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S/O Religious zealots...poll!
1. If comfortable, please state if you are Christian, atheist, agnostic, or other (I know I'm missing several, for time's sake bear with me) If you aren't comfortable, pass this question:
2. If someone were to try to get you to attend their church in a non-pushy way, what would be your response?
3. An employee of a store begins to preach to you. Do you go to her manager, or handle it between you and him/her?
4. Do you have the same beliefs as your parents?
5. What makes you believe/not believe in God?
6. If you choose to have children or already have them, what will you do if their beliefs are different than yours?
(Please know that I am simply curious, and will NOT condemn or judge any of you who have different beliefs than I do. Believe as you wish, I am confident in my choices, as I'm sure you are as well!).
Re: S/O Religious zealots...poll!
1. If comfortable, please state if you are Christian, atheist, agnostic, or other (I know I'm missing several, for time's sake bear with me) If you aren't comfortable, pass this question: I consider myself both an atheist and an agnostic. I am inclined to believe there is no god, but I don't feel that I can ever know for certain whether a god (or gods) exist(s). I usually refer to myself as an atheist because the term really just means "without god," which is how I live my life.
2. If someone were to try to get you to attend their church in a non-pushy way, what would be your response? I would tell them that I do not believe in god and have no interest in going to church, but would thank them for the offer.
3. An employee of a store begins to preach to you. Do you go to her manager, or handle it between you and him/her? I would go to the manager. I think a store manager would want to know if an employee was potentially offending/scaring off customers in that way.
4. Do you have the same beliefs as your parents? No. My biological parents are both basically deists (believe in God, but not necessarily Christians). I think my step-dad considers himself a Christian.
5. What makes you believe/not believe in God? I am disinclined to believe in a god or gods because I've never seen any evidence for them and I believe that there are rational, scientific explanations for what happens in the world. I am open to the possibility that there might be a higher power. However, I am pretty firmly convinced that if one does in fact exist, it is not any of the gods portrayed by the current major religions, because I don't believe the portrayals of such gods match up with how amazing any being must be who could create this fantastic universe.
6. If you choose to have children or already have them, what will you do if their beliefs are different than yours? I would be accepting of any beliefs professed by my children, provided 1) they came to them honestly and through their own reasoning and experiences and 2) they did not try to push their beliefs on anyone else (whether through proselytizing or trying to influence legislation with their beliefs, etc.)I agree with every last bit of this. Every bit would be my answers as well.
1. I consider myself an agnostic.
2. Uhhhh, no thanks? Honestly, I've been exposed to every major religion and nothing has changed my view so I would politely explain that I'm not interested.
3. I don't argue with people about religion. Ever. It's pointless. I would finish the transaction and walk away.
4. Not even close. I was raised in a devout Christian household. Both of my parents still hold those beliefs.
5. Complicated question. I want to believe. I really do. I've tried pretending, saying what my friends say, going to church, praying for years and years, etc. I don't believe. I just don't. There's no real reason why, I don't think. I think it would be easier if I did. Life would mean something totally different.
6. His beliefs are his own. I would support him. That's what parents do, even when their kids turn out different from what they might expect.
1. If comfortable, please state if you are Christian, atheist, agnostic, or other (I know I'm missing several, for time's sake bear with me) If you aren't comfortable, pass this question: I'm a non-seeking agnostic
2. If someone were to try to get you to attend their church in a non-pushy way, what would be your response? "Thank you for the offer, but I'm not interested. Would you like to grab lunch sometime, though?"
3. An employee of a store begins to preach to you. Do you go to her manager, or handle it between you and him/her? Definitely talk to the employee, go to the manager depending on the severity
4. Do you have the same beliefs as your parents? No- my parents are non-practicing generic Christians
5. What makes you believe/not believe in God? It's just what makes sense to me. I think a lot of my beliefs are things I arrived at from attending different types of religious services, taking several classes on religion in college, and reading books about religion. I think there's probably something out there, but I don't think human beings can begin to understand it. I also figure that if something is so great as to have created the universe, it probably doesn't care about me any more than I care about individuals ants, for example. I know it's weird, but I find a great deal of peace in the thought that, in the grand scheme of things, I'm really insignificant.
6. If you choose to have children or already have them, what will you do if their beliefs are different than yours? The only reason I'd care is if they choose a religion that views women/gay and lesbian persons/other religions as inherently sinful. If that happens, I'll feel like I failed as a parent.
1. If comfortable, please state if you are Christian, atheist, agnostic, or other (I know I'm missing several, for time's sake bear with me) If you aren't comfortable, pass this question: Christian
2. If someone were to try to get you to attend their church in a non-pushy way, what would be your response? No thanks.
3. An employee of a store begins to preach to you. Do you go to her manager, or handle it between you and him/her? I'd tell them to stop.
4. Do you have the same beliefs as your parents? Yes and no. My parents are kind of black/white people, I don't really see things like that and would like to think I'm more open than they are.
5. What makes you believe/not believe in God? I can't really explain it but I there is just no way I could justify denying that God exists.
6. If you choose to have children or already have them, what will you do if their beliefs are different than yours? As long as they are at peace, happy and living the best life they can then that is all I would want. I won't lie though and say I'd be happy if they were super-judgy or all fire and condemnation. There is so much more to God than punishment and judging others.
Certainly no kind of attack or flame or anything like that, but I'd be very interested if you could elaborate on this. (I'm curious because the differences in the views on life and it's meaning between believers and non-believers is a topic that I find very interesting. I've never really heard the topic discussed from the perspective of someone who doesn't believe but would like to, as all of my atheist and agnostic friends are perfectly content with their disbelief and the way it colors their view of the world.)
1. If comfortable, please state if you are Christian, atheist, agnostic, or other (I know I'm missing several, for time's sake bear with me) If you aren't comfortable, pass this question: Atheist. I have been for over a decade now.
2. If someone were to try to get you to attend their church in a non-pushy way, what would be your response? I would just say thanks for the tip but that they most likely won't see me there as I have no interest, really.
3. An employee of a store begins to preach to you. Do you go to her manager, or handle it between you and him/her? Either leave or tell the manager. I'm there to buy something or receive a service. If I wanted religion in my life, I would go to a church and seek the guidance of a trained professional, not some whack-job at the salon.
4. Do you have the same beliefs as your parents? Not at all. I guess my parents were/are Methodists. Dad passed away a few years ago and I know he believed in God. Mom does, though her religious beliefs are something that she keeps very, very private.
5. What makes you believe/not believe in God? I just don't see any evidence. It's all a very lovely story, though. I also just have problems with how some "religious" people act (pushy, hypocritical, two-faced, lying, etc. that I have experienced).
6. If you choose to have children or already have them, what will you do if their beliefs are different than yours? I kind of expect their beliefs to be different than mine. It's fine. I've never been one to expect anyone to agree with or believe 100% the exact same thing I do. That would be silly. I would neither push nor deny religion in their lives.I was like this, too, when I was younger. I saw all of these people going to church, and I went, too (to the local Baptist church, most popular in town). They seemed so...happy. I tried to fit in. It seemed like it was what I was supposed to do. I wanted to be like them. But, after some time, I realized that I just wasn't like them. That faith wasn't there. I admire those who have it, but it just isn't in my make up.
1. If comfortable, please state if you are Christian, atheist, agnostic, or other (I know I'm missing several, for time's sake bear with me) If you aren't comfortable, pass this question: Christian
2. If someone were to try to get you to attend their church in a non-pushy way, what would be your response? It just depends. If it was my close friend who thinks I would really enjoy a certain aspect of the church, sure I'd go. If it was my neighbor who is inviting me just because it's "invite someone to church week" I'm going to politely decline. DH and I are happy with our church decision, so I don't need to spend time visiting other churches without reason.
3. An employee of a store begins to preach to you. Do you go to her manager, or handle it between you and him/her? I would probably just ignore it and leave.
4. Do you have the same beliefs as your parents? Yes.
5. What makes you believe/not believe in God? First off, I absolutely believe a higher power had a hand in creation. So that eliminates atheism as an option for me. Secondly, the basic tenets of Christianity just make sense to me; namely, man is inherently flawed and in need of salvation. I need the grace presented in Christianity. Thirdly, I have felt the presence of God in my life. I realize that may sound kooky to some, but I accept that.
6. If you choose to have children or already have them, what will you do if their beliefs are different than yours? I will love them no matter what they choose for themselves. They will be welcome in my home as long as their religious beliefs do not lead to cruelty--spewing hate, violence, etc. I do hope and pray that they choose the path of Christianity.When you don't believe that there is a heaven/hell/God, there isn't anything but this life. Sometimes it makes me a little sad but at the same time it's more incentive to take advantage of every possible opportunity to do/see/love. It is was a face value statement. I think life means something different to you depending on what you believe.
Thanks for responding! The bolded is how my husband and I view the fact that our existence is so fleeting, which to me makes every moment and experience I have all the more precious. The only time I have been sad as a result of my worldview is when my aunt passed away. It was such a cold thought to me that she just didn't exist anymore, and I almost wished I could believe that she was still out there somewhere. I just try to remember that she will always exist in the positive ways that she affected my life and those of everyone around her, and I try to live my life so that I will live on in the same way when my body and mind no longer exist.
Certainly not an attack (I revel in discussions of these types, and though my beliefs are 180 degrees from most of yours, I am not meaning to be antagonistic in my questions or statements at all.), but I wanted to point out that my husband was raised in a homeschooling Christian home with little to no influence from other worldviews and he and his sister have both turned out to be non-believers as adults.
Weird. Same thing happened to my dad. Only difference is that he was homeschooled and placed in public later (I think high).
Catholicism is considered a form of Christianity.
This occurred to me a bit ago also. I give my husband crap all of the time for comparing Catholics and Christians as though they aren't members of the same religion.
My husband actually did go to public high school for three years. His sister tried it for not even a year, hated it and went back to homeschooling until she graduated.
The question asked what I would do if my child had a different BELIEF than I did... not if they were a different religion. I think anyone who has ever attended a Catholic mass and a worship service at my church would see the difference.
So you don't believe in the same God as a Catholic????
I don't think that's what she's saying. She's saying that her beliefs are different from the Catholic beliefs.
I don't know much about the Catholic religion, but from the tiny bit that I do know, I think the Catholics and my religion (a mixture of Baptist and Nazarene) have different beliefs.
1. If comfortable, please state if you are Christian, atheist, agnostic, or other (I know I'm missing several, for time's sake bear with me) If you aren't comfortable, pass this question: Christian.
2. If someone were to try to get you to attend their church in a non-pushy way, what would be your response? Depending on who it was, I might go with them once just to see how I like it.
3. An employee of a store begins to preach to you. Do you go to her manager, or handle it between you and him/her? I probably just handle it... I don't know how, but I doubt I go to their manager.
4. Do you have the same beliefs as your parents? Yes and no. Like someone else said, I believe what my parents believe, but mine a little bit more relaxed.
5. What makes you believe/not believe in God? There are many different things. I can't explain it, really. The best way, I guess, is just Faith.
6. If you choose to have children or already have them, what will you do if their beliefs are different than yours? Love them unconditionally, regardless. But I do hope they'll have the same beliefs as I do... or at least some version of those beliefs.
Our point was that your response: "I don't think, if you raise a child in a Christian home, they grow up and suddenly start practicing Catholicism or something," implies there is a difference between being a Christian and being a Catholic. All denominations of Christianity believe different things, but they are all still Christians.
Ok, let's just say that my original response was exactly what Boymom said... Because that is exactly how I feel.
For arguments sake though, I think it would be interesting to know the stats on how likely it is for a child, raised in a home where one religion was impressed on them, CHANGED their religion entirely. Not just the denomination. That was more of what I was going for. Sorry if I offended anyone by momentarily stepping outside of my brain.
I don't have any stats or anything, but my mom grew up in a very Jewish home. She is now athiest, one sibling is agnositc, and the other is orthodox Jewish (much more religous than they grew up).
My dad grew up in a very Catholic home and he is now athiest as well. His brother and sister are still practicing Catholics.
I grew up in an athiest home and now I believe in God. My brother and sister are both athiest.
1. If comfortable, please state if you are Christian, atheist, agnostic, or other (I know I'm missing several, for time's sake bear with me) If you aren't comfortable, pass this question: I am not really sure what to consider myself. I believe there is a God though
2. If someone were to try to get you to attend their church in a non-pushy way, what would be your response? Depending on the church, I might go. I think religion is very interesting. I took a class in college where one of the assignments was to attend 4 different churches that we have never been to and each had to be a different religion that was not our own. It was so neat to see how each church did things.
3. An employee of a store begins to preach to you. Do you go to her manager, or handle it between you and him/her? I think I would just try to change the subject or walk away.
4. Do you have the same beliefs as your parents? No, but I don't know that they know that.
5. What makes you believe/not believe in God? It is just a feeling I have. I grew up in an athiest home and for a long time I didn't believe there was any higher power. As I got older though, I just felt differently.
6. If you choose to have children or already have them, what will you do if their beliefs are different than yours? I won't care. I love my kids because of who they are, not what they believe
I'll see if I can have H go digging for stats. I'd be very interested to see what they are as well, and he's really good at finding that kind of stuff.
I know that almost everyone in our atheist group was raised in a very religious family, but that doesn't really say anything about percentages of the total population switching completely from the religion with which they were raised.
Now that I think about it, I actually follow a blog that might have some good answers, so I'll see what I can dig up on my own.