Religion? Bah...

[altivo]

OK, so I did the quiz that several on my friends list already did. I'm not impressed with either the questions or the results, both of which are too simplistic. Of the possibilities the author listed, agnosticism would be closer to my position than any other, though animism, which the author omits, would be closer still. Classical (theravada) Buddhism is also quite compatible with my thoughts, but I suspect the quiz writer is unaware of the gulf between the different branches of Buddhist belief and is most familiar with the Chinese/Japanese branch of mahayana, or perhaps even Japanese zen. As for satanism, which is given as the second highest match for me, that's pure BS. The questions asked weren't sufficient to identify a true satanist at all, and in any case, I'm no more that than I am Christian or Jew, which came in at the very bottom of the list.

You scored as Paganism, Your beliefs are most closely aligned with those of paganism, Wicca, or a similar earth-based religion. You may also follow a Native American religion. </td> Paganism 75% Satanism 60% Agnosticism 60% Buddhism 55% Hinduism 50% Confucianism 45% Haruhism 35% Islam 35% Atheism 35% Christianity 20% Judaism 0% Which is the right religion for you? (new version) created with QuizFarm.com

Comments

[deffox]

You sure you're not a Satanist? ;-)

I also got Pagan for some reason, but at least followed by Agnostic.

You scored as Paganism, Your beliefs are most closely aligned with those of paganism, Wicca, or a similar earth-based religion. You may also follow a Native American religion. </td> Paganism 95% Agnosticism 90% Atheism 80% Buddhism 60% Satanism 55% Haruhism 35% Confucianism 30% Islam 20% Hinduism 20% Christianity 5% Judaism 0% Which is the right religion for you? (new version) created with QuizFarm.com

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Quite sure. I don't believe in that whole dualism thing, nor do I believe in the "do what thou wilt" philosophy.

[dakhun.livejournal.com]

It worked nearly perfectly for me:
Atheism - 95%

And I know which question I lost 5% on.
I won't say which one though. ;-)

As for satanism, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaVeyan_Satanism
A lot of the questions in the meme would actually give points toward a religion like that. It is not really about worshiping an actual Satan. :-P
Then again, I wouldn't put too much weight on it - after all, they used an eBay image for your result. Heh. :-)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I did notice the source of the image. ;p

[ducktapeddonkey.livejournal.com]

I still think all these "quizzes" are somehow linked together in some dark purpose.

I don't like 'em. No sir. I don't.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Satanical, eh? I might think the same if there were anything more than ineptitude and ignorance behind so many of them.

[ducktapeddonkey.livejournal.com]

By "dark" I don't mean satanical. More like, dishonest.

I can't really be sure if any of these quizzes are attached to some of the larger social mapping experiments that are going on. But I'm wary of them.

Besides, I'd just skew the results anyway.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The "satanical" reference was just to this particular quiz.

The way I look at it is if I can mess up the statistics by adding my answers to the mix, so much the better. If you'd skew the results then they need to be skewed. The only thing they could be getting from these are dubious statistics. Most of the quizzes are so poorly crafted that even the statistics would be invalid.

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

You scored as Buddhism,You scored as Buddhism. Your beliefs most closely resemble those of Buddhism. Do more research on Buddhism and possibly consider becoming Buddhist, if you are not already. In Buddhism, there are Four Noble Truths: (1) Life is suffering. (2) All suffering is caused by ignorance of the nature of reality and the craving, attachment, and grasping that result from such ignorance. (3) Suffering can be ended by overcoming ignorance and attachment. (4) The path to the suppression of suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path, which consists of right views, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right-mindedness, and right contemplation. These eight are usually divided into three categories that base the Buddhist faith: morality, wisdom, and samadhi, or concentration. In Buddhism, there is no hierarchy, nor caste system; the Buddha taught that one's spiritual worth is not based on birth.

Which is the right religion for you? (new version)
created with QuizFarm.com</table>

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

If that's true get rid of all those cars ;)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Interesting to see what their definition of Buddhism is, though I think they missed the real point. ;p

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Questions that involve freedom to do as one pleases leads to the Satanism I think. So its not terribly accurate when all that one wants to do is normal things.

You scored as a Agnosticism
You scored as agnosticism. You are an agnostic. Though it is generally taken that agnostics neither believe nor disbelieve in God, it is possible to be a theist or atheist in addition to an agnostic. Agnostics do not know or claim to know whether or not God exists, but could admit that someone else might know. An intellectually honest agnostic would have to take that position, as he has no more evidence of the impossibility of knowing God than he has of the existence of God. Agnosticism is a philosophy that God's existence is not proven. Some say it is possible to be agnostic and follow a religion; however, one cannot be a devout believer if he or she does not truly believe.

Agnosticism 75%

Paganism 75%

Buddhism 70%

Confucianism 60%

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Only a 75%? Not very committed are we? ;p

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

One could say that's the definition of agnostic ;)

And you know me, I was never much of a "joiner".

[farhoug.livejournal.com]

Maybe they meant it to read "Santaism", but somebody made a typo.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The trouble with Santaism is all those foolish sacrifices of milk and cookies every 25th of December. It makes the cookie market go all goofy.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

I always thought those were for me O.O

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Only if they're mouse chip and bird nibblet crunch cookies.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

*goes rather green* Mouse chips? Like cow chips? I'd prefer chocolate chip
I think I'd better go outside for a moment. *rushes out looking very green* XD

[altivo.livejournal.com]

No no. Mouse chips are made like banana chips. You freeze dry the mouse and slice. Or is that slice and then freeze dry? Well, whatever...

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

For a herbivore you seem to know rather a lot on this o.O
*offers you a sugar mouse and a salt lick*

Don't you ever sleep man O.O These superfast replies are starting to be unnatural.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I have cats and dogs, remember.

And I'm on the other side of the world from you. Your sleep time is my awake time. ;p

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Even so :)

Hmm does that mean your comfy bed is empty? So I can sleep right in the centre of it?

I don't know how cats manage to do that, slight right in the absolute centre so you have about a fifth of the bed to sleep on.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

There's probably a dog and two cats on my bed at this moment. But if you can find room, go ahead. Just no clawing holes in the waterbed mattress, OK?

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Don't worry I learned about that the hard way, oh it gives me nightmares to this day.

[farhoug.livejournal.com]

I rather like the old Scandinavian sect of Santaism, mostly it's just there to scare little children. And steal their cookies.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Or the Dutch version that seems to exist mainly to prop up the failing market in wooden shoes? ;p

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

LOL... LIGHT THE HOLY YULE LOG! SUMMON THE DARK ONE WHO GIVES PRESENTS!!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Sounds like St. Lucyism. Isn't that where some blond chick with her hair on fire brings you cookies in bed?

religions... fah!

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

Hmm, could be... it sure beats Linusism- where you carry around a ragged blanket and await the coming of the Great Pumpkin :P

Re: religions... fah!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I'm more inclined to worry about turning INTO a pumpkin. XD

Re: religions... fah!

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

Heh... too many use religion for either persecution or self-imposed restriction in the name of fear.

Re: religions... fah!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Oh, we agree entirely on that. I won't dispute you at all. :)

Re: religions... fah!

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

:)

Re: religions... fah!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

[Let's try this again]

I know your life is in a state of disruption right now, and you may not even see this for a while. I just want to say that I'm thinking of you and sincerely hope it works out for the better. The little contact we've had here on LJ feels good to me, and I want things to improve for you.

Re: religions... fah!

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

*nods* I can sense that... I'm coming to like your little contributions, and I really appreciate it. To be honest, turmoil seems to becoming the norm for me :P But it's good to have other horses who are a stabilizing influence for me- thanks Altivo ^_^

[marzolan.livejournal.com]

Ah hah! This explains why the inverted pentagram showed up in your collage. I was wondering about that... I'll have to take this and see what happens, but if it's placing you so near to satanism... I already doubt it's author's knowledge.

[marzolan.livejournal.com]

Buddhism		80%
Hinduism		70%
Paganism		70%
Agnosticism		55%
Satanism		50%
Haruhism		40%
Islam		40%
Confucianism		40%
Christianity		35%
Judaism		30%
Atheism		5%

Which is the right religion for you? (new version)
created with QuizFarm.com</table>


I guess I can't complain too much. Paganism should probably be a little stronger, but I don't fully identify with the common perception of that either. *shrugs* Everyone has their own biases I suppose, but I think the satanism category is less "Are you a satanist?" and more of "Are you not conforming to Christianity?".

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I consider Buddhism to be a pretty excellent result. It implies you have moral values but are free of all that Christian stuff about heaven, hell, guilt, and the devil.

[marzolan.livejournal.com]

I agree. It's not my prime identification, but I do follow many of the teaching and beliefs of the buddhist faith.

[heavens-steed.livejournal.com]

I saw another friend whose highest result was Satanism and according to the description, Satanism does not require belief or worship of Satan but that it "generally focuses upon the spiritual advancement of the self, rather than upon submission to a deity or a set of moral codes." This sounds very accurate in describing you and I can see why it is fitting, based on this description.

Interesting how Christianity and Judaism were your lowest scores. I didn't know you were that anti-Judeo-Christianity.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

But I do believe strongly in moral codes, just not those dictated without reason from someone who claims to have an inside communication link. That alone should disqualify me from satanism which doesn't believe in any morality other than self indulgence as I understand it.

You always fail to make a distinction between "not agreeing with Christianity" and "being ANTI-Christian." I am in no way anti-Christian or anti-Jew just because I don't believe in the tenets of those faiths. Being anti-Christian to me implies deliberately persecuting people of that belief, which I do not do, nor condone, nor favor. However, I also believe that people of those faiths have no right to persecute those of us who disagree with them. That last is often attacked as being "anti-Christian" which it is not.

Anyone can believe whatever they want as far as I'm concerned. They can teach it, preach it, write about it, whatever. BUT, I am opposed to letting anyone enforce their particular belief by making laws to do so. I am opposed to letting anyone teach their particular belief at my expense in the public school, to a captive audience. That isn't being "anti-Christian" any more than it's being "anti-Pagan" or "anti-Buddhist" because I will say the same to all of them. It is just being fair.

[heavens-steed.livejournal.com]

Okay, probably using the prefix "anti" was a bit excessive. I only used that term because your scores were so low :P You're right though, disagreement is not the same as assault. But the point is that according to this test which understandably may not be the most accurate test in the world, you are more disagreeable with Judeo-Christianity than any of the other religions/faiths. Why do you think that is?

But I do believe strongly in moral codes, just not those dictated without reason from someone who claims to have an inside communication link.

I never said you were immoral or didn't care about ethics. But you speak of here, morals dictated without reason. First of all, there are numerous reasons behind just about any biblical moral law, cultural, historical, spiritual, practical, or any/all of the above and you having been a seminary student should know that. Also, I have to ask, on what do you base your morality? Morality without God is meaningless and very often irrational. Without an outside, objective, and authoritative source that determines right and wrong, you only have your own subjective feelings upon which to draw your definitions of virtue and vice. If morality is nothing more than a human construct, what meaning does it have other than as a tool to try and create civilized order among naturally uncivilized creatures? This is not an attack but something I am curious about. Who determines right and wrong and proper conduct in your view? You? Some kind of supernatural being? The universe or nature? Is your morality based on yourself or something outside of yourself?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I suspect my scores on Christianity and Buddhism were low because I rejected the ideas that the only truth that matters is contained in a sacred scripture, and that there is one and only one "god". Now why I scored higher (only slightly) on Islam I can't guess.

As for where I derive my moral notions, obviously I reject your idea that the only morality possible must derive from some god or other. Just as an example, pure theravada Buddhism is atheistic. It denies the existence of gods. Yet it has a strong moral ethic derived, in essence, from the "golden rule." Some call this sort of thing "secular humanism" and some, especially some Christians, like to sneer at it. Nonetheless, it arrives at many of the same moral values that Christians take from their scriptures.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Oops. Why doesn't LJ have a comment editor anyway? My scores on Christianity and Judaism were low, not Buddhism. Too much going on while I was typing that.