What are your religious beliefs, or lack thereof?

[Holliepop]

I feel no need to worship anything, but I have my own morals that I follow. I personally believe as long as I go to sleep at night with no regrets I will rest when I die. I don't believe in Heaven or Hell, although I do believe if you were not happy with your life, or have left something of importance unfinished then you can not rest. (I accept the belief of ghosts and spirits) If you live life they way you wanted to then you simply die, and that's it. There is no more for you.

 

I am not really sure what to categorize my religion in. I agree with many religious views, but in the next breath I can just as easily find it's faults.

[indie_lullaby]

I am an atheist.

 

I used to be believe in god when I was very young. However, I think that was because I went to a christian daycare. After I stopped going, I completely forgot about god and all that jazz. My mom doesn't talk about religion at all so I was free to establish my own beliefs. My sister is an atheist, too.

[Aerohog]

I have no Religion, I have my Faith.

I am Christian, I have no denomination , although I go to a Baptist church.

Denomination are man made.

 

I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save me and everyone else on this world.

I believe in a personal relationship with Jesus, not rituals or asking a "rank" in the Church to pray to God for you.

Everyone is equal to God, not just the Pope, everyone.

 

I am an Ex-Pornography viewer and are no longer depressed, God does awesome things :3

 

If you want me to pray for you if your having troubles, just ask :)

[stitchrat]

Electic Ásatrúar here. Ásatrú being the practice and reconstruction of the ancient Norse religion. I'm very... "viking warrior" about it, so to speak, though. That is, I have my life, I have my beliefs, but I don't spend much time thinking about the gods. I'll respect them, but my religion or path doesn't dictate much in my life.

 

I am dedicated to Odin, though. /shrug

 

I also have very, very animistic/pantheistic* beliefs.

 

*And not in the sense I dropped acid and suddenly I have religion. Since, unfortunately, most other people who share this belief that I know are hopeless drug addicts. >_> Religion doesn't count when you only have it when high, imho.

[RohanX]

Just a poll, put it here because obviously sometimes religious topics can get a bit heated ^_^

 

I'm an atheist myself~

 

NOTE: If you are Christian, please include your denomination. And why doesn't this forum allow polls? :S

 

whats a denomination??? and yes im christian, dont say anything bad about my religion ok? or ill destroy you faster than 2 shakes of a lambs tail. just saying ^_^

[Phil]

Well, I'm an Anglican Catholic, one of those denominations that King Henry (the eigth I believe it was) created. Actually, the only one. He wanted the same general beliefs as Roman Catholicism, but he wanted to marry and divorce whomever he wanted.

 

That's a little history lesson right there. :D

 

Oh yeah, and Anglican Catholic is a fancy name for Episcopalian.

[livvy]

A denomination is like a subtype of a religion. Christian denominations include Baptist, Protestant, Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopal, etc. Each have slightly different beliefs but the same basic foundation of beliefs.

 

Also, this is a debate topic. People will have differing opinions. You cannot threaten them because of this.

[Unstream]

Keep in mind that there are also some churches with no denomination :yes:

 

Now I want to bring another dimension to this topic. Instead of just having you all say what you believe, how about you explain why? Why do you believe what you do?

[Phil]

Well, I've always believed that some things in the universe cannot be explained. It's not like I believe in manifest destiny and the belief that everything I do is controlled by god. No. I do believe that we have someone or something to answer to after death, and that this someone (god :D) has somehow started this wonderful and strange life that we all live. Many attribute this to many different scientific theories, but then there's always that question of the phenomena, the little part of life that does not fit with any theory.

 

And besides, religion is putting faith in something that you cannot see or touch in order to believe.

 

So the Episcopalian belief is where I am, mostly because I agree more with its tenets than Roman Catholicism, which does not acknowledge the true existence of any other religion other than itself. And so, that's why I believe in the Christian-Episcopal religion.

 

(If I didn't make anything clear, tell me so I can fix it.)

[tempdisplay]

I am a Christian because 1) I was raised that way and I believe in all this because God got my family out of a big mess once, we prayed, and all my little prayers get answered, like out of the blue. I'm still waiting for the BIG one ;) I'm not Baptised or Christened though :)

[patience]

Hi,

Answers to questions such as this one often become more clear in retrospect than as they are occurring. We may not always realize what is happening at the time; but then later; looking back see more clearly. This is the case in my experience of coming to know the Lord. My life was spared repeatedly in the years before I trusted Christ as Saviour. At the time, however; I did not see the significance of it. But, even though I did not have clarity at the time; evidently my consciousness was changing gradually because I do not think that I just woke up one day and was ready to receive Christ as my Saviour.

[CAV of Gang Green]

I'm not very religous because it confuses the crud out of me. But I was raised Catholic. I believe in the standard stuff, God, Jesus, Noah, and so on.

 

Lately I've been thinking about all the crap I've delt with for the past 2 years, and observing all the stuff going on in the world (terrorism, global warming, economy, etc.) and I've been questioning God's existance. If he's up there, why is he treating us like his toys. I'm aware of Jesus having said "Man would destroy itself", but if God can stop all of this, why hasn't he? It's said that he would put his foot down just as mankind destroys itself, but that's happening now. Where is he?

[Tyler.]

I follow the Christian religion because that was how I was raised. I was baptized Catholic, but don't agree with some Catholic views (such as worshiping Mary) Considering there's archaeological evidence of some events (such as chariots being found in the Red Sea) I have faith in God.

[arielo_o]

I guess you can call me agnostic, if you need to call me something.

 

I really only believe in what can be proven.

 

Now, I do respect other people belief's but I also go by the expression ''A strong belief only proves that it is strong, it does not make it true'' And I do not believe any kind of god is true, now if it makes you feel better to believe in something, if it helps you get trough life having god on your side (or believing he is) that's perfectly fine. But do not try and convince me that it is really true, it might be for you of course.

But I'm never going to believe it. Technically you are your own god, you are the one who makes changes in your life, the one who makes the decisions, and good for you if you think someone help you with that.

 

Sometimes I wish I could be a simple as that, and believe like some do. however I'm realist so I have to stand alone in life.

[Swim freak]

I'm a pretty loyal christan. I mean I believe God has a plan and that everything happens for a reason.

[Divya Bean]

I am a Hindu (India's main religion) but I live in the US. I love being a Hindu because I love celebrating the awesomelicious holidays like Holi. Holi is where you throw colored powder/water at eachother and random people you see! Believe me, it is a ton of fun!!! :laughingsmiley:

[SarafinaWolf7]

I'm an Orthodox Jew. Looks like I'm the only one here.

[Macabre]

Christian, Lutheran to be precise. I was lucky enough to have a great Dad who happens to both be a pastor and encourages me to learn about other beliefs. Basically I believe that people are saved by grace through faith in Christ and not through "good works" or anything like that.

[karmacow]

I am a Hindu (India's main religion) but I live in the US. I love being a Hindu because I love celebrating the awesomelicious holidays like Holi. Holi is where you throw colored powder/water at eachother and random people you see! Believe me, it is a ton of fun!!! :laughingsmiley:

 

That right there kinda makes me want to convert to Hinduism :D

But I don't think I would have anyone to celebrate with :(

 

I'm currently not anything at all in regards to religion. You may call me a nihilist if you want to slap a label on me, but who cares, right? ;)

I don't feel the need for anything spiritual or greater meaning with life. Our lives only have the meaning we perceive it to have.

I wasn't raised religiously but I did go through the "obligatory" Christian (Lutheran protestant) rituals when I was young - Christening and, what's it called in English? Confirmation? I deeply regret getting the Confirmation (see my last comment as to why that is). I really didn't want to but I didn't feel like I was given a choice. Anyway, not having grown up with any sort of religious affiliation, it seems bizarre that there are so many religions and they all think they're right. Only one can be right, yes? Which one is it? Rhetorical question. So I really don't know how I would choose and how I could be convinced that this or that religion was right. One thing I don't want to do, is live a lie.

[Ellyllon]

Lately I've been thinking about all the crap I've delt with for the past 2 years, and observing all the stuff going on in the world (terrorism, global warming, economy, etc.) and I've been questioning God's existance. If he's up there, why is he treating us like his toys. I'm aware of Jesus having said "Man would destroy itself", but if God can stop all of this, why hasn't he? It's said that he would put his foot down just as mankind destroys itself, but that's happening now. Where is he?

Biblically speaking - as your question refers to God, I trust it is alright to answer in reference to scripture - the price of sin is death. In committing sin, man has fallen short of the glory of God.

 

"But if God can stop all of this, why hasn't he?"

 

Only God can answer that question. Here are my beliefs on this issue, though:

 

The Christian faith is such that most adherents believe that God is all-powerful; hence, you are correct in noting that He can "stop all of this". Nonetheless, He has given mankind choice. In this context, I am not referring to the black-and-white "sin" or "do not sin" choices; but "choice" in general as the gift of freedom to do what you want to do. Punishment, retribution, reward and appreciation exist as results of choice, but the actual freedom to choose and act as one sees fit is up to the individual.

 

A key choice in calling oneself Christian is choosing to believe that Jesus has died on the cross to pay for the sins of all mankind, such that we may be given a second life; also referred to as "eternal" life. Mortal deeds do not in themselves suffice to pay for this second life; rather, the price is to believe that the John 3:16 statement is true, and to keep vigil for the Lord's coming.*

 

The Lord's coming is not referenced to as sunshine, rainbows, world peace and the end of terrorism and global warming, however.** Quite the opposite! Revelations paints a scary picture of the apocalypse - of hail and fire falling to Earth, seas turning to blood, locusts crawling from the Abyss. He will put his foot down indeed - and end it all. Future worlds - a new Heaven and Earth - will be created, wiping out the old sin-stained existence and replacing it with a fresh, clean sheet.

 

There also runs the tale of a relatively famous story in the Old Testament about a flood wiping out the earth save for one family, chosen to suvrvive by virtue of the family head's lack of sin. This characteristic hate of sin to the point of wishing to wipe out its existence wherever it is seems to compare well against the plans for new worlds in Revelations.

 

Why then give us the choice to sin? The ability to commit acts of terrorism, genocide, adultery? Some speculate that there is no merit to be had in not sinning if there existed no temptation or possibility of sinning.

 

So why does God not step in now and fix "all the crap" wrought about by sin in the first place? I guess from the tone of scripture, His concept of fixing the situation seems to lean towards the elimination of evil in creating a divine catastrophe survived only by those deemed worthy. Apparently, our world has not reached such sacrilegious boundaries to the point where He deems our Earth too evil to exist. Mankind can still salvage what we can, and there is still enough good and love about to stay the divine hand from carrying out the Smite of Doom.

 

*varies among denominations.

 

**though I guess this could happen alongside the scenario I painted, though this would probably look very awkward.

 

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"If he's up there, why is he treating us like his toys."

 

Any opinion on this will be more controversial than the former; but I know that scripture always refers to us as "God's children" and not "God's toys". How was the human race created? The opinions of science will consistently update itself to its place and time in the history of our world, but the position of the Bible is that God created the first man and woman in His image. I reiterate the first point again - we are referred to as the children of God. Would you compare your own child to a toy?

 

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Ah, and finally, the pigeon-holing. I am a Christian, while I do not feel particularly close (60%+) to the beliefs of any particular denomination, I think I can agree with more Baptist-specific beliefs in comparison to those of the other denominations (~50%).

[devilyangel728]

I'm a long time atheist. I was spent to Catholic school for elementary school and one day in 5th grade we had to bring in newspapers, I was flicking through and read my horoscope. The teacher screamed at me and told me I was going to hell. Well that totally didn't work since that was what started my questioning process.

 

I do meditate and take the occasional yoga/discussion class at a local Buddhist temple. It's peaceful and I don't mind a little self reflection. I think you should be a good person since it makes life easier for you and everyone around you. I still eat meat, but I am mindful of where its from and how it was produced. I've been called a secular humanist but I identify more as an atheist.

 

One of the biggest things that caused me to reject Christian religion was that from my reading of religious texts, that Jesus was a big advocate of giving to the poor and personal poverty. All but a handful of orders of monks/nuns completely ignore this. Since this got me thrown out of religion class, I'd like to hear an explanation of the obvious wealth of so many churches when the millions of dollars of art, huge megachurches, thousand dollar suits on pastors could go toward those in need.

 

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