what are you?

[BoliverAllmon]

Just out of curiosity. I know that some of us here are religious and was curious what religion we are and if we are christian what denomination are you with?

I for one am Baptist.

boliver

[6ft 4]

Can u not make a poll cause it wud be more interesting.

[pianistimo]

i'd say seventh day baptist if there were any churches around where i live that were.  i strongly believe in baptism because Jesus Christ gave us the example when he was around 30, of committing his life to God fully.  to me, this is almost a 'prerequisite' to the committment of marriage, because you set yourself up to have a sort of inbuilt counselor when times get tough.  the family that prays together often DOES stay together.

being that i am farther away from that church and closer to a messianic jewish group, i have enjoyed immensely seeing things from another perspective.  learning hebrew (which i never dreamed) both speaking and singing, and appreciating the musical service (almost entirely music based).  the liturgy is spoken/sung and there are parts that are 'antiphonal.'  i love it.  it's basically cantor to layperson to cantor.  this back and forth is extremely neat to hear because you are learning to repeat words correctly, and music (which is mostly rote at this point) and phrasing etc.  the director has a doctorate in music, too, so the choir is SOOO beautiful.

there's a sermon from the ot and new and it ties together verses.  also, there is a blessing for the children every week.  they stand under a shawl and a prayer is said over them for protection and wisdom.  i think this is special.  they are cared for and taught at school upstairs (and childcare for little ones upstairs). 

on the weeks that my four year old doesn't come, i try to stay for a bible study afterwards.  it's very interactive and we discuss so many different topics.  i feel like this church is great because often we don't have similar points of view on everything, but there is no insistence on everyone being exactly the same.  just the basics the same.  sometimes i try to put my two cents in on baptism, but they always outdo me with a true knowledge of the scriptures and a common sense useage of prophecy instead of any type of 'prediction' addiction.  they listen to the Holy Spirit and always ask for guidance during the service and for the members during the week. 

[dolcejen]

I am a Protestant, evangelical, leanings toward the Baptist denomination (don't like affiliating myself with any denomination but certainly do not agree with some), leanings toward Calvinism, not non-resistance. I believe that salvation is through none other than Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life.
Simply put, I am a follower of Christ. 

[Waldszenen]

Roman Catholic


who believes Christianity should all merge into one. End of story.

[stevie]

randomly agnostic.

[dolcejen]

randomly agnostic.

Isn't that a cop-out?

[BoliverAllmon]

Roman Catholic


who believes Christianity should all merge into one. End of story.

in many ways I agree. I dislike denomenations. we all tend to fight for no reason.

[chopiabin]

I'm a Nietzschian atheist-humanist

[Siberian Husky]

im a semi-rare jewish christian baptist agnostical buddhist mormon..but on thursdays im strictly catholic witha spice of atheism...

[ada]

Hardcore atheist. Always was, always will be.

[pianistimo]

dear siberian husky,

that's what one religion is.  a blend of all of it.  i mean, how can a person get rid of (instantly) everything they've believed for their entire life.  it's impossible.  there have to be lowest common denominators, which in the catholic faith are different than the protestant.  the protestants protested the idea of having anyone other than Christ go between them and God.  there are no 'fathers' or penance (other than prayer), no rosary (saying 'hail Mary's'), and probably do not believe many other catholic doctrine that is 'foundational.'

if catholics and protestants did someday unite, i would not be among them. 

[shasta]

Jedi       

[pabst]

I'm a Nietzschian atheist-humanist

You see, you can't say "nietzschian atheist" - just because Nietzsche wasn't christian doesn't mean he was an atheist, and really, he was very much so theist. Anyway, great to read this sort of reply among the nonsense.

[frichmondj]

One of the "Frozen Chosen", yes that would be Presbyterian....................

[tolkien]

Orthodox Christian.

[dolcejen]

Orthodox Christian.

Can you define that more? Just curious.

[brahmsian]

Athiest

[paris]

Roman Catholic

[thalbergmad]

Not sure.

I believe in God, but have trouble with the Jesus aspect.

[llamaman]

Buddeist. Or maybe I'm an Athist. Either one.

[thalbergmad]

Must be Buddha then.

We are both bald with a fat tummy.

[chopiabin]

You see, you can't say "nietzschian atheist" - just because Nietzsche wasn't christian doesn't mean he was an atheist, and really, he was very much so theist. Anyway, great to read this sort of reply among the nonsense.

Ummmm, no.
Nietzsche was very much the atheist-humanist. He was certainly not a nihilist, but he did not believe in extra-human divinity in any way. What he did believe in was the value of human desires. What by him have you read?

"Atheism and a kind of second innocence belong together"  - On the Genealogy of Morality, Second Treatise

[pianobabe_56]

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

...I'm a Mormon. 

[donjuan]

me? existentialist - atheist

thats right! I decide my own destiny!!

[pabst]

Ummmm, no.
Nietzsche was very much the atheist-humanist. He was certainly not a nihilist, but he did not believe in extra-human divinity in any way. What he did believe in was the value of human desires. What by him have you read?

"Atheism and a kind of second innocence belong together"  - On the Genealogy of Morality, Second Treatise

So you would say that Nietzsche elevated human desire to the point of mythical language, right (hence the wagner relation)? That's theism to me. Zarathustra is not just a religious pastiche, and Ubermensch it a tad too close to David (the bible one) to be taken for granted.
Classifying N. as an existentialist and then putting him into the Humanist box instead of the Christian one is too academically rigid and simplistic. I prefer to have my own simplifications - so I rather keep him away from Marx on my bookshelf. Anyway, well I read some of it, enough so that I wouldn't spend much time considering a sentence by him that's translated to english, or even a single original sentence taken out of context. You do know that when regarding Nietzsche its better to maintain a general view, being the dividuum he was. But I do get your point. I like this discussion 

[nanabush]

I'm undecided lol, I used to go to a lutheran church, but I have kinda lost my faith, I guess I'm an athiest.

[tolkien]

Can you define that more? Just curious.

Right. Orthodoxy is one of the three main branches of Christianity (the others being Roman Catholicism and Protestantism). The Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Church parted ways in 1054 (over doctrinal differences, mainly because of papal claim of superiority over the whole Church and illustrating the division between the Greek-speaking Eastern Roman (or Byzantine) Empire and the Latin-speaking  western provinces and successor states of the then defunct Western Roman Empire). Later, as you most probably know, with the Reformation the Protestant Churches separated from the Roman Catholic Church as well. Orthodoxy is the traditional denomination of Greece, Russia and parts of Eastern Europe.

There exist quite a number of links that explain much more with great eloquence, I'm sure you'll be able to google these easily if you're interested.

[jas]

Another agnostic. I like the mystery.

Jas

[yamagal]

Was raised agnostic;  became a Christian in college.   I consider myself non-denominational charismatic.  Over the years, have attended Vineyards, Foursquare churches, and Calvary Chapels.

[gorbee natcase]

I is a gorbee natcase

[stevie]

Isn't that a cop-out?

no, are you a cop-out?

or are you a SEXY WOMAN ?!

HAHAHA RANDOM!

[rob47]

Canadian

[Waldszenen]

Was raised agnostic;  became a Christian in college.   I consider myself non-denominational charismatic.  Over the years, have attended Vineyards, Foursquare churches, and Calvary Chapels.

I admire the non-denominational part.

[chopiabin]

So you would say that Nietzsche elevated human desire to the point of mythical language, right (hence the wagner relation)? That's theism to me. Zarathustra is not just a religious pastiche, and Ubermensch it a tad too close to David (the bible one) to be taken for granted.
Classifying N. as an existentialist and then putting him into the Humanist box instead of the Christian one is too academically rigid and simplistic. I prefer to have my own simplifications - so I rather keep him away from Marx on my bookshelf. Anyway, well I read some of it, enough so that I wouldn't spend much time considering a sentence by him that's translated to english, or even a single original sentence taken out of context. You do know that when regarding Nietzsche its better to maintain a general view, being the dividuum he was. But I do get your point. I like this discussion 

I completely agree with you that it's hard to nail Nietzsche down, but I think two things that can be said for him are that he was not a nihilist or an theist. Nietzsche believed in the value of human desires as a basis for an entire restructuring of morality, but he didn't believe that human desires were actually "divine". He does describe the Greek gods and polytheism as more useful than monotheism, but I think that, in the end, Nietzsche would hope that we could put our little "gods" away and realize that they were our own creations that we felt beholden to. Doesn't theism imply a belief in something extrahuman? I dunno, I certainly don't see that in Nietzsche.

[Torp]

I'm athiest thank god.

[Waldszenen]

I'm athiest thank god.

ooooh the irony is killing me

[gilad]

I'm jewish, it's hard to shake that off because my family is pretty observant.
but in terms of what i believe i'm agnostic or athiest. But never a believer.
Agnostic is more like it, i dont know, so i prefer to just leave it at that.

[chopiabin]

This probably sounds horrible, but I really just detest religion in general and Christianity in particular. Judaism is a lot more realist to me because, (at least the side of it that I've seen), it is not dogmatic and allows for other viewpoints.

[stevie]

I'm jewish, it's hard to shake that off because my family is pretty observant.
but in terms of what i believe i'm agnostic or athiest. But never a believer.
Agnostic is more like it, i dont know, so i prefer to just leave it at that.

well its interesting that perhaps a large amount of 'jews' dont even believe in 'judaism'

randomly.

[chopiabin]

I think it's more of a cultural thing.

[leahcim]

Yes, it could be the large number that have excelled in things like physics and mathematics too.

OTOH, "bacon sandwiches" are the kind of persuasive evidence science spends billions trying to equal

[chopiabin]

hmmmm???

[ted]

I think religion is nonsense - all of it.

[donjuan]

I think religion is nonsense - all of it.

nonsense? no.  well, at least not to me.  I understand why people have created religion for themselves.  In such a world with terrorist bombings etc people need to believe in something to relieve stress and avoid facing up to reality.  I almost am afraid to say it, but religion seems more and more to me like how a young child makes up invisible friends.. and I used to have invisible friends too, but I grew out of it and decided to make real friends.  Why the followers of certain religions cant grow out of their brainwashings and look at the world for what it is, I just cant understand...  Most of us agree that the ancient greeks were wrong about Apollo pulling the sun across the sky everyday.  We now know how it all works, but back then, the answer to all questions lay in the most ridiculous, unbelieveable BS some trendsetting individual could stew up.

When a Christian reads what I just wrote, they will be thinking to themselves that I myself need to throw away all thoughts of reason and logic, and see the world the way they have been led to see the world from childhood.  That is, to believe that a carpenter who talked too much died for me, and his daddy created the world in 7 days.  "Oh, never mind that geological time scale... it just makes too much sense to be true"

Im going to make a lot of religious enemies with this post, but hey, its the internet. 

But at least ted, I dont say religion is nonsense.

[Waldszenen]

It would be nice if all the discussions and debates are left out of this topic seeing as this is merely one to express what faith you belong to, not your ideologies.

[leahcim]

It would be nice if all the discussions and debates are left out of this topic seeing as this is merely one to express what faith you belong to, not your ideologies.

Yeah, tell us your height, but don't say how tall you are....

[chopiabin]

I like that analogy and donjuan's post

In "God", man captures the most extreme opposites he can find to his actual and inescapable animal instincts; he reinterprets these animal instincts themselves as guilt before God (as hostility, rebellion, insurrection against the "lord," the "father," the primal ancestor and beginning of the world); he harnesses himself into the contradiction "God" and "devil"; he takes all the "no" that he says to himself, to nature, naturalness, the facticity of his being and casts it out of himself as a "yes," as existing, corporeal, real, as God, as holiness of God... - Friedrich Nietzsche

This pretty sums up or leads to what I was gonna say.

PS
"Temptations" and "sins" are simply your own deeply buried animal instincts tapping you on the shoulder.

[pianistimo]

when you cast your burdens upon the Lord and read and meditate on His word, He will make the devil flee from you.  That's the difference between how a Christian looks at sinning and a person who is a disbeliever.  The disbeliever doesn't even acknowledge the possibilty of a deciever, so they end up being decieved without even knowing it.  For one thing, when you combine the idea of 'man is an animal' with ' man in the image of God' - you have someone who thinks that they are animal and divine (without need for God).  There is an absolute distinction in Genesis between the creation of the animals and man.  Unfortunately, with the choice that Adam and Eve made, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (choosing what is good and evil for ourselves) was the way the world started out.  It has continued this way and the only way it will change is when a new kingdom is set up with the 'tree of Life' as the choice instead.  This tree is spoken of in Revelations as 'healing the nations.'  It must be a much better way.  There is too much death, destruction, and sickness now to prove our ways are right.

[leahcim]

Well I'm glad you disbelieved for long enough to know what a disbeliever thinks - or did you make that up along with the new list of sins?

Thought shalt not die.
Though shalt not get flu.
Though shalt not build thy house near a tornado.