OK, so you're an atheist. What next?

AerynSun · 18-01-2014 04:04PM #1

There's an interesting article on the Huffington Post's Politics Blog, that highlights the ways atheism is a hidden inequality issue - worth having a read! It's focused on the situation in the US, but some of it could well be relevant for atheists in Ireland?

What say the people of A&A? Have you experienced any of the listed inequalities as a result of your beliefs (or lack thereof, as the case may be)?

EDIT: I'm asking mainly because as a recently-Catholic-now-agnostic, I have a feeling I'm in for a bumpy ride... getting the hang of being 'outside' of the religious fold! What kind of stuff should I expect?

lazygal · 18-01-2014 04:16PM

School is the big one for us. A perfectly good taxpayer funded school with all mod cons is literally two minutes from our doorstep but is Catholic and while a good school in most respects has the kids doing indoctrination during school hours. We'll get a place there if we want but what'll our children do during preparation for communion/confirmation? Do we let them do the nativity play every other child will be in? What do we do if the parish priest calls in for a chat? What do they do during the indoctrination portions of the day? These are all things we wouldn't even have to consider if we were believers.

Also state marriage ceremonies are only Monday to Friday. If you want a civil ceremony in Ireland you can't have one on weekends. This doesn't sound like a hassle but it is. If you want to get married in a church, no problem! Come on down, even if you're as a la carte as they come. At least now there's the option of a legal humanist ceremony (we had to do our legal and humanist ones on different days).

There's also the whole oath taking malarky required of judges and the president - I also remember seeing a row of new gardaí all holding bibles. And the prayers that many county councils engage in and Dail and Seanad prayers on the opening of the session of parliament.

AerynSun · 18-01-2014 05:13PM

State marriage ceremonies only during the week... whaaa? Kinda seems to me like most people would want their wedding at the weekend, and surely the state should accommodate that?

Kivaro · 18-01-2014 07:12PM

Yeah, but think of all the things we CAN do because we don't believe in God ....

bumper234 · 18-01-2014 07:16PM

Kivaro wrote: »

Yeah, but think of all the things we CAN do because we don't believe in God ....

Sinners are winners

AerynSun · 18-01-2014 07:20PM

Kivaro wrote: »

Yeah, but think of all the things we CAN do because we don't believe in God ....

And happy days for those bits

I'm just trying to get a better insight into the things that religious people don't even think about... that impact the lives of people who aren't religious. Kinda the way Peggy McIntosh wrote 'White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack' to help white people understand how racism affects their lives: the 'advantages' that white people have without even knowing about them.

Until now, I've had 'religious privilege', so I don't know yet what walls I'm going to run up against now that I don't have that anymore...

bumper234 · 18-01-2014 07:29PM

AerynSun wrote: »

And happy days for those bits

I'm just trying to get a better insight into the things that religious people don't even think about... that impact the lives of people who aren't religious. Kinda the way Peggy McIntosh wrote 'White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack' to help white people understand how racism affects their lives: the 'advantages' that white people have without even knowing about them.

Until now, I've had 'religious privilege', so I don't know yet what walls I'm going to run up against now that I don't have that anymore...

Have been an atheist all my life and I've never ran into any problems or faced any issues over my beliefs.

AerynSun · 18-01-2014 07:33PM

bumper234 wrote: »

Have been an atheist all my life and I've never ran into any problems or faced any issues over my beliefs.

Glad to hear that... fingers crossed I'll have a similar experience (bar the religious people who knew me as a religious person, trying to convince me that I'm wrong to have made the switch, of course).

J C · 18-01-2014 08:47PM

Kivaro wrote: »

Yeah, but think of all the things we CAN do because we don't believe in God ....

That's not the OP ... one thing that Atheists can't do because they don't believe in God is to pray ... except in 'foxholes' during war ... or so I'm reliably informed.:)

Brian Shanahan · 18-01-2014 09:06PM

J C wrote: »

one thing that Atheists can't do because they don't believe in God is to pray

Prayer, what religious people do when they're too lazy or mean to help others, but want the kudos from being seen to be helping.

Somehow, I don't think us atheists are too worried by the fact that we no longer have access to your imaginary friend, JC.

Sierra 117 · 18-01-2014 09:57PM

J C wrote: »

That's not the OP ... one thing that Atheists can't do because they don't believe in God is to pray ... except in 'foxholes' during war ... or so I'm reliably informed.:)

You're never reliably informed.

bumper234 · 18-01-2014 10:11PM

J C wrote: »

That's not the OP ... one thing that Atheists can't do because they don't believe in God is to pray ... except in 'foxholes' during war ... or so I'm reliably informed.:)

Been to war (no foxhole) and never prayed once, have prayed MANY times when my horse is running for the line (never works) I enjoy being an atheist I get to lie in on a Sunday morning

J C · 18-01-2014 10:22PM

bumper234 wrote: »

Been to war (no foxhole) and never prayed once,

That may explain it !!!:)

bumper234 wrote: »

... have prayed MANY times when my horse is running for the line (never works) I enjoy being an atheist I get to lie in on a Sunday morning

You seem to have your priorities all mixed up ... IMO.:)

As a matter of interest, what war were you in?

J C · 18-01-2014 10:23PM

Sierra 117 wrote: »

You're never reliably informed.

Being indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God means that I'm always reliably informed.:pac:

J C · 18-01-2014 10:28PM

Brian Shanahan wrote: »

Prayer, what religious people do when they're too lazy or mean to help others, but want the kudos from being seen to be helping.

Somehow, I don't think us atheists are too worried by the fact that we no longer have access to your imaginary friend, JC.

When He turns out to be quite real ... what will you say then?

bumper234 · 18-01-2014 10:31PM

J C wrote: »

That may explain it !!!:)

You seem to have your priorities all mixed up ... IMO.:)

As a matter of interest, what war were you in?

Explain what?

Sulla Felix · 18-01-2014 10:48PM

bumper234 wrote: »

Explain what?

A generous interpretation would be that he literally meant there was no foxhole in which to not be an atheist in. A cynical one might read into it an insinuation that you can't have been in much danger if you never felt the need to pray. :rolleyes:

Anyway, on the state marriage issue, I'd imagine that's purely a union driven restriction on working outside very strict timelines, typically 9-5, mon-fri. You can't get buried in Dublin on a Saturday or Sunday for probably the same reason, the gravediggers just don't work them, for whatever timetabling reason. It was a talking point at my fathers, cause he was a Dub and all the Dubs who arrived were marvelling at the idea and how much better it was cause we had the whole weekend for the customary piss up.

Sarky · 18-01-2014 11:08PM

J C wrote: »

When He turns out to be quite real ... what will you say then?

"Holy balls, this is the best acid trip ever"?

housetypeb · 18-01-2014 11:12PM

J C wrote: »

When He turns out to be quite real ... what will you say then?

Ask him where the ho's and coke are?

J C · 18-01-2014 11:19PM

housetypeb wrote: »

Ask him where the ho's and coke are?

... you'll be in for a hot and sticky time, if you do.:eek:

shruikan2553 · 19-01-2014 03:37AM

J C wrote: »

When He turns out to be quite real ... what will you say then?

I would probably ask him how many shares = prayers on facebook it takes to save a child.

A. Rasher · 19-01-2014 03:54AM

"Are you really the head of the Kwik-E-Mart?"

Hotblack Desiato · 19-01-2014 01:55PM

J C wrote: »

That's not the OP ... one thing that Atheists can't do because they don't believe in God is to pray ... except in 'foxholes' during war ... or so I'm reliably informed.:)

That myth has already been debunked numerous times. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Association_of_Atheists_%26_Freethinkers

But you never let that stop you.

Kivaro · 19-01-2014 03:27PM

J C wrote: »

... you'll be in for a hot and sticky time, if you do.:eek:

So you've been with a ho before then.

Gordon · 19-01-2014 04:02PM

I can't enjoy being blown away by magic/illusion as much as some of my religious friends can

I'm always looking to figure out how they do the tricks.

smacl · 19-01-2014 04:28PM

J C wrote: »

When He turns out to be quite real ... what will you say then?

What? You mean to say He's not quite real as of now but will be at some point in the future? Or He just hasn't turned out, or even up, quite yet?

So what can't I do as an atheist? Hmmm, how about smugly suggesting that everyone who isn't a member of my cult will burn in hell for all eternity for giving me a hard time on boards.

C'mon now JC, much as I know they say that 'God loves a trier', you've really done enough. Really. Enough.

bumper234 · 19-01-2014 05:01PM

As an atheist I cannot stone a woman to death if she has been with a man, I also wouldn't be able to rape a woman and force her to marry me as the bible says.

Thank **** for atheism.

bumper234 · 19-01-2014 05:55PM

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

But how can you have morals without religion? It's unpossible :mad:

:pac:

But recent years have proven that some religious people have no morals, so you can't have morals without religion but with religion there is a chance you will have even less morals than a non religious person

J C · 19-01-2014 07:20PM

smacl wrote: »

What? You mean to say He's not quite real as of now but will be at some point in the future? Or He just hasn't turned out, or even up, quite yet?

So what can't I do as an atheist? Hmmm, how about smugly suggesting that everyone who isn't a member of my cult will burn in hell for all eternity for giving me a hard time on boards.

The mods don't have that power ... yet!!!

If you end up in Hell ... it will be your decision ... and nothing to with what you get up to on the Boards.:)

smacl wrote: »

C'mon now JC, much as I know they say that 'God loves a trier', you've really done enough. Really. Enough.

The work of Saving people is never done.:)

randomperson12 · 19-01-2014 07:31PM

this is one thing they cant do.. go to heaven .... also i say alot of people that are atheists etc quit because they dont want the bother of going to mass etc half an hour in church isnt going to kill ya ..... just saying..... also good point j c

randomperson12 · 19-01-2014 07:38PM

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

You're assuming people would want to go to a heaven where the main entry requirement is 'Bow to the will of the dictator'. Not my kind of club, cheers.

Half an hour in church isn't going to kill you. That half hour could be spent doing much more productive things though. Like drinking, or masturbating.

thats rotten and sowing stuff in a field is productive not sinning
plus an atheist moderator ithink banned me from the farming fourom
thats why im plundering all the fouroms

OK, so you're an atheist. What next?

Comments