My concept of deity falls into to cosmic muffin category; he/she/it is only minimally separated from matter if there is any separation at all, and isn't likely to respond to prayer because we are too infinitesimal to attract its attention.  I don't believe in The Sadist In The Sky who will burn people forever and ever in Hell.  Partner™ and I are Episcopalians and attend Episcopal services, but to be honest I feel conflicted about this even though the Episcopal Church isn’t a literalist group with rigid dogma that must be bought or else.  I've long since gotten over internalized homophobia, but I still deal with internalized christophobia. The Episcopal Church is unique among Christian groups in that it focuses on common worship rather than common belief, so I don’t feel like a hypocrite for attending even though I reject many traditional Christian beliefs and if asked will say I'm an Episcopalian rather than say I'm a Christian.

Sorry, you should have included "Yes, She's fat and She's black" if you had really wanted me to participate in your pole. A more interesting question might be, do you believe in religion.

First off, Buddha is certainly not a God.  Buddhism is closer to philosophy that religion, thanks.  Secondly, your selection it too narrow.  Do I believe their is a universal form of consciousness?  possibly, but seeing as you only have one gender being expressed here, she is gonna be mighty pissed.

I can't answer the poll, either, because it's written from an entirely Christian perspective. As Dusty pointed out, Buddhists don't believe the Buddha is a god. The point of Buddhism is that a human being was able to achieve enlightenment without the aid of gods or deities. In fact, my own Buddhist denomination, Jodo Shinshu, very specifically cautions against the worship of deities or belief in the occult not because it's bad but because it's counterproductive to emancipation.

Second, I don't not believe in God anymore than I believe in gods. They're irrelevant.

Buddhism teaches that all things and events and beings are interconnected so, no, nothing happens by chance but they do happen because a myriad of causes and conditions have come together to produce certain outcomes. These things can, and do, change continually. Are we masters of our fates? Only in that we can learn to identify our circumstances and then make the decision to try for another outcome by changing those circumstances as much as is within our ability.

Nothing is an either/or proposition.

Edit: I corrected the tags.

Last edited by Taint (2011-01-07 16:13:37)

Episcopalianism, or C-of- E Lite, is unique among Christian sects in that it explicitly states that members need not believe anything, so long as you show up on Sunday and go through the motions AND put something in the plate as it comes by. Any part of the liturgy that you disagree with, just ignore. Are there parts of the Nicene Creed you can't swallow? Just don't speak that part out loud. The main advantage Unitarians have over us is that they don't have to put on a suit.

at this moment, this is what I believe in.  Very tasty, smooth and just right for a cool evening home... 80)

Last edited by Dmtdust (2011-01-07 21:11:15)

GooberMcNutly wrote:

Tall Paul wrote:

The main advantage Unitarians have over us is that they don't have to put on a suit.

And the potlucks have always seemed to be healthier at UU get togethers, with lots of tofu and whole wheat. Baptists, on the other hand, seem in a hurry to get into Heaven, based on the kinds of food they put on the table at picnics. Lard biscuits with sausage gravy, anyone?

Free food. It worked in Galilee and is still working today...

Some of us don't care for tofu and whole wheat.  We prefer the brie, shrimp, tamales, spring rolls and wine typically found at Episcopalian potlucks.

Last edited by fnord (2011-01-07 21:55:51)

Full blown atheist here.  I can understand people having morals, ethics and philosophy based upon their own personal experiences However, believing in hearsay from ancient documents or from authoritarian personalities is pure insanity in my mind.  I have yet to witness anything that can't be explained from personal drug use, sleep depravation or any other number of electrochemical effects within my mind.  It's fine believing whatever you want because existence is far too complicated for any bipedal ape to truly understand.  Just make sure that whatever you believe doesn't make you think you have the right to control others or initiate force against them.  The world has a long history of people who believe without a doubt something is true and committing the worst of atrocities because of it.

Last edited by Dmtdust (2011-01-08 01:54:20)

Dirckman wrote:

Reminds me of my Southern Baptist/Republican upbringing.

There's nothing like it to put you off Jesus for life.

The Vatican's "The Secret History" describes the last celebrated Roman emperor Justinian and his inner circle as venal, corrupt, immoral and most un-Christian. His wife, the Emperess Theodora, notoriously complains that nature granted womankind only three orifices by which to be satisfied.

I suppose I'm a functional atheist, although I consider myself agnostic.  Too much time is wasted by both atheists and theists trying to use science to prove or disprove the concept of a god, when it's ultimately a waste of time.  If we take as a given that there is a god, then it is by definition a being that does not have to follow the rules of nature.

What I really can't stand is intolerance from believers and non-believers alike.  Nothing is more insufferable than a group of atheists guffawing and slapping each other's backs at some stupid Christian who has said something inane, or a gaggle of Christians forwarding horribly wrong pseudo-scientific articles back and forth, decrying the destruction of civilization by secularism.

Ultimately I don't think trying to prove or disprove the existence of a god or the mechanics of creation has any utility in our everyday lives.

Apart from the fact that we are here, there isn't any evidence of of a creator (books and stories that create god in our own image are not evidence).  And, besides, we could be here by happenstance.  Even if there were an entity, creature, or force that designed the universe and us, the overwhelming evidence is that he is a violent, cruel SOB and not worthy of worship.