Coreligionists share the same religion, but there are deeper levels

[BillyTheMountain]

You may google the research that reveals about 20% of young persons who are "observant," meaning they attend a church or other religious event on a weekly basis, are actually atheists.

In most religions, the congregation typically recites a phrase like "glory be to God" "all glory to God" or some similar phrase.

my 80 year old neighbor attends a church in brooklyn heights. anyway, i asked him whether he also recites such a phrase, and he said yes. i then asked him what it meant to him, and he said: "not much." he said he cannot imagine God needs glory, and cannot imagine why he would offer glory to God, as he doesn't believe in a personal God.

i told this story to an observant Jew, who acknowledged he does not believe in God. He suggested this was so common among the observant, that there's a saying: "Moishe goes to temple to talk to God, and I go to temple to talk to Moishe."

Since beliefs are private, can we assume the person worshipping next to us is actually "worshipping"? Should we? Are we wrong to?

How many of the "observant" are not actually the "faithful"?

If they have no "faith" in God, why do they participate in the ritual?

Billy

[MuniAddict]

At its fundamental core, I believe religion gives people comfort and hope, and something greater than themselves to believe in. Most people of faith that I know are wonderful, caring and giving.

[idiorythmic]

Similarly, most atheists I know are wonderful, caring and giving. I suspect that those who attend weekly services do so out of a desire to maintain symbiotic connections with their local community.

I might be mistaken, but I believe that an atheist stands to lose stature in the community by revealing the lack of belief. Atheism is a bit like homosexuality, as regards the closet.

[harper]

Originally Posted by BillyTheMountain

You may google the research that reveals about 20% of young persons who are "observant," meaning they attend a church or other religious event on a weekly basis, are actually atheists.

I Googled it. You're wrong as usual.

[MuniAddict]

Originally Posted by idiorythmic

Similarly, most atheists I know are wonderful, caring and giving.

Yes, we are!

[JJuggle]

Originally Posted by harper

I Googled it. You're wrong as usual.

This survey/study does not confirm what Billy says, but does have findings that seem to be close.

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by JJuggle

This survey/study does not confirm what Billy says, but does have findings that seem to be close.

that study should have its own thread devoted entirely to it.

among many things, i found it interesting that (p. 46) 5% of atheists and 9% of agnostics pray daily.

[JJuggle]

Originally Posted by BillyTheMountain

among many things, i found it interesting that (p. 46) 5% of atheists and 9% of agnostics pray daily.

I think it indicates that just as Jews, Christians, and Muslims respectively define those words differently, so do atheists.

I personally am a strict constructionist when it comes to atheism and would have thought that it is a word less open to multiple and varying interpretations. But it turns out I'd be wrong.

[phlegm]

Originally Posted by JJuggle

This survey/study does not confirm what Billy says, but does have findings that seem to be close.

I'm disappointed that it doesn't say how many atheist Americans are dogmatic about religion. I don't need any more atheists trying to tell me what I believe.

I also wonder about the 2% disparity between "religious" Americans who agree that "many religions can lead to eternal life" and those who agree that "there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion". Does this mean more people are tolerant of other religions than members of their own?

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by phlegm

I'm disappointed that it doesn't say how many atheist Americans are dogmatic about religion. I don't need any more atheists trying to tell me what I believe.

I also wonder about the 2% disparity between "religious" Americans who agree that "many religions can lead to eternal life" and those who agree that "there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion". Does this mean more people are tolerant of other religions than members of their own?

it may mean that they think YOUR religion can lead to eternal life ....IN HELL!

Originally Posted by JJuggle

I think it indicates that just as Jews, Christians, and Muslims respectively define those words differently, so do atheists.

I personally am a strict constructionist when it comes to atheism and would have thought that it is a word less open to multiple and varying interpretations. But it turns out I'd be wrong.

WHy do you say you're wrong? Because some Atheists choose to pray? What do you do in church every Sunday?

billy

[JJuggle]

Originally Posted by BillyTheMountain

What do you do in church every Sunday?

I talk to Moishe.

[phlegm]

Originally Posted by BillyTheMountain

it may mean that they think YOUR religion can lead to eternal life ....IN HELL!

Good point. I guess I assumed that eternal "life" doesn't include hell, but who knows, maybe it could. I know I would have a very hard time with that survey, simply because I would want semantic clarification for a lot of words. It makes me wonder if the results of the survey are even meaningful.

[feel the light]

At least in small town USA.There is no logical reason to lump atheists and gays together, except that in small towns, they are both wise to stay in the closet.

Everyone wants friends in a small town. Not much going on. Church is really cool because it is a center of social activity in many places. Why would you want to cut yourself off from that ? Join the church and go to the dance. In this circumstance, atheism has a pass. There is no genie hovering over me while I play social games. It is not sinful for an atheist to pray in public.

IMHO, many great priests are atheists, dedicated to show biz and profits, empire building.

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by feel the light

It is not sinful for an atheist to pray in public.

.

[harper]

Originally Posted by BillyTheMountain

that study should have its own thread devoted entirely to it.

among many things, i found it interesting that (p. 46) 5% of atheists and 9% of agnostics pray daily.

I think you're even more wrong now than you were earlier.