Losing Our Religion: Does God Matter to Parents Anymore?

re: Losing Our Religion: Does God Matter to Parents Anymore?

Raeb — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:37:36 GMT

Let's do this.. feel free to join me:

RELIGION (General):

Pros: provides a sense of community, opportunities for intergenerational connections, historical source of music, art, beauty, promotes service and outreach, encourages humanity to strive for improvement...

Cons: Cause of war, misery, and intolerance throughout human history...

Please do add to the list. For extra credit, we could pro/con specific religions since open season has already been declared on Catholicism. Now this is fun!

re: Losing Our Religion: Does God Matter to Parents Anymore?

Olra — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:28:22 GMT

The problem is that religion is irrelevant in many parts of the country, but it decidedly is not in others, yet we are all represented in studies like these, by our laws and leaders, and in the media as "Americans".

I, personally, am tired of having to tiptoe around any particular religion, especially Christians who dominate everything, when I and virtually everyone I know identifies themselves as atheist, agnostic, secular, non-practicing, etc.

Unfortunately, those of us who reject religion feel pressure to keep it quiet and members of organized religions are, of course, organized and increasingly vocal. So I think that the issue of religion is going to continue or even increase in relevance, and not in a good way.

re: Losing Our Religion: Does God Matter to Parents Anymore?

AllisonWonder — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:53:08 GMT

We're Christians and attend church fairly regularly. My hope for my kids is that they'll search for answers for themselves and not just go along with whatever they're taught, even by me. I don't agree with everything our church officially says, but I'm ok with that, and it's nice to get out and worship with other people. I believe in God, and I think that religion can be a good thing in that it can help people in their own search for him, but I can't respect the idea that we're not supposed to ask questions. Religion should be about learning and growing, not staying in line.

That's just my opinion, anyway.

re: Losing Our Religion: Does God Matter to Parents Anymore?

Whit Honea — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:04:08 GMT

I'm a firm believer in religion being a man-made concept to keep the masses in line. My wife feels otherwise. All I can hope is that my boys make their own educated decision on the matter.

re: Losing Our Religion: Does God Matter to Parents Anymore?

mcglory13 — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:05:35 GMT

We're atheists. We're happy that way. If our child wants to go to church with friends when he's older, he's welcome to. My parents took us to church when we were little and the following things occurred: 1) my sister kept getting beaten up at Sunday School 2) They started hammering us about donating for a new huge fancy church building 3) The minister was caught having an affair with the secretary of the church (her husband found the minister naked in a closet). This turned my parents off of religion. I never managed to believe in god anyway, but I liked the singing.

re: Losing Our Religion: Does God Matter to Parents Anymore?

StubbyDog — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:33:27 GMT

Honestly I think the agnostic numbers would be higher, but people are afraid to say that label. It's easier to identify yourself as a "non-churchgoing believer" than it is to admit that you're not sure you believe in God. Especially in some areas of the country.

re: Losing Our Religion: Does God Matter to Parents Anymore?

indigo196 — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:17:49 GMT

religion is fine with me, Religion is not.

The Catholic Church is quite possibly the worse organization to ever inhabit the planet.

re: Losing Our Religion: Does God Matter to Parents Anymore?

Dana — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:58:15 GMT

No thanks to religion for us. When the baby was born we were hammered on all sides by our very Catholic families to get that sinful child baptized. After finally caving enough to at least go and talk to a priest about maybe doing the deed...we were informed that since we weren't practicing members...God didn't want our child. Nice.

So thanks for that final nail in the coffin Catholicism! It freed up a lot of time on Sundays!