Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?
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EWB, I accidentally hit that button once and got in touch immediately with the mods. They reminded me that it takes 5 button pushers to remove a post. Yep, I think it's in much too convenient a spot.....
Dawnn, purrfect photo for how I'm feeling today....
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Blue - the vision of "flea infested...." has me giggling a little! I know I shouldn't...don't hit that button! ....giggle...
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love the "sigh kittie" says it all.
Linda, I know it takes 5 to remove a post, but look at how many people are registered to post.... and to have even 1 or 2 "accidental" reports, means fewer intentional reports are needed. I think its just a bad layout. IMHO, not that anyone asked....
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Dawnn, I'm glad you've decided to stay. The report button is great for getting rid of spam, but it also gets abused by bullies thickly steeped with intolerance. It takes only 5 reports for a post to be 'removed by the community'. Jeepers alive, I can't even figure out the math to determine what a ridiculously small percentage rate 5 members is of 56,600 members. I believe a member can be temporarily banned for receiving X number of removed posts.
Maybe one of the bullies could explain it further. I have no doubt this information is memorized as they target each new victim with their attempts to silence. What would Jesus do indeed.
I'm sorry ladies of this thread, but I can't stop myself from quoting the bible here:
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
I've said this before and I'll say it again, I do believe in *something* as a higher power. I just can't fathom that we could be so wondrously made without a creator. Yet, for reasons right here on this thread where beloved sisters are being targeted for silence, my reasons for not joining a church are being clearly demonstrated. We're on the 'bully radar' now. History, past and present, is littered with bullies hiding behind the skirts for scripture to justify their behavior.
I like this thread because MOST everyone who participates in it allows free discussions of 'where we're at'. I abhor the thought of joining a church simply because of the people in it who behave like the ones who removed dawn's post. I'm feeling a bit judgemental myself for even saying that.
Perhaps we can lighten the mood and find common ground once more with Ziggy Marley --
Hope I'm not the next one to take a sniper hit. If I've made myself unwelcome on this thread, I trust the ladies who post on it publicly to just TELL me and I'll respectfully find another favorite thread elsewhere.
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Yeah!!!!!! Glad you're back Dawnn!!!! AND, I saved the cat/ark funny-ha-ha.
Re. censorship -- in case you haven't noticed yet, the healthcare threads have been deleted, and restarted. Too bad to lose all that info. But kudos to the moderators for saying in no uncertain terms that posts were deleted unjustifiably. And, so very sad that a handful of spiteful women chose what I may read or not read.
Sido -- I love that new ice cream flavour cartoon -- I gotta find it. It's so true, sometimes in my despair it's my curiousity of what might come next that keeps me going. And humor is great for dealing with stress. You should see how morbidly funny some of us Stage IV metsters get!
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Althea, all with an open mind are welcome. I have my own beliefs but would never impose them on others. I love reading all the ideas.
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As others have noted, it takes 5 hits on the "report this post" button to remove a post. And I believe if you have 5 posts deleted, you are automatically banned - for 10 days or so, I think. I recently had 4 posts deleted and was not banned but I think I was just on the wire.
Since I'd hate to see anyone banned just for voicing their opinion, particularly in this thread (since I am one of you
), my recommendation is that if you have had a post deleted and you are confident that it did not violate the rules, contact the moderators to request that the post be reinstated. I don't know if this will stop you from being automatically banned if you have 5 posts deleted but at least then you would be able to contact the moderators (or have someone do that for you, since you wouldn't be able to get onto this site yourself) to have the ban reversed.At this point this seems to be the only way to not be at the mercy of the button pushers.
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I see that both the Atheist Cat and Jesus Christ! kitty pics from lolcats are still there. Did I miss one that got booted, or did one magically reappear? The Noah's Ark one had me spewing my tea!
Karen Armstrong write amazing books. She has delved deep into religion--many reliegions--and has written very thoughtful and historically sound treatises on Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, as well as a memoir of her time in The Cloisters.She has no agenda, other than information. Which appeals to me, when it comes to religion.
There's so much to learn about world religions, if you keep the politics out of it!
Anne
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The post is back with the cat in the car!!
How did that happen???
Have we been uncensored???
I am speechless!! That NEVER happens!
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I read Karen Armstrong's History of God and it was excellent. It is so enlightening to see that many early Christian theologists and philosophers struggled with the concept of a God who could be defined by man or who had any anthropomorphic features. They were very careful how they discussed the notion of a divine being.
Fast forward to today, when there are so many who are just so sure of what "He" "thinks" and of just where they stand on his list of favorites.
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Hey that's great -- I wanted to see the cat in the car again -- I didn't get it the first time around. Duh -- chemo brain, and I'm stickin' to that defense!
Maybe it was restored because it is unwise to mess with a woman with a chicken on her shoulder! I'm so happy. I do hope this is a change for the better.
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Konacat! Do you really think it was Jesus? I swear, that is the rooster's name I am holding in the avatar picture....definitely a story for another day.
Last cat picture I promise.
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Dawn, I'd also like to add my voice to the chorus of those saying that we are glad that you are staying. Wehave to continue to advocate for free speech (and I don't mean hateful speech) where we can express different opinions. We don't have to agree. We just have to be willing to tolerate differences and to value each other as fellow human beings. Thanks for staying
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Beleive in what makes you a good person. Believe in what makes you truly giving. Go out and do good works and accept them graciously -- and I will call that being "Christ-like" and as good as any religion can be. My mom passed away September 5th and she never lost her Jesus is "bull*&&^" mantra but her brain mets and brain swelling and agony transformed her into someone Christlike -- Kafka could not have written a better story. I am writing this in an area where I had written what I saw and experienced in a 10X14 space where my Antique Duncan Phyfe Dining Room set once sat ... where I placed a hospital bed for my mother who never got along with me or anyone -- I witnessed my mom become a forgiving and loving and sharing and giving person in 8 weeks and seeing the changes in her from the mean slay you down person who hated children and never said thank you in her life who had disowned my siblings, to someone who was able to orchestrate a family reunion even though she could not speak a normal sentence, who had forgotten how a phone worked, but was able to dial her long lost son to hear "I Love You Mom" on the other side ... and seeing a miracle in my opinion happen -- and then a real miracle like the kind the priest would arrive at your home for ... I stay agnostic Catholic but happier -- and wanted to share that I saw and witnessed someone become truly transformed in a way described and sometimes advertised by religion -- but one I have never seen in religion -- I know it made me happer to go be with the people at our family Catholic church ... I don't participate in many things. There is no way we just transformed wine and bread into blood and body ... but I hear a lot of good things I wish people opened up and actually listened to. I give money to the largest heath care provider on the planet. I offer food to the pantry. I feel good about it -- so I know that there is a place for some parts of religion -- even though the parts that bring war and stupidity also exist (sadly). I stick by the parts of Christianity that say Good Works are above all else (e.g.. Mark 11:23-24 23 ). I have 7 good years of college and studied the Bible as Literature -- one of the greatest pieces of literature written .... I do not think it was written by divine inspiration from God or by a Holy hand .... but by people who thought they were getting divine inspiration in some places and by people who wanted power in others .... I have faith in what ever makes you happy and works for you -- Believe in what ever works for you -- be it pantheism or atheism as long as it works for you and makes you happy! .. What ever you believe, go forth in Love and do Good Works! The rest will sort itself out and be what ever it is supposed to be (it worked for my Mom in the end) and I hope it will work for me. I am sorry to cause such an uproar by placing a quote from the Bible on this thread ... for those who wonder which one ... it was Mark 11:23-24 23 (It is a good quote and mantra for me to live by)- Maura-Elizabeth0
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May I join your thread? I LOVE the cat pictures!! I have a 2 cats (one is a kitten and the cutest thing), and I am not a christian, atheist, agnostic. I am just me.
I was raised Catholic, and went to Catholic school, went to church and really believed in God. Now, I am....as I wrote earlier....just me. I don't go to church, have no use for religion, and it drives me crazy when people say they will pray for me. I want to scream "PLEASE DON'T." I find comfort in nature. When I feel the wind on my face, see a beautiful sunset, am sitting in a field or in the ocean, that is when I feel the presence of Mother Nature. To me that is truly peace.
My family is still very religious, so it has not been easy for them to understand that my children will not be doing their confirmation or first communion. They keep asking me, "what are they going to do when they get married?" My response is that my daughters may not get married, and if they do, there are many other options than a church. Mind you, one of my sisters, who is super-religious, told me that I got lupus because I smoked. So.......
I was recently on the Stage IV thread (I have a friend who is Stage IV so I go on that thread to see if there is anything there that can help her. I never post there), and there is a woman who is not doing well. Her brother writes occasionally to keep her "breast friends" informed of her progress, and there was a "woman of faith" who actually posted that "my guts tell me she needs faith" (her words)! I can't believe that someone could be so callous!
Anyway, please excuse my rant. This thread is great.
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Maura~Elizabeth...
I am sorry for the loss of your mom. I too have seen people change in the face of death & reach towards God, seemingly trying to right many years of wrong. I watched my own father die an evil death from cancer, in recent years & my pain is raw. It may even be anger. My father was a man of science & the kindest, smartest, most unselfish man I have ever known. Never once did he sway in his non-belief and ask for a God or a Priest. His belief was logic and I follow him in my non-faith like most children follow the faith of their own parents. We are all born with-out religion, we are taught what to believe.
If I had given my daughter away for adoption at birth & she had been raised in a Catholic home instead of with me...would she be Catholic? I let my children make their own choices, they know what I believe & have been free to explore religion at their own pace. My youngest son, at 9, still believes in God. He is still buying Santa when it is convenient too...I will not sway him. He has a mind of his own & will believe what he finds to be true as he grows.
There is not a lady here who denies you your right to go to church everyday if that is what brings you peace & joy. We all have different beliefs here, what unites us is that we do not judge each other or force our beliefs on each other.
I would never pop into the Catholic thread & post quotes of Richard Dawkins. Or into a Jewish thread and post pictures of Jesus.....but people seem to have no issues coming here throwing personal belief at us. With an arrogance, yet... that they are so obviously correct....like gravity is the newest theory.
I hope you continue to heal, the passing of your mom is such a new pain....people say it gets better in time....maybe so.....to me......My Father, the only man I will ever pray to, was stolen from this place too soon...by a disease, that should unite us all with-out question.
This is My Father....I hope he is collecting rocks on Mars, he finds time to float back once in awhile to watch a Steeler game, maybe catch a peek at a grand-baby.....BUT I KNOW he lives on in me, in my children & in the star stuffs that never die.<BR>
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Dawnn -- I forgot that your rooster was named Jesus! Well, that explains it all! And don't stop posting your kitty pics!
I agree with you covertanjou -- some people just don't think! I hope no one every prays for me either. Wishing that I make good nutrients in the earth when I die would be nice though. I'll be going green!
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Layne~LOL! I already told you guys about Yo-Yo gone Jesus!!?! Wow!
How did that not get deleted??
Thanks for the support today.
The support came here was threefold via in my PM, most are just afraid to post here out of fear of being treated badly.
How sad is that?
You ladies have a great night, I feel a Xanax & a bath coming on
convertanjou~~WOW! You need a nickname, I can't type that with-out looking. Welcome. I received a message from a stage IV girl who was shocked at all the prayers & God support she has received when NEVER once has she said she believes in God. Maybe....everyone just assumes we all do? It doesn't offend me, I take it as a sign of love.
I just do not want treated badly because of my non-belief. I send love to the girls who are getting prayers. I feel out of place, but I think about them & worry about them, I share their stories with my family who loves them & cares too...does my love not count because I don't go to church?
Again, welcome
Goodnight, everyone.
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You can call me Mary--can you tell my parents are Catholics
I will sign my posts that way from now on. The covertanjou comes from the fact that I live in Anjou, a suburb of Montreal. Some people call me secret pear--get it? Anjou is a type of pear...LOLDawn, could you re-post your story about the rooster? I could use a laugh.
Take care all,
Mary
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Positive vibes are accepted in any form.
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Dawn, Love the story of your father. You make so much sense!
Hi Layne, I want to know bout the Jesus Jesus story.
Glad I found this thread. I find it very interesting.
From an X Catholic school girl (old lady now).
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Fast fast fast, ready!!!!
We had like 200 chickens, one of the little peeps, swallowed a yo-yo, we knew because the string was hanging out of his beak & we had to take it out of his crop...he got dubbed Yo~Yo.
Well...this eagle swoops down & carries him away, carries him over the hills into the distance in his talons.....days later we hear noise outside on the porch, it is Yo~Yo...my oldest daughter re-named him Jesus~Jesus & it stuck....
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LOL! Thank you Dawn for posting this again.
Mary
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Okay, so I just checked in and discovered all the latest hoopla over the atheist cat, freedom of expression, and censorship as well as tremendous solidarity amongst the posters here. I should tell you that I was alternately screaming with laughter and screaming in outrage, while also nodding my head "in support of the supporters." I am grateful that Dawnn has decided not to leave our midst and that she has found so many supporters, like myself. Dawnn, I want to add that your post about your dad seemed truly heartfelt, and it contained both advocacy for our right to speak our minds without fear and compassion for someone who is experiencing grief over the loss of her mother. You are obviously one smart, sensitive woman, and a damn funny one at that! Good night to all!
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Ladies,
You are all wonderful. But you are giving the naysayers too much power. They are all probably enjoying all the attention. Don't give it to them. They are not worth it.
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LOL Dawn, great story!!
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Dawnn--welcome back...
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Hi Shelby,
another atheist here - certainly don't believe in 'god' but do appreciate the energy incumbent in every living thing and the planet as a whole. I don't know what that makes me exactly but I appreciate if peole say they are praying for me, as I see it as an expression of their positive energy towards me and their wish that the bc will go and I will recover fully. I have also found some help and support through trying some regular meditation, not of the spiritual type but just to be still and focussed for a little while and get in touch with 'me' without all the busy-ness of life (esp when dealing with trwatments, multipe Dr appointments etc)
However I would certainly draw the line at a Dr offering to pray with me! Goodness, I would think they are there to use their medical knowledge, scientific knowledge, and hopefully human skills, not to intervene on my behalf with a god that I don't believe! That would freak me right out.... I am from Australia and I think people here would be astounded if that were to happen in a Dr's consulting room or surgery!
Anyway it is lovely to read all the views of other women on this thread. Good luck to eveyone on their healing journeys.
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What ever you believe, go forth in Love and Good Works! The rest will sort itself out and be what ever it is supposed to be.
Maura-Elizabeth--- I think this says it all. Doesn't matter what you believe (or not) but in ones actions and intention.
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LOL! Come on, how cute is that!!??
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