Just curious... What is your religion?

[Occam's Banana]

Ok. But if you're agnostic about there being a god, don't you really have to be agnostic about everything? Are you also agnostic about unicorns, little green men, pink elephants? I'm not trying to be snotty but making a point. There is no proof that any of these things exist, including god. Tomorrow a flying unicorn may present itself. And god himself or herself may appear suddenly to everyone. But I'm not sure how you can be agnostic about anything in the present. Do you see what I'm saying?

The difference between "God" and the other things you mention (flying unicorns, pink elephants, etc.) is that concepts such as "flying unicorn" are conceptually meaningful (regardless of whether they represent something which actually exists or not).

We know what "flying" means and we know what "unicorns" are (supposed to be). Hence, we can usefully debate whether "flying unicorns" exist or not.

The same cannot be said of (the word) "God" - which is why debates between theists, atheists & agnostics are so tiresomely endless & unproductive (not to mention vitriolic).

This is why I am an igtheist/ignostic (or theological non-cognitivist) - and NOT an atheist or agnostic:

Theist = "Colorless green ideas sleep furiously! Absolutely, they do!"
Atheist = "No they don't! Colorless green ideas do NOT sleep furiously!"
Agnostic = "Maybe colorless green ideas sleep furiously; maybe they don't. Who can tell for sure?"
[^^ALL] = "You're an idiot!" "Your'e evil scum!" "Bite me!" "Burn in hell!" etc. etc.

Igtheist/Ignostic = "Colorless green ideas?? Furious sleeping?? WTF, people??" *facepalm*

 

[jolynna]

Spiritual--I think there MAY be something, but that it is beyond human comprehension. I absolutely do not believe in heaven or hell and consider teachings of all organized religions, myth. I put down atheist because every other listed category falls into my myth category.

 

[Esoteric]

I'd be interested in seeing the age breakdown here. I get the feeling that a lot of the rebellious atheists here are young (in their 20s) although I'm sure there are a few older ones as well.

I also think a lot of people are showing their ignorance when they say things like, "There is no evidence for God." No offense. I was the same way, if you would've asked me 15-20 years ago.

Atheism has an overwhelming majority support among the youth, as does Ron Paul. It's not a matter of rebellion. It's a matter of inquisition.

The internet is a bastion of truth. I'd speculate that regular internet use (for information) correlates very well with non-belief.

 

[lib3rtarian]

Hinduism.

Very limited options in the poll.

 

[lilymc]

That's incredibly dismissive. Are you suggesting the atheists here (and elsewhere) are merely naïve by nature of youth? I would suggest that no one comes to atheism easily due to being ostracized and outcast. I would think that most people, on this forum especially, have put a lot of thought into their position.

I’m coming up on my 34th birthday in a couple of months.

I just got the feeling that on this forum (not in the general population) most of the atheists are probably young. I could be wrong though. There's a rebelliousness that goes along with atheism, and trust me, I get it. I was that way myself, I have always been the type of person who loves being my own boss, and NOBODY tells me what to do or think. That's why it was so surprising for me when I became a believer, because I was just as 'anti-religion' as some here are. But after my initial 'awakening' and then 2 years after that of looking into it in a more objective way, I could no longer deny it, and still be intellectually honest. (long story). I still don't like religion, but it's not about religion. That's why I posted earlier, Jesus > religion.

 

[Cody1]

Seventh Day Adventist.

 

[olsonly]

Then you are agnostic. An atheist knows there is no god.

 

[Erazmus]

I just got the feeling that on this forum (not in the general population) most of the atheists are probably young. I could be wrong though. There's a rebelliousness that goes along with atheism, and trust me, I get it. I was that way myself, I have always been the type of person who loves being my own boss, and NOBODY tells me what to do or think. That's why it was so surprising for me when I became a believer, because I was just as 'anti-religion' as some here are. But after my initial 'awakening' and then 2 years after that of looking into it in a more objective way, I could no longer deny it, and still be intellectually honest. (long story). I still don't like religion, but it's not about religion. That's why I posted earlier, Jesus > religion.

Gotchya, thanks for clarifying.

 

[Esoteric]

Then you are agnostic. An atheist knows there is no god.

Atheists know there is no DEFINABLE god, in that all current and past definitions of a diety are false.. Much different than being absolute. This is called "soft" atheism. There are also "hard" atheists who take the position that there is no possibility of any supernatural deity.

 

[LawnWake]

I just got the feeling that on this forum (not in the general population) most of the atheists are probably young. I could be wrong though. There's a rebelliousness that goes along with atheism, and trust me, I get it. I was that way myself, I have always been the type of person who loves being my own boss, and NOBODY tells me what to do or think. That's why it was so surprising for me when I became a believer, because I was just as 'anti-religion' as some here are. But after my initial 'awakening' and then 2 years after that of looking into it in a more objective way, I could no longer deny it, and still be intellectually honest. (long story). I still don't like religion, but it's not about religion. That's why I posted earlier, Jesus > religion.

This is in all likelihood the least partonising thing anyone has ever said, ever.

 

[Mini-Me]

Atheists know there is no DEFINABLE god, in that all current and past definitions of a diety are false.. Much different than being absolute. This is called "soft" atheism. There are also "hard" atheists who take the position that there is no possibility of any supernatural deity.

I'd definitely steer clear from clauses like "flurbles KNOW that [insert fiercely debated and inherently speculative position here]." It's a bit...confrontational.

 

[Orwell]

I just got the feeling that on this forum (not in the general population) most of the atheists are probably young. I could be wrong though. There's a rebelliousness that goes along with atheism, and trust me, I get it. I was that way myself, I have always been the type of person who loves being my own boss, and NOBODY tells me what to do or think. That's why it was so surprising for me when I became a believer, because I was just as 'anti-religion' as some here are. But after my initial 'awakening' and then 2 years after that of looking into it in a more objective way, I could no longer deny it, and still be intellectually honest. (long story). I still don't like religion, but it's not about religion. That's why I posted earlier, Jesus > religion.

I'd argue that it's not youthful rebellion that drives the young to atheism, but fear of death as one grows older that drives people to religion. It's a far more comforting thought that when you die, there's something else, rather than simply having the lights go out. It's also comforting to think that all those years you spent laboring had some sort of intrinsic value, rather than the simple preservation of your species.

 

[Jtorsella]

Objectivist atheist. It is improbable for a god to exist. I honestly wish I could live forever though.

 

[phx420]

I'm

 

[moonshine5757]

where the fudge is Voodoo on this list?

 

[romeno182]

secular humanist

 

[jdmyprez_deo_vindice]

Non denominational Christian.

 

[jsem]

LDS

 

[craezie]

The fact that a quarter of people answered "other", when you have about 90% of the English speaking population covered is very telling about what kind of nonconformist types we have around here!

Although Hinduism (3rd largest world religion) and Christian Orthodoxy (3rd largest Christian group) really should have been included. I wonder how many of the "others" practice some kind of paganism / spiritism/ animism.

As for me, I love Jesus but really cannot stomach religion.

 

[Mini-Me]

I'm Arab American, born and baptized Christian Orthodox
I attended evangelical churches and bible studies as a teen because I understand english spoken services better
I accepted Islam as an adult because I thought it better represented what I love about Jesus.

Ah, but Islam is inherently incompatible with our culture, and we have a clash of civilizations, and we must ANNIHILATE Islam if we hope to survive against the terrorists hiding under our beds! (Sorry, your post just reminded me of the ridiculousness of some Youtube commenters on a particular video...the sad part is that they weren't even trolls. They actually believed it, and they were totally oblivious that people like them were the true obstacles to coexistence.)