Do Aetheists have Rituals?

EASTER AT THE TIFFINS

I grew up around, but not part of, many rituals related to the Protestant tradition. My father was a minister. My mother, however, was a disenfranchised member of his various congregations. She eventually left the flock after years of being treated as a pretty woman without any ideas to contribute to the church. The final straw was being disregarded during a search for a new minister at a suburban church Dad was leaving.

Thus, our family had few rituals or traditions that connected us to a society or culture we lived in. We had few of the standard national traditions (Australia Day?) or religious ones, either. We rarely had extended family within 3,000 miles. We were on our own in a time and place that was not doing a great job of creating new events or practices to give people meaning in their lives or a sense of community.

Our family tried a few organizations, usually related to the outdoors. Mostly we came up with our own patterns and connections to each other.

Since my teens, I have flirted with many groups and organizations. Usually, I have felt either excluded or superior to those conglomerations. Self-identifying as an Aussie-Berkeleyan had no meaning other than being and feeling different. I did find a few odd folks to hang around with. I was not entirely alone in my perspective.

Children changed that attitude, but it took time. Jeane and I have wanted the kids to understand they are part of the world around them and not to feel alone.

I wish I had understood more when the kids were younger about what I was looking for. However, their was much value in the process of finding rituals and connections for ourselves rather than having them thrust upon us.

DILLON BEACH 2006