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Atheist Practitioners of Faith?

Sherman123

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Quite simply: Is there anyone here who is, or knows of those who are, atheists yet practice the trappings of their religious faith?

I ask as someone who is an extremely secular Jew that professes a sincere atheism. Yet also as someone who, for the sake of family, friends, and in some small ways even for myself, often practices the elements of my 'faith'. There are elements of Judaism that I find relaxing and meditative, I enjoy the sense of community that I believe is rather unique, and the history and sense of tradition is fascinating and I take a completely irrational and undeserved degree of pride in its longevity and communal accomplishments.

Perhaps this is simply more common because of my background as a Jew. The emphasis on practice over belief, or rather the superiority of practice over belief, in Judaism lends itself to a sort of dualism. For example it is often said that the Jew who believes and accepts the commandments, mitzvot, and teachings of the Torah, the Mishnah, the Talmud, etc but does not practice them is less righteous than the doubter, or even the disbeliever, who practices them. Though it is very common, perhaps even well known, to find atheists among progressive strains of Judaism it is also more common than you would think (though still relatively rare) among the more Orthodox strains. Those who have lost their faith but continue to practice the mitzvot, keep shomer shabbos, etc for a variety of reasons.

Some do it for the obvious reason that they do not wish to lose their place in their community, some out of a sense of heritage, some for the sake of familial peace, and others do it because they find meaning in the ritual even though know it is just that--ritual.

So I wanted to open the floor up to see what people had to say on this topic. Please try and keep it civil.
 
I do know someone very well who is the child and sibling of Episcopalian clergy and who is decidedly secularist. She has always lovingly attended various services--Christmas and baptisms--but she's what I'd call a "cultural Christian."
 
I definitely practice some Judaism for the sake of my family. But there are also plenty of atheists who practice for fear of being ostracized by family or community if their atheism were to come to light. Likewise, there are even clergy who don't believe who continue because they have no other skills and can't find work elsewhere. Most people who practice religions they don't believe in do so because others around them will punish them for not being religious, though.
 
I definitely practice some Judaism for the sake of my family. But there are also plenty of atheists who practice for fear of being ostracized by family or community if their atheism were to come to light. Likewise, there are even clergy who don't believe who continue because they have no other skills and can't find work elsewhere. Most people who practice religions they don't believe in do so because others around them will punish them for not being religious, though.

This can definitely be true and I should have mentioned it.
 
Can one be an atheist and have "the trappings of their religious faith"? Seems mutually exclusive.
 
At least they don't go around proclaiming that silly notion that we could know whether there is God or not. That's less strenuous.
 
Can one be an atheist and have "the trappings of their religious faith"? Seems mutually exclusive.

Unquestionably. Though, as I said, this might be more applicable to religions with a greater emphasis on practice such as Judaism or Islam. These religions have much more ritual and law that governs their adherents. Though I would imagine you could also be an atheist Christian who simply attends services, goes to Bible Study, etc as another poster mentioned which certainly would seem to qualify as the "trappings of religious faith".
 
I suppose it is not out of the realm of possibility to agree with the teachings of a faith as it relates to society but excluding what relates to deity and/or some afterlife benefit. On the surface it seems contradictory, but philosophically there is some degree of rational behind the notion of social norms coming from aged instruction (for lack of a better way to put it.) I am not arguing right or wrong, just pointing out the potential train of thought here.
 
..............Some do it for the obvious reason that they do not wish to lose their place in their community, some out of a sense of heritage, some for the sake of familial peace, and others do it because they find meaning in the ritual even though know it is just that--ritual...................
And there we have it, any of those providing sufficient grounds.

I don't know whether accepting the invitation of a friend to the baptism of his/her newborn counts or going to a burial service counts. If it does I'd qualify but it has nothing to do with my absence of belief. Everything to do with the person concerned though.

Heck, I've "wrenched a garment" at (prior to) the odd "Jewish" burial and even spoke Kaddish because there was nobody else to do it.

Not Christian, not Jewish, not anything but WTH.

Nothing to do with fear, everything to do with respect.
 
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Can one be an atheist and have "the trappings of their religious faith"? Seems mutually exclusive.

Why? Can't atheists shave their heads and wear flowers in their hair? ;)
 
Quite simply: Is there anyone here who is, or knows of those who are, atheists yet practice the trappings of their religious faith?

I ask as someone who is an extremely secular Jew that professes a sincere atheism. Yet also as someone who, for the sake of family, friends, and in some small ways even for myself, often practices the elements of my 'faith'. There are elements of Judaism that I find relaxing and meditative, I enjoy the sense of community that I believe is rather unique, and the history and sense of tradition is fascinating and I take a completely irrational and undeserved degree of pride in its longevity and communal accomplishments.

Perhaps this is simply more common because of my background as a Jew. The emphasis on practice over belief, or rather the superiority of practice over belief, in Judaism lends itself to a sort of dualism. For example it is often said that the Jew who believes and accepts the commandments, mitzvot, and teachings of the Torah, the Mishnah, the Talmud, etc but does not practice them is less righteous than the doubter, or even the disbeliever, who practices them. Though it is very common, perhaps even well known, to find atheists among progressive strains of Judaism it is also more common than you would think (though still relatively rare) among the more Orthodox strains. Those who have lost their faith but continue to practice the mitzvot, keep shomer shabbos, etc for a variety of reasons.

Some do it for the obvious reason that they do not wish to lose their place in their community, some out of a sense of heritage, some for the sake of familial peace, and others do it because they find meaning in the ritual even though know it is just that--ritual.

So I wanted to open the floor up to see what people had to say on this topic. Please try and keep it civil.

My fathers side of the family is Indian, quite a few family members are quite traditional and often family events (weddings etc) have traditional aspects that I am expected to take part in. I do take part in them, but it's with a sense of bemusement (although I hide that). Not sure if that counts to the level you're thinking of.
 
Why? Can't atheists shave their heads and wear flowers in their hair? ;)
How does one shave their head and still wear flowers in their hair? :unsure13:
 
My fathers side of the family is Indian, quite a few family members are quite traditional and often family events (weddings etc) have traditional aspects that I am expected to take part in. I do take part in them, but it's with a sense of bemusement (although I hide that). Not sure if that counts to the level you're thinking of.

It's similar. I expect that what I'm asking about probably covers a pretty broad spectrum.
 
Unquestionably. Though, as I said, this might be more applicable to religions with a greater emphasis on practice such as Judaism or Islam. These religions have much more ritual and law that governs their adherents. Though I would imagine you could also be an atheist Christian who simply attends services, goes to Bible Study, etc as another poster mentioned which certainly would seem to qualify as the "trappings of religious faith".

It would be trappings of other people's religious faith, not "their" religious faith though. There are people who will go through the motions and not be religious either out of custom, culture, or just because they get some satisfaction of the community and not because they secretly hold some sort of contempt for religion or churches, temples, mosques, etc.
 
How does one shave their head and still wear flowers in their hair? :unsure13:

Now that would be telling. ;)
 
At least they don't go around proclaiming that silly notion that we could know whether there is God or not. That's less strenuous.

Of course we could know. If a god came down and spoke with us on a regular basis, made itself known overtly, or routinely upended the laws of physics, it would be pretty easy to know. The only gods that we can't know either way about are the ones who appear to not be there.
 
Well I'm not going to go to a Christian funeral or a wedding and sit with my arms crossed in a pew when I'm required to kneel or stand for prayers and hymns. My personal beliefs do not outrank those I'm close with, especially when I'm in their ''house''.
 
Quite simply: Is there anyone here who is, or knows of those who are, atheists yet practice the trappings of their religious faith?

I ask as someone who is an extremely secular Jew that professes a sincere atheism. Yet also as someone who, for the sake of family, friends, and in some small ways even for myself, often practices the elements of my 'faith'. There are elements of Judaism that I find relaxing and meditative, I enjoy the sense of community that I believe is rather unique, and the history and sense of tradition is fascinating and I take a completely irrational and undeserved degree of pride in its longevity and communal accomplishments.

Perhaps this is simply more common because of my background as a Jew. The emphasis on practice over belief, or rather the superiority of practice over belief, in Judaism lends itself to a sort of dualism. For example it is often said that the Jew who believes and accepts the commandments, mitzvot, and teachings of the Torah, the Mishnah, the Talmud, etc but does not practice them is less righteous than the doubter, or even the disbeliever, who practices them. Though it is very common, perhaps even well known, to find atheists among progressive strains of Judaism it is also more common than you would think (though still relatively rare) among the more Orthodox strains. Those who have lost their faith but continue to practice the mitzvot, keep shomer shabbos, etc for a variety of reasons.

Some do it for the obvious reason that they do not wish to lose their place in their community, some out of a sense of heritage, some for the sake of familial peace, and others do it because they find meaning in the ritual even though know it is just that--ritual.

So I wanted to open the floor up to see what people had to say on this topic. Please try and keep it civil.

Both Humanistic Judaism and the Reconstructionist Judaism are the same way.
 
Why? Can't atheists shave their heads and wear flowers in their hair? ;)

If they shave their heads, they won't have any hair to put flowers into. And that's a fact.
 
As a ritual/tradition makes some sense to me, but the problem is those moments are like sitting thru a 3hr baseball game just to watch the fireworks show after. I mean going to communion or whatever, but you gotta sit thru the sermon where you're told that atheists are under satan's power...no thanks

By far the most common reason has got to be acting as a closet atheist under pressures to conform

You're really better off starting an atheist meetup and forming your own rituals/support group, or if you're in the south or small towns, moving
 
Well I'm not going to go to a Christian funeral or a wedding and sit with my arms crossed in a pew when I'm required to kneel or stand for prayers and hymns. My personal beliefs do not outrank those I'm close with, especially when I'm in their ''house''.

eh i don't agree, they aren't much of friends if they try and coerce you in this way. I will just walk out instead. A moment of silence is one thing, but i'm not going to sit there being insulted by some ogre who chooses to use my grandpa's funeral to berate atheists ("wayward souls") as some kind of sales pitch and explain this is why my grandpa was superior to me
 
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