What?!!
See, it occurred to me that over the years, we’ve debated a lot of points regarding religion and faith.. but I’m still really not sure what everyone really thinks. We debate the finer points but never really say where we stand.. so I found myself wondering.
Here’s my track… Episcopal -> Catholic -> Right Wing Protestant Evangelical -> Centrist Protestant Christian
Which is to say that I started episcopal, became a catholic when I learned the history of the episcopal church (and cuz my Dad was one), rejected that based on theological problems (and un-christian priests), jumped the fence to being a young Jerry Falwell and have settled down into a centrist Christian faith.
Right now I believe in the teachings and deity of jesus Christ as defined by the Bible, but subscribe to no particular denomination (I’m kind of anti-religion).
This came up as I was talking to an ex-baptist atheist tonight and brought up this site, our discussions, and some of the journeys we’ve been on. I’m curious as to where YOU are.
Where I’m At
Billy Joel -> Elton John -> Yes -> Coltrane/Mingus -> Phish -> Greyboy All-Stars -> MartinMedeskiMartinWood w/ Scofield
Ummm
The ever-elusive Sammy speaks.. elusively. That being said..
With you until Yes.. then got cold on them really fast. Phish left me really cold (don’t dig jam bands) – and found myself getting really into lyricists (Ben Folds, BNL, Eminem, Cake).
(And without warning.. my little introspection post becomes a Musical journey)
Visit the Official Justin Timpane Website Music, Acting, and More! http://www.timpane.com
Musically
I believe it goes like this:
Beastie Boys->Van Halen->Def Leppard->NWA->G’N’R->Pearl Jam->Wayward Sun->Beastie Boys->P Funk->Wiggles->Veggie Tales
And the whole time U2 was the shizznit.
My $.02 Weed
Sammy
Where’s Paul’s Boutique in there?
My $.02 Weed
As Weed Wrote
Apologies for not stating that, during the whole time, I have been completely devoted to the Beastie Boys. Paul’s Boutique is still a regular play.
Progression.
Foreigner -> Rush -> Boston -> Kansas-> (mission) LDS pop -> Classical (music theory major) -> Garth Brooks -> Brooks & Dunn -> Jo Dee Messina -> Shania Twain -> Dixie Chicks -> Celine Dion -> Alanis Morisette -> Evanescence -> Linkin Park -> Frank Sinatra -> Dean Martin – Michael Buble.
I still listen to it all though 🙂 Yep, you’ll hear Garth Brooks next to Frank Sinatra and Sheryl Crow on my iPod.
That might be a fun post one day. “What’s on your iPod today?” Mine will be salted liberally with children’s tunes (skipped when I’m working) alongside some classical, show tunes, and metal.
—
Matthew P. Barnson
Spiritually
Catholic->Christian of some sort->Atheist->Agnostic->Humanist
The whole while, the thing I believe in most is fairness.
Basically, I believe in science with the idea that people need wonder and amazement in their life. For me, the fact that I’m here for such a short time in such a vast universe is the humbling wonder I need to realize I should work with my fellow man instead of for my own selfish needs.
My $.02 Weed
Where I came from
LDS -> Atheist.
Yeah, pretty straightforward. There were a lot of baby steps along the way, like the “twelve-year experiment” (that would be a good name for an album) between the ages of 17 and 29 when I was really gung-ho about my religion. Five years later, I enjoy having 10% of my gross income back, but sometimes my lack of faith it still puts a strain on my family relationships.
Unfortunately, the word “atheist” is not really a belief. It’s like identifying oneself as a “non-Jew, non-Muslim, non-Christian, non-Buddhist, non-agnostic, non-believer”. I use it as “someone without belief in the supernatural”, though the word has enough meanings depending on context that it may be a more positive belief if used by someone else
I prefer to associate myself with something more positive, so “secular Humanist” fits the bill. I favor non-sectarian government, the adoption of policies which emphasize our need to solve our own problems and not rely on supernatural beings to do it for us, and improvement of the general health, welfare, and longevity of humankind.
—
Matthew P. Barnson
How about…
Bright? I’m not sure what I think about the “movement,” but it is a positive label (as opposed to the negative a-theist) and affords alternative viewpoints an equally positively connotated moniker: Super (as in Supernaturalist).
Mine’s even easier: LDS->LDS. Of course, as anyone reading this blog over the years can see, religious affiliation is only loosely correlated with personal philosophy.
Brights…
I support the Brights, and have for years (as evidenced by the banner on my page). I think it’s of very limited utility as a label, however. Decent Internet Constituency, limited scope. Labels matter.
And besides, it’s too short 🙂 I like Troylus’s “Secular Evangelist” title, too…
—
Matthew P. Barnson
Religion…
Which is fun.. becaue I’ve often said “I love Jesus, I hate religion”
Ghandi (I think) once said (paraphrasing) “I like your christ. I do not like your christians. Your christians are so unlike your christ.”
Visit the Official Justin Timpane Website Music, Acting, and More! http://www.timpane.com