Hey everyone; my name is Torie and I'm a university student from Canada. I've had the benefit of being raised in a religiously neutral household, fully able to choose a religion for myself if I wanted or remain an atheist if it suited me better. Needless to say, I chose the latter.
I dabbled in Christianity for a month or so in my teen years after being dragged to a suspiciously compelling youth group by a friend (I can see why it could attract a lonely teen in need of guidance) but it never stuck; there were too many inconsistencies. I found some solace in prayer but soon realized it wasn't a conversation with a deity but an act of relaxation and reflection that I could easily practice without supernatural involvement. That realization set me on a track of skepticism and so far, there is no hell-fire in sight.
If there's a Bible Belt of Canada, I live in it. I deal with religious bigotry on a daily basis as a queer woman and I feel increasingly frustrated with it. Even my (public) university has a couple creationist science profs, although this is seen as a bit of an embarrassment for most of the students.
Now you know a bit about me. Talk to you all soon!
Hello Torie
We have Canadians here and lesbians. Now we have a Canadian lesbian! Is there no end to the 'win'!!! ;D
Feel free to add your unique perspectives to the collective. Resistance is futile!!!!
Thanks for making the effort to sign up and join in.
Welcome to HAF. (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg32.imageshack.us%2Fimg32%2F2922%2Fcheersi.gif&hash=d22c932723fd55512134b1ae98b018246ccbb424)
Regards
Chris
Notes for new members.
The Rules. (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=1522.0)
Users who comply with forum rules will graduate to full membership after 10 posts.
Till that time your ability to post is limited to the "Getting to Know You" (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php#2) section of the forum.
It is our hope that this small restriction improves the overall atmosphere of HAF.
Some threads you might find interesting.
Where did you get your username from? (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5133.0)
10 Things About Yourself (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=4940.0)
Tell us A Bit About Where You're From (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=8215.0)
Photography (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=7607.0)
Non-religious pet peeves (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=6917.0)
Pets...what do you have? (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=7.0)
Favorite Song, with video (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=8830.0)
How to tell your family you are an atheist. (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5111.0)*
"Rules for Conducting a Discussion" by Dr. Mortimer J. Adler (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5631.0)*
*You will need 10 posts before you can add a post to this thread, but you can read it at any time.
Hello! I'm brand new to the forum too, so I can't wait to get to know you better!
Quote from: Tank on April 25, 2012, 08:22:28 AM
We have Canadians here and lesbians. Now we have a Canadian lesbian! Is there no end to the 'win'!!! ;D
I thought we already had one.
I recommend fish oil tablets and vitamin B, particularly if imbibing alcohol.
This may not solve your problems but at least you'll know (if you make a note of it) you tried to slow the inevitable decline.
Welcome tchurch, our current two Canadians are particularly nice, or at least they pretend to be....
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on April 25, 2012, 09:30:32 AM
Quote from: Tank on April 25, 2012, 08:22:28 AM
We have Canadians here and lesbians. Now we have a Canadian lesbian! Is there no end to the 'win'!!! ;D
I thought we already had one.
I recommend fish oil tablets and vitamin B, particularly if imbibing alcohol.
This may not solve your problems but at least you'll know (if you make a note of it) you tried to slow the inevitable decline.
Welcome tchurch, our current two Canadians are particularly nice, or at least they pretend to be....
Amicale?
Greetings, tchurch. I won't argue about the details of how many Indonesian bisexuals we have, but all such are most welcome.
Don't get confused about Tanks and Asmos, either - they're all relatively harmless.
Quote from: OldGit on April 25, 2012, 09:50:40 AM
Greetings, tchurch. I won't argue about the details of how many Indonesian bisexuals we have, but all such are most welcome.
Don't get confused about Tanks and Asmos, either - they're all relatively harmless.
We are having an identity crisis!!!
I'd never have guessed. ;D
Hello Torie
We have Canadians here and lesbians. Now we have a Canadian lesbian! Is there no end to the 'win'!!! ;D
Feel free to add your unique perspectives to the collective. Resistance is futile!!!!
Thanks for making the effort to sign up and join in.
Welcome to HAF. (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg32.imageshack.us%2Fimg32%2F2922%2Fcheersi.gif&hash=d22c932723fd55512134b1ae98b018246ccbb424)
Regards
the *REAL* Chris
Notes for new members.
The Rules. (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=1522.0)
Users who comply with forum rules will graduate to full membership after 10 posts.
Till that time your ability to post is limited to the "Getting to Know You" (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php#2) section of the forum.
It is our hope that this small restriction improves the overall atmosphere of HAF.
Some threads you might find interesting.
Where did you get your username from? (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5133.0)
10 Things About Yourself (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=4940.0)
Tell us A Bit About Where You're From (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=8215.0)
Photography (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=7607.0)
Non-religious pet peeves (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=6917.0)
Pets...what do you have? (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=7.0)
Favorite Song, with video (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=8830.0)
How to tell your family you are an atheist. (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5111.0)*
"Rules for Conducting a Discussion" by Dr. Mortimer J. Adler (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5631.0)*
*You will need 10 posts before you can add a post to this thread, but you can read it at any time.
Hi Torie
Things are not normally this mad around here, today is a good day (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg519.imageshack.us%2Fimg519%2F7079%2Fnutterjh7.gif&hash=78fc0b98582cd8484563e5341ee47c68e89648be)
Asmo may be posing as Tank, but he has a point.
Hello! I'm one of the other Canadians. ;D When you say the "bible belt" of Canada, do you mean Alberta?
I hope you like it here. ;D
Hello and welcome to HAF, Torie. Thank you for that nice introduction. Out of curiosity, what fields are the Creationist professors teaching in?
I hope that you enjoy your time reading and posting here! (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg830.imageshack.us%2Fimg830%2F860%2Fsmilew.gif&hash=8238eab24d16418eb1c8cd60d971239ab1363c74)
Welcome!
Welcome, Torie :)
Welcome :)
Quote from: Tank on April 25, 2012, 09:37:53 AM
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on April 25, 2012, 09:30:32 AM
Quote from: Tank on April 25, 2012, 08:22:28 AM
We have Canadians here and lesbians. Now we have a Canadian lesbian! Is there no end to the 'win'!!! ;D
I thought we already had one.
I recommend fish oil tablets and vitamin B, particularly if imbibing alcohol.
This may not solve your problems but at least you'll know (if you make a note of it) you tried to slow the inevitable decline.
Welcome tchurch, our current two Canadians are particularly nice, or at least they pretend to be....
Amicale?
That would indeed be me. ;D
Torie, a warm welcome to you! When you say Canada's bible belt, I'd have to guess Alberta too. Are we right?
At any rate, I'm very glad to meet you, and I'm looking forward to speaking with you! :)
Hey again! Sorry I haven't been on in a couple days to reply to everyone. I am actually from a little town in BC. I suppose it's more like a Bible Bubble than a Bible Belt because it seems to be isolated to a couple cities and towns (Chilliwack is a great example). However, I'm not too far from some pretty nice places like Vancouver so I can't complain too much. Alberta is on a level I want to stay away from; they have creation museums. :'(
There are two professors I know of who are creationists; one is an English prof and the other Chemistry. I feel that the Chemistry one is a bit more worrisome as he should probably know a bit more about the scientific method than he apparently does. I just hope he isn't young Earth creationist because someone with a Ph.D in Chemistry should know about radiometric dating!
Thank you for answering my question regarding the fields of the Creationist professors. :)
Quote from: tchurch on April 28, 2012, 10:23:21 AM. . . someone with a Ph.D in Chemistry should know about radiometric dating!
Knowing about radiometric dating doesn't stop Young Earth Creationists. There's a fellow in Australia with degrees in geology (Dr. Andrew Snelling (http://www.noanswersingenesis.org.au/realsnelling.htm)) who is one of the more prominent deniers of the validity of radiometric dating. You can see some of his work at Answers in Genesis (http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v4/n3/radiometric-dating). There's a good article by a gentleman with degrees in geology and physics (who also happens to be a Christian) which answers many of the issues raised by people like Snelling: "Radiometric Dating: A Christian Perspective" (http://www.asa3.org/ASA/resources/Wiens.html). I wanted to answer you here,
tchurch, but this really isn't the section of the forum to discuss it. If you would like to look into it and talk about it in any depth, you need to have at least 10 posts, then you could start a new thread in the "Creationism/Intelligent Design" section (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?board=3.0).
Quote from: tchurch on April 28, 2012, 10:23:21 AM
I just hope he isn't young Earth creationist because someone with a Ph.D in Chemistry should know about radiometric dating!
Chemistry is a wide enough field of science for someone to be able to take multiple Ph.ds without ever touching the subject of radiometry.
On the other hand, people who do not acept the scientific method should not teach.
Quote from: Asmodean on April 29, 2012, 10:25:39 AM
On the other hand, people who do not acept the scientific method should not teach.
...As long as it's not applied to the exclusion of other styles. If we want well-rounded, creative, freethinking individuals we need a variety of teachers and teaching styles.
Hello, tchurch! (am I allowed to capitalise the 'T'? I feel so uncomfortable addressing an improper noun! :D)
Yes, well... I was refering to teaching the exact sciences. Understanding and use of the scientific method would likely be too much to ask of a language or history teacher.
I had NO IDEA there were any bible belts in canada...
Anyway, welcome. We are a friendly bunch!!
Hope you stick around. :)
I have a family member living in the Chilliwack BC area, and from what I've heard, it's a very conservative (both small and large C, really) area, with lots of churches and creationism and whatnot. On the other hand, because it's British Columbia and BC is generally more easygoing than other provinces, it may be conservative in some ways, but in others, it's kinda liberal/hippie... a lot of people living off the land, community vegetable gardens/co-ops, female pastors in several churches, etc. It's an interesting mix.
Why would anyone want to be a pastor? dont get that.
Quote from: AsmoUnderstanding and use of the scientific method would likely be too much to ask of a language or history teacher.
Hey, I'm a language teacher and I understand the general idea of the method, though I couldn't teach a science.
In some areas of linguistics we make testable hypotheses to cover methodically gathered data. Admittedly such results can't be as rigorous as, say, lab data in physics - still, we do our best.
Quote from: OldGit on April 29, 2012, 06:11:44 PM
Quote from: AsmoUnderstanding and use of the scientific method would likely be too much to ask of a language or history teacher.
Hey, I'm a language teacher and I understand the general idea of the method, though I couldn't teach a science.
In some areas of linguistics we make testable hypotheses to cover methodically gathered data. Admittedly such results can't be as rigorous as, say, lab data in physics - still, we do our best.
This. :) I'm also a language teacher (as well as being qualified as a history teacher, ha) and I believe I understand the scientific method just fine. It's more that in my day to day work, I don't use it regularly. I use it indirectly when testing a certain method to see if it has any effect on a student's comprehension/understanding, though.
Quote from: Sweetdeath on April 29, 2012, 06:09:53 PM
Why would anyone want to be a pastor? dont get that.
They're just a theistic teacher and general community do-gooder. Nothing wrong with that from a theists point of view.
Never realized Canada had a Bible belt/bubble/anything either. Shatters my generalized views of it just being a friendly, godless place with universal healthcare :)
Welcome!
I would say welcome, and indeed I shall. Except, it has been such a long time since I have welcomed a person into my life. I am nervous. What should I say? What should I do? It is, as has been said, exasperating. Ah, hell with it, I hope you enjoy conversations of a philosophical and perteurbial nature.
I have always thought that Canada would be a lovely place to go visit, if only it were not so damned cold. But please, tell me, just how far north does civilization extend up there? I have heard that there are settlements on the northern tip of Alaska, though I hesitate to believe such ball-crockery.
Welcome to the Pub, Mate.
Quote from: RenegeReversi on April 30, 2012, 03:24:19 AM
I would say welcome, and indeed I shall. Except, it has been such a long time since I have welcomed a person into my life. I am nervous. What should I say? What should I do? It is, as has been said, exasperating. Ah, hell with it, I hope you enjoy conversations of a philosophical and perteurbial nature.
I have always thought that Canada would be a lovely place to go visit, if only it were not so damned cold. But please, tell me, just how far north does civilization extend up there? I have heard that there are settlements on the northern tip of Alaska, though I hesitate to believe such ball-crockery.
Welcome to the Pub, Mate.
I would suggest visiting anytime between May and the end of September. Beautiful weather. The hottest it tends to get is in July and August, when the temperatures can go above 30-35 C/90-95ish F.
Ooh! Asmo like July and August. :D
Quote from: Asmodean on April 30, 2012, 09:59:55 AM
Ooh! Asmo like July and August. :D
Ack. The Amicale dislikes July and August. Morning times and evenings are wonderful when it's a bit cooler, but I dislike burning to a crisp and being unable to breathe in the dense humidity.
I think tchurch is lucky, being in BC would be excellent during the summer. Since it's on the west coast, the temperatures are a lot more moderate. Not very cool, but warm without being too warm. Lots of rain, though!
Welcome. That's pretty cool that you figured out that prayer is just another form of meditation. The same method is used in A.A./N.A. to help people quit drinking or doing drugs. Self help tapes for success also use the same principal. I mean if you tell yourself to stop doing something, or that you are going to be get something accomplished 1000 times a day you are eventually going to meet your goals because that is all you think about. Praying is pretty much the same.