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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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I think people who really aren't believers but because of cultural reasons identify as 'Catholic', 'Christian' or 'Buddhist' should just stop. It skews those polls on religion, and it's being dishonest. I've heard people describe themselves as Christian who live lives less Christian than most atheists.
I think people who really aren't believers but because of cultural reasons identify as 'Catholic', 'Christian' or 'Buddhist' should just stop. It skews those polls on religion, and it's being dishonest. I've heard people describe themselves as Christian who live lives less Christian than most atheists.
Here in the USA there is a stigmata attached to saying you are not Christian it carries with it the assumption you hate apple pie, kick puppy dogs, drown kittens and slap young mothers.
There is a very strong incentive to say you are Christian even if your Christianity is limited to calling the Bible the KJV. In some Southern States it carries the extra burden of wrapping your beer can with aluminum foil so nobody knows what it is.
The incentive is to somehow manage to tell people you are Christian even if you have to add the disclaimer of non-practicing or back-sliding.
I think that many would mumble they are christian when asked for they justifiably fear christians and their irrational logic and hatred. If those asking are unworthy of their time and effort, the most expedient way to not raise a controversy. Aside from a survey trying to collect data, anyone that would ask isn't really worth the effort anyway, for they have already demonstrated their lack of intelligence. They are just boorish people sticking their nose where it doesn't belong.
The same reasoning causes many homosexuals to keep their sexuality hidden, because of being ostracized and on the receiving end of irrational hate, typically from christians.
Typically christians in large numbers behave like bullies, and cowards when alone.
I know many people that identify as one religion or another, but I know them well enough to know that for most of them it is just a facade...They really don't care a whit about religion. I believe that many are agnostic or atheist, but it really is not important to them, so out of habit they continue the check the box of the religion they grew up with...I did that myself for years.
Here in the USA there is a stigmata attached to saying you are not Christian it carries with it the assumption you hate apple pie, kick puppy dogs, drown kittens and slap young mothers.
There is a very strong incentive to say you are Christian even if your Christianity is limited to calling the Bible the KJV. In some Southern States it carries the extra burden of wrapping your beer can with aluminum foil so nobody knows what it is.
The incentive is to somehow manage to tell people you are Christian even if you have to add the disclaimer of non-practicing or back-sliding.
Not just the USA.
Even CINO's here are awestruck if you say you are an atheist. Not sure what their minds conjure up perhaps it is this
It is weird how they quickly change their opinion of you on a dime.
I think people who really aren't believers but because of cultural reasons identify as 'Catholic', 'Christian' or 'Buddhist' should just stop. It skews those polls on religion, and it's being dishonest. I've heard people describe themselves as Christian who live lives less Christian than most atheists.
As a kid at school I was made aware of 'Census Christianity', by the RI teacher who made a cheap point against a pupil who said that they didn't believe by asking what do you put down on the Census form.
"C of E." replied the lad, looking puzzled.
That decided me to put down 'None' under religion for ever after.
Mind, I take Woodrow's point that to openly declare non - religion can cause problems. That, friends, is the prejudiced view that needs to be countered. That one can be avowedly of any religion or none without it attracting some kind of discrimination, for or against.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeekerSA
Not just the USA.
Even CINO's here are awestruck if you say you are an atheist. Not sure what their minds conjure up perhaps it is this
Atheist Barbie
It is weird how they quickly change their opinion of you on a dime.
I've heard people describe themselves as Christian who live lives less Christian than most atheists.
Oh you mean like a large percentage of the so called "Christians" that post here?
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