Welcome to Gaia! ::

Yes, Buddhism in it's purest form (the way it was founded by Buddha) is an atheist religion, altough, it's also more of a philosofy. However, Buddhists are welcomed to belive part of other religions, or even completely mixing them, so you can have a Pagan Buddist, a Shinto Buddhist (popular religion in Japan), a Christian Buddhist, etc.

Except that cults are not religions, thus should not be lumped with legitimate religions. I'm Pagan, and having been part of it for many years, I have yet to meet a Pagan who does not take offence to it being called a cult. It's one of the reasons why we're called 'devil worshippers' and that we have naked orgies and sacrifice virgins, because people link us with cults.

Cult shouldn't even be in the poll, as it isn't a religion, and it certainly should not be listed with Paganism.

...I'm hoping there aren't any. I've done some research on Scientology, and have come to the conclusion that it's nothing but, a dangerous cult started by someone who used to write 'sci-fi' novels. It's a fad that will die out soon, as today's youth see it for what it is - bullshit. Normally I won't say this about someone's religious beliefs, but this is just common sense.

Also, Catholicism, "Christianity", and Protestantism are under the same umbrella, no matter how you cut it. They're Abrahamic religions, which pretty much includes Islam as well. I'm not talking about the psycho "Islamic Fundamentalists" you hear about on the news. I'm talking about everyday people who PRACTICE Islam. I'm really not trying to sound rude, but if Paganism, Wicca, etc are going to be lumped in with cults, which gives a very negative connotation, then make a bigger group for the others!

No kidding!

So everyone one is aware I NEVER Considered pagan a cult, it was probably a lapse in better judgement. I hope the new poll is more decently correct?

3nodding

I was raised a Lutheran, got confirmed and all that (almost a year ago, actually), but I'm really an athiest. My parents don't know, and won't for some time, or else they'll probably have a nervous breakdown or something. Last year prior to my confirmation I was having serious doubts, and when I finally told them (because said doubts had been nagging me for several years, but I wasn't forced to face them until I had to start preparing for my confirmation) about it, they got all dissapointed and my mom was temporarily depressed.

Apparently, it's okay for anyone except their own daughter to have a religion (or lack thereof, in my case) other than their own.