[Juvenis]

I usually call myself agnostic when asked, but really I'm an atheist.
...hmm, actually I've noticed many people have different definitions of Agnostic and Atheism. I consider atheism as not believing in any sort of spiritual realm, higher being, et cetera. While an agnostic does not believe in a religion per se, but accept that there could be some for of higher power (not always a god or a heaven). As if they don't believe in anything, but is ready to be proven wrong.

The only reason I say agnostic when I'm asked, is because I find that I'm presented with less hate than if I were to answer atheist.


Back on topic! Woot!


...Also, I'd like to say something: I have met many, many christians that wholly despise me simply because I do not hold any sort of religous belief. I don't understand it. I try to find out why, and they say that atheists are trying to put down their beliefs, or we all think they're idiots, or we are all amoral (or 'evil' even). Most christians I've met, upon discovering my personal belief (or lack of belief), assume that my goals in life consist of hating them and their religion.
I could care less. It is none of my business what you believe. I fully support you and your religion. There are tons of incredibly intelligent christians, and I don't believe religion is bad. It can create some problems, but so can't a billion other things.

This post has been edited by Juvenis: 15 January 2010 - 03:41 PM

[King Lear]

...I'm a spiritual sponge...

[Shinrei]

It took a conversation with a co-worker for me to realize this connection, but I take my god like I take my politics. I generally believe the government should stay out of our lives, and also believe God stays out of our lives (i.e. complete free will, no miracles etc). In simple terms, I don't believe in the nanny-state, nor a nanny-god. At least I'm consistent.

[Bent]

I believe in God, the father almighty, creator of the heavens and the Earth

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilot
Was crucified, died, and was buried
He descended into hell.

On the third day, he rose again
Ascended into heaven
He sits at the right hand of the Father
He will come to judge both the living and the dead

I believe in the Holy Spirit
the holy catholic church
the communion of the saints
the forgiveness of sins
the resurrection of the body, and
life everlasting, Amen.


Note: Holy Catholic Chruch- (this means universal Christian church as at the time this was written, there weren't different denominations)


Thats called the Apostles Creed. Thats what I believe.

This post has been edited by Bent: 31 July 2010 - 12:15 PM

[Ember]

I voted as an atheist although that isn't quite accurate. I do not believe in a god or gods. I don't believe in an afterlife.

However I am kind of into some of that woo-woo pagan mysticism (I own tarot cards and runes, but I don't actually believe in 'telling the future', I guess I just consider it a form of mindfulness and meditation).

As Juvenis said, I do not hate religious people (although I'm not entirely fond of organized religion at times). I am not amoral. I don't care what you believe as long as you treat the beliefs of others with the same respect you'd expect for your own.

[Satan]

I dislike the term "atheist". The only thing it says about a person is that he or she is not or is against theism, that is ye ol' protestant definition of religion. ie. what you're saying is that you're against Christianity in its theological sense. Then again, I usually say that I'm a nihilist, so I guess I fit the socket just as much as the atheists.

Also, I hate all religious. Not because they're particularly worthy of hate. I just do it for the fun of it.

[Cold Iron]

Shinrei, on 31 July 2010 - 11:23 AM, said:

It took a conversation with a co-worker for me to realize this connection, but I take my god like I take my politics. I generally believe the government should stay out of our lives, and also believe God stays out of our lives (i.e. complete free will, no miracles etc). In simple terms, I don't believe in the nanny-state, nor a nanny-god. At least I'm consistent.

Nice connection. This is no coincidence. I'd love to see a good paper on the development of the modern relationship between religion and politics. Historically the link is clear, but through the 20th century we had Communism and Nazism both with interesting relationships with religion. It might give interesting perspective on the current strangely dichotomous declarationist/denialist relationship - ie you must declare your faith to be popular but also deny a political subservience to the church.

[Use Of Weapons]

Cold Iron, on 01 August 2010 - 11:28 PM, said:

Nice connection. This is no coincidence. I'd love to see a good paper on the development of the modern relationship between religion and politics. Historically the link is clear, but through the 20th century we had Communism and Nazism both with interesting relationships with religion. It might give interesting perspective on the current strangely dichotomous declarationist/denialist relationship - ie you must declare your faith to be popular but also deny a political subservience to the church.

There's an interesting chapter that covers somewhat similar ground in Alan Sokal's _Beyond The Hoax: Science, Philosophy and Culture_. The focus of the book is primarily the effects of post-modernism and decontructionist thinking on science and other issues, but he then looks at where post-modernist arguments intersect with politics and religious arguments.

[Kanubis]

Blissfully agnostic.

I studied religion (in general, not any specific one) at degree level, and specialised in morality. I came to my personal conclusion that any Deity worth worshipping wouldn't demand worship, and thus specific analysis of what might exist is irrelevant to me on a personal level. I do however really enjoy religious discourse with both atheists and theists and find it easy to converse with either group without the conversation becoming antagonistic.

This post has been edited by Kanubis: 02 August 2010 - 01:57 PM

[Tapper]

I'm a once-upon-a-time not-really-believing-in-all-the-shenanigans-but-going-through-the-motions-read-go-to-church-on-christmas-eve Catholic, who, thanks to the religious zeal of a particularly good willing Jesuit priest, thought fuck 'm, and their god (to the rythem of Their Law by the Prodigy), and has never looked back since, in fact, I've only seen my opinion reinforced by what I've seen happening in the eleven years since.

I guess on some level, I still believe there may be something, but I don't want a part of it.
It's the worms for me, and there it ends. I hope. If not, I'll have a few sins to own up to... but oh my, how I do not regret those.

Sadly, I don't see that option, so I'll go with agnost .

[Use Of Weapons]

I'm atheist, fairly outspoken about it when the topic comes up. Which it doesn't, much, in the UK. Raised in Ireland so Catholic by upbringing. But quite emphatically atheist these days, thank you very much.

[Primateus]

I'm an atheist, and a fairly evil one at that. It used to be something I'd talk about every opportunity I got. But it got old fast. Besides, I found that some of my friends are devout christians. I'd rather not hurt their feelings. These days, I think, people need to provoke me into a discussion about it.

Yeah, I'm an atheist, but I consider myself more of an equal opportunist. I hate everyone!

[Shinrei]

Primateus, on 02 August 2010 - 07:59 PM, said:

I consider myself more of an equal opportunist. I hate everyone!

change the "h" to a "d" and that's how I feel!

[HoosierDaddy]

Quit flirting in the Religion forum, Shin.

(I'm unsure if I posted my own beliefs in here. If not:)

What am I? Hmmmmm. I revel in my existence. How did that happen? Who knows. I've begun a new internal debate. It is curious how these things come and go.

[Bapop]

I believe in a creator who, like a child with an antfarm, grew tired and left his creation behind long ago. I chose "other".

[Kanubis]

Bapop, on 03 August 2010 - 09:06 PM, said:

I believe in a creator who, like a child with an antfarm, grew tired and left his creation behind long ago. I chose "other".

Or perhaps a creator who shares my approach to art - spends a few hours on a project, steps back to look at it, then sighs in disgust and throws it aside

[Cold Iron]

H.D., on 03 August 2010 - 05:35 AM, said:

Quit flirting in the Religion forum, Shin.

Ah but HD, flirting is what this subforum is for! You tell me about you and I'll tell you about me and we'll see if we're compatible for cross admiration

[frookenhauer]

My god! he he...This place is deserted.

Look this is totally wrong, this place was once alive with the shriek of sinners and saints, every one of them absolutely sure of their rightness and all that stuff.

BTW still atheist until his omnipotence shows up.

[RodeoRanch]

Whole lot of atheists and agnostics on this board.

[Cold Iron]

Frookenhauer, on 18 August 2010 - 10:02 PM, said:

My god! he he...This place is deserted.

Look this is totally wrong, this place was once alive with the shriek of sinners and saints, every one of them absolutely sure of their rightness and all that stuff.

BTW still atheist until his omnipotence shows up.

I blame you for disapearing.