Freethought & Rationalism Archive

BigJim · 10-03-2002, 03:53 PM

1 - Me, athiest
2 - brother, practicing protestant
3 - brother, not sure, but I'll say apatheist/agnostic

Parents:
1 - Mom, fairly devout protestant
2 - Aunt, I think agnostic

1 - Aunt, devout protestant
2 - Aunt, borderline fundy
3 - Dad, agnostic/atheist.

K · 10-04-2002, 07:44 AM

sullster:

I may have implied something other than intended. I did not mean that first borns are thinkers and more likely to become atheists. I was looking more at the people-pleasing/rebelling aspects of birth order. I think that being a first born was one of the reasons I accepted my parents' faith without question for so long. I also think it added to the pain of becoming atheist. I believe my younger siblings didn't have the same drive to please our parents, so they never delved into Catholicism the way I did. For that reason, they never were forced to confront the details of their faith.

As an embarrassing sidenote, my parents still don't know I'm an atheist. It was bad enough telling them I was no longer Catholic. It irks them to no end that I don't go to any church and that we're raising our kids without religion. You'd think that telling them I was an atheist would be the next logical step. Not so. The A-word would freak them out beyond belief. Right now they can just believe that I'm lazy and religious in my own way.

Undercurrent · 10-04-2002, 10:09 AM

My family, also raised RC:

Mother: Strong RC. Church every Sunday, voulenteering, made children be cantors and altar boys (I was both at various times.) Her family (i.e. her parents and siblings) made pilgrimage to the Vatican. Like, really into it catholic.

Father: Weak, but practicing, RC. Goes to church every Sunday, but doesn't take Catholic doctorine so seriously, and is not above making fun of the sermon.

Sister (Older): More devout RC than my dad, less than my mom. Often thinks about religion outside of church (i.e. not just going through the motions) but not obsessively.

Me (Middle): Atheist. Militant, I'm told.

Brother (Younger): Sycophantic RC. Will take pains to mention his piety to those whom he thinks it will impress, but not actually very devout or pensive about it. That way about most things, actually.

m.

Wasatch · 10-04-2002, 12:16 PM

Parents Mormon

1. Brother Mormon
2. Brother Mormon
3. Brother Mormon
4. Me On the road to atheism

sullster · 10-04-2002, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by K:
<strong>sullster:

I may have implied something other than intended. I did not mean that first borns are thinkers and more likely to become atheists. I was looking more at the people-pleasing/rebelling aspects of birth order. I think that being a first born was one of the reasons I accepted my parents' faith without question for so long.

As an embarrassing sidenote, my parents still don't know I'm an atheist. It was bad enough telling them I was no longer Catholic. It irks them to no end that I don't go to any church and that we're raising our kids without religion. You'd think that telling them I was an atheist would be the next logical step. Not so. The A-word would freak them out beyond belief. Right now they can just believe that I'm lazy and religious in my own way.</strong>

K,
I understand your point. I was getting a side shot at book which came out a few years ago and is worth reading but has what I feel are flawed conclusions.

In general the oldest are the conformists to the parents' wishes because they were the first and the parents could concentrate on them the most. The younger ones get away with more things because the parents are older and just can't get all fired up as much for them. If the parents are fanatical theists, then initially the oldest gets the most pressure to be one and be an example to the younger siblings.

Having said all the above, in the end it just boils down to which one thinks his or her way out of theistic trap. Could be anyone.

Final note. Don't worry so much about being a lonely atheist. Join the crowd my friend.

Leigh · 10-06-2002, 05:41 AM

In his book 'The Lying Stones of Marrakech' Stephen Jay Gould has an interesting essay on the subject of birth order.......

Peregrine · 10-07-2002, 06:22 AM

My family

Father: non-denominational protestant (now Catholic at 84 yrs old)
Mother: American Baptist

1 (brother) -- tried almost everything
(2 adult offspring - 1 JW and 1 Jew)
2 (brother) -- catholic
3 (me) -- atheist

Wife's family

Parents: Catholic (mother converted from Lutheran)

1 (sister) -- atheist
2 (sister) -- catholic
3 (wife) -- catholic (leanings toward pantheism)
4 (brother) -- agnostic
(his wife -- budhist)

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10-03-2002, 03:53 PM	#11
BigJim Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Stepford, CT Posts: 4,296	1 - Me, athiest 2 - brother, practicing protestant 3 - brother, not sure, but I'll say apatheist/agnostic Parents: 1 - Mom, fairly devout protestant 2 - Aunt, I think agnostic 1 - Aunt, devout protestant 2 - Aunt, borderline fundy 3 - Dad, agnostic/atheist.

10-04-2002, 07:44 AM	#12
K Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,485	sullster: I may have implied something other than intended. I did not mean that first borns are thinkers and more likely to become atheists. I was looking more at the people-pleasing/rebelling aspects of birth order. I think that being a first born was one of the reasons I accepted my parents' faith without question for so long. I also think it added to the pain of becoming atheist. I believe my younger siblings didn't have the same drive to please our parents, so they never delved into Catholicism the way I did. For that reason, they never were forced to confront the details of their faith. As an embarrassing sidenote, my parents still don't know I'm an atheist. It was bad enough telling them I was no longer Catholic. It irks them to no end that I don't go to any church and that we're raising our kids without religion. You'd think that telling them I was an atheist would be the next logical step. Not so. The A-word would freak them out beyond belief. Right now they can just believe that I'm lazy and religious in my own way.

10-04-2002, 10:09 AM	#13
Undercurrent Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 2,362	My family, also raised RC: Mother: Strong RC. Church every Sunday, voulenteering, made children be cantors and altar boys (I was both at various times.) Her family (i.e. her parents and siblings) made pilgrimage to the Vatican. Like, really into it catholic. Father: Weak, but practicing, RC. Goes to church every Sunday, but doesn't take Catholic doctorine so seriously, and is not above making fun of the sermon. Sister (Older): More devout RC than my dad, less than my mom. Often thinks about religion outside of church (i.e. not just going through the motions) but not obsessively. Me (Middle): Atheist. Militant, I'm told. Brother (Younger): Sycophantic RC. Will take pains to mention his piety to those whom he thinks it will impress, but not actually very devout or pensive about it. That way about most things, actually. m.

10-04-2002, 12:16 PM	#14
Wasatch Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Utah Posts: 30	Parents Mormon 1. Brother Mormon 2. Brother Mormon 3. Brother Mormon 4. Me On the road to atheism

10-06-2002, 05:41 AM	#16
Leigh Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: England Posts: 27	In his book 'The Lying Stones of Marrakech' Stephen Jay Gould has an interesting essay on the subject of birth order.......

10-07-2002, 06:22 AM	#17
Peregrine Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 385	My family Father: non-denominational protestant (now Catholic at 84 yrs old) Mother: American Baptist 1 (brother) -- tried almost everything (2 adult offspring - 1 JW and 1 Jew) 2 (brother) -- catholic 3 (me) -- atheist Wife's family Parents: Catholic (mother converted from Lutheran) 1 (sister) -- atheist 2 (sister) -- catholic 3 (wife) -- catholic (leanings toward pantheism) 4 (brother) -- agnostic (his wife -- budhist)

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