one day at a time. i believe in the spirit

Weak atheist, empirical agnostic

Shopping around in the supermarket of eastern philosophies. While I'm not going to shave my head, don orange robes and renounce material things, Buddhism and Taoism has some very good advice, and advice that resounds within me.

born baptist, but found it BS, thus atheist/agnostic but considering peaganism or new age stuff

I am a pantheist in that I believe that it's all the same God people are killing each other over, or looking for the explainations of the unexplainable from. Agnostic in that while I believe in a greater force (conveniently referred to as "God" by most), I follow no organized faith.

Confirmed member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. I have questions about certain things, but I know I'll end up in heaven.

Forced to be Catholic. Hardcore atheist (HA) by 16. Mellowed out since then, exploring eastern ideas. Will revert to HA when pushed.

Organized religions have done more harm to humanity than good. All too often people in powerful religious positions will manipulate religious texts and dogma to futher personal gains.

Don't pray for my soul. Instead spend the few moments you would take for praying by helping out your fellow human.

While I myself do not belong to any organized religion, I do think that religion offers some benefits. (Other than the spiritual and moral benefits if you believe in those). For many people, it's a social network and a safety net. You can find friends, baby-sitters, business contacts, etc. If you get sick, people will bring you meals, take up collections, etc. I also think that some people use religion as a way to find status and power. You can become bigger in your community, lead social action committees, etc.

I'm a spiritual nomad, I drift from one religion to the next using whichever fits me best for that day.

What do you mean by anti-evolutionary? (I'm not trying to be critical, I'm just curious).

Jedi

Officially Jedi (what I put on the 2001 Census for a laugh after the infamous email) but somekind of new-age athesist.

Nothing concrete, don't believe in a higher being (its an ego thing, can't handle the idea of somebody being better than I could ever be ;) ) but have some spiritual ideas (mediation, ghosts etc).

hindu

judeo-christian

Ridiculously, militantly athiest.

It's very interesting to read about the spritual/religious makeup of TFP'ers.

I'm curious: why do people believe what they do? If you are an atheist, why? If you are Muslim, Buddhist, christian, Jewish, etc., why? Why do you believe what you believe?

I'm a philosopher. I believe that Socrates, Jesus, Muhammed, and Buddha were all philosophers as well.

Unfortunately it seems that in the case of Muhammed and Jesus, their word was hijacked. Jesus died a martyr, but Peter and Paul stole his thunder by making the church and adding the resurrection myth. True believers today don't want to hear this, but I don't think it's so important that he was resurrected, as it was that he died for us.

As a child, I believed that way because that was what I was taught.

As an adult, well, it has been a long long road of introspection and examination and prayer to get me to the point I am now.

And Yes, I have studied other religions, in particular, eastern religions extensively. I can tell you the differences between Theravedan, Mahayana, Zen, and True Path Buddhism, the fundamental difference between Taoism as a religion and Taoism as a philosophy, as well as the different sects of Hinduism and some of their sacred writings.

Many years ago I learned some of the tenents of the ancient Mayans and Aztecs including a study of the gods, Choc Mol and Quetzlcoatl.

Further, I can cite the fundamental teachings of Catholocism, most main stream protestant sects, as well as some less main stream such as the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and the Jehovah's witnesses.

On my plate is a better understanding of Islam from the kafir's standpoint.

In the end, it is as Marcus Borg states, I am a Christian because that is how I best access God.
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Edited to say:

Ok, that was showing off a little. But I get irritated when an atheist comments that someone else follows a religion because of 'ignorance'. That is a sweeping statement that is often untrue.

sapiens,
I mean cultural evolution.
I should have been specific.
Thanks for the opportunity to nail that down.

I was brought up in a Lutheran family, did the church thing every week as my grandfather was the pastor. The older I became and the more into the bible I read, as well as studying history... I just had so many questions that my grandfather and other church goers could not answer... plus I was disgusted when I went to my own church and the pastor literally gave up on the congregation... I was disgusted with church. I think people can worship God, or whatever it is they see as their higher power, without going to church.... but I found Taoism. I have been studying Taoism almost three years and couldn't be happier. The simple ways and basic ideas are easy to grasp... yet sometimes hard to practice. I enjoy Taoism because it is simplicity and happiness. For me, Taoism just fit what I was looking for spiritually, physically, and mentally.

Atheist. I chose not to accept any religion because I believe that matters of after-life, the cosmos and our place in it are personal things that should not be dictated to people by some institution.

Is there a God, an afterlife, or a soul ? I don't know. If there is, I'll find out the day I die.

a pluralist. every religion is just a different way of achieving the same goal. for me it's Buddhism with a bit of christianity.

Technically, I guess I'm Methodist. When I was younger, I grew up in KY, and I had pretty strong faith. Then we moved to CT, and I just started questioning things more and more and got no answers, and had more doubts. Right now, I'm not quite sure what I believe. I think that there's some higher power, most likely what all the religions are worshipping. I also think that there is more to life than what science tells us, because I've seen some stuff that science can't explain.

I saw a girl who was forced down onto her hands and knees, and could not move any closer to a cross, because she felt the presence of a higher power. I've also been nearly pushed over by someone without being touched. I've been in a house that, after looking at the pictures we took, seems to be haunted. I was probably about 2 feet away from a spirit of some sort in that house.

Call me a hypocrite, but I also think that organized religion is one of the biggest problems in society. I know many religions do a lot of good for people. However, they also teach people to hate people of different religions while saying we should love everyone. Think of all the war and killing that has been done in the name of religion.

At this point in my life, I don't know what to think. We'll see what happens down the road.

i believe that religion is all bullshit. i find it halarious that people try so hard to find comfort in death to actually take another ones life. we humans are such a troubled race. Recently i had to go to a funeral, as many from the chat know. The traditions, just made me laugh. It really makes you think where we are going... if many religions started out as a simple story.

hell, in 100000 years when we all die out and a new civilization starts they may find a barny book and worship a big purple dinosaur....

Agnostic Ex-Mormon here. I just floated along in church until they tried to convice me to become a missionary for two years. That is when I did some soul searching and decided that religion was not for me. (I think I just broke a law here in Utah by saying that) :)

Catholic.

Im still on a search. While I did see some strange things for further consideration in Egypt, Israel, and Saudi; I feel most at peace with eastern philosophies.

"Brief and powerless is Man's life; on him and all his race the slow, sure doom falls pitiless and dark. Blind to good and evil, reckless of destruction, omnipotent matter rolls on its relentless way; for man, condemned today to lose his dearest, tomorrow himself to pass through the gate of darkness, it remains only to cherish, ere yet the blow falls, the lofty thoughts that ennoble his little day; disdaining the coward terrors of the slave of Fate, to worship at the shrine of chance, to preserve a mind free from the wanton tyranny that rules his outward life; proudly defiant of the irresistible forces that tolerate, for a moment, his knowledge and his condemnation, to sustain alone, a weary but unyielding Atlas, the world that his own ideals have fashioned despite the trampling march of unconscious power."

- Bertrand Russell, "A Free Man's Worship"

Raised with little religion. My dad is Baptist and my mom Catholic. We never went to church on sundays, usually because my dad was working and my mom cleaning house, nor have they ever asked me what do "I" believe.

I'm not a part of any religion but have sound beliefs. They are taken from many cultures primarily Celtic(Druid), Buddhist and Christianity.

wurd
 

"You've got a Methodist Coloring Book and you color really well
But don't color outside the lines or God will send you to hell"

i cannot hear/read the word methodist without my brain tracking to that dead milkman song...

anyhoo, I dig the eastern philosophies esp. Tibetan Buddhism. why? i like the equanimity and compassion for all living creatures and the concept of saving myself instead of waiting for someone/thing else to do it for me.
i also find comfort (and pain) in the accountability of my actions (Karma). life is very fair.
there are really many, many reasons why i am drawn to it, many of which are not explicable.

c_b

In 100% agreement with ART on this one. I myself was brought up as a Catholic, but around the age of 13 I stopped believeing in such fairytales, and now am a confirmed Atheist. There is no god. There is no life after death, there is only the here and now, enjoy it while you still can.

As Richard Dawkins once said, "It saddens me a great deal to see that Astrology books outsell Astronomy books by a huge amount" (paraphrased)

Born an agnostic. No new leads since then.

Excellent quote! Dawkins has so many good lines.

Recovering Episcopalian.

Episcopalianism: Catholicism, with half the guilt!

my name is ciall, and i'm a recovering catholic.

I used to be like a lot of you - angry with religion and wishing ill upon those who are taken by it. But now I'm just waiting. Quietly waiting for God to show himself to me. I want to believe.

Tantalizer -
Although I respect your privacy, I think God has asked you to try to convince the REST OF US that your beliefs are true.

Nah, I take it back. I don't need anyone else breathing down my neck. Just a miraculous sign from God. (Please?)

I was raised Mormon.
The day I turned 18, I was out of there. Too much so-called "religion" forced down your throat. You never get the change to think for yourself. The day I started thinking for myself was the day I knew the Mormon religion was not for me. 10 years sober now.

Totally areligious.Do not subscribe to organized religion whatsever even though brought up in the roman catholic church.Just couldn't get past the hypocrisy.