Unsure if relevant, since this is a meme post, but for anyone interested: faith is quite a complex concept. And this silly atheist vs religious conflict is so pointless. It does nothing but elevate some people's egos and infuriate others.

Sadly, both sides are heavily uninformed. Most atheists spent at most 3 seconds studying religion, while most religious people never questioned a single thing about their religion. How can you understand somebody and their point of view, if you haven't even imagined yourself in their shoes, let alone walked in them?

Short story is: to 'believe' in God, or any other religious entity, does not mean 'to think He exists'. In fact, you can 'believe' in any god, while being completely convinced they don't exist. Fact and faith are fully separate.

At least some confusion here is intentionally created by religious institutions, like the Catholic Church. Most of what they do goes against the Bible and Jesus' teachings, but it's not like they care. Focusing on Christianity here, because that's what I studied the most (my country is Christian). Same applies to Judaism and Islam. Other religions less, since these three have the biggest, most organized official structures (massive red flag in case it wasn't obvious).

Anyway, I invite everyone to read about and learn their so-called enemies' ways instead of blindly ridiculing them.

[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

I'd wager most millenial-and-older atheists probably attended mass regularly as kids. Many are probably baptized, confirmed, had communion, etc.

We just realized it's all bullshit intended for social control at some point along the way.

Same kids who stopped saying the pledge in school as soon as they realized they could.

Zoomer and younger atheists...yeah, they might have not had that experience. Probably because they were brought up by already-atheist (or at least barely-believing, twice-a-year types) gen-x and older millennials.

[–] Susurrus@lemm.ee 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Completely agree. I had the same experiences as a kid. Organized religious institutions always go against the religions they pretend to preach. Religious belief should be a personal choice, not a mass brain washing.

The Catholic Church requires that Christians indoctrine their children into Christianity since they are born. But this is the Church speaking, not Christianity or Jesus. In fact, the New Testament clearly says that it is perfectly acceptable for the family of a Christian to reject Christianity. The sole fact that they love the part of their family that is Christian, is enough.

But of course, barely any self-proclaimed Christians have ever opened the Bible, let alone read it. And the Church coveniently doesn't recommend reading it.

[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Funny you should mention that.

My paternal grandparents were very religious, and my dad attended mass regularly as a kid and went to Catholic school.

However, I don't think he's willingly set foot into a church except for funerals since I was born.

My grandmother would drag me to church several times a week though.

Didn't stop my dad from threatening to baptize my kid behind my back when my first kid was a baby. I think it was said in jest, or maybe to troll me...but my oldest is 8 now and neither of my kids have been around my parents unsupervised. Reap what you sow.

And the Church coveniently doesn't recommend reading it.

That's their own fault. Should've left it in Latin. Or Aramaic.

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