Religion. You think I'd bloody know better.

[Jill_Valentine]

Buffy-board newbie I may be, but I'm a forum veteran. One conversation that always gets... er... lively, is religion. The last religion thread I created is still live, two and a half years after I brought it up. There was another topic related to this at the start of the year (It's only netiquite to check 🙂 ), but not quite the same.

Now, one thing I've noticed about Buffy fans is that a surprising number are Athiests, and I was particularly curious to see if it was reflected here. I'm an Athiest myself, and organised religion, particular with a Judaeo Christian flavour, fascinates me. So... sell me your religion.

What is it classified as? Do you believe in some or all of it's points? Are you devout?

 

[DáNió]

I dont believe in god...I have been Christened though..that has been the only time I have set foot in a church...well I was a baby so i got carried...

 

[JustAnnie]

I don't have a religion...Never really had one. I'm kinda making my own religion, all for myself, and take what i want from existing religions and from myself. I think it's better this way.

 

[Jill_Valentine]

So Danio, is the rest of your family religious? Christened into what form of Christianity? JustAnnie, what kind of religious background do you come from? Do you believe in a specific higher power, or several, or something different?

(Actually, I should also warn folks now in advance, I don't intend to start any rows, but my religious curiosity/ obsession might mean I'll question views quite aggressively. No offence is intended, I really do just want to know...)

 

[Jenny]

Roman Catholic here. 🙂

 

[Jill_Valentine]

Stupid question- Is there a lot of RC in Canada?

 

[Jenny]

Stupid question- Is there a lot of RC in Canada?

The only stupid question is the one that isn't asked. 😀

Yes there is..it's geographical of course...the two big religions are Catholic and Protestant..but there are of course an entire melee of religions here. 🙂

Where I live...(Ontario) there are alot of RC. Actually I'd say each province has a big ole mix of religions.

 

[Jill_Valentine]

Cool. So how traditional are you? What I mean is, do you consider the Pope infallible etc?

 

[Lethe]

Wiccan/Shaman/Druid type for me. I think NeoPagan sums it up nice.

 

[JustAnnie]

So Danio, is the rest of your family religious? Christened into what form of Christianity? JustAnnie, what kind of religious background do you come from? Do you believe in a specific higher power, or several, or something different?

(Actually, I should also warn folks now in advance, I don't intend to start any rows, but my religious curiosity/ obsession might mean I'll question views quite aggressively. No offence is intended, I really do just want to know...)

My parents aren't specially religious, and neither is my grandmother on my mothers side, but my other grandmother is a christian.
I'm not sure what I believe. I don't believe in god, but I know I could be wrong.
I kinda think that when we die we get reborn, and that we have lived before, but I kinda think that's cos that's the option I'd like the most. But like I said, I'm not really sure what i belive in. It changes.

 

[polexia]

my religion is really protestant(if you look at where i got comfirmited(or how ever you say it in english 😉)

but i don't really believe in that... i'm more of a touch and feel the univers person... try to find my own way, and to make my own opinions about existence and so on... i even have a philisophical theorie written down.. it's about what happend when we die... 😉 LOL...

good thread! :yay:

 

[Beer_Nut]

I'm United (a variation of Christianity). I'm not particularly religious, but I think there has to be something out there.

 

[Jill_Valentine]

So what are the basics Beer Nut? What's the difference from other Christian sects? And here's an even stupider question than my previous ones: Is Catholicism the only major religion with Confession?

 

[Beer_Nut]

So what are the basics Beer Nut? What's the difference from other Christian sects?

Really it's just a looser version of Christanity. The rules aren't quite as strict. To make life easier I'll put a link to the website (United Church ). For an example of how the United Church differs from others one can look to the fact that the United Church accepts gay marriage.
The exact reason why I have stuck to United is this statement

We have doctrinal standards and attempt to set them forth in continuity with the Biblical faith. But our grasp on the truth of God is finite and fallible, and we do not believe that faithfulness consists in assenting to particular statements.

That pretty much sums it up for me.

 

[Jill_Valentine]

"We have doctrinal standards and attempt to set them forth in continuity with the Biblical faith. But our grasp on the truth of God is finite and fallible, and we do not believe that faithfulness consists in assenting to particular statements. "

I'm well impressed. That's a fantastic outlook. A lot of organised religions would do well to consider it...

In Ireland, most schools are run by religious organisations, which means that everybody is Catholic by default. Considering the stunning track record of the Irish Catholic Church in recent years, it amazes me that the situation remains. To me it's indoctrination, brainwashing which eliminates the possiblilty of real faith. Church and state aren't yet separate as long as the Church run 80% of the schools. Anyway, when I hit 13 or 14, I suddenly realised that none of their teachings made sense to me once I could form my own opinion. I looked around at other religions and realised that none of that fit me either. Wasn't much fun zooming from devout Catholic to bitter young athiest. I don't really understand how other people can believe in something so powerful without tangible proof, but I'd like to.

 

[Beer_Nut]

In all honesty my view on the whole thing is that there must be something there.

Why you ask? Well I'll tell ya.... lol.

To me life seems to complex to have been created through a series of "accidents." While I don't believe that our higher power deals with us everyday, I do believe that there had to be something to set this whole thing in motion. To any philosophers out there I'll give another reason (this one's a little complex). Becasue I cannot fathom the concept of nothing (absolute - no time, no space, no dimension), there can be no such thing. Therefore if there is no such thing as nothing, there must, by definition be something. It makes sense to me... lol.

Besides I can't really deal with the idea that we are all just meat... or machines (if you subscribe to that philosophy). I feel that I have more to me than neurons firing.

There that was my ramble... lol. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to anyone but me.

 

[Willow Rosenberg]

Makes sense to me. I was raised Roman Catholic, but I have come to consider myself more Christian than Catholic. I believe in most of the core Christian beliefs, however do not subject myself to many of the institutions outdated (IMO) practices. I think one's love for God is a personal thing and just because you don't join with others on a regular basis to celebrate your beliefs, doesn't make you any less religious or devout.

 

[Jill_Valentine]

Makes sense, yeah... but I do tend to think of us as... em... meaty machines. In a way it was liberating to come to that point of view. When the end of the road comes, I only have to answer to me. Lilah Morgan's outlook made alarming amounts of sense to me. And agreeing with Lilah is a bad thing, it leads to power suits and frightening amounts of neckscarves...

 

[SlayerDrow]

Though its not official, Wiccan/Pagan here. I'm not gonna say any more cuz I'd get some ppl mad lol

 

[Hero]

I was brought up to be a nice christina boy, but i think for myself. I don't believe in God and all that stuff. I'm athiest. Give me proof...