Here's one for you: Churchgoing atheists.

[Mehtis]

In Finland, if you aren't a part of the Lutheran Church, in primary school you go to different classes, instead of the normal religion classes others do. I didn't went to the religion classes, because my mom is in the church even though she doesn't believe or go there ever, but from what I know is that in the other class they teach you about other religions there and things like that. Other people only learn about those things in secondary school.

[sorudo]

i had some kind of class about the christian religion on basic school, the only reason why i even took that class is so i could skip math.

[RD]

SNIP

Thanks for the info!

[Zalis]

This reminds me of that atheist sunday school link I posted a few years ago. I know folks who "keep the peace" as linked, but it sounds like no marriage I'd want to be in. As far as the situation goes, though, I'd never marry an atheist. If a person doesn't care about what you really care about, they'll never "get you" as well as someone who does.

I wish they'd do a study on the percent of people who go to Church "because you're supposed to" and are otherwise totally not religious at all. My guess: It's a big number.

Woah, cynicism much, RD?

Would you be surprised to find out that I agree? (despite my distaste for the word "religious" as having any real beneficial meaning on its own) The term I have for them is "nominal Christians," which is to say, in name only. The only people they're fooling are themselves and those who believe poll data about "Christians" like this.

[Lady Rhonwyn]

I wish they'd do a study on the percent of people who go to Church "because you're supposed to" and are otherwise totally not religious at all. My guess: It's a big number.

Woah, cynicism much, RD?

We've a term for that: pretence-holiness.... (literal translation!) It means so much as saying you believe in one thing and then not doing anything to show that you actually do.

[raspberry jam]

Would you be surprised to find out that I agree?

At least, I am not surprised; that the devout would see those who outwardly are religious but inwardly less so for what they are is no new thing.

[Zalis]

At least, I am not surprised; that the devout would see those who outwardly are religious but inwardly less so for what they are is no new thing.

If it claims to be a duck, only goes to duck hangouts at Beakster and Quacksmas, doesn't know what the duck book actually says, but otherwise looks and acts like another animal... Let's just remember that RD made the observation, not me. Chalking it all up to Scotsman while ignoring the facts is a quackout.

[Alaris]

Where else but church can you go, to regularly receive instruction and enlightenment on the issues of morality?

I think, though, that some of these so-called atheists might actually be closet believers. Someone who believed strongly that there is no God, would be more likely to want to raise his/her children that way too.

I can speak for myself, as the official "on the fence" guy here.

I taught my kid about morality, and about religious beliefs. I would like her to not go full on religious (so far she's agnostic too like daddy), but hey, it makes her no service to keep that info from her. Her beliefs may differ from mine and that's ok, ultimately it's her choice to make and the best I can do is prepare her and inform her so she can make a good choice.

Also, I do think that if you cut the God stuff out of religion, it still does a fairly decent moral upbringing.

However, scientifically speaking I don't think any 'scientist' would ever say there is no god.

I've met my share of atheist scientists. They will say that there is no God, but then agree that there is no evidence either way.

I'd never marry an atheist.

eHarmony asks what your religious belief is in quite a bit of detail, and then asks: "is this important to you". Two people of different beliefs can be a good match if neither is really into it.

Of course, for those for whom this is a big deal... they should find a like-spirit.

[raspberry jam]

If it claims to be a duck, only goes to duck hangouts at Beakster and Quacksmas, doesn't know what the duck book actually says, but otherwise looks and acts like another animal... Let's just remember that RD made the observation, not me. Chalking it all up to Scotsman while ignoring the facts is a quackout.

No, no... Forgive me, I made a too compressed point.

What I'm saying is, on the one hand: calling them not true Christians is kinda fail, because there is no hard definition of a Christian.

On the other hand, yes: I fully agree with both you and RD. There is a lot of people who go to church because that's how things are, they are supposed to, it would look bad if they didn't, it's the local culture or whatever, but not because they truly believe in what's being said. Or, for that matter, they might believe, but their beliefs doesn't reflect in their life (e.g. Italian mafia members going to church and actually believing in god, and then killing people and what not on their day job, eh, night job maybe).

[RD]

There's also an element of guilt or just resign to it. My dad, for example, goes to church every Sunday, but complains about it, for any number of reasons. I have encouraged him to find a different denomination of Christianity he finds less offensive (he is Catholic - surprise), but he won't because he feels like he HAS to go to church and I think he believes you aren't supposed to change religions, even if it's just one sect of Christianity to a less-crazy/stupid one.

He's also not exactly a loving person, which is (supposed to be) kind of a sticking point for Christianity.