Sciforums religion survey 2014

What do you believe? (Select all that apply.)

  • I don't believe in God now, and I never did.

    Votes: 12 26.1%
  • I don't believe in God now, but I used to.

    Votes: 15 32.6%
  • I believe in God now, but in the past I did not.

    Votes: 4 8.7%
  • I believe in God now, and always have.

    Votes: 5 10.9%
  • I have no opinion on God/do not wish to select one of the above options.

    Votes: 6 13.0%
  • I don't believe in God, but I believe there is a higher power, life force or similar.

    Votes: 4 8.7%
  • I don't regard myself as religious, but I am a spiritual person.

    Votes: 7 15.2%
  • I believe that human beings have a soul or life force which remains after the death of the body.

    Votes: 5 10.9%
  • I believe in reincarnation.

    Votes: 4 8.7%
  • I describe myself as a follower of a recognised religion.

    Votes: 3 6.5%

  • Total voters
    46
  • Poll closed .
Telepathy seems like the perfect form of communication between a "spiritual" being and a human being.
I just wouldn't describe it as telepathy. Telepathy, and other "psychic" stuff, has a specific meaning and falls under the category of pseudoscience. If it's something where a person is experiencing a divine vision or something...I'd just rather not mince words, and I'd call it a 'vision'. I wouldn't couch it in pseudo-scientific terminology.

Do you actually talk to your gods?
Yes and no. Prayers are, technically, 'talking to' a deity or other entity.
'Talking with' is rarer, but I've done that too. See below for details.

I'm willing to give your experiences the benefit of doubt, yet when something happens to someone else you call in science?
Actually, you have been questioning me about my experiences from the first response you had to my post.

These direct encounters... are you actually talking to an invisible being?
Yes and no. In the cases I'm referring to, a deity or spirit took possession of another person and spoke through them. I've engaged in conversation in this manner. They're not 'invisible', but they're not in a corporeal form all their own, either.
Other people of my religion, however, do claim to have engaged in conversation with corporeal manifestations of spirits or gods, some of which are not visible to others. I'm sceptical of their assertions, though. In the same way that I'm sceptical of yours. And in the same way that I'd expect and hope others to be sceptical about mine. Scepticism is a good thing. It means you're capable of critical thinking.
 
I just wouldn't describe it as telepathy. Telepathy, and other "psychic" stuff, has a specific meaning and falls under the category of pseudoscience. If it's something where a person is experiencing a divine vision or something...I'd just rather not mince words, and I'd call it a 'vision'. I wouldn't couch it in pseudo-scientific terminology.

I suppose mine could be classed as a vision. Those seaguls were physical, and never at that house often, especially at 4:00am.


Actually, you have been questioning me about my experiences from the first response you had to my post.

Out of interest, don't worry I'm not attacking, I respect your position.

They're not 'invisible', but they're not in a corporeal form all their own, either.
Maybe this is closer to my experience then what I thought. Very interesting. How do you know which god it is, and why your strong bond with the Greeks?
 
I believe and have always believed in one (and only one) supreme being or creator. No afterlife. One golden rule. No idols. No intolerance. No obsessions. Easy.
 
Out of interest, don't worry I'm not attacking, I respect your position.
And I'm not attacking you either. Questioning and critiquing is not an attack.

How do you know which god it is
In a few instances, it was as simple as asking. Granted, in the one major instance, it was a bit more complicated than that because the god in question (Hermes) was dodging the question and made us (myself and two others) figure it out. But we did determine who and what it was. In other instances, it's less directly asking their name, and more determining their traits and comparing that to existing, reported descriptions of the gods.

and why your strong bond with the Greeks?
I've always had a strong interest in Greek mythology and history. It resonated with me in a way that few other mythologies and deities have. And as I went further into polytheism, I kept being drawn to Greek gods rather than those of other cultures or pantheons. I was, and still am, drawn to a few Celtic gods and goddesses, and to a few Roman deities. But for the most part, it was a feeling of being drawn. And when I had religious experiences, most of the gods I encountered were Greek--i.e., Hermes, Amphitrite, Nyx, Hekate. But, I have had significant experiences with other deities, particularly the Gaulish god Cernunnos (whom I have considered a tutelary god ever since I delved into Paganism). As well as many experiences with minor deities and spirits, e.g. nymphai, nature spirits, spirits of the dead, etc.
 
I believe and have always believed in one (and only one) supreme being or creator. No afterlife. One golden rule.

Dan,

What is the point of a supreme being if there is no afterlife? Why bother? The entire point of gods and religion is their promises of afterlife immortality.

What is your golden rule? There are many golden rules split into two classes. The first advocates doing something (usually considered good) to others, and the other group is to do no harm to others.
 
For: cluelesshusband (something like that)

I believe in God now, and always have.
I don't regard myself as religious, but I am a spiritual person.
I believe that human beings have a soul or life force which remains after the death of the body
I believe in reincarnation.
 
cluelusshusbund said:
Are you supportive of Gods creation plan which makes it inevitable that millions of children will suffer horrific torture.???

No. There is nothing worse then seeing a kid in even the slightest pain. What plan are you talking about?

God intentionaly created evil... which made it inevitable that millions of children woud suffer horrific torture... do you thank it was a good thang that God created evil.???
 
God intentionaly created evil... which made it inevitable that millions of children woud suffer horrific torture... do you thank it was a good thang that God created evil.???
It didn't make it "inevitable", He gave us free will. Remember we are dealing with God, the same God that created a universe with trillions of stars, and no doubt life forms. To ask me a question about God's mind is like asking a parrot to write the bible.
 
cluelusshusbund said:
God intentionaly created evil... which made it inevitable that millions of children woud suffer horrific torture... do you thank it was a good thang that God created evil.???

It didn't make it "inevitable", He gave us free will. Remember we are dealing with God, the same God that created a universe with trillions of stars, and no doubt life forms. To ask me a question about God's mind is like asking a parrot to write the bible.

Doesnt God know everthang... ie... didnt he know before he created evil that some people woud use ther free will to torture children.???
 
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