Seems to me if I wanted to join a club for community and other social reasons, I’d join the Rotary Club. Joining a religion when you don’t believe its foundational tenets is like joining a knitting group when you have no interest in knitting.
Profession of belief is a basic condition of membership. Religions claim to be instructors in morality. I wonder how many people don’t really believe, but participate for the social things. Is that not fundamentally dishonest? For one’s foundational act of joining a group focused on religious belief and morality to be based on a lie?
I know there are many secular Jews, who attend temple and go though some of the motions, but don't really believe. I think it safe to assume that at least some Christian churchgoers aren't particularly devout, but go because that's what their family and friends do.
Seems to me if I wanted to join a club for community and other social reasons, I’d join the Rotary Club. Joining a religion when you don’t believe its foundational tenets is like joining a knitting group when you have no interest in knitting.
Profession of belief is a basic condition of membership. Religions claim to be instructors in morality. I wonder how many people don’t really believe, but participate for the social things. Is that not fundamentally dishonest? For one’s foundational act of joining a group focused on religious belief and morality to be based on a lie?
It’s very odd to me.
I know there are many secular Jews, who attend temple and go though some of the motions, but don't really believe. I think it safe to assume that at least some Christian churchgoers aren't particularly devout, but go because that's what their family and friends do.
100%. But I’ll never understand it.