Just to get things straight... - Page 2

molly bloom · April 2, 2003, 21:20

There are Indian, Chinese and African jews. There have been Berber tribes that professed Judaism, and there were the Khazars of Central Asia who also converted to Judaism.

http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encycloped...sm/cochin.html

Kaifeng in China was a centre for Chinese Judaism- when Jesuits reached Kaifeng they were astonished to find a synagogue and a Jewish community.

http://www.cafeamimag.com/cam_about_jmshilei051502.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/chinesejews1.html

Ethiopia's is perhaps the longest established/most significant Jewish community in sub-Saharan Africa, but it is not the only 'black' Jewish community- the Lemba also claim links to Judaism.

http://www.jewishsf.com/bk000310/torah.shtml

http://www.bxscience.edu/publication...na/f-dna05.htm

cinch · April 2, 2003, 21:28

Quote:

It's strange enough that Wiccanism is now considered a religion, but now Atheism is included also ?

How is Wicca not a religion?

Unless that was a joke, in which case: Good one!

Jaguar · April 2, 2003, 23:38

Quote:

Originally posted by Pekka
How can you be black and jew at the same time?

There are plenty of African Jews, but most of them have moved to Israel.

I'm an agnostic jew, but since I can't vote on polls anymore because of the ****in invalid session thing, it doesn't matter which one of the two I would have voted for.

I am definitely NOT an atheist, because atheists are generally losers who can't stand to see that others have morals and faith, like that fool pledge guy.

Six Thousand Year Old Man · April 2, 2003, 23:41

Atheist. If I'm not God, who is?

Shi Huangdi · April 3, 2003, 00:02

Dissident Catholic

Kramerman · April 3, 2003, 00:52

agnostic/atheist, depending on ones interpretation of the terms.

Daz · April 3, 2003, 02:34

Am I a chatolic if I dont go to church, but still believe and follow the comandments?

BustaMike · April 3, 2003, 03:42

I voted banana... while religion and/or classifying yourself is important to others I really don't care. I have values and beliefs, but I don't need religion or not to tell me what these are.

Rufus T. Firefly · April 3, 2003, 05:08

Haven't been to a House of God in years, but someone once said, "Asking somebody if they're still Catholic is like asking them if they're still black." So Catholic, I guess.

Actually, saying I'm Catholic is the only thing that ever gets the Protestant evangelicals I meet in Turkey to shut the hell up. If I say I'm agnostic or not religious, they insist on trying to sell me the whole Jesus Econo-Pak. But Catholics, apparently, are beyond help and best left alone.

Urban Ranger · April 3, 2003, 07:48

Quote:

Originally posted by Immortal Wombat
and I'm an ordained priest at the ULC

Hi there fellow minister.

Immortal Wombat · April 3, 2003, 07:51

TheStinger · April 3, 2003, 08:04

Quote:

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly
Haven't been to a House of God in years, but someone once said, "Asking somebody if they're still Catholic is like asking them if they're still black." So Catholic, I guess.

Actually, saying I'm Catholic is the only thing that ever gets the Protestant evangelicals I meet in Turkey to shut the hell up. If I say I'm agnostic or not religious, they insist on trying to sell me the whole Jesus Econo-Pak. But Catholics, apparently, are beyond help and best left alone.

I always tell the mormons and Jehovious witnesses who come a knocking that I am Jewish. They soon leave

red_jon · April 3, 2003, 08:09

I have managed to get a couple of people to worship me.

Where's the 'I AM my own religion' option?

Rufus T. Firefly · April 3, 2003, 09:18

Quote:

Originally posted by TheStinger

I always tell the mormons and Jehovious witnesses who come a knocking that I am Jewish. They soon leave

I've tried that; I'm easily mistaken for Jewish. Unfortunately, a fair number of God-botherers take it as an invitation to help me "find Christ." My favorite response, which I've actually only used once, is "well, thank goodness you're here! I think I lost Him under the sofa, and I can't lift the thing myself." Apparently, there is no programmed response for this in their manual.

Az · April 3, 2003, 10:35

Agnostic: not a fence-sitter, but a "even if it exists it probably doesn't care about what I do."

MrFun · April 3, 2003, 11:49

I was raised in a Catholic family, but since the Catholic religion still officially imposes double standards on homoesxuals who believe in God, for a long time, I have been without a religious denomination.

Now, I want to try to find some active, more meaningful way to express my belief in God. So I'm seriously considering becoming an Episcopalian.

curtsibling · April 3, 2003, 11:50

Proud heathen.

Sympathetic to Pagans.

Dauphin · April 3, 2003, 12:06

Quote:

Originally posted by Immortal Wombat
oh, and I also invented my own form of Catholicism to allow my friend to dodge the school's insistance that he should get his hair cut. (religious reasons Sir...)

And earn the nickname Sansom into the bargain. Hopefully you can avoid being called Delilah.

Sava · April 3, 2003, 12:45

I was baptized Eastern Orthodox. I'm more of an agnostic than an atheist. I cannot confirm nor deny the existence or non-existence of God. I believe the Bible, and every other religious scripture, is the word of man; not of any God.

St Leo · April 3, 2003, 18:34

Atheism -- which is what I voted for -- is not a religion. It might be a position on religion, but it's not a religion proper.

Ben Kenobi · April 3, 2003, 18:40

Quote:

But Catholics, apparently, are beyond help and best left alone.

Just the opposite, they fear for their own faith.

Baptised Anglican as an infant, into a lapsed Anglican family. I've since left the Anglican church and been baptised into the Mennonite church and currently practice.

Q Classic · April 3, 2003, 18:40

catholic, just not a very good one. but i try.

MrFun · April 3, 2003, 18:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Q Cubed
catholic, just not a very good one. but i try.

Repent now, or be condemnded!

Immortal Wombat · April 3, 2003, 18:54

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Crunch
And earn the nickname Sansom into the bargain. Hopefully you can avoid being called Delilah.

Yes. I'm Erica, actually.

Dunno where the original site got to, but there's a mirror here. I seem to have mislayed the entire point of the site, the article on Samson's hair. That's a pain.

Oh, and the page design *is* meant to be that bad.

Worthingtons · April 3, 2003, 18:54

'I always tell the mormons and Jehovious witnesses who come a knocking that I am Jewish. They soon leave'

I actually talk to them sometimes, and it's interesting to see what they have to say, if they start spouting bollocks I'll fob them off with some excuse and they'll usually leave it at that. Much more interesting is the Magazines they give out, some great articles in there for one who is open minded about religion.

What confuses me is why people hate Jews so much, this is daft. In the end if there is a god out there (from my studies on this i personally think there is but each to thier own) then i doubt very much very much that he would be Interested in whether you're christian/jewish/budha ect - It's crazy to think there's all these different gods IMO.

Lorizael · April 3, 2003, 19:28

Raised by a catholic mother and a godless, jewish father. I fall under Agnosticism mostly. I have seen no evidence in favor of supernatural entities and thus I do not take them into account in my life. Although if presented with strong evidence of such a being, my actions may change.

But I still don't understand worship. I value intelligence, and Einstein was smarter than I am, but I don't worship him. I might learn from what he discovered or take his advice if I find it reasonable, but what is the point in worship?

Now obviously a god goes far beyond Einstein, but in what way? And still, of what use is worship? Why can't a god explain its existence to us and then tell us why we should do as the god says? That would be preferable to simply setting down unalterable laws followed only for fear of punishment or hope of reward.

And even if one says that a god is beyond our mortal understanding, why can't the god at least make an effort to explain things to us? After all, at least in western religions, God is omnipotent and omniscient, and should be able to make our puny brains understand his greater plan.

Sorry, went off on a little rant there. Anyway, yah, I'm not exactly a religious fellow.

Elok · April 3, 2003, 22:20

Quote:

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp
Having a "Pagan/Wiccan" option is like having a "Christian/Moslem" option.

Nah...y'see, the majority of the world's population is either Muslim or some denomination of Christian. At least, last I checked. There just aren't that many pagans/wiccans on Earth, and, since I'm making the poll, well, I just followed my instincts. If you would find it less offensive, think of it as a "general pantheist" option. Most of the Wiccans I've met classified themselves as semi-pagan on the rare occasions that I bothered to ask.