Want to take a quick survey?

[mbell31]

Feel free to take this quick survey if you would like to. It is for a class I am taking. No names or anything are part of the survey; the results are simply analyzed. Thanks.

1. Do you think there is any universal truth, things that are true regardless of a person's opinion? Why or why not?

2. Do you think that racism is wrong, in other words, hating people simply based on their ethnicity? Why or why not?

3. Do you think it is wrong to judge another person's beliefs or actions? Why or why not?

4. Do you think morality in America is getting better or getting worse? Why?

5. What do you think is the purpose of life?

6. What do you think happens when a person dies? Why?

7. What is your view of God? What is He like (if you think he exists)?

[Tanker]

Why is it every month or so a new member has a perfectly "innocent" survey they want us to take. Most of these previous poster admit to being Theists or won't admit to any religious belief. Claiming to be an Atheist is a little new (and dishonest not to mention a sin if you're not). What class is this for? What is it supposed to represent? Why do these "innocent" little quizes have the same questions and why do they make me feel like there is somthing a little underhanded about them? If you are an atheist and you really have no ultierior motive. I might be willing to answer this but It's not an original ploy in any way to post 1 of these quizes on this forum or any other atheist forum. I know this sounds a bit parranoid but I've learned from long expeirience that these surveys are rarely as innocent as they try to appear.

You should also make your first post in the introduction sub-forum. We also have no problem with theists of any kind on here we invite them to share and give any proof for god they may have. I know you have posted as an Atheist but like I said most of these little quizzes are usually posted by Thesits so it make me a bit reluctant to belive that claim.

[Hitsumei]

Feel free to take this quick survey if you would like to. It is for a class I am taking. No names or anything are part of the survey; the results are simply analyzed. Thanks.

Sure thing.

1. Do you think there is any universal truth, things that are true regardless of a person's opinion? Why or why not?

Sure. I think that it is true that water boils at a specific temperature no matter what anyone's opinion on the subject is.

2. Do you think that racism is wrong, in other words, hating people simply based on their ethnicity? Why or why not?

Yes. I don't think people should hate someone for arbitrary reasons because it causes unnecessary pain and suffering, and is just all around unpleasant.

3. Do you think it is wrong to judge another person's beliefs or actions? Why or why not?

No. If we didn't judge other people's beliefs and actions then there would be anarchy. A working society requires a certain amount of judging each other in order to negotiate social contracts, laws, and guidelines. I happen to like society.

4. Do you think morality in America is getting better or getting worse? Why?

Better, slowly and surely. Because I'm extremely liberal, and it seems to me that society is moving ever so slowly towards the left. Conservatives almost certainly have the opposite opinion for the same reason though!

5. What do you think is the purpose of life?

To live the best that one can, in order to build a strong, and righteous character.

6. What do you think happens when a person dies? Why?

I don't know. Because I lack the sufficient knowledge. I am not lucky enough to have had the knowledge revealed to me as many people claim. I do hope something though!

7. What is your view of God? What is He like (if you think he exists)?

I think that God is mysterious, but good. I don't have special knowledge of God either, but I love life, and I love nature, and the world, and I try to love everyone in it. Even if I can't explain some of the evils I see, I think that God has to be good, because of the far greater goods that I see.

Fun survey!  

[curiosityandthecat]

I know this sounds a bit parranoid but I've learned from long expeirience that these surveys are rarely as innocent as they try to appear.

Meh, who cares. Just have fun.

1. Do you think there is any universal truth, things that are true regardless of a person's opinion? Why or why not?

Yes, I do believe that. A few examples of things that are true regardless of my opinion: American Idol will continue to get higher viewership than NOVA, Israelis will continue to hate Palestinians and visa versa, and no matter how much I try to be humble I will always be an arrogant bastard. Why? Mine is not to question why; mine is but to do and die.

2. Do you think that racism is wrong, in other words, hating people simply based on their ethnicity? Why or why not?

No, it's not wrong. I'm all for the "cleansing" of stupid. Stupid is an ethnicity, isn't it? I mean, it's inherited, studies show it's related to region, and even though there's no biological signpost it's obviously there, right?

3. Do you think it is wrong to judge another person's beliefs or actions? Why or why not?

It is not wrong to judge other peoples' beliefs. Some beliefs are just plain dumb, and actions informed by dumb beliefs are also not wrong to judge since they are, by definition, also dumb and therefore perfectly acceptable as targets of ridicule. Why? Because I say so, and I'm not dumb.

4. Do you think morality in America is getting better or getting worse? Why?

The horse chestnut.

5. What do you think is the purpose of life?

42.

6. What do you think happens when a person dies? Why?

They poop themselves. They never show that part on television or in movies. See, it's all got to do with sphincters...

7. What is your view of God? What is He like (if you think he exists)?

Oh yes, god very much does is exist. And he has a message for everyone. It's The Word.

What? I'm so sorry, I thought you knew. I thought everyone had heard about The Word of a certain avian variety.

If you haven't heard, then, please let me be the first to tell you that...

A-well-a everybody's heard about the bird
B-b-b-bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, the bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a don't you know about the bird?
Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word!
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a...



Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Oom-oom-oom-oom-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-oom-oom-oom
Oom-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-a-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, ooma-mow-mow
Papa-oom-oom-oom-oom-ooma-mow-mow
Oom-oom-oom-oom-ooma-mow-mow
Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, ooma-mow-mow

[Hitsumei]

42.

Now, now. I believe that is the answer to not only life, but the universe and everything.

[curiosityandthecat]

Now, now. I believe that is the answer to not only life, but the universe and everything.

Yeah, the question was about the purpose about life, but I figured, hey, who am I to argue with Deep Thought?

[mbell31]

Why is it every month or so a new member has a perfectly "innocent" survey they want us to take. Most of these previous poster admit to being Theists or won't admit to any religious belief. Claiming to be an Atheist is a little new (and dishonest not to mention a sin if you're not). What class is this for? What is it supposed to represent? Why do these "innocent" little quizes have the same questions and why do they make me feel like there is somthing a little underhanded about them? If you are an atheist and you really have no ultierior motive. I might be willing to answer this but It's not an original ploy in any way to post 1 of these quizes on this forum or any other atheist forum. I know this sounds a bit parranoid but I've learned from long expeirience that these surveys are rarely as innocent as they try to appear.

You should also make your first post in the introduction sub-forum. We also have no problem with theists of any kind on here we invite them to share and give any proof for god they may have. I know you have posted as an Atheist but like I said most of these little quizzes are usually posted by Thesits so it make me a bit reluctant to belive that claim.

Hi, thanks for the response. Where did I claim to be an Atheist? I put "free-thinker" for my little description because I do not want to put myself in the tight box of those other descriptions. Different people have different beliefs about what a "Christian" is for example so I do not want to label myself as that unless I'm being properly understood. I am a theist. I hold all traditional Christian beliefs. I would never deny this. This is for my Apologetics class and it is simply intended to get a general survey of how people of different religious beliefs respond to these questions. I thought I could get some good response from Atheists here.

This is not motivated by anything besides a desire to receive information and thoughts on certain questions, just as it appears. I don't see the harm in discussing these issues. I would be glad to answer a survey of good questions posed by an atheist or any other viewpoint.

Thanks for your response Hitsumei and curiosityandthecat.

[Tanker]

Sorry for the miss understanding but free-thinker is a synonym for atheist. I'm pretty sure most people when reading free-thinker assume you're either and Atheist or an Agnostic.

From Dictionary.com
freeâ‹...thinkâ‹...erâ€, â€,/ˈfriˈθɪŋkÉ™r/  Show Spelled Pronunciation [free-thing-ker]

â€"noun a person who forms opinions on the basis of reason, independent of authority or tradition, esp. a person whose religious opinions differ from established belief.


Being a theist, a Christian, and an apologist kind of exclude you from callng yourself a free thinker by it's very deffinition.

[Tanker]

1. Do you think there is any universal truth, things that are true regardless of a person's opinion? Why or why not?

2. Do you think that racism is wrong, in other words, hating people simply based on their ethnicity? Why or why not?

3. Do you think it is wrong to judge another person's beliefs or actions? Why or why not?

4. Do you think morality in America is getting better or getting worse? Why?

5. What do you think is the purpose of life?

6. What do you think happens when a person dies? Why?

7. What is your view of God? What is He like (if you think he exists)?

1.There are universal truths and constants ie; atomic decay rates but not really any of the arbitrary ones humans put forth.

2.While I can understand the evolutionary imperatives that may be the source of racism, I do not believe that with logic that racism makes any rational sense.

3. Yes I belive it is totaly right to judge other beliefs and actions. While I do not think it's ok to discriminate against others beliefs. I do believe they way we judge the world is to evaluate other beliefs and see how relavent they are to own lives the either accept or disregad those beliefs depending on how they relate to who we want to be and how we think the world should work.

4. Morality is completly subjective to the society at that time. So neither. (ie; slavery is immoral today but maral 200 years ago)

5. There is no actual pupose to life. I can and do freely accept this. (I also accept 42)

6. You rot in the ground. Your constituent molecules are broken down and recycled in several diffirent cycles.

7. There is no god, gods, or deity of any kind.

[Hitsumei]

4. Morality is completly subjective to the society at that time.

What does that have to do with anything? Evaluations themselves are subjective. What is and isn't an improvement is based on a value judgment. Surely you wouldn't give such a response if I were to ask you if you think that turning a soup kitchen into a five star restaurant would be an improvement?

[Tanker]

4. Morality is completly subjective to the society at that time.

What does that have to do with anything? Evaluations themselves are subjective. What is and isn't an improvement is based on a value judgment. Surely you wouldn't give such a response if I were to ask you if you think that turning a soup kitchen into a five star restaurant would be an improvement?

I gave an example Slavery is abhorent today, but in America 200 years ago it was considered morally justifiable, by religion for the most part. As our socity moved on our collective morality moved on sometimes kicking and screaming.

I'm unsure of what your example was supposed to represent. A culture could theoreticly move in a way that would make helping the poor was morally wrong say because it gave them a crutch to help prevent them from bringing themselves up out of their situation. But on the flip I personally don't like 5 star establishments I think they are a bit elitist and snobby. A culture like say communism which would believe it was morally supior to remove the elitist establisment and feed everyone equally from bread lines and soup kitchens. It all morraly subjective to that paticular society of people.

[Recusant]

I agree with Tanker; Christians are not generally what is meant by the term "freethinker."  At the more religious end of the freethinker spectrum you will find deists (who are not Christian, last I heard, but might pose as Christian in an intolerant atmosphere.) Freethinker is usually understood to mean agnostic or atheist.  You yourself made it quite clear that you are a theist follower of Jesus.  Is that too long for the 'worldview' descriptor?  Maybe "Freethinking Christian." (That sounds contradictory to me, but if it's what you consider yourself to be, cool.) I suppose that in the most liberal interpretation of the word, certain of those who call themselves Christian might qualify, but whether other Christians would recognize them as Christian is a good question.  I think we are all quite well aware that there are many varieties of Christianity.  From what I've seen in my time here at HAF, Christians who choose to become members of this forum are free to describe their particular take on it in their posts here.  I won't dispute your right to call yourself a freethinker, just be aware that people might consider it inaccurate.  That said, I'll participate in your survey.

1. Do you think there is any universal truth, things that are true regardless of a person's opinion? Why or why not?

I think that the only universal truths are reasoned directly from empirically proven facts.  An example I used in another thread; "gravity is a property of matter."  All other truths are subjective, in my opinion. Faith is a subjective quality, therefor, truths requiring faith to accept, such as "a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality" are by definition not universal.

2. Do you think that racism is wrong, in other words, hating people simply based on their ethnicity? Why or why not?

Race is an unsound concept, therefor racism is not a reasonable approach.  Hating one particular ethnicity because of their genetic heritage is absurd.  It's counterproductive, and has never had a positive result.  So yes, it's wrong.

3. Do you think it is wrong to judge another person's beliefs or actions? Why or why not?

I'd be a fool to think it was wrong to judge.  Just because my morality is subjective, that does not mean I don't have the ability to make judgments based on it.  Tolerance is a great virtue, but as far as I'm concerned it becomes ridiculous when obviously harmful beliefs or actions are condoned in the name of tolerance.

4. Do you think morality in America is getting better or getting worse? Why?

I think it's a wash. In some areas of morality America seems to be improving, in some it seems to be declining.

5. What do you think is the purpose of life?

This one is quite clear; the purpose of life is to perpetuate itself.  If you're talking about human life, my particular belief is that our purpose is to try to escape the gravity well of the planet and perpetuate life elsewhere.  Personally: have fun and try to avoid doing harm.  Help others when it seems right to do so.

6. What do you think happens when a person dies? Why?

Like ants and elephants, when a person dies, their elements are dispersed sooner or later back into the environment. Why?  Because once an organism dies it no longer has the capacity to maintain itself as a discrete unit.

7. What is your view of God? What is He like (if you think he exists)?

God does not exist, except in the minds of some people, in my opinion.

Good luck with your class.

[Hitsumei]

I gave an example Slavery is abhorent today, but in America 200 years ago it was considered morally justifiable, by religion for the most part. As our socity moved on our collective morality moved on sometimes kicking and screaming.

I'm unsure of what your example was supposed to represent. A culture could theoreticly move in a way that would make helping the poor was morally wrong say because it gave them a crutch to help prevent them from bringing themselves up out of their situation. But on the flip I personally don't like 5 star establishments I think they are a bit elitist and snobby. A culture like say communism which would believe it was morally supior to remove the elitist establisment and feed everyone equally from bread lines and soup kitchens. It all morraly subjective to that paticular society of people.

I really don't understand why you are saying this given what I said to you. All -- ALL!!! -- evaluations are subjective. What is the point in pointing out that someone may disagree with you? Does that answer the question asked? It was asked what you thought. Not what everyone thought. Not if it was possible that people could hold a different opinion or set of values.

I tried to simply give a mundane example to elucidate my point, but it still managed to escape you it would seem. I'll be unspecific so you don't ignore the point and address the example this time. Is it so that this is what you say at any time that someone asks you for your view on something? Do you just avoid the question and explain how it is possible to hold multiple views on the issue?

If you look up at my post you will see how I was able to answer the question well simultaneously acknowledging that others hold different views. In fact, most of us just know this already, and don't mention it every time our view on a specific issue is sought, while refraining from actually giving a view.

I guess what I am asking is: why does something being subjective mean that you can't offer a view on it? When someone says to you "what do you think of X" are they not asking you precisely for your subjective view?

I don't understand how it being subjective is relevant to the question. Perhaps you could explain.

[Hitsumei]

I agree with Tanker; Christians are not generally what is meant by the term "freethinker."  At the more religious end of the freethinker spectrum you will find deists (who are not Christian, last I heard, but might pose as Christian in an intolerant atmosphere.) Freethinker is usually understood to mean agnostic or atheist.  You yourself made it quite clear that you are a theist follower of Jesus.  Is that too long for the 'worldview' descriptor?  Maybe "Freethinking Christian." (That sounds contradictory to me, but if it's what you consider yourself to be, cool.)

As if I'm not picking enough fights already...but I couldn't help myself. Atheists and agnostics are freethinkers because they have defined themselves to be, and have defined "freethinker" to mean agnostic or atheist. It is merely self-proclaimed, and a word that has positive connotations. It is no different than homosexuals calling themselves "gay".

If you want to do that, then knock yourself out, but it isn't as if it means much. I think I'll start using "amazingly attractive woman" to mean "Sort of Christian".

Self-allotted titles somehow don't impress me.

[Tanker]

I gave an example Slavery is abhorent today, but in America 200 years ago it was considered morally justifiable, by religion for the most part. As our socity moved on our collective morality moved on sometimes kicking and screaming.

I'm unsure of what your example was supposed to represent. A culture could theoreticly move in a way that would make helping the poor was morally wrong say because it gave them a crutch to help prevent them from bringing themselves up out of their situation. But on the flip I personally don't like 5 star establishments I think they are a bit elitist and snobby. A culture like say communism which would believe it was morally supior to remove the elitist establisment and feed everyone equally from bread lines and soup kitchens. It all morraly subjective to that paticular society of people.

I really don't understand why you are saying this given what I said to you. All -- ALL!!! -- evaluations are subjective. What is the point in pointing out that someone may disagree with you? Does that answer the question asked? It was asked what you thought. Not what everyone thought. Not if it was possible that people could hold a different opinion or set of values.

I tried to simply give a mundane example to elucidate my point, but it still managed to escape you it would seem. I'll be unspecific so you don't ignore the point and address the example this time. Is it so that this is what you say at any time that someone asks you for your view on something? Do you just avoid the question and explain how it is possible to hold multiple views on the issue?

If you look up at my post you will see how I was able to answer the question well simultaneously acknowledging that others hold different views. In fact, most of us just know this already, and don't mention it every time our view on a specific issue is sought, while refraining from actually giving a view.

I guess what I am asking is: why does something being subjective mean that you can't offer a view on it? When someone says to you "what do you think of X" aren't they not asking you precisely for your subjective view?

I don't understand how it being subjective is relevant to the question. Perhaps you could explain.

I'm not sure what you want from me. I guess I genuanly don't understand what your trying to say. I belive that you think I'm being intetnionaly obtuse, I'm not. Some people may believe the U.S. is better, some worse. I don't think it can be answered, or even asked as a simple yes or no. I sorry you don't understand what I'm trying to say I honestly can't think of a way to make myself any more clear. You seem to be a little frustrated me I don't mean to offend.