Surveys!
What religion, if any, do you consider yourself?: Christian, protestant
What denomination or sect do you belong to, if any?: United Methodist
Your background:
When did you become a member of your current religion?: I became a member of the United Methodist Church when I was...11, I want to say, but I can't really remember how old I was. I've never had a "born-again" experience, if that is what this question is driving at. God has always been a part of my life.
Were you another religion previously? (If so, which one?) Nope...though I did stray over to the Southern Baptists for a year. :-)
What made you change religions?: I didn't change, but I'll talk about why I moved away from United Methodism for a year. Simple: I was running. :-) I was tired of the bickering, tired of the politics, and the UMC in Waterville wasn't that great. Most of my friends went to this other church, so I decided I'd give it a shot. I liked it for awhile before I realized that it wasn't the place for me. Especially if I'm going to be a pastor.
Did you look at other religions before settling on your current choice?: No
If yes, which ones?: No....
Do (or did) your parents have a religion, and did they raise you in it?: Yep. I was actually the reason they came back to church. When I was born, they thought it was important to raise me in the church. And here I am!
God questions:
Do any divine entities (gods) exist? How many?: Yes, one God in three persons.
If one god, is this god really ALL gods, or are other gods false?: Tough questions. God in the Bible speaks of there being false gods, so there must be. Maybe not in the traditional sense though....like the god of money, the god of rain...etc...
If more than one, are the gods unique and seperate beings?:...
Does God (or the gods) have a gender?: God is God. Male and female together I think is the most accurate representation of God's "gender" -- but God isn't "The Divine It" either. I usually think of God as Father, though I recognize that in that statement, I'm putting huge limitations on God's character and I need to relate to God in more than just that one way.
Do you believe God(s) dictated a scripture or set of rules for you?: The B I B L E ...yes that's the book for me...I stand alone on the Word of God, the B I B L E!
Do you believe that everyone should follow your God(s) or religion?: Ah...the "e" question. Ultimately, I think that the status of one's soul is a matter between them and God. I think everyone has the choice to follow God or not, and all we can do is share God's love and share scriptural truths with them. I am not one to know the complete mind of God. All I can say is "This is what I know is True" and pray that others see that as well.
Other beings:
Do you believe in Angels or other semi-divine God-helpers?: Yep, sure do.
Do you believe in Saints?: That they existed? Yes.
Do you believe in Demons? Like the ones Jesus cast into the pigs, yeah.
Do you believe in aliens?: Ummmm...not sure. I'd be an awful waste of space if there weren't any though.
Are they divine?: No.
The BIG questions:
Did God(s) create the universe? How?: Yes...I do believe God did. How is up for debate. I like the idea that God created the world, but I also like the idea that God instigated things in the traditional way that scientists tend to disagree over. I don't put a lot of stock in evolution. Survival of the fittest doesn't necessarily mean that creatures changed over millions of years.
Are humans naturally good, evil, or neutral?: I don't know. I don't think we are inherently evil...probably inherently good, but all I know is that it's not enough to save our souls
Why does evil exist?: Choices. It's all because we have choices.
Is there one true religion?: What a loaded question. For all I know, God might be up there telling us "You're all wrong! Why did I create a race of morons..." But seriously, Jesus did kind of say "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me... (John 14:6)"........wait. It's not about religion....it's about a relationship.
Is there a life beyond this one?: Sure is.
Must you do anything special to achieve this afterlife?: I think you need Jesus as Lord over your life.
What happens to those who don't measure up?: I believe God judges each according to their knowledge and how they lived their lives in accordance to that knowledge. I don't think God will condemn people in the middle of nowhere who have never heard the name of God.
Your personal beliefs and practices:
Do you agree with/follow everything your religion says?: Well...the Bible says women shouldn't speak in church and I disagree with that. I agree with the basics (and more to boot), and am continually learning more and growing in God.
Do you fast, meditate or chant as part of your religion?: I meditate sometimes, and am planning on trying out the fasting thing at some point.
Do you dress a certain way according to your beliefs?: I try to dress modestly...for the most part.
Do you avoid certain foods or drinks as part of your religion?: No
Do you participate in a ritual meal (i.e. Communion)?: Yes
Do you perform your own rituals or must a clergyman do it?: Clergy person. And define ritual.
Do you pray? How often?: Sure do -- every day.
Did you have an initiation or similar ceremony (Baptism, Bar/Bat Mitzvah)?: Baptism
Do you (or would you) vote according to your beliefs?: I vote according to my own beliefs about anything.
Do you feel your religion's laws should be made into secular law?: Well, the not killing people one would be nice to have as a law. ;-)
Is your political affiliation (or lack of) influenced by your religion?: My lack of political affiliation...I'm a middle of the road type of girl.
Do you engage in ritual drug use (i.e. Peyote, Ganja)?: Not unless you add in Tylenol...
How do you feel about people of other religions? I have a lot to learn from people of other religions.
Do you believe your moral code is superior to others?: I am superior to others. Haha, right. This gets a lot into culture, and I don't think that one culture is superior to another. However...I do think there are some basics. Like - it is wrong to kill people.
What denomination or sect do you belong to, if any?: United Methodist
Your background:
When did you become a member of your current religion?: I became a member of the United Methodist Church when I was...11, I want to say, but I can't really remember how old I was. I've never had a "born-again" experience, if that is what this question is driving at. God has always been a part of my life.
Were you another religion previously? (If so, which one?) Nope...though I did stray over to the Southern Baptists for a year. :-)
What made you change religions?: I didn't change, but I'll talk about why I moved away from United Methodism for a year. Simple: I was running. :-) I was tired of the bickering, tired of the politics, and the UMC in Waterville wasn't that great. Most of my friends went to this other church, so I decided I'd give it a shot. I liked it for awhile before I realized that it wasn't the place for me. Especially if I'm going to be a pastor.
Did you look at other religions before settling on your current choice?: No
If yes, which ones?: No....
Do (or did) your parents have a religion, and did they raise you in it?: Yep. I was actually the reason they came back to church. When I was born, they thought it was important to raise me in the church. And here I am!
God questions:
Do any divine entities (gods) exist? How many?: Yes, one God in three persons.
If one god, is this god really ALL gods, or are other gods false?: Tough questions. God in the Bible speaks of there being false gods, so there must be. Maybe not in the traditional sense though....like the god of money, the god of rain...etc...
If more than one, are the gods unique and seperate beings?:...
Does God (or the gods) have a gender?: God is God. Male and female together I think is the most accurate representation of God's "gender" -- but God isn't "The Divine It" either. I usually think of God as Father, though I recognize that in that statement, I'm putting huge limitations on God's character and I need to relate to God in more than just that one way.
Do you believe God(s) dictated a scripture or set of rules for you?: The B I B L E ...yes that's the book for me...I stand alone on the Word of God, the B I B L E!
Do you believe that everyone should follow your God(s) or religion?: Ah...the "e" question. Ultimately, I think that the status of one's soul is a matter between them and God. I think everyone has the choice to follow God or not, and all we can do is share God's love and share scriptural truths with them. I am not one to know the complete mind of God. All I can say is "This is what I know is True" and pray that others see that as well.
Other beings:
Do you believe in Angels or other semi-divine God-helpers?: Yep, sure do.
Do you believe in Saints?: That they existed? Yes.
Do you believe in Demons? Like the ones Jesus cast into the pigs, yeah.
Do you believe in aliens?: Ummmm...not sure. I'd be an awful waste of space if there weren't any though.
Are they divine?: No.
The BIG questions:
Did God(s) create the universe? How?: Yes...I do believe God did. How is up for debate. I like the idea that God created the world, but I also like the idea that God instigated things in the traditional way that scientists tend to disagree over. I don't put a lot of stock in evolution. Survival of the fittest doesn't necessarily mean that creatures changed over millions of years.
Are humans naturally good, evil, or neutral?: I don't know. I don't think we are inherently evil...probably inherently good, but all I know is that it's not enough to save our souls
Why does evil exist?: Choices. It's all because we have choices.
Is there one true religion?: What a loaded question. For all I know, God might be up there telling us "You're all wrong! Why did I create a race of morons..." But seriously, Jesus did kind of say "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me... (John 14:6)"........wait. It's not about religion....it's about a relationship.
Is there a life beyond this one?: Sure is.
Must you do anything special to achieve this afterlife?: I think you need Jesus as Lord over your life.
What happens to those who don't measure up?: I believe God judges each according to their knowledge and how they lived their lives in accordance to that knowledge. I don't think God will condemn people in the middle of nowhere who have never heard the name of God.
Your personal beliefs and practices:
Do you agree with/follow everything your religion says?: Well...the Bible says women shouldn't speak in church and I disagree with that. I agree with the basics (and more to boot), and am continually learning more and growing in God.
Do you fast, meditate or chant as part of your religion?: I meditate sometimes, and am planning on trying out the fasting thing at some point.
Do you dress a certain way according to your beliefs?: I try to dress modestly...for the most part.
Do you avoid certain foods or drinks as part of your religion?: No
Do you participate in a ritual meal (i.e. Communion)?: Yes
Do you perform your own rituals or must a clergyman do it?: Clergy person. And define ritual.
Do you pray? How often?: Sure do -- every day.
Did you have an initiation or similar ceremony (Baptism, Bar/Bat Mitzvah)?: Baptism
Do you (or would you) vote according to your beliefs?: I vote according to my own beliefs about anything.
Do you feel your religion's laws should be made into secular law?: Well, the not killing people one would be nice to have as a law. ;-)
Is your political affiliation (or lack of) influenced by your religion?: My lack of political affiliation...I'm a middle of the road type of girl.
Do you engage in ritual drug use (i.e. Peyote, Ganja)?: Not unless you add in Tylenol...
How do you feel about people of other religions? I have a lot to learn from people of other religions.
Do you believe your moral code is superior to others?: I am superior to others. Haha, right. This gets a lot into culture, and I don't think that one culture is superior to another. However...I do think there are some basics. Like - it is wrong to kill people.