Atheists in church

[onlinebiker]

I think he meant of service...

I was in the army. I served in the 101st Airborne for my first three Vietnam tours and the 1st Armored Cavalry for my last.

Wow.

Impressive. 

I had a good opinion of you before - but it just went up.

[Spongebob]

I've had scores of conversations, discussions, debates and such with Christians on the subject of what constitutes and supports their belief. I maintain that it is largely emotional in most people and largely due to years of indoctrination and family/community pressure, making most people emotionally reluctant to veer far from the religion of their youth. But in almost every case, people reject this notion and argue that their belief is based on rational decision making, even critical thinking. If this were the case, there should be no reason for Christians to be wary of atheists in their midst, asking challenging questions. Such discussions should only result in strengthening their faith. But of course the true reason such strengthening occurs is because of the defensiveness that is ignited when someone challenges your beliefs.

[Ahriman]

there should be no reason for Christians to be wary of atheists in their midst, asking challenging questions

I'm not a Christian, but go ahead and ask the most challenging questions you can think of. I won't stop believing in God no matter what you ask.

[Angrboda]

there should be no reason for Christians to be wary of atheists in their midst, asking challenging questions

I'm not a Christian, but go ahead and ask the most challenging questions you can think of. I won't stop believing in God no matter what you ask.

Were you born an idiot or is it something you've mastered over time?

[zebo-the-fat]

there should be no reason for Christians to be wary of atheists in their midst, asking challenging questions

I'm not a Christian, but go ahead and ask the most challenging questions you can think of. I won't stop believing in God no matter what you ask.

Unlike you, I am happy to change my opinions if presented with fresh evidence or information

[Mermaid]

I go to church once in a while for various reasons. Like once every few years, for weddings, with friends, etc. It's more morbid curiosity or at least trying to understand where believers are coming from. I don't talk about my beliefs unless specifically asked, which is nearly never. In fact, I can't think of an example when someone asked me, other than my therapist while doing an intake interview.

The take-home is that literally nobody cares what I believe and what others believe is none of my beeswax as long as they don't force me to live by their religious beliefs. Arguing about it is completely pointless and tiring.

[Simon Moon]

there should be no reason for Christians to be wary of atheists in their midst, asking challenging questions

I'm not a Christian, but go ahead and ask the most challenging questions you can think of. I won't stop believing in God no matter what you ask.

Are you saying that you will not give up your god beliefs, even if they are shown to be based on flawed (unsound and invalid) logic, and lack of demonstrable, falsifiable, and verifiable evidence?

And there seems to be this pretty widely used (false) stereotype, that those of us that are unconvinced that gods exist, are the closed minded ones...

Ask anyone here if our minds could be changed about our disbelief in gods, and the overwhelming answer will be "yes".

I am open to being convinced that a god or gods exist. All I need is evidence, reasoned argument, and valid and sound logic to support theist's claims. Without these, what else should be my justification to believe?

Oh, and about the idea that an atheist, or even someone asking the 'wrong' questions being escorted out of a Catholic Church... Yeah, I have stories....

[vulcanlogician]

I've had scores of conversations, discussions, debates and such with Christians on the subject of what constitutes and supports their belief.  I maintain that it is largely emotional in most people and largely due to years of indoctrination and family/community pressure, making most people emotionally reluctant to veer far from the religion of their youth.  But in almost every case, people reject this notion and argue that their belief is based on rational decision making, even critical thinking.  If this were the case, there should be no reason for Christians to be wary of atheists in their midst, asking challenging questions.  Such discussions should only result in strengthening their faith.  But of course the true reason such strengthening occurs is because of the defensiveness that is ignited when someone challenges your beliefs.

If an atheist needs this sort of community... and it may boil down to a basic psychological needs, so there's no shame in it... I recommend looking online for where Quakers meet in your area. You can be an atheist Quaker, no problem. Nobody will judge you... and many atheists have become full fledged members of the Religious Society of Friends. Some "unprogrammed" meetings involve sitting for an hour in silence every Sunday. And that might not be everybody's jam. But it's actually less boring than it sounds. And the people there are often educated, enlightened, and interesting.

My meetings were a mix of mostly Christians, a Buddhist, and a couple agnostics. The conversations we had were fascinating. And me and this old lady would sometimes watch Joseph Campbell lectures afterwards. It was dope. I mean, way better than going to some Baptist Church for the "community" there. 

If you say you are an atheist in a Baptist church then half of them are gonna hate/mistrust you, and the other half are gonna try to convert you. Waste of time. Unless the music is good.

Anyway, long story short... try a Quaker meeting.

[Spongebob]

If an atheist needs this sort of community... and it may boil down to a basic psychological needs, so there's no shame in it... I recommend looking online for where Quakers meet in your area. You can be an atheist Quaker, no problem. Nobody will judge you... and many atheists have become full fledged members of the Religious Society of Friends. Some "unprogrammed" meetings involve sitting for an hour in silence every Sunday. And that might not be everybody's jam. But it's actually less boring than it sounds. And the people there are often educated, enlightened, and interesting.

My meetings were a mix of mostly Christians, a Buddhist, and a couple agnostics. The conversations we had were fascinating. And me and this old lady would sometimes watch Joseph Campbell lectures afterwards. It was dope. I mean, way better than going to some Baptist Church for the "community" there. 

If you say you are an atheist in a Baptist church then half of them are gonna hate/mistrust you, and the other half are gonna try to convert you. Waste of time. Unless the music is good.

Anyway, long story short... try a Quaker meeting.

Very enlightening post.  Thank you very much.  And an hour of sitting in silence doesn't sound boring at all.  I meditate, which is largely the same thing, but carving out the time is always the biggest problem.  If only I could have spent all those year at church meditating.  Would have been time much better spent.

[Pat Mustard]

We (the youth) were told only to try and convert those who were on the fence. In other words, agnostics. We were told to not even bother with atheists.

Hey liar, agnostics are not on the fence, they simply admit that they have insufficient knowledge to make a statement of fact. In relation to a generic 'god' I am agnostoc atheist, i.e. I believe but do not know.