Happy Atheist Forum

My name is Amanda. I'm a Christian living in Michigan.  I'm not here to shove Jesus down anyone's throat. I talk a lot so my posts will probably be few and far between but also excruciatingly long. I'm very opinionated, but that doesn't mean you have to agree with anything I say (though I do smile a little when people do agree with me; it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside). I hope to get to know all of you, so see you around!

Well, Amanda, welcome to the forum (something you would certainly not be if you were here to shove Jesus down anyone's throat   ).

Thank you for the warm welcome.  Frankly I wasn't sure what the response would be to my introduction to the forum, so thank you!

Quote from: "MonstersInsideMe"Thank you for the warm welcome.  Frankly I wasn't sure what the response would be to my introduction to the forum, so thank you!

Everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt; atheists know this better than most. You'll find good, intelligent, well-spoken people here. I promise.  

Welcome

Interesting choice of user-name. Is it something particularly meaningful to you?

Hi Amanda, I look forward to your long posts =).

Well, I am studying microbiology and hope to pursue graduate work in the field of medical microbiology working to find treatments for parasites and such or working to start out as a medical technician testing lab samples maybe.  I am also majoring in the Environment though and hope to set up a purification system for water in Mexico.  My username comes from a program on animal planet called Monsters Inside Me about parasites. I know, weird right?

Also, I'm a big Harry Potter fan and enjoyed the first three Twilight books when they first came out but now I am kind of wary about displaying too much interest because of the huge craze that has begun over Twilight in which I want no part. Also, I fought valiantly to save the show Moonlight that was on CBS last year but got cancelled.  It was about a vampire PI (nothing like Angel although I also greatly enjoyed Buffy as a child...and Xena, Hercules, Jack of All Trades, Cleopatra 2525, Beastmaster, and Star Trek.  Mind you I was about 7-12 in this period).  Where was I?  So yeah, I really loved Moonlight.

Sorry about the long post...I guess I like to talk about myself.  I like to hear about others too though, so feel free to tell me something about yourselves! (here or in a PM)

Quote from: "MonstersInsideMe"Well, I am studying microbiology and hope to pursue graduate work in the field of medical microbiology working to find treatments for parasites and such or working to start out as a medical technician testing lab samples maybe.  I am also majoring in the Environment though and hope to set up a purification system for water in Mexico.  My username comes from a program on animal planet called Monsters Inside Me about parasites. I know, weird right?

Not weird, cool.

Quote from: "JillSwift"

Quote from: "MonstersInsideMe"Well, I am studying microbiology and hope to pursue graduate work in the field of medical microbiology working to find treatments for parasites and such or working to start out as a medical technician testing lab samples maybe.  I am also majoring in the Environment though and hope to set up a purification system for water in Mexico.  My username comes from a program on animal planet called Monsters Inside Me about parasites. I know, weird right?

Not weird, cool. :blush:

I had to add this smiley too, but it doesn't mean anything I just wanted to use it:  :brick:  :flip:  :typehappy:  woohoo  :exphug:  :fish:  :cake:  :welcome:  :read

Gosh, this is sooooo much fun!  I'm such a smiley w****. (I don't want to get a warning for language on my first day) :eek:

OK, I'm really done with the smileys now.  

Quote from: "MonstersInsideMe"Well, I am studying microbiology and hope to pursue graduate work in the field of medical microbiology working to find treatments for parasites and such or working to start out as a medical technician testing lab samples maybe.  I am also majoring in the Environment though and hope to set up a purification system for water in Mexico.  My username comes from a program on animal planet called Monsters Inside Me about parasites. I know, weird right?

In your microbiology class, have you ever thought about why these billions (if not trillions) of microbes and parasites and such, though created (allegedly) by god aren't mentioned in the bible? Something I've thought about before and never gotten a good answer to. He created em, so he obviously knew about em... :)

Hismikeness

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Quote from: "MonstersInsideMe"Gosh, this is sooooo much fun!  I'm such a smiley w****. (I don't want to get a warning for language on my first day) :eek:

We don't worry about "bad" words here as long as they aren't used in a derogatory sense and directed towards another user or group of people.

Quote from: "hismikeness"In your microbiology class, have you ever thought about why these billions (if not trillions) of microbes and parasites and such, though created (allegedly) by god aren't mentioned in the bible? Something I've thought about before and never gotten a good answer to. He created em, so he obviously knew about em... :)

Hismikeness

Actually, scholars say that the really old commandments to the Jews in the old testament about some things like preparing food and such that sound so strange to us today were actually to prevent diseases though the people back then wouldn't have understood anything about "microbes" because they hadn't even thought that small yet (due to the microscope not being invented yet)!  I watched a program about that on the history channel.

Also, I can see why microbes wouldn't be in the Bible yet because none of the authors would have known anything about them and it would have just been confusing.

I did post something in the creationism section about how the monomers of the prebiotic soup in ancient Earth had to be incubated in minerals found in mud and clay to become amino acids-->proteins, the building blocks of life.  This comes from my textbook. This reminded me of genesis when the Bible says that God made man out of the dust and breathed life into him.  Science says that this is pretty much what happened (I mean minus the God part, that comes from my own personal beliefs).  Amino acids rose up out of the mud and clay and spontaneously became living.  See chemical evolution for more info.

I've been trying to find some Bible verses about the food and washing commandments, but I don't know my Bible that well.    sorry.  

Thank you for all the warm welcomes!  I feel so warm and fuzzy inside!
~Amanda~

QuoteThis reminded me of genesis when the Bible says that God made man out of the dust and breathed life into him. Science says that this is pretty much what happened.

I don't know if this is being nitpicky, but, if God simply guided the amino acids together in the soup to spark life, and the Bible quote says he breathed life in to man from the dust, that isn't really how it went since those amino acids only formed proteins to be the foundation for the most primitive of all life, which evolved in to everything, including 99% of the species that ever existed that are extinct, not man. Not for another four point some billion years later at least. To me, that is kind of a stretch to compare the science and the Bible verse in question.

But in fairness, you did say "reminded you of" not "this is exactly how the Bible tells it"  

Hismikeness

Quote from: "hismikeness"

QuoteThis reminded me of genesis when the Bible says that God made man out of the dust and breathed life into him. Science says that this is pretty much what happened.

I don't know if this is being nitpicky, but, if God simply guided the amino acids together in the soup to spark life, and the Bible quote says he breathed life in to man from the dust, that isn't really how it went since those amino acids only formed proteins to be the foundation for the most primitive of all life, which evolved in to everything, including 99% of the species that ever existed that are extinct, not man. Not for another four point some billion years later at least. To me, that is kind of a stretch to compare the science and the Bible verse in question.

But in fairness, you did say "reminded you of" not "this is exactly how the Bible tells it"  

Hismikeness

It helps that I don't take the Bible as 100% literal, like it didn't really only take 7 days to create everything (not to be confused with 100% true, though I still have issues to work through with the Bible)

Well from what I can tell you're not a "fundmentalist" more of a moderate or even liberal Christaian (correct me if I'm wrong). Which if true is a good thing for both yourself and the other posters here. Most "fundies" just come to preach and/or troll. Which is just a waste of time, not to mention make many peoples religious ... aversion even stronger. You are not the first Christian or religious poster but those willing to have an open and unabusive dialogue are sadly rare. (Speaking of which has anyone heard from Titan lately?) Welcome to or humble forum I'm glad you have arrived and look forward to your views on guided evolution (mabye quasi-guided?), which is what it appears you believe. AAaagain I welcome you.

Welcome to the forum MonstersInsideMe it is always good to have another point of view. Vampires huh my ex made me read and watch twilight. Not the worst book I have ever read. (rasins in the sun) or the worst movie either (fantasy mission force). Personally though I like Ann Rice much more especially the Vampire Lestat and The tale of the Body Thief. Oh as for long posts so long as rants are not your thing your last post was not what I would consider long.

Quote from: "MonstersInsideMe"It helps that I don't take the Bible as 100% literal, like it didn't really only take 7 days to create everything (not to be confused with 100% true, though I still have issues to work through with the Bible)

As long as you have an open mind here, you may find some illumination on that very topic.  :)

MonstersInsideMe  you labeled your self as christian, and most of my education is built in upon the Roman Catholic  and Jewish traditions. Is there a certain tradition that you follow, if so I can go to a library and bone up a bit upon its specifics? If not are there specific traditions that you follow or philosophy's that you keep?

Quote from: "Dragon_Of_Heavon"MonstersInsideMe  you labeled your self as christian, and most of my education is built in upon the Roman Catholic  and Jewish traditions. Is there a certain tradition that you follow, if so I can go to a library and bone up a bit upon its specifics? If not are there specific traditions that you follow or philosophy's that you keep?

Warning May Be Uncomfortable for nonChristians:
Well, I was raised Presbyterian, but I always found that a bit stuffy and I had a hard time connecting any of the sermons to my life.  Now I attend a nondenominational church in   a college town, so I feel like church is something I actually enjoy now.  For example, half of our service is dedicated to worshiping God through contemporary music (Music is a huge part of my life) like Hillsong United which probably doesn't mean anything to you, but there is some really beautiful Christian music out there.  I didn't actually attend church much growing up because I felt that sitting with a bunch of old farts in church pews didn't make me feel any closer to God.  I couldn't imagine growing up Catholic with all those rules and restrictions like Catechism and Confirmation.  Why should I have to prove my faith to a bunch of people I don't know.  I preferred to have a more one on one relationship with God, worshiping him in my own way, which is probably why I don't know the Bible very well.  I preferred to thank Jesus for his sacrifice than read all the nitty gritty details of who was related to whom and who lay with who, but there actually is a lot of wisdom in there that I should tap into.  I have a teen Bible that lists topics relevant to my life in the back and shows me where to look for information on those topics and it has little asides where the people who put it together put the stories into context.  So, for example, if I want to find information on self-image or sex I can just go straight to those pages.  Plus, I have really bad memory problems so I can read a verse and not know where to find it the next month and I don't really remember much of my childhood because of this although I have never actually asked a doctor about it.  I remember certain events clearly, but mostly its all a blur. I think I might actually have PTSD although I never considered it until just recently. Anyway, off topic tangent aside, I guess I'm a "liberal Christian"?  I voted democrat last year if that helps clarify. So yeah!

~Amanda~

Thank you for the clarification. Actually you would be surprised to find that for many Catholics it is much the same (Life Teen) is a large organization in Catholicism that focus's much the same way. However I have to admit I did not enjoy the pews or genuflecting growing up. However I would be cautious on the Teen Bible as they have a tendency to leave out sections and rather important verses that allow you to understand the whole. At least you are not reading it cover to cover like a lot of people.I would applaud you that you seem to be interested in increasing your understanding and at the same time remaining open.

Quote from: "MonstersInsideMe"I think I might actually have PTSD although I never considered it until just recently. Anyway, off topic tangent aside, I guess I'm a "liberal Christian"?

This is your introduction thread so I don't think this is off-topic =). I am diagnosed with PTSD. It's a serious disorder. If you think you might have it then I suggest you see a psychiatrist or get a referral to see one. Take care =).

Quote from: "AlP"This is your introduction thread so I don't think this is off-topic =). I am diagnosed with PTSD. It's a serious disorder. If you think you might have it then I suggest you see a psychiatrist or get a referral to see one. Take care =).

^I am in absolute agreement.^

Yeah, I should go see the free psychological service on campus, but I never considered it until recently when I looked up the symptoms, because I'm a blocker. Usually when the memories come I just block them put and pretend it never happened. Not healthy, but life goes on.

surly though you know the problem with blocking things? It builds up pressure? It is no different than in your mind. People blocking things out is how people mentally collapse.

These ways of "blocking" things can be effective and beneficial. I say that from experience. Dragon_Of_Heavon, please leave this to a professional?

Oh? Well then forgive my arrogance and intrusion AIP I was not aware I was in the presence of a Psychiatric professional. I leave it to you then.

Sorry if I offended you. Lol, I didn't mean to imply I am a professional =). I'm just saying that I have personally experienced PTSD and because those experiences were so unpleasant, I would like to encourage people to leave this to a psychiatrist and / or licensed therapist. I didn't mean to pick on you Dragon_Of_heaven. I'm just more motivated to help Amanda because she thinks she might have a serious mental disorder than to risk hurting feelings, insulting, being an jerk, etc.

Quote from: "AlP"Sorry if I offended you. Lol, I didn't mean to imply I am a professional =). I'm just saying that I have personally experienced PTSD and because those experiences were so unpleasant, I would like to encourage people to leave this to a psychiatrist and / or licensed therapist. I didn't mean to pick on you Dragon_Of_heaven. I'm just more motivated to help Amanda because she thinks she might have a serious mental disorder than to risk hurting feelings, insulting, being an jerk, etc.

I also have PTSD and must say that it is very complicated and professional care is the only way to go.  I went through complete meltdown when I delved into the problem, even under professional care.  This isn't something you can mess around with using pop psychology and good intentions.