A short scimember religion survey.

[beyondtimeandspace]

I realize that this list won't be complete, as there will always be someone with a religion not listed. I tried to make the list as large as I could to be inclusive of as many people as I could. I think I have a good spread.

I also realize that this has been done many times before in the past. I'm just looking at an update. Please be sparing in your criticism of this thread.

 

[spidergoat]

Why not just ask for our religion, and then compile the list?

 

[beyondtimeandspace]

I'll take notes on unlisted religions/systems of belief that members decide to make mention of, to which they ascribe.

 

[geeser]

I voted, however atheism and agnosticism are not religions and also not belief systems.
infact a lot of them are'nt religions.
so you need to reword your poll.

 

[beyondtimeandspace]

I realize that stance. However, I firmly believe that before one knows something, one must believe it, that belief is necessary for knowledge, otherwise, if one didn't believe that a true thing was true, then how could he possibly know it. Thus, I described those 'labels' on the list that aren't religions, systems of belief. It isn't completely accurate, I understand, but I figured it would be understood.

 

[Quigly]

I get it. I believe Atheism is just as much a religion as any other religion though, not just a set of social beliefs. It is just not an organized religion granted. You have your devout, your hypocrites, your do gooders, all following the belief that there is no God. They seem to have their own doctrine also, otherwise this board would be somewhat unique instead, it is christians vs. muslims vs. atheists. Also, if it wasn't a religion, than why do more atheists post in the religious forum trying to convert or argue people to their viewpoint.

 

[geeser]

thats where your wrong, quigly: this is a religious forum within a scientific community, it's called sciforums for a reason.

and as for atheism being a religion, you need to go back to school, and study up on what a religion is dont you.

Religion
Religion—sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system—is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices and institutions associated with such belief. In its broadest sense some have defined it as the sum total of answers given to explain humankind's relationship with the universe. In the course of the development of religion, it has taken a huge number of forms in various cultures and individuals. Occasionally, the word "religion" is used to designate what should be more properly described as a "religious organization" – that is, an organization of people that supports the exercise of some religion.

atheism is the lack of belief, so is not a belief system, please educate yourselves on this fact.
it gets on our nerves to keep repeating this

 

[Quigly]

A lot of people see the lack of belief as a belief, especially when there are alternatives. I have heard the arguments that you didn't make a choice to be an atheist, but I don't know how else you can split it at the end of the day. You make up and make choices based on your belief system of atheism. There's no two ways about it.

 

[beyondtimeandspace]

Actually, lack of belief would be agnosticism, since a belief hasn't been asserted. In atheism, there is something being asserted, that is, that there is no God. You quite clearly assert this, and rather than being a lack of belief in God, it is a belief in the lack of God. As an atheist, it isn't that you don't have a belief concerning God, which would be a lack of belief, it is that you believe there actually is no God. You believe it, really and truly. If you did not, then you wouldn't be atheist. If you didn't believe it, you wouldn't assert it.

IF you were to say, I'm atheist because there is no evidence or proof for a God, but if there were, then I guess I'd believe in it, then you're not actually atheist, you're agnostic. You really haven't decided, you're sitting on the fence until there's proof one way or the other. The atheist positively asserts that there is no God, that there is no evidence or proof for a God, nor will there ever be evidence or proof found. It isn't a matter of, "I'll believe it when I see it." It's a matter of, "I'll never believe it, because I'll never see it."

Wherever there is a positive assertion, there is a belief. Unless I'm mistaken, the atheist makes the positive assertion "there is no God."

 

[QuarkMoon]

Einstein can describe my "system of belief" better than I can: "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God. " - Albert Einstein.

I am a deist, I believe strongly in God but I do not subscribe to Christianity, Islam or any other religion. "The word "Deism" is derived from the Latin word for God: "Deus." Deism involves the belief in the existence of God, on purely rational grounds, without any reliance on revealed religion or religious authority."

 

[Cris]

Beyond,

I firmly believe that before one knows something, one must believe it,

Absolute nonsense. One doesn’t need to believe anything until one knows it is true. You have it reversed.

that belief is necessary for knowledge,

Nope, knowledge must come first. One can simply withhold belief until knowledge is available.

otherwise, if one didn't believe that a true thing was true, then how could he possibly know it.

You seem totally confused. Believing something is true doesn’t make it true. Rational belief only makes sense after you know something is true.

Thus, I described those 'labels' on the list that aren't religions, systems of belief.

And it was incorrect to do so.

It isn't completely accurate, I understand, but I figured it would be understood.

You got away with it this time, but it is irritating.

 

[Cris]

Quigly,

I get it. I believe Atheism is just as much a religion as any other religion though, not just a set of social beliefs.

Atheism cannot be a religion and isn’t. It makes no sense to base a religion on a disbelief of something.

It is just not an organized religion granted.

Do you know of any religions that aren’t organized?

You have your devout, your hypocrites, your do gooders, all following the belief that there is no God.

Except that that doesn’t describe atheism.

.. if it wasn't a religion, than why do more atheists post in the religious forum trying to convert or argue people to their viewpoint.

Your attempt at logic is as idiotic as your observations. That’s like saying that because a vegetarian argues against eating meat that they must be carnivores.

 

[Cris]

beyond,

Actually, lack of belief would be agnosticism, since a belief hasn't been asserted. In atheism, there is something being asserted, that is, that there is no God. You quite clearly assert this, and rather than being a lack of belief in God, it is a belief in the lack of God. As an atheist, it isn't that you don't have a belief concerning God, which would be a lack of belief, it is that you believe there actually is no God. You believe it, really and truly. If you did not, then you wouldn't be atheist. If you didn't believe it, you wouldn't assert it.

IF you were to say, I'm atheist because there is no evidence or proof for a God, but if there were, then I guess I'd believe in it, then you're not actually atheist, you're agnostic. You really haven't decided, you're sitting on the fence until there's proof one way or the other. The atheist positively asserts that there is no God, that there is no evidence or proof for a God, nor will there ever be evidence or proof found. It isn't a matter of, "I'll believe it when I see it." It's a matter of, "I'll never believe it, because I'll never see it."

Wherever there is a positive assertion, there is a belief. Unless I'm mistaken, the atheist makes the positive assertion "there is no God."

No. Totally wrong.

Please read the FAQs thread at the beginning of the forum for definitions of atheism and agnosticsm.

 

[Mosheh Thezion]

The religion for the next 10 billion years... is Science.

-MT

 

[Hapsburg]

Deist, and an odd sort of deist I might add. I'm kinda deist-athiest in the sense that, I start with the concept of a god, and try to disprove that god in an effort to find the scientific truth.
So far, we've gotten up to the big bang...what happened before that? I'd say something resembling a deity did something, until science proves that wrong, at which point I will ask, "what happened after that?".

 

[beyondtimeandspace]

Cris,

I'm not going to get into semantic debates, but concerning knowledge and belief, I was actually drawing off Epistemologic Theory. Anyway, it's really unimportant. Call yourself whatever the heck you want, makes no difference to me.

 

[Cris]

Beyond,

Were you quoting from a reference?

But I would disagree that the issue is unimportant since the terms we use have specific meanings and effective communication and debate depend on both sides understanding the same meanings. Otherwise chaos and confusion is the result.

 

[beyondtimeandspace]

I've re-read the FAQs at the beginning of the Forum on the definitions of Atheism and Agnosticism, as well as simply having a good understanding of the contruct of the words (root, prefixes, origins, etc...) and believe the way I have described them is both accurate and in keeping with the way they have been defined in your post in the FAQs.

 

[cole grey]

The person who can say "I don't know", is the only person who doesn't have a belief.
Anyone who can say, "I think X", has a belief of some sort.
For example, anyone who says, "I think leprechauns do not exist," is stating a belief.

I am puzzled as to why anyone would try to deny that.

edit- knowledge is the word people use to classify their own beliefs.

 

[beyondtimeandspace]

ditto cole

By the way, I've read some posts by one of the Jewish members of the boards. I was wonder, because I notice that there are two votes for Judaism, who is the second? Just curious. If you don't feel you want to let everyone know, then you don't have to answer. I was just curious that's all.