Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by booklover on October 24, 2012 at 9:18pm

You know Michael, you have inspired me to try harder to just say I am an Atheist and be proud of it.  Let it shock people.  I shouldn't care if they don't like it!  It shows people that Atheists are just regular people (except smarter, LOL ;)).~ Melinda

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Permalink Reply by Steph S. on October 24, 2012 at 9:26pm

Yeah I agree with Booklover - again! Just come out and let them see us for who we are.

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Permalink Reply by Michael J. McCleary on October 24, 2012 at 9:47pm

Exactly. It's not something I throw around and thrust in peoples faces just for shock value, but the moment someone (in a perfectly "secular conversation" which has no reason to have anything to do with their religion) puts it out there I immediately return the favor. "god has a plan for all of us." "I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm an Atheist, I have my own plans." Simple as that, Melinda. Don't get me wrong, people can get real ugly about it real fast, but don't be intimidated and don't automatically give religion respect. Remember, they "know" us nons are going to be subjected to an eternity of the worst possible existence in hell and are, quite disgustingly, indifferent about it. Respect the individual, not the religion.

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Permalink Reply by shavante williams on October 24, 2012 at 10:54pm

I can't help but to respect that Michael. Me being a youngin' dealing with this sensitive subject, I can only imagine what's yet to come for me in the future. I'm open about my beliefs and I am far from ashamed. No one can change that but it's also not respected. There's nothing wrong with the Atheist title. Everyone is just so caught up in the fact that we don't value christian/muslim/catholic/jewish/etc. beliefs, they forget to respect us and at least TRY to understand our values. it's immoral to say the least.

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Permalink Reply by booklover on October 25, 2012 at 7:34am

Respect the individual, not the religion~ true!  I love the part about you don't need 'god's' plans, you have your own! :)

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Permalink Reply by Michael J. McCleary on October 24, 2012 at 11:22pm

I just cannot push myself to respect religion "just because". People have a right to believe anything they want, but they also have the right to be wrong. I suppose you could call me a reactionary to the individual proclaiming their religion, I won't blatantly disrespect someones beliefs, but I also refuse to back down when met with ignorance to reality. It's not in me, I will not avoid the conflict when confronted.

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Permalink Reply by sk8eycat on October 25, 2012 at 1:25am

I have been saying for decades that I respect a person's right to believe whatever they want, but I do NOT have to respect what they believe. 

When Mormons come to the door, I snort and laugh at them.  I'd like to laugh at the Jehovah's Witlesses, too, but I live with one...my Aspie sister.  <shrugs>  Can't win 'em all.

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Simeone on October 24, 2012 at 11:05pm

I think it's very right for us to always say that we're an atheist when saying so's appropriate. They have no trouble beating us over the head with their religion.  

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Permalink Reply by Renee on October 25, 2012 at 3:36pm

They can dish it out...

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Permalink Reply by Tonya Wynn on October 25, 2012 at 2:43pm

It annoys me, too, when atheists dislike using the word. Why do some feel a need to 'clean it up'?  At an Atlanta Freethought Society meeting, we had an open discussion on what to call ourselves.  I was new to the group, but immediately got kinda piss-y...I'm an atheist and feel no need to soften it up for a bunch of fools who believe in the make-believe!  I've done nothing wrong and have nothing to be ashmaed of...as far as my atheism goes, that is.

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Permalink Reply by booklover on October 25, 2012 at 3:06pm

You go Tonya!  Good for you and you are right!!!~Melinda

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Permalink Reply by sk8eycat on November 5, 2012 at 5:59pm

Once, when I was working at JCPenney Advertising (in a large building that is the heart of the LA Garment District), Good Friday and Passover occured on the same day...and I wasn't aware of that.  I went out on the afternoon beak to buy a pack of cigarettes, and every damn store and restaurant was closed.  (Well the Chinese restaurant didn't have a cigarette machine... remember those?)

I finally figured it out, and came stomping back in the office and bellowed, "Where the eff can an atheist buy some smokes around here today?"  Quite a few jaws hit desktops and drawing boards, and the secretary/receptionist blurted, "But you're too nice to be an atheist!"  I asked her what that had to do with anything, went to my own desk. I looked at the three gay young guys in my department who were stuffing their fists in their mouths to keep from LOLing, and I started laughing.

Made my day.  I think that was when I finally came out of the Non-Believer's Closet after 20 years of keeping things to myself. That was almost 30 years ago...an amazing relief.

But "atheist" in itself is NEITHER a bad word, nor a good word, it's just a word that means a LACK of belief in any deity.  It's not necessarily a statement that there is no god, or gods.  It just means that you/I personally don't worship any, or pray to any.

That's why people who claim to be agnostics get on my left nerve...they think it means that they don't know whether or not there is a god, sort of a middle-of-the-road position, but that's what atheism is.  Agnostics (for the most part) don't go to religious services, or pray over their Big Macs, so IMO they're no different from those of us who come right out and say we're atheists...they're just too cowardly to do the same. 

If they don't know there's a god, how can they worship one?  THAT's the difference.

 

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