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My Wife and I are Atheists, but Our Daughter Wants to be Baptised Catholic
The Guardian (UK) ^ | 1/14/14 | James Harrington

Posted on 01/14/2014 8:25:45 PM PST by marshmallow

I'm proud of my daughter, but I can't deny that she stopped us in our religiously disinterested, bleeding-heart liberal tracks

For decades, god and religion have played no part in my life. I was baptised as a baby, but didn't make it as far as first communion. That may officially make me a Catholic in the broadest sense, but if it does, I'm one who's not so much "lapsed" as "stalled before I started".

Apart from morning assemblies and weekly hymn practices at primary school, followed by a couple of years of religious education classes at comprehensive (which I dropped as soon as exam options allowed), I have barely considered my immortal soul, much less the direction it may be heading when I die.

Over the years, when I bothered to think about it at all, I came to the conclusion that I prefer the scientific theory of life and the universe to the spiritual one. I'm most likely an atheist, but one leaning to the agnostic side of the spectrum. I know I'm a sceptic, in the true sense of the word. Or shallow. One of the two.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; General Discusssion; Skeptics/Seekers
KEYWORDS: catholic; faithandphilosophy; jamesharrington; romancatholicism
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1 posted on 01/14/2014 8:25:45 PM PST by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

Sad story. Not for the daughter...


2 posted on 01/14/2014 8:35:21 PM PST by babygene ( .)
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To: marshmallow

Just because the parents may not be among the elect, it doesn’t mean that the daughter can’t be. Anyhow, good on the parents for being supportive—even if they don’t understand.


3 posted on 01/14/2014 8:35:48 PM PST by House Atreides
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To: marshmallow

“Over the years, when I bothered to think about it at all, I came to the conclusion that I prefer the scientific theory of life and the universe to the spiritual one.”

What a moronic statement. Completely ignorant of both science and religion.

1) there is no scientific theory of life and the universe

2) she’s just mistaken science for another spiritual view or religion.

Maybe her daughter can teach her some things, but I am not going to click through to read this whole thing.

She starts off talking about herself exclusively and i doubt the self absorption becomes less.


4 posted on 01/14/2014 8:35:50 PM PST by ifinnegan
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To: marshmallow

If a Catholic parent had a daughter who announced she was a lesbian atheist, the overwhelming sentiment would be that the parent should embrace and accept the daughter for “who she is.” I guess it doesn’t work in reverse.


5 posted on 01/14/2014 8:35:57 PM PST by workerbee (The President of the United States is DOMESTIC ENEMY #1!)
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To: marshmallow; Arthur McGowan; mc5cents; RichInOC; Prince of Space; JoeFromSidney; TNMountainMan; ...
+

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:

Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.

6 posted on 01/14/2014 8:36:09 PM PST by narses (... unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.)
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To: marshmallow
I prefer the scientific theory of life and the universe to the spiritual one.

This is the blindness and rationalization of atheists. That somehow God and science are opposites. That somehow mankind's ridiculously small understanding of "science" will allow complete explanation of the universe. That somehow God can not be "proven."

7 posted on 01/14/2014 8:38:40 PM PST by PGR88
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To: marshmallow

See God working through the child to soften the parents.


8 posted on 01/14/2014 8:39:12 PM PST by freemama
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To: marshmallow

“I came to the conclusion that I prefer the scientific theory of life and the universe to the spiritual one.”

That is probably one of the stupidest statements I have ever heard. The false conflict between religion and science is used by people who want to make themselves seem smarter than people of faith. It is also a justification for their refusal to live by the personal moral code that religion requires.


9 posted on 01/14/2014 8:41:37 PM PST by detective
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To: marshmallow

Episode of M.A.S.H, Guy was asked if he wanted a Priest, said no I am a atheist , Dr said really? Guy says, swear to God


10 posted on 01/14/2014 8:44:35 PM PST by Friendofgeorge ( Palin 2016 or bust)
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: freemama

Our daughter-in-law became Catholic - from secular Jewish upbringing - because our son shared his faith. They were not engaged. I think the Lord is using her wonderful enthusiasm to reach her entire family - aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents/ not one of them is really involved in church. Grandparents, maybe, some bit. They’ll all be at the baby’s baptism, though, etc.


12 posted on 01/14/2014 8:46:35 PM PST by bboop (does not suffer fools gladly)
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To: ifinnegan

I think the writer is a “he”. Cue title.


13 posted on 01/14/2014 8:47:17 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
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To: Digger

I’m glad the story was posted. It is a victory for Kingdom of God that these two atheists couldn’t stop their daughter from finding faith. Who knows—her example and her prayers may someday conquer their stubbornness.


14 posted on 01/14/2014 8:51:07 PM PST by ottbmare (the OTTB mare, now a proud Marine Mom)
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To: freemama

I agree. Their child is a blessing to them from our Father.


15 posted on 01/14/2014 8:52:54 PM PST by Mortrey (Impeach President Soros)
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To: Digger

The Left wins by us reading and tearing apart the stupidity of an atheist author? Should we only post material that meets your ideological standards?


16 posted on 01/14/2014 8:53:21 PM PST by vladimir998
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To: House Atreides

“Just because the parents may not be among the elect....”

.
None of us are among the elect until that moment when our divine Judge, at our death, deems us worthy of entry into his realm.

In the meantime, let’s not be too presumptious.


17 posted on 01/14/2014 8:53:50 PM PST by 353FMG
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To: marshmallow

“We enrolled our little girl at a local Catholic school, selected purely on the recommendation of a colleague for the quality of its education”

What did you expect?

Our son is in a Catholic school, and if he says he wants to be Catholic, it’s no skin off my nose. I would not be shocked, since we sent him there. Happened to his grandmother, at the same school.

Why do people put children in such a situation if they are going to have a problem with possible consequences? How dumb is that?


18 posted on 01/14/2014 8:53:50 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
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To: marshmallow

Don’t scroll down to the comments. Guardianistas are some of the most vile fascists I’ve ever had the displeasure of hearing from and they don’t disappoint here. Let’s hope the British Muslims pay them a visit.


19 posted on 01/14/2014 8:53:54 PM PST by Viennacon
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To: marshmallow

The daughter will lead the rest of them back home


20 posted on 01/14/2014 8:54:07 PM PST by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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