Agnostic Buddhist here, and never talk about it unless asked:)

ha! this one is a doozy.

Pagan in the house! I'm rarely at odds with my "community" considering how loose that community is. The only times I've ever really been at odds with Pagans has been in my defense of Islam and Christianity, which many see as nothing but oppressive.

not religious(yet).

Well stacy do you mind talking about it? I am curious.

i am not religious, but very spiritual. there is a difference.

I'm religious. It impacts my life in ways I don't really recognize. I'm Episcopalian. I don't proselytize. I don't wear it on my sleeves. It's an intimate thing and I also don't want to have others make assumptions about my religion in general because of my own actions. If you're religious, it will change during various phases of your life. At this phase, mine is almost academic. My faith does waver and I've noticed that it always happens when I attend services for other denominations whose vision and approach to religion vary greatly from my view of what Christianity should be.

I'm not religious. I've been turned off to religion by religious people. They are nuts! And they hate everybody (in the name of whatever God they believe in of course).

I'm agnostic, not spiritual and fairly anti-organized religion. I think it's a crutch and a replacement for thinking for yourself. I was raised Episcopalian though, but had issues with religion even when I was a boy. I am too skeptical about everything to even understand the concept of faith.

i have been raised and been attending church all of my life, i would consider myself an open-minded person. for the most part, in my experience, those caught up in "religion" are usually the most snobby, and judgemental. just sayin.

It's rather unfair and very backwards to make sweeping assumptions about religious people just like it's backwards when some religious people do the same to you. There are lots of people who are religious. There are some who represent the Christian faith poorly. Saying that all religious people are snobby and judgmental because those people are generally the loudest and most obnoxious about the issue is like saying that all Muslims are violent or terrorists because those are the loudest and most obnoxious.

Yes, I'm snobby and judgmental. Neither have anything to do with my religion/faith. If anything, my faith is generally what gets me to turn the snobbery down several notches.

I don't consider it a crutch. It is not a prerequisite for morality in my view. It shouldn't be fear-based though unfortunately, it sometimes is.

"in my experience" "most" "usually" none of these denotes all.

you know, I am a Chrisian yet on these blogs and in intellectual circles, etc I know that can be disrespected.

I am apart of a fellowship of Christian who try to practice the scriptures, among them are "judge lest ye be judged".

It seems being spiritual, buddhist, hindu anything can be more respected than Christian.

I'd like the same respect as these groups, agnostics, and atheists.

With regards to faith I most often let my life reflect my beliefs instead of proselytyzing vigorously.

I'm Roman Catholic. I used to practice. But now I work on finding God in daily life. i think that's where the true work lies.

When I was going to church 2-3 times a week for retreats meetings and masses, I saw very few black faces. There are black catholic churches, I was baptized and grew up in one but I find that black catholics are non-progressive. They are very much about the old church ways and doctrine. A travesty in my opinion, because what's going to happen when they die?

Anyhow, I feel myself growing more and more distant from the church doctrine and am in a way opening myself up to more fully experience faith in my life.

Religion (not to upset religious people) is one of the worst things invent, it causes more harm, division and destruction than good. you beliefs should not dictate the lives of others, its all about control. You do not need it to be a good person.
I am spiritual, I follow Jesus teaches in terms of being a good person and turning water in to wine.

M, I understand your concerns. But, if you believe the bible it says you should not give up fellowship with fellow believers.

I am culturally catholic. I can't escape it and as I get older I accept it. I do not go to church or pray or believe in Jesus or judge others based on some kind of catholic standards. However, so much of what my family does together and the things we celebrate is tied to catholisism that I would be negating my family if I negated catholisism. I must agree with Miss Smith that some "black catholics are non-progressive" but would have to open it up to generalize catholisism in the US. The Latino churches I attended and the people and my family for that matter are not nearly as conservative as other catholics I have encountered.

I'm a spiritual agnostic. I have never been religious nor do I plan to suddenly become religious. God and I have an understanding. We're cool people.

I'm religious, Baptist by denomination. I literally grew up in the church, and even though I still go every Sunday, it has greater meaning now that I'm much older compared to being forced when I was younger. I have friends and family at church, so having that community time with others is important for me. Sunday School has a greater impact on me more than any time at church because the focus is on self-reflection and identifying our relationship with God and working towards strenghtening it, which is my focus these days. Over the years I've had experiences that probably would have warranted me to not claim religion, but I have learned that dealing with human beings, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, it's expected that they are not perfect and mistakes will be made. I know I'm not perfect and I'm always grateful for grace and mercy. I'm skiddish on converting folks because of my personal experiences. I let my actions speak, and occassionally invite friends to services, but not with the intent of converting them. I've never been at odds with the community to the extent that I would consider changing denominations. Generally issues that are politicized are not as much of a focus at my church, and it's my choice whether I want to share that with others. Personally I try to avoid religious arguments because I have seen how it affects relationships and perceptions of those belief systems.

I'm an atheist for logical reasons. My educational background is in science, and I find belief in god(s) to be inconsistent with a naturalistic, scientific worldview.

Atheism appeals to me because I was raised on the comedy of Scott Adams and George Carlin. I don't know of any religious comics who make the case for faith as brilliantly as atheist comics do. Atheist authors such as Douglas Hofstadter, Daniel Dennett, and Richard Dawkins have been highly influential to my thinking.

I'm irritated by the implications of cultural assimilation that go hand-in-hand with subscribing to the white man's god, or declaring oneself to be "spiritual but not religious" like some wishy-washy liberal. I don't believe in spirits.

In the end, I don't think anyone *truly* believes in god(s) except for a few delusional schizophrenics. Most people deny a belief in the existence of most of the god(s) who have ever been invented. I just deny a belief in the existence of all of them.

For the record, I was raised Episcopalian and I have nothing against the church. But as the late George Carlin said, "The only good thing to ever come out of religion was the music."

ah religion - the great uniter - LMAO

As the late, great Geoge Carlin said: "I was a Catholic… until I reached the age of reason".

I from the South, so I was brought up going to church and in a very religous home. However, I consider myselt to be a spiritual person. I love people and I embrace them for who they are, especially their beleifs, even if they are atheist. I love reading and learning about all types of religions. I think that sprituality or religion is a choice and its personnel. With that no one has a right to judge anyone else's beliefs.

@ Deevine, ditto your comments.

Im also a Christian and so proud and privileged. I was raised Baptist, but I am not too hung up on denominations.

I was raised in the African Methodist Episocpal Church but I relate more with Rastafari now. I have never had such a welcoming and beautiful experience that I had when I went to a reasoning.

Get ready… was raised in the A.M.E. church but I consider myself an Agnostic Theist Christian (whew).

Basically what that means to me is that I choose to believe in God (as He/She/It is defined in Christian terms) but I also hold the belief that it is impossible to definitely prove that God exists. However, some of my most peaceful times are when I'm alone with God.

I believe that religion (all of them) is a coping mechanism for humans to deal with the fact that we exist and to substantiate a purpose for ourselves. And that's wonderful. I just tend to shy away from people who are so focused and arrogant in their religion that they can't see the merits of others' points-of-view.

I don't like to call myself religious, I prefer spiritual because it is something deep within me not just something I read and things I do according to tradition in a particular faith.

I was raised attending a Baptist church. My mother and father would send me off with a family from the neighborhood. Then I attended a private AME school, moved to Orlando to attend a large Southern Baptist Church, went to college and returned to a Baptist church which I attended on and off again and now I attend an AME church–the church of the school I attended earlier–but I don't consider myself AME.

Denominations are confusing to me. My preference is not to be categorized by denomination so that is why I call myself the Loudmouth Protestant. It's the only way I can distinguish myself without going into the complications of the denominations that exist within the Protestant church. As many of you know, there are hundreds. I attend an AME church now because that is where I was led to go. That is where I serve, where I am fed and where I have matured but I also recognize that I might not always be a member of this church and God may have another place for me to go after this.

Hey y'all, it's me again, the arrogant, judgmental atheist. Guess what–I'm from the South, too, and I don't think that being from the South necessitates being brought up in a conservative Christian environment. Yes, the vast majority of Southerners I know would probably claim to be Christians when asked, but the vast majority of these so-called Christians probably couldn't name the 10 Commandments or any practical way in which Christianity affects their daily lives aside from giving them a vague sense of "belonging" to a kind of social club (which tends to lead to a bit of self-righteous xenophobia and jingoism).

Let's get real. More Southerners are more serious about football than their supposed religion, in practical as well as emotional terms. They're more knowledgeable about football, they have more football "stuff," they spend more time and money on football, and it's a ritual that gives them a sense of passion and community. And, best of all, it's based on something real and objective.

If we're discussing religious mythology in logical terms, it should be fairly obvious that supernatural stories about god(s) and creation are among a wide array of made-up human inventions.

If we're discussing religion as a way of life or as something people use to find happiness, meaning, and a way to "belong"–in other words, a social club–then I challenge you to explain how football *isn't* a religion in that sense.

Yes, I'm judging your religion, because I think sorting out fact from fiction is more important than avoiding stepping on your little feelings. Does that make me arrogant and judgmental? Perhaps. But am I wrong?

If anything, I'm opening religious people's minds to a wider range of activities they can use to fulfill their religious needs that don't have to be predicated on fairy tales and invisible men in the sky.

Upon being reminded that stories about god(s) are really kinda silly and indefensible, religious people usually retreat to defending what they feel is their private domain: ethics. I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I've never had sex. Say what you will about me being an uptight atheist, but I believe I'm doing pretty well ethically by your ancient religious rules. Sure, I've made mistakes, like anyone, but I don't believe in calling them "sins" and I certainly don't believe I'm "going" somewhere after I die based on some objective measure of my actions OR beliefs.

Strictly speaking, I don't think there is a logical basis for free will in the first place, so religious recommendations on how to live life are somewhat appreciated, but ultimately fallacious. They tend to be contradictory, too, owing to the fact that they were created by committee.

Ultimately, I don't think 99% of self-described religious people are being serious about their proclaimed beliefs, so I just let them be, secure in the knowledge that no one *really* believes in god(s), we're each responsible for our own actions, and religions are just sociopolitical clubs with no real moral authority.

Hi Elton, I'd like to know what you meant by this statement:

"Ultimately, I don’t think 99% of self-described religious people are being serious about their proclaimed beliefs…"

I guess it is self-explanatory and I know I'm be asking for it if I go into why I believe I am part of the 1% that take their religion–relationship–seriously. But I'd like to know from you, the uptight atheist, what you think it looks like when an uptight monotheist is not taking their proclaimed beliefs seriously.

I was raised episcopalian, still go to episcopalian church, but on most days I'm atheist. That's because in my head, I've figured out how it's possible that God doesn't exist. But with this same logic, I know it's possible he does. So it depends on how good I'm feeling. When life is good God rules. Other days I curse him out (sorry believers). I still go to church though, because the rituals are soothing, plus I love the traditional hymns.

Me- The Bible is a collection of accounts written decades after the death of Jesus; im going to need something more reliable than that to believe in. burning bushes, seas parting, disabled people just standing and walking, either someone exaggerating, forgot or was just high.

Karrie- We are on the same level

Oogie, that's so odd because I think most people remember their faith when things are bad.

There's this part in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's book "Purple Hibiscus" where the main character asks why God had to sacrifice Jesus to save us from our sins instead of just saving us from our sins. I've never thought about that. To have what I consider a "grown up" relationship with God, you have to think about these things and think them through while accepting that you don't have the answers to everything nor are you expected to. Homosexuality and abortion are the areas that I've probably gone through over and over in my head. Much has been made of that Bible verse. At the end of the day, I don't beleive for a second that homosexuality is a choice and I don't think God makes mistakes so it's hard for me to hold the Southern Baptist (I was part of this church for 7 years) view on this. All this being said, there's one Bible verse on the issue rand countless ones on lovingothers and not judging others. Whether or not you think it's wrong, you have an obligation to treat gay people with the same love and respect you treat others.

alrighty, then M.

My family is Jewish/Reform but I went to a Catholic primary school(I survived!).

The most progressive people in my family are my 2 aunts, one from Martinique and one from Madagascar. So I'll attend their synagogues for special occasions.

My parents are not on speaking terms with the Ultra-Orthodox part of the family which moved to Israel and is closed-minded, sexist and homophobic.
I dislike when people use religious reasons to explain their prejudices/limitations.

I can't help but see a link between oppression, poverty and religion. How religion stunts the mind.

Daria, it is weird but I'm definitely most religious when life takes a turn for the better, as in, "God remembered me, finally!"

I don't like the word religious but I am a Christian. I think the word religious has come to be equated with "fanatic" I am saved meaning that I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead three days later and now sits at the right hand of God. I grew up in the AME church, getting married in a AME church but currently belong to a non-denominational church. I think everyone goes through a time of trying to rationalize the bible but it ultimately comes to wether you choose to believe or not. That is what faith is all about, choosing to believe in things unseen. I believe what I believe for me and knowing that there is someone greater than all the world that blesses and loves me more than I could ever know. I agree with Daria with the homosexuality thing. I remember asking my mom about people who believe in other religions…what would happen to them when they die. I just didn't think it was right that they wouldn't be accepted into heaven as I know it because they believe in something different. Especially if they are good people who follow the ten commandments as I know it. Its a very hard fact to comprehend and I'm not sure if I've accepted the fact that some of my friends that practice other religions wouldn't be accepted to heaven. I also believe though according to my upbringing that no human can judge another and judging in itself is a sin.

TAyo said: believe that religion (all of them) is a coping mechanism for humans to deal with the fact that we exist and to substantiate a purpose for ourselves

well said :clap:

I am a liberal, open minded spiritual Catholic. But i'm thinking about judaism….

I consider myself a Baptist and respect all forms of faith that utlimately lead to loving one another. I am member of a congregation of the Reformed Church of America.