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So is anyone in this group what they would consider to be religious and to a finer detail anyone follow a particular religion. - Joe
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Re: Religion...
Mon, November 3, 2003 - 4:45 PMPretty strong atheist here -- the academic study I did in cognitive psychology and complex systems've reinforced my belief that we're talking about little more (although it's a ton) than emergent phenomena.
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Re: Religion...
Mon, November 3, 2003 - 7:47 PMyou get to be on my scrabble team =) ... more interested in just a quick poll... every INTJ Ive met for the most part have been non-religious -
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Re: Religion...
Tue, November 4, 2003 - 8:42 AMchalk up one more, then. i try to keep an open mind, and i'm not ruling out any possibilities, but i certainly haven't seen enough evidence to justify letting an entity who may or may not exist run my life...
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Unsu...
Re: Religion...
Sat, December 20, 2003 - 9:58 PMI'm pretty much a hardcore agnostic with an asthetic (rather than acestic) interest in left-hand buddhism. But yes, I'm pretty non-religious. -
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Unsu...
Re: Religion...
Sat, December 20, 2003 - 10:01 PMY'know... bourbon and typing just don't mix
Apologies for the typos
aesthetic/ascetic
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Re: Religion...
Sat, November 29, 2003 - 2:21 AMI'm not religious, but I'm spiritual in a self-stylized way. I read a lot and pick out what pieces of philosophy and science and psychology resonate with me and my experiences, and I'm compiling all of this information in a religion fashioned for one.
Voltaire said that we choose our own illusions, and so I've come to the conclusion that what we believe isn't as important as the fact that we believe in something (whether it's ourselves or God or whatever). If you have a philosophical story that fits your life, I think that's all we really need from religions.
Melissa
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Re: Religion...
Thu, December 4, 2003 - 9:13 AMnot religious either, but one of my majors in university was religious studies. I'm fascinated by the role it plays cross-culturally, and in so many people's lives.
I am considering going to a local unitarian univeralist congregation, more for the community aspect (i'm new in town and most of the local UUs seem pretty interesting) than any real need for spirituality.
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Re: Religion...
Mon, December 22, 2003 - 12:26 AMno...not any longer...learned all of what i need to via religion...or at least the institution of religion. now i understand what many others have shared with me over the years about what appears to be exclusivity within what is usually presented by many who claim to be religious and always remembering that everyone is allowed to be human. i feel there is too much hypocricy in all forms of instituations...anything can and might be come religious. it all depends on what is being used in the terms of learning and what is something a person can have faith in. -
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Re: Religion...
Fri, January 9, 2004 - 2:26 AMI'm an Atheist simpathetic with Agnosticism. I lack the omniscience to assert positively (and Verificationism has been debunked) that "God" as traditionally defined in Western culture does not exist, but I am extremely skeptical and virtually assured He does not.
On the other hand, if we bend terms and use a Spinozan Pantheistic definition e.i. god = nature/the universe, then sure, but I think that definition is counter-productive.
Non-religious folks, Atheist or Agnostic, should check out the Secular Humanism tribe and join if you are in general agreement with its perspective and goals.
SecularHumanism.tribe.net
Best, Ben -
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Re: Religion...
Fri, January 9, 2004 - 10:12 AMHi everyone.
I realized in high school that I didn't believe in an deity/divine entity and hadn't for a while. That was related to a sort of "existential" phase I went through. Now I still don't believe in any higher power, but I am working on spirituality in a non-supernatural/secular humanist framework. I generally define myself as atheist/agnostic-buddhist-humanist. A lot of stuff on the American Humanist website (especially the first and second definitions here www.americanhumanist.org/human...s.htm) really resonated with me.
It seems to me that once you reject traditional organized religions and are skeptical about supernatural phenomena/beings you can either become nihilistic/existential or go the humanist route (not that they always have to be mutually exclusive). I just find humanism more *productive* than nihilism.
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Unsu...
Re: Religion...
Fri, January 9, 2004 - 1:17 PMSpirituality is the basis of my action. The "religion" I use to interpret this is Thelema.
(Sorry for the late reply. I check this account infrequently.) -
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Re: Religion...
Thu, January 15, 2004 - 3:05 PMI'd have to say that I'm along the same lines as Melissa. I'm not religious but do probe into spirituality. My basis is my own experience and I combine ideas from other 'religions' or practices that most suit my own definition. -
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Re: Religion...
Sun, May 23, 2004 - 4:42 PMi'm an atheist....i don't believe in organised religion....i think it's more important to have faith in yourself than anything else.
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Re: Religion...
Tue, May 25, 2004 - 9:56 AMI'm a sort of "Spiritual Atheist" or "Pagan non-theist." I have had spiritual experiences, and most of the time it is not important to me to explain how this happens -- whether a function of brain chemistry, cultural conditioning, negative ions, or a connection with trans-human powers or principles.
When I recognize "spirit" in my life, my days go better.
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Re: Religion...
Thu, June 3, 2004 - 7:32 AMI considered being a youth pastor at one time, but decided against it when I figured I'd kick the *ss of the first kid that reminded me of myself... :-)
I call myself christian but I am probably the most poorest example. I don't like how a lot of the churches organize themselves so I tend to steer clear.
Not to rule anything out, but just because we can't prove something exists does not mean it does not exist.
Now, I heard someone say that belief is the opposite of thought.
My argument was that belief is the seed of thought.
First we believe we can do something.
Then we think of ways to be able to achieve something.
Eventually, we usually figure out a way to do it (we as human beings).
Ken
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Re: Religion...
Tue, July 6, 2004 - 3:44 PMNods to all. I think religious institutions contradict their own teachings.
Human beings are hard-wired to believe in something higher than themselves, to be spiritual (it's been proven, I think by a Canadian doctor) - religion is man's own making, and very different from spirituality.
I believe that all "myths" have a foundation in truth, and I enjoy exploring all of the possible explanations. Most people only use 10% of their brains, so our perceptions of nature and reality are based on that 10%.
There are too many concidences in my life for them to be merely conicidence, and though I can't "rule-in" a specific theory, neither can I "rule-one-out."
My father is strictly atheistic. I think that is as much of a belief system or religion as Catholicism is; to completely deny that humans are spiritual or that the mind has the power to affect reality in ways we don't understand with no facts to disprove any of the theories, is to me, the same as blindly accepting a religious theory without factual basis.
...But don't think I'm criticizing the atheists - to each his own, I love you just the way you are
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Re: Religion...
Fri, November 30, 2007 - 7:11 PMChristian, through and through.
There is no question about whether or not there is a God. There flat out is a God. That God IS the God spoken about in the Bible.
Jesus WAS God, in human form, on Earth. Its an insane thought, but it really did happen, at least this is where my study has lead me.
I understand a lot of the negativity towards organized religion- I mean, it can lead to a lot of discrimination and intolerance. Yet it is not all that bad. I don't get involved much in church because of this very fact. Most people there don't truly believe anyway.
I am a Seventh Day Adventist and diligently studying Apologetics. Religion is in essence my life. I am an oddity, a strong INTJ who embraces God. I don't wish to call myself "religious" because I'm not "religious". I trust in what God tells me to do- and so I do it- and yes, I feel bad when I disobey him. This is why I cannot lie. It is just so hard for me to do so. I feel very bad lying.
I don't want to argue with anyone over whether or not God exists. Lets just say I DON'T just accept say the Bible blindly. I do believe the Bible can be wrong, particularly the NT. It was, after all, only written by mere men, not God- though they did know God quite well. I just want to respond to the thread, about what I believe. -
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Re: Religion...
Fri, February 15, 2008 - 4:06 PMI too am a Christian; specifically, a Roman Catholic. I don't agree 100% with ALL the dogma, but I think it's a good framework in describing my beliefs. I don't think one can say there is/are a god/gods with empirical certainty, and I laugh when I hear arguments that argue for one way or the other. Such an arguments are matters of faith, or lack thereof.
I don't think that the existence of God is necessarily contradicted by what we know from the natural sciences. In my opinion, religion/theology (particularly from my experience as a Catholic) is easily reconcilable if you hold a certain interpretation of the holy scriptures and beliefs of said religion/theology. Many religious practitioners can be hypocrites at times, but such character flaws are all part of being human, and even then are not universally shared. Almost every religion preaches the same underlying message of love and peace; unfortunately, these messages are often distorted by fallible human beings; many, however, do practice what they preach. I think it is unfair to say, then, that all believers are hypocrites, and/or all believers fail to put their beliefs into practice.
I'm told that I have a rather enlightened (if not unrealistic) view of faith/spirituality/religion, but I think it stands as a good testament to the possibility and potential benevolence of belief and faith.
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Re: Religion...
Sat, June 14, 2008 - 9:43 AMI'm a follower of the Docetist heresy which considers the intuitive world as good and the material world as all evil.
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Re: Religion...
Wed, June 18, 2008 - 10:11 PMLutheran - more spiritual than religious at the moment. Still love God, but church has begun to frighten me... I think it's the organized religion.
