# Poll for religious and non religious Dopers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813 "2005-06-25T17:32:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/41 "2005-06-26T16:14:23Z")
Catholic. 1. I have my beliefs, other people have theirs. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/42 "2005-06-26T17:57:16Z")
Roman Catholic, and basically a very mild 2) However, if asked about my religion I will share it, but I don’t go out of my way to witness. ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/43 "2005-06-26T18:56:23Z")
1. and 4) but only with people who I think would appreciate it. I like to hear about another person’s religion and how it motivates them to be a better person. If another person seems interested in learning the same about me, I share. I’m _not_ interested in hearing about how anyone’s religion is _the only true one_ and I don’t believe that mine is either. I’m only interested in the positive effects of religion in people’s lives. ---
**Author:** ![Axel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@Axel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Axel)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/44 "2005-06-26T19:46:24Z")
Atheist. Mostly 1, though 5 is truer. I am fascinated by religions and religious thought, and online love to discuss religion. It’s harder in real life, though. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/45 "2005-06-26T20:10:57Z")
Jewish. 99% of the time, #1. Occasionally I feel like sharing my beliefs, but only in a compare and contrast sort of way when people are discussing religion. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/46 "2005-06-26T20:33:37Z")
Wiccan. 1. I have my beliefs, other people have theirs. That says it all for me. By the way, the above statement is practically a direct quote from the Qur’an, verse 109:6. “_Lakum dînukum wa-liya dîni_” — literally means ‘You have your religion and I have mine’. Are all of us 1s crypto-Muslims? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/47 "2005-06-26T20:36:35Z")
Anglican Christian. My answer doesn’t fit any of the categories well, so I’ll explain it briefly and let you decide where you think it fits. God is loving, not judgmental, and is greater than anything we can imagine. Therefore **nobody** ’s description is adequate to explain Him. However, the traditional Christian formularies are the best answer to date, given the fact that they’re working in a specific metaphysic which we have evolved alternatives to over the hundreds of years since it was formulated. (I.e., I believe in the Trinity – that God manifests Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three distinct Persons – but not necessarily in the Dogma of the Trinity, the formulary about _ousia_ and _hypostases_ using Aristotelian philosophy as revised by the Schoolmen. In fact, almost anything one can say about God is anthropomorphism, since our language presupposes that _persons_ are human, male or female, with human limitations, etc. That **Freyr** or **Sister Coyote** (or **Angel of the Lord** ; I picked two pagans [in the broad sense] whose belief systems I know something of) may have a handle on an aspect of the divine that is not mine to know, I will not dispute. But, with no offense intended, I doubt that they have a closer relationship to Him than I do. However, it is **my** duty, by His command, to witness to what He has done in my life, and I do precisely that. I am not so egotistical as to believe that I have the right answers for **you** , and I avoid the sort of witness that says, in effect, “You ought to do what I did.” But recognition of that fact does not relieve me of the duty (and pleasure) of saying how much my relationship with Him has improved the quality of my own life. (This can be a bit tricky when people expect that witnessers are people attempting to compel others to buy into their belief system. I’d like that, but I don’t expect it, and I don’t try to impel it.) ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/48 "2005-06-27T02:44:12Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Wiccan. > > 1. I have my beliefs, other people have theirs. > > That says it all for me. By the way, the above statement is practically a direct quote from the Qur’an, verse 109:6. “_Lakum dînukum wa-liya dîni_” — literally means ‘You have your religion and I have mine’. Are all of us 1s crypto-Muslims? I had no idea that was from Qur’an. Guess you learn something new every day. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/49 "2005-06-27T02:48:04Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Anglican Christian. > > My answer doesn’t fit any of the categories well, so I’ll explain it briefly and let you decide where you think it fits. > > God is loving, not judgmental, and is greater than anything we can imagine. Therefore **nobody** ’s description is adequate to explain Him. However, the traditional Christian formularies are the best answer to date, given the fact that they’re working in a specific metaphysic which we have evolved alternatives to over the hundreds of years since it was formulated. (I.e., I believe in the Trinity – that God manifests Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three distinct Persons – but not necessarily in the Dogma of the Trinity, the formulary about _ousia_ and _hypostases_ using Aristotelian philosophy as revised by the Schoolmen. In fact, almost anything one can say about God is anthropomorphism, since our language presupposes that _persons_ are human, male or female, with human limitations, etc. > > That **Freyr** or **Sister Coyote** (or **Angel of the Lord** ; I picked two pagans [in the broad sense] whose belief systems I know something of) may have a handle on an aspect of the divine that is not mine to know, I will not dispute. But, with no offense intended, I doubt that they have a closer relationship to Him than I do. > > However, it is **my** duty, by His command, to witness to what He has done in my life, and I do precisely that. I am not so egotistical as to believe that I have the right answers for **you** , and I avoid the sort of witness that says, in effect, “You ought to do what I did.” But recognition of that fact does not relieve me of the duty (and pleasure) of saying how much my relationship with Him has improved the quality of my own life. (This can be a bit tricky when people expect that witnessers are people attempting to compel others to buy into their belief system. I’d like that, but I don’t expect it, and I don’t try to impel it.) So, in other words, you like to tell others how your relationship with God has helped you, but you don’t say things like “Be like me.” and “You should join my religion.”? ---
**Author:** ![Tamryne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tamryne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamryne)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/50 "2005-06-27T06:48:26Z")
Reform/Conservative Jew (conservative beliefs, reform temple) I am a definite 1, simply because I live in an area where my family is the only jewish family. We also live in a very baptist area of town. So, almost everyone on my street, at my old high school, exc. were most definite 4’s. They KNEW that I was going to burn in hell if I didnt convert right this second, and they were going to do their damnest to make sure that my soul was saved. I used to be a 3, but after a few years in that environment I respect my beliefs and everyone else’s, I just dont push mine on anyone who didnt bring up the topic themselves. And even then they really have to milk me for information! ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/51 "2005-06-27T07:26:37Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. I have my beliefs, other people have theirs. > 2. I wish other people would believe the same as me. > 3. Sometimes I feel like sharing my beliefs. All of the above. When I say that I wish other people would believe the same as me, I just mean that I wish all of us could be comfortable with the differences. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/52 "2005-06-27T07:28:34Z")
Atheist I have my beliefs and others have theirs. Though I think they’re wrong, I’m not vocal about it. I will share my beliefs if asked. ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/53 "2005-06-27T22:20:00Z")
> [@Master Control](#): > > 1. I have my beliefs, other people have theirs. > 2. I wish other people would believe the same as me. > 3. Sometimes I feel like sharing my beliefs. > 4. I feel compelled to share my beliefs. > > Or, if not, what describes you accurately? > . Catholic Christian here. 2 & 4 apply, but I do so overtly only sometimes, so perhaps 3 is appropriate. I know that most times, overtly broaching the topic will alienate / repell / annoy people. I myself have been the recipient of unwanted prosletising \ (Being told about the evils of Catholicism) so I can empathise with the other side. Since my rationale for sharing my faith is for the benefit of the other person, not making myself feel better, I only try to do so when I think the other person is receptive. I don’t want to drive them away. Otherwise I just try to live a life that will make people want to ask me how I deal with the world & remain centered & happy, and be as kind, pleasant and giving as possible to those around me. It is not an easy endeavour; fortunately I don’t have to rely merely on my own strength. Thing is, from a _Christian perspective_, I find it kind of difficult & sad to be around so many “lost” souls all the time, many of whom are otherwise genuinely good people, knowing they could be saved. It takes a certain kind of dicipline to deal with the feeling, and not to blurt things out at an inappropriate moment. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/54 "2005-06-27T23:49:06Z")
> [@trupa](#): > > Thing is, from a _Christian perspective_, I find it kind of difficult & sad to be around so many “lost” souls all the time, many of whom are otherwise genuinely good people, knowing they could be saved. I started typing a response to that perspective, but soon realized it would get this thread moved to Great Debates posthaste. I forfend debating the topic in this thread… (Just wanted an excuse to use the word _forfend_ for perhaps the first time in my life. Vocabulary. Use it or lose it.) ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/55 "2005-06-28T01:26:15Z")
Kinda sorta 1. I have my beliefs, other people have theirs. Except that I am agnostic and have no beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/56 "2005-06-28T02:09:19Z")
Former Mormon and now atheist / agnostic, depending on the time and day. 🙂 1 here. Even when I was a Mormon, and even as a missionary, I didn’t like to push my beliefs on people. I will (and do) answer questions concerning my thoughts and beliefs about religion but I don’t try to “sell” them. ---
**Author:** ![LittleSable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LittleSable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LittleSable)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/57 "2005-06-28T02:46:28Z")
A reluctant, conflicted Catholic Mostly #1. Sometimes a #3, but usually only with family, or when someone misrepresents my beliefs. On the subject of #4, I am uncomcomfortable with proselitizing and think it’s an intrusion. I’d never try to convert anyone- how could I justify it, or even accomplish it, when I am unsure of my own relationship with God? ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813/58 "2005-06-28T02:56:28Z")
Agnostic 1. I actually believe that we are better with religion than without it; I just don’t happen to believe. Of course, if someone is witnessing to me and trying to convert me to Christ or whatever, they’re fair game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-religious-and-non-religious-dopers/309813.md?page=2)