Religion

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

22. I'm think he loses some of his audience when he generalizes, as there are

Fri Jun 28, 2013, 12:42 PM

Jun 2013

a significant number of atheists/non-believers who seriously object to anything that feels like encouragement to adopt religious ritual (understandably).

But his point that some public ritual may serve more than a religious function makes sense to me.

If a group is getting together to do some hard work, it is often in the midst of a thousand other demands. To stop at the beginning and just focus together for a few moments might make a lot of sense.

Is it so bad to recognize that while some of this has been draped in religious clothing, perhaps being stripped would not only preserve the positive benefit but decrease the feeling by others that they are being excluded?

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

51 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Christianity and atheism are two sides of the same coin [View all] cbayer Jun 2013 OP

I found this article to be highly insulting. trotsky Jun 2013 #1

I know, a certain type of believer seems incapable of civility Warpy Jun 2013 #19

Er, the article was written by an atheist. cbayer Jun 2013 #23

Nota bene Starboard Tack Jun 2013 #39

Nice to see you again too, ST. trotsky Jun 2013 #46

it doesn't take being a person of faith to do that--many people have practices that allow them niyad Jun 2013 #2

That is what I read as his overall point. cbayer Jun 2013 #3

Yet another article about atheism being just like theism. longship Jun 2013 #4

It's also rather telling that the article tells atheists/secularists... trotsky Jun 2013 #5

Indeed. That is what is not being said. longship Jun 2013 #7

Those who are religious are much more clever. AnotherMcIntosh Jun 2013 #26

All non-profits get tax free income. cbayer Jun 2013 #27

No. 1) Some nonprofits don't receive income. 2) Some only receive income taxable under 26 U.S.C. 511 AnotherMcIntosh Jun 2013 #29

Maybe you could point out where it tells us what we should learn from faith Starboard Tack Jun 2013 #42

Yep, guess we just read it differently. trotsky Jun 2013 #47

No, I actually read it. You rewrote it to suit your agenda. Starboard Tack Jun 2013 #48

OK, sure! trotsky Jul 2013 #49

You're welcome. Starboard Tack Jul 2013 #50

Okey doke, you can think that. trotsky Jul 2013 #51

I really read this one differently. cbayer Jun 2013 #6

interfaith excludes those without belief in imaginary beings. Warren Stupidity Jun 2013 #9

This one didn't, but I understand that we probably need a better term. cbayer Jun 2013 #13

The opening of the "event" made it clear that by "interfaith" the organizers meant "christian Warren Stupidity Jun 2013 #14

Agree and I don't think this was ideal by any means. cbayer Jun 2013 #16

Well, why the silly title, then? longship Jun 2013 #10

Sometimes the authors don't write the titles, the editors do. cbayer Jun 2013 #11

Yes, stupid editors!! ;-) Very bad title. nt longship Jun 2013 #15

Interfaith specificly excludes non-belivers Lordquinton Jun 2013 #18

I agree with you, but am searching for some help in what we might call cbayer Jun 2013 #21

They would have to be non-religious in nature Lordquinton Jun 2013 #24

I agree with much of what you say. AA/NA have been particularly difficult for non-believers. cbayer Jun 2013 #25

Recovery programs do have issues Lordquinton Jun 2013 #28

I am not sure what you mean by "government sanctioned". cbayer Jun 2013 #30

AA is endorsed but the courts Lordquinton Jun 2013 #31

It's a sticky wicket. cbayer Jun 2013 #32

AA, NA, etcA make the claim that it is "not religious" Lordquinton Jun 2013 #33

I think I am being unclear. cbayer Jun 2013 #34

I do see what you are saying Lordquinton Jun 2013 #35

Recovery rates have only been positively correlated with cbayer Jun 2013 #36

Addiction isn't really the focus here Lordquinton Jun 2013 #37

Yes, I have repeatedly said that the original 12 step program is a religiously based program. cbayer Jun 2013 #38

Faith is an interesting word Starboard Tack Jun 2013 #43

Meanings are clever Lordquinton Jun 2013 #44

Therefore you have faith in your belief that we don't know. Starboard Tack Jun 2013 #45

Of course the two are alike. They're about belief. Starboard Tack Jun 2013 #40

I bow to your simple, but eloquent logic. longship Jun 2013 #41

In my opinion, religions are different sides of the same coin LibAsHell Jun 2013 #8

I guess the argument could be made either way, but I would suggest that cbayer Jun 2013 #12

Know who else don't reflect? dimbear Jun 2013 #17

Non Sequitur LostOne4Ever Jun 2013 #20

I'm think he loses some of his audience when he generalizes, as there are cbayer Jun 2013 #22