"Poll" Position

[Akhkharu Asgard]

I am intersting in knowing where you would place yourself on your faith, belief, religion, etc.. on the options I have given you.

[Darakash]

I am intersting in knowing where you would place yourself on your faith, belief, religion, etc.. on the options I have given you.

This is a tough one for me to vote on, because, i think there is probably one "ultimate truth" that 99% of us will not know in this existence; however, I also believe that no ONE RELIGION is the only way to get to that truth. But i can't really vote that all religions are "true" either...so I am stuck!

[DebLipp]

You lack an option that says "Many, but not all, faiths are true." I believe one can be a pluralist without falling into an "all or nothing" trap.

[Dark Phoenix]

You lack an option that says "Many, but not all, faiths are true." I believe one can be a pluralist without falling into an "all or nothing" trap.

I agree that you can be pluralist without saying all faiths are true like the Branch Davidian and some others.

[DandelionDame]

I voted "I have no freakin' comment" (though of course, I DO have comments :)) because I wholeheartedly believe what I believe, but I wouldn't dream of thinking that's the One truth by any stretch, but on the other side, there are some faiths that simply don't ring true with me for various reasons. Not to say they're "wrong", but they don't fit with my experiences. So... I have my beliefs (which evolve all the time), but I'm semi-agnostic in that I think there are some things I'll never truly know because I'm only human and some things are beyond my puny human understanding. If that makes any sense at all.

Neat poll!

[Shanti]

Truth is solely in the heart of the one.
Every faith is true and right to the individual.
We are all differant and find our way differantly.
Just because its differant doesnt make it less true or right than anothers.

Heck even our destinations may be all totally differant and all very real! :)

[WickedBttrfly]

I said no comment for the same reason the others have posted. :) But cool poll, yo. :thumbsup:

[Zophael]

I think there is one single truth, but it is not entirely conceivable by humanity. I think all religions shed a glimpse of this one truth.

[LadyTrinity]

Pluralism is what I believe. _cloud9_

[cheddarsox]

I think religion is less about truth than it is about finding a set of beliefs and practices that will allow me to navigate this life successfully. My beliefs don't have to be true, but they do have to help me function both within the confines of my own mind, and in my culture.

My criteria for judging a religion is whether it helps a person function successfully on multiple levels, not whether it alligns to some ultimate truth. I doubt many of them come even close to approaching the "truth", which I suspect is beyond our comprehension.

Not sure what that makes me on your poll.

cheddar

[MoonDragn]

Life is a complex winding road where noone walks the same path twice.

[Athena-Nadine]

I don't know that any of the choices apply, though I suppose pluralism is the closest on that list. I think the rightness or wrongness of a particular religion is extremely individual, as a religion is the practice one uses to connect with the Divine. So each person's religous beliefs will depend on what his/her view of the Divine is, and what s/he feels is the best/necessary way to connect with It/Them.

For me, there is only one true religion. If that were not the case, I wouldn't follow the religion I do. While I do believe that most religions share common threads, such as similar ethical outlooks, I don't think all, or even most, religions are true, in and of themselves. But I don't need to. I realize that my truth is not someone else's truth, and it doesn't need to be. There are plenty of religious views that I feel are patently wrong. But people must walk their own path. Whether I believe in the truth of their religion or not is irrelevant.

[Isis Sothis (Sothi)]

I believe that there isn't only one true way..because everyone's truth is different..we all seek the Universal truth in our own ways...My beliefs maybe Pagan in general...but even I as a Pagan seek my own truths and my truths are different than others.

[merlo]

Where ever you're at, that's where you are. Deal with it. I see life the way I want to, that's my path. You see it the way you want to. That's your path, the right one for you. I may not agree with it, or want to hear about it, but I won't deny it's authenticity.

[QUEEN OF THE DAMNED]

Pluralism is what I said. I'm eclectic when it comes to religion.
Edit: Yet I do not believe in any form of diety, what I believe is more of a practise I suppose, rather than a religion. :fpipesmok

[Grey]

I said inclusivism- Some people just talk out there butt, however I find I can sift out some truths from just about any faith... learn some lessons and gain some understanding. Do they have it all right? NO do I?? Probly not either...

[Catiana]

I don't think that there is ONE true religion or faith, but since I don't know about every religion that exisits I cannot say that every religion is true but then I guess for the people that believe in them they are. So I guess I would say that everyone has their own true faith and what they believe is their truth.

[dr_zeus440]

im an exclusivist because i have atheistic (and pyromaniacal...and just plain maniacal) tendencies.

[lil_suzie]

lol of course there is only *one* true religion- mine!
And yours to! And yours, and yours and yours!

[Luminessence]

How about "other"? I believe that all religions contain aspects of truth, but that none of them are literally true, except for some parts of each. But I believe that what they stand for, the symbolic truth behind each of them, is true. I do think that all religions are headed towards the same thing, really - but not entirely. They each connect to different aspects of the Divine, and relate to the Divine in different ways. That way, we can each find the one that suits us best.

[StarSpiral]

I gave no comment.
I am not a relativist - I don't believe that all the world's religions can be right, but faith is a matter of ...well, faith. We can never know for sure and I'm pretty confident that the truth is beyond any of our understanding anyways. My faith is based on what I believe, based on my experience, observation and intuition, to be the clostest I can come to that truth. That being said I have no empirical basis outside of faith to prove my claims any more than a Christian does so I can't judge the "validity" of any other religions.

[Romani Vixen]

I believe that all religions are a metaphor... a perception of the same thing. Of course, humans have this habbit of screwing with things, so the metaphor can be hard to see.

In essence, everyone is right and everyone is wrong... it all depends on how you look at it.

[RowanMegaera]

I feel if what you believe makes you a "good" person then it can't help but be right. On the other hand, if what you believe makes you hateful and intolerant, you must be getting the wrong message somewhere. Not necessarily everything is wrong about your beliefs, just some miscommunications along the way.

[Khepri]

I'd say basically I'm pluralist. The beliefs at the core of pretty much all faiths are fine and dandy; it's how they get twisted along the way that makes them wrong.

I think the main reason that I turned to paganism is that there are no real rules to break or misinterpret. But that doesn't mean it's more 'right' than any other faith; it just seems right to me.

[Cadabuz]

I am not sure I chose the right option as none are exactly what I believe. I believe the individual practice of any religion can be a true thing. I also believe that the individual practice of any religion can be untrue as well. I think it is the individual that gives "power" or lack there of to what they believe.

[fay]

i chose pluralist because it was the closest option to what i believe, however it is not really what i would say i believe.

i do not believe that there is only one true religion and that it is for everybody. we are all individuals, we have different looks, tastes, personalities, humours, lifestyles. how could we possibly expect that there would be one religion that is the right way for everybody? i think that each religion is valid for those who practice it, for example wicca is right for me, but christianity is not, for one of my friends christianity is for her, but hinduism is not.
blessed be

[Fireheathen]

I think that there is really only one true belief system, but that said belief system may be different for each and every person.

[halfwaynowhere]

i think that a lot of religions are good, but i don't think they are all the same in the end. i don't see how a religion that restricts free thought can be right, mainly because if free thought were supposed to be restricted, than we wouldn't have that ability to begin with.

[Neoscottie]

As long as a religion doesn't push violence, I think all religions are valid. Everyone needs something to believe in. :)

[bshore]

I'd like to put in my own vote.

I think all paths are equally valid, but don't know wether or not any of them are "true". I'll fully supoort anyone's idea of religion (as long as it doesn't condone hurting any living thing) but I have yet to believe any of them.

[Ron]

I already call myself a pluralist, and that I am, in deed.

[butterflydreams]

I think there are many paths to the same ultimate truth. Eberyone has to find their own truth and just about all are as valid as the next. I guess that would make me pluralist.

[Evendusk]

Whatever floats your boat as far as I'm concerned. I voted don't care.

[EponaCapaill]

I believe that there is no one "right" religion. What works for me won't neccessarily work for someone else and I have no need, mentally or spiritually, to try to convert anyone to my beliefs.

[Greybird]

Put me in the 'other' category, with something along the lines of:

'There is no one true religion, and most paths are valid, but some are just bunk.'

There is a difference between open mindedness and blind acceptance.

[LyraDragonStar]

I picked pluralism. I believe that all religions are true. People believe what they want to believe and that makes it true.

This is only my opinion....

[HorseCrow]

Pluralism (In substance, all religious faiths are true). I believe some people do better with some religions- that is Christianity is not for all, nor is Paganism or Buddhism. But they are all equally true to the ones that follow them.

[Toki Wartooth]

Truth is solely in the heart of the one.
Every faith is true and right to the individual.
We are all differant and find our way differantly.
Just because its differant doesnt make it less true or right than anothers.

Heck even our destinations may be all totally differant and all very real! :)

I agree with this one.

[The High Queen of Faerie]

pluralism, wotwot

[Ninjakitten]

I picked inclusivism based on the definition given. I feel that the truth is based on reality, and that our perceptions of reality are flawed because those are based on flawed physical senses and brains. Those same physical senses and brains create systems to try to explain an ultimately complex universe, which I think may be "good enough" to the Divine (more like patting a kid on the head for saying something well meaning, but not accurate), and those explanations are what we call religions. I do feel one of the religious systems has the most "rightness" to it (and being mostly Christian, I admit I feel it is a Christian system, though I doubt it's any common one), but that all religions touch in some way that actual truth that lies in the ultimate reality that our senses cannot percieve. I do believe that Jesus, and very likely humans like the Buddha (for example) were able to touch on the truths via different means (Jesus with Divine appointment and Buddha with enlightenment), and so came about professing the different truths by different means. That is why I blend my paths (witchcraft via Wiccan-style practice, wishing to study Buddhism, martial arts, wanting to get in touch with my Native American heritage), with my faith (Christ, including Books under careful scrutiny that happened to not be included in the Bible).

[Sins_Under_The_Halo]

I believe religion is a metaphorical way of expressing a un-wordible emotion (a lovingly-hateful-coy-but-shamefully-full-of-pride emotion)

It is very awkward for me to explain exactly what I mean as the message I've typed above isn't how I wanted to explain it but maybe there are a few people out there who understand it vaguely!

[Sequoia]

I picked "other"... I have a belief system that I share (and learn from) with a very few close friends. I'm still always learning new things. I'm only twenty, after all.

I figure it's like this. You have your belief because as far as you can tell, it's the most accurate you've found. You should allow other folks to go about their business, but in the end, you feel your belief is right (otherwise why would you believe in it?).

I can't really cope with folks who are extreme on ANY end of the "scale." Mostly I try to avoid them. Sometimes I give them a 'reality check.'

There are personal religious beliefs, and then there are real, physical, solid, logical facts. Sometimes people really cross the line into "dangerous fantasy", and that's where I feel others are 'wrong.'

But other than that, I'm usually a pretty patient and 'tolerant' gal. :)

[Ninjakitten]

There is a difference between open mindedness and blind acceptance.


Just made me think of something I like to say about some people I know:
"You're so open minded that your brains fall out!" :bigblue:

[Jenne]

You lack an option that says "Many, but not all, faiths are true." I believe one can be a pluralist without falling into an "all or nothing" trap.

ITA w/ this...well-said DebLipp!

[Aquarian_Moon]

I chose Inclusivism, but I'm also a pluralist in some senses too. I kind of wish I'd picked 'other' now, because neither answer really describes how I feel about things.

Some are more true, I feel, and some are less true, and all have some value, but none are 100% true. There we go. And it also depends on the individual's perception of the universe, as many have said.

[Strega Del Vento]

Inclusivism for me. I'm not slamming anyone else's paths or anything like that. I'm just speaking for myself. I believe all other paths hold value and can be useful. But for me personally, there's just one--the one I'm on.

I think whatever religion/path someone follows is true for them, not for all. It's an individual thing.

[saffron]

I am intersting in knowing where you would place yourself on your faith, belief, religion, etc.. on the options I have given you.

All the Gods are One. This is so ancient a saying, so true a truism, that I can't think of a better way to express what I believe. Every religious faith serves the same purpose - it provides a way to feel connected to our creator. Personally, I don't think the creator cares by what name we call out to her or by what methods we worship her.

I'm definitely a pluralist. :)

Saffron