Freedomain Radio

I was raised catholic and have not been agnostic since my teen years and have been atheist for the past 3-4 years (a total of 11-12 years as a non-chistian). Recently I have been thinking about formally renoucing my faith. From what I understand you can contact the archdioscese where you were baptized and have them note it on your record. I'm not certain if this removes my 1 count from the alleged 1 billion catholics or not, but I think it would feel theraputic.

Are there any other ex-catholics here that know about this? What does everybody else think? Is it a waste of time or a worthwhile endevor? Thanks

I honestly don't know if it's worth the trouble, and relgions official rosters don't count for much. It's not like there's going to be a inquisition soon (at least not a catholic one). If you think it can give you some sort of closure go ahead, but I don't see any practical value from it, it seems that such a declaration would ease your mind.

Hi Ben,

I too was raised Catholic, and the 'theraputic' approach I advise is firstly to not spend any more time around those folks than you have to, secondly, you don't have to be formal about it. Baptising a little kid and then indoctrinating them when they are too helpless and young to choose to believe it is anything but formal! Finally, I would do a little examination on why your family put you through Catholicism in the first place.

Hope this helps you.

They don't own any part of you that you would have to renounce...

bentropy:

I was raised catholic and have not been agnostic since my teen years and have been atheist for the past 3-4 years (a total of 11-12 years as a non-chistian). Recently I have been thinking about formally renoucing my faith. From what I understand you can contact the archdioscese where you were baptized and have them note it on your record. I'm not certain if this removes my 1 count from the alleged 1 billion catholics or not, but I think it would feel theraputic.

Are there any other ex-catholics here that know about this? What does everybody else think? Is it a waste of time or a worthwhile endevor? Thanks

I was raised Catholic as well.

But since the church, it's priests, patrons, and patriarchs are nothing more to me than a bunch of loons in funny hats, why should I need to formally declare anything to them? That would be like declaring my love of science to the drunk that stands out in front of the Exxon station here in Raleigh.

GregG:

That would be like declaring my love of science to the drunk that stands out in front of the Exxon station here in Raleigh.

Nathan:

GregG:

That would be like declaring my love of science to the drunk that stands out in front of the Exxon station here in Raleigh.

Seconded.

It's like making a pilgrimage to Lourdes to say that you don't believe in the Virgin Mary. Well... why the hell did you need to go to Lourdes to say it?

If the grand gesture makes you feel good, my friend, by all means do it. But... I don't know. Putting myself in the place of the priest or whatever who was striking you from the record books, it would sound to me like you had something to prove by making said gesture. Not saying that's the case, but it could be interpreted that way.

I dunno about catholics, but if you are mormon and you become what mormons call "inactive" and you live in utah, you will get harassed pretty regularly.  Then again if you live in utah and you have never been a member at all you might get simmilar treatment.

Thanks for the perspective folks. I think you are all right; there is no reason to do this other than for personal gratification. I wonder what even made me think about this in the first place. Thanks

Bentropy,

I would humbly suggest that this is an aspect of your personality you could, and perhaps should, look at more deeply. It could be any number of things, ranging from a desire to 'hurt' those that have harmed you to the desire to non-ambiguously state your position, for yourself and others. This may be an "in" for you to get at your true self on a whole new level.

Once again, this is just a suggestion.