I go to support my family but I don't pray or even close my eyes to pretend to pray or do any of the other religious things. I will sing along if I like the song.

Quote:Sounds like you live in paradise!

You have no idea. Religion is something you just never see here, then again you never do in England. I don't know what it's like where you are but, this is one secular town I'm living in. The town's radio station often mocks and criticise religion.

BOT (back on topic)

If I was invited to baptisms and crap I'd probably not go but if there is free food then I will definity turn up.

(April 8, 2010 at 1:47 pm)tavarish Wrote: I'll do it if there's free food at the end.

Ain't nothing better than a free lunch.

That sums up how I operate too. It is no fun though, because people expect you to be social, and it is difficult for me to relate to many of these people in the peak of their delusions of supernatural sky-daddy.

I just ignore everyone and eat the food. The free coffee is nice too, as there is always a healthy supply of sweetener. Of course, my parents get angry towards my anti-social attitude.

(April 8, 2010 at 12:18 pm)Thor Wrote: I'm curious what other atheists do when a family member is having a baptism, first communion, confirmation, etc...

Do you go to the ceremony? Send a gift? Ignore the whole thing?

I ignore the whole thing.

OF course I do.


My extended family is Irish Catholic. That means it's a good idea to turn up to weddings,funerals and baptisms.

I used to stand at the back of the church looking bored. These days I don't care where I am, I just sit there and fall asleep.

All rites of passage are followed by a traditional Irish craic.We all sit around,getting pissed and assassinating the character of anyone absent.(except at wakes, where is one expected to tell outrageous but flattering lies about the deceased) At some stage someone upsets aunty Maureen, who decks them. Then it's on for young and old. A family gathering is not considered a complete success without the attendance of police and an ambulance.


I go because I can't stand the sight of most of my relatives. If I don't got the bastards are likely to turn up at my place unannounced.

(April 8, 2010 at 5:16 pm)Ace Wrote: You have no idea. Religion is something you just never see here, then again you never do in England. I don't know what it's like where you are but, this is one secular town I'm living in. The town's radio station often mocks and criticise religion.

Unfortunately, religion is just about everywhere in my part of the world. Every corner seems to have a church. In fact, every Easter a bunch of loons go around town carrying a cross. Yeesh....

Quote:If I was invited to baptisms and crap I'd probably not go but if there is free food then I will definity turn up.

Sounds reasonable to me! I don't really have a problem going to funerals and weddings in a church. But I refuse to show up for nonsensical rituals like christenings, communions and confirmations.

Luckily, only my mother's side of the family is religious. I go to religious ceremonies with them because, frankly, I like hanging out with my family. The thing is, none of them are bible-thumping freaks that fuck with me about being an atheist. In fact, many of them joke with me saying "You sure you're not going to burst into flames when you go in there?" I usually reply with something like "Well, if I do, then I'll start believing in human spontaneous combustion."

I'm never expected to join in the prayers or the aforementioned stand up, sit down, ad nauseum shit. Singing is really rare in grandma's church, but my aunt's church is cuckoo for it. I haven't had to go to her church since I was about four, though. She tried to get my father to make me go to her church with her long enough to get confirmed. He put a stop to that really fast. I have to give her credit, though. She is a really cool Christian. Apart from the whole 'trying to save me' thing.

I attend to show support for my friend/family member.
But I do feel weirded out being in a church.
Its just wrong.

But usually there is free drink at the recption after so I can numb the pain.

To reply to the question posted on this thread my answer is absolutely not! I am adamant against anything that has to do with religion. I don't do funerals or traditional weddings nor do I attend any gathering family or friends that takes place in a church. I don't support religious organizations of any sort and I am not patriotic either don't pledge allegiance to any flag nor stand up for the national anthem LOL. The only time I involuntarily support religious organizations is when the government takes my tax dollars and uses it to take up the slack that the church leaves with its non-profit status.