Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?
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AWWW. Now I'm disappointed. Looking futher into this thread - actually going page by page - I'm finding that instead of a lot of different people talking about their belief systems it's the same people writing long posts over and over with a few new people jumping in.
I guess that there are a lot more people who believe in God than don't. Not that there's anything wrong with that of course.
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I didn't read this whole thread but I wanted to chime in as a long time atheist. I was just diagnosed with BC so I'm just starting the journey.
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"and who knows -- you might learn something from these women about faith and compassion and care for the world we live in."
"Now off to find "spinning bishops" for my laugh of the day!"
Obviously lessons in faith and compassion wouldn't come from you!!!
Now off to find the rock that created you and ask it what the heck is up with that hairdo, for my laugh of the day!
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Slow day, huh, Danter?
Linda
(Edited because the point's been made . . . no need to leave it up there in perpetuity.)
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It's funny - before danter crashed the thread, I'd been reading all the new posts and marveling at the empathy and compassion and thoughtfulness folks here bring to this board. But I was busy and preoccupied and couldn't think of anything new or profound to say, so I didn't post anything myself. But I don't want to let another day go by without telling all of you how much comfort I get from our discussions here. (Not to mention the occasional laugh.)
Corny, but true.
Linda
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So let me see if I have this straight. Insults are NOT okay - unless it's one of you insulting someone else's beliefs. (See the spinning bishops.) Then it's okay. Or is it that PERSONAL insults are not okay, such as insulting one's hairdo. But insulting the rock that created one IS okay, because then it's not personal? I do admit I am confused with the way you all do business!
Or is it that perhaps the "closed mind" alluded to by scary do is actually owned by scary do herself? Maybe that's more like it!
Anyway, I leave you all with this: BOO!
ivorymom, be careful. If you read this thread carefully you'll see that praying for someone whether they like it or not is forbidden.
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Madalyn - your last post says everything I meant to say!!
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A blue moon - how cool. You know, I've learned a lot about astronomy (or folk astronomy, or whatever) from this thread. F'rinstance, I'd never heard the term "analemma" before Brenda adopted it as her screenname.
Linda
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You know -- the "spinning bishops" was a criticism by a person from the U.K., describing Anglican bishops and cardinals being desperate for financial donations to maintain their relatively lavish lifestyles... This person was criticizing the hypocrisy and vanity of the temporal ("earthly" -- does my use of "temporal" betray my 12 years of Catholic school???!!!) leaders of the faith she was raised in. It wasn't "mocking" anyone's beliefs... It's actually quite similar to things Martin Luther said about the Pope and Cardinals when he nailed his "95 Theses" to the church door in 1517!!! (About which, by the time of my Catholic education some 450 years later, the official Catholic position was basically "Luther was RIGHT about the Church being corrupt in selling indulgences, but did he HAVE to go start a whole new religion???")
Sorry if I'm boring everybody here! Basically just wanted to say that all the regular posters on this thread are some of my favorite people on BCO (including some, like Anneshirley, who were regular posters at the beginning but haven't been here for a while) -- Love and happy new year to you all!
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Hi Mickie -- Welcome, and sorry you had to join the BC club. I took a peek at your posts to get to know you -- you do have a lot on your plate right now. It's a bumpy journey when you first start -- lots to figure out, tons of information to absorb, but you'll get through it. Everyone on this site is here to support you.
IvoryMom/Meg -- Always a delight to see you. You are the epitome of grace and kindness.
I'm slogging along -- nasty cold. I'm starting to feel guilty with the amount of kleenex I'm going through -- deforestation etc. Still pondering the big picture and cosmic recycling -- same old, same old...
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Hi Everybody!
Happy New Year!
Layne, I'm going to see if shaking my purse at this moon will work. Can't hurt and would only take a few seconds. Do you need to be outside (in the cold) or can I do it from inside looking at the moon?
I just got caught up here. Madalyn ... I didn't get a chance to read what you wrote.
I thought I'd share a wonderful story about a breast cancer sister I met a couple of years ago. We met on her birthday (and wedding anniversary) about 30 miles north of where I live. They were traveling in this area. Boy, was I in for a treat ... what a beautiful, vivacious, funny, intelligent woman I met, along with her cute husband. I had just finished up rad's treatment and she was just beginning her journey.
The friend I met that day was Layne. I'm so grateful for that get together. I'll let you all in on a little secret ... she's got some pretty cool stories to tell. I think I remember one about some camels!
I need to get busy ... I have a SMALL break in the action from endless company the last week.
love you all,
Bren
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Hi Elizabeth .. we were writing at the same time. Hope you are feeling better.
hugs,
Bren
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"It's a Small World After All" fits Bren and Layne!!! And speaking of music: whenever I see or read about a blue moon, I think of the song. I'm a classically trained pianist but I also play by ear, and Blue Moon was one of the first tunes that I learned that way. Hey, if I play it, and my DH shakes my purse...???
Ann, I miss anneshirley too
.Wishing all of you a new year filled with a sense of security and good health so that you can enjoy everything 2010 has to offer
. Hugs to everyone! Linda
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I will definitely be shaking my wallet at the blue moon this new year's eve! I just read that the next blue moon on a new years eve won't happen until 2028! I didn't realize how rare it is......here's to us seeing the next one!!!
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Ahh, so this is where everyone is hanging out today.
A belated happy holidays to everyone! I got Konakat's cold for Christmas. A vast improvement over the cancer I got last year.
What's up with the party crasher? Which part of "atheist" is difficult to understand?
LOL.
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Madalyn .. I wonder if the Lutheran's also believe there is no conflict with their teachings and believing in ET's. Since we didn't hold the saints and the virgin Mary is such high esteem, it seems weird that they would think the ET's were okay.
Rico .. you made me laugh out loud.
Okay .. more of musings today. Year after year for the past few years, we are in a financial mess, especially this time of year. Tim's job is rough right now .. and I just lost my biggest client. The last few years, I prayed and prayed that things would improve, that Tim would get more miles and that I would get more work. We did the footwork too. No matter how hard we tried, it was out of our control. So, as time went on, I quit praying and hoping. And everything is just the same as before.
Guess I'll just have to work even harder on my marketing strategies and work up some hope that the "timing gods" are on my side.
Hugs everybody!
Bren
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"What's up with the party crasher? Which part of "atheist" is difficult to understand?
LOL."
The part that says this thread is closed to everyone else. LOL.
No Madalyn, I think you refrained from further comment when you did because you got caught in your own hypocrisy - you know, running off for your laugh of the day and then pretending to be a righteous person. It's okay. Nobody's perfect. I will say this though - I scoured these threads to see if I could find others putting down athetists, agnostics, wiccans, their beliefs, etc. But I couldn't find not a one. All of the put downs I guess are contained in this here thread. By the kind and compassionate women here. Not all because some of your rather small group of people actually appear to show understanding and compassion. Maybe Madalynn, Layne and others can learn from them?
Okay, how's your sense of humor group? Some of you seem pretty ribald at the expense of others' beliefs. Now let's see if you can laugh at yourselves. I bet you can.
____________________________________________________________________
An atheist was walking through the woods one day in Alaska, admiring all that evolution had created. "What majestic trees! What a powerful river! What beautiful animals!" he said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. Turning to look, he saw a 13-foot Kodiak brown bear beginning to charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could down the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was rapidly closing on him. Somehow, he ran even faster, so scared that tears came to his eyes. He looked again and the bear was even closer. His heart pounding in his chest, he tried to run faster yet. But alas, he tripped and fell to the ground. As he rolled over to pick himself up, the bear was right over him, reaching for him with its left paw and raising its right paw to strike him.
"OH MY GOD! ..."
Time stopped.
The bear froze.
The forest was silent.
Even the river stopped moving ...
As a brilliant light shone upon the man, a thunderous voice came from all around...
"YOU DENY MY EXISTENCE FOR ALL THESE YEARS, TEACH OTHERS THAT I DON'T EXIST AND EVEN CREDIT CREATION TO SOME COSMIC ACCIDENT. DO YOU EXPECT ME TO HELP YOU OUT OF THIS PREDICAMENT? AM I TO COUNT YOU AS A BELIEVER?"
Difficult as it was, the atheist looked directly into the light and said, "It would be hypocritical to ask to be a Christian after all these years, but perhaps you could make the bear a Christian?"
"VERY WELL." Said God.
The light went out.
The river ran.
The sounds of the forest resumed.
... and the bear dropped down on his knees, brought both paws together, bowed his head and spoke: "Lord, thank you for this food which I am about to receive."_________________________________
LOL!
Now I'll leave you to your own devices. No need to pray for any of you - there are enough good people in need of prayer who appreciate it. I will say that I hope a cure for breast cancer is found so that all may benefit from it. I wouldn't wish cancer on OJ Simpson, I certainly don't wish it on anyone here.
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That's a good joke -- heard it before though. Thanks for the entertainment Danter -- it's amusing when someone's knickers get in a knot.
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You're welcome konakat. I guess we're not amused by the same things though I agree the joke was kind of funny. I just don't particularly enjoy laughing at someone else's discomfort.
Serious question. Seems like a lot in this small group are from Canada. Does Canada have a large population of atheists? Is Canada a particularly religious country?
I hope you do well with your diagnosis. I believe that a cure is right around the corner. That is what keeps me going. Making fun of others and/or laughing at others and what they believe in, does not.
Peace.
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That joke was hilarious Danter!
I would appreciate it if you would stop naming names in this thread. I don't have a clue who you are or why you just signed up to post in this thread. I have met Layne and been friends with her for years. You just don't know what you're talking about when you make comments about some of the gals on this thread. I don't understand why you would devote so much time to "scouring" BCO for threads about conflict or "put downs." Why not "scour" the site for posts about love and support instead. I'm sure you will find lots of posts by Christians, agnostics, atheists, wiccans, etc., that all love and support one another.
Bren
Edited: Why don't you ask your questions about Canada in the Canadian forum?
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Old joke. Still humerous. And every time I hear it I think, "God speaks English well." Then I think, "So does the bear!"
Actually (at the risk of getting Danter all riled up) I can't imagine that if there IS a god, that s/he really needs us to believe in him/her. What an ego trip.
Anne
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From my experiences of living in the US and in Canada, Canada does not seem to be nearly as religious as the US. I don't know of anyone who goes to church, temple, or other place of worship except during the "main holidays"/significant religious days. In the US I knew plenty of people who worshipped regularly, or irregularly. There are certainly plenty of religions from around the world practiced in Canada though. Catholicism and Protestantism are the main religions but Islam, Judaism, Hindi, etc are also well represented.
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konakat, thanks for your thoughtful answer. Unless you want prayer, I will say that you certainly have my very best thoughts and wishes!
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Thank-you Danter. The women here are very nice women -- very dear to me and many others, regardless of religion, or lack of one. It's like on some of the political theads where things can get heated up -- you see the same person who was getting you riled up there being so kind and thoughtful elsewhere. I remember ages ago Mom saying never discuss religion, politics or sex -- it can lead to hurt feelings, arguments. But I don't mind -- it would be so boring if we were all the same.
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Okay, Layne.
Spill on the camels.
Enquiring minds (slightly toasted with merlot) want to know.
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Speaking as a Canadian, I have to agree with Kononcat's mom: religion, politics, money (and sex
) are just not discussed with people you don't know very, very well. The percentage (and I can't remember the exact figures) of non-affiliated Cdn citizens is quite a bit higher than in the U.S. If you were to move to Canada, your next-door neighbour would NEVER ask you what church you were planning to join. And yet, that was the first question my close friend was asked when she moved to the southern U.S. As for politics -- even my father never divulged who he voted for -- although I could usually guess! But I think we Canadians have become more open as the years goes by. As a nation of immigrants, we are not a homogeneous country. And we have always ascribed to something called "the cultural mosaic" rather than the "melting pot" approach. Perhaps this is why we are much more open to accepting others' beliefs. This thread is so refreshing -- we've all learned alot. And we're not afraid to express our personal views. Keep 'em coming!
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good evening from Elisabeth with a "s"
I looked at the moon last night, beautiful
And will enjoy it again tonight if the clouds don't get in the way...will it bring
me lucky money if I can't see it??
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ivorymom, thanks for mentioning the blue moon tomorrow. Should the purse be empty so there's more room for the abundance? I sure could use an ample supply of abundance!
konakat, hope you feel better real soon
lisa, beautiful photo.
May we all have a 2010 that is better than any other year before it.
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Layne, I've enjoyed NPR's THIS I BELIEVE series so much. Everyone is so eloquent. I often wonder what I would write...what is it I truly believe.
Ultimately, in a Pollyanna-ish sort of way, I simply believe in the goodness of people. Despite the odd eggs here and there.
Any other thoughts? I need to ponder this more...
Anne
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Me! Newly diagnosed also.
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