The Faith Poll

[albertGQ]

There is just as much scientific proof that God existed as there is in proving that Santa is real. Why do we beleive in one, but not the other?

[photon]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

What if you're religious but don't accept the Judeo-Christian view of God or creation? The poll questions don't allow for that option.

That's still a Theist or True Believer.

[Sylvanfan]

I'll admit to being an agnostic. But if we had a number scale of 4-3-2-1 with True Believer as 4 and Atheist 1, than I'd rate like a 2.4. Definitely closer to the middle of the road, than I am to an atheist, but still skeptical enough to say agnostic here.

[MolsonInBothHands]

Hmmm, Cheese told me once I was agnostic, so that was my vote. My faith fluctuates here and there. I was baptised Mormon as a kid, but am now the black sheep of my Mormon family. There are times I believe in a supreme being, and I even catch myself praying once in a while, although I have a hard time finishing the prayer with "...in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen" anymore. Usually, my prayers are a quick thanks for the comfortable life I have, and please keep an eye on my kids. I detest organised religion, and see it as purely a power and money grab, but I do not detest the idea of truly believing. Ridiculing people on any end of the religion spectrum puts a bad taste in my mouth.

What is stronger than my belief in some form of God, is a belief in some form of an existence after death. I guess I have my own personal little "ghost story", which was powerful enough, and witnessed by another, which always snaps me back from doubt in that regard. I truly believe there is something after we die, although I have no idea what it is like, or if it is eternal. I truly look forward to finding things like this out one day after dying in my sleep 80 or so years from now.

[Cheese]

10 guesses what I am? LOL

Atheist 100%....no belief whatsoever in a deity.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

I have a huge problem with an omnipotent, omnipresent, all-powerful God with free will ever since I took a philosophy of religion class. At the same time some basic questions are still puzzling to my alcohol damaged, slightly-evolved monkey brain, such as:

-How did the laws of math, physics, geometry and science get established? Science seeks to understand these concepts, but what is their origin? Did they always exist? Were they always the same (some scientists believe that the laws of physics changed during the Big Bang)

-If everything is caused to happen by something else (basic cause and effect). Everything in this moment was caused by what happened in the last moment. If you go back in the sieries of events far enough, all the way to the beginning something had to cause the very first effect WITHOUT being caused itself. The prime mover argument Cheese, I'd like your take on that one.

So I believe in an all powerful God father figure with a big bushy beard? Nope, seems like mythology to me. Do I believe in some kind of higher power/system...yeah I do.
________
Juicynka

[mykalberta]

There should be something between middle of the road and Agnostic.

I most definately believe in God and the Holy Bible (only book I have read more than twice and yet I still dont fully comprehend 20% of it), but not the way its taught - going to church on Sundays and the belief of repentance in a cubicle is in direct contradiction to the teachings of the Bible.

The problem is that fanatics have used religion as a rallying cry for issues from abortion to gay marriages.

(1) There is no passage in the Bible reffering to or even mentioning abortion. Anyone who says so is full of BS - you can have your opinion on whether its right or wrong, but to use the Bible as proof that its wrong is a lie. Also, the "though shalt not kill" commandment can't be used because life is only given after the "first breath".

(2) Gay Marriage - the Bibles definition of marriage is the holy union between a man and a woman. There are many "soft" examples of why the Bible considers this wrong (the best examples are the reasoning behind the destruction of S&G). That has nothing to do with taxes, certificates etc - its a convenant between two people and god. I have no problem with two people of whatever sex living together and gaining tax benefits because of it. The use of the word marriage in our secular society should be removed and replaced with union for all combinations (man/woman, woman/woman, man/man etc). The problem is that most people that fight for gay marriage are really fighting against the hard core religious element in our society.

Hard core church goers give myself a bad name becuase if I were to ever tell someone I believe in god, I would immediately be shunned by those who automatically believe I am some whore like Billy Graham etc.

MYK

[the crispy badger]

Originally Posted by Cheese

10 guesses what I am? LOL

Atheist 100%....no belief whatsoever in a deity.

Do you have a belief in the supernatural Cheese?

[JBR]

Sutterologist. 100% into the book of Darryl.

[photon]

For the purposes of the poll you're still a Theist or True Believer mykalberta. Not all denominations believe in confessionals and that Sunday is the only "holy" day.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

I have a huge problem with an omnipotent, omnipresent, all-powerful God with free will ever since I took a philosophy of religion class. At the same time some basic questions are still puzzling to my alcohol damaged, slightly-evolved monkey brain, such as:

-How did the laws of math, physics, geometry and science get established? Science seeks to understand these concepts, but what is their origin? Did they always exist? Were they always the same (some scientists believe that the laws of physics changed during the Big Bang)

-If everything is caused to happen by something else (basic cause and effect). Everything in this moment was caused by what happened in the last moment. If you go back in the sieries of events far enough, all the way to the beginning something had to cause the very first effect WITHOUT being caused itself. The prime mover argument Cheese, I'd like your take on that one.

So I believe in an all powerful God father figure with a big bushy beard? Nope, seems like mythology to me. Do I believe in some kind of higher power/system...yeah I do.

The question that would create would be...who created the "first cause" or God based on their item 1. Everything has a cause.


I believe science will eventually unravel the mystery. One thing is for sure though...science is allowed to change to suit different ideas...religion is stagnant and is no better than rigor mortis. There is no room to move beyond that of "there is a God".

Here's another persons version of how the Universe started...
The Simplicity of Existence

[Fozzie_DeBear]

I dunno Cheese, it seems to me that men have been writing/rewiting/editing/censoring holy books all the time....perhaps the difference between science and religion is the motivation behind the revisions
________
MFLB

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by the crispy badger

Do you have a belief in the supernatural Cheese?

No sir....I dont believe in ghosts, demons, devils, werewolves or RougeUnderoos!

[transplant99]

Im not sure...but it seems that many here suggest that if you believe in God, you are automatically labeled as being religious.

Is this true?

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

I dunno Cheese, it seems to me that men have been writing/rewiting/editing/censoring holy books all the time....perhaps the difference between science and religion is the motivation behind the revisions

Rewritten/modified/edited or not...the end story is always the same. God did it. Rigor Mortis.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Im not sure...but it seems that many here suggest that if you believe in God, you are automatically labeled as being religious.

Is this true?

ah tranny my friend....seems like a baited hook to me! Why dont you tell us your version?

[transplant99]

My version is simple.

I completely believe there is a higher "being".

I do not follow any particular book however.

So am I "religious'?

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by transplant99

My version is simple.

I completely believe there is a higher "being".

I do not follow any particular book however.

So am I "religious'?

well in my book that makes you Agnostic. Closer to the Atheist side than you may want to be.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Cheese

well in my book that makes you Agnostic. Closer to the Atheist side than you may want to be.

Nope.

Agnostic;

1. <LI type=a>One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.
2. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
3. One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something.

I completely and totally believe in a god. (for lack of a better word).

I dont, however, follow the tenets of any particular religion.

So am I considered religious in the mainstream assumption of the word?

this is an honest question, really not trying to bait or trap anyone. Im just curious.

[Patek23]

probably middle of the road believer on the poll, at least thats what I put and I'm pretty close to your ideals on that one.