Happy Atheist Forum

Getting To Know You => Introductions => Topic started by: LifeisSweet on June 19, 2020, 05:23:31 PM

Title: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: LifeisSweet on June 19, 2020, 05:23:31 PM
Happy I found this site!  For decades I considered the most stable and sensible people would be happy atheists, i.e. able to find peace of mind, contentment, and happiness from a real world perspective without a spiritual crutch.  I even considered starting an Internet forum called "The Happy Atheist", but I see y'all beat me to it.

I grew up Roman Catholic in NJ and, as a scientific sort, managed to break the brainwashing over 50 years ago when I was 17.  Since atheism at the time was an unpopular ideology with potential consequences I remained "in the closet" for many years.  No more - I am proud of my beliefs and don't feel a need to defend myself or engage others in a debate as silly as the existence of Santa Claus.  I rarely even think of religion, except as another amusing (albeit sometimes frustrating) example of mankind's gullibility.  Makes me shake my head, but I don't let it under my skin.

Eight years ago I moved to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia, on the edge of the bible belt.  In spite of some 69 mostly Baptist churches in our county, amazingly I found other atheists here, and the religious folks (with one exception) don't ask me about my religion or what church I belong to.  Very accepting people, in contradiction to the common perception of Appalachia.

I am in the sweet spot of life now, retired, healthy, and happily married in God's country  ;D  I am savoring my remaining years of existence on this wet rock, a truly happy atheist!
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: No one on June 19, 2020, 05:34:32 PM
That's great and all.....but, did you bring the tacos?
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: LifeisSweet on June 19, 2020, 05:59:37 PM
Quote from: No one on June 19, 2020, 05:34:32 PM
That's great and all.....but, did you bring the tacos?

No tacos here, just fried chicken and pulled pork.  :)
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Tom62 on June 19, 2020, 06:05:02 PM
Quote from: LifeisSweet on June 19, 2020, 05:59:37 PM
Quote from: No one on June 19, 2020, 05:34:32 PM
That's great and all.....but, did you bring the tacos?

No tacos here, just fried chicken and pulled pork.  :)

I approve! Welcome to HAF!
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Dark Lightning on June 19, 2020, 06:15:27 PM
Welcome!
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Tank on June 19, 2020, 06:21:40 PM
Hello LifeisSweet

Looking forward to getting to know you  :)

Welcome to HAF.

Regards
Chris
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: hermes2015 on June 19, 2020, 06:23:29 PM
Welcome! You sound like the kind of guy who will fit right in. HAF is an interesting fruit salad of personalities, as you will discover if you stick around.
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: No one on June 19, 2020, 07:32:25 PM
Some of that "salad" has been tossed though.
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: billy rubin on June 19, 2020, 07:34:20 PM
welcome.

but i am sorry i do not fancy pulled pork

Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: No one on June 19, 2020, 07:36:13 PM
Then there's more for me. (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.stardock.net%2Fimages%2Fsmiles%2Fthemes%2Fdigicons%2FThumbs%2520Up.png&hash=e8ea77880ad2978fd09f5791a5436d85008666d2)
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: hermes2015 on June 19, 2020, 07:45:56 PM
Quote from: No one on June 19, 2020, 07:32:25 PM
Some of that "salad" has been tossed though.

That comment is getting a bit too close to home.
:unsure:
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Magdalena on June 19, 2020, 07:53:03 PM
Welcome, LifeisSweet.

I had to google, pulled pork.
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Recusant on June 19, 2020, 09:20:30 PM
Hello and welcome to HAF, LiveisSweet. It's good to hear you've found the Blue Ridge Mountains a congenial place to live. I hope that you enjoy your time reading and posting here.  :blue smiley:

:spagwelcome:
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Icarus on June 19, 2020, 11:21:00 PM
Welcome to the forum LifeIsSweet.

I once had some kinfolk who lived down in the "Holler" near Christiansburg.  The  mountains had such steep sides that grazing cows had to have shorter legs on one side so that they could stand upright.
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Bluenose on June 20, 2020, 12:45:31 AM
Er, g'day LifeIsSweet. I'm our resident troublemaker, umm, Australian.  I do take some things seriously, but not all that often. 
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: xSilverPhinx on June 20, 2020, 01:14:29 AM
Welcome to the forum, LifeisSweet! :wave hi:
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Randy on June 20, 2020, 01:54:57 AM
Hi LifeIsSweet! I live in the babble belt, near Atlanta. Oh, and I love pulled pork with barbecue sauce. I'm not sure it is made any other way as I've only had it one way.

I've only been with the forum a little over a month now and let me tell you, you have to watch out. There are some crazy people here. Why is everyone looking at me?
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: hermes2015 on June 20, 2020, 04:39:42 AM
Quote from: Randy on June 20, 2020, 01:54:57 AM
Hi LifeIsSweet! I live in the babble belt, near Atlanta. Oh, and I love pulled pork with barbecue sauce. I'm not sure it is made any other way as I've only had it one way.

I've only been with the forum a little over a month now and let me tell you, you have to watch out. There are some crazy people here. Why is everyone looking at me?

I agree. I feel so blessed that I am not one of the crazies.
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Magdalena on June 20, 2020, 05:50:45 AM
Quote from: Randy on June 20, 2020, 01:54:57 AM
Hi LifeIsSweet! I live in the babble belt, near Atlanta. Oh, and I love pulled pork with barbecue sauce. I'm not sure it is made any other way as I've only had it one way.

I've only been with the forum a little over a month now and let me tell you, you have to watch out. There are some crazy people here. Why is everyone looking at me?
:lol:

I'm one of the crazy people here.  :computerwave:
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: No one on June 20, 2020, 06:10:29 AM
I am not crazy, nor am I a people.
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Tom62 on June 20, 2020, 07:13:46 AM
I'm not crazy, I'm an airplane  :)
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: No one on June 20, 2020, 07:15:48 AM
Surely you can't be serious?
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Tom62 on June 20, 2020, 07:18:35 AM
Quote from: No one on June 20, 2020, 07:15:48 AM
Surely you can't be serious?

Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: hermes2015 on June 20, 2020, 08:39:25 AM
Quote from: Tom62 on June 20, 2020, 07:13:46 AM
I'm not crazy, I'm an airplane  :)

I so admire high flyers.
:toff:
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: LifeisSweet on June 20, 2020, 01:28:28 PM
Thanks all for your warm welcomes!  Looks like this is a light hearted place, as happy atheists should be (except of course for the crazies  :o).
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: xSilverPhinx on June 20, 2020, 02:10:07 PM
Quote from: Randy on June 20, 2020, 01:54:57 AM
I've only been with the forum a little over a month now and let me tell you, you have to watch out. There are some crazy people here.

Now let's get this straightjacket off. I am, let me repeat, am one of the crazies here.  ;D
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Dark Lightning on June 20, 2020, 02:24:55 PM
I'm not crazy, and I have the papers to prove it.
Title: Re: Greetings from the bible belt!
Post by: Randy on June 20, 2020, 02:51:12 PM
I'm certified and I have my certificate of being crazy proudly hanging on the wall.

It's a pretty lighthearted and fun group, LifeIsSweet. We don't talk about atheism that much. We deal with what's happening in the world, science (love this one), music, videos... I think you'll enjoy it here. :)