Best books debunking Christianity

[Pat Mustard]

Well, I meant "social disadvantages." I think possiblitarian mentioned something like awkward moments with his friends that continue to believe. I was alienated by certain family members for a brief time... etc. Some people go through this stuff; it depends on one's situation. Maybe "difficulties" would have been a better word.

Strangely enough, I don't have those awkward moments with family members who -have- shunned other people for falling away from their shared faith.  I'd posit that the awkwardness and shunning was due to a perceived rejection of what they attempted to instill in you, a subtle and often personally felt criticism of them...not the simple fact of your atheism.   This may explain why I, having been married in or having never believed, get a pass.  I;ve even got a knack for getting the more religious members of my family to tell blasphemous jokes.  I'll appreciate them, and I'm not an inappropriate audience for that sort of thing.

But you got me thinking: ARE there any disadvantages to nonbelief? Maybe "spiritual feelings" can be of benefit. But any atheist can go chant mantras without actually being a Hindu. This will get those spiritual feelings going and no belief required. I will put some thought into it and see if I can't come up with an actual disadvantage. Simply as an intellectual exercise. 

Be interesting to see what you come up with.  

I'm also interested in your "myth collection." That sounds friggin' awesome. Although I don't believe in any of it, I find religion and mythology fascinating. I like Greek myths, but who doesn't. A few years ago, I got into Hindu mythology. A lot of those stories are fun. Like you said in another post, a lot of myths have deep stories to tell. Even Adam and Eve, when one does not commit the folly of thinking it literally happened, may be a deep human story about growing up and losing innocence. Or perhaps man's journey from tribal life to civilization. There are a number of ways to interpret it.

They go off into the trees and next thing you know, bam, Eves pregnant.  Obviously wasn't an apple that Adam was eating in that bush. 

I wish my Dad told Beowulf on family trips. 

I butchered it, lol..but they don't know that.  It'll be better next time.  The alternative is listening to k-pop or incessant arguing.  That shits enough to make -me- rip a motherfuckers arm off.  My eldest daughter, Allannah, thinks that Beowulf is the villain, she empathizes with grendels mother.  She's cute like that.  Her younger sister, Morrigan...doesn't concern herself with the moral ramifications of the story..she just likes stories where peoples arms come off.

She'd like the Táin bó Cuailnge then. Lots of dismemberment in that.