I'll agree with you there Cyn. I think the AWFUL TRUTH is that we become more like our parents than we might think we want to be. After going away to college at 18 I never really lived at home again. Yet as I got older I found myself exhibiting little behaviors that were just like my mom or dad. It freaked me out!!! Fortunately I think my parents are the coolest and I'm quite happy to be like them! I see so many traits of various family members, good and bad, in my brother and myself. I also think my family is proof positive that there's a gay gene. We've got MANY gay family members on both sides!

Hey look how my comments from this thread were rather prophetic: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/atheismagnostic/postdetail/148.html?vc=0

I went to their board and aside from the first post that they put about this board...I didn't see what they were saying concerning us. Did it already get deleted? So...a few notes. I don't care what others think, believe or feel...as long as they don't prosthelytize or disturb me with their beliefs. I would no sooner go un-prodded to a Christianity board (since I'm MORE than bored by anything Christian) than I would one for, oh...entymology. I don't know if there IS an entymology board...that's what I mean. Why on earth would god-fearing Christians go looking for an A&A board...unless they meant to convert us or just have another thing to gripe about? If we want a safe place to talk about the nonsense invoked upon us by the immoral majority, why would they violate that sanctity? Is it fear, or just your everyday busy-bodyness? Just another story to share. As I told in another post, I joined the Peace Corps and headed to West Africa to teach art. Why? Because something in me tells me to help others...and something else in me says "travel the world, learn about other cultures and humble yourself enough to recognize that just because you're an American doesn't make you better. Learn from them as much as you expect them to learn from you." So there I am. I am surrounded by American men. And Asian men. And Indian men. And African men. Was I looking to get married? Not by a longshot. I had a job to do and wasn't interested in someone else getting in the way of it. But that crazy little thing called love got in the way. Well, that and a set of drop-dead gorgeous dreadlocks...but once again...that's another story. We 'went out' for a long time. My school hired him (he was also an artist) and he came out the my village for a while to teach batik (we had a batik cottage industry for a while there). I fell in love. That's all. After Peace Corps, I went to the city to work for the Embassy. I had nowhere else to live, so we lived together in his workshop. Without indoor plumbing. Just a plywood shack with 2 bedrooms. Why? Because I wasn't proud at that point, and because I just plain old felt love for him. So, after 2 1/2 years of being away, I went back to NJ (WASP town where I grew up) and tried to make sure that I wanted to marry this guy...based on my own reality. I did. My WASP parents did not. Why? Because he was black. Because he had dreads. Probably many more reasons, but those were the most prominent. These are Christians, folks. Those god-fearing individuals who are supposed to treat their neighbors as themselves...as long as their neighbors look, act and believe exactly as they do. Racist, biggoted hate-mongers. Just like the rest of their church community. And this is what my childish eyes saw as I was growing up. the 'we'll tolerate you to your face with a painted-on smile, but we'll hate you behind your back because you're simply not as good as us' attitude. My mother actually said this statement to me when I told her that I was returning to Ghana to get married; "Well, what about an Asian? Couldn't you find a nice Korean or Japanese man to marry if you're so desperate to find another race?" I'm not kidding. In their world, there are levels of racism...which to me just equals ignorance and fear. They (my parents) told me that if we ever had children, those children would never be accepted. BY WHOM?!? I told them right there that if I had children, and they EVER visited their racism, hatred and fear upon them, that I would forever seperate myself from them. My mother starts crying and asks "Do you think I'm a monster?" Well, if the shoe fits... That's just one of my life-altering experiences at the hands of my Christian family. Another--when I was pregnant with my first. I work for a major corporation. Let's just say that we're the largest semiconductor manufacturer on the market. Let's also say that I make a very decent living. I have an MBA. I own a house. I 'was' married. American dream, huh? Well...not if you're my parents and your daughter is married to a non-white, long-haired *cough* individual. I thought that I'd be clever and send a "Happy father's day Grandpa" card from Baby K. This sent my parents into a tailspin. You'd think that I was a 15 year old, crack addict single mother on welfare who didn't know who the father was, living on the street. I couldn't imagine a less enthusiastic set of grandparents...Again...there's that Christian love for ya... Once again, more than enough words comin' at ya from one post. Like I said, I just don't understand why Christians or other organized religious zealots feel the need to undermine our beliefs because they don't happen to be their own...

Respectfully Tinker, this board is not for us to have to justify ourselves. It's our small place on this site to discuss non-spiritual viewpoints. If you have a genuine interest and question about atheism, please feel free to email me directly.

I went the Christian board and saw all of the pity for us Athiests/Agnostics. I also saw that some you saw hatred and anger in us. Being an Atheist is not about that. It is not about disliking christians or hating your God. We are people who do not believe in god or an afterlife. We believe in what is seen and proven, not in something we are told is true and forced to accept. I understand what faith is and why people are strong in their beliefs. I know the bible probably better than most confessed christians. I am educated and informed. Many of us do not just wake up one day and say we do not believe. Mine took many years of education and looking at all of the sides before choosing one. I chose the belief that was right for me. I find religion stifling, hypocritical, and inconsistant. Now do not get me wrong, christians are not the same as religion. I have very close friends that are christians. Some are even JW's. If they pray for me, they do not mention it. We do not discuss religion or God. Quite frankly, most of them would lose to me if we debated about it. I make very informed decisions and can back up everything I do not believe. Anyway, we do not hate you. We are not atheists because we are angry with god. To think that is to be extremely uninformed and judgemental. Most of care very deeply about humanity and the rights of all humans to be free. We care about the planet and the future of our species. I love my pets as though were real children. I love my family and would wither away without them. I am good to those I love and they are good to me. We are not the antichrist. We may poke fun at times. If you are offended, the do not come here. We get indignant when we are judged so harshly by those who are supposed to have the moral high ground and understanding. We are highly educated people who live normal lives and have normal relationships. Pray if you must, but if I were you I would put my energy someplace more constructive. We REALLY do not need prayer. Now, just so we are clear. The founding fathers were NOT christians, and this country was NOT founded on religious principles. If you do not believe me, do some research. Google anything you want on the subject if you want the real truth. Thomas Jefferson-Atheist. Benjamin Franklin-Athiest. James Madison-Athiest. Do not feel sorry for us as we do not feel sorry for ourselves. Thanks!