Haaaa

well you can look at it this way also 2 christians don't work out being together always either cause if you look at peoples religion on dating sites most of them are christians even the married ones who come on the sites for intimate encounters,just sayin

..i suppose there are those who are so caught up in what they were taught that they refuse to allow themselves to view religion,life in other ways..and then there are those who are totally against mind control,i guess being born this way only applies to certain things..o the hypocrisy of religion,the world..

..it is one thing to put faith in what one believes,yet another to put one's faith in man's word...

yep actions speak louder than words in a book

..and might i say in closing that most don't know of things such as the book of gnostics,the book of ezekiel,or the gospel of mary,they view the bible as the end all be all,yet the bible was that which was a majority rule sort of thing,and it some ways sexist as to

exclude certain things which were said to be told,over ruled if you will by those who held power over the times..if you were to ask most what is the apocrypha ..most wouldn't know..most think that religion is just found in the books set before them..in a way letting others

make up their minds for them as to what is true..but these are just words that fit what the powers to be chose at that time..and let them choose for them..follow the yellow brick road,but what of the path not taken ..if it's excluded than it doesn't exist..yet it does..it's just not held up above everything else..

..and what of those who wrote the bible,what were their intentions,what did they know to be true..that which they wanted to be,that which gave them power..let's face the facts most of mankind is not genius and what most would want others to believe is that which serves them best..not necessarily the truth..

..i think for those who are curious about religion or say they are of one certain religion they should read,educate themself and then form their own opinion ..not that which is set before them as the truth...one would be surprised by that which is not known to them or told in the bible..


..on a personal note..i do not need that which is told in the bible to be a good person ...we are who we are..altho i agree with the golden rule its just because it goes hand in hand with my morals,not because it's in the bible..

..i watch as those who speak of religion war because of their beliefs being different from others..O the hypocrisy of the world that we think all should share in the same beliefs even if we have to kill them,not very religious in my book..mankind is ignorant ... jmo

Okay, me and my 3 kids who like church trump you and him. So you guys are still the exception.

As for teenagers, my step-son is about to turn 18 and plays drums for the bands in two different churches.

My parents have been married 38 years. Mom's an atheist and dad was a non-practicing Catholic who broke with his church over the "be nice to black people moving in" harping. He was from the Detroit area, when it was still heavily German/Italian/Irish, before the blacks moved in.

He's popped in and out of Church over the years, but found it to be crass and tedious, not to mention the entire lack of responsibility the Church and other Christian beliefs are good at.

He supported mom's thoughts in teaching us as atheists, and letting us decide what we wanted. So, I'd say 38 years is probably pretty good staying power...

The Golden Rule is found in other books as well, so the Christians don't really get to lay claim to it.

http://dcortesi.home.mindspring.com/unbelieving/ethical/goldenrule.html

ID say the same of my faith. ITs been mine since I Was younger and my parents EXPOSED me to it(different from forced) and it remained mine after grade school when I was free to choose to go or not.


I find it interesting that you note the reason your dad initially broke with the church, even though he was already 'non practicing'.
Wouldnt it be 'expected' for him to be nonchalant about whether the children were raised with religion or not if he was so nonchalant about his own?


Its also interesting to note your story about racism in your post religious father, while others note the hypocrisy of racsim in their religious homes. Seems more evidence that we are all just people with our own bigotries and flaws,,with or without religion.

His family forced him to church. He broke with his family at 18 and with the church at 18. His father also beat him with a belt frequently, but he chose not to do that to us.

He didn't believe in forcing his children, and supported mom's views. She didn't harp atheism on us, she just doesn't believe in a higher power. She did have us read various and assorted religious and mythological books, and would sit and discuss it. She also had no problem with the few times I went to various church's. The Baptist preacher at one church ended up being the final straw when he got nasty about the questions I asked.

Dad's not racist. He has no problem with anyone, so long as they pull their weight. But he has no interest in listening to certain groups whine about how they should be treated or how badly they were treated way back when, and yet they ignore their own history and truly aren't doing anything about it to pull themselves up.

That said, he is a feminist, because he sees the crap women have to deal with, and has always supported women's equality. But he also sees women fighting and working to pull themselves up, and religion being the problem of forcing them down.

interesting,, as a black woman, ,I will leave that one alone,,,lol

LOL...Thanks for the laughs...this thread was a little long to read but was still quite amusing...lol. It is funny how hypocritical people are being when it comes to tolerance, most all religions have a base of getting along with each other and understanding of others.

I do not care what another person's religion really is, in fact I think it is fun to debate different ideas as long as the other person has an open mind. It could be religion or politics or the type of car they drive. I would not like a person who does not think for their self and only agree with everything I say...be your own person...have your own dreams, opinions, and beliefs. We might have some common ground if you actually look.

Although I do not believe in the whole "god" experience there are a lot of good things that come out of it like morals and stuff. But to me it is like Santa Claus, a story used to keep kids behaving...Just some people have taken it too far.

Also, to the people here who are religious, I see many who say they have been married before or have children. For a religious person to have kids they should have been married, correct?. If you follow the word of the bible then you are not looking for another partner because Jesus said, "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery," (Matt. 19:9). Just food for thought on how serious you are with your religion...

They don't have long relationships compared to who? You? Those who are religious?

Do you feel that you and your kids are better because you like church for some reason?

The discussion was about children liking or not liking church, not about who is better than who. I don't even know what you mean "better". Better people? Better compared to who?

'except for immorality,' divorce for immorality doesnt exclude one from remarriage

its kind of like our modern marriage annulment which basically says the marriage was never legitimate

if one divorces a spouse for something other than immoral behavior, that divorce is not legitimate so remarriage would be adultery,,,

at least thats one interpretaion

I think if you are respectful of other people's beliefs, it wouldn't be too much of a problem, but I also agree that having a like-minded philosophy with your significant other is easier/better, because how one feels, thinks and what they believe will come into play when making important decisions.

That said, I feel for you. Atheist men have a hard time finding women? Well, as a feminist woman, I have a hard time finding men. A lot of them think that is a dirty word.

Also in agreement here! I'm always amused at men who do support women's rights, but they get all hinky if you call them a feminist.

Two christians dont work out being together because one of them is bound to be a total fraud who uses religion to hide their filthyness and gain respect....One in two christians are not really religious....they are just people who were forced into religion as children and have had to live a fraudulent lifestyle..in fear of their family and friends.

Now, I'd have to say I don't agree with this statement, because honestly, I'm one of those Christians that are okay with whatever belief someone has. I have Wiccan, Muslim, and even a friend who practices to the satanic beliefs. (The last one rarely what people think they do.)

Personally, it's just that as long as people don't shove their religion, or lack of beliefs in my face, I'm fine. I'm just one of those people who really believe not to judge the person on their beliefs, but perhaps on their actions.

But that's my two cents.