I don’t quite expect many of you to know where Deep River is, but it’s a small town of 5000 in Ontario, and is home to seven different churches. I had the misfortune of being raised in the catholic church. I’ve also had the misfortune to be the only member of my family to outright contest the word and existence of god.
My immediate family is fairly relaxed in terms of religion but my parents still go to church every Sunday even though they realize a number of the discrepancies in the ‘good book’ and in simply trying to live life by such ridiculousness.
My brother and sister both believe in god in one way or another but are fairly quiet about it and are probably better off for it when I’m around. I waste no time disposing of silly arguments that people come up with in terms of what religion and faith can do for me in my life.
I would call myself an atheist, but I feel, like Dawkins and Grayling say, since I don’t draw attention to my non-belief in fairies and goblins and don’t call myself an a-fairyist, why should I bother to call myself an atheist?
I much prefer Grayling’s take on naturlism. So if I need be categorized in one way or another, I would be a Grayling-Naturalist.
I look forward to some great discussion over these forums!