How Many People Here Are Religious, And How Many Not?

[sayak83]

The difference is though, that an atheist or polytheist Jew or Christian would be extremely heretical and indeed unconventional. Within Hinduism it appears an acceptable belief.

America is full of atheist Jews. Lots of Catholics are atheists or agnostics and still attend mass, arrange Catholic weddings, funerals etc. Plenty of Latin American and African Christians and Muslims believe in multiple spirits and gods from their native traditions along with the Christian God. The only difference is that the priestly and pastoral hierarchy pretends to ignore this (to them embarrassing ) fact while Hindus and Buddhists have accepted and welcomed this diversity explicitly.

 

[Rival]

America is full of atheist Jews. Lots of Catholics are atheists or agnostics and still attend mass, arrange Catholic weddings, funerals etc. Plenty of Latin American and African Christians and Muslims believe in multiple spirits and gods from their native traditions along with the Christian God. The only difference is that the priestly and pastoral hierarchy pretends to ignore this (to them embarrassing ) fact while Hindus and Buddhists have accepted and welcomed this diversity explicitly.

Jewish is an ethno-religious term, so you can't just stop being genetically Jewish. I wouldn't call an atheist Catholic a Catholic, I'd call that a cultural Catholic maybe, but not a Catholic. I would call those Christians and Muslims heretics.

I'm obviously more rigid and authoritarian than you

 

[sayak83]

Jewish is an ethno-religious term, so you can't just stop being genetically Jewish. I wouldn't call an atheist Catholic a Catholic, I'd call that a cultural Catholic maybe, but not a Catholic. I would call those Christians and Muslims heretics.

I'm obviously more rigid and authoritarian than you

What you call them is irrelevant. Its what they call themselves that's important.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I'm so religious that I have 3 religions: Buddhism, Luciferianism, and Pastafarianism.

Ramen! I too am ordained. That did not stop me from hitting "not religious" in the poll.

 

[Rival]

What you call them is irrelevant. Its what they call themselves that's important.

Labels must at least carry some meaning though, or else they become totally irrelevant. You can't just go around calling yourself whatever you want. If one Christian is a monotheist and believes on Jesus as his lord and saviour, and another is a polytheist and believes Jesus was just a bloke, what does the word 'Christian' even mean anymore?

 

[stvdv]

Yeah the religious in Religious Forums is a bit fraudulent, it promotes anti religion much more than religion, the founder of the forum is an atheist I have heard.

Probably needed to keep the theists in check. They are known to promote themselves "abundantly". So balance indeed is needed.

 

[crossfire]

Ramen! I too am ordained. That did not stop me from hitting "not religious" in the poll.

You probably aren't Buddhist and Luciferian as well, though.

 

[crossfire]

Jewish is an ethno-religious term, so you can't just stop being genetically Jewish. I wouldn't call an atheist Catholic a Catholic, I'd call that a cultural Catholic maybe, but not a Catholic. I would call those Christians and Muslims heretics.

I'm obviously more rigid and authoritarian than you

I think Mother Theresa was saying she was atheist towards the end there, no?

 

[Rival]

I think Mother Theresa was saying she was atheist towards the end there, no?

?

 

[Daemon Sophic]

I'm curious to know how many people here are religious and how many are not. I realize that only a small percentage of people who post regularly on the forums will answer, still. I would like to hear from the religious why they think the non religious post here and I would like to hear from the non religious why they do so.

Is it an interest in religion? The discussion on the science forums? Does it allow you to express frustration of living in a spiritual world? Or something else?

Agnostic here (so Not Religious).
I came here to hear and understand the viewpoints of those who are followers of different faiths. Once I realized there is a set of distinct political philosophies here too, it just made the site better IMO.

There are a few good scientific minds who occasionally post a scientific item that I didn’t know about. Bonus!

You say, “Does it allow you to express frustration of living in a spiritual world?”. This puzzles me.
First, we don’t live in a spiritual world.
Unless you mean, “Does it allow you to express frustration of living in a real physical world, where so many assume without evidence that we are caught up in a magical/spiritual/candyland world of their own imagination; who believe (to the point of being willing to kill and die) that their own minority opinion is the one true creedo of THE Divine God overseeing every gluon throughout the multiverse?”.......
....In that case, yeah, that’s part of it.

Also, this is a Religious Education Forum (REF). While I don’t know about Hinduism, Buddhism, Satanism, and others; I am aware of the fact that regarding Christianity and the teachings of Jesus and the Bible, atheists and agnostics tend to be better versed and knowledgable than the followers of said religion (and its various sects). So who better to listen to for the factual truth about their religion’s foundations and intent; if perhaps not the modern adherence (and lack of) by the religion’s devoted? (who I often find cherry pick their favorite scriptures without actually following the spirit, as it were).

 

[LuisDantas]

Out of curiosity, how many of you have met the demographically very influential model of mega-church exemplified by the "Universal Church" / IURD?

https://www.universal.org/usa/

It seems to me that depending on the beholder and its expectations, they are either "religious to a fault" or not even aware of what religious practice would be.

 

[Subduction Zone]

You probably aren't Buddhist and Luciferian as well, though.

Nope, sorry. But I did take a serious look at Zen Buddhism years ago.

 

[David1967]

and quite a few heretical Christians.

Hey!!

 

[Rival]

Hey!!

There are, lol

 

[David1967]

There are, lol

Why Rival, are you trying to provoke me?

 

[Rival]

Why Rival, are you trying to provoke me?

no

 

[David1967]

no

View attachment 22862

I knew it.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I was raised in a Catholic household, and one Friday a group of Pastafarians came to my door and convinced me to convert.

I've no doubt it was delicious. Especially with grated Parmesan cheese.

 

[Twilight Hue]

What my point was, as enumerated above, is that there are little groups of religious people, a smattering of Christians, a pinch of Jews, a flick of Baha'is, and then a whole dollop of atheists. Atheists make up the largest group on here.

Theism as it stands is tremendously hard to defend this day and age in light of new information and advances in science and technology.

How did the lyrics of Neil Young's song go? "The aimless blade of science crashed the Pearly Gates"?

 

[Twilight Hue]

I guess all I'm really saying is, atheists have a whole lot of other atheists on this board to pal around with. Christians have a few other Christians, Muslims have a few other Muslims, but no group has anywhere near as many 'allies' as atheists, I suppose I could put it.

It's a bit like being a conservative here. *Grin*