What should do about my religious affiliation on my college applications?
Q. Currently I am applying to a few religious private colleges. I understand they lean towards certain religious backgrounds. The one I am doing at this very moment is a Catholic private college. I was raised Baptist but have been a practicing Buddhist for several years. Will putting down Baptist make my chances any better for a Catholic school? Besides the religious aspect, my GPA and test scores are much higher than the college's standards. I just don't want my religion to screw it all up.
Asked by a girl with a question - Sun Oct 4 10:12:52 2009 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

Why is the study of religious ritual classified as a subject for anthropology, rather than religious studies?
Q. I have a degree in religious studies, and I'm very interested in religious rituals. Most of the books about it are written by anthropologists, and some use jargon of that field that I am not very familiar with. Why is ritual classified as a subject for anthropology, rather than religious studies? What would be the difference between someone who studied ritual as an anthropologist, and one who studied it as a "religious study"? Would the 2 have different perspectives?
Asked by Heron By The Sea - Mon Mar 10 16:25:22 2008 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. I am bachelor in sociology and I have also wondered where is the border between all these sciences. Anthropology is generally the science that examines the way people live in the different social realms. A science for the society but is interested in the human beings living in this society not the processes in it that is work for the sociology. Anthropology is very close to culturology, ethnology, sociology even philosophy. Have in mind that these sciences are very close and unlike the sciences like mathematics, chemistry etc. most of the authors are at the same time :anthropologists; culturologists; sociologists etc. In this case the religion is being studied as an object and it can be analyzed in different ways under the point of… [cont.]
Answered by apash - Mon Mar 10 17:20:47 2008

What are the religious reasons for not getting an epidural?
Q. I asked a question about reasons why some women prefer natural births.. And, someone mentioned religious reasons.. Would anyone know or have an explanation as to what the religious reasonings are?
Asked by KenZ - Fri Aug 7 17:42:08 2009 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Scientology prohibits the use of drugs whatsoever. Some Jewish and Christian women will decide to avoid epidurals because they feel that it goes against their religious convictions by avoiding the 'curse' about having pain in childbearing.
Answered by MaidenByTheWater - Fri Aug 7 17:55:31 2009

What religious views are there for the support of capital punishment?
Q. Preferably the points of views of Christians, Muslims and Buddhists. I don't want answers saying that these religions don't support capital punishment because some religious people do. Christian states in America use capital punishment as do Muslin countries like Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Not sure why a Buddhist would be in support of capital punishment though. Maybe some of you guys will no. What justifications do Christians and Muslims use from there holly book to support it.
Asked by singemajeep - Sun May 31 10:25:19 2009 - - 9 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Like most topics, you can find Biblical support for either side if you look hard enough. Shakespeare once wrote, the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. That said, there are many passages in the Old Testament that support capital punishment, often for relatively mild offenses: - Adultery (Leviticus 20:10) - Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16) - Breaking the Sabbath (Exodus 31:14 & 15) - Disobedient children (Exodus 21:15 & 17; Leviticus 20:9) - Homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13) - Not being a virgin on your wedding night (but only if you're a woman - Deuteronomy 22:20-21) Some people cite Romans 13:1-7, which states that all governments are sanctioned by God, and if the government dictates something like capital punishment then it is… [cont.]
Answered by El Guapo - Mon Jun 1 10:48:10 2009

What are your arguments against atheists or religious people?
Q. Religious people: Why are you religious? Were you brought up that way, or did you chose to become religious? Atheists: Why are you an atheist? Were you brought up that way? I am actually an atheist, but I find religions interesting.
Asked by .................. - Thu Mar 26 19:39:58 2009 - - 8 Answers - 0 Comments

A. I have no argument against atheists. They are free to believe as they wish.
Answered by PROBLEM JPAS A.R.T. - Thu Mar 26 19:45:04 2009

How do Religious people address Freud's view that God is just wishful thinking?
Q. Freud's contention was that God is a psychological need. People like to have a parent figure. And that is all there is to God. How is that view seen by the religious?
Asked by Misses M - Thu Dec 11 04:04:54 2008 - - 9 Answers - 0 Comments

A. They wish otherwise, but call it faith.
Answered by Beavis Christ AM - Book 2 - Thu Dec 11 04:09:19 2008

Is the tendency towards being religious genetically inheritable?
Q. Has anyone ever researched into this? I only ask because some people in my family are quite religious, others not so much. I don't think any of us ever made a choice to be religious or not it just seems to be the way we're built. On the other hand some of us go through phases of being religious and then not and then back again etc. If there is any genetic basis for being receptive to religious belief does this mean that there is or was some kind of reproductive or survival advantage to being religious?
Asked by Zo-12 - Sat Jan 24 06:52:11 2009 - - 6 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Hi This question has got me thinking. I grew up in an atheist household, yet as a child i believed in God, i didnt express this to my mother as she was a passionate atheist, and my siblings were younger than me so i didnt really tell them either. For survival as a child it would have been more benficial to me to have been atheist, as my mother had a very strong personality. Over the years i became more agnostic. Something happened in my life and my agnosticism became belief again ( sorry wont go into it). My husband is agnostic, i have one daughter who is passionately atheist and two who are interested in God. I dont push my beliefs on my husband or my children as that is in my view wrong, but i am open to any questions, even the… [cont.]
Answered by unknown - Sat Jan 24 07:24:32 2009

Do most religious people present their religious texts as absolute truth and is this absolutely dishonest?
Q. That s really the only option for resenting religious texts, right? Very few religious people present their religious texts as partial truth or diamonds in a dung hill yet these descriptions are much closer to accurate descriptions of what these religious texts are, right? And very few religious people present their religious texts with just as much likelihood of being the truth as any other religious text. By neglecting to mention this fact, are they deliberately being dishonest?
Asked by Desiree - Sun Aug 16 18:55:41 2009 - - 22 Answers - 0 Comments

A. If I did not believe the Whole Bible was true, I could not honestly have faith in any of it. If there was one little point in the Bible that was absolutely wrong, then I could not trust the rest to be true. And, if I could not absolutely trust the Bible, from cover to cover, I would not be preaching and teaching it.
Answered by unknown - Sun Aug 16 19:00:28 2009

How important do you think religious diversity is?
Q. Imagine a world where everyone came to the same conclusion on the religion subject! Welcome to robot world! Seriously, I'm wary of someone that wants to eliminate religious/spiritual diversity. Converters usually have an agenda that involves controlling other people. So, if someone wants to bully you into agreeing with them, they just want to control you for their own purposes. They want to make you their pawn in their little chess game. Beware of the enemies of religious diversity. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Asked by Druidess - Wed Jun 3 20:24:32 2009 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Right on! Polytheism is natural.
Answered by Tamara - Wed Jun 3 20:28:48 2009

How best to plumb the depth of a religious person s insanity?
Q. Whenever I encounter a religious person, I m always thinking things like, How insane is this person? Does this person have explosives strapped to their body? Is this person about to evangelize to me about some primitive belief system? Is this person a member of some weird new cult and is about to try to manipulate me into joining it? Is there a way to quickly and accurately determine how crazy and potentially dangerous a religious person is that you ve just met, because in my experience, all religious people are crazy and potentially dangerous to some degree?
Asked by Desiree - Fri Jul 17 19:09:18 2009 - - 16 Answers - 0 Comments

A. ...introduce them to their worst and most wicked desire in Life...
Answered by Deja Vu! - Fri Jul 17 19:26:28 2009

Pagans: What percentage of religious books that you read are specific to your religious tradition?
Q. Most of us are avid readers, but I'm curious as to our individual perceptions of how the religious books we read apply to our religions. If you make an educated guess about your religious reads, what percentage are actually about your specific tradition, sect or religious community. For example, I'd say maybe 1% are specific to my trad, another 50% or so to Wicca and the rest either aren't about my religion at all or are about the generic Pagan community. Happy Campfire Friday.
Asked by LabGrrl MacFlu - Fri Oct 17 08:08:32 2008 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Formally or for my own reading? LOL I have read Theogony, Works and Days, the Iliad, the Odyssey, parts of the Book of the Dead and am about to read Antigone and something or another by Sophocles that I can't think of. I have read the Bible on my own and for school. I have also read Plato and Aristotle in spades. But to be honest, while I am personally facisnated with them all, it's for school. On a personal "Oh I need to read this for religion" I would say easily 99% of my books are on my own religion but that's because I read so much about other people's in my philosophy classes that I don't really feel the need.
Answered by ~Heathen Princess~ - Fri Oct 17 09:19:48 2008

How should I deal with a religious teacher?
Q. My musical arts teacher is very religious, and she requests that we give her religious explanations for musical terms. Example: Music is a connection between humans and God I find this ridiculous, even idiotic, but she tells us the we MUST explain it this way. Do I have the right to report her to the principal? And if he ignores me(pretty common in our school), how should I deal with her?
Asked by #0001C22 Del. - Tue Jan 27 18:31:17 2009 - - 33 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Yes, you have every right to report her to the principal. If he doesn't take you seriously, you have every right to report him to the school board. And if they don't take you seriously, you have every right to contact the ACLU. You can also take your story to the local news media (even the threat of this will tend to frighten most schools), but that comes with the danger of letting religious nuts know who you are and making them think that you are an enemy - you could get hurt going to the media. But the threat is still a good one, even if it's empty. That's a lot of work, though. If your parents are in agreement with you, it would be in your favor to get them in on the picture. I doubt the principal will blow off you and your… [cont.]
Answered by Pull My Finger - Tue Jan 27 18:42:27 2009

What are the religious beliefs of the ancient Assyrians and Mesopotamians?
Q. What are the religious beliefs of the ancient Assyrians and Mesopotamians?
Asked by nekomimi - Tue Sep 4 00:43:51 2007 - - 2 Answers - 1 Comments

A. With slight revisions: "Mesopotamian mythology is the collective name given to Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian mythologies from the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq... The Sumerians practiced a polytheistic religion, with anthropomorphic gods or goddesses representing forces or presences in the world, in much the same way as later Greek mythology. According to said mythology, the gods originally created humans as servants for themselves but freed them when they became too much to handle. Many stories in Sumerian religion appear similar to stories in other Middle-Eastern religions. For example, the Biblical account of the creation of man as well as Noah's flood resemble the Sumerian tales very closely,… [cont.]
Answered by sheik_sebir - Tue Sep 4 01:12:26 2007

How important was religious zeal during the Crusades??
Q. I'm writing a term paper for my Christian History class, and the question is "How important was religious zeal in the military successes of the Crusaders?" Does anybody know of any good websites or books that discuss this? Thanks for your help!
Asked by Mrs. Chip - Wed Feb 20 15:49:21 2008 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. it was very important. it was the whole reason for the crusades. the christens thought they were better than everyone else and thought Jerusalem was theirs. the crusades resulted from that religious tension. look at The Crusades were a series of military conflicts of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal threats. Crusades were fought against Muslims, pagan Slavs, Russian and Greek Orthodox Christians, Mongols, Cathars, Hussites, and political enemies of the popes.[1] Crusaders took vows and were granted an indulgence for past sins.[1]
Answered by Q Q - Wed Feb 20 16:00:16 2008

How can children be protected from religious people who try to manipulate them into their cults?
Q. Should children be told to be suspicious of religious people, to distrust them and suspect them of trying to lure and entrap them into a system of lies? Is it ok to teach children that religious people are a bunch of liars, morons and generally people of unethical principles?
Asked by Desiree - Thu Jul 9 07:48:11 2009 - - 11 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Wow, look at the hatred spew from you. Tell my kids 'm a lying moron with unethical principles and they are going to look at you like YOUR a moron.
Answered by superb9006 - Thu Jul 9 07:52:57 2009

What do the religious people think about mars having water on it in the past and even possibly today?
Q. As we explore more and more and keep understanding the truth, what do you religious people feel about carbon dating ( literal proof that this planet is millions of years old), and new discoveries of planets having evidence of liquid existing on it in the past or even quite possibly today, and the recent new finding of a planet very similar to ours in our solar system beyond pluto? What will it take to show some of you guys that this universe is entirely more complicated than talking snakes and apples and the whole gay gig?
Asked by The Only Quest - Mon Mar 10 22:15:22 2008 - - 8 Answers - 0 Comments

A. You are so wrong to lump all people with any faith into the same category. And you are so wrong to attempt to criticize something that you obviously know nothing about. I am very religious and I believe that the earth is millions of years old. There is nothing in the Bible that says that one day is 24 hours to the Lord but it does say that time does NOT pass the same for Him as it does for us. One day could easily have been millions of years to us. And what is this gay gig you refer to? Get your facts straight before you chastise the rest of the population.
Answered by B. - Mon Mar 10 22:50:18 2008

What influence did the religious belief's have on the decisions of the government and in daily life?
Q. This question is basically asking about the influence of religious beliefs specifically early Christianity. I need this answer from a technical and smart person who know World History or Global Studies well.
Asked by panda - Sun May 17 18:38:29 2009 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Given the overabundance (sarcasm at work, if you didn't notice) of material from the first five centuries of the common era (CE), we see only what has trickled down from later historians. Original writings among the converts to the new religion really didn't survive outside the Catholic (Roman and Orthodox) church. Even then, the Orthodox and Roman churches were at odds from the past 1,000 years. That said, we have to rely on the Catholic "fathers" for any information and so I hope you can read and understand the language they wrote in. Otherwise, you'll see translations and sometimes they reflect the thinking of the translator and not the original author. Josephus, an early Jewish historian left us with a work called Antiquities of the… [cont.]
Answered by Old Timer Too - Sun May 17 18:49:36 2009

What importance do young people place on religious food taboos?
Q. Do young people follow religious food restrictions? I am doing a research paper on religious food taboos such as eating halal, kosher, vegetarian, fish on Fridays and during Lent etc. I would like to know what sort of importance young people place on these rules. Do you follow these guidelines? And why/ why not? important could you please state your age in your response. Much appreciated.
Asked by Lauren - Fri Jan 23 14:13:55 2009 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. I grew up in the Baptist church, and man, they like to eat. So, I was not taught to follow any of those. I usually do lent, but I dont do the whole food thing, I pick one thing in my life that maybe shouldnt be there and try to give it up for the whole time, and then after. So personally, food... no importance. However, I support being respectful about it to those who are. For example, I would NEVER serve something thats not kosher to a Jew and so on. And that has a high importance to me because its important to respect other people's beliefs.
Answered by midnightmoon - Fri Jan 23 14:23:49 2009

Do you have to be religious to attend a religious university?
Q. Does it matter that much? I wouldn't consider myself a very religious person but the only schools that are located around my home seem to all be private religious universities. Would it matter if I went even if I'm not religious, as long as I'm able to attend some sort of university?
Asked by e.aristondo - Mon Jan 22 16:22:35 2007 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

A. You do not have to be religious to attend a religious university. That being said -- there are some where you will not fit in if you are not religious. Catholic Universities have lots of non-Catholic students. However, Catholic Universities are primarily universities -- and secondarily Catholic. I went to Villanova as an undergraduate. The only classes where religion was discussed was in my three required Religious Studies classes (and even then, it wasn't always Catholicism -- since one of the classes was a Comparative Religions class). But if you went to a school like Liberty or some Bible College -- then you would find that Religion is the motivating factor behind everything. You might not fit in if you are not religious.
Answered by Ranto - Mon Jan 22 17:26:52 2007

What is your favorite book with a religious theme besides the Bible?
Q. I'm not talking about the Book of Mormon or the Quran or any other religious text relating to a specfic religion. I mean a book with a general religious theme.
Asked by Kathryn R - Sat Jun 9 05:00:37 2007 - - 17 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Probably either The Lord of the Rings, or The Chroncles of Narnia.
Answered by Terpsichore McJoy - Sat Jun 9 14:20:52 2007