Religious Poll

[Herr-Berbunch]

I see a subsim Secular Humanism theme here...

Just looked it up on wikiwhateveritis and yes, I agree to just about all points. Also looked up to see what famous people were SH (geddit) and there are a bunch of anti-politicals, sci-fi people, but the people I like best on the list are Thom Yorke (Radiohead) and Linda Smith (very, very witty and funny comedian - died in 2006). Everyone else seemed a bit leftfield for me

[Sailor Steve]

1. Non-theist (100%)
2. Seclular Humanism (100%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (66%)
4. Theravada Buddhism (50%)
5. Liberal Quakers (44%)
6. Neo-Pagan (44%)
7. Mainline - Liberal Christian Protestants
8. New Age (26%)
9. Taoism (22%)
10. Hinduism (17%)

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

I had a friend I recommended that test to... she was raised Southern Baptist and had remained in that denomination throughout her life - not so much because she still adhered to everything they taught, but because she enjoyed a lot of the social aspects of it. But she was starting to feel more and more uncomfortable with the cultural/political agenda being preached and pushed by her church. She took the test and came up 100% Liberal Quaker and it seemed like a real eye-opener for her.

It always comes as a surprise to see what you actually think laid out alongside the stated doctrines of different faiths. I guess "Non-Theist" is a good a description as any, but I answered most of questions with "Not sure".

[Herr-Berbunch]

Neo-Pagans, are they like the Wickerman, but more of a cotton-polyester blend man

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by ryanglavin

Well, I believe in Greek mythology, so I kind of expected to get Mayahana Buddhism as my #1. They are similar, in a way.

I've taken this test many times and although I usually get about the same mix in the top 10-15, the order in which they appear varies. I don't know that it's because my beliefs are changing that much over time, I suspect it's because for some of the questions none of the possible responses is ever quite "dead on" for me. So a lot depends on whether I'm leaning a little towards this one, or that one, on any given day.

Personally I also expect Mahayana Buddhism to be much nearer the top than it ever is, since AFAIK it includes Zen and Zen teaching resonates for me like nothing else.

I will have to say though that as far as Western mythic systems go, the Greeks would be my first choice, although with them as with all such traditions I consider it in terms of metaphorical validity rather than literal truth. Once joined a "Hellenic Neo-Pagan" discussion group which was a bit of fun until someone there started telling me that I would be "offending" one of the deities by doing or not doing something we were talking about... I was looking at this from a psychological/metaphorical perspective and replied accordingly but it soon became clear that others in the group believed in the literal existence of the Greek pantheon, which, no thanks.

But as archetypal figures - they are the ones I most often fall back on in order to articulate or illustrate some metaphorical reality. In that sense they are to me like very old friends.

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

I see a subsim Secular Humanism theme here...

I don't know that it's a Subsim thing, necessarily, as IME at least there are almost always a few of the same things that come out in the top 10 every time I see people take this test and show their results.

I suspect it's because those people who are willing to take the test in the first place are already curious - in a positive way - about belief systems other than their own, and thus more likely to be less rigid in their spiritual attitudes. Or they are already asking themselves some of those questions and reconsidering some of the things they were taught and always accepted or never thought about before. Consequently they are more likely to get a list that includes traditions where honest inquiry and curiosity are accepted, encouraged, and not considered a departure from the "true faith."

OTOH people who are very rigid about their beliefs, who cannot accept the possibility that there is more than one possible answer to any of those questions, are probably never going to take that test. They have no reason to, because not questioning what they believe is a fundamental part of their belief system overall.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

I ...because not questioning what they believe is a fundamental part of their belief system overall.

My personal feeling these days is that

1. If you can't laugh at yourself, you have no business laughing at anyone else.

2. If you don't question your own personal beliefs, ideas and motivations as much as you question others', you run the risk of never knowing when you're wrong.

[August]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

OTOH people who are very rigid about their beliefs, who cannot accept the possibility that there is more than one possible answer to any of those questions, are probably never going to take that test. They have no reason to, because not questioning what they believe is a fundamental part of their belief system overall.

Or, like me, just can't be arsed to participate in yet another meaningless internet poll.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by August

Or, like me, just can't be arsed to participate in yet another meaningless internet poll.

C'mon, man, what are you afraid of?

Only joking of course. But don't you hate it when people do that for real?

[Takeda Shingen]

Cool. I'm a Quaker. And a Catholic. And a Mainline Protestant. And a Mormon. And a Jehovah's Witness. And an Orthodox Jew. Man, I'm confused.

1. Orthodox Quaker - Religious Society of Friends (100 %)
2. Seventh Day Adventist (95 %)
3. Eastern Orthodox (83 %)
4. Roman Catholic (83 %)
5. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (81 %)
6. Mainline - Conservative Christian Protestant (80 %)
7. Jehovahs Witness (76 %)
8. Mainline - Liberal Christian Protestants (68 %)
9. Orthodox Judaism (67 %)
10. Liberal Quakers - Religious Society of Friends (62 %)

[Sailor Steve]

Wow! You're in the majority with all of those?

I was only 50% or higher on four.

[Dowly]

1. Secular Humanism (100%)
2. Non-theist (84%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (80%)

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Wow! You're in the majority with all of those?

I was only 50% or higher on four.

I know, odd. All I can think of is that the majority of my answers were leveled at 'medium' importance, with only a few rated 'highly' important and none of 'low' importance.

[Betonov]

When it comes to religion I always say, have faith, if not in a deity than in yourselves (isnt that atheism), but when it comes to religion as an instuitution I say disband them all. Just keep some priests for baptisms, weddings and funerals. I want to be burried by a priest than some public official

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by Dowly

1. Secular Humanism (100%)
2. Non-theist (84%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (80%)

4. Alcoholics Anonymous (79%)



How you feelin' today, big fella? No more trouble from insubordinate cheese, I hope.

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

4. Alcoholics Anonymous (79%)

Noooooo. Dowly has no intention of resolving his alcoholism.