Is it normal to feel creeped out at church (as an atheist)?

88% Normal
29 Comments

There are times when it is necessary for me to go to church like: funerals. . . except for my childhood thats about it actually. When I've been to church there's one guy in the front preaching and every so often everyone in the church says thing simultaneously like, "amen" or some prayer I don't know. People stand, sit, and kneel at the same time.

I've seen recording of cults on t.v. networks like National Geographic. I honestly cannot see the difference. Whenever I've been obligated to go to church as an adult I pray to the FSM--kidding-- that no one I know alludes to my non-belief.

In the real world theists don't scare me but when they're organized like that it's a bit unnerving. IIN?

Voting Results
88% Normal
Based on 78 votes (69 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 29 )
  • Maya05
    11 years ago

    I agree, being around a group oof people all praying and worshiping their god really makes me feel uneasy. I don't care if they want to worship a god(s) or how they want to worship him/her/it but I just really don't like being around when they do.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    3
    3
  • NeuroNeptunian
    11 years ago

    It's a combination of habit and socialization. If you've ever been to a concert and seen the way the crowd seems to almost intuitively react to the band on stage and the synchronization of the band and the crowd, then you know what it's like.

    It took me a while to synchronize but it's really not as complex as it looks. It's like the way I, as a security guard, fall into the routines of the sites that I work at. Over time it becomes second nature.

    I'm not a life long church goer, but I have gone to church enough to get in sync with the congregation but I'm generally placed into your position when I go to a different denomination of church (Catholic or Presbyterian).

    When it comes to the matter of cultism, I can't say much. By the definition of it, all religion and even many political movements and hobbies would be labeled as a cult, cult followings or cultisms. By definition, a staunch atheist who is passionate about atheism could be considered a cultist. I'm a member of the LDS church, and I'm also a cult follower of Star Trek, I even attended a convention dressed as a Starfleet officer last week and if you heard the way my fellow fans and I spoke to each other, you'd definitely consider me a cult Trekkie. I don't find the term offensive in either case.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    3
    3
      -
    • SuperBenzid
      11 years ago

      I agree with your comment mostly though I think in the case of the Atheist to be a cultist he has to be in a group of Atheists. Since cult implies a group of people.

      Someone could still be an extremist on their own but they can't really form a cult without other people.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
        -
      • NeuroNeptunian
        11 years ago

        Atheism is a belief. There are large groups of people who believe in atheism. Cultism, by definition, is a substatial devotion to a belief or body of beliefs. It can be by a large number of people or one person devoting themselves to a belief in a cult-like fashion.

        One staunch, dedicated atheist would not be alone. Not communicating with other similarly devoted atheists doesn't mean they're alone. By the very definition, They are cult atheists. They have strong devotion to atheism. Atheism is the object/philosophy of their devotion.

        You're making the mistake of thinking of only the popular definition of a cult. I am talking about the whole definition and cultism in general. Similar to the cult following of Star Trek. Most people think of cults as an organized group whereas that need not be so. I'm not in an organized group of Trekkies, however, I am a cult Star Trek fan. See profile pic for more details ;)

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
          -
        • SuperBenzid
          11 years ago

          Atheism is a lack of belief in deities. Just as people do not believe in unicorns. There is really no difference between the two. It is the opposite of belief.

          Just as you do not believe in the God of Thor and are an atheist in regards to him. I bet you have very little belief in Thor and it is in fact very important to your beliefs that he does not exist, so are you a cult Atheist in regards to Thor? What about Dionysus, Pan, Odin, Ganish, etc? By your definition it seems you are part of a "cult Atheism" in regards to hundreds of Gods.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          0
          0
            -
          • NeuroNeptunian
            11 years ago

            I'm sorry. I had no idea what atheism was. I'm kidding. Don't insult me.

            And I am not a cult lack of belief in Thor because I have no devotion to that belief. Unlike the writer of the God Delusion, who was a cult atheist as he was devoted to the cause of atheism, I will not write a book about my lack of belief in Thor and my dedication to believing that Thor doesn't exist like this man wrote with dedication for his belief that NO god exists. I think that's called atheism.

            But seriously. Atheism is a belief. It's not apathy for staunch atheists such as Richard Dawkins and Brent Spiner, atheism is a rejection of religion and theism. They are staunch atheists. They are devoted to the cause of the obsolescence of religion. Cultism is about devotion and I'm starting to think that either you're seeing this word in a derogatory sense, you lack access to a dictionary or you can't see past the popular definition of the word itself.

            cult (kʌlt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]

            — n
            1. a specific system of religious worship, esp with reference to its rites and deity
            2. a sect devoted to such a system
            3. a quasi-religious organization using devious psychological techniques to gain and control adherents
            4. sociol a group having an exclusive ideology and ritual practices centred on sacred symbols, esp one characterized by lack of organizational structure

            >>>>>>>>>>5. intense interest in and devotion to a person, idea, or activity: the cult of yoga<<<<<<<<<<<

            >>>>>>>>>>6. the person, idea, etc, arousing such devotion<<<<<<<<<<

            >>>>>>>>>>7. a. something regarded as fashionable or significant by a particular group<<<<<<<<<<
            b. ( as modifier ): a cult show
            8. ( modifier ) of, relating to, or characteristic of a cult or cults: a cult figure

            ATHEISM IS AN IDEA AND IT ALSO REGARDED AS SIGNIFICANT TO MANY.

            Look it up, read the God Delusion and the works of Dawkins and Sagan and tell me that for those men, atheism is as simple as you think it is. They are cult atheists. Unlike regular atheists, who simply lack belief in a God or Gods, these men are dedicated to the cause of the obsolescence of religion. They are DEVOTED TO ATHEISM. You need to see past the popular usage of the word and look it up in a dictionary.

            I really don't know how else to explain this to you. I gave you a dictionary definition and even that won't be enough for you. I think I've explained it as far as I can give a shit.

            Comment Hidden ( show )
            0
            0
  • CptBallbag
    11 years ago

    People following a doctrine en masse is at its best creepy and at its worst terrifying. It's a hive mind.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    3
    3
  • Avant-Garde
    9 years ago

    Church used to scare me and so did Christians. This was especially so when I was trying to find my religious/spiritual identity.

    I've been practising Buddhism and now the idea of a church doesn't particularly bother me anymore nor do the people. But with the people, actually with most people, I get very cautious if I find out about the difference in beliefs. I don't enjoy talking religion with others because, it is difficult to know how a person will react when they find out that your beliefs differ from their own. Misconceptions exist so, this could worsen reactions. I guess by that token, you could say that they can be scary and sometimes even creepy in how they may choose to represent their beliefs.

    I apologise if I have gone on a tangent here. I am very sleep deprived and I can't seem to get tired enough to activate sleep.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • seankessinger
    11 years ago

    Yeah I'v been bouncing around on religion lately, but I'm settling on Agnostic for now until I can figure things out.
    A lot of times when I go to church and they do rituals it can feel a little weird for me because I read the bible and get confused with all the plot holes and logical fallacies. Just keep in min that most christians probably consider church to be like the daily commute.(only weekly). They get up, get dressed, grab something at McDonalds, stand, sit, neal, say the same general thing "We believe in one God ..holy spirit...Amen."etc... and then grab some food during "coffee hour."(Basically free brownies and coffee at 11:30 in the morning.) Church also serves a sort of social get together.

    Anyone else find it interesting how churches are filled with mostly old people? I guess they don't have much to lose by spending a couple Sundays in church for a shot at eternal paradise...Religion reminds me of a gamble. You bet every sunday morning, along with time and energy it takes to pray that there is a God and a Heaven you get to go to. If no God or heaven exists, you lost by wasting your sunday mornings, and praying...

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    To feel creeped out at church means that part of you doubts Atheism, otherwise you'd feel nothing, the experience would just be a big nothing to you.

    Fear is doubt.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • SuperBenzid
      11 years ago

      I'm an Atheist and I have been creeped out by an Atheist group before because they were demonstrating cult-like behavior (though mostly around issues unrelated to Atheism). I don't think it has anything to do with doubt and more to do with an aversion to "group think".

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      1
      1
        -
      • [Old Memory]
        11 years ago

        Atheist groups, back in the day (about five years ago before the word became a cool pop culture reference for faggot-ass fuck-tards to feel special about being a part of. Much like everyone suddenly calling each other "bro") they were mostly just people who said "oh I don't believe in a god".

        And both are silly anyway, one should know that we can't prove anything with certainty as we don't know "everything" in order to calculate all the variables needed for a conclusive answer.

        Agnostic or GTFO.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        2
        2
          -
        • wigsplitz
          11 years ago

          5 years ago? lol. Holy shit, seriously?

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          0
          0
            -
          • [Old Memory]
            11 years ago

            Yes.....

            for serious...

            cock...

            Comment Hidden ( show )
            0
            0
              -
            • wigsplitz
              11 years ago

              A whole 5 years ago this would've been relevant. Get with the times, man.

              Comment Hidden ( show )
              0
              0
        • SuperBenzid
          11 years ago

          You don't need to be certain to not believe in something. I don't believe in unicorns but I haven't checked every horse on earth to make sure that they are in fact not a unicorn. I don't believe in fire breathing dragons but I haven't checked every cave on earth to make sure it does not contain a dragon.

          I don't believe in something until I see evidence that supports a claim that out weighs the evidence against it. To me that is common sense.

          I take it you are agnostic on dragons, unicorns, etc. That seems a strange way to live.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          0
          0
            -
          • [Old Memory]
            11 years ago

            Really, well I don't believe in or not believe in things I haven't seen, I just "don't know for sure" as that is the most logical way of thinking about it.

            It's doesn't effect me at all in life as simply "not knowing" is very little in difference to "not believing".

            It's basically not putting total faith in anything, being prepared for the unexpected. If god shows up one day the atheists will all piss in their pants and I won't, that's the difference. And if he doesn't, that's also fine because I'm prepared for that too.

            Being on both sides of the fence gives you the best view of the field so to speak.

            Comment Hidden ( show )
            0
            0
              -
            • SuperBenzid
              11 years ago

              I wouldn't piss my pants. I would just start believing, if there was evidence for a God. A lack of belief doesn't imply certainty, it implies that you have not been satisfied with the evidence presented.

              The vast majority of Atheists don't have total faith that no Gods exist, they simply are not satisfied with evidence that theists present for their claims.

              For example: I don't believe that my best friend is a murderer but if I was presented with enough evidence that they were then I would believe it. I'm not absolutely certain that they are not one but I have never seen or heard of anything that would make me think that they are.

              Comment Hidden ( show )
              1
              1
    • AppleMind
      11 years ago

      My fear is, "this is a cult, I dont want to be in 'Red State,'"(slightly over-dramatic)

      There always has to be a small amount of doubt in something that is not provable otherwise I am no different from theist zealots.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      1
      1
        -
      • [Old Memory]
        11 years ago

        I was one of the people that thought the movie was really good. The end with the trumpet blasts was fucking cool as hell, go Kevin.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
  • emi101
    11 years ago

    I think it's creepy too. But not all religions are like that. It's mostly Catholics and Lutherns and that stuff. But I went to an evangelical free church and they didn't do any of the kneeling and stuff!! It was good(:

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • Dot123
    11 years ago

    That's pretty common for an atheist. I myself is non religious but I'm believer in the ancient astronaut theory. What I would do is just try not to go to church.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • robbieforgotpw
      10 years ago

      I is non religious?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
  • Steve92
    11 years ago

    I remember going to a vacation on Malaysia two years back with my friends. One of my friend was a Buddhist and a Malaysian decedent. He made us go to a Buddhist temple and it was the creepiest place I ever visited with that horrible statue the memory of which still creeps me out! Worse were the Monks, they were the creepiest people I ever met!!!!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • Avant-Garde
      9 years ago

      Was the statue of Buddha being emaciated?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
  • Wendell
    11 years ago

    The difference is choice

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • AppleMind
      11 years ago

      how so?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0