What part does your religion play in your life?

[Katzpur]

How do your religious beliefs and practices fit in to your life as a whole?

This poll is set up so that you can vote more than once. Please feel free to explain why you voted as you did.

 

[Malus 12:9]

I have no religion, so therefore no life? LOL

Anyways, it does play a part for me, if all you guys weren't religious, then, the forum would be a tad
different, and wouldn't keep me busy for hours.

 

[Jaymes]

I can't think of a way to explain it... it's just a part of who I am, what I do (or don't do Ahah, Taoist humor), and what I believe.

 

[Darkdale]

I can't think of a way to explain it... it's just a part of who I am, what I do (or don't do Ahah, Taoist humor), and what I believe.

Well said. That about sums it up for me.

 

[Katzpur]

I can't think of a way to explain it... it's just a part of who I am, what I do (or don't do Ahah, Taoist humor), and what I believe.

Come on! With all those choices, none of them fit? Pick the closest one and then explain why it didn't quite fit. :jiggy:

 

[Jaymes]

Hey now, I swear those weren't there when I first replied. :biglaugh:

I picked "I consider myself spiritual, but not religious" and "My religious beliefs are deeply held and very important to me." I consider myself spiritual because I don't consider Taoism a religion, and Taoism is just important to me. It's as much a part of me as breathing.

 

[Darkdale]

There should have been, "I'm religious, but not spiritual" option.

 

[Katzpur]

There should have been, "I'm religious, but not spiritual" option.

You are absolutely right. I tried to think of everything, but missed a very good option. Unfortunately, you can't go back and add to a poll once you've set it up.

 

[kreeden]

Thank you Katzpur , for including the spiritual choice . For me , there can be no other . Even if I belonged to a religion , I would still be in it in a " spiritual " way . It has to do with defining who and what I am , who and what God is , and what life is .

 

[Malus 12:9]

I voted in your poll as "I believe in a Higher Power, but think little about God or spiritual things. "

It was the closest because I don't believe in a higher power, but I don't think much on God and spiritual things.

 

[cardero]

I'm not so sure I found my answer in the poll.
Patrickism is a very unique vocation so I would believe it plays a very major role in my life.

 

[michel]

"My religious beliefs are deeply held and very important to me." - I think is as near as I could get .

Even without actually bringing my religion into the thread, I think I can safely say that the whole of my life is aimed at 'playing the part'. It actually was a toss up between what I chose and "I consider myself spiritual, but not religious. ", which may sound weird (it does to me), but that is as near as I can get.

Even during the 40 years I wandered about, with no 'set religion' to call my own, I think I was still spiritual. Someone, a Christian (I forget who) on this forum recently surprized me by saying that he/she had noticed a tendency to 'distance' myself from God (Those aren't the words, but that is how I interpreted them).

But it set me thinking, but I cannot understand why I should appear that way; I have 'wanted to be with God' all my life, and have been a believer in Jesus Christ and have always prayed that I could someday be as good as he, by trying to follow his example; of course I'll never get there.

 

[Engyo]

Interesting that certain choices should be theistic-specific and others not. Was that intentional?

Another interesting point is that there seems to be a conflation of Atheist with Areligious (not only in this poll); but I am living proof that it is possible to be Atheist while still being strongly religious.

 

[Katzpur]

I voted in your poll as "I believe in a Higher Power, but think little about God or spiritual things. "

It was the closest because I don't believe in a higher power, but I don't think much on God and spiritual things.

Well then it sounds to me as if you are either an atheist or an agnostic.

 

[Katzpur]

Interesting that certain choices should be theistic-specific and others not. Was that intentional?

It definitely wasn't intentional because I'm not even sure what you mean. I tried to be as all-inclusive as possible. Note: I said, "Higher Power" rather than "God" (at least when I remembered to).

Another interesting point is that there seems to be a conflation of Atheist with Areligious (not only in this poll); but I am living proof that it is possible to be Atheist while still being strongly religious.

I think your response goes to show how we all tend to think inside the box. It hadn't even occured to me that a person could not believe in God but be religious. Would you mind elaborating on that statement. I'm really interested.

 

[Malus 12:9]

Well then it sounds to me as if you are either an atheist or an agnostic.

Nope.The definition of atheism is "without God" or the belief that no God actually exists.
I just don't see God as a "higher power".

 

[Katzpur]

Nope.The definition of atheism is "without God" or the belief that no God actually exists.
I just don't see God as a "higher power".

I am so, so, so confused. You don't believe in a "higher power," right? But you believe that God exists? So if He/She/It exists, but is not a "Higher Power," what is He/She/It?

 

[Pah]

This Atheist, on this poll, makes good the thought "I am the first and I am the last" - not the comparision, mind you, but the thought.

I chose the first and last answer.

 

[Aqualung]

I answered the second to the last one. I would want that I could answer with the last one, because I think it's important to live every aspect of one's life in keeping with one's religious beleifs, but sometimes I'm sucked into the traps of "being liked" or the "immediate rewards." So I could only say that it's importatnt to me.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

I chose "My religious beliefs define me and influence every aspect of my life." The only change I would make is to rephrase it, since I percieve it as more of a spirituality than a religion. Also, and this is a major change, but I would err on the side of 'I define my religious beliefs' rather than vice versa.