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Omaha Atheists

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Any atheists, free thinkers, secularists and/or humanists who live in or near Omaha/Lincoln, NE. Come join!

Members: 41
Latest Activity: Jun 6, 2012

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Started by Noh Name. Last reply by Noh Name Apr 29, 2010. 2 Replies 0 Likes

Started by Jason Jul 9, 2009. 0 Replies 0 Likes

Started by dGolden. Last reply by dGolden Apr 14, 2009. 1 Reply 0 Likes

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Comment by Scott Macauley on March 5, 2010 at 3:39pm: I told an Air Force chaplain I was an atheist. It went something like this:

Chaplain: "I'm trying to think of new and interesting things for our chapel service. Which service to you attend?"

Me: "Ah, I don't, sir."

Chaplain: "Oh. Well, what faith are you?"

Me (turning red out of nervousness at what he might say): "I don't have one, sir."

Chaplain (after double-take): "What, nothing at all?"

He couldn't believe it. The volunteering I do on base is sponsored by the chaplain's assistant, so for them to hear that I do it out of the goodness of my heart because I want to help my peers, they're often taken aback. In terms of others, I've gotten everything from, "Well, it's impossible for a person to not believe in a higher power," to "Oh, well, I'm >insert religion here<, but that's cool," and everything in between. I get irritated when they jump right into stuff like, "what happens when you die?" I agree, too, that most people are probably expecting you to express some sort of religious belief, and it probably surprises them when you don't have one. What would we like them to say? My dreamed-of response is, "Oh, I'm thinking of converting to that myself," but other than that I don't know.

Comment by Ester on March 5, 2010 at 1:33pm: LOL or just a simple "why?: or my favorite. "You're kidding"
I think it is because there are not so many people that admit to being atheist and it is not such a common thing that most people who are not don't even consider the fact that they might know someone who is. I also think it is because most people think that atheists are bad and so it blows their mind to meet someone who they think is a great person and is an atheist and then it is hard for them to reconcile that in their minds.
Plus is just catches people off guard its not something that they hear every day. You know how that is right? sometimes when someone says something u dont exactly expect and ur reaction is to say something that really makes little sense. I know I have said stuff then had to go back later and apologize to the person because I felt like my reaction was inappropriate but I just said the first thing that popped into my head. So what would we like them to say?

Comment by Scott Macauley on March 4, 2010 at 1:14pm: Oh, maybe. Whatever it is, it's dumb.

Comment by Carl Zulauf on March 4, 2010 at 1:14pm: I don't think there is a spell check on this forum... is there? I thought she was talking about her browser's spell check. Assumed she was using Firefox. Mine does the same thing for bible/Torah/Koran.

Comment by Scott Macauley on March 4, 2010 at 1:07pm: Spell check on most forums is retarded... Dunno why. It's not like it's a proprietary algorithm or anything. And John, when a Catholic tells me, "Oh, the Passion was SO good, you owe it to yourself to watch it!" my brain goes, "It's gotta just be 3 hours of proselytizing. Pass!"

Comment by Carl Zulauf on March 4, 2010 at 12:58pm: Ester, I think its because the bible is both a regular noun and a proper noun. You can have a programmers "bible", which is like the definitive resource on the subject, or you can read the Bible, which is the definitive resource on understanding a mass delusion afflicting a couple billion people. The Torah and Koran are proper nouns only. :-)

Comment by Ester on March 4, 2010 at 6:18am: LOL. no harm ever came after reading a book? yea other than every religious text ever read! stupid bible/koran/torah
just out of curiosity does anyone know why spell check says it is alright to not capitalize bible but it is incorrect not to capitalize koran and torah?

Comment by Scott Macauley on March 3, 2010 at 10:10pm: You're actually gonna watch the Passion? I couldn't do it, myself. I see it as a snuff film.

Comment by Khristy on March 3, 2010 at 6:55pm: I think a few friends and my husband & I are gonna throw a ironic easter party this year. Cracker based snacks, variety of red wines, pick apart passion of the christ... I recently saw a stamp at urban Outfitters so i could even make jesus bread! Woot!