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If you are a non believer (as I am) its hard to get away from, even in this day and age.
I have been married twice, both times avoiding church/god/religion. Easy.
If I have to attend other peoples religious ceremonies, I don't sing/pray/drink blood or eat flesh. Easy.
Avoiding or not celebrating Christmas/Easter. Not so easy (especially with kids)
Avoiding religious schools. Surprisingly hard.
Not christening my kids. Easy, but some of the family were disappointed.
Given that only 10% of the population attend church, and only 20% believe in god why is it so hard to avoid in everyday life?
Did someone steal your Darwinfish ?
Yes.
Jordan Peterson knows the answer.
It exists therefore you are going to come across it.
NEXT!
Are you scared of catching Priest Aids?
For God's sake, another religion thread?
Jordan Peterson knows the answer.
He's just added Nazi apologist to his list of desirable traits....
Avoiding or not celebrating Christmas/Easter. Not so easy (especially with kids)
What is remotely religious about the majority of the UK's population Easter and Christmas celebrations?
why is it so hard to avoid in everyday life?
It's not
It’s not
But it is. How many of you are celebrating Christmas? How many of you have been to watch your kids perform a nativity play this week?
I find it's far harder to avoid people telling everyone else how non-religious they are...
What flashy says.
trailwagger
But it is. How many of you are celebrating Christmas?
You can think of that as a Pagan festival if it makes you feel better!
trailwagger
How many of you are celebrating Christmas? How many of you have been to watch your kids perform a nativity play this week?
None of that was regarded as Christian when I was a lad in the Outer Isles. Heathens/heretics did that.
UK culture has subsumed many religious elements, some Christian, some Pagan and so on. They now exist outwith their original religious intention. You can artake of the culture without having to assign a religious connection.
You can think of that as a Pagan festival if it makes you feel better!
Christmas isn't a pagan festival though. There are many candidates for what preceded Xmas, Saturnalia is probs the best bet, but you'd still have to celebrate something else.
Don't get me wrong, we don't sit around on Christmas morning having a good old think about the baby Jesus. He doesn't cross anyones mind, its all about presents, food and family.
Having said that , its hard to deny/ignore the religious links and/or origins of Christmas.
Yes it is. The clue is in the name.
I don't believe in a god, but that doesn't mean others shouldn't and if they can 100% prove to me that a god exists then I will believe.
My children go to a C of E primary school becusue the only other options locally are a Catholic school or £27k/yr private school and neither of those are ever going to happen!
If they want to believe that's fine. 7yo daughter currently does, 9yo son doesn't any more.
We celebrate Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc. They are so commercial and removed from their origins for the majority of the population that I don't really see them as religious festivals any more. They are more an excuse to get people together and have a good time.
But it is. How many of you are celebrating Christmas?
That's not an everyday event, unless you're Roy Wood.
Even then as you've demonstrated you can ingnore the bolted on religious part.
My children go to a C of E primary school becusue the only other options locally are a Catholic school or £27k/yr private school and neither of those are ever going to happen!
So you agree that its hard to avoid then?
I live a non-religious life by virtue of not being remotely religious. My son’s nativity play (first one) requires him to be dressed as a cowboy. Watching it doesn’t mean I’m being religious, neither does celebrating Christmas.
I’m taking part in what one may deem religious festivities, but any religious meaning has been removed. I’ll take part in anything that involves a good get together, food and fun. Where it originates from is of absolutely no consequence to me.
He’s just added Nazi apologist to his list of desirable traits….
That's some clickbait bullshit.
Christmas isn’t a pagan festival though.
Maybe. But many [most?] people who celebrate Christmas now are not Christians… we have claimed it for ourselves. Unlike some Christians in the past though, we non-Christians are fully behind the songs and traditions… and we help preserve them for all to enjoy.
Even then as you’ve demonstrated you can ingnore the bolted on religious part.
Should that be the other way around? The modern interpretation/celebration of Christmas was bolted onto an originally religious festival/celebration?
nickc
Subscriber
You can think of that as a Pagan festival if it makes you feel better!Christmas isn’t a pagan festival though. There are many candidates for what preceded Xmas, Saturnalia is probs the best bet, but you’d still have to celebrate something else.
I'll bow to others knowledge of the history, quite aware I haven't a scooby. Point was, make it what you want! 😆
A non-religious life? Easy. A life that doesn't come into contact with any religious ideas? Not that easy, but neither is it anywhere in the world, religion having been so important over the centuries.
And that's before you start looking at philosophical history, and asking how much of our current way of thinking and even way of life has been affected by religious ideas. The reformation was a key religious event and that seems to have influenced the Western world hugely even if, ironically, it led to secularisation.
Nothing in my life is religious. You can't count xmas as it has nothing to do with the birth of Christ for non-Christians.
Perfectly possible. I do
"christmas" is actually the pre christian midwinter solstice feast co opted by the christians, Easter is the pre christian spring fertility festival
Look at the symbols. Holly and Ivy - pagan symbols. Easter egg - pagan symbols.
Or as I do simply ignore both.
Look at the symbols. Holly and Ivy – pagan symbols. Easter egg – pagan symbols.
Why does so many people consider Paganism "non-Religious"?
Ignorance perhaps?
Given that only 10% of the population attend church, and only 20% believe in god why is it so hard to avoid in everyday life?
Seems from the rest of your post like you've managed pretty well so far.
The only time that religion features in my life is on STW threads like this where we have to try and keep our pet Woppit on a leash. (-:
Having said that , its hard to deny/ignore the religious links and/or origins of Christmas.
Sure it is. One can pap on all they like about the "true meaning of Christmas," but for the vast majority of people the true meaning of Christmas is spending time with friends and family, buying gifts for each other, and stuffing themselves silly on turkey for a fortnight. If as an atheist you dismiss the notion of some bloke in a shed with a virgin and a couple of sheep as nothing more than a persistent folk story then there's nothing much you need to get away from. You might as well try to avoid Batman.
As for denial, well, plenty of Christians deny the origins of Christmas all the time so that's not a great leap either. (-:
Yep, manage to avoid it completely in day to day life, winter holiday coming up, has as much to do with Christianity as Willow trees do to Salford
The name of Salford derives from the Old English word Sealhford, meaning a ford by the willow trees. It referred to the willows (Latin: salix) or sallows that grew alongside the banks of the River Irwell. The ford was about where Victoria Bridge is today.
The only time that religion features in my life is on STW threads like this
Genuine question. Has there ever been a thread on here that started with the premise that religion is nice and helpful before the fights break out or have they all started out with an OP that it’s all just a bag o’shite?
It just seems odd that the only ones evangelising their cause are the non believers complaining about having religion rammed down their throats all the time...all evidence to the contrary
I’m bored with it now.
Oh the ironing!
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
I'd say yes, pretty easy. I think you're conflating religion with Christianity. Many of my Sikh, moslem and hindu friends manage to navigate around Christmas and Easter ok without getting unnecessarily involved
Genuine question. Has there ever been a thread on here that started with the premise that religion is nice and helpful before the fights break out or have they all started out with an OP that it’s all just a bag o’shite.
Off the top of my head, most start off somewhere between the two extremes I think. We've certainly had some interesting discussions previously before it all goes a bit "your mum." The OP here wasn't particularly inflammatory I didn't think?
Avoiding religious schools. Surprisingly hard.
In Scotland, the only religious schools are for Catholics who specifically want an RC religious education. Most people attend non religious schools. The local minister will often still appear at assemblies, and there may be Christmas and Easter services, but there's no real structured religious presence in school.
I'd say it's pretty easy to avoid religion if you want to. There's no stigma in declaring yourself an atheist, humanist funerals are unremarkable these days. There's nothing religious about Christmas for most people.
I think there are some formal changes that should still be made. The CofE should be officially disestablished, and CofE bishops should not be sitting in the House of Lords.
It just seems odd that the only ones evangelising their cause are the non believers complaining about having religion rammed down their throats all the time…all evidence to the contrary
This. Its bloody boring.
OP - it's remarkably easy if you want to be an arse. I mean, you could refuse to attend funerals, weddings etc. but I really can't believe anyone is so thin skinned and intolerant that they would act in such a way. Well, barring bigots of course. You're not a bigot, are you?
In the last 10 years I have been to half a dozen weddings and funerals - not one of them had a single religious component
I don't believe in god but I celebrate Christmas. Why? Because it's fun, the family get together, we eat, drink, have fun, relax. I don't care about the back story, I just embrace it for what it is - a chance to get away from the drudgery of everyday life. Am I a hypocrite? Probably. Do I care? Merry Christmas!
Nothing to do with the site, this will be down to various client-side god-bothering settings you have neglected to change. Did you tick 'atheist' when you installed Windows?
I don’t believe in god but I celebrate Christmas. Why? Because it’s fun, the family get together, we eat, drink, have fun, relax. I don’t care about the back story, I just embrace it for what it is – a chance to get away from the drudgery of everyday life. Am I a hypocrite? Probably. Do I care? Merry Christmas!
This!!! ^
In the last 10 years I have been to half a dozen weddings and funerals – not one of them had a single religious component
Whereas I have been to at least one of each. What do I win?
It exists therefore you are going to come across it.
NEXT!
Next what, victim or perversion?
The only time that religion features in my life is on STW threads like this where we have to try and keep our pet Woppit on a leash.
Oh, really.
Have a look at the message I just sent you.
kcr
In Scotland, the only religious schools are for Catholics
Non-dom schools, otherwise known as proddy schools! 😆
Tbh, I'd suggest in both, the religious aspects are minimum and token at best. My own Catholic schooling wasn't overly religious, bits and pieces here and there and the Catholics will make more of a thing in primary of first communion and confirmation. Maybe prayers first thing in the morning for primary children too, but otherwise, overwhelmingly academic. I'd be willing to bet secondary education in both is near identical.
Tbh people read far to much into the religious aspect of schools. It's not particularly necessary, but it's not really harmful either, and I'd guess it'll probably run it's course naturally here in the next 50 years imo. So no point in worrying about it.
Sweet baby Jesus and the orphans.
Difficult to avoid completely*, but very easy to tolerate.
*If for example the fact that Christmas exists annoys you.
Oh, really.
Have a look at the message I just sent you.
Dude, I was teasing! Also, not got any message.
I suggest leave the UK and move to North Sentinel Island.
😉
Can't avoid it but it doesn't bother me. Although I am an atheist, I am pretty 'christian' in my attitude to others and happy for them to do what they want.
we have to try and keep our pet Woppit on a leash.
If he’s on a lead I hope it’s directional.
, I am pretty ‘christian’ in my attitude to others and happy for them to do what they want.
It's a shame so many Christians don't have that attitude 😉 I do prefer to call that a civil attitude.
Nothing to do with the site, this will be down to various client-side god-bothering settings you have neglected to change. Did you tick ‘atheist’ when you installed Windows?
I suspect it is seeing as I don’t know how my iPhone would know my religious persuasions, I cant remember ever having seen a religious targeted ad before, and it only started after having looked at this thread.
In fact I’ve noticed now that a lot of threads appear to have thread content related adverts.
In Scotland, the only religious schools are for Catholics who specifically want an RC religious education
🤔
https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/er/CalderwoodLodge/
It’s a shame so many Christians don’t have that attitude 😉 I do prefer to call that a civil attitude.
Yeah, like Perchy said you just need to see how many threads get started off the back of their intolerance to others beliefs.
Oh.
In answer to the thread title ..yes you can..however it seems to have moved from that to can you avoid religion ?
No you can't ..
I don’t believe in god but I celebrate Christmas
I suspect you mean you celebrate AT Christmas.
Dude, I was teasing! Also, not got any message.
Oh. Well in that case, it’s probably just as well.🤔
I feel I’m pretty relaxed about the whole Christianity thing too, in a live and let live kind of way. Most Christian shenanigans in the UK are no more than pale echoes down the ages of a former seriously religious era. We are a religious country in the same way as we have a monarchy; we are fond of the cute traditions but don’t let it get in the way of cold blooded hard nosed financially motivated decision making.
How Jewish Is the Only Jewish School in Scotland?
https://www.haaretz.com/how-jewish-is-scotland-s-only-jewish-school-1.5197403
I didn't know there was one Jewish school in Scotland, but that kind of reinforces the point that it's not difficult to avoid religious schooling if you want to. There's certainly nothing like the situation in England, which I assume the OP was referring to, where a lot of people are pretending to be practising Christians in order to get their kids into local CofE schools.
Yeah, like Perchy said you just need to see how many threads get started off the back of their intolerance to others beliefs.
To be fair you don't get many middle Americans posting on here.
To be fair you don’t get many middle Americans posting on here.
This is a fair point. Can’t imagine what it would be like to be an American artsiest. I did a race in the states (triathlon world champs) and was surprised we had a god botherer in chief given the mic when we were all on the start line to bless us all and a quick round of the Lord’s Prayer. Felt quite presumptive of an international field and certainly nothing I experienced any where else in the world.
We could of course ship our few remaining believers out to the states - milk and honey for all surely...
Boop
I did a race in the states (triathlon world champs)
Humble brag of the day
that kind of reinforces the point that it’s not difficult to avoid religious schooling if you want to. There’s certainly nothing like the situation in England, which I assume the OP was referring to, where a lot of people are pretending to be practising Christians in order to get their kids into local CofE schools.
We live in catchment for two primary schools. Both are "faith schools". The kids have to go to church at least once a week (while in school). They pray on a daily basis, sing hymns about our lord, and heaven and angels and all that nonsense. So it is kind of hard to avoid, and has a very lasting impression on a 5 year old child.
Humble brag of the day
Well, I thank you 😊
I spent my 20s and 30s being a bit of a dick about religion and about being an atheist, probably because it didn’t seem that many were outspoken about it. I probably felt a bit repressed...
To me, today it would seem it’s the accepted norm for many, I don’t see a reason to keep talking about it. It’s like a balance has been struck, really.
I won’t tell me kids if I believe in god (9 and 5) it’s up to them to figure it out. Whatever they choose is fine by me.
I walk around with me eyes open, can’t say religion is in my life at all. It’s around me, but not in my life. Christmas to me is about family.
Can you live a non religious life in the
UKany country in the world?
Yes, probably China and North Korea.
I had the full Catholic works, went to church every Sunday, and to Catholic primary and high schools. I hated it all and, looking back, I don't think I believed in any of it even at the time. What I really hated was the implication that you are being surveilled at all times and everything you do is going in a big ledger.
I haven't been to church, except for weddings and funerals, since I left home at 18.
I had a civil wedding, my children are not baptised and I sent my eldest daughter to a secular school that is OFSTED rated "needing improvement" rather than send her to the CoE school, also in catchment, which is rated "excellent". My kids don't need the same bollocks that I had to endure growing up.
I live in a catchment area of 3 schools 1 is religious it's a catholic one, dead easy to avoid.
While you say "live a non religious life", it sounds like you actually mean "not come into contact with any reminder that some other people do have religions".
I'd say that the classic "live and let live" is the way forward. You don't need to avoid anything remotely religious connected (that would be pretty hard to do anywhere in the world as religion in one form or another has shaped almost every society), just not "believe". There's no reason not to enjoy the human aspects of all the different religious festivities - family & friends getting together is pretty universal.
And of course, remember there's a huge difference between a normal person who has faith and a Bible belt zealot!
While you say “live a non religious life”, it sounds like you actually mean “not come into contact with any reminder that some other people do have religions”.
I’d say that the classic “live and let live” is the way forward.
It is, probably. But then you get MP's starting things with "As a Christian", we get religious beliefs used to justify actions or to justify/excuse behaviour.
But then you get MP’s starting things with “As a Christian”, we get religious beliefs used to justify actions or to justify/excuse behaviour.
That's always been something I have hated - and IMO less about being religious as wanting to make it ethically harder for anyone to challenge what they are about to do/say. In fact I'd go so far as to say that "using" your religion as a shield to act without reproach is the very antithesis of what religious teachings should be - a framework to guide you in living a better, more decent life.
You and the people that surrounded you have the choice to do so
I reckon the majority of people in your circle have something to say about expense, stress etc.
You or they have a choice
Without reading loads pocpoc is on my wavelength.
I believe in ‘something’ A God maybe. I don’t know.
I’ve never done singing or praying etc in weddings/funerals/being a Godfather etc, and always made a point about it.
But at my grandads funeral recently I found myself being conflicted and I did sing (quietly) and saying a prayer and said Amen. I don’t normally do this but for the first time I thought ‘don’t be a dick’, if there is something else out there then why not try and pray and hope my grandad will be safe and well.
It’s an enormous leap of faith for me to now begin to believe.
But that’s what religions focus on.
Death and hardship.
Sorry for my long winded post.
But that’s what religions focus on.
Death and hardship.
I’m not sure it’s just what religions focus on, I suspect it’s an element of natural human ‘desperation’ to grasp for something at our time of need. Personally if (huge, massive, totally never going to happen if) there is an omnipotent being who only shows you a little love and compassion if they get a verbal reach around beforehand they can go swivel.
But then you get MP’s starting things with “As a Christian”,
That should open them up to some obvious questions such as "would a Christian put in place policy x which has had this effect on these people?" but don't seem to hear those questions.