Freethought & Rationalism Archive

lpetrich · 05-30-2003, 04:43 PM

This is from a show-business term for a woman who appears to go out on a date with some gay male show-business personage, so he will seem heterosexual.

So what might be the most suitable religious affiliation for a freethinker / agnostic / atheist who decides to pretend to have one?

My first guess is Unitarianism; any other possibilities?

In fact, I wonder if Unitarianism is a religious "beard" for some US politicians.

Secular Pinoy · 05-30-2003, 06:35 PM

Yep, Unitarian seems to be it. Liberal Quaker maybe? Perhaps Buddhism or Confucianism? And I hear you can be an Anglican and an Atheist.

pescifish · 05-31-2003, 10:33 AM

Many months ago, there was an account here about a conversation with a Methodist minister that still niggles at the back of my brain. According to what the minister said to our IIDB user, it seemed that he (the minister!) was not even a theist.

This seems to be the ultimate 'beard' situation. But then I thought back on my own experiences with the Methodist church and actually can see how this might be possible. I spent 3 years of high school heavily involved in the local Methodist church attended by most of my 'crowd' and found it to be very tolerant of personal beliefs.

SLD · 06-01-2003, 04:13 PM

No Unitarianism won't work. There don't seem to be any religious tenets to UU's - just tolerance of other people's religious beliefs, including freethinkers and atheists. Any "good" Christian would see right through someone claiming to have a strong religious belief and be a UU.

The beard you are looking for is the Episcopal Church. It's liberal but mainstream, and there are a few semi-fundies in it so that you are not automatically suspect. It's a good one for a closet freethinker who wants to be a public figure.

The problem is, we don't need beards anymore. We need to be out and proud of it!! (This is national gay and lesbian pride week isn't it?) We need to take our cue from them and be "outed".

SLD

Jewel · 06-01-2003, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pescifish
Many months ago, there was an account here about a conversation with a Methodist minister that still niggles at the back of my brain. According to what the minister said to our IIDB user, it seemed that he (the minister!) was not even a theist.

That would be Vicar Philip's Strummin' for Jesus thread. I won't even begin to guess which of the 859 posts it is, but it's in there somewhere.

ohwilleke · 06-02-2003, 04:46 PM

One of the most popular, if thin beards, is "I'm not very religious" which can be interpreted as non-theist, or as theist who doesn't attend church very often.

Simply saying nothing is often enough of a disguise.

Another good one, if you need it is: "My parents are Lutheran" or "I was raised Lutheran" or "I grew up in the Lutheran Church." or "I was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church" (insert as applicable), although, of course, it doesn't work if you grew up secular.

This can be mixed to form "I grew up in the Lutheran Church but I'm not very religious" which implies strongly that you are a theist who doesn't go to church often without actually admitting it.

Richard1366 · 06-03-2003, 08:05 AM

Why is everyone seeming so afraid of saying "I'm an Atheist?" The other question is, how many times in a day/week/month does someone ask you "What religion are you?" I can't even remember the last time someone asked me that..has to be 10 years ago. Actually, although I never bring religion up because it is so very unimporant to me, I await being asked the "What religion are you?" question so I can tell them the truth and see their reaction to my declaration of avowed Atheism.

Harumi · 06-03-2003, 01:53 PM

Well, when you're working at a church where there are a bunch of old ladies you just don't have the heart to offend, that's where it comes up.

For me, I just couldn't say such a thing to them. It's really weird, because I'm usually quite open, but I just couldn't bear to say that I'm an atheist. It isn't so much from fear or anything. I just felt that I volunteered to come here, I don't have a right to offend them in their 'home' persay. So I just kept silent and had them assume I was Christian.

Silence is golden.

Secular Pinoy · 06-04-2003, 06:10 AM

Speak out, speak out, speak out. With the world as it is, silence is a sin.

Harumi · 06-05-2003, 11:22 AM

That can only be applied when there's something wrong.

As those old ladies are all kind, loving, tolerant (yes tolerant, it's a very liberal church) who enjoy tutoring children because they simply like to do it, I decided to keep my mouth shut.

It isn't going to change anything. They're too old to listen to me. And to be quite brutal most of them would die in a few years, they're that old.

I don't like to shake old people's foundations. It just seems...cruel...to me.

05-30-2003, 04:43 PM	#1
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	Religious-affiliation "beard"? This is from a show-business term for a woman who appears to go out on a date with some gay male show-business personage, so he will seem heterosexual. So what might be the most suitable religious affiliation for a freethinker / agnostic / atheist who decides to pretend to have one? My first guess is Unitarianism; any other possibilities? In fact, I wonder if Unitarianism is a religious "beard" for some US politicians.

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05-30-2003, 06:35 PM	#2
Secular Pinoy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Posts: 1,994	Yep, Unitarian seems to be it. Liberal Quaker maybe? Perhaps Buddhism or Confucianism? And I hear you can be an Anglican and an Atheist.

05-31-2003, 10:33 AM	#3
pescifish Beloved Deceased Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: rural part of los angeles, CA Posts: 4,516	Many months ago, there was an account here about a conversation with a Methodist minister that still niggles at the back of my brain. According to what the minister said to our IIDB user, it seemed that he (the minister!) was not even a theist. This seems to be the ultimate 'beard' situation. But then I thought back on my own experiences with the Methodist church and actually can see how this might be possible. I spent 3 years of high school heavily involved in the local Methodist church attended by most of my 'crowd' and found it to be very tolerant of personal beliefs.

06-01-2003, 04:13 PM	#4
SLD Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 4,109	No Unitarianism won't work. There don't seem to be any religious tenets to UU's - just tolerance of other people's religious beliefs, including freethinkers and atheists. Any "good" Christian would see right through someone claiming to have a strong religious belief and be a UU. The beard you are looking for is the Episcopal Church. It's liberal but mainstream, and there are a few semi-fundies in it so that you are not automatically suspect. It's a good one for a closet freethinker who wants to be a public figure. The problem is, we don't need beards anymore. We need to be out and proud of it!! (This is national gay and lesbian pride week isn't it?) We need to take our cue from them and be "outed". SLD

06-02-2003, 04:46 PM	#6
ohwilleke Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Denver, Colorado, USA Posts: 4,834	One of the most popular, if thin beards, is "I'm not very religious" which can be interpreted as non-theist, or as theist who doesn't attend church very often. Simply saying nothing is often enough of a disguise. Another good one, if you need it is: "My parents are Lutheran" or "I was raised Lutheran" or "I grew up in the Lutheran Church." or "I was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church" (insert as applicable), although, of course, it doesn't work if you grew up secular. This can be mixed to form "I grew up in the Lutheran Church but I'm not very religious" which implies strongly that you are a theist who doesn't go to church often without actually admitting it.

06-03-2003, 08:05 AM	#7
Richard1366 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,260	Why is everyone seeming so afraid of saying "I'm an Atheist?" The other question is, how many times in a day/week/month does someone ask you "What religion are you?" I can't even remember the last time someone asked me that..has to be 10 years ago. Actually, although I never bring religion up because it is so very unimporant to me, I await being asked the "What religion are you?" question so I can tell them the truth and see their reaction to my declaration of avowed Atheism.

06-03-2003, 01:53 PM	#8
Harumi Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 3,184	Well, when you're working at a church where there are a bunch of old ladies you just don't have the heart to offend, that's where it comes up. For me, I just couldn't say such a thing to them. It's really weird, because I'm usually quite open, but I just couldn't bear to say that I'm an atheist. It isn't so much from fear or anything. I just felt that I volunteered to come here, I don't have a right to offend them in their 'home' persay. So I just kept silent and had them assume I was Christian. Silence is golden.

06-04-2003, 06:10 AM	#9
Secular Pinoy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Posts: 1,994	Speak out, speak out, speak out. With the world as it is, silence is a sin.

06-05-2003, 11:22 AM	#10
Harumi Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 3,184	That can only be applied when there's something wrong. As those old ladies are all kind, loving, tolerant (yes tolerant, it's a very liberal church) who enjoy tutoring children because they simply like to do it, I decided to keep my mouth shut. It isn't going to change anything. They're too old to listen to me. And to be quite brutal most of them would die in a few years, they're that old. I don't like to shake old people's foundations. It just seems...cruel...to me.

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