Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?

👍👍👍 sad but true, love it!

ananda8 I love the "I just want to hear you beg for it" meme about prayer. Always hilarious to see white guys as Jesus. In most of Western European art, he has blue eyes and dark blond hair and beard. Oh, yes, that's SO Middle Eastern, NOT!

Also love the 'they all taste like chicken!'

As long as I'm posting on this thread today, I will share my lifelong challenge of being an atheist who's also a serious classical musician. Lots of the very best Western Civilization music was composed for church services. As a singer, I've been invited all my life to do church choir jobs, but I'm just too allergic to church to accept church gigs, except for weddings and funerals. In our concerts, my chamber ensembles perform lots of totally sublime music which was originally composed as liturgical text settings. I don't mind that a bit, but I can't get myself into a church service.

I grew up with the King James Bible language (Episcopal church in the 1960's - 1980 era), and it was spectacular: Shakespearean-era and poetic. So, the language of that liturgy is beautiful to me, and there's nothing more gorgeous than some of Bach's cantatas, which are usually religious texts--usually Biblical-- (in German or Latin). Vivaldi, Mendelssohn....I could go on and on about how much gorgeous music was composed for Christianity. And, Judaism! I've also sung whole concerts of Hebrew prayers and Yiddish folk songs that are religious. I'm also a pianist in a trio with a violinist and cellist, but there's no text conflict for that!

Where was I going with all this? Maybe to observe that without Christianity, we wouldn't have most of Bach's magnificent output! So, centuries of delusion have at least given us some great music. There, that must have been my point.....

Alice, I agree. In particular I think that the Catholic examination of conscience is a source of untold grief. It makes one focus on mistakes to the exclusion of focus on what one has done right. This focus on what one has done that is wrong makes Catholics number one when it comes to a particular form of obsessive compulsive disorder called Scrupulosity, pathological guilt about moral or religious issues. As far as I'm concerned, the ever practical Buddha had it right when he said, paraphrasing' "Pay attention to what you are doing. If what you are doing is bad or can lead to harm to yourself or others, then stop it. Pay attention to what you are doing. If what you are doing is good or can lead to goodness to yourself or to others, then keep it up."

PS. I was raised Catholic.

AliceBastable YES, the bloody nails in those hanging, impaled Jesuses must frighten all small Catholic children, for sure.

ananda8 YES, mental health issues must abound with all that focus on self-flagellation and recrimination and punishment for THOUGHT sins....

Spookiesmom JS Bach would probably be a bit surprised that his amazing fugue has a life in our era as Halloween and scary-movie background music!

Allow me to point out that many cultures have refined art, music, architecture, poetry and drama all without it being paid for by a church. The art may reflect some religious mythology, but not a fraction of what the Christian culture does. I would say that art was advertising to sell faith in Christian Europe. With faith came donations as it does today.

Alice-- Your son's Episcopal church' love fest sounds lovely. Genuine signs of affection.

It was really sad when a man in his 30's with schizophrenia was sure he was going to hell because masturbation is a mortal sin.

My chemo month group has become an opportunity for many people to declare their prayers for each other. I'm a comfortable agnostic, and I was brought up that people should keep their religious beliefs to themselves. (Obviously I'm not a Southerner!) So it all makes me cringe a bit, and really puts me off participating there.

Hey joE77? Piss off. Would you like us to come to your religious threads and tell you what a bunch of delusional losers you are? Didn't think so. Have a little respect and we will as well.

Trish

Wow. JoE, I’ve seen you in other threads and have nothing against you but this comment was unprovoked and unnecessary. Religion and a lack there of is a big part of this thread but I don’t think we “bash” (we do joke on occasion) but we mostly express frustration with overly judgmental and intolerant church goers. This particular thread may not be the place for you and that is fine. Live and let be.

Wow! Even some family members of atheists might visit this thread to better understand their loved one's pain but would find hurtful words instead.

I found our conversation together a few weeks ago, as many of us shared how we faced a difficult health issue without religion, to be very supportive and interesting. Many thoughtful and profound observations in that exchange. I've appreciated, so much, this safe and kind fresh-air space to listen and think, without judgment. I've also appreciated the doses of humor. Important medicine!

I'm a Secular Humanist. Firmly rooted in morality to inform thought and deed. Deeply committed to questioning and examining, and to justice and kindness. On a lifelong quest to self-actualize, learn, ponder and journey to more knowledge about myself, about others, about science and the universe. Adhering to these principles, as many do to religion, feels authentic to me. I am proud to believe my way, and I'm not worried about matching anyone else's belief systems.

"Who are the secular humanists? Perhaps everyone who believes in the principles of free inquiry, ethics based upon reason, and a commitment to science, democracy, and freedom. Perhaps even you."
— Paul Kurtz (1925 – 2012), founder of the Council for Secular Humanism and Free Inquiry Magazine.

Joe777, I'm not sure what you mean about "loved one's pain." The pain of our cancer diagnoses and treatment? Or the pain that some people experience when their religious family members, friends, and communities pass judgment on them? I myself do not feel any pain from my lack of religious faith, nor did pain lead me to reject religious doctrine.

Another drive by religious bashing. I notice Joe277 doesn't have the courage of her convictions. Very cowardly to remove the original post. Now it looks as though we are just being rude to some poor, misunderstood, persecuted christian .

And btw, all of you are much more patient than I. My patience for overbearing christians has run dry. I'm damn tired of having to be polite and respectful of people who choose not to be polite and respectful to me.

Sorry for being so blunt.

Trish