"Religion" survey
Questions taken from the "What religion do you fit in with?" quiz going around. Answers are my own.
Do you believe that man was created in the form of God, or that man evolved from other species?
Both. I don't believe in results without processes. That isn't how creation works for humans--and if we were made in the image of a Creator, why would we expect process-free results from Him?
Are you a believer that you should try everything at least once?
Oh, I should try being tortured to death, dying of lung cancer, dying of heart attack, dying of gunshot wounds... erm, no. No, I believe that some things are better left untried, thanks.
What do you trust more, your feelings/intuition or your logic/rational capabilities?
I think that feelings without logic lead only to madness, and I feel that logic without emotion ignores a necessary part of the data. Reasoning and feelings are both essential. That's why we've got them.
Do you plan to recant on your deathbed?
I don't believe I've canted enough. Or cantered. I definitely should canter more often, perhaps with a cantor along.
Do you often find different ways of expressing your own spirituality?
I am a spiritual animal. Everything I do is a way of expressing my spirituality, as well as my animality.
Do you believe in any kind of afterlife?
Yes.
Do you believe in capital punishment?
Yes, there are too many reports of capital punishment taking place throughout the world for me not to believe in it.
Oh, I know, I know, "believe" in these two questions is not meant in the same way. Then again, maybe it is: Maybe "believe" in both cases means, not "Do you think this is true?" but "Do you think this is the way things should be, whether they are or not?" In that case: I believe that some people deserve to die, but that the judicial system is currently too fallible for me to endorse capital punishment whole-heartedly. Also: I'm not sure I believe that an afterlife should exist--maybe this world really should be all that we get, but I don't think that it is.
Would you prefer a career in the arts, or in something technical?
I would really like a job where I could play with POV-Ray, which probably qualifies as both.
Do you feel that you can be spiritual without having a religion?
In the same way that I feel I can be an animal without having breakfast.
Do you believe that eventually, science will be able to explain everything about our existence and the world?
No. Despite what some people believe about it, that is not what science is designed to do.
Do you believe that your own redemption lies in your own hands or those of a superior power?
I don't believe that redemption lies in anyone's hands. Redemption swims, flies, runs around like crazy--though not literally. It's another process.
Do you believe that you are more right brained (creative, random), or left brained (logical, mathematical)?
I believe that I have a whole brain.
Do you feel that you need to have a spiritual side?
Side? I believe that my spiritual parts and my animal parts will not be divided from each other till I'm dead.
Do you consider yourself gullible, even a little bit?
Yeah. When people don't know enough about a subject, they tend to be either too skeptical or too credulous. I try to alternate between the two extremes, just so I don't keep making the same mistakes.
If you were about to jump off of a cliff, with only a bungee cord attached to you, what would you be thinking?
"I'd rather be skydiving."
Until what age did you believe in the Easter bunny?
Eight, I think. Come to think of it, it was probably earlier--I stopped believing in the Easter bunny before I stopped believing in Santa.
Do you actively work out, and try to maintain physical health in all aspects of your life?
I wouldn't call it "working out," but I'm fitter than the average American in spite of chronic health problems. My arm muscles are still pathetic, though.
Do you believe that the path to enlightenment/God, is within yourself?
It is, but only by invitation.
Does your opinion of something differ from that of your religion (if you dont have a religion, have you actively questioned other religions)?
Oh, I question lots of things. I'm a Protestant. I'm supposed to protest things, right?
Is it important in this life to live every moment to its fullest, and try to do everything that interests you even if some people consider it immoral?
This is such a sad question. Is there anything in this world which somebody-or-other doesn't consider immoral? Heck, there are people who believe that feeding someone who's starving is the wrong thing to do. Worrying about what "some people" think is a waste of time.
But should I do everything that interests me even if I consider it immoral? No. Doing what interests you and living every moment to its fullest are not the same thing, and may even be in conflict. Sometimes you need to take into account what you need to live your next moment to its fullest, or what others need to live their own lives.
Do you believe that man was created in the form of God, or that man evolved from other species?
Both. I don't believe in results without processes. That isn't how creation works for humans--and if we were made in the image of a Creator, why would we expect process-free results from Him?
Are you a believer that you should try everything at least once?
Oh, I should try being tortured to death, dying of lung cancer, dying of heart attack, dying of gunshot wounds... erm, no. No, I believe that some things are better left untried, thanks.
What do you trust more, your feelings/intuition or your logic/rational capabilities?
I think that feelings without logic lead only to madness, and I feel that logic without emotion ignores a necessary part of the data. Reasoning and feelings are both essential. That's why we've got them.
Do you plan to recant on your deathbed?
I don't believe I've canted enough. Or cantered. I definitely should canter more often, perhaps with a cantor along.
Do you often find different ways of expressing your own spirituality?
I am a spiritual animal. Everything I do is a way of expressing my spirituality, as well as my animality.
Do you believe in any kind of afterlife?
Yes.
Do you believe in capital punishment?
Yes, there are too many reports of capital punishment taking place throughout the world for me not to believe in it.
Oh, I know, I know, "believe" in these two questions is not meant in the same way. Then again, maybe it is: Maybe "believe" in both cases means, not "Do you think this is true?" but "Do you think this is the way things should be, whether they are or not?" In that case: I believe that some people deserve to die, but that the judicial system is currently too fallible for me to endorse capital punishment whole-heartedly. Also: I'm not sure I believe that an afterlife should exist--maybe this world really should be all that we get, but I don't think that it is.
Would you prefer a career in the arts, or in something technical?
I would really like a job where I could play with POV-Ray, which probably qualifies as both.
Do you feel that you can be spiritual without having a religion?
In the same way that I feel I can be an animal without having breakfast.
Do you believe that eventually, science will be able to explain everything about our existence and the world?
No. Despite what some people believe about it, that is not what science is designed to do.
Do you believe that your own redemption lies in your own hands or those of a superior power?
I don't believe that redemption lies in anyone's hands. Redemption swims, flies, runs around like crazy--though not literally. It's another process.
Do you believe that you are more right brained (creative, random), or left brained (logical, mathematical)?
I believe that I have a whole brain.
Do you feel that you need to have a spiritual side?
Side? I believe that my spiritual parts and my animal parts will not be divided from each other till I'm dead.
Do you consider yourself gullible, even a little bit?
Yeah. When people don't know enough about a subject, they tend to be either too skeptical or too credulous. I try to alternate between the two extremes, just so I don't keep making the same mistakes.
If you were about to jump off of a cliff, with only a bungee cord attached to you, what would you be thinking?
"I'd rather be skydiving."
Until what age did you believe in the Easter bunny?
Eight, I think. Come to think of it, it was probably earlier--I stopped believing in the Easter bunny before I stopped believing in Santa.
Do you actively work out, and try to maintain physical health in all aspects of your life?
I wouldn't call it "working out," but I'm fitter than the average American in spite of chronic health problems. My arm muscles are still pathetic, though.
Do you believe that the path to enlightenment/God, is within yourself?
It is, but only by invitation.
Does your opinion of something differ from that of your religion (if you dont have a religion, have you actively questioned other religions)?
Oh, I question lots of things. I'm a Protestant. I'm supposed to protest things, right?
Is it important in this life to live every moment to its fullest, and try to do everything that interests you even if some people consider it immoral?
This is such a sad question. Is there anything in this world which somebody-or-other doesn't consider immoral? Heck, there are people who believe that feeding someone who's starving is the wrong thing to do. Worrying about what "some people" think is a waste of time.
But should I do everything that interests me even if I consider it immoral? No. Doing what interests you and living every moment to its fullest are not the same thing, and may even be in conflict. Sometimes you need to take into account what you need to live your next moment to its fullest, or what others need to live their own lives.