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Related: About this forumEzlivin
(8,153 posts)Oh how I wish I could have gone.
It's good to see atheists coming out!
starroute
(12,977 posts)The mind boggles.
RBInMaine
(13,570 posts)starroute
(12,977 posts)Life-styles involve things like hot tubs or backyard barbecues or tailgate parties. They're about where you hang out and what you do there and who you do it with. They're typically heavy on group activities and often involve engaging in certain formalized practices that are not shared or well understood by the culture at large.
Regular church-going is a life-style. It comes with a whole set of distinctive social occasions and dress codes, unusual practices, specialized uses of language, and a tendency to keep company with other people who share those forms of behavior.
But atheism? Not so much.
RBInMaine
(13,570 posts)It is one that allows free thought and values reason, science, intelligence, and evidence. It is one that is not based on fear, supernaturalism, hysteria, and mythology. It is one based on the real and the observable, and not on superstition. Does it necessarily involve hanging out with certain people, attending certain activities, seeing certain movies and reading certain books? For some, yes. For others, not so much. There are many atheist groups around the country, often called "free thinkers" groups. They have meetings, gatherings, etc. Some celebrate solstice in the winter rather than Christmas or what have you. Many athiests do "hang out" with like-minded people. Many value the arts and enjoy reading material centered on science, reason, and intellect. But beyond all that, they are people just like anyone else and are members of the broader culture and society just like anyone else. And for many that is predominently their lifestyle as they don't need to be part of some flock or subculture. Here, being an American is their lifestyle. Simple as that.
tdb63
(73 posts)My son and I went there from Cleveland, OH and had a great time. The rain was minor the attitude was great.