Hi all.

[JustinS]

Hi, I wanted to introduce myself sooner or later, so why not now? I'm a freethinking nihilist, but this doesn't make me some kind of unrestricted, nonconformist libertine as many people have been lead to believe.

I am also an atheist, and my religious history is kinda weird. So, I was raised by a non-orthodox Christian mother and an anti-religious father. After they got divorced, I went to live with my mother where she indoctrinated me. Later, as a result of going to my father's house, I became convinced to become irreligious and eventually anti-religious. As I discovered more for myself, my views on religion softened. I am no longer anti-religious, and I strongly support the free exercise of religion. My views on religion are pretty much summed up by this quote:

"There is no such thing as religion overriding morality. Man, for instance, can not be untruthful, cruel, or incontinent and claim to have God on his side." ~ Gandhi

I am a strong supporter of separation between Church and State, and I would love to see more of it here in America. I would like to see religion as more of a personal thing, rather than something that must be integrated into government or something that causes unnecessary discrimination and prejudice. Of course, I am fine with religious politicians taking their beliefs to the job. This should be encouraged. But atheists should at least be able to obtain a political job. Hopefully in the future, people will be elected into office regardless of religious or irreligious views.

My interests include politics, math, and linguistics. Politically, I'm somewhere near being a social democrat. Mathematically, I'm studying number theory and abstract algebra. Linguistically, I'm learning both German and Spanish (German is better ). I am also interested in the evolution of language, i.e. Indo-European and all that stuff.

I'm hoping to have a good time with you guys.

[Tank]

Hi Justin

I think you're going to enjoy yourself here as there are people who share your history and interests.

Thanks for making the effort to sign up and join in.

Welcome to HAF.

Regards
Chris

Notes for new members.
The Rules.

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" 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?
10 Things About Yourself
Tell us A Bit About Where You're From
Photography
Non-religious pet peeves
Pets...what do you have?
Favorite Song, with video
How to tell your family you are an atheist.*

*You will need 10 posts before you can add a post to this thread, but you can read it at any time.

[MadBomr101]

Hey!  We don't take kindly to freethinking nihilist unrestricted nonconformist libertines round these parts!  We'll let it go this time because we don't know what that is but watch it next time.

In all seriousness, welcome.   

[JustinS]

Hi Justin

I think you're going to enjoy yourself here as there are people who share your history and interests.

Thanks for making the effort to sign up and join in.

Welcome to HAF.

Regards
Chris

Hey!  We don't take kindly to freethinking nihilist unrestricted nonconformist libertines round these parts!  We'll let it go this time because we don't know what that is but watch it next time.

In all seriousness, welcome.

Thanks.

[Recusant]

Hello and welcome to HAF, JustinS. I like your intro, and agree with a lot of what you say, however. . . .

Of course, I am fine with religious politicians taking their beliefs to the job. This should be encouraged.

For this one, I think it really depends on the beliefs, and how strongly a particular politician holds them. A millenialist politician who believes that The End is Near^TM is one that I wouldn't be fine with. Especially considering the high level of egotism which goes with being successful in the world of politics. Too easy for such a person the become convinced that they were chosen by their god, and destined to help bring about the Kingdom of God on Earth through the final apocalyptic battle.  No thank you!

I hope you enjoy your time reading and posting here.

[JustinS]

For this one, I think it really depends on the beliefs, and how strongly a particular politician holds them. A millenialist politician who believes that The End is NearTM is one that I wouldn't be fine with.

Yes, I do agree with this. Fundamentalists seem to be unfortunately common in politics these days. People should do their best to keep the worst of them out of office.

I hope you enjoy your time reading and posting here.

Thanks.

[MadBomr101]

EDIT: Also, I seem to be having some difficulties editing my personal profile (adding signature, age, gender, etc.) and replying to topics outside of this one. I'm not too familiar with the Simple Machines format (I grew up with phpBB). Is something wrong, or am I just being a n00b?

You're trapped in this section on restricted duty until you reach 10 posts then the rest of the board opens up to you.  So respond to some other threads or tell us about your dog, y'know, chatty stuff to reach the minimum requirement. 

[JustinS]

You're trapped in this section on restricted duty until you reach 10 posts then the rest of the board opens up to you.  So respond to some other threads or tell us about your dog, y'know, chatty stuff to reach the minimum requirement.

10 posts isn't too bad. I guess I can chat for a while.

[Siz]

Hey Justin,

Welcome from a fellow Nihilist.

I'm also tolerant of religion on the whole, but I gotta say there's zero, nil, zilch place in politics for religion. I will not have my policymakers informed by a book of fictional ramblings, however well-meaning they may consider themselves to be.

Hope you enjoy your time here.

[JustinS]

Hey Justin,

Welcome from a fellow Nihilist.

I'm also tolerant of religion on the whole, but I gotta say there's zero, nil, zilch place in politics for religion. I will not have my policymakers informed by a book of fictional ramblings, however well-meaning they may consider themselves to be.

Hope you enjoy your time here.

Thanks. I also think that religion should not interfere with politics. It should be a personal thing. Politicians should not be judged by their religion, or lack thereof, but instead by their policies and political views.

[xSilverPhinx]

Welcome!

[JustinS]

Welcome!

Hi!

[Tank]

Morning Justin

You didn't read all of my post did you 

[JustinS]

Morning Justin

You didn't read all of my post did you

Oh, I'm sorry. Throughout the thread I've been posting useless one-liners. Sorry about that.
I won't do it again, I promise. I guess that I skimmed over the forum rules without actually reading them. If you want, you can delete the one-liners; they're virtually useless, and I don't want to cheat my way out of the restriction.

[Tank]

Morning Justin

You didn't read all of my post did you

Oh, I'm sorry. Throughout the thread I've been posting useless one-liners. Sorry about that.
I won't do it again, I promise. I guess that I skimmed over the forum rules without actually reading them. If you want, you can delete the one-liners; they're virtually useless, and I don't want to cheat my way out of the restriction.

If one could be banned for one liners in "Getting to Know You" I'd have been kicked out ages ago. How do you think I made 8,000+ posts! Anyway you've made your 10 post so the forum is now your strange salty tasting bivalve mollusk.