Subject: BS: Religon From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull Date: 11 Aug 04 - 11:51 PM Waht Religon should you be? I just took the relgon test at beliefnet.org, it said i should be a Liberal Quacker, with 100 % compatability. go to beliefnet.org, click on the top lef wehere it says "Belief-O matic", then answerr the questions as honsestly as possible, then it will tell you waht religon to be. it gives you a few religons to choose from, in order of compatability, the lowest one I got, was with Jehovas witnes, [only 21 %]. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Amos Date: 11 Aug 04 - 11:55 PM You already are a liberal quacker, John!! :>)) One of the most liberal and well-oiled of quackers! A |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Blackcatter Date: 12 Aug 04 - 12:00 AM That's funny jHon, I've always thought you as being a Witness. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Amos Date: 12 Aug 04 - 12:02 AM I'm afraid the questions just don't cover all possibilities; as a result this software thinks I am a Protestant. Sigh. A |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: CarolC Date: 12 Aug 04 - 12:04 AM I already tried being a Quaker. I was too weird for them. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 12 Aug 04 - 12:06 AM Wotta fenomenally stooppid quiz. I come out 100% Orthodox Quaker (interesting in that Christ is hardly even mentioned in the questions..) My second highest score is Mainline/liberal Protestant and my third, in a neck in neck tie is Mainline Concervative Protestant. Half the questions were so poorly phrased that I would have to ask five questions before I could answer them. Jerry Mainline Liberal Protestant in real life |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Bill D Date: 12 Aug 04 - 12:45 AM gee...31 on a scale of 100...I wonder what I said that suggested I was THAT tolerant? *grin* some of those questions didn't HAVE the right choices... |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Jeremiah McCaw Date: 12 Aug 04 - 12:54 AM Fascinating site. Great capsule summaries of various belief systems. As for the quiz itself, apparently I'm a unitarian universalist. And all this time I've been describing myself as a "semi-agnostic pseudo-taoist". |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Blackcatter Date: 12 Aug 04 - 01:00 AM But that is Unitarian Universalist! |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Peace Date: 12 Aug 04 - 03:16 AM 1. Hinduism (100%) 2. Mahayana Buddhism (99%) 3. Neo-Pagan (87%) 4. Unitarian Universalism (86%) 5. Jainism (86%) 6. Sikhism (84%) |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: el ted Date: 12 Aug 04 - 03:44 AM I came out as a stormtrooper. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Jeanie Date: 12 Aug 04 - 04:19 AM That's a very interesting site, John - I'll be exploring it further. Thanks ! - jeanie (another Unitarian Universalist 100% and Liberal Quaker 97 %) |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Catherine Jayne Date: 12 Aug 04 - 04:28 AM I got 100% Neo Pagan! |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: JohnInKansas Date: 12 Aug 04 - 04:41 AM Well jOhn, I tried, but after I answered the first five questions the site disconnected me. Three times in a row. (I also note the site has no valid privacy certificate.) John |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Wolfgang Date: 12 Aug 04 - 04:52 AM From 100% secular humanist down to 12 % seventh day adventist. some of those questions didn't HAVE the right choices... (Bill) Was 'none of the above' or 'doesn't apply' not good enough for you, Bill? That questionnaire should not be taken very serious. Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: JennyO Date: 12 Aug 04 - 05:01 AM I didn't realise at first there are two quizzes on that site. I took the "What's your spiritual Type?" one first and found it not very satisfactory. I was classified as a Spiritual Straddler, which, when I clicked on it, led me to a forum of so-called like minded folks, only it appeared that this was where all the pagans had found themselves because the questions were so inadequate. I thought, well at least I am in the right company, being pagan myself. I couldn't find any mention of the terms people here had been mentioning, so I looked for another quiz on that site and found it when I clicked on "Belief-o-matic". These questions were much better and wide-ranging, and also gave you the option of rating the importance of your answer to each question. I finished up with a 100% match to Neo-Pagan, which is exactly as it should be. It was a reasonable description of it too, I thought. I was a bit surprised at the order some of them came in though - Christian Science 79% and Taoism 54%? - but in the main, I think this second quiz was quite good. These were my results for the top 12. 1. Neo-Pagan (100%) 2. New Age (97%) 3. Unitarian Universalism (85%) 4. New Thought (82%) 5. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (79%) 6. Mahayana Buddhism (79%) 7. Liberal Quakers (74%) 8. Scientology (71%) 9. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (70%) 10. Theravada Buddhism (69%) 11. Hinduism (60%) 12. Taoism (54%) |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: mooman Date: 12 Aug 04 - 05:15 AM Mahayana Buddhism 100% according to the Belief-O-Matic... Funnily enough I am a Mahayana Buddhist! Peace moo |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Mooh Date: 12 Aug 04 - 07:08 AM Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestant. I'm Anglican, so I guess I passed the test. Peace, Mooh. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Ellenpoly Date: 12 Aug 04 - 08:04 AM 1. Liberal Quakers (100%) 2. Neo-Pagan (93%) 3. Unitarian Universalism (91%) 4. Secular Humanism (89%) 24. Eastern Orthodox (18%) 25. Islam (18%) 26. Orthodox Judaism (18%) 27. Roman Catholic (18%) Kinda interesting..xx..e |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: mack/misophist Date: 12 Aug 04 - 08:50 AM I agree with Rasmussen. The questions were badly worded. There were a number of cases where my "wrong" answer was more appropriate than the right ong. Besides, what kind of continuum puts Unitarians as more secular than Secular Humanists? |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: GUEST Date: 12 Aug 04 - 09:52 AM No surprise to see that Mudcatters are all Protestant/New Age/borrowed Buddhist. Not a Catholic or a Jew or a Muslim among the lot. No surprise there. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: mooman Date: 12 Aug 04 - 09:56 AM What is a "borrowed Buddhist" Guest? moo |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Two_bears Date: 12 Aug 04 - 10:08 AM Here are my results. No I am not Hindu ir anything else on the list. ;-) I practise a combination of Native American Spirituality, but I use Hawai'ian mysticism for prayer. 1. Hinduism (100%) 2. Mahayana Buddhism (97%) 3. Jainism (93%) 4. Neo-Pagan (88%) 5. Unitarian Universalism (78%) 6. Sikhism (76%) 7. Bahá'í Faith (75%) 8. Reform Judaism (72%) 9. Orthodox Judaism (71%) 10. Theravada Buddhism (70%) 11. Scientology (68%) 12. Liberal Quakers (67%) 13. New Age (67%) 14. New Thought (66%) 15. Islam (63%) 16. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (57%) 17. Orthodox Quaker (56%) 18. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (54%) 19. Taoism (46%) 20. Secular Humanism (44%) 21. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (38%) 22. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (37%) 23. Seventh Day Adventist (35%) 24. Jehovah's Witness (27%) 25. Nontheist (26%) 26. Eastern Orthodox (25%) 27. Roman Catholic (25%) ANL - 2B |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: freda underhill Date: 12 Aug 04 - 10:13 AM i was Unitarian Universalism. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: GUEST,liberal Date: 12 Aug 04 - 10:20 AM My results said I ain't gonna get any mail from the Bush camp! |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: GUEST Date: 12 Aug 04 - 10:21 AM Well, I found my results quite interesting. I would describe myself as a secularist who was raised Catholic. Here are my results: 1. Reform Judaism (100%) 2. Sikhism (98%) 3. Orthodox Judaism (96%) 4. Bahá'í Faith (91%) 5. Islam (81%) 6. Liberal Quakers (79%) 7. Unitarian Universalism (71%) 8. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (69%) 9. Orthodox Quaker (64%) 10. Neo-Pagan (64%) Sure, that makes sense. One thing I found quite suspicious about the site (which to me seems to have a strong Protestant bias), is it doesn't ask about a belief in BVM and female deities. My spiritual type was old fashioned seeker. I believe that one is pretty accurate. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Pied Piper Date: 12 Aug 04 - 10:35 AM Unitarian Universalism 100%, and I've learnt a new word Revering, which I will not be rushing to use. PP |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: GUEST Date: 12 Aug 04 - 10:36 AM Well personally, I revere chocolate. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Bill D Date: 12 Aug 04 - 11:05 AM oh! I took the wrong test! I hadn't seen any "none of the above" listed. It's good they don't ask if you believe in reading instructions carefully. so...doing the right one...... I was a Unitarian many years ago... 1. Unitarian Universalism (100%) 2. Secular Humanism (97%) 3. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (93%) 4. Liberal Quakers (90%) 5. Theravada Buddhism (73%) 6. Neo-Pagan (72%) 7. Nontheist (70%) 8. Bahá'í Faith (63%) 9. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (57%) 10. New Age (57%) 11. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (56%) 12. Taoism (52%) 13. Reform Judaism (51%) 14. New Thought (44%) 15. Mahayana Buddhism (42%) 16. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (41%) 17. Orthodox Quaker (40%) 18. Jehovah's Witness (36%) 19. Scientology (36%) 20. Sikhism (35%) 21. Jainism (22%) 22. Eastern Orthodox (17%) 23. Islam (17%) 24. Orthodox Judaism (17%) 25. Roman Catholic (17%) 26. Seventh Day Adventist (16%) 27. Hinduism (13%) |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: GUEST Date: 12 Aug 04 - 11:25 AM I'm really not surprised that my #1 was reform Judaism. I do share most of the beliefs as they are laid out (quite well, I think, for this sort of a thing) here. Most everyone I've ever been close to/been friends with have been Catholics, Jews, Native Americans who were either traditionalists or Catholic, and African Americans raised in the Baptist tradition who have become secularists like myself. I do share certain beliefs with certain religions, but I wouldn't use the term "god/God" to describe those beliefs. However, the questions don't allow you to make secularist responses to the questions, just the new agey sorts of answers are allowed. How Protestantly predictable. ;-) For instance, my #2 was Sikh. Here is the definition given for Belief in Deity: "God Almighty is impersonal, formless ultimate reality and He is the Creator, personal savior, inner teacher, omniscient, omnipotent, and incorporeal." Now, if you replace 'God Almighty' with 'the force which created the universe' that statement is a very accurate description of what I believe. As far as my #5 choice being Islam, I'm guessing it is because I responded to the questions about Jesus (not that this quiz is Christian centric or anything--no mention of BVM, Allah, etc) not being an incarnation of the Christian God. Muslims view Christ as one of many prophets, but not as an incarnation of God. I too believe in human prophets, and in fact, I believe BVM to have been one. But I would believe they are specially endowed with a gift of communicating thoughts related to the aspects of existence that are far greater than ourselves. So you can see, in many ways I think this little belief quiz, if it weren't so Christian centric, could be a fairly useful tool for a lot of people to learn more about different religious beliefs. I'd even recommend it if it focused more on the teachings of prophets, poets, and philosophers, rather than all those stern vs sweet God Almighties. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: GUEST,Adolf Date: 12 Aug 04 - 11:35 AM Now that was a surprise.... me Jewish?????? |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Little Hawk Date: 12 Aug 04 - 12:29 PM Not a bad test, although some of the time one would like to give more than one answer...and other times, one would like to have a different question asked on the list! My top results: 1. Mahayana Buddhism (100%) 2. Neo-Pagan (99%) 3. Unitarian Universalism (93%) 4. New Age (84%) 5. Liberal Quakers (82%) 6. Hinduism (81%) What am I actually? Part of all those and part of several others too. I scored lowest as a Catholic by the way. :-) |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: GUEST Date: 12 Aug 04 - 12:35 PM Well, as a person who was raised Catholic, I would have been pretty surprised not to see it on my list. It came in at #12 for me. I have a strong belief in peoples' need for both ritual and myth (personal and collectiv), so it came as no surprise to me that my results reflected that with Reformed Judaism at #1 (and I seem to be the only one so far who got it--or am I merely the only one willing to admit it?). Reformed Judaism has the tolerance my native Catholic religion lacks, yet doesn't sacrifice the ritual and myths that are important aspects of belief IMO. Though neither Judaism or Catholicism reflects my beliefs about gender equity, which are much more tolerant than any organized religion. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: GUEST Date: 12 Aug 04 - 12:37 PM I would also like to add that I find the bias and ignorance about nontheists at this website quite appalling. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Little Hawk Date: 12 Aug 04 - 12:48 PM "Nontheists"? Elaborate on that if you please. I just checked my large Websters Dictionary, and it doesn't contain that word. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: GUEST Date: 12 Aug 04 - 12:54 PM That is because the religionists made it up Little Hawk, just as a way to demonize us! Here is what it says at the website: NONTHEIST What Atheists & Agnostics Believe Atheists do not believe in a god or deity. Atheists' beliefs are similar to those of the Secular Humanists but do not necessarily include the emphasis on humanity's ability to improve the human condition. Views on contemporary issues vary widely. Agnostics are inclined to question the existence of supernatural being(s) or a force, e.g., the answer to whether or not God (or Deity) exists would be: "We do not and/or cannot know." |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Blackcatter Date: 12 Aug 04 - 01:00 PM Two things: 1) If the quiz is so Chirstian-biased, why do so many of us come up as non-Christians? b) Why are non-theists/Athiests taking a quiz about religious belief? As a former Atheist, I can confidently say that I'd answer none of the above for nearly all of the questions. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Little Hawk Date: 12 Aug 04 - 01:05 PM Uh-huh. I see. Well, then I was a nontheist until my early 20's. As for believing in God (or a god or gods), that is a form of terminology that can mean many things. Do you believe in life? I define God as Life....all of it. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: GUEST Date: 12 Aug 04 - 01:09 PM I think the problem is with the semantics, Blackcatter. The name of the website is "belief.net" not "Christianbelief.net". Beliefs can encompass much more than the narrow scope of organized religious sects, and can include theory, philosophy, creativity...many things. But this website is being disingenuous about it, using Christianity as the default setting without telling you that is what they are doing. Yet, it is clearly a Christian website. One that is informative on some matters, and pig ignorant of many others. But it most definitely is a website about religion, not beliefs. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: GUEST,Righteous Lord of all Date: 12 Aug 04 - 02:35 PM As a nameless GUEST - you're considered by many around here to be pig ignorant too. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: freightdawg Date: 12 Aug 04 - 02:58 PM If jOhn from Hull is a Quacker, what does that make Geoff the Duck? and me, am I a barker? howler? or, heaven forbid, a whiner? ah, I've got it.... I'm a growler.... Freightdawg |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: harvey andrews Date: 12 Aug 04 - 03:12 PM 100% secular humanist! Thank God for that!!! |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Amos Date: 12 Aug 04 - 03:18 PM LOL, Harvey! A |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: GUEST,Blakccatter Date: 12 Aug 04 - 04:33 PM Harvey: She appreciates the thanks. |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Two_bears Date: 12 Aug 04 - 04:50 PM NONTHEIST What Atheists & Agnostics Believe Actually; agnostics are not nontheists. They do not have an opinion on either side of the equasion. They are not sure if there is a Creator or not. ANL - 2B |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: PoppaGator Date: 12 Aug 04 - 04:55 PM Stay away for 16 hours, and see how much you miss! I haven't taken the test yet, but will do so soon and report in. Great thread, Sir jOhn! As a more-or-less agnostic ex-Catholic turned Beatnik Buddhist, I wonder what pigeonhole I'll be assigned to. I might come off as a Quaker or Unitarian, but my Irish-American upbringing would never allow be to join up with any variety of Protestantism (except, perhaps, for African Methodist Episcopal or some such black-gospel church). |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Two_bears Date: 12 Aug 04 - 04:58 PM 1) If the quiz is so Chirstian-biased, why do so many of us come up as non-Christians? Good point b) Why are non-theists/Athiests taking a quiz about religious belief? As a former Atheist, I can confidently say that I'd answer none of the above for nearly all of the questions. Check mate. I'm a former Athiest too. It was an OBE in 1996 that gave me my spiritual awakening? What gave you your spiritual awakening? If you do not mind answering (by PM or here if you are comfortable) ANL - 2B |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: PoppaGator Date: 12 Aug 04 - 05:07 PM Well, hewer are my results -- not much different from what I've seen for many others here: 1. Mahayana Buddhism (100%) 2. Neo-Pagan (93%) 3. Unitarian Universalism (89%) 4. Liberal Quakers (85%) 5. New Age (82%) 6. Hinduism (79%) 7. Theravada Buddhism (76%) 8. Reform Judaism (71%) 9. Jainism (69%) 10. Taoism (68%) 11. Bahá'í Faith (63%) 12. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (63%) 13. Sikhism (62%) 14. New Thought (58%) 15. Orthodox Quaker (54%) 16. Scientology (54%) 17. Secular Humanism (51%) 18. Orthodox Judaism (50%) 19. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (42%) 20. Islam (41%) 21. Seventh Day Adventist (30%) 22. Nontheist (26%) 23. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (26%) 24. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (23%) 25. Eastern Orthodox (19%) 26. Roman Catholic (19%) 27. Jehovah's Witness (19%) I didn't think I was more Mormon than Catholic, or more Islamic than Nontheistic, but there you have it. And slightly more than half Scientologist? No way (from what little I know of L. Ron's "church")! |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Blackcatter Date: 12 Aug 04 - 06:32 PM Two Bears, I studied religon in college (M.A. in Religion, M.A. in Philosophy). After college, a girlfriend was interested in Paganism, specifically Wicca. I went with her to take a 6 month weekly course on the religion, assuming that it would be merely educational. About halfway through the course, I realized that my belief in a Universe that is controlled by laws and not by any capricious god could fit pretty well with what I was learning. I saw that magic can be effective and still fit into my personal cosmology. To me Gods and Goddesses are achetypes like Jung and Campbell taught. Magic is just another force of nature, available to all, just like electricity is available by plugging into an outlet. I honor the changing of the seasons (sort of, I live in Florida), I honor the path my life is taking as well as those of my friends. During that course, I became an Ecclectic Wiccan (one who doesn't follow a specific "tradition" or path within Wicca), and also my girlfriend and I broke up. Cool thing, though, I got to keep her best friend as my best friend. That friend was not only Pagan, but introduced me to the Unitarian Universalist Church. I began attending and found that I was welcomed, regardless of the fact that I'm sort of both Athiest and Pagan. As odd as it may seem (to non UUs) I can consider myself to be a UU Atheist Pagan. Through UUism, I found a community of people who were more interested in organization and community than many Pagans. The UU community also fits closely with my social and political leanings and so I've been able to persue learning and connections that way. I have also incorporated Buddhist beliefs in my worship and regularly celebrate major holidays with both Chirstian and Jewish friends (I always bring the home-made gefilte fish for Pesach). I have worshipped at the local mosque many times as well, and have been an invited guest at the National Mosque in Washington D.C. through close Muslim friends. I find the Qu'ran a beautiful book and I have liberal Muslim friends who practice their faith yet follow the modern understandings of equality for all and acceptance of other faiths. I became an ordained minister with the on-line church, the Universal Life Church, so that I may be able to perform legal handfastings and weddings, as well as be official clergy in hospitals to visit those in the community who consider me to be a religious advisor and counselor. I have handfasted over 30 couples, both gay and straight and have even blessed a couple group unions. I lead occasional services at UU churches through Florida (as a lay leader). I am the president of the Pagan group at my UU church (I have also served on the board of the church, itself). Whew. I hope that answered you question. Blackcatter (ironically enough, the name Blackcatter has nothing to do with Paganism - Our church has an open-mic coffeehouse called the Black Cat Cafe. I'm one of the founders). |
Subject: RE: BS: Religon From: Padre Date: 12 Aug 04 - 06:53 PM Roman Catholic - 100% Orthodox - 100% Conservative Protyestant 95% I'd say that confounds guest of 9:52 AM who wrote that there are no catholics @ Mudcat Padre (Anglican Priest) |