What is your religion or religious backround?

[Gold_skywalker]

newbiezilla said:

Actually, yes, ages can be deceiving, and I hadn't even figured you for 15, I figured you for older.

.

Well what do youknow. In this mess of a topic, I actually got a compliment. Praise the Nena!

[Scalp Wax]

Simple and swiftly put, I am a very devout atheist. I've always been an atheist, as far back as I can remember. I was always certain nothing existing beyond the physical existed, and that there there was no god, no aliens and nothing supernatural, since a very very young age. And I never questioned my atheism.

[pilaf]

What do aliens have to do with religion?

[Muad'dib]

pilaf, there are some who feel that aliens put us here on planet earth.

Also, a lot of religious people use religion to doubt the existence of aliens, which I suppose might give the impression an atheist believes something else...

[iGuess]

Well I'm an atheist, but I still believe in life on other planets.

[Gold_skywalker]

scalpwax said:

Simple and swiftly put, I am a very devout atheist. I've always been an atheist, as far back as I can remember. I was always certain nothing existing beyond the physical existed, and that there there was no god, no aliens and nothing supernatural, since a very very young age. And I never questioned my atheism.

Aliens should be physical beings, atleast.

I find, and found, it hard to believe that Aliens can't exist. We live in such a vast universe.

[pilaf]

Logically, if the Universe is infinate and infinately expanding, for aliens not to exist would defy all logic and would mean that there is a G-d. I neither believe nor disbelieve in a G-d, but I believe that if science is even halfway accurate, there's at least some midochondrial DNA squirming around out there somewhere else in the Universe.

[Gold_skywalker]

Shush! You almost said the 'G' word!

[pilaf]

I censored myself.

[Scalp Wax]

pilaf said:

Logically, if the Universe is infinate and infinately expanding, for aliens not to exist would defy all logic and would mean that there is a G-d. I neither believe nor disbelieve in a G-d, but I believe that if science is even halfway accurate, there's at least some midochondrial DNA squirming around out there somewhere else in the Universe.

Perhaps bacteria and such. But I would be highly skeptical, of advanced life on other planets. It's possible what happened on earth, may happen again in a billion odd years, or so in a new planet somewhere. But I view advanced life as something extremely rare, beyond extremely rare.

I am certain aliens don't exist, in my views because I see earth, as something extremely rare.

[pilaf]

It's been scientifically proven that hundreds of thousands of stars identical to our sun exist. And there's bound to be a planet orbiting at least one of them in a similar range to the Earth, meaning that if there is no God, which you strongly seem to believe, then the chemical processes which created life on Earth could also happen there.

I see no reason to believe that vertebrates of some type wouldn't evolve there. Of course they wouldn't resemble earth animals in any way. Scientists believe that very few "perfect" niche fillers exist on Earth, and humanity certainly isn't one of them. They theorize that on most planets that would contain life, Sharks (creatures very similar to them)would be on top of the food chain.

Of course, Humanity is an evolutionary fluke. Physically, we suck compared to other animals. Human form is by no means a perfect form. Our brains are all we have going for us. We're weak tits of the animal kingdom. There's no reason a similar creature would evolve, at least physically, anywhere else. So I partially agree with you..we won't be seeing any "little green men." In the extremely rare chance that sentient species exist out there, they'd be totally...well, alien in appearance. Possibly the descendants of...say, jellyfish or scorpions.

[Scalp Wax]

pilaf said:

It's been scientifically proven that hundreds of thousands of stars identical to our sun exist. And there's bound to be a planet orbiting at least one of them in a similar range to the Earth, meaning that if there is no God, which you strongly seem to believe, then the chemical processes which created life on Earth could also happen there.

I see no reason to believe that vertebrates of some type wouldn't evolve there. Of course they wouldn't resemble earth animals in any way. Scientists believe that very few "perfect" niche fillers exist on Earth, and humanity certainly isn't one of them. They theorize that on most planets that would contain life, Sharks (creatures very similar to them)would be on top of the food chain.

Of course, Humanity is an evolutionary fluke. Physically, we suck compared to other animals. Human form is by no means a perfect form. Our brains are all we have going for us. We're weak tits of the animal kingdom. There's no reason a similar creature would evolve, at least physically, anywhere else. So I partially agree with you..we won't be seeing any "little green men." In the extremely rare chance that sentient species exist out there, they'd be totally...well, alien in appearance. Possibly the descendants of...say, jellyfish or scorpions.

Well despite my certainty in my opinion aside, it may be possible in someone elses logic, I guess. I believe the universe is no smaller, than you do. However it appears I view advanced life, as much rarer than you.

And as for humans, sure the human form may not be very practical, but that doesn't make me regret being human, I find humans to be extremely sexy creatures. Beautifully smooth and hairless. And the only type of ape, which is both capable of talking, and pleasing to look at!

[Gold_skywalker]

pilaf said:

I censored myself.

Good, we don't want the scientific community sueing us for your damn 'G-d Fetish'.

[Leviticus]

I was baptized Roman Catholic but am not a practicing Catholic. I still believe in the tenets of the Bible... I just have a problem with organized religion, and I don't go to church.

-Levi

[comike14]

leviticus said:

I was baptized Roman Catholic but am not a practicing Catholic. I still believe in the tenets of the Bible... I just have a problem with organized religion, and I don't go to church.

-Levi

Werd, same.

[Leviticus]

Hey Comike! I finally made it to this forum.

-Levi

[pilaf]

leviticus said:

I was baptized Roman Catholic but am not a practicing Catholic. I still believe in the tenets of the Bible... I just have a problem with organized religion, and I don't go to church.

-Levi

What's your idea of the "tenents of the Bible." Do you take it word for word, including Leviticus?

[comike14]

Hey Comike! I finally made it to this forum.

-Levi

pilaf said:

leviticus said:

I was baptized Roman Catholic but am not a practicing Catholic. I still believe in the tenets of the Bible... I just have a problem with organized religion, and I don't go to church.

-Levi

What's your idea of the "tenents of the Bible." Do you take it word for word, including Leviticus?

I know you were talking to Levi, but I'll answer in my own interpretation.

For me, the tenents of the bible aren't the literal words of which it's composed, but the overall ideas it imparts. It preaches love, fellowship, tolerance, acceptance, and brotherhood. Your take on it or not, religion can sometimes be very hipocritical in assuming to apply these doctrines, but not to all people. The whole gay issue in the Catholic church, for example.

I also believe in the overall structure of the bible: Creation, the history of man, and future catastrophe. Creation isn't literal, of course. I believe in the big bang, but I won't get into how I tie it all together here. I also consider timelines in the bible to be figurative. A single day is really an eon, so forth, so on. Adam and Eve, for me, discuss souls before physical incarnation rather than a literal naked man and woman eating bad apples. I basically believe that the bible is true, concept for concept, but not literal word for literal word.

[pilaf]

I don't think these values rely on the Bible. They exist independently of any religion.

[comike14]

pilaf said:

I don't think these values rely on the Bible. They exist independently of any religion.

Exactly.

[Leviticus]

pilaf said:

leviticus said:

I was baptized Roman Catholic but am not a practicing Catholic. I still believe in the tenets of the Bible... I just have a problem with organized religion, and I don't go to church.

-Levi

What's your idea of the "tenents of the Bible." Do you take it word for word, including Leviticus?

Some of the basic tenets (from the New Testament) of which I speak are that Christ is our savior and he died on the cross for all man's sins and that only through Him can we stand before God and be judged. Also the seven sacraments, of which one is matrimony between a man and a woman. I don't read the bible often enough and don't take much of it "word for word".

Leviticus is one of the five books from the Old Testament, which I have never read. My member name, in no way, was taken from that. Actually, I read a fiction novel entitled "Neanderthal", which is a story about two scientists who discover a band of neanders living in a hidden valley somewhere. They named one of them "Leviticus". I liked the name so I took as my member name.

-Levi

[Daemon Sophic]

Me: Agnostic.

Mom: Raised Christian (Catholic I think), but she then spent most of her adult life as an atheist......Eventually I convinced her that her beliefs were more consistent with agnosticism, which she is to this day.

Dad: Raised and still is devoutly Episcopalian (usually takes the role of reader for his church - since he has the height and deep, booming voice ). Read the bible daily. (I respect that, since at least he questions and sometimes opposes the teachings of the church, based upon his very in depth, working knowledge of the book).

My brothers are agnostic.
My wife is partially Presbyterian/ part agnostic. She believes in God, but her religion is very personal, and she does not attend any church.
Ah! I said 'God'! Ah! nooooo I said 'God' again!...

I think that most religions are nice, often useful things.......However, the human churches that say that they teach and work for these religions are, in my opinion, full of ......it.

[pilaf]

I concur. I won't allow any other human being to tell me he's speaking for God. I always tell them that if God ever needs me for anything, he can speak to me himself. Until that day, I see no reason to believe.

[Khajiit_Thief01]

My family is Christian (with the exception of my brother, who is atheist), but never really go to church. I'm probably the most religious person in my family, because I say the Lord's Prayer every night and also say other prayers on occasion. I also talk to God in my head sometimes (I figure he can hear me). I've never been to church, never been baptized, yet I have accepted Christ as the Savior.

I have always believed in the existance of God, though it was only a mere few years ago I started reading the Bible and accepting Christ. To me, there has to be a God, as I find it hard to believe that we just "evolved" (no, that's not the only reason, but that's the one I am bringing up).

On a related side note, I am part Jewish in RACE. As such, I don't eat pork. The reason for not doing so isn't really religious, but more out of respect for (one of) my peoples.

There, that should sum it up quite nicely.

[Shiniku]

I'm not religious at all, but I believe in god, and have much faith. Religion kills- belief is good though.
But if you need a label go with Christian.

There's not too much backround here... I don't go to church on a regular basis, not that i wouldn't want to. I just don't like to be near people, I've always held my beliefs strong, but I guess through the past year I've tried to live by it more, rather than just ignoring it.