Quote :

"Man refuses to wear electronic monitor LEON, Iowa, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- An Iowa sex offender who belongs to a church that believes electricity is evil has asked a judge to exempt him from wearing an electronic monitor. Scott Smith was given a short jail sentence and five years probation for molesting two teenage girls in 2003. At the time, he was a member of the Brotherhood of Christ and his wife and children still belong to the group. At a hearing Thursday, Ron Livingston, leader of the Brotherhood, testified that the group believes literally that electricity can cause people to disobey God, the Des Moines Register reported. Livingston said an electronic monitor could harm Smith's children. Smith has been refusing to wear the monitor. Judge Sherm Phipps could order him sent to prison or could grant him an exemption. A social worker testified that she believes Smith is unlikely to commit another crime."

2/25/2006 2:46:14 PM

christian... i believe in God, Jesus, etc., but i don't align myself with any denomination. i also don't think non-christians are going to hell just because they were raised in a different religious atmosphere as long as they are good people, so that's kind of what "whatever" means.

2/25/2006 2:54:17 PM

Episcopalian

2/25/2006 4:02:32 PM

So far.....

(includes changes and additions)

kbbrown3 : Agnostic - [Theist leaning?]
Stiletto : Atheist
Mindstorm : Christian - [unspecified]
smheath : Christian - [unspecified]
bmdurham : Evolutionary Humanist, Satanist, Existentialist
Ronny : Jedi
YanTheManV : Jewish - [non-practicing]
joe17669 : Agnostic
SaabTurbo : Agnostic
qntmfred : Christian - [nondenominational]
Amsterdam718 : Christian - Catholic
LadyWolff : Neo-Pagan - Wiccan
hempster : Frisbeetarian, Agnostic - [Pythagorean leaning]
puck_it : Christian - Catholic
Kitty B : Agnostic, Neo-Pagan - Eclectic Pagan
bottombaby : Christian - Free Will Baptist
coolguy1335 : Agnostic - [Buddhist tendencies]
Kodiak : Atheist
drunknloaded : Christian - Catholic
amazon : Agnostic
Shank : Fremen - [Zensunni?]
Cherokee : Agnostic - [Atheist leaning]
spaced guy : Agnostic
‡ Lutra : ??? [former Southern Baptist?]
Jere : Agnostic
msb2ncsu : Christian - United Methodist
Lutz : Christian - Baptist
CalledToArms : Christian - [nondenominational]
jimb0 : Agnostic - [theist leaning?]
Natalie0628 : Agnostic
Beardawg61 : Christian - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
Supplanter : Classical Pagan - Greco-Roman Polytheist
zxappeal : Agnostic
abcdefg13 : Scientologist
strudle66 : Atheist
chembob : Christian - [nondenominational, Catholic tendencies]
bigTHEW : Christian - Baptist
tdwhitlo : Agnostic, Neo-Pagan - Wiccan
bgmims : Christian - Catholic
tartsquid : Agnostic - [Catholic leaning]
darkmage : Christian - [nondenominational]
ncsutiger : Christian - [nondenominational, Sabbatarian]
ShawnaC123 : Atheist
E30turbo : Agnostic
SouthPaW12 : Christian - [nondenominational]
RJCNCSU : Christian - Presbyterian, [nondenominational]
Lelacake : Agnostic
Gamecat : Agnostic, Buddhist - [Sufi practices]
BelowMe : Christian - Baptist
‡ salsta415 : Christian?? Galactophasic Determinist?? - Zen Baptist
Sayer : Taoist
Boss DJ : Christian - Presbyterian
Turnip : Atheist, Deist
pablo_price : Agnostic - [Atheist leaning]
Garthok : Christian - United Methodist, [nondenominational]
robster : Christian - Mormon
HayleyToye : Unitarian Universalist
cyrion : Agnostic - [Deist leaning?]
Queti : Christian - Southern Baptist, Church of Christ
quiet guy : Agnostic
Wolfpacker06 : Christian - [nondenominational]
AxlBonBach : Christian - Baptist
bassman803 : Christian - [nondenominational with Jainist, Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu beliefs]
TheTabbyCat : Christian - United Church of Christ
Snewf : Atheist, Agnostic, Humanist
NyM410 : Christian - Roman Catholic
scrabz : Christian - Roman Catholic
spöokyjon : Theoretical Particle Physics Buddhist
Wlfpk4Life : Christian - Roman Catholic
sparky : Gnostic - [Eastern Karmic beliefs]
AntiMnifesto : Atheist
Smath74 : Christian - [nondenominational]
punchmonk : Christian - [nondenominational?]
klsutton : Christian - [nondenominational]
ssjamind : Hindu
arghx : Christian - Roman Catholic
packboozie : Christian - Baptist
McDanger : Agnostic - [Atheist leaning?]
appamali : Hindu
theDuke866 : Christian - [nondenominational Protestant]
JSteen : Christian - Baptist
‡ Grapehead : [transitional]
HZW0483 : Muslim
BridgetSPK : Agnostic
pirate5311 : Atheist
Minkagrl01 : Christian - Catholic
rjrgrl : Christian - Moravian
bous : Christian - [nondenominational, Agnostic leaning]
Lowjack : Scientologist
sfshaikh : Muslim
absolutapril : Christian - Moravian, [self-denomination]
sylvershadow : Agnostic, Neo-Pagan - Eclectic Pagan
Burlgirl : Christian - Catholic
danmangt40 : Atheist - [Agnostic leaning]
Josh8315 : Humanist - Transhumanist
blasphemour : Satanist
dannydigtl : Agnostic
bruiserbrody : Asatru
caesar : Episcopalian


(Sorry if I got anything wrong....just LMK.)


The count:

Agnostic: 26
Atheist: 9
Christian: 42
Humanist: 3
Satanist: 2
Existentialist: 1
Jedi: 1
Jewish: 1
Neo-Pagan: 4
Frisbeetarian: 1
Buddhist: 1
Fremen: 1
Scientologist: 2
Unitarian: 1
Theoretical Particle Physics Buddhist: 1
Gnostic: 1
Classical Pagan: 1
Taoist: 1
Deist: 1
Hindu: 2
Muslim: 2
Episcopalian: 1


(‡ Not in the count--too little information.)

2/25/2006 4:12:35 PM

oh, Episcopalian is Christian

2/25/2006 4:59:33 PM

^^
Neo-pagan: +1 = 5 (Asatru)
Christian: + 1 = 43 (Episcopalian)



^I knew that, but was posting too quickly.....durrrrr

[Edited on February 25, 2006 at 5:07 PM. Reason : too quickly again......]

2/25/2006 5:06:33 PM

who is the other satanist? i only see me on the list

2/25/2006 7:02:23 PM

^bmdurham

Quote :

"I disagree. There are several fundamental beliefs needed in each religion and a ton of those that are up for your choosing. But just because "Christian" isn't copyrighted doesn't mean you can call yourself one and actually be one. I can't call myself a Kenyan Woman and expect that that makes me one."

There's still some confusion between the terms religion and organized religion. One's religion is a personal choice, and that's it. No authority need approve. Now, whether anyone takes you seriously is another matter, but nonetheless, you are whatever religion you identify as. If one day, your religious identity is "a" and the next day it's "b", you just changed your religion. No one else need approve. No one else's help is needed. No physical changes are necessary (except the arrangement of chemicals in your brain that reflects the change in self-identity.) Religious identity is an matter of thought and belief. National identity is an matter of birthplace and residence. Gender identity is a matter of hormones and genitalia. You are correct in saying that you can't call yourself a Kenyan woman and expect that that makes you one. But you could move to Kenya, apply and be approved for citizenship, and undergo a sex change. That would involve changing your residence and your genitalia. Needless to say, simply changing your mind, which is all that's necessary to change your religion, is a much more autonomous endeavor. In fact, it's fully autonomous.

The name of this thread is "Poll: What's your religion?" In case you haven't noticed yet, around a third of the respondents have indicated Atheist or Agnostic. Those aren't organized religions. They are personal religious identities. IOW, unless you're referring specifically to organized religion, the word "religion" means something very different. The reason you're confused is because 99% of the time, when someone means "organized religion, they just say "religion"--not only because it's easier to say, but because most people don't make the distinction in the first place. That's one of the main reasons it's difficult to discuss religion. There exists no legal definition. It can be an organized religion, it can be a "way of life", it can be a "philosophy of life", etc. It's tough to define.


Just in case some of you are still not "on the same page":

religion = personal autonomous religious/spiritual self-identity
organized religion = an organization surrounding religion

[Edited on February 25, 2006 at 8:03 PM. Reason : ]

2/25/2006 8:02:38 PM

I guess I'll chime in since we're adding them up.

Southern Baptist, but denomination isn't too critical to me

2/25/2006 8:40:59 PM

Luteranism represent!

2/25/2006 8:49:31 PM

It's better to live your life thinking there is a God and die only to find out there isn't than to live your life thinking there isn't a God only to die and find out there is.

2/25/2006 9:08:19 PM

better to be a polytheist, live a life believing in all possible gods to increase your likelihood of eternal rewards based on your believe-for-profit attitude, than to be a monotheist, die and find out you believed in the wrong god.

^I mean there are hundreds, going with that attitude gives you horrible odds unless you believe in the all.

2/25/2006 9:13:45 PM

^^ Pascal's Wager

2/25/2006 9:31:32 PM

^^^ Of course the fallacy in that is assuming believing in a god is all it takes.

^^ The fallacy in that is assuming any particular god isn't pissed off at your believing in the others as well.

2/25/2006 9:44:26 PM

I don't know what you'd call me. I don't believe in the judeo-christian god, but I do think the universe itself is likely self-aware. I believe that when you die, the only thing that happens is that your body becomes energy for other living things, and that's more beautiful than any "heaven," etc. So I guess, some sort of agnostic? I dunno.

2/26/2006 9:28:02 AM

MUSLIM

2/26/2006 11:39:51 AM

Christian - Southern Baptist by birth till about 17 I started going to Methodist church services. I am amazed by the similarities.

2/26/2006 12:26:50 PM

Wow, imagine that, similarities between two sects of THE SAME RELIGION.

2/26/2006 12:38:54 PM

Agnostic

2/26/2006 1:06:48 PM

Quote :

"but I do think the universe itself is likely self-aware."

sounds sort of Panthiest… wiki definition:
"Pantheism (Greek: pan = all and Theos = God) literally means "God is All" and "All is God". It is the view that everything is of an all-encompassing immanent God; or that the universe, or nature, and God are equivalent. More detailed definitions tend to emphasize the idea that natural law, existence, and/or the universe (the sum total of all that is, was, and shall be) is represented or personified in the theological principle of 'God'."

Quote :

"I believe that when you die, the only thing that happens is that your body becomes energy for other living things, and that's more beautiful than any “heaven”"

Beauty is nice, but if you preserve all the artist souls for eternity surely you could get more beauty. I'm not saying that forever happy land makes more sense than your biodegradable bodies thing does, but I'd be alot more comforted thinking I get eternal happiness rather than passing some energy on to the next generation.

2/26/2006 1:17:14 PM

Catholic

2/26/2006 1:39:09 PM

Quote :

"Catholic"

Are you sure?


Oh wait:



CATHOLICISM CONFIRMED

2/26/2006 1:54:57 PM

I am a practicing Movementarian

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Joy_of_Sect

"The leader is good, the leader is great, we surrender our will to the leader this date"

But seriously, I consider myself a non-evangelical Christian. When I attend church, its United Church of Christ.

[Edited on February 26, 2006 at 2:21 PM. Reason : .]

2/26/2006 2:18:05 PM

McDanger: Who is that? I think I've seen that picture before, but I can't remember where.

2/26/2006 4:59:44 PM

Well, I quoted her.

2/26/2006 5:38:46 PM

non-practicing Heaven's Gatist

2/26/2006 5:45:51 PM

I think I see the resembelence.





Aphrodite on her way to a toga party I take it.

Quote :

"Greece is often referred to as the cradle of Western civilisation and ancient Athens was considered to be its centre."

- wiki

Every Westerner should know a little about their heritage.

2/26/2006 7:09:34 PM

^ That's not on her way to the party, that's after a few beers

2/26/2006 7:13:24 PM

agnostic

2/26/2006 11:14:20 PM

Christian - Presbyterian

2/26/2006 11:18:54 PM

Muslim

2/26/2006 11:53:24 PM

hindu

2/27/2006 12:00:43 AM

Agnostic

2/27/2006 12:06:48 AM

Atheist.

Quote :

"It's better to live your life thinking there is a God and die only to find out there isn't than to live your life thinking there isn't a God only to die and find out there is. "

Unfortunatly, this is actually useful if there IS a god. If there isn't, you don't find out anything, you just wasted whatever time you had to experience existence to its full extent. I guess we all have to make the call for ourselves.

[Edited on February 27, 2006 at 12:50 AM. Reason : :]

2/27/2006 12:50:21 AM

Quote :

"I don't know what you'd call me. I don't believe in the judeo-christian god, but I do think the universe itself is likely self-aware. I believe that when you die, the only thing that happens is that your body becomes energy for other living things, and that's more beautiful than any "heaven," etc. So I guess, some sort of agnostic? I dunno."

just claim "Jedi" dude.

2/27/2006 1:45:52 AM

Christian, Eastern Orthodox.

Also, I tend to think that anybody who doesn't pick either a specific religion or atheist is kind of a dumbass.

Quote :

"If there isn't, you don't find out anything, you just wasted whatever time you had to experience existence to its full extent."

How do you figure?

That is, what aspect of your belief system is it that allows you to determine that participating in religion is less of an "experience of existence" than prolific fucking or drug use?

[Edited on February 27, 2006 at 4:12 AM. Reason : ]

2/27/2006 4:11:01 AM

^well some of the puritanical religions might require you do without while on earth so you can be rewarded in heaven which would kind of suck if your entire existence was do without, and then no eternal rewards later. but i agree that there are many church community experiences that people could find just as fulfilling as other ways of spending there time.

2/27/2006 5:50:02 AM

<--------------Episcopalian, well used to be, now im more of a holiday churchgoer

2/27/2006 7:22:16 AM

was catholic, now atheist.

2/27/2006 7:44:44 AM

Saint Peter IS reading this thread fools

2/27/2006 9:33:37 AM

Mormon.

2/27/2006 9:39:14 AM

Agnostic or Atheist...still undecided.

2/27/2006 9:39:28 AM

Some people find obedience and other aspects of religion/restriction okay, or even satisfying. I don't. That doesn't mean i was to spend my life killing puppies, i despise the notion that without religion people would go nuts, it's simply not true. In any case, i just want to do what i want to do. It's simple. I don't deny that others may find fullfillment in religion and devotion. For me though, as was mentioned, i am not willing to take the chance of wasting the only life that I think i have to sacrafice for a future that may never come.

In any case, i figure, if god is giong to punish me for not beleiveing in him, after giving me no proof, but equipping me with a mind that demands proof he's an asshole and i want nothing to do with him. seriously, the god of judeo-christian religion seems like he has a complex to me--why would you demand faith, and set up obsticles? sounds kind of sadistic and irrational to me. But hey, that's just my feeling on the matter, other people are okay with faith as the final answer, so more power to them.

2/27/2006 1:08:09 PM

Christian - Nondenominational

2/27/2006 1:41:29 PM

^^understanding divinity as distinct supernatural entities makes it alot more sensible when dealing with what seems like conflicting viewpoints coming from the divine.

McDanger said in reference to Aphrodite "That's not on her way to the party, that's after a few beers"

You better believe that you wont catch Artemis topless and live to tell about it. Passion & Virtue are both real, strong, and opposing forces... understanding them seperately makes it not a spiritual crisis any time you notice contradiction from the divine. The monothiests can push the Oneness a little hard sometimes.

[Edited on February 27, 2006 at 2:13 PM. Reason : .]

2/27/2006 2:12:23 PM

Agnositic. for my reasons just search muh name

2/27/2006 2:22:54 PM

which branch of christianity is the one that thinks jesus is gonna come back someday

2/27/2006 2:26:39 PM

2/27/2006 2:26:57 PM

Quote :

"That is, what aspect of your belief system is it that allows you to determine that participating in religion is less of an "experience of existence" than prolific fucking or drug use?"

I hate this attitude. Just because people don't agree with the moral bindings of religions doesn't mean they're necessarily sore because most religions won't let you fuck and smoke weed.

Why should I surrender credit for all of my achievements, and for ALL good things about me to a being that doesn't exist? How's that for self-esteem.

2/27/2006 2:35:37 PM

Quote :

""It's better to live your life thinking there is a God and die only to find out there isn't than to live your life thinking there isn't a God only to die and find out there is.""

I wonder what god thinks of that

2/27/2006 3:07:03 PM