data). People who believe it and preach it as the ultimate belief? Oh hell yes, so check on this one as well.

Little secret: Just because something has evidence to support it doesn't mean it isn't a religion. At the time each religion evolved, they usually had evidence to support what they were saying they could point out. The evidence later turned out to be false. About the only thing science has for it to differentiate it is the ability to adapt and evolve quickly, but even in that it is not alone.

My point: Under the requirements for a religion, science fits. So if you're going to include atheism, include science. This was not meant as flamebait, either.

atheism is most annyoying because most of them call any religion blind followers

well they are most ofter blind followers because they can't even back up what they say only make uselless attacks on my christainty

1) You can't prove a negative, first of all.

2) You can back up what you believe?

Republicanism... silliest excuse of a Religion I have ever seen.

Love Conquers Fear

mikey

2) Science. "Oh, it's not a religion!" Bullshit. Creation myth or myths? Check (Big Bang and evolution). Clergy? Check (scientists, boards that review their works, etc.) Holy book or books? Check (Origin of Species, anyone?). Beliefs that require more faith than proof? Check (black holes, global warming, evolution, Big Bang all lack sufficient evidence to prove them as nothing more than misinterpretation of the data). People who believe it and preach it as the ultimate belief? Oh hell yes, so check on this one as well.

Oh aye, it certainly shares some aspects. But none of these things are central to science, or even included in its definition. Plenty of scientists dispute the things you've listed. In fact, everything you've listed is a theory, pretty much "well, we reckon that's how it happen ed/s". Science is nothing more than the application of logic, rationality and intuition.

Satanism is cool. I knew a Satanist once. Although he leaned more to sorcery. Trying to conjure up demons to destroy the world. Satanists don't believe in Satan.

I know. I disagree with the élitism and hate that features prominently in LeVayan satanism.

Levay wrote the Satanic Bible just to contradict Christianity,
it has as much realistic merit as the Holy Bible.

i probably don't want to know the answer to this, but does anybody rank agnosticism as the most annoying? it's not a religion, but one could consider it a "religious orientation" because it represents a certain view on religious issues.

i probably don't want to know the answer to this, but does anybody rank agnosticism as the most annoying? it's not a religion, but one could consider it a "religious orientation" because it represents a certain view on religious issues.
I find them only mildly annoying. I personally think that agnosticism is a cop-out on admitting that you're atheist or religious, but I'm not one so I wouldn't really know. At least they don't go around giving out flyers saying "We don't know and you shouldn't either!"

I find them only mildly annoying. I personally think that agnosticism is a cop-out on admitting that you're atheist or religious, but I'm not one so I wouldn't really know. At least they don't go around giving out flyers saying "We don't know and you shouldn't either!"
hmm, see, and i think that's a common misconception. i'm agnostic, and there is nothing indecisive about my beliefs. i believe that it is impossible to know whether or not there is a God (or gods), and that it would be dishonest and immoral of me to try to jump to a conclusion on the subject. that fundamental acknowledgment of my own limitations is the core of most of my beliefs. it's not a matter of "not admitting" that i am atheist or religious; i am very clearly and firmly neither an atheist or a theist, and i believe both of those positions are wrong.

I'd say that scientlolgy is the nost annoying, since it's almost impossible to talk to them about beliefs. If you talk to a devout Christian or an atheist for a while, you might chisel them down a bit, but scientologists seem to be more interested in the most obscure things, and you can never talk to them because they always argue about topics that nobody else really gives a shit about.

Could you make "All of the above" an option?

Could you make "All of the above" an option?
lol, equal opportunity, are we? well done! :)

BTW, amusing that Christianity is outpolling Scientology........I'd love to know what inspires that decision!

Most of us are familiar with an unsavory "Christian" or two, but have never met a Scientologist

I vote for Wicca.

Blessed Be.

hmm, see, and i think that's a common misconception. i'm agnostic, and there is nothing indecisive about my beliefs. i believe that it is impossible to know whether or not there is a God (or gods), and that it would be dishonest and immoral of me to try to jump to a conclusion on the subject. that fundamental acknowledgment of my own limitations is the core of most of my beliefs. it's not a matter of "not admitting" that i am atheist or religious; i am very clearly and firmly neither an atheist or a theist, and i believe both of those positions are wrong.
Like an agnostic, I don't think there is any way of proving that there is or isn't a God, but I still believe, in some sense of the concept, that there is a God . Perhaps "admitting" wasn't quite the correct word. Agnostics seem to me like an easy way out of a harder question. Of course, like I said, I'm not agnostic, so I don't understand the feeling.

Could you make "All of the above" an option?
I'd vote for that.

A religion is a belief or system of beliefs you hold to - therefore, athiesm is a religion.


That would mean that Communism, Fascism, Anarchism, Democracy and all the other poltical theories are Religions too. Not to mention philosophies.

:D Phqing all of the phqers - and I am not kidding.
Religion - in any and every form - has been been the ruination of humanity.
May it soon evaporate.
May it soon become extinct.
:gundge:

Which religion annoys you the most? (a poll will be up momentarily)

RULES:
1. List a logical reason for disliking it (no respones like "I H473 73H J3WS!!1!!1 J3WS SUXX0RZ!!1!11!1!! S3IG H3IL!1!11lol!!!!1!1shift+1!1!")
2. Buddhism is not a religion so much as a philosophy. This really doesn't bother me, but if someone says that Buddhism is a religion, a Buddhist will invariably appear from the nether space of the internet and treat us all to a lecture about how it is a philosophy, not a religion.
3. No Flaming
4. No being offended just for the Hell of it
5. No questioning the word and eternal greatness that is Hajekistan, God Among Gerbils, Warrior of Many A Bar, and creater of all that is microwavable and mispeeled.

Whoa, I smell something... it smells like... FLAMEBAITING!

Whatever you believe, although I assure you we (atheists) don't do any thing that is uniform like people of religion do. We have no set of rules.There are no songs to learn, no praying and we don't gather once a week to compare clothing. Atheism may indeed be a belief, but it is certainly not a religion.

People just LOVE to quote George Carlin every chance they get.

BTW, amusing that Christianity is outpolling Scientology........I'd love to know what inspires that decision!

Because Scientologists are fruitcakes who provide us all with hours of entertainment, particularly when you have an hour to wait for your train and they ask you to fill in one of their loopy questionnaires. In Britain, they don't even bother to replace Americanisms with Britishisms in their literature, so when I filled one in I had the extra pleasure of trying to guess what several of the questions actually meant.

I really agree with what someone said on the first page; it's not religion as such that irritates me. As far as I'm concerned everyone's entitled to believe as they like.

As a logical consequence, what irritates me is people trying to ram their religion down another person's throat all the time. I know a number of Hindus, agnostics, atheists and two Buddhists - they never attempt to do this. By and large, it's Christians that try to force their religion upon others, so far as I can - so that was my answer. However, I do recognise that there are some Christians who aren't like that - and I really respect them for it! The 'holier-than-thou, you-must-adhere-to-my-beliefs-and-belive-in-my-God' types drive me mad!

:eek:atheism per se is disbelief in goddies/godlets/any kind of deity-

actually, I dont believe in anything - except most times, human science to have a try at getting the information, and the interpretation of that information. more or less right, recording it, and getting every peer possible to critique it.

Which NO phqing religion ever does, ever has done- bad cess to 'em all

Every single one.

Those whose followers get on internet forums and attempt to convert people. In this case, Christianity (and specifically "born-again" christians) is the only one for me.

I have yet to meet an atheist who tried to convince me of his views (I'm agnostic). I also have yet to meet a Muslim, Jew, Mormon, Hindu, Buddhist or Sikh to do that.

On that note, the list is woefully incomplete. Islam, Judaism and Christianity are all split up into denominations that are extremely differing. The LDS (Latter Day Saints) church is derived from Christianity, but they originally had polygamy - where else in Christianity do you see that? Sunnite and Shiite Muslims are beating the snot out of each other in Iraq whenever the US aren't doing it.

If you differentiate between three world religions that have the same origin and partly use the same texts, but lump together denominations, that is increasingly appearing like an arbitrary line. ;)

Those whose followers get on internet forums and attempt to convert people. In this case, Christianity (and specifically "born-again" christians) is the only one for me.

I have yet to meet an atheist who tried to convince me of his views (I'm agnostic). I also have yet to meet a Muslim, Jew, Mormon, Hindu, Buddhist or Sikh to do that.

On that note, the list is woefully incomplete. Islam, Judaism and Christianity are all split up into denominations that are extremely differing. The LDS (Latter Day Saints) church is derived from Christianity, but they originally had polygamy - where else in Christianity do you see that? Sunnite and Shiite Muslims are beating the snot out of each other in Iraq whenever the US aren't doing it.

If you differentiate between three world religions that have the same origin and partly use the same texts, but lump together denominations, that is increasingly appearing like an arbitrary line. ;)
The religion of science, by that I mean those who believe in the latest scientific theory without question, who have faith that science has all the answers. Those that try to prove that science is right a religion wrong and assume anyone who is like you agnostic or does have faith must be stupid.
I like you am agnostic but I think I sit on the fence with my feet dangling in the belief camp.

Just testing.

1) You can't prove a negative, first of all.

2) You can back up what you believe?

First of all
they can try to prove theories like the theroy of evolution (they couldn't)
atheism is not just a negative, as said before it is the BELIEF that science is right and that all other religions are wrong you have (basicly) all the parts of religion in atheism
yes I can back up what I belive in terms atheists can understand

think before you talk

they can try to prove theories like the theroy of evolution (they couldn't)
I'm just going to give you some examples. I can't be bothered explaining them in detail.
-The pentadactyl limb, a structure present in many (or is it all?) mammals, including finned ones- hinting that there is common ancestry.
-The peppered moth. In Britain, before the industrial revolution, these moths were light-coloured. Then, when the trees on which they perched became covered in soot, and blacker in colour the light coloured moths were more visible. They were eaten, and since natural selection favoured darker coloured moths passing on their genes, the population of moths changed colour. While this is natural selection, not evolution, it does give you an idea of the mechanism by which evolution occurs.
- Transitional species, like archaeopteryx.
- Darwins finches.

I'm just going to give you some examples. I can't be bothered explaining them in detail.
-The pentadactyl limb, a structure present in many (or is it all?) mammals, including finned ones- hinting that there is common ancestry.
-The peppered moth. In Britain, before the industrial revolution, these moths were light-coloured. Then, when the trees on which they perched became covered in soot, and blacker in colour the light coloured moths were more visible. They were eaten, and since natural selection favoured darker coloured moths passing on their genes, the population of moths changed colour. While this is natural selection, not evolution, it does give you an idea of the mechanism by which evolution occurs.
- Transitional species, like archaeopteryx.
- Darwins finches.

You can back up what you say but many can't that is what I am saying

on the off note I have always had my feet sticking thru the wall between atheism and christianity

I admit both irrate me greatly
ignorant atheists annoy me and arrogant christans annoy me

I can back up both sides :(
with evolution and creation theories

I have a hard time picking between Christianity and Scientology...Christianity is more pervasive but Scientologists are just a bunch of nut jobs. In the end I have to pick Christianity...mostly because the question is about what aggravates me more, and even though Scientology is more or less garbage, it doesn't bother me on a daily basis :)

Now to be fair, I should really say "Certain groups of Protestants" because generally Catholics don't bother me...just the groups like the Baptists and Evangelicals do. And it isn't just because they are more vocal...they also tend to misunderstand their own religion. I know that is debateable, but in the end, if all the other sects of your religion think you are crazy, you probably have some problems.

I was hard-pressed to choose between Christianity and Scientology. I chose the latter because it's the more ridiculous, I decided, but it wasn't easy.

2. Buddhism is not a religion so much as a philosophy. This really doesn't bother me, but if someone says that Buddhism is a religion, a Buddhist will invariably appear from the nether space of the internet and treat us all to a lecture about how it is a philosophy, not a religion.

You realise that your having said this now requires me (a Buddhist) to contradict you (http://www.beyondthenet.net/dhamma/buddhism_as_a_religion.htm), don't you? ;)

First is Athiests because they try to force their world view on everybody else.

Second is false Christians, who say they're Christians but never act at all Christian and make the rest of us look bad.

2. Buddhism is not a religion so much as a philosophy. This really doesn't bother me, but if someone says that Buddhism is a religion, a Buddhist will invariably appear from the nether space of the internet and treat us all to a lecture about how it is a philosophy, not a religion.


So, Buddhism isn't a religion, but atheism is? Atheism isn't even a philosophy; it's just a single belief regarding one specific thing. Many philosophies assume atheism, and even they can't be classified as religions, so how can atheism itself?

On the actual subject of this thread, Christianity irritates me simply because it is based on the bible, and the bible is laughable.

The religion of science, by that I mean those who believe in the latest scientific theory without question, who have faith that science has all the answers.
Hmm. Funny, then, that one of the few things we can prove scientifically is the existence of problems which can never be scientifically proven...

First is Athiests because they try to force their world view on everybody else.

Ah yes, the old "They won't let us force our beliefs down their throats so they must be forcing their beliefs down our throats!" card.

Extremists, and those that like to shove their religion/ideals down others throat, even If it's Christians, Atheists, muslims, etc. etc.

Why can't people ever be decent, have a nice sit down and explain your religion to the other, and if he/she disputes or disagrees, let him or her be. Rather than name calling or mudslinging.

I voted other, but I would like to have voted for 'all that require faith'. Faith means believing something without proof, so what you are doing is giving up your critical thinking skills in favour of somebody else's cosmogony/beliefs. Why would you do that?

Having no faith does not preclude a belief in God or a divine force. Just ask any mystic. Faith is the lazy way to spirituality.

I believe in the Divine because I have empirically witnessed it. I cannot repeat the experiment, so I can not and will not attempt to convince others of this. And I do not expect you to believe me. That would require faith in me, which I do not suggest.

As a Christian, I'd have to say that, while no religion really irritates me, the religious practitioners that annoy me most are mostly "Christians."

I don't mean any specific denomination. Every denomination has some people who are really trying to follow Christ and "get it" (even Baptists, contrary to what I've seen and heard suggested), but the thing about Christianity being the "dominant" religion in America is you get a lot of people attracted to it either a) because of tradition, or b) because they like to feel morally superior to everyone else. These are the people who think they can make the entire scientific community drop their test tubes and pipets and run to the nearest church if they find so much as a typo in The Origin of Species. These are the people that think Christianity and Republicanism are the same thing, and mean it in a good way (there are plenty who think so in a bad way) and so don't stop to look at common Republican positions (example: being in favor of the death penalty) and see if they fit with biblical teaching (example: Jesus stopping an execution which was perfectly justified by Mosaic law, in John 8), and so adopt an idolatrous worship of money, freedom, and patriotism. These are the people who get glorified public access channels all to themselves so they can go on TV and pretend that God has made them mystical pschic super-healers (if you're a good, donating Christian). These are the people who, in the worst cases, make signs saying things like "God Hates Fags," which I, as a Christian, find not only offensive and incorrect, but actually blasphemous - it represents the God of love as one of hate, which is about as bad as it gets.

In short, the people who irritate me are the people who go out and make Christians like bigoted rednecks. In my mind, they do much more harm to advancing Christianity than all the atheists in the world. They're the reason Christians are derided in academia, and undoubtedly the reason Christianity is winning this poll.

I chose Judaism, even though I would've chosen Christianity as my second pick. The reason why I chose Judaism is not because I hate Jews, far from that. The only thing that truly annoy me is the Zionist branch of Judaism, who conducted a genocide in the first Arab-Israeli war, who builds illiegal settlements in Palestine, who claims that the whole of Palestine and part of other countries are theirs, the branch refuses to negotiate with the Palestinians, who's member constantly find ways to block peace process, whether they come from the US, the UN or any other country or organization. The same branch which chased civilians out of their ancestral home, and the same branch of Judaism who's philosophy as left a seeming everlasting mark on Israel's foeign policy. Please note that except for the Zionist Branch of Judaism, I have no problems whatsoever with the rest of the religion. But, if I could vote twice I'd vote for Christianity as well, for reasons well known by the average individual. Let's just say the Christian church has commited and has allowed quite a few abuses......

Ok, here is the deal. I am an Episcopalian Christian (the American version of Anglican for those who don't know. Us and Roman Catholics arent very different. See the thing after Lutheren, Presbterian, and Protestant it gets kinda weird like Morman and stuff. Not all churchs do the damnation and brimstone speeches and PRAISE THE LORD by the black minister.

I think that Jews bug me the most not because of their religion but because of what they thin they can get away with. They try to teach some things about Jewish Holidays in public schools, but when a Christian wants to talk about Christmas they get all up in your face sayin u cant so that. And they think that if they insult you then it is ok but if you insult them that you are biast and racist. Kinda they use the Holocaust almost as an advantage or an excuse but in a bad way....

Whatever you believe, although I assure you
Okay, that'd be "personal testimony", yes?

we (atheists) don't do any thing that is uniform like people of religion do.
Uniform? Have we had two religious people on these boards agree on anything?

We have no set of rules.There are no songs to learn, no praying and we don't gather once a week to compare clothing. Atheism may indeed be a belief, but it is certainly not a religion.
So, by your reasoning, a taoist or animist isn't religious? A Christian who doesn't go to church isn't religious?
None of the things you have mentioned (bar prayer) are even relevant to religion.
"You don't pray" - the easiest way to ID an athiest is the habit of swearing 'GOD!' whenever they're upset. (my apologies to the handful of courteous athiests - I hope you understand how this has been pissing me off, and this complaint is not directed at you).

I voted other, but I would like to have voted for 'all that require faith'. Faith means believing something without proof, so what you are doing is giving up your critical thinking skills in favour of somebody else's cosmogony/beliefs. Why would you do that?
Uh - no. The philosopher David Hume dreamt that up while as part of his campaign to get a chair in theology (despite being an athiest). Do not believe your enemy's propoganda!
The idea that faith and reason are separate wasn't clearly defined until Aquinas. Faith, in it's original meaning, means trust based on evidence so far. Denying evidence isn't faith, it's stupidity.
We still use 'faithful' in it's correct meaning in relationships. A faithful couple will trust one another - despite not having complete proof - based on the evidence (of love) given to that point: a faithless person will become increasingly untrusting over time, ignoring the trustworthiness shown so far.
Faith is necessary because we don't get certainty in this world - you have to go with a mix of limited proof and simple respect for others.

Otherwise, of course, it would be impossible to have faith in Heaven, yes?

I believe in the Divine because I have empirically witnessed it. I cannot repeat the experiment, so I can not and will not attempt to convince others of this. And I do not expect you to believe me.
Nonetheless, the fact that you - and countless others - can make this claim is evidence which other people can judge, whether or not they have experienced the Divine themselves. I cannot prove that other galaxies exist, (despite being able to look up at the night sky), but I trust astronomers sufficiently that I will take their word for it. Similarly, I can judge the testimony of gnerations of mystics.

Southern f-ing baptists. They keep telling me I'm going to go to hell for whatever inane reasons their crooked little minds can concieve.

I cannot prove that other galaxies exist, (despite being able to look up at the night sky), but I trust astronomers sufficiently that I will take their word for it. Similarly, I can judge the testimony of gnerations of mystics.

There's the slight difference that other galaxies can be photographed.