Comments on: Atheist Coming Out Party

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:49:49 +0000

I was baptized Catholic when I was a baby, so obviously I had no say in the matter. As a non-believing adult, I want to remove myself from the central Catholic baptismal roster/records/big book…whatever it’s called? Have any of you tried to do this? Do I have to contact the bishop of the country I was originally born and baptized in, or do I try to contact a particular Vatican office? All/any suggestions on where/how to start this process, are very welcome.
Thank you.

By: Alycia

Alycia — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:40:34 +0000

I’m only 10 minutes away from there, but I can’t come. I vowed that Saturday was going to be a lazy day with my kid. Maybe next time.

By: » Do you have to dehydrate yourself for a De-Baptism to take effect?

» Do you have to dehydrate yourself for a De-Baptism to take effect? — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:51:15 +0000

[...] there’ll be an Atheist Coming Out party, complete with a mass De-Baptism, in Columbus, OH hosted by Hemant Mehta of Friendly [...]

By: Chris (Fabulously in the City)

Chris (Fabulously in the City) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:42:31 +0000

I’ll be there, I’m bringing friends and I just can’t wait! Columbus needs more stuff like this to happen

By: jcolv

jcolv — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:10:25 +0000

I don’t think the ‘de-baptism’ will resemble the religious ceremony. I wouldn’t say that it’s a revival of something that we are trying to move away from either. Humans like symbols and I think that’s what this is filling in for. I think there are some important distinctions before we decide that this event will be as dogmatic as religious events. No one is going to be claiming that ‘the spirit’ is leaving you during this de-baptism.

I think it’s also important to take into account that this is an event for free thinkers, so we’re getting together to share ideas. This is in contrast to a lot of religious events that I used to attend in which a speaker gives out ideas and interpretations of the bible and the crowd is supposed to accept them at face value.

I feel like there is real value in an atheist event. I hope that some people show up that are hesitant to admit their atheism and through meeting other atheists realize that there’s nothing wrong with it.

(I’ll also be there – I’m so happy that it’s happening in Columbus)

By: Larry Huffman

Larry Huffman — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:26:18 +0000

It does not matter what they do. That is not the point. Don’t call it a de-baptism. The name directly implies the reversal of a religious ritual. As atheists we all know that if you have no belief in god, then there is no baptism to ‘de’ from. It just never was. So it is illogical in premise.

Regardless of what they do…it will be perceived as moving atheism towards religion by those who pay attention. Something that has been shifting the right direction lately.

And…if you say it is just in humor…well then this coming out celebration ends up being centered around a slap at christianity. It should be above that.

If I were doing it, I would not use the term in conjunction with the celebration. I might chuckle at it, but I would see that it might not be in the best interest of athreists to take such a shot. But it is not that big of a deal. Just a topic on a forum…they can do what they want. Just me spoutin’.

By: eL_sTiKo

eL_sTiKo — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:29:36 +0000

Discordians have a history of sending small vials of holy water back to the vatican, along with a short letter/certificate explaining that we have removed ourselves from their “mailing list” as it were, and that they can have the water back now…I recommend athiests continue the practice.

While you’re at it, ask them for a refund for your childhood!

@Ron in Houston:

No sillier than believing preposterous, outdated, redundant superstitions!

By: TheOtherOne

TheOtherOne — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:13:29 +0000

Years ago my mother asked me to ‘resign’ from our church because the church was required to send a certain amount of money to the higher ups based on its listed membership.

Heh. My parents, on the other hand, got angry enough at their church to withdraw their memberships – but asked me to transfer my long-ignored membership there so that they could continue to get the organizational magazines in order to keep up with the goings-on . . .

(I’ll be there, btw.)

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:11:50 +0000

I wish I could be there! My family has decided we need to have a big cookout, go to a festival, and have a birthday party this weekend. Sometimes it sucks to live so close to so much family.

By: Mike Clawson

Mike Clawson — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:46:38 +0000

Rituals and symbols aren’t just for religious people. They are inherent to human nature. Everyone uses them, even atheists. So if some atheists want to have a “de-baptism” ceremony, I don’t see any contradiction in that.