What is your religion?

[VampireJason]

I use to be an atheist. Then I was a wiccan. Not even sure what I am now.

 

[Willow Rosenberg]

I don't like being pigeon holed, so I guess the closest religion I can relate to is Paganism, with a touch of Spiritualism lol

I don't believe in 'God' as in the bible, but I do believe there is some higher power/force, what that is though exactly, I don't know.

My close friends seem to consist of mediums, healers etc, one way or another they are connected to something in that area. I didn't choose friends because of their gifts, because these people came into my life by various means and it was only AFTER the friendships were formed that all the things we have in common came out. It's actually weird just how many of mine, and my husbands friends are 'gifted'.

I know alot of people don't believe in what I believe, but when you have had evidence and experiences, it changes you, so that you can't just explain it away, or ignore it. lol

At this point in my life I'm learning more now about where my path lies than I have ever done before.

As far as other religions go, as long as other people don't shove their views and beliefs down my throat, then each to their own! lol

 

[Harley]

I was born and raised in a Baptist family. Once I hit about 17, I kind of decided to "re-do" my beliefs. I wanted to know why I believed what I believe. I've been learning and growing since then. I know a lot of what I believe does not line up with any specific religion but I still go to church every Sunday and pray and do what I can.


I have a couple questions and please know I'm not judging, I'm curious:


I think it's interesting when people say "I'm [insert religion here]" but then say they don't believe in God. What does that mean? Do you indentify yourself as a member of that religion like you would your nationality?

Also, what about those who are gay? When you say you're gay and then believe in God or the Bible? Doesn't the Bible openly condemn homosexuality?

 

[msfantastico87]

Also, what about those who are gay? When you say you're gay and then believe in God or the Bible? Doesn't the Bible openly condemn homosexuality?

I should have been more specific...I believe in parts of the Bible. I find it a litlle hard to believe that something that was written that long ago, and has been translated so many times, is 100% accurate to what was originally written. I believe that we are not the ones to judge, and only God may judge where we(the gays) go. I look at it this way....

The only crime gays are commiting is love. Society is more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than two men holding hands. It's the society that put that mentality upon us. Also, a friend pointed this out to me. Aparently the Bible says something along the lines of men can't be with other men, but it says nothing about women. idk if that's true or not but imo, as long as gays aren't stealing, commiting adultery, murdering, etc etc...aren't we just like everyone else? Also, from what i've seen, straight people would have more to be judged on. Straight people get divorced more often then those gays that were fortunate to wed legally. Doesn't the Bible say something about not divorcing, and that if you wed, it's forever, unless there is an extreme circumstance (say abusive relationship)?

I'm not sure if there really is a heaven or hell...but if there is, i'm pretty certain that I have a pretty good chance of making it into heaven. I'm not a perfect person, no one is. Just because I'm gay does not mean I am a bad person. "God loves all his children."

 

[Flannen]

^Absolutely!

At the end of the day, no matter what the Bible says (which sounds odd seeing as I'm a Christian) as far as I am concerned the only person who can judge is God and there is not one person in the world who should try and speak for him.

Times are a-changing, It's not so black and white any more. The Bible can be confusing in these modern times but there are certain parts of it that should always ring true such as God being the only one to judge and loving your neighbour as you love yourself, which kind of go hand in hand and have always been a pretty staple part of the way I live my life.

 

[Kelsey]

Interesting turn that this conversation has taken! I wrote an entire blog-post on this subject, actually. It's Here if anyone wants to read it. I was inspired by this quote from Lady Gaga, which might be my favorite from her: "It's always wrong to hate, but it's never wrong to love."

 

[msfantastico87]

I absolutely admire you for that blog post. It really means a lot coming from a straight person. Fortunately for myself, I haven't met very many people that were homophobic. I am out and proud at school and work. No one has ever said a mean thing to me. I wish the same could be said for everyone else.

Society has a way of making any brand new thing a sin.

I remember when Lady Gaga first came out on the airwaves and people started watching her videos and people saying she was a devils spawn and so many people around me were like "Oh she should go to hell for making out with women..." and so on and so forth. Unfortunately you don't hear anyone talking about Travie Mccoy and his need to become a millionare, when he's already rolling in the dough. Talking about how he wants to buy all the things he never had. How about feeding the starving children in Africa?

...umm I totally went off track.

My point is that that blog post is EXACTLY
what I believe and I'm glad I am not the only one that thinks that way.

 

[Kelsey]

Thanks Flannen and Msfantastico! It's definitely an issue that I feel very strongly about. I absolutely see red when people say bigoted, thoughtless things about issues like gay rights. I just don't get why people don't realize that it's denying rights. We've done it for hundreds of years in lots of different ways to many different groups, and the arguments are always the same--it goes against religion/tradition/personal values/etc. Don't we realize by now that those are never reasons to avoid making necessary changes?

 

[Flannen]

Thanks Flannen and Msfantastico! It's definitely an issue that I feel very strongly about. I absolutely see red when people say bigoted, thoughtless things about issues like gay rights. I just don't get why people don't realize that it's denying rights. We've done it for hundreds of years in lots of different ways to many different groups, and the arguments are always the same--it goes against religion/tradition/personal values/etc. Don't we realize by now that those are never reasons to avoid making necessary changes?

We're getting slightly off topic but I completely agree with you. I see red when people say bigoted, ignorant things about pretty much everything lol. It's something I'd like to be able to change in the role of a teacher; to get the next generation to be more liberal and generally just...nice lol. I'm trying to think of a thread we could start to discuss this further so if you can think of a catchy title that kind of encompasses all these sorts of things, then go for it!

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Nice to see my thread getting attention!

I agree of course, Kelsey and Flannen. It's incredible to me that despite how much humans have evolved, so many of us are still so ignorant, racist, and bigoted. Sometimes I'm embarassed to say I'm human, lol.

Yesterday at work was one of those days. The President came to town yesterday to have meetings with some business owners and to support Patty Murray's campaign, and there were tons of protestors outside my work. Some of them were just there to say 'hi' to the President as he drove past, but others were protesting the Arizona law among other things. Now, I've seen some HUGE protests in my time, and these people were a small group and they were being very respectful. And yet, the amount of negative comments regarding liberals, democrats, and "those deuded socialists" I heard yesterday was astounding to me. I guess I'd forgotten how many Conservatives work in the building I work in. One guy, after I commented that maybe we've have more business today because of all the people in town to see Obama, a man said that I wouldn't because "liberals don't buy coffee because they can't afford it"!
I was like, WTF?

Seattle is one of the most liberal cities in the country. I felt like asking him why he lived here if that's how he felt, but I didn't say anything because I was at work.

Anyhow, my point is, so many people are so ignorant to the actual issues, and base their beliefs on emotional responses, and it's not very effective. The other day a woman told me that I was a Nazi because I voted for Obama. *sigh*

I think most people on here know me pretty well and know that I'm a pretty far left liberal athiest. I respect everyone, as long as they respect me. It's hard sometimes, though, because people say such dumb things! /rant

I absolutely admire you for that blog post. It really means a lot coming from a straight person. Fortunately for myself, I haven't met very many people that were homophobic. I am out and proud at school and work. No one has ever said a mean thing to me. I wish the same could be said for everyone else.

Society has a way of making any brand new thing a sin.

I remember when Lady Gaga first came out on the airwaves and people started watching her videos and people saying she was a devils spawn and so many people around me were like "Oh she should go to hell for making out with women..." and so on and so forth. Unfortunately you don't hear anyone talking about Travie Mccoy and his need to become a millionare, when he's already rolling in the dough. Talking about how he wants to buy all the things he never had. How about feeding the starving children in Africa?

An issue I feel very strongly about is gay marraige. I've made a personal vow to never get marred until everyone can. Some of my straight friends think this is ridiculous, self-sacrificial, and absurd - but my gay friends think it's very cool. I do not want to support an institution that discriminates, personally. If you want to get married, that's your business, but all is fair in love and war. I choose to live my beliefs.

Anyhow, your post reminded me of my co-worker, who is incredibly homophobic. It's maddening. I've tried talking to him, but it' no use.

And about Lady Gaga - Katy Perry said she was blasphemous. She said something along the lines that using and sex and blasphemy to sell records was low-class. I was like, come on! What do you use to sell your records? Your charm, wit, and personality! (Katy was NAKED in her video for California Gurls) I was like, did it ever occur to you, Katy, that some people DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD and so therefore so not care about "offending" him?

Lady Gaga is awesome. She's an individual, a trail-blazer, she's going to revolutionalze pop music - just like Bowie did. She's bringing glam rock back. She's blending fashion and music and art. She's rad. People who claim to dislike her? Only because she's more powerful, rich, and cooler than them 🙂

 

[Washburne]

Also, what about those who are gay? When you say you're gay and then believe in God or the Bible? Doesn't the Bible openly condemn homosexuality?

The bible say a lot of things. Since I love this one I'll repost it.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD52OlkKfNs&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD52OlkKfNs&feature=related[/ame]


Do everyone that like the homosexuality argument agree 100% with the others too? If not, who are they to say which parts of the bilble that are right to follow and which are not? Everyone make their own judgement.

For me personally I think the bible say a lot of good things but also a lot that I don't agree with. If it make me a hypocrite or what ever I don't care. People can pass judgement if they want. It's not their view on me that matters.

I think it's interesting when people say "I'm [insert religion here]" but then say they don't believe in God. What does that mean? Do you indentify yourself as a member of that religion like you would your nationality?

That really interests me too.

Let's see. Before my parents split when I was 11, I was raised Catholic. After the split my mom wanted to keep doing the whole Catholic thing but my dad wanted me to be christian.

I won't use the same words as Kristine but you got me confused. You think you can clearify what you mean by christian?

I should have been more specific...I believe in parts of the Bible. I find it a litlle hard to believe that something that was written that long ago, and has been translated so many times, is 100% accurate to what was originally written. I believe that we are not the ones to judge, and only God may judge where we(the gays) go.

I say that about everyone. Just because you (say you) believe in God it doesn't mean that you're a good person or at least stop you from doing awful things. I think we have enough proof about that. I get so tired of people that they're going to hell or what ever for this or that reason. If God think it's better to praise his name but not live up to it than be a good person it's not a God I want to believe in.

 

[msfantastico87]

ha shows how much I know about religiong. by christian I meant to say Evangelist...i think =/ don't really follow religion much since I just do things my way and don't really care

 

[Harley]

Most devout Protestants do not believe the Catholic faith is Christian.
I think its because Catholics believe in good deeds/confession as the way to heaven and most Protestants belive in salvation through Jesus as the way to heaven....um, I think.

Catholics, I believe (since I'm not actually Catholic), consider themselves Christian.

 

[Flannen]

Most devout Protestants do not believe the Catholic faith is Christian.
I think its because Catholics believe in good deeds/confession as the way to heaven and most Protestants belive in salvation through Jesus as the way to heaven....um, I think.

Catholics, I believe (since I'm not actually Catholic), consider themselves Christian.

I do not mean any offence with what I'm about to say, so please don't take it that way. But it's things like this that I believe cause so much friction between denominations and religions.

You'd probably find that 'most devout Protestants' couldn't give a monkeys about what Catholicism believes or take the time to suggest they're not Christian. Not every single Protestant, nor Catholic, nor Baptist, or going even further not every single Muslim, or Hindu or Buddhist believes in or has a faith that is the same as another. Religion and faith is an extremely individual, personal thing. The criticisms of religion (any and all of them) spawn from the actions of a minority.

Sweeping generalisations and misconceptions in all areas of life breed misunderstanding and resentment. People spend so much time telling others what they think and how they feel about things and that causes friction and bad feeling.

I say this, like I said with no intention to have a go at you or offend you. But I really believe that trying to prevent misunderstandings like this in every aspect of our lives and our world will defeat hatred.

 

[Harley]

I say this, like I said with no intention to have a go at you or offend you. But I really believe that trying to prevent misunderstandings like this in every aspect of our lives and our world will defeat hatred.

No worries - I should have started my post with "I was raised to believe..."

 

[Flannen]

No worries - I should have started my post with "I was raised to believe..."

I get you. I kinda missed out the fact that what you said/thought are true in the sense of being things that people have thought and used as distinctions for a long time but as faith/religion changes with society, they become less and less apparent? (Maybe there's a better word for it but I can't think of it right now.)

 

[Wild At Heart]

I would say that I'm agnostic. I believe in God but I don't believe in any type of organized religion. I'm also very interested in Wicca & I like to study it though I haven't really practiced it yet.

 

[Kemy]

As stated before, I'm an Atheist/Secular Humanist/Liberal.

 

[Username]

This was a really interesting thread. Religion is one of my biggest interests, even though I don't practice one myself I find it very fascinating how other people can.

I was raised in a Jewish home, but we were never that religious and I don't even know if my parents or any of my siblings believe in God or not, we've never talked about it, but I think they're all agnostic, except for me. I'm an atheist. I used to be agnostic when I was little, but then I read a quote that changed everything for me.
"Did God create man, or did man create God" It's a simple quote but I had total 'aha' moment when I read it, I was like 10 or 11, I knew the second I read that, that there is no god, and there hasn't been a doubt in my mind since.

When it comes to religion, well, I don't understand it, I don't think it does this world any good. Richard Dawkins is my hero.

 

[sisterofmercy]

I'm an atheist but go to Church as I sing in the choir.