NationStates Jolt Archive

Just had a memory from Reading Moby-Dick, where the main character, a Christian, prays with his new friend to a little portable idol. Similarly, my father, a very blatant atheist (Even moreso than myself, as I'm slightly agnostic), will pray with people if it makes them feel better. I myself, while really really really not a fan of Christianity, don't get uppity about saying grace. I'd also be more than happy to help a pagan friend with a spell and the like.

I was wondering how far along these lines other people would go.

What would you, despite your own personal philosophy, do for others?

All I can remember from moby dick was that it started with "call me Ishmael" and had a crazy ass sea captain and a big guy from the south pacific who was played by a wrestler in the tv movie

All I can remember from moby dick was that it started with "call me Ishmael" and had a crazy ass sea captain and a big guy from the south pacific who was played by a wrestler in the tv movie

I think you may have missed the main thrust of his post.

Definitely not religious myself. I'll go to a church for weddings and funerals. I bow my head for grace. If someone offes to pray for me I say thanks. Beyond that I avoid religion.

I think you may have missed the main thrust of his post.
never stopped me before

I would kill in a friend's defense, I would die for a friend's life, I would spare no expense and travel to the ends of the earth to help a lost or endangered friend, but anyone who would ask me to do something against my faith would not be my friend.

I'll do mostly anything, even though I don't agree with religion of any kind.

I've gone to church with friends when staying round their house and don't mind doing so. Good lessons to be learnt and they're nice enough people. I just don't say Amen at the end of prayers because that would be outright lying. I always feel slightly out of place though.

I would pray for a friend, with a friend... do most things. Friendship is far more important than my religious beliefs.

Other beliefs, morals etc... I would do most things that I may have otherwise disagreed with as long as they didn't hurt anyone else to an extreme.

I would, but only if I thought it was necessary somehow for their mental well-being. I would pray any prayer with a friend who was dying, or in grave straights. I would politely decline if asked to partake in prayer in a general course of events.
And I bow my head in respect when others pray or say grace, and I don't say amen afterwards, as that means "I believe" which I don't.

I'd do anything upto and including waging war on everything in existance. But that's as far as I'd go.

Although I am a catholic I would still be happy to partake in other faith's practices. I often frequent a less 'traditional' church and, although I feel it doesn't have the same spiritual quality to it (he says trying not to sound stuck up) I take part in some of their activites, simply because several of my friends go there regularly.

hmm this has made me think (damn you!!)... there are few things i 'believe in' that apply to my everyday life - and that which i do believe in, i don't exactly act upon. i wouldn't kill for another, nor help kill, but i would defend another at risk to my own life (i think - certainly depends on who the 'another' is ;) )
i would lie for another if it is truly in their benefit, but if they merely believed it to be beneficial while i understand the situation differently, i would have to not lie to be in the best interest of them.

so, lie = yes. kill = no. can't think of other similar specific moral questions just now...

I'm a devout Atheist, and I read from the bible at one of my good friend's wedding recently.

I frequently go against my own beliefs in what I consider service to others, but I try to avoid causing anyone to suffer. I'll lie, but not cheat. I'd kill to defend someone if necessary, but not hunt someone down to murder them. And while I won't deny my religious beliefs, I have yet to encounter a situation where I found it wrong to worship to the best of my abilities with friends of other religions.

I think it is natural to act against ones beliefs every once in a while, and while some might consider it sinful (in whatever way you choose to interpret it) to do so, most systems of belief hold that sin can be cleansed.

I am an avowed agnostic, and can see no logic in any set of rigid beliefs, but I regularly attend synagogue with my family because it is nice for them.

Also, even if you don't believe in whatever it is that you're praying to or whatever you're doing, it can still be valuable because religious rituals are often more introspective than people realize and you can learn a lot about yourself by performing them and thinking about why they exist and what function they server, both within the religion, and by themselves.

I am a devout atheist :D , but I will respect anyone's religious beliefs if they happen to be practiced in my presence. I would wear the hijab if it would cause my friend distress to go without. I might even feign subservience to someone if my friend required it of me (a male, an elder, someone in power). To me, this is simply respecting someone's culture. I don't have to understand it, I just need to respect it. HOWEVER, that being said, I certainly would not partcipate in something that really went against my conscience...I would not witness a female genital mutilation, or pretend to be anything but horrified by the practice. In my travels, I've learned to shut up and go with the instincts of whoever is more familiar with the area I am in, but at some point, you have to decide what REALLY goes against your values, and stand against it.

For a friend, I would do most anything...MOST anything. My values will determine how far I go.

Definitely not religious myself. I'll go to a church for weddings and funerals. I bow my head for grace. If someone offes to pray for me I say thanks. Beyond that I avoid religion.
add to that xmass with the family ... it makes them feel good ... and if i am around easter

I dont mind sitting in mass but prefer not to do it weekly in light of my lack of belief right now it really is a waste of an hour