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

[killabee886.livejournal.com]

I was raised more agnostic than atheist, and religion was never really a topic we discussed. I knew of churches and some kids went to it on Sundays. But I always viewed it as an extra activity some kids do, like I did Girl Scouts.

In fact, it wasn't until my little sister became "saved" and went to a Christian college that any discussion of religion really came up, and it wasn't from my sister, but from my mother. Now my mother asks constantly about my beliefs, "Do you believe in God?" "Do you have faith?" I think my mother has some guilt about not taking us to church and getting us baptized, she's even brought up the subject about me getting baptized, which I shot right down. I think it would be insulting to get baptized, even when I have no belief in the religion just for a "just in case" scenario.

I also find it odd that people need religion to be reminded to be good. I can be a good person without the need of an intangible parent figure watching me. *looks up suspiciously* I'm also weary of ANYONE who says they have the answers. I may not be religious, but I'm not going to be persumptious enough to say "I'm right, they're wrong," or "look how much better I am you mindless sheep," because I don't have any answers either.

Can we just all agree to play nicely with EVERYONE in the sand box?

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

I think it would be insulting to get baptized, even when I have no belief in the religion just for a "just in case" scenario.

And depending on the denomination, adult baptism is just supposed to be symbolic of, or parallel to, something happening internally. So from that perspective, getting baptised "just in case" is seriously missing the point.