User: PriestValer

Its very simple: since it cannot be created or destroyed, it was always there.

The OP must have forgotten that the "Big Bang" theory states that all the matter existed already; just compressed in the size smaller than that of a subatomic particle.

And, mind you, the Bible speaks of NOTHING about existence BEFORE the Creation. "Light" was created? Can anyone say "Big Bang?" Plus the universe BECAME ("was" is a mistranslation) without form, etc. So even in the Bible, there is no concrete statement of existence before the Big Bang.

Lastly, the Jews disagreed with the Gentile religions. They believed that the Gentiles focused too much on idolatry and worshipping earthly things instead of something completely abstract; an ethereal Being (God). So instead, they decided in writing Genesis to just get right to the point: the Creation. As for where God came from or where matter came from, etc; was all meaningless to them. They believed that God Created, and that was that. And out of that Creation came the heavens and the Earth. No need for elaborate stories; just a simple account.

So there you go. Next question?

only god: OUR COUNTRY HAS LOST IT'S WAY.

First off, it is not considered polite to use all caps. In fact, it is considered yelling and, frankly, makes it hard to read what you are saying.

Secondly, "lost its way" is relative.

only god: IT IS NO WONDER THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP WITH NO SINCE OF RIGHT AND WRONG AND NO RESPECT FOR OTHERS, YOUNG OR OLD,

Pardon me? As a future teacher, I'll see kids every day of my life. In fact, I do that anyway. Yes, there are some trouble makers, but to the most part, the youth of today is no worse of the youth of the generation before me.

only god: THE DAY WE TOOK GOD OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS AND STARTED LETTING SOMEONE ELSE TELL US HOW WE SHOULD BE RAISING OUR CHILDREN WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DOWN FALLS OF OUR COUNTRY.

No one "took God out of the schools." If you read any of my posts in this topic, you'd see the facts. Take it from a future teacher.

only god: AND I BLAME US THE CHRISTIANS FOR SITTING BACK AND LETTING THIS HAPPEN.

Quite frankly, if I were you, I'd blame the Constitution which forbids forced religion in public schools.

only god: WE ALL TALK ABOUT HOW WRONG ALL OF THIS IS BUT NONE OF US ARE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

Speak for thyself and thyself only.

only god: I THINK ITS TIME AS GOD FEARING AND BELIEVING PEOPLE THAT WE TOOK A STAND AND STOPPED WORRYING ABOUT WHOSE TOES GET STEPPED ON,

So instead we force people to believe in exactly as you do? There's democracy in action...why not turn the US into a theocracy like Iran? Like it or not, your entire argument boils down to exactly that; theocracy. If you don't like how the US runs, then live somewhere else because this opinion is strictly against the Constitution.

only god: BECAUSE IF WE DON'T WE WILL ALL HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE LORD WHEN JUDGEMENT DAY COMES AND AS THE BIBLE SAYS THE BLOOD OF THE LOST WILL BE ON OUR HANDS. THIS LIFE HERE ON EARTH IS TEMPORARY WE NEED TO BE PREPARING FOR WHAT COMES NEXT.

Not all agree with you, so don't force your theological perceptions on the masses who choose to disagree.

Also, one last scrap of wisdom: if you feel as if you are fuming...stop, take a deep breath, possibly a chill pill (even I need one every once in a whole), and then edit and lastly send.

As promised, I have returned.

groan ;-)

Your poll is excellent; I know I've said it before but it really is one of the VERY few well-worded, scholarly, and well-thoughtup polls. I congradulate you.

However, if I may be so bold, I do have a critique and a suggestion for additional options.

Luckily, both deal with the fourth question dealing with what church the questioned is.

In the premise of the question, you do a perfect job establishing the difference between "catholic" (which the Anglicans, Catholics, Lutherans, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and a few others all claim to be) and "Catholic;" just the catholic Church based in the Vatican. Yet you still differentiate the Roman Catholics and the Eastern Rite Catholics as choices.

This isn't a serious problem, but it is somewhat confusing. I would suggest you either have one or the other to reduce confusion. The obvious exception, of course, is to get a more diverse Catholic opinion, as the Eastern Rites -DO- have a few differences with their Roman Rite brothers and sisters. If this is your intention, then leave it as it is.

I would also add additional denominations. You have an excellent list so far, but it could be improved upon.

As some of them refraine from technology, I would add the category of "Anabaptist," which would cover the Amish to Mennonites. It would diversity your poll by including a major historic Christian denominational family. At the very least, it acknowledges these denomination as fellow Christians.

To diversity your Pentecostal choice, a person could split this sizable and fast growing group of denominations into two types:

-Trinitarian Pentecostal -Oneness Pentecostal

I'm sure you understand the differences between these groups. It also forms the basis on new questions based on the Seven Ecumenical Councils and the Deity of Christ.

Because of the above, you could add some others that many claim are heterodox:

-Mormon Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) -Splinter LDS Churches (these churches were excommunicated from the CoJCoLDS but still maintain much of the basic theology except still hold onto beliefs such as polygamy, black-discrimination in the clergy, etc.) -Jehovah's Witnesses -Christian Science -Christadelphian

A few more denominations for you to add from the Calvinistic branch:

-The Reformed Church -Presbyterians

Other churches:

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) -Wesleyan -United Church of Canada -Uniting Church in Australia -Seventh Day Adventist (a few consider them heterodox but most Christian denominations accept them as full Christians regardless of their different beliefs) -Community of Christ (They were formally known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Although they still hold onto some traditional LDS beliefs [Book of Mormon and Doctrines and Covenants] they never accepted the rest of them and are actually considered by many the -REAL- LDS Church as they were led by the son and intended successor of Joseph Smith)

There are, of course, countless other denominations but the ones I've given are large, meaning that they ought to be on your list.

For two last suggestions:

-Add the option of "Other Denomination" for those not listed. -Erase all the old results; you've added A LOT of new options. Give people a chance to retake your poll fresh and fully updated. It would be helpful to tell people that if they've voted before, they can again.

Again, I am very impressed with your poll. I shall now go back to the Earth and wander here and there...and I just may pop up again

God Bless

Quote:Thanks for your kind words!

No problem. Glad I could be of some assistance.

Quote: I've added in your suggestions for most questions. I've added the additional churches and got rid of the none Christian ones, I think you're right in saying "Your's is a Christian poll that deal with issues under a Christian light."

IMHO, it only seems right. If you think about it, a Buddhist who makes a poll on Buddhism and issues from a Buddhist point-of-view would logically want just Buddhists to take his/her poll. It isn't that the Buddhist isn't interested in the opinions of other faiths, but that he/she wishes to concentrate on fellow Buddhists' ideas. Naturally, your poll is the same; merely switch the religion from Buddhism to Christianity.

Quote: The United Reformed Church was created in 1972 by the combination of the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England, so I think that Presbyterian's would come under that.

It seems you are from Britain, so it is of no wonder that I didn't know of this denomination; I live in the United States and had never heard of such a denomination. Thus, the confusion.

Quote: I purposely specified "Roman Catholic" since my church (the Church of England) is part of the "one holy catholic and apostolic church" (to quote our version of the "Nicene" Creed) though the Romish deny this.

I can completely understand this. However, it is important to remember that "C"atholic refers to the Catholic Church while "c"atholic refers to the universal Church. You could write a short note in the question of your poll to remind people taking the poll of the difference. That way, no one is offended and everyone is happy.

Quote: If you could let me know the other Rites of Catholicism I'll add them separately.

I'll give them, but please consider my additional suggestion above. In addition to that, the other Rites are tiny in compared to the Roman or Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. Adding extra choices that have a slight chance of being chosen will only waste space.

In any event, the other three Rites are:

Antiochian Byzantine Alexandrian

If you wish, however, you can call them collectively the "Eastern Rites," as they are usually referred to.

Quote: I'll consider adding more of the apocrypha, but I was a little wary of the question becoming a bit boring. How bored to people filling in these polls get?

Instead then of listing more, consider which churches accept which canons. You could instead give choices that represent the different canons accepted by different denominations:

-"Standard Canon" (Used by most Protestants, Anabaptists, Calvinists, etc) -Catholic Canon -Greek Orthodox Canon -Old Slavic Canon -Ethiopian Canon

Quote: The C of E rejects them all sicne they don't have the authority of scripture, and then says some are worth reading (I'm paraphrasing), like Judith and Tobit, etc. I tried to get a selection.

As I know it, the Anglican Communion is an extremely rich and diverse denominations with several autonomous arms, like the Episcopal Church where I live in the United States. Many Episcopalians I know do accept these books as deuterocanonical while many others don't. Perhaps this is just in the Episcopal Church, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were elsewhere in other arms of the Anglican Communion.

Quote: I don't suppose you know a comprehensive list of Bible translations? I thought I'd add a question about which one people preferred, from the Vulgate through the Authorised Version, to the NIV or the REB.

New American Bible Jerusalem Bible New Jerusalem Bible Douay-Rheims Revised Version American Standard Version Revised Standard Version New Revised Standard Version New International Version Today's New International Version New Living Translation New American Standard Bible Today's English Version (Good News Bible) The Living Bible English Revised Version Amplified Bible Today's English Version New World Translation King James Version (Authorized Version) New King James Version

There are, of course, many others, but this should be a sufficient list. In adddition, I would also add "Original 1611 Edition KJV." Believe it or not, there are some ultra-KJV-Onlyists that say the regular KJV you see today is Satanic! Weird yes, but they are around and they will -ONLY- use the very first edition (1611) King James Version.

Quote: Sorry if I forgot anyones denomination, I didn't mean to leave out anyone!

You'll always leave out -SOMEBODY-. My suggestion is to do a little research.

It might be a good idea to "simplify" denominations. For example, there are many different types of Baptists but they are all Baptists. I don't think you'll want to list every single one; you'll get a headache just thinking about it! Thus, follow the KISS rule: "Keep It Simple, Stupid!" :-P

Quote: Thanks for your helpful comments and constructive criticism PriestValer!

Like the Satan said to God in the beginning of Job, I roam here and there all the time. You'll never know when I might pop up again. ;)

I enjoyed taking your poll, and I rarely do enjoy polls so well put together. There is room for improvement, but what you have right now is better than I'd say a good 90% of the rest.

One minor critique might be to establish more age groups. Teens, 20's, 30's, etc., for better statistics.

Three minor critiques on your religion selector

1. Another minor critique is the "Byzantine Orthodox" section. It is more appropriately named "Eastern Orthodox."

2. Especially those who are members of it, you might want to label "Anglican" to "Anglican/Episcopal," since they are one in the same. You might also add in with those "Church of England" as it is known in England.

3. It isn't really known as the "Roman" Catholic Church but just the Catholic Church. The "Roman" part of it is one of the three major Rites within the Catholic Church. It also happens to be the largest. Catholics who are not members of the Roman Rite of Catholicism might object somewhat.

Some moderate critiques in the same section:

1. there are also churches called "Oriental Orthodox" that some of the poll-takers might affiliate with. These are liturgical churches often found in the Middle East that broke away during the Ecumenical Councils; long before the Great Schism between Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

2. It would be nice for you to add "Pentecostal" and "Nondenominational for Christians who are a member of a Pentecostal or Nondenominationalist church. I also do not see the Presbyterian or Congregationalist options.

3. Don't quote me on this, but I think you might have combined the names of two churches into one: Reformed Church and United Church of Christ. Both are major denominations.

Lastly, I think you might as well drop the other religions out of it. Your's is a Christian poll that deal with issues under a Christian light.

Addition questions on Communion/Eucarist might be:

"Do you believe the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ?"

1. Yes, I believe in transubstantiation
2. Yes, I believe in consubstantiation
3. No, I believe it to be symbolic

Also, you might ask: "How often do you receive Communion/Eucarist?"

1. Every Sunday
2. Once a month
3. Only during major holy days
4. Just during the Easter Season

In your question about the Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books, you might want to add more of those books. Additional books are

"Tobit" "Wisdom of Solomon" "Judith" "Baruch" "2 Esdras" "Letter of Jeremiah" "Additions to Esther" "Additions to Daniel" (Includes the Prayer of Azariah, Song of the Three Jews, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon) "Prayer of Manasseh "1 Maccabees" "2 Maccabees" "4 Maccabees"

There are others as well that some Oriental Orthodox churches accept in the canon. Unfortunately, I do not have the names of these books at the moment.

Other than this, well done :)