How I Survived My Religious Education: A Panel Discussion

In this panel discussion sponsored by the Center for Inquiry-New York City and All Souls Unitarian Church, three authors -- William Lobdell, Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, and Marilyn Mehr (talk not shown due to technical issues) -- brought up in restrictive religious traditions discuss their journey toward atheism or liberal, inclusive forms of faith. In addition to dealing with weighty philosophical issues of losing -- and changing -- beliefs, this program also deals with the more ordinary questions of how to handle relationships with beloved family members who are still devout, conservative religious believers (a challenge many of us face in the holiday season). The panel was moderated by Susan Jacoby.

For more:

www.centerforinquiry.net/nyc

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• lobdell
• mehr
• goldstein
• jacoby
• skepticism
• humanism
• atheism

[bary1234]

Religion survives solely by lying to children. By keeping religion away from schools we can provide people proper knowledge and science and kill religion at the same time.

[brainbid]

I agree with BoingotheClown. Almost the entire speech from the ex-Mormon lady was missing, and the first part of Rebecca's speech was cut off.

[WrestlingHeretic]

@DraconisRex Exactly.  I'm an atheist who loves to sing about Jesus in choirs.

[thewildplaces]

Ahh. I really want to hear what Marilyn Mehr has to say!

[OutOfTheBoxThinker]

@Swh : It seems to me the vast majority of people feel an innate need to belong to a community, to a social construct greater than their individual self. Some seek it in religion, some seek it in nationalism, some seek it in comic book conventions, some seek it in secular social organisations, some seek it in various subcultures (eg. goth or punk subculture), some seek it in a UU church, etc. They're trying to fill a void created by our individualist culture and many stick with whatever works.

[mdiem]

talk talk talk talk talk youtube comment comment comment blah blah blah, etc.

great video. thumbs up.

[Sheldonwh]

I have better things to do than hang out with people of "varying belief systems." I'd avoid UU churches for the same reason I avoid comic book conventions; but at least most of those people don't actually BELIEVE the made up stories they read. What's the point of calling something a "church" if it's just about a sense of community? The word is actually from the Greek kyriakon, meaning "the Lord's house," and is also related to the term "ekklesia," signifying a Christian place of worship.

[DraconisRex]

@Sheldonwh

There's more to church than god-bothering. Many of us, who are atheists, go to a UU Church because we enjoy the "Church experience" without the bullshit of religion.

[timberwraith]

@Sheldonwh I am fascinated by the prospect of a mixture of conflicting belief systems existing side by side without people ripping each other to shreds. That kind of dynamic appeals to me because I think it's useful in a pluralistic society to foster environments where people learn to get along with each other rather than trading constant barbs and inflamed sentiments.

[timberwraith]

@Sheldonwh I identify as an atheist and I have a curiosity about other systems of belief. I studied sociology in college and I have an undying curiosity about how society functions, including how different belief systems function. Consequently, I have a curiosity about UU church environments and am considering attending one in my neighborhood. From what I hear, UU churches have atheists *and* believers of various faiths attending.

[timberwraith]

@Sheldonwh Well, I can think of a major reason for attending a Unitarian Church: community. Having a sense of community is important to human beings. We're social creatures, after all. The thing is, if you don't possess the ability or will to associate with people of varying belief systems, then mixed environments won't work for you. UU churches welcome people from differing beliefs. So, a UU church probably wouldn't work for you. Perhaps an atheist/agnostic social organization would?