Faithbook SeanC

The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held prejudices. It may not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true. But our preferences do not determine what's true. We have a method, and that method helps us to reach not absolute truth, only asymptotic approaches to the truth — never there, just closer and closer, always finding vast new oceans of undiscovered possibilities. Cleverly designed experiments are the key. - Carl Sagan

How Do You Imagine God?
God in America and USA WEEKEND Magazine are partnering to explore Americans' images of God.

How do you imagine God? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Imaginary 4 people liked this

My Beliefs

I believe ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator That there are lot of things yet to be known and making assumptions about the unknown without evidence, without reason, can only lead to willful ignorance. 4 people liked this

My most powerful moment of belief was ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Seeing Hubble deep field for the first time. 4 people liked this

My greatest moment of doubt was ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator When I was 12, one time I thought I was Jesus because no one could convince me otherwise. 3 people liked this

My spiritual life means... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Rejecting myth no matter how good it makes you feel to accept it. 4 people liked this

The biggest misconception about my faith/belief system is ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator That, somehow, you need faith to say "I don't know" 3 people liked this

My spiritual role model is ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Richard Feynman or Carl Sagan.

6 people liked this

The tenet/practice/teaching I appreciate most about my faith is ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Looking at the universe and coming up with explanations from observation. Not starting with an explanation and trying to force the universe into that limited worldview. 3 people liked this

My Faith History

As a child I believed ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator The world and universe are huge places worth exploring 3 people liked this

I was raised as ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Very liberal minded methodist, with an agnostic father. 1 person liked this

Are your beliefs or practices different from your parents? If so, how and why? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Same as my father, but my mother still nominally considers herself a Catholic, it's hard to get to her not be afraid. 1 person liked this

How I Practice My Faith

Where and when do you practice your faith? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator I don't think the universe asks us to do anything but live. It's the appreciation of the human condition that makes me act the way I do. 5 people liked this

The song/book/film that most represents my faith is ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator

Religion & the Public Square

What should be the role of religion in politics? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator None, dogmatic faiths are inherently incompatible and shouldn't be included in public policy. Government should be vigilant in both its hostility to religious interference and overly cautious in imposing on the personal right to practice one's own religion, provided that the practice of your religion of choice does not interfere with the rights of anyone else. I very much admire French Laïcité. 3 people liked this

Should courses about religion be taught in public schools? Why or why not? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Yes, but with an anthropological context and outlook. How has religion shaped humanity, culture and civilization? There should be no reference to "God" as an entity outside of religion. 3 people liked this

Should the Bible, Torah, Quran or other religious texts be taught as works of literature in public schools? Why or why not? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Perhaps, but they don't really stack up to the craft of similar period texts, I'd rather they go with the the Iliad, Aeneid and others. The best Christian literature is usually considered to be late middle age epistolary stories with Christian themes. 2 people liked this

Is interfaith dialogue important? Why or why not? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator It's pretty irrelevant. People should act like people when in public, not like a member in some exclusive group. 2 people liked this

Do you feel comfortable discussing your faith with others? Why/why not? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Yes, but people become offended too easily, because they feel the suggestion that their belief doesn't align with the shared reality of the universe is an affront to them personally. 5 people liked this

Are religious beliefs compromised by engaging in politics? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Yes. 2 people liked this

Has 9/11 had any impact on your thoughts about religion? Are you more/less interested in learning about other religions? Do you feel more/less comfortable expressing your religious beliefs? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator No, pretty much par for the course. 3 people liked this

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Published October 11, 2010

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