Are you religious?

[M@rco]

yes i am , Roman Cathloic to be specific

[headbrace]

I agree with both Alex and Nichomach. It is very hard to word things online in discussions like these without offending someone, and I reckon that the vast majority of people here try to do thier best in that respect, so please don't immediately assume that some one is being insulting, remember that these are people opinions. However, should stuff get out of hand, myself and other mods will be keeping a close eye on this thread.

I myself am a Roman Catholic. I was brought up as one, but was given the option as to whether to continue at the time of my Confirmation, or to choose otherwise- this was one of the things my parents agreed on when they got married.

I personally believe the Bible and scriptures to some extent- As far as I'm concerned they are mostly true, or written in such a way as to allow others to understand them. I don't think the same as all other Catholics, but I share the same basic ides with many of them. Infact, I haven't met any who believe exactly the same things. I don't do it because I was blindly led into it, or because I want to follow the herd. I do it because I want to it.

[aeonf242]

I'm agnostic....

[malfunction]

I'm an atheist... Maybe very slightly border line agnostic as I'd really like there to be something after death other than worm food. A deeper meaning of life than spreading / passing on your genetics might be nice too. Though I suppose the old saying "Life is what you make it" applies - I've always been intrigued by the idea of seeking inner peace but always been too busy to do anything much about it

[Theo]

No idea what an aethist or agnostic is (I used to!), but I'm not religious. No offense intended to anyone's beliefs, because it's a free world and you can believe what you want. But to me, the idea of a God, Heaven and Hell is ridiculous. It baffles me how a thousand and odd years on from the dark ages so many people still bow down to something that, if you think about it, is completely impossible (God, a higher power, etc).

This is my opinion, so don't smite me. God didn't make man, nor did build the world in 7 days. The fact that we are actually here is because of a fluke in astrophysics, microbology (if that's a word) and evolution. The fact that we are the dominant race is down to bloody good genetics (though in some cases, the genepool could do with some really good cleansing -chavs), and evolution.

Apologies if you're offended.

[mark22]

Interesting stuff. I 'guess' I'm an athiest. But I had a lenghty discussion on this matter with my physics teacher about it years ago and he almost managed to explain in scientific terms that the human brain couldn't process all the information it receives from the senses without there being something 'else' there helping. Or something like that. He was a real believer though and I'm now as trained in physics as he is and doubt I'd believe the argument should it occur again.

What gets me is people saying things like, how can you ever be happy if you don't believe in a higher spiritual plain.

Hope that didn't offend anyone.

[Byatt]

I challenge the atheists to explain what was before the big bang.

best summarised by Terry Pratchett:

"In the beginning, there was nothing, which exploded."

I think I'd classify myself as an atheist, purely because I consider the God hypothesis less probable than the scientific hypothesis for the existence of life. I also have trouble visualising anything omnipotent and infinite deciding to create humanity, or even having the concept of making a decision.

The fact that we are actually here is because of a fluke in astrophysics, microbiology and evolution.

^^ That's a good summary of what I believe.

[Knoxville]

imho god doesn't exist the whole story just doesn't follow, Besides, even if he does exist we're all going to "hell" no matter what religion we do or don't follow as every man is by gods definition born a sinner iirc.

[turkster]

Interesting stuff. I 'guess' I'm an athiest. But I had a lenghty discussion on this matter with my physics teacher about it years ago and he almost managed to explain in scientific terms that the human brain couldn't process all the information it receives from the senses without there being something 'else' there helping. Or something like that. He was a real believer though and I'm now as trained in physics as he is and doubt I'd believe the argument should it occur again.

We're all thin clients with God as the server

[mark22]

We're all thin clients with God as the server

And churches are his (or her or it's) file sharing nodes?

[turkster]

It think your physics teacher was being very creative

But to me, the idea of a God, Heaven and Hell is ridiculous. It baffles me how a thousand and odd years on from the dark ages so many people still bow down to something that, if you think about it, is completely impossible (God, a higher power, etc).

Well if you "think about it" you cant prove it is impossible. The reason the human race have moved on so far since the middle ages is because we think and are not limited by our understanding. The computers we are typing these posts on would have been considered impossible in the middle ages yet we are sitting here using them in the 21st century.

To imagine that the limit of possibilities is held in our current understanding of the world is unrealistic. If every human felt that way the human race would never have developed at all.

[Purple]

ooo, i like that religion can i subscribe? It is pertinant to modern times, maybe in 2000 years they will be awaiting the glorious reincarnation of Dell PowerEdge

[Purple]

I can't believe the results of the survey, i would have thought there are more agnostics out there than what can be seen in the pole.

A vote for "i dont know" is a vote for the thinking man.

[Theo]

Well if you "think about it" you cant prove it is impossible.

I think the fact that God hasn't, on record, divinely intervened with anything proves it. Call your bible card and I'll slap you.

I'll get more involved in the discussion when I get back (if it's not gone!). I'm off out.

Oh, just like to say, I'm a baptised Greek orthodox. Unpractising and renounced, now.

Bye! :>

[mark22]

I think the fact that God hasn't, on record, divinely intervened with anything proves it. Call your bible card and I'll slap you.

I'll get more involved in the discussion when I get back (if it's not gone!). I'm off out.

Oh, just like to say, I'm a baptised Greek orthodox. Unpractising and renounced, now.

Bye! :>

Just don't take this discussion to the pub with you.

[yamangman]

I remember some years ago now, it must've been in College or in school or somthing, that some Christian fellows came in for a 'chat'. Apparantly they were going to tell us why they chose their faith. I was genuinely interested. I didn't doubt back then. They obviously didn't think about it. One guy said he had a near death experience, so he turned to religion... 'what'? we pretty much collectively said, 'why'? Errr he said, and looks inquisitively to his 'superior' hoping for an answer, and we get one, some absolute flowerey nonsense. OK, I thought, that's to be expected, they ARE Christians after all. 'So why did you choose Christianity in particular'? ... Errrr, followed by another sheepish look to his superior. Easiest to follow? Least work involved? You don't have to wear any particularly silly adornments like other Religions?

My good 'GOD' i detest religion. And so much for standing for 'Christian' values! I apologise, but I can more than make do with good values then calling those values Christian or Religious. I honestly do believe that half of the millions, or indeed billions of People around the world who are religious do it because it's a matter of course, it's just what you do, and to me those that fall into this category are 'divinely' stupid. The others who really believe wholeheartedly in their 'Religion' I believe should commit to ALWAYS seek the truth in a world of lies, and perhaps there is some hope.

Please bear in mind before you take any offense, i'm talking about Religion only. The purported tat that that so many millions 'believe' in. A subscription to a extremist cult.

Please, for the sake of millions of people in the future, question your Religious endorsement and adopt your own, personal faith.

Religion IS Nihilism. Religion is the philosophy of nothing. Adopt your own beliefs, but don't purport it as Religion.

Unfortunately only those who are firm believers, or those who are there for their own, personal gain can reclaim the worlds hearts and minds and let everyone reason together. It will be difficult to change the concept of truth.


Now if you'll excuse me, I have some pills to take...