"I'm not religious' vs. 'I am an atheist'

[salparadise1000]

So today I was talking to someone at a store that sells used things , there was a sign that said they had gravestones. I said, 'I'm not religious, but buying a used gravestone seems like bad ju-ju. " turns out they were old,but not used. The reason for the post is my choice of words. Why didn't I go ahead and say I was an atheist? It seems like that would be inherently provocative and in this situation I didn't feel the need to do that. Comments?

[ZombieHorde]

1. Saying that you aren't religious is more specific than saying you're an atheist.

There are hard-core New Agers that are atheists, but do believe in "bad ju-ju."

[salparadise1000]

3. its a expression i never use, but

It seemed to convey the right message. I wonder what the origin of the expression is? Did I spell it right, could it be jew-jew? In which case the origin becomes clear.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. You wonder and I got your answer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juju

Juju or Ju-Ju is a word of either West African or French origin[1] used previously by Europeans to describe the traditional West African religion.[2] The term Juju refers to the use of such objects and other things to perform a form of witchcraft

[salparadise1000]

7. does being a zombie conflict at all with being an atheist?

[link:http://www.freewoodpost.com/2012/06/07/florida-governor-plans-to-use-fear-of-zombies-to-suppress-voter-turnout/|

My recent piece of zombie related satire

[ZombieHorde]

8. No, but it does mean wherever I move, my neighbors will soon be brainless.

A delicious curse.

[laconicsax]

9. Not if they wear motorcycle protective gear.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-insane-things-nobody-tells-you-about-riding-motorcycle/

And I can tell you firsthand that it is all just as uncomfortable, constricting and awkward-looking as you'd expect. And that it's also totally badass. Motorcycle protective gear is, by definition, insanely durable. Jackets, pants, bags and damn near every other type of clothing is made out of the toughest fabrics on the planet: Kevlar, Cordura, ballistic nylon -- this is shit that, when layered properly, stops bullets and knives. That's not to mention the thick, padded gauntlets with carbon fiber knuckles meant to withstand crashes at highway speeds and impenetrable leather boots with oil-resistant non-slip soles. And beyond all that, there are pads, inserts and plates hidden all throughout the fabric to protect your major joints and body parts.

For the more nerdily inclined among you, you're probably already getting it: It's not "safety gear," it's fucking armor.

Riding gear is a full suit of armor that is socially acceptable to wear in public. You walk into a Starbucks wearing your period authentic replica half-plate, and at best you're going to get some impolite stares; at worst, you're going to get a news piece with the headline "Police Fell Local Knight With Bear Mace, Mocking Laughter."

...

I have no idea why I didn't know this -- why every motorcycle rider wasn't constantly daring me to hit them (seriously, hit me, guys! It's awesome!) and laughing as my blows rain off of their helmets. I have no idea why zombie movies even exist anymore, because they sell full suits of bite-proof armor in your local auto parts store. The drama would probably be somewhat diminished if every episode of The Walking Dead was just a smugly grinning Rick wading unharmed through the undead horde.

[ZombieHorde]

11. Now you know why zombies throw epic hot tub parties.

People take off their own armor. Though some of the older zombies get a bit soupy in the hot tubs.

[laconicsax]

12. Ew..."soupy"

[Curmudgeoness]

2. There are times

when it really doesn't serve any purpose to announce that you are an atheist. I have made it clear to many people that I am an atheist, but there are other times when I just don't choose to go into details. This is probably one of those times when you didn't want to get into too much discussion over it.

But if you didn't say you were an atheist because you are afraid to announce it, or you have some shame about it, you should think about that. So......why didn't you just say you were an atheist?

You would possibly be surprised at the number of people who would admit to the same once you say it, especially if you say it as a fact instead of a moral comment.

But I agree with you.....buying a used gravestone seems like bad ju-ju. Or at least bad form.

[salparadise1000]

4. no shame...

Here in Seattle people would not have tHought twice about it. Might be because saying it in a situation that doesn't require that level of disclosure can sound sort of self-righteous. Sort of like someone announcing that they are a vegan just because you are walking past a McDonald's.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. I understand. That is what I was expecting you to say.

I do the same thing....there are just times when it seems pretentious more than just a statement of fact. Too much information. Some situations just don't required it.

So...you do know why you said it the way you did.

[Gore1FL]

10. I am trying to figure out if there is such a thing as a used gravestone.

It doesn't seem like a thing one would no longer have the need for. If such a case arose, It would likely have the wrong name and dates.

[laconicsax]

13. The first page of Google results says there aren't.

Can you imagine someone appropriating a gravestone for their own use? What if it were the new kind with pictures?

[salparadise1000]

14. The dead guy never really had a need for the headstone

I am pretty sure he knows he is dead. Personally I like looking around old cemetaries. The old headstones are a little slice of history.

[Warpy]

15. I use the former in social situations where I don't know people well.

My nearest and dearest all know I don't believe a word of it.

[awoke_in_2003]

16. when you live in the bible belt...

and all your co-workers (including bosses) are believers, it is better just to say "I'm not religious"

[JNelson6563]

17. I usually go with "godless heathen", say it with a broad smile!

People often aren't sure what to make of it, is she kidding? Is she serious? They often just smile or nervous-giggle, unless they are fellow heathens of course. In those cases we do the secret handshake, smile knowingly and move on.



Julie

[dmallind]

18. I've used both. Never thought about why before

but on rflection I think I use not religious on generic topics that are tangential to actual belief; ones like yours or if people are talking about, say, religious objections to gay marriage. I use atheist, very openly, in discussions about the beliefs themselves or if people invite me to go to church etc.

[AJTheMan]

19. I avoid religious topics like the plague.

I prefer not to get into it with other people. It's none of their business. Also, I live in Louisiana, where pretty much everyone outside New Orleans is religious.

[daaron]

20. Hm. Situational, I'd say.

I have lately called myself "atheist" because I wanted to avoid discussion of theological topics. In other circumstances, that might've backfired, and I would've wanted to take a different route to achieve the same end: avoiding theology.

[Iggo]

21. "Buying a used gravestone seems like bad juju."

You didn't need to qualify it at all.

[Odin2005]

22. I prefer to say "I'm not religious" in public.

I'm just not the kind of person who likes to cause a public commotion and I think trying to re-educate people about what "Atheist" means is a lost cause.

[Merlot]

23. "not religious" and "atheist" can mean two different things

To me, "not religious" means not subscribing to any organized religion or religious faith and beliefs. But it doesn't disallow any personal beliefs of an esoteric nature.

Atheist seems defined as no belief in an afterlife.

Is there were a word for a person who is anti-organized religion which didn't also describe that persons beliefs?

[Kennah]

24. Sounds like you might be a closeted agnostic ...

... or perhaps you wanted to spare the feelings of others and the phrase "I'm not religious" has a different tone than "I am an atheist".

As an agnostic pantheist, saying "I'm not religious" is perfectly in line with my beliefs, and I would suggest yours as well.

There are probably Christians who say "I'm not religious" and they mean it. For them, the meaning is "I agree with so many things Jesus said, but most organized religious groups suck."

[laconicsax]

25. Just to say...

"Agnostic" isn't a meaningful adjective on its own. When it comes to beliefs, you either believe in one (or more) gods or you don't. (A)gnosticism has to do with knowledge and whether you believe it to be attainable on a given subject.

There's an unfortunate (but common) belief that agnosticism is some sort of fuzzy middle ground between theism and atheism when in reality, it is an answer to a different question.

Most people I've ever met who identified as agnostic didn't believe in any gods but were unwilling (for whatever reason) to identify as atheist.

A simplified version which lumps deism and theism together is that there are four basic categories:

-Gnostic atheist: Don't believe in one or more gods and believes that knowledge of whether those gods exists is ultimately knowable.
-Agnostic atheist: Don't believe in one or more gods and believes that knowledge of whether those gods exists is ultimately unknowable.
-Agnostic theist: Belief in one or more gods and believes that knowledge of whether those gods exists is ultimately unknowable.
-Gnostic theist: Belief in one or more gods and believes that knowledge of whether those gods exists is ultimately knowable.

Most atheists are the agnostic atheist variety (if they're being honest).

[Kennah]

28. Can't disagree with anything you said ...

... but when it comes to faith many people can't hold in their head anything more complex than the terms atheist or agnostic when they encounter someone who is not "religious".

"You don't believe what I believe? Well you go into Box A or Box B. Which is it?"

[laconicsax]

29. Even that can be a bit complex...

"You don't believe what I believe? You go into box B with all the other heretics!"

[GliderGuider]

26. I'd have probably said "I'm not superstitious" instead.

I don't think religion vs. atheism was what was in play in that conversation.

However, regarding your question about self-identifying as an atheist, a lot depends on the local culture. I have no problem saying that here in Canada, but a lot of places in the States I wouldn't go near the topic with a barge pole.

[rexcat]

27. I have decided that I will label myself as someone who dosn't believe in a god or gods...

but I am also not an atheist. There is someone in the Religion forum who thinks one can define themselves anyway they want and that is enough to stop the debate. So please, don't call me an atheist.

Religious beliefs seem to hinder logical thought.

[DrewFlorida]

30. I usually say I don't believe in organized religion.

I haven't decided whether or not I believe in a God of some type, and I don't think I'll ever have enough knowledge to make a decision either way. However I am very clear that I don't believe any of the made up crap which religious organizations profess to know, it seems rather arrogant of humans to pretend to know things they could not possibly know. I do however wonder what source we came from, I generally suppose we came from some energy which evolved ever more complex organisms beginning with bacteria, but where did the bacteria evolve from. I have concluded the knowledge is beyond humans comprehension although I often wonder. I can understand how people feel the need to make things up to explain our existence and purpose, but I have to laugh at the logical thought process which ends with just believing something which is unbelievable.