Even in death you still look sad.

[tir_synni]

I'm constantly getting interrogated about this whenever the subject comes up: why are you so interested in religion if you're an atheist? There tend to be heavy implications of denial on my part surrounding these questions. I try to explain, but I don't think many people get it.

Comments

[sinnatious]

'Why are you so interested in religion if you're an atheist?' Then why are they so interested in converting people to their religion if they're not Christian/Catholic/Jewish/Muslim/whatever? :/ Wouldn't everybody be happy if everyone else minded their own business? I think religious people dislike atheists who are interested in religion, because then they know their arguments, and the opposition's ignorance is no longer a claimable defence

[sinnatious]

Y'see, this is where we get back to some wicked-cool ideas. :D God has a split personality!

Ah, but this is where it gets confusing to the average practioner of Catholic faith. They have saints they pray to/through for cancer, or for lost pets, or any other number of grievances, asking for a miracle. Because hey, they performed miracles in order to be canonised as saints, correct? Two of them, in fact. Doesn't the performing of miracles make them gods? Oh, unless they were simply a vessel through which God performed the miracle, but why would God need a channel to do that through if he's God? Why pray to a middle man? Why would you need to petition a gal with great contacts if God were truly so omniscient? He would already know.

I could have fun with this logic for hours. :D Very amusing indeed.

[kimerastorm]

hmmmm

This is how it was explained to me years ago.
If youre the younger sibling having a problem, and you dont want to bother your parents with it who do you go to?
Well you go to the older sibling who's already been through it.

Saints are like humanity's older siblings. Anthony is great at finding things, Barbra is good at making things blow up, Mary well lets just say shes the big guy's favorite (she is referred to as the only human born without the taint of original sin aka the immaculate conceptioin) for obvious reasons and when you need serious help you go straight to her.

Does any of this help or just make it more confusing?

[sinnatious]

Ta for the explanation, I get the concept. :) I just don't think it's consistent or holds up under logic.

I find it interesting that on one hand it is preached that God loves everyone, even sinners, equally, and then on the other we're seeking 'recommendations' from 'favourites'. Unless it is a form of polytheism, but that's a whole pandora's box of contradictions right there.

[kimerastorm]

Most every 'positive' religion follows the pattern of one major god and several (hundred) minor ones.

I dont know why it just works out that way.

With Judeo-Christian (possible Islam) that pattern shifts slightly to the One God + Angels/Saints.

Weird but eh lifes weird too.

[sakurakat]

Uh - you don't know me - I found your LJ through your fanfic.

I remember reading when I was younger that some of the saints (Bridget was the example used) were actually made saints as a way of convincing people to convert, as well. She was supposed to have started out as Brigit/Brigid, a Celtic deity.

[tir_synni]

I heard this thing on Religulous, and it's still my favorite quote concerning the trinity: it's like water, ice, liquid, and vapor! It's kinda neat, really.

I think Catholicism's deal with the saints is another thing taken from the other religions, but in trying to keep with the monotheist belief system, instead of labeling them as Gods, they're VIPs. :)

As soon as I learn more historical facts, I'm going to write a David/Jonathan story. Really.