Using religion in daily life

money said:
I'm not sure why you'd single out Mormons here.

how is the Mormon social schedule any more rigid than any other comprable religious groups?

Otherwise, I think you've made a huge overgeneralization.
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It's the group I have familiarity with. I'm sure there are other groups that are equally isolationists. I don't think I'm overgeneralizing. It's what I've experienced. And, why I noticed it was because I'd never seen this behavior before meeting my wife.
 
cbish said:
It's the group I have familiarity with. I'm sure there are other groups that are equally isolationists. I don't think I'm overgeneralizing. It's what I've experienced. And, why I noticed it was because I'd never seen this behavior before meeting my wife.
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Well, I grew up in an area that defies your generalization. I'm not endorsing their religion, but I don't think they are any more kooky than my Catholic friends during lent (as far as dietary restrictions, etc.)

If your only experience is with "isolationist" Mormons then I am suggesting you've taken a tiny percentage of their religion and overgeneralized. Perhaps thats just the way your relatives are. You probably have stood next to, or even interacted with, other Mormons when you eat out or go bowling, and just not known.

Walk around the downtown area in Salt Lake City, and anyone would have a hard time distinguishing a group of Mormon girls from a group of Lutheran girls(for example) eating lunch at the food court. Good luck figuring it out if they are sitting together.
 
I was born and raised Roman Catholic ( I was even an altar boy, though I do not remember ever being molested. Wait a minute! There was that one football game where our priest/coach slapped our buttocks with a bit too much enthusiasim! MOMMIE!!!!!!!) but quickly jumped ship when I was old enough to think. I celebrate Christmass, and Easter most secularly. Heck I even celebrate passover and chaunekka in the most secular way possible.

The only ritual I practice is to get home from work sit in front of the TV with my wife and watch CSI. It always relaxes me and alows me to reflect on how good my life has been so far. (with the exception of the football molestation incident) Especially since network TV does not require a whole lot of brain power to enjoy.
 
joeybernard said:
I'm wondering if anyone else here uses the rituals and ceremonies of religion? I'm an atheist Druid, basically the pagan lifestyle without the extra calories of deity. So, religion-light.
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I'm religion-zero. But I still have trouble saying anything else than "my god!" when I'm amazed or shocked.
 
Belz... said:
I'm religion-zero. But I still have trouble saying anything else than "my god!" when I'm amazed or shocked.
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It is quite a bit shorter and more pleasant than saying "well shave my hairy Balzac!"
 
money said:
Well, I grew up in an area that defies your generalization. I'm not endorsing their religion, but I don't think they are any more kooky than my Catholic friends during lent (as far as dietary restrictions, etc.)
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In this day and age in the US, a lot of us could use dietary restrictions.
 
T'ai Chi said:
In this day and age in the US, a lot of us could use dietary restrictions.
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True, but with Mormons it's just tobacco, alchohol, and hot caffinated drinks. Probably overall its good for your health... but not for me.

At least they can still eat bacon!
 
Born and raised Catholic, I only attend church for the funerals of relatives, which as I approach 40 rapidly (< 1 month to go) is becoming disturbingly regular. I also have my dad lead grace when he comes over for dinner, but we never say it.

I do swear using religious statements, but they're meaningless. I also use meaningless non-religious statements. For example, I ragged my shin againt the protruding footboard on the bed in the spare bedroom/exercise room the other day, and exclaimed, "Mother f*****," even though neither I nor anybody I know has actually f***** their biological mother.
 
Ever since I married a Jewish woman, I participate in a lot of Jewish ritual. I don't believe the "God" parts, but I find that the idea of "God" can be shorthand for "the process of life and everything in it and all that stuff that we really can't fit into the rest of the day." It's a handy concept. Besides, as best I can tell, our rabbi doesn't believe the "God" parts, either. Frankly, I think a lot of atheists could use a bit of religion in their lives, without the actual belief in deities.

FWIW, I grew up Catholic, attended a Unitarian church for a while, and went through a phase where I described my religion as "I'd be a pagan if all the pagans I knew weren't so darned weird." If you force me to put down "religion" on a form these days, I would say "Buddhist", but depending on the context, I could just as easily put down "Jewish" "atheist" or "pantheist".
 
CFLarsen said:
It's a simple question, T'ai. Why won't you answer it?
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I didn't mention "god" at all.

Since you did, how are you defining "god"?

Simple question. You refuse to answer it. Yes or no? Evasion noted. Saved for posterity.
 
T'ai Chi said:
I didn't mention "god" at all.

Since you did, how are you defining "god"?

Simple question. You refuse to answer it. Yes or no? Evasion noted. Saved for posterity.
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I did answer it:

Whatever you think it means. I cannot define your god for you (if you have one, that is).
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I answered your question. Please answer mine:

Do you believe in an interacting god?
 
I didn't mention "god" at all.

You did.

Therefore, I'm not sure why you believe I need to answer your question that doesn't have anything to do with me.
 
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