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Kooka, I believe there's a term "functional atheist" that has been
bandied about in the Christian circles, labeling those people who call themselves Christian but don't live as such and who pay their respects to God only at holidays, family gatherings and when convenient or necessary. So you may well be right in making such an assessment.
posted by
JanesOpinion
on September 27, 2006 at 6:32 PM
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Hi Kooka
Well said. The pressures to join any religion, Christian or otherwise, are many - social (not wanting to be ostracised), business (hypocritical self-serving, e.g. politicians who milk the massive religious vote), and personal (not wanting to accept that they and their loved ones MIGHT NOT live on after death, or, if they believe in heaven and hell, obviously are scared of hell or its equivalents). I wouldn't mock the last one, because death, and of course hell, are very scary thoughts. But the first two are clearly at fault if they are the main reasons. I have seen the excellent social structures of many religious organisations, and atheists and agnostics simply do not have anything to rival it, either as a ready means of friendship and a full sociial calendar, or as a way of getting on in the world. these groups don't just restrict themselves to talki ng about religious matters, do they? They lend each other money, provide stable marriage partners, and create powerful pressure groups to get what they want. Given that communal collective social power, they are then often dismissive of those outside of the group, whether atheist / agnostic, and even more so, people of alternative religious belief. So ultimately they (members of the first two types) create division and are not really looking to help everybody equally, which is what they might claim, but are only kind to potential or actual group joiners (their own group, of course). So under the guise of helping others, they are cleverly helping themselves. therefore, while religion remains powerful, equality and peace will never be achieved. It's my way or the highway with them. I'm OK, you're not OK.
posted by
Antonionioni
on September 23, 2006 at 11:28 AM
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KOOKA
There is definitely some merit in what you say in this blog! I, for one, first and foremost am a "Believer." By this, I mean I believe the probability of the existence of a Supreme Being, based on my own reasoning ability alone, is extremely high. I further classify myself as a "Freethinker," because I retain my personal right to have my own set of personal beliefs which may include any combination of the complete range of the 35,000 or so different Christian denominations. Because I align myself with the Christian religion does not mean that I believe any and everything of the doctrines of any one of those denominations. I am free to form my own specific conclusions. I, for instance, do believe that Jesus is a very important person and figure in the evolution of the Christian religion, without necessarily believing all that is said about him. Perhaps I would be more accurate to call myself a "Christian Freethinker," or "Freethinking Christian!"
In general, I believe you are basically correct in your statements about the Agnostics: in fact, their stance and behavior may be the most "balanced" of us all!
posted by
GEPRUITT
on September 23, 2006 at 1:18 AM
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I agree
in that there is likely far less true christians than " churchgoers" and those who pay lip service.
posted by
calmcantey75
on September 22, 2006 at 4:54 PM
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I think you may be right about this. If pressed, how many supposedly religious people would admit to doubting the claims of their faith?
However, for Christians -- I cannot speak for other religions -- there's a lot of ground that need not tempt anyone to agnosticism. Christ's teachings -- loving your enemy, giving generously to the poor -- can be firmly believed in even amid doubt as to the man's divinity.
I think there are many christians who are not necessarily Christian.
posted by
Dyl_Pickle
on September 22, 2006 at 2:51 PM
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kooka
i think you are no doubt absolutely right about this one. Its the easy answer to give in our western society. But if one were to examine themselves more closely, it is perhaps not the most accuarte or true
posted by
MysticGmekeepr
on September 22, 2006 at 11:17 AM
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kooka_lives - there is also the very real aspect of ostracism
In some regions of North America it can be social suicide and even detrimental to doing business if an individual does not go with the flow. I think that all persons who profess non belief at later stages in life have stories they can tell about playing along, I sure did for many years. I even joined in prayer once with an insufferable bible thumper while concluding a business deal with him. Religious belief still has a firm grip on our societies. All we have to do to see examples of this is witness some of the knuckleheads we have experienced that cannot grasp the concept of a person who does not believe in God possibly being every bit as good a person as they are. This misconception of belief making someone a better person also contributes to the fact that many play along. To not do so, brands the individual as an individual of deficient character to many believers.......The only good thing about these realities is that they are changing. We can only hope that we see this change completely manifest itself in our lifetimes. Regardless as to how long it takes, eventually when someone begins spewing nonsense about the earth being created via supernatural magic or a man dying 2,000 years ago for the sins of all members of our species, they will be looked on as the people with a deficiency. A grasp of reality being that shortcoming.
posted by
gomedome
on September 22, 2006 at 9:34 AM
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Many were raised Christian and use that as the basis for their answer
They haven't "picked" something else so they just go with the default.
posted by
SuccessWarrior
on September 22, 2006 at 8:09 AM
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yes there are
people out ther who label themselves Christian who really don't participate in Christian activities. But they feel they are because the believe in the Christian story and don't bleieve in the others.
posted by
Xeno-x
on September 22, 2006 at 7:38 AM
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