Hi all

[reddevil0126]

Hi all.  James here, from San Diego, California.  Glad to find this site.  Long time independent-minded Christian in a very conservative church, turned to either an agnostic or atheist (I am not sure).  Everyone around me goes to church and it is impossible not to talk about God or gods.   I still enjoy talking about gods and religion but reached the conclusion that it is useless to have that kind of debate.  (Why spend my time for the debate that's gonna bring our view any closer??)  Wish to get to know more about atheism and meet like-minds, and expand and/or sharpen my views and exchange ideas on real important stuff in our life, such as how to enrich our lives in personal and community levels etc. 

By the way, do we have any discussion group on "meditation", "yoga" or something like that? 

I love to get to know more about the group and people. 
Thanks, James

[Crocoduck]

Hi James welcome to HAF.




Jerry

[Tank]

Morning James
   
We do have a thread you may be interested in Meditation as an atheist it was started on 30th July 2011 in anticipation of you're arrival. The thread is in Life as an Atheist so you can read it at the moment but can't post in it until you have 10 posts in the three sections of 'Getting to know you'. 

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.*
"Rules for Conducting a Discussion" by Dr. Mortimer J. Adler*

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

[Too Few Lions]

welcome to the forum James

[Buddy]

Welcome to the forum, James. I don't do any meditation or yoga myself, but I find that doing things that I enjoy calms me down immensely. So, what are you interested in? Got any hobbies?

[reddevil0126]

Welcome to the forum, James. I don't do any meditation or yoga myself, but I find that doing things that I enjoy calms me down immensely. So, what are you interested in? Got any hobbies?

>>  I used to run about 20 - 30 miles a week.  Lately experienced pain on the back and shoulders (manifestation of getting older).  One incident really terrified me - hard to breathe for several seconds because muscles all upper body contracted.  Since then I added yoga in my regular exercise and  a lot more time for after-running stretching.  Feel a lot better since then (also realized how stiff I am.  Envy those lades in the Yoga class.)  For me, Yoga is a lot better than getting massage in relaxing muscle and even mind. 

-- Enjoy tennis, and horrible at golf.  Swimming is the killer -  reason why I can't do triathlon.
-- Like reading astronomy-related subject (nerdy), favorite movie was "Contact" and love Jodie Foster. 
-- I liked Karen Armstrong's books, and these helped a lot in shaping/solidifying my views on religion, god and humanity.       
-- Very inconsistent(?): horribly impatient (why I suck at golf, and hope to change this), but sometimes I am amazed at myself that I spend whole week or month to finish books like "Anna Karerina" and "Resurrection".
-- Most annoying comments by Christians: "Christians are more family-oriented" (are you saying that I am a bad husband or father?);
   "Are you telling me that your ancestors are chimps?" (so what? it's better than the god who ordered to kill everyone in the tribe, including newborns)     
   "Atheists have inferior or no moral values" (Huh?).

Just a hint of me...Later.

[xSilverPhinx]

Welcome!

"Christians are more family-oriented" (are you saying that I am a bad husband or father?);
   "Are you telling me that your ancestors are chimps?" (so what? it's better than the god who ordered to kill everyone in the tribe, including newborns)     
   "Atheists have inferior or no moral values" (Huh?).

Whenever I come across any of these comments, I just shrug them off. Another Christian parroting what they hear other Christians say about atheism/evolution/add whatever here.

How do you react to them?

[Melmoth]

Hi James, welcome.

also, wow. 20 - 30 miles a week! I couldn't even drive that.

[Sandra Craft]

-- I liked Karen Armstrong's books, and these helped a lot in shaping/solidifying my views on religion, god and humanity.     

My favorite religious writer, altho I did find her "A Case for God" disappointing in that it seemed merely a rehash of "A History of God" and made no convincing case for belief in a supreme being.

 

-- Most annoying comments by Christians:  "Are you telling me that your ancestors are chimps?"

My answers:  "That's only a recent development", or "What do you mean, ancestors?" and showing them a picture of my Uncle Dewey.

[reddevil0126]

Welcome!

"Christians are more family-oriented" (are you saying that I am a bad husband or father?);
   "Are you telling me that your ancestors are chimps?" (so what? it's better than the god who ordered to kill everyone in the tribe, including newborns)     
   "Atheists have inferior or no moral values" (Huh?).

Whenever I come across any of these comments, I just shrug them off. Another Christian parroting what they hear other Christians say about atheism/evolution/add whatever here.

How do you react to them?

He he, I am not that mature yet.  I ask them "Give me specific examples why you think you, a christian, are better than me, nonbeliever.  Give me any moral issue you are better positioned than me.  family issue better than me. Do you have any evidence that my love for my wife and son is less than your love toward your family?". 

[Anti-antidisestablishmentarianism]

Welcome to the forum, James. I don't do any meditation or yoga myself, but I find that doing things that I enjoy calms me down immensely. So, what are you interested in? Got any hobbies?

>>  I used to run about 20 - 30 miles a week.  Lately experienced pain on the back and shoulders (manifestation of getting older).  One incident really terrified me - hard to breathe for several seconds because muscles all upper body contracted.  Since then I added yoga in my regular exercise and  a lot more time for after-running stretching.  Feel a lot better since then (also realized how stiff I am.  Envy those lades in the Yoga class.)  For me, Yoga is a lot better than getting massage in relaxing muscle and even mind. 

-- Enjoy tennis, and horrible at golf.  Swimming is the killer -  reason why I can't do triathlon.
-- Like reading astronomy-related subject (nerdy), favorite movie was "Contact" and love Jodie Foster. 
-- I liked Karen Armstrong's books, and these helped a lot in shaping/solidifying my views on religion, god and humanity.       
-- Very inconsistent(?): horribly impatient (why I suck at golf, and hope to change this), but sometimes I am amazed at myself that I spend whole week or month to finish books like "Anna Karerina" and "Resurrection".
-- Most annoying comments by Christians: "Christians are more family-oriented" (are you saying that I am a bad husband or father?);
   "Are you telling me that your ancestors are chimps?" (so what? it's better than the god who ordered to kill everyone in the tribe, including newborns)     
   "Atheists have inferior or no moral values" (Huh?).

Just a hint of me...Later.

Welcome to the forum! At first I thought I read 20-30 miles a day, but a week sounds about right.  Gotta keep in shape! I have had the same breathing problem before.  It seems to come without reason.  It should pass though.  Give it some time and take a break from all the cardio.

[Traveler]

Hello and welcome! I have been known to meditate on occasion, and am in a beginner's yoga class.