BonosSaint
Rock n' Roll Doggie
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2004
- Messages
- 3,566
We've done this periodically, but people's views change, people's experiences change. Believers become nonbelievers; nonbelievers become believers; searching continues or stops or becomes indifferent. Spirituality vs. religion, agnostic vs. atheist, believer vs. believer.
Over the years here, I've seen varying beliefs and expressions. A lot of self-identified spiritual people, some religious. (Sean may be the only person on the forum who specifically identified himself as religious, but not spiritual.)
Budding Buddhists, conservative Christians (as opposed to rightwing fanatics), liberal Christians (as opposed to leftwing fanatics), religious and nonreligious Jews and, I believe, Muslims. And I'm sure a few pagans, although I don't remember anyone specifically identifying themselves as such.
So what is the state today of those who consider themselves believers, would-be believers, used-to-be believers, questioning agnostics? Also, for practicing pagans, assume "or goddess" is implied.
1. Have your beliefs (or lack thereof) changed in the past five years?
Have the searchers found anything? If not, have they gone on to
another search?
2. Do you believe in anything beyond this life?
3. Where do you disagree with your specific religion, if you practice one?
Is your religion as much a cultural/social belonging for you as it is
personal belief?
4. What causes you doubt?
5. Is there a war on Christmas?
6. Do you believe in a personal, involved, intervening God or an indifferent
or detached God who lets things play out without intervention.
7. Does your God judge? If so, does he judge on belief or behavior?
8. Where do you succeed in your religion/spirituality? Where do you
fail?
9. Did you continue in the faith you grew up in or did you change faiths?
10. Do you think people may create a God that mirrors them? Is God
subjective or objective? Is God open to interpretation, differences
in opinion?
I'm curious to hear the answers. I'm curious to hear other questions.
Over the years here, I've seen varying beliefs and expressions. A lot of self-identified spiritual people, some religious. (Sean may be the only person on the forum who specifically identified himself as religious, but not spiritual.)
Budding Buddhists, conservative Christians (as opposed to rightwing fanatics), liberal Christians (as opposed to leftwing fanatics), religious and nonreligious Jews and, I believe, Muslims. And I'm sure a few pagans, although I don't remember anyone specifically identifying themselves as such.
So what is the state today of those who consider themselves believers, would-be believers, used-to-be believers, questioning agnostics? Also, for practicing pagans, assume "or goddess" is implied.
1. Have your beliefs (or lack thereof) changed in the past five years?
Have the searchers found anything? If not, have they gone on to
another search?
2. Do you believe in anything beyond this life?
3. Where do you disagree with your specific religion, if you practice one?
Is your religion as much a cultural/social belonging for you as it is
personal belief?
4. What causes you doubt?
5. Is there a war on Christmas?
6. Do you believe in a personal, involved, intervening God or an indifferent
or detached God who lets things play out without intervention.
7. Does your God judge? If so, does he judge on belief or behavior?
8. Where do you succeed in your religion/spirituality? Where do you
fail?
9. Did you continue in the faith you grew up in or did you change faiths?
10. Do you think people may create a God that mirrors them? Is God
subjective or objective? Is God open to interpretation, differences
in opinion?
I'm curious to hear the answers. I'm curious to hear other questions.