None for me, thanks.
I am not a religious person, nor am I a spiritual person. I feel no need for it in my life; there is no "void" without it. I am content believing that this life is what we get, all we get, and when we die, that's it.
I have nothing against religion. I know many people derive comfort and strength from their beliefs, and I'm happy for them that they do. My husband goes off to church every Sunday; fine with me as long as I don't have to go with him. Our kids go to Sunday school. It's fine with me; I used to go when I was a kid.
But do I believe there is a God or gods? No. Do I believe there is an afterlife? No. Am I confrontational about it? No.
If someone asks, I'll tell the truth. I don't make a big deal about it. I understand that faith (or lack of it) is a personal thing. I'm not going to lie about it, but I don't "proselytize for atheism" either.
So, why does my lack of religious belief make some people become defensive?
Take my neighbor, for example. J and I often go for walks together while our kids are at school, and we have long talks on many subjects. She's Catholic, and she knows that I was raised Catholic. When she asks why I don't go to church any more, I told her, "I don't believe in God."
She then asked many follow-up questions such as, "Do you believe in heaven?" "Where do you think we go when we die?" etc. She also said that believing in heaven helped her deal with her mother-in-law's recent death and her own elderly mother's ill health.
I answered her questions, but didn't try to convince her that I was right, or that she was wrong. (Like that would have worked!) I changed the conversation when I could.
Ever since that conversation, whenever the topic of conversation has turned to anything spiritual--and it only does so if J brings it up--she says defensively, "Now I know you don't belive this, but..." and warns, "Don't laugh at me."
I don't! I don't laugh; I don't smirk; I don't get snarky.
Well, I did once. J went to a psychic. The psychic said that J's late grandmother said that J was the reincarnation of a baby the grandmother miscarried. I refrained from pointing out that Catholic doctrine discourages going to psychics, but I couldn't resist pointing out that Catholic doctrine states that there is no such thing as reincarnation.
I couldn't resist. Honest.
(P.S. It should go without saying that I want other people's religious beliefs kept out of my personal life and out of our laws. But that's entirely different subject, and I'd just be preaching to the choir in this group anyway.)
Update: Old story, but I have to mention it. I attended a Catholic high school. When I was a senior, the math teacher, Sr. Helen, found out that I didn't believe in God. After questioning me about it, she told me, "You should pray to the Blessed Mother that you find faith again."
I had to point out that since I didn't believe in God or "the Blessed Mother," that there was no way I would pray to either.
She pursed her lips (she was rather McGonagall-ish) and said that she would pray on my behalf. I told her that was fine. After all, if it made her feel better, who was I to say no?
I have nothing against religion. I know many people derive comfort and strength from their beliefs, and I'm happy for them that they do. My husband goes off to church every Sunday; fine with me as long as I don't have to go with him. Our kids go to Sunday school. It's fine with me; I used to go when I was a kid.
But do I believe there is a God or gods? No. Do I believe there is an afterlife? No. Am I confrontational about it? No.
If someone asks, I'll tell the truth. I don't make a big deal about it. I understand that faith (or lack of it) is a personal thing. I'm not going to lie about it, but I don't "proselytize for atheism" either.
So, why does my lack of religious belief make some people become defensive?
Take my neighbor, for example. J and I often go for walks together while our kids are at school, and we have long talks on many subjects. She's Catholic, and she knows that I was raised Catholic. When she asks why I don't go to church any more, I told her, "I don't believe in God."
She then asked many follow-up questions such as, "Do you believe in heaven?" "Where do you think we go when we die?" etc. She also said that believing in heaven helped her deal with her mother-in-law's recent death and her own elderly mother's ill health.
I answered her questions, but didn't try to convince her that I was right, or that she was wrong. (Like that would have worked!) I changed the conversation when I could.
Ever since that conversation, whenever the topic of conversation has turned to anything spiritual--and it only does so if J brings it up--she says defensively, "Now I know you don't belive this, but..." and warns, "Don't laugh at me."
I don't! I don't laugh; I don't smirk; I don't get snarky.
Well, I did once. J went to a psychic. The psychic said that J's late grandmother said that J was the reincarnation of a baby the grandmother miscarried. I refrained from pointing out that Catholic doctrine discourages going to psychics, but I couldn't resist pointing out that Catholic doctrine states that there is no such thing as reincarnation.
I couldn't resist. Honest.
(P.S. It should go without saying that I want other people's religious beliefs kept out of my personal life and out of our laws. But that's entirely different subject, and I'd just be preaching to the choir in this group anyway.)
Update: Old story, but I have to mention it. I attended a Catholic high school. When I was a senior, the math teacher, Sr. Helen, found out that I didn't believe in God. After questioning me about it, she told me, "You should pray to the Blessed Mother that you find faith again."
I had to point out that since I didn't believe in God or "the Blessed Mother," that there was no way I would pray to either.
She pursed her lips (she was rather McGonagall-ish) and said that she would pray on my behalf. I told her that was fine. After all, if it made her feel better, who was I to say no?