What are your religious/spiritual beliefs?

TW_CountryMusic · 2016-09-28T16:37:42+00:00

Woman. Agnostic.

I was raised fundamentalist Church of Christ, a very conservative, rapidly-shrinking quasi-cult. I officially left the church at 19, but truth be told I never really believed. As young as 9 or 10 I realized it just didn't make sense to me and I didn't believe any of it, but I still went through the motions because I was afraid of what the consequences might be if it were true. It was fear-based obedience, not faith-based.

I did go to a university affiliated with the Church of Christ (albeit not the crazy conservative sect I grew up in) and I enjoyed my Bible classes academically.

I don't think religion "should" have an influence on how people treat each other, necessarily, but I think judeochristian values are so deeply ingrained in our culture that it's an inevitability. And as far as that goes, I believe in a lot of the morality taught in the New Testament. I just don't believe in the theology. And I certainly don't think anyone should be bound to it.

Atlas_B_Shruggin · 2016-09-28T19:01:51+00:00

i am a skeptical materialist who majored in the bible in undergraduate school (Religion studies with a concentration on jewish and christian scripture and history). i dont think the bible "should" guide male and female relationships but i think the old testament has some WISDOM regarding male and female nature and relationships. wisdom is always worth considering in forming ones worldview

GaiusScaevolus · 2016-09-28T16:53:18+00:00

Agnostic/Deist.

I think it's probable, but un-provable that there is some 'force' that created the circumstances/'rules' of the universe. But I don't think it has a personal interest in any of us, or even Earth, for that matter.

shoup88 · 2016-09-28T17:31:57+00:00

Very early on my parents were Catholic, but my mom left the church after their divorce. My stepmom would occasionally drag us to this United church on Sundays, but we were never devout. My dad is one of those people who is "spiritual, not religious".

I'm an atheist woman. I don't really understand how people can pick and choose what they want from the bible - either it's God's message or it isn't. How can you believe in a virgin birth while simultaneously saying Jonah and the whale is just a story? That's why I have more respect for the Amish or that guy who built a biblical dinosaur theme park - at least they're sticking to their guns.

I studied Christianity and the bible briefly in university, but I'm not very familiar with other religions. I doubt any of them will ever speak to me, though.

It's tough to say how my beliefs affect my morals. I generally think utilitarianism is the way to go, but that's a lot trickier when it violates a individual, or the situation is personally close to me. I don't go out of my to harm people, but I often just do what's best for me.

I think that the Bible is relevant to a lot of people, but I don't think it should be relevant. It's incredibly outdated, supports slavery and treats women like second class citizens.

midnightvulpine · 2016-09-28T16:54:54+00:00

Agnostic. Mother was some variety of Christian, but not really a church goer. Went to church a few times as a kid, was in the BSA which has some religious undertones.

I believe the basics of the ten commandments aren't the worst base for ones morality. Beyond that, I take theistic morals as they come and evaluate them on their own merits. Generally such things don't effect me.

bornredd · 2016-09-28T19:10:35+00:00

Male atheist. Recovered Catholic. I'm still into big families, lots of kids, stable relationships.

My upbringing resulted in me being bigoted against Southern Baptists, because they were huge assholes to me and every Catholic in my town. I love Jews, Cubans, and foreigners because they were always awesome to us.

I think the Bible contains a lot of old health and behavioral codes for living in the middle east when it was fertile. Not a ton of applicability with modern food treatments and sterilization.

HigHog · 2016-09-28T16:56:32+00:00

[deleted]

What is this?

impossibleworlds · 2016-09-28T18:04:31+00:00

I grew up Adventist/Episcopalian (Anglican)/Baptist/Lutheran/Catholic, etc - basically toured the major denominations of Christianity. My favourite were the churches that made a big deal about being "non-denominational." Also "Messianic Judaism" lol.

I went through a rabid atheist phase but now I don't really care. I'm essentially agnostic or mildly, culturally Christian now I guess. Now that it's not so fire and brimstone I can appreciate some of the more comforting aspects of spirituality, but I don't take it very seriously. I still hate most aspects of organized religion and dislike what it's done to many people I care about or used to care about. I witnessed a lot of collateral damage.

[deleted] · 2016-09-28T18:07:17+00:00

Man. Protestant Christian. Raised as such and still am. Views have changed much over time. Was raised with fire and brimstone, God's-gonna-get-ya-for-that view of God. I was erroneously taught that God is an old mean guy with a bunch of rules and if you don't follow them you're going to hell. There are people who are "better" than others, because they "follow the rules"; and people who don't follow the rules are "worse". (People "in the know" in those fucked up Christian circles call that "legalism".) That obviously negatively influenced my relationships and how I treated people, as well as how I saw people and interpreted their views of me.

God is interested in people, who have free will to accept or reject Him. He is interested in humans, not because they do anything to warrant his attention, but because He loves them. "Acceptance" of Him doesn't mean a human who does accept him is somehow empowered to do everything He wants, or is "perfect", or is "better" than anyone else. All human beings are equally worthless in His eyes.

The knowledge that every human being is a sack of shit, and is really no better than I am, has helped me immensely in my relationships with people.

sunkindonut149 · 2016-09-28T19:59:50+00:00

To me, most religions have a similar message: be cool and don't be a dick. My parents weren't really religious either.

Whether or not I believe in some type of god, flying spaghetti monster, etc depends on the day but the specifics as to God's nature are pretty immaterial imo. It doesn't really matter if God is a man, a woman, or a giant squid.

I haphazardly follow the creed of Don't Be A Dick and of Niceism. I feel that sinners, who do not follow it perfectly, are continuously forgiven because it's cool, man. Our church is a broad church and it doesn't matter as long as you make an honest effort to not be an asshole.

hakosua · 2016-09-28T22:21:27+00:00

I'm a female atheist who considers herself "spiritual" by virtue of her 12-step affiliation. My mother is atheist and my father is agnostic or deist but in a very abstract way. He's a mathematician and believes the universe is too elegant not to have some metaphysical aspect. Big thanks to PincessBubblegum for so eloquently saying what I think my dad might say if he were more of a talker! Mathematics is truly beautiful sometimes.

In grade school, I liked to make up my own creation myths and deities and languages. I didn't believe in God but was fascinated by religion. When I was 10, I decided that we are all deities of our own realities; I guess that made me a solipsist in the original sense of the word, before Redditors began defining solipsism as lacking in theory of mind. I also proudly concluded that I'd solved the age-old question and that the meaning of life is "to be."

Then I discovered sex and forgot all about philosophizing. It was a little sad in retrospect.

Fast forward 16 years: I was newly sober, working the 12 steps with a sponsor. While grappling with steps 2 & 3, she suggested I think about what I'd like a higher power to do for me, rather than becoming stuck on the fact that I'm atheist. I skimmed Henry James' Varieties of Religious Experience at her suggestion, concluding that, yeah, I could reap bennefits from a higher power. I needed to believe in something external to my self in order to cultivate humility and hope. These virtues -- humility and hope -- enabled me to better relax and connect with others. They're still not my strong points -- I'm plenty egocentric and anxious -- but it's better than it was.

The bible is beautiful in some places. I like the idea of submitting to something greater than oneself but dislike the idea of submitting to a husband. When it talks about honoring obligations to one's community and about humbling oneself and eschewing materialism, then I can relate wholeheartedly. The parts about sex and gender are fascinating too, just very seldom in a good way.

lady_baker · 2016-09-28T23:15:29+00:00

Woman. Grew up very religiously (Jehovah's Witnesses.) Left, spent over a decade rather agnostic. Just, no feelings. Have in the past six months returned to religion - Eastern Orthodoxy.

Yes, my beliefs affect how I treat people, how I relate with men, how I believe men and women should function in romantic relationships. But there is a distinction: my observations of what actually works was a major driver in what turned me back to God. Not the other way around.

Archwinger · 2016-09-28T16:29:39+00:00

Jewish. Token religious parents who didn't practice that heavily. Just the major holidays and occasional weekend visits to synagogue. I believe in God, but not in the literal biblical sense that humanizes him. God isn't a bearded old man in a throne who watches me and has opinions about the minutae of my life. Believing that you can actually affect God's emotional state or do something that makes him think about you or pay attention to you is arrogance. And believing that we actually understand anything about God or imagining him as having human thoughts and perceptions is even more so.

This has had literally no effect on my relationships. Maybe indirectly, because I've never believed I or any other human is inherently great or special.

Princeso_Bubblegum · 2016-09-28T17:51:16+00:00

transgender woman

I am an atheist, but I was brought in a Catholic household. I don't hold the bible at all in relevance, there are far better texts for life guidance.

Truth be told even when I was "Catholic," I still didn't really believe, I just had a handful of rationalizations for why god should exist. As I got oldered and more logical, I realized all of those reasons were crap, and since I had no spiritual connection, I just fell right out of the religion.

I don't think I hold any of the culture person, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was here and there unconsciously.

That said, I know there are people who wouldn't consider me an atheist for some of my weird beliefs: I believe that numbers exist in a metaphysical realm and they shape out reality. Pretty much Pythagoreanism. I've had friends tell me that my gods are numbers.

breakfasttopiates · 2016-09-28T18:12:07+00:00

Agnostic but pretty convinced after a long time of being a moral nihilist, I've now realized that an objective good and and evil do exist. The best way to approach "gnosis" imo is through virtue ethics; most ancient religions are talking about gnosis through cultivating virtue.

The Bible lately I've been finding lots of value in. One JW teaching that resonates with me is that "satan/evil" is always trying to invert everything good and beautiful.

I've always thought that feminism had an air of evil to it, makes sense how it takes real feminine beauty and inverts it to be a twisted masculinity which also defiles masculinity at the same time.

As to whether religion "should try to influence the way people behave" I mean despite being non-religious I think that is the whole point right? It's certainly what secular science religion and humanism are trying to do.

impossibleworlds · 2016-09-28T19:35:06+00:00

Were you brought up in a religious household?

I was brought up atheist by hardcore atheist parents who were themselves raised Anglican and then rejected all religious belief.

Have you turned from religious to non-religious, or vice versa?

I am agnostic. Because I don't know.

How has your family/upbringing influenced your beliefs?

I guess it's made belief impossible (so far, anyway) for me. I can now never be someone who just has faith because I feel it. I do have a sort of underlying sense sometimes that I've missed out on something that has provided other humans with immense comfort and a sense of certainty.

Also, how do you think your beliefs affect your relationships and how you treat people?

Probably not much. I think being a good person is important (not saying I AM a good person, just saying I believe it matters, possibly more than anything else in life) and I'd think the same if I woke up tomorrow as an atheist or a believer.

For atheists, do you think The Bible, or any other religious text, has any relevance in terms of how men and women should relate to each other?

The bible is the founding text of our civilization and is therefore immeasurably important, even without belief. I've studied/read it as part of a literature degree and it might be the 'desert island' book for me. No part of me thinks the bible is worthless or useless because I don't personally believe. It's full of the kind of wisdom and guidance many of us don't get any more and is written beautifully. There are many lines in the bible that make me cry/give me hardcore feels for humanity every time I read them.

Can you also say if you're a man or woman, please.

Woman.

ThrowawayCactus6012 · 2016-09-28T20:48:25+00:00

Man.

I was baptized Catholic, although my father converted when he married my mother. My father was actually from a Protestant denomination, and there was some anti-Catholic sentiment from his side of the family. Religion was a touchy subject in our family. When my parents divorced, my mother eventually became a Hindu, while my father went to a Methodist church. I spent a lot of time with my maternal grandparents, who were devout Catholics until they died, so that's where most of my early church experience comes from.

My parents' church attendance was sporadic and inconsistent, although they never stopped believing in God, so it was still a God-fearing household to some extent. As an adult, I started examining and studying other religions, since I figured that "God was out there and I just have to find Him." I wasn't connected to any particular religion or denomination at that point, but I still believed in God for many years.

After a while, though, I started to become more and more agnostic in my thinking. I don't really believe in any "God" any more, as I got to the point where it seemed rather pointless. I don't think it's really affected my relationships with other people, although I find that I'm able to relate with both religious and non-religious people reasonably well. However, I've known some non-religious types who really have difficulty understanding and relating to religious people.

fullmoonhermit · 2016-09-28T20:48:31+00:00

I'm a woman. I was raised Roman Catholic. I went to Catholic schooling all the way up to college. Taught Sunday School for awhile.

I'm currently agnostic. I'm the kind of person who needs to see something with my own eyes to truly believe it (or see evidence via a reputable source), but much is unknown. God knows (no pun intended) I tried to believe for many years, but eventually realized struggling for faith was more of a burden than a blessing.

I find the concept of a God with a plan too cruel. I'm an optimistic nihilist. Nothing matters so enjoy life and create your own value.

There are aspects of my religious upbringing that I really treasure. Community, service and charity, ritual and celebration. Catholicism connected me to all kinds of wonderful people.

However, I was also taught that sex is dirty and wrong, which gave me some weird issues and interesting kinks. The concept of hell haunted me as a kid. While I love nuns and other ethical clergy, the sex abuse in the church is inexcusable. Also, I'm dating a woman, which is awkward in many religions.

I don't see much of value in the Catholic approach to many relationships with all its weird rules and sexual restriction, but of course, I value love and reciprocation. I respect practicing Catholics and understand the value of religion despite the downsides. Most religions have some good ideas and some not-so-good.

Religion, like many things, is what you make it.

chasethenoise · 2016-09-28T21:55:00+00:00

Man, Atheist, raised strict Seventh-Day-Adventist.

The Bible doesn't inform my beliefs about gender roles at all. It's full of laws and customs that end in a raw deal for women, and I don't think any of that is useful today. I think the genders should be as equal as possible, and the roles should be distributed individually, not by gender. I understand there are clear differences between the genders and most will naturally fall into traditional gender roles and that's fine. I just don't see any reason to force anyone to conform to traditional gender roles if they don't want to.

[deleted] · 2016-09-29T08:31:45+00:00

[permanently deleted]

crankypants15 · 2016-09-29T10:45:28+00:00

Man, 40s, purple pill. I think there's more to spirituality than any organized religion says, and religion is the worst thing to happen to spirituality in the history of the world.

http://img.astroawani.com/2014-03/51395638721_freesize.jpg

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oilpainter777 · 2016-09-28T16:47:28+00:00

I'm a Confucianist

[deleted] · 2016-09-28T16:58:43+00:00

Jewish- man.

Non religious. Never was and never will be. Believe in a god of some sort. Think that bible / Torah are stories you can learn from if so inclined. Doesn't influence how I treat people other than common sense things like the commandments because frankly taking your neighbors stuff without asking doesn't make for a great society for me.

BluePiller1776 · 2016-09-28T17:24:49+00:00

Male, Agnostic / Atheist

Were you brought up in a religious household?

No, although my mother taught at a catholic school for over ten years and I went to Bible school one day a week until I got confirmed

Have you turned from religious to non-religious, or vice versa?

Never was religious. Even at a young age I found it hard to believe in.

Also, how do you think your beliefs affect your relationships and how you treat people?

I do not believe that my lack of religion has affected any of my relationships. Maybe my lack of faith has made me more understanding of other peoples. I have tons of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, ect friends and I really enjoy being invited to different ceremonies each is involved with. I find learning about other cultures very interesting.

For atheists, do you think The Bible, or any other religious text, has any relevance in terms of how men and women should relate to each other?

Yes and no. I'm sure there are a lot of texts out there about helping eachother and being kind to your neighbor and all that stuff which definitely applies. Then there is the "wives submit to their husbands" and other outdated crap that shouldn't apply.

[deleted] · 2016-09-28T18:20:43+00:00

Were you brought up in a religious household?

Nope. My mum is one of those people who calls herself Christian but doesn't actually go to church or anything. My dad hates religion in general. I was never brought up to follow a specific religion.

Have you turned from religious to non-religious, or vice versa?

Nope. I've researched various philosophies but all of them are atheistic.

How has your family/upbringing influenced your beliefs?

Kept me atheist, which is pretty common in the UK these days no one but a small minority takes religion seriously anymore.

Also, how do you think your beliefs affect your relationships and how you treat people?

Not my lack of religion no, but philosophically I pretty much follow rational self-interest.

For atheists, do you think The Bible, or any other religious text, has any relevance in terms of how men and women should relate to each other?

Not really they were all written thousands of years ago.

Can you also say if you're a man or woman, please.

Man.

[deleted] · 2016-09-28T22:23:40+00:00

[permanently deleted]

despisedlove2 · 2016-09-28T19:18:48+00:00

Male.

Raised Hindu. Now, I am borderline agnostic.

[deleted] · 2016-09-28T20:28:40+00:00

Male, atheist, almost openly hostile towards religion. Brought up very Christian. I like some Buddhist philosophy/practice but don't think it means anything significant or is even a religion.

ThirdEyeSqueegeed · 2016-09-28T21:21:01+00:00

Atheist.

Neoprime · 2016-09-29T02:04:16+00:00

I'm curious as to what your religious and spiritual beliefs are

If you mean do I have any moral beliefs than yes, I'm a "Eutopianist" created it myself.

Were you brought up in a religious household?

Unfortunately yes, raised Baptist then Methodist.

Have you turned from religious to non-religious

Yes, first I was Agnostic, then an atheist, then a Materialist, now I created my on moral code(Eutopianist).

How has your family/upbringing influenced your beliefs?

Not really.

how do you think your beliefs affect your relationships and how you treat people?

When it comes to mating I don't try to have mid/long term relationships or marry women who religious or spiritual. Nor do I open up full to most people who aren't atheistic in some way.

For atheists, do you think The Bible, or any other religious text, has any relevance in terms of how men and women should relate to each other?

Only if your a conservative Piece of Shit, the bible was made for weak men.

Can you also say if you're a man or woman, please.

I'm a Man.

DarkLord0chinChin · 2016-09-29T14:49:06+00:00

I believe we live in a simulation. There is a limit to maximum speed, Planck length, and things get very uncertain the smaller you go. We really are in a simulation

Also, Elon Musk agrees with me

[deleted] · 2016-09-29T18:38:48+00:00

Grew up a fundie.

I only believe what I have evidence for.

GoldPilot · 2016-09-29T21:53:20+00:00

I'm a Christian. Officially I'm a Baptist, but I went to Catholic school for the last 3 years of high school. I was raised Christian, and with age I've grown to question some of it. Mostly the idea of God's characterization in general. The narcissism, the fury, and his selection of a "chosen people."

I still identify as Christian, and live according to the precepts and rules of what a Christian should do, but some of the things God has supposedly allowed or done seem really out of place with my idea of God as a patient, balanced benefactor who wants what's best for his children.

fschmidt · 2016-09-30T06:12:03+00:00

Man. I was raised atheist. But then I realized that modern culture, and most atheists, are insane. Being incel helped me see this. So I looked for an alternative which I found in the Old Testament. I love the tribal ethics and I love the Old Testament god who slaughters evil worthless scum. Now I follow the Old Testament and it has helped me be more successful.

mistixs · 2016-10-01T13:04:12+00:00

Woman.

Agnostic neopagan with a focus on the Divine Feminine

JuniperSunshine · 2016-10-10T21:52:59+00:00

Jewish, religious woman, raised non religious. My husband was raised uber-religious so we've met in the middle.

I do think men and women were made to be different from each other but are equally important. Sometimes the OT has some wisdom about the differences between us. Sometimes not. I like the emphasis in Orthodox Judaism on raising kids and making a home for them and for your husband. But I'm not Orthodox, just a very spiritual Mamaleh.

Title	What are your religious/spiritual beliefs?
Author	ThirdEyeSqueegeed
Upvotes	2
Comments	126
Date	September 28, 2016 4:21 PM UTC (9 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/PurplePillDebate
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/PurplePillDebate/comments/54x5ri/what_are_your_religiousspiritual_beliefs/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/PurplePillDebate/what-are-your-religiousspiritual-beliefs.272719 https://theredarchive.com/post/272719

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