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Post by adoette on Dec 1, 2014 19:35:13 GMT
I was chatting with a parent of one of my kids friends today. She was sharing her excitement about her church's upcoming holiday thing. It sounded cool and I asked her for time details.
She asked me where I went to church and I said nowhere as we are atheist.
Her response: "I never would have guessed because you seem so happy".
It made made me laugh. And I am mostly quite happy.
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Post by padresfan619 on Dec 1, 2014 19:37:25 GMT
Oh I have had people say similar things to me too! Not so much in California, but when I was in college in the Midwest I was regularly asked where I went to church. When I said nowhere people usually looked so sad for me.
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Post by annabella on Dec 1, 2014 19:40:45 GMT
I went to a Tree Lighting Ceremony last weekend and the speaker kept referring to "the holiday" and I thought we're all gathered around a giant decorated Christmas tree to watch it light up and she can't even use the word Christmas.
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PLurker
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Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Dec 1, 2014 19:40:47 GMT
Ok...? Why do people think their "happy" is the only happy, or way to be happy?
It's kind of like the "you must have kids to be a happy family" theory or such. Pushing the "my way is the only way" way of thinking. What works for one doesn't work for another. One size does NOT fit all.
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Post by kellybelly77 on Dec 1, 2014 20:06:15 GMT
Our newspaper ran a story the other day on facebook asking viewers to weigh in on whether children need to be raised believing in God and whether they need to go to church. I live in the midwest so of course everyone was answering that if you don't have God in your lives then you are DOOMED!!! The hysteria was comical. Really? Because I consider myself Atheist and I am living a pretty wonderful life and so are my kids.
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Post by smokey2471 on Dec 1, 2014 20:09:33 GMT
I was chatting with a parent of one of my kids friends today. She was sharing her excitement about her church's upcoming holiday thing. It sounded cool and I asked her for time details. She asked me where I went to church and I said nowhere as we are atheist. Her response: "I never would have guessed because you seem so happy". It made made me laugh. And I am mostly quite happy. I am not atheist but we really don't agree with organized religion. When I say this to people they either act sad for me or make dumb comments like well then how do you study your religion or snarky comments like your just too lazy to go to church. Um no but I read the bible. I pray I just choose to not hear one persons opinion on the interpretation of the bible each week and to be honest some of the meanest nasty behaving people I've met have been at church. So excuse me just cause you park you behind in a pew every Sunday does not mean you are better than me or that God loves you more. Before anyone gets mad I know not everyone at church is mean and nasty and really that is only 1reason I choose not to go to church every week. Not everyone asks dumb questions but a bunch do. Please don't be sad for me. I'm not sad for you. We go listen to cantatas and special programs at several local churches. My daughter goes to youth group at a couple different churches. Also I can't be quiet for a while hour lol I talk too much! |
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Post by Skypea on Dec 1, 2014 21:36:21 GMT
Our newspaper ran a story the other day on facebook asking viewers to weigh in on whether children need to be raised believing in God and whether they need to go to church. I live in the midwest so of course everyone was answering that if you don't have God in your lives then you are DOOMED!!! The hysteria was comical. Really? Because I consider myself Atheist and I am living a pretty wonderful life and so are my kids.
"everyone was answering that if you don't have God in your lives then you are DOOMED!!! "
depends on one's definition of 'doomed'
going to a church bldg. doesn't 'undoom' anyone. Growing up I went to church usually 6 times a week - and sang in the choir. I was still doomed, I just didn't know it. |
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Olan
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Post by Olan on Dec 1, 2014 21:40:30 GMT
Our newspaper ran a story the other day on facebook asking viewers to weigh in on whether children need to be raised believing in God and whether they need to go to church. I live in the midwest so of course everyone was answering that if you don't have God in your lives then you are DOOMED!!! The hysteria was comical. Really? Because I consider myself Atheist and I am living a pretty wonderful life and so are my kids.
"everyone was answering that if you don't have God in your lives then you are DOOMED!!! "
depends on one's definition of 'doomed'
going to a church bldg. doesn't 'undoom' anyone. Growing up I went to church usually 6 times a week - and sang in the choir. I was still doomed, I just didn't know it. Should we assume you are "undoomed". Being an atheist and a black woman is also fairly odd. Unfortunately a lot of the "good men" are "god fearing" and want the same in a mate so I struggle with telling the truth or faking the funk. Hahaha |
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Post by gar on Dec 1, 2014 21:53:57 GMT
I find it so patronising when people assume you can't be happy/principled without religion. As if knowing right from wrong, doing right by other people, living a fulfilling life etc is not possible without belief in some 'being'. Don't get me started.....
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Post by anxiousmom on Dec 1, 2014 22:11:03 GMT
Seems to me that I heard about a study recently that said over all, atheists as a whole were happier than any other self-identified groups. I thought that it should be have more widely publicized.  |
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Gennifer
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Post by Gennifer on Dec 1, 2014 22:20:04 GMT
I've read statistics that atheists have the lowest divorce rate, too. We must be doing something right.  |
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georgiapea
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Post by georgiapea on Dec 1, 2014 22:31:53 GMT
Well, I'm not Atheist but am also non-Christian and people often comment on how happy and smiling I am. Once in a great while someone will say they will pray for me and I always thank them. Beats getting in a snit about it and since it isn't going to 'do' anything they are welcome to knock their socks off.
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Post by myboysnme on Dec 1, 2014 22:55:21 GMT
I went to a Tree Lighting Ceremony last weekend and the speaker kept referring to "the holiday" and I thought we're all gathered around a giant decorated Christmas tree to watch it light up and she can't even use the word Christmas. Christmas is a holiday. |
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tincin
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Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Dec 1, 2014 23:09:08 GMT
Sort of an odd comment. Both of my sons are atheists, my oldest has a standard reply to his Christian cousins who are worried about his eternal soul. He always tells them, "Hell would scare me if I believed in it." They are also very happy with who and what they are. I, on the other hand, am agnostic. I would love to believe that some supreme being is in charge of the world and that we will all be just fine. It just doesn't work for me. Almost all my friends are very religious and they are very happy, even the ones married to "heathens." They find a lot of joy and peace in religion and I am happy it works for them. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2014 23:16:05 GMT
I was chatting with a parent of one of my kids friends today. She was sharing her excitement about her church's upcoming holiday thing. It sounded cool and I asked her for time details. She asked me where I went to church and I said nowhere as we are atheist. Her response: "I never would have guessed because you seem so happy". It made made me laugh. And I am mostly quite happy. Because you have nothing to look forward to when you die.  |
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Post by bc2ca on Dec 1, 2014 23:36:48 GMT
I find it so patronising when people assume you can't be happy/principled without religion. As if knowing right from wrong, doing right by other people, living a fulfilling life etc is not possible without belief in some 'being'. Don't get me started.....  |
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Post by polz on Dec 1, 2014 23:46:43 GMT
I consider myself agnostic rather than atheist. I'm pretty happy.
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kelly8875
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Post by kelly8875 on Dec 2, 2014 0:18:57 GMT
People are usually shocked when I tell them I don't believe in God or anything similar. They can't seem to understand how I'm able to function on a daily basis without that belief. I don't go around telling people I'm a non-believer, it just comes up in conversation. My in-laws are all huge believers, and I just don't. No biggie... I've gone to church on Christmas and Easter and all the other special occasions, and I like to sing the Christmas songs, and watch all the parishioners doing their thing. I don't usually now my head during prayer, I don't feel I should have to fake it. I just don't see it as something for me, but absolutely don't want to take it away from the people who believe.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2014 0:51:15 GMT
I've met atheists who were mean and unhappy.
I've met Christians who were mean and unhappy.
I've met atheists who are nice and happy.
I've met Christians who are nice and happy.
It depends on the individual, no matter what their religious beliefs.
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GiantsFan
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Dec 2, 2014 1:15:40 GMT
Well I'm Christian and I'm happy.  Personally I don't care what you are, as long as you are honest and a good citizen (is that the right word?). Not to defend the OP's friend, but I think that most people think that everyone is like them. ie. Christian, Democrat/Republican, non-vegan (omnivores), vegan, recyclers, etc. And it surprises them when anyone is different than themselves. It took me a long time to realize this. Which is why I currently don't attend a church, but I'm still Christian. |
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Post by ametallichick on Dec 2, 2014 1:56:11 GMT
My BIL assumes we are a bunch of unhappy people and tries to preach to us a lot. (He is born again).
I and my family are not Atheist but I don't tell him he needs to eat Lobster all the time (Curb Your Enthusiasm reference).
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Post by adoette on Dec 2, 2014 2:15:12 GMT
These replies are great. I am planning on going to the Nativity thing at her church. It sounds fun. I was not at all offended. I live in a very conservative Midwest town so I can't say I am surprised she would think that, it was refreshing she actually said it out loud.
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Personally I don't care what you are, as long as you are honest and a good citizen (is that the right word?).
