Religion poll

[MrBurgundy]

Are you trying to ask if we believe in intelligent design or some deity?

[ForcedFirebird]

Please clearly state how science has changed its mind in your lifetime, and we'll go from there. Science is supposed to change, it's supposed to progress. Acknowledging this as a negative is not a good place to start if you want to discuss the science.

If you're talking about something from nothing, and the claim that nothing existed prior to the big bang then I'm sorry but you're stumbling to understand because that's not what science says. The most widely accepted theory is that everything existed in a initial singularity, and that expanded into the universe we now live in.

Also, the curious thing about a singularity is that in its existence, the laws of physics simply do not function. The laws break down, the math doesn't work, and we're still trying to discover what really was.

Singularity is only one theory. You also have the black hole and bubble theories that I can think off the top of my head. So now "Laws of physics don't exist"? Physics that that the universe always was and always will be, now because we call it the big bang, it's not creation? I'm not meaning to appear to look at it negatively, but they are after all - theories.

The big bang wasn't even thought of a century ago, and some of us have living relatives that were alive about the time it became widely accepted. Perhaps saying "in my lifetime" wasn't proper. Einstein himself rejected Hubble's law up until his latest memoirs.

My point was the definition of "religious" can be misconstrued, and was mixed into my thoughts/ideas. Humans will always ask the question, "Where did this all come from" or "Are we alone" or "What are we doing here". In reality we are just a speck on a speck in the whole timeline.

Am I considered religious because I don't think we are an accident, but also don't think there's a magic man in the sky? Just kind of odd that we are a one in a decillion decillion decillion chance. Am I going to bang on your door and tell about the big bang, natural selection, or evolution? No. Just making a silly point about the initial post.

[rturbo 930]

Hitler? Stalin? Mao ZeDong? Josef Mengele?

This.

I could not disagree more that there are no inherently evil people. There are. Without question. Some people may become evil from certain life experiences, but others are just fuckin evil from the start.

And if there is anyone that has lived that deserves eternal punishment, Hitler qualifies. You can't take the lives of millions of people and not pay for it. Unfortunately in this case, I don't believe in a heaven or hell.


Anywho, as for me, I'm an athiest. Didn't grow up in a religious family, although my dad's side does have a Quaker background, and I did go to a Quaker school. Though I don't believe in any God, the idea of a man in the sky controlling everything seems silly to me, I actually kind of like Quakerism for it's philosophical aspect/moral beliefs. It's a very peaceful religion (unlike certain others - ahem), and not at all preachy - IMO it seems to encourage one to think for themselves, and reach their own conclusions (to a fault - it's still a religion).

I really haven't had much exposure to typical religion. I recently went to a Catholic funeral, and I have to admit I found some aspects of it very strange. Creepy to be honest. Towards the end, they started handing out some kind of cracker. People would get up, and get in line. The cracker represented the body of Christ. Some of them took it themselves and ate it, whereas others had it fed to them which seemed really childlike, despite them being adults. The whole thing just felt very cult-like to me, and generally pretty submissive. Not a lot of individual thinking, just following the others. That's my outsider's perspective, and that experience pretty much sums why I don't do religion. My experience with Quakerism however was pretty mild, and never had anything weird like that. Probably why it's one of few religions I actually respect.


I don't know how many of you are into comics, but if you've read Preacher, it does a great job depicting God from the perspective of an atheist. If you haven't read it, I'd recommend it, even if you aren't into comics (I'm not), it's a good read.

[cale]

How is questioning science changing it's mind in my lifetime showing religion?

Please clearly state how science has changed its mind in your lifetime, and we'll go from there. Science is supposed to change, it's supposed to progress. Acknowledging this as a negative is not a good place to start if you want to discuss the science.

If you're talking about something from nothing, and the claim that nothing existed prior to the big bang then I'm sorry but you're stumbling to understand because that's not what science says. The most widely accepted theory is that everything existed in a initial singularity, and that expanded into the universe we now live in.

Also, the curious thing about a singularity is that in its existence, the laws of physics simply do not function. The laws break down, the math doesn't work, and we're still trying to discover what really was.

[ForcedFirebird]

I'm mostly ok with this, however the following statements highlight why it's a slippery slope.



You attempt to use your religious views to interpret science, and in turn reject science to some degree based on this. Some people in power are also of the same thinking, as well as millions of children growing up who hold ignorant and incorrect interpretations on science thanks to the influence religion and their parents had on them. This kind of thinking does get in the way, it does cause setbacks.

How is questioning science changing it's mind in my lifetime showing religion? What religion is this supposed to be? Philosophy ≠ Religion.

re·li·gion
rəˈlijən/
noun
noun: religion
the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

phi·los·o·phy
fəˈläsəfē/
noun
noun: philosophy
the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.

• a particular system of philosophical thought.
  plural noun: philosophies
  "Schopenhauer’s philosophy"
• the study of the theoretical basis of a particular branch of knowledge or experience.
  "the philosophy of science"

For all we know apes could have been injected with alien DNA as an experiment, none of us were there, we can only theorize.

[z31maniac]

Well put.

My Brother said something that has always stuck with me. "Good people go to good places".

I personally believe in a God. That said, it's a personal belief that wasn't taught to me. As a matter of fact my views on the matter have cause Christian family members to worry about me. To be honest I don't like the idea of a heaven or hell, because I personally don't believe in inherently evil people. I don't think there is a single person who has lived who deserves an eternal (spiritual) punishment. I like to think of the earth as a school, you keep coming back until you have learned whatever it is that you need to learn.

Live and let live. You aren't going to offend me with your belief or non belief.

Anywho, whether we are here to worship, by chance, or to learn, we can't be sure of either and we're in it together so let's make the best of it.

Hitler? Stalin? Mao ZeDong? Josef Mengele?

[E30 Wagen]

I'm an atheist but I find that many atheist people can very condescending douchebags toward Christians, and some of the arguments that a newly converted, outspoken atheist uses to support atheism aren't always as conclusive or eloquent as he/she thinks they are. The same statement could be said about any religion, but I can definitely see why most religious folks think atheists aren't a trustworthy group. There's lot of work to to get people to start thinking critically about religious scriptures and atheists are doing a horrible job of that. Spirituality is harder to refute.

As for the question being too vague, I guess I'd just consider what are the things that influence your thoughts and actions. If you feel there is ever some spiritual influence or consequence to your existence, whether it be outlined by any of the major world religions or just a general observance of some defined or undefined universal purpose, then I'd say you're religious. As for not being religious, you just know when you are.

[M_3_X]

whether we are here to worship, by chance, or to learn, we can't be sure of either and we're in it together so let's make the best of it.

Well said! :up:

[cale]

What do you care if people are preying, much as saying what do people care if you are working on your car in the yard. Let people do WTF they want as long as they aren't getting in the way, or harming the rest of society.

I'm mostly ok with this, however the following statements highlight why it's a slippery slope.

But, as we know every chemical reaction shows matter/mass/energy cannot be created or lost. Seeing human life is one long chemical reaction, something happens when we die - conciseness is an energy of some sort. Same with the universe...where did all this matter/mass/energy come from?

In my lifetime, scientists have always disproved creationism by saying "you can't get something from nothing", now they are saying before the big bang, there was nothing. WTF, make up your minds. But even Hawkings (who is supposed to be atheist) has mentioned many times that it's hard to say that we are not "designed" since everything works out so perfect, and there are so many repeating patterns - he can see why people believe what they do.

You attempt to use your religious views to interpret science, and in turn reject science to some degree based on this. Some people in power are also of the same thinking, as well as millions of children growing up who hold ignorant and incorrect interpretations on science thanks to the influence religion and their parents had on them. This kind of thinking does get in the way, it does cause setbacks.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Being any type of religious person don't make you a good person, your acts do.

Well put.

My Brother said something that has always stuck with me. "Good people go to good places".

I personally believe in a God. That said, it's a personal belief that wasn't taught to me. As a matter of fact my views on the matter have cause Christian family members to worry about me. To be honest I don't like the idea of a heaven or hell, because I personally don't believe in inherently evil people. I don't think there is a single person who has lived who deserves an eternal (spiritual) punishment. I like to think of the earth as a school, you keep coming back until you have learned whatever it is that you need to learn.

Live and let live. You aren't going to offend me with your belief or non belief.

Anywho, whether we are here to worship, by chance, or to learn, we can't be sure of either and we're in it together so let's make the best of it.

[M_3_X]

Its easy for atheists to express hatred for religion when it was probably that religion that caused them to become atheist in the first place.

I don't hate religion, but religious people have a huge persecution complex, same with a lot of atheists.

I wouldn't throw a blanket, there are some vocal atheists as there are theists and religious people. I'd say believers a very "touchy" when discussing a topic, they feel threatens them for some reason, like are afraid of opening their eyes and start thinking for themselves and not what they were taught to believe.

But no atheist will knock on peoples' doors trying to convert any one, like some religious people do, without thinking that they might offend some one, if people want to believe that there is an invisible magician in the sky that created everything, and is going to send you to hell if you don't do what the book says, please do, I respect them for that. Being any type of religious person don't make you a good person, your acts do.

[AwakenNoMore]

Life is a nightmare, death is a gift.

but seriously, this life is all we've got until proven different. Yet I'm here posting with you fuckers. Worth it.

[Wschnitz]

Don't you find it interesting that in your own statement all religious people have this complex, and "a lot" (but not all) of Atheists do too?

Don't take it the wrong way, just pointing out a slight bias that presented itself unintentionally. Or at least that's the way it appears.

Religion, as with the Human mind, is a very complicated thing.

Well said above, FF.

No I definitely see it both ways, but I notice a lot more at least in my family the religious family members constantly think people are out to get them, Obama is gonna make america a Muslim country, etc, that type of shit. My parents have gotten a lot better about it, but they used to act like it was only a matter of time before they would have to 'hide' their being religious.

A lot of these tendencies my family had were part of the reason I became non-religious. That and realizing you don't need some invisible force to be a moral upstanding person in the world. I can be me, and be a good person, and to me that's all I need.

Overall I'd say most of the causes are not inherently part of religion or the people who are religious or atheist themselves, but more likely whichever place they are getting their support from that is molding how they react to things.

[Exodus_2pt0]

I don't hate religion, but religious people have a huge persecution complex, same with a lot of atheists.

Don't you find it interesting that in your own statement all religious people have this complex, and "a lot" (but not all) of Atheists do too?

Don't take it the wrong way, just pointing out a slight bias that presented itself unintentionally. Or at least that's the way it appears.

Religion, as with the Human mind, is a very complicated thing.

Well said above, FF.

[z31maniac]

The South is a mighty large place, with a great deal of it caring little for religion, and like any place, when one moves one should try to adapt/blend in to the local culture. If I were an atheist wanting to move to any highly religious area I would keep myself to myself on the holy days and would do my very best to not step on any toes or harm my neighbors' feelings.

The people who take serious exception to a neighbors' choice to be involved or not with religion are not generally good people, and probably would make shitty neighbors. Those people that recognize the respect you pay to them as the new person in the community by not overtly countering their beliefs are the ones we should all seek out.

In my personal opinion, it's a large planet filled with many types of people, with many different beliefs, and it's really no ones business what their neighbors do as long as they are reasonably in compliance with the law of the land.

Yep.

I live in OK, one of the most religious places in the country and this is exactly what I do.

I nod politely and never discuss what I think about it.