Title: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: leftyguitarjoe on June 30, 2008, 11:33:14 PM
Post by: leftyguitarjoe on June 30, 2008, 11:33:14 PM
at a family reunion XD
Someone brought up death and could and spirits and stuff, and I politely and respectfully interjected my beliefs, and an intelligent conversation ensued. I explained how duality causes people to feel like they have a soul in them, but that it is actually just our own intelligence being misinterpreted. I also successfully defended several arguments that I've heard many times before, such as the earth's placement in the "Goldilocks" zone and liquid water being a rare compound in the solar system. Nobody got angry, and nobody damned me to hell!! All the family members that were present have no less respect for me as they did before the conversation.
I consider it a success!!
Someone brought up death and could and spirits and stuff, and I politely and respectfully interjected my beliefs, and an intelligent conversation ensued. I explained how duality causes people to feel like they have a soul in them, but that it is actually just our own intelligence being misinterpreted. I also successfully defended several arguments that I've heard many times before, such as the earth's placement in the "Goldilocks" zone and liquid water being a rare compound in the solar system. Nobody got angry, and nobody damned me to hell!! All the family members that were present have no less respect for me as they did before the conversation.
I consider it a success!!
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: Kylyssa on June 30, 2008, 11:45:45 PM
Post by: Kylyssa on June 30, 2008, 11:45:45 PM
Congratulations. I'm glad it went so well for you. I literally got spat on one of the times I came out to someone and got the snot beat out of me the first time someone outed me.
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: leftyguitarjoe on June 30, 2008, 11:49:51 PM
Post by: leftyguitarjoe on June 30, 2008, 11:49:51 PM
Quote from: "Kylyssa"Congratulations. I'm glad it went so well for you. I literally got spat on one of the times I came out to someone and got the snot beat out of me the first time someone outed me.
wow. thats a shame. :eek: :upset:
love thy neighbor, eh?
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: susangail on July 01, 2008, 12:25:12 AM
Post by: susangail on July 01, 2008, 12:25:12 AM
Great for you Joe!!
I can't believe they did that Kylyssa, that's horrible.
Quote from: "leftyguitarjoe"wow. thats a shame. :eek: :upset:Love thy neighbor, of course! "Love thy neighbor... if thy neighbor doth believeth in Him. If not, BURN, BURN, BURN!!!"
love thy neighbor, eh?
I can't believe they did that Kylyssa, that's horrible.
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: MariaEvri on July 01, 2008, 01:21:42 PM
Post by: MariaEvri on July 01, 2008, 01:21:42 PM
Quote from: "leftyguitarjoe"Quote from: "Kylyssa"Congratulations. I'm glad it went so well for you. I literally got spat on one of the times I came out to someone and got the snot beat out of me the first time someone outed me.
wow. thats a shame. :eek: :upset:
love thy neighbor, eh?
I think that part actually meant "love thy christian neigbour" and Im not being sarcastic. I really believe thats how it was meant!
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: curiosityandthecat on July 01, 2008, 03:39:28 PM
Post by: curiosityandthecat on July 01, 2008, 03:39:28 PM
Quote from: "leftyguitarjoe"I consider it a success!!
Huzzah and hurrah! ;)
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: susangail on July 01, 2008, 04:22:01 PM
Post by: susangail on July 01, 2008, 04:22:01 PM
Quote from: "MariaEvri"I think that part actually meant "love thy christian neigbour" and Im not being sarcastic. I really believe thats how it was meant!You know what's so sad? It isn't that. In church, I was taught it as "love thy neighbor" meaning anyone, Christian and non-Christian alike. But it seems exclusively for Christians, I know.
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: leftyguitarjoe on July 01, 2008, 06:37:00 PM
Post by: leftyguitarjoe on July 01, 2008, 06:37:00 PM
Quote from: "susangail"Quote from: "MariaEvri"I think that part actually meant "love thy christian neigbour" and Im not being sarcastic. I really believe thats how it was meant!You know what's so sad? It isn't that. In church, I was taught it as "love thy neighbor" meaning anyone, Christian and non-Christian alike. But it seems exclusively for Christians, I know.
Actually, in "The God Delusion", Dawkins comments that the old testament commandments only pretained to Jews. "Thou shall not kill---a jew", ect....
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: susangail on July 01, 2008, 08:13:15 PM
Post by: susangail on July 01, 2008, 08:13:15 PM
Quote from: "leftyguitarjoe"Really? Wow, interesting.Quote from: "susangail"Quote from: "MariaEvri"I think that part actually meant "love thy christian neigbour" and Im not being sarcastic. I really believe thats how it was meant!You know what's so sad? It isn't that. In church, I was taught it as "love thy neighbor" meaning anyone, Christian and non-Christian alike. But it seems exclusively for Christians, I know.
Actually, in "The God Delusion", Dawkins comments that the old testament commandments only pretained to Jews. "Thou shall not kill---a jew", ect....
But that's how it was taught in my church... they also said that the verses condoning slavery and saying that women are less than men aren't relevant to today, but the ones condemning homosexuality most certainly are.
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: leftyguitarjoe on July 01, 2008, 09:24:10 PM
Post by: leftyguitarjoe on July 01, 2008, 09:24:10 PM
Quote from: "susangail"Quote from: "leftyguitarjoe"Really? Wow, interesting.Quote from: "susangail"You know what's so sad? It isn't that. In church, I was taught it as "love thy neighbor" meaning anyone, Christian and non-Christian alike. But it seems exclusively for Christians, I know.
Actually, in "The God Delusion", Dawkins comments that the old testament commandments only pretained to Jews. "Thou shall not kill---a jew", ect....
But that's how it was taught in my church... they also said that the verses condoning slavery and saying that women are less than men aren't relevant to today, but the ones condemning homosexuality most certainly are.
the bible puts women down constantly. Hell, its probably the worst moral standard I've ever seen. In the words of Dawkins (once again): "...scriptural routes, if followed through religiously, encourage a system of morals which any civilized modern person, religious or not, would find ---- I can put no more gently ---- obnoxious"
You can find that one in the first paragraph of chapter 7 in "The God Delusion"
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: susangail on July 01, 2008, 09:35:34 PM
Post by: susangail on July 01, 2008, 09:35:34 PM
Quote from: "leftyguitarjoe"the bible puts women down constantly. Hell, its probably the worst moral standard I've ever seen. In the words of Dawkins (once again): "...scriptural routes, if followed through religiously, encourage a system of morals which any civilized modern person, religious or not, would find ---- I can put no more gently ---- obnoxious"I've got to get that book.
You can find that one in the first paragraph of chapter 7 in "The God Delusion"
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: leftyguitarjoe on July 01, 2008, 09:37:37 PM
Post by: leftyguitarjoe on July 01, 2008, 09:37:37 PM
Quote from: "susangail"Quote from: "leftyguitarjoe"the bible puts women down constantly. Hell, its probably the worst moral standard I've ever seen. In the words of Dawkins (once again): "...scriptural routes, if followed through religiously, encourage a system of morals which any civilized modern person, religious or not, would find ---- I can put no more gently ---- obnoxious"I've got to get that book.
You can find that one in the first paragraph of chapter 7 in "The God Delusion"
http://www.amazon.com/God-Delusion-Rich ... 628&sr=1-1 (http://www.amazon.com/God-Delusion-Richard-Dawkins/dp/0618918248/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214944628&sr=1-1)
you can get them used for REALLY cheap.
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: susangail on July 01, 2008, 10:46:03 PM
Post by: susangail on July 01, 2008, 10:46:03 PM
Quote from: "leftyguitarjoe"http://www.amazon.com/God-Delusion-Richard-Dawkins/dp/0618918248/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214944628&sr=1-1Thank you! I want to order one cheap, but I'd have to use my parents' credit. They'd see what book it is. Not good....
you can get them used for REALLY cheap.
Nope, I'm gonna have to dig 20 bucks out of my pockets and go to good old B & N. But thank you anyway!
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: leftyguitarjoe on July 01, 2008, 10:51:32 PM
Post by: leftyguitarjoe on July 01, 2008, 10:51:32 PM
Quote from: "susangail"Quote from: "leftyguitarjoe"http://www.amazon.com/God-Delusion-Richard-Dawkins/dp/0618918248/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214944628&sr=1-1Thank you! I want to order one cheap, but I'd have to use my parents' credit. They'd see what book it is. Not good....
you can get them used for REALLY cheap.
Nope, I'm gonna have to dig 20 bucks out of my pockets and go to good old B & N. But thank you anyway!
It is a fantastic book. The copy I have is from my local library, but I am going to buy myself a copy as well.
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: susangail on July 01, 2008, 11:34:24 PM
Post by: susangail on July 01, 2008, 11:34:24 PM
Quote from: "leftyguitarjoe"It is a fantastic book. The copy I have is from my local library, but I am going to buy myself a copy as well.Oohh, never thought of the library, hmm... But yeah, heard tons about it, can't wait!
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: MariaEvri on July 02, 2008, 12:28:13 PM
Post by: MariaEvri on July 02, 2008, 12:28:13 PM
Quote from: "leftyguitarjoe"Quote from: "susangail"Quote from: "MariaEvri"I think that part actually meant "love thy christian neigbour" and Im not being sarcastic. I really believe thats how it was meant!You know what's so sad? It isn't that. In church, I was taught it as "love thy neighbor" meaning anyone, Christian and non-Christian alike. But it seems exclusively for Christians, I know.
Actually, in "The God Delusion", Dawkins comments that the old testament commandments only pretained to Jews. "Thou shall not kill---a jew", ect....
exactely I now remember that part.
Title: Re: I came out of the atheist closet
Post by: Chimera on July 02, 2008, 04:33:57 PM
Post by: Chimera on July 02, 2008, 04:33:57 PM
Congratulations on a successful "coming out."