Great topic Barihawk! [hide=Q&A]Forum Username:OldJoe Age:21 State (US only, do not give a city): Nation (do not give a city):Sweden Educational level: -if secondary or below, what level? -If at a university/college, what level and what is your major/minor course of study? Finished "gymnasiet" (highschool?), going to university next year. 1. Have you ever attended a worship of any religion? -by choice? -What kind of worship? -Did you regularly attend this worship, by choice or parental guidance? No. 2. Do you consider yourself religious? -Please explain in two or three sentences. No, i do not. I consider myself "free". I believe that there are some good ideas and some weird ones in religion in general. 3. Is there a god, gods, or a supreme deity? -Did said god, gods, or supreme being create the Universe, according to your belief? I'm agnostic. If "god" were to show up infront of me, i accept it, but i still won't follow the religion. I consider the big-bang as the most probable answer. 4. Is there an afterlife? Would be nice. But i don't think so. In an afterlife, i'd probably be stuck somewhere between heaven and hell. 5. How do you believe that existence came about? (in a nutshell) As i said, big-bang and evolution. However, i don't consider this as the absolute answer, there might be something else, but it's the one making most sense to me. 6. Have you ever attended a worship of any religion that you do not consider yourself a part of? -What? -Your thoughts on the experience I have not. 7. What are your thoughts on non Judeo-Christian Western religions? Remember that religion is a broad term so please be specific. Said it before. Doesn't matter if it's Christianity or Hindu, i maintain that there are some good ideas and some weird ones. 8. What are your thoughts on Judeo-Christian religions? Remember that religion is a broad term and that both of these groups have many subdivisions that have radically different beliefs and practices. I prefer them to say, Islam. 9. What are your thoughts on Asian religions? Remember that religion is a broad term so please be specific. I know far too little to give a proper answer about them. 10. What are your thoughts on African religions? Remember that religion is a broad term, so please be specific. I don't fear Islam, but i don't like that media portrays it as a "love religion". Honor-murders, stoning, force-marriage to people (including ones family). If i were to grade religions on a scale on how much i like them, Islam would come stone-dead last. I am critical of it. Because in my country, it's a bit of a no-go zone to be critical of it. 11. What are your thoughts on South American religions? Remember that religion is a broad term, so please be specific. I know too little about them to answer. 12. What are your thoughts on Aboriginal religions (any native group that was displaced, such as Native Americans, Maori, Aborigines, etc)? Remember that religion is a broad term, so please be specific. Same as above. 13. What are your thoughts on pagan religions (Wiccan, alternative, Satanic, and other non-traditional forms of worship)? Remember that religion is a broad term, so please be specific. Also note that many alternative and pagan practices are not affiliated with Satanic worship. Coming from a country that used to have Norse paganism a long time ago, i would say i'm quite friendly towards it. I suppose, it would be the first choice for me. The problem with it, is that schools teach far too little of it. If you want to learn about, you have no other option than to do self-studies. I feel that this can ultimatly lead to people forgetting about in the future. 14. What are your thoughts on atheism, the belief that there is no supreme being(s)? Please remember that there are degrees to this belief, and that not all share the same thoughts. I feel that you should be open to accept that there could be something out there that we do not have scientific proof of. 15. What are your thoughts on agnosticism, the belief that a supreme being(s) exists, but the individual chooses not to worship it/them? This is where i consider to belong. I don't reject the idea of that there could be something out there, but i still wouldn't worship god-x as i want to be free (so to speak). 16. Have you ever publicly chastised someone who believes in a religion/school of thought different than yours? -elaborate -what group were they? what group were you? Nope. I have no problem with what you believe is the thruth. As long as you don't try to convert me into a follower, i am your friend. 17. If you belong to a religion or non-religion, please identify. -Did you consciously choose to follow this belief? Yes. -Did you belong to another belief, by choice or force, before following this belief? No, i have had the freedom to choose whatever when i grew up. -Did you personally research (as in personally in the first person) options before coming to this belief? When i've learnt about religions, and then looked at myself and my beliefs, i have chosen as Agnosticism the most fitting. I however don't consider Agnosticism a religion. 18. Is intelligence (not IQ, but actual intelligence) correlated to one's belief in a religion or non-religion? Keep in mind that intelligence can not be measured by any science, this is simply your judgment call. I don't consider anyone, no matter what you believe, as a less IQ person. I however think that people who blindly follow without questioning should take a look or two at themselves. 19. Does religion, in your observation, do good/bad in the world? Please cite specific groups or denominations. Both. There has been, and is, much killing in the words of religion. In the end i feel that it does more harm than good. Short answer, don't feel like writing a long one. Cut together it as one. 20. Does non-religion, in your observation, do good/bad in the world? Please cite specific groups or denominations. Good. I feel that many decisions in past and present has been greatly affected by religion in a bad way. The world would be much better without religion, as religious beliefs constantly get in the way in various ways (i am thinking of e.g. immigration). I am too tired to give proper answer. Cut together it as one. 23. Please list your experience with sexual education, including but not limited to: lectures by parents, schools, religion, or non-education. Please do not list your sexual experiences. Had some classes in it in 8th - 9th grade (when you're about 15 years old). With what i know + having some classes, i think it's enough knowledge. 24. Have you engaged in sexual intercourse of any kind? Please do not list your sexual experiences. A yes or no will suffice. Yes. 25. What, in your opinion, defines "love?" Impossible to answer. I mean, i absolutely love music. But if i get kids, i will love them aswell, but in a totally different way. Was out partying earlier today with some friends, and we had a pint at this south-american music place. There were alot of 50+ couples there dancing, and it just looked so nice... Being older, out with your gal, dancing and some drinks... They all looked like there were really "in love". 26. Have you ever been in, or are now in, a relationship? Single now. -Is sex involved? It was, yes. 27. Are you single/committed relationship/married? Single. I would love to get married if i meet "my girl"... Whenever that will be (hopefully around 30). 28. What, in your opinion, is sex's place in a relationship (or lack of relationship)? It's important, no doubt. But i feel it shouldn't be the main/only thing. 29. Have you ever partaken in an illicit substance (excluding alcohol or marijuana)? -if so, what? I sniffed glue a couple of times when i was 13 or so, if that counts lol. Only tested it, nothing really happend. -Have you ever lost control of your actions while under the influence of an illicit substance? Read above. 30. Have you ever partaken in marijuana? Yes. -Do you habitually use this substance? No. -Have you ever been "stoned?" Couple of times. -Have you ever lost control of your actions while under the influence of marijuana? Nope. 31. Have you ever partaken in the consumption of alcohol? Yes. -Do you drink socially or alone? Or both? Can have a beer with the dinner, but i don't "drink" alone. Mostly drink with friends. -Have you ever been drunk? Yes. -Have you ever lost control of your actions while under the influence of alcohol? Talked to the police once 'cause of it. Never been arrested or gotten into a (proper) fight. 32. Have you ever regretted a sexual encounter? No. 33. Have you ever regretted using an illicit substance? (excluding hangovers) I don't think the 3 or so times i sniffed glue counts. But was it stupid? Sure. 34. Have you ever regretted using alcohol? (excluding hangovers) Yes. Sometimes words pop out of your mouth before you think... 35. Have you ever given serious thought (longer than 30 minutes in a year) to the existence of a supreme being(s)? I think about from time to time, but not anything deep.[/hide]