Happy Atheist Forum

So I was raised Catholic, but I've been an atheist since long before the web was around. Over the years, I've told people many different stories about my religious status. I haven't necessarily lied about my non-belief, but I haven't always told the whole truth either. For ten or fifteen years, I told people that I was agnostic even when I knew I didn't believe. People seemed to accept an agnostic more easily than an outright atheist.

For a while, I dated a girl whose father was a minister. She knew I didn't believe, but I told her father that 'I was raised Catholic, but I haven't been to church in years.' and let him draw conclusions from there.  I decided that was better than provoking a confrontation with him. I often use the same line when I know the person I'm talking to is religious and I don't feel like discussing religious issues.

I sometimes feel a little like a hypocrite when I don't just tell people that I am an atheist. Oh well, maybe we all have to live with a little bit of personal hypocrisy. Then again, sometimes the hypocrisy is deliberate. Take the photo I used for my avatar, for instance.

A month or two ago, some friends and I decided that it would be fun to put up a website poking fun at the hypocrisy of organized religion. Once the site was up, I decided to go looking for like-minded people on the web. It is strange that it never really occurred to me to look for atheist discussion forums on the internet. I have lots of opinions, and in the right crowd, I enjoy a spirited debate.  Looking around, I found this forum, and I've liked what I've read so far.

That's probably enough for an introduction. I'm looking forward to hanging out here.  And if you want a laugh, follow the link in my sig. I'd be very interested in hearing what you think of the site.

Love the Church! A truly modern creation.    (Are you Mike?)

Welcome, Elvis Priestly!

Welcome to the forum ... love the website

Kyu

Nice website.  You'd have a solid religion there if it were at least a few hundred years older or demanded vast amounts of money and time to learn the truth.  Sadly, you do neither, and without a profound amount of mysticism that suggests that the people of the ancient world were more intelligent than we are today, I just can't see you getting many folks to take it up.  

Welcome to the forum, make yourself at home.

Welcome to the forum!  Cool website and concept.  

Agreed, just make it about 1000 years older and you've got yourself a bona fide religion!

Welcome to the forum!

Oh, and inb4 elvis didn't do no drugs.

 

Hey Lila,

Yes, I am 'the' Mike in The Church of Mike.  My blog on the site tells a little about how that name happened.  Basically a few friends and I decided that was the most entertaining of the domain names that were available. Maybe I should bill it as a cult of personality.

Others point out that it could be a big thing if it were a thousand years old or more.  Well then, I expect it to be a big thing in the year 3000.  

Thanks for the welcome.

*goes  :unsure: )

  Welcome to the forums! Love the word play on the last name.

Welcome to the forum, Elvis (or is it Mike?)! I loved these funny pictures on your website!

Welcome, Elvis.

It sounds like we've had similar experiences in regards to our Catholic upbringing and reservations about expressing our atheism.  I can't say that I will start my own church, though.  

I like the website.  I agree that you need some mysticism to really get the ball rolling with a decent following.  Practice slide-of-hand tricks.  Also, if you are using a 'host' in your religion, can I suggest that it be an Oreo cookie.  I may still be catholic if this were the case in my mother's church.  You may want to swap out the wine too with, maybe, B&B or another liqueur for favorable to cookies.  Just a suggestion.

Hey DennisK,

If I get to decide, I think I'll go for chips and beer instead of bread and wine in my new religion.  I'm still developing the site, and I'm going to put more user interactions on it.  Rate the pictures, comment on them, host more blogs, ...etc. Just for entertainment, I was thinking about democratizing the religion. Let the people decide!  

Anyway, I'm a ways from getting all that stuff into the site.  One guy can only write code so fast, and I have a few other things to do in life...

I dunno tho, I've been trying to avoid that whole mysticism thing. That's what makes religion so unbelievable to me. Hocus pocus, and Jonah pops out of the belly of a whale, alive!  Yeah, Right...

Maybe I need some sort of buddhist/new age meditation thing going on. I think I prefer communing with nature, something more environmentalist, I suppose.  Maybe I should try to resurrect something druidic. I mention Gaia Theory on the site, maybe I could just go straight for a Gaia cult. Anybody have suggestions?

Chips and beer!  Wow, I have been a practicing member of your church for decades.  I guess you want your back pay of 10% per year?  As my college roommate always said, "I'll get you back at the bar".

Quote from: "Elvis Priestly"If I get to decide, I think I'll go for chips and beer instead of bread and wine in my new religion.

I'm totally in.

Can we do this, instead of singing hymns? (Preferably after the chips and beer, of course.)

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages39.fotki.com%2Fv1229%2Fphotos%2F8%2F892548%2F6116196%2FWillSmithDance-vi.gif&hash=d8b67945de3c68e19bbdf46c9552efbb84397940)

Since you're very familiar with catholicism, what about incorporating a drinking game with kneeling?  Just a thought.

Quote from: "DennisK"Since you're very familiar with catholicism, what about incorporating a drinking game with kneeling?  Just a thought.

It could be similar to beer pong. Except when you make one, the person has to kneel down and take the beer from a beer bong. I can see a drinking games revolution in the making...(pondering wildly)

Elvis -
I am enjoying the prospect of your "church". You could gain a huge cyber, hypothetical "following". I only say hypothetical because I'm sure your following (including possibly me, depending on what type of drinking games are implemented, haha) would use this phrase, "If I were to go to church, this is the type of 'church' I would attend."

Why not drink whiskey instead of beer in our churches? Whiskey is a great spirit and its name is derived form the Gaelic word uisge-beatha which translates into "Water of Life".  It is a fact that drinking loads of whisky brings you faster to the Lord than a couple of six-packs.

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"

Quote from: "Elvis Priestly"If I get to decide, I think I'll go for chips and beer instead of bread and wine in my new religion.

I'm totally in.

Can we do this, instead of singing hymns? (Preferably after the chips and beer, of course.)

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages39.fotki.com%2Fv1229%2Fphotos%2F8%2F892548%2F6116196%2FWillSmithDance-vi.gif&hash=d8b67945de3c68e19bbdf46c9552efbb84397940)

Where the hell do you get those totally hilarious gifs?

People keep staring at me at work when i suddenly guffaw rather loudly.

Quote from: "Tom62"Why not drink whiskey instead of beer in our churches? Whiskey is a great spirit and its name is derived form the Gaelic word uisge-beatha which translates into "Water of Life".  It is a fact that drinking loads of whisky brings you faster to the Lord than a couple of six-packs.

I don't know if I should believe you or not.  I feel pretty close to god after a 6 pack.  If it were written somewhere and put in a book, I'd be more apt to believe it.  Besides, if it were published one could use that as 'proof'.

Quote from: "karadan"Where the hell do you get those totally hilarious gifs?

People keep staring at me at work when i suddenly guffaw rather loudly.

Well, that one, specifically, I got from California. See, I used to live in West Philadelphia. I was born and raised there, and spent quite a bit of my time on the playground, chilling, relaxing, playing basketball, you know. Unfortunately, one day after school a couple of guys started making trouble and my mother, being overprotective, got scared after I got into one little fight. She decided to send me to live with her sister and brother-in-law in Bel Air.

So, I called a cab. When it came close I noticed the license plate said "FRESH" and some dice were hanging from the rearview mirror. I thought to myself, 'Well, this is a rare sight,' but quickly dismissed that idea. "To Bel-Air, my good man," I told the driver.

After a long drive, we pulled up to a rather stately home, whereupon I thanked the driver and sent him on his way. I surveyed my new castle and felt rather royal, and thus decided to take my place upon my throne as the Prince of Bel Air.

Quote from: "DennisK"

Quote from: "Tom62"Why not drink whiskey instead of beer in our churches? Whiskey is a great spirit and its name is derived form the Gaelic word uisge-beatha which translates into "Water of Life".  It is a fact that drinking loads of whisky brings you faster to the Lord than a couple of six-packs.

I don't know if I should believe you or not.  I feel pretty close to god after a 6 pack.  If it were written somewhere and put in a book, I'd be more apt to believe it.  Besides, if it were published one could use that as 'proof'.

Scotch whiskey is pretty good, but personally I prefer beer. And beer goes better with chips. After all, you have to have the 'host' to go with your alcohol if you want a proper Eucharist. Besides, whiskey brings you 'close to god' way to fast to make a proper drinking game.

Quote from: "oldschooldoc"

Quote from: "DennisK"Since you're very familiar with catholicism, what about incorporating a drinking game with kneeling?  Just a thought.

It could be similar to beer pong. Except when you make one, the person has to kneel down and take the beer from a beer bong. I can see a drinking games revolution in the making...(pondering wildly)

Elvis -
I am enjoying the prospect of your "church". You could gain a huge cyber, hypothetical "following". I only say hypothetical because I'm sure your following (including possibly me, depending on what type of drinking games are implemented, haha) would use this phrase, "If I were to go to church, this is the type of 'church' I would attend."

I'm not into the subservience thing implied by kneeling. I think we should sit (or stand) comfortably for our drinking games. Beer pong sounds good, although I like quarters better. Or perhaps I should say that "I'm better at quarters".  At least I used to be, I haven't played in years.  Then again, who says we have to designate just one drinking game? We can have as many as we want!  It's not like the Catholic Church has just one prayer.

As far as going to church, I have discussed that one a little with my disciples. None of us really likes going to church. Part of the philosophy behind The Church of Mike http://www.thechurchofmike.org/Mikism.jsp is environmentalism. We were thinking about holding religious observances in a natural setting like a forest or field. After this discussion though, I'm warming to the idea of designating one or more bars as places of worship. I am having visions of a serious pub crawl to visit and approve several bars for that purpose.  

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"

Quote from: "karadan"Where the hell do you get those totally hilarious gifs?

People keep staring at me at work when i suddenly guffaw rather loudly. :D :D