This post is specifically for the Theist members here on SciForums. A few of you on here are very pious in your religious beliefs. Some have even gone so far as to claim to have been shown proof of God. I'd like to ask you to share these life experiences with me and the rest of our SF community in an attempt to further understand your beliefs by answering the following questions: 1) What religion/belief system do you practice? 2) Is it the same religion/belief system of your parents? 3) If not, how long have you been practicing your religion and how did you get exposed to it in the beginning? 4) On a scale from 1 to 10, how pious would you say you are in your religious beliefs? (1 being "Not at all", 10 being "Extrememly".) 5) Have you studied other religions aside from your own? If so, which ones and what method did you use for this study (college courses, books, internet, etc)? 6) Have you ever taken part in a ritual or ceremony from another religion (other than a funeral)? 7) Do you believe in an afterlife? 8) Do you believe in an eternal soul? 9) Do you believe non-human animals have souls? 10) What are your beliefs on the origin of the Earth, Universe, and Human Beings? 11) What is your stance on homosexuality? 12) What is your stance on homosexual marraige? 13) What is your stance on abortion? 14) What is your stance on stem-cell research? 15) What is your stance on the death penalty? 16) Politically, what party do you claim? 17) Do you believe you have been shown or have seen proof of God? If so, please provide specific examples of your experiences. 18) Do you believe that members of other religions are to be punished, in this life or the next, for their beliefs? 19) Would you ever consider converting to another religion under any circumstance? 20) Do you believe that other human beings from other religions are inferior to you?
devotional service to god (bhakti) no about 14 years basically I was just a run of the mill atheist until I started getting interested in philosophy which eventually led me to books on the subject what do you mean by pious? (I ask because piety can be interpreted as something that binds one to material existence (ie sattva guna). IOW simply looking out for one's own (pious) benefit, while noble, is inferior to unmotivated devotional service to god) I read mostly around the eastern religions before I made my move here. Actually I read a lot more once I started since I found that what little advancement I made actually rendered texts comprehensible from other paths. sure, but nothing too elaborate sure yes of course 10) What are your beliefs on the origin of the Earth, Universe, and Human Beings? binds the kind of complicated read for yourself http://namahatta.org/sites/default/files/Vaishnava_Moral_Theology_and_Homosexuality.pdf http://www.galva108.org/ http://news.iskcon.com/node/1933 http://namahatta.org/en/node/1234 carries the same karmic implications as murder in most cases complicated Depends whether or not it is creating an industry for abortion traditionally there is an argument for it, but since we are so far distanced from that model, with justice being embroiled in issues of finance, etc, once again, its a complicated issue. I don't pay so much attention to politics. I think I have only ever voted about 3 times in my life. again a big question. Probably about 90% of scripture deals with this point. In short, self realization is attainable to the degree that one realized god, so problems ensue in the explanations no Punishment is a consequence of action , regardless of what ever the hell one may believe If I was in dire danger I might give lip service ... but then the broader picture of theism can be practiced in any social context so its not clear what changes such a conversion would involve (I wouldn't eat meat for example, but then there is no essential need to eat meat in any other religion). They may have an inferior philosophy, but then that's what henological discussion is all about.
I believe Jesus. I believe the God of Abraham. No. I have believed for about 20 years. A friend gave me a bible and i read it and believed. Well for me to answer that question i need to first understand what the word "Pious" means to you? Also you may note that i don't like the term "practicing your religion" i wince when i hear these terms they are so... religious. Yes mostly on the net. In some books and talking to believers of these religions. Well i have attended marriages and baptisms. Yes. Wondering why your asking question 8 when you have already asked question 7. If one has life one has a soul. i don't know. Everything that exists apart from God is an outcome of Gods creation. Anal sexual intercourse is an abomination to God and therefore a Sin. Not interested in the issue. Whatever laws the authorities mandate in this area is up to them. i see abortion as murder and worse than murder because it is murder of the innocents. The same as my stance on the evil medical research that was carried out in the nazi concentration camps of WW2 I would never take part in the carrying out of the death penalty, or take part in any legal or police action that leads to a death penalty being carried out. But i leave it up to the authorities to decide what laws and penalties they deem are required in this area. None, i do not take part in the political process. I do not vote. Foundational Proof for me is in the Message of God. It resonates within me with astounding wisdom that i cannot deny. Other experiences are more reassurances i have received. I have seen the future. No. I believe that anyone who rejects the Messiah Jesus for the atonement of their sins will be punished for eternity. It’s not the bad you do that counts, what is important is if one will be forgiven the bad they do. As for punishment in this world. The fruit of false beliefs are always troubles. The fruit of the knowledge of Good and evil in this world is also troubles irrespective of what one believes or does not believe. At this moment in time i cannot see anything that would cause me to change. No. All human beings are equally inferior to God, it's just that some are in denial and suffer from baseless pride. All Praise The Ancient Of Days
Solitary Wicca. Nope. About two years; I've been strongly interested in classical mythology, polytheism, and paganism for a while longer, though. Somewhere around 6 and 8. Yes; internet mostly. Books also, especially when looking into other polytheistic religions. No. If you can call reincarnation an afterlife; it's more like a revolving door. Yes. Yes. I don't think the gods had an active hand in guiding the development of the universe and life. I think things went along largely as the scientific information indicates. No problem with it. No problem with it. I don't consider the foetus to be fully human until birth. So, it's whatever. Good thing. Only when necessary and when guilt is conclusive and irrefutable. None, really. There aren't any monarchist parties in the US. Though I like the British Conservative Party's moderate and monarchistic stances. Yes. The experiences of others who I have talked to seem to indicate a polytheistic reality; and the logic of Aristotle functions as the rational backing to their existence. No. We are judged by the gods for our deeds and their intentions. If there was one that suited me better, maybe. But the one I have suits me. No.
I'm a pagan, said in an Australian accent, but not meant in the same way as in the movie where it meant, in fact, atheist. NO. 20 years. Through a friend. It varies. Yes. Used the above mentioned methods, but also participation, either out of curiosity or with participants who were friends, or as part of seeing what they had to offer. And we are talking many. Yes, many. Yes, and reincarnation. Yes. Yes. Though head lice don't have individual ones.Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Um, you got a few years.....? It is peachy. If it doesn't ruin the relationship it's OK. Should be legal. Complicated. I mean, for example, have you seen that some of the cancer therapies based on foetal stem cells are killing people by giving them much more cancer. I see stem cell research sort of like letting a bunch of kids loose in a gun shop afterhours. AGainst. I can't claim any of the bastards. I would say I have experienced God. But I would rather not go into detail. Not like 'nah, nah, you chose the wrong God, your ass is dead.' But I do think beliefs can lead to pain and suffering both for yourself and others. I guess if I somehow became convinced. But this is like asking someone, I don't know, would you ever consider leaving your spouse, who you have a long complicated and satisfying relgionship with in a variety of different ways - and right now you are in love. I mean, sure, it might happen, but it's not some mental thing. Depends on the day and my mood. But that holds for everyone, religious belief low on the list of things that set off my smugness. I have my inferior moods and mixed moods too.
I just wanted to pop in and take the time to personally thank each of you for your participation in this thread. I thoroughly enjoy learning about everyone's beliefs. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
islam YES!! , first obedient child here.. 5-7 tiny doses of christianity, atheism. internet. lol i guess so. 3x yes created pretty messed up. REAL messed up. not sure, guess it goes on a case by case base. not sure what it is, but from what i collect i guess it's fine. greatPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image! i don't know..?.. real democracy i guess. yup, but not exclusive personal experiences. the quran for example. this life not really. the after life is between them and god, and he said he'll punish them. yup, new evidence. one who is following truth isn't like one who isn't, other subcases follow.
i'm a christian because my experiences have been extremely christ and/or biblically centered. but i don't practice any particular religion necessarily. to me, religion is a man-made institution like any other. it's a club. and i'm not a member of any of those. like my tag says, i don't go to church. i AM the church. i think there are aspects of any religion that are truthful and beneficial. and i think the practitioners can use their religions in good ways and in bad. i think truth can be seen in all things, and that many times, religion does nothing but blind people to that. i mean, if i take a yoga class am i a hindu? ok. god has used a wide variety of resources to show me things, teach me things, and communicate with me. sometimes it's been the bible. once is was a hindu goddess. god's used art (music, movies, literature). and god's used other people...some religious, but most not religious. i guess so. my parents aren't religious either. they both have beliefs regarding god and spirituality, that have come from their personal experience in life, and it's personal to them. my grandma and other members of my extended family are religious. and when i was young, it didn't take long for me to become extremely turned off by religion. i take what's happened to me and what i've learned extremely seriously. i've read and/or studied various religions enough to know that the behavioral outcome of most religions is basically the same. not that i recall. i'm not really big on ceremonies and rituals. they don't mean much to me...they're just symbolic of what is supposed to be real. that's another thing i don't like about religion. it tends to substitute these rituals and ceremonies for the real thing. yes. yes. i don't know, but if i had to take a guess i would say yes. if i was there, i don't remember it. it's genderism. i think the concept of marriage is a great thing. it's symbolic of communion and the closest thing we experience to it on this earth right now. unfortunately, not a lot of people take it very seriously. and i don't think that has any relevance to whether one is straight or gay. i don't like the concept of sexual orientation any more than i do religion. people are individuals, and we should celebrate that. i've had one, and i think it's the epitomy of irresponsibility. indifferent. not a big fan of the legal system. anarchist. yes. they are numerous and varied. but in general, it's what they've meant and accomplished that provides proof to me. no. i don't think that god punishes people. i think they punish themselves. and i don't think it comes down to religion at all. i think it comes down to something much more personal and important than that. i think that indoctrination and conversion are ridiculous displays of codependency. i don't believe that anyone or any thing is inferior to me.
Okay 1) What religion/belief system do you practice? I practice a kind of ijtihadi Islam 2) Is it the same religion/belief system of your parents? No, neither of my parents were/are religious, or practising 3) If not, how long have you been practicing your religion and how did you get exposed to it in the beginning? Since my mid to late 20s, which is about a decade now 4) On a scale from 1 to 10, how pious would you say you are in your religious beliefs? (1 being "Not at all", 10 being "Extrememly".) Probably a weak 1 5) Have you studied other religions aside from your own? If so, which ones and what method did you use for this study (college courses, books, internet, etc)? I've studied the religions that interested me because my friends followed it. Usually by going to their places of worship, through participation in ceremonies [where permitted] and by way of interaction and books 6) Have you ever taken part in a ritual or ceremony from another religion (other than a funeral)? Yes, I've participated in Hindu/Christian/Parsi weddings, festivals, Hindu poojas, Catholic mass. I enjoy such occasions 7) Do you believe in an afterlife? I think life is an eternal phenomenon distributed across inanimate elements 8) Do you believe in an eternal soul? See above 9) Do you believe non-human animals have souls? Yes, just as trees have "life" 10) What are your beliefs on the origin of the Earth, Universe, and Human Beings? Its a process of discovery 11) What is your stance on homosexuality? Its a modern construct pursuant to the demarcation of sexuality as an either-or phenomenon in some societies 12) What is your stance on homosexual marraige? Why shouldn't they suffer too? 13) What is your stance on abortion? Its killing someone who cannot defend themselves 14) What is your stance on stem-cell research? We murder to dissect 15) What is your stance on the death penalty? State sanctioned legal murder 16) Politically, what party do you claim? None. They are all the same. I vote religiously, though, for the least damaging candidate regardless of party 17) Do you believe you have been shown or have seen proof of God? If so, please provide specific examples of your experiences. I think of a godless universe as a logical impossibility 18) Do you believe that members of other religions are to be punished, in this life or the next, for their beliefs? Isn't everyone? 19) Would you ever consider converting to another religion under any circumstance? Probably not, I'm quite rigid in my views 20) Do you believe that other human beings from other religions are inferior to you? No but I am discovering that atheists are very different from what I thought they were. Its quite possible they have different ways of processing information altogether.
nice set of questions, MZ3Boy84 (how exactly do you pronounce that?). i don't usually describe myself as a theist, but neither do i describe myself as an atheist--or even agnostic. evidence, possibility, and knowability are problematic for me. anyhow, some people seem to describe me as "religious" none-the-less, so i'll give it a shot: there's not really a name for it, but it's based upon a number of "systems": that of a particular australian aboriginal group whom i've never met, but i know a lot about them through acquaintances who've lived amongst them over 20 years cumulative; madhyamaka buddhism; aspects of a few southwestern u.s. indigenous american traditions; and a few other things. if i've got to give my "god(s)" (whatever the hell they are) a name--which wouldn't really make sense, but for census purposes--i'll go with martu or warrigal, and i be a son of gog and magog. heh. absolutely not. parts of it since the age of 14, other parts i was exposed to over the course of years. how? reading and direct experience. constantly vacillates from 1 to 10. plenty. i have a master's degree in philosophy and religious studies. which ones? too many to name, but see above for a few. plenty. some sort--but probably not the usual kind. yes and no. can't really answer that. i do not distinguish between animals--the human kind or otherwise; except that i think the non-human kind are generally better. too complicated, though i can assure you that i am not a "creationist" in the sense which it is usually employed. no problem. i think marriage in general is kind of a load of shit, but people can do whatever they please. it's just fine--perhaps it ought to be performed more. no opinion really. as effected by the state? absolutely against it. people sometimes kill people though, and sometimes that's ok. none--they're all a load of shit. no and yes--i'm not sure what god is? experiences? far too many to elaborate upon--i'm epileptic and i have some sort of "experience" all the time. it's all what i choose to make of it. heh. no. well, unless you're counting state/political affiliations as religions. there's not a whole lotta "conversion" for a syncretist. only those who believe in the "state". sometimes i cut them slack, and simply consider them deluded. edit: i'll add--i've visited a number of countries in which people are inclined towards saying things like, "oh yes, anything is possible." so it kind of stuck.
1) What religion/belief system do you practice? Shamanic 2) Is it the same religion/belief system of your parents? No 3) If not, how long have you been practicing your religion and how did you get exposed to it in the beginning? Few years 4) On a scale from 1 to 10, how pious would you say you are in your religious beliefs? (1 being "Not at all", 10 being "Extrememly".) Bout a 7 5) Have you studied other religions aside from your own? If so, which ones and what method did you use for this study (college courses, books, internet, etc)? Just read about them. 6) Have you ever taken part in a ritual or ceremony from another religion (other than a funeral)? Yes. 7) Do you believe in an afterlife? Yes. 8) Do you believe in an eternal soul? Yes. 9) Do you believe non-human animals have souls? Yes. 10) What are your beliefs on the origin of the Earth, Universe, and Human Beings? I believe that all "one God" religions are worshiping the same "thing" people just cant wrap their minds around the fact that they all worship one Deity. 11) What is your stance on homosexuality? Why should homosexuality matter. doesn't effect they way you worship you God does it? 12) What is your stance on homosexual marraige? Its not hurting me. So why stop happiness? 13) What is your stance on abortion? Choice.. unless your past first trimester.. then it should be a medical need. 14) What is your stance on stem-cell research? If they are collecting it from stillborn babies.. go for it. 15) What is your stance on the death penalty? "an eye for an eye only leave two people blind" 16) Politically, what party do you claim? None. 17) Do you believe you have been shown or have seen proof of God? If so, please provide specific examples of your experiences. I don't believe i need to see proof. 18) Do you believe that members of other religions are to be punished, in this life or the next, for their beliefs? NO. 19) Would you ever consider converting to another religion under any circumstance? Yes. 20) Do you believe that other human beings from other religions are inferior to you? Absolutely not.
spiritualuality based faith echoing wicca no 6 or 7 years ex girlfriend 1 yes wicca, islam, and juadiasm. books and the internet yes yes yes do spirits count? the current scientific explanations natural and shounldn't be discriminated against for it pro-choice for it against it democrat no no and i think anyone who does is an asshole yes no
