Hello!

[Synapse]

Hi. I'm an atheist and I just stumbled on to this forum. Thought it might be fun to join ...

Never really bought into religion although my parents are moderately religious. I'm a final-year college student right now, a psych major, and my interest lies in cognitive psychology/ neuroscience, hence the name. I realized pretty early that religions (and ghosts and Santa Claus) are basically human fabrications (I loved reading about Egyptian and Greek mythology as a kid, though), so I never had to be convinced that this universe is completely natural and free from supernatural additives. But because of my chosen field, I end up acquiring the evidence in spades anyway.

I also do a lot of scientific research, so it would be surprising that I am quite a skeptical person. Happy, but skeptical.

Anyway, I don't mean to bore you with my introduction. Looking forward to some intelligent exchanges with you guys.

[The Magic Pudding]

Hello, welcome but can you tone down the anti Santa stuff?
Some of us are trying to keep the better dreams alive.

[Recusant]

Hello and welcome to HAF, 5yn4p2e. I didn't find your introduction boring at all. Once you complete your final year, are you intending to go into postgraduate studies?

Notes for new members from Tank:

The Rules.

Users who comply with forum rules will graduate to full membership after 10 posts. Till that time your ability to post is limited to the "Getting to Know You" section of the forum. It is our hope that this small restriction improves the overall atmosphere of HAF.

Some threads you might find interesting.
Where did you get your username from?
10 Things About Yourself
Tell us A Bit About Where You're From
Photography
Non-religious pet peeves
Pets...what do you have?
How to tell your family you are an atheist.*
"Rules for Conducting a Discussion" by Dr. Mortimer J. Adler*

*You will need 10 posts before you can add a post to this thread, but you can read it at any time.

I hope you enjoy your time reading and posting here!

[Ali]

Hi and welcome!  I'm glad that you explained your user name; before that I assumed you were a newer craftier spam bot, lowering our gaurd by starting with a plausible introduction, and then going on to spam the board with adds for erection pills.

I have a BA in Psych, and I agree, neuroscience is fascinating.  I fell for my Husband in a Behavioral Neuroscience class; it's just that sexy. 

[xSilverPhinx]

Welcome!

[Asmodean]

Welcome. Is there really a z in synapse..?  ???

[OldGit]

Hello and welcome, password - for that is what I shall call you.  Synapze being a bit complicated, you see.

[Ali]

Hello and welcome, password - for that is what I shall call you.  Synapze being a bit complicated, you see.

*Snort*   

[The Black Jester]

Hi. I'm an atheist and I just stumbled on to this forum. Thought it might be fun to join ...

Never really bought into religion although my parents are moderately religious. I'm a final-year college student right now, a psych major, and my interest lies in cognitive psychology/ neuroscience, hence the name. I realized pretty early that religions (and ghosts and Santa Claus) are basically human fabrications (I loved reading about Egyptian and Greek mythology as a kid, though), so I never had to be convinced that this universe is completely natural and free from supernatural additives. But because of my chosen field, I end up acquiring the evidence in spades anyway.

I also do a lot of scientific research, so it would be surprising that I am quite a skeptical person. Happy, but skeptical.

Anyway, I don't mean to bore you with my introduction. Looking forward to some intelligent exchanges with you guys.

Hello Synapse!  I'm an amateur neuroscience fanatic (as far as one is able to be an amateur in said discipline), so I greatly look forward to your contributions.

[markmcdaniel]

Welcome. Its always good to have people who are trained in the sciences here.

[Synapse]

Hello and welcome to HAF, 5yn4p2e. I didn't find your introduction boring at all. Once you complete your final year, are you intending to go into postgraduate studies?

Yes, most definitely planning on getting a Ph.D. Looking for schools with labs that are doing interesting research on memory and/or attention.

Hello and welcome, password - for that is what I shall call you.  Synapze being a bit complicated, you see.

5yn4p2e was one of the auto-generated available email addresses that showed up when I signed up for an email account. 5yn4ps3 and a bunch of other combinations were already taken if I remember correctly ...

[TheWalkingContradiction]

(I loved reading about Egyptian and Greek mythology as a kid, though)

I like you already!

 Yes, most definitely planning on getting a Ph.D. Looking for schools with labs that are doing interesting research on memory and/or attention.

If I had another dozen lifetimes and the time that would come with them, psychology is a field I would want to master.  Have you ever thought of also looking into the psychology of religion?  I know that a number of atheists are in that field.

[Tank]

Hello Synapse

I can make you display name 'Synapse' if you like?
You still sign in as 5yn4p2e but your display name on your posts would be Synapse
Would you like that or not? Your choice.

Welcome to HAF 

Regards
Chris

[Synapse]

I can make you display name 'Synapse' if you like?
You still sign in as 5yn4p2e but your display name on your posts would be Synapse
Would you like that or not? Your choice.

Sure, let's go for that!

If I had another dozen lifetimes and the time that would come with them, psychology is a field I would want to master.  Have you ever thought of also looking into the psychology of religion?  I know that a number of atheists are in that field.

I know a grad student who researches on the feeling of 'God'. Pretty interesting stuff. I don't know about his religious stance though. As for myself, I've considered studying the psychology behind memetics and storytelling. Got a wonderful introduction to the concept  when I was taking an evolutionary psychology course. It is intriguing how the supernatural elements in a story are the ones that make it stand out in memory and makes them the ones more likely to be passed on, while common sense isn't as infectious. On the flip side, I think that being exposed to the many different stories out there (i.e. the Greeks and the Egyptians), kind of inoculated me against taking any story seriously. Religion as a psychological concept is definitely interesting.

But my true interest is still on memory itself though. I think my fate was decided the moment I opened a book on memory when I was 11.

[Tank]

I can make you display name 'Synapse' if you like?
You still sign in as 5yn4p2e but your display name on your posts would be Synapse
Would you like that or not? Your choice.

Sure, let's go for that!

Done.

You still sign in as 5yn4p2e, but will appear as Synapse