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Feb. 7th, 2011 11:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sophiaserpentiaReligion Survey, from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
gramina
1. Do you believe in God?
I find I can't answer this question with a yes or no. Belief plays a remarkably small role in my religious life. As far as doctrine is concerned, I'm critical of just about any and all of it.
There's a lot I could say here, but I'll start by saying I don't know how to believe in something or someone when I don't know who or what they are. I have some thoughts on this, but I consider them essentially fiction.
I am, though, a person of faith. Faith, in my opinion, is intransitive, and transcends religion. I can recognize another person of faith no matter what beliefs or doctrine they profess.
2. Define God.
I'm fond of "that which never acts yet leaves nothing undone." I gathered many of my thoughts on this quite some time ago, and I'm surprised to find today that my thoughts on this question have not much changed in 8 years.
That said, I have had a few encounters or hints during meditation or dreaming that I experienced as a divine presence. Was it God? I don't know.
3. What religion were you raised with?
I was christened and confirmed Catholic, but my parents sent me to a "nondenominational" (fundamentalist Protestant) private school during my early childhood, so the religion I was exposed to as a child is a bit... mingled.
4. Do you practice that religion?
No. Nooooo no no no no.
5. Your most spiritual moment?
I've had a few wonderful moments while meditating.
6. The last time you were in a house of worship...
By which is meant I suppose a building erected as a temple or church? Mmm... *blinks* if I have to concentrate that means it's been a long time. Several years. The last congregation I was officially a part of was the First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans, 8 years ago.
7. Death is...
When certain biological processes stop and certain other biological processes begin. What does it mean to an individual person? I have no idea and profess no belief on the matter.
8. How do you picture the end of the world?
With... the sun turning into a red giant and obliterating it?
9. God has spoken to you...
Not as such. I have felt a divine presence during moments of mindfulness.
10. If so, what did God tell you?
There is a certain "I am"ness about things which exist.
11. Do you feel that most wars started because of religious conflict?
No. Religion can be misused by warmongers to silence critics of the war. Plus I think too many religious leaders are not critical enough of war when it happens, but I do not think religion is responsible for starting it.
12. Does life exist on other planets?
*Shakes the Magic 8-Ball* Signs point to yes.
13. Have they made contact with us?
*Shakes the Magic 8-Ball again* Reply hazy, try again.
14. Do you believe that we are descendants of Adam and Eve?
Not even metaphorically.
15. Do you believe in evolution?
See comments above on "belief is irrelevant." I do think as a scientific theory that it is likely to be true.
16. Do you believe in astrology?
It can be a useful fiction.
17. Do you read your horoscope?
Not even joke ones.
18. If yes, why?
N/A
19. Have you ever been in psychotherapy?
No one's business but my own.
20. If yes, why?
N/A
21. Do you believe in reincarnation?
I've always thought the idea of reincarnation was too arbitrary. I consider panprotopsychism or panexperientialism (aspects of neutral monism) to be likely explanations for consciousness, so I could potentially accept an idea like rebirth.
22. If reincarnation exists, what would you like to come back as?
I honestly don't know how to answer this. It is too far removed from the way I normally think about consciousness.
23. Anything else you'd like to add?
I wish when people talked about religion that they would spend more time on community, praxis, and especially individual action. Doctrine and belief are given way too much emphasis. IMO, what is important are the blessings one manifests in the world and for people around them.
gramina1. Do you believe in God?
I find I can't answer this question with a yes or no. Belief plays a remarkably small role in my religious life. As far as doctrine is concerned, I'm critical of just about any and all of it.
There's a lot I could say here, but I'll start by saying I don't know how to believe in something or someone when I don't know who or what they are. I have some thoughts on this, but I consider them essentially fiction.
I am, though, a person of faith. Faith, in my opinion, is intransitive, and transcends religion. I can recognize another person of faith no matter what beliefs or doctrine they profess.
2. Define God.
I'm fond of "that which never acts yet leaves nothing undone." I gathered many of my thoughts on this quite some time ago, and I'm surprised to find today that my thoughts on this question have not much changed in 8 years.
That said, I have had a few encounters or hints during meditation or dreaming that I experienced as a divine presence. Was it God? I don't know.
3. What religion were you raised with?
I was christened and confirmed Catholic, but my parents sent me to a "nondenominational" (fundamentalist Protestant) private school during my early childhood, so the religion I was exposed to as a child is a bit... mingled.
4. Do you practice that religion?
No. Nooooo no no no no.
5. Your most spiritual moment?
I've had a few wonderful moments while meditating.
6. The last time you were in a house of worship...
By which is meant I suppose a building erected as a temple or church? Mmm... *blinks* if I have to concentrate that means it's been a long time. Several years. The last congregation I was officially a part of was the First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans, 8 years ago.
7. Death is...
When certain biological processes stop and certain other biological processes begin. What does it mean to an individual person? I have no idea and profess no belief on the matter.
8. How do you picture the end of the world?
With... the sun turning into a red giant and obliterating it?
9. God has spoken to you...
Not as such. I have felt a divine presence during moments of mindfulness.
10. If so, what did God tell you?
There is a certain "I am"ness about things which exist.
11. Do you feel that most wars started because of religious conflict?
No. Religion can be misused by warmongers to silence critics of the war. Plus I think too many religious leaders are not critical enough of war when it happens, but I do not think religion is responsible for starting it.
12. Does life exist on other planets?
*Shakes the Magic 8-Ball* Signs point to yes.
13. Have they made contact with us?
*Shakes the Magic 8-Ball again* Reply hazy, try again.
14. Do you believe that we are descendants of Adam and Eve?
Not even metaphorically.
15. Do you believe in evolution?
See comments above on "belief is irrelevant." I do think as a scientific theory that it is likely to be true.
16. Do you believe in astrology?
It can be a useful fiction.
17. Do you read your horoscope?
Not even joke ones.
18. If yes, why?
N/A
19. Have you ever been in psychotherapy?
No one's business but my own.
20. If yes, why?
N/A
21. Do you believe in reincarnation?
I've always thought the idea of reincarnation was too arbitrary. I consider panprotopsychism or panexperientialism (aspects of neutral monism) to be likely explanations for consciousness, so I could potentially accept an idea like rebirth.
22. If reincarnation exists, what would you like to come back as?
I honestly don't know how to answer this. It is too far removed from the way I normally think about consciousness.
23. Anything else you'd like to add?
I wish when people talked about religion that they would spend more time on community, praxis, and especially individual action. Doctrine and belief are given way too much emphasis. IMO, what is important are the blessings one manifests in the world and for people around them.
