Happy Atheist Forum

Hi all, I'm new to this forum.

I have been an atheist as long as I can remember and have never felt the need to reinforce this personal belief (it's self-evident, innit). Consequently I have never really had any interest in what I call 'formal' atheism, i.e. Dawkins et al.

However, having attended the anti- Pope visit demonstration in London last weekend, I was appalled to learn that since I was baptised as a Catholic, the church counts me as a believer in its statistics.

My question to the wise people of the forum is: how do I formally leave the Catholic church? Apparently even excommunication doesn't exclude you, so a naked streak through the next Sunday service wouldn't be a quick and cheap solution.

 http://unbaptism.org/ (http://unbaptism.org/) 60 seconds, job done!

Welcome aboard.

Regards
Chris

EDIT. At the risk of getting shot down for providing information. This member at RatSkep Pudendum (http://www.rationalskepticism.org/member/Pudendum/) was Catholic and I do believe spent a lot of time and effort getting officially unbaptised as a Catholic, I seem to recall he managed it but I don't recall the details of how. If I come across him again I'll see if I can find out what he did.

EDIT, EDIT. Are you on facebook? I think I could find Pudendum on there for you.

Quote from: "squiddy"Hi all, I'm new to this forum.

I have been an atheist as long as I can remember and have never felt the need to reinforce this personal belief (it's self-evident, innit). Consequently I have never really had any interest in what I call 'formal' atheism, i.e. Dawkins et al.

However, having attended the anti- Pope visit demonstration in London last weekend, I was appalled to learn that since I was baptised as a Catholic, the church counts me as a believer in its statistics.

My question to the wise people of the forum is: how do I formally leave the Catholic church? Apparently even excommunication doesn't exclude you, so a naked streak through the next Sunday service wouldn't be a quick and cheap solution.

Welcome to the forum. I don't think you really need to worry about having an official separation from the church, unless you are extremely concerned that you will continue to be counted as a very minor statistic. You can always just never go again, or have anything to do with the church. If you allow the church to dictate even something as simple as how you leave it, then you are granting them a power they should not have, don't deserve, and will misuse. Don't grant them that power to choose how you disengage them.

Just a suggestion from another ex-catholic. That's how I did it at least. Working out great for me!

Enjoy the forum!

Funny, Catholics won't let you go and Protestants kick you off the list for long term non-attendance.  I was off the Presbyterian books at my childhood church before I even became an atheist; they sent a letter of removal that said either start showing up or your name is being taken off the membership list.  My response was they can figure out where to shove their letter and that I definitely had no intention of going back; it seemed like such a petty action on their part from my perspective since at the time I was still somewhat of a believer.

That said, I agree with McQ that unless you are just worried about adding to their numbers (which I understand adds to their income if you happen to live in the UK) that it seems walking away is just as good as being officially removed....it's not like just because they think you are a member that you really are one.  Though, I do like the streaking idea; if you can do that without getting arrested set up a video first and you can be famous on you tube.

Quote from: "Whitney"That said, I agree with McQ that unless you are just worried about adding to their numbers (which I understand adds to their income if you happen to live in the UK)

This is relevant to my interests, any more information?

Quote from: "SSY"

Quote from: "Whitney"That said, I agree with McQ that unless you are just worried about adding to their numbers (which I understand adds to their income if you happen to live in the UK)

This is relevant to my interests, any more information?

You know...I may be confusing it with how the Church of England is funded because I can't find any information on what I said above.  But, I am pretty sure some church or churches in the UK get funding based on membership and that they are reluctant to removed people from their membership books for that reason.

You should write a letter to the Bishop of the Diocese where you were baptized and formally "defect" from the Church.  The bishop is not required to accept your "defection" and can keep you on the records even though you request to be taken off.  Even if the bishop approves taking you off the rolls, you are still considered Catholic and bound by Catholic teachings.  You are just not counted in the statistics.  

Even though religious surveys are showing people leaving the RCC in large numbers, the RCC in America is telling their parishioners that Catholicism is growing.  It makes me wonder if they ever remove the names of the dead from their rolls.

Quote from: "squiddy"Hi all, I'm new to this forum.

I have been an atheist as long as I can remember and have never felt the need to reinforce this personal belief (it's self-evident, innit). Consequently I have never really had any interest in what I call 'formal' atheism, i.e. Dawkins et al.

However, having attended the anti- Pope visit demonstration in London last weekend, I was appalled to learn that since I was baptised as a Catholic, the church counts me as a believer in its statistics.

My question to the wise people of the forum is: how do I formally leave the Catholic church? Apparently even excommunication doesn't exclude you, so a naked streak through the next Sunday service wouldn't be a quick and cheap solution.

I was raised Catholic myself. However, I never went through the whole confirmation jazz, so I don't think I was ever "officially" apart of the church.  

Quote from: "notself"Even though religious surveys are showing people leaving the RCC in large numbers, the RCC in America is telling their parishioners that Catholicism is growing.  It makes me wonder if they ever remove the names of the dead from their rolls.

Third-World conversions.

Quote from: "notself"Even though religious surveys are showing people leaving the RCC in large numbers, the RCC in America is telling their parishioners that Catholicism is growing.  It makes me wonder if they ever remove the names of the dead from their rolls.

But then again, the RCC tells its parishioners A LOT of things.
It's not really a big mystery as to why their members are leaving, the RCC is still living in the dark ages.