If religion was eradicated, what would you miss?

actuallylike

How do,
If religion in this country dies out (I'll focus on Catholicism as that's the main one and has had the most impact and input into society), what little things would you miss? There must be some things that are a by-product of Catholicism in Ireland that makes you smile.

I was having a pint near Christchurch last week and the bells were going at it. I must say I felt it to be quite nice. Now the reason I felt it was nice wasn't anything to do with Catholic teachings, more a nostalgic sense of Ireland I grew up in and the pleasing sounds.

Church architecture is also something but I suppose they aren't going anywhere just because Catholicism dies out and I suppose the classic Gothic and Romanesque designs aren't really been produced anymore. I enjoy choir singing also. I know, without religion people are still free to set up choirs but I don't think there'd be as much?

What about you, what little things would you miss? Now, this is a light-hearted thread please. There's no need for saying all the pros of it's eradication, just anything that you'd miss due to nostalgia or anything else.

biko

Christmas.

endacl

Cream eggs. Although they have been getting noticeably smaller since I was a nipper. Then again, so has the church. Small price to pay, I suppose....

fitz0

I'd miss the bells too although in my standard day the only bells I encounter chiming the time come from King's Inn and are devoid of religious significance. I'd like to think the bells would still ring in churches despite whatever they end up in use as.

I'm having trouble thinking of what else I'd miss. The churches would fall into a new usage - libraries, museums, restaurants, etc (or so I'd hope) - and the assembled riches of the church wouldn't be long in being gathered up by either rich folk or museums and galleries. Since I don't partake of any church activities I don't think the impact on me would be hugely personal.

chughes

I'd miss Easter but we all have our cross to bear, I suppose.

lookitsme

i'm not a church person but i do remember from my childhood when we were forced to go to church. there was this smoke they used to put around the alter on special days. a priest used to shake it out of a brass thing that was on the end of a long chain, the smell was awful thats something i wont miss

Rev Hellfire

A convenient scapegoat.

Ant

lookitsme wrote: »

i'm not a church person but i do remember from my childhood when we were forced to go to church. there was this smoke they used to put around the alter on special days. a priest used to shake it out of a brass thing that was on the end of a long chain, the smell was awful thats something i wont miss

That's incense you're thinking of. I quite liked the smell though I wouldn't go so far as to say that I miss it. IIRC, the brass dispenser is called a thurible. The things you remember as an ex-altar boy.

meoklmrk91

Two weeks off at Christmas and Easter

Skrynesaver

Being able to get the global headlines on BBC before watching the RTE news

Tomk1

Christchurch was Church of Ireland, where Ussher use to preach from the pulpit: The church of Rome was the ''Babylon of the Apocalypse'' & the pope ''The Antichrist'' , but whatever it's a tourist attraction, maybe put McD's in there.

Choir music is interesting because, way back no singing at all was aloud in Catholic or protestant churches. Basic story; a vicar went to America to set up a church which failed but while there saw the success of the black-christian churches with all the singing, so when he returned to England he introduced choir singing. (it's a while ago that I read about this so bit sketchy). Many ould songs that people traditionally sang were just changed with christian lyrics. Anyway Dan Dennet is a big fan of choir music.
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The time notification bells really has nothing to do with religion, and they do add atmosphere to a town/city.

Also People will still get married & buried, so I don't see any real change, just things that allways went on will go on but no longer hijacked by religion.

magicbastarder

endacl wrote: »

Cream eggs. Although they have been getting noticeably smaller since I was a nipper.

or else your hands are getting bigger.

Blowfish

If religion had historically never existed, I probably would miss some of the music it inspired the most.

Stuff like this, this or hell even this.

endacl

magicbastarder wrote: »

endacl wrote: »

Cream eggs. Although they have been getting noticeably smaller since I was a nipper.

or else your hands are getting bigger.

Nope. Hands are the same size as when I was 5. The rest of me is big. It's weird...

Stark

Jesus porn.

Dades

There'd still be Christmas without religion. Capitalism would see to that. :pac:

We'd still have Santa, trees, mistletoe, turkey and all the trimmings. Hurrah!

Beruthiel

Stark wrote: »

Jesus porn.

Intriguing.
Innocent little me didn't even know Jesus porn existed.
That's my evening sorted.

I'd miss Christmas, but we could just go back to calling it the Winter Solstice.

martingriff

Atheism threads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on boards

Have to find new enemy to blame everything on

Bannasidhe

Telling people pull in and park behind the BVM when giving directions to my house.
I'd also miss the lovely job local Catholic volunteers do of cleaning up the road and planting flowers for what ever the hell they gather for at the BVM every May.
I would NOT miss the shockingly awful PA system they use - having to listen to 'holymarymotheroooofffgod' is bad enough but when it's distorted into 'holyschreecheoffburrrrrweeeeeeneeeeinggod' it's torment.

Stark

Beruthiel wrote: »

Intriguing.
Innocent little me didn't even know Jesus porn existed.
That's my evening sorted.

Rule 34 of the Internet.

equivariant

A year ago I would have said that I would most miss Christopher Hitchens taking the piss out of some poor sap in a public debate but sadly the Hitch died before religion did.

frag420

WAR

Galvasean

I would NOT miss those blasted bells. How many times have I had to do a retake for audio because those bloody things insisted on messing up the audio track for my films :mad:

MagicMarker

I'd miss all my buddies in A&A.

*group hug*

smokingman

I'd miss being angry....oh wait...no I wouldn't.

Mars Bar

I'd really miss the Funny Side Of Religion thread

Gbear

I think I would literally miss nothing.

I'm sure some bollocks like Homeopathy would come along and fulfill my rage quotient.

vicwatson

I'd miss the look on Catholics faces when you tell the world is infact more than 12,000 years old !

newmug

I'd miss the chance of actually getting into Heaven when I die. I wouldn't miss being on fire permanently.

ShooterSF

As a barman with friends I dont get to hang out with often enough who work in other bars, that one special night of the year we all get to go play football and then after go drink, eat BBQ and play poker in someone's house. They call it "good Friday" we call it "Excellent Friday".

It will be the only downside to a secular state!

Pace2008

vicwatson wrote: »

I'd miss the look on Catholics faces when you tell the world is infact more than 12,000 years old !

What look would that be, exactly? I doubt there are many Catholics out there who believe in a Young Earth. It certainly isn't the Church's stance.

newmug wrote: »

I'd miss the chance of actually getting into Heaven when I die. I wouldn't miss being on fire permanently.

That is some fine passive-aggression there, sir. Best I've seen in a while.