Atheistic/Agnostic/Other WTTer? Let's Talk!

babyzoe · Feb 5th, 2013, 10:49 AM

I'm copying Westfall so I hope she doesn't mind. I just thought it was a nice idea and since I'm nowhere close to TTCing I figured why not bring the support group to WTT rather than barging in on their conversations. If you are religious, feel free to post here and there, but please no judgemental or mean posts. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by westfall

Hi ladies,
I got this idea from the Christian TTC thread and hope that no one takes offence, just different beliefs!

I find that I sometimes feel left out as an atheistic leaning agnostic and thought it would be great to have a support thread for those without faith or whose religious beliefs are more personal as opposed to religious. I think we get a little forgotten

So I welcome anyone from the strong atheist to those whose personal spiritual beliefs only really fit into the "other" category. We can chat about the unique issues surrounding TTC or parenting without faith and with questioning faith!

babyzoe · Feb 5th, 2013, 10:53 AM

I'll start the thread off. I'm agnostic, leaning atheist. My husband is more agnostic. We were both raised in Christian backgrounds but decided that wasn't the life for us. We want to raise our kids as agnostics or atheists, but want to make sure they are educated about Christianity, Islam and other major religions.

This is a significant topic in our life as our family and friends come from widely different backgrounds and beliefs and we want our children to be tolerant of all beliefs and pick the one that jives the best with them (although I'd be happiest if they remained agnostic).

babyzoe · Feb 5th, 2013, 18:23 PM

I guess I'm the only one?

toffee87 · Feb 5th, 2013, 18:26 PM

Me

Hubby is as atheist as you can get. I'm agnostic, but more towards atheism.

comotion89 · Feb 5th, 2013, 18:30 PM

I dunno what I am I don't even want to belong to a group (agnostic or atheist ) I'm just open and respectful of others beliefs I'm not religious just live my life based on morals I suppose

Guenhwyvar · Feb 5th, 2013, 18:49 PM

Dh & I fall under the other category with him being a Ase believer. You're right, we do tend to be a bit left out & occasionally down right discriminated upon. I was brought up in a Southern Baptist household but threw life trials I've discovered Christianity was not for me. To this day I have family members who believe fertility treatment to be blasphemous & have outright stated that if (their)God wanted me to have children that I would, so obviously he has found me unworthy.
blah.

staralfur · Feb 5th, 2013, 19:14 PM

I'm an atheist and my OH is agnostic. I wasn't really raised as anything in particular but was encouraged to explore my faith and come to my own conclusions. My mom is agnostic and so I sort of went with that for a while. I had a brief relationship with Christianity and have now been atheist for many years.

I took some religion classes in my first years of university and have done quite a bit of research on my own terms as well. I will say that there is a lot I love about Buddhism from a philosophical perspective but I'm just too non-committal and skeptical to believe in anything past that.

I aim to raise my kids the same way I was raised, which is to not tell them that there's something or nothing, but to tell them what their dad and I believe and hope that they do their own exploring and have their own beliefs. I will support them in whatever they choose!

babyzoe · Feb 5th, 2013, 19:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guenhwyvar

To this day I have family members who believe fertility treatment to be blasphemous & have outright stated that if (their)God wanted me to have children that I would, so obviously he has found me unworthy.
blah.

I'm sorry you've had to hear that. That's a really mean thing to say. You do what you have to do and if fertility treatment is in YOUR plans, than so be it. I hope that you're able to be a mommy soon, regardless of how you get there.

AngieBelle · Feb 5th, 2013, 23:45 PM

I am agnostic leaning towards atheist. It's hard sometimes because I know so many people who are strong in their faith. My whole family is practically atheist, though, so at least I don't clash with them! I'm also of Jewish background and proud of it. I think of Judaism as my heritage rather than my religion. My husband grew up with a lot more of the traditions than I did, and they mean more to him, but if you ask him point blank if he believes in God, he says he doesn't know- so in essence in the same boat as me. He does want to raise our children with Jewish traditions though- at least through a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

babyzoe · Feb 6th, 2013, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staralfur

I took some religion classes in my first years of university and have done quite a bit of research on my own terms as well. I will say that there is a lot I love about Buddhism from a philosophical perspective but I'm just too non-committal and skeptical to believe in anything past that.

I feel the same way. LOL. I tried to explore other religions but it really just came down to, I didn't want to commit to that much time every day or week. (well..that and other things).

@Angiebelle. That's great that you have a family with similar beliefs. It's great to know you can speak freely without offending anyone.

I had the same thing at first. Almost every person in my immediate family (including in-laws) had been raised in religious households and then turned away from it when they got older. Unfortunately for me, my SIL and MIL just joined the church again and have "found God". I'm afraid because I feel it's always the born again people that do the craziest things, as if they have to go above and beyond to make up for their previous sins. IDK, no judgement, just my observation

Feb 5th, 2013, 10:53 AM	#2
babyzoe Waiting To Try (WTT) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 396	I'll start the thread off. I'm agnostic, leaning atheist. My husband is more agnostic. We were both raised in Christian backgrounds but decided that wasn't the life for us. We want to raise our kids as agnostics or atheists, but want to make sure they are educated about Christianity, Islam and other major religions. This is a significant topic in our life as our family and friends come from widely different backgrounds and beliefs and we want our children to be tolerant of all beliefs and pick the one that jives the best with them (although I'd be happiest if they remained agnostic).

Status: Offline

Feb 5th, 2013, 18:23 PM	#3
babyzoe Waiting To Try (WTT) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 396	I guess I'm the only one?

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Feb 5th, 2013, 18:26 PM	#4
toffee87 Trying to conceive (TTC) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 2,503	Me Hubby is as atheist as you can get. I'm agnostic, but more towards atheism.

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Feb 5th, 2013, 18:30 PM	#5
comotion89 Waiting To Try (WTT) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Leicester (hometown Birmingham) Posts: 1,286	I dunno what I am I don't even want to belong to a group (agnostic or atheist ) I'm just open and respectful of others beliefs I'm not religious just live my life based on morals I suppose

Status: Offline

Feb 5th, 2013, 18:49 PM	#6
Guenhwyvar Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Denmark Posts: 64	Dh & I fall under the other category with him being a Ase believer. You're right, we do tend to be a bit left out & occasionally down right discriminated upon. I was brought up in a Southern Baptist household but threw life trials I've discovered Christianity was not for me. To this day I have family members who believe fertility treatment to be blasphemous & have outright stated that if (their)God wanted me to have children that I would, so obviously he has found me unworthy. blah.

Status: Offline

Feb 5th, 2013, 19:14 PM	#7
staralfur Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 4,860	I'm an atheist and my OH is agnostic. I wasn't really raised as anything in particular but was encouraged to explore my faith and come to my own conclusions. My mom is agnostic and so I sort of went with that for a while. I had a brief relationship with Christianity and have now been atheist for many years. I took some religion classes in my first years of university and have done quite a bit of research on my own terms as well. I will say that there is a lot I love about Buddhism from a philosophical perspective but I'm just too non-committal and skeptical to believe in anything past that. I aim to raise my kids the same way I was raised, which is to not tell them that there's something or nothing, but to tell them what their dad and I believe and hope that they do their own exploring and have their own beliefs. I will support them in whatever they choose!

Status: Offline

Feb 5th, 2013, 23:45 PM	#9
AngieBelle Waiting To Try (WTT) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 78	I am agnostic leaning towards atheist. It's hard sometimes because I know so many people who are strong in their faith. My whole family is practically atheist, though, so at least I don't clash with them! I'm also of Jewish background and proud of it. I think of Judaism as my heritage rather than my religion. My husband grew up with a lot more of the traditions than I did, and they mean more to him, but if you ask him point blank if he believes in God, he says he doesn't know- so in essence in the same boat as me. He does want to raise our children with Jewish traditions though- at least through a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

Status: Offline

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