I’m another one raised in a secular household, since you asked. Not an especially atheistic one, just apathetic to the concept of religion. I don’t feel like I’m missing a purpose; on the contrary, it gives me the freedom to choose one, with no one to answer to about my choice. I find it somewhat alien that people are willing to accept a purpose which is handed to them by someone who had it handed to them by someone else …. and it bothers me that I don’t understand it, because that prevents me from communicating intelligently about it. This is why I don’t argue against it. (Maybe if I understood it, I’d want to argue for it—who knows?)
There are two things I do miss from a religious upbringing, though. One is the built-in local social community which is separate from work, school, or family. Getting a group of likeminded sociable secular people together is harder; you have to actually come up with an excuse. The other is that I simply enjoy participating in rituals; I’m not sure why. I sometimes go through the motions of a superstition, without any belief in it—knocking on wood, for example—just to satisfy that taste. But there’s not nearly as much of that as there is religious ritual, and it’s not as cohesive. I’ve been thinking of starting an innocuous secret society just to invent goofy traditions for it.
The other is that I simply enjoy participating in rituals; I’m not sure why. I sometimes go through the motions of a superstition, without any belief in it—knocking on wood, for example—just to satisfy that taste. But there’s not nearly as much of that as there is religious ritual, and it’s not as cohesive. I’ve been thinking of starting an innocuous secret society just to invent goofy traditions for it.
I was raised in a religious household, and I also do this, just with different rituals or motions. I’ll often find myself preforming the clapping motion from Full-Metal Alchemist just as a side amusement while thinking or walking past walls, and I don’t think a day has passed since I hit 15 that I wasn’t pretending to swing a sword of some sort.
I’d also like to add that, with no reason for other than the simple enjoyment of rituals, that I would seriously consider joining a secret society that was unknowingly based around goofy traditions.
I meant unknown to most members, potentially myself included, though that’s not a necessary component. I didn’t really think it through last night, so I’m unsure how such a group would work.
I’m another one raised in a secular household, since you asked. Not an especially atheistic one, just apathetic to the concept of religion. I don’t feel like I’m missing a purpose; on the contrary, it gives me the freedom to choose one, with no one to answer to about my choice. I find it somewhat alien that people are willing to accept a purpose which is handed to them by someone who had it handed to them by someone else …. and it bothers me that I don’t understand it, because that prevents me from communicating intelligently about it. This is why I don’t argue against it. (Maybe if I understood it, I’d want to argue for it—who knows?)
There are two things I do miss from a religious upbringing, though. One is the built-in local social community which is separate from work, school, or family. Getting a group of likeminded sociable secular people together is harder; you have to actually come up with an excuse. The other is that I simply enjoy participating in rituals; I’m not sure why. I sometimes go through the motions of a superstition, without any belief in it—knocking on wood, for example—just to satisfy that taste. But there’s not nearly as much of that as there is religious ritual, and it’s not as cohesive. I’ve been thinking of starting an innocuous secret society just to invent goofy traditions for it.
I was raised in a religious household, and I also do this, just with different rituals or motions. I’ll often find myself preforming the clapping motion from Full-Metal Alchemist just as a side amusement while thinking or walking past walls, and I don’t think a day has passed since I hit 15 that I wasn’t pretending to swing a sword of some sort. I’d also like to add that, with no reason for other than the simple enjoyment of rituals, that I would seriously consider joining a secret society that was unknowingly based around goofy traditions.
Ha. Okay, I’ll let you know if I get around to that. By “unknowingly” do you mean unbeknownst to you, or … ?
I meant unknown to most members, potentially myself included, though that’s not a necessary component. I didn’t really think it through last night, so I’m unsure how such a group would work.
Me too; that’s why I haven’t done it yet. But I have some notes on the subject tucked away.
Well there’s the Bayesian conspiracy.