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Belief System Selector
The Belief System Selector is an exploration of world religions
By the SelectSmart.com Staff
With just 20 questions, our goal is to provide a fun and informative activity to explore world religions and belief systems. We've included a sampling of more than two dozen world world religions, belief systems, or belief categories. When doctrine wasn't available to describe a belief system's positions, we looked at the predominant views of its followers. For detailed information, visit the descriptions pages which are linked from each result. We strive to be accurate. To that end, please share your comments about your results in our Religion Forum.
  • INSTRUCTIONS: For each section, check the position (or positions) that MOST CLOSELY reflects the one(s) you wish to include in your exploration. IMPORTANT: Note that some answers include more than one view separated by the word "or," for example "God (or Christ)...." It is an appropriate answer if you agree with just one option within a choice.


    • 1. NUMBER AND NATURE OF DEITY (I.E. GOD, GODS, HIGHER POWER, Choose one.
    Only one God, a corporeal spirit (has a body), supreme, personal God Almighty, the Creator
    Only one God, incorporeal (not body) spirit , supreme, personal God Almighty, the Creator.
    Multiple personal gods (or goddesses) regarded as facets of one God, and/or as separate gods.
    The supreme force is the impersonal Ultimate Reality (or life force, ultimate truth, cosmic order, absolute bliss, universal soul), which resides within and/or beyond all.
    The supreme existence is both the eternal, impersonal, formless Ultimate Reality, and personal God (or Gods).
    No God or supreme force. Or, not sure. Or, not important.
    None of the above.
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    2. HUMAN INCARNATION(S) OF GOD (OR OF GODS/GODDESSES). Choose one.
    God is (or Gods/Goddesses are) supreme, and no Incarnations.
    One Incarnation.
    Many (or countless) Incarnations.
    No particular Incarnations because God is all and all are God (or God is in all).
    No Incarnations as there is no God. Or not sure. Or not important.
    None of the above.
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    3. ORIGINS OF PHYSICAL UNIVERSE AND LIFE ON EARTH. Choose one.
    Per Book of Genesis; God created a mature universe and mature life forms from nothing in less than 7 days, less than 10,000 years ago.
    Per Book of Genesis, but "day" is not 24 hours, possibly refers to thousands (or even millions) of years, or to creation phases.
    God is creating and controlling the phenomena uncovered by scientists. Or, there are other spiritual explanations, but not in conflict with scientific discovery.
    All matter and life forms are manifestations (or illusions) of the eternal Absolute (Ultimate Truth, Universal Soul or Mind, et al).
    Only natural forces (like evolution) and no Creator or spiritual forces. Or not sure. Or not important.
    None of the above.
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    4. WHAT HAPPENS TO HUMANS AFTER DEATH? Choose one.
    Souls are judged immediately for a foretaste of heaven or hell. At the final judgment, God (or Christ) will resurrect and judge all for heaven or hell. (Or, souls may also be judged for punishment and/or purification before heaven.)
    Death results in unconsciousness until, at the final judgment, God (or Christ) will raise the living righteous to heaven; resurrect and destroy the wicked on earth; return the righteous to a paradisiacal earth for eternity.
    Souls don\'t survive death. God (or Christ) will resurrect the righteous at the final judgment for eternity in heaven or on a paradisiacal earth; the wicked will remain dead.
    The soul\'s spiritual development continues after death so that all may eventually experience the indescribable joy of closeness to God. Hell is not a place but the tormented state of remoteness from God.
    Rebirths occur (continually, or until all life\'s lessons are learned and one merges with the life force, or until complete enlightenment and eternal bliss are attained, et al.)
    There is definitely an afterlife, but the specifics cannot be known or are unimportant -- most important is one\'s conduct in life.
    No afterlife; no spiritual existence beyond life; no literal heaven and hell. Or not sure. Or not important.
    None of the above.
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    5. WHY IS THERE TERRIBLE WRONGDOING IN THE WORLD? Choose one.
    Humans inherited sinfulness, or a damaged nature, or tendency to yield to Satan\'s temptations from Adam and Eve who committed the original sin against God.
    Wrongdoing results from God-given freewill plus a weak side, or a drive to satisfy personal needs, which sometimes results in wrongful choices (and/or vulnerability to Satan\'s temptations).
    Ignorance of one\'s true existence as pure spirit and as one with the Universal Truth (or Soul, Mind, et al) can lead to wrongdoing.
    Not listening to the voice of God, who resides within all, can lead to wrongdoing.
    Egoism (self importance) leads to desire, craving, and attachments, which can lead to unwholesome thoughts and behavior, i.e. greed, hate, and violence.
    No supernatural or spiritual reasons. Human nature, psychology, sociology, criminology, etc. explain wrongdoing. Or not sure. Or not important.
    None of the above.
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    6. SATAN'S PRESENCE RESULTS IN MUCH SUFFERING.
    Agree
    Disagree
    Not Applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    7. WHY IS THERE SO MUCH SUFFERING IN THE WORLD? Choose ALL that apply.
    The original disobedience of Adam and Eve caused all mankind to inherit mortality, which includes bodily imperfection, Illness, and decay.
    Suffering is part of God\'s divine will, plan, or design (e.g. to discipline, test, challenge, strengthen faith, strengthen character, promote moral growth, or for reasons that we cannot or may not know).
    Suffering is a state of mind, (or illusion); only our spiritual nature is real.
    Spiritual or cosmic imbalance and disharmony may result in suffering.
    Unwholesome thoughts and/or deeds (greed, hatred, and violence) in this or prior lives return as suffering (karma).
    None of the above; human suffering has nothing to do with the supernatural or karma.
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    MY PATH TO SALVATION, OR EXALTATION, ETERNAL REWARD, SPIRITUAL LIBERATION/ENLIGHTENMENT, SPIRITUAL HARMONY, MERGER WITH GOD, ET AL. (Questions 8-12)

    8. Worship:
    The Supreme Power, God, or Gods
    God--three persons of one essence
    God the Father, His Son, the Holy Spirit -- each a distinct essence.
    Not Applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    9. Baptism (or Initiation) ceremony:
    required
    not required
    Not Applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    10. Regularly Confess/Repent:
    all sins/wrongs to a cleric
    all sins/wrongs, but not necessarily to a cleric
    Not Applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    11. Doing good works (deeds) and acting compassionately:
    is necessary
    is not necessary
    Not Applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    12. Choose ALL that apply.
    Adhere strictly to the rites, practices, precepts, commandments, prohibitions, laws, sacraments, or ordinances of the faith.
    All, even the wicked, are rewarded after life (e.g. go to heaven, merge with God, etc.) as God(s) is infinitely good and forgiving.
    Extinguish all cravings, attachments, and ignorance, or rid oneself of all impurities, to become fully Enlightened.
    Learn all life\'s lessons through rebirths.
    Realize your true nature as purely spirit (or soul) and not body, as one with the Absolute, Universal Soul, et al.
    Live very simply; renounce worldly goals and possessions.
    Tap the power of the Ultimate (God, or the divine) through intercessory methods such as psychics, channeling, tarot cards, crystals, magic, et al.
    Humankind is "saved" through human effort rather than through religious or spiritual means.
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS SHOULD BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF MY RELIGION OR BELIEF SYSTEM (Questions 13-20):

    13. Elective abortion should be accepted (not proclaimed or treated as immoral).
    Agree
    Disagree
    Not applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    14. Homosexual behavior should be regarded as immoral, or out of harmony.
    Agree
    Disagree
    Not applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    15. Roles for women and men should be prescribed.
    Agree
    Disagree
    Not applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    16. Divorce and/or remarriage should be restricted or punished or condemned.
    Agree
    Disagree
    Not applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    17. Social betterment programs (e.g. equality, anti-poverty, education) should be fundamental to the belief.
    Agree
    Disagree
    Not applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    18. Non-violence (e.g. pacifism, conscientious objector, etc.) should be fundamental to the belief required.
    Agree
    Disagree
    Not applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    19. Prayer, meditation, or spiritual healing practices should be favored at the exclusion of conventional health treatment (for all serious conditions or certain types of serious conditions).
    Agree
    Disagree
    Not applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  



    20. Revering nature/environment should be fundamental to the belief).
    Agree
    Disagree
    Not applicable
      What priority do you place on your selection above? High    Medium    Low  

       


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