Letters to the Editor
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To AKA Smith
"Also, Mormons never take anyone off the rolls unless they excommunicate them or unless those people who are lapsed Mormons go to a lot of trouble to have their names removed."
Yeah, my father put his name on the rolls, just so that he could stop the missionaries from knocking on his door.
"Also, correct me if I am wrong, but some Buddhism is theistic and some is practiced in a non-theistic way. If you practice in a non-theistic way, they will just see you as being an atheist."
Yeah, I get that argument a lot from my Christian friends. It is true that Buddha is not god, but rather a teacher who manifest him/herself in everything. My favorite incarnations of Buddha are the female ones. The Shinto-Buddhism my wife practices I suppose is more of the theistic (as you put it) approach to learning Buddhism, but I don't see any part of Buddhism as non-theistic. I guess it dependence on whether you consider non-theism as the abscene of belief or just the absence of a god. Buddhism doesn't believe that God doesn't exist, it just believes that god can't be quantified as a single being or entity unlinked from everything else (Buddha nature is everywhere, or relativity, as Einstein put it).
"Yes, beautiful and horrible"
Its only horrible if we make horrible. The natural order of things is to love, and not create havoc. Only the thoughts of humankind see destruction as easier than progress.
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@ Picko
Who is keeping you from speaking out? If you speak out, then you run the risk of disapproval, this is true. You do as you please, don't you?
Others do as they please. It does not please everyone to speak out. If no one else who is atheist speaks out, why concern yourself? Speak out and stand alone if you have the courage. Maybe the LW wants to run your risk. Maybe not. Here there are many opinions. He can choose among them. Do you want him to be able to choose or must he choose your way? What does it hurt you if he does not have the courage or chooses to be practical?
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To Pinko
"Atheism is a belief - of course it's a belief. ..... It just so happens that a lot of smart people believe a lot of extremely absurd things, and if you should dare to point that out, people get angry at you and tell you that you're being intolerant."
Since you believe atheism is a belief, and you believe in atheism, how much of an effort have you made to include people into your atheism?
The reason why atheism doesn't get much traction is because a meeting ground for atheists has never been established. Because a meeting ground for atheism defeats the purpose of being an atheist.
However, Pinko, since you are such believer, you might want to put some thought into establishing such a meeting ground. And I am curious as to what you and your fellow believers would talk about.
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My deepest apologies to PICKO
Sorry PICKO, I had mis-written your name as PINKO (twice). It was an honest mistake on my part, and I meant no malice.
As you get to know to me, you will see I make a lot of typos.
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Fetboy
Your beliefs are nearly as humourous to me as the Mormons'.
You think the universe is all peace & light??
Go to utube & watch a video of a cheetah tearing the living crap out of a gazelle..
There is no order or truth in the universe.
Shit happens, then you die--& anyone who tells you different either wants your money or political support.
As Jim Morrison once said "I'm gonna get my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames"
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Be true, but don't be heavy about it
Some of the least religious people I know are former Bible school grads. Many, many people have made this passage before you. Once you're out of that college, you can put that behind you.
While you're in college, maintain an attitude of gentle tolerant indifference to the zeal of others. Don't put yourself in the position of faking it even more by participating in religious activities (unless absolutely required). Stay busy with your academic life. Get that diploma and move on.
Be aware that there are parts of the US where being churched-up is not considered important--the West especially. Find a job in a place where the majority of people don't care if you are religious or not. (I'd avoid the Southeast and Midwest if I were you, except in the bigger cities. The coasts, the west, big cities like Chicago, there is plenty of room for people like you.) When you're in a "churchy" place and engulfed in that culture, it's easy to forget these places exist. But when you go there, you won't feel like an outsider. And in an atmosphere where theocratic pressure is lacking, you can explore what you believe.
You don't need to rush into this discussion with your parents and/or friends. But eventually (post-graduation), you should gently clue them into the fact that their interests are not shared by you.
There are plenty of ways to express this without denigrating the person you're speaking to. "That's not something I'm very interested in." Change the subject.
My line is: "I don't think organized religion is a good thing." Whatever they say next, I say: "No really. I think institutional religion is a bad thing." Or "I worship at the church of...(insert favorite nearby wildlife preserve or park)." Once you have told them you don't believe the bits and pieces of dogma, they get the picture quickly.
Actually, when I insisted to my family: "God is NOT A MAN!" that pretty much ended all religious discussions. We still see each other regularly and get along OK. (ANd it turned out some of them were more skeptical too.) As for the others, since they don't want their kids exposed to my wierd ideas, they're happy to leave it alone.
You may be amazed how many friends and family actually feel as you do. You may also be surprised that some who disagree won't freak out and drop you; if you're cool with them, they'll be cool with you.
You'll need to be very clear with the people you date, however. If Sweetie is envisioning a heavy-duty Christian life, this person is not for you. I have known many people down here in the Bible BElt who got divorced over this. Mrs. or Mr. Church-goer will tend to assume that all "normal" people are "Christian," and want to spend their spare time at the church--and then they feel the noncompliant spouse must be saved or coerced. THis sort of Christian believes that it is their duty to change you. Don't go there. Be clear with your dates.
This will be fine, LW. Be respectful of others, and find your own tribe once you get out of school.
and PS: If you go to grad school, choose more carefully.