No sense of community without Churches/Temples/Mosques/Synagogues?

Retro-Age · #1 23rd July 2012, 06:17 PM

Hello everyone, a long time lurker turned first-time poster here who aspire to finally contribute something useful to the forum. Believe it or not, took me ages to figure out how to write an appropriate intro, being a perfectionist to fault and all.

About myself, I believe that I have always been a non-believer from the earliest formative years and, in retrospect, I was very fortunate to be part of a family who values critical thinking and science above religious dogma and superstitions. It did help to be born in a Socialist (by name) country of Vietnam; I have always loved Marx’s quote on religions being “the opium of the masses” which snuffs out rationality and distorts the sense of reality. I believe that no fantasy tales can be compared to the workings of the real world around us, and it is only through science that we can learn more about this mysterious universe. Nothing can be more fascinating than science beautifully illustrated in DK reference books I fondly grew up with, to be honest.

It wasn’t until about 3 years ago that I actually embraced new atheist identity through reading Richard Dawkins’ engrossing book The God Delusion which perfectly outlines the problems with letting religions taking the centre stage in the modern world. My position was further cemented through the observation of religion’s negative impacts demonstrated in the 9/11 attack, Jesus Camp, The Enemies of Reason as well as the establishment of the so-called Creation ‘Museum’ along with numerous distasteful mega-churches. Since the issue of religion has been too well insulated from me in Vietnam, studying overseas in Australia had shown me much about the state of religions over here, particular the doubting Dawkins movement and the "Christianity = love" symbol that have been etched out irresponsibly in some public places in Sydney. I can't say that I approve of the mentioned but at least we're not as bad as the US in terms of religious idiocy.

That's all I have to say not and I wonder if I could get some brief opinions on the question in the title of the post as I have been quite unable to find a satisfying answer to that. Thank you for reading.

AFA Admin · #2 23rd July 2012, 06:19 PM

Hi Retro-Age

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Atrax Robustus · #3 23rd July 2012, 06:31 PM

Hi there Retro-Age. Welcome to the forumz!

What do you believe is the difference between the new atheist identity you've recently embraced and that which you appear to have had since early in your life?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro-Age

. . . I wonder if I could get some brief opinions on the question in the title of the post as I have been quite unable to find a satisfying answer to that. Thank you for reading.

It's a gem of a position 'aint it? I often respond by asking whether they have ever been to a test match at the MCG.

rayne · #4 23rd July 2012, 06:45 PM

Hi Retro-Age. Love your introduction. Welcome to the forum.

If we look at the dictionary definition for community:

Quote:

community[ kuh-myoo-ni-tee ]
noun pl. com·mu·ni·ties.
1.*a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.
2.*a locality inhabited by such a group.
3.*a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists (usually preceded by the): the business community; the community of scholars.

Community shouldn't be defined as a building where one worships nor should sense of community be restricted to a feeling felt by those within the building. Community much like friends and family is what you decide.

Blue Lightning · #5 23rd July 2012, 06:47 PM

Welcome RA!

Logic please · #6 23rd July 2012, 06:53 PM

Hi RA, welcome to the forum, hope you enjoy the community.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro-Age

Hello everyone, a long time lurker turned first-time poster here who aspire to finally contribute something useful to the forum.

You lurked for a while, and still joined? Cool...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro-Age

It wasn’t until about 3 years ago that I actually embraced new atheist identity through reading Richard Dawkins’ engrossing book The God Delusion which perfectly outlines the problems with letting religions taking the centre stage in the modern world.

Hmmm... what is this "new atheist identity" you refer to?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro-Age

That's all I have to say not and I wonder if I could get some brief opinions on the question in the title of the post as I have been quite unable to find a satisfying answer to that. Thank you for reading.

Methinks you've already answered the thread-title-as-question... you've joined up here, no?

Retro-Age · #7 23rd July 2012, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atrax Robustus

What do you believe is the difference between the new atheist identity you've recently embraced and that which you appear to have had since early in your life?

Previously, I generally tended to be indifferent towards religions as I had no idea how horrible they can be. I can distinctly remember my short time studying at a Catholic kindergarten (those were considered to be pretty selective schools back in the 90s) and I harboured almost no negative feelings towards the place except wondering why some other kids stayed inside the church, while I was outside waiting for class to start every single morning. I even thought, in all the innocence of a child, that we could all live in harmony and peace and know no hatred nor intolerance (I cringed really badly as I wrote that). And even in my childhood naivety, I once attempted to imitate the Christian trinity signs, I reckon that's what caused my parents to immediately opt me out of the place and transfer me to a public kindergarten. Interestingly, they were apparently advised by a lady at the Catholic school that I would not have developed normally had they not moved me away. What a scary thought.

Compared with the new atheist identity, I believe I have developed a passionate bitterness towards bad religions (there were no better words to sum it up, unfortunately). But don't take that as if I lash out at people with different opinions from mine, it's just that I am more capable of politely sharing my view on religions, roots of morals, etc. and take a more active stance on the issue than how I used to do in the past. I believe that much I've changed.

Worldslaziestbusker · #8 23rd July 2012, 07:22 PM

Hi RA
I think churches have taken advantage of the human habit of forming communities, shaping themselves so as to appeal to people, then played the teleology card and tried to tell the world that churches are the reason for our sense of community instead of the other way round.

Tangentially, I just watched "Jesus Camp" today.

Welcome to the forum.
Great introductory post.
Matt