Atheists, a few questions to you...

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

I can understand how the question would seem strange if it was just about weddings or the like, but making decisions about whether or not to have your kid circumcised or baptized to suit somebody else's views is bound to cause a little more conflict for most.

Who is pressuring you to do either of those or anything similar?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

I can understand how the question would seem strange if it was just about weddings or the like, but making decisions about whether or not to have your kid circumcised or baptized to suit somebody else's views is bound to cause a little more conflict for most.

Yeah, good point. I don't (and won't) have to make those decisions so I was just thinking about the weddings thing. My parents got a bit of the cold shoulder from Gramps when they wouldn't have us dunked.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Thor

2. Do you politely agree to baptisms, circumcisions, weddings in churches, etc.. In order to appease religious family or societal pressures?

I agree. It is an odd question. If you don't believe in God. What problem would you have with attending a wedding, baptism, or funeral in a church? That sounds more like something a so called radical of a differant religion would do. For instance, the Catholic father refused to attend his daughter's wedding to a jewish man in a synagogue.

[habernac]

1. Are you vocal about your atheism or do you shy away when religious discussion occur?

Not really. Most people who know me know I don't care for religion. If they ask about it I'll talk, but I don't initiate conversation.

2. Do you politely agree to baptisms, circumcisions, weddings in churches, etc.. In order to appease religious family or societal pressures?

I go to weddings, etc, no problem. I was asked to be the godfather for a friend of mine's son. They knew I wouldn't be baptized (which I guess you need to be in order to be a "true" godfather) but I wouldn't have had any issues attending a baptism.

3. Considering the state of the world today with radicalism in religion from the USA to Iran at a noticeably growing rate, do you feel more responsibility to speak your beliefs and fight to spread atheism to friends/family?

No.

4. Are you as an Atheist looking for a more focused plan and leadership online or locally to focus your efforts? Or would you prefer to not be involved in any Atheistic movements?

Nope, I'm anti-organization, as it looks like a lot of Atheists are.

5. Finally, are you optimistic that hundred's of years from now religion will be much less of an influence on this world or are you of the belief that we are going to be under religious influence for a long long time to come?

It's not looking good currently. I think it's swinging in the opposite direction at the moment.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Who is pressuring you to do either of those or anything similar?

Nobody is pressuring me, but I would think that many an atheist who has married into a family with strong religious beliefs has had to face those issues or ones similar to them.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Nobody is pressuring me, but I would think that many an atheist who has married into a family with strong religious beliefs has had to face those issues or ones similar to them.

Well, it's not just the spouse's family. It could very well be your own as well. I have friends who are fellow heathens who have said that they have been PUTTING OFF GETTING MARRIED because they won't want a church wedding and they know that both sets of parents would insist upon it.

I some cases, coming out to your parents as an athiest can be just as damning as coming out gay, depending on how religious the parents are.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Well, it's not just the spouse's family. It could very well be your own as well. I have friends who are fellow heathens who have said that they have been PUTTING OFF GETTING MARRIED because they won't want a church wedding and they know that both sets of parents would insist upon it.

I some cases, coming out to your parents as an athiest can be just as damning as coming out gay, depending on how religious the parents are.

That's quite true. I had a friend who came out to his parents as an atheist in highschool and ended up getting kicked out of the house and disowned by his mother and father over it.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Originally Posted by alltherage

Ha! You probably haven't had a debate with a worthy adversary.

That's possible. I spend most of my debate cycles here.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

That's possible. I spend most of my debate cycles here.

LOL!

[pope04]

Originally Posted by Russic

To me atheists who go off about their beliefs are just as annoying as Christians who go off about theirs.

Well said. Anyone that gets shrill on any subject becomes tiresome in a hurry.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Well, it's not just the spouse's family. It could very well be your own as well. I have friends who are fellow heathens who have said that they have been PUTTING OFF GETTING MARRIED because they won't want a church wedding and they know that both sets of parents would insist upon it.

I some cases, coming out to your parents as an athiest can be just as damning as coming out gay, depending on how religious the parents are.

Guess they'll be single until their parents are gone

I can't understand this fear of getting married in a church. Appease the parents and just do it.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

That's quite true. I had a friend who came out to his parents as an atheist in highschool and ended up getting kicked out of the house and disowned by his mother and father over it.

Now that is indeed sad. I have never been able to fathom how some parents get totally estranged from their children over silly little things like religion, money, sexuality, whatever. Your children are your children, accept them for who they are, not for who you would like them to be.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by redforever

Now that is indeed sad. I have never been able to fathom how some parents get totally estranged from their children over silly little things like religion, money, sexuality, whatever. Your children are your children, accept them for who they are, not for who you would like them to be.

The Mormons and JW's are famous for doing this. The JW's actually excommunicate family members and basicly treat them as if they never existed. That's cults for ya!

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Dion

The Mormons and JW's are famous for doing this. The JW's actually excommunicate family members and basicly treat them as if they never existed. That's cults for ya!

Ummnn, that's a blanket statement that is not true for all, especially the Mormons. The JW, yes, very strict about stuff like that, you get shunned. The Mormons, no. I know quite a few Mormon families, some, their sons could not do their mission as they smoked and drank. They were still part of the family,there was no shunning whatsoever. Quite a bit has changed within the Mormons. Another family I know has once a month where they have a fun day, they can drink pop, coffee, whatever, then the other days of the month, they observe the principles of their religion.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by redforever

Ummnn, that's a blanket statement that is not true for all, especially the Mormons. The JW, yes, very strict about stuff like that, you get shunned. The Mormons, no. I know quite a few Mormon families, some, their sons could not do their mission as they smoked and drank. They were still part of the family,there was no shunning whatsoever. Quite a bit has changed within the Mormons. Another family I know has once a month where they have a fun day, they can drink pop, coffee, whatever, then the other days of the month, they observe the principles of their religion.

Yes I guess i'm guilty for making blanket statements. I do know a Morman family who kicked their son out for not attending church. Kid felt he didn't have to go in order to believe in God. The mother had his things packed up in a suitcase. Kid returned a few days later and decided to attend church on a regular basis.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Dion

I can't understand this fear of getting married in a church. Appease the parents and just do it.

I'd say it's the people getting hitched who should be appeased -- appease the kids and just show up at the civil service and hope you can save them from the devil at some later date.

I wouldn't want my own wedding in a church with all the hocus-pocus and trappings of what I consider a bunch of nonsense.

On the other hand the last wedding I went to I asked the groom (quite an un-godly and skeptical fellow) why he had so much chatter about god and Jesus in his ceremony and he just rolled his eyes and said "I just rented the tux and showed up when I was told". He probably saved himself a lot of grief from his wife's family (maybe even his wife) by sucking it up for an hour and listening to the speeches.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I'd say it's the people getting hitched who should be appeased -- appease the kids and just show up at the civil service and hope you can save them from the devil at some later date.

I wouldn't want my own wedding in a church with all the hocus-pocus and trappings of what I consider a bunch of nonsense.

On the other hand the last wedding I went to I asked the groom (quite an un-godly and skeptical fellow) why he had so much chatter about god and Jesus in his ceremony and he just rolled his eyes and said "I just rented the tux and showed up when I was told". He probably saved himself a lot of grief from his wife's family (maybe even his wife) by sucking it up for an hour and listening to the speeches.

Save them from the devil?

Since most parents are footing most of the bill for the weddings I think they have the right to ask it be a church wedding. Besides an afternnoon of hocus pocus, as you call it, wouldn't hurt them.

[flamey_mcflame]

1. vocal...neither ashamed or feel pressured to keep silent

2.yes....atheism isnt a religion..it doesnt prevent me from celebrating other people's special occasion

3. i think religion on a microlevel may help people "spiritually"..whatever that means..but on a macrolevel...religion causes greta conflict..not a recent development either..adherents to radical religion truly scare me..whether wetsern or eastern

4. nah

5. im always optimistic...i never cease to be amazed at how otherwise logical and intelligent people tend to believe in this higher power(although i have many theories on why).. .if i was to say that little green people were responsible for this planet and they dictate my actions and belief..id probably be locked up...but that argument is just as valid as any other spiritual argument

[moon]

Originally Posted by Dion

Save them from the devil?

Since most parents are footing most of the bill for the weddings I think they have the right to ask it be a church wedding. Besides an afternnoon of hocus pocus, as you call it, wouldn't hurt them.

I would hope that if the parents are footing the bill or not they wouldn't be so selfish as to force religion or location on a couple.

Weddings are supposed to be one of the best days of peoples lives. Not a day for parents to force their believes on their children.

If I had the choice of having my parents pay for a wedding in a church or have to pay myself to have the wedding I wanted, I would easily tell my parents, or the brides, to shove their money and pan the wedding that I and my wife wanted.

I would also think twice about how much I would want people in my life and wedding that are so selfish that they would try and ruin an event like a persons wedding.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by moon

I would hope that if the parents are footing the bill or not they wouldn't be so selfish as to force religion or location on a couple.

Weddings are supposed to be one of the best days of peoples lives. Not a day for parents to force their believes on their children.

If I had the choice of having my parents pay for a wedding in a church or have to pay myself to have the wedding I wanted, I would easily tell my parents, or the brides, to shove their money and pan the wedding that I and my wife wanted.

I would also think twice about how much I would want people in my life and wedding that are so selfish that they would try and ruin an event like a persons wedding.

Good grief! A wedding ceremony in a church is NOT forcing religion on anyone. For the life of me I can't understand why people get hung up on this! Both my brother and sister are athiests and were married in a church. The same applies for my athiest friends. NOT one of them had any beefs about being married in a church. You'd be surprised my many non believers get married in a church.