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Serious question: do you (or anyone else) think it's immoral to go to church as an atheist just to meet people? My opinion, as an atheist who finds personal re

by Amadou 13y ago

Serious question: do you (or anyone else) think it's immoral to go to church as an atheist just to meet people? My opinion, as an atheist who finds personal religiosity quite boring, but finds the cultural phenomena of religion rather interesting, is that most people who attend church do so for socialization rather than faith. Most people (not all) don't really know much about their own religion, they just participate in the rituals because that's what they've always done and they've had no reason to really question it. There are quite a lot of people who give lip service to their religion but live effectively secular lives. Challenge them on it and they will likely become defensive, but actions speak louder than words. So, I think you'll find plenty of people at church who are looking for socialization and aren't particularly interested in dogma. I'd stay away from the more extremist sects (people that do snake-handling and speaking in tongues are there for more than just something to do on the weekend). FWIW, in college, my muslim friends were always having parties that had their mosque membership as a central connection (not "college parties" but more than just dinners) I never got preached at, but some discussions were over my head ... plus they also had the best food. My connection was a girlfriend who was an immigrant and essentially a secular muslim.

mtdewcmu 13y ago
My opinion, as an atheist who finds personal religiosity quite boring... is that most people who attend church do so for socialization rather than faith. Most people (not all) don't really know much about their own religion, they just participate in the rituals because that's what they've always done and they've had no reason to really question it. I've observed that, but I've never understood it. I was raised to go to church on Sundays, but I found it about as enjoyable as going to prison. As a child, adults would tell me that someday I would start to like going to church, but it never happened. I seem to lack whatever gene makes people begin to like things and continue doing them just out of habit. As an irony, I was a good student in CCD (Catholic education) and I probably possess more knowledge about Catholicism and Christianity than those habitual church-goers. I like to know things, but I can't stand the tedious rituals. It just shows that knowledge of religion and actually practicing it are not related or perhaps negatively correlated.

by Amadou 13y ago

mtdewcmu 13y ago

My opinion, as an atheist who finds personal religiosity quite boring... is that most people who attend church do so for socialization rather than faith. Most people (not all) don't really know much about their own religion, they just participate in the rituals because that's what they've always done and they've had no reason to really question it. I've observed that, but I've never understood it. I was raised to go to church on Sundays, but I found it about as enjoyable as going to prison. As a child, adults would tell me that someday I would start to like going to church, but it never happened. I seem to lack whatever gene makes people begin to like things and continue doing them just out of habit. As an irony, I was a good student in CCD (Catholic education) and I probably possess more knowledge about Catholicism and Christianity than those habitual church-goers. I like to know things, but I can't stand the tedious rituals. It just shows that knowledge of religion and actually practicing it are not related or perhaps negatively correlated.