How Do I Renounce My Religion??

Hank_Jones

I've decided to go about renouncing my religion properly.

Just wondering what sort of avenues I should go down with regards to getting my religious status etc changed to atheist.

If anyone has done this, I'd appreciate some of your insight.

GLaDOS

What religion are you first? If catholic: http://www.countmeout.ie/

strobe

If you want to do something formal then the only thing I can really think of is write Atheist on the census form next time round. Other than that any time someone asks you "what religion do you follow?" you awnser "none". There is also a website countmeout.ie that is a sort of formal withdrawl from the catholic church I think.

robindch

Hank_Jones wrote: »

I've decided to go about renouncing my religion properly.

Unless you're catholic, in which case as ScienceNerd correctly points out, you've to jump through a few minor bureaucratic hoops, you can safely renounce most religions by simply declaring to yourself that you've resigned.

If you're after some closure, then you could announcing loudly to the open sky, but you might be thought strange if anybody heard you, so an open field or a mountain's best for this, rather than say Grafton Street (though it would be fun); it'd also kind of assume that there's a deity up there listening, which probably isn't what you want either, so maybe that's not the best idea.

Personally, I'd say the best thing to do is to renounce at the next A+A beer bash whenever we get around to having one.

It'd be something to celebrate

Wacker

robindch wrote: »

Personally, I'd say the best thing to do is to renounce at the next A+A beer bash whenever we get around to having one.

The sooner the better, in my humble opinion. I quite enjoyed the last one.

hiorta

As you were likely slyly indoctrinated in a sinister and calculated way, all you need do is simply walk away. The nonsense will depart from you slowly, but it will go.
So much for Irish Freedoms.

liamw

I meant to ask, how often do you have these 'beer bashes' and when is the next one? Can Jakkass and PDN come along?

Genghiz Cohen

liamw wrote: »

I meant to ask, how often do you have these 'beer bashes' and when is the next one? Can Jakkass and PDN come along?

Jakkass and PDN would be a laugh, but J C would be proper entertainment!

dvpower

robindch wrote: »

If you're after some closure, then you could announcing loudly to the open sky, but you might be thought strange if anybody heard you

Especially if that someone was God:eek:

Dades

I believe your religion is only officially renounced when you've told your mammy.

Hank_Jones

Dades wrote: »

I believe your religion is only officially renounced when you've told your mammy.

I told my mammy ages ago.

The annoying thing is that almost any time she is going to mass she says that she will pray for me.

ARRGGHHHH. :mad:

robindch

dvpower wrote: »

robindch wrote:

If you're after some closure, then you could announcing loudly to the open sky, but you might be thought strange if anybody heard you

Especially if that someone was God:eek:

I think that's really quite unlikely

Antbert

Beyond using countmeout and writing it on the census form (which you should do), making anymore fuss about it is giving unnecessary credibility to the religion in the first place.

Mark Hamill

Hank_Jones wrote: »

I told my mammy ages ago.

The annoying thing is that almost any time she is going to mass she says that she will pray for me.

ARRGGHHHH. :mad:

Well if you go to any of the A&A piss meet ups tell her you drink to her

Slugs

How I deal with these ocassions:

So what religion are you?:

me: Well I'm a recovering catholic, have been off the stuff for 4 years, but I'm not anything.

*Laughs* Oh right so you're athiest or agnostic?:

me: eh, no that requires me to argue out the logistics of whether there is a god or not, it's quite simple, I am God. Now on your knees. :P

Works every time

Zombrex

The best way to renounce your religion is like this (swap "Khan!!!" for what ever religion or deity you are renouncing)

Daftendirekt

You don't really need to do anything. You just have to decide, in the privacy of your own mind, that you reject whatever brand of superstition it is you've outgrown. If you were Catholic, you can use the countmeout.ie website to tick all the boxes, but IMO it isn't really necessary.


By the way, don't forget to pick up a free one-way ticket to Hell from your local train station. You'll get a welcome pack at the door, and if you collect enough coupons from Corn Flakes boxes , you'll also get a copy of So You're Damned For All Eternity, signed by the Big D himself.

JuliusCaesar

"Get thee behind me, Religion"? there's also the soapbox in Temple Bar at the weekends, if you want to make a public announcement.

Or if you really want, we can clothe you in white robes and dunk you in the Liffey?* while you recite "let the waters of rationality wash over me"?

why not make it an occasion of celebration? Another convert to the right side....followed by boardsbeers, of course

*there's an opportunity for commercialism...as sales of communion dresses decreases, sales of uncommunion robes increase

komodosp

I think it's the same way as you renounce your belief in Cuchulainn

The Mad Hatter

robindch wrote: »

Personally, I'd say the best thing to do is to renounce at the next A+A beer bash whenever we get around to having one.

It'd be something to celebrate

Wacker wrote: »

The sooner the better, in my humble opinion. I quite enjoyed the last one.

Thirded - this should happen soon. (Preferably on a Saturday or Sunday, when I can go.)

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Tomk1

Hank_Jones wrote: »

I've decided to go about renouncing my religion properly.

Just wondering what sort of avenues I should go down with regards to getting my religious status etc changed to atheist.

If anyone has done this, I'd appreciate some of your insight.

Hank
1. First step is countmeout, your classed as excatholic but still just seen as a catholic that's lost your way and in the eyes of the church still catholic (once they have branded you they have you for life).
2. Going futher if very serious about the CCL recognizing you as Atheist, you could do what 'Ken McCue' did and become an official Atheist, it took him over 5 years and 8grand, as he hired a cannon lawyer. See Ken McCue interview with George Hook on YouTube, 'Irelands only official Atheist'. Many people says it's a step too far, as it's acknowleging the CCL, but as they are the leading theologians of their faith and getting them to acknowlege your right to non-faith, is the very last step posible.
If you PM me I might have Kens email and I can try to contact him. -Tom

Daftendirekt

Tomk1 wrote: »

Hank
1. First step is countmeout, your classed as excatholic but still just seen as a catholic that's lost your way and in the eyes of the church still catholic (once they have branded you they have you for life).
2. Going futher if very serious about the CCL recognizing you as Atheist, you could do what 'Ken McCue' did and become an official Atheist, it took him over 5 years and 8grand, as he hired a cannon lawyer. See Ken McCue interview with George Hook on YouTube, 'Irelands only official Atheist'. Many people says it's a step too far, as it's acknowleging the CCL, but as they are the leading theologians of their faith and getting them to acknowlege your right to non-faith, is the very last step posible.
If you PM me I might have Kens email and I can try to contact him. -Tom

:eek:

Nevyn

Count me out is a good start but you will be still on thier records as being lapsed,
the catholic church has an exemption and will not remove your names from the records but will at a notation.

Why not go the whole hog and get excommunicated, honestly it's not that hard.

hiorta

Why not simply walk away? If you never chose or agreed to be assimilated into a religion, you are not part of it and anyway religion is merely an ever changing set of ideas, just like politics and cannot 'own' you unless you permit it to do so.

PeterIanStaker

Tomk1 wrote: »

Hank
1. First step is countmeout, your classed as excatholic but still just seen as a catholic that's lost your way and in the eyes of the church still catholic (once they have branded you they have you for life).
2. Going futher if very serious about the CCL recognizing you as Atheist, you could do what 'Ken McCue' did and become an official Atheist, it took him over 5 years and 8grand, as he hired a cannon lawyer. See Ken McCue interview with George Hook on YouTube, 'Irelands only official Atheist'. Many people says it's a step too far, as it's acknowleging the CCL, but as they are the leading theologians of their faith and getting them to acknowlege your right to non-faith, is the very last step posible.
If you PM me I might have Kens email and I can try to contact him. -Tom

Sorry Tom, whats CCL stand for?

Mike 1972

In Ireland and the UK there is no state registration of religious affiliation (barring the periodic questions on census, "equality monitoring" questions on various documents, And school/hospital admission procedures)

For former/recovering Catholics there is this although (no disrespect to the people behind the site) it strikes me as rather half @r$€;d and pointless but some might disagree and consider it worthwhile. Others might prefer to do it in style and try to get themselves excommunicated (Let us know how you get on!)

So really its just a matter of not attending church, Not christening/baptising ones kids (and trying to get a non religious education), Marrying(/civil partnership) in a registry office (if at all), Making a will specifying a non-religious funeral and either telling the truth/declining to answer the religion question on things like census forms.

Daftendirekt

Thaedydal wrote: »

Count me out is a good start but you will be still on thier records as being lapsed,
the catholic church has an exemption and will not remove your names from the records but will at a notation.

Why not go the whole hog and get excommunicated, honestly it's not that hard.

IIRC, excommunication doesn't make you a non-Catholic, it just means you're seen as a 'stray sheep' and can't receive the sacraments or any of the other 'benefits' that come along with Catholicism.

I think if you go the Count Me Out route you will still be on their books, but they'll make a note of it that you renounced your belief. Strangely though, you're still considered a Christian apparently.

Mike 1972

Thaedydal wrote: »

Why not go the whole hog and get excommunicated, honestly it's not that hard.

Marrying a divorcee is one possible route but a bit of an extreme measure if taken for that sole purpose ?

Zillah

Thaedydal wrote: »

Why not go the whole hog and get excommunicated, honestly it's not that hard.

An average person getting excommunicated is actually extremely difficult.

spurious

Daftendirekt wrote: »

I think if you go the Count Me Out route you will still be on their books, but they'll make a note of it that you renounced your belief. Strangely though, you're still considered a Christian apparently.

The Catholic Church will make an entry of 'Defection ab ecclesia' beside your baptismal entry in the baptismal register. This means that you have formally left the Church, having made your intentions known in writing.

See : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actus_formalis_defectionis_ab_Ecclesia_catholica

It is a formal act of defection, not simply a de facto, which stopping attending services etc. would be. The countmeout.ie people did their homework.

Tomk1

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

Sorry Tom, whats CCL stand for?

Peter Catholic Church Limited I believe was coined by FXR

Herbal Deity

Thaedydal wrote: »

Why not go the whole hog and get excommunicated, honestly it's not that hard.

Isn't excommunication a punishment? I don't think you can just ask to be excommunicated...

Nevyn

Zillah wrote: »

An average person getting excommunicated is actually extremely difficult.

Are you saying I am not average?

Herbal Deity wrote: »

Isn't excommunication a punishment? I don't think you can just ask to be excommunicated...

I did, I found that I was in a state of automatic excommunication and to resolve it you are to get in touch with your bishop. I did but informed then I was unrepentant and would ever remain so and refused to make a confession and eventually I was excommunicated, took about a year. The documents are lodged with my will and the arch dioceses and a copy with my parents parish so they can't try and give me a christian burial.

I know someone else who appeared in a documentary about witchcraft and paganism and her family parish priest was informed and she was asked to repent or face being excommunicated, so she refused and the papers were out to her with in 3 months.

axer

Thaedydal wrote: »

I did, I found that I was in a state of automatic excommunication and to resolve it you are to get in touch with your bishop. I did but informed then I was unrepentant and would ever remain so and refused to make a confession and eventually I was excommunicated, took about a year. The documents are lodged with my will and the arch dioceses and a copy with my parents parish so they can't try and give me a christian burial.

Thats interesting...taking it one step further. I think I will be looking into that. Do they give you anything you can frame?

MilanPan!c

Here's the thing, if you just stop believing then you've renounced. You don't need to tell anybody or do anything.

And you especially don't need a churches permission or blessing.

axer

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Here's the thing, if you just stop believing then you've renounced. You don't need to tell anybody or do anything.

And you especially don't need a churches permission or blessing.

I want to give them the finger and I want others to know that I am not part of that evil organisation that covers up the abuse of countless innocent people under the guise of good.

hiorta

Axer, would you not be content with just knowing you have outgrown that dark way of thinking? Would any sort of gesture really be of help to you?

axer

hiorta wrote: »

Axer, would you not be content with just knowing you have outgrown that dark way of thinking? Would any sort of gesture really be of help to you?

I want others to know not to bother me with that crap. I have already defected but would love to be fully excommunicated. Having defected has already help whereby my parents and family don't even consider me for anything religious be it mass or god parent etc. If it wasn't a big deal to do I wouldn't mind getting excommunicated for the laugh of it and to make a point.

MilanPan!c

axer wrote: »

I want to give them the finger and I want others to know that I am not part of that evil organisation that covers up the abuse of countless innocent people under the guise of good.

That's not entirely rational.

Belief is personal (by it's very nature) and if you express your feeling of superiority you will actually turn people away from your and your beliefs.

Also, freedom from the church means not giving a **** about what they think.... Honestly, and you know this, they don't care about you, if you raise a fuss you'll simply show you still care about them. Put another way (as the old saying goes): the opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference.


Be indifferent.... That's true freedom.

Zillah

Thaedydal wrote: »

I did, I found that I was in a state of automatic excommunication and to resolve it you are to get in touch with your bishop. I did but informed then I was unrepentant and would ever remain so and refused to make a confession and eventually I was excommunicated, took about a year. The documents are lodged with my will and the arch dioceses and a copy with my parents parish so they can't try and give me a christian burial.

This is pretty awesome.

Ickle Magoo

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Be indifferent.... That's true freedom.

I suppose it depends on what you wish to achieve, whether the decision is wholly personal or in some way political. In a country that religion and state are embroiled, ensuring that the statistics for both state and church show you no longer wish to be associated with that religion is quite important. Indifference won't get any more secular schools built.

axer

MilanPan!c wrote: »

That's not entirely rational.

Belief is personal (by it's very nature) and if you express your feeling of superiority you will actually turn people away from your and your beliefs.

I am not expressing superiority. I am not telling people my beliefs since it is a lack of belief I have. I am highlighting that I am not a member of catholic church limited.

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Also, freedom from the church means not giving a **** about what they think.... Honestly, and you know this, they don't care about you, if you raise a fuss you'll simply show you still care about them. Put another way (as the old saying goes): the opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference.

I don't want them to care about me but I do want others to know that I have removed myself from an organisation that has my name on their books. Maybe if people see that it is pretty easy to do then they will consider it themselves. I think that when people offically take a step to defect from the church then they will probably (in my opinion) be more likely to ensure that catholic is not written in the census form. Also it will possibly make more people less likely to baptise their children as they will understand that the child should make the decision for themselves when they are adults and capable of making the decision. More people will then see how stupidly entangled the catholic church is in our constitution and goverment.

Also if someone was to check my records in years to come I want them to know that I defected from the church. For the laugh of it I would love for them to excommunicate me fully by writing so that I can frame it and stick it on my wall.

NothingMan

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

Thirded - this should happen soon. (Preferably on a Saturday or Sunday, when I can go.)

And we should have it here!

MilanPan!c

axer wrote: »

I am not expressing superiority. I am not telling people my beliefs since it is a lack of belief I have. I am highlighting that I am not a member of catholic church limited.

I don't want them to care about me but I do want others to know that I have removed myself from an organisation that has my name on their books. If someone was to check my records in years to come I want them to know that I defected from the church. For the laugh of it I would love for them to excommunicate me fully by writing so that I can frame it and stick it on my wall.

Sorry, but if you go up to a Catholic and tell them that you've renounced their faith they will feel you are both acting superior to them, proselytizing and judging them.

It's not a great plan.


As for wanting to be dis-associated with the church, well, it depends on what you really want. If you simply don't want a Xtian burial, write a will specifying that. It'll cost you a couple quid, but if it makes you sleep better at night, sweet.

One of the great freedoms though, of atheism, is that it doesn't matter what happens to you once you die... that's someone else's hang-up.

I would love to have my dead body eating by lions (for example)... at least something good happens for something. :P


I think that with time you may find the peaceful oblivion of not giving a toss.

If you need closure and that means making a stink then sure, go crazy, but in all honesty, all you're doing is playing their game.

If you really want to do it, I say do it on your own terms - I think thecatholicchurchisfullofpedophilesandiforonesayno.ie is still available - for example.

axer

MilanPan!c wrote: »

I think that with time you may find the peaceful oblivion of not giving a toss.

If religion did not affect my life so much then I wouldn't give a toss because it would be irrelevant. The problem is this country is still entangled by the catholic church because they claim they have a mandate from their members.

You've got 90% catholic school system
Teachers having to pretend they are catholic to get a job
No purchasing of alcohol on good friday for religious reasons
No abortion due to religious beliefs
Judges having to be sworn in "under god"
and so on...

Herbal Deity

Thaedydal wrote: »

I did, I found that I was in a state of automatic excommunication and to resolve it you are to get in touch with your bishop. I did but informed then I was unrepentant and would ever remain so and refused to make a confession and eventually I was excommunicated, took about a year. The documents are lodged with my will and the arch dioceses and a copy with my parents parish so they can't try and give me a christian burial.

Interesting...

How did the state of automatic excommunication come about?

Zillah

Herbal Deity wrote: »

Interesting...

How did the state of automatic excommunication come about?

I'd imagine they dunked her in a deep well and she didn't drown.

Erren Music

Herbal Deity wrote: »

Interesting...

How did the state of automatic excommunication come about?

So getting excommunicated is not the same as count me out then?

Dades

Erren Music wrote: »

So getting excommunicated is not the same as count me out then?

Sounds much more satisfying, tbh.

Erren Music

Dades wrote: »

Sounds much more satisfying, tbh.

It really does.

I see a new website for this

www.count-me-excommunicated.ie