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Morally Depraved because I came out Atheist

Whenever I come out Atheist .. they assume I must have no ethics or morals whatsoever and that I am willing to do just about anything --- like lie, cheat and steal.

Anyone else have this happen to them?

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Permalink Reply by Steph S. on May 3, 2012 at 9:12pm

Hey Jonathan!

I love reading what you have to day. It wasn't long at all. You are a very talented writer.

I think you are a wonderful person and I am so glad that you are on the site.

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us.

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Permalink Reply by Steph S. on May 4, 2012 at 5:19pm

I mean what you have to "say" here. I got sloppy with my typing ... sorry

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Permalink Reply by Kevin on May 3, 2012 at 3:41pm

They almost deserve it, don't they? How many centuries have reasonable people endured their nonsense? To lie, cheat, and steal is to be normal. Ask any evangelical preacher about it.

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Simeone on May 3, 2012 at 10:05pm

Hi Joan, I actually think I tried so many things as a kid because my parents weren't really involved. Most of the time we were hardly supervised. So, there was no one being too protective. Unfortunately, most blind children struggle when parents are involved because most parents don't let their children develop the skills they need to survive in a sighted world. Most parents cannot understand that to them being blind is scary because they're not and have never been blind. So, they imagine blindness as a terrible thing and their blind children as a child that needs all kinds of assistance; as a result, the children spend much of their time around adults and don't learn how to properly socialize. I think I was better off because my parents didn't have it in them to be there very much.

My comments are not meant to be descriptive of each situation. There are obviously some parents who do a great job, but I'd rather give a blind child a parent who wasn't around rather than a parent who was around too much. That is, of course, if the kid has the personality to venture out and make things happen.

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Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on May 4, 2012 at 12:50am

Jonathan, you shine a whole new light on the subject of blindness for me. On reflection, I know you are right. What a great gift you have given me, with your clarity and willingness to describe your experiences. I feel richer for knowing you.

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Simeone on May 4, 2012 at 3:45pm

Joan, Thanks for the kind words--they really mean a lot. After thinking about it I decided that what I have to say could be educational for some people so I chose to add a few of my thoughts to this discussion. I have much more to say, though, so you better not encourage me too much. :)

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Permalink Reply by Steph S. on May 4, 2012 at 5:18pm

I'll encourage you Jonathan. I could read what you have to say all day. : ) I don't mind at all. You really have good insight and knowledge Jonathan that you can impart to others.

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Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on May 4, 2012 at 9:45pm

Your type of thinking will get my encouragement, even as you don't need my endorsement. You exist as an eagle flying where others don't go and cannot see.

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Simeone on May 4, 2012 at 3:47pm

Hey Steph! As you know, I'm more than happy to say the same about you. :)

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Permalink Reply by Richard Goscicki on May 4, 2012 at 3:48pm

It's part of the "there's no morality without God syndrome." I have news for them: there's no morality without reason.

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Permalink Reply by Jedi Wanderer on May 4, 2012 at 4:05pm

Ah, if only that were true Richard. Then those of faith would have a harder time divorcing their behaviors and beliefs from morality. But plenty of other species demonstrate that which we recognize as morality, and they do it just fine without reason. This I think is a primary reason why we cannot reason with them that what they believe in is not only wrong but immoral - they simply do not feel the pull of reason upon them, yet they still feel the pull of morality. The theists are not, for the most part, pure evil. They are just like eye-less worms, struggling to find their way in the world absent the light that reason sheds.

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Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on May 4, 2012 at 9:43pm

Jedi Wanderer, And believing their eye-less, struggling, absence of reason is the only way and everyone else is doomed to eternal flames or eternal joy. Both sound pretty dreadful to me.