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Atheists & Agnostics

skepticscott

(13,029 posts)

19. I don't think a lot of the people you mean

Reply to Arugula Latte (Original post)

Thu Sep 27, 2012, 11:52 AM

Sep 2012

really, deeply believe that, and I think they'd squirm a bit if you pressed them with those types of questions. They go to their middle-of-the-road Christian churches, because that's what they grew up doing, and that's what normal, respectable white suburban folks do. They go through the motions. Daddy ushers, Mom helps serve coffee, they have their little parties for Susie's first communion or Johnny's confirmation. Call it habitual ritual if you like. It's not so much a matter of being deeply and sincerely religious as it is a matter of maintaining an acceptable veneer of non-atheism. Just enough so that people don't shun you and talk about you.

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Question for people with educated "mainstream" Christian friends [View all] Arugula Latte Sep 2012 OP

You'd be better asking them dmallind Sep 2012 #1

so passive-aggressive hairsplitting is the norm. AlbertCat Sep 2012 #3

No, I think many wouldn't expect a literal return by Jesus to the physical world muriel_volestrangler Sep 2012 #2

Most of my immediate family Oregonian Sep 2012 #4

I know. My dad was never religious and my mom rejected it in college (in the 50s). Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #5

Small world! Oregonian Sep 2012 #9

Live in Portland (since the mid-90s). Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #11

Gorgeous city Oregonian Sep 2012 #12

Love the Bend area! Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #13

It can be Oregonian Sep 2012 #14

Jesus is coming back in your lifetime, my friends, toward the end of a long life you enjoyed, dimbear Sep 2012 #6

The people who I know Curmudgeoness Sep 2012 #7

The ones I know don't think about it. They go to church on sunday and that's enough. ScottLand Sep 2012 #8

Wholeheartedly agree, Scott Oregonian Sep 2012 #10

I bet those numbers would also be different if more people weren't afraid to speak up. ScottLand Sep 2012 #21

The Niocene Creed Tobin S. Sep 2012 #15

Thanks for asking her. Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #16

My parents. I think they have thought a lot about it. progressoid Sep 2012 #17

I think that is the Nicene Creed. Manifestor_of_Light Sep 2012 #18

I don't think a lot of the people you mean skepticscott Sep 2012 #19

That makes sense. Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #20

A technical point: "Do you think they actually expect Christ to literally come back from the dead?" Pterodactyl Sep 2012 #22

Right. I guess I should have just said "come back" -- to Earth, I guess. Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #24

The Christian belief is that he's with humanity spiritually... Pterodactyl Sep 2012 #25

Okay, that makes sense. Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #27

You can believe it or not. It is up to you. Pterodactyl Sep 2012 #28

Well, I don't believe it, and I assumed people posting here in the atheist forum didn't either. Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #29

Few of the religious people I know frogmarch Sep 2012 #23

Come sit beside me and let us talk about littlemissmartypants Sep 2012 #26

In the interests of oppressedproletarian Oct 2012 #30