mmhmm
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It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
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Post by mmhmm on Dec 1, 2014 23:03:28 GMT -5
I think it's more about raising awareness, to get other atheists out of the closet. Someone could be driving by, and think "Hey look! There are other people like me out there, after all! Perhaps I'm not alone. Maybe it's OK, instead of something to be ashamed of!" *chuckle* You mean, they have to be told? I've known since I was very young I wasn't the only atheist around. Even had I been, I'd not have cared and I'd certainly not have been ashamed.
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b2r
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Post by b2r on Dec 1, 2014 23:06:05 GMT -5
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Dec 1, 2014 23:22:17 GMT -5
I think it's more about raising awareness, to get other atheists out of the closet. Someone could be driving by, and think "Hey look! There are other people like me out there, after all! Perhaps I'm not alone. Maybe it's OK, instead of something to be ashamed of!" *chuckle* You mean, they have to be told? I've known since I was very young I wasn't the only atheist around. Even had I been, I'd not have cared and I'd certainly not have been ashamed. I'm sure there are many people who are afraid to come out. After all, atheists are considered to be on par with rapists.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Dec 1, 2014 23:24:11 GMT -5
The distrust of atheists is well known, but did you know that atheists are distrusted as much as or possibly a bit more than rapists? When presented with an apparently random person doing illegal and unethical things, few people were willing to identify the person as a Christian, more were willing to identify them as a Muslim, and the most were willing to identify them as a rapist or an atheist.
atheism.about.com/od/atheistbigotryprejudice/a/Atheists-Trusted-Less-Than-Rapists.htm
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Dec 1, 2014 23:37:29 GMT -5
I think it's more about raising awareness, to get other atheists out of the closet. Someone could be driving by, and think "Hey look! There are other people like me out there, after all! Perhaps I'm not alone. Maybe it's OK, instead of something to be ashamed of!" *chuckle* You mean, they have to be told? I've known since I was very young I wasn't the only atheist around. Even had I been, I'd not have cared and I'd certainly not have been ashamed. Good for you. I had to deal with the fact that by not upholding my Catholic faith I'd be shaming my family AND would probably rot in Hell for all eternity. Pretty heavy stuff to handle when your a kid or a teenager.
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mmhmm
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It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
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Post by mmhmm on Dec 1, 2014 23:41:07 GMT -5
*chuckle* You mean, they have to be told? I've known since I was very young I wasn't the only atheist around. Even had I been, I'd not have cared and I'd certainly not have been ashamed. Good for you. I had to deal with the fact that by not upholding my Catholic faith I'd be shaming my family AND would probably rot in Hell for all eternity. Pretty heavy stuff to handle when your a kid or a teenager.
Part of my family was the same. Not Catholic, though. Baptist. I never put down their beliefs. When possible, I avoided the conversation. When not possible, I just listened without input. After awhile, it stopped.
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mmhmm
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It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
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Post by mmhmm on Dec 1, 2014 23:43:06 GMT -5
*chuckle* You mean, they have to be told? I've known since I was very young I wasn't the only atheist around. Even had I been, I'd not have cared and I'd certainly not have been ashamed. I'm sure there are many people who are afraid to come out. After all, atheists are considered to be on par with rapists. I guess I don't see the need to discuss it. My beliefs are my business. Other peoples' beliefs are their business. I'm not particularly interested in what anyone's personal/spiritual beliefs might be.
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ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ
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Post by ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ on Dec 2, 2014 0:25:37 GMT -5
I don't see it as a "war on Christmas"... I see it as a billboard showing a pic of a child - we don't know that those words are the opinion of the child, or the opinion of the person who designed the billboard - I'm guessing it's the latter, since a child that young hasn't had the exposure or experience to decide yet.
If I saw a billboard such as this one, I'd look at it as just more propoganda - or advertising billboard - like a huge Marlboro ad. You glance, and keep on trucking.
Anyone can buy billboard space. We have very few here in Canada along highways - not nearly as abundant as in the US - where you can't drive 1/2 mile down the I-90 without seeing one every 1/2 mile or less - advertising everything from hotels/motels, restaurants, bars, and yes, even churches.
I'm also agnostic - if I see billboards, or other advertised messages to "come to Jesus", I usually keep moving. I have my own mind and can make my own choices without someone telling me I'll burn in the fires of damnation if I don't "see the light".
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❤ mollymouser ❤
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Post by ❤ mollymouser ❤ on Dec 2, 2014 1:42:19 GMT -5
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 3, 2014 10:32:02 GMT -5
*chuckle* You mean, they have to be told? I've known since I was very young I wasn't the only atheist around. Even had I been, I'd not have cared and I'd certainly not have been ashamed. Good for you. I had to deal with the fact that by not upholding my Catholic faith I'd be shaming my family AND would probably rot in Hell for all eternity. Pretty heavy stuff to handle when your a kid or a teenager. I went through with Confirmation because it seemed to be so very important for my Nana. I would have much rather done without, but I preferred to not disappoint her. now that she's no longer with us, I'm all set. I hosted the family meal on Christmas Day when my house was central for the family, and was over the moon that my sis wanted to host last year - and on the 24th! that meant I could go skiing on the 25th, and have the mountain almost to myself. I think my family thought I was kidding, they were pretty aghast when I was getting my skis together on Christmas morning.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Dec 3, 2014 10:42:17 GMT -5
I think it's more about raising awareness, to get other atheists out of the closet. Someone could be driving by, and think "Hey look! There are other people like me out there, after all! Perhaps I'm not alone. Maybe it's OK, instead of something to be ashamed of!" *chuckle* You mean, they have to be told? I've known since I was very young I wasn't the only atheist around. Even had I been, I'd not have cared and I'd certainly not have been ashamed. Exactly. In addition, raising awareness and being mean are two different things to civilized people. Rabid chipmonks?
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goldensam
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Post by goldensam on Dec 5, 2014 19:16:34 GMT -5
I think it's more about raising awareness, to get other atheists out of the closet. Someone could be driving by, and think "Hey look! There are other people like me out there, after all! Perhaps I'm not alone. Maybe it's OK, instead of something to be ashamed of!" *chuckle* You mean, they have to be told? I've known since I was very young I wasn't the only atheist around. Even had I been, I'd not have cared and I'd certainly not have been ashamed. I'm guessing you didn't grow up in the Bible Belt. When my mom found out I was an atheist, she cried and told me I had failed her. When my grandma found out, she just about had a stroke. It's not exactly welcome around here to not believe. I was raised Assemblies of God. In case you didn't know, those folks are pretty intense. I've been told how much I will suffer in hell now more times than I can count.
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mmhmm
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It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
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Post by mmhmm on Dec 5, 2014 19:24:06 GMT -5
*chuckle* You mean, they have to be told? I've known since I was very young I wasn't the only atheist around. Even had I been, I'd not have cared and I'd certainly not have been ashamed. I'm guessing you didn't grow up in the Bible Belt. When my mom found out I was an atheist, she cried and told me I had failed her. When my grandma found out, she just about had a stroke. It's not exactly welcome around here to not believe. I was raised Assemblies of God. In case you didn't know, those folks are pretty intense. I've been told how much I will suffer in hell now more times than I can count. I was born and raised in Oklahoma, so I understand exactly what you're saying. The older part of our family was very, very devout. My parents, not so much. Religion wasn't discussed in our home and we just let the older folk talk about whatever they wished. We listened, and nodded appropriately. I was fortunate that way. I was also a rebel, so it wouldn't have mattered if I had been browbeaten. I'd still have gone my own way. It was my nature - still is, for that matter.
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goldensam
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Post by goldensam on Dec 5, 2014 19:45:31 GMT -5
I'm guessing you didn't grow up in the Bible Belt. When my mom found out I was an atheist, she cried and told me I had failed her. When my grandma found out, she just about had a stroke. It's not exactly welcome around here to not believe. I was raised Assemblies of God. In case you didn't know, those folks are pretty intense. I've been told how much I will suffer in hell now more times than I can count. I was born and raised in Oklahoma, so I understand exactly what you're saying. The older part of our family was very, very devout. My parents, not so much. Religion wasn't discussed in our home and we just let the older folk talk about whatever they wished. We listened, and nodded appropriately. I was fortunate that way. I was also a rebel, so it wouldn't have mattered if I had been browbeaten. I'd still have gone my own way. It was my nature - still is, for that matter. I'm also from Oklahoma. My family is still extremely devout. I went from being the golden child to the black sheep real quick!
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EVT1
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Post by EVT1 on Dec 5, 2014 19:48:45 GMT -5
Good for you. I had to deal with the fact that by not upholding my Catholic faith I'd be shaming my family AND would probably rot in Hell for all eternity. Pretty heavy stuff to handle when your a kid or a teenager. I went through with Confirmation because it seemed to be so very important for my Nana. I would have much rather done without, but I preferred to not disappoint her. now that she's no longer with us, I'm all set. I hosted the family meal on Christmas Day when my house was central for the family, and was over the moon that my sis wanted to host last year - and on the 24th! that meant I could go skiing on the 25th, and have the mountain almost to myself. I think my family thought I was kidding, they were pretty aghast when I was getting my skis together on Christmas morning. I did it as well because I thought I should- but I don't get hassled anymore. Heck- after enough booze I sometimes pile in the car for midnight mass- was kind of a thing. I like they way they roll though- what other churches serve wine during service and have spaghetti diners with a keg?
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mmhmm
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It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
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Post by mmhmm on Dec 5, 2014 19:54:23 GMT -5
I was born and raised in Oklahoma, so I understand exactly what you're saying. The older part of our family was very, very devout. My parents, not so much. Religion wasn't discussed in our home and we just let the older folk talk about whatever they wished. We listened, and nodded appropriately. I was fortunate that way. I was also a rebel, so it wouldn't have mattered if I had been browbeaten. I'd still have gone my own way. It was my nature - still is, for that matter. I'm also from Oklahoma. My family is still extremely devout. I went from being the golden child to the black sheep real quick! I'm sorry that happened to you. I guess my atheist father had already prepared the family for the possibility that my brother and I might just be "warped". Mother went to Catholic school but had gotten well over it by the time she married my dad. Now, the older members of the family have passed away. The only one left is my dad's sister, who's in a nursing home in Oklahoma City. She's very devout (her daughter is a minister) but has never brought the subject up when visiting our family. I haven't seen her now in a number of years.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Dec 5, 2014 21:26:39 GMT -5
*chuckle* You mean, they have to be told? I've known since I was very young I wasn't the only atheist around. Even had I been, I'd not have cared and I'd certainly not have been ashamed. I'm guessing you didn't grow up in the Bible Belt. When my mom found out I was an atheist, she cried and told me I had failed her. When my grandma found out, she just about had a stroke. It's not exactly welcome around here to not believe. I was raised Assemblies of God. In case you didn't know, those folks are pretty intense. I've been told how much I will suffer in hell now more times than I can count.Fear not, my child. You will be with some very fine company. Oh the people you will meet there. .
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Dec 5, 2014 21:36:37 GMT -5
Good for you. I had to deal with the fact that by not upholding my Catholic faith I'd be shaming my family AND would probably rot in Hell for all eternity. Pretty heavy stuff to handle when your a kid or a teenager. I went through with Confirmation because it seemed to be so very important for my Nana. I would have much rather done without, but I preferred to not disappoint her. now that she's no longer with us, I'm all set. I hosted the family meal on Christmas Day when my house was central for the family, and was over the moon that my sis wanted to host last year - and on the 24th! that meant I could go skiing on the 25th, and have the mountain almost to myself. I think my family thought I was kidding, they were pretty aghast when I was getting my skis together on Christmas morning. I didn't want to have my child baptized...Oh, the hell that broke loose! The accusations, the threats, the yelling, the hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth.! It was easier to just finally give in.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Dec 5, 2014 21:49:48 GMT -5
*chuckle* You mean, they have to be told? I've known since I was very young I wasn't the only atheist around. Even had I been, I'd not have cared and I'd certainly not have been ashamed. I'm guessing you didn't grow up in the Bible Belt. When my mom found out I was an atheist, she cried and told me I had failed her. When my grandma found out, she just about had a stroke. It's not exactly welcome around here to not believe. I was raised Assemblies of God. In case you didn't know, those folks are pretty intense. I've been told how much I will suffer in hell now more times than I can count. My mom just told me she feels sorry for me. I know she thinks she somehow failed when she raised me.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Dec 5, 2014 21:59:48 GMT -5
Even though I was going to Catholic schools (because all my friends were), in the seventh grade I told my parents I was no longer a Catholic and therefore, no longer a need to go to church. They told me, "Fine, So be it. But you better find some other religion and church to attend on Sunday morning because you are going to attend church somewhere." As the Catholic church was 50 steps away from our home, I decided that was the closest church to attend.
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