There are several reasons to pay attention to religion.
The first is to watch what the more politicized fundy-whacks are trying to make law or make public policy. For instance, in a US State where I formerly lived, it was in the State Constitution that a wedding could only be performed in that state by a judge, retired judge, minister of the gospel or (evidently as an afterthought) a rabbi. No other religions need apply. To be married by a judge meant no formal wedding ceremony, but rather be married in the judge's chambers between a drunk driving case and a vandalism case. There aren't many retired judges actively advertising that fact, and the ones there are tend to want to only officiate at a wedding they approve of - or often, none.
Or, the city in that State I recently left made it public policy for the city to give tax money to a Christian-religious-run "community center". It was done under the guise that everyone in town could use that center at no charge regardless of religious affiliation. Guess what? Nothing doing. To join it, you had to pay money and sign a statement of Christian faith. It was on an American Indian reservation too, so the people following their tribal religion were prevented from using things which they'd paid for on their own reservation. The amazing thing was that nobody flt that they could or should do anything about it - the atheists at the freethinkers group thought it was "a good thing" and could somehow in good conscience sign that paper of Christian faith. Orhers thought it was pointless to try to fight city hall. A few people picketed, but were quickly ignored by the silent majority - or outright attacked. It would have been far better to watch this and get it nipped in the bud before it became entrenched. I'm as guilty as anyone of being in the silent majority until it was too late, and believed their "all inclusive" statements at the beginning thus lulled into complacency. Live and learn.
Other places legislate teaching "intelligent design" in schools in lieu of actual biology classes. This leads to students, even bright students, needing a good deal of remedial biology before they can go into specialized fields such as physician, veterinarian, biosciece researcher. In the longer run, that pushes the US down with other overly-religious theocracies which are by their nature backwards. You're less able to fight anything from a natural biological pandemic to bio-weapons to having the lowest life expectancy and the highest infant mortality rate of any industrialized country. Ranking of infant mortality rates worldwide and Ranking of life expectancy in nations worldwide
On the other side of it, being an atheist simply means that you do not believe in any god. That doesn't mean that you are a scientist or even follow science. You can be an atheist and believe any sort of nonsense or pseudoscience, or not care or be able to understand rationality or science at all.
Religion is everywhere in the US. There are people who will try to convert you - and even people you know socially or in a work setting have no problems talking about it. It's not considered impolite by most. Even in the work setting, if you complain to management or even file suit, it's viewed as you (the nonreligious or nonchristian) oppressing the poor Christians. As they are everywhere, it is well worth the while of anyone nonchristian (atheist, pagan, tribal religion, Buddhist, etc) to really KNOW their Bible so you have comebacks when "friends", neighbors, coworkers, or even people coming door-to-door try to save your soul. In fact, many or most of them have not read the whole thing - just the sweetness and light parts they are taught in Sunday schools and churches. They actively violate what their own holy book says about belief, prayer, ethics, morals, and on and on.
Christianity is the most popular religion on the planet, with about 1/3 of the world's population identified as "Christian". World demographics - religion about 3/4 of the way down the page However, you've got to look at what that means. It counts the number who were ever baptized as Christian. It ignores those who are baptized but are members of or believers in other religions and no longer believe in Christianity. It ignores people who are baptized but no longer follow any religion. Once a Christian, they always consider you a Christian, even if a "backslidden" one.
Beth
The first is to watch what the more politicized fundy-whacks are trying to make law or make public policy. For instance, in a US State where I formerly lived, it was in the State Constitution that a wedding could only be performed in that state by a judge, retired judge, minister of the gospel or (evidently as an afterthought) a rabbi. No other religions need apply. To be married by a judge meant no formal wedding ceremony, but rather be married in the judge's chambers between a drunk driving case and a vandalism case. There aren't many retired judges actively advertising that fact, and the ones there are tend to want to only officiate at a wedding they approve of - or often, none.
Or, the city in that State I recently left made it public policy for the city to give tax money to a Christian-religious-run "community center". It was done under the guise that everyone in town could use that center at no charge regardless of religious affiliation. Guess what? Nothing doing. To join it, you had to pay money and sign a statement of Christian faith. It was on an American Indian reservation too, so the people following their tribal religion were prevented from using things which they'd paid for on their own reservation. The amazing thing was that nobody flt that they could or should do anything about it - the atheists at the freethinkers group thought it was "a good thing" and could somehow in good conscience sign that paper of Christian faith. Orhers thought it was pointless to try to fight city hall. A few people picketed, but were quickly ignored by the silent majority - or outright attacked. It would have been far better to watch this and get it nipped in the bud before it became entrenched. I'm as guilty as anyone of being in the silent majority until it was too late, and believed their "all inclusive" statements at the beginning thus lulled into complacency. Live and learn.
Other places legislate teaching "intelligent design" in schools in lieu of actual biology classes. This leads to students, even bright students, needing a good deal of remedial biology before they can go into specialized fields such as physician, veterinarian, biosciece researcher. In the longer run, that pushes the US down with other overly-religious theocracies which are by their nature backwards. You're less able to fight anything from a natural biological pandemic to bio-weapons to having the lowest life expectancy and the highest infant mortality rate of any industrialized country. Ranking of infant mortality rates worldwide and Ranking of life expectancy in nations worldwide
On the other side of it, being an atheist simply means that you do not believe in any god. That doesn't mean that you are a scientist or even follow science. You can be an atheist and believe any sort of nonsense or pseudoscience, or not care or be able to understand rationality or science at all.
Religion is everywhere in the US. There are people who will try to convert you - and even people you know socially or in a work setting have no problems talking about it. It's not considered impolite by most. Even in the work setting, if you complain to management or even file suit, it's viewed as you (the nonreligious or nonchristian) oppressing the poor Christians. As they are everywhere, it is well worth the while of anyone nonchristian (atheist, pagan, tribal religion, Buddhist, etc) to really KNOW their Bible so you have comebacks when "friends", neighbors, coworkers, or even people coming door-to-door try to save your soul. In fact, many or most of them have not read the whole thing - just the sweetness and light parts they are taught in Sunday schools and churches. They actively violate what their own holy book says about belief, prayer, ethics, morals, and on and on.
Christianity is the most popular religion on the planet, with about 1/3 of the world's population identified as "Christian". World demographics - religion about 3/4 of the way down the page However, you've got to look at what that means. It counts the number who were ever baptized as Christian. It ignores those who are baptized but are members of or believers in other religions and no longer believe in Christianity. It ignores people who are baptized but no longer follow any religion. Once a Christian, they always consider you a Christian, even if a "backslidden" one.
Beth
