It's a matter of convenience. Taking communion is like eating the casserole. You weigh your rejection of the food with the feelings that will then happen.
Evil Atheist Thread
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Except it is kind of an insult to those who take it seriously, and aren't doing it out of mere convenience. Whether you believe it to be actually divinely inspired or not.
Perfection
The Great Head.
Remember though, atheism is a rejection of your family's views (and often one of thier most cherished and fundamental ones), a lot of folks find that highly disrespectful. I know quite a few people who put God before family, and explictly state it that way (including some of my family members).
Let me put it this way.
You, religious folks, have something that you hold dear and sacred, and lying about your faith to you is nothing short of a betrayal.
We, `true' atheists, don't have such a thing: you don't really think 'lack of something' could count as a sacred value, do you? It's definitely not worth dying for, and most of the time it's not even worth a minor inconvenience in our relationships.
For us lying about our beliefs is akin to lying about a book we think is crap to a good friend, which is a big fan of this book. So, it's not a big deal really, if only it can make people around us happier.
So, then, you don't consider honesty for its own sake to be worth doing? And this isn't something minor like enjoying a book, we are talking one of the most important factors in may people's lives.
It might be an insult, but it's an unsaid one. It's like congratulating people on a pregnancy or marriage (when you don't approve of).
I came out, but mainly because I was sick of the efforts required by the faith. If it had been lower tension, I'd been surely tempted to keep my mouth shut. My mom worries about my soul, and it's kinda sad. I greatly value honesty, of course. But I understand
I see nothing sad about worrying over someone's soul, myself, even if the soul doesn't exist. But that's neither here nor there.
Well, getting people to worry over nothing isn't pleasant. Of course, the worry is due to love ... and that's awesome. But I know she loves me already, and worry isn't good for her health.
Perfection
The Great Head.
Sure it is, it's just not worth doing when there are nasty consequences
Not mine, I don't wake up thinking "Gee, isn't it great that God doesn't exist".
It's needless suffering of a loved one?
What else won't you tell your loved ones because you fear upsetting them?
Not your life. Those you aren't being honest with.
Perfection
The Great Head.
Lots of minor things. They don't need to know every problem I have. If there's something worth them worrying about (like I need surgery or I might get canned or something) then I'll tell them.
So? They don't know, what do they care.
Okay, then, to sum up . . .
You are willing to pretend to believe or participate in things in which you do not believe, in order to prevent people from finding out something because you feel it would either upset them or make them mistreat you? Willing to actively claim you hold a view you do not?
I mean, heck, I don't even care any more, I am not going to try to convince anyone anything. But then, how common is this? How many people who claim to be religious are really atheists?
You are willing to pretend to believe or participate in things in which you do not believe, in order to prevent people from finding out something because you feel it would either upset them or make them mistreat you? Willing to actively claim you hold a view you do not?
I mean, heck, I don't even care any more, I am not going to try to convince anyone anything. But then, how common is this? How many people who claim to be religious are really atheists?
... my thoughts on the casserole.
... my thoughts on how they look in the current fashion
... etc.
Good lord, pick from the list. Being a gun-nut? (I've kind of let that one out of the bag, mostly.) Being into recreational hypnosis? Being into BDSM? Being into other fetishes that are even less socially acceptable?
If someone actually asked me whether I believed in God, or was into any of the other stuff noted above (in a way other than out of pure incredulousness that anyone could possibly be so), I'd probably confirm it for them. But to volunteer it, or at any rate give them reason to think so? Nope. Too much pain for all concerned, for little benefit.
Depends on the cost we are willing to pay for the consequences. Depends on the environment, actually. If you're in the middle of a big city, you usually don't feel like you have to lye, so you can just be yourself. Of course, even in this case there will be people ranting about your "militant atheism" and such, but you can just ignore them.
Maybe we simply have very different ideas about 'most important factors'. I'd say, for me human relationships are usually a top priority.
Well, this is a good question. I'd like to know the answer, too.
Richard Dawkins once said, he is wondering how many closeted atheists there are in the US Congress.
I wonder that as well...
Well, of course. There is no reason to tell someone if they don't ask, or it is none of their business. But would you ever pretend not to be for the sake of avoiding an argument? I guess if your parents aren't religious, or don't ever go to church, or ask you, or anything, there is no reason to tell them . . .
SS-18 ICBM
Oscillator
Atheists slam planes into buildings.
Undoubtedly, at least one atheist has crashed at least one plane into at least one building.
SS-18 ICBM
Oscillator
Undoubtedly, at least one atheist has crashed at least one plane into at least one building.
Therefore, all atheists are evil and must die. Then go to hell. Then die there and go to a sub-hell.
