Religion Poll

Glass-Prison wrote: Perhaps you should have separated Atheism and Agnostic - the two have different meanings and very different connotations. I am an agnostic, in the sense that I feel there is not sufficient evidence to believe either that there is or isn't a god. Atheists, on the other hand, are confident that there is no god. I think it should be important for people to specify which they belong to, and why. Oh, and I know little about Humanism. Could someone care to tell me more?

Atheism is a religion in the sence that you believe there is no god. If someone is agnostic they neither conferm or deny the existance of god.

At the moment I'm agnosic, I guess I'm trying to find the right religion for me, christianity isn't working for me. Religion isn't that important to me. I do like studying it though. Hinduism is the most facinating but I wouldn't convert to it or any other religion I've studied so far.

threefates wrote: Reed Lover wrote: threefates wrote: maani wrote: As an aside to threefates, it is historically incorrect to state that "the Bible was written by men, other than the 10 Commandmnets which were written by God."  You seem to be relying on the movie "The Ten Commandments" rather than scholarly theology.  As any Old or New Testament scholar can tell you, when God "gave the law" to Moses, He did not simply give him the 10 Commandments.  After all, it would not have taken God forty days (which is how long Moses was on Mount Sinai) to do so.  Rather, God "wrote" (actually, had Moses transcribe) the entire "Pentatuch" (Torah) - the first five books of the Bible, including all the laws (moral, dietary, etc.).  Uhh.. as someone who worked at the American Bible Society for 14 years and worked with quite a few Biblical scholars (including Barclay Newman) on "The Good News Bible" and the "Contemporary English Version"... where does it say in your Bible that this is indeed true.  This reasoning is speculation, as is half the translation of the Bible from the Greek/Hebrew text for that matter. maani wrote: In addition, to state that "the Bible was written by men" negates the fact that, according to Judeo-Christian belief, every man (and, yes, woman) who "contributed" to the Old and New Testaments was "divinely inspired"; i.e., although it might not have been "written by God," it was, nonetheless, "given" by God through "revelation" or otherwise. Yes I remember reading in quite a few spots of the Old Testament where many of the sages or seers would do some of that smokey stuff and start quoting speeches as visions from God...also lots of weird incense being burned in the temples.... I had a lot of friends in the early 70s that smoked some stuff and had conversations with God also... That doesn't mean I have to accept it as Gospel.  Also quite a few books in the Old Testament were written by man... whose's to say truthfully that it all wasn't.   I worked out a timescale for all your jobs and adventures Linda. What is it like to be the world's oldest slapper? I've seen your abilities with math... I ain't worried about your theories...

You've made sense, in a pointless sort of way that is

I think your right though. The only difference between atheism and other religions is, it hasn't been institutionalised, there is not yet a church for the profoundly disbeliever. I think there should be.

Something in the vein of "Nationalists of all countries unite" or would that be an oxymoron.

Edited by tuxon

If musician was a choice up there, I would have selected it.

threefates wrote: Reed Lover wrote: threefates wrote: Reed Lover wrote: threefates wrote: maani wrote: As an aside to threefates, it is historically incorrect to state that "the Bible was written by men, other than the 10 Commandmnets which were written by God."  You seem to be relying on the movie "The Ten Commandments" rather than scholarly theology.  As any Old or New Testament scholar can tell you, when God "gave the law" to Moses, He did not simply give him the 10 Commandments.  After all, it would not have taken God forty days (which is how long Moses was on Mount Sinai) to do so.  Rather, God "wrote" (actually, had Moses transcribe) the entire "Pentatuch" (Torah) - the first five books of the Bible, including all the laws (moral, dietary, etc.).  Uhh.. as someone who worked at the American Bible Society for 14 years and worked with quite a few Biblical scholars (including Barclay Newman) on "The Good News Bible" and the "Contemporary English Version"... where does it say in your Bible that this is indeed true.  This reasoning is speculation, as is half the translation of the Bible from the Greek/Hebrew text for that matter. maani wrote: In addition, to state that "the Bible was written by men" negates the fact that, according to Judeo-Christian belief, every man (and, yes, woman) who "contributed" to the Old and New Testaments was "divinely inspired"; i.e., although it might not have been "written by God," it was, nonetheless, "given" by God through "revelation" or otherwise. Yes I remember reading in quite a few spots of the Old Testament where many of the sages or seers would do some of that smokey stuff and start quoting speeches as visions from God...also lots of weird incense being burned in the temples.... I had a lot of friends in the early 70s that smoked some stuff and had conversations with God also... That doesn't mean I have to accept it as Gospel.  Also quite a few books in the Old Testament were written by man... whose's to say truthfully that it all wasn't.   I worked out a timescale for all your jobs and adventures Linda. What is it like to be the world's oldest slapper? I've seen your abilities with math... I ain't worried about your theories...

.....it seems like you two need some quiet time away from each other. Go to your rooms....no better yet.......go to my room.....your rooms has your stuff in it..not really much of a punishment.....and stay in there until you two can play nice.

All you need is faith in YOURSELF.

Edited by Velvetclown

THERE WAS A SIMILAR THRAED TO THIS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE FORUMS WHICH ENDED UP GETTING HIJACKED BY .....SHALL WE SAY, "AGENDAS"...SO MUCH SO ,IT HAD TO BE DELETED AS IT CAUSED PROBLEMS.SO FAR,THIS TIME,PEOPLE ARE EXPRESSING THEMSELVES WITHOUT GOING OVERBOARD,AND ALL POINTS OF VEIW ARE WELCOME

BUT LETS KEEP IT CIVIL PEOPLE

AS FOR ME, I SET ASIDE A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME EACH DAY FOR SOME BIBLE READING AND QUIET REFLECTION

SO YOU KNOW WHERE I STAND(THANKS MAANI)

 

BUT I STILL KICK ARSE WHEN I HAVE TO!!

Edited by dude

Joren wrote: I am an atheist. But I'm not completely sure what being a humanist entails... whatever, it's in the same category here in the poll

Crikey J, you're usually so high you could rattle the Pearly Gates!

humanism as i intended it:

either....

Modern Humanism, also called Naturalistic Humanism, Scientific Humanism, Ethical Humanism and Democratic Humanism is defined by one of its leading proponents, Corliss Lamont, as "a naturalistic philosophy that rejects all supernaturalism and relies primarily upon reason and science, democracy and human compassion." Modern Humanism has a dual origin, both secular and religious, and these constitute its sub-categories.

or....

Secular Humanism is an outgrowth of 18th century enlightenment rationalism and 19th century freethought. Many secular groups, such as the Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism and the American Rationalist Federation, and many otherwise unaffiliated academic philosophers and scientists, advocate this philosophy.

That was my basic intention there.

The Atheist/Agnostic/Humanist option is more of a "I believe in a non-religious philosophy" option... I should have worded it as such. For example, I'm an objectivist, more or less, so I put myself under that category.

I think Atheists assert knowledge that god doesn't exist. In the mind of a true atheist, there's no question. He simply does not exist.

Joren wrote: Reed Lover wrote: Joren wrote: I am an atheist. But I'm not completely sure what being a humanist entails... whatever, it's in the same category here in the poll Crikey J, you're usually so high you could rattle the Pearly Gates! Is it so obvious?

Have you read your posts recently....?

Edited by Jim Garten