Quote of the Day, Department of Religious Affairs

[bloodyrosemccoy]

“When I say I realized I was an atheist when I was a teenager, I’m simplifying things a bit, because I was always an atheist. My big revelation wasn’t so much a realization that I was an atheist as it was a realization that other people weren’t.”

This quote was brought to you by our discussions of churchgoing at work. My coworker was totally cool with my being an atheist, because he’s one too, but he was also puzzled by the idea that I had been raised that way. Who knew atheism could be the default setting?

Comments

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

I agree completely! Atheists provide perspective!

The phrase "raised atheist" always amuses me, though--it sounds like we had regular lessons on God not existing. ;)

I use the term soul, but I think my definition is different from the religious concept. I have it tied in with "consciousness" and "personality" and all sorts of odd things, but I think it's a piecemeal understanding at best.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

My reassurance is that the universe itself is wondrous enough. Supernatural stuff seems like cheating.

I dissect Bible stories with the same gusto I'd dissect any other story. I imagine Sunday school teachers have at least a little experience with this sort of thing, but as I never went, I never tested it against them.

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

I find religion interesting, but as a subject of scrutiny, not an actual worldview to be adopted.

Even came up with my own consect...

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Very much agreed--it tells us a lot about people, anyway.

I love coming up with consects. My favorite is the group of aliens who believe god is an author and they are the characters, mostly because they are COMPLETELY RIGHT if they go meta, but also because I found it extremely funny to come up with schisms and theologies based on trying to find out what genre the story is and who the protagonist is. (Also why I laughed my ass off all the way through Stranger Than Fiction.) But the one I'm working on now is less meta and intended to look more like an actual mythos. I'm still having fun with it, though--the mnemonic jingle they teach kids about What To Do If You Find Yourself Dead makes me snicker every time.