I do know what you mean though about being reluctant to answer that question sometimes. I’ve never practiced any religion and feel no need to go out and get one. I do have a certain curiosity about the subject and have read widely, but there doesn’t seem to be a hole in my life that religion would fill. I frequently (especially now that I live in the US ‘bible belt’) am told that — even for a non-believer — church membership is an important thing, and some people I meet seem genuinely saddened and concerned for more than just my immortal soul. I guess they think my social and/or professional life must suffer from lack of connections, or something.

But I was born to an ex-Catholic and an ex-Baptist long enough ago that theirs was considered a ‘mixed’ marriage, and some of the more zealous members of my extended family tried to get me to pick one or the other and practice it (though to their credit, they didn’t try all that hard to push their particular flavor, for the most part).

I have a little trouble understanding, though, why it is important enough that folks feel they need to talk about it. I have had intercourse, though, if that’s what they are really wondering.