Jumpin said:
The poll has agnostic and atheism listed as the same thing. This is not true at all.
An Atheist is one who asserts that no God exists,
An Agnostic is one who doesn't assert that a God or Gods exist, and doesn't assert that they don't exist either.
These are two very differing viewpoints.
Also, there is a gigantic variety among Christian beliefs. Without getting into too much detail, while Liberal Christians and Conservative Christian denominations use the same scriptures, their beliefs are very different.
The Liberal camp takes the bible and take the beliefs as metaphorical. Some believe that there was never a human Jesus, and that he was wholey a spiritual being written about by the early mystics who experienced Jesus and the word of God (the logos). They also believe that much of the imagery (born of a virgin), including his titles (saviour, the son of God, Lord etc...) were part of the political rebellion of the time since these were all myths and titles associated with the Roman Emperors* Julius Caesar and Octavian Augustus.
The Conservative camp believes the bible is historical fact, and that not only was Jesus historical, but that he was born of a virgin, rose from the dead, and performed miracles.
These are two different religions that happen to use the same scripture. I would guess Liberal Christian thought is more prevelant in Europe, and Conservative Christian thought more so in the US.
* Many contemporary historians like to incorrectly place Augustus as the first Roman Emperor, but the historians of the Roman Empire (such as Plutarch and Suetonius) always placed Julius Caesar at the first of that Imperial line, and also consider Sulla to have been an Emperor. To the Romans, the title "Imperator" was "Emperor", but to many contemporary historians they require both "Imperator" and "Princeps" - although title Princeps is really not important, and it is often heavily overstated by certain camps of contemporary historians. It was more or less just a title of dignity. Many Emperors did not even include the title "Princeps" in their list of titles; including most Emperors after the reign of Diocletian, including Constantine.
|
Firstly, an Atheist is not someone who asserts that no god exists, an Atheist is "A person who lacks belief in a god or gods"
An atheist may lack a belief in a god or gods, but that doesn't mean they are someone who asserts that no gods exist.
Secondly, They aren't listed as the same thing, they are listed together. I know the difference.
You do realise this is just a quick simple poll? I know the variety among different religions, expecially islam and christianity, but like I said, this poll is just quick and simple. I listed agnostics and atheists together as they are both not theists, and have largely the same point of view in general. (key words = largely and in general)
Sorry you went into so much detail lol, I already know.
