Kia Ora,

So you decide to call yourself an atheist,(in a sense we are all 'born' atheist-theism tends to come later) then all of a sudden you start to miss "god" and begin to 'doubt' your disbelief...Then you begin to yearn for god and to be welcomed back into the fold...

Is it really the belief in a god you miss ? Or the close knit relationship of the religious community ie, craving that sense of belonging ?

I'm just fascinated by this two way street, traffic flowing both ways - Atheists who see the light and change direction...Theists who see the light and change direction, what is it that drives you ?


Metta Zenda

I'm non religious and atheist. I feel compelled to define those out because I don't have the least bit of problem attending church for social purposes, up to and including full participation. When one doesn't believe why shouldn't they. Many churches have a net positive effect on their members. These are good things. As far as gaining a true belief in the God of typical western religion, nope I'm not even close to that. Social aspects, heck yes I could go through all the pomp and circumstance to become a catholic if I though it was otherwise appropriate.

I was raised a "christian" until I was sexually abused by one in a high place.  It destroyed my faith even as a child...

I believe that when we die, we die.  We don't "pass" to anywhere.

BUT, if reincarnation is real, then I must have been a bloody monster in a former life to have gotten what I was dealt.

To me, religion equals two things

1  Division

2  War

I pretty much just made my own religion, which is basicly "you come back to life as someone genetically related to you who hasn't been born yet"

Quote from: Missy~rmdlm on November 01, 2013, 12:48:44 AM
I'm non religious and atheist. I feel compelled to define those out because I don't have the least bit of problem attending church for social purposes, up to and including full participation. When one doesn't believe why shouldn't they. Many churches have a net positive effect on their members. These are good things. As far as gaining a true belief in the God of typical western religion, nope I'm not even close to that. Social aspects, heck yes I could go through all the pomp and circumstance to become a catholic if I though it was otherwise appropriate.

Kia Ora Missy,

I think there are many closeted atheists who attend a place of worship just to 'socialise'...And I agree, this is not a bad thing...

Metta Zenda

Quote from: Kiwi4Eva on November 01, 2013, 12:58:54 AM
I was raised a "christian" until I was sexually abused by one in a high place.  It destroyed my faith even as a child...

I believe that when we die, we die.  We don't "pass" to anywhere.

BUT, if reincarnation is real, then I must have been a bloody monster in a former life to have gotten what I was dealt.

To me, religion equals two things

1  Division

2  War

Kia Ora Kiwi4Eva,

From what I gather, you are not alone, there are many who found atheism through a similar experience...

Metta Zenda

Quote from: ~RoadToTrista~ on November 01, 2013, 01:06:40 AM
I pretty much just made my own religion, which is basicly "you come back to life as someone genetically related to you who hasn't been born yet"

Kia Ora Trista,

How many paid up members do you have ? 

Metta Zenda

Party of one here :3

Quote from: ~RoadToTrista~ on November 01, 2013, 01:28:10 AM
Party of one here :3

Kia Ora Trista,

It's possible the joining fee is too high, try discounting-you know "This week special offer half price plus a free meal for the first five to sign the dotted line " 

Metta Zenda

I find the non-involvement in a religious community a major absence in my life. My atheism gives me little taste for worship in the Jewish faith I was born to.

I've considered going to the UU fellowship near me for that very reason. They have a very expansive notion of divinity and some of my atheist friends say the feel comfortable there.

Quote from: suzifrommd on November 01, 2013, 10:47:11 AM
I find the non-involvement in a religious community a major absence in my life. My atheism gives me little taste for worship in the Jewish faith I was born to.

I've considered going to the UU fellowship near me for that very reason. They have a very expansive notion of divinity and some of my atheist friends say the feel comfortable there.

Kia Ora Suzi,

I read some where about the term secular Jew, Jewish people who are not religious (they're either atheist or agnostic) but still remain culturally Jewish, ie occasionally attending a synagogue and participating in other religious events...

Metta Zenda

Quote from: Anatta on November 01, 2013, 01:47:36 PM
I read some where about the term secular Jew, Jewish people who are not religious (they're either atheist or agnostic) but still remain culturally Jewish, ie occasionally attending a synagogue and participating in other religious events...

I actually have gone to secular Jewish gatherings. They were usually small affairs without the involvement opportunities of larger congregations.

Whereas at congregations, even in the less observant denominations, traditional prayers and worship of god still seems inescapable.

Have any of you tried the "Sunday Assembly" groups that are popping up around the states and UK? I've been to volunteer functions with a local group called the "Fellowship of Freethought" and I've found those experiences rewarding, but I do actually miss all singing together, and I think the Sunday Assembly may have reclaimed that particular aspect of church.

Quote from: BrotherBen on November 28, 2013, 07:15:00 AM
Have any of you tried the "Sunday Assembly" groups that are popping up around the states and UK?

I'd love to attend one of those, but I don't know of any near me.   I'm a UU by the way.