In my last post, I stated that religion, and in particular, Christianity, can have value for an atheist. This really stems from my view that Jesus can also be seen in a non-religious manner.
As I mentioned before, during some of my teenage years, I was an atheist, and what I would call a militant atheist. But as I studied more, that slipped away into an agnostic-atheist and then agnostic-theist. Still as an atheist though, I started attending church with my wife, at that time, my girlfriend. Church itself didn’t change my mind, but I could find some value in it.
But before we go further, defining religion may be important. This can be somewhat difficult as there is no clear scholarly consensus on the matter. When we talk about religion, it’s usually about the 5 big ones that the majority of people fall under: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. There are similarities between them all, but also some major differences. For instance, Buddhism doesn’t necessarily have a deity figure. Buddhism isn’t alone in that as other religions, such as Taoism, don’t require deities. Being an atheist in those religions isn’t really a problem.
So a good definition of religion, I believe, would be rather simple. It’s an organized group or community of people who have a similar belief system. Coupled with this are some sort of communal rituals. Often, such a belief system will have a deity, but it’s not necessary. The definition is a bit vague, but vagueness is necessary as religion is so diverse. I will also just put a note here in that I believe that religion, in and of itself, is neutral. I will get back to that in another post though.
Just a quick aside. Among American Jews, there is an interesting phenomenon. Over the last few decades, those who practice Judaism, the religion, have been declining. On the other hand, those who identify as Jewish have been increasing (as being Jewish is both a religious matter as well as a cultural one). But while a growing amount of Jews are atheists, many continue to raise their children in the religion by taking them to the synagogue. Part of that is because of the community and culture that one gets at the synagogue. It’s where a lot of Jewish tradition is preserved. Another part though is that while the parents may be atheists, many of them want their children to be able to make that decision on their own. It gives the child an informed choice.
I mention that because I think a lot of those ideas extend to religion as a whole, and what it offers those who aren’t religious. The big thing is that it offers a community and usually a strong one. Generally, you can find one that has a lot of the same basic beliefs that you do, even if there is some disagreement. And that allows for a more regular interaction with others that can be very rewarding, and beneficial (mental health is one area that has been shown to have positive benefits). It gives people a place where they feel as if they belong, and that’s something that most people naturally search for.
Granted, being an atheist and going to church may feel weird. When talking about Christianity, one of the core beliefs is that God exists. But there’s a lot more to it as well. As an atheist and going to church, I could ignore the parts about God, and instead focus on what could be deemed philosophical portions. Sermons about charity work and accepting others often extend far beyond a particular religion.
And yes, depending on the church, there will probably be some questioning about being an atheist, but often times, it’s not the focus. With a good church, the focus is the people, and for many, that can be a massive benefit. So I do think there is some benefit that religion can offer to those who aren’t religious. And the big thing there is the community that is possible.