Comments on: Interview with Annie Laurie Gaylor Follow-up

By: Devika Keral

Devika Keral — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 03:35:48 +0000

I agree with you. I think I try to make nice for the fam. But forget that!

(I would find it very amusing for an atheist to address the pope as “Mr. Ratzinger”, should that chance ever arise.)

My husband and I playfully refer to “Pope Benedict” as Ratzie. I’d love it if someone called him Ratzie to his face! Not in a mean way, but in the spirit of fun. But I suppose that they would need to establish a friendship with him first – and something tells me Ratzie doesn’t have a lot of time to make new friends.

By: Ebonmuse

Ebonmuse — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:32:26 +0000

If you're an atheist, you definitely shouldn't refer to priests as "Father". They have no authority over you! Why defer to them as if they do? I wrote about this once before:

For the same reason, I would not address a priest as "Father", or any other title that would imply I recognize them as holding some special or privileged status, since in reality I recognize no such thing. (I would find it very amusing for an atheist to address the pope as "Mr. Ratzinger", should that chance ever arise.)

By: Devika Keral

Devika Keral — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:00:24 +0000

My advice: start wearign a cowboy hat and touch your hand to the brim, saying, “Howdy maam” and “Padre”. Then ride on out to the sunset.

ha ha ha!! I love it. We can’t take ourselves too seriously!

By: QrazyQat

QrazyQat — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 18:31:32 +0000

My advice: start wearign a cowboy hat and touch your hand to the brim, saying, “Howdy maam” and “Padre”. Then ride on out to the sunset.

By: Devika Keral

Devika Keral — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 14:37:15 +0000

thanks for the response! The priests and nuns aren’t actually family members – just people in my family’s social circle. I’ve been avoiding forms of address so far, as you suggested. I think I’ll just continue that, since no one seems to get offended and I don’t feel oppressed by their religion. The nice thing is that I’m Indian, so I can get away with using the generic “hello uncle” or “hello auntie” for all family friends. I should test out if I can do the same with the clergy that comes around my family’s home. Thanks again, Ms. Gaylor, for the response!