I’m An Atheist — Here’s Why I Still Love Christmas With My Catholic Family

[rug]

You have a choice to hold on to the things that matter to you.

by Katherine Speller 6h ago

Around Christmas every year I always find myself thinking the same thought: This used to mean something to me.

I used to be Catholic. I haven’t been for a few years now. It’s not something I really think about 11 out of 12 months a year; I’m not itching to turn back to religion by any means, and I’m not sure I could go back if I tried.

My dad is a convert. I remember his trek through the sacraments — baptism through confirmation — better than I remember my own. He likes to recite the Memorare and keeps the text of that prayer close pretty much all the time. It helped him quit drinking, it helped him find his center and cope with the hardest parts of his life. To him, it made him better.

To me, it felt like a story I just wasn’t really a part of. I don’t remember when it all changed — when I stopped capital-B Believing in God, in the prayers and the mythos. I was never crazy about the structure of organized religion. I just know that I slowly, steadily became more comfortable with the idea of chaos in the universe, of being one of billions of little mistakes fumbling around out there. One day, that felt more like the truth.

http://www.mtv.com/news/2690877/im-an-atheist-i-still-love-christmas-with-my-catholic-family/

[Dawson Leery]

1. Christmas, YES! That EVIL Church, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rug]

2. Sounds like Jack Chick.

[Dawson Leery]

3. My whole family left the church.

[rug]

4. I hope it wasn't painful.

I'm sure the had their reasons but reflexive anti-Catholicism really is no better than Jack Chick. Abusive is one thing, "evil' is another.

[Dawson Leery]

6. It was a relief to be free

of such a putrid organization that has caused the death and suffering of millions since 323 AD.
The church authorized multiple genocides in Central/South America. Christ would never had allowed this to happen.

[rug]

11. "Christ would never had allowed this to happen."

Do you now have religious beliefs other than Catholic?

[xfundy]

7. They never put chocolate chips, walnuts, or even raisins in those cookies.

And Chick tracts, which I saw a TON of in my youth, always portrayed opponents as ugly and needing a shave, unless they were aimed at demonizing bearded gays who also sported 1970s ladies' upswung hairstyles or Joan Crawford classics, in an eerie premonition to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.



edit to include the Sisters.

[Goblinmonger]

5. Don't worry about it

There are only a couple on this board so low as to compare you to a Jack Chick tract, and this one is the resident Cathosplainer Laureate. The lengths that some go to to protect the RCC from any criticism is often mind boggling.

[rug]

9. What's the matter, monger, unable to make a direct insult?

If you weren't being dishonest, again, you'd know comparing a broad brush against an entire religion is hardly calling a poster a Jack chick tract. But you do know it and said it anyway.

Shall I take every statement you make about the Catholic Church as a statement about me? Just let me know.

While we're on the topic, why don't you just explain what a "Cathosplainer Laureate" is? Go on.

Since you already called me "low", don't bother explaining that one. It's patent.

[Dawson Leery]

8. Here is the evil Roman Church working with the Polish government

to curtail women's rights and the rights of LGBTs.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113314997

[rug]

10. That's not evil, that's regressive poklitics.

Do you appreciate the difference?

[beam me up scottie]

12. Some people care more about defending their precious church

than the people who are harmed by it.

[rug]

13. And others make it a mission to broadbrush entire religions, inaccurately or not.