Are you of a religion or not and how do you use it towards others in life

Are you religious, agnostic or atheist?

  • Are you of a specific religion? Please post about it.

    Votes: 7 25.9%

  • Are you agnostic? Please post about it?

    Votes: 5 18.5%

  • Are you atheist? Please post about it.

    Votes: 11 40.7%

  • Other: please explain in post

    Votes: 6 22.2%
  • Total voters
    27
"Atheist" carries too much baggage. There are those who are dead certain that being an atheist is synonymous with being a child molester, swindler of old ladies and one that has sex with swine. I avoid religious discussions, and if really pressed I might say I am "non-religious".
 

Religion? Not at all. My thinking is more in the line of pantheism. It is not a religion it is more an acceptance of the mystery of our universe, and I say mystery because we can not know it totally and thus a quest for our entire lives to wonder and enjoy it.
 

Manatee said:
"Atheist" carries too much baggage. There are those who are dead certain that being an atheist is synonymous with being a child molester, swindler of old ladies and one that has sex with swine. I avoid religious discussions, and if really pressed I might say I am "non-religious".
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Sort of funny, but a lot of society look at people with numerous tattoos sort of the same way. However, there are some cable tv shows about county jails and prisons that show a lot of prisoners with tattoos all over them. It's no wonder that many think of people with numerous tats as bad people, the same as many think of atheist. Wife and I don't know anyone who is either......tattooed or atheist.
 
ClassicRockr said:
Sort of funny, but a lot of society look at people with numerous tattoos sort of the same way. However, there are some cable tv shows about county jails and prisons that show a lot of prisoners with tattoos all over them. It's no wonder that many think of people with numerous tats as bad people, the same as many think of atheist. Wife and I don't know anyone who is either......tattooed or atheist.
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Which brings to mind a long-ago Truman Capote interview- he said all the serial killers he'd had to interview for his work were heavily tattooed. Maybe that's a reason decent, law-abiding citizens get a bad rep.
 
"Since I’m not so strongly attached to one religion I find I am more open and respectful of others right to believe whatever they wish as long as it isn’t hurting others. It makes me more tolerant of others which I view as a STRENGTH not a weakness"

I feel this way too Keesha. Religion, nearly all of them, seem more to control and dictate and not as tolerant as we who are open to other thoughts.
 
Ruthanne said:
What is your religion or are you agnostic or atheist? Also to answer in posts: How do you use this to get along with others in your life?
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Rather than making a long post, I think this subject is one reason I learned early in life to appreciate 'diversity'- each of my 4 grandparents belonged to a different religion, so did my parents, and so do my siblings and I.
There have also been 2 athiests- one was a good person, the other a jerk, but I suppose the latter would be a jerk regardless of religious beliefs.
 
LoneRogue said:
Religion? Not at all. My thinking is more in the line of pantheism. It is not a religion it is more an acceptance of the mystery of our universe, and I say mystery because we can not know it totally and thus a quest for our entire lives to wonder and enjoy it.
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I have had thoughts on this, too, and often, very interesting.
 
LoneRogue said:
Religion? Not at all. My thinking is more in the line of pantheism. It is not a religion it is more an acceptance of the mystery of our universe, and I say mystery because we can not know it totally and thus a quest for our entire lives to wonder and enjoy it.
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I had no idea what pantheism is so I looked it up and I can relate to it. It’s like viewing the world as a hologram and that there is God in everything, including us. In the experiences I had, it was just like this.

It IS a mystery that I’m in awe of every single day.
To me God is far too complex for me to completely grasp while in this human body.

And just because I don’t practice any organized religion doesn’t mean I condemn others who do.
If being faithful to a religion helps someone become the best person they can be, then I’m all for it.

Most of my relatives are religious and they are good people. My sister in law is very religious and I truly love her.
Shes definitely more mature and tolerant of others than I am and I admire her for it.
 
I gave up organized religion a number of years ago after far too many disappointments and disillusionments. Far too many churches are about growth and self-preservation. I've yet to go to one that doesn't endlessly have its collection plate out. (I often chuckle over George Carlin's bit where he asks why God needs money.)

I'm spiritual and believe in a Creator who created a universe that is governed by scientific principles, a Creator who isn't threatened by things that some humans find icky-poo. Things like homosexuality, interracial marriage, opposing religious beliefs, etc. I believe this Creator is honored by those who are kind to one another, and most of all He/She loves and accepts all that He/She has created. I further believe that what our souls will experience after this life will be there for all of us.

Only an extremely vengeful god would punish souls for an eternity (that's a long effing time, people) for believing -or not believing- something, or for acts done in our relatively short life spans. Perhaps some souls are sent back here (or elsewhere) to try again until we get it right. I believe God has imbued every creature and every grain of sand with a bit of Godliness. We decide whether or not to behave with reverence and good stewardship toward that which we have been generously given.
 
StarSong said:
I gave up organized religion a number of years ago after far too many disappointments and disillusionments. Far too many churches are about growth and self-preservation. I've yet to go to one that doesn't endlessly have its collection plate out. (I often chuckle over George Carlin's bit where he asks why God needs money.)

I'm spiritual and believe in a Creator who created a universe that is governed by scientific principles, a Creator who isn't threatened by things that some humans find icky-poo. Things like homosexuality, interracial marriage, opposing religious beliefs, etc. I believe this Creator is honored by those who are kind to one another, and most of all He/She loves and accepts all that He/She has created. I further believe that what our souls will experience after this life will be there for all of us.

Only an extremely vengeful god would punish souls for an eternity (that's a long effing time, people) for believing -or not believing- something, or for acts done in our relatively short life spans. Perhaps some souls are sent back here (or elsewhere) to try again until we get it right. I believe God has imbued every creature and every grain of sand with a bit of Godliness. We decide whether or not to behave with reverence and good stewardship toward that which we have been generously given.
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Beautiful post, so life affirming. Thanks. ❤️
 
Faith is not used, it's lived. As far as people, religious or not, it's still true that that you will know the tree by its fruits.
 
StarSong said:
I gave up organized religion a number of years ago after far too many disappointments and disillusionments. Far too many churches are about growth and self-preservation. I've yet to go to one that doesn't endlessly have its collection plate out. (I often chuckle over George Carlin's bit where he asks why God needs money.)

I'm spiritual and believe in a Creator who created a universe that is governed by scientific principles, a Creator who isn't threatened by things that some humans find icky-poo. Things like homosexuality, interracial marriage, opposing religious beliefs, etc. I believe this Creator is honored by those who are kind to one another, and most of all He/She loves and accepts all that He/She has created. I further believe that what our souls will experience after this life will be there for all of us.

Only an extremely vengeful god would punish souls for an eternity (that's a long effing time, people) for believing -or not believing- something, or for acts done in our relatively short life spans. Perhaps some souls are sent back here (or elsewhere) to try again until we get it right. I believe God has imbued every creature and every grain of sand with a bit of Godliness. We decide whether or not to behave with reverence and good stewardship toward that which we have been generously given.
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Oh this is an excellent post. Very well stated.
 
First of all, religion is something written down by people. I strongly believe there is a creator but I have no religion because it is man made and often cruel and in some cases murderous to it's followers and to those that oppose it. My belief stems from science when science addresses the universe and this incredible life form called "Earth". The phenomenal facts of how the Earth and Moon were formed and the trillions of life forms that have come and gone. Life in the seas, under the ground and above the ground, how one life form depends on another, The natural habits of the animals. Man venturing now to the stars because of his need to know. Then of course the natural beauty of so many places on Earth. I don't know why we are here but we have been given life and so far this life is the only life proven. It's to bad so many ignore this astonishing creation. Whoever said "take time to stop and smell the roses" was the wisest person on Earth.
 
fmdog44 said:
First of all, religion is something written down by people. I strongly believe there is a creator but I have no religion because it is man made and often cruel and in some cases murderous to it's followers and to those that oppose it. My belief stems from science when science addresses the universe and this incredible life form called "Earth". The phenomenal facts of how the Earth and Moon were formed and the trillions of life forms that have come and gone. Life in the seas, under the ground and above the ground, how one life form depends on another, The natural habits of the animals. Man venturing now to the stars because of his need to know. Then of course the natural beauty of so many places on Earth. I don't know why we are here but we have been given life and so far this life is the only life proven. It's to bad so many ignore this astonishing creation. Whoever said "take time to stop and smell the roses" was the wisest person on Earth.
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good post
 
‘Use it toward others’

Couldn’t’ve worded it better

Those of religion get in my way
They interrupt God while thinking they speak for Him
They are their own worst enemy

I am Christian
My brethren embarrass me

I’m at peace in my spiritual experience
Nature has helped that
People….not so much
 
A lady that we knew in Arizona said she had her own golden rule: "I don't preach to you, and you don't preach to me". She is now deceased, but I believe she was right.
 

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