What religion are you? [Archive] - Absolute Write Water Cooler

Ruv Draba

02-16-2010, 02:01 AM

Welcome, Novella.

My moral code is a humanist one. I think that people should help people become better people. But I'm a secular humanist -- I don't believe that religion has any mandate to tell people how to behave. My basic faith is that most people have the capacity to be decent and to care, but I'm aware too that some can only ever fake it. I think it's up to us to work out what to do about that.

I'm against people making up stories and telling each other it's the only story. I'm for people starting off with an open mind, and investigating and then sharing what they learn in ways that others can verify.

I think there are some questions we can legitimately ask, and some we might reasonably answer. I think there are some that it makes no sense to ask -- like 'how did everything come to be', and that it's ludicrous to try and answer.

What I'm wondering about your post is -- why do you care what other people think? What would you do differently if you understood others better?

zornhau

02-16-2010, 03:35 AM

I don't have a religion. I don't have a favourite football team either.

Kilawher

02-16-2010, 03:39 AM

While I grew up a lot more religious than I am now, I still consider myself to be Jewish. It's not so much about the faith--as far as the question of a higher being goes, I'm more of an agnostic. But I love the feeling of belonging to such a tight-knit community that shares a long and colorful history and culture, both of which I love as well.

Chase

02-16-2010, 03:56 AM

I'm Catholic, as God intended. Just kidding about the tacked-on phase. Although our church is still changing (as it has for a couple of millenniums), I'm deaf and one thing I like the missals every church provides with print so that I can follow mass nearly word-for-word from wherever I sit in church.

benbradley

02-16-2010, 04:22 AM

I'm atheist, as Random Chance intended. :)

ColoradoGuy

02-16-2010, 05:42 AM

I've answered this before, but I'll try everyone's patience and post the answer again. I'm a Quaker, the formal name for which is Religious Society of Friends (http://www.fgcquaker.org/what-are-quakers), or just Friends. It was founded by George Fox in England the mid-17th century and is regarded by most (but not all) as a branch of Christianity. It has several varieties, but mine is the traditional, silent meeting branch.

A large number of Quakers came to America (due to persecution in England), with William Penn's establishment of Pennsylvania being the most well-known example. It was the first colony to tolerate all religions (other colonies actually persecuted Quakers), which is why Pennsylvania became a magnet for Dissenters of all sorts, particularly those belonging to Pietist sects such as the Amish and the Mennonites. Lancaster County, PA, remains a sort of Mother House for both groups to this day. All you really need to know about us to understand us is embodied in what we call the Testimonies, which is the basis for what we believe, and, most importantly, how we (try to) act:

Simplicity -- live simply
Peace -- we are pacifists and oppose the death penalty
Integrity--tell the truth ("speak truth to power" is actually a centuries-old Quaker expression recently co-opted by others.)
Community--we are all in this together.
Equality--no human is better than any other (hence the long-standing equal rights for woman and anti-slavery positions)

A key notion is that there is "that of God in everyone," that all of us hold within us the Light, a spark of divinity.

Like all religions, it's not for everyone, but, in the original words of George Fox, it "speaks to my condition." He encouraged us to "walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone." It's good advice, I think.

deathwizard

02-16-2010, 07:03 AM

I'm Buddhist, as The Path intended. :)

maxmordon

02-16-2010, 07:09 AM

Catholic at my own way. :)

Even though I don't agree with some opinions that the Church holds and feel ashamed by some of her acts, I still have admiration for the institution and hope of some reform in the future.

Wayne K

02-16-2010, 07:19 AM

I don't prescribe to any religion, though I've studied them all. I've read the bible cover to cover, as well as the Koran. I've been to Temple, church and to Mosque.

I take the best parts of all of them, and live as I believe a higher being would want me to.

Chris P

02-16-2010, 07:33 AM

Roman Catholic. Although I grew up Catholic, I chose to come back after a lapse because the church is truly global. Whenever there is need (Haiti, China, Myanmar, inner-city Washington DC, even) the church is there working to affect real change. We have boots on the ground and the church is one of the few places where I feel there is a true home for the Religious Left in a meaningful way. I also think that we have a much more realistic view of human nature than many other denominations.

What I don't like so much is that we do a lot of theological connecting the dots (if verse A says this, and verse B says that, then extra-biblical teaching C must be true) rather than saying we don't know. I also believe we could be more real world about a few things, but on the balance it suits me keeps me active in faith and works of charity.

aruna

02-16-2010, 02:48 PM

I did not grow up in any religion; my outside influences were atheist and Christian. I chose carefully, and while I still do not belong to any religion for me the best answers to the Big Questions are provided by Advaita Vedanta, a philosophical branch of Hinduism.
I believe that all world religions have the very same truth at their core, and their differences in dogmas and stories simply reflect a net cast wide, to draw humans in all their vast variety.

JimmyB27

02-16-2010, 03:46 PM

I am a Pastafarian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastafarian), just as his great noodly appendages intended.

johnnysannie

02-17-2010, 08:37 PM

Catholic by both birth and choice. I was raised Catholic; went out exploring a little post college but came home to the same faith because nothing else came close to providing for my spiritual needs.

I just came home from Ash Wednesday Mass and have my ash-smeared cross on my forehead.

NYCutie

02-17-2010, 08:59 PM

Wiccan

backslashbaby

02-17-2010, 09:13 PM

I believe that all world religions have the very same truth at their core, and their differences in dogmas and stories simply reflect a net cast wide, to draw humans in all their vast variety.

That would be my belief, too :)

The Quakers and the Buddhists appeal to me very much. I go to lots of churches, and a spiritual yoga group in the gorgeous NC mountains. I also like the incense-laden Greek Orthodox church and High Episcopal services-- I don't mind formality, either :)

M.Austin

02-18-2010, 02:33 AM

I don't prescribe to any religion, though I've studied them all.

I take the best parts of all of them, and live as I believe a higher being would want me to.
This exactly.

boredmormon

02-18-2010, 03:12 AM

Mormon, as the name suggests. Officially The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but thats a huge mouthful. Was born into the church, and have never left. Most of the time I enjoy it, though some days it seems like a lot of work. But so is anything worth doing.

Don Allen

02-18-2010, 04:02 AM

Drunkard.

Alvah

02-18-2010, 05:44 AM

I am a Baha'i.

SirOtter

02-18-2010, 07:19 AM

Whiskeypalian

TerzaRima

02-18-2010, 07:58 AM

I don't practice anything right now, but I'm aware of my deep-dyed Catholic perspective on most of my life, as hard as I've tried to distance myself from the Church and some of its positions. I'd like to be something else besides a lapsed Catholic, but I don't know if I can. There's a quote from some book--"These people do so treat God like He's their first cousin", and I feel that, irrationally and strongly, when I've tried to go to church elsewhere. Maybe I just haven't found the right place.

Blahblahblah me blahblahblah.

Cranky

02-18-2010, 08:10 AM

I was born Methodist (baptized as such at a couple of weeks old), then attended Catholic masses sporadically after my mother converted.

As an adult, I believe in God. Beyond that, I'm not really any particular flavor of Christian.

aruna

02-18-2010, 01:49 PM

There's a quote from some book--"These people do so treat God like He's their first cousin", and I feel that, irrationally and strongly, when I've tried to go to church elsewhere. Maybe I just haven't found the right place.

.

I don't quite understand this. You mean, the people in other churches treat God as if he's their first cousin -- is that a bad thing? How do Catholics treat God?

TerzaRima

02-19-2010, 02:14 AM

Aruna, that was probably poorly worded on my part.

is that a bad thing?

I don't think it's a bad or good thing, aruna, it just is a thing that's not terribly comfortable for me given my background and temperament. When I attend, say, a friend's Methodist church, I miss the mystery and communal nature of Catholic worship. (Please, I'm not disrespecting Methodists or American Protestants of any stripe). Protestant worship is more individualistic and tends to emphasize the separation of man and God--again, not a bad thing, just a different thing. And because there's no worldwide
ancient Protestant tradition like the Mass, churches can design their own services and the result varies IME along with the congregation.

In context, the "first cousin" quote was the character's jab at the theological notion of having a personal relationship with God; this idea is not as popular among practicing Catholics.

johnnysannie

02-20-2010, 09:14 AM

.

In context, the "first cousin" quote was the character's jab at the theological notion of having a personal relationship with God; this idea is not as popular among practicing Catholics.

Oh, really? Hmm...news to me as a practicing and lifelong Catholic. It seems that most of the devout church going, Mass attending Catholics that I know all have a deep dessire to have a personal relationship with God, to know Him more and in a fuller fashion. While we may not want to treat Him like a first cousin at a family reunion picnic or wear those funky little bracelets that say WWJD, we are drawn into an ever closer, very personal relationship. We do those little things like Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that bring us closer to God, spend Lent drawing closer and more personal to God, and much more.

TerzaRima

02-22-2010, 01:27 AM

citymouse

02-22-2010, 01:43 AM

Really? I pray this every evening.
I love you my Jesus with my whole heart. I repent of ever offending you. Never permit me to offend you again. Grant I may love you always, then do with me what you will.
No priest, no intermediary. Just me and my Savior.
Oh, and I am a baptized life long Catholic.

My father who was a convert to Catholicism had a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary. He once told me that on judgement day I would stand alone before God. No mother or father, no grandparents to beg His mercy for me. Just me and Jesus--and if I'm lucky His Mother will be there too. His Mother on behalf of whom he performed His first miracle. His Mother at the foot of His Cross and whom he addressed in His agony. Not a bad intermediary, eh? I never forgot that.
C

I probably wasn't clear. In Catholicism, that relationship is mediated by things like adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the sacraments themselves, and most specifically the priest as celebrant of the Mass itself. In Protestantism, there is no intermediary in the conversation between one and God, which is a profound difference.

TerzaRima

02-22-2010, 03:39 AM

What I was trying to get at was the tonal differences between the worship styles, which are striking to me. Maybe just my own slice of life.

Shadow Dragon

02-22-2010, 04:20 AM

I'm a Pagan and worship the goddess of wisdom and war Athena.

StephanieFox

02-22-2010, 06:39 AM

I am a Pagan High Priestess, a proud Jew and an atheist (or should I say, polyatheist since I don't believe in any of the Gods.)

I'm OK with anyone believing in anything they want as long as they don't impose it on me or other people who aren't interested. But literal belief in a deity, well I just can't do it. Treat holy books as metaphors and I'm good with that.

For me, faith is not necessary. What's important is experience, what I can learn from that experience and action in helping others and repairing the world.

johnnysannie

02-22-2010, 09:40 AM

I probably wasn't clear. In Catholicism, that relationship is mediated by things like adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the sacraments themselves, and most specifically the priest as celebrant of the Mass itself. In Protestantism, there is no intermediary in the conversation between one and God, which is a profound difference.

You obviously do not understand the nature of Catholicism or how we worship which is unfortunate. Most Protestants do not.

We have no intermediary between ourselves and God. We can and do pray directly to God even during Mass. Perhaps you should sit in on a service to find out rather than make judgements on a random basis.

I have attended various services in other Christian faiths and the major difference that I see between Catholic Mass and a Protestant Sunday service is that we have an interactive service in which we are joint participants with the priest but the Protestant services are basically dictacted by one man's sole interpretation of Scripture and his views upon it. The Protestant services I have attended were not interactive other than during the song service in which all joined but in my worship, the entire present body is part of an active and ongoing dialogue to God.

That is the difference and it is profound but it has nothing to do with the notion that Catholics cannot and do not approach God without an intermediary which is and has always been quite incorrect.

Roger J Carlson

02-22-2010, 11:29 PM

You obviously do not understand the nature of Catholicism or how we worship which is unfortunate. Most Protestants do not.

...
I have attended various services in other Christian faiths and the major difference that I see between Catholic Mass and a Protestant Sunday service is that we have an interactive service in which we are joint participants with the priest but the Protestant services are basically dictacted by one man's sole interpretation of Scripture and his views upon it. The Protestant services I have attended were not interactive other than during the song service in which all joined but in my worship, the entire present body is part of an active and ongoing dialogue to God.

...I would suggest that you do not understand Protestant worship anymore than many Protestants understand Catholic worship. I would further suggest that making sweeping statements about others' worship practices, while correcting sweeping statements about yours, seriously undermines your position.

Lyra Jean

02-22-2010, 11:46 PM

I'm a Methodist and I attend the traditional service.

I was raised non-denominational, charismatic, contemporary Christianity. I think it messed me up in some ways. Because I then went ultra-conservative Southern Baptist. I found Traditional Methodist is the balance between the two extremes I have been in earlier.

johnnysannie

02-23-2010, 12:05 AM

I would suggest that you do not understand Protestant worship anymore than many Protestants understand Catholic worship. I would further suggest that making sweeping statements about others' worship practices, while correcting sweeping statements about yours, seriously undermines your position.

I don't postulate about what various Protestant denominations do in worship nor do I ever contradict what a Protestant says about their own faith.

I do, however, take umbrage when Protestants presume to understand and describe Catholicism.

And I have, on many occasions, attended Protestant church services while the majority of Protestants have never attended a Catholic Mass.

It is not I who made the sweeping statements regarding the beliefs and practices of others but who rose in defense of more misconceptions and uninformed nonsense about the Catholic faith. What I stated is what I have observed while attending Protestant services and not quoting from a Chic tract or some other anti-Catholic piece of propaganda.

I stand by what I said; I made no "sweeping statements" and nothing that I said was as offensive as the posts made about Catholic belief and Catholic faith in action.

Roger J Carlson

02-23-2010, 12:06 AM

I'm a Christian. My object in life is to become as much a "little Christ" as possible. What church or denomination I attend has little to do with it.

ColoradoGuy

02-23-2010, 12:08 AM

I would suggest that you do not understand Protestant worship anymore than many Protestants understand Catholic worship. I would further suggest that making sweeping statements about others' worship practices, while correcting sweeping statements about yours, seriously undermines your position.
Agreed -- we're here to explain, gently and in a Friendly way. But even the misconceptions, if stated in an appropriately respectful way, are useful to read, especially for folks like me who are interested in the history and development of Christian theology through and beyond the Reformation.

I think it is a generally true statement that the need for an intermediary, such as a priest administering sacraments, to mediate the relationship between an individual and God is one thing that separates Catholic and Protestant theology. For example, a non-ordained Catholic cannot celebrate Mass. (A mass celebrated by a priest alone with no congregation present at all was a common thing, at least centuries ago.) The view of what the Eucharist actually represents is also a stark divide -- for example, transubstantiation vs consubstantiation vs memorial meal.

But many, perhaps most, folks don't really know (or don't feel they need to know) the ins and outs of theological history and dogma. Yet it can be quite rewarding. For Lutherans, Martin Luther left behind a large body of writings. Catholics, of course, are heirs to an enormous theological literature, a lot of which is now available (and searchable) online. For my own faith community, it will take me a good, long time to get through the writings of George Fox, John Woolman, and others.

BenPanced

02-23-2010, 12:13 AM

Born and raised Catholic, currently un-practising Unitarian Universalist.

Roger J Carlson

02-23-2010, 12:15 AM

I do, however, take umbrage when Protestants presume to understand and describe Catholicism.Then perhaps you can understand the umbrage taken when you describe Protestant worship as: basically dictacted by one man's sole interpretation of Scripture and his views upon it... and The Protestant services I have attended were not interactive other than during the song service ...You really have no idea what such a worship service means to the other worshipers in attendance.

ColoradoGuy

02-23-2010, 12:16 AM

I do, however, take umbrage when Protestants presume to understand and describe Catholicism.

And I have, on many occasions, attended Protestant church services while the majority of Protestants have never attended a Catholic Mass.

Peace, my Friend. No one is, or should be, posting in judgment of anything. If they misunderstand, explain.

I spent nearly 4 years of my life studying the history of the medieval and late-medieval Catholic church, but am not Catholic. And there is a great deal that I don't know, especially if it happened after, say 1700 or so. I would remind you, though, that the term "Protestant" probably describes a far more heterogeneous collection of theological beliefs than does the term "Catholic." So it's tough to generalize much.

TerzaRima

02-23-2010, 01:40 AM

I do, however, take umbrage when Protestants presume to understand and describe Catholicism.

Um. I'm not Protestant. Party on.

Rarri

02-23-2010, 01:48 AM

Humanist. Was raised within a Humanist family, too.

johnnysannie

02-23-2010, 03:31 AM

Then perhaps you can understand the umbrage taken when you describe Protestant worship as: and You really have no idea what such a worship service means to the other worshipers in attendance.

As a matter of fact, I do. I have family members who are non-Catholics and my husband - who chose to join the Catholic Church - was raised Baptist. I have attended church services on many occasions with his family members and understand quite well what the service means to them.

You might find it interesting to note that I shared my description of a Protestant service to my husband who considered it very accurate from his unique point of view, raised in the Protestant church and then becoming Catholic in his fourth decade of life.

johnnysannie

02-23-2010, 03:32 AM

Um. I'm not Protestant. Party on.

Then for semantics sake, make it "When non-Catholics who know nothing of the Catholic Faith presume to understand and describe Catholicism."

Party hearty.

kdnxdr

02-23-2010, 03:58 AM

Presently, I am a non-denominational, pentecostal. I have attended Charismatic Catholic, Messianic Jew and a whole lot of other types of charismatic/pentecostal services.

:)

Medievalist

02-23-2010, 05:20 AM

I stand by what I said; I made no "sweeping statements" and nothing that I said was as offensive as the posts made about Catholic belief and Catholic faith in action.

In your opinion; they annoyed the heck out of me.

You've got an individual talking about her individual perception--as a Catholic--of her relationship with the Church.

And you essentially came back and said "Yer doin' it wrong."

Cut it out.

You seem to have problems understanding this post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133033):

ne Basic Rule - PLEASE READ
Respect for each other, and for beliefs sometimes alien to ourselves, is the order of the day here.

We're going to have very little tolerance for sweeping generalizations about religions -- for example, if you believe Mormonism is a cult, that's fine--believe whatever you want. But keep it to yourself in the course of conversations in this room.

Okay: "What's up with the emphasis on eating Kosher that I sometimes see the media going on about, wrt Jews? What's that about?"

Not Okay: "I'm sorry. I just think refusing to take your kid to the doctor is child abuse and people who claim that their religion demands that they trust God for healing deserve to be prosecuted by law."

ColoradoGuy

02-23-2010, 05:32 AM

As a matter of fact, I do. I have family members who are non-Catholics and my husband - who chose to join the Catholic Church - was raised Baptist. I have attended church services on many occasions with his family members and understand quite well what the service means to them.

You might find it interesting to note that I shared my description of a Protestant service to my husband who considered it very accurate from his unique point of view, raised in the Protestant church and then becoming Catholic in his fourth decade of life.
But a huge problem here is that there is no such thing as "the Protestant Church" for your husband, or anybody else, to define. So you're committing the same error you're saying others are making.

backslashbaby

02-23-2010, 05:45 AM

But a huge problem here is that there is no such thing as "the Protestant Church" for your husband, or anybody else, to define. So you're committing the same error you're saying others are making.

"The Protestant church" strikes my raised-Protestant ear strangely, too. Every time I spent the night at a friend's and went to church with their family, I had to be careful not to assume they did things the way my home church did. It was easier between some churches, but the Baptists were quite a bit different, for example.

I went to a High Episcopal school and home church for years. That reminds me much more of some Masses than of Southern Baptist ceremonies, or Holiness churches -- very, very different ways to do it.

And some Baptist ceremonies are done more formally.

In the US, particularly, it's hard to even tell by the term 'Baptist'! Much less Protestant :)

ColoradoGuy

02-23-2010, 05:50 AM

Indeed. My particular twig on the Protestant tree worships by sitting in total silence, often for an hour or more.

April

02-23-2010, 06:17 AM

This might throw a kink in your rope, but Baptists are not Protestants. Protestants "protested" out of the Catholic Church. The Baptists were never a part of the Catholic Church. They have maintained a separate presence. Many Baptists don't know this, though and even call themselves Protestant, but this is a misnomer.

Anyhoo, I know the above why? The last church I was a member of was Baptist. I consider myself a Christian, but I rarely color myself that way when talking to others because I don't believe the way most Christians do. It makes for a rather awkward conversation.

I believe in Jesus, but I don't believe in Hell. I don't celebrate holidays. I don't believe in tithing, although I believe in being generous. I believe in Science. I don't believe in the "full" theory of evolution, not because it goes against religion, but because it is bad science.

My favorite bible verse is 1 Thess 5:21 "Test everything. Hold on to the good." I think that sums up what Christianity means to me. I live my beliefs and hold on to what works and discard what doesn't. I think my beliefs are the truth and I do not believe that all religions lead to the same place. I don't think people are inherently good. Quite the opposite, I think people are, in general, inherently bad.

Now to qualify the last couple of sentences. Even though I think I'm right and some others are wrong, just my opinion (like 3/4 of all religious people), I would never (I hope) pronounce, as a statement of fact, that I'm right and you're wrong. That galls me when others do it. I mean, I don't have perfect knowledge and neither do you. I might be basing my beliefs on faulty data. That is a complete possibility. It kills me when people try to force their beliefs on others because they KNOW they have the truth. Really? You KNOW?

Roger J Carlson

02-23-2010, 05:55 PM

You might find it interesting to note that I shared my description of a Protestant service to my husband who considered it very accurate from his unique point of view, raised in the Protestant church and then becoming Catholic in his fourth decade of life.(bolding mine)

Precisely. Your husband's perspective is unique and thus he can no more speak for any other worshiper than you can. In fact, all of our perspectives are unique. No one knows what goes on in anyone else's mind or soul.

If you want people to stop making generalizations about your faith, you should stop doing it to others.

Lyra Jean

02-23-2010, 06:01 PM

Roger J Carlson

02-23-2010, 06:08 PM

"The Protestant church" strikes my raised-Protestant ear strangely, too. Every time I spent the night at a friend's and went to church with their family, I had to be careful not to assume they did things the way my home church did. It was easier between some churches, but the Baptists were quite a bit different, for example.

I went to a High Episcopal school and home church for years. That reminds me much more of some Masses than of Southern Baptist ceremonies, or Holiness churches -- very, very different ways to do it.

And some Baptist ceremonies are done more formally.

In the US, particularly, it's hard to even tell by the term 'Baptist'! Much less Protestant :)Indeed, it's interesting to note that Jesse Jackson, Jerry Falwell, Fred Phelps, Billy Graham, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, and many others of diverse backgrounds and politics (http://www.adherents.com/largecom/fam_bap.html) are or were Baptists.

Roger J Carlson

02-23-2010, 06:15 PM

I just figured with the way that people use the term protestant now is being non-Catholic. Otherwise no one is protestant except for Lutherans and Anglicans maybe since they were the first to break away from the Catholic Church.That is common usage now, but it is technically incorrect.

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "protestant". The particular branch of Baptist I grew up in (what used to be called Swedish Baptist) is an off shoot of the Swedish Lutheran church, created in "protest" of some of that church's doctrine, so it a sense, it is also "protestant" -- not of the Catholic church, but the Lutheran. However, not all Baptists churches have that history.

ColoradoGuy

02-23-2010, 07:22 PM

Labels are often a problem, especially when applied by one group to another.

citymouse

02-23-2010, 08:17 PM

Humans love to label everything. My mentor was a cardinal. I never heard him use the term Protestant when referring to Christains who were not baptized into the Catholic Church. Rather he said, "Our separated brothers and sisters."
He also thought it unfair that in differentiating between Christian denominations we hear of staunch Protestants and devout Catholics.

What a spectacle we put on for Heaven.

I think Voltaire was right in that God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.
C

StephanieFox

02-23-2010, 09:10 PM

Wow! A Catholic/Protestant fight. What is this? Northern Ireland? This makes me a neutral, a rare place for me to be.

ColoradoGuy

02-23-2010, 09:13 PM

Wow! A Catholic/Protestant fight.
Not a fight -- we've made some progress since the Thirty Years War. A mild misunderstanding. Stake burnings are so 17th century.

JimmyB27

02-23-2010, 09:20 PM

Not a fight -- we've made some progress since the Thirty Years War. A mild misunderstanding. Stake burnings are so 17th century.
Yes, now there are bombs. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8529884.stm)

ColoradoGuy

02-23-2010, 09:54 PM

Yes, now there are bombs. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8529884.stm)
We don't allow those here, either.

johnnysannie

02-24-2010, 06:50 PM

I just figured with the way that people use the term protestant now is being non-Catholic. Otherwise no one is protestant except for Lutherans and Anglicans maybe since they were the first to break away from the Catholic Church.

Doesn't twist my rope in the least ;) but the actual dictionary (Merriam-Webster) of the word "Protestant" may twist yours:

a member of any of several church denominations denying the universal authority of the Pope and affirming the Reformation principles of justification by faith alone, the priesthood of all believers, and the primacy of the Bible as the only source of revealed truth; broadly : a Christian not of a Catholic or Eastern church

This usage of the word "protestant" is not new at all; it has been the definition for centuries. It stems from the basic historical fact that the only Christian faith until the Reformation was the Catholic Church. Luther was one of the first to protest but Lutherans are not the only Protestants and never have been.

As the dictionary says, it's a Christian not of a Catholic or eastern church.

johnnysannie

02-24-2010, 06:52 PM

(bolding mine)

Precisely. Your husband's perspective is unique and thus he can no more speak for any other worshiper than you can. In fact, all of our perspectives are unique. No one knows what goes on in anyone else's mind or soul.

If you want people to stop making generalizations about your faith, you should stop doing it to others.

As someone who spent most of his life in Protestant faiths - very active in those faiths as well - his perspective is unqiue only because he now understands what Catholics believe. He has a honest, open view of how Protestant church is held compared to Catholic.

johnnysannie

02-24-2010, 06:56 PM

Wow! A Catholic/Protestant fight. What is this? Northern Ireland? This makes me a neutral, a rare place for me to be.

It wasn't a "fight" if you want to call it that until Protestants attempted to make generalizations about the Catholic faith, something they do not know nor understand.

As for Northern Ireland (which I prefer to refer to as the Six Counties), the issues there are far deeper than the simple religious differences. The conflicts are centuries old and have as much to do with culture, economic, and ethnic differences as they do religion. I have some personal ties to the Six Counties and it is not just Catholics versus Protestants - certainly not from the Catholic point of view.

Anti-Catholicism is alive and well in America, unfortunately, these days, more rampant than I have seen it in many years.

Roger J Carlson

02-24-2010, 06:57 PM

As someone who spent most of his life in Protestant faiths - very active in those faiths as well - his perspective is unqiue only because he now understands what Catholics believe. He has a honest, open view of how Protestant church is held compared to Catholic.I don't doubt his honesty, just his ability to speak for other people.

Lyra Jean

02-24-2010, 07:04 PM

Doesn't twist my rope in the least ;) but the actual dictionary (Merriam-Webster) of the word "Protestant" may twist yours:

a member of any of several church denominations denying the universal authority of the Pope and affirming the Reformation principles of justification by faith alone, the priesthood of all believers, and the primacy of the Bible as the only source of revealed truth; broadly : a Christian not of a Catholic or Eastern church

This usage of the word "protestant" is not new at all; it has been the definition for centuries. It stems from the basic historical fact that the only Christian faith until the Reformation was the Catholic Church. Luther was one of the first to protest but Lutherans are not the only Protestants and never have been.

As the dictionary says, it's a Christian not of a Catholic or eastern church.

um, wasn't trying to twist your rope. I was mostly wondering if April's definition was still common usage or if it has changed as some words definitions do change to include all Christian denominations that are not Catholic.

johnnysannie

02-24-2010, 07:04 PM

I don't doubt his honesty, just his ability to speak for other people.

The Pope doesn't speak for Catholics although he does intrepret Catholic doctrine and issue his views on Catholicism; he governs Christ's church on earth (according to Catholic teaching) and thus in effect, he is more or less the Pastor for all Catholics. He no more speaks for others than does the pastor of any church, large or small.

As Catholics, we honor and revere him as most people do their pastors.

Roger J Carlson

02-24-2010, 07:42 PM

The Pope doesn't speak for Catholics although he does intrepret Catholic doctrine and issue his views on Catholicism; he governs Christ's church on earth (according to Catholic teaching) and thus in effect, he is more or less the Pastor for all Catholics. He no more speaks for others than does the pastor of any church, large or small.

As Catholics, we honor and revere him as most people do their pastors. I was referring to your husband. I can't imagine how you twisted it into a reference to the Pope.

citymouse

02-24-2010, 08:38 PM

Twisted in this context is such an unfortunate word. Wouldn't a more charitable phrase be, confused it with a reference to the Pope?
C

I was referring to your husband. I can't imagine how you twisted it into a reference to the Pope.

ColoradoGuy

02-24-2010, 09:15 PM

It wasn't a "fight" if you want to call it that until Protestants attempted to make generalizations about the Catholic faith, something they do not know nor understand.

As for Northern Ireland (which I prefer to refer to as the Six Counties), the issues there are far deeper than the simple religious differences. The conflicts are centuries old and have as much to do with culture, economic, and ethnic differences as they do religion. I have some personal ties to the Six Counties and it is not just Catholics versus Protestants - certainly not from the Catholic point of view.

Anti-Catholicism is alive and well in America, unfortunately, these days, more rampant than I have seen it in many years.
I see I need to be a bit more blunt here. This thread is meant as a simple meet-and-greet thread, one in which we explain what we are and what we believe. You're being far more argumentative than is useful or justified. Stop it. You're committing all the errors you accuse "the Protestants" of doing -- things like making sweeping judgments about false categories of people. (And once again -- THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "THE PROTESTANTS.")

aruna

02-24-2010, 10:03 PM

I really don't understand this difference between Catholic and Protestant. Aren't they both Christian, and isn't that the only thing that matters?

As a young person my only religious guidance came from school, and that was Church of England. It's amazing how deeply that influence is embedded in my mind; I can still recite prayers Ilearned by heart, remember the words of hymns, and the other day I found out I can still say the Apostle's Creed, even though I learned it 45 years ago!

But I've also worshipped with Catholics. When I lived in Germany and studied there I was close to a devoted Catholic family and sometimes went to their church. And every Easter I used to go to Catholic Mass on Easter Sunday in Switzerland. I loved the moment when the priest would cry: Le Christ est ressuscité! I also took communion with the Catholics, though I am not even baptised. I suppose that's a very naughty thing to do!
I'm also very interestied i the lives and experiences of Cathlic saints and mystics.

I lived for six months with a Quaker family in Cambridge Mass. I even went to their Quaker wedding. Silence is something that has always spoken to me, so that was great too.
And every once in a while I join my friends in London for a good Hindu kirtan!
It's all good. I think it;s importrant to have one's own spiritual path to travel seriously, but to respect and partake in the services of others. It's a kind of cross-fertilization.

ColoradoGuy

02-24-2010, 10:15 PM

I really don't understand this difference between Catholic and Protestant. Aren't they both Christian, and isn't that the only thing that matters?

Well, as a Quaker, I agree with you. But the various branches of the Christian tree have long resisted syncretism. This was already true in the 4th century, before the appearance of the political baggage that came with becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire. And then, of course, politics often drove doctrinal considerations. Jesus didn't leave his followers with an institutional structure. When one was needed, arguments started over what it was to be. At stake was what the term "Christian" exactly meant.

Lyra Jean

02-24-2010, 10:30 PM

I've been to a few different Protestant services non-denom, Lutheran, Methodist, various Baptist.

Baptists can be different from each other like the time I wore a shirt but if I lifted my arm my stomach would show. I didn't realize it until at church and the pastor wouldn't let me stay. I had to go home and change shirts.

non-denoms are a lot different from each other as well. One I attended wanted me to get saved and baptized again just in case I didn't do it correctly the first time.

Or the one where the woman was speaking in tongues and she wanted to wipe her sweat on me because she believed it was holy ghost oil. Ew!

Outside of these I found a lot of Protestant services to be really similar. I have never attended a Catholic service or a Quaker Meeting. I'm afraid I might fall asleep and not because the services might be boring but because I just generally have a difficult time staying awake in the mornings.

aruna

02-24-2010, 10:37 PM

The trouble begins when Christians, whatever denomination they are, look away from the central message. What could be clearer than the Sermon on the Mount?
It seems to me an argument about the chaff; becase the wheat would unite, not divide.

Roger J Carlson

02-24-2010, 10:40 PM

I really don't understand this difference between Catholic and Protestant. Aren't they both Christian, and isn't that the only thing that matters? Well, yes and no.

At stake was what the term "Christian" exactly meant. This, I think, is part of the problem -- the definition of what Christian means.

As I said up thread, to me the church or denomination you attend is irrelevant. What matters is your relationship to the living Christ. I think it is possible to go through all the motions and education of a church and still not be a Christian.

So while you will NEVER hear me say that "Catholics are not Christians" (as some do), I do think that not ALL Catholics are necessarily Christians, nor all Baptists, nor all Lutherans, and so forth. I also believe it is not for me to say which people are Christians and which are not. Only God knows each person's heart.

Conversely, I believe that people who have never even heard of Christ can be Christians in God's eyes by virtue of their faith (which I believe is Catholic doctrine as well).

So to me, the only thing that matters is whether you are a Christian inside, not which church you attend.

AMCrenshaw

02-24-2010, 11:42 PM

Conversely, I believe that people who have never even heard of Christ can be Christians in God's eyes by virtue of their faith (which I believe is Catholic doctrine as well).

Would you mind elaborating upon what you mean by faith here? The way I'm thinking of it...If one has never heard of Christ, I'm not sure how one can "have" faith in him. Or are you still referring to a relationship with the Divine (which you believe is Christ), one's good works, or do you mean something else entirely?

AMC

April

02-26-2010, 07:01 PM

johnnysannie - I would be interested to know where you are getting the historical "fact" that there were no other Christian religions before the Reformation.

April

02-26-2010, 07:10 PM

Here (http://http://bible-truth.org/BaptistHistory.html#001) is a link that best describes the position of baptists being seperate from protestants. It addresses the dictionary definition as well.

disclaimer: I no longer consider myself a Baptist and do not agree with everything on this site.

Uncarved

03-05-2010, 08:19 PM

Born and spent a few of my young years as a Baptist. Went from that to Atheist at age 12. Then was Wiccan. And now I'm sorta found a nice comfortable home I can agree with in Buddhism. I think so long as it is earth based, or based in a fundamental "if you do bad things bad things will happen to you" sort of way, I'm in.

Elisabeth Bruce

03-11-2010, 08:12 AM

I am a seeker; I have no idea what I am seeking but when I find it, my journey will be complete.
I had an experience many years ago, I call it my 'near life experience'. I found only what I can call 'pure energy' and the saddest thing was I knew there was a part of me needed to blend with it at that moment, but I had to come back and complete my journey here.

To me, all religions are valid to the people who develop them. All have good things which uplift the spirits of the members; there are also bad things in them which can create fear and uncertainty.

I think that they're all facets of the one fabulous diamond.

It doesn't matter to me which religion or denomination you espouse. You could be a 'Calathumpian Jew with Buddhist leanings', or an atheist; I like you, the person.

I don't think I've said this well, though it is as near as I can get at the moment.

Thank you for your time.

Lis.

Adagio

03-13-2010, 11:34 AM

I was born and raised in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and never changed.

For those who haven't heard of, or know very little about the Orthodox Church, here is an explanation from Wikipedia. It does better than I do. Orthodox means in Greek "the right way."

"The Orthodox Church is the world's second largest Christian communion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_communion), estimated to number 300 million members.

It asserts that it is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles almost 2,000 years ago.

The Orthodox Church claims to trace its development back through the Byzantine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine) and Roman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire) empires, to the earliest church established by St. Paul (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Paul) and the Apostles. It practices what it understands to be the original ancient traditions, believing in growth without change. In non-doctrinal matters the church had occasionally shared from local Greek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greeks), Slavic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavs) and Middle Eastern traditions, among others, in turn shaping the cultural development of these nations.

The goal of Orthodox Christians from baptism, when it is believed that they are sealed with the Holy Spirit, is to continually draw near to God throughout life. This process is called theosis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosis) or deification and is a spiritual pilgrimage in which each person strives to become more holy and more "Christ Like" within Jesus Christ.

Orthodox Christians believe scripture was revealed by the Holy Spirit to its inspired human authors. They also use icons as a part of their personal and liturgical worship and prayer life. An Orthodox Christian will often have icons in their home and icons are a prominent feature in Orthodox churches. They are used in prayer and veneration of the saint or Biblical event they represent, but are not objects of worship themselves. The Orthodox Church maintains that this is not idolatry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idolatry), nonetheless preferring them to three-dimensional statues. Icons depict Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, the saints and important Biblical events. They have been part of Orthodox Christianity since the beginning of the church.

In the 11th century what was recognised as the Great Schism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East-West_Schism) took place between Rome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome) and Constantinople (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople), which led to separation from the Church of the West, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Eastern Byzantine Churches, now the Orthodox."

I am not a church goer now, but I keep my faith. Many of my friends come from various denominations and other religions, even Islam, and some have abandoned their faith for good, or have changed denomination. A choice I respect. My niece, born in the States, was baptized Catholic and in my family we celebrate both Easters: Catholic and Orthodox. The difference in date is due to complicated calendar calculations.

In my youth I visited a couple of monasteries in the Carpathians mountains, where I spent summer breaks and where I was fascinated by the monks way of life. So serene, so spiritual! They kept the faith alive in spite of hardships of all kinds. Communism never broke them.

Adagio

semilargeintestine

03-30-2010, 08:57 PM

I just "converted" to Naturalistic Pantheism.

TameraLynnKraft

03-30-2010, 11:11 PM

I'm a born-again, evangelical, pentecostal Christian. My denominational church is Church of God.

maxmordon

03-30-2010, 11:37 PM

Would you mind elaborating upon what you mean by faith here? The way I'm thinking of it...If one has never heard of Christ, I'm not sure how one can "have" faith in him. Or are you still referring to a relationship with the Divine (which you believe is Christ), one's good works, or do you mean something else entirely?

AMC

I think Roger is talking about the Virtuous Pagan theology:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtuous_pagan

This is why Virgil appears in the Purgatory in The Divine Comedy.

AnkleSneeze

04-12-2010, 02:16 AM

I once met a man who told me there is no such thing as right and wrong.
So i asked him how he knew he was right about that.

Isaiah 43
I wont discuss it here, but I'll be stopping by your place later if you'd like to talk.

IdiotsRUs

04-12-2010, 02:48 AM

I think Roger is talking about the Virtuous Pagan theology:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtuous_pagan

Gods damn it, you got me coming and going!

:D

veinglory

04-12-2010, 03:18 AM

My religion is: N/A

shadowwalker

04-12-2010, 03:40 AM

I'm not sure what I am, frankly. I was raised by a divorced Catholic mother and a Lutheran-raised atheist father in the Congregational Church (which merged with the Methodist Church in our town). I joined the Methodist Church when young (under protest) and in my twenties joined the Catholic Church - which I then "lapsed out of".

Currently, I would say I'm probably a Deist with mild Buddhist leanings, and I'm fascinated by the Gnostics. But I steer clear of religion as a "form" simply because too many atrocities have been/are being committed in its name. I don't believe any religious book can be taken literally, and any religion that 'commands' more than "Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself" has too many rules, mostly made up for control by the leaders of the religion.

Chasing the Horizon

04-18-2010, 12:27 PM

I'm a polytheistic Heathen. I'd been searching for a long time and knew this was the truth immediately when I found it, and my High Goddess called me to her right away. I dedicated my life to Her without hesitation.

If there are any other true polytheists here, I'd be happy to talk with you. :)

Al Ross

04-18-2010, 12:40 PM

I am a Pagan. One that does not believe any of the big believes system. I got my own believe that I believe in one God but much different from any belief systems out there.

Maybe I should start my own following. Want to be my disciples. ;)

Alvah

04-18-2010, 02:58 PM

Not sure if this topic should go here but there isnt anywhere else to put it.
So what do u like or not like about your faith?
What are you against or for?

I am a Baha'i.

larocca

04-18-2010, 03:22 PM

Atheist

darkprincealain

04-19-2010, 05:47 PM

I just converted to Buddhism. The center I go to teaches one of the branches that starts with the letter t. Unfortunately, I didn't catch whether we're Theraveda, Tibetan or Tendai, but to my mind, I'll get there when I get there. There is so much to learn otherwise, that while I'm sure there are differences, I'm not so certain that it matters.

DavidZahir

04-19-2010, 10:10 PM

I am seeking conversion to the Orthodox Church.

To expand a little (at least based on my own understanding), the Orthodox differs from the Catholic and Protestant both in that it doesn't focus on SIN. In fact this is usually the greatest single problem I have in trying to explain the Orthodox Church. People raised amid the influence of Western Europe see their relationship with God as a matter of whether and how much they have sinned. Roman Catholics take an extremely legalistic approach, figuring you get into Heaven by making sure you've done what's needed to remove or negate the sins you've committed before you die (more or less). The more hard-core Protestant view is that human beings are incapable of virtue, being totally corrupt but may be forgiven their inherently loathesome nature through a divine act of Grace.

But the Orthodox see it very differently. To us (I think of myself as Orthodox) God has already forgiven all of us every single sin we might ever commit. God's love for us is without limit or condition, and beyond the power of any human being to impact in any way. At this point I usually here the sentence "Except for Hitler!" No, including Hitler. And John Wayne Gacy, Osama bin Laden, Jozef Stalin, Jeffrey Dahmer, Pohl Pot, Mao Zedong, etc. All are forgiven. All are loved. Equally. Each and every one of us without any exception. But here is the point--God doesn't punish us. God's nature (which even God cannot violate) cannot make us accept God without taking away our free will. To accept God's love, to open our hearts to that awesome state of being, that is bliss. That is paradise, and cannot be faked. And to reject it, to turn away from that, is to limit yourself increasingly. More, when you eventually experience God's love upon death if you have rejected it then of course if feels like Hell. You are immersed in what you've rejected. But God did not make Hell. Man made it.

Keep in mind this process is not about doctrine. Understanding theology and the like is admirable and helpful, but not necessary. I am very liberal in terms of this, believing that knowledge of Jesus or His Church is not required for accepting God's love (it sure helps a lot, but isn't necessary).

Char

05-15-2010, 01:21 PM

I'm Roman Catholic, though I spent a good many years as part of the United Church of Canada.

semilargeintestine, what is Naturalistic Pantheism?

mario_c

06-01-2010, 10:26 AM

Well done, all.
I'm looking around for Buddhist temples, groups or services to attend in my area. I'm not sure what the procedure is, is it like western religions where you have to go to temple every weekend? I'll have to find out. The Unitarian-Universalists, bless their uncommitted and unjudging hearts, have some good links.
The way I look at it is, I've always been a Buddhist, even as I have been an agnostic or thought I was an atheist. I only finally figured out recently, as my personal life has hit bottom, that I need to get involved with the community and understand what that means to me as a person.

ArcticFox

06-01-2010, 10:41 AM

Wiccan here.

charlotte49ers

06-01-2010, 10:43 AM

Whiskeypalian

Me too!! lol

Stanmiller

06-01-2010, 08:01 PM

This is an interesting thread.

I don't see any fellow members of the Church of Live And Let Live or Else. If CLALLE could get another member, we could file for tax-exempt status. Anybody?

Mark W.

07-10-2010, 09:19 PM

I am Protestant Christian. What do I like about it? Freedom. What do I not like about it? The tendancy for dogma to get attached to it.

Duchessmary

07-10-2010, 09:35 PM

Lutheran, Missouri Synod. What I like about it~much of the service and structure dates back to the 2nd century. What I don't like about it~they always want $$$.

kaitiepaige17

07-10-2010, 09:39 PM

Rationalist, as Bill Maher would say.

Michael

07-10-2010, 10:16 PM

I'm not particularly religious, although I do have a spiritual belief. I think of it as "non-traditional, eclectic Christian." Probably too complicated to explain what i like and don't like about it, though.

Starby

07-10-2010, 10:23 PM

Spiritual - I follow my own path.

deathwizard

07-10-2010, 11:33 PM

It's interesting to go through this thread and see how many have brought up Buddhism. From a personal standpoint, I'm glad to see that.

skunkmelon

07-11-2010, 03:55 AM

I'm a pagan. To me, that means I can formulate my own beliefs instead of following someone else's. I found an amazing quote that makes so much sense to my stubborn ole self. :)

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” -Buddha-

:) Cheers to all.

deathwizard

07-11-2010, 04:28 AM

Rufus Coppertop

07-11-2010, 06:54 PM

Buddhist.

semilargeintestine

07-11-2010, 07:37 PM

The more I ponder things, the more I like elements of Buddhism and Hinduism. I still believe in something, so I guess I can't call myself an atheist. I just don't think there's any way for us to ever understand it in this form. I guess that would make me an agnostic. But I follow some Buddhist practices. If someone asked me today, I'd probably say Buddhist.

I'm Roman Catholic, though I spent a good many years as part of the United Church of Canada.

semilargeintestine, what is Naturalistic Pantheism?

It's basically sexed up atheism. It starts with atheism and then expands into a sort of collective good kind of thing.

greta2242

07-19-2010, 04:02 PM

Catholic who regularly attends Shul (Jewish Temple for the Catholics.) (My grandfather is Jewish.) So my answer is typically who knows, and I do what I feel is right for my own soul.

R. A. Lundberg

07-19-2010, 09:39 PM

I would be an eclectic solitary Wiccan. I-we, actually, there are many of us- worship the One, as expressed in the duality of the Goddess and the God. Two sides of the same coin, if you will. Our church is the beauty of nature, our Goddess and God bid us to treat others as we would be treated, and we seek to convert no one.

And yes, that makes me a Witch. And yes, I am a guy. I am not a Fluffy Bunny, nor do I follow the left hand path. I respect true Christianity, but have no use for the fighting that goes on between the various branches.

And if that isn't enough for you? I'm also an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church.

Blessed Be, all

Oh, and Soma Gardawski and Arctic Fox- Merry Meet!

AceTachyon

07-20-2010, 01:51 AM

Neat thread.

I was raised Catholic but consider myself spiritual. No religious affiliation.

Paul

07-20-2010, 02:10 AM

Hippy-Hedonist.

Paul

07-20-2010, 02:14 AM

Drunkard.

I also dabble in this religion a bit

omega12596

07-20-2010, 02:26 AM

I call myself a naturalist. Everything is cyclical, man is not above beasts, treat everything with respect and dignity, don't take more than you need, give back when you can, etc.

I was raised Roman Catholic and decided, just before Confirmation, I didn't like that show. So I spent years reading and researching other religions and basically created my own spiritualism to follow, if you will. I don't believe in God or an afterlife, beyond the physical parts and energy of my body dispersing (were it allowed) back into the cycle of life. And I'm good with that :D

Gehanna

07-20-2010, 08:31 AM

I am a honky Caucasian cracker white, female, Keirsey labeled Rational Mastermind, science loving, Christian.

Gehanna

RyanCE

05-05-2011, 09:29 PM

I dont belong to any religion and just spiritual.

darkprincealain

05-08-2011, 11:43 PM

Buddhist who is participating in his first weekend retreat next weekend, after doing a few half day retreats.

I'm a little nervous that I may not be able to sit that long in meditation, frankly.

Nick Blaze

05-09-2011, 12:02 PM

Agnostic, I suppose, with many taoist, shintoist, and buddhist philosophies and routines I tend to follow. I do not actively practice them, but I do believe in some of their teachings.

Max Vaehling

05-09-2011, 03:32 PM

Kitty27

05-09-2011, 04:30 PM

Raised in a Baptist home but agnostic with strong leanings towards Wicca and African spiritualism.

BunnyMaz

05-09-2011, 05:17 PM

Pagan, here. Still working out my path, which seems to be the default position for a lot of Pagans! :D

If I had to define...

Loosely Heathen Eclectic Shamanist with Druidic tendencies.

Eurgh. I feel all sticky now. Gonna go wallow in some conflciting Paanism for a bit.

latourdumoine

05-09-2011, 09:27 PM

Gnostic

The Otter

05-10-2011, 02:22 AM

Used to be agnostic until some people on a mission said I can't be indifferent in such an important question, and it's the most important question in the world, and what's wrong with Jesus anyway?

Took that to heart. Made a decision.

Atheist now.

As I understand it, agnosticism (in the traditional sense of the word) isn't an undecided or indifferent position, but a separate philosophical position that states it's impossible for anyone to know whether a god or gods exist.

I'm not sure who decided that you have to "take a side" and be either a complete atheist or a devout believer in some god or other, but I think they're mistaken.

Queen of Swords

05-10-2011, 02:26 AM

Baptized Catholic, became a born-again Christian later, deconverted even later.

Atheist now.

Zoombie

05-10-2011, 03:42 AM

Bronie, as Princess Celestia intended.

http://www.cosplayisland.co.uk/files/costumes/910/39755/Princess_Celestia.jpg

Max Vaehling

05-10-2011, 11:06 PM

As I understand it, agnosticism (in the traditional sense of the word) isn't an undecided or indifferent position, but a separate philosophical position that states it's impossible for anyone to know whether a god or gods exist.

Yep. Not good enough for theists who think that decision defines them as a person, I guess.

veinglory

05-10-2011, 11:08 PM

Atheist, lifelong.

brainstorm77

05-11-2011, 02:18 AM

Non practicing Salvationist(not religious).

Stoneghost

05-11-2011, 09:32 AM

jacket

05-11-2011, 09:50 AM

Atheist

BunnyMaz

05-11-2011, 04:34 PM

path? Yeah, you know. Some Pagans align themselves with a specific branch of Paganism; Heathen, Alexandrian, Druid, Hellenist, Neoshaman, Enochian, Celtic, Chaos Magic, Seidr, Luciferian, Coptic... They attend group meetings with others of the same path, dedicate themselves to specific gods and goddesses, build themselves little themed altars in their homes and celebrate the holy days of that one path.

And some just soak it all up, and the mainstream religions too, and enjoy a marvellous mess of their own invention.

Katze_E

05-11-2011, 09:17 PM

I was born Presbyterian. Until I was 14. Then Mother and Father moved to another country and decided I'd be a born-again Evangelical, radical branch. I put up with it, but at 21, none of that made any sense - speaking in tongues, spiritual retreats with strange things in the middle, and many, too many rules to follow. Mother and Father wouldn't let me leave, but I did it, anyway. For a short time I was Baptist - all my life I've been on a religion, so I wasn't ready to break free just yet.
When I married, Hubby's family was Catholic and we went to a few masses, but Catholicism doesn't resound to us, all the dogmas and etc... Hubby opened my eyes: we don't need it. We're on our own, now, living the best way we can, trying to not hurt and not being hurt, and mostly, not giving money to any church that don't give anything in return.

sheilas_world

05-11-2011, 09:23 PM

Merry Meet!

Solitary eclectic pagan hearth witch here, although I've been lax in ritual and observance lately.

froley

05-17-2011, 12:22 PM

Atheist reporting in. Deconverted at 17 after doing biology at high school.

I'm anti-theist, too. Is that, like, a subset of atheism?

Purple Rose

05-17-2011, 01:10 PM

Hindu. I recite a Sanskrit mantra and have no idea what it means.

Married a non-practicing-non-believing Presbyterian and a few years later had babies and converted to Christianity. The idea was to raise Christian kids. After ten years of constatntly running into fundamentalists, decided to go back to being a Hindu.

Christian years paid off as follows - husband is still a non-believer, one daughter is proudly atheist and the other is proudly Christian.

Think I'm going to be Hitchensian next.

jaksen

05-17-2011, 04:52 PM

Baptized Unitarian. Went to Evangelical Sunday school, even sang in the choir. But I always knew something wasn't quite right about all of this; it just didn't jive with what I saw of the real world.

Anyhow, married a lapsed Catholic who felt the same.

Now, am a nothing, or perhaps a little agnostic, even a Deist. Of the mindset if a supernatural 'something' made the universe, he/she/it's since gone off and left it to us to figure out. I mean, what kind of 'god' would stand around and watch the Holocaust, the last two tsunamis, the dozens of wars still going on, and not do anything about it?

writingismypassion

05-18-2011, 12:53 AM

Looks like I'm in the minority. That's okay, though. I proudly admit I am a Christian. I am involved in my church, attend a Bible study regularly ~ not because I believe I have to but because I enjoy those activities. For me, being a Christian is about a relationship with God, not about "being religious."

Greetings to all! :)

Writer-2-Author

05-18-2011, 01:54 AM

Born-again Jesus Freak!

Snowstorm

05-18-2011, 02:06 AM

I believe in myself (which sounds awfully self-worshiping as I type that, but I don't). Beyond that, atheist.

COchick

05-18-2011, 02:14 AM

My father was a half-assed Catholic, my mother was a half-assed Buddhist. So that makes me a whole lot of NOTHING. If I have to choose something, I'm going with agnostic.

TerraAnn

05-23-2011, 12:45 AM

Baptized Lutheran, raised Catholic until around my first communion, and then we kind of stopped going to church. The more I've learned about religion since, the more I've disagreed with it and drifted away. I would say I'm agnostic now.

Haggis

05-23-2011, 12:56 AM

Chihuahuan.

Xelebes

05-25-2011, 02:42 AM

Largely agnostic with a protestant upbringing.

Teinz

05-31-2011, 10:02 PM

Maxx

05-31-2011, 10:25 PM

I was raised a Protestant, went to church until high school biology. Then adhered to Somethingism for a few years. Became an Agnostic after that and now I´m up to the point where I´m saying to myself: "Dude, you're an Antheist, just admit it!" But I can't. Some days I blame my upbringing, but most of the time I feel there are infinite wonders in existence.

Like I always say, the good thing about being an Atheist is that you get to believe in everything (all the infinite wonders..every single one). You just don't have to measure all those beliefs against the standard of believing in an all-loving God who wants to beat you up forever after you're dead.

Teinz

06-01-2011, 02:06 PM

Like I always say, the good thing about being an Atheist is that you get to believe in everything (all the infinite wonders..every single one). You just don't have to measure all those beliefs against the standard of believing in an all-loving God who wants to beat you up forever after you're dead.

Luckily, the personal God-thing, who wants to punish or reward me, didn't stick. So I'm an Atheist in the sense that I expect no threats, nor hope, from no one.

But I'm not so sure about the existence of the Divine. I feel it might be a part of the wondrous infinity.

Then again, maybe I'm not ready to see the Universe without any purpose, other than what we make of it.

Sigh, I think I'll go back to Agnosticism, a bright, new morning and a strong cup of coffee.

Maxx

06-01-2011, 05:27 PM

But I'm not so sure about the existence of the Divine. I feel it might be a part of the wondrous infinity.

The notion "existence of the Divine" is historical baggage. If you really want to see what is wonderful, it is probably just as well to avoid it for personal use, though of course it can be useful as a hint about how other people structure their experiences.

Teinz

06-01-2011, 06:55 PM

The notion "existence of the Divine" is historical baggage...

"Historical baggage" meaning that man's mental representation of the world has been dependent on a God for so long, most of us struggle to accept a reality which increasingly doesn't seem to need Him to exist? I agree.

I experience wonder in talking to you about wonder. God has nothing to do with that, the magic is all us. I don't think anything in this reality is dependent on God for either it's existence or meaning.

But I do not seem to be able to accept the idea that this universe came to be all on it's own.

Maxx

06-01-2011, 07:07 PM

But I do not seem to be able to accept the idea that this universe came to be all on it's own.

It's a matter of aesthetics, I think. The idea of "came to be all on its own" can be unpacked into a series of models and observations. Are models and observations the whole story or is there aways a residue which can be as horrid or fine as we wish to picture it?

Teinz

06-01-2011, 07:58 PM

It's a matter of aesthetics, I think...

I am affected by beauty, yes, but do you mean that I need my worldview to be constructed in a beautiful way? The way a solution to a mathematical equation can be beautiful or elegant?

Are models and observations the whole story or is there aways a residue which can be as horrid or fine as we wish to picture it?

I think that everything that can be said about the Universe, will one day be said. Either by us (which I doubt), or by other intellects. Maybe it has been said already. But as I claimed before, I don't think this Universe is all there is. Having a positive outlook on the world, I wish the residu to be positive as well, although I don't think there is anything to be said about it. Hence my Agnosticism.

Anacry

06-11-2011, 06:44 AM

I usually just tend to call myself a "God person". I don't like putting an over-arcing name on it (Christian, Buddist, Jew, etc) because people tend to have certain veiws about certain over-arcing names. I basically believe that Jesus was born, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. The only way to God/Heaven is through asking Jesus into your life, and you can do that no matter who you are - straight, gay, black, white, drug-addict, plumber, serial killer, whatever. Invite Jesus into your life and He'll work on the other stuff later. I try to do what I think God wants me to do. I believe Church is a group of people getting together who believe in God, not a big old building with light bills. That's about it.

SeattleGhostWriter

06-14-2011, 12:15 PM

I am a Latter-day Saint Christian (Mormon for clarification purposes here). I appreciate my faith, the simplicity of it, and the reality of it. Some may disagree. I have been called a devil worshipper, a bigot, an intolerant, an ass-hat, a blind fool, an ignorant fool, and all other variety of names - mainly from evangelical Christians who claim to love Christ and follow Christ.

Writer-2-Author

06-14-2011, 07:43 PM

SeattleGhostWriter, I am a born-again Christian and I am very sorry for the way you have been treated by others claiming to love and follow Christ. We are to love one another no matter what our differences are. God said to love the sinner, not the sin. We are all sinners in His eyes, but His greatest commandment was to love. Unfortunately, not all Christians practice this.

W2A

lukereynolds

06-15-2011, 03:34 AM

I'm a christian. And I'm the kind of christian who believes that the entire Bible is true no matter what you're temporary emotions may be.

SeattleGhostWriter

06-15-2011, 09:08 AM

I'm a christian. And I'm the kind of christian who believes that the entire Bible is true no matter what you're temporary emotions may be.

I love it!!!!!

SeattleGhostWriter

06-15-2011, 09:09 AM

Quentin Nokov

06-15-2011, 06:16 PM

This is an interesting discussion. I'm a Christian, though I don't keep Christmas nor Easter or Halloween. I believe these holidays are all pagan. I'm what some call a Messianic-Jew. My family and accept Christ as our Savior. We keep the Sabbath, The Night to Be Much Remembered, Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.

If you're interested you can looked up Herbert W. Armstrong. He was the man who started the era of the Philadelphian Church, basically, and also started the World Wide Church of God.

The World Wide Church of God is Evangelist now, but the doctrine under Armstrong can still be found on the internet. One of my father's old ministers is actually on Youtube. David C. Pack. His channel is RestoredCOG, I believe.

I thoroughly love our religion, and I follow it to a 'T'. :)

MimiAngel621

07-22-2011, 03:19 AM

I'm Muslim.

The Unseen Moon

07-31-2011, 11:37 PM

My religion is stand up philosophy.

ShashaWriter

08-02-2011, 03:32 AM

Christian. . . it's not a realigion it's just my faith. I celebratete certain holidays like all. . . well all the major ones like Thanksgiving Christmas Valentines day and Easter. The fourth of July and New Years and birthdays as well of course you cannot forget Mother's day and Father's day.

And by celebrate I mean have a big big dinner. That's pretty much all.

But yeah Jesus is God, the word in the flesh and he came down to save us from eternal separation with God, and he will return one day to end all this suffering and put a judgement on those he created.

. . . And all the Jazz =)

ShashaWriter

08-02-2011, 03:33 AM

Other beliefs that silicate me are the Buddhist with their reincarnation, and the Wicca who are just peaceful nature loving folks.

ShashaWriter

08-02-2011, 03:33 AM

My religion is stand up philosophy.

I really like that avatar.

The Unseen Moon

08-02-2011, 09:08 PM

Yah, my humor really killed me when I performed at Ceasars'. Or would've if it weren't for a miracle.

ShannonH

09-01-2011, 12:52 AM

My religion is a form of Christianity mixed with mormon.

Like: it's usually a short hour or so.

Dislike: 2-4 times a week. Sexist. Women are frowned upon if they wear pants to church. Parents force you to go, even if you are sick. There's too much to list!

In my case, I place my foot down on the dividing line of a believer and an atheist. I sway to atheism. :Shrug:

Fabor

09-28-2011, 09:08 AM

I believe in God.

Swtlo

10-23-2011, 10:13 AM

I'm a christian in that is how I describe the fundamentals of my belief. I started out southern baptist, then indepenant baptist, then found an amazing non-denominational bible based church. I am not fond of "religion" as in the politics that make people abuse each other and give excuses to do the most ghastly things. I go to a group, and we discuss a part of the bible and how we see it, what it means to us individually and how it applies twe pray together and go through the hard times together. Its a support network.

Manuel Royal

10-23-2011, 08:14 PM

Stone-cold atheist. But I find religions fascinating.

So far I've tended not to have religion play a part in most of my stories, but I need to learn to write three-dimensional characters whose beliefs are radically different from mine.

kct webber

11-08-2011, 04:59 PM

Raised evangelical southern baptist. I spent--literally, I used a calculator--more time in the church building than I did at home form age 5 to age 17 or so. I went to an evangelical school from 1st grade to graduation. My suspicion of the belief system of Christianity in general started when I was a young teenager; I got in trouble quite a lot for asking uncomfortable questions and refusing to simply be satisfied with the answers when they were unsatisfactory--which they always were. I began calling myself a Deist. As a slightly older teenager, I began to realize that not only had no one proven the existence of god or the supernatural, but that there was no evidence whatsoever for it. It wasn't even testable. It certainly wasn't falsifiable. So I rejected the supernatural altogether until such time as someone proves its existence.

I am an atheist. Religion still fascinates me, though. Especially cults.

allenparker

11-11-2011, 02:43 AM

I am a Christian. I do not claim any particular denomination, but I was asked not to attend a couple. The church I attend is small, but filled with people from all denominations. We accept each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

I came to Christianity through a series of events, but the Reader's Digest version goes like this. I was born to a minister, making me the preacher's kid. I found out that I did not like the staunch rules of the religious life and wandered around "Who is God" world only to find a wife who brought me back to understanding the simple love of my Creator.

The truth does not lie in the church we attend or the dogma we adhere to. The truth lies in our heart and soul.

I spent the time to read through this whole thread and I have to tell you that we have a long way to go to become one with one another. And yes, I didn't help. sorry.

thothguard51

11-11-2011, 02:51 AM

Is sexual deviant a religion????

Chrissy

11-11-2011, 03:07 AM

I just want to ask:

What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us?
Just a stranger on the bus?
Trying to make His way home?

(I didn't write that, FYI ;))

I think God exists in the ordinary and the mudane. He is most evident to me in the least, in the smallest, in the seemingly insignificant.

I believe God transcends religion, but I like churches and traditions and celebrations very much.

Siri Kirpal

11-16-2011, 12:03 AM

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

Sikhs believe in One God, neither male nor female, Who created everything and Who is both present in everything and beyond everything. That includes EVERYTHING in including all religions, the guy throwing up after a bender, the mosquito that just bit you.

That's what I like about my religion. It's super tolerant.

What I don't like about my religion. Other people are not tolerant of us. (We wear turbans. The Indian government and many bookstores mistake us for Hindus; people out shopping mistake us for Muslims. Bother!)

Shameless promotion: my book on Sikhism answers the questions at considerably more length.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal