27 Comments »

1. Mary:
   February 15th, 2006 @ 3:18 pm

   Cool! Can’t wait to read it.

2. Dave:
   February 15th, 2006 @ 5:42 pm

   Just read it. What a wonderful story. Congratulations. You set a great example for others who may be questioning traditional religion and considering humanism.

3. Rena:
   February 15th, 2006 @ 6:22 pm

   Hi – I can’t figure out how to indtroduce myself to you through your email address, so I thought I would do it this way. I am an AOF, HAGSA, AU, etc. member, and the freethought community helped me through a very tough time several years back when I protested my daughter’s school placing “God Bless America” on their marquee. I had not been a member of any such group prior, and have developed wonderful relationships since. I was excited to see your new column, and wish I had known of you before. I hope to hear back from you soon,
   Rena
   Rocklin, CA

4. CarolMarianne:
   February 15th, 2006 @ 7:29 pm

   Noell,
   I’m not a parent but I am a humanist and an atheist. All I can say is…more power to you that you and your spouse, decided to leave your church and raise your three children to think for themselves.
   In light of what you’ve been subjected to, I admire your courage to out yourself, so to speak. I live in a small tourist community in south, central Ontario, Canada, aka cottage country and my town is fairly religious and to admit out loud that one is an atheist would go over like a lead balloon.
   I don’t have your mental or emotional courage although close members of my extended family must have some idea that I’m not religious.
   To admit to being atheist where I live would be like admitting to being a feminist, the “f-word” as it’s often known as.
   Welcome to this newsletter and even though, as I said, I’m not a parent, I’m curious and somewhat interested in reading your thoughts.
   I was a teenager and went to church with my mother and never questioned religion. Only after my mother died in 1979, did I eventually turn away from religion totally.
   What I resent about religion is people who are Jehovah’s Witnesses, going from door to door, attempting to convert others to their way of thinking. I feel like telling them that other religions don’t go around trying to sell their individual faiths.
   Again…welcome aboard!

5. Greg Foster:
   February 15th, 2006 @ 8:49 pm

   While I applaud your decision to join the ranks of rational thinkers, I don’t understand your need to make a public statement. I rank it in the catagory of wearing a Jewish skull cap, a Muslim head scarf, a Christian cross, etc. I’m not trying to be critical, I’m really trying to understand your motivation. Could leaving the sense of community inherent in your Mormon backgroud be driving you to find the equivalent elsewhere? After 60 years of living a secular life, I found that setting a positive example and seeing the results in a wonderful marriage and happy, successful, philosphically aware children was quite enough. They each remember their initiation at which they sat on a mountain top at 6 years old and saw the Milky Way on a clear warm summer night.

6. Mary:
   February 15th, 2006 @ 9:03 pm

   I enjoyed the article; it was a well-written introduction to what you are all about, what you are doing, and why. The column should prove to be very inspirational to other moms and families. To echo a previous poster, you are certainly courageous — good for you!

7. Stephanie:
   February 15th, 2006 @ 10:17 pm

   Greg, it’s unfortunate that you see Noell’s blog as a way to make a public statement comparable to wearing a Christian cross, etc. I really appreciate her blog as well as her new parenting article because it is a source of support for me. I do not live in a community that is accepting of non religious people and my family (parents, in-laws, grandparents etc.) is extremely religious. So, I was very excited to find someone with whom I can relate and a place where I can share and receive great parenting tips. It is psychologically healthy to have a support group and for me that is what this is. I don’t see it as a public statement at all.
   Thank you Noell for a wonderful blog! I also enjoyed your new article in the Humanist News….I look forward to reading future articles.

8. Cliff:
   February 15th, 2006 @ 10:20 pm

   Thank you so much for your courage and thoughtfulness.

   Keep up the good work.

9. robert green:
   February 16th, 2006 @ 8:10 am

   great site!

   i’m sure others have said it as well, but we are all born without any religion. it is imposed upon us by our parents. this is true for every religion everywhere. you are doing incredible work by avoiding this, and by coming up with fun ways to show how it can be done.

   thanks, and feel free to check out my blog if you want the born-jewish-lefty-hollywood perspective on things.

10. Tim Mack:
    February 16th, 2006 @ 9:23 am

    I applaud your freethinking courage and your vision. Often, despite our best intentions–whether steeped in religion or nature’s logic–parenting can be a challenge filled with missteps. The more we share experiences in raising our children in a non-religious environment, the better parents and grandparents we all become. The fear of raising children without religion (or heaven) is part of what keeps our numbers low. Your experiences and advice will be most welcome. My daughter is grown, but the next generation will be here soon. Thank you.
    NOTE: What can bloggers do about those Google ads? It’s confusing and frustrating to have a Freethought-type Website with ads for religious paraphernalia. It happens all the time with online articles about, say, evolution.

11. bruce elniski:
    February 16th, 2006 @ 9:26 am

    i applaud your courage and intelligence. i believe that there is nothing supernatural. no gods, ghosts, devils, angels, witches, heavens, limbos, purgatories, hells, miracles, souls or talking animals.
    i am surprised at the number of closet atheists there are out there, mostly afraid to stand up for what they believe.
    you are lucky to have a supportive spouse and i wish you every success with your column. i intend to read it and participate when i can.
    i do not like those who needlessly run down others, however. while it is important to stand up and say what you think, it is best to be on good terms with others to the greatest extent possible. bertand russell, in his book “why i am not a christian” (written many years ago) takes an excellent tone and attitude to the question of religion while still holding his own ground.
    bruce elniski

12. fran:
    February 16th, 2006 @ 2:23 pm

    I try to take some of the shock out of subject of atheism by simply saying that I believe God and all of the creatures he is associated with are simply fairy tales gone awry. It sort of gives me a leg up and allows me to run the offense for awhile. A resounding ” athiest ” can sometimes place you in a corner It’s kind of like being painted in , if you know what I mean. Just a thought

13. Dave:
    February 16th, 2006 @ 2:52 pm

    It is indeed unfortunate that Greg doesn’t see the value of public statements such as Noell’s. Though humanists tend to be intelligent and rational, they too often fail to see the importance of propagating humanism. We need more people like Noell to tactfully stand up and openly question traditional religion, to demonstrate that “humanist” is a valid identity. Maybe more people would come out of the closet as humanists if we made it socially acceptable to do so.

14. Noell:
    February 16th, 2006 @ 2:57 pm

    Thanks everbody for all your well-wishes! New readers: welcome to AgnosticMom!

    Greg: I don’t hesitate to say that I do look for substitutes for some of the things I left behind. Is there something wrong with that?

    As for my “making a statement,” I can’t figure out what statement it is you think I am making. As a parent who has only ever existed in the world of religion, I had a need as a new non-religious parent. I found nothing to meet my need. After a little experience, I figured there must be other parents who feel the same need. I created AgnosticMom to meet it. As Stephanie said, it’s not a statement, it’s a support system, and I’m not ashamed of that. Does it matter?

    I am glad to hear from your experience that we may not have as much to worry about concerning our children as we think. I hope you are right. I’m not taking chances, though.

15. Tami:
    February 16th, 2006 @ 4:13 pm

    Excellent article Noell. Not to harp on Greg but is he a new reader to your blog site? I’m inclinded to think he is or he wouldn’t have made those blanket statements. I applaud you for taking an active stance when it comes to the welfare of your children. It’s obvious to me they are healthy and happy because, among other things, they are being raised in a home where new ideas and thoughts are embraced and valued! What could be more healthy?

16. Greg Foster:
    February 16th, 2006 @ 8:30 pm

    I meant nothing negative in my comments. For years I have felt that the secular movement has a major challenge to provide the equivalent sense of community that the various religious gathering provide. I was simply asking if Noell felt the same way. I also implied that in order to network with others, she has decided to don her symbol of secularism in the form of a website and is broadcasting. Some of the responding comments clearly indicate that some of Noell’s readers have that same need for a support/community relationship. One such gathering place has turned out to be this site.

    I live near a church that Frank Lloyd Wright designed and built. It is called the Wayfarer’s Chapel and all the walls and roof are glass so that all the surrounding ocean views and nature can be enjoyed. Think how nice it would be to have a secular “church” like that to go to on one day of the week. Now what would we say once insde?

17. Noell:
    February 16th, 2006 @ 9:08 pm

    Hey, Greg. Sorry, but your comment did sound accusative. I feel better now.

    It’s funny, because while I have missed that sense of community, I have also stayed clear of joining other real (as opposed to virtual) secular groups so far. I’ve visited the Unitarians, I’ve looked into other groups. I have been afraid of being painted into a box, or being pressured to commit. I guess blogging has given me the best of both worlds. I am ready to get more involved with the Humanist community now.

    The Frank Lloyd Wright church building sounds amazing. I didn’t know he built churches. I would love to see it.

18. Greg Foster:
    February 17th, 2006 @ 11:27 am

    see:http://www.wayfarerschapel.org/ I do stand corrected though. It was done by Frank Lloyd Wright’s son Lloyd Wright. Keep up the good work!

19. Ron:
    February 17th, 2006 @ 11:55 am

    Wonderful start to your column!
    Also a great way to have more people in the community your blog provides!

20. fran:
    February 17th, 2006 @ 1:47 pm

    I live in Pittsburgh ,It’s a secular humanists dream city . Full of museums and universities and a science center . I would love to see a convention of some sort held here some day. We have a convention center and plenty of hotels and we take pride in our rivers.If we could muster 5,000 people for a three day visit I’d say we’d be making a major statement.I’d be happy to help co-ordinate such an event . It would be fun……..fran

21. Noell:
    February 17th, 2006 @ 3:16 pm

    Greg: the church is beautiful. I’d visit a Sunday service just to sit inside there. What part of CA is that?

    Fran: What exactly were you thinking?

22. Noell:
    February 17th, 2006 @ 3:18 pm

    Oh, BTW, Fran: Ben asked you a follow-up question to your comment under the “Happy Darwin Day” post. I figured you probably wouldn’t see it, so I wanted to give you a heads up.

    Look at me, I’m playing Moderator now.

23. Greg Foster:
    February 17th, 2006 @ 8:59 pm

    The Wafarer’s Chapel is about 15 miles south of downtown Los Angeles along the coast. It is not religion specific and there have been secular weddings at the chapel. Unfortunately, the ground it is built on is very unstable and large portions of other parts of the facility are no longer usable because they have broken up as the ground shifted. The chapel itself remains intact and is as beautiful as the pictures.

24. andy mansker:
    February 18th, 2006 @ 4:12 pm

    Keep up the good work! I’m a lifelong atheist with no children. The struggle faced by atheist families, frankly, never seriously crossed my mind until I joined an organized atheist group a few years ago. I feel for the children in school.

    This is an interview with President George Bush in 1987:

    Sherman: Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists?

    Bush: No, I don’t know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.

    Is it any wonder why we are concerned?

25. Noell:
    February 18th, 2006 @ 5:02 pm

    Andy- I have read this quote once before and I just cannot believe he actually said that. Do you know what this interview is from and where we can see an actual transcript or something? It just blows my mind!

26. andy mansker:
    March 11th, 2006 @ 7:57 pm

    Hard to believe, isn’t it?! Can you imagine a president saying that about “Christians”? After all the effort our founding fathers went through to eliminate the “religious test” for office, some people still don’t get it.

    >>Robert I. Sherman of American Atheist Press and George Bush, on August 27 1987. Sherman is a fully accredited reporter, and was present by invitation as a member of the press corps. The Republican presidential nominee was there to announce federal disaster relief for Illinois. The discussion turned to the presidential primary:>The exchange appeared in the Boulder Daily Camera on Monday February 27, 1989. It can also be found in “Free Inquiry” magazine, Fall 1988 issue, Volume 8, Number 4, page 16.

27. andy mansker:
    March 11th, 2006 @ 8:01 pm

    Source for quote above:
    http://www.infidels.org/news/atheism/arguments.html#bush

    Another article mentions the incident:
    http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/15/Columns/A_heartening_response.shtml

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