What do you think/believe?

[jonathan7]

Excatly as said in the title

 

So what do you think and believe and why? The following are a few qustions to mull through....

 

1. Religious/non-religious belief?

 

2. Why do you think/believe that?

 

3. What do you think the point of life is?

 

4. How do the above 3 question affect the way you life your life?

 

5. What is your political position?

 

6. What are your opinions on abortion/homosexuality?

 

7. What is your philosophical/scientific standard and why...

 

8. Anything to add?

 

If I may lay down a few quick ground rules; this isn't so much a thread to debate each others position, but more to lay out what you think and how it effcts you. I think there are perhaps enough threads elsewhere to debate individuals positions over a variety of topics. However questions to better understand where someone is coming from would seem a good idea.

[Sabretooth]

1. Agnosticism

2. Because I have yet to see proof of a God, or the proof that there was not an intelligent (or a similar conscious) force that resulted in the creation of this world.

3. Shallow existence in a human society. No matter what you do, it will only affect your fellow humans.

4. Hardly. Maybe I save time praying or something.

5. I'm fairly apolitical, but support removal of censorship and maximum liberty in all its forms.

6. I don't mind homosexuality, but I haven't made up my mind on abortion, mostly because I'm ill-educated on the topic.

7. I believe in the possibility of there being an infinite amount of outcomes/situations/events that could occur at any given moment - i.e. literally anything is possible. But I would refuse to believe any without direct proof or multiple reliable sources.

8. I like cheese.

[JCarter426]

Well, this should end well.

 

1. I have no beliefs. I've long since abandoned all beliefs, and I'm not talking about religion here--I just mean belief in general.

 

2. I was forced into a situation where I had to choose between what I knew was wrong and what I believed was right.

 

3. No idea. Doesn't matter; life is life, whether we know why it is or not.

 

4. I'm not sure really sure.

 

5. Political position? I guess I'm a moderate, though labels really don't mean anything these days, when most "conservatives" actually have liberal views. My main political view is that the Executive branch (of the US) has far too much power than it should. Unfortunately, all three major presidential candidates want to increase the president's power in some form or another.

 

6. Not my problem. My view is that no one has the right to enforce their beliefs on others.

 

7. Scientific standard? Well, I don't think the Earth is 6,000 years old or deny the existence of evolution, if that's what you mean. Though I have my issues with scientific community as well.

[Corinthian]

1. Religious/non-religious belief? Christianity, Protestant, Non-Denominational. My beliefs are sort of across the board, I believe stuff from Baptist, Lutheran, and various other doctrines.

 

2. Why do you think/believe that? It was how I was brought up. Further, I witnessed the effect of it, not in my life but my Father's. During my youth, he was a quick-tempered and fairly angry man. Over the past ten years, he's gradually become a much more even-tempered man. If I had any doubts, that removed them. I wouldn't call it a 180-degree turn, but it was a definite noticeable change in his demeanor.

 

3. What do you think the point of life is? The spread of the Word of God and his glorification.

 

4. How do the above 3 question affect the way you life your life? I do my best to live my life according to the teachings of Christ. I do a pretty bang-up job of it, but it's what I try to do.

 

5. What is your political position? Staunch Conservative.

 

6. What are your opinions on abortion/homosexuality? Homosexuality I can understand. I think it's wrong, but I can understand it and I don't think it's my place or the Government's place to stop people from doing it. Pun not intended. Abortion, on the other hand, is an abomination. I feel that human life begins at conception and as such it should be considered murder to abort at any time, early or late.

 

7. What is your philosophical/scientific standard and why... I feel everything happens for a reason, part of a grand cosmic plan put into work before the beginning of time by the Almighty. Science is the gears that drives this machine.

[Arcesious]

1. Agnosticism

 

2. Because I can't deny something possible, but I won't beleive a specific thing without reliable evidence.

 

3. The preservation/advancement of your own species.

 

4. It tends to lead me to have a much more different lifestyle than I used to, as I used to be a Christian, however I may not be as happy beleiving what I beleive now, I'm content that it's the closest thing I can get to knowing the truth.

 

5. Democrat. All I an say is, I want my rights. And the 'left' seems to me much more competent than the 'right'.

 

6. Pro-Abortion, but in moderation in certain cases where it's wasteful. I've debated on another forum and I've actually been persuaded to think that it's not murder and the baby doesn't feel anything. I have nothing against Homosexual people or any other people with any other form of GID. I think they deserve equal rights to 'straights'.

 

7. I won't beleive anything without reliable proof, but I do not deny the possibility of a God in one form or another. I accept evolution and beleive that the universe is really, really, old. I also agree with this as possible:

 

7. I believe in the possibility of there being an infinite amount of outcomes/situations/events that could occur at any given moment - i.e. literally anything is possible. But I would refuse to believe any without direct proof or multiple reliable sources.

 

8. I have so much I can think of to add, but so little time. Got to go work on homework...

[jonathan7]

1. Most would define me as a Chrisian. I'd reguard myself as slightly more; a Christian freethinker (thought some would contend the two don't go togeather).

 

2. I've seen some very crazy things in my life, including being healed and seeing healings. The beggining of the Universe; if the big bang is true (which I believe it to be) I think poses a few problamatic points as to how the universe came into being. It has been my expierance things in my life do not unfold arbitrarily; things at least in my life have been interconnected and the odds for being chance seem very long

 

3. “Love the Lord Jesus and Love your neighbour as yourself.”

 

4. Trying to be a disciple if Jesus; to try and bring love and his Gospel to the world. Being a freethinker also means constantly examining positions; hearing others and promoting freedom of speech. I unfortunatly often feel I have to speak out against the western church, and even more tragically defend non-Christians against the pharisee's who seem to be resident in it currently.

 

5. Liberal; or at least I vote liberally (although I don't actually like democracy, it seems to me to be the best of a bad bunch; but I dislike the idea that the average Jo on the street should be allowed to choose a government). - So I suppose classify me as a Voltairian.

 

6. Complex. It is interesting that you don't see either Jesus or St Paul in the Bible trying to get non-Christians to behave to Christian morality; they proclaim the Gospel, but don't layout laws for non believers; "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?" (1 Corinthians 5:12).

 

7. The truth is never affraid to listen. I love both philosophy and science and am constantly re-evaluating my position, and I hope some in the forums would say I do change my positon when presented with applicable evidence. I also hold everything as to being in a greater or less measure of doubt, but would never classify myself as 100% sure of anything.

 

8. Love would suffice to solve all the worlds problems...

[mimartin]

1. Religious/non-religious belief?[/Quote] I believe in God and I believe in Jesus, so that makes me a Christian. However, I don’t believe in any one religious institution.

 

2. Why do you think/believe that?[/Quote] Raised in the Baptist and Church of Christ churches, with the occasional Mass thrown in for good measure, made me question them all.

 

3. What do you think the point of life is?[/Quote] That is up to the individual. There is no one answer that will fit a diversified group such as mankind. For me it is my family and friends.

 

4. How do the above 3 question affect the way you live your life?[/Quote] I try to be a moral person and to help others, but even when Achilles finally coverts me, I will still strive to be and do both.

 

5. What is your political position?[/Quote] Conservative, liberal.

 

6. What are your opinions on abortion/homosexuality?[/Quote] Never had an abortion or a homosexual relationship, so I afraid my opinion is limited by my experience. Don’t believe the government should place restrictions on what consenting adults do. I would not what them to tell me that heterosexual relationships where outlawed to all non-married couples, so I do what them telling homosexual what to do either. The government should stay out of the bedroom.

 

Personally, I’m against abortion, but I am pro-choice. While I would choose not to have an abortion, which is irrelevant since I am a male, putting my personal and religious beliefs onto another goes against my being.

 

 

7. What is your philosophical/scientific standard and why...[/Quote] I’d love to steal something from another member here, but that would go against my philosophical standard. I live by “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” As to my scientific standard, I have none. The scientific standard would not be the scientific standard if you could make it personal.

 

8. I like cheese.

Me too. Especially on Mexican Food, well Tex-Mex Food.

[Ravnas]

1.Weak Agnosticism, occasionally Deist, Attend a Catholic Church bi-weekly

2.Dissatisfied with Religion's effect on society in the past 200 years.

3.What you make of it

4.Just in in my involvement with Church

5.Socialist, very into reform Darwinism, a tiny bit South Park Republican

6. Homosexuals should be allowed civil unions. With Abortion I'm pro-choice

7.Evolutionist scientifically, philosophically "Don't bother me and I won't bother you"

8.I'm a registered Independent.

[Titanius Anglesmith]

1.) I believe in God and consider Jesus to be my personal Lord and Savior, so I'm a Christian, though I certainly don't associate myself with some of the more prominent "Christians" of today.

 

2.) There isn't one specific reason. Simply the events of my life and things I have witnessed have led me to believe this.

 

3.) There is no one "point of life." It's different for everyone. For me, I try to live life to the fullest and set an example for how I believe a Christian should act.

 

4.) Well, I try to do what I consider to be the "moral" thing to do on most occasions, and, as I said, I try to set an example for other Christians. I doubt I would really do anything differently if I weren't a Christian, but having God as an example for myself helps to focus me.

 

5.) Liberal, generally.

 

6.) I don't believe anyone has the right to force their personal or religious beliefs on anyone else, so I guess that makes me pro-gay rights and pro-choice.

 

7.) I don't necessarily have one, but I can say that I won't deny that evolution plays into things in some way, nor do I deny the possibility that the Earth is older than the Bible says.

[Rev7]

1. Religious/non-religious belief?

 

2. Why do you think/believe that?

 

3. What do you think the point of life is?

 

4. How do the above 3 question affect the way you life your life?

 

5. What is your political position?

 

6. What are your opinions on abortion/homosexuality?

1. As many of you all know, I am a religious person. I am non-denominational. I guess that you could say that I am sorta a Evangelist.

 

2. I believe in what I believe beacuse I God has shown me that he exists. I believe that He has done a work in my life (so far) and will continue. He has given me many "gifts".

 

3. I personally believe that the point of life is to “Love the Lord Jesus and Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

4. It affects my life greatly. Any sort of profanity is not in my vocabulary, I have pledged myself to the Lord. I love Him greatly.

 

5. I guess that you could say that I am sort of a Republican. I sway that way. Of course, I am not of age to vote, so it really doesn't matter that much...

 

6. My thoughts on abortion? I think that abortion is wrong. Not much more to it other than that, I think that killing an 'unborn' baby is wrong. My views on homosexuality? I think that homosexuality is wrong. I don't think that, scratch that, I know that the same sex isn't 'made' for each other. I just think that it is wrong. Of course, there really is nothing that I can do to change that. It is these peoples choice to be homosexuals, but I think that it is wrong.

 

~Other than the things that I have already gone over, there really isn't much more that I can say about myself that fits this thread topic!

[Web Rider]

1. Weak atheist, I go between agnostic and atheist all the time.

 

2. Don't feel there's really enough evidence for a god, but I think there's less evidence against a god. Supernaturally powerful beings? sure, I can buy that, but the all-powerful God just doesn't hold water IMO.

 

3. I dunno, I'm 21, if I knew my purpose in life I wouldn't be playing WoW while I'm sick and posting on Lucasforms.

 

4. I get annoyed by people who are preachy, atheist or theist, and people who are like 13 and want to know what the purpose of life is. Jeeze, people have been mulling over those questions for thousands of years, getting emo over it is just lame.

 

5. I'm a registered democrat and usually vote that way, but I'm politically kind of a middle man.

 

6. Abortion is fine in moderation, I think people would get farther not screwing around so much, and if they did that the abortion debate wouldn't even be a problem.

And who people do in bed is really none of my business so long as they're of legal age and gave consent(laws banning homosexual intercourse not withstanding)

 

7. Gee, um, standard? That I don't know enough about the world to come to any aboslute conclusions. That people are generally good and want to do good, that life is a bit overwhelming, that ignorance is bliss, so I don't need to know everything.

 

8. 2+2 does not equal fish.

[MdKnightR]

1. Religious/non-religious belief?

 

Deism. In lay terms, it is the belief that God created the universe and then went on a permanent vacation without his cell phone or his beeper.

 

2. Why do you think/believe that?

I believe there is/was a "first cause," but I do not subscribe to the notion that "God" is involved in our daily affairs.

 

3. What do you think the point of life is?

Does there have to be a point?

 

4. How do the above 3 question affect the way you life your life?

 

I try to live for the moment and not worry whether a supreme being gives a damn what I do with my life.

 

5. What is your political position?

Libertarian (social liberal, fiscal conservative)

 

6. What are your opinions on abortion/homosexuality?

 

I believe that abortion is a medical procedure best kept between doctor and patient. However, with government meddling, it has become a widespread means of birth control, which I view as murderous. Homosexuality doesn't bother me. (I wonder why these were posed in the same question).

 

7. What is your philosophical/scientific standard and why...

I'm not sure what you mean by this question.

 

8. Anything to add?

 

Perhaps as this thread develops.

[Totenkopf]

6. What are your opinions on abortion/homosexuality?

 

I believe that abortion is a medical procedure best kept between doctor and patient. However, with government meddling, it has become a widespread means of birth control, which I view as murderous. Homosexuality doesn't bother me. (I wonder why these were posed in the same question).

 

My guess is that they seem to be the perenial favorite controversial subjects of many a LF thread and were combined for the sake of "brevity".

[mur'phon]

1: atheist

 

2: No evidence for the existence of a god/godes/gods, as well as what's in my sig.

 

3: 42? I guess it's to spread our genes and mess up the world with an army of mini-mees. Not that I think it's a good idea, unless of course we evolve into bonobos first.

 

4: Not much, I don't have a problem with religious people because of it, to me religion is a tool like many others.

 

5: A huge mess. In short, I'm centre-left. I'm an antinasionalist. And I'm a strong social liberal,and believe demrocy is the best of many bad systems, and should be promoted. I'm against war, but believe trade is the best way to ensure peace, I believe military force used outside the UN is nececary, and I won't refuse the army once I'm drafted.

I hate almost all forms of subsidy/protectionism, particularly those designed to keep poor countries out of the market. The market is a tool, and the government need to regulate it in a way to maximize the good, and minimize the bad. I would really love to see a tax added to things to reflect their real cost, everything from how much it wears down infrastructure to how much it will cost to fix the enviromental damage it do.

 

6: Equal rights for homosexuals in every way, including right to mary, adopt etc.

Abortion should be legal without any fuss until the last trimester, or until there is scientific evidence that the child is self aware. And I have no problem with it being used as birth controll.

 

7. The truth is never affraid to listen. I love both philosophy and science and am constantly re-evaluating my position, and I hope some in the forums would say I do change my positon when presented with applicable evidence. I also hold everything as to being in a greater or less measure of doubt, but would never classify myself as 100% sure of anything.

 

8: I believe everything we do is done because we think we'll benefit from it.

[Achilles]

1. Religious/non-religious belief?

Although I abhor the label, I tend toward "non-religious".

 

2. Why do you think/believe that?

No reason to accept the alternative. If there was a single logical argument that supported religion, I might be inclined to switch.

 

3. What do you think the point of life is?

This is completely subjective. Even the argument that it is objective is subjective.

 

Since there is no inherent meaning to life, it has as much or as a little "point" as we choose to believe it does.

 

4. How do the above 3 question affect the way you life your life?

The questions affect my life a great deal. Since I ultimately believe that I am responsible for my own life, I do not tend to attribute my successes or failures to external sources. If something bad happens in my life, I can accept that it is nothing more than coincidence and not burden myself with thoughts such as "satan has tempted me and I have failed", etc. I can accept my mistakes (and successes) for what they are and progress accordingly.

 

Also, knowing that "the meaning" in my life comes from me and not some external source means that said "meaning" is inherently more meaningful to me. If I felt that I was only doing what god expected, then my behavior would be more about doing what was necessary to comply with god's wishes than doing what I felt was right. The former is essentially meaningless while the later has legitimate potential for significance.

 

5. What is your political position?

Depends on the issue. According to modern vernacular, I would tend toward "Liberal", but I don't necessarily view that as a bad thing.

 

6. What are your opinions on abortion/homosexuality?

It would be great if we could live in a perfect world where abortion was not necessary, however since we do not live in a perfect world, abortion is not only acceptable, but required.

 

I see no problem whatsoever with homosexuality.

 

7. What is your philosophical/scientific standard and why...

Philosophy should be based on rationalism. Science should be based on science. Not sure how anything else is even remotely productive.

 

 

8. Anything to add?

Superstitious wishful thinking does not progress the human condition. Only rational discourse regarding our present and our future will move us forward. Continuing an unsubstantiated tradition of religious humility cannot benefit mankind in any long-standing, meaningful way.

[Pho3nix]

1. Religious/non-religious belief?

Atheist.

 

2. Why do you think/believe that?

It feels right and logical. I don't see the point in believing in "god" or a higher deity of some sort. I've never had the need to believe in an afterlife for example, to me It's just a comforting thought that has nothing to do with reality. I have also seen what drives people to believe in a higher being and to me their reasons have been laughable. Humans regularly astound me by their ignorance.

 

3. What do you think the point of life is?

There is no "general" point in life, you make your own point -- or meaning as you live your life. Nothing is pre-set though I do believe in good/bad luck.

 

4. How do the above 3 question affect the way you life your life?

I can't say that it affects my everyday life that much.

 

5. What is your political position?

Liberal, though at the same time I'm quite apathetic. Political ideologies do have great ideas, It's just that this isn't a perfect world so people tend to screw them up to advance in their position, make more money etc. I find the whole "I believe in [insert politician here]" ridiculous.

 

6. What are your opinions on abortion/homosexuality?

I'm pro-choice, women should have the ultimate power to decide if they want to have a baby or not. I have two homosexual members in my family and I've never viewed them as any different from anyone else. I don't have a problem with homosexuality, though I find the Pride festival to be quite idiotic as they just further distance themselves from society by having their own flag etc. Abortion and gay rights issues are a perfect example of why politics and religious beliefs shouldn't be mixed together.

 

7. What is your philosophical/scientific standard and why...

Science should be based on science as Achilles pointed out, not sure about the philosophical question.

 

8. Anything to add?

Not really.

[Ray Jones]

1. Religious/non-religious belief?

I have no beliefs at all, except that one where I *believe* that last night, I did not wear underpants, temporarily. Instead I know a lot, like for instance when I turn my head like this and squint a bit, you all become blurry.

 

2. Why do you think/believe that?

Because I grew up like that, and I like it the way it is. My train of thought regarding this world is sound logic, so there you go.

 

As for the underpants thing, well, I'm a papa, and there's a mama, and we err...like each other a lot. And sometimes, you know, mama wakes up at night and is kind of eager. XD

 

3. What do you think the point of life is?

What do you mean, my life, all life, or *life*?

 

However.

 

The point of my life is to be part of all life. The point of all life is to be part of my life.

 

And the point of *life* is, well,.. I call it the semen-cheek-causality -- it must spread all over.

 

4. How do the above 3 question affect the way you life your life?

So far questions do not affect the way I live my life. Answers do, however.

 

So, how do answers 1, 2 and 3 affect the way I live my life? I like it, thus I carry on.

 

5. What is your political position?

Hm.

 

6. What are your opinions on abortion/homosexuality?

Abortion: I think it is as good, or bad, as miscarriage.

 

Homosexuality: Well, I kinda like the idea of girls making out, and I certainly have no problem with guys buying me a drink. Then there are formerly-girls-now-boys and formerly-boys-now-girls, and I'm not sure is that even homosexual when they love transsexual boys or girls of the same natural or artificial sex? I really have no clue.

 

7. What is your philosophical/scientific standard and why...

My scientific standard is that everything is repeatable and revisable. Every process follows logic and has a pattern, ultimately resulting in some kind of formula. In my book science has to explain "how", nothing else.

 

In the rare case something seems not to be repeatable, revisable, following logic and patterns, it must be of female nature. And in case you did not notice, that's a pattern already.

 

Now as for philosophy: it's the theory of life, although in life, there is no theory. In other words: philosophy is like a cherry pit -- you could eat it, but you couldn't wipe your butt with it.

 

8. Anything to add?

Did you know that dolphins have a really impressive strategy to hunt?

 

They chase their prey towards the beach, into shallow water, so shallow it's only like 8 inches deep or something. The trick of the dolphin is now he starts to swim so fast that a film of water keeps flowing around his body, enabling him to swim in water not deeper than 1/4 of his body-height. If he would make any mistake, become too slow, or hit some obstacle, he'd end up lying on the beach, dying eventually.

 

Of course, his prey usually can go that far without any problems. But at the end there's practically no way to escape out into deeper water, because there always the dolphin, and not enough space.

 

Now the dolphin is chasing that fish along the beach, at about 35-40 miles per hour over a couple of hundreds of meters, until it's tired and gives up, terrified and weak, becoming om yummy yummy dolphin sushi nom. Dolphin mommies have been observed to teach this to their kiddies. In case something goes wrong, the death probability for the dolphin is over 60 percent, but that particular strategy seems to be so successful, it's one of the first things these dolphins learn.

[MdKnightR]

... abortion is not only acceptable, but required.

 

 

 

You make it sound so mandatory.

[Corinthian]

Probably a bad choice of words on Achilles' part.

[Web Rider]

Did you know that dolphins have a really impressive strategy to hunt?

 

<snip/>

 

Killer whales have a similar hunting trick, though it's generally used on seals.

[mimartin]

Probably a bad choice of words on Achilles' part.

That would mean Achilles is human and subject to the same human fragilities as the rest of us. No I say, Achilles choice of words is not the problem, it is our interpretation of those words that must be flawed.

[Achilles]

That would mean Achilles is human and subject to the same human fragilities as the rest of us. No I say, Achilles choice of words is not the problem, it is our interpretation of those words that must be flawed.

I like you more and more everyday, you crazy Texan.

[Jae Onasi]

abortion is not only acceptable, but required.

I guess I'm screwed if I ever get pregnant again.

[Inyri]

Well you aren't...

[mimartin]

I guess I'm screwed if I ever get pregnant again.

So many smart-alecky comments (and none of them PG-13), so many ways to get banned. AHHHH! Not going to give tk102 the satisfaction… Cannot resist… Isn’t that how you get… NO! Signing off. I'll leave this one for Ray Jones to reply to in his usual elegant and tactful way.