Nones and Don’ts

Atheism, Religion 2 Minutes

I read a post on Patheos.com regarding the “collapse” of Christianity in the USA. The statistics and argument are based on opinion research. It wouldn’t surprise me if more people are jumping from or ignoring the Christian bandwagon. Evangelical PR has been abysmal. Now the US Catholic Bishops are making fools of themselves (again) over Biden taking communion.

According to the research and claims of the piece, millennials are largely responsible for the significant downturn in churchgoers and New Testament thumpers. I don’t know if it plays into this, but separation of church and state is always an issue and calls for such freedom may also be growing. It’s funny how we can say that separate church and state trope and we hear, “Freedom of Religion.” (Congress shall make no laws…, etc. Why do they only see half of that?)

When I came out with my own atheism, I learned that for some statistical purposes, I was and am a none. When asked which religion I am/practice/prefer/want to be part of, I have marked “none,” when that option was available.

When hospital staff called me a few years ago to ask if I wanted to change none, I told the lady to “keep those people away from me.” I may have I hurt her feelings, but she asked. Neither atheism nor agnosticism are religions. Rightfully, they are not usually on the religious preference forms. But guess what?

Now I can change that. I discovered the following options are now listed by my hospital under the personal information category of religion: “Agnostic, Atheist, Declined, None, Other, and Unknown.” That last one is a head scratcher. Do they not know?

If I change my answer to Atheist, it will be listed that under “religion” on my personal information. It is not a religion. I’m staying with none for now. But I’m thinking about changing it.

I saw few new religious movements (NRMs) or new age religious beliefs listed. I also read that many main line Christians hold such new age beliefs. Interesting. That is probably woo-woo in the eyes of organized religion leadership, but many folks go for it.

The article on the decline of practicing US Christians and the survey introduced me to a new category: the Don’ts. These are people who don’t know, don’t care, or don’t believe god exists. They just don’t. I don’t.

I now have a new statistical category to join (hear my sarcastic laugh). I recognize two of the subcategories (don’t know and don’t believe), but I chuckled at the don’t care group. I’ve never considered them. I might be a Don’t in all three subcategories. Sort of like that old joke about nuns (as in the religious orders), “Ain’t had none, don’t want none, ain’t gunna get none” (or something like that).

I have a suggestion for a new category: the whatever’s. Just for teenagers.

Bill

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16 thoughts on “Nones and Don’ts”

  1. And just why do they want to know? It is none of their business period. But there is that possibility of some kook doctor refusing to treat someone who was not a Fundie. I doubt if Canada or Western Europe even ask.

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    1. The only group that I know of for whom it might matter are Catholics. But why does the hospital need to know. In any case, the Sacrament of Anointing the Sick can be administered any time.
      The more I think about it, I agree with you. Why do “they all” need to know? I may write them and ask for a “none of your business” religion. 🙂 Now ya got me thinking “declined.”

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  3. “Agnostic, Atheist, Declined, None, Other, and Unknown.” That last one is a head scratcher. Do they not know?”

    yep, what the heck? I’d guess maybe it is for someone else filling out the form for someone who is unable?

    I used to be a Rosicrucian and wanted to put that in. My husband amused himself with requesting new dog tags with different religions on them when he was in the Army blowing things up.

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  4. The first time I was asked about my religion in the hospital it really freaked me out. I should have seen it coming, but I was pretty out of it at the time, and it caught me completely off guard. What I didn’t realize at the time was that whatever I said would end up in my electronic medical record, accessible by any health care professional I would see from that point on. Since I live in the most religious state in the U.S., that is a scary thought. I probably need to change it to “evangelical fundamentalist Christian” just to make sure I receive decent medical care. What a depressing thought!

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  5. The growing ‘don’t care’ category is the one that really is tying the Bible-thumpers’ tails in knots. It’s bad enough that there are Atheists who don’t believe, but when someone loudly declares that they don’t even have enough interest to know or care, they get a severe attack of the vapors. 😆

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