Questionnaire for theists

[Drich]

I have written a series of questions for theists, because I would be interested in hearing lots of different views and answers. I’m not going to make fun of anyone afterwards, whatever answers they give. If it makes you think a little while filling it in, all the better I have put in bold directions to follow for certain answers, to avoid answering questions that will no longer be relevant.

Fun! ?

1) What was your reason to coming to an atheist forum?

to answer biblically based questions and to provide clarity to those who speak of or for biblical based christianity.

2) Does it matter to you whether your religious beliefs are true? If no, then end quiz.

yes

3) Do you feel 100% certain that your beliefs are true?

no, I am 110% sure!

4) Does your religion have an associated text? If no, go to question 5.

yes

4a) Who wrote the book?

its a series of indivisual text. So multiple authors.

4b) How many times have you read it through entirely, cover to cover?

not sure. I have read and studied this text for over twenty years nearly everyday. I am not running laps, I am moving towards a destination.
So I do not keep an active count.

4c) Do you think the book is exactly how your god would want it to read, with no mistakes? If no, go to question 5.

dont know/it does not matter.

4d) Do you think everything written in it is literally true, and actually happened as stated? If not, who has the authority to pick the literally true parts?

dont know/doesn't matter. The message of the bible/Gospel is that we do not have to have things perfect. The gospel is that of redemption if your wrong, so again it is ok not to know and it really does not matter, so long as we are faithful to what we have been given.

5) Do you think that there are any other religions/gods, from past religions or other current religions, that could also be true/real?

yes

6) Have you spent any time researching other current religions, or religions from the past, to consider whether they could be true too/instead? If no, go to question 7.

yes

6a) Do you feel you have spent enough time researching to be convinced about whether other past/present religions are true?

yes

6b) If you judge other religion(s) to be false using a certain standard or method, and you applied that method to your own religion, do you think yours would stand up to the same scrutiny?

yes

7) Say you were born in another country, where the predominant religion is one other than the one you currently believe in. Say you were raised in this different religion. Do you feel that at some point you would have rejected that religion and adopted the one you have now? If so, why?

was born to a Buddhist mother, was raised in part to a Buddhist house hold. so yes.

8) Do you feel that all your morality comes directly from your religion? If yes, go to question 8b.

yes

8a) Say you drew up a list of all the things you consider are moral, and the things you consider immoral. Then say you did the same for what your god's opinion would be. Would your lists be the same as your god's? If not, where would you differ? Go to question 9.

yes it would be the same.

8b) Do you feel you act in accordance to every moral and instruction in your religion/book?

no, but again in Christianity the 'good news is that you don't have to be.

8c) If you had never known about your religion, or any religion, do you feel you would have any idea how to act morally, or to care about it?

'morality' is man's standard. So yes. God's standard is accredited as rightouness.

9) Can you give 5 reasons why you believe in your religion, starting with the most important to you?

religion is a construct on man. I don't believe in mans religious constructs. I can give you the reasons I believe in God.
1) in the bible God sets forth a series of promises. If you do XYZ, God will do 123. 20+ years ago I did XYZ and God gave me 123.

2) the bible also says if you are faithful to what has been given to you, you will be given much more. While I can't boast of complete faithfulness I have been faithful enough to see what has been given double triple, and quadruple x10's over.

3) I have been apart of what believers deem to be a mirical, and what non believers deem a lie or at the very least an anomaly.

4)I have a 'messenger' give me direction for my life and tell me about what was to come. Just about all of it has come or I can see is in the process of coming true.

5) I myself have had dreams and visions concerning Hell, that was not consistant with what I have been taught, but some time later after i depth study I have found this dream's experience to be biblically supported.

On each of these points I have written threads and discussed these topics in depth. Do a search read what I have and if you still have questions just ask.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions

[genkaus]

'morality' is man's standard. So yes. God's standard is accredited as rightouness.

Liar. Righteousness is just another word for morality.

[Drich]

'morality' is man's standard. So yes. God's standard is accredited as rightouness.

Liar. Righteousness is just another word for morality.

Does the bible outline God's morality the same way you see and keep your version of it?

[genkaus]

Does the bible outline God's morality the same way you see and keep your version of it?

The way I see your god's morality? Yes.

[Whateverist]

I have written a series of questions for theists,

I am not a theist nor a participant in any religion, but I have given some thought to how far I can go in making sense of religious beliefs. So I thought I'd respond in that light.

1) What was your reason to coming to an atheist forum?

Explore how much common ground I could find with theists and to explore how other people who identify as atheist hold that belief.

2) Does it matter to you whether your religious beliefs are true?

Sort of but it is far from central in my life.

3) Do you feel 100% certain that your beliefs are true?

Not at all. I can only say that they could be true.

4) Does your religion have an associated text? [b]If no, go to question 5.[/b]

No.

5) Do you think that there are any other religions/gods, from past religions or other current religions, that could also be true/real?

In some sort of allegorical way? Yes, why not?

6) Have you spent any time researching other current religions, or religions from the past, to consider whether they could be true too/instead?

Yes, there was a time I was more curious about all this than I am now.

6a) Do you feel you have spent enough time researching to be convinced about whether other past/present religions are true?

Yes. I am content that none are literally true and that not much rides on which is 'truest'.

6b) If you judge other religion(s) to be false using a certain standard or method, and you applied that method to your own religion, do you think yours would stand up to the same scrutiny?

I think there are probably some, like Scientology and Mormonism, which must be actual shams.

7) Say you were born in another country, where the predominant religion is one other than the one you currently believe in. Say you were raised in this different religion. Do you feel that at some point you would have rejected that religion and adopted the one you have now? If so, why?

I have no idea but suspect that being raised under radically different circumstances I could have turned out very differently. Under some circumstances I may not have been able to reject even the most farcical belief systems. (This gives me perspective and tolerance toward those unable to do the same.)

8) Do you feel that all your morality comes directly from your religion?

No.

8a) Say you drew up a list of all the things you consider are moral, and the things you consider immoral. Then say you did the same for what your god's opinion would be. Would your lists be the same as your god's? If not, where would you differ?

Well, given the only sense I have been able to give to the idea of 'god', I'd have answer no. Our ideas of morality have not always been in sinc. But over the years we seem to have merged a bit like an old married couple.

8c) If you had never known about your religion, or any religion, do you feel you would have any idea how to act morally, or to care about it?

Of course.

9) Can you give 5 reasons why you believe in your religion, starting with the most important to you?

I don't have a religion as such but I have developed a world view which posits a totality of self which exceeds that which I would say is up to me. Regardless, believing as I do:

1) .. makes sense of many things including why people believe in gods and have religious beliefs;

2) .. makes sense of my internal experience;

3) .. makes sense of art and inspiration;

4) .. gives me courage in my convictions;

5) .. keeps me curious to go on learning more about my deeper self and to go on working on the relationship between my autonomous, conscious self and the larger unconscious that serves me and which I in turn seek to serve.

[Drich]

Does the bible outline God's morality the same way you see and keep your version of it?

The way I see your god's morality? Yes.

If there is a difference, then there are two sets of standards here. If there are two different sets of measures, then to use a singular name to describe both would be a mistake, unless you are intentionally trying to confuse the two standards.

[genkaus]

If there is a difference, then there are two sets of standards here. If there are two different sets of measures, then to use a singular name to describe both would be a mistake, unless you are intentionally trying to confuse the two standards.

There is no difference - what your bible describes is what I see as your fictional god's morality.

[fr0d0]

Substitute "what I see" with "what sheep see".

[Neo-Scholastic]

'morality' is man's standard. So yes. God's standard is accredited as rightouness.

Liar. Righteousness is just another word for morality.

I think there is a subtle distinction. Morality is rules based, either codified laws (think Hammurabi) or general rules for behaviour (think Categorical Imperative). Righteousness is based on example (think Christ-like) and conformance to a standard (God's loving-kindness). So no need to call Drich a liar.

[genkaus]

I think there is a subtle distinction. Morality is rules based, either codified laws (think Hammurabi) or general rules for behaviour (think Categorical Imperative). Righteousness is based on example (think Christ-like) and conformance to a standard (God's loving-kindness). So no need to call Drich a liar.

Nope - morality is a standard. Whether that standard directly dictates rules or simply spells out general principles or cites examples is irrelevant - it all qualifies as morality. Drich has been corrected on this before and still he persists in the lie.