Skeptic Project

Your #1 COINTELPRO cognitive infiltration source.

Page By Category

Forum - Question for atheists on this forum

[ Add Tags ]

[ Return to General Discussion | Reply to Topic ]
scitopsPosted: Feb 19, 2011 - 11:21
(0)
 

Level: 4
CS Original

I am an atheist. I came from a catholic background, but practiced baptist beliefs for a few years after my parents send me to a fundie school. Anyway I dated a girl for a while who was a baptist. She wanted me to go to church, but I would only agree to go to the most liberal, pro-gay, has female pastors, against creationism, no end of the world/nwo garbage. We started going to an episcopal church. Since then we have separated, but I find myself still going to church.
I like the people, I like the activities, I like the pastor, I like the deacon and his messages of social justice (which is amazing considering his older brother is the publisher of a newspaper which publishs Austrian economic garbage all the time), I love the church building which is beautiful. The problem is there is no god.

This is crazy because I am currently reading Christopher Hitchens memoirs and actually love watching vids of him bashing religion. There are only two people in the area that know I am an atheist. My family doesn't so it is unlikely anybody will ever know.

Is there something wrong with me?

#1 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
KeppPosted: Feb 19, 2011 - 11:27
(0)
 

Level: 5
CS Original

If I'm not mistaken Matt is an atheist who goes to church as well.

I don't think there is anything wrong with it, we are social primates. I have considered joining a unitarian church myself just for the social aspect.

#2 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
scitopsPosted: Feb 19, 2011 - 11:35
(0)
 

Level: 4
CS Original

Yeah, I wanted to go to a unitarian church, but the nearest one was too far away.

#3 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
Agent MattPosted: Feb 19, 2011 - 12:26
(0)
 

Genuine American Monster

Level: 70
CS Original

You can enjoy Hitchens and still enjoy going to church. I enjoy both. Its not a zero sum situation.

#4 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
duncanlecombrePosted: Feb 19, 2011 - 16:53
(0)
 

Level: 2
CS Original

I don't think so.......i suppose if you don't believe there is anything wrong with you you would have no reason to think otherwise. For the record I'm a Cristian who does not go to Church.

#5 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
The Burger KingPosted: Feb 19, 2011 - 18:23
(0)
 

I can't stop posting pictures of poop, what the fuck is wrong with me?

Level: 5
CS Original

I think a person can have a appreciation for the social aspect of any religion and in your case your appreciate the architecture as well. I remember the last time I went to church was because of the social aspect well social meaning I could pick up a girl.

I don't think their is anything wrong with you. Just avoid expressing your opinions about god to people within church and you'll be fine.

#6 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
PathfinderPosted: Feb 19, 2011 - 21:04
(0)
 

This apple is your CT. Princess Luna represents logic.

Level: 1
CS Original

Not an atheist myself, but personally and from my heart, I find nothing wrong with what you say.

If I was to be entirely religious (which I am not), then you are likely committing blasphemy and are making fun of God.

Depends on who you ask as I've known some atheists who would disagree with you and would say that you're making fun of logic. *Shrugs.*

#7 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
duncanlecombrePosted: Feb 19, 2011 - 21:08
(0)
 

Level: 2
CS Original

I don't think it would be bad at all unless you went to church to talk smack about religion.

#8 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
EdPosted: Feb 20, 2011 - 09:54
(0)
 

Level: 10
CS Original

Personally I cant even go to a liberal church without feeling dirty and out of place with the amount of bullshit they speak, even if its liberal it pisses me off that they dont really care what the Bible actually says (among other reasons).

That said, if you don't feel that way why not go if you like the social interaction? I'd find another hobby but thats just me :) I guess the moment you feel bad for doing so is probably the moment you know its time to stop going.

#9 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
Agent MattPosted: Feb 20, 2011 - 09:55
(0)
 

Genuine American Monster

Level: 70
CS Original

"I don't think it would be bad at all unless you went to church to talk smack about religion."

Religions talk smack about other religions in church.

#10 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
Agent MattPosted: Feb 20, 2011 - 09:56
(0)
 

Genuine American Monster

Level: 70
CS Original

"Personally I cant even go to a liberal church without feeling dirty and out of place with the amount of bullshit they speak, even if its liberal it pisses me off that they dont really care what the Bible actually says."

Find some Unitarians, man.

#11 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
EdPosted: Feb 20, 2011 - 10:01
(0)
 

Level: 10
CS Original

Unitarians still piss me off :)

My aunt and cousin says they are Christian but says that they believe that the original writers of the Bible didn't really believe in anything they said and it was ALL a metaphor. They define god to me "goodness" and "religion" to be in anything "good". They don't believe in the miracles, the resurrection of Jesus and don't believe a supreme conciousness with a personality that wants and feels things. When I ask them what original sin and what Jesus was supposed to die for and why the resurrections was important they just say they don't know and said they don't understand it yet. IOW. They haven't been able to find a way to imagine a metaphor for those stories.

The only actual religious thing I could find them saying they actually believe in is a funny feeling they get inside of connectedness and how they feel like there's something more. So basically they are new agers, but want to pretend Christianity is what they follow. Its really bizarre, but even that annoys me because its so just crazy irrational. I hate talking about it with them :D

#12 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
Agent MattPosted: Feb 20, 2011 - 10:04
(0)
 

Genuine American Monster

Level: 70
CS Original

Well, if you're going to get pissed off at everyone who believes in a silly god figure, you're going to end up being pissed off at awful lot of people.

#13 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]
EdPosted: Feb 20, 2011 - 12:29
(0)
 

Level: 10
CS Original

True, which is why I wouldn't be able to go to church :)

#14 [ Top | Reply to Topic ]