Atheism

“Don't you think it's weird and culty to pretend shit that isn't real as some kind of necessary social facade?”

Generally no, as it’s all cultural expression and social glue, but can you be more specific? Are you talking about rituals or theological systems?

“Like if we all gathered to talk about the Teapot around Saturn and its father Dexter, would that be just as okay?”

Sure but it would lack the moral power of the contemporary major religions. Saturn and the Greco-Roman pantheon may have motivated empires in past centuries, but today most societies take their inspiration from Abrahamic traditions.

“Especially when people really do believe this nonsense. Even if you don't.”

Belief does matter. I appreciate the concern about organizations whose disordered beliefs lead to miseducation, abuse, and even death.

“Gather and talk about great movies. It will be much more satisfying and may actually encourage moral development.”

This is great! Here you have ritual, community, and engagement with ideas. However, for me, it’s lacking some key elements that an institutional church provides. First, at a church, I am forced to interact with people I wouldn’t ordinarily choose as friends. There is a diversity of ages, races and socioeconomic backgrounds that adds a lot of depth to my social circle and puts me in positions to build relationships based on a common commitment to love our community instead of favorite movies or sports teams. Second, this environment makes a sacrificial demand of me. It challenges me to aspire to a high ethical standard and prompts penitence self when I fail. There are rituals to reinforce this such as community public confession and the rite of holy communion.

I think the debate we are having mirrors that of the puritans and the pilgrims, who disagreed over whether the Church of England was worth saving. The pilgrims left and built their own institutions while the puritans sought to purify the church. I think the church is worth saving from fundamentalism. Religious institutions have powerful infrastructures that are fuels by belief in love of neighbor at best and global conquest at worst. The largest global charity is the Roman Catholic Church. Is that organization full of assholes who should be in prison? Yes. But can I, a non-Catholic go to my local parish and get food and clothes with no questions asked? Yes.

I like my friend group, but I find deep meaning in the rituals and rhythms of the religious community.