Does anybody else here think that your atheism/agnosticism is actually a pretty uninteresting part of yourself? Not a particularly interesting topic and a bizarre thing to build an identity around.
Personally I find my former agnosticism of 20 years fairly uninteresting, and those who were raised atheist less interesting. My atheism/anti-theism I feel differently about. To arrive there, doubt and ignorance were only the starting points. They required the acquisition of a great deal of knowledge to overcome the way I was raised which while not highly religious, was still fairly religious. Enough to go through the process of Confirmation, and then shortly thereafter, say I'm not convinced. All of that research and knowledge has deepened my skepticism, humanism, knowledge of history and science, political awareness, and ethic/moral outlook. And I have not yet grown tired of hearing deconversion stories either.
Everyone's experience is different. For me, it in itself is uninteresting; I have several other things that make me interesting. How I got to this point however, isn't. Does it define who I am? No. But what I've been through to get to this point of understanding has defined certain aspects of my personality, my behaviours, my answers to certain questions, my empathy, the point at which I draw the line, and even my harshness against the actions/words of others. I look forward to a day when the lack of belief in something doesn't need to come with so much pain for so many.
Sure is. People need to stop acting like they're ideologies. They're both just answers to two different questions.
Don't build my identity around it, just in this case, my dating identify. An attempt to narrow the dating field. Religion/god is still the opiate of most of the masses and is often a dating deal breaker. I would like to avoid dating those that expect me to have a personal relationship with with my savior.
I’m not sure anything is interesting about me anymore. Being atheist is still being part of a minority group and others find it curious. “Aren’t you afraid of burning in Heck?” Maybe not the best ice breaker at parties. Where I do like identifying this way is exactly why this site exists, to meet other likeminded people. It might be uninteresting but it’s important to me.
It's not how I define myself to myself but I have to constantly define myself to others in that way when they things like 'say a wee prayer for me'. Ireland is religious in the extreme , but in a gentle way not puritanical. Though that is changing rapidily due to Ireland being a fairly young country population wise. Over a year ago I was close to weeping when young irish people from all over the world came home specifically to take part in a vote approving same sex marriage. I have great faith in our country's youth. (Unfortunately Northern Ireland appears less liberated but that is due to political dinosaurs resisting the will of the people, so not a true reflection.) But to get back on point, my atheism is not something I consider on a day to day basis and is pretty irrelevant really (though no doubt on a deeper subconscious level it affects my decision making).
I just can't be assed with religious bullshit
Yes, I sure do. There are other titles etc that I could loosely identify with that would be far more interesting than me being agnostic/atheist. Interesting thought there.
Ya I don't even really tell ppl I'm atheist unless they ask or the topic is brought up. Not from shame or anything, just that it's not that important to who I am as a person.
I think if everyone on the planet were an Athiest...well..it wouldn't be "a thing" but because we are sometimes persecuted in some countries, pariahs in others..and dismissed and isolated in some communities..I suppose it's no bad thing to network and share experiences and ideas..and feel most importantly than even for a while you are transported to a cyber world populated by an eclectic populace who rarely judge you by religious or moral standards..and if anything are closer to you, no matter where in the world you are.....than your neighbour.
As a psychologist I find that theism is the ultimate external locus of evaluation. An abdication of responsibility. Therefore the fundamental need for this psychological crutch defines personality and behaviour pretty globally. Quite important.
Depends on where you came from. I came from a heavily theist family, so my rejection of their beliefs does define me, in a way. At least to myself. It may indeed be uninteresting to some people.
Not the necessarily the athiest part, but the things I believe in instead. I am fascinated by the complicated relationships and cycles that make our world and bodies work and the huge amounts of time and space that has been involved. I find it far more fascinating and awe inspiring than anything any religion has to offer.
Totally depends on context.
I don't get twisted up over whatever way anyone else choses to form their identity--just as I wouldn't want anyone to get twisted up over how I form mine.*
In fact, if you defined me by what I don’t believe in, that would be a long list. “I don’t believe in ghosts,” “I don’t believe in Santa Clause.” “I don’t believe I can fly—I don’t believe I can touch the sky.” “I don’t believe I’m the sharpest tool in the shed (though in my defense, I am IN the shed).” “I don’t believe I’ll have another one...” OH! Wait a minute. Of COURSE I’m going to have another one.
A lot of religious people build their identity around their beliefs. (and I don't just mean a minister, nun, imam or the Pope... )
My atheism (once agnosticism) never used to be a large part of my identity, and it is certainly only a part of who I am, but it seems to be gaining more and more importance.
It still doesn't dominate my interactions with others, but it seeps in more and more.
I don’t build my identity around not believing in religion, I build around reason, reagsaminatiom and revision... it evolves!
I don't know anyone who builds their identity around their atheism/agnosticism. So what if anyone does? They're allowed to develop their own identity.
Whether that aspect of anyone's life is "particularly interesting", or "bizarre", is wholly subjective.
More to the point, I find it rather curious that you seem to be making value judgments about other people's identities while posting on a site called 'agnostic.com'.
The purpose of the site is for atheists and agnostics to talk about that aspect of their lives with
like-minded individuals, among other things.
Bizarre can be a good thing. I suppose it’s more a judgment on broader society. Not believing Santa doesn’t make you an asantaist, not believing in the tooth fairy doesn’t make you an afairyist. Yet somehow not believing in gods makes you an atheist.
Yes. The fact that I’m an atheist is boring as all get out and not something I think of as far as my identity.
Further, if I were to become religious tomorrow, I would basically be the same person.