But Father, I Want Attention!
I'm not the kind of person to force my faith on others, and I'm fine with other people practicing their faiths as long as that doesn't entail suicide bombings and beheadings.
That said, I saw this item today about atheists getting "de-baptisms" and it struck me as an "eye-roll" event. If atheists don't want to believe in God that is their right, but the mocking practice of de-baptism is very much the act of a spoiled, petulant child flopping angrily on the floor at Walmart, demanding attention because he wasn't allowed a candy bar at check-out. It seems a desperate act hoping to provoke a response for God. Sorry, kids. It doesn't work that way.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 09:24 AM
Comments
1
As an atheist...
I think I'm just going to have to agree with you.
If I don't believe in any gods, then any baptisms I've had are irrelevant. They don't need to be "undone". In fact, I think that, logically, the only reason to have an unbaptism would be to disassociate yourself from a god that you believe to exist (whether to be "non-aligned", or to align yourself with a different god).
You're quite right. These are the sort of atheists that I don't like, either; they are the ones that treat their atheism as a religion (including evangelizing and proselytizing). I can never tell whether they are trying to "prove their superiority", prove something to themselves, or are just outright jerks (or, perhaps, as you said - attention-seeking whiny babies).
The only time the OTHER kind of atheist (my kind) will get in your face about it is if you're trying to shove your faith - or its rules - down my throat (by fair means or foul). I am more than willing to have (civil!) discussions about it, and I like learning about, well, any religion I've come across (so far). Just don't try to convert me (I usually give "one free attempt" before I get annoyed), and definitely don't try to force me.
If someone tells me that they Know the Truth, I will find them to be not generally worth listening to.
If someone tells me that they Believe Certain Things, THAT I can usually respect.
If someone tells me I have to? We have a fight.
I think I'm just going to have to agree with you.
If I don't believe in any gods, then any baptisms I've had are irrelevant. They don't need to be "undone". In fact, I think that, logically, the only reason to have an unbaptism would be to disassociate yourself from a god that you believe to exist (whether to be "non-aligned", or to align yourself with a different god).
You're quite right. These are the sort of atheists that I don't like, either; they are the ones that treat their atheism as a religion (including evangelizing and proselytizing). I can never tell whether they are trying to "prove their superiority", prove something to themselves, or are just outright jerks (or, perhaps, as you said - attention-seeking whiny babies).
The only time the OTHER kind of atheist (my kind) will get in your face about it is if you're trying to shove your faith - or its rules - down my throat (by fair means or foul). I am more than willing to have (civil!) discussions about it, and I like learning about, well, any religion I've come across (so far). Just don't try to convert me (I usually give "one free attempt" before I get annoyed), and definitely don't try to force me.
If someone tells me that they Know the Truth, I will find them to be not generally worth listening to.
If someone tells me that they Believe Certain Things, THAT I can usually respect.
If someone tells me I have to? We have a fight.
Posted by: Atheist in Arizona at July 22, 2009 10:36 AM (xXRUp)
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Being baptized is a community proclamation, be debaptized is the same. How is that so hard to understand?
Posted by: Damien at July 22, 2009 11:41 AM (YGqbu)
3
"Being baptized is a community proclamation, be debaptized is the same. How is that so hard to understand?"
But who cares? This is one of those things that doesn't need to receive less attention, it needs to be completely ignored. Fine you don't think that there is a god. What does that have to do with the community?
Do I have to tell the community that I no longer believe in the tooth fairy?
But who cares? This is one of those things that doesn't need to receive less attention, it needs to be completely ignored. Fine you don't think that there is a god. What does that have to do with the community?
Do I have to tell the community that I no longer believe in the tooth fairy?
Posted by: xerocky at July 22, 2009 11:57 AM (kX5hh)
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When will we see "debamizations" in public? They are already the hot trend in private; and since Obama hopeNchangers made their adoration a public issue, I sure hope the victims will recant in public too. After all, as Damien notes, its a community proclamation.
I'll bring the beer.
I'll bring the beer.
Posted by: AskMom at July 22, 2009 12:56 PM (iO8qU)
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I rarely comment, but Az Atheist, I have to say that I'm a Christian and one of my best friends in the world is an atheist. We're close friends, and though I worry for her and she worries for me, we've always been a bit confused at people who come to blows over this stuff. I think some people just like to fight. So you find believers looking to create a challenge as well as atheists. I guess I'm saying, I vote for "they're jerks".
Posted by: Carolynp at July 22, 2009 02:17 PM (JTH0U)
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This reminds me of a practice that was short lived a few years back. Some folks who had given up their virginity went through some ritual process; I honestly don't remember the details. Nevertheless, once completing the process they were then able to claim that they had acquired a state of being known as "secondary virginity". Poof! They were virgins again. Go figure.
Posted by: Dude at July 22, 2009 02:22 PM (byA+E)
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"What does that have to do with the community?"
The fact that you even need to ask the question shows the answer. Like it or not atheists in America are often a shunned, if not persecuted, minority. They band together because it's human instinct to do so, not because of any sort of religious motivation.
Rituals such as debaptism may seem like pointless attention grabbing to you, but they're a bonding experience for those involved. The fact that USA Today decided to write an article about it is irrelevant, and if it bothers theists so much they can ignore the article.
The fact that you even need to ask the question shows the answer. Like it or not atheists in America are often a shunned, if not persecuted, minority. They band together because it's human instinct to do so, not because of any sort of religious motivation.
Rituals such as debaptism may seem like pointless attention grabbing to you, but they're a bonding experience for those involved. The fact that USA Today decided to write an article about it is irrelevant, and if it bothers theists so much they can ignore the article.
Posted by: Damien at July 22, 2009 02:38 PM (YGqbu)
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"The fact that USA Today decided to write an article about it is irrelevant, and if it bothers theists so much they can ignore the article."
Yet it's the atheists who insist on public displays mocking religion, such as these 'ceremonies' and the billboard ads that were in the news recently. So, ask yourself, "If religion bothers atheists so much, then why can't you/they just ignore it?"
Yet it's the atheists who insist on public displays mocking religion, such as these 'ceremonies' and the billboard ads that were in the news recently. So, ask yourself, "If religion bothers atheists so much, then why can't you/they just ignore it?"
Posted by: Ted at July 22, 2009 03:30 PM (jtNG+)
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What about us agnostics? We're damned if we do and and damned if we don't.
What about Scientolgists? That crap was dreamed up by a science FICTION writer. Hello?
What about Scientolgists? That crap was dreamed up by a science FICTION writer. Hello?
Posted by: Joseph Brown at July 22, 2009 04:41 PM (btNwt)
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I'm with A in Az. I too am an atheist(small a).
I was born and raised Catholic, but I don't ever remember really believing in god. The very idea of a "debaptism" is stupid to me.
Atheists (capitol A) are a bunch of Evangelical fools as annoying to me as Benny Hinn or Jim Baker, et al.
Their hatred of theological religions has become their own religion and they've become as one with much of that which they ridicule.
I was born and raised Catholic, but I don't ever remember really believing in god. The very idea of a "debaptism" is stupid to me.
Atheists (capitol A) are a bunch of Evangelical fools as annoying to me as Benny Hinn or Jim Baker, et al.
Their hatred of theological religions has become their own religion and they've become as one with much of that which they ridicule.
Posted by: JP at July 22, 2009 05:01 PM (VxiFL)
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Oh, an my take on someone like Hitchens and Maher, who claim Religion is to blame for every thing (like Marx never caused any problems. . .) is basically that the problem is not religion, it is People.
Can't have a dispute without the people to dispute with.
Can't have a dispute without the people to dispute with.
Posted by: JP at July 22, 2009 05:08 PM (VxiFL)
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"Rituals such as debaptism may seem like pointless attention grabbing to you, but they're a bonding experience for those involved."
Pathetic way to get laid if you ask me.
Pathetic way to get laid if you ask me.
Posted by: Xerocky at July 22, 2009 07:39 PM (Ue3lr)
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So you only get together with friends or likeminded individuals to get laid Xerocky?
Posted by: Damien at July 22, 2009 08:31 PM (YGqbu)
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This particular sort of god-fearing atheist really annoys me. Their compulsion to elevate their non-belief to the status of a religion for which they proselytize is nothing more than an visible symptom of their own neurotic self-doubt.
Posted by: Stephen Macklin at July 22, 2009 11:08 PM (R7LgM)
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There is no evangelical quite like an evangelical atheist.
I once asked one annoying me and some friends if he put down "evangelical atheist" on the Census.
My friends ( one an atheist, one a born-again Christian ) were very amused. Both understood the reference immediately.
I once asked one annoying me and some friends if he put down "evangelical atheist" on the Census.
My friends ( one an atheist, one a born-again Christian ) were very amused. Both understood the reference immediately.
Posted by: 1charlie2 at July 23, 2009 06:35 PM (MpqDv)
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