What are your religious views?

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I'm a universalist new age hippie of sorts. To clarify, I used to consider myself a Christian, but now distance myself from the label because of the negative stigma it has achieved. Do I believe Jesus was the son of God? Probably, but I also believe in reincarnation, I'm not a biblical literalist, and I think it is Works that get you into heaven, not faith. I generally hate the traditional Christian conservative beliefs so I refuse to put myself under the Christian label. I also think most religions have some degree of truth in them, so I refuse to label one religion as the only "true" one and all others as "evil." Basically, I'm a picker and chooser, and I have no shame about that. Screw the rigid, simplistic, "us vs. them" thinking that characterizes modern religious thinking.

I think having clearly defined religious beliefs is overrated and occasionally dangerous.

I'm fascinated by Zen Buddhism and have practiced it, I don't think of it as a religion.

I'm also fascinated by all forms of paganism, but I won't really do it in a organised way because then I'd have to choose a tradition to belong to, which is usually done by guessing who your ancestors were. Do I go Norse or Celtic or even Roman gods - I'm such a mongrel, I don't know. You're supposed to 'just know' in 'your blood', or something like that. I don't know 'in my blood' - I simply think that I relate to nature in a pagan way because it wasn't that long ago in our evolutionary history that all humans did. I'm not a conscious polytheist or an animist, I just don't fight that part of my brain.

I like rituals and mythology. I don't know what my religious beliefs are.

I am currently waiting for the world to end in 2012 when the Vampire Robot Nazis who are also Zombies attack. Chuck Norris will try to save us, but unfortunately he too will become a Vampire Robot Nazi who is also a Zombie. And everyone knows that the only thing that can defeat a Vampire Robot Nazi that is also a Zombie AND Chuck Norris is flying Raptor Jesus. That is why I'm a Christian.

Now that sounds like an interesting bible.

That'd be quite interesting to see.

Was born an apatheist, became a nominal Christian for a very short stint of time, became a theoretical atheist and remained one ever since.

Having rich pricks eat my food doesn't sound like that good of a deal to me, but it's on the table (especially if Canada reverts back to being a peacekeeping nation).

Let's hope the Pontifiraptor summons Him in time, then.

I personally feel there is no right or wrong religious view. I feel the way you choose to nuture your spiritual side is based on your own personal experiences and level of understanding. I also feel that spirituality a heightened level of awareness that we are all the same. In Joseph Campbell's "The Power of Myth" the major cornerstone of different religious beliefs is some version of the Golden Rule. To use a computer analogy, I also feel that every human being has a "God" program built in, BUT you are the one who chooses to activate it or not. I also feel that we are all part of the creative energy of the universe. I feel that to acknowledge this is very beneficial. To me, all religions help one to realize this and the path you take to reach this level of understanding is irrelevant.

I would say I'm Agnostic.

I have some reason to believe in a spiritual side to existence. Beyond that, I don't know. I would have to experience something to add it to my beliefs.

VERY interesting point. I have a very important question for you. Christianity teaches that the only way to the kingdom of Heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ--that is, one confesses his need for atonement for sin, believes in Jesus' atonement for all sinners who believe, and renounces his former life of sin in favor of seeking after Christ.

What's more, and this is important, is that Christianity teaches it is THE right way for all people, which has the unfortunate effect of making all other religions wrong. So the question is, on the above assumptions of the most basic tenets of Christian faith, "Is Christianity therefore also right?"

You pretty much answered your question yourself by saying that Christianity claims to be the only path and therefore does not allow other religions. Whereas Aspinator presents a unifying force, where all spirituality (not just religion) is right.

Atheist/Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Ah... BUT Aspinator said specifically there is no right or wrong religious view, or at the very least that is his opinion at the moment ("I personally feel..."). If that is so, then there are two options: Christianity is also right. But Christianity teaches that IT ALONE is right, therefore all other religions are wrong. That would contradict Aspinator's original argument that there is "no right or wrong..." So the next logical option would be to denounce Christianity as wrong and other religions to be right. But for all religions EXCEPT Christianity to be right would be discriminatory, biased specifically against and attacking Christianity. Once again, that is contradictory to "no right or wrong..."

I'm only speaking for what I know, being a Christian myself. But insert "Islam" in the place of "Christianity" and you have a similar case. Moslems believe Christians are wrong (that's actually a slight overstatement if you take it back to the Koran, but there's no shortage of Moslems who are Christian-haters). The creed that there is no god but Allah flies in the face of neo-pagan polytheistic religions/cults and even the dualistic Wicca. Holy wars, while not sanctioned in the Christian Bible (conquering Canaan is a special case and should not be misinterpreted otherwise to justify certain historical events), ARE a significant feature of Islamic teaching. So to say that no religion is right/wrong is to accept that merciless extermination of unbelievers is good and proper behavior.

I'm curious as to how someone whose opinion is that there is no right or wrong religious view would explain this.

I am an agnostic theist Christian. I do not know, nor do I believe anyone is capable of knowing, whether God does or does not exists. I choose to believe that God exists. I also choose to believe that Jesus embodied the character of God, died, rose, and will come again.

As a consequence of these beliefs, I am very politically progressive. I would like for wealth and resources to be distributed to people based on need not merit. I think the greatest responsibility anyone has is to love the least among us in concrete and effective ways. I believe in equality for all regardless of gender, race, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation.

You resolve the contradiction by substituting "religion" for "spirituality" in Aspinator's original statement. Spirituality does not have rules or scripture and is unique for every individual, even if the individual belongs to a religion.