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Religion for Atheists ? ? ? ?

Weekends on CSPAN2 is about books, mostly non-fiction, and author interviews.

The title Religion for Atheists did NOT persuade me to get the book, but did persuade me to watch the hour-long author interview.

The author said he's an atheist. I concluded that he is not yet able to accept atheism's seeming chaos, and he ought to have titled his book Religion for Me.

I say "seeming chaos" because for me, leaving Catholicism was like leaping into a void. The torment Catholicism had inflicted on me made retreat impossible and I leaped.

I soon began telling people that someday, though not soon, the tactics used in church schools (telling kids of a fall from grace, original sin, a lake of fire, etc) will be seen as child abuse.

For me, xianity was pessimistic and atheism is optimistic. I'm glad I leaped.

Did leaving a religion require you to leap into what seemed like a void?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on April 9, 2012 at 6:47pm

For me, not so much so. Religion wasn't that much of a support for me as it was, and as liberal and relaxed as congregationalism is, having it or not having it didn't yield a whole lot of difference.

My expectation is that it would be the loud, control-freak, bible-thumping religions which would be the hardest to shake, because they would leave much more of a vacuum. My $0.02 worth.

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on April 9, 2012 at 7:03pm

Loren, as usual, your word is worth a bar of gold.

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on April 9, 2012 at 9:44pm

Joan, you are WAY too generous with you praise ... but thanks!

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on April 9, 2012 at 7:02pm

Definitely! I not only left my religion, but I left it because I had no choice as to whether I should leave my husband or not. A double loss, a double leap, and no community to support me. It was a real struggle to let go of the emotional and traditional parts of both institutions. That leap saved my life. I could have staid secure and the cost was too high.

Permalink Reply by annet on April 9, 2012 at 7:25pm

I was afraid of the void which is why I did not leave for so long and why my kids lived with a mild dose of it in their early years. I agree about the optimistic part. I am much more determined to enjoy this one life now that I openly acknowledge that it is all I get. I always knew it but never fully embraced the idea until making the leap.

My sister sent me the book. She is a Buddhist and convinced I'm sad and missing out on the "unseen." I haven't read it yet but did watch a few minutes of his Ted talk. Your description "Religion for me" sounds spot on.

Permalink Reply by Richard ∑wald on April 9, 2012 at 7:45pm

de Botten is an ass and an idiot.

That's all I have to say about this.

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on April 9, 2012 at 9:16pm

I've not heard of de Botten, except just now Googling. Can you be more specific as to why you call him an ass and idiot? There isn't enough on the Amazon blurb to reveal his assiness or idiocy.

Permalink Reply by annet on April 9, 2012 at 9:22pm

Here is his Ted talk Joan.

http://blog.ted.com/2012/01/17/atheism-2-0-alain-de-botton-on-ted-com/

Permalink Reply by Richard ∑wald on April 9, 2012 at 10:23pm

What a douche...

Permalink Reply by Tom Sarbeck on April 10, 2012 at 11:50pm

Richard, the dictionary I use (New Oxford American) defines the noun "douche" as a shower of water or a device for washing out the vagina for contraceptive purposes. What do you know about the author that I don't know?

Permalink Reply by Richard ∑wald on April 11, 2012 at 6:28pm

From Wikipedia

Douche bag, or simply douche, is considered to be a pejorative term. The slang usage of the term originated in the 1960s.^[5] The term usually refers to a person, usually male, with a variety of negative qualities, specifically arrogance and engaging in obnoxious and/or irritating actions, most often without malicious intent.