The ones who are intelligent and mature enough to deal with an alternative point of view will decode my statement and understand that I am NOT Christian. Therefore there is no threat that people you actually respect will think you are something you are not.
Closed minded people who push religions like magazine subscriptions will hear what they want to hear (aka "I am Catholic") and leave me alone. In their small mind I am part of the flock, but placating them is the best outcome I am going to get anyway so why not take it?
Just to see if you'd notice. Well done, but someone beat you to it. Also, Jews say G-d to make sure they don't take his name in vein by accident, as did I. Because if that G-d exists he will FUCK YOUR SHIT RIGHT UP if you make a mistake, so I was playing it safe, you know.
Because I don't want to create a prison for myself by lying about my beliefs. There is nothing wrong with lacking belief in G-d and I should be able to be just as comfortable saying that as they are in proclaiming Jesus from the mountain tops. If I can't admit, fearlessly, that G-d doesn't exist then I am not being honest with myself and others.
"Welcome to the afterlife, moonbogg. Just going over a few notes before I can let you into heaven. I'm seeing that you lead an exemplary life. You always helped those that were down. I once posed as a homeless man and you actually were the only person to stop and feed me and give me money for a hotel room and a shower. Anyway, lots of good stuff here. Led the life of an honest man. I don't see a problem with letting you into heav...
Woah, wait a minute. Wait just one ME-DAMN minute! What do we have here? Did you spell my name without the hyphen on a message board?! What the actual fuck moonbogg? I can't let you in with that type of behavior. I know there wasn't a commandment but I thought it could be ommitted because it was so fucking obvious. Thou shalt not spell G-d without using the hyphen. Fuck!"
If you can't figure out the difference between god (noun) and G-d (proper noun) and insist on spelling it G-d then I am pretty sure you need more help then the guy who has beliefes. For Christ's sake, spell the whole goddamn thing! Who can take you seriously when you can't even spell the word? G-d!
unless it's a coworker that I'm legitimately friends with... "sorry, I try not to discuss politics or religion while on the clock."
Because I don't want to create a prison for myself by lying about my beliefs.
There is nothing wrong with lacking belief in G-d and I should be able to be just as comfortable saying that as they are in proclaiming Jesus from the mountain tops. If I can't admit, fearlessly, that G-d doesn't exist then I am not being honest with myself and others.
Of Orange County, CA. Same shit =/
I am not lying. It is an honest straight forward statement. I grew up Catholic so I am culturally Catholic. Implied in the statement for anyone with an IQ above 100 is that I am NOT a practicing Catholic, which answers their question.
If a person lacks the intelligence to properly decode a statement you make that is not your fault, just ask both major political parties they will agree.
Sure in a perfect world you should be able to believe what you want and wear in on your shoulder. I don't know where you live, but where I live people will vindictively come after you if you proudly announce that you have a different political or religious perspective than they do.
I don't care about religion, which means I don't care about religion. I would rather spend the social capital life gives me on things that I do care about, such as a peaceful work environment, happy extended family members, etc.
The world has enough real bullshit without bringing in things that can't be proven either way. My core philosophy is to shut down any attempts to waste my effort or time on these unprovable items and spend my limited effort and time working on things that improve my condition or the condition of others who live here in the real world.
And I will be honest about that philosophy too for the rare religious person who decodes my message and doesn't like the answer. That plus a throw away line like "I appreciate religion as a historically effective means of social control for the masses, but I am not a part of the population that needs someone to watch over them and tell them what to do all day" ends the conversation.
Should of told him that there is only the one true prophet of Muhammad just for the reaction.
"Don't talk to me about G-d until I've had my coffee please" will be my response next time.
Also, Jews say G-d to make sure they don't take his name in vein by accident, as did I.
In the office, we don't discuss this stuff. If we go outside, then open discussion. Also, some things are more obvious than others. I think most of my coworkers know I'm not religious, but If I go to lunch with a Catholic friend on a Friday, we'll go to a seafood place. If I go to lunch with a Muslim Friend We'll go to a place with Halal meat. If I go to lunch with a Sikh friend, We'll make sure the food is not halal or Kosher. When getting lunch with Hindu friends, we go for Indian since that's the only palatable vegetarian food IMO. And, when going to lunch with Buddhists, we usually go for some kind of Thai or Chinese place
Anyhow, I think all the major religions of the world are represented at the office, however, there is clearly a disproportionate number of non-theists here..