Describe your religious/spiritual affiliation.
 

I'm not sure whether this was done on the old board. (Or whether it is too private for most people to discuss). I'm just curious about the religious demographics of the board...

Also, I'm an atheist. I used to be a Catholic. I don't consider myself "a recovering Catholic". I had twelve years of Catholic education and I liked it.

I am god.

I was raised a Christian (Methodist). Not much of anything now, but if pressed I will call myself a dogmatic agnostic.

I was raised christian also. I say I dont beleive in a God, but I find myself praying to something at times. Usually when things are not going well of course.

Officially I'm Episcopalean, (and yes, a recovering catholic), but my own beliefs are harder to describe.

I don't know what heaven is, I don't know what hell is and I don't know the enterance requirements for either. I don't know if there are past lives or reincarnation either.

I suspect however that the Truth will be totally different from anything we can imagine.

Recovering Catholic/Confused Jew

Baptized a Methodist... raised a Presbyterian... attending a Catholic Church...

I'm sure I have it all figured out. :)

-Smarm

Raised up as a christian but it's hard for me to believe in someone I can't see.

hindu atheist

agnostic to the core.

i love everyone and everything

When I was younger, I prayed all the time. For me, I can't see the point anymore (being an atheist). However, I do miss it sometimes. It was therapeutic "when things were not going well".

Born & Raised Catholic.. And I usually leave it at that.
According to the quiz... I'm a Reform Jew. Funny as a friend who is in Judiasm thought so as well last year.

As for my beliefs.... personally there is a god. Only one, just that every religion has interpreted him differently. I mean if christians can read revelations and interpreted the end of the world 20 thousand times... its pretty easy to think that people could have interpreted this being differently, and thus the many religions that are out right now. I believe if you live a good life you have a good chance at going to heaven. Of course if you meet with God and blow him off.. He'll do the same

I hear ya brother. Being agnostic is just so relaxing.

I'm technically Russian Orthodox through birth.

Practically, I'm nothing in particular. I pull a lot from different religions.

Well I was confirmed Lutheran. Right now I'd say I'm somewhere inbetween that and Catholic. So, to keep things simple - I'm Christian. :)

come to think of it, i dont even have time to think about god anymore

Agnostic here. Parents rebelled against their catholic families in their youth; though nowdays I do somewhat respect my great aunt's devotion to her faith. (She's a nun).

I think Dante is kinda interesting and wouldn't mind chilling in the first circle of hell with Aristotle and Virgil.

I think Pascal's wager is a load of bollocks.

I used to claim I did not belive in god but I think I have changed my mind

There must be a god somewhere - Some greater force - Even if it did not create our universe - There must be something out there bigger than us

I seem no point in worshipping it - If it cares for us then it would want us to go about our lives and do good (every hour spent in chuch is another hour you are not helping your favorite charity)

And if it does not care then - We are screwed anyway

I also see no purpose in an afterlife - A stupid idea from the outset - Brought about by people who are having a bad time of things now

In the end I belive that we should be nice to everyone else - and have a good time - and not expect to go to heaven for it

I belong to no organized religion...

I believe in God, and from there I wing it.

Although I do like the philosophies & symbolism of Qabbalism.

atheist.

Not particularly religious, but I went to a Quaker high school and I have to say Quakerism is very cool. They believe God is in everyone, all are equal, no escuse for violence, and a bunch of other appealingn tenets.

I was raised without God, and remain an athiest.

I actually remember my non-believing being an issue in elementary school (when it came up), but lately not nearly as much, which is good.

I think people should be able to believe in whatever they want without having to deal with criticism or akward moments. However, since I allow people that, I expect the same in return. :)

Raised Christian, decided to be an Atheist at age 12. 10 years later, still going. I'm a bit unusual, I have a tremendous respect for Christianity and other religions, I even still go to the Church I grew up in, but I just can't personally believe in a god. I've even talked to my Minister about it, who says he knows I'll come around eventually :-)

I belive in a small, roundish, smooth black rock I found by lake michigan. It's called "Pagan Rock God" and it lives in my poket. It's a god.

Raised athiest, still atheist.

If by the distant minute chance there is a god he's dead or abandoned us long ago.

I was always taught never to discuss two things with mixed company... Religion and Politics.

'nuff said

;)

atheist/agnostic, with a hint of Buddhism

i believe in nothing and everything

it gives me such a headache that i cant even think about picking a religion

I am athiest. I think that with so many logical answers besides a "God" that it would be wrong for him to expect us to beleive in him with no proof besides and old book and what our parents say.

The only reason I ever had to beleive was my parents, and I really don't like them so that doesn't help.

It's not like I'm set on not beleiving in a God, but nothing I have learned or have had happen to me has done anything to make me beleive, most of it has just made me beleive even less.

To me religion seems like a way to make little kids behave and dying people fear death less. But the idea of dying and having nothing after that does suck.

I have no affiliation, but I am open-minded.

I'm atheist. Never have and never will believe in any god.

Agnostic Christian-Pagan.

Raised christian (Baptist). Added elements from many sources, religious and other, to my beliefs over time. Still believe in a god or gods, and that Christ was an Avatar of A god. Kind of convoluted, but it works for me.

I am atheist. Did church until it was time for me to be confirmed -- no way 100% atheist.

i believe in a broader idea of god than what christianity presents, and somewhat more limited than say, what hinduism presents. I pull a lot of things out of Christianity, Buddhism, neo-Paganism, and New Age beliefs. i think it is more important to focus on spirituality and individual experience of God/the divine than it is to practice an organized religion. After many years of seeking, this is what works for me. :)

I'm agnostic. I don't believe any religion out there is the "truth" because religion is a human construct. How we even can comprehend what "God" thinks or wants for us is beyond me.

I was raised Christian, but I am raising my children Catholic.

I was embarrassed that my parents never took me to church because they're agnostic, but now I'm a confident atheist.

Practicing Evangelical Baptist.

Someone had to be the traditional farm hick ;)

I see religion as the most pernicious anti-evolutionary social force humanity has created - a sad and tragic attempt to comprehend the incomprehensible.

I've been agnostic for a few years now, taking the stance that blind faith is a bad way to go in terms of a higher power. I also hate churches, seeing them as manipulatory devices and income generators for the church heads. I've bounced around, researching many religions and have yet to find one I like (although the Principia Discordia is a fun read, and an interesting concept). Maybe I'll create a religion for myself, post our holy book here on the TFP, and the TFP will be the Holy Land for Frenikism.

It's probably radioactive, and now you'll never have kids. Haha.

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.
-----------------------------------


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.

I am agnostic with a lean to the athiest side, but a desperate hope for the monothiestic side.

I sort of practice buddhism, but not very actively

raised church of christ..

Raised Baptist but now I'd call myself a Biblicist. Don't quite agree with several different ones.

i'm a Real Christian (tm)

I believe in God, and I believe in the Trinity. I also believe we got the laws tottally fucked up.

I don't believe 'i'm right ,your wrong' and i don't believe that if i say the word 'fuck' or get pleasure after seeing a nude woman (or what have you) i will burn for it.

mostly i believe in respect. you're my yfriend be you athiest, agnostic, wiccan or whatever.