Just So You Know What You're Up Against: Why Waste Time Trying To Convert Them?

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Permalink Reply by James M. Martin on June 27, 2012 at 12:28am

I don't mind the ethnic slur.  I live in Texas.  We have a lion's share of the nitwits, believe me.

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Permalink Reply by Steph S. on July 1, 2012 at 10:21am

That's is true - I live in Texas too so I know what you are talking about. Austin has it better I think than most the other cities here. So I'm glad I live in Austin.

Maybe you should come and live in Austin James.

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Permalink Reply by James M. Martin on July 1, 2012 at 2:23pm

Probably.  I could help "Keep Austin Crazy."

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Permalink Reply by Edward Teach on June 30, 2012 at 8:08am

"That ain't how I's raised!"

Translation- "I refuse to evaluate my moral positions whether they be Nazi, Christian, Klansman, Flat Earther, Homophobe, Bigot, Misogynist, etc. "

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Permalink Reply by James M. Martin on June 30, 2012 at 3:15pm

For all his anti-semitic, homophobic, &c. brouhaha Mel Gibson and his production company produced the excellent TV documentary series, "Carrier."  In one episode, a racist is called on the carpet by the Captain of the ship.  The officer asks if the seaman can do anything about his attitude and the young sailor says, "No sir, it's just the way I was raised."  The Captain, with little hesitation, replies that the seaman should start packing to go home.  It was an epiphany (you should pardon the expression) in that wonderful TV series, competing with an equally un-Mel-like scene where two young seamen, obviously in love, can't admit their same sex attraction but act like identical twins.  Great job, Mel!

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Permalink Reply by Edward Teach on July 1, 2012 at 6:53am

Thanks, I'll check that out!

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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on July 7, 2012 at 9:59am

Blackbeard - RE: "That ain't how I's raised!" - you left off the other half of that sentence. C'mon, you know you did! And if you're that familiar with the first half, I KNOW you've been there, and should know how the rest of it goes as well:

"That ain't how Ah's raised 'nd Ah turned out awright!"

Coming back to you now? Of course you only hear this from the real knuckle-draggers, who clearly least embody the term, "turned out awright."

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Permalink Reply by James M. Martin on June 26, 2012 at 8:28pm

I have some friends, a mixed couple of Catholic dad and prostestant mom, children who may or may not wholly believe, who were somewhat shocked when I told them I did not believe in God.  But they have accepted that and are as nice to me as ever.  I just keep my peace around them.  And they only push religion on me at the appropriate holidays.  I've even done the hand-holding b.s. before dinner.  No big deal.  I would have thought nothing of it years ago.  Why make a fuss now?

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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on July 7, 2012 at 10:08am

James - "I've even done the hand-holding b.s. before dinner."

I ran across a group last year with exactly your same healthy, philosophical outlook - I think you'd enjoy meeting them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98dp_-o6QpU

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Permalink Reply by James M. Martin on July 7, 2012 at 12:49pm

It is great that talented people who are freethinkers make videos like this.  If nothing else they make the believer think.

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Wesner on June 26, 2012 at 11:58pm

I have a very short test that works pretty well, especially with kids.  Ask them to complete this sentence: "Questioning authority is _______________."  If they say "Evil!" or anything like that, talk about the weather.  If they say "Brilliant!" or anything in that direction, move on to religion.  You just might have a humanist/atheist/freethinker.

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Permalink Reply by Edward Teach on June 27, 2012 at 12:22am

That is a great litmus 

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