[Kallor]

i'm a religion of 1

[Zale]

I was raised a Protestant, but my parents (well my mother, I imagine my dad doesn't give a flying one about religion) did it in an open way so that I could think about these things for myself rather than be swamped in doctrine.

I usually say I'm still at the "haven't made my mind up yet" stage. It has been pointed out to me that the Bible is occasionally self-contradictory, is likely to be full of translation errors (in some editions, "thou shalt not kill" is "thou shalt not murder" - severely less restrictive!) and thus probably not the literal word of God. I really dislike the way religion is organised into large get-together-and-say-stupid-words-together sessions. It's too full of ritual to actually mean anything. Worship should be personal. You're meant to have a personal relationship with God, right?

I also don't approve of having to appeal to a higher moral authority. Why can't you make your own judgements and be willing to accept the consequences of them? I appreciate the Bible (or whatever holy book) laying down some moral guidelines which are wholly good for the society, but I take objection at the "because God says so, now shut up and sit on your hands" part.

However, some of the things I've seen in the sciency world make me somewhat reluctant to entirely reject the possibility of some kind of God (protein synthesis anyone? Forget about wings & eyeballs, how the hell did THAT happen by itself?) and also I don't wanna reject anything without much more evidence than "there is no evidence".

I also quite like some of the philosophies found in Buddhism, but I don't know near enough about them to discuss them or want to make a lifestyle out of them.

I guess that makes me an agnostic then, a fence-sitter. I imagine I'll find out one day. Until then I'm not too bothered.

[rlfcl]

i was raised partially Greek Orthodox and partially in the United Church. ie probably both the most dogmatic and least dogmatic churches around, respectively. My path to atheism took place gradually over many years. So where at one point i carried a small icon of jesus around with me, i now no longer waste my time worrying about a mythical afterlife or supernatural all-seeing entity.

[Dolorous Menhir]

Note for the creator of this poll. You spelled "atheist" wrong.

[GardenGnome]

I bet it's so he can go "lol, most of you say you belong to a group that doesn't exist lolol"

No, I'm not being serious...

[Wiggles]

He's from the frostbitten north, its forgivable. (actually, its not, considering )

[Obdigore]

either atheist or agnostic...

Basicly I really don't think there is anything watching over us, or supernatural or anything like that, however, if there is, AND that creature requires us to obey a random set of rules (ie no meat on fridays) to prove that we do believe in such a thing, then that is not a being I am interested, in any way, in worshiping.

[Aimless]

Atheist, with a hint of cinnamon

[temp]

I want to be religious, I am open to the possibility that there is some greater being(s) with some master plan, however I won't believe in anything unless there is proof. Sadly, there is no proof, so i'm atheist.

[Agraba]

I am devout, and worship and strongly believe in the entity known as myself. I follow the ways and traditions that myself has formed since the beginning (of myself), and shall go about it and keep those holy ways until the end (of myself). And yay, shall the light be cast by He who was born on a winter day in Ontario, upon me, and it is by His words that I shall live by, 'til the end of His (my) time. And there is truly nothing holier in this universe than Him (relative to himself ).

[RodeoRanch]

Lot of atheists here.

Anyone know what the actual global percentages are for religious uumm.. inclinations?

I mean, what percent of the world is what from a religious perspective. Anybody?

[rlfcl]

that graph seems fairly accurate, especially when you take into account that they are not differentiating between devout and "nominal" christians, muslims, etc.

[Hume]

Just remember THat in CHina Religion is generally not seen as a good thing by the government and has been that way for quite a while so that would dramatically increase the number of 'non-religious' people.

[GardenGnome]

On the other hand, think Norway. About 84% are members of the Church, but noly 30% or so actually believe in the god that the Norwegian Church teaches. Then you have 20% people who believes in other gods, and actually a huge percentage of peopel who are atheist, but either can't be bothered to get removed from the list of members of the Church, or doesn't know they are on it (the Church is sneaky on that around here). If the numbers for Norway in this survey is based on what numbers the Church have, then you get entirely incorrect numbers. I wouldn't be surprised to find out other people are unintentionally labeled as religious, whilst they really are atheists.