I consider myself...

[Subdivisions]

Tim Russert asked the Democratic candidates last night in the debate what their favorite Bible verse is. I thought this a highly inappropriate question.

So, I was curious as to the religious makeup of DU. Which do you consider yourself to be?

[H2O Man]

1. Other. n/t

[blondeatlast]

12. Me too. nt

[spindoctor]

2. None of the above

I'm a registered Catholic but my view of God is "slightly" more nuanced than your given option.

Oh, and I believe the Pope is a wanker.

[BlueJazz]

3. I'm an Atheist. Swear to God.

[spoony]

4. He didn't ask the question of DU

So I'm a little lost as to why this question and his are related. It's worth noting, too, that he asked that question of a panel of people who have self-identified as believers, no? So, whilst considered gauche by some, it may have been both contextually appropriate and a useful window into the particulars of their beliefs.

[Az]

5. Not to pick a nit

But agnosticism does not tell us what a person believes. It tells us what they claim to know. It is arguable that everyone is an agnostic after a fashion. But what a person believes is a different matter entirely. I am an atheist but I do not claim to know there is no gods. Emotional certainty does not equal knowledge so someone claiming they know there is a god because they believe it so strongly is not truly gnostic as knowledge requires direct experience. And due to our limited facilities even that can be called into question so true gnosticism (ie knowledge) is not really possible. Thus people tend to be agnostics in that no one truly knows and everyone merely believes one way or the other.

[BlueJazz]

15. Quite true...Az...I've been asked by folks (who found out I was an Atheist)....

"Why don't you believe in God?" or "Don't you believe in God?".

I have to (Try) to explain to them & I quote: "You assume there IS a God and I just don't believe in Him/Her/It....that would be like saying that there IS a Moon but I don't happen to believe in this so-called Moon that we see all the time."

They usually don't understand a word I've said...Sigh...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

6. There is no place in this poll for Wiccans, Hinduism and other spiritual beliefs that don't

involve an omnipresent god.

Personally, I'm very spiritual and believe in Universal forces.

[Prophet 451]

7. Other

I'm a Maltheist. That means I believe God exists and I believe he's a sadistic bastard. I worship Lucifer (the original freethinker) instead.

[liberalsoldier5]

19. Holy shit.....

Don't let the repubs know you're with us! n/t.

[piesRsquare]

8. You forgot one

Option 5: I don't believe it's anyone's damm business but my own

Did you know that it's a violation of Jewish Law (Halachah) to take such a poll/ask such a question? Betcha didn't! ;)

[KharmaTrain]

9. A Practicing NOTA...

None Of The Above.

Yep, that question was a waste of time and was another one of Timmeh's "gotcha" questions. That "lightning round" turned this from a debate into a game show...get your best soundbite in and quick.

I've always called myself culturally Jewish as I honor my heritage and the history of my relatives. I'm proud to be associated with some of the greatest minds that have evolved from the Jewish experience. Spiritually is another story. That's both very personal and not one that can be defined in a soundbite nor should it be.

For those who feel comfort in believing in a god...they should be respected but I've never subscribed that this is the only way to think or that those who believe in a god are morally superior to those who don't. I've met way too many "pious" people in my life who are devoted to their god, but treat their fellow man with scorn.

[hisownpetard]

10. Thank you! I, too, thought that question was extremely inappropriate! n/t

[LWolf]

11. Other:

A believer that things exist outside human knowledge and understanding.

[blondeatlast]

13. Are those the choices offered the panel? I don't think many people

fit neatly into any of those categories.

[leftofthedial]

14. Atheist

I use the bible for my compass, but only for human and animal sacrifices, incest, mass murder and plague-related issues.

[jschurchin]

16. None of the above.

I believe in a power greater than myself.

[porphyrian]

17. Agnostic - I don't know for sure, and neither do you. - n/t

[cynatnite]

18. Atheist because there is no evidence to support that a god exists n/t

[MazeRat7]

20. None of the above -nt

[liberalsoldier5]

21. Catholic, and proud of it.

And I do not believe the question was inappropriate at all. Most of our party is Christian and it's a Democratic debate. I loved all their answers. Also, I've read many of "Texas Explorer"'s posts and have come to the conclusion that he/she is just plain pissed off by the continued vitality of religion (something beyond his/her understanding) and the subsequent HUGE minority he/she is in. Take heart, FDR & JFK's solid faith in God did wonders for our country!