Where we stand on the issues
 

Had to throw it together quick, because I started and couldn't delete. Seen some generalizations on the goodbye CoachPants thread, not sure if we all fit neatly into the categories we might have in mind
Poll is public
Really wouldn't mind seeing someone do up a better version of this (shouldn't be too hard)

dude I was just messing around.

I didn't take no offense, it simply made me think. It's hard to get a feel for what people are really like on the 'net, and I think our imaginations (mine, anyways) fills in the blanks with soem stereotypes and generalizations

I know I initially had some notions of what Coachpants was, only to find out otherwise thru a private message from another DT'er.

I'm very liberal on this board, but I do favor capital punishment, and there are a few other areas that are at odds with liberals (though it didn't show up in my ten options here)

Recently, I started to wonder if I was becoming a war hawk, wanting CIA and/or military intervention in Egypt and Libya.

I dropped out of the politics forum a few years back, feeling outgunned by the social conservatism

Someone mentioned that this is a horse racing board, thus a foolish place to discuss politics, but this is a site I frequent, and consists of a mix of people that are not all like-minded (I could go to Huffington Post's forums and soothe my mind with comments agreeable to me), and I think it is important to try to talk with those we don't necessarily agree with

My poll is a bit too simple, and some of the options could be phrased differently to be clearer

legalize it!!

I think a multi-religion course should be taught in schools. It would have to be an elective, because more than a few parents might object. Probably in the junior or senior year, but I could see it possibly for early adolescence.
Honestly, I don't see why someone would have a problem with their teen simply learning about the world's major religions

You'd be surprised...

i'm not quite sure why religious classes should be taught.....
as for why some would have a problem-christians differ widely from one denomination to the next, with many getting almost hysterical about their beliefs. you really think you could persuade those folks that their kids should learn about other religions?? lol good luck with that!

Don't think I could at all. I know many people would have a problem with it, but I think public schools should discuss the subject

Religion is a huge issue in the world, and may well be our downfall. Naturally, I think they should be taught-but not practiced (prayer) in schools

Philosophy should be taught in academic institutions; societal and cultural practices;psychology and human development, etc.

Of course religion should be taught, (and I'm a non-believer), I think it may help some to think about what they're doing, maybe help some to be able to work with other cultures and their religions

America designated as a Christian nation 1 4.76%

Anyone have the Balls to own up to this selection?

the selction 'prayer allowed in schools' is interesting....kids are already allowed to pray in school. having an official prayer, led by anyone, where everyone feels coerced in joining is what was banned. the aclu successfully challenged an attempt by a school to prevent a girl from praying at lunch time.

Yes, some of the options should have been written better to avoid any confusion

It's an open poll, you can see who voted for what. I am still mystified over that vote (and also thought it would have more votes on here, I guess the DT politics and society forum is not as conservative as I thought)

drugs was clearly joking but he's now been joined by two others who aren't.

i'm confued by jesus outpolling omnipotent deity 2:1 at this point. how do you believe in the former but not the latter?

you're supposed to know the difference

so you believe in jesus but not god?

That confuses me as well, one would think the results would be the opposite with more folks believing in their version of god than Jesus??? I found the question perplexing as I believe Jesus was real but not necessarily more than a man while I clearly believe in the Almighty. I ended up voting only for The One.

I went to public school and we covered world religions in our World Cultures class. It wasn't elective (everyone had to take World Cultures) but I don't recall anyone having issues about it. Maybe because it wasn't taught as a "this is the truth" but as a "this faith is important in this region." Or so I recall. I think it's useful in that I learned that Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, etc. are as diverse as Christianity and, just as Christianity does here, varies in practice according to where the population lives (Pacific Island Islam is very different from Arabic Islam, for example, and Buddhism in Cambodia is a totally different faith from Buddhism in China).

So I think World Religions are a good subject for school, but probably best paired with education on the cultures where those faiths predominate, as people don't worship in a cultural vacuum.

I think you're not seeing a ton of dissent on the poll, Mike, because you cite cultural issues, not foreign policy or economic issues, and I think a lot of the DTers are probably on the same page, or close to it, where cultural issues are concerned. Polls are fun; thanks for posting it!

Timm, I went to the poll and checked who voted for what, I see you indicated you believe in Jesus but not god (you were among a number who voted that way)...having debated with you for a long time, I don't believe that's what you mean to say, correct me if I'm wrong.

It was ambigous(sp). Christians believe in a Triune God. Father,Son, and Holy Spirit. I could have checked both boxes, but wanted to delineate from a faceless god and a Saviour.

From Wikipedia:
"In the Authorized King James Version of the Bible, as well as several other versions, in Revelation 19:6 it is stated "...the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" (the original Greek word is παντοκράτωρ, "all-mighty" [6]). Although much of the narrative of the Old Testament describes the Judeo-Christian God as interacting with creation primarily through persuasion, and only occasionally through force. However, it could further be argued that the ability to conflict with truth is not an appropriate representation of accepted definitions of power, which negates the assertion that a deity does not have infinite powers.

Many other verses in the Christian Bible do assert omnipotence of its deity without actually using the word itself. There are several mentions of the Christian deity being referred to as simply "Almighty", showing that the Christian Bible supports the belief of an omnipotent deity. Some such verses are listed below:

Psalms 33:8-9: Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Genesis 17:1: And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (The Hebrew word used here is "shadday" [7])

Jeremiah 32:27: Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

At his command a storm arose and covered the sea. (Psalm 107:25)

Several parts of the New Testament claim Jesus to be one with the Father, who is omnipotent, and others show Jesus to have some separation from the Father and even self-imposed limitations on his power. (Gospel of John)"

It has always been my understanding that the basis for Christianity (among other religions) is the existence of an omnipotent god, biblical scholars may debate whether Jesus is one with or separate from god but that doesn't effect the basic concept of one omnipotent god.

the former was a prophet who existed, the latter...well...

at any rate, i believe that jesus was here. it's the whole divinity thing i have an issue with-especially when one considers that he was only 'made' divine when it was voted on in nicea, thanks to constantine.

Actually, that is another poll question I'd like to do over, as people could/should vote for omnipotent deity if they voted for belief in Jesus. In fact, belief in Jesus is an unclear question, as one could believe he existed as a human, but was not divine

I think you're not seeing a ton of dissent on the poll, Mike, because you cite cultural issues, not foreign policy or economic issues, and I think a lot of the DTers are probably on the same page, or close to it, where cultural issues are concerned

I'll be much better practiced at polls next time, and try to put up poll questions that are more clear.

As I said early on, I accidentally posted the poll(?) before I even had the questions down, and hurried because I feared the wrath of the angry DT politics and society forum crowd from asking WTF?, at the seedling of a poll that was online for the first five minutes

i'm both stunned and impressed to find someone bringing the first council of nicea into the usual monkey's throwing dung level debate about religion here.

you stunpressed me.

I'm just glad you made it a public poll.

Since Princess Doreen and Pedigree Ann are the same person, does that vote auto count twice?

i love that tidbit of info, it generally throws people into a tizzy. i recommend the book 'constantine's sword', a good read about christianity. susan wise bauer's history of ancient and early medieval also are good, with sections on the growth of christianity and rulers attempts at controlling the religion-constantine's attempts at stopping aryanism for instance.

:tro:

I also believe Jesus of Nazerath walked this planet at one point a couple thousand years ago. Whether he was the son of God or not... who the heck knows but I doubt it.

For the record, I thought I checked Gay Rights but I'm not on the list:confused:. That % should go up a couple ticks. I'm seriously rethinking my Prayer in School vote. Definitely not forced, or organized. Learning about religions place in history is important, but the story can change depending on who is telling it. Maybe some things are better left to parents.

The gay rights category as listed in this poll is a little ambiguous. There are many people who have no issue with homosexuals, don't want them to be persecuted, obviously they should have full protection on constitutional matters, insurance benefits, civil union agreements, etc. If this intended as a "gay marriage" category, it should be listed that way. It's possible to be undecided on that issue because it is so new to the public square and still reaffirm that gay Americans, being Americans, have the rights all Americans have under the Constitution. The Constitution does not spell out marriage -- that is defined under state laws (age of consent, all of that).

Similarly, if the abortion category was written as "reproductive rights", one could be undecided if one is for proactive birth control measures and not for abortion.