feel free to fill this out too dear reader!
1-what religion are you?
Christian, United Church of Christ
2-what religion(s), besides yours, do you feel the closest to?
any that aren't exclusive
3-what convinces you about your religion?
fluid, flexible and questioning
4-is your religion truer than other religion?
no, as mine respects and reflects
5-do you feel like the world would be better if everyone converted to your religion?
it'd be nice, but then the world wouldn't be nuanced
6-do you think that there should be a separation of Church and State?
yes, for the state's sake. this doesn't mean that the church can't serve as a prophetic role. the church gets a vote, like everyone else, not a veto
7-are you willing to marry someone from another religion?
yup!
8-are you against Homosexual marriages?
hell no!
9-are you against complete freedom of speech? Like the Danish Cartoons
i loooove freedom of speech. it's a hard balance, but i'm all for it.
10-do you believe that killing someone for blasphemy is a reasonable
punishment?
killing anyone for anything is infantile
11-Would you be more confortable in a country where your religion is the main religion?
wouldn't we all be.
12-Do you have any spiritual heroes from different religions? If yes, name them
dalia lama,thich nat han, rabbi jack paskoff, rabbi abraham joshua heschel, rabbi hillel, pema chodron, rumi, hafiz, albert einstien,
13-for those who believe in Paradise and Hell, Do you believe that those who don't believe in your religion can go to Paradise?
i'm a universalist which means everyone gets a chance at paradise.
14-Do you think that everyone can perfectly coexist with your religion?
my religion is coexistence
15-Are you a convert or were you brought up into your religion?
convert, raised Roman Catholic
16-Do you believe that laws should be based on religious values?
no
17-how old are you?
26
18-where do you live?
lancaster pa
10 comments:
Albert Einstein as a spritual leader?
What should laws be based on?
love, ma
> Albert Einstein as a spritual leader?
The way I understand it is that although he's the one who figured out quantum physics, Albert Einstein was reluctant to accept it as correct because the need for randomness conflicted with his religious beliefs. I believe his best quote on the matter was, "God doesn't play dice."
So he was both a respected scientist, and at the same time, deeply religious. Those are frequently seen as polar opposites and certainly earns him a little extra respect from me.
Luke very possibly has an entirely different reason for considering Albert Einstein a spiritual hero.
And then, I have my own question for Luke.
For question #1, you answer "Christian, United Church of Christ" which I've tended to regard as a born again denomination.
Later on though, you responded to question #13 in part as "i'm a universalist."
Previously, I've only ever run across the "universalist" label in connection to Unitarians.
I'm pretty sure I'm missing more than a few nuances here. Can you elaborate on some of the broader strokes?
(FWIW, I'm not sure I can answer much past question #1 with "Confused Christian.")
I've taken the quiz too. Anything that stops me from working on my Christology paper.
Hear: http://outwardinward.blog.com/3116592/
fwiw, I don't think Catholics who become Protestants are technically considered "converts". We're all the Church, y'know.
Blair--
The United Church of Christ is VERRRY different from the Church of Christ. (Not that Wikipedia is the end all be all, but it gives a good overview. The UCC's official website is www.ucc.org.) Opposite ends of the Protestant spectrum.
PS. Here are my answers...
1-what religion are you?
United Church of Christ
2-what religion(s), besides yours, do you feel the closest to?
Unitarian Universalist, MCC, Judaism, etc.
3-what convinces you about your religion?
Delving into all the layers of the Bible, not taking things at face value
4-is your religion truer than other religion?
No
5-do you feel like the world would be better if everyone converted to your religion?
HAHA, no
6-do you think that there should be a separation of Church and State?
Yes!! There's a reason it's in the Constitution. Who gets to decide whose religion is pushed in the State?
7-are you willing to marry someone from another religion?
I already did, but now we're the same religion.
8-are you against Homosexual marriages?
NO
9-are you against complete freedom of speech?
I'm a journalist at heart--I love freedom of speech, press, etc.
10-do you believe that killing someone for blasphemy is a reasonable punishment?
No, let's not kill people, OK?
11-Would you be more comfortable in a country where your religion is the main religion?
Of course, everyone would. Being in the majority is much more comfortable.
12-Do you have any spiritual heroes from different religions?
The Dahli Lama is way cool, Rabbi Kushner
13-for those who believe in Paradise and Hell, Do you believe that those who don't believe in your religion can go to Paradise?
Yes. If your whole life is spent on an island, and you have never even heard of Jesus, that doesn't damn you to hell. Everyone gets a chance.
14-Do you think that everyone can perfectly coexist with your religion?
Nothing will be perfect, but people can try
15-Are you a convert or were you brought up into your religion?
Grew up United Methodist, now UCC. Almost the same, but UCC is more open.
16-Do you believe that laws should be based on religious values?
No
17-how old are you?
28
18-where do you live?
Lancaster, PA
Hey Luke
Do you golf? Im going to be in Pittsburgh on the 23rd of May and need a Yankee to show me a good golf course?
John T.
(Canadian by the way)
PS If possible I could bring you some good Beer from here lol.
1-what religion are you?
Christian, no affiliation – but I have attended a non-denominational church (charismatic) and a full gospel church (Pentecostal) in the past.
2-what religion(s), besides yours, do you feel the closest to?
I love Judaism – always have. I am also fond of Islam and Mormonism…and read about them form their books when I can.
3-what convinces you about your religion?
Hope and community – Faith in God reflects an outlook beaming with hope and community working together can make a million things happen.
4-is your religion truer than other religion?
I respect people of all faiths – and enjoy their company…I don’t find myself better than them – but their equal.
5-do you feel like the world would be better if everyone converted to your religion?
Not sure – I have nothing to compare this to. My whole family converted to Christianity – and we are way more functional than in the past – but is this quantitative of the whole world (not really).
6-do you think that there should be a separation of Church and State?
Yes and No. The church is not the gov’t – thankfully. But one’s spirituality need not be ‘hacked off’ to be in public office or work in a school. If one can separate their faith from their being – then church can separate from state for them.
7-are you willing to marry someone from another religion?
I did. I married a girl that was not really into faith at all – she was Greek Orthodox in name – but not a real practitioner. It worked out quite well.
8-are you against Homosexual marriages?
No.
9-are you against complete freedom of speech? Like the Danish Cartoons
No…freedom of speech is a good thing. But freedom of speech for the purpose of hating another is really not freeing at all.
10-do you believe that killing someone for blasphemy is a reasonable punishment?
No. Something inside my sensibilities cannot justify violence – nevermind doing that ‘in the name of God’.
11-Would you be more confortable in a country where your religion is the main religion?
Very likely – which is true of the faith I am in – in the Western world – Christianity is the norm.
12-Do you have any spiritual heroes from different religions? If yes, name them
Heroes, tough one. I loved MLK Jr, Gandhi, Mother Theresa, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Malcolm X, Chuck D, and I am starting to find more meaning in the Jewish rabbi’s at this point in my life than in my own pastors.
13-for those who believe in Paradise and Hell, Do you believe that those who don't believe in your religion can go to Paradise?
Yes, paradise is about a state of being more than a place of being. If someone lives a life here that honors the teachings of God – then they receive the blessing with the rest of us – no matter what label we can hang on them.
14-Do you think that everyone can perfectly coexist with your religion?
Yes, I am from a religion that teaches peace, love your neighbor as yourself, mercy, compassion, and the highest heights of forgiveness.
15-Are you a convert or were you brought up into your religion?
Convert – raised to believe nothing.
16-Do you believe that laws should be based on religious values?
Yes, in the least they should be influenced by our sentiments for the idea ‘treat others how you want to be treated’. Also the law needs to uphold justice for the victim.
17-how old are you?
33
18-where do you live?
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
wow! lots of comments! sorry i didn't get to these:
ma: laws are reactive, rarely proactive. so on contigency is big! and the constitution is a rarity.. so the deal now is how best to move forward with what we have and what we're doing. (plus i wouldn't want to get rid of all my mixed blends if we base our law on the bible)
Einstein as a spiritual leader. Blair hit it right on the head. ppl try to say he was an atheist... i'd say Agnostic for two reasons best summed up in these quotes " Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind." and
"My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."
Blair: ya answered one of your own question! brilliant! i always love ppl who do research. about the universalist part, that means that God will give us chances to get to heaven. sort of like What Dreams May Come. if you want a really scholarly essay on the idea, check out: http://emergingfaith.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30
cody: i didn't know you had a blog! i'm on it! thanks for filling it out.. and yes i know we're part of the same church, however it doesn't FEEL that way. plus it's nice to be married AND administer to the body of Christ ;-)
John T: i don't golf, but i would if you came closer! I'm in Lancaster which is the opposite side of the state. Hit me up if you're ever in Philly. i'd love to drink some good brew with ya.
Kate and SocietyVS thanks for filling out the survey, your answers were awesome! i really enjoyed reading your responses!
1. Christian........sort of
2. hmmmm......hmmmmmm...
3. Still not convinced lol.
4. Nope
5. No, the world was meant for duality. whether we like it or not.
6. Definately
7. Yes I did, My wife is French. God help me lol.
8. Nope
9. Fine line, but unfortunately some people cross it. We need to learn better respect, sometimes that means no.
10. If killing for blasphemy was ok, I'd be dead. You should hear me on the Golf Course. :)
11. Id be comfortable in a country thats comfortable with not having to have a main religion
12. My Mom
13. I like the Universalist idea. But maybe Paradise is only about changing your perspective. Mind over matter. If I dont mind, it dont matter
14. coexist sure.........agree I doubt it.
15. Convert........raised Human
16. Nope
17. 43
18. Ottawa, ontario, Canada
I posted my quizz over at my blog, but here it is...
1-what religion are you?
Christian as in Christ follower. I am uninterested in denominations.
2-what religion(s), besides yours, do you feel the closest to?
Certain aspects of Buddhism. The Qur'an has some good verses and Islam has some good prayers.
3-what convinces you about your religion?
resurrection of Christ, experience, the wisdom of Jesus
4-is your religion truer than other religion?
Yes, in that it is the specific hand of God. Divine revelation is not unique to Christianity, but it is most specific.
5-do you feel like the world would be better if everyone converted to your religion?
Yes, if they could follow it authentically.
6-do you think that there should be a separation of Church and State?
The state has a purpose and the church has a purpose. The church should not have state powers. The state should not have power over the church (unless, like the LDS cult, breaks the civil law). That's what the separation of church and state is all about.
7-are you willing to marry someone from another religion?
No. My wife was nuts for marrying an agnostic like I was.
8-are you against Homosexual marriages?
Yes.
9-are you against complete freedom of speech?
Trick question, but yes, I am against it. Example: the Hutu radio nutcase in Rwanda incited people to kill Tutsis and even pointed out where they might find them hiding.
10-do you believe that killing someone for blasphemy is a reasonable
punishment?
No, it is unreasonable. God doesn't need us to kill people who say they are God. That's what got Christ killed.
11-Would you be more comfortable in a country where your religion is the main religion?
I would be more comfortable knowing I was where God wanted me to be.
12-Do you have any spiritual heroes from different religions?
Buddha, Mahatma Ghandi, Socrates
13-for those who believe in Paradise and Hell, Do you believe that those who don't believe in your religion can go to Paradise?
Depends on God. He's the one who came up with my religion.
14-Do you think that everyone can perfectly coexist with your religion?
Christ calls us to love all people, even our enemies. What more can you ask?
15-Are you a convert or were you brought up into your religion?
convert from agnosticism.
16-Do you believe that laws should be based on religious values?
Laws are based on what the people will them to be. If religious values influence them, so be it. So do stupidity and ignorance influence laws. I'd worry more about that...
17-how old are you?
43
18-where do you live?
Fort Lauderdale, FL
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