Intro

Hi, I'm Barb and I live in Virginia. I posted in the pine needle basket thread and taking Dona's heed, I'm posting in new thread. I mentioned that Atheism is scary and perhaps I should elaborate on that. I didn't mean that I am afraid to be an Atheist, but rather that believers see us as scary people, much like boogeymen. We are a threat to them. We accept what they can't, death. I also feel there could be a time when we could be afraid of being Athiests. Today, in America a self admitted Athiest can't be elected dog-catcher. Is it that silly to think that soon, maybe we can be denied jobs, homes or even physically hurt because we don't believe? When you have people on the supreme court such as Scalia who believe in biblical driven justice, I don't think we're completely safe. I grew up in a nonreligious household. My parents were very lax protestants. I was agnostic for years and gradually fell into Atheism. There was a "Road to Damascus (LOL)" moment. I just realized one day that I didn't believe in the invisible guy in the sky. I also found that believers were incredibly annoying to me (and those are believers of all types not just christians). As far as WLS goes, I'm three weeks post-op and down 23 pounds. The only thing I miss is diet Coke. How crazy is that?

Barb I'm so glad you posted and discussed this! I understand now exactly what you mean. I am reminded of the various things that have been said to me when people find out I'm atheist: Oh, so Satan's your buddy? Why do you hate Christians? That explains why you're so sad and angry. Atheists ruined our nation when they got prayer out of the schools. I might get this thread pulled but.... I think being an atheist is about accepting reality in ALL aspects of life. This website is making me think about that a lot lately. People just want to post warm and fuzzy platitudes. You know, I better stop here...

Exactly. I am amazed by people who think they're blessed, because they have food, housing, health etc. I want you scream, you're not blessed, you're LUCKY!! Had you been born in the Horn of Africa or in a Calcutta ghetto, the story would be so different. Why is god blessing you and ******g on some poor person somewhere else? What makes you so special?

HA!! Makes me think of when people pray for the outcome of an adversarial situation. God likes my team better than your team! I've mentioned this before but it really bothered me and has always stuck with me. Immediately after the announcement of the verdict, OJ's mother was quoted as saying that the "prayers of the righteous prevailed." My first thought was that would mean god liked OJ more than he liked the Goldman and Brown families. oooooooookkkkkkkkk I'm forever amazed by people's capacities to rationalize what god gives and takes and who he's willing to "punish" and reward. Did you ever hear those stories about the people who claim that they lead prayer teams through neighborhoods and the crime rate goes down on those specific blocks? So if you're unfortunate enough to live on the street that didn't get the special prayer team treatment SUFFER GOD'S WRATH!!!

Same idea, different wrath; I'm thinkin' that those people stuck in New Orleans last month could be seen as not praying hard enough by their more devout escapee neighbors...but obviously harder than those who lost their lives. Although, if "IT'S GOD'S WILL" that you (and your particular neighbors...but nobody on the West Coast for instance) go at a specific time, then who's to argue with Mr. Omnipotent...but then why are the devout all over the world praying so hard to save them if "GOD'S TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME" and he chose this time? And besides, if "GOD WILL PROVIDE", what are they worried about...Maybe they are really don't believe that "JESUS IS MY SAVIOR". >>Quick sidenote: All of the above BOLD names in quotations (and many more) are names of fashion shops, electrical shops, hair salons, paint stores, you name it, in Ghana.

Did you happen to see the "Sweet Jesus Look at That Adult Bookstore"?

I declare Chicago to be GOD'S CHOSEN CITY as we are vulnerable to virtually no natural disaster of any kind. I saw something on TV once about how it's supposedly not possible for Lake Michigan to flood the city. Even though we have several gay neighborhoods including one actually recognized by the city as the gay area with these rainbow monument things! And of course the gay neighborhoods have the high property values. Thanks Jesus!