Hopefully this doesn''t spark a debate, as these things tend to.

I was born into a Christian family, although my family doesn''t really partake in church activities or discuss the religion. Being from Finland, we''re Lutheran, although I don''t pay much attention to the division into sects. Even though I was in a way told to be a Christian, I have continued to be one out of my own free mind. I think about the religion in a way different than the stereotypical Christian would; I once took a test that said I was like an Old Seeker, whatever that means.

As for what other programmers believe in, it doesn''t matter to me. I''ll never tell someone else to change their religion.

What are your beliefs : I'm personally an atheist. Many of my friends (who aren't programmers) are too, but I know a lot of programmers who are religious, so don't think we're all atheists .

How do I feel about other programmers with different beliefs : The same way as I feel about any other person with another religion; amiable as long as they aren't trying to convert me. I get pretty bothered when people take their religion too seriously .

For example: The extreme fundamentalist Christians who think the rapture will soon occur, that the Earth is less than 6000 years old, and believe they're going to heaven simply because they acknowledge Jesus even if they kill four dozen people. I try not to show how annoyed I am, and I certainly don't take it out on them, I just accept that I personally think they're incorrect. I understand that most religions attempt to better people, but it doesn't always work out correctly. Look at the crusades: some of the worst misinterpretations of religious ideals to date.

Do I believe that people shouldn't be moral since I'm an atheist? No, I agree with most existential ideology. Life itself is meaningless; you have to find your own meaning. Death is just another event, not really good, but not bad either. I can't (or, shouldn't) make choices for others, only myself. If making choices for myself happens to affect others, so be it. My flavor of atheism is like a pacifist's flavor of anarchy.

Wow, I wrote a lot more than I though I would . Well I hope it helps. [EDIT: Fixing my grammar, and spelling due to Densun's post ]

[Resist Windows XP's Invasive Production Activation Technology!]

Edited by - Null and Void on September 21, 2001 12:38:43 AM

If you''re going to be an atheist, you might as well learn to spell it correctly.

My horrible vowel reversal is now corrected .

[Resist Windows XP''s Invasive Production Activation Technology!]

I''m a christian. And as most( who have posted ) i don''t mind people of other religeons as long as they don''t preach to me or something like that.