View Poll Results: are you religious

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  • Not at all and/or I dont believe in anything

    17 26.98%
  • Not anymore, but I was as a child

    10 15.87%
  • Not really, but I celebrate holidays

    15 23.81%
  • Yes, but it isn't that big of a thing for me, I practice when I can

    14 22.22%
  • Religion is a large part of life & I practice (go to where ever) on day a week if not more

    7 11.11%
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Thread: Religion, No religion

  1. #1
    God/dess Roulette's Avatar
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    Default Religion, No religion

    I have been wondering for a while how many people are religious, or were, or arent at all...

    I for one am not religious, nor was I really raised religious... my parents came from religious homes tho so we celebrated holidays growing up and we get together for Christmas and sometimes Pass Over (my parents were not the same religion... can you tell?)

    I couldnt put all the options I wanted or fuller explinations to the pole but pic something that fits most for you...

    EDIT: I did not start this hoping to get any sort of discussion going about religions... please just answer the questions and dont attack anyone or anything. I am just curiosu how many of us are religious... that is all... please dont let this thread get nasty!! if you want to respond to something someone says send them a PM, dont bring any potential drama here.
    Last edited by Roulette; 05-26-2007 at 09:36 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Alaska View Post
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  2. #2
    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Pretty much the same here. But my parents didn't come from a religious background, iron curtain and all. We celebrated most of the Christian holidays, not so much the jewish ones. Initially, we went to jewish temple a few times, but my dad wasn't interested in it beyond drinking and socializing, so we stopped attending.

    I explored both religions growing up and never felt like I fit in. I was angry at god and religion, became an atheist.

    Now I'm back to exploring into a Higher Power and spirituality. I have to, apparently its the only thing that can restore me to sanity. Keeping an open mind.

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
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  3. #3
    VeganAvery
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    I'm not religious, but extremely inquisitive and spiritual. I don't practice any secular religion, but I do inquire and research those that interest me- buddhism mostly, shintoism, hinduism-- the eastern religions strike a chord with me. What's even more interesting than studying the separate religions though, is finding out where each one came from and finding out that they really all originated from the same place around the same time--- THAT makes you think crazy things.

  4. #4
    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    I was raised SUPER religious. Nuns and the whole nine yards. I carried a bible with me on my days off and went door to door to preach the services of God when I was six.

    ... 15 years later and I'm so different. I still have a religion but it's ENTIRELY made up by me. I am polytheistic - I don't understand putting my entire life into one god's hands. I believe that ALL religions are true - for that person. So if you believe in Christianity, you will go to your allotted place based on the life you lead. If you believe in nothing, you will simply cease to exist. If you're a great Muslim - 49 virgins for you! So basically, I believe in all religions but no religion - as I believe all religions are true religions but that none are suited for me, which is why I 'created' my own. It's actually a melding of many religions that created my beliefs.

    But if you ever see a holiday come around, I'll celebrate just like that religion! Buddha's birthday I for sure was putting my wish high on a tree. Christmas I give presents and I love me some Jewish holy breads. Since I believe all are true, I respect them much more - so I might as well get in on the festivities, 'cause my Buddha wish might just come true!


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  5. #5
    God/dess Roulette's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Wow... If you dont mind my asking how do your parents feel about you doing what you do for a living... if they know that is?
    Quote Originally Posted by Alaska View Post
    I just got hollered at by a CUTE guy, at dusk, in my car, in gym attire and hair. Word?
    Picaresque is the shit, I loooooves her!!!

    Disclaimer - I DO NOT EDIT MY COMMENTS
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  6. #6
    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    My parents don't mind at all. I wasn't raised religious because my parents were religious. I was raised religious because my mum felt that religion had a moral background she wanted me to have. She felt that nuns and church and rulers to the knuckles would make me a better person overall - whether I chose to be a Catholic, a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim later in life - the basics of religion would be in my heart.

    So when I grew up and became a stripper my mum took a step back to see if I was a good person. I am. I still donate to charity, I am very tolerant of other races and religions, I am kind to the least fortunate... so if I have to do what I do to make a living, am I any worse of a person, really?

    She doesn't think so. She knows I'm a good person and that her religious upbringing in my childhood worked. I may not be religious any more, but I have the values and heart she had originally intended religion bring to me. I can't really say it DID... but I can't say it didn't, either.

    She just wanted me to be good - and dancing has nothing to do with whether or not you're a bad person.

    heehee... she's buying my magazine next month!


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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    how do you believe in all religions being true when the tenets of many religions hold that none of the others are true?

  8. #8
    God/dess Bella21's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Quote Originally Posted by lilithmorrigan View Post
    I was raised SUPER religious. Nuns and the whole nine yards. I carried a bible with me on my days off and went door to door to preach the services of God when I was six.
    Hey, hey, me too! I was raised in a very strict relgious household (Jehovah's Witness). To this day, I have people I knew during those days approach me and try to "save" me. I understand that they're being nice but it drives me insane. Like, why the fuck can't they just like ME?! Why does the purpose have to be some religious bullshit?!

    I'm athiest now. Some people consider that a religion. I don't.

    Quote Originally Posted by lilithmorrigan View Post
    I may not be religious any more, but I have the values and heart she had originally intended religion bring to me.
    Once again, me too. Actually, I think I'm a BETTER person now since I don't try to hide (well, except the stripper part from my family for their peace of mind) who I REALLY am.
    If you think school is hard, try being stupid.

  9. #9
    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Quote Originally Posted by miabella View Post
    how do you believe in all religions being true when the tenets of many religions hold that none of the others are true?
    I believe they are all true for the person who believes in them. I don't necessarily believe in ALL of them - I believe they are all true for the people who DO.


    Look like a woman
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  10. #10
    Veteran Member lwtex52's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    If it weren't for the lack of holidays, I might consider being an atheist.
    My latest conspiracy theory: I am convinced that Dick Cheney is, in reality, Elmer Fudd.

  11. #11
    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Mrr, maybe I should've worded it better.

    I believe all religions and beliefs and values are true to the person who believes in them. If you believe all other gods are false prophets then that it true - for YOU. If you believe a bush on Sixth Avenue is god, by all means, it is god - to you.


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  12. #12
    God/dess Roulette's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Miabella... not to answer for LM but this is how I feel about it... the general idea behind almost all religion is "be a good person" they are all just various guidlines of how to be good... It is up to the individual, their parents or the society to decide what the guidlines are... and when you look through the various beliefs they are all different but a lot of them are pretty much the same with a few variations... I hope I didnt offend anyone by saying that, but it's what I've come to think as a truth.
    Quote Originally Posted by Alaska View Post
    I just got hollered at by a CUTE guy, at dusk, in my car, in gym attire and hair. Word?
    Picaresque is the shit, I loooooves her!!!

    Disclaimer - I DO NOT EDIT MY COMMENTS
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    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  13. #13
    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    ^ That's what my mum figured. She figured that the general IDEA of religion was to be a good person so if I had that as a child - I'd be a good person. Whether or not I kept the religion itself was entirely up to me, as long as I kept up the general qualities of the intentions behind it.


    Look like a woman
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    roulette, if you study a range of religions, you'll find that the tenets vary enough that they cannot be distilled into 'religions mostly want people to be good people'. there is a wonderful little book covering this sort of 'all religions are basically the same underneath the different words' fallacy in a Christian context called 'But Don't All Religions Lead To God?' by Michael Green.

    as for LM's view that truth is valid on individual bases, again the tenets of many religions hold that someone believing 'your religion is ONLY true for you' to be...problematic. since in the tenets of many religions, the religion only being true for that person would render it false. which means, entirely unintentionally i suspect, you are trivialising other religions by limiting their validity to single individuals.

    one of the problems with the 'make your own religion' thing is that most people who do it tend to make statements about the uniqueness or specialness of their invented belief system that indicate it is not particularly thought out. as ecclesiastes notes, there is nothing new under the sun and i have yet to hear anything coherent from people who claim to have rolled their own religion. it's always a hazy muddle with no clear idea of where, if it exists at all in such a context, moral authority emanates from. in a nutshell, the motivations are ever unclear...

    but discoursing on the philosophically bankrupt idea of rolling one's own religion without either descending into solipsism or culthood (solipsism with followers) is beyond the scope of this post.

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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    My religion is very important to me, but I really go about it in a different way than others. I'm Christian, and was raised Lutheran. For instance, I don't believe that witnessing is important. In fact, I kinda think its counterintuitive. You're not gonna change someone's mind just by bothering them about it.

    I also want to point out that for me, religion is not just about spirituality. Its also about cultural tradition. My family is from Norway, and Lutheranism is a way of living for us. In fact, in my head I can't even seperate my culture from my religion. Do we do it this way because we're from Norway, or because we're Lutheran? Its easy to forget.

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    Veteran Member lwtex52's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Quote Originally Posted by LilyLove View Post
    For instance, I don't believe that witnessing is important. In fact, I kinda think its counterintuitive. You're not gonna change someone's mind just by bothering them about it.
    I've forgotten who it was that said "People who want to talk to you about their religion seldom wish to hear about yours."
    My latest conspiracy theory: I am convinced that Dick Cheney is, in reality, Elmer Fudd.

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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    ^^^ That's great! Actually, one time my dad actually whipped this out on some Morman door-to-door people. They couldn't wait to get out of there! One of my proudest moments ever about dear old dad.

  18. #18
    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Quote Originally Posted by miabella View Post

    as for LM's view that truth is valid on individual bases, again the tenets of many religions hold that someone believing 'your religion is ONLY true for you' to be...problematic. since in the tenets of many religions, the religion only being true for that person would render it false. which means, entirely unintentionally i suspect, you are trivialising other religions by limiting their validity to single individuals.

    one of the problems with the 'make your own religion' thing is that most people who do it tend to make statements about the uniqueness or specialness of their invented belief system that indicate it is not particularly thought out. as ecclesiastes notes, there is nothing new under the sun and i have yet to hear anything coherent from people who claim to have rolled their own religion. it's always a hazy muddle with no clear idea of where, if it exists at all in such a context, moral authority emanates from. in a nutshell, the motivations are ever unclear...

    but discoursing on the philosophically bankrupt idea of rolling one's own religion without either descending into solipsism or culthood (solipsism with followers) is beyond the scope of this post.
    Oh for Christ's sake... that just means ANY religion could be false and ALL have arguments from other religions saying they are. So poking at me and saying I'm trivializing everything is a load of crap... because then Christians trivialize Jews and Jews trivialize Muslims... and if you're gonna blame MY beliefs for being a bit hypocritical to other's religions - you should take a MUCH closer look at religion in general.


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  19. #19
    God/dess Roulette's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Quote Originally Posted by miabella View Post
    roulette, if you study a range of religions, you'll find that the tenets vary enough that they cannot be distilled into 'religions mostly want people to be good people'. there is a wonderful little book covering this sort of 'all religions are basically the same underneath the different words' fallacy in a Christian context called 'But Don't All Religions Lead To God?' by Michael Green.
    ok. I know that my statement generalized and maybe I should have been more specific... most of the major religions do... I do not know about all religions, and I was also not saying that all religions lead to god. Satanism is more based on the self than a "god"... many religions are more about just being good to the earth itself... I will however check that book out, thank you. I dont know enough about all the religions to continue about this tho, so here is where I bow out of this side conversation thing.
    Quote Originally Posted by Alaska View Post
    I just got hollered at by a CUTE guy, at dusk, in my car, in gym attire and hair. Word?
    Picaresque is the shit, I loooooves her!!!

    Disclaimer - I DO NOT EDIT MY COMMENTS
    It hate to re-read things I write
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  20. #20
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Most of my family (though not really my parents) are very religious.

    I, on the other hand, consider myself spiritual...not really religious. I don't like churches for various reasons and I'm not really sure what I believe...just that I believe in something.

  21. #21
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    A Jewish guy told me "Catholicism is Judaism for Pagans"

    I was raised Catholic & am converting to Judaism

    If I had not been exposed to some sort of spirituality as I child I would have killed myself a long time ago.

    That is all.

  22. #22
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Quote Originally Posted by madmaxine View Post
    A Jewish guy told me "Catholicism is Judaism for Pagans"
    that's so funny seeing as so many of the Catholic holidays and whatnot were made, or renamed (because they had been Pagan) to help Romans accept Christianity after Constantine...
    Quote Originally Posted by Alaska View Post
    I just got hollered at by a CUTE guy, at dusk, in my car, in gym attire and hair. Word?
    Picaresque is the shit, I loooooves her!!!

    Disclaimer - I DO NOT EDIT MY COMMENTS
    It hate to re-read things I write
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  23. #23
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Well, I think he was referring to the symbolism of "Christ's body" as a pagan-type savage sacrificial rite when Christ was supposed to do away with the idea of sacrificing anything living to atone to God...I don't hate the Catholic church but I never liked how they depicted Christ on the cross (agony, blood, etc.) The Communion wafers and wine are the centerpiece of Mass.

    On this note, I do love HBO's "Rome" for showing a pre-Christian civilization....Evangelical Christians in America have gone WAY overboard in pushing their agenda (trying to outlaw the teaching of science- Good Grief.) Hollywood strikes back, Pagan-Buttsecks Style!

    PLEASE, don't let this thread dissolve into a flamefest! In the name of Dog, beseech you! ; P

  24. #24
    Featured Member flickad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    I had religion shoved down my throat as a child, rejected the whole thing as complete bullshit before my fourteenth birthday and have stuck to that line ever since.

  25. #25
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    Default Re: Religion, No religion

    Unitarian Universalist. When I die, I get to go to The Great Perhaps.

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