I do NOT believe in God, and I attend church and do not feel guilty...
The recent ireports definitely have sparked lots of views from readers. I'm somewhat disheartened that so many views come from Christianity. There are so many religions in our world, and many readers comments set them aside. Wouldn't it be nice to hear from Chinese and Japanese readers on their views of religious traditions. What about reader's of African or Native American decent. Where are the Jews, Indians, Arabs, etc….
All of these people have religious traditions and they, too, have nonbelievers. And, just like christianity, many people in these cultures do not believe in their God(s). Some raise their kids without religion and some do.
When these views are not part of the conversation, we are leaving out a majority of the world's population.
So, why do I attend church and not believe in God and not feel guilty. The simplest answer is: RESPECT.
I was fortunate enough to travel to Esfahan, Iran prior to the hostage crisis in the late 70's. Prior to traveling from Teheran, my grandfather and I purchased a cross and a set of prayer beads, for me, from local vendors. When we arrived in Esfahan, the christians of the city were celebrating a holiday. I remember lots of food and lots of grapes. The holiday had something to do with passing out grapes (i was a kid, and don't remember the holiday). In the mix of this celebration were muslim men, woman and children (all celebrating). My family is Armenian and we fall under 'christianity.' During the celebration the call to prayer happened. Many woman went inside, the grapes stopped being passed around. The christian celebration stopped. I saw my grandmother pull out some traditional grab for Iranian woman and she put it on. So did my mother and aunt. I asked my grandfather why things stopped and why did my grandmother cover her clothes with something else. He told me it was prayer time and we always RESPECT prayer time. He asked me if I had my prayer beads. I did. As we walked he told me we were going to pray. He explained to me how a prayer was said for each bead on the strand. And, he pointed out various muslim men that were already praying. I entered a room of men and found my place alongside my grandfather and performed this muslim ritual. When it was done, the christian celebration resumed with both christian and islamic believers.
I was seven years old and that was my first experience with respecting other's beliefs and values. My grandfather taught me that cultural beliefs and values transcend religion. He was a very religious man and vowed to his church his entire life. He never stopped learning about other's and their beliefs. When he moved to America, we visited a Full Gospel Baptist Church, went to Buddhist temples, visited a southern revival, talked with Rabbis' and attended his church.
All the while, my grandfather knew I did not believe in God. Once again, he taught me something. He told me it was okay, not to believe in God. You never have to believe in God, grandson. When you keep respecting men, woman and children and their cultural beliefs and values the way you do, they in return will respect you. I have done the same with my son and will do the same with my daughter.
Year's later I still find myself in different cultural situations, involving religion. I have met many nonbelievers who attend their religious services and believers that do not attend.
The hardest thing I have come across for nonbelievers that attend 'christian' churches is that they are treated with shame and unworthiness, if it is known that you do not believe in this 'God.' This scorn comes from the masses of people in congregations. True religious scholars will understand and respect you.
Also, many nonbelievers won't admit it to their church or religious affiliate. Maybe they will admit it outside of church, in their home….but not in the eye of public scrutiny. That's okay and I respect that.
Thanks...
The recent ireports definitely have sparked lots of views from readers. I'm somewhat disheartened that so many views come from Christianity. There are so many religions in our world, and many readers comments set them aside. Wouldn't it be nice to hear from Chinese and Japanese readers on their views of religious traditions. What about reader's of African or Native American decent. Where are the Jews, Indians, Arabs, etc….
All of these people have religious traditions and they, too, have nonbelievers. And, just like christianity, many people in these cultures do not believe in their God(s). Some raise their kids without religion and some do.
When these views are not part of the conversation, we are leaving out a majority of the world's population.
So, why do I attend church and not believe in God and not feel guilty. The simplest answer is: RESPECT.
I was fortunate enough to travel to Esfahan, Iran prior to the hostage crisis in the late 70's. Prior to traveling from Teheran, my grandfather and I purchased a cross and a set of prayer beads, for me, from local vendors. When we arrived in Esfahan, the christians of the city were celebrating a holiday. I remember lots of food and lots of grapes. The holiday had something to do with passing out grapes (i was a kid, and don't remember the holiday). In the mix of this celebration were muslim men, woman and children (all celebrating). My family is Armenian and we fall under 'christianity.' During the celebration the call to prayer happened. Many woman went inside, the grapes stopped being passed around. The christian celebration stopped. I saw my grandmother pull out some traditional grab for Iranian woman and she put it on. So did my mother and aunt. I asked my grandfather why things stopped and why did my grandmother cover her clothes with something else. He told me it was prayer time and we always RESPECT prayer time. He asked me if I had my prayer beads. I did. As we walked he told me we were going to pray. He explained to me how a prayer was said for each bead on the strand. And, he pointed out various muslim men that were already praying. I entered a room of men and found my place alongside my grandfather and performed this muslim ritual. When it was done, the christian celebration resumed with both christian and islamic believers.
I was seven years old and that was my first experience with respecting other's beliefs and values. My grandfather taught me that cultural beliefs and values transcend religion. He was a very religious man and vowed to his church his entire life. He never stopped learning about other's and their beliefs. When he moved to America, we visited a Full Gospel Baptist Church, went to Buddhist temples, visited a southern revival, talked with Rabbis' and attended his church.
All the while, my grandfather knew I did not believe in God. Once again, he taught me something. He told me it was okay, not to believe in God. You never have to believe in God, grandson. When you keep respecting men, woman and children and their cultural beliefs and values the way you do, they in return will respect you. I have done the same with my son and will do the same with my daughter.
Year's later I still find myself in different cultural situations, involving religion. I have met many nonbelievers who attend their religious services and believers that do not attend.
The hardest thing I have come across for nonbelievers that attend 'christian' churches is that they are treated with shame and unworthiness, if it is known that you do not believe in this 'God.' This scorn comes from the masses of people in congregations. True religious scholars will understand and respect you.
Also, many nonbelievers won't admit it to their church or religious affiliate. Maybe they will admit it outside of church, in their home….but not in the eye of public scrutiny. That's okay and I respect that.
Thanks...