Hasn't there traditionally been skepticism towards the Catholic church in the US? The fact that John F Kennedy was a Catholic is still a talking point.
Hasn't there traditionally been skepticism towards the Catholic church in the US? The fact that John F Kennedy was a Catholic is still a talking point.
The article specifically and repeatedly refers to adults. When it talks about the number of Catholics decreasing, it means the number of Catholic adults are decreasing.
The article specifically and repeatedly refers to adults. When it talks about the number of Catholics decreasing, it means the number of Catholic adults are decreasing.
A lot of people are indoctrinated before it really becomes a choice. I think the default is whatever your parents are, with caveates for multi-faith and non-practicing families.
A lot of people are indoctrinated before it really becomes a choice. I think the default is whatever your parents are, with caveates for multi-faith and non-practicing families.
So, to you, an atheist is not just any person who lacks a belief in god, it's someone who has decided not to believe in god - is that right? Therefore, someone raised in an isolated tribe in the...
So, to you, an atheist is not just any person who lacks a belief in god, it's someone who has decided not to believe in god - is that right?
Therefore, someone raised in an isolated tribe in the Amazon forest with no knowledge of Christianity is not an atheist. They're just not aware of an ideology. Are they "godless"?
What if someone is aware of Christianity and doesn't believe in it, but is not aware of Sikhism? Both religions believe in a god, but our non-believer is aware of the Christian god and is not aware of the Sikh god. Is this person an atheist? Are they godless?
What about if it's the other way around: they're aware of the Sikh god but don't believe in it, and are not aware of the Christian god? Is this person an atheist? Are they godless?
And, what about me? I was never raised religiously. I was aware that Christianity existed, but it never really impinged on my life. By the time I grew old enough to really understand what Christianity is, I was already predisposed towards a non-religious philosophy. I never rejected Christianity, I just didn't accept it - along with any other religion I've ever read about. Am I an atheist? Am I godless?
I'm trying to understand how these words apply to real-world situations, to better understand their meanings to you.
I believe that @haykam821's point is that every Catholic person started out as an atheist baby. When you're born, you don't have an inherent belief in any god or any religion. As you say, you have...
Unless you are raised Christian/Catholic and brainwashed into the system.
I believe that @haykam821's point is that every Catholic person started out as an atheist baby. When you're born, you don't have an inherent belief in any god or any religion. As you say, you have to be raised in a religion: people have to learn religion as children. However, before people learn religion, they are atheist in the sense that they lack a belief in god(s).
Hasn't there traditionally been skepticism towards the Catholic church in the US? The fact that John F Kennedy was a Catholic is still a talking point.
The article specifically and repeatedly refers to adults. When it talks about the number of Catholics decreasing, it means the number of Catholic adults are decreasing.
A lot of people are indoctrinated before it really becomes a choice. I think the default is whatever your parents are, with caveates for multi-faith and non-practicing families.
I like splitting hairs! If a child has no belief in a god, how is that not the child being "godless"?
But what if a child does not believe in God? Could that child be considered "godless"?
So, to you, an atheist is not just any person who lacks a belief in god, it's someone who has decided not to believe in god - is that right?
Therefore, someone raised in an isolated tribe in the Amazon forest with no knowledge of Christianity is not an atheist. They're just not aware of an ideology. Are they "godless"?
What if someone is aware of Christianity and doesn't believe in it, but is not aware of Sikhism? Both religions believe in a god, but our non-believer is aware of the Christian god and is not aware of the Sikh god. Is this person an atheist? Are they godless?
What about if it's the other way around: they're aware of the Sikh god but don't believe in it, and are not aware of the Christian god? Is this person an atheist? Are they godless?
And, what about me? I was never raised religiously. I was aware that Christianity existed, but it never really impinged on my life. By the time I grew old enough to really understand what Christianity is, I was already predisposed towards a non-religious philosophy. I never rejected Christianity, I just didn't accept it - along with any other religion I've ever read about. Am I an atheist? Am I godless?
I'm trying to understand how these words apply to real-world situations, to better understand their meanings to you.
Unless you are raised Christian/Catholic and brainwashed into the system.
I believe that @haykam821's point is that every Catholic person started out as an atheist baby. When you're born, you don't have an inherent belief in any god or any religion. As you say, you have to be raised in a religion: people have to learn religion as children. However, before people learn religion, they are atheist in the sense that they lack a belief in god(s).
It's probably a bad idea to show this to my Catholic gf right?
I'm an atheist dating a catholic. Like all other things religion is something you should probably talk about with your partner