The One Ring Forums: Off Topic: The Pollantir:
(Tolkien fans) What religion are you.


Poll: (Tolkien fans) What religion are you.
Atheist 23 / 27%
Catholic 18 / 21%
Christian 23 / 27%
Muslim 0 / 0%
Buddhist 3 / 3%
other (feel free to specify.) 19 / 22%
86 total votes
 

Thorins_apprentice
Rohan

Nov 11 2012, 6:27am


Views: 2418
(Tolkien fans) What religion are you.
Wink I thought it would be interesting, to see what religion Tolkien fans are, so i decided to create this poll.Also is there a religion that Tolkien invented for Middlearth.?
We are more connected than ever before, more able to spread our ideas and beliefs, our anger and fears. As we exercise the right to advocate our views, and as we animate our supporters, we must all assume responsibility for our words and actions before they enter a vast echo chamber and reach those both serious and delirious, connected and unhinged.



(This post was edited by Thorins_apprentice on Nov 11 2012, 6:34am)


Thorins_apprentice
Rohan

Nov 11 2012, 6:55am


Views: 1519
Did the people of MiddleEarth worship Eru Il'uvatar as a God.?
Shocked
We are more connected than ever before, more able to spread our ideas and beliefs, our anger and fears. As we exercise the right to advocate our views, and as we animate our supporters, we must all assume responsibility for our words and actions before they enter a vast echo chamber and reach those both serious and delirious, connected and unhinged.



(This post was edited by Thorins_apprentice on Nov 11 2012, 6:58am)


Elizabeth
Half-elven


Nov 11 2012, 7:16am


Views: 1565
It's a little misleading...
...to distinguish "Catholic" from "Christian" because Catholics are Christians. A better distinction would be "Catholic" and "Protestant."




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Elizabeth is the TORnsib formerly known as 'erather'


Starling
Half-elven


Nov 11 2012, 8:02am


Views: 1497
Yes, and also
atheists might be surprised to find themselves included in a choice of religions.


Thorins_apprentice
Rohan

Nov 11 2012, 8:11am


Views: 1527
Atheist is still a religion.
You worship yourself.Laugh
We are more connected than ever before, more able to spread our ideas and beliefs, our anger and fears. As we exercise the right to advocate our views, and as we animate our supporters, we must all assume responsibility for our words and actions before they enter a vast echo chamber and reach those both serious and delirious, connected and unhinged.



(This post was edited by Thorins_apprentice on Nov 11 2012, 8:11am)


Thorins_apprentice
Rohan

Nov 11 2012, 8:30am


Views: 1477
I meant to put Morman there as well.
So feel free to add Morman to the (other) choice.
We are more connected than ever before, more able to spread our ideas and beliefs, our anger and fears. As we exercise the right to advocate our views, and as we animate our supporters, we must all assume responsibility for our words and actions before they enter a vast echo chamber and reach those both serious and delirious, connected and unhinged.



(This post was edited by Thorins_apprentice on Nov 11 2012, 8:33am)


DanielLB
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 8:53am


Views: 1482
I'm atheist, an don't worship myself /
 

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Thorins_apprentice
Rohan

Nov 11 2012, 9:00am


Views: 1468
Sorry Daniel.
It was just a counter joke.A very bad one.Laugh
I didn't want to offend anyone.
We are more connected than ever before, more able to spread our ideas and beliefs, our anger and fears. As we exercise the right to advocate our views, and as we animate our supporters, we must all assume responsibility for our words and actions before they enter a vast echo chamber and reach those both serious and delirious, connected and unhinged.



(This post was edited by Thorins_apprentice on Nov 11 2012, 9:00am)


Starling
Half-elven


Nov 11 2012, 9:00am


Views: 1485
Well you really should
since you are indeed *gasp* immortal. Laugh


Thorins_apprentice
Rohan

Nov 11 2012, 9:04am


Views: 1472
My poll is definately not immortal or worship worthy.
What a fail if i ever saw one.Laugh Laugh
Hey admins, please feel free to delete whenever your'e ready. Cool
We are more connected than ever before, more able to spread our ideas and beliefs, our anger and fears. As we exercise the right to advocate our views, and as we animate our supporters, we must all assume responsibility for our words and actions before they enter a vast echo chamber and reach those both serious and delirious, connected and unhinged.



(This post was edited by Thorins_apprentice on Nov 11 2012, 9:12am)


DanielLB
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 9:09am


Views: 1446
Doesn't that mean people should worship me ;-)
You must bow before me!Evil

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Annael
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 5:04pm


Views: 1421
I don't fit into any category or belong to any group
having studied religions both on my own and in grad school, I think the mystics of every religion must be on to something since they all say the same thing, but the "official" religions themselves have gotten off track.

Buddhists are atheists, by the way: they don't believe in a creator god.
The way we imagine our lives is the way we are going to go on living our lives.

- James Hillman, Healing Fiction

* * * * * * * * * *

NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967


Annael
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 5:09pm


Views: 1448
not to start a flame war but
that's so wrong.

My father is an atheist. He doesn't believe there's a God or an afterlife or a soul. He thinks we're here on earth for one life and that's it. Believing that, he also believes that we are therefore morally bound to be the best people we can be and live a life of service to others. He served in WWII, then became a physician who devoted himself to the care of children, including spending a fair amount of time up in the mountains of Morocco when the French pulled out and took all the doctors with them, taking care of Berber children. He's instilled in all his children and grand-children the idea that we are here for others not ourselves.

I have a lot more admiration for someone who is good because he believes it is the right thing to do, not because he fears punishment or hopes for reward. To be good only for such reasons seems awfully self-serving to me.
The way we imagine our lives is the way we are going to go on living our lives.

- James Hillman, Healing Fiction

* * * * * * * * * *

NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967

(This post was edited by Annael on Nov 11 2012, 5:11pm)


DanielLB
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 5:34pm


Views: 1433
This
In Reply To

I have a lot more admiration for someone who is good because he believes it is the right thing to do, not because he fears punishment or hopes for reward. To be good only for such reasons seems awfully self-serving to me.
He sounds like a great man, your father.

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Eredhion
The Shire


Nov 11 2012, 6:00pm


Views: 1417
I agree with you
that we should be good because that's the right thing to do and I know many atheists who are much better than many Christians. But as a Christian I personally don't feel that my actions are made out of fear or for seeking an afterlife reward.
“Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky”


Ataahua
Forum Admin / Moderator


Nov 11 2012, 6:18pm


Views: 1474
"Atheism is a religion
in exactly the same way that not collecting stamps is a hobby." - Scott Adams (which he borrowed from someone else).
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."

"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.

Ataahua's stories


Sam20
Lorien

Nov 11 2012, 8:14pm


Views: 1400
Religion
It is a personal question so I am not so surprised that few people have responded directly to it. As for me, I've been raised as a Christian (or Roman Catholic) and that is still my religion.Though I've not a blind faith and I disagree with many things in it. I often doubt and question myself about what really is or was and what might be. I am a human after all and tough I may have faith and personal convictions, I dont really know. That's why I am open minded and have respect to any religion and interpretation of our existence and that of the world and dimension we are in.


(This post was edited by sam90 on Nov 11 2012, 8:20pm)


Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 8:32pm


Views: 1368
My father is an atheist too
He didn't live as heroic a life as yours, but he's been a very good, moral, decent, upright man for all his 82 years. And like your father, he's those things not because he thinks it will get him into heaven, but because it's the right thing to do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



(This post was edited by Aunt Dora Baggins on Nov 11 2012, 8:35pm)


Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 8:34pm


Views: 1405
Other:
Unitarian Universalist.


And I think Tolkien didn't want to invent a religion for Middle Earth, since he was such a devout Catholic. But he modeled the mythology somewhat on his beloved Norse myths, I think. Except that he had to work the one God in there, so he made the others Valar, and not gods.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



(This post was edited by Aunt Dora Baggins on Nov 11 2012, 8:44pm)


Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 8:36pm


Views: 1383
My dad says
"Theology is the study of the empty set."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 8:39pm


Views: 1381
*mods up* //
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 8:41pm


Views: 1380
Oh, and I'm also
a Metaphorian.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 8:46pm


Views: 1373
Fixing broken link:
Unitarian Universalist

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Sam20
Lorien

Nov 11 2012, 8:49pm


Views: 1387
Why 6 messages?
It seems to me that you could have written the whole in one message and using the 'edit' fonction if necessery, just saying.Smile


(This post was edited by sam90 on Nov 11 2012, 8:51pm)


Tigero
Rivendell


Nov 11 2012, 8:52pm


Views: 1410
''The goal of life is not to live forever, but to create something that does.''
Well.. atleast Tolkien and PJ succeeded in life by that quote.
Pessimists have no disappointments.


Escapist
Gondor


Nov 11 2012, 9:03pm


Views: 485
The fact that this topic can even be discussed here is a testament to the good nature of the TORn community.
I was rushing in here to say "oh no! We can't talk about religion because we will all just start fighting over it!"
I have to admit that I have grown fiercely reluctant to speak about religion on public forums at all any more!!!


Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 9:20pm


Views: 480
Six?
Well, partly because the edit feature runs out after ten minutes, so you can't edit after that. Also, I was replying in different places, which you will see clearly if you view the thread in threaded mode instead of flat mode. And also because that's how I got to be half-elven ;-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 9:24pm


Views: 484
And because
I'm Aunt Dora, and I write reams of good advice, of course. So here's a piece of advice for you: Have some respect for your elders.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



(This post was edited by Aunt Dora Baggins on Nov 11 2012, 9:27pm)


Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 9:25pm


Views: 484
It's a pretty nice place, isn't it? //
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



sevilodorf
Tol Eressea


Nov 11 2012, 10:06pm


Views: 493
Spiritual agnostic
Spiritual agnosticism The view that universal ethics and love can guide actions more effectively than questioning the existence of deities. A spiritual agnostic would say "It doesn't matter which religion you might follow, nor does it matter whether or not you believe in God. What matters is what you do, not what you believe.
Fourth Age Adventures at the Inn of the Burping Troll http://burpingtroll.com





DanielLB
Immortal


Nov 11 2012, 10:11pm


Views: 492
There will be plenty of raised eyebrows among the admins though ;-)
Not that it's a bad thing, of course. I'd love to be a fly on the TORn wall during their Code Red discussions.Tongue

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(This post was edited by DanielLB on Nov 11 2012, 10:18pm)


Escapist
Gondor


Nov 11 2012, 10:19pm


Views: 502
I was worried when I saw the thread title!
But none of the usual tension seems to be here. Normally when people bring up the topics of politics and religion, the flames start igniting. In reality, it is that flaming negativity that makes those topics kind of dangerous for message boards (unless those boards are designed to be hotspots for fierce debate on all such issues instead of trying to be about something else entirely).


Ring-Bearer
Rivendell


Nov 12 2012, 12:24am


Views: 480
Fun fact
Tolkien himself was Catholic, and purposefully tied many of the teachings of Catholicism into his writings, though deliberately avoiding allegory.
'What are we holding on to, Sam?'
'There's good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for!'

'I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!'



Ataahua
Forum Admin / Moderator


Nov 12 2012, 1:21am


Views: 600
We do
keep a close eye on discussion threads that could easily become inflammatory, but I doubt we've had to edit or remove any posts from a religion discussion in the last year or two. Board members know how to discuss topics without stepping on toes and, from my observations, they take particular care with obviously sensitive topics.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."

"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.

Ataahua's stories


Starling
Half-elven


Nov 12 2012, 8:26am


Views: 472
Now that is some sound advice,
right there.

Maybe I will change my mind. I was thinking about answering the poll with 'Other: DanielLBian'. But I might need to change it to 'Other: Aunt Dorian'


Starling
Half-elven


Nov 12 2012, 8:31am


Views: 454
Oh, and to actually answer the question, I am an Anglican now
I was an atheist until my mid-thirties. I come from a family of stroppy, argumentative atheists. I like to think of our family motto as: Speak your truth. That was something my Grandpa always said. My Grandparents never went to church, and they lived lives of total integrity.


DanielLB
Immortal


Nov 12 2012, 8:34am


Views: 454
I'm making some campaign posters as I type
Hey, I'll even bribe people to come over to the DanielLBian darkside. Evil

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Starling
Half-elven


Nov 12 2012, 8:41am


Views: 468
Bribery won't work
I am way more scareder of Aunty Dora than I am of you. Shocked


DanielLB
Immortal


Nov 12 2012, 8:56am


Views: 523
Hmmm ... I'll have to re-think my plan of taking over TORn then, if bribery isn't going to work! /
 

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Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 12 2012, 12:32pm


Views: 439
Oh, dear.
I was having an exceptionally cranky day yesterday. I think DanielLBianism would be a lot more rewarding.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 12 2012, 12:39pm


Views: 552
How interesting!
When someone makes a mature decision, there's got to be a lot of thought and heart behind it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Sam20
Lorien

Nov 12 2012, 5:18pm


Views: 471
Messages
@Aunt Dora Baggins You're right unfortunately the 'edit' fonction doesn't work after 10 minutes but 5 of your messages as been written within that time that's why I was wondering. Anyway do as you wish I am not here to command anyone, it is not my task. I was just politely asking. Six messages in a row seems to me as a bit of a flood that is all. Let us not stray any longer on that subject.


(This post was edited by sam90 on Nov 12 2012, 5:27pm)


Magpie
Immortal


Nov 12 2012, 5:52pm


Views: 445
if you're reading flat, try switching to threaded... it might explain some of what you wondered //
 

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Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 12 2012, 6:08pm


Views: 441
Whoosh!
You've been through an Aunt Dora flood. And probably not for the last time :-D

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



FlyingSerkis
Rivendell

Nov 12 2012, 7:27pm


Views: 419
I think I'm a theist
But I certainly don't follow any "official" religion Wink

My slight problem with the "official" religions is that a lot of the time people are born into them, whereas I believe it should be to personal choice. But I see a whole "nature vs nurture" debate springing up in my head then so I won't go there Tongue


Annael
Immortal


Nov 12 2012, 7:30pm


Views: 416
psst
Love your nick!
The way we imagine our lives is the way we are going to go on living our lives.

- James Hillman, Healing Fiction

* * * * * * * * * *

NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967


FlyingSerkis
Rivendell

Nov 12 2012, 8:09pm


Views: 484
;-) //
 


zarabia
Tol Eressea


Nov 13 2012, 2:55am


Views: 432
Same here
   
Quote

having studied religions both on my own and in grad school, I think the mystics of every religion must be on to something since they all say the same thing, but the "official" religions themselves have gotten off track.

Well, except for the part about grad schoolFrown (maybe some day{sigh}) I've always felt that different cultures were given a piece of the puzzle regarding the question of "life, the universe, and everything" but those pieces of the Truth have been used for political (in the sense of influencing behavior and attitude, not Democrat v. Republican) reasons and have thus become clouded.

I do believe that there is something greater than ourselves and that there is a purpose to life other than a purely existential one, but I also feel that there is no way to prove or disprove this idea, so it is a matter of faith for me.
"The question isn't where, Constable, but when." - Inspector Spacetime


Patty
Immortal


Nov 13 2012, 4:31am


Views: 420
"That's how I got to be half eleven"
I'm loving it!
Permanent address: Into the West






Starling
Half-elven


Nov 13 2012, 4:50am


Views: 513
I think I'll flip-flop
between the two. I like variety. Cool


Annael
Immortal


Nov 13 2012, 5:16pm


Views: 443
exactly
Quote
there is no way to prove or disprove this idea, so it is a matter of faith
To me that's real faith. I think that's what Christ meant with the parable of the mustard seed.
The way we imagine our lives is the way we are going to go on living our lives.

- James Hillman, Healing Fiction

* * * * * * * * * *

NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967


Arwen's daughter
Half-elven


Nov 13 2012, 8:08pm


Views: 518
Agnostic //
 


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Eowyn of Penns Woods
Valinor


Nov 14 2012, 4:40am


Views: 447
'Mormon' is a nickname for members of a particular church, not a religion.
(And not a nickname of their own choosing or given them by friendly folk, either, BTW.) And it's The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so the 'LDS' would fall under 'Christian', anyway. :)
**********************************


NABOUF
Not a TORns*b!
Certified Curmudgeon
Knitting Knerd
NARF: NWtS Chapter Member since June 17,2011


zarabia
Tol Eressea


Nov 14 2012, 6:29am


Views: 468
Thanks for getting my meaning even though I wasn't very clear :P
When I re-read my post later I thought, "duh!" believing something without proof IS faith. But I think you knew I meant that I don't have any text that I look to as being the actual word of God; no person I see as being divinely guided to guide me in turn.
"The question isn't where, Constable, but when." - Inspector Spacetime


Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Nov 14 2012, 8:48pm


Views: 415
We've all been trained to play nice :-)
It reminds me a bit of the time my school had a panel on religion and invited a bunch of us professors to be on it. We looked at each other nervously and said, "Is it OK to talk about this here?" because we'd all been taught that the classroom is no place to be spouting off about our personal religions, and rightly so. But on a panel it was fine, and we were awfully careful not to fight :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories

leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Radagast-Aiwendil
Gondor


Nov 14 2012, 9:46pm


Views: 421
Personally I find it hard to answer this question, although atheist would be my answer
I've often felt that the world is too much of a wonderful place for its creation to be accidental, and am occasionally inclined to feel that I am in the presence of something far greater than my humble self. I try to do good out of a sense of what is right, although there is also a small part of me wanting to do good to gain passage to Heaven if I am proved wrong (I think everybody is self-serving to at least some degree, even if only to a small level).

However, when I search my own feelings I know that the only thing that I can imagine coming after this is complete oblivion. That is not something I want to believe due to its depressing connotations, but I feel that it is true, and because of that it is something that I must ultimately and honestly subscribe to.

If Heaven is a real place, then I would be also inclined to believe that Hell was a real place also, though I think that very, very few people would be considered evil enough to earn a place there.
"Radagast is, of course, a worthy wizard, a master of shapes and changes of hue, and he has much lore of herbs and beasts, and birds are especially his friends."-Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings.

(This post was edited by Radagast-Aiwendil on Nov 14 2012, 9:53pm)


Misto
Lorien

Nov 15 2012, 12:04pm


Views: 404
Technically...
there is a piece of paper somewhere, making me a protestant Christian. Practically I can't even be bothered enough about religion to drop by the local church office and cancel my membership. So I guess that makes me an atheist of the I-really-don't-care kindWink


imin
Valinor


Nov 16 2012, 12:43am


Views: 384
Athiest
Been an atheist since i was around 10 years old. I didnt know that was what i felt was called but as i looked into it i was.

At first i was scared as i thought i shouldnt be feeling like this as i would be punished by god/not allowed into heaven but then i thought if this being/thing we call god is so awesome then he wont mind that i was not believing in him when he gave zero evidence for the entire history of the universe and felt better. If he did mind then he is too petty to be worshiped.

My parents were great and let me decide for myself through reading and talking to various people rather than pushing me one way or the other.

To me it was a defining moment in my life when i knew there was no god (imo).

I do think had i been born in a different part of the world i would most likely be part of the predominant religion in that area e.g. if i was born and raised in Pakistan i would almost certainly be a muslim.

I wish i would still 'see the light' and become an atheist (if born in a very religious country) but for most people they dont get the chance to think for themselves without outside influences. Whether they come to the conclusion their is one god, many gods or no god(s) to me doesnt matter, what does is having the opportunity to find out for ones self rather than being made to believe what your parents believe.

Ultimately people can believe whatever they want, if it doesnt hurt anyone and they try to be good people then they can believe what they like.


alienorchid
Lorien


Nov 17 2012, 7:42am


Views: 457
I generally call myself an atheist, but,
I think I'm essentially agnostic.

I don't think there is any way I can ever know within my own lifetime, beyond any doubt, that there are supernatural entities. In saying that, I call myself an atheist because I think that it's so unlikely that any deity exists in the forms already established by human beings (such as the Abrahamic god, Hindu gods, greek gods, folk gods, etc), that I basically don't believe in any god or have any faith-based beliefs.

My parents are both atheist/agnostic, and when I was growing up they always told me that I had to explore and learn so that I could make my own decision about religion, faith and spirituality :)

I don't really have any issues with other people's personal beliefs - for me, what it comes down to is 'live and let live'.


Xanaseb
Tol Eressea


Nov 17 2012, 8:06pm


Views: 397
I very very much object to 'Catholic' being separated from Christian... absolutely ridiculous lol..
Unimpressed
--I'm a victim of Bifurcation--
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Xanaseb
Tol Eressea


Nov 17 2012, 8:10pm


Views: 376
precisely. Or just keep them together.. ..
 
--I'm a victim of Bifurcation--
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Faenoriel
Tol Eressea


Nov 21 2012, 7:37pm


Views: 383
Discussion about religion? In TORn? It's truly 2012.
I'm Christian. As are my Catholic brothers and sisters. Tsk tsk.
But every word you say today
Gets twisted 'round some other way
And they'll hurt you if they think you've lied


DanielLB
Immortal


Nov 21 2012, 9:05pm


Views: 360
In unrelated matters
Your new avatar caught me off guard! Change unsettles me.Wink

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DanielLB
Immortal


Nov 21 2012, 9:25pm


Views: 386
I've only just read all the other complements your had elsewhere on the forum.
You have another one to add to your list now!

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burgahobbit
Rohan


Nov 23 2012, 7:45pm


Views: 367
Here Tolkien explains why he left out cults and religions in Middle-earth
Quote
"The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. That is why I have not put in, or have cut out, practically all references to anything like 'religion', to cults or practices, in the imaginary world. For the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism." – J.R.R. Tolkien (emphasis mine)
And this is why I love The Lord of the Rings so much: the task to destroy the ring, the characters' dealings with temptation and sin, the Eucharistic element in the Elvish lembas bread, the Divine Providence that Gandalf speaks of throughout The Hobbit/LOTR/Unfinished tails, etc. etc., are all so symbolic and beautiful. As Tolkien describes it, the religious element is "absorbed into the story" and also the characters. I loved the films (or what I was allowed to watch of them) and I loved the hobbit book as a young child when I didn't understand all of this, but I love them even more now that I do!
“This task was appointed to you…and if you don’t find a way, no one will.” – Lady Galadriel


burgahobbit
Rohan


Nov 23 2012, 7:48pm


Views: 385
Needless to say
I'm a Christian and a Catholic. Smile
“This task was appointed to you…and if you don’t find a way, no one will.” – Lady Galadriel


Eye's on Guard
Lorien


Nov 23 2012, 9:54pm


Views: 374
I don't choose religion as a means in and of itself...
but I do believe The Bible is true.

This is a matter of faith, and that's why logical argumentation never works when it comes to these matters. Glad to see there is none here. It's just too bad most school systems look down on faith and that hypocrites in religion give it a bad name.


Fredeghar Wayfarer
Lorien


Nov 24 2012, 7:53am


Views: 349
Religion in Middle-earth
As far as religion in Middle-earth, there were several. The Elves and the Numenoreans worshiped Eru and honored his servants, the Valar. The Black Numenoreans worshiped Morgoth and were said to make sacrifices to him in Unfinished Tales. Other races of Men worshiped the Valar, mistaking them for gods according to the intro to The Silmarillion. The Dwarves probably worshiped their creator Aule and maybe Eru as well, since he breathed life into them.

By the way, as to your poll, I'm agnostic.


Faenoriel
Tol Eressea


Nov 27 2012, 5:23pm


Views: 335
Yes, that's the exact right way to handle religious themes in your fiction. //
 
But every word you say today
Gets twisted 'round some other way
And they'll hurt you if they think you've lied


Kassandros
Rohan


Nov 27 2012, 6:49pm


Views: 349
"most school systems look down on faith"
In what country do you live?

This is completely false in America. A vast majority of teachers here are Christian, just like the general population.
all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us...


Faenoriel
Tol Eressea


Nov 27 2012, 7:20pm


Views: 322
It depends entirely on the country
Many European countries are very secular.
But every word you say today
Gets twisted 'round some other way
And they'll hurt you if they think you've lied


Kassandros
Rohan


Nov 27 2012, 7:49pm


Views: 334
But aren't there more Christian schools in Europe?
I thought I've read that there are more religious schools in Europe, no? And that some are even paid for by State money? I'm no expert on the matter, though. I'm sure it varies quite a bit by country in Europe as well, but I'm thinking of the UK, Netherlands, and Germany at the moment.
all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us...


Morok Cloudkeeper
Rohan


Nov 30 2012, 9:55am


Views: 321
Tolkien was a huge Christian
Just saying...
Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.



FlyingSerkis
Rivendell

Nov 30 2012, 5:57pm


Views: 356
I thought he was fairly average-sized...
Tongue Angelic


Kassandros
Rohan


Nov 30 2012, 6:59pm


Views: 379
A devout Catholic to be specific.
It shows up very much in his work. Catholic virtues are everywhere and yet his writing doesn't clobber you over the head with religion. That's probably why people of such diverse faiths are big fans of his work.

(Personally, I am not religious. If you want to label me, "agnostic" would come the closest.)
all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us...


Aethelwyne Bolger
Bree


Dec 18 2012, 2:45am


Views: 883
Lovely thread and great comments
I'm a Christian who went to a very strict church as a small child (no makeup or short sleeves or short hair or pants for women!), then we moved and I went to a Baptist church for awhile before we found a Free Methodist Church we liked. I then went to a Wesleyan college, and now go to a Baptist church though I spent a little bit of time visiting a Catholic church with my friend. I think it was a good experience to be able to study the many different types of beliefs and traditions within one religion.

I watched a bit of the interfaith prayer vigil last night until I had to rock my niece to sleep in another room, and I thought it was beautiful how there was Jewish and Muslim songs and prayers and different Christian denominations, Protestant and Catholic and everything in between, all peacefully praying together to comfort the victims' families and the heartbroken and the nation. I wish the world could be like that, everyone getting along and doing there own thing and respecting each other's differences.


Aethelwyne Bolger. Because Bellawen Bolger and Arianna Greenleaf just aren't me!

(This post was edited by Aethelwyne Bolger on Dec 18 2012, 2:47am)


sauget.diblosio
Tol Eressea

Apr 3 2013, 10:08am


Views: 841
I'm surprised
the atheists made such a strong showing. Well done!