Religious followers - Curt's Questions!

[CurtSibling]

Today, I wish to ask some frank questions to religious people on the OT board.

Even though I can predict many of the answers, I am going to ask some
things which I hope enable religious people to think about their beliefs...

I wish for honest answers, without any heckling about details or pointless
challenges for me to prove my standpoint. I am calling the shots, and also
a person representing faithful billions should have no fear of questioning.

So here they are, I look forward to some good answers and debate.

1) Why do you follow your particular religion?

2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?

3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?

4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?

5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?

6) Why do you think religions were created?

7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?

8) Do you know much about religious history?

9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?

10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?

11) Do you ever dislike non-believers of your faith?

12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?

Roll on with the answers...!
I will check in soon to view the results!

...

 

[Ansar]

1) Why do you follow your particular religion?
I believe something created us. Or well, something created life, which evolved into what we are today. I don't specifically believe in what one religion says, just the main point that someone created life that evolved into what we are today.
2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?
No. I couldn't care less anyways.
3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?
Of course.
4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?
What is that?
5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?
I don't go to church/sermon/whatever you call it.
Trust them in what?
6) Why do you think religions were created?
We didn't think that people evolved over time.
7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?
Yes, I believe in Heaven, not sure about hell though.
8) Do you know much about religious history?
Not much, I am not very religious.
9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?
I don't even know any of them. I find them fun to read, but sounds like fairy tales.
10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?
Uh, no. How can someone be? There's something called free will...
11) Do you dislike non-believers of your faith?
No, everyone thinks differently, why not believe differently? (Well, as long as they aren't harming other humans because their religion told them to).
12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?
Heck no! You can't control me!

 

[silver 2039]

Yes, I believe in Heaven, not sure about hell though.

How can you believe in one not the other....this is something that never made sense to me. Some religious people believe in god but not satan care to explain....? Both are supposedly opposites of each other and it makes sense presumably for both to exist doesn't it....and most religious texts proclaim the existence of both...

 

[bhsup]

1) Why do you follow your particular religion?

First off, I am a bit confused. By religion, do you mean the general faith, or do you mean "Southern Baptist Convention" or "Church Of The Nazarene" or "Roman Catholic Church" and so forth? I'll assume and answer as if you just mean (as it applies to me) Christianity in general.

Personal experience with God. I've felt the presence of his Holy Spirit and know I'm right.

2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?

Yes, very much so. It all started when God created the world (well, actually God's been around longer than that, but...) and culminated with the sacrifice of his Son, our king. Still more to come, though!

3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?

Hrm. I personally, beyond a "eww" factor do not really see anything wrong with homosexual sex. But for whatever reason, God views it as an abomination. I don't know if I'd call that disagreeing, but I just don't see why God is so big on disapproving of it. But, it's God's call and not mine, so I voted against gay marriage in my home State and will continue to do so.

That's one example. I'd say most would be the same way. Even if I don't see eye to eye with God, guess who wins.

4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?

I never had a crisis of believing. I had a crisis of being very pissed off at God and not talking to him for awhile.

5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?

I'd view it more or less as I would military officers. Respect and trust the position until/unless the person holding that position shows themselves unworthy of said respect and trust.

6) Why do you think religions were created?

God existing probably has something to do with it. And Satan to a degree as well. I think many of the religions around the world today were initiated by Satan as a way to lead people away from the truth.

7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?

Yes.

8) Do you know much about religious history?

I'm not a scholar in the field, but I think I do okay.

9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?

Other faiths than my own? Sure, as they are probably not true.

10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?

Doubtful. Answering this from the "Church of the..." view on the word "religion". I'm pretty independent and if there is anything I don't like or find fishy about a particular church, I'll just up and move on to another that I am more comfortable with.

11) Do you ever dislike non-believers of your faith?

Not specifically because they are non-believers, no. Some people, regardless of faith, though, just rub you the wrong way and it's hard to spark a friendship with them.

12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?

Ha. No. I'd obey a violent command from God, but it would take more than some dream with an angel to convince me it's God. Kind of inconceivable, so I have trouble thinking of what it would take, though.

 

[Phlegmak]

How can you believe in one not the other....this is something that never made sense to me. Some religious people believe in god but not satan care to explain....? Both are supposedly opposites of each other and it makes sense presumably for both to exist doesn't it....and most religious texts proclaim the existence of both...

In my opinion, Satan is one of the silliest concepts ever invented. And how a loving god could create such a creature is beyond me. The Satan creature tempts the god's followers, and those followers are lead to Hell partly due to the temptations. And the god that created such a creature is loving? Bleah.

 

[Ansar]

How can you believe in one not the other....this is something that never made sense to me. Some religious people believe in god but not satan care to explain....?

Well, I kinda got this belief from my mother.

There is no hell. There is only heaven and purgatory. We live in purgatory, doing what we think is the right things to go to heaven. Until we don't do the right things in this life, we won't be able to go to heaven.

 

[Mirc]

1) Why do you follow your particular religion?

I took a huge amount of time thinking about philosophy. I searched a lot of answers, and got a lot of questions. I follow it because I believe my religion is the closest existing to the truth.

2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?

Yes.

3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?

Yes.

4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?

Hmm... I'm not sure. I think what I had once could qualify as a crisis of faith, but I'm not sure, and it wasn't very long, instead it just strengthened my beliefs.

5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?

I trust some, I don't trust some others. I trust the paroch priest of the Old Saint Spiridon church in my city (not that anyone here has heard of it, it's very small ), yet I don't trust Pope Benedict at all. I trusted Pope John Paul II, but I don't trust Teoctist, the current Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church at all.

6) Why do you think religions were created?

It's difficult to answer. All religions were created with a different purpose, I'm pretty sure Scientology had a quite different creation reason to Buddhism.

7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?

Yes, in a certain way.

8) Do you know much about religious history?

Strong yes here.

9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?

Yes.

10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?

Of course.

11) Do you ever dislike non-believers of your faith?

Of course I dislike some, but not more or less than other people with any religious beliefs.

12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?

Of course not.

 

[Margim]

Today, I wish to ask some frank questions to religious people on the OT board....

Cool, sounds interesting - fire away.

Even though I can predict many of the answers, I am going to ask some
things which I hope enable religious people to think about their beliefs......

Well, to be honest I've already thought about them a fair bit. But if you are genuinely curious, I'm happy to put my thoughts out there for scrutiny.

I wish for honest answers, without any heckling about details or pointless
challenges for me to prove my standpoint. I am calling the shots, and also
a person representing faithful billions should have no fear of questioning....

Excellent. That's the way I think belief-based (or lack of belief-based) discussions should take place. A wonderful opportunity for dialogue to take place

So here they are, I look forward to some good answers and debate....

1) Why do you follow your particular religion?...

I'd prefer the concept of faith to religion...but here goes.

Initially, simply because I was brought up within a Christian community. As time went on, I challenged the concepts within it, tested them for myself, rejected several and retained a few. After running over several questions several times, I've come to the conclusion that God exists. For God to exist, and to be worth following at all, God must be a good God. Jesus seems like a good image for God to be, and so I follow the teachings of Jesus.

2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?...

Yes

3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?...

I disagree with many of the teachings of systems that claim to be Christian. I'm sick of people living with an unchallenged, uncritiqued faith recieved from teachers, preachers or books that claim to have it all worked out. I'm currently doing post-grad work addressing this kind of thing. Christianity is meant to be a movement that both listens to and informs one's life journey, not dictates how life should be lived.

4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?...

Yep. So I just keep asking questions... I don't expect that I'll ever get all the answers.

5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?...

Depends who they are. Like anyone, trust has to be earned. Many of the ones I know personally are good sorts, most are well meaning, some don't quite 'get it'.

6) Why do you think religions were created?...

Mostly its about a search for meaning and understanding. Unfortunately, because it is about meaning, smart and crafty folk can abuse the need of people to belong to something bigger to manipulate them. Then religion becomes something about power... controling people looking for meaning, understanding and belonging.

7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?...

Yes, but I have no idea of the specifics. I leave that up to God. Since I believe in a good God, I imagine God will be a lot more chilled about the whole thing than co-religionists often give God credit for. Ultimately, though, I've got no idea.

8) Do you know much about religious history?...

Enough. I've studied Jewish, Islamic and Christian history at tertiary level.

9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?...

Always.

10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?...

Not discounting it, but I'm a pretty cynical sort by theistic standards. One of my personal bugbears is when people are manipulated by religion, and haven't been given the tools to weigh up the value of teachings for themselves.

11) Do you ever dislike non-believers of your faith?...

Sure, sometimes. Almost as much as I sometimes dislike fellow believers of my faith

12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?...

Pffft. Nope. Why? Because God is the important entity in my faith, not the fellow humans who are also just trying to understand the infinite. I believe that God is a good God, and not bloodthirsty (I can give you my take on the Old Testament bloodbaths later if you like)

Roll on with the answers...!
I will check in soon to view the results!

...

Look forward to hearing your response!

 

[Thorbal]

1) Why do you follow your particular religion?
It´s more the philosophy behind it than the actual myths and teachings.

2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?
Yes.

3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?
With lots of it!

4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?
Yes

5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?
Not really.

6) Why do you think religions were created?
I would just answer with Max Weber, but I don´t know how to paraphrase it in less than 10 pages . I can really recommend his book "Economy and Society" - very interesting sociological analysis of the origins of religion! And this study is interesting as well:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Protestant_Ethic_and_the_Spirit_of_Capitalism

7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?
Yes.

8) Do you know much about religious history?
Yes.

9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?
Yes.

10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?
Of Course.

11) Do you ever dislike non-believers of your faith?
No, except when they are very aggressive and missionary about it. But this applies to religious people as well.

12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?
If it is one of those days where you only get Jungle starts, YES! Otherwise, probably not.

 

[JohnRM]

1) Why do you follow your particular religion?

(Non-Denominational Christianity)
I have read most of the Bible and have researched the information therein contained, especially when it comes to the Old Testament, and even more specifically Exodus, and have come the conclusion that the Bible contains a lot of truth, if somewhat mixed in with some glitter and garnishing.

I am not entirely convinced on the accuracy of the New Testament, but I've always agreed with myself that regardless of the actual truth, the example of Jesus as written is a good example to follow. There is no need to question his divinity, in my mind.

2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?

I would say that I am aware of the origins of my religion as it is popularly taught. I would not claim to know whether that it totally accurate or not.

3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?

Yes, and no. When I was a practicing Catholic, I very much disagreed with the church's interpretation of the ten commandments to mean more than they do. I don't think that the Bible is entirely accurate. I think that there is a lot of human error in the writings, because many of the accounts are many generations passed the actual events described. I don't buy the whole "God inspired, so it must be accurate" crap. I think that if you look at some of the stories in Genesis, a good argument can be made that those stories are misunderstood. For example, the story of Cain and Able. If you read the book, "Ishmael", you would know what I mean.

4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?

No. I think about having a crisis of faith, from time to time, but I never find it necessary to go that far.

5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?

I trust some of them. I don't know many of them enough to either trust or distrust them. I absolutely do not trust others. The harboring of child molesters and the royal lifestyles of some of these higher-ups is not very Jesus-like.

6) Why do you think religions were created?

I see religion as a human thing, not of God. I think humans created religion, because they have that terrible trait of feeling as though they can decide what the one right way is to do any given thing, including the one right way to live. I do believe that there are some things that are absolutely right and absolutely wrong. Then there are those issues that have gray areas or are simply a matter of choice. The creators of the various religions took the fear of God, some truthful rights and wrongs, and added their own life choices into the mix and called it religion and the one right way to live. It has been the bane of our existence, ever since.

7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?

Yes, and no. I believe in some kind of existence after death, but I would not claim to know what it will be like. I suspect that those who are guilty of great sin during their lives will go before God and they will be given the chance to ask for forgiveness.

Now, in order to understand what I mean, when I explain further, you have to understand where I am coming from. I don't believe that people who do bad things on Earth are pure evil. I don't believe in Satan or Hell. I think that there are psychological problems and inner pain that causes people to do bad things. Sure, one can be expected to control it, but sometimes we can't. When we die, I think that this pain might all be washed away.

Therefor, when you go before God, you have a clear mind, but not necessarily a clear conscience. I think that every person will accept God and accept forgiveness. The only Hell that may exist is the guilt you may feel for your crimes, on Earth.

8) Do you know much about religious history?

I know my fair share about my religion's history. I can't say that I am too knowledgeable about Islamic, Hindu, or any other religion.

9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?

Yes.

10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?

No.

11) Do you ever dislike non-believers of your faith?

Yes, but not for the fact that they are non-believers.

12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?

Generally, no, but if my commanding officer just so happens to be a Minister, then yes. If the United States somehow becomes so twisted as to elect Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, or a Pat Robertson, then I suppose that I'll have to.

 

[CurtSibling]

Good stuff so far, chaps...Keep it up.

I find this kind of data useful.

 

[White Elk]

First I have to say that I don't think my way fits the standard definition of religion. I have explored a variety of them but am put off by the control of church over (wo)man. However I have had what might be called 'religious experiances' and epiphanies which lead me to believe that something beyond a pragmatic scientific understanding of the world exists (maybe its an intelligent entity which was responsible, maybe its the power of the human mind, or perhaps something else). But I follow no specific religion. Though the Lakota (Sioux) way of relating to creation has impacted my life in a very big way. The Mormons and Christian Scientists have had some minor affect.


1) Why do you follow your particular religion?
Curiosity lead me to investigate, and then life experiance gave me reason to continue.

2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?
I am aware of the founding history of the three religions which have the greatest impact on my life.

3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?
Yes there are elements of organized religion which I disagree with. I think the history of Christianity is full of hypocrisy. But the political and other perversions do not prevent me from finding elements I agree with.

4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?
I suppose I did. That whole "sheep in wolves clothing" bit seemed to me to be a warning for the very thing that organized religion does. At one point it seemed to me that their satan was a church structure which put man between man and god/creation. I studied this for some time and it was that which ended any thought I had of following organized religion.

5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?
Not in general. I will trust individuals but not due to their religious office.

6) Why do you think religions were created?
Oy. This is a thread unto itself. At the very least it helps to explain some
great mysterious. At the very most it does explain those mysterious.

7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?
Not really. Though I don't really disbelieve either. I tend to think
heaven and hell are on earth. It is created by us here and now.

Kael (and others) have posted some interesting thoughts regarding religion in the CFC FfH OT forum.
Heres an excerpt from Kaels post regarding the afterlife...

Spoiler :

4. In the afterlife we have perfect knowledge, we know everything there is to know, and we feel everything that has been felt. We share that bond with everyone living and dead. This is heaven and the return to the closeness that we are removed from in life.

5. God did not create hell or intend for us to end up in it. I dont think a compassionate God would subject someone to eternal damnation. Certaintly not for a momentary transgression (viewed in comparision to eternity every trangression of life is momentary).

6. A man makes his own hell. If in the afterlife we feel and know everything, and everything is known and felt about us then we will exprience all of the pain that we caused in life. Every action and thought is laid bare. This is what seperates us from God and causes the weeping and gnashing of teeth.

7. So in the end I think every man is accountable for his actions. He will hate the pain that he caused in life and love the pleasure that he brought. The virginia tech shooter will not only feel the pain for those he hurt and those that were effected by the shooting, but he will feel a perfect love (unlike anything experienced in life) for those people while he does it. This is his hell.

8) Do you know much about religious history?
Very little I think.

9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?
Skeptical as towards literal meanings.
But open to there being a moral to the story.

10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?
I think it is possible though improbable in my case as it is humanities manipulation by organized religion which has caused me to distrust it as a means to find my answers.

11) Do you ever dislike non-believers of your faith?
Never! Only those that would use religion to hurt people do I dislike.

12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?
Never! If my people were under threat of death, or other abuse, then I would follow community leaders who might also happen to be religious leaders. But I would not follow violent commands of religious doctrine. For example... if I were Japanese during WWII and my religious minded military commander asked for volunteers for Kamikaze duty, and my nation was in dire straits, then I would follow that lead for my people, but not for my peoples religion.

 

[Bill3000]

1) Why do you follow your particular religion?

I follow my particular religion because I had recieved inspiration from the quintessences to do so.

2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?

Yup! I created it.

3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?

Well, considering the fact that I made the doctrine, no. However, the doctrine has been changing over time, so I guess you could say that I disagree with teachings that are obsolete.

4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?

Yeah. Whether or not quintessential relativity was true, as it implies moral relativity. I managed to solve it by realizing that moral pluralism is an acceptable non-bunk philosophical position.

5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?

Why would I not trust myself?

6) Why do you think religions were created?

My religion was created spontaneously out of boredom in micronations.

7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?

Sorta, though the actual nature of the afterlife doesn't matter that much. Assuming that a person Finds His Own Path by following his quintessential distribution, that person will be rewarded in some way; whether it be from the presence of one's soul in the Planes or a special place in the Empathi Field, or reincarnation, or becoming a minor diety.

8) Do you know much about religious history?

As I developed the religious history and started it, absolutely.

9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?

I'm sceptical to the extent that I realize that they are fake because they take place in a fake world which I created.

10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?

No, but I can manipulate others!

11) Do you ever dislike non-believers of your faith?

Only when they hate mine. Stupid Shirerothians. Stupid Scott thinking that the history in its current state sucks.

12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?

Generally speaking, if I make a violent command for myself, I would follow it.

 

[ohcrapitsnico]

1) Why do you follow your particular religion?
It is my choice and I happily follow it
2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?
Yes very much so
3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?
No, not that I recall
4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?
I once did
5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?
Depends, some of them I trust a lot
6) Why do you think religions were created?
ummm too lazy to write one out
7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?
yes
8) Do you know much about religious history?
very much so
9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?
not my religion's
10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?
no I think for myself
11) Do you ever dislike non-believers of your faith?
only if they insulted me
12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?
never, I think for myself

sfgakdjggfhj

 

[Swedishguy]

I don't know if I'd call that disagreeing, but I just don't see why God is so big on disapproving of it. But, it's God's call and not mine, so I voted against gay marriage in my home State and will continue to do so.

I had a crisis of being very pissed off at God and not talking to him for awhile.

I thought believers like you didn't exist. But they do. I guess we all can't be perfect.

 

[Elrohir]

1) Why do you follow your particular religion?
Because I believe it to be the only true religion.

2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?
Yes.

3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?
I'm afraid I'm not sure how to answer this. There are a great many different teachings inside Christianity - some I agree with, some I don't, which is necessary for all Christians, as there are different teachings on different issues. (For example, on the subject of predestination, Calvinists teach that we, the Elect, are all predestined and preordained, while Arminians teach that we have free will, and so on) As far as I can tell, all my beliefs are "mainstream", but there is no one denomination that ascribes to all of them.

4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?
Sure. But I've come out of them with what I believe is a deeper understanding of God, and my relationship with Him.

5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?
To a certain extent. If my pastor told me that I was too prideful, or something along those lines, I would definitely take it to heart and see if it was true. If he told me to go and get all the money I can and give it to him, then I would tell him to take a hike. I trust them as human beings, but I don't believe that they are infallible or perfect, or always right.

6) Why do you think religions were created?
To fill our inherent yearning for something more, something greater than ourselves. God put that hole, that yearning inside of us so that we would search for him, and the different religions of the world are all mankind's attempt to fill that hole. We are only whole with God.

7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?
Yes.

8) Do you know much about religious history?
More than the average American. I have a pretty fair working knowledge of Christian history, and by extension, Jewish history. I have a decent knowledge of Islamic history, because I find it interesting, and knowledge of that sort is becoming more valuable in a world such as ours. My knowledge of Eastern religions is less extensive - I could tell you the basic beliefs and the geographic area where most of the followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Jainism, Sikhism, and the Yazidi lived, but I'm not as up on their history as I am on the Abrahamic faiths.

9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?
That depends by what you mean by holy fables. I'm not particularly skeptical of the stories in the Bible of the miracles Jesus did, for example - I believe God can do all of those things, so I don't have a problem believing he did do so through Christ. I am skeptical of stories outside of the Bible, although some might be true, or partly so. They're interesting, but I don't treat them as canonical.

10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?
Anything is possible I suppose, but I'm not quite sure how. I am a non-denominational Christian, and the church I attend is non-denominational. (My family has also attended Baptist, Presbyterian, and other non-denominational churches in my lifetime) I wouldn't have much of a problem walking away from the current church that I attend if I thought they were trying to manipulate us into doing something wrong. Basically, there is no Christian leadership that I think has any real say over me except the local church that I attend, and I can choose to end that when I want to. So it is kind of hard to imagine how my religion could be used by anyone to manipulate me.

11) Do you ever dislike non-believers of your faith?
Do I dislike non-Christians? Not generally. I'm generally polite to people of all religions, even if I think they are terribly mistaken in their beliefs. I don't like all non-Christians, of course - but then, I don't like all Christians, either. People are people, and you can't like everyone. Love can be shown to all, however.

12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?
It depends. If it was a simple "Defend your homes from the invader!" then sure - but I would do that anyway. If it was "Go burn the Mosque/synagogue/temple/coven down the street" then I wouldn't. I'm not really part of a denomination or sect of Christianity with firm leaders besides those in my local church. I mean I respect the Pope and Billy Graham and other important Christians, but I don't think their word is Gospel, and I wouldn't join a Crusade if they told me to.

 

[C~G]

My initial reaction and thought about the idea of this thread was: Should all atheists and firm believers of science answer too?

 

[Eukaryote]

Double Post, caused by crappy computer, not me.

 

[Eukaryote]

1) Why do you follow your particular religion?

2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?

3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?

4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?

5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?

6) Why do you think religions were created?

7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?

8) Do you know much about religious history?

9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?

10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?

11) Do you ever dislike non-believers of your faith?

12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?

1) I think I would be a theist even if I was never taken to church, but honesty, nurture is the orgin of all viewpoints.

2) Jesus started it. I don't know anything else.

3) Yes, that is why I don't trust most of christianty and focus on the basics, and am open to the teachings of other religons.

4) You mean where I question the existance of a gracefull, compassionate god? Ocasinally, but they always go away in five minutes.

5)Not any more or any less than anybody else.

6) Because God wanted them to be.

7) I don't believe in afterlife punishment/reward, I believe in afterlife grace.

8) No.

9) Sometimes.

10) Me? Personally? No. People in general? Yes.

11) No.

12) I don't know what that means, but it sounds violent, so probably not.

 

[puglover]

1) Why do you follow your particular religion?
Because I believe it is logically true. Christianity has evidence for its claims both in verification of prophecy and the logic of the narratives themselves. The life of Christ and his resurrection check out.

2) Are you aware of the origins of your religion?
Yes. The history of my religion is very important to me.

3) Do you ever disagree with the teachings?
Depends on who's teaching. Christianity is vast, and I disagree with plenty of other Christians on various issues.

4) Do you ever have a crisis of faith?
Who doesn't? It is in these crises that our faith is molded into something rational and true.

5) Do you trust priests or religious leaders?
That's a broad category. Most with a broad audience like a Robertson or a Hinn I do not trust, as well as those who preach something different than their actions. However, many ministers are honorable men, and I've known several whom I would call very trustworthy. In general, yes, I think I do trust the leaders of my religion.

6) Why do you think religions were created?
Most by decievers or con men, or simply irrational believers of ancient and modern times. Others by direct communication with the supernatural.

7) Do you believe in an afterlife punishment/reward?
Yes. I believe Heaven is for those who have been redeemed, a place of peace, and Hell is for the stubborn and unredeemed, who drive themselves mad chasing temporary pleasures.

8) Do you know much about religious history?
I know a good deal about my faith. I enjoy religious study.

9) Are you ever sceptical of holy fables/stories?
Yes. But I've found most of the histories of my faith to be at least plausible, especially considering what I believe about what God can do.

10) Do you think you can be manipulated by religion?
Sure I can. You can be manipulated by anything you put your trust in. I just try to invest myself in truth, and not comfortable lies.

11) Do you ever dislike non-believers of your faith?
Only when they become obnoxious about it, mocking me and whatnot. Then I just ignore them. But I wouldn't dislike someone simply because they do not believe in my faith.

12) Would you obey violent commands from a religious leader?
From a religious leader? No. From God perhaps, but only because he knows how every outcome will lead to the greater good, even when we can't see it.