Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?
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Chumfry (and BinVA, too), the Old Testament, even "in context," is still a collection of myths and legends. In fact, there was no jewish exodus from Egypt, nor any of the other specific so-called "historical" elements. The new testament wasn't even written by contemporaries of Jesus, rather gospels were written several decades after his alleged death, and mostly by third hand-accounts, and there is no historical evidence at all even pointing to a real jesus of the bible.
The context of the bible, both old and new testament, really is no different than the context of any mythological texts written at any time in ancient history, beginning as far back as the Epic of Gilgamesh. In fact, there are strong indications that many portions of the Epic of Gilgamesh were lifted and rewritten to accommodate the jewish/chrisitan mythology.
The stories were written during a superstitious time by a superstitious people. They needed a way to control behavior and further their particular society. One way to do that has always been to invoke a god to be feared if crossed, and who will reward if pleased. The old testament especially contains some pretty horrific stuff, betrayal and slaughter of allies, depcapitating infants, smashing babies among the cliffs, promotion of slavery (even though the tribes were supposedly "saved" from slavery themselves), incest, rape, and much more, all approved and in many cased directed by the god of the old testament.
I suppose one could argue that it served it's purpose for the times, but it really serves no purpose in any context today, that I can see.
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Regarding funerals, I agree, they are for the living. We are gone, we have no consciousness, there is no reason to expect those left behind to not do what is comforting for them.
Having said that I have asked my daughter and husband that at my funeral, it is imperative they play one song in my honor: Into the West, sung by Annie Lennox (from LoTR-Return of the King).
I know, it's a myth I don't believe, but it is a touching myth and it is one that I would really reall really like to be real. It would comfort me as I go out knowing they will be sharing this during their goodbyes to me.
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One other YouTube clip I thought I'd sneak in.
It's Richard Dawkins comparing creationism to holocaust denials
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb2uB4_7CBY
It's only about 2:30-2:40 minutes, but for me it was pretty dead on.
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Madalyn,
I love Daisy!! And she sure does have shepherd ears! She looks very sweet and lovable. Do you have any pics with Daisy and Kobe? That would be hilarious!
Looks like Daisy is pretty fond of DH too!
hugs,
Bren
edit: typos
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My newest pet .... NOT
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What a sweet picture and yes, possums really do play possum. They also eat lots of lawn destroying grubs and insects and they love grapes and apples.
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Notself .. he's sitting under a 40 ft anjou pear tree! He has quite a wait for the pears though. Just to the left of him is a big apple tree (out of the pic).
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Daisy's duck in that picture cracks me up!!
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The average life expectancy of a possum in the wild is about one year. Most of the young are eaten by birds of prey, dogs and coyotes but the biggest loss of life is due to humans by means of poison.
It is sad because opossums eat cockroaches, lawn grubs and other destructive insects, snails, slugs, mice and rats.
Possums kept in captivity live no longer than three years before they die of old age.
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Notself .. if my dogs would be nice to him ... he'd be more than welcome to stay! I have so many moles .. that he would be a big help in getting rid of them. As it is, Tank digs up all their tunnels and I have to fill in big holes. argghhh.
Everybody .. I heard from Layne .. I noticed she had been AWOL. She is out of state taking care of her mom. Her mom is in hospice now. Let's keep Layne in our thoughts.
Bren
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BinVA - I will take your possum! They eat our big Texas flying roaches (eww). We had one living in our garage last month during a cold spell. He made a big mess knocking things off shelves until he figured out our garage was a good shelter but not a possum cafe. I left him some water in the garage, and the first warm day we had he toddled off in search of food... and moved into the bottom of our grill on the back patio!
Betty
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Bren -- please send my love and warm wishes to Layne next time you talk with her.
Madalyn -- No wonder your DH said "Daisy is the one". Hey, she sure is! Beautiful inside and out.
Can't say I've ever seen a 'possum up close, although our neighbour trapped one last fall and released it in the "wild" a few miles away.
But I think I'd take 'possums over skunks any day -- we have one living under our side porch and I just know she's about to give birth soon. But this trapping we'll leave to the experts
. I've been reading about the Texas Board of Education's intent to rewrite history. Oh brother.....
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I don't know anything about skunks, but possums do very well on cat food. Dog food does not have the right nutrition. If you want possums around, keep some good quality cat food in a dish near a tree or thick bush.
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Linda .. it's only going to hurt your head to be reading about the TX Board of Education rewriting history. Saw one of the board members being interviewed on Chris Matthews the other night. I was stunned .. Jefferson is getting the boot!
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Madalyn -- your home sounds lovely. I miss living in the countryside. And seeing all the footprints in the snow. Your skunk is probably used to hearing you on the back porch and won't automatically spray you. Once the babies are born and mobile they'll probably head off to the woods.
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Hey Elizabeth -- I'm the "lucky" one with the skunk under my porch! As for trotting off into the woods, well, last spring/summer I often looked out after dusk to discover Pepina LePew and her 4 offspring trotting across my back yard searching for grubs and digging up my lawn! I'm not sure that it IS the same Pepina (and I haven't seen Papa Pepe anywhere!) but I just bet it is!
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I want a golden dog now. wahhh. Mine are all black .. cute, but hard to see at night when it's Tank's final outing.
I'll get some new pics of him. He is growing fast and already doubled in size. He's a real digger, so now I've got the moles, the possum and Tank digging up the yard!
I haven't seen any Pepe's or Pepina's .. knock on wood.
I'm watching CSPAN. It's interesting. I even watched Fox news and MSNBC .. interesting. Those guys on the Right are really mad at Stupak .. who, by the way, I never even heard of until recently!
Well .. about an hour to go before the final vote.
hugs,
Bren
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I HATE possums!
I grew up on a farm in mid-state Kentucky.
We had possums that would try to attack our cars. I remember one especially, when my mom was driving us to school (we usually took a bus, can't remember why she was driving us), it was still a little dark in the AM. Well, a HUGE possum stood up in front of our car on his back legs and made horrible hissing sounds at us. He was at least as big as our collie. My mom tried to drive up to him slowly, thinking he would just get out of the way.
No way, ma'am, he charged the car! Attacked the front grill! About that time our collie came around the corner of the house and grabbed the possum by the back of the nexk and tossed it over his back (like flipped it backwareds). The possum just ran off!
HATE those things! Mean, ugly, aggressive, **shudder**
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Hello Ladies!
This is my first post, I'm new to bc, just diagnosed last week. I'm am very much a realist, neither religous or spiritual. Thought I could find some like minded ladies here. But then the GREAT posts about Star Trek and possums and dogs made me smile. I''m trying to figure out a way to attach a picture of my Ranger - Lab/Shep mix. OK if i join the conversation?
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Hi Susie Q .. and welcome! We're all friends on this thread, so the conversation sometimes veers off onto our pets, gardens, etc.
About the pics, first download the pic into Photobucket. You have to sign up for it first and it's free. Then follow the steps on photobucket for downloading a pic onto that site. After your pic is downloaded you will see it in your photobucket account. Underneath the photo are (I think) four options. Click on the option that says HTML code. Then use your mouse to click on copy. Then come here, and like Madalyn said, click on the little tree icon next to the smiley face. Paste the HTML code onto the first line in the box. That should do it.
Good luck .. can't wait to see a pic of Ranger.
I'm so sorry to hear you were recently diagnosed. It's a crushing and frightening time for you right now. You'll find lots of support and comfort here.
hugs,
Bren
edited: a gazillion typos!
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Ez .. this is a copy of your last sentence from a few posts back.
I suppose one could argue that it served it's purpose for the times, but it really serves no purpose in any context today, that I can see.
In the historical sense of the Roman Empire at that time .. you may be quite right.
Bren
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Susie Q,
Welcome to this board. The best thing you can do for yourself right now is to breathe. You will find yourself holding your breath. Just breathe.
Best wishes
notself
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Hi Susie-Q -- Sorry you have BC -- sucks. But you found a good place at BC.org -- I'd be lost without the women here -- so much knowledge, caring, support. Anything we can do to help in these crazy first weeks and, well, any time, let us know. Hugs,
Elizabeth
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Thanks for the info re the Old Testament, Ez. I'm reading it primarily as a challenge to myself, to see if I can get through it. (Once did the same thing with "War and Peace," which was a zillion times better written, BTW.) LOL
As a side benefit, thought it might give me some future ammunition. I have occasionally been on the receiving end of comments like: "Well, have you even READ the Bible?" Although I'd probably be perfectly safe to respond: "Parts of it. How about you?" The truth would be that I got as far as the book of Numbers and then my head exploded. Hahahahahahahahaha!
Welcome Suzy-Q! We're a crazy bunch here, but it's always good to have company on difficult journeys. I think the worst part of the BC timeline is at the beginning, before you get your treatment plan figured out. You're kind of spinning your wheels and can't DO anything. Once you get more info and have a plan in place, it gets much easier.
--CindyMN
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Hi Everybody ...
Here's Tank taking an evening nap with his baby bear and Winston.
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Doggies iz reely cute. Bear iz cute 2.
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G'day Bren, Tank couldn't look any cuter if he had his thumb in his mouth.
Sheila.
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Notself, you crack me up! Love the doggie pix.
SusieQ, at some points on this thread, we've talked about how it's not really listed under the right topic heading, should we have it moved, etc. . . . but after reading your post, I'm GLAD it continues to pop up under "just diagnosed." And I'm really, really glad that you found it.
Hugs,
Linda
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Hi Madalyn .. Winston barely tolerates Tank's lack of personal space/boundaries!! His best friend is Maggie (not in pic). Winston is old as dirt and just wants to nap in peace. OMG .. that sounds like me!!
Susie Q .. were you able to figure out the picture posting thing? Let me know and we'll put our heads together and figure out better instructions.
I've got a question for you guys .. I have a group of very close friends, and when something happens like a bad dx, troubles or scans, etc., they pray for each other and me too. Which I don't mind. But I don't know what to say back .. "you're in my thoughts" sounds kind've impersonal or not as impassioned. But the fact is, I do send out (to the ininfite universe) really huge thoughts that they will be okay.
Love to all,
Bren
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Bren, I do that, too, and I'm also never sure what to say. On cards, I often write: "I'm holding you close in my thoughts" or "Sending you strength during this difficult time." But I don't think that would work as well face-to-face. Hope someone else has better ideas!
--CindyMN
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