180 replies to this topic

[NoeL]

No, I'm aware of what agnosticism is, I am an agnostic. I'm just saying that it's kind of hard to fit it into the poll here because of the choices.

What's so hard about it?

[Lemon]

I'm probably an Atheist, but I stopped caring awhile ago.

I've decided if you believe in a god, that's cool, but it's really not cool to use it as an excuse to be a bigot, which sadly a lot do (see, U.S. Religious Right platform).

There's a lot of other neat theories on "what" religion is, or "who/what" is god, and that's all really fun to think about. Some of my friends consider god the cosmos, or just whatever came before "us", whatever caused the spark that eventually led to life, and those are beautiful little thoughts.

Closet I get to religion is Buddhist's stuff, and I don't think that's even technically a religion as much as an psychological analysis of happiness.

[Pabru]

It has always seemed to be that Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion. Especially as so many practioners are essentially atheists. It all gets rather vague....

[nicklegends]

I'm spiritual, not religious.

[NoeL]

It has always seemed to be that Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion. Especially as so many practioners are essentially atheists. It all gets rather vague....

It's kinda both. It does deal with religious woo like reincarnation and stuff, but a lot of people ignore that and just take the philosophical stuff out of it.

[Moosh]

So am I the only one who's shocked that this thread has not yet been locked and that by extension, the community is mature enough to touch upon the subject of religion without degenerating into a brutal flame war? Bravo, PZC!

[NoeL]

Seems that way :3

[ShadowTiger]

Nobody's really had to defend anything in particular so far aside from a definition of religious. The topic is being vague on purpose, so it seems.

[Pabru]

Lol, it seems like because its such a flame-worthy topic people are laying off?

[octorok]

ALL OF YOU ARE GOING TO HELL FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE! I CANT BELIEVE YOU!!

There was the flame war! hahaha

As for me, I am a Christian, but I am not "religious" by any means. So I chose non-religious, theistic. My take on it: "Religion is man's attempt to reach out to God. Jesus Christ is God's attempt to reach out to man." So I follow Jesus Christ and by his grace I have salvation - not by what I can do in this world to achieve my own salvation. THAT is what I believe!

[Radien]

Saying "I believe God exists" carries a much different meaning to saying "I believe the universe is conscious". That's where my beef is with pantheists. The word "God" implies a deity, and if you don't actually believe in deities it's somewhat misleading to use the term "God" when referring to the universe. Why not just say "I believe the universe exists, and that it is conscious"?

Stop agreeing with me so hard!

...Seriously though, it sounds like you're standing starkly opposite to me, but really, I don't disagree with any of that. I merely said that it bears mentioning if you happen to believe the universe is conscious, whether or not you think that equates to "God."

Also, pantheist: a useful term. Thanks for prompting me to look it up.

I've got better things to do than succumb to fantasy-induced neurosis.

Dude, this is a fan site for a fantasy video game. We're all ABOUT fantasy-induced neuroses.

[Sir Evan]

For a lack of wanting to delve deeply into my faith, I'll just say I'm both religious and theistic.

[Moonbread]

For a lack of wanting to delve deeply into my faith, I'll just say I'm both religious and theistic.

Ditto. I voted option A as well.

[Fabbrizio]

Why have I not replied to this yet?

I am theistic, but I don't like to conform to a religion. I believe there is a god out there, and whether I'm right about that or not makes no difference to me. I find that I work harder and am more productive if I believe there's a higher force watching over me.

Whether that's "god giving me strength" or just a mental placebo, frankly I couldn't care less. All that matters to me is getting better results, and I get those results when I believe in a god, regardless of who or what that god is.

Edited by PowerGauntlets, 03 August 2011 - 04:47 PM.

[NoeL]

As for me, I am a Christian, but I am not "religious" by any means.

I still don't understand why so many people say this. If you're Christian you subscribe to Christianity, Christianity is a religion, therefore you're religious. Being religious doesn't necessarily mean going to church, paying tithes, reciting mantras, etc., it just means belonging to a religion. If your religion doesn't include any of those things they you wouldn't be expected to do those things even if you WERE religious. If you believe Christianity is more about emulating Christ than adhering to Jewish rituals then in abstaining from "religion" you're actually adhering to it.

I think it's just that many Christians don't like the label "religion" because they recognise how silly it is, and since very few will readily admit to believing in something so silly they instead convince themselves they're not a part of the flock.