Comments on: Are You a Christian?

By: Pegah

Pegah — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:53:21 +0000

HI! Great article! I feel as if I’m an agnostic humanist as well, and it’s so nice when it feels accepted, because it doesn’t always. I’m not a mom, I’m a 17-year-old girl and I was raised agnostic or “without religion” because my father’s an atheist and my mother’s a Christian-Muslim (it seems odd, I know) so my brother and I have been open to embrace any religious beliefs or lack-thereof we so choose and it’s great! I was able to really research, I even joined and was an active church member until I realized that it was not for me and I decided that I was okay with my beliefs and I hope that I can someday raise my children with the same freedom as well. I believe in certain tenets of Eastern Religions like Buddhism and Hinduism, yet not all of them, and I don’t believe morals or leading a good life should be because of a fear of foreshadowing of an afterlife but rather that being a good person should be it’s own reward and believing in people and humanity is a real contribution, therefore I don’t have an easy answer when people ask about my beliefs, it always turns into a conversation. I think maybe you can relate! Great piece, again.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:22:37 +0000

I love your article! Finally someone who believes what I do!

By: Agnostic Mom » Social Anxiety

Agnostic Mom » Social Anxiety — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 16:58:32 +0000

[...] I think I’m over my old fears of telling people I’m an Agnostic Humanist, rather than a Christian. Of course, I can say that, because my last experiences were successful. But it’s been a while since I’ve been in that circumstance. And I don’t live in the Bible-Belt of America. Arizona isn’t liberal, and it isn’t as diverse as some places, but it’s not close-minded either. I think I’ve got a handle on the social situation for now. [...]

By: Christy

Christy — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 15:56:38 +0000

How funny Noell, I didn’t read this intill after our conversation, but how true. Even after I know it in my heart to be O.K., it still fills wrong some way to say “I don’t believe in Jesus!” I still have not been able to say that to my open minded mother. Not that I am afraid what she would say, but afraid to say it out loud!

By: Rodolfo

Rodolfo — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 08:54:32 +0000

Great title Noelle! Coincidentally that was also the theme of the week for my family and roommate. Suprise Suprise!

There were only two positive things that I remember from my family’s 12 hour drive to San Francisco. #1 We got to our destination safely #2 I finally confessed that I was Agnostic.

In a nutshell(I’ll try), My sister and I asked my cousin Kristina what her boyfriend’s religion was. She hesitated for a second before finally saying he was Agnostic. Both my sister and brother-in-law didn’t really understand what that meant(they’re both catholic)so I explained to them the literal meaning “without knowledge.” My cousin(I think she’s also catholic) quickly added that her boyfriend believes in a god but just isn’t sure which one. Now to me I understand agnosticism as complete lack of knowledge meaning if I don’t know what happens after I die how could I possibly know if there is a god or not. I think the correct word that describes my cousin’s boyfriend(please correct me if I’m wrong) would be more deist or theist than Agnostica. Originally the reason we were having this conversation was when my sister asked me what religion my roommate was. I thought for a second and said christian because I clearly remember him saying he was. At that point I already knew my sister was wondering HOW COULD I KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT NOT KNOWING ANYTHING? So I told her…I’m Agnostic.

abidip bidip that’s all folks! THE END

Joke lang. Exactly eight hours ago my roommate and I were working out at the gym when I asked him what religion he was just to make sure and again he said he was Christian. Now I had no problem telling my family that he was Christian out of habit but at that moment I had to stop and THINK. So I asked him “Why do you think you’re Christian?”

I wish I could express in words four and a half hours of intense conversation but to make it short I think I was able to convey my ideas pretty clearly to him. You see my roommate told me he likes to go to church because it fulfills certain “needs.” But the truth is that he doesn’t really believe most of the stories in the bible and only appreciates the passages that appeal to his common sense. He feels that christianity is the only religion that has come close to answering any of his questions about god so that’s why he claims to be a christian. I told him flat out he’s wrong and convinced him to at least entertain the idea that the christian god might just in fact be imaginary after all. He admitted that I wasn’t the first to question his faith. In fact even some of his church members have asked him the same question. So anyway after that long conversation with him I got back to my sister and told her that I was wrong and my roommate is definitely not christian.

For the last 10 years I’ve been very passive when it comes to talking about religion. I think I behaved that way because I was too respectful. Religion is a very touchy subject and I was raised not to offend people. But maybe it was watching South Park or listening to George Carlin’s jokes the last couple of months that I began to open up to the idea that maybe it’s time for me to start opening up to this subject once again.

Okay maybe some people might say it can’t just be South Park and George Carlin. I have to come clean….I’ve been unemployed since June and I have A LOT of spare time on my hands……hahaha.

Seriously though leaving my job of five and half years was a huge decision. Kinda like leaving my church. Everyday I would ask WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING HERE?!?
But because I chose to go against the grain I’m happy and I have no regrets.