I'm a Catholic atheist.

[Seth]

Maybe Seth has a problem with the atheist religion (=evolution) being taught in public schools?

No, but I do have a problem with schools considering Atheism to be "common ground" that can be taught as propaganda to students to the detriment of their own religious beliefs.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

I'm a Diagnostic. - I'm sure there's definitely something up with me but I don't know what it is.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I'm a Diagnostic. - I'm sure there's definitely something up with me but I don't know what it is.

The Word is the DSM and the DSM is the Word.

[Jonesboy]

Listen squirt. YOu are with the mEN now. So, if you don' wanna get burnt, make some apology and try again.

[hadespussercats]

All righty.

I started Congregational (the Church of the Pilgrims!), but we stopped going to church when Mom stopped being a Sunday School teacher. But Mom was raised Quaker, and indicated to the government that her children would be raised as such, so if she'd had sons we could avoid the draft. I don't know if she just couldn't find a meeting near us, or what, but Congo it was. Until she quit (again, not sure why. I do know her idea of Sunday School was showing "Rikki Tikki Tavi" and "The Jungle Book" on the little screen in the church basement.)

Her father had been Catholic, and he and my grandmother were denounced by name by the priest of the local parish, for having an interfaith marriage. He said their marriage wasn't recognized by God and that all children issuing from it were bastards. So I guess the Catholic Church considers me a bastard, too? Not sure how that works out.

Anyway, they decided to split the difference and become Presbyterians-- except sometimes my mom's aunt would haul her off to mass to try to save her soul, and Mom went to Quaker meeting in the summers, and then full time, after her mom died and her grandmother started raising her.

My dad was a mix, too-- went to Episcopal Mass every day and twice on Sundays when he was in school. He believes in God, but doesn't go to church except for weddings and funerals. He has often talked about a deep respect for Judaism, too-- might have converted if it weren't a faith you're born into.

So, Congregational, then nothing, then my sister and I went to Baptist Church with family friends, but not our parents. I was baptized American Baptist at 11, and was conscious at the time of the ceremony of feeling like a big fraud-- I did believe in God at that point, but everything else was.... I had a lot of reservations about the Bible and organized religion.

High school, I went to Lutheran Church with a friend-- taught vacation bible school, went on youth group trips. A 36-year-old Youth Group instructor was schtupping my best friend. The whole situation was pretty fucked up. My feelings for organized religion continued to fall.

College, still believed in God, no longer considered myself Christian, began reading up on world religions, getting into Buddhism, Wicca, and other stuff, but never enough to apply a new label to myself.

Grad school, finally came to terms with the notion that God as a personal entity doesn't make any sense. By the time J and I got married, I had come out to my family as an atheist (very little drama-- but they don't get it. Or respect it.) But we got married at that Congregational Church anyway-- made a nice circle, even if it didn't mean what the Reverend thought it should.

Yeah. So, short version: Protestant (Assorted) Atheist