February 24, 2010
Faking It
Among the many trends covered by the NYT Freakonomics blog, this is certainly one of their most interesting:
We are agnostics living deep in the heart of Texas and our family fakes Christianity for social reasons. It’s not so much for the sake of my husband or myself but for our young children. We found by experience that if we were truthful about not being regular church attenders, the play dates suddenly ended. Thus started the faking of the religious funk.
Do our resident Texans attest?
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nope. pretty much out of the closet, but no play dates to worry about. I’d say these people aren’t looking hard enough, or living in the right place.
I can definitely see people being shunned for not going to church in some rural and suburban areas of Texas, but it hasn’t been my experience in Texas cities. I’m pretty much “out” as an atheist, but I have never felt excluded because of my views (by anyone worth knowing, anyway).
For what it’s worth, I would much rather associate with a true Christian than with someone who fakes it for social reasons.
I know people who feel like they have to do the opposite (but not in Texas). Much like Cindy, I am not interested in associating with them either.
Wasn’t that Peter guy one of those, Andrew?
Dudes,
We got a lil’ shout out from Kottke. http://kottke.org/10/02/pretend-christians
Does that happen often?
I wouldn’t say often, but it happens.
And, I do believe, Peter was one of those, Dave. He did make up for it in the end, however. So, I’ll give him that.