By 
Oh religion. Such a lovely topic! So full of anger and judgement from any side you come from. This post is not about that, I’m not attacking anyone and I don’t particularly feel like being attacked. I’d simply like this post to highlight some inadequacies at a university who is striving to be more diverse and accepting of it.
Stellenbosch is Christian, let’s face it, and very religious. 21 of the 51 student societies identify as religious. Why is this important? Spirituality is important for emotional well-being. Yes? No. For many of us emotional well-being is important for emotional well-being.
My personal story is what inspired me to post, but it is difficult knowing how much of it to share here. I don’t really want people thinking about me but rather about how they might be treating others with the same views. I also like any who have the same views, if there are any on this platform, to feel less alone. It was also after I noticed that religion was not on the topic of discussion for the critical thinking MOJO week.*
I suppose the best place to start is with my views, so here they are. I am an atheist. I do not believe in a god and I think religion is a man-made structure whose purpose is to control people.
For 5 years this has been a struggle, so much so that for a while I convinced myself I was Christian (not my proudest moment). Besides that I can’t recall that I ever actually said to someone – “No thanks, I’m an atheist.” So I bowed my head when everyone prayed and kept my eyes open. I smiled and nodded when someone at lunch spoke of those godless people as a child would of the monster under their bed. I kept my dirty little secret and I felt ashamed. I blamed myself, what is wrong with me that I can’t believe?
Eventually I woke up, and I was angry. Mostly at myself. This is wrong, I shouldn’t have to hide who I am. Accepting diversity isn’t only about race, gender, sexual preference and religion. It is also about accepting a lack of religion.
Sure this could be our own fault. We aren’t outspoken enough, we accept defeat. However in the few times I have tried to discuss this with someone who has other beliefs they end up trying to convert me.
I guess there are just a few things I would like people to take into account:
- If the answer to “What church do you go to?” is “none”, instead of offering to help them find a church or saying how important church is, ask “why?”.
- Most atheists I know have grown up around Christianity and know the bible at least reasonably well. Throwing bible verses around isn’t going to change my opinion.
- My disagreement isn’t a challenge or offensive, isn’t pretty much saying my favourite flavour is strawberry while yours is chocolate.
- If you want to have a discussion, sure, but not while I’m in Bohemia on a Friday night please. Time and place…
Also please remember that being godless does not equal moral-less. I’m glad there’s so much support for the religious and spiritual. Let’s have some for the non- as well.
NOTES: Comic is by Don Addis – meant as an example of what not to do…
*I support MOJO week and think it’s a brilliant idea, will definitely be attending some of the talks!
8 comments on this post
frederickjlutz
(@frederickjlutz)onI really enjoyed your post. Having a lot of atheistic friends, I could relate to what you were saying, albeit in the context of a Christian being challenged by atheist. I think the tolerance and open mindedness you prescribe can go far in enhancing our emotional well-being. Also Bohemia, that helps too.
Nicole von St Ange
(@nicolevonstange)on“Also Bohemia, that helps too.”
Yes :) And thank you I’m glad, took quite a while to write!
Cara Meintjes
(@carahugomeintjes)onYes, these posts take a darn long time to write! That’s because we measure our words… because we have something meaningful to say. Thanks for this… as another Christian challenged by her atheist friends.
I thought of this post again this morning – Gareth Cliff was speaking about his Sunday school experience as a child and after several of his colleagues joined in with stories of how they bunked Sunday school or were even taken aside and told not to ask so many questions, Gareth concluded the discussion with: “We are such bad people”. They also seem to have felt judged / Bible-bashed by the church and were frankly relieved to have escaped being “brain-washed”. I hate how far away that portrayal of Christians is from everything Jesus demonstrated and I fear I am part of it. Christians are not honest enough with themselves.
Senzo Madikane
(@senzomadikane)onA lot of religious groups have a core belief of acceptance of fellow man. However, these same groups reject those that have different views and/or lifestyles. To be perfectly honest, i don’t believe in being a “atheist”. As an atheist you believe there is no God, therefore you do believe(you believe in not believing). The fact that you believe in this concept of not believing contradicts the definition of atheist which is to be a non-believer. I feel that one should rather say agnostic and then explain that they believe, but non necessary in a religion. i am a christian yet i don’t like associating myself with the christian lifestyle. This is because a lot “them” seemed to force the “way of life” down on others, this after we that it’s a choice you make to join. This constant preaching and telling those of different belief which church to go to or that the only way to live is to be christian makes me very sad. We christians end up looking like to faced monster that just wan to convert the world to one uniform lifestyle
Nicole von St Ange
(@nicolevonstange)on@Cara – Thanks! Means a lot that someone else thinks it’s meaningful, even if they believe something else :)
@Senzo – I’m going to try my best to answer this without becoming angry or sounding snotty, because to tell me that my beliefs don’t exist is… well incredibly patronising, so I’m just going to focus on why I can indeed be an atheist.
An atheist isn’t just a non-believer. It is someone who doesn’t believe in the existence of a God or gods. An agnostic is someone who believes that there may very well be a God, we just don’t know enough yet. The difference between the two is quite dramatic and to say they are one and the same is insulting to atheists and agnostics both.
Atheists = NO God,
Agnostics = Maybe God.
I don’t just not believe in religion, I believe that there is no god.
This is actually something I probably should have included in the piece since it’s quite a common misunderstanding.
Senzo Madikane
(@senzomadikane)on@Nicole – Sorry i took so long to respond. i must just apologise. i did not intend to offend you in any way. It seems to me my problem was that i only knew and accepted one obscure definition of the term Atheist and Agnostic. i am very sorry. i feel so narrow minded and that is the one thing don’t like.
Thanks Nicole for the clarity and sorry for having the wrong perception.
Geoff
(@Alumgeoff)onI wouldn’t give up hope I am a Stellenbosch Alumni and was a student between 2011 and 2014 and during that time I studied first year philosophy and then did my full degree in social sciences which provided the necessary tools to discover the flaws of faith and accept the athiest position (Which is simply the rejection of the claim that their is a god) Is the most honest and truthful position to take.
archy
(@ArchyTru)onwhether Christian or Atheist, you should read this to the end
Many beleive that most so called atheist grew up in a Christian environment and they know the Bible very well. that is very true! but I am against the belief that they became atheist not because they doubt the existence of a God but possibly because of tragedy, maybe death of a loved one.
let me explain Christianity ( after reading this, question yourself I there is really no God )
you talk of Christianity as a religion where dogmas are forced on people, where we preach love but hate other religions, where we boast for our good works whilst we Judge non Christians as sinners.
what if I was to tell you Jesus came to abolish this type of religion. your view of Christianity is similar to that of Pharisees in Jesus’ times who thought doing good will get them to heaven.
but Jesus brought another type of Christianity. Do you know his first words in his ministry? “Repent ye, for the kingdom of God has arrived”!!
this is perfect Christianity, not as a religion but as a kingdom where Jesus is the sovereign king. and this Christianity doesn’t have many churches but one. you might be a lutheran, Methodist or Catholic but those are man made organisations, Martin luhter and John Wesley would agree with me – but their followers would disagree. there’s one church, that of people called by the internal call through irresistible Grace. Jesus is said to be the husband of one Church not of many churches, this church is not the Roman Catholic, the seventh day Adventist, the Methodist, the watchtower, or any of these contemporary churches. This church is made up of the chosen ones, those who have a personal relationship with God, those who know they can’t save themselves by being good,those saved by Grace.
how do you know you are part of this Church. It’s not by going to a church building every sumday YOU, singing hyms, feeding/clothing orphans or paying tithes but it is WHEN YOU HATE THE SIN YOU ONCE LOVED AND LOVE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS YOU ONCE IGNORED. CHRIST THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WORKING YOUR JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFYING YOU EVERYDAY. the traits I disqualified as confirmation for being part of the church are a result of being saved not a way to be saved. WE DO GOOD WORKS BECAUSE WE ARE SAVED AND SANCTIFIED, we don’t do good works to be saved!!
Atheists please read along…
in the kingdom type of Christianity, we don’t choose to follow Christ but he chooses us. Bible preaching by man is called external call and this external call you can answer or reject but there’s what is called an internal call where Jesus calls you through irresistible Grace, this call you cannot reject. recall the calling of the disciples and that of Paul and you will see sense in what I am saying.
the fact that you are atheist proves that you want to be honest with yourself. you accepted who you are inside – you don’t believe! personally I think that is a better move than to fake your Christianity by doing good works in front of people, showing fake smiles and fake humility just in the name of “Christianity” . atheist or not , if Jesus wants you ,you cannot resist. I have read of many Atheist who came back to the Christian faith- I believe that was internal call because all the preaching couldn’t help bring them back. Jesus will find a way to return his lost sheep.
but your problem is, you did not wait for Jesus to call you. you gave up the faith after feeling that you were a hypocrite- trust me I admire something In that- BEING HONEST WITH YOURSELF. and for this, the preachers who were around you will face judgement before the Lord, they let a sheep go astray. they should have told you to ask Jesus to come into heart and work your salvation. To be saved, you have to be convinced that Christ is Lord and profess it with your mouth- then the rest is for Christ , Grace will locate you.
I am still to learn more on this but this post was to serve as an explanation of the difference between the church as a kingdom and the church as a religion. hope this helped you!!
Leave a comment