A la carte vs devout and treatement of atheists

Sulla Felix · 01-01-2013 08:54PM #1

Inspired by Birrocs thread, I thought this could merit discussion.

I, and others apparently, have found that so a la carte Catholics to be a lot intolerant of my lack of belief than the apparently devout.

Time and again, in arguements, it's the people who don't go to mass, do the bare minimum that are vehement in their views. The few people in my family, usually older, who still regularly go to mass have a much more laissez faire pov.

I've half an idea that it's a threat issue. The devout are secure in their faith and no amount of atheists around them is going to change that. With the others though, whether they have doubts is one thing, but there must be a definite self-knowledge that according to their own Churchs doctrine, they are sorely lacking in their behaviour.

Any thoughts?

Galvasean · 01-01-2013 09:15PM

I'd tend to agree. Most challenges to my atheism come from ala carte 'Catholics' (and sometimes from what I call 'militant agnostics'). People who are proper religious (regular mass goers, follow the rules etc.) seem happy enough to leave me be for the most part (apart from the megaphone crackpots and door to door fundies, but they are a different story. They harass everyone.)
I also think it's down to ala cartes not being truly comfortaqble with their faith and using attack as a form of defence.

philologos · 01-01-2013 09:37PM

To be honest, most of the time when I discuss any form of faith is when someone else asks me about it or mentions it in a discussion. Whether that's at work or in social settings. If someone brings it up, then I will discuss it, or if someone makes X claim about Christianity I'll feel free to chip in at that point.

If someone asks me what I did at the weekend, I do mention that I go to church on Sundays, but I don't see that as shoving Christianity into a conversation. If I'm asked about what I did at the weekend saying I went to church is simply a truthful statement.

VinLieger · 02-01-2013 12:41AM

Galvasean wrote: »

I'd tend to agree. Most challenges to my atheism come from ala carte 'Catholics' (and sometimes from what I call 'militant agnostics'). People who are proper religious (regular mass goers, follow the rules etc.) seem happy enough to leave me be for the most part (apart from the megaphone crackpots and door to door fundies, but they are a different story. They harass everyone.)
I also think it's down to ala cartes not being truly comfortaqble with their faith and using attack as a form of defence.

Curious as to what you what you think of as militant agnostic as its usually how i humorously describe myself when questioned on religion, it tends to confuse people which is the objective

Galvasean · 02-01-2013 02:48AM

VinLieger wrote: »

Curious as to what you what you think of as militant agnostic as its usually how i humorously describe myself when questioned on religion, it tends to confuse people which is the objective

It's the term I made up to describe people who start threads in A&A dismissing atheists as arrogant/close minded etc. for not being open to the idea of a God and refusing to accept that atheism and agnosticism are not mutually exclusive.

Dades · 02-01-2013 12:01PM

My in-laws slag me and joke about stuff like one on my kids being in a nativity play. It's all good natured fun, though.

But nobody ever shows any intolerance of my beliefs.

HHobo · 02-01-2013 12:08PM

philologos wrote: »

If someone asks me what I did at the weekend, I do mention that I go to church on Sundays, but I don't see that as shoving Christianity into a conversation. If I'm asked about what I did at the weekend saying I went to church is simply a truthful statement.

The only thing about that Phil is that it is wilfully ignoring the usual mode in which the question is asked.
Presumably you also eat dinner on weekends but don't feel the need to mention this rather boring event.
The question is almost exclusively asked under the assumption that it is things of note and particularly entertainment activities that you engaged in that are under discussion. I think you may be a little more interested in pointing out your religiousity that you let on.

fitz0 · 02-01-2013 12:52PM

I'd agree with the OP on the a la carte Catholics and their attitudes towards lack of belief. I've always thought of this as an extension to their clutching at Catholic straws. I wonder if they hang onto a belief in 'something' because they find nothing too hard to grasp or too terrifying or for some other existential reason and they genuinely can't contemplate the world from an atheistic standpoint. So they cling to a belief, in this case cultural Catholicism, as something that's rooted in tradition and our culture.

'S only my opinion though.

philologos · 02-01-2013 02:12PM

HHobo wrote: »

The only thing about that Phil is that it is wilfully ignoring the usual mode in which the question is asked.
Presumably you also eat dinner on weekends but don't feel the need to mention this rather boring event.
The question is almost exclusively asked under the assumption that it is things of note and particularly entertainment activities that you engaged in that are under discussion. I think you may be a little more interested in pointing out your religiousity that you let on.

Going to church is significant and of note to me in a way that eating dinner on the weekends isn't. Or if I'm at small group at church the night before, I'll mention it if I'm asked about what I did yesterday by a colleague.

It's what defines me as a human being. I generally don't mention it otherwise unless it's brought up in conversation.

Or is that OTT too?

Why should I intentionally lie to people about who I am? If I hid the fact I was a Christian from my colleagues or anyone else it would imply shame of some form.

Zillah · 02-01-2013 03:21PM

I don't know any devout Catholics and the A La Carte ones have learned to leave the topic alone because they are sick of learning new things about their religion and how bad a job they are doing of keeping up with it.

o1s1n · 02-01-2013 03:34PM

philologos wrote: »

If I hid the fact I was a Christian from my colleagues or anyone else it would imply shame of some form.

Never hide who you are from anyone.

However, people tend to throw out general questions about what you did over the weekend to start up a conversation about such events. A lot of the time it would be because you are acquaintances and it's an easy starting point.

Religion is generally something people don't really want to discuss when throwing out conversation starters like that among acquaintances - it's a little too personal.

I know it would make me uncomfortable anyway. Not because I would have an issue with you having a belief, but I would be skeptical as to why you would bring up something so personal with an acquaintance (and if I wanted to be extra skeptical, I would think you were using it as a starting point to begin discussing religion with me)

padd b1975 · 02-01-2013 04:05PM

Dades wrote: »

But nobody ever shows any intolerance of my beliefs.

Is that not a good thing?

Why the sad face?

Sarky · 02-01-2013 04:11PM

Dades is actually a machine that feeds off suffering and the hatred of others.

LeinsterDub · 02-01-2013 04:13PM

Every Catholic is A la carte.

fitz0 · 02-01-2013 04:19PM

Context

seamus · 02-01-2013 04:23PM

I view it much like the argument that the most vocal homophobes are likely to be homosexuals themselves, overtly attacking homosexuality so as to convince themselves (and others) that because they hate homosexuals so much, the couldn't possibly be one.

Those who tend to make the most outspoken attacks on atheists and find themselves annoyed by atheists in my experience tend to be the same ones who are the least secure in their own beliefs. No doubt attacking atheism in the hope that it will strengthen their "faith".

I should clarify that I'm referring to people who seek out atheists for debate/attack. I'm not saying that anyone who defends religion from criticism is latently atheist.

In groups, a la carte Catholics tend to dismiss atheists with quantity rather than quality, everyone firing comments/questions at the atheist, comfortable to have the group backup. One-to-one they're much weaker and will shy away when you start to scratch the surface, calling it "far too heavy a subject for a Monday night".

Gurgle · 02-01-2013 04:26PM

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Every Catholic is A la carte.

So is every member of every religion.

Its kinda unavoidable when your holy book goes out of date and can't be modernized without admitting its wrong. The only option is to re-interpret (or outright ignore) the crazier bits.

LeinsterDub · 02-01-2013 04:30PM

fitz0 wrote: »

Context

Believers in all religions pick and choose. So it's not so much A la carte vs devout its A la carte vs even more a la carte

lazygal · 02-01-2013 04:43PM

I've found the devout Catholics who actually believe even the more unsavory elements of the teachings are more in tune with why me and my family opt out of things like a church wedding, christenings, communions and the like. They respect the fact we don't believe any of it and agree that if you don't like or follow the rules, you'd don't join the club or involve children in it.

However, there's a massive cohort of a la carte Irish Catholics who simply don't seem to get why you wouldn't have a church wedding and do all the 'normal' stuff they did. I don't know whether they haven't thought about why they do the communions or church weddings or whether its simply beyond their understanding that you wouldn't do them. I recently had a conversation with a woman I know who's just gotten engaged and said she booked the church. She said she wasn't one bit religious and resented the rules of the priest with music and readings and thought having to do a premarriage course was silly, but when I told her she didn't have to have a church wedding the look of incredulity was hilarious.

I'm finding it harder and harder to put up with this kind of thing, like being asked to christenings when the parents aren't married so obviously didn't follow the no sex before marriage rule, or communions when they family don't ever go to mass, or weddings when one person is a self described atheist but had a church wedding because their other half didn't want to upset her granny with a non church affair.

I have more respect for a woman I know through a friend, who isn't going through with IVF because its against Catholic teachings so is going the adoption route, to me that's being a more faithful Catholic. I can't understand it but I can respect it, but the most recent wedding I was at where the bride was pregnant walking up the isle and had a son as a pageboy? I have little or no time when people like that want their 'faith' facilitated by the school system.

philologos · 02-01-2013 04:48PM

o1s1n wrote: »

Never hide who you are from anyone.

However, people tend to throw out general questions about what you did over the weekend to start up a conversation about such events. A lot of the time it would be because you are acquaintances and it's an easy starting point.

Religion is generally something people don't really want to discuss when throwing out conversation starters like that among acquaintances - it's a little too personal.

I know it would make me uncomfortable anyway. Not because I would have an issue with you having a belief, but I would be skeptical as to why you would bring up something so personal with an acquaintance (and if I wanted to be extra skeptical, I would think you were using it as a starting point to begin discussing religion with me)

Rarely if ever does it get theological. I mention I went to church as a passing point. Sometimes people ask more sometimes they don't.

Dades · 02-01-2013 04:52PM

padd b1975 wrote: »

Is that not a good thing?
Why the sad face?

Because I enjoy defending my disbelief, but would never instigate a discussion about religion outside of this forum!

Bannasidhe · 02-01-2013 05:36PM

All I can say is that my devoutly Catholic Grandmother was my staunchest ally when it came to my openly declaring myself an Atheist aged 11.

It annoyed her that people who didn't believe were so hypocritical as to pick and choose and felt that if they didn't agree with the doctrines of the Catholic Church they should find a denomination they did agree with and stop lying.

She greatly admired those who were honest about their lack of belief and refusal to 'play the game'.

After one trip to Lourdes she was full of praise for a man she met who was open about his Atheism but had brought his devout Great-Aunt to Lourdes because she believed. To my Grandmother the non-believer was the only person she had met there who displayed 'so-called Christian'(her words) charity.

VinLieger · 02-01-2013 05:50PM

Galvasean wrote: »

It's the term I made up to describe people who start threads in A&A dismissing atheists as arrogant/close minded etc. for not being open to the idea of a God and refusing to accept that atheism and agnosticism are not mutually exclusive.

Ahh right i made it up as a fun way to describe myself as an agnostic who doesnt really care, but im very serious about not caring :P

Talking about a la carte catholics, a friend recently had a baby with his girlfriend, neither of whom would be fairly religous yet they chose to get it christened/baptised etc. Now i would never openly criticise/question them about it as it has nothing to do with me how they raise the child but its just bizarre to me as he has absolutely no time for the church in that he just doesnt care about religion yet hes willing to get his child baptised?

Dades · 02-01-2013 07:27PM

VinLieger wrote: »

Talking about a la carte catholics, a friend recently had a baby with his girlfriend, neither of whom would be fairly religous yet they chose to get it christened/baptised etc. Now i would never openly criticise/question them about it as it has nothing to do with me how they raise the child but its just bizarre to me as he has absolutely no time for the church in that he just doesnt care about religion yet hes willing to get his child baptised?

Maybe they're concerned about getting the child into a school.

Galvasean · 02-01-2013 10:03PM

VinLieger wrote: »

Talking about a la carte catholics, a friend recently had a baby with his girlfriend, neither of whom would be fairly religous yet they chose to get it christened/baptised etc. Now i would never openly criticise/question them about it as it has nothing to do with me how they raise the child but its just bizarre to me as he has absolutely no time for the church in that he just doesnt care about religion yet hes willing to get his child baptised?

Reminds me of an old schoolfriend of mine wwho had a baby a while back. She was very annoyed that the local church couldn't get her a baptism on the date of her choosing. It seemed hypocritical to me that she was complaining about the church when she had a kid outside of wedlock and hadn't set foot in a church in years (heck, last time we spoke she didn't even believe in God).

VinLieger · 02-01-2013 11:04PM

Dades wrote: »

Maybe they're concerned about getting the child into a school.

Galvasean wrote: »

Reminds me of an old schoolfriend of mine wwho had a baby a while back. She was very annoyed that the local church couldn't get her a baptism on the date of her choosing. It seemed hypocritical to me that she was complaining about the church when she had a kid outside of wedlock and hadn't set foot in a church in years (heck, last time we spoke she didn't even believe in God).

The school thing could well be the issue but my guess is its the a la carte grandparents who might be responsible in most cases like this

miss no stars · 04-01-2013 01:28AM

seamus wrote: »

Those who tend to make the most outspoken attacks on atheists and find themselves annoyed by atheists in my experience tend to be the same ones who are the least secure in their own beliefs. No doubt attacking atheism in the hope that it will strengthen their "faith".

Empty vessels.

I also think that those atheists (mostly teenagers) who go around actively seeking believers out with the aim of destroying their faith in (a) god(s) are also quite insecure in the same manner, whether through a sneeking suspicion that god's really watching, or through people saying "ah sure it's just a phase, they'll be back at mass in a year or two".

People who are secure about something don't go around attacking others for having a differing view, regardless of what their own view is.

lazygal wrote: »

I've found the devout Catholics who actually believe even the more unsavory elements of the teachings are more in tune with why me and my family opt out of things like a church wedding, christenings, communions and the like. They respect the fact we don't believe any of it and agree that if you don't like or follow the rules, you'd don't join the club or involve children in it.

However, there's a massive cohort of a la carte Irish Catholics who simply don't seem to get why you wouldn't have a church wedding and do all the 'normal' stuff they did. I don't know whether they haven't thought about why they do the communions or church weddings or whether its simply beyond their understanding that you wouldn't do them. I recently had a conversation with a woman I know who's just gotten engaged and said she booked the church. She said she wasn't one bit religious and resented the rules of the priest with music and readings and thought having to do a premarriage course was silly, but when I told her she didn't have to have a church wedding the look of incredulity was hilarious.

I'm finding it harder and harder to put up with this kind of thing, like being asked to christenings when the parents aren't married so obviously didn't follow the no sex before marriage rule, or communions when they family don't ever go to mass, or weddings when one person is a self described atheist but had a church wedding because their other half didn't want to upset her granny with a non church affair.

I have more respect for a woman I know through a friend, who isn't going through with IVF because its against Catholic teachings so is going the adoption route, to me that's being a more faithful Catholic. I can't understand it but I can respect it, but the most recent wedding I was at where the bride was pregnant walking up the isle and had a son as a pageboy? I have little or no time when people like that want their 'faith' facilitated by the school system.

Agree completely with everything except the bit underlined. Marriage is about give and take. If the OH wants a church wedding, who says the atheist's view should trump that? The way I look at that one is, church or no church doesn't affect whether the atheist comes out of it feeling properly married, but it can have a huge impact on someone who does genuinely believe in god (irrespective of religious observance, I'm talking about belief here). I know a girl who got married recently to a man who hadn't even been baptised and they had a church wedding. I can't remember the details (they were lost on me tbh) but the priest did one sort of ceremony for her and something else for him. They had the wedding in the church but technically he was only participating in the legal wedding, whilst she got some sort of blessing (sacrament?). She did say that she knew the priest from way back, so it's probably harder for most people to organise something like that meaning it's just easier to go along with it for the day. I find it hard to believe that a reasonable person who actually loves and cares about the person they're marrying wouldn't make that (very small) sacrifice to keep the person they love happy. Not to mention the in-laws!

Gbear · 04-01-2013 01:36AM

I think another factor with obnoxious atheist teenagers is that
1) They could just be obnoxious teenagers. They could just as easily be acting obnoxious about something else
2) They're excited to have found out about a new thing and that usually generates a bit of zeal - whether it's a new restaurant or a new way you live your life, people tend to get a bit excited when some novelty appears in their lives.

GarIT · 04-01-2013 02:04AM

miss no stars wrote: »

I also think that those atheists (mostly teenagers) who go around actively seeking believers out with the aim of destroying their faith in (a) god(s) are also quite insecure in the same manner, whether through a sneeking suspicion that god's really watching, or through people saying "ah sure it's just a phase, they'll be back at mass in a year or two".

The start is probably an accurate description of me. But im not insecure, maybe niave because because there's some part of me that thinks I can save the world from evil people like priests. I can see that religion causes so much harm and I try to help people by proving that religion (generally christanity) is stupid, it's not that I have any insecurity, I know there is no being that created the world and I can show you the maths that proves you can't walk on water so I have no doubt or reason to question. I have just seen lives destroyed by religion, read about millions of lives that were destroyed by religion and I want to try to stop people that I care about adding to the destruction.

Mark Hamill · 04-01-2013 02:49AM

miss no stars wrote: »

People who are secure about something don't go around attacking others for having a differing view, regardless of what their own view is.

Sure they do, science is based,no, requires it. The problem is people doing what you are doing here, equating attacking a viewpoint, with attacking a person.

miss no stars wrote: »

Marriage is about give and take. If the OH wants a church wedding, who says the atheist's view should trump that?

Its funny how people say this, but then assume its always the atheist who should give in relationships. You're forgetting that there is two OHs in a marriage, so your statement here can be equally written as:
If the OH doesn't wants a church wedding, who says the theist's view should trump that?

miss no stars wrote: »

The way I look at that one is, church or no church doesn't affect whether the atheist comes out of it feeling properly married, but it can have a huge impact on someone who does genuinely believe in god

Since when? I wouldn't feel right getting married in a church, specially not by some celibate old man (the least qualified type of person to be presiding over someone elses romantic relationship).
And if the theist in the relationship really believed in god then they wouldn't be marrying an atheist.

Peregrinus · 04-01-2013 02:59AM

Mark Hamill wrote: »

And if the theist in the relationship really believed in god then they wouldn't be marrying an atheist.

Why not?

A la carte vs devout and treatement of atheists

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