NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm not certain if this has been done before, but seeing the popularity of the "Do you believe in God?" thread I'm interested to see where we invest our faith.

I've tried to make this as comprehensive as possible with only ten choices but it's necessitated an "Other" option. If you're so inclined post a brief discussion of your religion...that's always very interesting.

----
Personally, I practice Thelema (http://www.thelema101.com/).

Castrensis

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

Explains it all. And why we are not "Fundamentalists".

And more information on how it's spreading:
http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/lectures/Pentecost.html

Seems that the poor like it as much as Communism.

A Thelemite on NSG. I'll be damned.

On paper I'm a sikh, in reality I'm agnostic

Most of the people on this thread are atheist. I am an agnostic. There you go, thats all you need to know.

www.venganza.org

...I'm intterested to see where we invest our faith.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sapiens_sapiens
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skepticism#Empirical_skepticism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_agnosticism

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

Explains it all. And why we are not "Fundamentalists".


No you're not, just really odd.

Sorta Satanist... specifically the egotheistic aspects, none of the tacky occult stuff.

Ah, I forgot about the illustrious Wikipedia

Wikipedia entry on Thelema (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelema)

Thelemapedia (http://www.thelemapedia.org/)

Ah, I forgot about the illustrious Wikipedia

Wikipedia entry on Thelema (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelema)

Thelemapedia (http://www.thelemapedia.org/)

Fascinating! Oh, and I eventually settled on 'eclectic'.

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

Explains it all. And why we are not "Fundamentalists".

A question: If someone manifests the gifts of the spirit (glossolalia, spiritual healing, &c.) outside of the congregation are they regarded as a holy man or a heretic?

I'm Amish

Agnostic theist. I don't belong to any religious organization or group.

I say I'm Jewish, but really I'm agnostic.

I believe in God, I'm just not sure God believes in me.

Christianity shows sanity

I believe in God, I'm just not sure God believes in me.

I don't.

Christianity shows sanity

It just doesn't practice it.

I'm not certain if this has been done before, but seeing the popularity of the "Do you believe in God?" thread I'm interested to see where we invest our faith.

I've tried to make this as comprehensive as possible with only ten choices but it's necessitated an "Other" option. If you're so inclined post a brief discussion of your religion...that's always very interesting.

----
Personally, I practice Thelema (http://www.thelema101.com/).

Castrensis
Aleister Crowley's teachings are interesting but most people lack the ability to see past the first few levels of meaning that it carries. And got stuck at sacrificing black goats to dead gods :p I have a good knowledge of occult and my wisdom clearly shows me how deeply many have fallen into abbys.

Im a muslim, my only source is Kuran. I accept Hz. Muhammed as prophet and those before him, Jesus Christ, Moses, Abraham (western pronounciation for ya guys), Adam. I deny anyone who claims to interpret Kuran, only many forms of translations together are acceptable and they must be checked to see if they are true. There are too many false prophets and things that are said to be said by prophet and etc etc but just fakes. Im a muslim, not an arab, culturally I defy arabian clothing and language culture etc. I defy sects in religions that devide people for political battles. I dont care if someone is right or not in his view of religion, I have no intention to die for anyone and kill for anyone, they are both sins. Only fight thats inevitable is when my country is in a war, under attack, then I will man the walls with everyone else.

My beliefs are consistent with Buddhism, Zen, Positive Science. I get susupicious and reevaluate everything I believe at random times. A faith that not improves and broadens your understanding of multiverse is not a faith at all.

Heretical. Within that range - atheist, agnostic, religion-hating monotheist, God-rejecting monotheist - it varies depending on my mood.

I'm not certain if this has been done before, but seeing the popularity of the "Do you believe in God?" thread I'm interested to see where we invest our faith.

I've tried to make this as comprehensive as possible with only ten choices but it's necessitated an "Other" option. If you're so inclined post a brief discussion of your religion...that's always very interesting.


I would have liked check boxes so I could choose more than one option. I'm Buddhist, and also agnostic. At least I think I'm agnostic, what do you call it if you don't give a rat's ass whether there's a god(s) or not?

I am a Catholic (not fundamentalist).


Personally, I practice Thelema (http://www.thelema101.com/).

Castrensis
Is that related to Discordianism?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sapiens_sapiens
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skepticism#Empirical_skepticism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_agnosticism
Science is not for faith, and faith is not for science.

I would have liked check boxes so I could choose more than one option. I'm Buddhist, and also agnostic. At least I think I'm agnostic, what do you call it if you don't give a rat's ass whether there's a god(s) or not?

Apathist

Apathist
There is no such thing as apatheist. The correct term for what you're getting at is atheist.

i'm a Christian, mostly Protest and probably most people would call me Arminian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arminian), only I'm not sure that quite covers it. I was tempted to just answer "Fnord!", but that didn't really seem accurate.

There is no such thing as apatheist. The correct term for what you're getting at is atheist.

'e's prolly an atheist, yeah, but Apathetic Agnosticism in addition. Or Ignosticism, if you're really against caring.

There is no such thing as apatheist. The correct term for what you're getting at is atheist.

No, athiest care whether there is a god or not. Apathists (not apatheists) just don't give a rats ass.

Protestant Christian

what the hell's fnord?

im a hindu...i like hinduism because it teaches that everyone can find god in their own special way....even if you masturbate to origin of the species

I picked "pagan." I'm an animist, not a member of any organized group, but following the folk traditions of my Euro ancestors. I honor the spirits of the world around me and of my ancestors, try to stay connected with my tutelary deities, and try to maintain a harmonious balance and sense of connection within myself between physical and spiritual realities.

Aleister Crowley's teachings are interesting but most people lack the ability to see past the first few levels of meaning that it carries. And got stuck at sacrificing black goats to dead gods :p I have a good knowledge of occult and my wisdom clearly shows me how deeply many have fallen into abbys.

Im a muslim, my only source is Kuran. I accept Hz. Muhammed as prophet and those before him, Jesus Christ, Moses, Abraham (western pronounciation for ya guys), Adam. I deny anyone who claims to interpret Kuran, only many forms of translations together are acceptable and they must be checked to see if they are true. There are too many false prophets and things that are said to be said by prophet and etc etc but just fakes. Im a muslim, not an arab, culturally I defy arabian clothing and language culture etc. I defy sects in religions that devide people for political battles. I dont care if someone is right or not in his view of religion, I have no intention to die for anyone and kill for anyone, they are both sins. Only fight thats inevitable is when my country is in a war, under attack, then I will man the walls with everyone else.

My beliefs are consistent with Buddhism, Zen, Positive Science. I get susupicious and reevaluate everything I believe at random times. A faith that not improves and broadens your understanding of multiverse is not a faith at all.
This is a very cool attitude to take. :)

On paper I'm a sikh, in reality I'm agnostic

same here

I am Catholic.

Agnostic

Fnord! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fnord)

Because somebody asked, and wiki is the source for info.

Protestant Christian.

Atheist, bitch.

Hare Krishna (ISKCON) is a sect (for lack of better word) of Vaishnavism which is a sect of Hinduism (for lack of better word again).

Hare Krishna (ISKCON) is a sect (for lack of better word) of Vaishnavism which is a sect of Hinduism (for lack of better word again).
Branch, maybe?

I chose Agnostic in the poll, but Nontheist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontheism) is probably a better description of my beliefs - I don't let the proposed existence of a deity or deities affect my choices. In other words, it's that I don't know so much as that I don't care.

I picked Pagan, and I am Pagan. Specifically, I follow my own branch of Asatru, which is a reconstruction of the northern Heathens. My diety is Tyr. And we are not racist or Satanic or hippies. Check out Wiki.

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

No, athiest care whether there is a god or not.

Not really. Atheists don't believe in a god. Caring about it is unrelated.

Hmm I wonder what religion I am... (yes this is scarcasm)

I'm Amish

Lol.

I'm a weird mix of different christian churches My Ancestors were Anglican I was Baptised a Presbyterian, Confirmed as a United and currently go to a missionary church

Humanistic Judaism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanistic_Judaism)

*digs fox hole
*prepares for coming flame war

Mahayana Buddhist. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana)

Branch, maybe?

It is hard to say because the ISKCON movement is as vedic (atleast as per Vaishnavist interpretations) as it gets and modern hinduism (the caste-filled ritualised stuff) practised by a good chunk of hindus is not exactly in conformance with vedic teachings. So in a way, ISKCON can claim to be the "pure" hinduism, but then the founder acharya Srila Prabhupad himself has on several occasions distanced himself from using the word hindu because of the negative connotations (in his view) associated with that word (polytheism, mythology, caste, impersonalism, meaningless ritualism, etc).

Science is not for faith, and faith is not for science.


Exactly.

How exactly do you define someone who doesn't know if God exists, and thinks that if he does he's a total asshole who should be totally ignored so that people can focus on more important things, rather than some blackmailer in the sky? 'Cause yeah, that's me.

Satanist, type: Traditional Satanist.

For more information read the gosh dang bible. Specifically the Satanic Bible for modern/philosophical Satanism and the Demonic Bible for traditional/religious Satanism, but for either one the Satanic Bible is the best place to start for information. For online resources check out http://www.religioustolerance.org/satanism.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanism Both have good info.

P.S. Any type of real Satanism has nothing to do with Christianity and/or Devil worship. A True Satanist bows down to no one!

~Satanic Reverend Medivh~

Babtized and confirmed Presbyterian, but right now leaning more towards the idea that humans need to believe in SOMETHING, and in that belief (as faith is absolute, no matter the evidence to the contrary) what is believed in is "real".

That being the case, I still chose to follow Jesus as I agree with his notion of loving all.

I voted other. I worship a deity called WheelBear - a bear with wheels instead of hind legs.

I'm mostly an eclectic agnostic of christian upbringing.
But I'm also discordian for the fun of it. Hail Eris!

Sikh here,

Used to be Pagan, Wiccan mostly but started out intrested in Qabbalah and all that Thelemic stuff, grown outa that now, so nice to see at least one other Sikh(even if is is on paper) and any of the umm subculture people are cool in my book, cept that is the Satanist, I bloody hate them, ohh and I like to point at them and laff.:eek:

Satanist, type: Traditional Satanist.

For more information read the gosh dang bible. Specifically the Satanic Bible for modern/philosophical Satanism and the Demonic Bible for traditional/religious Satanism, but for either one the Satanic Bible is the best place to start for information. For online resources check out http://www.religioustolerance.org/satanism.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanism Both have good info.

P.S. Any type of real Satanism has nothing to do with Christianity and/or Devil worship. A True Satanist bows down to no one!

~Satanic Reverend Medivh~


Heheh yeah cept that dead Lavey chap huh!

This is a very cool attitude to take. :)
well thank you, it feels good that knowing that you actually managed to tell about yourself without getting stuck at projudices :)

well thank you, it feels good that knowing that you actually managed to tell about yourself without getting stuck at projudices :)
I'm happy that people haven't started fighting in this thread yet. No give-and-take style discussion, but no attacks or trolling, either, and that's always good.

I vacillate between animism and pantheism proper. I'm also not terribly immersed in the result, being generally much more concerned with food, sex, and das intarweb.

Mahayana Buddhist. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana)

Philosophical or devotional? (or a mix, I suppose?)

Christian, was Catholic, now Protestant (Lutheran). I see Jesus' teachings as central to Christianity, and as such interpret the Bible so as to give effect to them, rather than outdated notions such as those that some fundamentalists seem to cull from it. In addition, I do not believe Christian views are entirely incompatible with notions such as Zen, reincarnation and such. They very well may be. Neither do I think Christianity is contrary to Capitalism, so long as money is not the be-all and end-all of one's life. So I keep an open mind.

I'm happy that people haven't started fighting in this thread yet. No give-and-take style discussion, but no attacks or trolling, either, and that's always good.

In retrospect I should have encouraged some contention rather than just informational posting...something like "Why's your religion the best?" or "A billion points to the first person to convert me!" (ala "Whose line is it anyway?") or even "Please explain to the heathens how much Jesus loves them (and where he's about to send them)."

I am attempting to fix my improper categorization of ISKCON, thanks for the correction.

Castrensis

In retrospect I should have encouraged some contention rather than just informational posting...something like "Why's your religion the best?" or "A billion points to the first person to convert me!" (ala "Whose line is it anyway?") or even "Please explain to the heathens how much Jesus loves them (and where he's about to send them)."
Gee, ain't we got enough of those around here? ;)

Agnostic who hates the idea of religion more than religion(s) it/themselves.

on a side note...ive noticed a small discrepancy in the typical atheist train on thought. it has to do with the usual statement of an atheist who chooses that term because "there will never be proof that there is a god."

however, we know by the same token that there is currently no proof that there is not a god either... so although i am fervently agnostic, i hold atheists in the same regard as i hold christians- both are equally small-minded in that they makes leaps of faith without evidence.

therefore, i think a great deal of atheists could just be naive agnostics.

Agnostic in that I believe that there is/was some sort(s) of god(s)/diety(s)/Aliens etc who had an effect on the universe, but that don't give a rats ass about what happens to Humans now.

I vacillate between animism and pantheism proper. I'm also not terribly immersed in the result, being generally much more concerned with food, sex, and das intarweb.
GREAT CAESAR'S GHOST!!! Could it possibly be possible that there might someday be a -- dare I say it? -- discussion of animism, now that there are :eek: two of us on the forum? And I'll bet we even have a difference of opinion about it. ;) :D

Agnostic in that I believe that there is/was some sort(s) of god(s)/diety(s)/Aliens etc who had an effect on the universe, but that don't give a rats ass about what happens to Humans now.
Is that agnostic or deist? Or is it agnostic because you're not sure of the nature/identity of the apathetic deity?

Muravyets:
It's very likely. I expect anima in artificial things, too, at times, and hold that (ex.) an ant colony has a spirit, but an ant likely does not. If you start a thread on it, I'll try to be around enough to carry on a discussion.

Is that agnostic or deist? Or is it agnostic because you're not sure of the nature/identity of the apathetic deity?

I was thinking agnostic for the second reason, although I guess both do apply.

Catholic.

Muravyets:
It's very likely. I expect anima in artificial things, too, at times, and hold that (ex.) an ant colony has a spirit, but an ant likely does not. If you start a thread on it, I'll try to be around enough to carry on a discussion.
No fear -- I don't start threads, especially not for just two people.

I hold that just about everything has a spirit, both the ant and its colony, and the trees they run up and down and the buildings they invade, and the rain that floods their nests, etc. I also hold with the idea of spirits of man-made objects and free-roaming spirits of humans, elements, gods, etc. After much thinking about it, I'm in the camp that says there are two aspects of "spirit" -- there is an animating energy which may be part of an impersonal universal spirit, and there is also a personal soul which is the spirit of a being's self and may be immortal. I say I'm an eclectic animist because I follow several Euro traditions -- my family has its roots in 4 or 5 Euro cultures -- but I guess the model I just described is mostly the Eastern European way of thinking.

And this is pretty much the biggest chunk of information about my own personal beliefs I've ever posted. I'll probably never repeat it. ;)

Atlantic (Canadian) Baptist
- It is not a fundamental or radical view.
- It emphasises the personal choice in religion.
- I am not a fan of forcing one's beliefs (Or nonbeliefs) on others.
- I do think sharing beliefs with each other in a considerate manner is super.

Russian Orthodox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Orthodox_Church)

For want of better terms Im somewhere in the panendeist/ panentheist camps but still looking.

No fear -- I don't start threads, especially not for just two people.

I hold that just about everything has a spirit, both the ant and its colony, and the trees they run up and down and the buildings they invade, and the rain that floods their nests, etc. I also hold with the idea of spirits of man-made objects and free-roaming spirits of humans, elements, gods, etc. After much thinking about it, I'm in the camp that says there are two aspects of "spirit" -- there is an animating energy which may be part of an impersonal universal spirit, and there is also a personal soul which is the spirit of a being's self and may be immortal. I say I'm an eclectic animist because I follow several Euro traditions -- my family has its roots in 4 or 5 Euro cultures -- but I guess the model I just described is mostly the Eastern European way of thinking.

And this is pretty much the biggest chunk of information about my own personal beliefs I've ever posted. I'll probably never repeat it. ;)

Wait a second - some of that sounds like what I believe! I didn't think I'd find anyone who believed anything remotely similar...

Wait a second - some of that sounds like what I believe! I didn't think I'd find anyone who believed anything remotely similar...
Lots of people have similar beliefs, and, according to some statistics, at least 400 million of them are professed animists of one type or another today. You'll find these beliefs pretty much everywhere there is a folk culture because, according to current anthropological and archeological theories, animism may have been the first type of religion, so...I guess...it spread around a bit...over time.

I'm sorry, but things like this annoy me.

In your poll, Xian is divided into Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, and etc.

First, you ought to have said Roman Catholic. By definition every Christian is catholic and orthodox, therefore the Roman and the Eastern in the names of the denominations. If you say you were using convention (because a lot of people are lazy - it's only two more syllables- and drop the first word), fine, but use it for both, not one.

And by definition, any denomination that is not Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox is Protestant. So Anglican and etc. fall under that.

And the Coptic churches are not Christian unless they have changed their stance on the Trinity. This is a central belief in the Christian church: that God is three persons in one essence equal in power, wisdom, glory.... The Coptic churches reject this doctrine or so I'm told by a dictionary from 2002 or so. So unless they've repented, they should be under Other.

Now that I'm finished ranting, I'm a Reformed/Calvinist Christian from a Presbyterain family, though I'm thinking about leaving my denomination (PCUSA) in favor of a more conservative or traditional denomination (PCA or EvPC - is this the correct abbreviation for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church?).

First, you ought to have said Roman Catholic. By definition every Christian is catholic and orthodox, therefore the Roman and the Eastern in the names of the denominations. If you say you were using convention (because a lot of people are lazy - it's only two more syllables- and drop the first word), fine, but use it for both, not one.

And by definition, any denomination that is not Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox is Protestant. So Anglican and etc. fall under that.

And the Coptic churches are not Christian unless they have changed their stance on the Trinity. This is a central belief in the Christian church: that God is three persons in one essence equal in power, wisdom, glory.... The Coptic churches reject this doctrine or so I'm told by a dictionary from 2002 or so. So unless they've repented, they should be under Other.

Catholic is accepted shorthand for Roman Catholic. When querying people Roman Catholics identify as "Catholic".

The belief in the trinity is not a prerequisite for being Xian. You are now attempting to define other denominations by your standards.

I know a number of people who do not swear fealty to any specific denomination and self-identify as Protestant only.

Perhaps next time you'll resolve to climb off your high horse and make the poll yourself instead of acting petty and unnecessarily nasty.

Castrensis

Sikh here,

Used to be Pagan, Wiccan mostly but started out intrested in Qabbalah and all that Thelemic stuff, grown outa that now, so nice to see at least one other Sikh(even if is is on paper) and any of the umm subculture people are cool in my book, cept that is the Satanist, I bloody hate them, ohh and I like to point at them and laff.:eek:

Hey, what's with the hate?

We Satanists don't hate you, far from it, as we believe that sentient human life is the closest thing to the 'divine' in this universe. The priniciple tennet of Satanism is egotheism, i.e. that we are all 'Gods' and should be treated as such, with honour, respect (and yes, a little bit of fear :D).

What we hate are the fake mythologies that seek to deny the divinity of humanity (i.e. all religions).

Hey, what's with the hate?

We Satanists don't hate you, far from it, as we believe that sentient human life is the closest thing to the 'divine' in this universe. The priniciple tennet of Satanism is egotheism, i.e. that we are all 'Gods' and should be treated as such, with honour, respect (and yes, a little bit of fear :D).

What we hate are the fake mythologies that seek to deny the divinity of humanity (i.e. all religions).


Hey I don't hate you yet, coz I don't know you to hate, but all of the other Satanist that I have ever met(and theres been shit loads) I can say I hate.

I hate them for what they say, how they act, the way try to threaten and scare people, I hate the way Satanism attracts, people who seem to suffer from some sorta narscisim complex, I hate the way that Satanist say they don't belive in God yet spout shit about the divinity of man, and call themselves Satanist? Why do that then? Ohh yeah I already know, to piss of the Christian, again typical of the mindset of Satanist, and yet another reason for my hate.

I hate the way that Satanism as a life's practice falls apart when you really try to live life by it's tenents, I hate the fact that now I have attacked you you should now to to 'destroy me utterly', I like that fact that even though I slag off every Satanist I ever meet and make enermies of them every chance I have, I am still here and obviously not destroyed, so that part of the Satanic thing works huh!

Anyhow I hope that has answered you, and I really hope you'll just give it all up, it don't even work, and it really is a shit way of trying to make yourself better.

Studying Thelema, but just neo-pagan at the moment.

Hey I don't hate you yet, coz I don't know you to hate, but all of the other Satanist that I have ever met(and theres been shit loads) I can say I hate.

I hate them for what they say, how they act, the way try to threaten and scare people, I hate the way Satanism attracts, people who seem to suffer from some sorta narscisim complex, I hate the way that Satanist say they don't belive in God yet spout shit about the divinity of man, and call themselves Satanist? Why do that then? Ohh yeah I already know, to piss of the Christian, again typical of the mindset of Satanist, and yet another reason for my hate.

I hate the way that Satanism as a life's practice falls apart when you really try to live life by it's tenents, I hate the fact that now I have attacked you you should now to to 'destroy me utterly', I like that fact that even though I slag off every Satanist I ever meet and make enermies of them every chance I have, I am still here and obviously not destroyed, so that part of the Satanic thing works huh!

Anyhow I hope that has answered you, and I really hope you'll just give it all up, it don't even work, and it really is a shit way of trying to make yourself better.

It's more likely that the 'Satanists' you have encountered are simply devil-worshippers. The difference being that Satanism is a cohesive and ancient philosophy predating the Abrahamic religions, and devil-worshippers are simply angsty prats attempting to get on everyone's tits.

As I said in my post on the first page I am only sorta Satanist, there is a lot of stuff in it I don't agree with. For example, if someone chooses to follow Christianity, at the end of the day it is their Human Divinity which has led them to that choice and I must respect it.

I also do not deny the possibility that the Judeo-Christian God exists, in fact, I think that it may be quite likely He does. I do, however, believe that He is not my superior, and that He is sadly mistaken if He believes that I shall treat Him as anything other than an Equal.

I also do not believe in the Occult or any of the Psychotic elements that many of the devil-worshippers espouse. I believe that collectively individuals are able to 'pool' their divinity and thus shape the Universe according to their collective will. As the majority of people do not believe in the occult/magick/whatever, (and as they subconsciously would not wish them to exist as they would interfere with the logical nature of existance), then collectively we have willed magick into nonexistance.

I'm sorry, but things like this annoy me.

In your poll, Xian is divided into Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, and etc.

First, you ought to have said Roman Catholic. By definition every Christian is catholic and orthodox, therefore the Roman and the Eastern in the names of the denominations. If you say you were using convention (because a lot of people are lazy - it's only two more syllables- and drop the first word), fine, but use it for both, not one.

And by definition, any denomination that is not Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox is Protestant. So Anglican and etc. fall under that.

And the Coptic churches are not Christian unless they have changed their stance on the Trinity. This is a central belief in the Christian church: that God is three persons in one essence equal in power, wisdom, glory.... The Coptic churches reject this doctrine or so I'm told by a dictionary from 2002 or so. So unless they've repented, they should be under Other.

Now that I'm finished ranting, I'm a Reformed/Calvinist Christian from a Presbyterain family, though I'm thinking about leaving my denomination (PCUSA) in favor of a more conservative or traditional denomination (PCA or EvPC - is this the correct abbreviation for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church?).

Lol I love the Christains who tell other Christains that they are not christain. FIrst off that assumes that you have some authority over the religion. You do not unless you are Pope Benedict XVI, the arch-bishop of Canterburry, Pat Robertson, JErry Farwell, Billy Graham or some other Christain leader. Second of all the COptics are Christain. Jesus is the Center of there faith, with the notion that he is the savior. ALso in the Bible (Vulgate or James version) t he notion of the trinity as 3 Gods as one, does not exist. THat notion sparked up around the Neo platonic movement of christainity around the year 387 ad, in which the GNostic CHurch, Marcians, Arians, Cathars and COptic church predate. These groups are indeed christain, and should not be included in other. Yes there understanding of Jesus does differ, but that does not mean someone is not a christain.

It's more likely that the 'Satanists' you have encountered are simply devil-worshippers. The difference being that Satanism is a cohesive and ancient philosophy predating the Abrahamic religions, and devil-worshippers are simply angsty prats attempting to get on everyone's tits.

As I said in my post on the first page I am only sorta Satanist, there is a lot of stuff in it I don't agree with. For example, if someone chooses to follow Christianity, at the end of the day it is their Human Divinity which has led them to that choice and I must respect it.

I also do not deny the possibility that the Judeo-Christian God exists, in fact, I think that it may be quite likely He does. I do, however, believe that He is not my superior, and that He is sadly mistaken if He believes that I shall treat Him as anything other than an Equal.

I also do not believe in the Occult or any of the Psychotic elements that many of the devil-worshippers espouse. I believe that collectively individuals are able to 'pool' their divinity and thus shape the Universe according to their collective will. As the majority of people do not believe in the occult/magick/whatever, (and as they subconsciously would not wish them to exist as they would interfere with the logical nature of existance), then collectively we have willed magick into nonexistance.


So you don't belive in magik, you think that God may exist although you don't think 'him' worthey of any sort of respect other than that accorded an equal, you call the LeVeyian Satanist angsty prats, what sort of Satanst are ya!

Well keep up the good work and maybe one day if we meet in person, I won't just hate you on sight!

Satanism pre-dates any mention of Satan? Then I guess it must have changed it's name somewhere along the lines. Tell me why call it Satanism, if it pre-dates Satan? Why call it Satanism if it has nowt to do with Christianity or Satan?

The truth with Satanism, and Satanist, and again remember this comes from years of personal experiance, is that for the most part and for whatever reasons they have a bone of contension with the Christian faith. That in itself is fine, as I have a few things about Christianity I don't like myself.

However the way they choose to express this dislike ultimatly does nowt but make them look extreamly stupid, and extreamly childish. Rather than think ohh I have a problem with the concept of the Christian God, I wonder if it is just an incorrect concept, they'ed rather rail against a God that they don't or can't belive in.

It seems that a large part of the Satanist creedo is geared around the childish pursuit of getting it all for me. Satanist on the whole remind me of spoilt children used to getting their own way and then shouting when that does not happen. Umm Now I know two Satanist for sure who are only children, I wonder what the figures on that would be?

How exactly do you define someone who doesn't know if God exists, and thinks that if he does he's a total asshole who should be totally ignored so that people can focus on more important things, rather than some blackmailer in the sky? 'Cause yeah, that's me.

Anyone care to answer for me?

Anyone care to answer for me?
Not angry about the cards you've been dealt, are you?

Anyone care to answer for me?

An angry and rather practical atheist or agnostic, depending on how much you do/do not think that God/some other deity exists.

And the Coptic churches are not Christian unless they have changed their stance on the Trinity. This is a central belief in the Christian church: that God is three persons in one essence equal in power, wisdom, glory.... The Coptic churches reject this doctrine or so I'm told by a dictionary from 2002 or so. So unless they've repented, they should be under Other.

Now that I'm finished ranting, I'm a Reformed/Calvinist Christian from a Presbyterain family, though I'm thinking about leaving my denomination (PCUSA) in favor of a more conservative or traditional denomination (PCA or EvPC - is this the correct abbreviation for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church?).

Usually the Evangelical Presbyterian Church is just called the EPC (btw, ain't no one like Presbyterians for reducing everything to initials... meh.)

And their are like three different Coptic churches (Coptic Orthodox, the actual Egyptian branch, and some other one), plus various splinter sects. I actually can't remember the particular doctrinal differences...

Though I'm curious. Given that the major thing in the Great Schism was the Eastern Orthodox churchs view of the Spirit (the "filioque clause"), but most Western people, outside of official church doctrine, consider them Christians, how essential is the equality of persons thing? Not that I dispute its truth, just saying.

Other (Ba'hai, Satanism, Thelema, Hare Krishna, Kemetic, Setian, Scientology, Deist, Gnostic, &c.)

:eek:

Nekhtet!

Great ghost of General Dao's swiftly decomposing noodles, we're actually listed on an NSG religion poll! It's still under other, but now we're making progress!

is shi'ite a real religion?

is shi'ite a real religion?

As in a Muslim of the Shi'a variety?

As in a Muslim of the Shi'a variety?

i don't know, i thought it was made up for a laugh

As in a Muslim of the Shi'a variety?
*anoints Revasser with oil, begins prayer sorcery*

Satanism pre-dates any mention of Satan? Then I guess it must have changed it's name somewhere along the lines. Tell me why call it Satanism, if it pre-dates Satan? Why call it Satanism if it has nowt to do with Christianity or Satan?

Shaytan was a spirit in Persian mythology during 'Biblical times', Shaytan embodied a hedonistic lifestyle and the philosophy of egotheism.

Upon contact with monotheistic creeds (first Zoroastrianism, but later Judaism, Christianity and Islam) the concept that Shaytan embodied was denied, and the name was instead used to name a demon. The propaganda war continued as the Abrahamic faiths developed, and Shaytan was perverted into Satan, the 'devil'.

A lot of devil-worshippers they are simply returning the favour by subverting Christianity as it subverted Satan. I for one don't see the point and just say let millenia-old-bygones be bygones.

*anoints Revasser with oil, begins prayer sorcery*

Ack! You keep that to yourself, DK! :p

*anoints Revasser with oil, begins prayer sorcery*

what is that supposed to mean?

i don't know, i thought it was made up for a laugh

ignorance'd

ignorance'd

perhaps you are right

what is that supposed to mean?

It's an allusion to my sig, dude.

Catholic.

Religious fanaticism has been purged out of our system. Now we are concentrating on getting involved in the bedroom of africans.

Seriously, I was raised as a catholic and I was taught to be a do-unto-other catholic, not a god-fearing-"you will burn in hell" catholic so I see no reason to change my moral system.

Catholic.

Religious fanaticism has been purged out of our system. Now we are concentrating on getting involved in the bedroom of africans.

Seriously, I was raised as a catholic and I was taught to be a do-unto-other catholic, not a god-fearing-"you will burn in hell" catholic so I see no reason to change my moral system.

i have always found catholicism to be a perfect religion

Catholic is accepted shorthand for Roman Catholic. When querying people Roman Catholics identify as "Catholic".

The belief in the trinity is not a prerequisite for being Xian. You are now attempting to define other denominations by your standards.

I know a number of people who do not swear fealty to any specific denomination and self-identify as Protestant only.

Perhaps next time you'll resolve to climb off your high horse and make the poll yourself instead of acting petty and unnecessarily nasty.

Castrensis

Call yourself a Christite, a Jesusian, or whatever but Xian = trinitarian. So say 2000 years of existance, not me.

Did I not say that those who are neither RC nor EO are Protestant? That means that anyone else would fall under the label of Protestant, so there is no need to include Anglican and whatever else.

And I resolve to promote better understanding of Christianity and it's parts and denominations. The fact that you and others want to redefine and change things to meet your ideas and notions is what created the faulty classification in the poll in the first place. And I corrected it. Boo hoo. :mad:

Lol I love the Christains who tell other Christains that they are not christain. FIrst off that assumes that you have some authority over the religion. You do not unless you are Pope Benedict XVI, the arch-bishop of Canterburry, Pat Robertson, JErry Farwell, Billy Graham or some other Christain leader. Second of all the COptics are Christain. Jesus is the Center of there faith, with the notion that he is the savior. ALso in the Bible (Vulgate or James version) t he notion of the trinity as 3 Gods as one, does not exist. THat notion sparked up around the Neo platonic movement of christainity around the year 387 ad, in which the GNostic CHurch, Marcians, Arians, Cathars and COptic church predate. These groups are indeed christain, and should not be included in other. Yes there understanding of Jesus does differ, but that does not mean someone is not a christain.

Again, are they worshiping the God of Scripture, or are they worshiping a God of their own design. I'll TG you the references some time. Probably Sunday. I'm too lazy to get my Bible right now. And the Trinity is 3 persons in one God, not three Gods in one God or three persons in one person.

Though I'm curious. Given that the major thing in the Great Schism was the Eastern Orthodox churchs view of the Spirit (the "filioque clause"), but most Western people, outside of official church doctrine, consider them Christians, how essential is the equality of persons thing? Not that I dispute its truth, just saying.

Beg pardon?

Again, are they worshiping the God of Scripture, or are they worshiping a God of their own design. I'll TG you the references some time. Probably Sunday. I'm too lazy to get my Bible right now. And the Trinity is 3 persons in one God, not three Gods in one God or three persons in one person.

Perhaps you should read St. Augistine, the man who made the Trinity Popular. Or the early neo-platonic writings. The original COncept was Jesus (God) Yahweh(God) and the Holy SPirit(God) are all the same God. It is even refered to in the original writings as 3 Gods as One God. Please I beg of you when you do go to college take a few theology classes. I am not trying to flame you in any way, but you will be amazed at what actually occured, and most of the stuff is something your Pastor/Priest/ Minister/ whatever would cringe at.

SInce the Trinity does not present itself in the Scriptures in the way that you seem to infer that they do then YES the coptics do. Also your point of "God of Scripture" begs the point what is scripture? Is it the desicision at Nicea, is it all the Gospels before the Orthodox CHurch (By orthodox I mean the church before the great eastern orthodox Schism) decided to sqaush it's rivals withthe Roman ARmy and heresy hunters? Is it after Martin Luther decided to "Edit or shorten" the bible? What valid test can one use to identify scripture?

Not angry about the cards you've been dealt, are you?

Not in any particular. Getting angry would be pointless. I am who I am and that's all that matters.

Well. I'm angry at prothelytizers, because they aren't considerate about throwing their stuff in people's faces, and I'm angry at the religious right because so many of them honestly beleive that establishing a theocracy is a good thing. But angry about who I am? Why would I be?

Call yourself a Christite, a Jesusian, or whatever but Xian = trinitarian. So say 2000 years of existance, not me.

Did I not say that those who are neither RC nor EO are Protestant? That means that anyone else would fall under the label of Protestant, so there is no need to include Anglican and whatever else.

And I resolve to promote better understanding of Christianity and it's parts and denominations. The fact that you and others want to redefine and change things to meet your ideas and notions is what created the faulty classification in the poll in the first place. And I corrected it. Boo hoo. :mad:

Look, guy...

I am just some random guy posting a poll on a bulletin board for a role-playing game interested in the people populating this place. I'm not publishing a theological treatise, I wrote it in two minutes off the top of my head because I thought it was a neat idea.

I screwed up Hare Krishnas because they're a division of Hinduism - a person posted a correction, I thanked him.

A simple FYI or IMHO post would have sufficed, a full blown rebuttal and a scolding was unnecessary.

Keep it kind.

Castrensis