Poll: Are you religious?

[Atmos Duality]

There is a discussion board specifically for this topic, you know.

 

[DesiPrinceX09]

Not sure how to answer this to be honest. Does just having a religion count as being religious? If so then my answer yes. If you have a religion but don't follow it devoutly at all then are you not religious? If so then my answer is no. I picked no since I am a Muslim but not devout by any means.

 

[ace_of_something]

Yes, though I don't bring it up here because a lot of people worship there own sense of smugness and in the past that've been quite nasty to me and others for bringing it up, pointing it out, or even mentioning it.
That's why the escapist made a Religion and Politics board because people got tired of all the Anti-theists (not atheist there is a difference) making threads all the time asking this question.

 

[Imp_Emissary]

I'm an atheist but unlike a lot of atheists I don't see the point in attacking religion. I don't need the uneducated and worthless approval of other atheists in order to know my beliefs feel right.

The commandments say not to believe in other gods, not to make onto thee any graven image, and not to take the name of God in vain.

However, they never say that you have to believe in God. Those were the words of people, not God. As long as you are also good in the self evident eyes, you need not worry about anything at all.
If anyone tells you that you sin by not believing, know that they speak lies, and know also that you are not required to believe anything. You only need to believe in what you choose to believe in.

God is the truth that you need not believe in, and religion is the lie people want you to believe in. Only you choose.

 

[BK-110]

Per the definition of "agnostic" that I use, I am an agnostic atheist, which means that I do not believe in a deity but I cannot know for certain that there is none, as "God" is an unfalsifiable hypothesis, just like the existence of, for instance, invisible pink unicorns.

 

[Sunrider]

I take the Christopher Hitchens approach to it. I won't get into an argument with anyone here over it though, but I do think he hits closest to home. Pat Condell too kinda, but he gets repetative. Richard Dawkins and Hitchens are the BAWSS(ES)!

 

[dancinginfernal]

I am an Agnostic Atheist. My friend is trying to convert me to Christianity, to save my soul, and I've told him I'd think about it. If I'm going to take unto religion Christianity seems the most ideal.

My girlfriend is a Greek Orthodox Christian, but has doubts about certain rules of her beliefs. Her belief in God is unwavering, but she is not a fan of the sect her parents forced her to be a part of.

 

[Sojoez]

Atheist here. And I don't mind religions. I follow the 'live and let live' way of life.

Problem is, thats not how I am treated. When the government makes laws that are only there because some christian parties believe in a book thats 2000 years old (example: All shops must be closed on Sundays) I will become bold and offending.

 

[Nazulu]

No. Religion and the belief of God has only made me paranoid so I try to avoid it altogether. Also, with all the flaws in the world, I don't see how you can.

Don't get me wrong though, I don't think any less of the people who do.

 

[Veritasiness]

Yes, I am a practicing conservative Jew (conservative in the religious sense [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Judaism], not political ).

Problem is, thats not how I am treated. When the government makes laws that are only there because some christian parties believe in a book thats 2000 years old (example: All shops must be closed on Sundays) I will become bold and offending.

I agree entirely. Separation of Church and State is extremely important - it's just as bad for minority religions as it is for those who hold no religion at all.

 

[maninahat]

I'm agnostic. A proper one. Some think that just saying "I don't know if there is a god" in response to the question "do you believe in god" qualifies you as an agnostic. That makes you an atheist-agnostic, as you obviously don't believe in a god along with not knowing if there definitely is one.

Me, I don't have a clue if I believe in god. Sometimes I do, sometimes I have, but I can't say that I do for certain. If I ever put any real thought into it, I might have a solid answer to the "do you believe in god". For now though, I'm undecided.

 

[Veritasiness]

Speaking as an agnostic, an atheistic worldview doesn't prevent any of the shit that atheists seem to think only religion causes. Stalin, Mao... those names ring a bell?

Worshipping either of which required no rational thought whatsoever. You'll notice that both of them had a quasi-religious cult surrounding them, too, along with miracles, witch hunts, executions, the whole deal.

There's a big difference between athiestic worldview and a rational worldview. You can hold a rational worldview while being religious or atheistic.

 

[shadowshian]

im deeply dissapointed by lack of "AHAHAHAHAHHAA! no" option but never the less no, not religious on any level. not big fan of those deeply fanatical or fundementalist sort of religious sort either. but i go by "you dont bother me i wont bother you" princible

 

[alandavidson]

Yes, I am a pretty liberal Christian.

 

[KaizokuouHasu]

I'm not religious, depending on how you look at it. Some people argue that a lack of faith is a faith in itself.

I'm not convinced by the suggested answers for life and the universe provided by religion. All religions of today (with the exception of Scientology which is bat-shit insane anyway) were founded during times when science and scientific research hadn't been founded. Most religions have their roots in older religions that no longer exists because the believers of those religions died out, were murdered or converted to the next religion. Interestingly enough despite all this shifting in religion there has yet to be a mighty reckoning from the God of the original religion which must mean that if there is a god out there (or gods) they are kind of chill about how we conduct ourselves.

 

[Bonecrusher]

No, simply because it is quite silly.

Actually, life is silly.

 

[LordXel]

No, not religious at all. Very spiritual however, which is a bit hippie but I like hippie.

 

[Veritasiness]

There's a big difference between athiestic worldview and a rational worldview. You can hold a rational worldview while being religious or atheistic.

That's not true. There is no part of believing something without evidence (100% of the time in your interest) that is rational. There will always be at least one part of your world view that is at least partly irrational.

I didn't say all atheists are perfectly rational aswell, but hey, chances are good, if a guy doesn't think of another man as a god, he's probably way more thoughtful than another guy who does.

I don't think holding a generally rational worldview is the same as being 100% rational all the time - but even if I did, the original argument still stands - as you said yourself, athiests are not always rational. Rationality is just the use of reason, not emotion, to solve problems. People are complex enough to be rational about most things, and irrational about others - I know I am.

Also, I am religious and I don't think of any other man as God; doing so would in fact be directly contradicting my own faith, the primary tenant of which is that God is a single, indivisible being.

Edit in response to edit: As far as Stalin and Mao, I agree that they're really religions/cults hiding behind professed atheism; you'll hear no argument from me there.

 

[sukotsuto]

Yeah I'm religious. If you look at *how* religious is suppose to play out, everyone should be chillin' and at peace with one another, which is the big picture in all major religions. Religion is awesome, too bad people claiming to uphold religion sucks donkey ass. You know those people - those people who use it as an excuse to do something, add their own "interpretation" of their religion to better suit them and/or to justify their dickish actions - essentially corrupting a solid foundation (this is not isolated to religion alone - government, for instance).

What most people don't get to meet (and are never, ever on news media, just like any boring good news) are the cool cats who just happens to be religious, especially those who actually go out there and do missions to help people in unfortunate places.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Nope, I am an atheist, as for why? I see no credible evidence for the existence of any gods.

Simple as that. If repeatable, demonstrable evidence is shown then to me there would be an argument for it, however to this day it has not been provided.

Sure, except the burden of proof argument doesn't work when dealing with apparently non-falsifiable things. That is, normally the burden of proof works in day to day life, but with regards to things like "the creation of the universe" or other things which we will never observe nor really affect us, it is required that acknowledge that the evidence is lacking for both claims of existence and non-existence.

I'm not trying to convince you that my religion is right by any means, I'm just trying to show that the burden-of-proof argument isn't as perfect as some atheists think it is.

Sorry almost missed this post to me, going blind it seems. :s

Well let me use an example: I have an intangable, invisible, undetectable box which creates all gravity in the universe (also its purple!). Do you ask me to prove it or belive me untill somone else shows I am incorrect? That is how the claims of religion seem to me.

It is a hot topic I understand, and I honestly do appreciate that you arn't trying to convert me at all. If you wish to belive in a god, that is your right as a human, for any reason you wish. As long as it isn't pushed onto others or into laws to punish others, then you and I will have no problems.

My brian is just "wired" if you will, in such a way that in order for me to belive the big claims of religion I need repeatable, demonstrable evidence.

That is actually one of the views that I use against religious people (really just Christians).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell%27s_teapot
It is just like your example. It just shows that the burden of proof for a scientifically unverifiable claim is on the one making the claim.