Questions for Atheists/Agnostics

[youssarian]

There are some questions I've been wondering about such folks, and I figure this would be the best place to pose them. I usually don't come here because there's a lot of swearing and satirizing and insulting. So please, keep it nice. I know there were more on my mind, so if they come to me I'll likely add them. I was an atheist until I was 16, so I could provide an opinion to some of the questions. 1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. ------------------------------------------------- I know I had more and they may be added. Here are what I would have put down, from my atheistic position: 1) I had and still have Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist friends. 2) Religion is false but beneficial, since many good things have come out of it. 3) No afterlife. We just stop existing. Which kind of freaks me out. 4) I'm pretty much apathetic towards religion. As I joked about me, a Jewish friend and a Buddhist friend, "One's coming back as a worm, another's rocking with Jesus, and I'm dressed up with no place to go." 5) I usually stay out of religious debates. Due to apathy towards it I don't discuss it much and when I do, I make my point but don't get aggravated or aggressive. 6) Science is true. Big Bang theory and evolution are true. 7) Oh yes. I am surrounded by Christian friends at school (especially junior year) but we hang out and get along like, well, friends. 8) Morals are important and should be followed. 9) The fact that my body will degrade and I will die. I want to learn as much as I can, have a happy, productive life and maybe even contribute something useful to the world before my mind and body fail on me. 10) I think religion is inadvisable, but the people themselves are just as good or bad as regular folk. Thankies!

[O'nus]

There are some questions I've been wondering about such folks, and I figure this would be the best place to pose them. I usually don't come here because there's a lot of swearing and satirizing and insulting. So please, keep it nice. I know there were more on my mind, so if they come to me I'll likely add them. I was an atheist until I was 16, so I could provide an opinion to some of the questions. 1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? Yes. I am close friends with two pastors and several professors of philosophy and a few of religion. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? I think that there is no good in religion that cannot be found in non-religion. Also, I do think religion is the greatest detriment to the human race. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? As far as I know right now, there is none. This is all we get to have and we ought to cherish it. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? I hate it. I respect it and the people of it, but I honestly respect them in the same way I respect people who believe in Santa Claus. I cannot help but feel the close edge to patronizing or condescending, but this is honestly how I feel. There has been no greater oppression to human inquisition of knowledge than religion itself. Also, there is more blood on religions hands than anyone else's. It is very hard to justify murder from a humanitarian perspective. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? I am in an inquisition. I am still open to the idea that there could be a God. I simply have no reason to think that there is. However, I am very thankful for believers who passionately seek to prove there is a God while I critically seek the same thing. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? They are true. This question presupposes that there are flaws in these "theories" when, in fact, they are compounding in evidence every day. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as normal people? Of course I do. However, I dedicate my life to the psychology and philosophy of religion, PTSD, and developmental psychology. I also do my best to research the psychological effects of religion on humans. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? I don't quite understand this question. As a child, you do not really have much of a choice whether or not to take upon your parents "suggestions". Assimilation is inevitable. I know I had more and they may be added. Here are what I would have put down, from my atheistic position: 1) I had and still have Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist friends. 2) Religion is false but beneficial, since many good things have come out of it. What benefits or good things have come out of religion that could not have come from non-religion? 3) No afterlife. We just stop existing. Which kind of freaks me out. 4) I'm pretty much apathetic towards religion. As I joked about me, a Jewish friend and a Buddhist friend, "One's coming back as a worm, another's rocking with Jesus, and I'm dressed up with no place to go." 5) I usually stay out of religious debates. Due to apathy towards it I don't discuss it much and when I do, I make my point but don't get aggravated or aggressive. 6) Science is true. Big Bang theory and evolution are true. 7) Oh yes. I am surrounded by Christian friends at school (especially junior year) but we hang out and get along like, well, friends. 8) Morals are important and should be followed. Thankies! ~

[Photolysis]

1) Nope. Not because I have anything against them, but I only have a few friends and they happen to be atheists as well. 2) I think it does provide a comfort for some people but a delusional one in my view. I think it does have many detrimental effects as well. But I genuinely feel good people would still do good things, since atheists also contribute to good causes. 3) Don't believe in one. However one thing I do believe at the moment is that this won't be the only Universe ever to exist, and I don't feel the evidence is good to make any definitive or even strong claims on this subject. But at the moment, I don't accept that this will be the only Universe (or cycle) ever to exist; it happened at least once so I don't see why it couldn't happen again. If there are infinite universes, or infinite cycles it therefore follows that there are universes where everything happens at some point, and therefore follow that I would live again at some point. It's an idea I find very interesting anyway. 4) I despise religion and for the negative effects it has had on society. But this shouldn't be confused for hatred of say Christians. I feel it is an important issue and one that needs to be discussed instead of shying away from it. 5) I only mention it in religious discussions if asked for my viewpoint. I don't feel a need to force it on anyone else. 6) I think they are the best explanations we have at the moment, and for practical purposes treat them as true, because having spent a long time looking at the evidence, the theories fit very well. If a better theory comes along or new evidence comes along that disproves it, I'll happily revise my opinion. 7) Normal? Perhaps, perhaps not as I'll readily admit to holding somewhat unconventional views. What does normal really mean anyway? I'd probably be considered somewhat strange by quite a lot of people though, but not a lunatic or psycho. 8) Some guidelines to behaviour are good, some are bad. They should be considered on an individual basis.

[youssarian]

Thank you O'nus. In regards to question 6, I've not heard of any conclusive proof of such theories, but links would be useful. And I'll fix the wording for question 8. And Photolysis, I'll try to reword 7 in a better way. Added question 10, and did ya'll notice #9 there?

[Xei]

1. Yes. 2. I'm really not sure. Religion is at best a scapegoat, at worst the root cause for many wars. The best thing I can say is that it makes people happy because it deludes them into thinking that somebody cares about everything they do and when they die they'll go to some wonderful place; but is delusion such a good thing? It may even make people squander their lives. Some people say it's a source of moral comfort but I think it's extremely depressing that people can't be their own moral compasses; we're not children. I don't think trusting the moral compasses of questionable people from millenia ago is a great idea either. The idea of religion is also contrary to the idea of science and so may hinder the progress of mankind. All in all I'd rather there was no such thing as religion. 3. Consciousness is still a complete philosophical mystery so I don't know. I think that maybe even language is inadequate to describe what happens. I think that destruction of consciousness after death is a large possibility though, and that is scary. In any case I think the idea that you go to a wonderful place in the sky is ridiculous and so obviously an act of self-delusion. 4. See 2. 5. I think in general I see it as quite an important task to make people act reasonably, but it only really comes up randomly in conversation. 6. The Big Bang and evolution are not 'theories', they are solid facts. This is a large misconception and reflects a general misconception about science. The only reason we believe in the Big Bang is due to the unshakable observation that almost all galaxies are flying away from us, hence the universe is expanding, hence if we go backwards in time it shrinks, hence it used to be a single point. Evolution is just the idea that organisms change over time which is a patent observation. 7. Of course. 8. I make my own morals and consider them important to follow. 9. It's religious people who don't have a reason to enjoy life, not atheists. Of course I try to live my life fully, I have emotions associated with my experiences. I think you create meaning for yourself. I've set myself goals and meeting them is the 'meaning' of my life. 10. Sometimes, yeah. When looked at objectively a lot of the popular religions have very horrible aspects which their follows would never dream of taking seriously.

[grasshoppa]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? Yes 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? I'd say it's false but beneficial (in a bad way). It makes people delusional and close-minded, but that gives them comfort, and a sense of stability (their moral standards are already set in stone, they 'know' what is right and wrong.) Ultimately, we'd be better off without it. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? I want to believe in one, despite the lack of evidence. If it's not there then it won't really matter. I didn't care about not existing before I was born, right? 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? It is interesting to me on a historical and philosophical level, other than that I don't care about it. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? No, there are lots of people already doing that with much better understanding of scientific knowledge. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? Both theories are based in facts, it is the accumulation and articulation of these facts that make a theory. Gravity is another theory that is also based in fact, so yes, I view these theories as true. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? Yes, but remember, this is the internet. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? I consider what my parents and others have taught me, but I still go my own way. I think everyone does this, no one has the exact same moral stance as another. Somewhere down the line there will be something you disagree on. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? My primal instinct to live long and have babies. 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. Some religious people are worse than the religion itself. I largely don't care for a persons religious status as much as I care about how they act.

[O'nus]

Thank you O'nus. In regards to question 6, I've not heard of any conclusive proof of such theories, but links would be useful. And I'll fix the wording for question 8. Evolution is Fact: + Thread: http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=85094 - Post with evidence: http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...1&postcount=23 Evidence of Big Bang And Photolysis, I'll try to reword 7 in a better way. Added question 10, and did ya'll notice #9 there? 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? Click on "What is the O'nus?" in my sig to see why. 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. It depends on the person and the religion. Some people are horrible whereas some other people are subjects to horrible beliefs. ~

[Carôusoul]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? Yes. A few. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? Generally detrimental but at times beautiful and profound in ways most religious people miss. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? No personal afterlife, no. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? I'm somewhere between not caring and being concerned about it. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? I will only get heated in discussions. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? I think they're true. But I am absolutely open to the possibility of them somehow being shown to be wrong and a better alternative being put in place. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? Absolutely. As far as I'm concerned in social interactions religion never comes into it. I like a person. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? I don't think morals are rules and traditions handed down from our parents. I think morality is a fiber of humanity and is a much deeper based thing then simply being tradition passed down. My parents never taught me anything which is generally open to interpretation as totally true. In fact I think the religious idea tha morality has anything to do with following rules is an outdated and wholly shallow idea. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? Human beings and beauty. 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. Depends who the person is doesn't it. But I don't hate any religions. I do frown heavily upon some of their teachings, but i don't hate any.

[Replicon]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? Yes. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? There is no absolute answer to this. The spiritual aspect of it can be very fulfilling and positive for the right kind of person. The dogmatic aspect can be highly detrimental, and used as a means of control. In most cases, when it's beneficial, it's beneficial to the person practicing, but when it's detrimental, it's detrimental to the practitioner AND their peers/loved ones/people around them. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? Don't know. Don't care. You can't "know" - you can only believe (i.e. speculate with emotion). 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? Like George Carlin used to say, "I love and respect individuals as I meet them; but I loathe and despise the groups they identify with." I don't hate spirituality, or people's personal relationship with god/gods/higher self/etc. but I do think the "organized" aspect of religion is more detrimental than it is beneficial. You don't need organized religion to have spirituality in your life. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? I am not constantly in a campaign. I don't really care whether people believe in it or not. I'll usually have very civilized discussions with my friends about it, because I still want to get to know them, and their views. It's when someone says something ridiculous about gays (or any other group that doesn't think like them) or how some things should be handled that I get into an aggressive debate with them. I strongly believe in separation of church and state, and have yet to find an argument against it that makes sense. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? They're theories. They're just models that constantly get updated. It's interesting to hear about them, but I'm not obsessively committed to any such idea. But as long as nobody starts praying to the big bang and killing people who don't believe in it, it's less harmful than old school organized religious law. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? Of course! There's no reason at all to be hateful towards each other, regardless of our beliefs. Unless our beliefs are hateful, in which case, I don't associate with such people. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? We're shaped by our experiences of life. I believe in having an open mind to new ways of thinking, and incorporating them as you see fit. My one big core moral value is, "do whatever you want, so long as you're not knowingly hurting others in the process." I think these things are fluid, as opposed to rigid. Like the ten commandments... they can be interpreted in a lot of ways. I mean, what exactly DOES it mean to covet your neighbour's goods? Does it mean feel jealous and hateful and miserable because he has more shit than you? Does it mean "wishing you had everything he has" and not noticing your own good aspects? I mean, when you think about it, if I look at my neighbour, and see his achievements, and feel motivated and inspired by him (and his "goods" which might not just be material), and it makes me a better, more motivated person, than breaking that interpretation of the commandment makes sense. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? You only get one. Experience it to the fullest. To quote from Good Omens (by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet): "If you stopped tellin' people it's all sorted out after they're dead, they might try sorting it all out while they're alive." 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. I don't even hate the religion... only the parts that try to push themselves onto others.

[SnakeCharmer]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? Yes 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? I believe it's mostly detrimental. A sort of a mind disease. Any "beneficial" results would just be the symptoms of the disease. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? I don't think there is one. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? I hate its effect on humans and the society that I live in. If people kept their religion to themselves, by keeping it out of schools, politics, wars and such, I wouldn't care. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? I rarely discuss religion since I don't see the point. As I said before, I see it as a mind disease so arguing doesn't really result in anything constructive. I would only argue with religious people about science, but I abstain from using arguments against their beliefs in those debates. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? I think they are the best explanation we have for all the facts found so far. I'm open to the possibility that one day we might discover something that will make us revise those theories. If that ever happens, those facts will be the result of a scientific inquiry and so will the new theories. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? Maybe, that depends on a lot of things. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? I agree with most of the values I received from my parents. Of course, as the world changes and as I change, so do some those values. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? My wish to experience my life in the fullest. I like the feeling of working hard for something that makes sense to me. 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. Depends on the person. I have a couple of very religious friends, but I do tend to look down on religious people.

[Xox]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? Yes. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? It is mostly detrimental, but it really depends on the person/religion. It can effect some in positive ways. I just see it as something weak individuals cling on to. Some ideals may be beneficial, and I know many people who embrace the positive and ignore the negative. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? I don't know, I haven't died yet. I don't believe in one certainly, but I'm not 100% sure that there isn't one. Like belief in god. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? I despise most religions, they just irk me. An image of someone locking themselves in a room and throwing the key out comes to mind. They just can't and don't want to go outside.. But those are my private thoughts, if I think about it too much. Other than that I'm apathetic. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? Nope, only in religious discussions, which I tend to avoid irl. People get very heated up about religion. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? Yes, but perhaps in the future new theories will develop. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? Yeah.. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? Basically fed to you. Something to break away from. Develop your own. I go my own way. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? This is it as far as I know. Go for it. 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. I don't really hate anything. Of course religious people are acceptable, and some religions too (it all depends on how the person follows the religion). And of course some religious people are unacceptable. Just like any other sorts of people.

[khh]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? No, none actually. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? I think there are a lot of negative things that (can) come of religion, for example ignorance, violence and the tendency of some religious people to (try and) force other to adhere to their religious rules. I've also seen documentaries about religious people indoctrinate children. Not a pretty sight. Please note that I don't think all religious people are monsters, or that all atheists are saints (pardon the expression ), it's just that religion seem to create a lot of problems. However, I do believe that many people can find solace in religion and the belief of something greater than oneself and the concept of ultimate justice (though, really, how just is it that a good person should go to hell just cause he doesn't believe in a god?). But I would rather there was no religion. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? You live, then you die. That's it. No heaven or hell, no rebirth, no eternal darkness. Nothing. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? As long as people don't try to force their views on others, or try to limit their freedom, and don't hinder children from thinking for themselves, I don't mind it much. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? No, I only get heated about it in discussions, really. I might have them, though. For instance, it can be very fun to use the teachings of a religion to point out ridiculous or outright impossible conclusions. Even if the religious people I've tried it with just ignored it or spout some propaganda. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? Is there even a question about the general principles of evolution...? But yeah, since I don't know much about the subject, I'll accept the established opinions of greater minds, at least until they are proven wrong. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? Yeah, you can assume that. Though I might point out that I'm regarded as a bit strange. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? I find that what my parents thought me are sound guidelines for regular human contact, so I see no point in changing it. But I do believe everyone should think for themselves. Also, I believe in general law and order, and I don't think people should go around being ass holes all the time. That would just make for an unpleasant world. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? We haven't got any choice but to go on, do we? 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. I can accept people despite their religion, yes, as long as they're not fanatic about it. But I doubt I could make friends with someone who didn't accept basic facts like science. edit: I'm a bit surprised that you didn't ask about our parent's religious views.

[grasshoppa]

So is there going to be any discussion or is this just going to be a collective blog?

[Maria92]

There are some questions I've been wondering about such folks, and I figure this would be the best place to pose them. I usually don't come here because there's a lot of swearing and satirizing and insulting. So please, keep it nice. I know there were more on my mind, so if they come to me I'll likely add them. I was an atheist until I was 16, so I could provide an opinion to some of the questions. 1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? Yes...I'm in a small town, and I don't really have much of a choice. But seriously, as long as you talk about anything other than philosophy, they're mostly like regular people...though can be a bit more strict. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? I personally view it as detrimental to society and sometimes beneficial to the individual. Some take comfort in religion, but at the same time, religion spreads a crap-load of pain. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? I remain skeptical of its existence, though willing to change this stance should further evidence come to light. At the moment, though, I do not believe one exists. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? It fills me with an interesting combination of sadness and smug...mostly smug, so I can't say I necessarily hate it. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? Only in religious discussions. Debates bring me happiness, but an all-out campaign on religion all alone isn't going to accomplish much at all. Let sleeping dogs lie...in due time, in due time... 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? Yup, I believe both of those theories. To do otherwise would be tantamount to denying gravity. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? We're normal people, and should I meet you in real life, I'm sure we'd get along perfectly fine. We'd have differences, sure, but for the most part, we're just regular people. Consider 16% or so of America is non-religious. Would you say that 1 in 5 people you meet are radical and completely nuts, going against most social norms? 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? Morals are imposed mostly by our parents and society, and they are there for a very good reason. Morality is, of course, relative, and some moral standards within our society are, quite frankly, superfluous (Drinking, gambling, premarital sex, etc). Morals such as murder, rape, incest, and the like, however, should be taken seriously. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? Life is short. Enjoy the hell out of it. Go to the grave sliding sideways, in a worn-out, beat-up body. At the same time, though, strive for long-term happiness, not just instant gratification. Just because you won't remember any of this life doesn't mean you can't enjoy what you got, while you got it. 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. Yes, that's about true. Hate organized religion, but the individuals who believe it are generally pretty okay. Some are friggin' hypocrites, but then again, so is everyone on some level. Luck of the draw, I guess. ------------------------------------------------- I know I had more and they may be added. Here are what I would have put down, from my atheistic position: 1) I had and still have Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist friends. 2) Religion is false but beneficial, since many good things have come out of it. 3) No afterlife. We just stop existing. Which kind of freaks me out. 4) I'm pretty much apathetic towards religion. As I joked about me, a Jewish friend and a Buddhist friend, "One's coming back as a worm, another's rocking with Jesus, and I'm dressed up with no place to go." 5) I usually stay out of religious debates. Due to apathy towards it I don't discuss it much and when I do, I make my point but don't get aggravated or aggressive. 6) Science is true. Big Bang theory and evolution are true. 7) Oh yes. I am surrounded by Christian friends at school (especially junior year) but we hang out and get along like, well, friends. 8) Morals are important and should be followed. 9) The fact that my body will degrade and I will die. I want to learn as much as I can, have a happy, productive life and maybe even contribute something useful to the world before my mind and body fail on me. 10) I think religion is inadvisable, but the people themselves are just as good or bad as regular folk. Thankies! See above.

[youssarian]

So is there going to be any discussion or is this just going to be a collective blog? Yes, more of a collective blog. I don't really want to get into a debate because, well, some posts get pretty long . And, I'm not a hugely effective debater. And thank you everyone for contributing!

[Tara]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? Yes, several. I have two who are very religious, volunteer at their Churches, go on retreats, and overall are very strong of faith. One of them admitted to me that she believes homosexuality is a sin, yet we are still good friends. Tolerance is important. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? It's all of the above. For those who are not extremists/fundamentalists, it's mostly beneficial. Like my friend, they are tolerant and passive. They do not take God's Word into their own hands and forcibly try to change people. Yet there are some out there who are honestly better off dead (see: Westboro Baptist Church). 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? It's an interesting concept, but something I would have to experience to believe it. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? I hate parts of it and enjoy others. I must admit I read the first two pages of Genesis and thought it was pretty funny. There were numerous things that weren't making sense. But I enjoy reading about different beliefs. In fact, I follow a lot of Buddhist and LaVeyan Satanic beliefs (but neither of those have a deity, really, so some don't consider them religions - I guess I don't either). 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? Only in religious discussions. Even then, sometimes I just don't care enough to prove the other person wrong (unless they're being a huge fundamentalist ass). 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? I believe in both of these very strongly. I recently watched a documentary on Darwin that explained evolution very simply while still going into the complexities of DNA and natural selection. For those weary of evolution, it would be a good show to watch. As for the Big Bang, I have trouble with math, science, equations, etc. But I have books on quantum physics and theories and I've read up on the internet what I can understand. If you give the theory a chance, it's not that impressive. When you begin to understand the other things that are happening in our Universe all the time, the Big Bang doesn't really outweigh the rest. It's not as far fetched as some like to think. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? For sure! As long as I don't try to turn you into an atheist and you don't try to turn me Christian/Sikh/Etc. then we'll be the best of buds. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? Morals are sort of like the nature vs. nurture argument. General morals are innate in our instincts while the more specifics regarding human society are taught by our parents and well, society. There was a study done some time last year or possibly the year before that in which they found the brain rewards us for committing good, moral acts much the same way it rewards us when we eat food or have sex. It's common among social creatures (humans, apes, dolphins, etc). In the study, they used rats (as rats are highly social). Rat A was in a cage beside Rat B; separated but they could see each other. When Rat B would eat food, Rat A was electrocuted. When Rat B caught onto what was happening, he starved himself. I'd say following morals is an important part of staying mentally healthy. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? Nature, usually. The natural beauty of the earth, the amazing intricacies of the universe, space and physics, the complexities of the human body and mind. All of it is so astounding to me. I get excited just thinking about it. Typically when I think of man-made atrocities such as war, pollution, genocide, the typical depressing stuff, I get enraged and don't want to do anything. I think 'Why bother?' Things like cities, tall buildings, plastic, or even my beloved computer can sometimes make me feel a little down and bummed out. These things that people take for granted makes them forget where they came from and the natural beauty of what's outside or they don't realize how much waste we create or how it's harming other people or the earth itself. What bums me out the most is I'm becoming one of those people. /baawww 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. More often then not, yes. :/ But I don't voice my upset opinions about it. Tolerance is important.

[♥Mark]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? yes 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? The term "religion" can be taken to encompass a wide and diverse variety of behaviours, practises and beliefs, so it's not possible to give a very accurate answer about that. However, the aspect of religion which is unvaryingly dangerous and detrimental is this thing called "faith". The idea that strong feelings that something is true means it must be true, or that something is true because you want it to be true. I'm talking about the kind of thinking that results in beliefs that survive (or worse, are strengthened) in the face of evidence to the contrary. This is not okay. If we accept this kind of thinking, it really opens up the way to any kind of insanity. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? I ain't afraid of no ghost. There isn't one. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? My above comments apply here, but it's generally something I only think about here in the R/S section of DV. Otherwise it's just kind of out of sight, out of mind. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? See above. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? Human knowledge will never be complete nor totally accurate. It would be dishonest to say that any facet of knowledge is absolutely certain and without flaw. Having said that, if we have a working explanation of something that by all means has proven to be true, there's no reason not to go with it. Of course, should such a reason come up, it's obviously time to reconsider. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? no 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? Is what we've been taught necessarily good or bad? No. Can't really give a good answer without more specific examples. 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. Most of the time they're acceptable. I often get the impression that some "religious" people don't truly believe in their religion nor care about it much. Rather it's just something they do for social reasons or maybe they're just going along with it in case it is true. Subsequently, these types seem to end up being basically indistinguishable from non-religious people in that their ideas and perceptions are founded on the same types of secular reasoning. Any religious backing or justification appears either tacked on or is simply non-existent.

[Descensus]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? Yes, in fact a few are quite religious in the sense that they go to Church and post "I love God" Facebook statuses all the time. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? Some might say that religion brings comfort to those during hard times. An example would be: During a funeral, everyone is saying, "He's up in heaven now, at peace." For me, I see it as a sense of false hope and, if I could put it this way: well-intentioned lying and truth-hiding. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? The existence of it, in my mind, is highly impossible. However, it would be cool if there was some kind of afterlife. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If you put the Westboro Baptist Church in front of me, I will hate religion. If you put a few quiet but religious types in front of me, I won't really care and won't actively engage them about it. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? Pretty much only in religious discussions. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? Right now I haven't heard of another theory that explains the origins of the universe or how life as it is now came to be. I would say I accept both the Big Bang and Evolution, but I don't actively advocate it because I'm not educated enough on both subjects to make a good case for either. It is also heavily science-based and not faith-based, which is why I'd follow that instead of a mystical book and a few fables. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? Of course, so long as you weren't saying things such as "When is the last time you went to church?" all the time. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? Most are truly worth following, although some morals are useless. One might say that being "pro-life" is moral, but I don't see a point to it. As long as you or I don't violate someone's person or property, I would say we're moral beings. Morals such as that are taught in childhood though, and are not bad to follow, so I guess I would combine what I was taught and what I reasoned out myself. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? To just have a good, stimulating (in all senses), and prosperous life. I wouldn't want to sleep in a cardboard box caused by a crack addiction. Some might, though. 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. Pretty much. Most of my friends are religious, but I'm friends with them because of them, not because of their religion. And they all know I'm not religious so they all pretty much leave me along religion-wise.

[Vampyre]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? Yes. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? I honestly believe that religions were invented for manipulative purposes. As such, they are not beneficial in a manner that could not be achieved through other means. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? A permanent dream-like state, if anything at all. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? I don't really care, but don't approve of it either. The deluded wish to be deluded and will continue to be. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? Not at all. I'm fascinated with the ideas that the religious have. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? Yes. I have yet to hear a legitimate argument against them. The arguments I've heard tend to be nothing more than personal logic and theory, which are not founded by any kind of support or evidence. ]7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? Definitely. I will always continue to "love thy neighbour" even though I don't agree with their perspective on relgious matters. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? True morals are broad enough to encompass humanity as a whole. To be peaceful and conduct yourself in a positive manner are morals. Opinions about abortion and marriage are personal opinions. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? I live the way I wish. Nothing beyond that motivates me. 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. Yes. As stated above, I will always continue to "love thy neighbour" even though I don't agree with their perspective on relgious matters.

[Black_Eagle]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? I just made the acquaintance of a pastor last Wednesday. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? It may enhance an individual's life in some ways, but not in any that cannot be achieved by other means. I feel religion is the single biggest detriment on humanity. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? None. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? I don't hate religion because it gives me a good outlet for my anger. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? I generally start the discussions, but rarely and only if they are religious fundies or are outspoken about religion and contradict themselves. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? I'm sure about evolution, but iffy about the Big Bang. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? Yes. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? They are to be reviewed by the individual with an objective, open mind. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? "...to live your life to the fullest" <---that? 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. I prefer people like myself, so naturally I would prefer the company of atheists. Generally, I find that most religious people are flaming hypocrites. They go to church and supposedly believe, yet they blatantly violate their own religion's teachings.

[Kromoh]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? Yes, lots. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? I think religion is a thing that blinds people to some things (by making them superstitious), is used to control people (religion as an institution), and leads to disagreement/prejudice/war. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? I don't think there is one. In my view, humans are just organized matter. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? I can't say I hate it. Instead, I have more than enough reasons to find it detrimental. Religious people pity me. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? I am pretty confident of my belief, so I don't really try to disprove it - religion is stupid, in my pov. I only ever discuss with someone about religion to try to make them see it as I do, not to try to disprove religion, for it was never proved in first place. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? Obviously. There is a reason we call it Science, and that reason is one beauty called "scientific method". 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? Hmm. I know it's a bad idea to generalize, but I find myself much more open-minded and less prejudicial than religious people. And that affects relationships as a whole. Apart from that, not much. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? Hah. Bad, bad question. If you mean morals as in "don't steal" or "don't lie", then those base on a philosophical concept named Golden Rule, and I abide by them completely. If you mean morals as social and behaviour standards (what to wear, how to eat, when to talk) then I believe those are just conventions, and as conventions, can be ignored at will. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? Hmm. Nothing in particular. There is no big, underlying thing that motivates me. I eat when I'm starvy, drink when I'm thirsty, study something when I want to learn something. I plan my day, I watch TV, I converse. I don't know why one needs a purpose to life. Life is not something you practice. You don't say "I'm going to go live now". 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. Nah, for the same reason why I don't keep a "hate racism, love racists" mindset. Religious people give birth to and propagate religion. The problem is with them. Religion is just an institution. It's people who chose to obey it or not.

[Licity]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? I have many, many, many, many people I am friendly with that are Mormon... but only a few people that I can actually call a friend. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? Totally detrimental. The small things that come from religious organization that are at all favorable to society are not exclusive to religion. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? I hope there's one, another life would be pretty cool, but I can't really profess to know anything about that, can I? 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? I wish it was gone. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? I don't seek it out, because religious people tend to ignore attempts to disprove. If I am thrust into the position, I have the usual arguments, but they only last so long before I get the typical fingers in ears while singing loudly in response. It might just be that no one cares enough to respond to anything I say. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? All things considered, the current science seems right. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? I do have a typical life. If we ran into each other on the streets, so long as you do not bring up religion, we could interact just fine. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? I go my own way. Traditions are good to know, no matter whether or not you believe in anything it's never a bad idea to fit in with culture. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? I'm motivated to live my life to the fullest by my love of living life to the fullest. It's a blast, honestly. Happiness is its own reward. 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. It depends on the person. If they can act normally, then they're acceptable, but the kind that regularly references their beliefs, I'm making up excuses to run away so I don't say something I regret.

[Tara]

Mark skipped question 9. Unacceptable!

[Abra]

Mark skipped question 9. Unacceptable! I noticed that, as well. :V I guess I should post content while I'm at it. 1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? Yup. And at times we talk about it, too. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? I recognize the merits of religion. And I honestly believe religion, the promise of an afterlife, is all that keeps some people going. For some, it's a coping mechanism. Not the best, but it's healthier than drug addiction. Religion is detrimental when it appears where not wanted, or when it infringes on the personal freedoms of others. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? lolafterlife. 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? I don't hate it. It doesn't affect me, so I don't really care. But I want to learn more about it, if only to better understand those that do care. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? I see no reason to go "atheist activist." Except when my brother applies to teach 8th grade science and continues the district's agreement to omit the evolution unit. In fact, now that my family knows I'm atheist, they're starting to use it as a red-herring in unrelated arguments. So yeah, it's becoming sort of constant and somewhat heated, if only in my personal life. If anything, I just want to get my little sister to be more open about these things. She's falling into the same trap of fear I was once in, only she's older than I was. What also worries me, is that she doesn't seem to want to explore the alternatives and pull herself out of it. I suppose the whole indoctrination of children issue is burrowing a spot in me, as well, then. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? I don't know enough about the Big Bang to make a definitive statement here. The stuff that occurred in the first moments of the universe include particles, waves, and functions I am unequipped to handle. The only evidence I truly understand is red shift, which implies that since everything's moving farther away, it must've been closer together in the past. Apply this anecdote further, and you end up with everything starting from a single point. As I understand it, this was pretty much the precursor to Big Bang theory. I feel as if maybe our understanding of the origins of the universe are built off of this, rather than running parallel. BUT. I'm not a physics major. So I don't have an educated voice, here. Evolution makes perfect sense to me. [insert token "but if something with better evidence comes along I'll support that instead" comment here. Or maybe instead, a comment that says "the only 'faith' I'll ever have is faith in the scientific method, which enables our understanding of the universe to eternally change and strengthen."] 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? In my code of conduct, religion doesn't pop up in conversation until after I've decided to befriend you. And to answer your question, I appear 100% human at first contact. In reality, I am an android. 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? Ha. Oh wow. I don't follow anything my parents say, as they are condemningly conservative (and by that, I mean they tend to condemn others), superstitious, and falsely-religious. I've had to build it all from scratch. Of course, not everyone comes from this scenario, and I'm not stupid enough to recommend this approach to everyone. A suggestion I am fully accountable for is this: question every piece of moral advice you get, as soon as you have the capacity to do so. If it jives with your internal vibe, keep it. If not, toss it, but don't cast down the advisor. Also, don't be material; be ready and fully willing to change/toss a moral philosophy if you find something better. Just like science! =D 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? science, altruism, people I meet, things I have yet to learn, people I have yet to meet, blue spark But really, living life to its fullest is motivation in and of itself. 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. In other towns this isn't the case, but in my college town, even the fundies (which are quite rare) are highly accepting. I like my college town. :3

[slayer]

1) Do you have any friends who profess to a religion? No, atleast not that I know of. I know some of my friends go to church and do church related activities. But they've never come straight out and said anything about loving God. 2) Do you think that religion is totally detrimental, false but beneficial, a wonderful thing to have, etc? Umm...Well I'm not really one to say if it's something we should have or not. Some people go to religion or churches to find hope don't they? I just think that the churches we have now-and-days need to be fixed. The people inside them that is. 3) What is your take on the afterlife, if there is one? I would like to believe that there is some kind of epic fantasy after life. But something to think about is, does everyone go to the same after life? If so, what about species from other planets? (If you believe there is life out there, I do.) 4) Do you outright hate religion, not really care about it, etc? I don't care for religion. However, when people start shoving it in your face then it starts to become a problem. 5) Are you constantly in a campaign, if you will, to disprove religion, or is it only in religious discussions that you get heated about it? I don't partake in religious discussions nor do I campaign about it. 6) Do you think that theories like the Big Bang or evolution are true? Or do you suppose that some other theory could best explain them? The Big Bang? While it's hard to believe how something was made out of nothing, I think it's probably the best thing we have going for as to how our universe got started. Are there other Big Bangs going on? Maybe. 7) Can I assume that, outside of religious debates, you've got a life like everyone else, with jobs and hobbies and friends and whatnot? What I mean is, regardless of our religious stances, would you and I strike each other as people that can interact with each other like two human acquaintances? Well I'm a pretty shy person and I'm not good at approaching people, but yes, I'm sure we could talk to each other. :3 8) Are morals - ie rules and traditions handed down from our parents and so on - truly worth following or just suggestions? When you get to be an independent person, during say your adult years, do you maintain what was taught to you or do you go your own way? Well, now that I think about it, I'm not really sure what I was told. I know I was told not to do drugs or drink, and I've never drank or done a drug in my entire life (17 years old here). I don't see myself doing any of these anytime soon either. 9) What motivates you to live your life to the fullest or to do the opposite? I'm not sure about living it to the fullest, but I would like to find that one person that is right for me. 10) Do you find religious people are acceptable, but not their religion? A sort of "hate the religion, love the person" deal. If they want to believe God is real, or whatever religion they're into, then go right ahead. I would be more than to be friends with someone as long as they don't try to preach to me why/how God is real. I'm agnostic btw. And I didn't go in-depth on these answers as I didn't feel like writing a lot.