I personally am quite torn. I was raised baptist and both of my grandfathers are ministers. I really haven't gone to church with any degree of regularity (church service every 5 years) since I was a teenager, and I've become increasingly convinced that religion was invented. Dreamed up by people many years ago as a way to explain existence and give hope for afterlife once they head the way of all of their friends and relatives that end up pushing up daisies. There's that, and the fact that (at least my) religion asks you to believe that a dude built a Carnival cruise ship big enough to fit two of every living species on earth on it to sail around the world during 40 days of torrential rain. Sounds pretty far-fetched to me, but I've not quite taken the path to NON-belief.

Religious? not at all. Spiritual? probably might fit into that Motif. I mean I am a pastor, but I don't feel religion really does anything useful in these modern days. In the olden days, it was a method of exerting control, and instilling common sense into the masses to keep the human race from accidentally killing itself... Don't eat Pork? back then Trichinosis (brain worms) was an extremely likely outcome of eating pork. Be Monogamous? prevents spread of diseases. Have a whole mess of kids? Craploads of kids help build your religion from the ground up, and with child mortality rates in the past, it made sense.

@klozitshoper: Why doesn't it belong here? 80% of the questions asked have nothing to do with deals, and many of them ask for opinions and beliefs (albeit not religious). Either way, I appreciate your reply.

@waltertangofoxtrot: You're a pastor? Of the online-ordained variety? I assume this based on your statement that religion doesn't do anything useful. I'd hope that a true student of divinity or leader of people who choose to believe wouldn't take such a position. :)

I'm a Christian, but I'm not necessarily like all the other Christians I go to church with, if that makes sense. I try to stay away from all the hypocrisy of religions, and that sometimes causes me to butt heads with other members of the congregation that I attend. I actually just had a discussion with a man about how he can't necessarily be humble with a "Holier than thou" attitude. I don't know for sure if my religion is the right one or if there even is a right one, but it's good for me.

@pinchecat: Will preface my answer by thanking you for asking the question. Opinion: I think this valuable, but very controversial, question will be deleted. It probably does not belong here.

No, I am not religious. As two before me have answered; I am an atheist. Was an agnostic for a while. Probably less than 6 months. Thought about it and realized that being an agnostic was wishy-washy. A 'just-in-case' parachute. That was about 50 years ago. Yes, 50 years. Atheism is my firm belief, or lack thereof. Have had the good fortune to debate w/a Jesuit priest who taught Argumentative Theology. He ended our debate (his lectures) by calling me a heretic. And he laughed. No anger, disappointment or alarm from him. And, I am a heretic, according to his standards. A peace-loving atheist w/high standards, values & personal ethics. That pretty much defines me.

“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”

This oft-attributed quote to Marcus Aurelius states perfectly my views of religions.

-----

I was born and raised Christian. My grandmother was devout Catholic, knew and could recite entire passages of the bible by heart.

I was an inquisitive youngster, so I took the time to read and comprehend the messages of the bible in its entirety at that early age.

I've never made it a point to argue what others believe as it did not affect me.

Someday, when I have children, I will encourage them to question the world around them rather than simply accepting religious doctrine as truth.

Atheist since 3rd grade. The whole bit aout Jesus having magical powers didn't jive with me. I can believe that he was a charismatic person with good intentions and a good message, but I can't believe he raised the dead or opened the heavens any more than I can believe Chuck Norris' beard has a beard underneath it.

I like being an atheist. I live a moral, ethical, value driven life because I want to, not because I'm expecting a reward. I like having my own belief system. I personally believe in reincarnation, but perhaps not in the "I remember my past life" sense. My wife is Catholic (hardly) and our kids are being raised to make their own informed decision.

I empathize for my fellow atheists who are not as fortunate as me to have a family that can still love me despite my contrary lack of belief. My mom teaches Ccd and I often ask if I can lecture t an event (I know the parents would kill her if I reached just one kid). I love you all

@pinchecat: I honestly believe in God. I have seen, what I believe to be, too many facts that I don't think could come around from an event like the Big Bang. The anatomies of all living creatures are so complex that it's nearly impossible for me to believe that it just happened by accident and not because it was a design. Some people may see this as a pure coincidence, and that's fine, but I simply can't. I also believe in Jesus and the Bible as the divine inspired scriptures and that I must follow them to obtain Heaven. I also believe that I should do what I can to bring others with me, but that's really where I differ from my congregation. They're a "Go out and preach the word." Type of people whereas I feel that it's best to let people know that I'm a Christian, so I won't do certain things, and that if they ever want to learn more about Christianity, I'd be more than willing to talk to them. Many people see that as inactive, while I believe it keeps me from driving them away.

I was raised a catholic and went to catholic school for 6 years, church twice each week. I have been to Baptist, Lutheran, and Evangelical churches, my best friend growing up was a seventh day adventist, I celebrated Hannukah several times with another friends family (so awesome), dated a mormon, and basically have been surrounded by religion my whole life. While I appreciate and understand why we have created these religions, none of them have a place in my home.

I know how to be a good person, I know why i'm here, and I don't want to waste my time or money on reading stories I'm supposed to take as literal. I think, while it helps give people hope and helps keeps people in line morally, I also think it holds us back from doing great things in other fields.

I was raised Catholic but the nuns at my school beat it out of me.

Religious? No, not really.

I was raised a Christian (Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, and Conservative Baptist at various times) and generally believe that there is probably some higher power. In truth I don't see that it really matters.

The mathematician in me likes creationism (the idea that someone built it all, not necessarily the Christian story) more than evolution, simply because creationism is simpler, cleaner, and makes more sense statistically. But again, it really doesn't matter whether evolution is right or not.

I try to live by the idea of "Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you" and generally think more about how my action and inaction will impact others than what it will do for me. As I mostly want to be left alone, this makes me mostly a Libertarian (politics is a religion)and I truly believe that the world would be a better place if we all thought this way. This one matters, but there is little I can do about it.

I'm agnostic. If there is a supreme power, it's not for me to know. Could be Allah, Yahweh, my ancestors, subatomic particles or my death. If it decides that I should know what it is, it will show itself to me and make itself known as the supreme.

In light of that, I am slightly spiritual. When I'm 25 miles into the wilderness sitting on a ridge looking down at an alpine lake on a glacial meadow, or sitting on a craggy beach, it's hard not to feel overwhelmed by the beauty of everything and fall into the sense oneness with the universe. I digress, words escape me and don't do justice to the feeling.

@gmwhit: Noo, please don't question your wording on my behalf. It makes me feel like I wronged you, somehow, if I gave you cause to doubt the accuracy of your words, as they were intended. I value your opinion, in the matter, too much.

I found your post very interesting, I just trailed off in the direction my mind took me after reading it. :)

I recognize that the terms really should be applied in a more objective manner, not as a label... (As I assume it was intended.) I suppose I just find the term sullied by my perception of how it has been used in prior discussions.

@gmwhit: Inconveniently, the path my mind often follows is the chasing of its tail. :p I'm feeling a bit silly for my previous post, as I now see it appears to presume more influence than is warranted. Best to cease the chase now and just say: I am glad that neither were taken offensively, as neither was intended.