You said, "I think there is real, quantifiable, scientifically provable value in being raised with religion and ritual." I was trying to point out that those studies that religious people often refer to to prove these things are often very flawed. There are also studies that show benefits in being secular as well.
I do get what you are saying, and I too have trouble getting into the UU church. I mean, what's the point, you know? I'm trying to do it for my kids, to give them some kind of community, but it doesn't do much for me. I think your post just got me in defensive mode because it sounded like a lot of the Christian apologetics, like "our kids are more well behaved" and "our kids know the true meaning of Christmas" etc. I was also raised from birth in a religion that was not touchy feely, but works based. Faith = works, not a good feeling about god and the universe, so my relationship with religion was very different. Community is the hardest thing to replace when you leave religion. There is community opportunities available though, which is what I was trying point out, but you are right that you aren't going to get the same feeling from joining them. I don't miss religion at all, it was not a good thing for me or my life and I didn't experience it at all the way you did. But I do see your point and I didn't mean to get so argumentative sounding.
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Date: 2013-12-11 04:03 pm (UTC)I do get what you are saying, and I too have trouble getting into the UU church. I mean, what's the point, you know? I'm trying to do it for my kids, to give them some kind of community, but it doesn't do much for me. I think your post just got me in defensive mode because it sounded like a lot of the Christian apologetics, like "our kids are more well behaved" and "our kids know the true meaning of Christmas" etc. I was also raised from birth in a religion that was not touchy feely, but works based. Faith = works, not a good feeling about god and the universe, so my relationship with religion was very different. Community is the hardest thing to replace when you leave religion. There is community opportunities available though, which is what I was trying point out, but you are right that you aren't going to get the same feeling from joining them. I don't miss religion at all, it was not a good thing for me or my life and I didn't experience it at all the way you did. But I do see your point and I didn't mean to get so argumentative sounding.