Care to answer a simple religious survey?

Question

1. What are your beliefs regarding an afterlife, and if applicable, your religion?
2. Are people innately good/ kind/ giving or innately cruel/ evil/ hateful?
3. Is it better to have a peaceful society where conflicting factions are suppressed, or an occasionally violent and revolutionary society?
4. Do you believe in a personal god, a distant god, or no god?
5. From where do your personal beliefs originate?

Answer 1

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name (NOT THE NAMES) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (St. Matt. 28:20).



Many Christians begin to learn about the Trinity through knowledge of Baptism. This is also a starting point for others in comprehending why the doctrine matters to so many Christians, even though the doctrine itself teaches that the being of God is beyond complete comprehension. The Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed are structured around profession of the Trinity, and are solemnly professed by converts to Christianity when they receive baptism, and in the Church's liturgy, particularly when celebrating the Eucharist. One or both of these creeds are often used as brief summations of Christian faith by mainstream denominations.

One God
God is one, and the Godhead a single being: The Hebrew Scriptures lift this one article of faith above others, and surround it with stern warnings against departure from this central issue of faith, and of faithfulness to the covenant God had made with them. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD" (Deuteronomy 6:4) (the Shema), "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Deuteronomy 5:7) and, "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel and his redeemer the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6). Any formulation of an article of faith which does not insist that God is solitary, that divides worship between God and any other, or that imagines God coming into existence rather than being God eternally, is not capable of directing people toward the knowledge of God, according to the trinitarian understanding of the Old Testament. The same insistence is found in the New Testament: "...there is none other God but one" (1 Corinthians 8:4). The "other gods" warned against are therefore not gods at all, but substitutes for God, and so are, according to St. Paul, simply mythological or are demons.

So, in the trinitarian view, the common conception which thinks of the Father and Christ as two separate beings, is incorrect. The central, and crucial affirmation of Christian faith is that there is one savior, God, and one salvation, manifest in Jesus Christ, to which there is access only because of the Holy Spirit. The God of the Old is still the same as the God of the New. In Christianity, it is understood that statements about a solitary god are intended to distinguish the Hebraic understanding from the polytheistic view, which see divine power as shared by several separate beings, beings which can, and do, disagree and have conflicts with each other. The concept of Many comprising One is quite visible in the Gospel of John, chapter 17, verses 20 through 23.

God exists in three persons

The "Shield of the Trinity" or "Scutum Fidei" diagram of traditional Western Christian symbolism.This one God however exists in three persons, or in the Greek hypostases. God has but a single divine nature. Chalcedonians — Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants — hold that, in addition, the Second Person of the Trinity — God the Son, Jesus — assumed human nature, so that he has two natures (and hence two wills), and is really and fully both true God and true human.


The singleness of God's being and the multiplicity of the Divine Persons together account for the nature of Christian salvation, and disclose the gift of eternal life. "Through the Son we have access to the Father in one Spirit" (Ephesians 2:18). Communion with the Father is the goal of the Christian faith and is eternal life. It is given to humans through the Divine union with humanity in Jesus Christ who, although fully God, died for sinners "in the flesh" to accomplish their redemption, and this forgiveness, restoration, and friendship with God is made accessible through the gift to the Church of the Holy Spirit, who, being God, knows the Divine Essence intimately and leads and empowers the Christian to fulfill the will of God. Thus, this doctrine touches on every aspect of the trinitarian Christian's faith and life; and this explains why it has been so earnestly contended for, throughout Christian history.

Source(s):

Douay Rheims Bible

78 References and Illusions To The Trinity Found In The Sacred Scriptures


I. Even the Old Testament makes definite reference both to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 11:2 "...the Spirit ... the Lord ... Him"

Isaiah 42:1 "My Servant ... I ... My Spirit ... upon Him"

Isaiah 48:16 "The Lord God ... His Spirit ... sent Me"

Isaiah 61:1 "Spirit of the Lord God ... upon Me ... the Lord"

Isaiah 63:9 "He ...the Angel of His Presence ... His Holy Spirit"

II. Close examination of the following New Testament scriptures will make obvious to any student of the Bible that the doctrine of the Godhead is truth.

Matthew 1:20, 21 "the Lord (the Father) ... the Holy Spirit ... Jesus"

Matthew 3:16, 17 "Jesus ... the Spirit of God ... a Voice from heaven (the Father)"

Matthew 12:18 "I ... My Spirit ... on Him"

Matthew 22:42, 43 "Christ ... the Spirit ... Lord (the Father)"

Mark 1:9-11 "Jesus ... the Spirit ... a Voice from heaven ... My beloved Son"

Mark 12:35, 36 "Christ ... the Holy Spirit ... the Lord (the Father)"

Luke 1:35 "the Holy Spirit ... the Highest ... the Son of God"

Luke 2:26, 27 "the Holy Spirit ... Christ ... Jesus"

Luke 3:21, 22 "Jesus ... the Holy Spirit ... a Voice from heaven ... My beloved Son"

Luke 10:21 "Jesus ... the Spirit ... Father"

Luke 12:9, 10 "God ... the Son ... the Holy Spirit"

John 3:5 "Jesus ... the Spirit ... God"

John 3:34, 35 "God ... the Spirit ... the Father ... the Son"

John 4:24, 25 "God ... a Spirit ... Messiah... Christ"

John 14:16, 17, 26 "the Comforter ... the Father ... in My name"

John 15:26 "the Comforter ... the Father ... of Me"

John 20:21, 22 "Jesus ... Father ... the Holy Spirit"

Acts 2:32,33 "Jesus ... God ... the Father ... the Holy Spirit"

Acts 2:38,39 "Jesus Christ ... the Holy Spirit ... God"

Acts 4:30,31 "Jesus ... the Holy Spirit ... God"

Acts 5:31,32 "God ... a Prince and Savior ... the Holy Spirit"

Acts 7:55 "the Holy Spirit ... Jesus ... God"

Acts 8:14_16 "God ... the Holy Spirit ... Jesus"

Acts 10:38 "God ... Jesus ... the Holy Spirit"

Acts 10:46_48 "God ... the Holy Spirit ... the Lord"

Acts 11:16, 17 "the Lord... the Holy Spirit ... God ... the Lord Jesus Christ"

Acts 20:21_23 "God ... Jesus ... the Holy Spirit"

Romans 1:1,3,4 "God ... His Son, Jesus Christ ... the Spirit"

Romans 5:5,6 "God ... the Holy Spirit ... Christ"

Romans 8:2,3 "the Spirit ... Jesus ... God ... His own Son"

Romans 8:8,9 "God ... the Spirit ... the Spirit of Christ"

Romans 8:16, 17 "the Spirit ... God ... Christ"

Romans 14:17, 18 "the Holy Spirit ... Christ... God"

Romans 15:12, 13 "Root of Jesse (Jesus) ... God ... Holy Spirit"

Romans 15:16 "Jesus ... God ... the Holy Spirit"

Romans 15:30 "The Lord Jesus Christ ... the Spirit ... God"

1 Corinthians 6:10, 11 "God ... the Lord Jesus... the Spirit"

I Corinthians 12:4_6 "Spirit ... Lord... God"

1 Corinthians 7:39, 40 "the Lord Jesus ... the Spirit ... God"

1 Corinthians 8:2 "the Lord Jesus ... the Spirit ... God"

2 Corinthians 3:3, 4 "the Spirit ... Christ ... God"

2 Corinthians 13:14 "Jesus... God ... the Holy Spirit"

2 Corinthians 5:5, 6 "God ... the Spirit ... the Lord (Jesus)"

Galatians 4:6, 7 "God ... the Spirit ... Son ... Father ... God ... Christ"

Ephesians 2:18 "through Him (Jesus) ... Spirit ... the Father"

Ephesians 2:21, 22 "the Lord ... God ... the Spirit"

Ephesians 3:14, 16 "the Father ... Jesus Christ ... His Spirit"

Ephesians 4:4-6 "Spirit ... Lord (Jesus) ... God and Father"

Ephesians 5:18-20 "Spirit ... Lord (Jesus) ... God ... Father"

Colossians 1:6-8 "God ... Christ ... Spirit"

1Thessalonians 4:6-8 "Lord (Jesus) ... God ... Holy Spirit"

1 Thessalonians 5:18, 19 "God ... Father ... Christ ... Jesus ... Spirit"

2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14 "God ... Lord... God ... Spirit ... Lord Jesus Christ"

Titus 3:4-6 "God ... Holy Spirit ... Jesus Christ"

Hebrews 2:3, 4 "Lord (Jesus) ... God ... Holy Spirit"

Hebrews 3:4, 6, 7 "God ... Christ... Holy Spirit"

Hebrews 6:4-6 "Holy Spirit ... God ... Son"

Hebrews 9:14 "Christ ... Spirit ... God"

Hebrews 10:29-31 "Son of God ... Spirit ... Lord ... God"

1 Peter 1:2 "God the Father ... Spirit ... Jesus Christ"

1 Peter 3:18 "Christ ... God ... Spirit"

1 Peter 4:14 "Christ ... Spirit ... God"

2 Peter 1:21 "God ... Holy Spirit... Lord (Jesus)"

2 Peter 2:1 "God ... Holy Spirit ... Lord (Jesus)"

1 John 4:2 "Spirit ... Jesus ... God"

1 John 4:13, 14 "Spirit ... Father ... Son ... Savior"

1 John 5:7 "Father... Word ... Holy Spirit"

Jude 20, 21 "the Holy Spirit... God... Lord ... Jesus Christ"

Revelation 1:9, 10 "Jesus Christ ... God ... Jesus Christ ... Spirit"

Revelation 3:5-7 "Father ... Spirit ... He that hath the key of David (Jesus)"

Revelation 14:12, 13 "God ... Jesus ... Lord ... Spirit"

Revelation 21:9, 10 "Lamb ... Spirit ... God"

Revelation 22:16-18 "the offspring of David (Jesus) ... Spirit ... God"

Answer 2

This could be a very long answer, but I'll try to keep it short.
1. Yes, there is an afterlife....too many honest people reporting after death communications to NOT believe.
2. I believe people are innately good....sure you have a percentage that are innately "bad", but over all I think people are good.
3. I would rather have a peaceful society where the conflicting factions work out their differences knowing we are all brothers and sisters and children of God. I know this isn't one of your choices, but I'd rather not have violence at all, and if violence occurs (murder, etc.,) the criminals are dealt with through a judicial system.
4. A personal God, we all have a soul that is a part of God.
5. Mostly passed down from my parents, but some schools of though I have were born through reading a lot of material on the internet and through books I've purchased. I don't want my spiritual learning to stop, so I'm constantly looking for the next book or article to read. It's probably why I sometimes come to this section of Y!A.

Answer 3

1) I'm undecided about an afterlife. My religion believes in an afterlife however. We believe that everyone who dies lives in the Kingdom of Heaven and that one day when the MEssiah comes this heaven will exist on earth.

2) I think that people are innately selfish. This can lead to bad behavior but is subtly different from being innately evil. I do not believe people innately wish to do harm to other humans.

3) i';d have to think about that one, my gut says revolutionary though

4) I believe in a distant G-d, but one who has the potential to be a personal G-d if he feels like it.

5) My parents taught me my religion at a young age since then I have had self exploration. I have become less religious over time.

whoever is giving people thumbs down on this question, you really a sad individual. I haven't seen any trolling answers.

Answer 4

1. I believe there is no afterlife, and I have no religion.
2. Neither, there is good and bad in them innately. If people were only good innately, where would the evil come from? And if they were only evil innately, why would they even care about the good ever in their life? Why would anyone teach it?
3. A peaceful society is always better than a violent one, but I don't believe in suppression. There should be tolerance for different believes, but if people get violent and start to harm others, they have to be stopped and punished like every criminal.
4. no God
5. Many sources, you can say all I read and heard in my life influenced me somehow, it is not a single book or other authority.

Answer 5

No organized religion here, but believer in a creator and an afterlife....the afterlife I believe in is a rejoining with the being of the creator, so it is not my distinct afterlife I am talking about, just rejoining the creator and knowing what every other being experienced and why we experienced what we did. I also believe we come back, but with no formed memory of our past.

People are not innately good or bad, they have both within them.

Better to have a peacful society, but all things end and there will inevitably be bouts of revolution, violence and instability. This is a manifestation of human nature--while we seek stability, peace and balance, when we have it, we tend to seek instability, war and advantage.

Like I indicated, I believe in a god who is distant and that we carry part of that god, the creator, in our our being--perhaps the classic soul. He started the machine we call the universe and stepped back, knowing how it would act on the macro scale and observing, feeling, sensing what goes on in the small scale (perhaps closest to the deists).

My beliefs originate most from what I observe in this world, but I am sure that I am influenced by organized (judeo-christian) religion as I have studied it a great deal.

Answer 6

1, I'm a Christian, so I believe that if you believe in Jesus, then you go to heaven
2, People are innately evil, but can be good, kind, and giving.
3, Um . . . I guess I pick the first one with conflicting factions being suppressed?
4, I believe in a personal God.
5, My beliefs come from God and truth.

Answer 7

1. I'm a Christian, so I believe in heaven.
2. People are a mixture of good and evil. No one is purely good or purely evil.
3. Not really sure on this, I usually leave it up to God.
4. Personal God.
5. They originate from childhood, my parents were always Christian, but I didn't always believe in God. When I was a child, I did not. But when I grew up a little bit, I came to believe in Him.

Answer 8

1. There is no afterlife.
2. People are innately good - situations make people cruel and hateful, as does their upbringing and environment.
3. Somewhere in the middle. I personally think hate speech, like the KKK, should be suppressed, although I will uphold anyone's right to say what they want. Sometimes revolution is a good thing - without it, there would be no America, where people CAN say whatever they want, without fear of reprisals. Violence, however, solves nothing. It only causes more violence.
4. No god.
5. From my mom, and the way she brought me up.

Answer 9

1. Whatever is waiting can't be as horrible as what can be found here.
2. I think we are born good, loving and humane but environment makes a lot of us cruel and hateful.
3. Revolutionary Society but I don't believe that requires violence or peace requires oppression.
4. I believe there is a creator, the world seems to complex and patterned to be random.
5. My heart, my compassion, things I've seen and experienced in life.

Answer 10

1. We believe we will go to the grave until the judgment. Then everyone will rise to be judged or rewarded.
2. While mankind is created in the image of God, evil has really made an impression on us and we are to the core lost.
3. We have enough war and violence without there being a demand for more. The times this earth is peaveful, ENJOY IT while it lasts!
4. Personal God, God of Abraham\Jesus\Holy Spirit.
5. My personal beliefs originate from my mind in response to what I have read and interpreted in the Bible and what God has revealed to me in Spirit.

Answer 11

1. I'm not sure, I'll find out when it's my turn. Hopefully reincarnation. I'm agnostic.

2. I think some people may have a natural tendency to be good or evil, but I don't believe anyone is born purely good or purely evil.

3. Occasional violence is okay.

4. I think if there is a god, he's a distant god.

5. My beliefs are based on what I feel, based on my own observations.