I'm curious to know the actual belief demographics represented by us here at Massassi, so: what do you believe? The poll options aren't check boxes because they are progressively inclusive (as long as you don't try to make it more complicated than it is ). Post specifics in the thread if you want! I'll explain the options here in case anyone is confused by my weird wording.

I believe in nothing.
I am adrift in my own mind, never truly knowing what is real and what isn't. I might be on drugs.

I believe in what can be proven, or at least significantly supported by evidence.
I believe in rational thought and the scientific method only. Morality, good, bad, right, wrong, are all relative terms invented by humans.

I believe in transcendent ideals.
I believe in rational thought, etc. but believe that there are some things that are just universally true: hurting people is bad, stealing is wrong, etc.

I believe in supernatural beings/forces as popularly defined.
I believe in ghosts and souls, or mother nature, or a holy spirit, or some kind of god or gods, etc.

I believe in a specific religious ideal that is reasonably rigid and is codified in some way.
I adhere to a specific religion to some degree: I believe in the bible, the qur'an, or some other explicitly defined religious text/doctrine that goes beyond philosophy and makes factual claims regarding history, nature, etc.

I, personally, believe in what can be proven or reasonably supported. I choose to function as though there ARE transcendent ideals, because I don't think it's reasonable or practical to exist without them, but this is a conscious choice. I'd like to say transcendent ideals, but I figured I'd vote the honest truth for you, haha.

I believe in Christianity as a way of life, but since you seem to be asking about beliefs in the sense of causality and such, I selected "I believe in transcendent ideals." However, I try to also live as if any of the other options are possible too.

I choose option 2:



But, in some way, I suppose some of me beliefs could fall under the next category down. Just because I believe what I quoted above, the following in particular:



Doesn't mean I DON'T believe this:



I still stand by my choice of option #2 however.

I believe in wearing shorts, eating cake and being polite to all who deserve it.

I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky

This, except I don't think morality / good / bad were invented by humans per se. We just gave names to the social instincts.

Technically, I'm an agnostic atheist, however I prefer using the title "Rationalist," as I don't make an active claim that there are no Gods (and I'd even be willing to argue that there probably are things in the universe that we might consider god-like), I simply don't believe any of mankind's folk stories apply to the universe. I think theology is an evolutionarily effective paranoia that provides a natural form of self-government.

I believe that it's not possible to *disprove* the existence of an intelligent "creator", but everything we've observed and discovered so far in the universe is consistent with one governed only by physical law.

Supernatural things don't exist, by definition - if they existed, they would be natural. Morality and the idea of good and bad are purely human constructs.

I'm not following...

Couldn't even take the time to wikipedia it? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic_atheism

It's the only rational position, really.

I believe...

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

I believe in a thing called love
Just listen to the rhythm of my heart
There's a chance we could make it now
We'll be rocking 'til the sun goes down
I believe in a thing called love
Ooh!

I guess option 2, but I believe the things you've stated in option 3, are part of option 2. To clarify: I think we feel bad when hurting other human beings and sex is frickin' awesome because it makes us function better as organisms. Evolution at its best.

So option 2, yes

We believe in nothsing

Number 5

You believe he's alive?

I'm honestly not sure.

Same.

I don't understand how the final option is more inclusive than the rest. That makes zero sense.

It's "more inclusive" in the terms of the poll options. It includes the previous poll options. That is to say, if you select #5, then belief in the previous options (to one degree or another) is implied as well.

You can argue plenty about whether #3, 4, and 5 imply #2 or are in direct conflict, but it's arguing semantics: either you don't trust anything (1), you trust evidence (2), you trust evidence and believe in ideals (3), you trust evidence, believe in ideals, and believe in supernatural things (4), or you trust evidence, believe in ideals, believe in supernatural beings, AND believe that these are explained by a particular doctrine.

Or, to work backwards: you can believe #3 without #4, or believe #4 without #5, but you can't believe #5 without #4 or #4 without #3.

Like I said in the beginning, don't make it more complicated than it is.

Voted option 2.

I don't believe things like wrong and right are absolute truths, but I do have a strong moral compass.

I believe in 'Karma', but not so much in the spiritual sense. I think -generally- the way we behave influences what kind of people we meet and what kind of situations we get in. As such, I like to treat people the way I would want to be treated.

Also, I do have some sort of affection for the idea of souls and an afterlife, which is to say, I wouldn't be surprised at all if there was 'something' there when I die. I just can't say I really believe in it though.