Posted by KublaKhan So are you a wavelength or a particle?

a string

Posted by ~pandora~ a string

Nice!

I have to ask, do you believe in the String Theory, or were you just being funny?

Posted by katwoman Nice! I have to ask, do you believe in the String Theory, or were you just being funny?

There's nothing funny about String Theory.

Except when "string" is the answer to "So are you a wavelength or a particle?"

I thought it was quite funny!

Posted by KublaKhan There's nothing funny about String Theory.

Why take that so seriously?

I have to ask, do you believe in the String Theory, or were you just being funny?

I am still learning about string theory, so I can't give you a black and white answer, but I believe there must be some underlying concept that connects all the forces and all matter i.e. the holy grail of physics, and so far most of what I know of string theory seems to make sense to me.

I haven't seen anyone else say Unitarian Universalist yet, but it's obvious to me from some of the comments that some of you would be interested in UU.

Posted by MutantMandias I haven't seen anyone else say Unitarian Universalist yet, but it's obvious to me from some of the comments that some of you would be interested in UU.

Oh! That reminds me...I'm a reverend in the Universal Life Church. Damn, I always forget about that when people are asking for last rites.

Posted by MutantMandias I haven't seen anyone else say Unitarian Universalist yet, but it's obvious to me from some of the comments that some of you would be interested in UU.

How about a Veterinary Eunuch Utopianist?

I've never even heard of UU, but ill look into it when i get a chance...ps veterinary ..wat?

Posted by ~pandora~ I've never even heard of UU, but ill look into it when i get a chance...ps veterinary ..wat?

Funny, I just put it together that I am a UUUE.

Posted by MutantMandias Funny, I just put it together that I am a UUUE.

ME TOO.

I'm a Ubër Consumer who worships at the New Cathedral of Consumption. All hail the Mega Store. Bow before the alter of Free Market Capitalism.

My religion is ME, I worship myself. My creator's were my parents. I love them and all, but to worship them? nope.

I am god, my own god, controller of my own destiny and I rule my own fate. Therefore I am a god.

I reject the idea of christianity, and the idea of mary and the immaculate conception. I reject the idea of jesus.

Posted by Tat2ed White Trash I reject the idea of mary and the immaculate conception.

Yeah but you didn't know Mary.

HEYO...

I think it is odd that atheist would post here. The question was "what is your religion". Atheism is, you know, not a religion. That said, I'm an atheist, so I'll get out of here.

Posted by Asher Archive I think it is odd that atheist would post here. The question was "what is your religion". Atheism is, you know, not a religion. That said, I'm an atheist, so I'll get out of here.

Being atheist is a form of religion..

Posted by Tat2ed White Trash Being atheist is a form of religion..

Yeah, I had a twinge of dissatisfaction with the statement that Atheism is not a religion. It could be argued both ways, but most people would say it is not a religion.

I went to a very religious school for 13 years, and my New Testament teacher had us define "religion" ourselves as a project. The end result was basically, "A belief system," and that is how I still tend to think of it.

The definition that I see on the web works with this, mostly. As long as the Atheism in question is conscientious.

The old Oxford definition of atheism doesn't lend well to it in a religious context. I understand that it is a very lose term that people tend to throw around, and perhaps I should have qualified it as a "atheist, non-believer, scientist". That, I assure you, does not belong to any religious group. I'm not just following "a belief system", which to be sounds rather internal and vague, but rather actively questioning the world in which I live. Perhaps it is just the very definition of "belief" that doesn't agree with me. Maybe you should just call me a radical atheist, it seemed to have worked for Mr. Adams. At any rate, seeing that I most atheist I know are also very well educated in the sciences I would assume that, for them, this is not a matter of a "belief system". And before someone says, "but science is a religion", it's not. There is more than faith to science, there is verifiable evidence required.

So I guess that some atheist can be "religious", but that is hardly a befitting generalization to all. Every online dictionary that I referenced, since the claim was made that they all come down to a "belief system", well most definitions that I found clearly stated the belief in a god or some other spiritual being. In stark contrast, atheism was defined as the disbelief in a god or spiritual being. I guess the problem here is that we tend to use descriptive dictionaries--those that define the word as it is used by the majority--and that does level the minorities feeling a little left out.

To quote some Richard Dawkins, everyone's favourite atheist, and leave you with some food for thought:
"There is a very, very important difference between feeling strongly, even passionately, about something because we have thought about and examined the evidence for it on the one hand, and feeling strongly about something because it has been internally revealed to us, or internally revealed to somebody else in history and subsequently hallowed by tradition. There's all the difference in the world between a belief that one is prepared to defend by quoting evidence and logic and a belief that is supported by nothing more than tradition, authority, or revelation."

There is also a really good blurb on positive atheism about this:
http://www.positiv...g/mail/eml8760.htm

I just find it strange to call someone religious and atheist. Atheism is not a doctrine that you wrap your life around, it is just not believing in the various doctrines which call on supernatural beings. Of course, you don't have to agree.

Posted by Asher Archive So I guess that some atheist can be "religious", but that is hardly a befitting generalization to all. Every online dictionary that I referenced, since the claim was made that they all come down to a "belief system", well most definitions that I found clearly stated the belief in a god or some other spiritual being. In stark contrast, atheism was defined as the disbelief in a god or spiritual being.

Well, I was focusing on the definitions:

A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion

A spiritual leader could be a proponent of atheism, but it's certainly not the typical spiritual leader.
True, I tend to think of religion as a belief system, but, conscientious and considered atheism as a practice would be a religion, I think.

Of course, more importantly, and after I have wasted both your time and mine with this: Who cares?. I apologize for the distraction.

MutantMandias,

I feel that it is definitely a valid concern for people. What I'm unclear about is how exactly a "spiritual leader" being a proponent of atheism, but being a "proponent" hardly makes him an atheist. That's a bit of a circular reasoning, I guess. If a spiritual leader is an atheist, then are all atheist spiritual? Of course not!

As far as it being a religion because you're conscientious of it or have take it into consideration, well, that's a little far fetched too. Religion, as defined, tends to talk about a supernatural being, atheist lacks this major aspect. Additionally, I don't follow atheism in my daily life as a Christian would follow Christian principals. I'm an atheist and that has little to do with anything than my disbelief in a God or any other supernatural being. With atheism not "guiding" my life in any way, me not following any set of doctrines, and there being no leader (as a "Christan" would follow the teachings of "Christ" even if they were not part of any major sect).

Finally, who cares? Well anyone who is posting in this thread seems to care about their religious or non-religious beliefs. I think it is important to flesh out what exactly you identify yourself as if you're going to engage in discussion on religious topics.

But I digress.