Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Mad Lion · 10-06-2003, 09:41 PM

Ok, first some background. I'm in a West African drumming and dance ensemble at my university, we're called abusua (means family in TWI, a major language of Ghana, West Africa). Anyway, there are a couple classes taught at the university (beginning and advanced west african dance and beginning and advanced west african drumming), and we have a major performance every semester. The group is also active outside of the classes, however, and gets invited to play many other festivals and occasions at schools and other places, and sometimes, churches.

Recently we were invited to play at the First Presbyterian church in Nashville, TN, (for their World Communion sunday). We were outside of the Sanctuary for the majority of the service, and we were going to enter to accompany the choir for a song, and then to play a traditional piece of our own at the end of the service. Well, we accidently entered early and they were still giving communion (!!!). And they offered it to us (!!!). I politely refused, and it was not an issue at all. I kind of expected people to look at me oddly, or whatever, but no one seemed to care. Of course, I guess any church that invites a west african drumming and dance group to play at their service is fairly open-minded. Still, at least it's evidence that not all religious people are hard-nosed zealots. In fact, everybody we met was cool.

If anybody else has any experience with open-minded religious people, or other reasons to believe the outlook isn't quite as dire as it sometimes seems for atheists in the U.S., post them in this thread!

Edit: It just occurred to me that this may be more of a miscellaneous discussion... mods, please move to wherever your think is appropriate.

Viti · 10-06-2003, 09:53 PM

I have found most churches take communion very seriously and if someone declines they don't question why. A religious person may not feel "prepared", or they may be of a different denomination. Basically, they don't want someone taking communion that doesn't mean it. And yes, many Christians are very cool people. Some will only be nice until they know you're an atheist.

That being said, I am moving this to GRD.

EGGO · 10-06-2003, 09:58 PM

Lesse, my girlfriend is a Presbytarian, but fairly open-minded.

She laughs at what is just ridiculous claims of zealots (I showed her WinAce's page o' quotes).

My mom and dad are also christian, and they know I'm an atheist. Never impacted our relationship whatsoever. We don't even think of going into debates, or a discussion when we hear His name.

My girlfriend's mom is also very open-minded. Despite being somewhat of a zealot, she remains respectable as a person (and she also has this funny personality).

Some of my friends too who are christian are fun to be with despite their religious standing.

I should consider myself lucky that I'm not with any fundies really besides my girlfriend's dad.

Rushianbeing · 10-07-2003, 11:10 AM

WastedPotential, I was heartened to read your post about a seemingly cool congregation in TN! I must admit that since moving to my particular hole, I have been quite discouraged with the unbelievable number of fundie idiots (last night's main news story on the local TV channel featured a woman being interviewed in what appeared to be a Wal-Mart parking lot regarding a debate about teaching evolution in a local middle school, and her final comment was "Well, if they're not gonna teach the Bible version, they shouldn't be allowed to teach the other version either"). I was therefore very glad to read your post! Of course I realize I am not near Nashville, and am in the Appys, so it's different here...
I do, however, have some cool Christian contacts, one of whom is my boss. She is very different from me both politically and religiously, and knows it, but she respects me utterly and I pretty much run my own show. She has even tapped me to take her place in teaching some of our volunteer training classes. People like her give me hope that they're not ALL insane and zealous...

Mageth · 10-07-2003, 11:22 AM

I was Presbyterian for a while. At least in our church, and I suspect in many others, communion was always offered as a voluntary act, and there was no pressure or judgment if one chose not to partake.

Note that some denominations/churches discourage, or even prohibit, non-members from partaking in communion.

Lonely_Road_Of_Faith · 10-09-2003, 07:27 PM

Well, I'm a Christian...can I post here??

I'm personally rather liberal, and my theological perspective is totally the opposite of the Fundies...among my good friends I count several Athiests, a couple Muslims, a couple Jews, a few Wiccans and a variety of different Christians, though I tend not to get along with Fundies either. A lot of the Fundies that I know don't like that many of my friends are non-Christians or even non-theists.

At one point in my life, before I became a Christian again, I actually seriously considered converting to Islam. :notworthy One of my best friends is a Muslim.

Oh, and I once dated a Satanist for several months.

The point is, I judge people on who they are and how they treat others, as well as weather or not they practice what they preach. As far as what they preach, it doesn't matter what religion or lack thereof they may have.

Several people here can back me up on that, Roland98 (one of the SL forum moderators) and I both posted on Christianity.com for a long time.

seebs · 10-09-2003, 07:38 PM

Hey, LROF!

Anyway, I tend to think that the outlook isn't really bad at all; most of the Christians I know are fine with atheists, and don't think religion should be such a point of division. But I don't live anywhere near the Bible Belt.

Lonely_Road_Of_Faith · 10-09-2003, 07:50 PM

Hey Seebs (I know Seebs from another forum lol)

I hear ya bro... personally I don't know why religion (or lack of religion) is such a point of division between Christians and others, I don't think it's right either.

The Bible says love thy neighbor as thyself, and doesn't make any exceptions for non-Christians.

"Having known plenty of good people I can understand why Jesus liked to dine with sinners and tax collectors" ~Mark Twain.

Biff the unclean · 10-09-2003, 11:50 PM

You are taking courses in beginning and advanced west african dance and beginning and advanced west african drumming at college???!!!!

I do hope you are paying your own tuition and not hitting mom and dad up for it

Biff the unclean · 10-10-2003, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lonely_Road_Of_Faith
The Bible says love thy neighbor as thyself, and doesn't make any exceptions for non-Christians.

You need to look at that Bible a little more closely

John15:6
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

True Christians both Catholic and Protestant took this as a mission statement from the Boss for 1500 odd years until civil authorities finally put a stop to it. Note Jesus specifically says for men to cast non-Christians into the fire. Not him, not angels, not the devil...men.

10-06-2003, 09:41 PM	#1
Mad Lion Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Cookeville, Tennessee, U.S.A. Posts: 306	A recent experience of mine: Perhaps a reason to be optimistic about atheism in U.S. Ok, first some background. I'm in a West African drumming and dance ensemble at my university, we're called abusua (means family in TWI, a major language of Ghana, West Africa). Anyway, there are a couple classes taught at the university (beginning and advanced west african dance and beginning and advanced west african drumming), and we have a major performance every semester. The group is also active outside of the classes, however, and gets invited to play many other festivals and occasions at schools and other places, and sometimes, churches. Recently we were invited to play at the First Presbyterian church in Nashville, TN, (for their World Communion sunday). We were outside of the Sanctuary for the majority of the service, and we were going to enter to accompany the choir for a song, and then to play a traditional piece of our own at the end of the service. Well, we accidently entered early and they were still giving communion (!!!). And they offered it to us (!!!). I politely refused, and it was not an issue at all. I kind of expected people to look at me oddly, or whatever, but no one seemed to care. Of course, I guess any church that invites a west african drumming and dance group to play at their service is fairly open-minded. Still, at least it's evidence that not all religious people are hard-nosed zealots. In fact, everybody we met was cool. If anybody else has any experience with open-minded religious people, or other reasons to believe the outlook isn't quite as dire as it sometimes seems for atheists in the U.S., post them in this thread! Edit: It just occurred to me that this may be more of a miscellaneous discussion... mods, please move to wherever your think is appropriate.

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10-06-2003, 09:53 PM	#2
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	I have found most churches take communion very seriously and if someone declines they don't question why. A religious person may not feel "prepared", or they may be of a different denomination. Basically, they don't want someone taking communion that doesn't mean it. And yes, many Christians are very cool people. Some will only be nice until they know you're an atheist. That being said, I am moving this to GRD.

10-06-2003, 09:58 PM	#3
EGGO Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Amerrka Posts: 688	Lesse, my girlfriend is a Presbytarian, but fairly open-minded. She laughs at what is just ridiculous claims of zealots (I showed her WinAce's page o' quotes). My mom and dad are also christian, and they know I'm an atheist. Never impacted our relationship whatsoever. We don't even think of going into debates, or a discussion when we hear His name. My girlfriend's mom is also very open-minded. Despite being somewhat of a zealot, she remains respectable as a person (and she also has this funny personality). Some of my friends too who are christian are fun to be with despite their religious standing. I should consider myself lucky that I'm not with any fundies really besides my girlfriend's dad.

10-07-2003, 11:10 AM	#4
Rushianbeing Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: the holler, y'all Posts: 243	WastedPotential, I was heartened to read your post about a seemingly cool congregation in TN! I must admit that since moving to my particular hole, I have been quite discouraged with the unbelievable number of fundie idiots (last night's main news story on the local TV channel featured a woman being interviewed in what appeared to be a Wal-Mart parking lot regarding a debate about teaching evolution in a local middle school, and her final comment was "Well, if they're not gonna teach the Bible version, they shouldn't be allowed to teach the other version either"). I was therefore very glad to read your post! Of course I realize I am not near Nashville, and am in the Appys, so it's different here... I do, however, have some cool Christian contacts, one of whom is my boss. She is very different from me both politically and religiously, and knows it, but she respects me utterly and I pretty much run my own show. She has even tapped me to take her place in teaching some of our volunteer training classes. People like her give me hope that they're not ALL insane and zealous...

10-07-2003, 11:22 AM	#5
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	I was Presbyterian for a while. At least in our church, and I suspect in many others, communion was always offered as a voluntary act, and there was no pressure or judgment if one chose not to partake. Note that some denominations/churches discourage, or even prohibit, non-members from partaking in communion.

10-09-2003, 07:27 PM	#6
Lonely_Road_Of_Faith Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 519	Well, I'm a Christian...can I post here?? I'm personally rather liberal, and my theological perspective is totally the opposite of the Fundies...among my good friends I count several Athiests, a couple Muslims, a couple Jews, a few Wiccans and a variety of different Christians, though I tend not to get along with Fundies either. A lot of the Fundies that I know don't like that many of my friends are non-Christians or even non-theists. At one point in my life, before I became a Christian again, I actually seriously considered converting to Islam. :notworthy One of my best friends is a Muslim. Oh, and I once dated a Satanist for several months. The point is, I judge people on who they are and how they treat others, as well as weather or not they practice what they preach. As far as what they preach, it doesn't matter what religion or lack thereof they may have. Several people here can back me up on that, Roland98 (one of the SL forum moderators) and I both posted on Christianity.com for a long time.

10-09-2003, 07:38 PM	#7
seebs Contributor Join Date: May 2002 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 24,524	Hey, LROF! Anyway, I tend to think that the outlook isn't really bad at all; most of the Christians I know are fine with atheists, and don't think religion should be such a point of division. But I don't live anywhere near the Bible Belt.

10-09-2003, 07:50 PM	#8
Lonely_Road_Of_Faith Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 519	Hey Seebs (I know Seebs from another forum lol) I hear ya bro... personally I don't know why religion (or lack of religion) is such a point of division between Christians and others, I don't think it's right either. The Bible says love thy neighbor as thyself, and doesn't make any exceptions for non-Christians. "Having known plenty of good people I can understand why Jesus liked to dine with sinners and tax collectors" ~Mark Twain.

10-09-2003, 11:50 PM	#9
Biff the unclean Banned Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: an inaccessible island fortress Posts: 10,638	You are taking courses in beginning and advanced west african dance and beginning and advanced west african drumming at college???!!!! I do hope you are paying your own tuition and not hitting mom and dad up for it

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