# Late summer 2014 SDMB religious beliefs **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 31, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065 "2014-08-31T19:10:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/41 "2014-09-01T04:57:47Z")
I said strong atheist. If pressed for detail, I typically say philosophically agnostic, functionally atheist. A supernatural entity (any supernatural entity, not just what we call god) could potentially be shown to exist. Until any evidence exists, I don’t believe they exist. ---
**Author:** ![Weeping\_Wyvern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@Weeping\_Wyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeping_Wyvern)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/42 "2014-09-01T05:12:37Z")
Devout Theist No. 8, reporting for duty! Protestant Christian, neither “liberal” nor “fundamentalist”, but solidly orthodox. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/43 "2014-09-01T06:04:29Z")
Guys, it’s just a poll. A poll on the SDMB, no less, and not an entrance exam or graduate oral exam or whatever. Let’s not be so uptight about academic definitions in this case. I did intend to go with informal usage, for what it’s worth, but please don’t just second-guess what I know or think, but rather answer as you see fits best. ETA: if you think you need to clarify your choice, that’s what the thread is for, right? ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/44 "2014-09-01T06:06:37Z")
I checked in as ‘Strong Atheist’, since I think it’s much, much more likely than not that there is not god or gods. Also, I’m the 100th voter, which makes the vote counts and percentages line up nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/45 "2014-09-01T06:19:57Z")
Devout theist number 10 here, and along with **Weeping Wyvern** , seems we’re the only two to admit it. I guess we’ll be praying for the rest of your heathen asses. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/46 "2014-09-01T11:10:07Z")
I agree that “casual” was probably too ambiguous a word for this poll. Probably unnecessary to include either of the “casual” options. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/47 "2014-09-01T13:41:35Z")
The OP did well enough in defining the poll, for most situations, even for the Deist. I think most people are smart enough to figure out which answer fits them the best. (key words: ‘most’ and ‘smart enough’ and ‘best’) In my short time as a Doper I’ve seen several instances where an OP describes a situation (in the poll or their OP), and then some Dopers tear them apart because that description wasn’t perfect - never mind that the OP was good enough for most people to figure it out. Sometimes the OP engages the naysayers when s/he should just leave it alone and say, “Oh well, whatever.” Or maybe it’s, because I’m a devout theist, that I tend to be a little more forgiving than the average Doper. Maybe that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/48 "2014-09-01T15:36:26Z")
Distanced from the formal religion of my upbringing, but NOT turned hostile to it, and willing to listen respectfully to propositions of believers in it and other belief/cosmovision systems. Reserving of course the right to respond that’s so wack I might as well go back where I started from. IMO the Devout/Casual believer divide does not truly map to the atheist side, unless what is meant is to separate mere atheism from militant antitheism. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/49 "2014-09-01T15:47:48Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Guys, it’s just a poll. A poll on the SDMB, no less, and not an entrance exam or graduate oral exam or whatever. Let’s not be so uptight about academic definitions in this case. You’re new around here, aren’t you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/50 "2014-09-01T18:05:00Z")
> [@DingoelGringo](#): > > That is what agnostic means. Agnostic means you believe you can’t know. Not being sure is a definition of atheism. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/51 "2014-09-01T18:07:53Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > unless what is meant is to separate mere atheism from militant antitheism. In which case, I voted wrong. As I said above, I’m pretty convinced that no gods exist, which is a stronger position than simply lacking belief in gods. But I don’t go around berating believers or trying to convince anyone. I generally don’t even talk about it, unless it’s brought up by others, and even then, I generally just note that I’m an atheist. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/52 "2014-09-01T18:10:43Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You’re new around here, aren’t you? 😉 Very new. I didn’t join up until December 20, 2000. I will carry that shame till the end of my days. People, really: just vote with what you think the words mean. Or, go with my explanation. Whatever. It’s not rocket science. It’s not a scientific poll. The results will not go on your permanent record. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/53 "2014-09-01T18:11:53Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > IMO the Devout/Casual believer divide does not truly map to the atheist side… Feel free to make your own poll. I think it does. > [@](#): > > …unless what is meant is to separate mere atheism from militant antitheism. That was not my intention. ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/77aa72/32.png) [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy_PickleSniffer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/54 "2014-09-01T18:19:26Z")
Casual Theist #14 checking in. 😃 I went with casual because I do not attend church, although I still firmly believe. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/55 "2014-09-01T18:42:51Z")
> [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](#): > > Casual Theist #14 checking in. 😃 I went with casual because I do not attend church, although I still firmly believe. Whereas I went with casual because I do attend church (and am very involved), but I’m still not convinced that I entirely believe… Takes all kinds. ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/77aa72/32.png) [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy_PickleSniffer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/56 "2014-09-01T18:46:12Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Whereas I went with casual because I do attend church (and am very involved), but I’m still not convinced that I entirely believe… > > Takes all kinds. WHAT?! I did it wrong?! :eek: This isn’t going on my permanent record, is it? :p:D ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/57 "2014-09-01T19:08:55Z")
> [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](#): > > WHAT?! I did it wrong?! :eek: > > This isn’t going on my permanent record, is it? :p:D Oh, it is most definitely going on your permanent record, bub. You could appeal directly to your God. Might work. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/58 "2014-09-01T19:21:04Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Oh, it is most definitely going on your permanent record, bub. > You could appeal directly to your God. Might work. 🙂 What if we atheists make a mistake? ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/59 "2014-09-01T19:31:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > What if we atheists make a mistake? It was God’s will. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065/60 "2014-09-01T19:48:00Z")
These polls tend to break the SDMB into two groups - theists, and atheists who are afraid to commit. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-summer-2014-sdmb-religious-beliefs/697065.md?page=4)