Why are there so many churchy people here.

[memphis]

Most people here are nerdy guys under the age of 30. Not a place I'd expect to find the smug religious types. Yet they are very common. What gives?

[Oakvale]

dunno if it's that common on the forum so much as Brtd brings up the average w. hipster 'christanity' and so on

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Anyone in particular you're referring to? Nerdy guys under 30 are indeed terribly non-religious, but I'd wager enough of them are still at least vaguely and instinctually spiritually inclined on Christmas of all days that Atlas Forum is hardly out of the ordinary.

[Antonio the Sixth]

What "smug religious types"? The only real Bible-thumping nut we had has been banned a while ago, and BRTD is just pathologically obsessive.

[Supersonic]

I just assumed it was an American cultural thing. Church and all that jazz.

I don't think there are any European 'churchy' types on here, but I might be mistaken.

[Ban my account ffs!]

It is a cultural thing.  Church is still a much more integral part of most communities in America than they are in Europe, where they tend to cater to American tourists who want to go to church

But yeah, it's Christmas.  I'd wager most Americans, even youngs, still go to church on Christmas and Easter.

[Kitteh]

Yeah this forum does not seem very "churchy" to me. Except for BRTD who has a very...interesting definition of "churchy".

[Joe Republic]

It does seem a little disappointing at first glance, I'll agree.  But the result of the 'did you go to church last night' poll right now stands at about 65% 'no', so there's still hope for us yet.

I wonder how many of the rational folks among us still went to church anyway because of family tradition/pressure.  Poor guys.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

It does seem a little disappointing at first glance, I'll agree.  But the result of the 'did you go to church last night' poll right now stands at about 65% 'no', so there's still hope for us yet.

I wonder how many of the rational folks among us still went to church anyway because of family tradition/pressure.  Poor guys.

Don't be a putz. It's Christmas.

[Antonio the Sixth]

It does seem a little disappointing at first glance, I'll agree.  But the result of the 'did you go to church last night' poll right now stands at about 65% 'no', so there's still hope for us yet.

I wonder how many of the rational folks among us still went to church anyway because of family tradition/pressure.  Poor guys.

As a nonbeliever who has been to a few masses, I can tell you it's not lethal. It might be a tad boring - but there are much more boring things you can be forced to do on special occasions.

[Joe Republic]

It does seem a little disappointing at first glance, I'll agree.  But the result of the 'did you go to church last night' poll right now stands at about 65% 'no', so there's still hope for us yet.

I wonder how many of the rational folks among us still went to church anyway because of family tradition/pressure.  Poor guys.

Don't be a putz. It's Christmas.

Duh!  I'm having a blast today!  One of my favorite times of year.  The Mrs and I exchanged gifts that had been sitting under the tree, her parents came to stay for a couple days, we went ice skating at the Cosmo two days ago, we watched our favorite Christmas movies, etc.  We just don't go in for all the religious claptrap that's meant to go with it.

As a nonbeliever who has been to a few masses, I can tell you it's not lethal.

Believe me, I know.  I went to a few as a child.  But eventually I grew up and understood the reality of Santa and God.  At least the concept of Santa is fun for the kids, however.  The God stuff is just a giant holiday buzzkill.

[memphis]

Funny. I wasn't even thinking about Christmas. It's a subject I've been thinking about for a while.

[Joe Republic]

Funny. I wasn't even thinking about Christmas. It's a subject I've been thinking about for a while.

I have too.  But it isn't just a surprising thing about this forum.  Even real people I meet in real life might seem normal at first, but then we'll add each other on FB or IG and suddenly my feeds are full of "Blessed is the child, for he is risen! --Ralph 5:21" and so on.  Only occasionally is it annoying (like when it essentially becomes spam), but it's just more... surprising, really.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Duh!  I'm having a blast today!  One of my favorite times of year.  The Mrs and I exchanged gifts that had been sitting under the tree, her parents came to stay for a couple days, we went ice skating at the Cosmo two days ago, we watched our favorite Christmas movies, etc.  We just don't go in for all the religious claptrap that's meant to go with it.

And, since it's Christmas, kindly show goodwill and charity to those of us who do instead of (or in addition to!--for this also is possible; believe me, I know from experience) being judgmental for no good reason.

Believe me, I know.  I went to a few as a child.  But eventually I grew up and understood the reality of Santa and God.  At least the concept of Santa is fun for the kids, however.  The God stuff is just a giant holiday buzzkill.

The God stuff is, for most people who celebrate this holiday, largely the point, at least conceptually. In some countries the God stuff is the Santa stuff. Ask Tender.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

If it makes Nathan feel better, as a secular human I hate the consumerist and religious aspects of Christmas. I also hate the deadweight loss that comes along with it. Just want $$$ yo.

I was also coerced to go to my Presbyterian church and read a passage to the church so my convictions are pretty weak and you should take all of them with a grain of salt.

[morgieb]

It's America. Nuff said.

I imagine in other parts of the world internet forums are far less religious.

[Joe Republic]

Duh!  I'm having a blast today!  One of my favorite times of year.  The Mrs and I exchanged gifts that had been sitting under the tree, her parents came to stay for a couple days, we went ice skating at the Cosmo two days ago, we watched our favorite Christmas movies, etc.  We just don't go in for all the religious claptrap that's meant to go with it.

And, since it's Christmas, kindly show goodwill and charity to those of us who do instead of (or in addition to!--for this also is possible; believe me, I know from experience) being judgmental for no good reason.

Believe me, I know.  I went to a few as a child.  But eventually I grew up and understood the reality of Santa and God.  At least the concept of Santa is fun for the kids, however.  The God stuff is just a giant holiday buzzkill.

The God stuff is, for most people who celebrate this holiday, largely the point, at least conceptually. In some countries the God stuff is the Santa stuff. Ask Tender.

Dude, it's just my opinion.  And it's just what I'm used to, virtually my whole life.  Don't act all affronted that a sizeable number of people enjoy the fun side of certain Christian holidays without bothering with the dull religious stuff associated with them.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Duh!  I'm having a blast today!  One of my favorite times of year.  The Mrs and I exchanged gifts that had been sitting under the tree, her parents came to stay for a couple days, we went ice skating at the Cosmo two days ago, we watched our favorite Christmas movies, etc.  We just don't go in for all the religious claptrap that's meant to go with it.

And, since it's Christmas, kindly show goodwill and charity to those of us who do instead of (or in addition to!--for this also is possible; believe me, I know from experience) being judgmental for no good reason.

Believe me, I know.  I went to a few as a child.  But eventually I grew up and understood the reality of Santa and God.  At least the concept of Santa is fun for the kids, however.  The God stuff is just a giant holiday buzzkill.

The God stuff is, for most people who celebrate this holiday, largely the point, at least conceptually. In some countries the God stuff is the Santa stuff. Ask Tender.

Dude, it's just my opinion.  And it's just what I'm used to, virtually my whole life.  Don't act all affronted that a sizeable number of people enjoy the fun side of certain Christian holidays without bothering with the dull religious stuff associated with them.

I've no quarrel with the fact of widespread secular celebration of Christmas. I like it, more or less.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

It's disappoiting that people go to church on Christmas? That's a good one.

[Joe Republic]

It's disappoiting that people go to church on Christmas? That's a good one.

That's... not really what I said.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

I'm a guy under the age of 30, and I would consider myself pretty spiritual, but I wouldn't call myself "nerdy" or "churchy".

[memphis]

The gift side of Christmas is so nice at the theoretical level. And in practice, it is so revolting. Reminds me of communism.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

No, this is a Church-y place.  Some of my anti-religion comments that are commonplace amongst my NJ social group get a lot of a venom over in the Religion & Philosophy board.   

[Mr. Morden]

A large fraction of the folks here are either high school or college age, and thus would be pushed into going to church on Christmas by family obligation, whether they wanted to or not.

And then a large fraction of the remainders are over 30 and wouldn't fall under the demographic umbrella described in the OP.  There's only a relatively narrow demographic window during which one is unlikely to either be pushed into going church on Christmas by family obligation, or to go on one's own initiative.

[Gustaf]

Duh!  I'm having a blast today!  One of my favorite times of year.  The Mrs and I exchanged gifts that had been sitting under the tree, her parents came to stay for a couple days, we went ice skating at the Cosmo two days ago, we watched our favorite Christmas movies, etc.  We just don't go in for all the religious claptrap that's meant to go with it.

And, since it's Christmas, kindly show goodwill and charity to those of us who do instead of (or in addition to!--for this also is possible; believe me, I know from experience) being judgmental for no good reason.

Believe me, I know.  I went to a few as a child.  But eventually I grew up and understood the reality of Santa and God.  At least the concept of Santa is fun for the kids, however.  The God stuff is just a giant holiday buzzkill.

The God stuff is, for most people who celebrate this holiday, largely the point, at least conceptually. In some countries the God stuff is the Santa stuff. Ask Tender.

Dude, it's just my opinion.  And it's just what I'm used to, virtually my whole life.  Don't act all affronted that a sizeable number of people enjoy the fun side of certain Christian holidays without bothering with the dull religious stuff associated with them.

I think one could easily argue that what you're doing in this thread goes a bit beyond "not celebrating the religious aspect of Christmas"

I personally see no reason to complain about other peoples' celebrations of holidays.