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Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?

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Comments

  • Sige
    Sige Member Posts: 334
    edited August 2009

    LMAO @ Chumfrey

  • dee1961
    dee1961 Member Posts: 902
    edited August 2009

    How about Agnostic Angels

  • cmharris59
    cmharris59 Member Posts: 111
    edited August 2009

    I realize why some folks are suggesting the move, but as I mentioned before, I like this topic where it is. For one reason, I think that when we are newly diagnosed it is nice to see a topic that relates to our alternate beliefs.  I know that I did not look at the Recovery forum while I was under treatment. I looked at the forums for newly dxed and for specific treatment threads.  I did not even want to think about recovery until I had gotten more information about my treatment and prognosis. In addition, I have never looked at the spiritual forum. I figured that it would be full of religious tripe.

    I may be alone in this reasoning, but I think it is nice to let women know that this is not a forum for just religioous women. I could have used this topic when I was first dxed. I felt very alone in that I did not believe in any religion. It was hard enough that nearly everyone I knew thought that the dx would convert me. It was harder still to come into the chat rooms and read the various threads and see so many women blessing me and sending prayers. I didn't know how to react for fear of alienation. Alienation was the last thing that I wanted during this journey.

     Just my 2 cents,

    C

  • PAP
    PAP Member Posts: 39
    edited August 2009

    I posted a response a week or so ago, but lost it and did not feel up to repeating it.  I am so happy to have found this thread and just don't want to lose it.  As long as I have it in my favorites, will I still be able to find you if it gets moved?  Patti

  • Dawnbelle
    Dawnbelle Member Posts: 130
    edited August 2009

    Girls Gone Wild?

    Of course, men would be welcome & we'd stay sober & keep our clothes on....

    My favorite list of rules to live your life by; I believe this is Budda.

    1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
    2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
    3. Follow the three R's:
      -  Respect for self,
      -  Respect for others and
      -  Responsibility for all your actions.
    4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
    5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
    6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
    7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
    8. Spend some time alone every day.
    9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
    10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
    11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and
      think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
    12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
    13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
    14. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
    15. Be gentle with the earth.
    16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
    17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
    18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
    19. If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
    20. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
  • simmonba
    simmonba Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2009

    Wow.  I have this on my fridge, but reading it here gives it extra oomph.  Tx again.

    I agree we should leave the threadhere - I didn't look in recovery or moving beond breast cancer when I was first diagnosed, and I didn't look in the spirituality threads because, oddly, I thought  that referred to "traditional" religions only.  I'd leave it here.

  • Sige
    Sige Member Posts: 334
    edited August 2009

    I love your list Dawn...so true!

  • little-g
    little-g Member Posts: 19
    edited August 2009

    I don't post often anymore, but I do check in to see how some of the others are doing.  I'm not atheist, I am spiritual, but not any organized religion.  So, I think I could fit in here.  I think it's about respect of others.  And not pushing your beliefs on others.  To me, its as simple as being a good human.  I hope everyone is doing well today!

    g

  • junie
    junie Member Posts: 784
    edited August 2009

    If the thread is moved, hopefully I'll find it again.   Don't know about anyone else, but when I first heard my dx, my first thought was "I don't have time for this"...my second thought was "I'm going to die"!   The bc dx hit me smack in the face with the possibility of dying long before I was ready or had resolved my belief issues.   It would have been comforting to me to read these thoughts at that initial time, although glad to now be able to read how others are believing.  Even if the thread is moved, it will undoubtedly attract attention from some not-so-like-minded individuals. 

  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 499
    edited August 2009

    Linda -- I was thinking about Ursula's uncremated remains -- transporting a dead cat body.  That might be a problem.  But I'm glad I got her cremated -- she's always here with me, where ever I happen to live.  That's funny about waiting for Auntie at the post office!  I never thought of using the mail! 

  • Alyad
    Alyad Member Posts: 174
    edited August 2009

    The latest issue of newweek had a couple of articles really applicable to the discussion.

    BTW, I don't think the thread really needs to be moved. I didn't go looking for it- I saw it on the active topics list- I think keeping the thread active is one of the best things we can do to help other like minded folks find us. I would never go looking for it, but I'm glad I found it! There is a lot of thought provoking discussion.

    that PM about them praying for us lonely terrified souls is crap! I am neither. I love my life and it is rich and complete, full of wonderful friends and experiences! I wonder if there should be a prewritten response we could send to people if they butt in on the thread- or just ignore it and don't feed the troll!

    An article about Americans' changing attitudes towards religon- an increasing number of people consider themselves spiritual not religous

    http://www.newsweek.com/id/212155

    and an article about neuroscience examining whether or not humans are "wired" to believe in god or not- also an interesting bit in there that says the more dysfunctional a soceity is - the higher percentage are religous and vice versa.

    http://www.newsweek.com/id/211746

    Dayla

  • Dawnbelle
    Dawnbelle Member Posts: 130
    edited August 2009

    Elizabeth,

    My dogs who have both been cremated have been driven from FL to GA to PA to GA and now to Alabama. WE move a lot for my DH's work. No-one ever questioned what we were moving, I guess crossing into Canada may introduce new issues?

    They ask if you are transporting fresh fruits or vegetables? Do the ask about pet ashes?

    A friend who just moved to Hawaii had to leave her pets in quarantine for 6 months! I won't be moving to Hawaii, I'll tell ya that!

    My 9yo son asked a Nobel peace prize winning question tonight. How would all of you had answered?

    He asks "Mom, there are millions of galaxies, billions or universes, trillions of stars, suns and planets. What would people here on Earth do if we found another form of life?"

    My answer was we would hunt them down and kill them. Probably make a alien burger to pile next to our french fries. Hang their heads on our walls and wear there skins as coats. I hate to have such a pessimistic outlook on humans, just talk to the whales or snow leopards if you doubt my reasoning. I rant....what I really want to know is;

    Do you think we are alone in the vastness of space?

    What do you all think our kind loving species would do if we found life not of Earth?

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited August 2009

    Good question Dawnn, with all the galaxies in the universe there just has to be another place with life...but do we really want to have anything to do with them??

  • guitarGrl
    guitarGrl Member Posts: 150
    edited August 2009

    Liz - not if they are going to be shoving religion down our throats.

    Wow - too many cat deaths since I was last here. I also got a PM which I have refused to read. Looks like it's a good thing I didn't read it.

    I just cut a 2 week vacation short because one of my cats (16 years old) got sick, and I didn't want to have to make any difficult decisions while I was away. Luckily she is better and we both got home yesterday. Guess what it comes down to is that I believe in cats. And dogs. And whatever else gives us unconditional love.

    Seems that religious love comes with way too many conditions! 

  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 499
    edited August 2009

    Dawnn -- I don't think it will be too hard to get Chloe (alive and kicking at 18) and Ursula's ashes into Canada.  When I moved to the US the border didn't even want to see their vaccination papers!  I checked the Cdn border and they just want that the pet be healthy, up-to-date vaccinations.  They have no problem with human cremains, I can't imagine a problem with cat cremains.  There's no way I'm leaving her behind!!!

    I had a friend move to the Caymans for 6 months (and yes, I visited her there -- after chemo and before rads) and they had a quarantine too.  But since she was going to work for the Caymanian gov't they managed to slip in her dog without quarantine -- a condition of her going there.

  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 499
    edited August 2009

    Oh Dawnn -- how horrible to think that we would do that to other life forms!!  You did give me a laugh!!  I think anyone is foolish to think we're the only ones here -- the hubris of people to think they're at top of universal food chain.  We're just a little speck in an infinite space.  There are probably life forms just like when life was starting on our planet to life forms so much more developed than us.  Life we can not even imagine in its complexity, or simplicity.

  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 842
    edited August 2009

    I kinda like the thread here.  But, that's just my preference .. enjoy being off the beaten path.

    Dawnn .. love your son.  What a great question?

    I was actually thinking about that this a.m. when a big storm was rolling in and I was thinking about Bobo.  I found so much comfort knowing that the very same matter we are made of is in everything on earth and in the universe.  It's an awesome feeling for me to feel so connected .. and a bit humbling too. 

    And when I die someday, I believe I will truly be one with everything around me.  I can't remember who posted about the stars .. but it was wonderful.

    I'll get Bo back next week in a tin with paws on it .. at least that's what the vet told me.  She also suggested urns and such, but I think Bo is a tin kind of guy.  I don't know why you couldn't take your kitty to Canada .. she's not a fruit or plant.

    Hugs,

    Bren

    edited for typos

  • Dawnbelle
    Dawnbelle Member Posts: 130
    edited August 2009

    Photobucket"

    Here is chicken story perfect for our thread, most people take offense to this story, I doubt any of you will.

    Jesus~Jesus. He was one of my favorite roosters. A huge eagle picked him up when he was about half grown & flew off into the sunset with the roo hanging in his talons. His name had been Yo-Yo because as a peep he swallowed a yo-yo & the string hanging out of his mouth gave him away.

    Long story short? Three days after the eagle had taken Yo-Yo, he showed up on the front porch, my oldest daughter suggested we change his name to Jesus~Jesus because he had come back from the dead & it stuck...

    This is Jesus~Jesus, my poodle Annie & me.

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited August 2009

    When we lived in Spain, I had my youngest son at an US Air Force base hospital in 1974

    I asked the OB to tie my tubes I was done with babies..and guess what...I couldn't have it done because it was against Spanish  law...we all know where that came from..anyhow my DH went to the Urologist to have a vasectomy and guess what again..against the law..no can do...

  • bluedahlia
    bluedahlia Member Posts: 302
    edited August 2009

    Of course there's life on other planets.  They have visited us in the past.  Where do you think the Bible came from?  It is the parable of life.  Think about it for a minute.

    The old testament is based on an "eye for an eye".  The only thing humanity could understand.....only the strong would survive at that time. We evolved soooooo, we got.....

    The new testament which is based on the philosophy of "turn the other cheek"......the only possible way for mankind to survive. 

    The whole book is a testament to the human psychy. Our strengths and our weaknesses.

    There is so much we have yet to understand.  How does a superior being teach the inferior.  By examples.  

    The bible has many secrets we still don't comprehend.  It states that the earth will one day be destroyed by fire.  One hundred years ago, how would we interpret that......ummmm I don't know. But after WW2, and the invention of the A-Bomb, we know what it is stating, and exactly how it COULD happen.  Just an example.

    I love delving into all the possibilities.  They are countless as is the universe.

    I'm not nuts....really!

  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 499
    edited August 2009

    I love the photo Dawnn!!  You're so beautiful, BTW!!  I grew up on a farm, it looks like you're standing in one of our fields.  Jesus the rooster!  Well, fits the story!  That's some rooster to have made it back to you!

    Yeah, I'm pretty sure Ursula's cremains and Chloe will be OK at the border -- the are Canadian citizens after all. :-)  They're more interested in contraband.  I've never had a problem at the Canadian or American border -- all the guards have been very polite, often friendly.  I do have to resist the temptation to go cuddle the german shepherd drug-sniffer dog I sometimes see -- they might think I'm a wing nut!!

    On dogs -- I was at a friends -- 4 goldens, 1 golden-springer spaniel mix.  I was cuddled and drooled on the whole afternoon and evening.  I was in my kind of heaven.  I wonder if the doggies sensed that I needed it.  I wouldn't doubt it.  Just like when I'm feeling like crap, my cat follows me around from room to room. What would we do without our furbabies...

  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 499
    edited August 2009

    Such nonsense you experienced in Spain SoCalLisa!!  I remember reading a while ago that in Ireland you couldn't get birth control pills -- some would go to England for them.  I don't know if it's true today.  There would be a lot of good if the Church promoted birth control...but that will never happen!

  • renata
    renata Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2009

     Lisa,

    You wouldn't recognize Spain now (Spanish here, writing from Madrid). We are one of the few European countries that: allow marriage for same-sex couples, sell the abortion pill, abortion is legal long ago but now the government is about to pass a law that would grant minors (as of age 16) the right to abort until 16 weeks of pregnancy without their parents consent, which in my opinion is a total aberration and I'm agnostic...but if there's a place on earth where people go from zero to infinite that's here. I like the thread where it is but I agree that what's real important is to keep it going and what a beautiful picture Dawn...about the name Jesus, is a common name in Spain but one of my friends who worked for a while in the U.S. used another name when he made reservations at restaurants he said they looked at him as if he was crazy...I tried to imagine if someone made a reservation here on the name of Buddha for instance...yeah sounds weird.

  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 499
    edited August 2009

    One of my favourite things about Spain is Pedro Almodovar -- I've seen all his movies!  Absolute fav is High Heels.

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited August 2009

    Renata...we lived in Madrid in  Puerto de Hierro..our boys went to Spanish School ...we truly loved our four years there..our friends called our youngest a "Madrileno de verdad"..we still have friends living there and enjoy seeing them.  The last time we were there was two years ago..One of our best friends is called "Angel"..and my best friend is named "Milagros"..The next time you drive around Cibeles, please think of us..Abrazos,

  • renata
    renata Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2009

    Glad to know you have nice memories of Spain, Lisa(I drive around La Cibeles almost every day Wink )and that you like Almodovar's films, Konakat. Abrazos galore.

  • althea
    althea Member Posts: 506
    edited August 2009

    dawnn, love the rooster story!  And the timing,it's just priceless.  How could you name the rooster anything else after returning on the third day. 

    As for this thread's location, I think it's fine where it is and agree with the comments that keeping it active is the best way for people to see it.  

  • Dawnbelle
    Dawnbelle Member Posts: 130
    edited August 2009

    I hope this poster shows large enough so that you can see it;

    It hangs on my 23yo daughters bedroom door.

  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 499
    edited August 2009

    Love it!!!  I'm saving that one!!!

  • lassie11
    lassie11 Member Posts: 468
    edited August 2009
    konakat - I was just out with a friend who frequently drives to the US and back (his son lives there) with one or two of his dogs. He says that as long as he has the papers to show they have their rabies shot, there is no problem - and even then, he is rarely asked for the papers. His suggestion about the ashes is just not to mention them.