Or any nonsense about imaginary beings.
Religion, what's the point?
- Thread starter TheRedFlag
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I know quite a few atheists yet almost all of them had their kids baptized. Odd.
We didn't do it but I know other non-religious people who did as a social event.
We don't even have kids but her mum is very religious plenty of rows and disappointment ahead because my kids won't be going near a church.
Tbf to her though she was ok with the civil marriage so maybe not.
Trouble in Ireland is that over 90% of schools are still church run so you're limiting your options in terms of education.
I got myself baptized at 15 in order to complete my Confirmation so I could get presents afterwards. I still kinda regret it.
Can they deny you entry if you aren't baptised?
A very very atheist mate of mine had his kids baptised but I suspect family pressure from his wife's side of the family was the reason.
When I was really young (probably around 7-10) the idea of Heaven and an eternal afterlife scared me infinitely more than the idea of dying and there being nothing, so am I the only one then?
Primary schools can yeah and even if they take them a huge part of primary school here revolves around the church. Schools prepare kids for communion and confirmation is basically like some graduation ceremony.
Problem in secondary schools is also that you're basically ostracising them. I remember a couple of Protestant kids in my secondary school, made sit in the corridor while we had RE.
I assume its not as bad these days but still you don't really want to be making your teenager different from the majority.
Times are changing slowly more non denominational schools are popping up but the church still has a near monopoly on education.
I'm atheist but I wouldn't have any problem having future kids be baptized if my wife felt it was important, my kids can decide what they believe when they're old enough.
His school, his rules.
I was watching the sequel to the Four Horsemen last night, and as much as I agree with virtually everything they say, naturally, it's a bit of a weird, pointless, smugfest. The shit mock bookcase thing in the background doesn't help either.
It's basically like watching every coked up conversation I've ever had in a kitchen at 4 in the morning, only I can't join in or borrow a cigarette off anyone.
Still, anyway, here it is. It's badly missing Hitchens. And an actual room with an actual bookcase.
It's basically like watching every coked up conversation I've ever had in a kitchen at 4 in the morning, only I can't join in or borrow a cigarette off anyone.
Still, anyway, here it is. It's badly missing Hitchens. And an actual room with an actual bookcase.
So he's discussing what he thinks is the character of a god that someone else believes in, while he himself doesn't believe in the existence of such god in the first place? And he's saying that he would not tell his children about such god, or whatever? So yea, why would he? He doesn't believe this god exists anyway. What's the relevance of his statement then?
And no room at his Inn I guess.
How does predetermining Christianity for them help choice?
Countering the common "arguments" for God I'd guess.
I think it is much simpler. We once needed God to explain things we didn't understand. We now have much better explanations so God is outmoded and irrelevant.
And it's a woman, Mihajlovic. Stop ascertaining everything revolves around a man. 
There's this girl in my company I work with. She's really keen on Christianity. We had a discussion about religion, and in response to my question about how Christianity and religion in general isn't based on objective proof (as opposed to Science), she said Science wasn't objective too, as we don't actually prove that water is composed from hydrogen and oxygen, but believe what the science textbooks say.
I had no words after that.
I had no words after that.
Christians believe Jesus can turn h2o into wine, thats what the book bible told them.
Just because they're baptized doesn't mean they won't have a choice. I was baptized and involved with church until I was 12 or so and I'm atheist. I just don't see the harm in it, it's not like I'd force them to attend church or anything.
So giving birth to a child is immoral and a crime now?
Nice! Let all schools unite and deny the education the girl and her kid both need. That is the true spirit of Christianity: let the poor and underprivileged and the marginalized stay that way!
I realize it's an extreme take on events but let's call a spade a spade. It has nothing to do with morality and everything with the school's and the principal's reputation. Dumb parents will now be happy that their little girl won't get fecked in a toilet, as if that depends on allowing a pregnant girl entry.
Plenty of people who are atheist were baptized when young, so I think we can do away with the idea that it will stop them from making their own choices later in life.
Obviously many will chose to stay in their religion, and there will be many who won't and there will be many who kind of sit inbetween, not being atheists, but not being very religious either.
You're right, without an opposing opinion this all seems a bit of a back patting session. That's why Hitchens was so good, even in a room of consensus, his natural skepticism would cause at least some actual debate.
So why not have your child initiated into Islam or Judaism at birth then?
It is interesting when you talk with some of these theological scholars. They sincerely believe they have mountains of evidence which show, for instance, that Jesus was who he said he was.
It goes for just about any religion really. A common counterpoint or more so question to any skepticism is, "Well what if you're wrong?"
Nonetheless, religion or no religion, it's fascinating with the all knowledge we have, we still struggle to capture what it means to be human. On another note, the notion of the thoughts and emotions has some really cool theories behind it. Yet, that's all we have at this point. A colleague of mine who does research in Neuroscience commented on the various theories explaining how the brain works but stressing that no one fundamentally knows how our brains really work and why.
Another random thought. The whole proving "God" exists argument is silly. Anytime such an argument comes up, I just think of Russell's Teapot.
It goes for just about any religion really. A common counterpoint or more so question to any skepticism is, "Well what if you're wrong?"
Nonetheless, religion or no religion, it's fascinating with the all knowledge we have, we still struggle to capture what it means to be human. On another note, the notion of the thoughts and emotions has some really cool theories behind it. Yet, that's all we have at this point. A colleague of mine who does research in Neuroscience commented on the various theories explaining how the brain works but stressing that no one fundamentally knows how our brains really work and why.
Another random thought. The whole proving "God" exists argument is silly. Anytime such an argument comes up, I just think of Russell's Teapot.
It's like inertia selling - and they banned that.
I genuinely wouldn't have a problem with that either if my wife believed in either, I'm initiated to Christianity already so it makes the most sense. I don't see why it matters really. I was baptized and I'm atheist, people can make up their own minds.
I wanted to say "good post" to this piece but I do wonder how much this parent knows about Christianity because there were a few parts which gave the "if God was to exist, shouldn't he be like this?" impression which sometimes becomes confused between the individual's version of God versus how God is viewed in Christianity.
Nonetheless, this blogger raised some good points and I applaud the idea of being a free thinker but then again how "free" are you?
Probably not until humans overcome their fear of death. After all, that's the only reason it exists in the first place.
It isn't death that they fear, it is the unknown.
Well that and death.
And gay people.
And fewer handguns
And more handguns
"Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains"
Just started dating a 26yr old Catholic woman but she told me she's cool with my non-religious beliefs. Said she's better off dating an atheist than a baptist.
Hope that goes well for you mate. Dating someone with different beliefs can be an interesting situation.
In this case she's a highly educated girl with a degree in psychology and a masters in education. She's working on her masters in psychology now. I think she understands others views due to her twin sister being non-religious and most of her family hold no religious affiliation. It's just something she said helped her over time with various personal issues.
I'm sure in due time I can help her see the light.
I'm sure in due time I can help her see the light.
In this case she's a highly educated girl with a degree in psychology and a masters in education. She's working on her masters in psychology now. I think she understands others views due to her twin sister being non-religious and most of her family hold no religious affiliation. It's just something she said helped her over time with various personal issues.
I'm sure in due time I can help her see the light.
Give her fish on Friday and sausage on Saturday.