Religion

[Stephen]

I was just curious as to what everyone here believes and why...

[Cat-Eyes]

Well, technically i'm a Christian, Roman Catholic, but I'm more of an aggnostic or atheist now...

[avra]

Btw, "no beliefs" does not encompass agnosticism or atheism, if that's what you were meaning.

Both are most definalely beliefs.

Hence, I'll vote for other

[Cat-Eyes]

Agnostic isn't really a belief... Well... sorta... Not really. Atheism is believing against, but agnostic is kinda being like you have no beliefs.

[lunicatcalledelf]

I be a Christian!!

[Ceirwan]

curious question to ask.

I'm a Christian... and not of the sort that says I am just coz I grew up with it or something. I actually believe all the stuff. And I didn't grow up going to church or sunday school or even a christian school or anything. I came to believe it all through a youth group I went to as a teenager... so I was old enough not to be brainwashed. Also I've dealt with enough crap to know it's all real.

So yeah... I believe in God and Jesus.

[Squarmi]

I was brought up as a Roman Catholic (and have attended catholic educational institutions all my life) but I'm in a period of exploration and trying to work out for myself exactly what I do believe in (rather than just being told what I should believe and just going along with it). I find it really interesting to learn about religions and what different people believe and why and the history behind it all. Right now I just try to be a good person by helping those around me who need it and being kind and thoughtful and I don't know... just trying to think of others before myself.

So I've voted other.

Squarmi

[Peetree]

I have no religious beliefs at all. I believe in myself, and if I want something done, then I have to do it, not ask a god to help. I think that religion can get in the way of modern life, and development, especially in the scientific areas. I just think that if I believe in nothing, I can't be disappointed. I don't mean to offend anyone by this, it's just my view on the subject (so I'm sorry if i have).

[avra]

cateyes said:

Agnostic isn't really a belief... Well... sorta... Not really. Atheism is believing against, but agnostic is kinda being like you have no beliefs.

Nah, Cat, that's not what agnosticism is at all.

It's actually the belief that there is no proof such that we can know either way the truth about the existence or non-existence of God (or gods).

A helpful way to think about it is as though there are four "groups" -
* gnostic atheists and agnostic atheists
* gnostic theists and agonistic theists.

I be an agnostic atheist.

[shadowoutcast]

I here by swear that I'm a Jesus Freak. For I don't just believe I trust in my Lord and Savour as well as respect and 'love' people with their own beliefs and opinions. Why? I may have live with the influence all my life with sunday school and on, but I do have my own mind and have had a time of questioning the why and how and who but slow I came to my chose that there is nothing else to fill the gap within my soul.

My aim is to live out what I have faith in 'To be in this world but not of this world"

[Clare]

I'm of the agnostic variety with strong leaning towards evolution and jumbleness.

[Ashta]

I've put myself in the 'wiccan' category, even though I'm not a particular fan of labelling myself...

why? because it feels right, and it's beautiful.

I can't say that I've been practising of late, but I still pray to the lady and lord (or specific deities when it's appropriate) and faith is the basis of ritual anyway.

I'm not going to rant!
-Ashta

[Min]

Ok...this is where I get confused. I don't know what to believe. I was brought up in a Christian family...my mum came from a happy-Christian family, but my dad came from one who had religion beaten into them since word go. So naturally, my whole family fell away from the idea of religion (eg, if people like my grandparents are going to heaven, I don't want to be there).
I also detest the idea of manipulating people via organised religion...religion itself was used just to control people...so I believe that you don't have to go to church, or hang around with people only with your religion - it's how you behave as a human that's important.

Plus...well, this is where I go a little weird on the subject. I honestly don't believe that an infinately superior being would go to all the trouble of creating us, then want us to worship it. Shouldn't they be above all that? And also...now, I don't want to get into a heated debate, just airing views - where is god? There are so many things that go wrong in the world. So many times when as a young child I looked to god and begged for help, and my family's situation just got worse and worse. I don't have any sort of relationship with my mum or dad any more, and I don't blame it on god - he/she/it just wasn't there. I just look back to those days when I thought one existed and it's almost laughable - like having hope in a parent who will never be there for you. So in essence, if there is a god, then to me he's like a parent that abandonned me at birth, and if I ever meet him/her/it, I want an explanation as to why, and I'm mighty POed at him/her/it.

Failing all else, watch Dogma "Religion is an idea"

Wait, original question...what do I believe...I believe in my close friends - Paul, my brother, and occasionally, even myself they fill the gap in my soul that so many others fill with religion.

[shadowoutcast]

Wicca is a little interesting to me as in the 'backgound' or lack there of (note reading from here) and the documentation that one of the deities is classed as a horned god (pic on this later and if asked). Also other things but I just enjoy finding out about religons and what people believe and why it can get interesting.

Relgion maybe an idea but followship and experence of things can not be false. My mums in the same state as what you are and we have very interesting talks on this topic. I have Faith and trust in my beliefs I don't need a Relgion for most of the time it's a human manifestation

[brydie]

religion...hmmm...i was brought up a roman catholic...but, obviously, my beliefs are going to change a lot. if you asked me this same question maybe in a few months my answer would probably be completely different. i guess i do believe in the christian values, though - don't hurt others, etc...and i believe in Heaven. i believe in heaven very strongly. i decided that when i found out my nanna didn't have long to live. i don't know if my version of heaven is like what other people think its like, but for me its right.i guess out of all my beliefs thats the only one thats not going to change. heaven is real.

[Seagull Fred]

My beliefs are a cross between Christianity, Buddhism, the Gaia theory, and the general paranoia that we actually exist in something like the Matrix.

Tis easiest to say that I believe in the Universe. Everything fits together somehow. It’s all in a weird, shifting balance, and not human nor plant nor god has true control over it.

I'm not sure about the topic of Heaven. I admit I'd LOVE to believe in it, coz let's face it, eternal life in a perfect world seems like a pretty sweet deal. But my scientific nature just keeps prodding me too hard...I don't know.

min said:

(eg, if people like my grandparents are going to heaven, I don't want to be there).

;D Never thought of it that way, Min!!

And I share your wondering about where god actually is. But I explain that away with my idea that if God DOES exist, then he's a bit like Lidgebaby - extremely powerful, but completely ignorant of the effect he's having on others...or maybe he's like Dumbledore from Harry Potter - a bit quirky with a twisted sense of humour, but even his own power has limits, and he/she/it can be as surprised at an outcome as the next person. And I can’t bring myself to believe there is simply one god, either. I mean, yeah, there could just as easily be none, but by the same token, why NOT two or more...?

Anyway, I’m doing some research about the current generation that’s in schools (the one after Generation X), and since that would include most of our age bracket, this may intrigue you all:
‘The culture of tody asserts that any philosophy, religion or practice is as valid as any other – so long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else and is tolerant of the beliefs of others.’
(Mark McCrindle, June 2003, ‘Understanding Generation Y’, “Principal Matters” pp 29-30).

Sound familiar...? Coz that pretty much sums me up left, right and centre...

FtS

P.S. Shadow> I'm finding it a freaky little coincidence that I saw your Matrix sig for the first time on this thread, AFTER I had written this post offline, with my own mention of my Matrix-based beliefs...see? The universe connects everything up in its own way, whether we notice it or not...

[shadowoutcast]

Man I now have three of them I could show them all but that would break the rules.

What I find ammusing when people look at Christainity (Not saying you were) is they haven't look at it deeply they come to the conclusion that we believe in that there is one God and stop there. Hold on if you look futher it states many times over that God himself is a Trinity (In Christainity anyway) that is one being, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit/Ghost are all the one being God.

Ok look at it this way [Matrix Comparision] There is three ways Neo is viewed in the movie at anyone time. He is Neo, He is the One, and he is Mr. Anderson, they are all the same being just with three aspects[/Matrix Comparision] The Christain view of God is thought by most people who look at the outer shell of it as this "They believe in one God yet they also believe in a Son of this God and his Spirit/Ghost? And they're all seperate but together?" having three part of a the One God is quite hard to grasp but the thing is that it dose make sence to people if you don't go beating them over the head with it.

HA lauren I just took a look at our locations _{I like new smilies}

[lunicatcalledelf]

Okay well what i believe in is Christianity as I said before and my Dad is a minister of a church but i dont believe that i have really been pushed into any sort of religion. I feel that religion is not just about "worshiping" a god but also being with people u love who are there for u and i believe that's all god really wants. Not for us all to go crazy praising him but to show love to him by loving his creation.
Sometimes it is hard to love someone who hurts u and u may blame god for these hurts but no matter what u do, god is always there for u and in many forms and whatever religion u follow he is the same god just in many forms.
I am not a strict Christian who believes in the one and only way I just love celebrating beliefs ect. with my friends in church or youth groups ect.
I believe that everyone is entitled to their own view on things and that life and heaven are what they make of it.

Now i'll stup up now coz i've rambled on enough for today!! lol ;D

[~Ethereal~]

I picked Wiccan, btu it's not an entirely accurate description, depending on how specific you are abotu the definition of wiccan (it's a whole debate in itself in some circles).
Let's just say it's close enough....

[Dark One]

I was baptised when i was little, so i suppose i am a Christian, but i chose to move away from religion at school.

We had Christianity taught to us in school in such a way that it put me off for life. We should have had a choice! They didn't even touch on any of the other worlds religions, which seemed far more interesting.

That said, i have nothing against any religious persons (as long as they don't try and force their beliefs on me)


I am however very interested in the science behind such things as the Bible. Every myth, legend, tale, etc has a grounding in truth. For example, when the Red Sea parted, a tidal wave was distroying the island of Crete. Another interesting thing is that nearly all of the worlds religions (even the most isolated) have the flood as part of their creation myth, and there is now documented evidence of coastal cities being submerged. I shall stop now, as i could go on for ages..

[Swallow]

Well, I'm baptised Uniting Church, my mother is Presbyterian, and my father is Anglican, and to top it off I went to a Catholic school. If you want a Christian Guilt complex, see me give me a few more years and I’ll have the other bases covered.

As for what I believe… but I think that’s it, I don’t believe. Belief is one hard thing to carry off, to believe in one, or a couple deities, depending on your religion is something else. I’m not sure I can do that. In fact, I’m pretty sure I can’t. But it doesn’t mean I don’t respect their ideas. And when you think about it, man (and woman) is constantly striving to prove to themselves that what they have here isn’t just it, that it will carry on. That being on this Earth isn’t a mistake, and we might have some higher purpose. And so we create such religions in an attempt to justify our existence.

Well, okay, getting heavy there… But I have to say, I find it interesting that just because someone stands up for what they believe in, stands up and tries to make people’s lives better we have to assume he is the son of God, instead of just a bloke who was sick to death of being trod on, and seeing others suffer it. Humans seem to have this desperate need for leadership, like a sheep complex or something, so when someone steps forward we can’t believe they are human, we have to believe they are something else.

As you can tell, I’m not a stickler for organised religion. I think people take these amazing individuals ideas and bravery and twist it to their own spin so that they sucker people into following them. I know that’s harsh, don’t get me wrong, I admire people who have beliefs because I can’t, and it honestly… I think it would solve a lot of my problems if I could. But when I see people abusing the Bible, the Koran every other book out there, I get so damn geraniumed off. What right do people have to make laws in a MULTICULTURAL MULTIRELIGIOUS society because some homophobe managed to get his thoughts into the book. Or assume because of someone’s religion that they go and blow up buildings. That’s why I hate organised religion, one of the many reasons. So I suppose I’m agnostic, (which means, “without knowledge”, kinda funny since I made my choice to be that with a lot of knowledge).

And that’s me waffling on again… I gotta stop doing that…

[Dameon]

Well...

I am as atheist as atheist can be.

I believe extremely strongly in the non-existence of God. Which, as Avra says, IS a belief. I believe just as stongly in there being no God as many people believe there IS.

However, I'm not one of those atheists who believes religious people are idiots and should all become atheists like me. That's just religious intolerance, and I hate that. I don't often get into debates about religion (unless someone preaches at me and does all that "you're going to burn in hell" stuff, which I sometimes get).

My belief is basically this:
I believe there is no God. That's my belief. But that's just one person's opinion, and everyone has the right to believe in God, or not, or believe in 50 Gods, or whatever they want to believe. But I, personally, believe there is no God.

I'd just like to stress the difference too. There is a difference between "not believing in God" and "believing there is no God." That's the easiest (if simplistic) way to define the difference betwen agnostics and atheists, I think. A lot of people who say they're atheist are actually agnostics, apparently.

Not sure why you need a name for it, anyway. Can't I just believe what I do and leave it at that? Don't see why I need a label, really...

[shadowoutcast]

oh you've seen nothing. I could share facts about verious thing in history from the Bible (although since translation into other lanuages I agreed that most of it has been watered down, twisted and manipulated). The fact that I'm able to store all this 'stuff' and give a valid agument as to the why I have no idea but in a debate I'll give anyone a run for there money... with out trying to convert you I simply hate force conversion is serves no purpous and show no thought in the process.

[DragonMornir]

Ahh religion...
Mums parents - Anglican, changed to Christiadelphian
Mum - doesnt care
Dads parents - Anglican
Dad - doesnt care

Me - used to be anglican, then christadelphian, then went to youth group and i have no idea what demoniation they were poking at.... but when we did a session on cults i was stunned to find my religion was classified as a cult ( christadelphian) and that my group some how ended up with that as the one we were looking at....
they had no idea about it. no damn idea. they thought they were some weird freaks when there is actually not much diff between anglican and christadelphian at all.

During primary school i was the annoying person questioning the existence of the bible in scripture. i went to sunday school every sunday without fail. went to church wit grandparents when visiting them and was a good lil christian.
high school i couldnt care less, scripture was an excuse to get out of class lol.
it bothered me in youth group cos when it was the end of our looking at whatever bible thing we were doing... everybody said something in closing prayer ( there was only about 6 girls in my group for my age) and i always felt weird and couldnt think of anything to say.... so i stopped going.
* apologies for ranting of thread*
so what am i?
i really couldnt care for religion, i think all sorts of things that would anger many people and no one was ever able to prove that the bible wasnt written more recently that they say it was....
i picked other cos agnostic/atheist wasnt available and u cant pick more than one lol

[Stephen]

Sorry about the lack of agnostic/atheist option. I wasn't quite sure what it was and thought it might fit under something like evolution. I am a Baptist/Church of Christ Christian personally.

jgduffin said:

I was baptised when i was little, so i suppose i am a Christian, but i chose to move away from religion at school.

Being baptised doesn't make you a christian. Baptism is what Christians do publicly to show to everyone else that they do believe and they are born again (submerging is the washing away of the old life, and the coming out of the water symbolises the new you). What makes you a christian (by my beliefs) is faith in God/Jesus and asking for forgiveness of sine. But each to his own. I agree with you others - I really don't like forced religion. It's everyones own choice. Anyway, i gtg for lunch now.

P.S. Have any of you in Adelaide heard/seen the 'Jesus. All about life' media campaign?