Question for everyone?

Question

This question is devised as a fun question, dividing you up in to two groups,

for the Atheists and Agnostic group, in your lifetime, has their been a religious leader you have respected and found inspiration in, like a Dr. Martin Luther King or a Pope John Paul II or a Mother Theresa, someone we normally associate with "religion".

For those who believe in God, has their been a scientist (with the exception of those who have written books about how science and religion get along) has their been a scientist or an non-religious person, a secular person in your life time who you have respected and found inspiration from.

I was born in 1977 and while I want to say Dr. King I can't cause its not in my lifetime, but the echoes of what he said about children in school I still apply to my outlook on life.

So, in my lifetime, there is a nun, can't think of her name, but shes on MSNBC's Meet the Press at Easter and she's so intelligent about the role of religion in American Democracy

The reason she inspires me is because she reasons that the role of the Church is not to make demands on government but that government in America exists to protect the role of the Church unto its members. She said the Catholic Church bans divorce but never asked the government to ban divorce.

This way of thinking, and its applications to the social issues, inspired my own "intellectual journey of agnostocism and the role of government" in reverse in that government exists to protect her religion, but everyone elses also.

Answer 1

Matt and Trey of South Park. They "get it".

Also, the writer Orson Scott Card, he's a devout Mormon and sometimes writes about Mormon characters, really getting inside their heads. He seems to have a good understanding of the role religion plays in society and individuals lives and writes from an honest, non-biased approach, even though he's a follower himself.

Answer 2

I was born the year after Dr. King was shot so I did not get to know about him other than history books. At 37, the only religious figures I have seen mostly in the media were negative.. Bakker, Swaggart. I do admire Mother Theresa for the work she did and I had respect for Pope John Paul II. Even though I don't agree with a lot of the leanings of the catholic church one could tell at heart he was a good man.

Answer 3

Yes, I'm a Christian, and I can say that Robert Bakker is a great inspiration. He re-thought almost every assumption about dinosaurs, from biology to evolution. Although I believe that God created everything, I think his insight and courage to challenge the dominant view is very inspiring.

As a side note, I wouldn't even consider Rev. Dr. MLK a Christian, due to his own statements on his belief, so I could include him, except I'm too young like you to make it official.

Answer 4

Welcome back Jim.

I have to say no. I respect all those people a great deal, but my inspiration does not come from anything religious. I find inspiration in my own goals and the achievements of those around me.
I can find inspiration in the little boy in a wheelchair who is smiling and loving life more than I can about a religious leader born into a life of wealth and fame.
I tend to not watch much religious TV, so I guess I have not been exposed to people I might find inspiration from.

Dating back and back, Mother Theresa is a role model for all.

Answer 5

I'm Catholic as you know.Several people in my life have inspired me to be a better person,tonot give up,or to find God.
#1 deacon Thomas Huff - Immaculate Conception Church,Celina,Oh.
#2 My late uncle,Ferd Koenig.Lost first one leg then the other to diabetes but never quit fishing,coon hunting or mushroom hunting.
#3 Laura,from Y/A and 360. Her courage is an inspiration to me.
Peace....

Answer 6

Pagan.....Mother Theresa, Dalia Lama,Pope John Paul II

Answer 7

As a person of the christian faith, I find it strange that the very government that set up rights for people to have a freedom of religion is also the same government that tells me that it cannot protect that right. It's
like saying that the freedom of speech is guaranteed by the constitution but the government cannot guarantee its protection. If that is the case, why do we even have a constitution?

Answer 8

Pagan here. I would have to say Mother Theresa because of the good she did for people without any conditions or exceptions or expecting anything in return. She had sheer unconditional love for people and I find that inspiring.

Answer 9

Einstein was the greatest scientist of my time. he changed more lives than anyone else in my life time . but even he said that earth was done in six days and rested the seventh which is the Saturday Sabbath which was Einstein's holy day with G-D. inturn it should be every christian holy day take from one of the smartest men that lived here with us.

Answer 10

All this time I thought you were in your early 50's . For real.
Lots of non Christians have inspired me to various ends.