Hello from a newbie

[Nimelia]

Hello guys!

I found this forum via a google search on "atheist forum" and I quickly decided to join.

If I were to describe myself somehow, I would say that I'm a young atheist/freethinker/humanist from Norway. I'm a student of law and I love to read books and go for long walks in the wild accompanied by my dog. As for my literary preferences, I am especially fond of fantasy, first and foremost Tolkien, but I can read anything well-written. I also like to draw and paint, but I haven't found much time for these activites this last semester.

When it comes to my relationship with religion, I'd say it's somewhat ambivalent. I do respect profound religious people, but my respect is lost when religious people try to enforce their view upon me. An anectdote from my life may illustrate this. I remember one time I had to go to church with my class (yes, in Norway, school church ceremonies are annual routine...) and the reverend was trying to make us all grasp what God's role was. He said "You know, God high up in the Heaven, he is our Father. He is your father and your father, my father and your father" as he nodded his head in different directions to the congregation. I was six years old, so you can imagine how insulted I felt. I knew better than anyone who my father is, and to say that anyone else than the tall man with the black hair and black beard and round glasses, my mother's husband was my father, the man I had known through my entire life,  was utterly outrageous. I knew the reverend lied and I could never trust men of the church again.

I hope my stay here will be interesting, philosophically and a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to getting know you all.

-Nim

[Kylyssa]

I knew better than anyone who my father is, and to say that anyone else than the tall man with the black hair and black beard and round glasses, my mother's husband was my father, the man I had known through my entire life,  was utterly outrageous.

Even small children can recognize completely ridiculous assertions sometimes.  

Welcome, Nimelia!

[McQ]

Hello guys!

I found this forum via a google search on "atheist forum" and I quickly decided to join.

If I were to describe myself somehow, I would say that I'm a young atheist/freethinker/humanist from Norway. I'm a student of law and I love to read books and go for long walks in the wild accompanied by my dog. As for my literary preferences, I am especially fond of fantasy, first and foremost Tolkien, but I can read anything well-written. I also like to draw and paint, but I haven't found much time for these activites this last semester.

When it comes to my relationship with religion, I'd say it's somewhat ambivalent. I do respect profound religious people, but my respect is lost when religious people try to enforce their view upon me. An anectdote from my life may illustrate this. I remember one time I had to go to church with my class (yes, in Norway, school church ceremonies are annual routine...) and the reverend was trying to make us all grasp what God's role was. He said "You know, God high up in the Heaven, he is our Father. He is your father and your father, my father and your father" as he nodded his head in different directions to the congregation. I was six years old, so you can imagine how insulted I felt. I knew better than anyone who my father is, and to say that anyone else than the tall man with the black hair and black beard and round glasses, my mother's husband was my father, the man I had known through my entire life,  was utterly outrageous. I knew the reverend lied and I could never trust men of the church again.

I hope my stay here will be interesting, philosophically and a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to getting know you all.

-Nim

Welcome, Nim! Thanks for introducing yourself. Norway is in the house!!!!  

[Squid]

Welcome to the HAF.  Norway?  Hmmm, I've always wanted to visit there someday and see the land where my family is from.

[joeactor]

Hello Nim - Welcome...

So, do you like Lutefisk?

Glad you found us,
JoeActor

[Whitney]

Hi Nim, welcome to the forum.

[curiosityandthecat]

Welcome.  

[Nimelia]

Thank you all! You seem like a very friendly lot. I think I feel at home here.  

I've always wanted to visit there someday and see the land where my family is from.

How interesting that you have Norwegian ancestors! Do you live in the US? We know of some relatives who emigrated to America and I think they turned mormon...  They came back to visit my grandmother's family years ago and they were very pleasant. I think nearly everyone in Norway has some close or not so close relatives across the Atlantic.  Have you any ideas on where you would like to go and what to see in Norway?

So, do you like Lutefisk?

JoeActor

Well.... What can I say? My parents LOVE Lutefisk, but whenever they're having it, they lend the kitchen to my brother and me before they start preparing that jelly-like fish so that we can cook something else... I think it's absolutely disgusting, to be frank.
I won't get into a discussion on how one should prepare fish, but I don't see the point in bathing fish in lye for ages, and then eat it. I promise you, I have tried Lutefisk several times, but I still don't like it.

[Asmodean]

Norway is in the house!!!!  :pop:

[Ihateyoumike]

Welcome Nimelia!
And thank you for that story from your childhood, always interesting to hear other people's stories of when they started to open their minds.

[wazzz]

welcome aboard