An agnostic in church, synagogue, or mosque.

[metis]

If you are a member of a church, synagogue, or mosque, and you found out that a particular active member is an agnostic or non-theist, would this bother you if the person was quite open about their non-belief?

[GlorytoGod]

not at all.

[wwwdlhow27]

Everyone is seeking in his or her own way. To cross or share a path is why we're here in the first (or second) place. To see God in every encounter brings us closer to our Oneness.

[sendy47]

it would not bother me at all...I dont go to church...well my idea of church is life...everday all day...

[Ceetee]

nope, wouldn't bother me at all.

I'd be kinda curious as to why the person was there- but not curious enough to ask

[RevKathyV]

It would be wonderful. In my ministry everyone is welcome and I would hope everyone would find a little peace there in what ever way they can according to any belief they have.;)

[metis]

Thanks for your responses. I had asked this question because I went through this process a while back when I talked to my rabbi about the non-theistic position that I had found myself in that developed over several years. He rest assurred me that there was no problem as far as he was concerned. He then asked if I was really hiding this from others, and I said that I wasn't but I was not exactly broadcasting it either. He read into that (correctly I might add) that I was still being rather reluctant to talk about it, and he then told me that it would be a mistake for me to a "closet non-theist" in his opinion.

Needless to say, I very much appreciated his opinion, and he was right in that I found there were some others who had a similar non-theistic approach that I did.

So, see, an old dog can still learn some new tricks-- we're just a bit slower.

[Chaitanyananda]

That's an interesting question. Thanks for asking, and also for sharing your experience. At our Temple, I occasionally see people who are there out of curiosity. It's a little different in that our worship is personal, not congregational, so there are people doing all sorts of things individually (yes, it can get quite loud!), but that makes it easy for someone to walk in and just have a a look around at the worshipers and the architecture and the deities. They are usually just ignored, although you can see them being watched from the corner of people's eyes. I have never seen a visitor be disrespectful, and the curiosity seekers are welcomed, even if if not openly. We do not proselytize (some of us are specifically prohibited from it, but it is just generally not done, sort of an unwritten rule), so visitors are rarely approached and if they want information, they will have to ask someone. As to lectures and classes, there is a wide diversity of people in attendance, a few of which are outspokenly agnostic. It is no problem.

[metis]

Originally Posted by Chaitanyananda

That's an interesting question. Thanks for asking, and also for sharing your experience. At our Temple, I occasionally see people who are there out of curiosity. It's a little different in that our worship is personal, not congregational, so there are people doing all sorts of things individually (yes, it can get quite loud!), but that makes it easy for someone to walk in and just have a a look around at the worshipers and the architecture and the deities. They are usually just ignored, although you can see them being watched from the corner of people's eyes. I have never seen a visitor be disrespectful, and the curiosity seekers are welcomed, even if if not openly. We do not proselytize (some of us are specifically prohibited from it, but it is just generally not done, sort of an unwritten rule), so visitors are rarely approached and if they want information, they will have to ask someone. As to lectures and classes, there is a wide diversity of people in attendance, a few of which are outspokenly agnostic. It is no problem.

As I mentioned on another thread, I have seen this in action at a Hindu temple near my home downstate.

BTW, like the people in your temple, Jews generally do not proselytize other religions either since doing so implies that I'm right/you're wrong in an area whereas we all skate on rather thin ice. On top of that, if I attempt to tear you away from your religion to join mine, isn't there the danger that I may destroy your faith entirely?

Let me also just add that, as I mentioned before, Jews can question the existance of God and still be active at synagogue, but also there are many Jews who tend to drift in the direction of pantheism, which is very compatible with most schools of Hinduism. Two Jews that you probably have heard of that have become increasingly popular in recent decades are Baruch Spinoza and Albert Einstein, and both firmly believed that God is intrinsic in creation and not outside of it. To them, having God outside of creation makes almost no sense whatsoever.

Sometime late in September, I'm going to introduce a thread explaining where Spinoza was coming from in some detail, and I think some people will begin to appreciate the genius of the man. Again, since I'm non-theistic, I don't "believe" Spinioza's beliefs, but I do use his beliefs as a "default" position.

[Amergin]

Originally Posted by metis

If you are a member of a church, synagogue, or mosque, and you found out that a particular active member is an agnostic or non-theist, would this bother you if the person was quite open about their non-belief?

I would consider that the person who lacked a belief in or any evidence of God AND attended a Church, Temple, or Mosque was a hypocrite. I would not respect him but it would be none of my business to gossip against him.

As an Agnostic Non-Theist, I would not enter a Church as a congregation member and pretend to pray. I would only go into a Church if it was on a historical tour, to attend a religious friend's wedding or funeral, or as an invited guest of a church member. I would not pretend to be a believer. If asked about my beliefs would admit my Non-Theism.

However, does it change your mind if the Agnostic is in Church to rethink his unbelief or further examine the beliefs of the congregation for his own sincere inquiry?

Is it hypocritical for a Christian Fundamentalist who believes in Biblical Creationism to attend science lectures in the Natural History Museum or a University Science Department? Discussions would use evolution as the core principle of biology and a fact not theory. Would he/she be a hypocrite if attending science lectures to heckle or ask rubbish questions to embarrass the speaker?

Occasionally Creation Fundamentalists (Islamic or Christian) attend lectures but speak openly about Magical Divine Creation. They claim Bible verses as evidence He would not be a hypocrite if he were sincerely questioning his own shaky myth beliefs by listening to the forbidden knowledge of scientific method.

Suppose he attends a Geology Lecture on Continental Drift, plate tectonics, and magma currents in the mantle. Yet he/she believes in Creationist Geology (i.e. a 6000-year-old flat Earth on four giant pillars, immovable, at the centre of the Universe with the Sun circling the flat Earth.) Suppose his purpose in attending the lecture was to claim that the 4.5 billion year spherical Earth, with tectonic plates propelled by magna currents, moving continents, and causing earthquakes and volcanoes "are only just theories.

He might make a nuisance claim that recording of plate spreading with laser measurements, measurement of markers on rift margins, and radioisotope dating was a hoax like the Apollo Moon landings.

Personally, I do not think churches or Natural History Museums should be upset that people who visit are fierce opponents. The Museum's purpose is to educate the ignorant. The only caveat is that the visitors listen but do not comment, argue, or disrupt lectures with baited questions.

I am sure that the Assemblies of God Cult would not tolerate a person standing up in church to discredit the origins of Christianity, the Virgin Birth, the god-man Jesus, or the myth of the resurrection.

Amergin