I'm A....

[Johnny Pneumatic]

I think this would be an interesting poll. I request that everyone who reads this please vote in the poll so that we have a good cross section of the forums.

[uruk]

I'm a soft athiest/agnostc. I haven't seen an irrefutable argument for or against a diety. But I am disinclined to believe in a diety untill I see some proof or evidence. I'm a non-existant untill proven existant kind o' guy.

[Zep]

Australian. And proud of it.

[Cosmo]

Hard and Soft Atheists? Makes me think of eggs, for some reason. I suppose that's equivalent to Strong/Weak Atheism, just never heard it called that before. :)

Anyone want a soft-boiled atheist?:arrow:

[jj]

OUCH!

You made me bite my tongue!

:D :D :D

[Piscivore]

Wow, hard to pick. As far as a deity goes, I'm soft atheist, but I still get most of my ethics from Buddhism. Zen has interesting things to say about being human, but only if you don't let the new-age crowd muck it up for you- don't believe anyone that says it is "mystical". Mostly, I believe in story.

[Lisa Simpson]

Mmmm...soft-boiled atheists.


I'm sort of two of the above. A soft atheist and a Buddhist, although I wouldn't really call myself a Zen Buddhist. I voted atheist.

[Johnny Pneumatic]

Originally posted by Lisa Simpson
I'm sort of two of the above. A soft atheist and a Buddhist, although I wouldn't really call myself a Zen Buddhist. I voted atheist.

I would have put more options but I maxed out at ten. Apologies to all the Hindus, Nihilists, Druids, animists, New Agers and other Mystics etc.

[Johnny Pneumatic]

Originally posted by Zep
Australian. And proud of it.

Why I ain't naked, just got me clothes off.

[Lisa Simpson]

Hey, Piscivore--we're pretty close in our beliefs. Is it any wonder that you are the Beast of the Sea and I'm the Beast of the Land?

[geni]

How dare you put the soft athiests in with the agnostics.

[phildonnia]

Originally posted by SkepticJ
I would have put more options but I maxed out at ten. Apologies to all the Hindus, Nihilists, Druids, animists, New Agers and other Mystics etc.

These forums seem to have a high concentration of tacoists, frogophiles and Edians as well.

[Kitty Chan]

I voted other

I am a believer in Jesus Christ and His teachings a christian.

I could go for the fundy thing but it does not reflect my thoughts completely.

Thus why my sig and why I dont like labels, they only help for initial blushes. But if people dont move beyond those blushes they never will know some of the other half of the story. Notice I didnt say they would know all of the other half, one never does.

I surfed a bit and found another label disliker he says

I don't like labels. Putting things, or people, in categories helps us to order our world, but it also narrows our world because it gives us the illusion of being in control.

his site is http://renewalfellowship.presbyterian.ca/channels/r01172-2.html
(as per message board rules)

he actually discusses the differerent labels of christians pretty well, kinda interesting.

[El Greco]

Soft atheists need some Viagra

[Johnny Pneumatic]

Originally posted by El Greco
Soft atheists need some Viagra

:) I actually like "soft" over "weak" atheist.

[fishbob]

I voted other. Seems like a strange mix of choices - no religious belief vs what type of religious belief.

I am just a plain old ordinary atheist. Not too soft, not too hard, but just right.

[crimresearch]

For the longest time I figured that Taoism covered all the bases without pinning me down.

I spent a lot of time working with Quakers in various progressive actions, and their notion of no creed, no dogma, no doctrine, silent meetings together, and so on seemed kind of appealing, but I really didn't find those things practiced as advertised... apparently the Quakers who came up with those ideas have been dead for a long time, and the UUs moved into their empty house.


So nowadays, I suppose I could be considered as a 'recovering secular humanist'.

[Atlas]

I'm a Zen Realist or an experiential Deist. Try as I might I can't seem to choose a side. The middle way is the way for me.

God exists - but only as an idea or feeling. I claim a transcendent soul that lifts me on the wings of sunsets and song, but goes with me into the grave when my days of life end.

The power of the human mind is amazing and unlocks more secrets of the universe everyday - but as often as not, forgets where it laid its keys.

Though I reckon there is good in people and in the world, I know that man is the measure of all things.

I'm a Zen Realist or an experiential Deist because poo poo pussie or woo woo woosie sounds like something a dog would pee on. I don't want to give them any ideas.

[apoger]

I actually like "soft" over "weak" atheist.

I'd rather people get a shard more technical and use "Atheist" or "Anti-Theist" rather than weak/hard atheist.

The use of multiple meanings for athiest causes a good deal of confusion and argument.

[Kitty Chan]

Originally posted by apoger
The use of multiple meanings for athiest causes a good deal of confusion and argument.

Dont take this the wrong way please but I think that there may be many shades of athiest just as there is shades of christian because there is shades of personalities in life.

Thus why some people like a quiet catholic service versus some who like to sing and dance in a charsmatic service. (I dont know what a example in athiests would be so I dont have a for example . . .)

Not that necessarily one is wrong over another if the end goal is the same, there is always pureists (is that a word?) in all camps. Even in motorcycles some would rather give up their bike than put it on a trailer.

[geni]

Originally posted by Kitty Chan
Dont take this the wrong way please but I think that there may be many shades of athiest just as there is shades of christian because there is shades of personalities in life.


I'm sticking with the view that the numebr of types of athiest = no. of athiest. The same is true for every relgion as well.

[Marquis de Carabas]

I'm a soft atheist. Puss is a furry Bastist.

[EdipisReks]

i voted Hard Atheist, but only becauce i've been watching porn, and i have a great big erec..... *cough*

[edited to clear things up for Marquis de Carabas.]

[Marquis de Carabas]

Originally posted by EdipisReks
i voted Hard Atheist, but only becauce i've been watching porn, and i have a great big ere..... *cough*
ere...mite?

[EdipisReks]

Originally posted by Marquis de Carabas
ere...mite?

snarky. very snarky.

[jj]

Some people call me the space cowboy
Some call me the gangster of love
Some people call me Maurice ...

:D

[MRC_Hans]

I'm a pragmatic, so I voted "other", but I suppose "soft atheist" would also apply (Psst, you forgot the planet X option ;)).

I live by the world as it is. If there is a god who wants me to live differently, it must show me the way, I'm not going to try to guess what it wants.

My ethics and morals are what my conscience dictates me, and if that is not good enough for a God, tough luck for both of us.

Hans

[Anders]

I'm A....

Lumberjack and I'm OK, I work all day and I sleep all night....

No, but seriously, agnostic atheism seem to be the most logic standpoint, if one are a skeptic. There is no way that we can tell that there aren’t a god somewhere lurking and hiding in the shadows, just to emerged when we expect it the least. I haven’t so far seen anything that points to that the god-hypothesis is true. Sooo. I wouldn’t bet any money that there is a god, I’m very skeptical about that, however, not dogmatically skeptic.

[Vim Razz]

I voted Other -- Solidly Agnostic.

Grouping agnosticism with atheism seems to suggest "I dont know, but probably not" which just doesn't fit.

I dont consider the notion of deity inplausible at all -- though I haven't seen enough evidence to strongly suggest either deism or atheism.

[El Greco]

Come on 1inChrist... why haven't you voted yet ?

[A_Feeble_Mind]

Hard Atheist... there is no reason to hold out any hope for god(s), or at least as much reason for hoping that the IPU will smite my enemies with her Holy Hooves. ;)

[1inChrist]

I voted for the wrong one!!!!

[El Greco]

Originally posted by 1inChrist
I voted for the wrong one!!!!

Ah, the works of Satan...

My dear friend, I'm afraid you need an exorcism.

[agnostic_god]

Other. Agnostic in the T.H. Huxley sense: Don't know, probably don't have any way of ever knowing.

[MLynn]

Like Kitty Chan, I don't like labels, but I voted Liberal Christian (whatever that may mean).

I should have voted "Other" because I consider myself as a growing person with evolving views and experiences. In other words, at the moment "misfit Jesus freak" seems to be my label at the moment.

[The GM]

I voted deist, to be contrary, naturally. ;)

[Kitty Chan]

Originally posted by MLynn
Like Kitty Chan, I don't like labels, but I voted Liberal Christian (whatever that may mean).

I should have voted "Other" because I consider myself as a growing person with evolving views and experiences. In other words, at the moment "misfit Jesus freak" seems to be my label at the moment.

Did you check out that link on my post I think he said it quite nicely.

[RebeccaBradley]

I'd vote for hard atheism. As an archaeologist who also reads a lot of history, including the history of religion, I've come to think the gods are just another of those stories humans like to tell themselves - fictions. Why be an atheist about Frodo, but an agnostic about Jehovah? (With apologies to any LOTR cultists out there.)

[Jellby]

Hard atheist, whatever that means.

I have no proof of any god, I don't believe there is any god, I don't need any god and I hope there's no god (the world's nasty enough without them).

[Z]

I'm a certified and legally recognized Wiccan priest, but also a Taoist, Demi-Christian, Universalist, Pseudo-Agnostic, Shaman, and Daily Periodic Baptist. Which means daily baptism by shower. :D

Anyway, Wiccan seemed the closes available choice.

[c4ts]

Cthulhuist.

[UserGoogol]

Oobleck Atheist. Soft under most conditions, but if pressured I'll probably gladly turn hard.

[RebeccaBradley]

Just out of interest, 1inChrist, which option did you mistakenly select?

[Johnny Pneumatic]

Originally posted by RebeccaBradley
Just out of interest, 1inChrist, which option did you mistakenly select?

He told me in a PM that he chose soft atheist; he's an atheist but won't admit it to even himself so he puts on the act of hyper fundi to p*ss people off and try to convince himself that he really believes in God.:p

[MLynn]

Originally posted by Kitty Chan
Did you check out that link on my post I think he said it quite nicely.
Thanks, Kitty - great link. Still, it doesn't quite describe me, but almost. :D

[MLynn]

Originally posted by zaayrdragon
I'm a certified and legally recognized Wiccan priest, but also a Taoist, Demi-Christian...............
zaayrdragon, what is a Demi-Christian? I haven't heard that term before.

[Anathema]

Originally posted by MLynn
zaayrdragon, what is a Demi-Christian? I haven't heard that term before. They only use the top-half of the crucifix --- it removes the temptation for people to try to peek under the loincloth...

[Kitty Chan]

Originally posted by MLynn
Thanks, Kitty - great link. Still, it doesn't quite describe me, but almost. :D

Its hard to pigeon hole, unless your a pigeon

:)

[Robin]

From Zep:

Australian. And proud of it.

but unaccountably cricket was not one of the options in the poll.

[RebeccaBradley]

Originally posted by SkepticJ
He told me in a PM that he chose soft atheist; he's an atheist but won't admit it to even himself so he puts on the act of hyper fundi to p*ss people off and try to convince himself that he really believes in God.:p

:jaw: So he is a troll.

[agnostic_god]

Originally posted by RebeccaBradley
:jaw: So he is a troll.

Should be obvious. Even when I was a youthful Holy Roller I wasn't nearly that dense. At least I hope not. Although he does do a good job of pointing out the pointlessness of an atheist/agnostic debating someone of faith.

BTW - Where is the Vonnegut quote from? I thought I had read all of his stuff but I don't recall that one. Maybe it's time to re-read some of his old works again.

[MLynn]

Originally posted by RebeccaBradley
:jaw: So he is a troll.
I have to admit that I'm disappointed in him then, but not because I'm a Christian. He misrepresented himself, apparently.
1inC, what do you have to say?

[RebeccaBradley]

Originally posted by agnostic_god

BTW - Where is the Vonnegut quote from? I thought I had read all of his stuff but I don't recall that one. Maybe it's time to re-read some of his old works again.

Trying to remember - I'm pretty sure it's the preface to Slapstick, though it could be in one of his autobiographical musings in Palm Sunday. Alice was his sister.

[El Greco]

Eddammit, those softies are winning :mad:

[Z]

Originally posted by Anathema
They only use the top-half of the crucifix --- it removes the temptation for people to try to peek under the loincloth...

:dl:

Well, demi-christian as I use it means one who acknowledges that there was a very important Human teacher named Yeshua ben-Yosef (or some variation thereof) who taught rather radical (for his day) notions of free love and being a good person, rather than a good little puppet of the church. The 'Christ' of mythololgy exists, but within each of us; it is the spirit of forgiveness, including forgiving oneself; but is also the spirit of ultimate responsibility, which means accepting the fouler side of self and taking punishment, if it is right to do so.

Since, by broadest definition, anyone who believes in Jesus is a Christian, that would mark me as a Christian - but because I believe that Jesus was not the only Christ, but (like all of us) one of many Christs, I'd say that makes me a Demi-Christian.

Make sense? Pro'lly not...

[agnostic_god]

Originally posted by RebeccaBradley
Trying to remember - I'm pretty sure it's the preface to Slapstick, though it could be in one of his autobiographical musings in Palm Sunday. Alice was his sister.

Slapstick sounds right. Haven't read that one in a while, though it contains one of my favorite truisms: "Saying 'I love you' to someone is like holding a gun to their head. What else can they say except, 'I love you, too'?"

[kerfer]

I chose other...hard (strong) atheist agnostic. One goes to belief (theist/atheist) the other goes to possession of knowledge (gnostic/agnostic).

Every argument ever posed in support of existence is provably wrong, and it is logical to me to conclude, that until shown otherwise (or at least have some evidence presented), that there isn't a god(dess)(s)(es) of any sort or flavor that is worth worrying about.

But it's also not possible to truly have that knowledge. Anyone who tells you one way of t'other is a liar.

[Ratman_tf]

Originally posted by agnostic_god
Other. Agnostic in the T.H. Huxley sense: Don't know, probably don't have any way of ever knowing.

That's why I personally dislike the term Agnostic. It's got at least 2 meanings that I'm aware of, neither of which fit me.

[CSSMariner]

I will steal a title that a former First Marine Division WW II veteran told me described him. Bear in mind that he was in the opening wave of the invasion of Guadalcanal and Leyte. He said the bit about there not being any atheists in foxholes was a load of bunk. He watched the US fleet sail away with their big guns at Guadalcanal, and realized they were taking his support, supplies and breakfast with them, and did not call out to any form of deity for his deliverance.

He said he was a "Concretalist." If he could touch it and see it, he believed it.

I take it a bit further; if I can process it through three of my five senses, minimum, and if it will survive the scientific method and process of testing, and if I can set up the same conditions several times and get essentially the same answer on the other end, then I will believe it.

I have studied science and engineering and physics far too long to have it any other way.

Religion is a belief system only, and even if the belief is unanimous in scope, belief is still not proof of concept, or existence of dog. Oops, I always get that word backwards.
:p

[shemp]

I'm a hard atheist when I take Viagra.

[Correa Neto]

You know, this -apparently- simple and humble thread resulted in some short but profound posts - plus some funny jokes. Should be consulted by some -if not all of- the ambitious persons who make posts and threads pretending to contain absolute and unrefutable truths, when in fact are just a bunch of prejudices and/or old arguments.

I would consider myself as an agnostic, but when pressed with unpolite/stupid comments I turn to a hard atheist (that should be my blue pill). Also, if you ask me if what is exactly my current position regarding god´s existance, I would, as already pointed out by someone else (sorry forgot who), say yes, but as an idea or concept. But when it comes to an "external" independent existence, I just don´t know for sure, but I tend towards no.

As many people around here, I do not feel confortable with labels. Also, I belive that regardless of the definition of god, many religious texts do contain deep insights on human nature.

Bottomline is that I think of God (and gods) as a defense mechanism to maintain order in our societies and avoid individual despair when faced with death and the many injustices of the world, giving us an "you are special", "justice will be made" or "there is a reward" feeling.

Edited to add
And seeing 1inchrist´s Freudian lapse was a must! Soon he will be deconverted"

[DarkMagician]

What do I answer if I'm God?

[c4ts]

Originally posted by SkepticJ
He told me in a PM that he chose soft atheist; he's an atheist but won't admit it to even himself so he puts on the act of hyper fundi to p*ss people off and try to convince himself that he really believes in God.:p

He's doing a very good job of convincing more people to join his atheistic cause.

[Kitty Chan]

Originally posted by DarkMagician
What do I answer if I'm God?

Christ said I Am

:)

[rustypouch]

Tacoist.

[Eos of the Eons]

Taco Time or Taco Hell?:p

[Operaider]

I'm with Correa Neto, I'm agnostic till I get in an argument with someone. Then I think “There can’t be a God, because there is no way he’d make his followers this stupid�. If there is a god, I doubt it's one of the ones represented by a religion. Why would god want or even care if people worshiped him. He'd be above all that petty nonsense. Especially given the results of all that worship (SEE: crusades, Afghanistan, godhatesfags.com)

If there is a god, that’s the way I always imagined him. As though we were cells on a petri dish that he grew in order to enter us in his elementary school science project. We have no way of understanding his higher intellect or his reasons for creating us. To even try would be ridiculous, he would be way to advanced for out puny brains to comprehend. He doesn't really care what we think of him. Why would he? The petty things we do in out day to day life must seem mundane to someone so powerful. He probably just made us to see if he could.

Or he doesn’t exist. Makes no difference to me, and I doubt he cares that I don’t believe in him.

[tim]

Originally posted by Zep
Australian. And proud of it.

You're a ....gramatically incorrect axolotl. It should be "I'm an Australian".
No wait - I'm not! But you are! Aw, forget it!

[tim]

The serious answer is that I voted "other".
I can neither prove, nor disprove, the existence of a deity and neither, IMHO, can anyone else.
One day I may find out the answer. Or not, as the case may be. Until then I don't worry about it.

[Eos of the Eons]

Obnoxious answer: You can disprove the existence of a deity by not being able to prove it exists. Ha!

:p

[rastamonte]

Originally posted by Jellby
Hard atheist, whatever that means.

I have no proof of any god, I don't believe there is any god, I don't need any god and I hope there's no god (the world's nasty enough without them).

Well said.

[tim]

Originally posted by Eos of the Eons
Obnoxious answer: You can disprove the existence of a deity by not being able to prove it exists. Ha!

:p

Not so! I can't prove Randi exists. There's lot's of anecdotal evidence, and I've spoken on occasion to someone who says he's James Randi.......but I won't be able to prove it until TAM3.
Of course, were he to shuffle off this mortal coil in the meantime it would become a matter of faith, I guess.
Then he might become a deity.
To many (including myself) he nearly is already! :p ;)




p.s. Up late again, are we?:dio:

[rastamonte]

Originally posted by kerfer
I chose other...hard (strong) atheist agnostic. One goes to belief (theist/atheist) the other goes to possession of knowledge (gnostic/agnostic).

Every argument ever posed in support of existence is provably wrong, and it is logical to me to conclude, that until shown otherwise (or at least have some evidence presented), that there isn't a god(dess)(s)(es) of any sort or flavor that is worth worrying about.

But it's also not possible to truly have that knowledge. Anyone who tells you one way of t'other is a liar.

I agree with this too.

[Operaider]

Originally posted by tim
he's James Randi [snip]
Then he might become a deity.
To many (including myself) he nearly is already! :p ;)

Yea, I think I'll vote for Randi for deity. At least he seems more reasonable than the one we apparently have.

Plus having him as God will piss off allot of fundamentalists. Which is always fun. :D

[evildave]

Apathetic Agnostic: I don't know and I don't care.

Generally, I give god and any other purely fictional character equal probability for existing. God *might* exist, but Mickey Mouse *might* exist as a real, living and breathing entity somewhere, according to the same parameters.

As the lost bible page said: "Any similarities between characters in this work and persons living or dead is purely coincidental."

[AWPrime]

Hard Atheist.

However I have slight leaning to asatru and animists, but I am not nearly religious enough to take it serious.

[El Greco]

There's a definitive shortage of Muslims over here. It would be fun to debunk Allah for a change.

[Anders]

Originally posted by El Greco
There's a definitive shortage of Muslims over here. It would be fun to debunk Allah for a change.
Agree, where are all post Muslim atheist. I guess that either there is very few of them, or they live in a context, or in country where it would be lethal or at least very dangerous to pronounce atheism.

[MLynn]

Originally posted by DarkMagician
What do I answer if I'm God?
It's about time you showed up! I need money for TAM!! And there's lots of other stuff I need done for friends too. Amen. :D

[Eos of the Eons]

Originally posted by tim
Not so! I can't prove Randi exists. There's lot's of anecdotal evidence, and I've spoken on occasion to someone who says he's James Randi.......but I won't be able to prove it until TAM3.
Of course, were he to shuffle off this mortal coil in the meantime it would become a matter of faith, I guess.
Then he might become a deity.
To many (including myself) he nearly is already! :p ;)




p.s. Up late again, are we?:dio:

:p :p We can prove Randi exists wayyyy more than anybody can prove any deity existence.

Yep, was up late, and I get obnoxious when tired or inebriated. I normally wouldn't even say that, but was in the mood to. :)

[Gulliamo]

Originally posted by agnostic_god
Should be obvious. Even when I was a youthful Holy Roller I wasn't nearly that dense. At least I hope not. Although he does do a good job of pointing out the pointlessness of an atheist/agnostic debating someone of faith. It is not pointless to debate someone of faith! The point may not be to "win" the debate or to "convert" the debatee but to simply inform those "watching" the debate. I, for one, have been greatly educated by reading the debates within these forums.

[skeptikat]

Originally posted by Gulliamo
It is not pointless to debate someone of faith! The point may not be to "win" the debate or to "convert" the debatee but to simply inform those "watching" the debate. I, for one, have been greatly educated by reading the debates within these forums.

Amen.
There's always the hope that you might get some one to think once and awhile. And it gives the rest of us good arguements to use when it's our turn to step up and join the debate.