The REAL "What Religion Do You Believe" Thread

[Doomkid]

Neutrino said:

And yet I see this "atheism is just another religion" fallacy everywhere, starting with OP and his poll.

Sorry, I should have put "Atheist / Agnostic but please be aware this is not actually a religion but a lack of one" for that option.

Edit: Personally, I'm an atheist who values science. I trust scientists to design my computer, formulate my medication, design my car, build my GPS so I can get from A to B, design the water/electricity/telecommunications infrastructure which my livelihood depends on, etc. I'm gonna go with the scientist's theory that's been peer reviewed as my first choice for "what's most likely correct."


The greatest thing about this is that, when presented with more information, I can assimilate it into my current worldview relatively easily. I feel It's good for a person to regularly question their own beliefs and continue adapting/updating your view as you learn more. Stagnation is the mind's enemy!

[Xerge]

Doomkid said:

Sorry, I should have put "Atheist / Agnostic but please be aware this is not actually a religion but a lack of one" for that option.

Are you sure? Some people say Buddhism is an atheist religion, also Scientology is classified as a religion, I don't really know much about it, has scientology incorporated theism?

[darkreaver]

Xerge said:

I think I see the problem now, what I actually meant to say is that some people, not all people, who identify as atheists haven't really vanquised god nor christianity from their minds, but rather just found different labels for their idols, in most cases "scientific" labels, and that this goes along with the fact that modern atheists often, not always, mistake science with religion.

Just to clarify. I read your post as atheists (not all, but some) formerly believed in a god, but somewhere along the line they became atheists but "failed" at vanquishing all of their faith, and proceeded to put "scientific" labels on them instead? Am I right here? (Horrible english, sorry)

edit:

Xerge said:

... also Scientology is classified as a religion

Just the fact that Scientology is classified as a religion tells a lot, doesn't it?

Also about those "modern atheists" aka fedora wearing internet warriors that Clonehunter tried to label me as annoys me aswell. I like Richard Dawkins, but it seems to me he is trying to making/labelling atheism and science a new religion. Total fail.

[Doomkid]

Xerge said:

Are you sure? Some people say Buddhism is an atheist religion, also Scientology is classified as a religion, I don't really know much about it, has scientology incorporated theism?

An atheist religion is still a religion, though. I suppose I could have put "No religion / atheist / agnostic", but I didn't think it mattered so much. I just took the approach almost any publicly conducted survey would take. If an Atheist is also a Buddhist but neither box looks appealing enough, there's always impse!

[Quast]

Xerge said:

Scientology is classified as a religion, I don't really know much about it, has scientology incorporated theism?

No, and that's by design I think, as scientology has attempted to play itself off being open and compatible to people of any faith. So scientology doesn't really touch on matters concerning creation or the afterlife.

darkreaver said:

I like Richard Dawkins, but it seems to me he is trying to making/labelling atheism and science a new religion. Total fail.

There is something to be said about this, because it is a real phenomenon to various degrees. New age mysticism, technofetishism and ufology in particular are major culprits. You may say, what does that have to do with atheism? It is because these things become spiritual beacons of some degree for many people in a world where religion and spirituality are looked at with increasing skepticism and even outright anger.

Dawkins and others, such as hitchens aren't 'atheists' they are self described antitheists. Hitchens himself was quite vocal about this point. These guys set out to create a movement and have been fairly successful at it. While I don't see this as truly making non-belief a religion of sorts, I can see where someone else might.

[DoomzRules]

I put down agnostic.

Technically I'm Catholic, I just hold agnostic beliefs. I just believe if there's something there's something.

Anyway, I made a joke religion.

TEAMFOURSTARISM!

It's based around DBZ Abridged and Hellsing Abridged as the main thing. Oh and FF7 Abridged. =3

DOUBLE BACONATORS FOR EVERYONE! *throws double baconators around*

[HorrorMovieRei]

Like I said in the other thread, I'm Agnostic. I was raised Christian, was baptized had my first comunion and everything, but outside of that I was never very devoted. During my teen years I became an atheist, but nowadays I'm agnostic. I realised we know so little about Earth, and even less about the Universe surronding it, there's no way we will ever be able to either prove or disprove the existence of a God(s). If he(them) does exist, it's probably not the christian, islamic or judaic God(s) imo, I imagine it'd be more like a cosmic entity, like a gigantic star cluster with sentience, or something.

[jazzmaster9]

darkreaver said:

The belief in a god (as described in all major religious books/texts/tales/whatever), and even moreso the practice of a religion "as described" in the aforementioned texts is simply mindblowingly stupid.

What annoys me the most is people who just go with the "flow" and say "Im jewish" or "Im christian" when they actually really isn't, they were just born into jewish or christian families. Fucking think for yourself.
I hear a lot that "as long as they dont bother me its fine". Bullshit. Sooner or later religion will interfere with law and fuck up everything. Ban this, ban that, no abortions, no stem cell research, the list goes on.

This was poorly written, but Im in a hurry and the topic makes me fucking angry, so goodbye.

Looks like im stupid then.
I should ban DooM since its of the devil.

Kidding aside, I can see what you mean, though many choose religion for various reasons, its not a black and white situation. If you think thats BS then thats your opinion.

[Seeker_of_Truth]

As I said in the other thread, I'm atheist. Here is a link if you want a slightly more detailed explanation.

[Chezza]

I'm Catholic. Raised into it and proud to be apart of it. I'm proud because the core values are perfect, imo. I question the stories and sometimes faith but I don't see that as as being a non follower. It's who I am and I am God's design. Since we aren't living in a feudal society anymore there is no need to oppress believers into following strict practices without question.

My attendance in church is gradually diminishing but if I have children I will bring them just as my parents did with me as I feel there was true value in it. It also acts as a good opportunity of reflection although I lose attention at Mass often. So I guess I'm a liberal follower but I'm very attuned to its values.

Regardless of someone being a Christian or not, Hell even be a hater of religion and public about it I still believe anyone can be a good Christian worthy of Heaven as long as they are a honest person who loves their family and friends, cares for those in need and remorseful for any notable misdeeds. So even a self proclaimed atheist can be a better Christian than the most practicing traditional Catholics even by just living their own life a day at a time.

[Remilia Scarlet]

Well I haven't converted since I last posted in the other thread, which means I'm still a pagan.

[VGamingJunkie]

As I said in that other one, I'm a Protestant. To be more specific, Assembly of God.

Also, while it may not be a religion, Atheism is still a faith because it claims there definitely isn't a god. If you're unsure, that makes you an Agnostic, not an Atheist.

[Zed]

MetroidJunkie said:

Also, while it may not be a religion, Atheism is still a faith because it claims there definitely isn't a god. If you're unsure, that makes you an Agnostic, not an Atheist.

Nope. That is not correct.

[Xerge]

darkreaver said:

Just to clarify. I read your post as atheists (not all, but some) formerly believed in a god, but somewhere along the line they became atheists but "failed" at vanquishing all of their faith, and proceeded to put "scientific" labels on them instead? Am I right here? (Horrible english, sorry)

Yes, that's correct. For example: there are obviously many philosophical and moral assumptions in all religions, philosophical and moral assumptions which haven't been confirmed or that can't be confirmed by science like for example the existence of a fundamental spiritual realm, ontological duality (Body-Spirit), christian morality, a fundamental absolute good or Aristotle's prime mover (which is one of the arguments theists use to back up the possibility of the existence of God), many of these philosophical assumptions linger in the mind even when one decides not to believe in Yahweh and although it's true these assumptions aren't neccesarily christian they have been incorporated into Christianity.

In The Gay Science Nietzsche talks about this like this:

"After Buddha was dead, his shadow was still shown for centuries in a cave - a tremendous, gruesome shadow. God is dead; but given the way of men, there may still be caves for thousands of years in which his shadow will be shown. -And we- we still have to vanquish his shadow, too." - The Gay Science, s.108

[Aliotroph?]

MetroidJunkie said:

Also, while it may not be a religion, Atheism is still a faith because it claims there definitely isn't a god. If you're unsure, that makes you an Agnostic, not an Atheist.

My atheism means I don't believe anyone's claims about there being any gods. I don't need any kind of faith for this. Nobody has ever produced any evidence. Sure, I can't prove there isn't one, but I don't feel some need to state that when I label my conclusions.

I can see why people who feel truly unsure of their opinion on the matter might want to label themselves agnostic, but I don't feel any pressure to do so simply because I have no proof claims of the supernatural are all false. It really does feel like many people calling themselves agnostic are just feeling peer pressure about the matter. If being an atheist required faith it would also mean I'd have to call myself agnostic concerning simpler claims about which I have no evidence (eg. an invisible dragon in Carl Sagan's garage, or a teapot orbiting between Earth and Mars).

[Zulk RS]

I'll just repeat what I said in the other thread.

I'm a Muslim.

[Demonologist]

Born in Christian family, but with every year of my sane life my disgust towards religion continues to grow. Regarding interference of religion and politics in modern society - there's a true resurgence of Orthodoxy in Russia that's both officially and unofficially supported by government in spite of Constitutional postulates (and it declares that Russia is a secular state), and that's just enraging since those religious bastards have lost last signs of their supposed Christian modesty and mess with all spheres of life nowadays. Fucking hypocrites, I really wish them their Christian hell.
The cancer of religion should go, and take its zealots with it. Blasphemy eternal.

[Stygian]

Passive nihilist, reporting. Believe whatever you want, just don't destroy civilization, okay?

[jazzmaster9]

Like I said in the old thread.
Im Christian, more specifically Roman Catholic. Ive been agnostic for most of my life (so far) didn't care for the existence of Higher Power, but have recently got back to living the Faith.
Its been great for me.

[Neutrino]

Demonologist said:

there's a true resurgence of Orthodoxy in Russia that's both officially and unofficially supported by government in spite of Constitutional postulates (and it declares that Russia is a secular state)

Unfortunately, by all accounts his seems to be very common with the countries of former Eastern block. Fall of Communism saw the re-emergence of christianity, often in an extreme and heavily bigoted form, that then proceeded to infiltrate everything from politics to pop-culture with exclusively negative consequences.

[Doominator2]

I swear this is one of the few places I've seen on the Internet that doesn't turn into a total shitstorm after someone mentions religion.

[Neutrino]

Doominator2 said:

I swear this is one of the few places I've seen on the Internet that doesn't turn into a total shitstorm after someone mentions religion.

If I had to guess, that is because religious people (especially judeo-christian ones) seem to be in vast minority on this forum.;)

[Lila Feuer]

Demonologist said:

Fucking hypocrites, I really wish them their Christian hell.

This, you said it best.

E: What's also really turned me off about Christianity too is all the infighting, there's so many different sects and branches of it that all claim something different over their personal interpretations of the 66 or so known bibles in existence that it turns into one big fucking mess.

And then of course the fact none of them can seem to wrap the one idea of homosexuality around their thin-skinned, thick-skulled, narrow-minded, tired old fool heads because they can't find an example of it in their 'good book' to warrant so. Doesn't matter who it is or what they preach about, they're all clueless about it. Even if the old testament isn't practiced to a T in this day and age the traditionalism of the teachings is the norm still in the new-age teachings; love between a man and a woman.

Lastly, gotta love that bit about us all being within 'his' image and that we're all special because of it. You know, disregarding things like severe mental illnesses and other imperfections, physical and otherwise, that really show how IMPERFECT 'god' 'himself' is.

[VGamingJunkie]

Aliotroph? said:

My atheism means I don't believe anyone's claims about there being any gods. I don't need any kind of faith for this. Nobody has ever produced any evidence.

Then you're not very familiar with Christian Apologetics.

[DoomzRules]

Chezza said:

I'm Catholic. Raised into it and proud to be apart of it. I'm proud because the core values are perfect, imo. I question the stories and sometimes faith but I don't see that as as being a non follower. It's who I am and I am God's design. Since we aren't living in a feudal society anymore there is no need to oppress believers into following strict practices without question.

My attendance in church is gradually diminishing but if I have children I will bring them just as my parents did with me as I feel there was true value in it. It also acts as a good opportunity of reflection although I lose attention at Mass often. So I guess I'm a liberal follower but I'm very attuned to its values.

Regardless of someone being a Christian or not, Hell even be a hater of religion and public about it I still believe anyone can be a good Christian worthy of Heaven as long as they are a honest person who loves their family and friends, cares for those in need and remorseful for any notable misdeeds. So even a self proclaimed atheist can be a better Christian than the most practicing traditional Catholics even by just living their own life a day at a time.

Same. I'm Catholic but I hold some agnostic views.

I really wish there was a Christian agnostic option.... cause I'm not really agnostic nor Christian. I'm Christian agnostic Buddhist if that makes sense.

Number one: OMG How can you be Christian agnostic? Quite easy, I just question my faith from time to time. Whether that makes me an agnostic or not, that's up to interpretation.

Number two: Buddhism isn't so much a religion as it is a way of life, a philosophy, or a state of mind as one would call it. I'm a follower of the Zen practice, and I find it to be quite tranquil and anyone can join, regardless of religion or beliefs. There's atheist Buddhists, Christian Buddhists, Muslim Buddhists, Jewish Buddhists, etc.etc.etc.

It's a really peaceful belief system, and quite frankly I like chilling out and meditating. =)

(Though on some occasions I have taken a nap instead of meditating... kinda sorta like Piccolo from DBZ Abridged. =P)

[Xerge]

In Buddhism, meditation has a very specific purpose: salvation from suffering, Karma and reincarnation, I mean it's not just about feeling good with yourself, just like Yoga isn't just about stretching your body or make your body feel good, in our modern times lot of people actually think that stretching their bodies must mean they are practicing Yoga.

Also Buddhism and Christianity have a different source of enlightenment; in Buddhism enlightenment comes from within the human spirit while in Christianity it comes from God.

[DoomzRules]

Xerge said:

In Buddhism, meditation has a very specific purpose: salvation from suffering, Karma and reincarnation, I mean it's not just about feeling good with yourself, just like Yoga isn't just about stretching your body or make your body feel good, in our modern times lot of people actually think that stretching their bodies must mean they are practicing Yoga.

Also Buddhism and Christianity have a different source of enlightenment; in Buddhism enlightenment comes from within the human spirit while in Christianity it comes from God.

What if you believe in a mixture? Or something like maybe God gave you the resources to find the enlightenment within yourself? Or is that totally something else?

I mean I'm kinda original I guess. =P

[Xerge]

It's good to try to come up with something new putting different parts together, but a system is defined by the way it's parts relate with each other rather than the sum of all it's parts.

If you are interested in Zen Buddhism you might find this interesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAtUPfF1R_s

[Doominator2]

Neutrino said:

If I had to guess, that is because religious people (especially judeo-christian ones) seem to be in vast minority on this forum.;)

Haha, no I meant in the reverse sense where atheists attack those with religious views :P

[Aliotroph?]

MetroidJunkie said:

Then you're not very familiar with Christian Apologetics.

I'm sufficiently familiar with it to know there's no evidence of the supernatural there.