Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?
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SusanFL: I have sent my kids to Unitarian Religious Education for the past 10 years (younger is now 13 and about to finish the course). I wanted them to make up their own minds (unlike the "lutheran or hellfire" which I got as a child), but I wanted them to have lots of information and choices. Over the years, they've learned pagan myths, visited churches, synagogues, hindu temples, buddhist, etc etc. They've celebrated christian, jewish, and wiccan holidays. I would say they have a good background now to form their own beliefs. My 13 year old currently is of the opinion that "there probably is no god, but that's ok". I'm so glad I made the choice to take them to UU church all those years. If you have kids, I recommend it.
I'd like to post this crop circle photo on the crazy bench now! It is supposed to have appeared in the Netherlands. It's so beautiful!
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Hi SusanFL! Welcome! I can tell you what my experience was when I lived in Owensboro, KY in the long ago times when I was young and married... When you met new people, the first thing they asked you is what your husband did. The second thing was what church you went to. Now Owensboro is a fairly small town (I think at that time it had only about 50,000 people) and if you are going to the much larger Knoxville metropolitan area I hope it will be different. I know there was no UU church in Owensboro, it was about half and half Southern Baptist and Catholic.
Ladies, I am all for the commune. I keep telling people that I'm going to run away to a commune in northern California coast where you don't even need A/C.
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Calypso: I love the crop circle photograph! Did you hear that they supposedly explained crop circles in Austrailia as kangaroos eating poppies and getting so stoned that they hopped in circles? Isn't that brilliant?!!
Not to inject a too serious note, but am I the only one pissed off by people saying that "things always happen for a reason?" As if our cancer, or something bad happening was part of some grand plan to make us better people or something? I've never understood why someone would find comfort in the idea that someone/something intentially gave us cancer, or made us lose someone we loved, so everything would work out in the end. To me, it is a greater comfort to think that things just happen, and we need to be there for each other, as you wonderful people are here on this board.
Just musing....and happily thinking of stoned kangaroos.
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I know I don't say much and I'm pretty much under the radar here but I love to read all your thoughtful posts. You are the members that I hold in high regard for your ability to think critically and resist the "indoctrination." I hope it's ok that I keep current on what's going on.
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I am not sure of the time zones. BUT in about 40 minutes here...on the History channel.
Nostradamus Effect;
"Extinction 2012."
It is a new show & says (2009) Prophecies that seem to point to 12/21/2012, as doomsday are explored. Includes; clues from Maya calendar; Chinese philosophy; Hopi Indian & Hindu calendars.
It comes on here again at 9pm Friday.....it is 11:22pm here now, I am not sure of the time zones you girls are in.
**edit** For; Hi, Carol! Under the radar!?? THAT is against MY religion! Welcome
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DH and I really enjoy the History Channel but we've been joking for the past year that their programming has really been skewing towards "this could kill you tomorrow" types of shows! LOL
I suppose it helps their ratings, but I think it contributes to the free-floating paranoia that may be behind some of the general conspiracy theory stuff that seems to be flooding the country.
I don't want to interject politics, but some of the stories that have been flying around (our government orchestrated the 9/11 attack, Obama wasn't born in America) seem so fanciful on the face of it, yet so many seemingly rational people believe them.
To me, it's similar to religious belief, in that a conspiracy theory helps give structure/purpose to an unpalatable reality--and possibly the illusion of control in chaotic circumstances.
(OK, now I've probably used up all my philosophical musings for the rest of the week!) LOL
--CindyMN
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GOD!
Cindy, I haven't even had coffee yet. I need caffeine & a dictionary I'll re-read that & get right back to you! LOL!
I like "Life After People" on the History Channel....It is nice to see how quick the Earth just takes it all back.
Exactly how smart are you...I thought you were a reporter??
OH! BIG WORDS!
Proper grammar!!
Complete sentences that produce a complete thought!
*Dawn is catching on, even w-o caffeine.*
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My adult son gave me one of his books to read: Terry Pratchett's "Small Gods". What an interesting read! It is quite entertaining and includes metaphors for a religion that requires complete compliance and another that has a lot of philosophers debating. The god of the rigid religion reluctantly appears in the form of a one eyed turtle and can be heard by only one young priest. It was quite interesting to read the book while also reading these threads and seeing the two threads shut down. Much to consider . . .
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Speaking of gloom and doom...I think on the Discovery Channel or PBS..they talk about when the super volcano under Yellowstone National Park blows..it might be our doom...interesting...
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Yes, I think I used up my vocabulary quota for the entire month in my last post. hahahahahahaha! You should see me play Scrabble!
I've been meaning to watch the "Life After People" show. I have faith (gasp) that Mother Earth will take care of herself just fine. Perhaps she'll rid herself of her polluting parasites by generating a killer virus to wipe out the population. "Um, yeah. I've had about enough out of *you* guys." ZAP.
(Cindy adjusts her butt on the crazy bench and waits for cookies.)
--CindyMN
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Lassie11: I love Terry Pratchett! I especially loved his description of athiests running around wearing metal helmets to deflect all the lightning strikes coming from the gods they refuse to believe in!
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LOL! Cindy!! This crazy funny side of you is a HOOT!
When I was younger, my parents sent me to see a shrink because I was failing all my high school classes....my IQ test shocked them all & it seems I was just bored.
He explained to my parents that very intelligent people normally ignore basic things like spelling, times tables or cleaning...because it seemed irrelevant to them.
Muahhhhhhhhhhaaahahahahahaaa!!
I blame the sink full of dirty dishes & no clean towels on my IQ everyday!!
All of my daughters have crazy high IQs. When my 12yo came back at 156....I found disappointment in myself..that I had not gone on to college, used the ability that I had been given...almost as though I had wasted my life just being a mom. I sometimes think about going back to school & actually using the brain I have...I am just afraid it may be too late.
Especially now.
Wow! QUICK! Say something funny! That is so depressing!
I LOVE your posts, I wish I had the ability to express myself that way.
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I've got cookies. Make room on the bench for me.
Boy, talk about conspiracy theories, anyone do much reading about flouride? I've read the same thing over and over enough times that I'm trying to eliminate it from anything I consume. Some sources say it came from World War II and was used to tranquilize people. Other sources say it's a toxic byproduct of the aluminum industry. It apparently has little effect in protecting teeth from cavities. Some sources say infants should not consume flouride at all. So, what's it doing in our water?? Other countries who followed this practice decided years ago to abandon the practice.
It brings to mind the old saying -- with friends like this, who needs enemies? I'm not sure what the truth is, but I feel reasonably certain that we will see water flouridation discontinued in the US and it will be chalked up as a huge misguided venture altogether. It's no wonder conspiracy theories abound. I think I need more cookies.
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Well, "articulate" doesn't always equal "intelligent," but I humbly accept your praise. LOL
I've been a writer since I was 12, so that's almost 40 years of experience. When you enjoy something and do it for a long time, you usually get good at it. But I did stay unmarried for most of my life because I just didn't click with most guys. The guy I did marry (six years ago) is crazy smart, crazy weird and 20 years younger than me! (So, we're probably just both plain crazy.)
In fact, I should probably have a crazy bench all for myself. hahahahahahahahaha!
--CindyMN
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***Dawn runs into thread, jumps on crazy bench & does the butt dance!!!***
TWENTY YEARS!!!! YOUNGER!!!!!!???
Go Cindy! GO!!!
I need to go find me a 24 yo to catch up. Be back later
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Dawn..never too late and please do not think you wasted your life being a Mom...
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Found him!! He will be working on the commune!! I have doc appoints. Have great days, ladies.
Thanks, SoCalLisa...maybe I will.
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Dawnn - it's never too late to go to school. I got my last degree doing it part time, while working full time, with three children at home while my then husband was moving out to greener pastures. I was 50 when I graduated. Have been thinking about going on but find that in my retirement, there is hardly enough time to do the necessary homework for playing bridge. Don't ask how did I find time before - no idea!
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I agree. No life or talent is ever wasted. You bring your skills to whatever you do. And even though I never was a mom, I think that "job" is the most important one in the world.
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Thought of you guys today. A young man came to upgrade my cable lines today. All was going well until he was about to leave and asked if I knew Jesus. Asked if I knew he died for our sins. Asked ... whatever ... After about 4 no's he gave up. But he did say that he hoped he didn't offend me. He was so nice, I won't tell the cable company about him, but still!
Dawnn - are you my long lost twin. Never could spell or do multiplication or clean. I've been blaming it all on ADD - I like your excuse better.
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Wow, Guitar, cable company as metaphor for religion...I'm thinking deeply on that.
Dawnn, not too late! But going to college is not the only way to use one's mind, I'm happy you're using it with us here! And being a mom is certainly a learning experience, I'd say!
My tidbit of news of the day is that the publication of Carl Jung's "Redbook" is coming up next month. Having not read Jung myself (yet) (note that I say "yet", Dawnn, because it's not too late!), I'm not sure what to expect, but a lot of Jungians are sure buzzing the internet about it. The book spent 25 years in a bank vault, and people used to think it was only a legend, but it's coming out! Cost: $105 a copy! The paintings are supposed to be exquisite. I post one here:
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Calypso - could you tell us more about that book? My son is studying philosophy and partial to Jung's work - could that be a Christmas present?
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Dawn you have not wasted your life and time as a mother nor your quick mind.... Iam sure you are this quick witted with your kids. you have also done so much on the boards here. All of this BS over religious folks makes me want to pull out an old bumper sticker I had that said "The Christian Right in Neither"
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Amazon says it will stock on December 4th.
Should be time enough for Christmas!
Here is a link to a NY TImes article about the book:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/magazine/20jung-t.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1
I got curious and just spent my lunch hour in Borders browsing Jung's "Memories, Dreams, Reflections". I might have just gotten hooked...
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Wow....I must of came off so sad....I went to college...I just never used my degree or ever went on to do something I had a passion for.
One of my favorite professors called me Mouth. (Guess why?)
I remember asking a question about AIDS that was so obviously simple to me & he said;
"Mouth, your logic is Nobel Prize worthy, you see everything from such a different prospective, I know you will change the world".
I didn't....I have a sudden need to make a difference....yes, my children are here....and eventually grandchildren will be born....not the same as changing the world
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Dawnn,
Don't beat yourself up over your IQ and college. I taught high school for a while and worked with gifted students and kids classified as "seminar students." These were students with very high IQs, and studies showed that these kids had similar behavioral problems to students with low IQs. I was part of a special class where they got more individual attention. I can relate because I tested very high as a child, but ended up dropping out of high school. But I agree with Lassie11, since I now have a Phd, but no high school diploma.
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Dawn, I LOVE the cowboy photo. I'm sitting here at 6am laughing out loud and woke up the dogs. I just forwarded it to all my female friends.
My ex husband was a Jungian. He had a PhD in Clinical Psychology, which I could really relate to. After his PhD he went on for 7 yrs of training and became a Jungian Diplomate and taught. From my perspective they are CRAZY. I could always relate to his academic side and the work he did as a psychologist in private practice. But the Jungian side would come out and it was over the edge. When he mentioned he'd just bought his THIRD set of Tarot cards, I thought, I'm out of here. Divorced. There's no way I'm going to grow old with someone who does Tarot cards and throws I-Ching coins SERIOUSLY. Some folks believe Carl Jung was on the other side of sanity. From what I know of him, he was. Besides being sexist, and a terrible father, he had his lover (an ex-patient) live with him and his wife.
Sorry. The mention of his book touched a nerve (and ex-husband baggage). Can you tell?
I won't be buying the book.
Calming down now. Is it too early for chocolate??
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Linda,
I loved your rant! No, it's not too early for chocolate. Or a glass of wine at lunch! In fact, maybe I'll have one with you.
See you soon!
Anne
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Hey, all--
thedudess (Shelby) would be proud of this thread, which she started more than 1-1/2 years ago. I'm sorry (actually, I'm glad) I missed some of the firestorms, but it looks like this is a great place to visit now that things have calmed down.
May I have a small bit of room on the crazy bench? I like the commune -- it looks like where I actually live (except that we don't have a resident eagle). And, I also favor organic chickens, having never imagined myself eating one that was composed of inorganic materials. Oh, and dark chocolate must be an essential nutrient (organic or not).
I would put one of those Darwin fish on my car, but I, too, live deep within the Bible Belt. OTOH, I am also a lifetime member of the NRA (go figure!), and I don't have that decal on my car either. Mostly I like to go around incognito, which is much more fun.
Knoxville TN is probably a safe place to be an atheist or agnostic, mass murderers notwithstanding. It's a college town, after all. That means there is a good mix of people from all age and ethnic groups, denominations, and national origins. The students are going to be conservative (the undergraduates, at least), but the faculty ought to be broadly representative of all beliefs and non-beliefs. Even so, you might feel more comfortable staying in the closet much of the time. I can offer that forecast because I've lived in a college town in the southern U.S. for 27+ years now.
otter
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