I've had several people express open shock at finding out I believe in God, because I'd always come across to them as so intelligent and reasonable.

Not just Bay Area on that one. I've gotten that, too. I was also told that I was ignorant and naive, but in a good way, like a child, for believing in God and that one day I'd grow up and understand better. Patronizing much?

Religion is something I've struggled with for most of my life and continue to struggle with. I grew up in a fundie household and cannot abide that kind of thinking. I also have problems with the so-called Christians who are extremely judgemental and hateful and seem to fill our airways. I do not believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. Instead, I focus on it's Truthfulness rather than it's factual accuracy. [side note: and I was told I was going to go to hell fo that viewpoint...by my mother no less.] At this stage in my journey, I have no idea who Jesus was. Jew? Yes. Carpenter? Yes. Spiritual leader? Yes. Son of God? Who knows?

Sorry for the wordiness. This is just an issue that I continually grapple with.

Not just Bay Area on that one. I've gotten that, too

Did they think it made you a bad person? That's the part I've just not encountered--lots of atheists who think that their position is the intellectually superior one, and while it may be morally superior in the sense that it relies on fewer external checks and balances, that's not the same as a causal effect of badness.

I have proof. I did not have to stalk him after his class, because he called me right before his class to tell me that he'd submitted the letter and to ask me to go tell his students that his class was canceled.

sorry for my cynicism, but he's screwed you enough that i was skeptical. As a matter of fact, when you said that you were going to wait for him after his class, I thought "Effer will probably cancel class" And I was right! but the letter was in, so I was wrong about that.

Did they think it made you a bad person?

Bad? I don't think so. Unenlightened, unintelligent, gullible, and ignorant. They definitely treated me with less respect after they found out. Like my judgement could no longer be reliable.

"Hey! winter is necessary, but kinda blows! Let's think about happy thoughts, light and community. Also, let's constructively set some shit on fire."

Srsly, I need as much winter fun as possible. And by "winter fun" I occasionally mean "hot buttered bourbon."

Holy Crap, Hil! It's a Chrismahannakwanstice Miracle!

I've joined a church and am now trying to put aside my family's secular approach (it's all about the presents! spending! eating! getting drunk) and approach it as a religious holiday. The fact that I spend Christmas with my family and don't really want to go through the hassle that would be involved in going to church in their area makes it harder.

Toddson, I'm from a non-Christian family too (well, my sister and her family go to church, but not my parents) so I can relate to that. I work really hard to prioritise the religious aspects of the holiday, as the rest doesn't make much sense for me (except seeing family, which is great, but my father regularly goes on vacation at that time of year anyway). This year we're driving to my mother's to get there in the afternoon on Christmas day, so we can get to midnight mass before and I can still get enough sleep to cope with the drive. If I can balance seeing family with religious stuff and ignore the rest, I am a happy bunny.

Oh, well I do have to hear The Pogues doing 'Fairytale of New York'* so I can announce that Christmas has started. Hey, we all have our little traditions.

*Edit: on the radio. On the iPod does not work so well.

Bad? I don't think so. Unenlightened, unintelligent, gullible, and ignorant.

I'm just preoccupied with "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." I've never encountered that as prevalent, although I certainly have encountered individuals with that PoV, just like I've encountered Christians who were sure Gandhi went to hell.

I'm just preoccupied with "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." I've never encountered that as prevalent,

I'd say the first part (myth and supersition) is prevalent. The second part? Less so, IME.

I've encountered Christians who were sure Gandhi went to hell.

Oh? You've met my family?

You may consider prayer, the idea of Christ as God, and the Holy Spirit to be "magical," but the people who believe in them do not consider them to be "magic," and to suggest that is just as disrespectful as Christians expecting atheists to get on board with the godhood of Christ.

So (and I ask this as a person who was raised by atheists, and is thus somewhat sympathetic to their position), do you wish the atheists around you to lie about their world view? Because that's what it sounds like. To my parents, prayer and divinity are magical thinking, unsupported by evidence and science.