Hello from Finland!

[Maakuz]

Hi, i´m a 27-year old male atheist from Finland, and I just wanted to say how cool it was that I found this forum.

All the other atheist sites i´ve found are just great, but they lack an active place to discuss like this site.

I´ve been sceptic for several years now, but only recently have I realized how life-consuming religions can be. It dawned to me, when I, mainly for curiosity, went on and watched as my 24-year old brother was baptised at the local charismatic christian community.

I was promised a LECTURE about the subject "Is christianity false?". I was promised there would be other atheists, as well as agnostics. Above all, there was free food. :?

So, we had the food, and we 5 peeps at the table had some very interesting talk. Not about religions, but about everyday, normal things. And I thought to myself, "these are some pretty smart and nice people!"".

15 minutes later, I wondered in awe:" have these smart people gone mad?? Who are they singing to??". The lecture wasnt a lecture, it was a preach. There were atheists- 1 of them. Me. I was the only one who wasn´t singing out loud and participating prayers. At that time, it started to feel more and more like brainwash. And I find that just horrifying.

Anyway, that was my story. Great site! Its late in here, so I`ll be back tomorrow and dig deeper on the forum and the articles. Have a most wonderful day!

[Sidbob]

Welcome Maakuz, I'm new here myself and you made the right choice coming here, its very laid back.

As for your experience, it seems as though some theological institutions can only try and appeal to people in a spiritual way rather than an academic or even intelligent way.

I just try and keep an open mind and live for today.

[McQ]

Welcome, Maakuz. Glad to have you here.

[SteveS]

Hi Maakuz - Welcome to the forum!  When I was a kid, I got roped into a roller skating birthday party with a friend.  They neglected to tell me it was really a Born Again Christian roller skating party that I got invited to.  Nothing like a lot of people in an empty gym singing and swaying their arms with their eyes closed to make you think you just got drafted into the Branch Davidians or something......

Yeah, they made me sit through Sunday school.  It was not fun.  I never attended any of this guys other "birthday" parties.

Finland, huh?  Cool.  I'm a hockey fan in Chicago, and one of our better pro players on the roster is Tuomo Ruutu who is also from Finland.  He did a little blurb on the big screen between periods teaching Finnish words for hockey terms.  It was cool.  He's having a bit slower of a year so far - but he's really good.

Again - welcome!

[MommaSquid]

Welcome to the forum, Maakuz.  I hope you enjoy your time here.

[bitter_sweet_symphony]

Welcome abroad Maakuz. Nice to have you here.

[rlrose328]

Welcome to the forums!  Hope you have a great time here!

[Ninja Donkey]

Good to have you, Maakuz

By the way, what is Finland's national religion anyway? Just out of curiosity.

[Maakuz]

Hello all again, and lots of thanks for the warm welcome!

About the religion of Finland. More than 80 % of our population (around 5,3 million) are members of evangelical lutheran church. About 1,1 % are orthodox; these two are our national churches. We have about 9000 catholics.

Religion doesn´t play very big role in our society, and it of course is a big subject of worry for the deeply religious folks- just weeks ago, they had an about 1 million euro campaign on telly that tells people "jesse diggs you". It´s obviously directed to young people, and you may guess who "jesse" is.

The big talk in religious circles is woman priests- women have been allowed to be priests for years now, but many fundamental male ones refuse to accept this.

Atheists got a huge victory some couple of years ago. They wanted to make quitting the church (or resigning...? sry for the grammar) possible via internet. And whaddayaknow, the government actually made it possible!

Last year, more than 32000 peeps quitted the church via net, and just yesterday, 8th of january, 166 people quitted!

I´ll be,for sure, reading this forum daily if I can; after all the religious (and useless) bombardment I receive from my relatives, it´s awesome to visit a place where people are clear-minded and rational. Thank you!

[tacoma_kyle]

You got your stats down, .

[Maakuz]

heh, I´m such a fan-boy of scientific method... :borg:

[Kona]

Hi and welcome!   I'm sorry that you have to endure the 'Finland Fundies'.  Of course, it is not surprising that they would use somewhat deceptive tactics since they are already self-deceived.  Hope the food was good, but probably not salmon pâté and caviar.  

[kimmance]

Hi Maakuz, welcome, I'm new too!

I think Norway is similar to how you described Finland. Everybody's registered Lutheran, but nobody goes to church.

I lived there for a couple of years and a local friend was showing me around when I first got there. She pointed out the town church and said, "there's where you go three times in your life...once when you're born, when you get married, and when you die."

[Maakuz]

Hello my fellow free-thinkers!

Kona, yes the food was delicious, creamy chicken, salad and rice; unfortunately that was the only good and real thing they had to offer.

Kimmance, nice to know things are looking pretty decent in Norway, too.
One big thing about FInlands religion vs. Americans one, however (remembered it when I read your excellent "three times to church" -comment. Hehe! )

I understand it´s forbidden in most states of America to "teach" religion, and this basically is what the ID vs. evolution is all about. Unfortunately, here in Finland, religion is just as normal a subject as maths or history in schools. I, too, was made to do the "I believe in lord"- preaches, as were nearly oll of the other children at the time. I was about 7-10 years old at that period, and I remember thinking  the few ones that did not have to do this (by their parents written plea), were pretty strange. Normal kids by all means, but why they didn´do it with the rest of us?

Nowadays I´m quite angry at our shool system, because I find that putting strange ideas of some invisible man to youngsters heads is obscene. Teach them facts, and let them choose when they´re 18!!

[moosegoose]

What! Another Finn here!
It's a small world...