Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?
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Maybe you could get away with a chuckle and telling her that you never discuss religion or politics when you are hooked up to an IV and can't get away ...
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You gals are so accommodating and polite! As flannelette says, we don't have much of that sort of thing north of the border, although I've been known to send certain doorknockers on their way in no uncertain terms! But, if I were American and had to listen to those insults and lies about the President and other religions, I know that I would have tried my darnedest to set her straight and to call her out for spreading her lies -- regardless of the setting. You have enough problems with the media letting politicians and evangelical preachers get away with it without any followup or prior research.
Notself, great to hear the oak is starting to thrive!
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To be honest I'm not that polite anymore. I think the raised eyebrows and glassy stare when somebody starts on the subject must warn them off because I really haven't had anybody pursue it in person for quite a while.
I agree with Linda about confronting false information though. Talking about your own beliefs is one thing. Trashing others with lies is something else entirely.
But ... I can also understand not wanting to get into the whole thing at all while you are in the middle of chemo.
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It seems like Thor is the god we should be worried about pleasing lately.
I could make a convincing case about him hammering us with thunder, lightening, etc. this Spring. Now all I have to do is come up with the 'reasons' and what I want everybody else to do ... or not do ... to make him stop it.
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you know, lately I have become really annoyed with anyone using a position or
circumstance to be in a "pulpit". what gives any individual the right to preach to me when
I don't want it. If I did want it I would go to church or sign up for some silly course at a
school. So many times now I just want to stand up and say " hey wait a minute there"
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noting worse than being a "captive" audience
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Lisa -- It seems that the very thing those who are so fearful of Muslims (and who are spreading the terrors of "Sharia Law" and encouraging their state legislatures to outlaw it -- as if your Constitution would allow it!), are doing the same thing with their own religion. I can only hope that this doesn't spread north of the 49th. Gee, "If you don't believe the same things I believe in, you're evil".
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I think I would have told her that my beliefs were different and that nothing good was going to come of the conversation. Then I would have popped my ear buds in and listened to some music.
Notself, I am so glad that your oak tree is doing better. (I've been lurking, but pressed for time. Your post about your oak tree made me take the moment to post.)
Lisa, I too am finding less patience for being "preached" to and have raised a few eyebrows lately with my responses.
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In Europe we don't have this problem much, but oh, I remember how it is in the States! Most chemo treatment centers have private rooms. Ask for one and tell them why. If not, I'd give her "the look" and either pull on the ear buds or grab my book.
I too, believe that freedom of religion also means freedom from religion and I don't have much patience anymore for people trying to shove the junk down my throat.
This situation is tough on everyone and each should be free to choose how best to deal with it.
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Slightly digressing, because of the oak tree - I loved this the moment I read it, don't know where - but when they built the great hall or library at Oxford, or Cambridge - they also planted trees, I think oaks, to be ready in 400 years, when the great beams would need to be replaced. How I LOVE this story. I suppose today nobody expects a building to last longer than 50 years?
Notself - I love your use of the word mythology.
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Great discussions here in the last couple of days. I admire those of you who could confront this lady head-on. It's never been a strong point of mine; confrontation, that is. I envy those of you in Canada and Europe who don't really have to deal with this on a regular basis -- must be nice to live in a culture that is free from the proselytizing that is at least a weekly, if not daily, occurrence where I am. And it seems like it's spreading insidiously with each passing year in the States until I worry that our government will eventually drop the pretense of separation of church and state . . .
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flannelette,
We actually bought our house because of the trees. The house itself is just a little 70's ranch house that was built by the owners. The house is ordinary but the trees are magical.
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Notself - I think I mentioned this before, but if you would like to know more about the magic of your trees (not that you don't alread) please read The Global Forest by Diana Beresford Kroeger - she is botanist, world-renown tree specialist, and Celtic fairy all in one. A Canadian from my neck of gthe woods (eastern Ontario)
You may need to get it on library interloan, which is cheaper anyway - as it's currrently waiting to be reprinted. Magical! How trees communicate, how holding a black walnut ( pungent lime green tennis ball) confers immunity against childhood leukemia if a young child holds one in the crook of their arm (black walnuts secrete the powerful chemical juglone, the tree's defense system) and there was something about taxol (taxotere in the chemo world - or vice-versa) from the ? tree, again, its defense system, which we can put to use in our bodies, as with all the plant phytochemicals. The incredible importance of the hickories and all nut trees. The tree cover of the American Savannah. and so on. I was smitten, as though I'd finally had an introduction to what trees really are. Of course, you've probably read many good books on them, too.....
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the non-separation of church and state - now there's scary thought.ironic, too, given that - wasn't the US` largely colonized by groups who wished to escape religious persecution? but maybe that's the nature of all religious mythologies - they just have to take over! (excepting the Quakers, of course, so far as I know...and there must be others...)
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flannelette,
I haven't read much botany but I majored in biology and try to observe things as they are. Trees definitely have chemical likes and dislikes. Some trees love the company of trees of other species and others don't. After the ice storm we had a couple of years ago, all of the trees in north central Arkansas lost their top branches. The trees responded to the loss by accelerating their growth and the next levels of branches competed for top position.
The black oak in front of our house had a large branch that hung over our house. People wanted us to cut the branch off because it could fall on the house. I never got around to it, and since the ice storm, this branch has straightened until it barely covers the outer edge of the roof. It should be completely upright in another year or so.
I'll try to find a copy of "The Global Forest". It sounds really interesting.
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JulieH: I'm not good confronting people either, and normally won't bother. But when confronted with something like BC that is so uncomfortable, I will. Getting through chemo or rads is a very individualised thing and we each need to do it our way. So if someone wants to talk religion at chemo, then they need to find someone else who does as well and not inflict it on someone for whom it is harmful. Maybe chemo treatment rooms need to ask: "Religious or nonreligious?"
and keep us separated before we come out fighting at what may be the worst challenge of our lives. 0 -
How about a sign that says,
PLEASE DO NOT DISCUSS RELIGION OR POLITICS WHILE IN THE CHEMO ROOM. THANK-YOU.
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Doesn't seem like too much to ask, does it?
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well this is odd, I was browsing on the CNN website and came across an article on Satanists' view on death and dying.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/04/how-to-bury-a-satanist/?hpt=hp_c2
there is a hotlink to the journal article which you can download. I haven't read the whole article yet, but Satanists primarily think of themselves as atheists, the don't believe in God or the devil.They seem to be concerned about personal responsibility. They are not necessarily interested in weird rituals. Why do they even call themselves Satanists?
if anyone has insight into this, please explain!
Julie E
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No clue about satanists. I've never known one. All the atheists I know (including myself) are just that, atheists. I'm not really about worshipping anything.
Konakat (Elizabeth), who used to post on here regularly, has had some bad news re WBR not eliminating her brain mets. She last posted May 25 and we've not heard from her since. It's worrisome, and I've been holding her close in my thoughts.
For more info, check the "Bizzarro life" thread in the Stage IV folder.
--CindyMN
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I had missed her and I'm so sorry to learn the treatment hasn't worked. She is a lovely person. I'll be lighting a candle for her.
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Chumfry .. I've been missing Elizabeth too. I hope she is okay.
Bren
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Konakat has been a wonderful support for so many. My thoughts are with her..,
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Chumfry, thanks for drawing my attention to Konakat's thread. It is very worrisome. Keeping her in my thoughts too.
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Thinking of Konakat - hoping someone NEAR her knows she might need some kind of help. Know she lives alone....just hope there is someone nearby for her...
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Sending (((hugs))) to KK too. Hoping she might be staying with her Mom while she is getting used to her new pain meds. We love ya kiddo ...
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Noteself, I am very happpy your tree is doing better.
The Global Forest is available in a Kindle version. That's one of the things about Kindle that I appreciate - the ability to get old out of print books.
That's really rough - being preached at - without any escape. IF you say something, you will feel rotten for hurting someone's feelings and if you don't, you will feel rotten for being walked on.
I don't know if you contributed to the conversation, by asking questions or nodding your head, saying uhuh, etc. You could try withdrawing all feedback, feign sleep, or maybe just say something like "okay enough with the gloom and doom - tell me about something nice - do you have ...(grandchildren/a trip planned/wedding to go to/whatever)...? "
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Molly 52 - whereabouts are you in ON? Myself, near Kingston, had treatments there. and though I've never exchanged postings with Konakat, have been watching her Bizzaro thread - and wishing her well in my heart/mind - Ottawa's only an hour and a half away...
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my mother in law was from Picton, so we passed through Kingston on our last trip to Ontario
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When are you coming back this way Lisa? I too am near to Kingston kinda sorta.
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well, maybe next summer we will go to Ontario, perhaps Guelph and other places..
my husband's family lives all over the place there, from London east
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