For the Atheist... Do you find religion interesting?

Question

I am an Atheist but I still go to church services for many different religions. I like to look at their buildings and wonderful art and their services are pretty cool to see chanting and all that good stuff. Except I hate fundamentalist churches they are a bore. But not for a moment do I belive in god... Any of you this way?

Answer 1

Not so much, but I find religious people and views interesting.

I'm interested in science *way* more than religion.

Answer 2

Yes, I find it intensely interesting, even though I don't believe a word of it. The ones that haunt me the most are chapels, whether for weddings or a cemetery. The ornate crosses, stained glass windows, wooden pews-I like looking at art of any kind, whether it's religious or not. Catholic and small Baptist churches are the ones I like to look at. Catholics take a lot of pride in making their churches a work of art, while small Baptist churches like my grandmother's give theirs a homelike feel, where maybe someone like myself wouldn't mind sitting for a couple of hours, even though I don't believe in it. I still buy my grandmother jewelry with crosses that I feel are pretty and delicate. The cross is a fairly universal symbol anyways, not just for Christianity. Alter the position and lengths of the poles, and you can have several different crosses, all belonging to a different form of religion.

My sister is Wiccan, and I also like reading through her books, looking at the crystals she collects (although the spells used with them are a little laughable), wands, many nature items, etc.

The way I feel about it is that I can be atheist and still admire good art and architecture, whether it's religious or not.

Answer 3

Religion is very interesting. Being a believer or a non believer is basically the same. R&S is my favorite section here in YA. I like religious buildings especially the Gothic and Modern, in fact the Modern architecture is based on the open spaces and search of light of the Medieval churches.

Answer 4

a similar reason a lot of human beings have an interest interior the way that psychotics and murderers think of. that's a psychological sickness to have faith in something as outrageous as a guy interior the sky controlling each and everything. i hit upon it desirable that merely because of the fact an excellent form of the international believes it, they're all nonetheless loopy on the top of the day.

Answer 5

Absolutely. And some of the best music ever written is religious music --- all the organ preludes and postludes by Bach, (I sculpt to them in my studio) Verdi's Requiem Mass, Mozart's Requiem Mass, Bach's B minor Mass. etc. But like you, can't get past the fairy tales, sky daddies, and the fatherless man for whom we have named a religion, I so go anyway to listen to the music. Italy has lovely churches, Venice is a feast for the eyes, and the best painting on the planet is by Caravaggio, "The Crucifixion of St. Peter", which hangs in Rome, held hostage by the catholic church. (look it up. In reality, it is perfect, even the foot that faces you --- that has a dirty soul and heel, but blood seems to flow in the arch of the instep. and it is humorous too --- this is an "In Your Face " painting, painted just for that spot in that church....The most commanding part is some guy's butt in your face!!! It's great, a joke, I think , on the Catholic church, and yet, Caravaggio managed to bring off the horror of the event perfectly....)

It is in Santa Maria de Popolo, I think...In that alcove is another Caravaggio, and a Carrachi, too.....You already know that it was the church that patronized most all of those painters in the Renaissance..... Caravaggio painted no more than 40 paintings --- he didn't have a huge workshop like Leonardo had with many workers -- just himself. Read about his life. One miserable human being, dead in his 30's, but the guy did learn to paint. Interestingly, there is a rock in that painting, that it is obvious that the pope wanted it there.... But it is just grudgingly sketched in. Caravaggio really didn't want it in the painting. If you ever get to Rome, hunt it down.
It will be one of the best art experiences you will ever have. And get a book on Caravaggio... hugely interesting guy.

Answer 6

No, I used to go to church with friends just to hang out with them. They are fundamentalists and I ran into some scary people and have distanced myself since then. The buildings here make me pretty sick, since it's obvious it's a money scheme. They are not even artistic anyways just very massive bricked wastes of space.

Answer 7

I'm interested in religion but I don't attend services. But when I visited Europe I did visit many very beautiful churches.

Answer 8

Yes. It's because of my broad exposure religion that I became atheist. I'm not atheist because "I hate religion," but because I really have no use for it. It's interesting to read religious texts, like the Bible, Koran, some of the Vedas, the Analects, etc., because they do offer wisdom. I just don't buy the supernatural aspects of it all.

Answer 9

I agree with you about Fundamentalist churches.

My interest in religion is mostly the same as my interest in archeology, history and culture.

I would love to visit a Buddhist Temple, but I wouldn't settle for one in America. Japan would be the best, or South Korea.

Answer 10

I don't attend services but I find religion very interesting, including books, movies, documentaries and music. I've been an atheist for over 30 years but that hasn't interfered with my enjoyment of these things one bit.

Answer 11

I find it somewhat interested. I'm fascinated by how many people are religious, and how they could believe things so unlikely. But I don't go to churches or temples or anything. Sometimes I watch church television programs and CBN and stare at the screen in disgust, but that's it.