Religious survey

[graceanne]

I wasn't gonna make you do it with your hands or anything.

*flounces away* Fine.. I didn't wanna be a Domme anyways!

*sigh* I'm not a domme and even I know that's the wrong way to get him to do anything. He likes to be told what to do. silly.

 

[Aeroil]

I wasn't gonna make you do it with your hands or anything.

*flounces away* Fine.. I didn't wanna be a Domme anyways!

I said volunteer, I said nothing about putting up a fight if force were attempted

 

[graceanne]

I said volunteer, I said nothing about putting up a fight if force were attempted

see?

 

[Aeroil]

see?

hahaha, gracie knows how to hold a leash I see.

 

[graceanne]

hahaha, gracie knows how to hold a leash I see.

Yeah, problem is that Gracie doesn't want to hold a leash. I'm just real observant. And I also know how well waiting for me to volunteer works.

 

[Aeroil]

Yeah, problem is that Gracie doesn't want to hold a leash. I'm just real observant. And I also know how well waiting for me to volunteer works.

lol, yup, and I don't think K would appreciate me attempting to get you to try it

 

[graceanne]

lol, yup, and I don't think K would appreciate me attempting to get you to try it

too true, too true

 

[Mr Wolf]

I voted other, C of E but with heavy agnostic overtones and sprinkled with Saxon/Norse and Eastern views. Confusing isn't it...

 

[Esclava]

I should probably have remained in lurk mode, but I voted.

I didn't like having my religious beliefs trashed in another thread; don't care to have it happen here.

Good luck with your poll, WD!

Esclava

 

[Vixandra]

I'm eclectic Wiccan.

IE- I bend knee to Goddess and God but also believe there are manifestations of beliefs as well. Its too long to post at the moment.

And I've honestly never felt that just because I'm Wiccan/Pagan that I shouldn't be a Domme or that another shouldn't be a submissive. Variety is the spice of life and she wants us to be happy.

 

[FuckDoll]

I voted 'other'. I'm a Satanist. (Modern)

 

[Etoile]

I voted atheist, and I'm pretty much areligious.

Born Jewish, raised Unitarian Universalist, dabbled in Wicca, currently don't involve any sort of spirituality in my life at all.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

*chuckles* Ohhhhh this is a loaded, complicated question. I'll shoot off the Reader's Digest version. I'm UU (Unitarian Universalist), however when I was younger I used to be more interested in Paganism. Now I live with Pagans...so that small part of me that's interested in it keeps popping up. Honestly, I think I'm more in love with UU at this point in my life.

 

[Netzach]

Jewish by culture, cafeteria Zen Buddhist by heart.

 

[snowy ciara]

I'm an other too. As in, spiritual in a taking bits and pieces that make sense to me from various religious ideals and muddling my way through. Just generally behaving myself and trying to leave this world a better place than I found it.

 

[Etoile]

*chuckles* Ohhhhh this is a loaded, complicated question. I'll shoot off the Reader's Digest version. I'm UU (Unitarian Universalist), however when I was younger I used to be more interested in Paganism. Now I live with Pagans...so that small part of me that's interested in it keeps popping up. Honestly, I think I'm more in love with UU at this point in my life.

Sounds like you and I have similar backgrounds! I'm not anything right now, but if I were I would be UU. That's how I was raised, and I don't think I could believe in any other way.

 

[navarre]

I did wonder what people who are orthodox would answer... neither catholic nor protestant.

Good point.
I checked other.
I'm Russian Orthodox.

 

[FurryFury]

I do not normally enjoy talking about religion because folks tend to be so rabid. Especially here in the Bible belt.

I am your fence sitter. The Agnostic. I neither believe nor disbelieve in God or any higher power.
I believe what I can touch, hear, feel, eat, smell and feel in my, well, for lack of a better word, soul. I believe in people, animals, the ocean, love (now), pain, flowers, cream filled glazed donuts, sunsets, hugs and pleasure (that hurts no one else, unless they enjoy that sort of thing.) I believe that we should all try to be the best that we can be. I believe in giving every person I see my eyes, for a brief moment, and a smile. It’s the least I can do and it might brighten someone’s day. I believe in saying sorry when you screw up, and sometimes, even when you don’t. I believe in saying when you don’t know something and asking questions!

Now I was raised in a very restrictive religion, which some would label a cult. By the time I was three, I was singing and preaching in front of congregations. Yes. Three. “Dear God please bless my Mom and Dad and Teddy Bear Too, please keep us all together and God? God, bless you!” are the partial lyrics of one song I sang then.

By the time I was in grade school I went door to door by myself “converting” people.

By nine, I was the youngest person ever baptized (full water immersion) in our church. My Mother was a teacher; my Father was a missionary in South America as a teen and a part time Preacher. I wanted to be all of those things. My parents were my heroes. They were wonderful, passionate, creative, larger than life people. Everyone wanted to be around my parents.

In fifth grade though, some things happened to shake my certain little world and make me WAKE UP and ask questions. Now I could be wrong but I think a LOT of people just sort of blindly follow the religion they were raised in and never really examine it or, well, a lot of things. I did. I discovered so much. I like me better now. I have given up most of the restrictions placed on me!

Now some would say but Furry? Why did you get married in a church then if you do not believe in God?

Two reasons, first, my Husbands wanted to. Second, what if God does exist? Why not have his blessings on our unions? What could it hurt?

Now some of you might ask me why I had my kids confirmed and baptized in a church. Again there were more reasons than one. First of all at that time my evil ex was taking my daughter to a restrictive, cult like church, not very different than the one I was raised in, which he knew I would hate.

I began to take my daughter and son to a loving, tolerant, church in an effort to show her, another view of religion before she got more damaged from the other. Also, my ex, (who I helped put through law school, btw) kept threatening to take me to court ALL the time. Here in the South, it could help my case to be part of an established, “normal” religion if he did. Especially considering that his was so strange!

And finally again, what could it hurt to have God’s blessing on their souls for goodness sake? I was even prepared to take catechism classes and become a confirmed member of the church for my kids. I will do anything for my kid’s sake. Fortunately the bastard died before that! Thank you death!!! This is the one time Death has done me a favor instead of ripping my heart out.

So how do I feel about God? I feel that if God is a kind, loving, caring and tolerant God, then he will understand and respect that I am trying to do my best in life, to not hurt anyone if I can help it, and that will suffice. If he wants me to “know” he exists he has the means to do so. In the meantime I am not working against him.

If however, God doesn’t care, and is a rules tyrant, who let my Father die, when my Father trusted in God so very much? Fuck God. That's what I feel.

Now my wonderful Husband believes in God because he chooses to. He subscribes to the “Why not, it’s better than nothing and gives us hope that there is more after death.” philosophy I believe.

I believe many churches are wonderful, community, resources, for people. Which, in my opinion, people should take great advantage of and support frankly I look at them as a place you can pick and choose what you like and disregard what you do not.

I know a great deal about religions, bibles and other texts on the subject because during my questioning period I researched the hell out of it. Much I have forgotten by now. *laughs *

I think that we have power within ourselves. We have therefore, responsibility to do our best, get up off our asses and make life happen. And I don’t mean we can’t be human. We should forgive ourselves when we screw up! If we aren’t screwing up, then we are probably not trying to DO things!

We are also limited by our knowledge and energy, we can’t be, nor should we try to be, perfect in fact perfect, is a dirty word to me. I believe most people use religion because they don’t want to face their own selves. I believe if you are unhappy with your life you must identify what specifically you are unhappy with and take steps to change it, and yes, change yourself, to make those things better.

Saying that is just the way I am and I can’t change is a big fucking lie and damages you, likely the people around you, and possibly society as well. Sure you can cry and wallow in self-pity all you want. I will support you doing that, but then MAKE some changes! Take your power, your responsibility and make your life better. It’s hard. I have many things I am working on. You take baby steps and then lose ground but change is not only possible, it is great at times! Some things take years of small steps and losing ground to change but it is worth it.

One reason all these Ala-non or whatever 12 step programs don’t work for me is because part of their credo is that you give your power over to a higher being. You are essentially let off the hook imho. Told whatever is not your fault. Okay that would be fine if some higher being would take care of things. So far, in my experience and I have tried many times, in church, in ala-whatever meetings, I have been very sincere in turning my problems and life over and being used for a higher beings will, but I got nothing, nada, zip. Since I was serious about making my life better I then decided to do it myself. Through effort, research and whatever resources I could gather and hey, that is what works for me.

Some folks tell me church, God and religion keeps them from killing people or being a horrible person. Good! Keep that up then! If it works for them, that is great! I’m happy for them!

I believe it is likely when we die that, there is nothing. I hope I’m wrong.

I know when my Father died that I felt his “spirit” was there still for at least an hour. That gives me hope that there may be more. I would like there to be more. An afterlife if you will. I would like to believe my Father could see me now if he wanted to. That he is part of a great cosmic consciousness. I want to believe that he has acquired a greater tolerance and understanding. I want to believe that he is smiling at me, liking my choices and me, understanding both.

I do believe that scientifically it makes sense that whatever makes us, well, our spirits, souls, energies; whatever is US essence, that stuff must go somewhere. It makes sense to me that this stuff would be converted into something, rather than just die or be completely gone.

So that is Furry Fury’s thoughts on this subject or most of them anyway. Now back other more fun subjects...

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

I am pagan

I do not follow an accepted pagan belief IE Wicca. I do practice shamanism as well as being trained for Medicine woman status...(a long journey but a worthy one.) I am what one would consider a Pow-Wow practioner which deals far more with inner and outer healings, herbal lore and earth rites than any actual *spell* work.

For the first 14 years of my life I was an active 7th Day Adventist. I still enjoy atteding that particular church from time to time especially when I miss the fellowship (which can happen when one walks a solitary path).

Hope that helps WD

 

[Stefani]

I'm pretty much atheist. I can't help thinking that religion was simply brought about for someone or some people to control the masses by using fear of divine retribution of some sort to keep people in line, or to get them to conform to their own beliefs and thinking.

It also perhaps provides a nice, rosey theory as to what happens to us when we die, we as a species I don't think can come to terms with it's own mortality, and that when we die that's it, game over!

Sorry for my cynicism there, I see religion as being behind a lot of evil and misunderstanding in the world, but at the same time there is a small part of me that wished that it could believe in a higher power, that there was some sort of God that would watch over us and answer prayers, but I see absolutely no evidence of this. I would have though if there was a God that was coming back when mankind was in serious trouble, (s)he'd be here by now, or a long time beforehand!

Well put Dibs!

In ancient times cultures like the Greeks, Romans, etc... invented gods to explain the things they didn't understand. Zeus threw lightning bolts, Neptune caused sea storms, Helios pulled the chariot of the sun across the sky...

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said people today use religion to explain death. No one wants to believe that death is The End. Religion promises that if you live your life according to their little rulebook - you get to live forever! It's pretty easy to see how they were able to sell that myth for so many centuries.

How much better would it be if people did good, not because they expected to get into heaven, but simply because it was the right thing to do?

 

[arctic-stranger]

Didn't vote...the one down side of sharing a username. This household is one half Catholic, one half Buddhist....hope that helps your survey.

Catalina

interesting....i am two thirds protestant, and one third zen buddhist...

 

[Aeroil]

How much better would it be if people did good, not because they expected to get into heaven, but simply because it was the right thing to do?

That is EXACTLY what I do, and what other people SHOULD do, I think.

 

[Etoile]

I am your fence sitter. The Atheist. I neither believe nor disbelieve in God or any higher power.

I thought that was agnosticism?

 

[catalina_francisco]

Well put Dibs!

In ancient times cultures like the Greeks, Romans, etc... invented gods to explain the things they didn't understand. Zeus threw lightning bolts, Neptune caused sea storms, Helios pulled the chariot of the sun across the sky...

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said people today use religion to explain death. No one wants to believe that death is The End. Religion promises that if you live your life according to their little rulebook - you get to live forever! It's pretty easy to see how they were able to sell that myth for so many centuries.

How much better would it be if people did good, not because they expected to get into heaven, but simply because it was the right thing to do?

Even more interesting are those who have died and been brought back who report there is no discrimination on the other side, everyone gets to go there and accepted equally.

Catalina

 

[arctic-stranger]

As the semi-resident, semi-holy man, i probably should respond in some way to this thread...i dont know who started it, but it is interesting.

I appreciate the well thought out responses and what really amazes me is that we have gone so many pages, and i have yet to pick up on one flame. I wish the church were more like this. Someone once said the church was like a hospital that shoots it own wounded. NOt all churches are like that, but many are.

I dont want to respond to any one post, but since others have shared what they think, i would liike to share my beliefs as well. I hope they are as welcome as everyone elses.

I believe there is a spiritual world, a world that cannot be apprehended by our five regular senses. I dont believe that on our own, we can make much sense of that world. We find it totally confusing, and far above our comprehension. A few have been able to make some sense of that world--Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed....for a variety of reasons, I choose what Jesus says about it. I dont want to go into whether he was the only one who was right, i really can't say. But that works for me.

I admit i have trouble thinking that just anyone can make sense of this spiritual world on their own. I have been doing it professionally for 16 years now, and i admit to not understanding a lot. Most people i know, who take issues of faith very seriously are also skeptical of easy answers when it comes to spiritual issues--that includes buddhists and hiindus as well as Christians and Jews. The more you dig into spiriitual issues, the more you realize you dont know about this world you are starting, barely starting to connect with.

I am a fan of organized religion mostly because i am not in favor of disorganized spirituality. Buddhists will tell you of the eightfold path, muslims of the five pillars, Christians of the grace, and Jews the Law.

The 11th and 12 century mystics (and this was the flowering age of Christian mysticism) all stressed two things--abandonemnt to the heart of God, and reliance upon doctrine. that second always surprised me, but i realized that they knew they needed to be grounded in something, otherwise they would float off like kites....

Please dont take any of this as being judgmental of any other post on this board. This is just me.