If you are an atheist...

[Pruni]

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I was told by my father in his speech at our wedding never to discuss education/religion with my dh or ils, so what did we do on the plane going on honeymoon? Argued about both topics, hee hee. It's all good fun though, we both do respect each others opinions and I think you are fine voicing opinions providing you don't try and 'force' them upon people like you say Pruni.

Never talk about religion in RL - except with dh. Refreshing to talk about it online.
I really do DETEST religion though. I know perfectly LOVELY religious people but still abhor religion.

It's not a very good topic, in general, is it?

That being said, I do say that I am atheist, in the context of school issues. People never try to talk to me about it.

The only person I've really discussed religion with in person is a friend who is very Christian, in the best possible sense of the word. Unsurprisingly, we see eye to eye.

(I'm ignoring my MIL's repeated statements to me that DH was Christian until I showed up. Because that's not a conversation.)

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I've only really discussed religion in schools with this friend (we're both against it). But I suspect we'd get on ok about religion in general.

I do think the basic principles of Christianity (new testament, not old!) are good. Unfortunately, too many Christians aren't really working from these principles.

I'm sure the same is true of any religion, set of rules, whatever.

i just cannot believe jesus was the son of god. they've got nothing in common

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I'm forever being asked to explain my beliefs, might be something to do with my RE degree?

I don't believe in the concept of God shared by most. What I believe in is a shared 'human ness', a kind of communal empathy. That is (i beleive but I could well be wrong) is the same 'force' that is taken as being God / Brahman / whatever. But I don't believe it is a manifestation of any kind, and that by looking outwardly we are losing the essence that is ourSELVES that contain this spirituality, and that is just as much part of the Human condiotion as possessing arms / legs whatever, only because it isn't visible it's not so easy to understand.

I suspect I make no sense whatsoever!!

the sin, ks? Tell us more...

I could never think up any interesting sins to confess as a kid - I would always just lump them together into "I haven't been very nice to people". How dull. The priest must have been v bored.

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well, yes, Pruni - esp while you're still at primary school.

ks, that's the trouble - you go to confession, you wipe the slate clean, and as soon as you're out of the confessional you're off thinking mean/filthy thoughts again. Back to square one. At least you know you can easily fix your soul with another trip to confession next week .

Ah, I grew up in a mad Catholic extended family, where having loud arguments about religion (or politics or whatever) over the breakfast table was considered entirely acceptable behaviour.

People like Abigail Witchalls and her family are the best argument for faith there is.

Still doesn't convert me but am lost in admiration.

ks your views and experiences on religion seem very close to mine. I too paddled for a while in the shallow lukewarm waters of agnosticism, and also find myself strangely drawn to Catholicism. so much beauty in that religion, I think.

Ha ha ha. The beauty of the one true faith. You were obviously never acquainted with Sister Martina.

(Although I always find evangelicals are more suspicious of my catholic upbringing than my atheism.)

My father used to work with people who believed the blood libel, about Catholics. (It's normally said about Jews.)

They were evangelicals.

My friend's JW aunt always cautions her about catholics ("they worship statchoos")

I find the idea of an eternal afterlife (with most of us in hell) absolutely appalling. When I die, I want to be buried and a tree planted and be a tree.

Oh me too, aloha - we have a woodland burial site here, I have told them all that's where I want to go (cardboard coffin please) but not sure if they took it on board.

Ooh no. Dogs will come and pee on me.

And birds will live in the equivalent of my hair.

And then a lumberjack will attack me with an axe.

Don't want to be a tree.

I LOVE the idea of birds living in my hair! What bliss.
(I even feel affectionate towards the dogs)
And people will sit under me in the summer and read.

Oh but that would be so annoying. Like reading over someone's shoulder on the tube. Just as you're getting interested, the bastard gets up and gets off the train.