Jennifer3141 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Does it make the earth any less special to know that it revolves around the sun instead of the other way around? I think it is possible to see and appreciate the same wonders through many different lenses. Indeed, I think it is probably impossible for everyone to see everything from the same perspective. I'm a heathen by some definitions, I guess. I'm a Dianic pagan if you want to get technical. I am not Wiccan. But I see the "accidents" that made the world and wonder at them. I don't really need the idea of a god to make it wonderous to me. Jen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanamom Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 (edited) I'm a heathen by some definitions, I guess. I'm a Dianic pagan if you want to get technical. I am not Wiccan. But I see the "accidents" that made the world and wonder at them. I don't really need the idea of a god to make it wonderous to me. Jen :iagree: Yep! ETA: lol... I'm agnostic with atheist leanings. So I guess that makes me a Godless Heathen. ;) Edited October 2, 2008 by Mekanamom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tibbyl Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Do any of you actively seek out fellow agnostics and atheists in your area? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Do any of you actively seek out fellow agnostics and atheists in your area? I haven't, but there is a secular humanist group that's active in my area. I don't have the time, really, and I don't necessarily want to be around people who are very active in ANY direction. I mainly want to be left alone. Any thinking I want to do about my spiritual life, I'll do on my own. I don't generally feel the need for a community around it. Now, a homeschool community...THAT, I need! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdogs29906 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 I don't consider myself Christian, but neither do I eschew spirituality or general belief in a higher power. What does that make me, besides odd? ;) ETA: The quiz -- which I *just* took -- says Neo-Pagan or UU. Okie-dokey. This is about where I line up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawn of ns Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 Do any of you actively seek out fellow agnostics and atheists in your area? Not really. I married an atheist but that's about it. I still hang around a bunch of Christians in fact in a lay ministry class (yes, they all know I'm doubting right now) but they're a fun, questioning and thoughtful group. A friend who's an Anglican minister mentors the group and he's one of the most educated, intelligent and liberal people I know. I can't see why I'd seek out atheist or agnostic groups right now. Certainly I don't join Christian homeschool groups but I wouldn't do that even when i was a christian because too often a "Christian" group means a very specific type of Christian that had a statement of faith or guidelines I didn't agree with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifemom Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Yes, but where does his true allegiance lie? A conservative Pastafarian who believes salvation is only available through al dente freshly prepared noodles? A mainline Pastafarian who extends possibilty of salvation to rice and potato based pasta worshippers as well as the traditional wheat pastas? Or one of those leftish liberal Pastafarians who embrace and welcome ALL noodle worshippers, including those brightly colored long cylindrical styrofoam noodles used for water play? :lol::lol::D:lol::lol: I too was wondering. I have not read all the thread b/c my head hurts and I saw how many pages I almost started to cry. So if Pastafarian is a true religion and I have just offended someone please forgive me, but oh my that was funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peela Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Do any of you actively seek out fellow agnostics and atheists in your area? I don't need to, because most of the people in my life that I am close to, who are a meaningful part of my life, are not Christian anyway, so there is no issue. In fact, I am part of a rather large alternative community with whom my values do not clash at all, even if they vary somewhat. And, I also come across a lot of Christians who I consider friends, some of them very dear people, but I see them only in the context of homeschooling activities and the truth is I would not seek to spend time with them outside of the homeschooling context. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiCO Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Do any of you actively seek out fellow agnostics and atheists in your area? I did that once. I scheduled a meet-up with someone on an atheist moms board I frequent. It was a disaster- she is violently anti-homeschooling (I was homeschooling at the time.) She was very negative about everything and everyone religious, I am not. Now I seek out people with the same values that I hold. Many of them happen to be atheist, which is nice for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyJudyJudy Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Stacey, the large majority of the time, I greatly enjoy life. I enjoy my family, both immediate and extended. I don't need to think there is some higher being taking care of things (or not), and I don't need to believe that there is a life after this one. I live the life I have to the fullest, and that's all that matters. Because of how I grew up--being taught the "fear of God," etc., I tried greatly to "believe" throughout my youth and early adult years. I never really could believe, and I was absolutely miserable trying to do so. Once I admitted to myself that I'm simply an atheist and that I don't have to believe what others seem to need in order to survive, I was so much happier. I felt liberated. The only "sad" part of my life is that because I have so many family members and acquaintances in my life who share your feelings, I can't be myself for fear of being shunned. It has happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmamainva Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 The only "sad" part of my life is that because I have so many family members and acquaintances in my life who share your feelings, I can't be myself for fear of being shunned. It has happened. :grouphug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Maybe it's just what we believe (that we will have eternal life with God and that non-believers won't) that prompts us to have "pity," for those that don't believe. I don't really pity any of you - don't get me wrong (gosh, I've had enough of that taking things out of context crud for one night). I'm just using that word generally. I do realize everyone has their own choices and, certainly, the right to believe whatever they want. I do think that it affects how you accept a person though when they have beliefs that are so drastically different from your own. Anyway, I guess I just wanted to say that I think Doran probably hit the nail on the head. And Audrey, I was NOT trying to be rude or belittle or bash anyone's beliefs. I merely stated that I came home with my beliefs reinforced, for whatever simplistic little reason, and I was truly saddened and unable to comprehend how people COULD believe this way - not that I don't think they are allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 >>what you keep saying still reeks of proselytizing. << What in the WORLD do you mean? I have been very kind. I am merely explaining myself. There is really no need for you to be so defensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmamainva Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 >>what you keep saying still reeks of proselytizing. << What in the WORLD do you mean? I have been very kind. I am merely explaining myself. There is really no need for you to be so defensive. Maybe because you keep jumping in on their thread? If they were looking to be converted, they would've asked for it. If they were looking for sympathy, they would've asked for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 >>The only "sad" part of my life is that because I have so many family members and acquaintances in my life who share your feelings, I can't be myself for fear of being shunned. It has happened.<< I really don't want that to be the case for you or anyone. I certainly wouldn't shun someone because they were athiest. My next-door neighbor is athiest. I enjoy her company, but there is a limit on the things we can discuss. (It could also be because she writes pornographic novels and is extremely liberal.) We do, however, have some things in common and I try to stick with those things. However, I think it's when substance comes into play that people who are polar opposite can't mesh. I mean my neighbor and I can't always talk natural foods and gardening (oh, and wine - she REALLY knows her wine). Typically, I'd want a friendship to go beyond that and it's just hard when there are no similar values. I do, however, make an effort to be a friend to her and include her in things at my home. But I doubt I'll ever share a closeness with her that I share with my Christian friends. And I do agree that it is very sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 >>what you keep saying still reeks of proselytizing. << What in the WORLD do you mean? I have been very kind. I am merely explaining myself. There is really no need for you to be so defensive. When you say things like "how could you possibly believe xyz" you are proselytizing and condescending to someone else's differing belief/opinion. You keep repeating similar sentiments to that in a thread that calls out to the "heathens" on the board to open up and share. We are well aware that we aren't in the majority here. It hardly needed pointing out, and we (or at least I) hardly needed to hear how sad we make you feel. That would have been better off in your own thread. Perhaps you can start one for people are so sad at the heathens who don't believe like you. I promise I'll stay out of that thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 >>Maybe because you keep jumping in on their thread?<< I'm pretty sure NO ONE is blocked from posting on this thread at this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tibbyl Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 >>My next-door neighbor is athiest. I enjoy her company, but there is a limit on the things we can discuss. (It could also be because she writes pornographic novels and is extremely liberal.) . The two of you sound like good candidates for "Wife Swap." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmamainva Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 >>Maybe because you keep jumping in on their thread?<< I'm pretty sure NO ONE is blocked from posting on this thread at this time. Yes, no one is blocked from posting on any particular thread. But I, for one, think it's extremely rude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 MAYBE it's because I am TRULY curious. I actually really appreciated Judy's post because it at least gave an explanation. You know, those of us that DO believe in God are on here reading that there are some of you who feel shunned (haven't quite a few stated that they don't open up because people don't understand?), perhaps taking a little time to help US understand you and where you stand (and even how you came to that place) might tear down some of that barrier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 you think it's rude that I am calmly and politely posting in a thread trying to understand YOUR position? Man, this board just gets better and better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiCO Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 But I doubt I'll ever share a closeness with her that I share with my Christian friends. And I do agree that it is very sad. That makes me sad for you. (Really.) I'm sure glad not all Christians feel as you do. One of my closest friends in this world is a devout Christian, and I'm an atheist. I have had many deep philosophical conversations with her about all controversial topics imaginable. We disagree on a lot of subjects, but we strive to understand each other's viewpoints. We also agree on more than we disagree on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tibbyl Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 ================================================ Quote: Originally Posted by tibbyl Yes, but where does his true allegiance lie? A conservative Pastafarian who believes salvation is only available through al dente freshly prepared noodles? A mainline Pastafarian who extends possibilty of salvation to rice and potato based pasta worshippers as well as the traditional wheat pastas? Or one of those leftish liberal Pastafarians who embrace and welcome ALL noodle worshippers, including those brightly colored long cylindrical styrofoam noodles used for water play? :lol::lol::D:lol::lol: I too was wondering. I have not read all the thread b/c my head hurts and I saw how many pages I almost started to cry. So if Pastafarian is a true religion and I have just offended someone please forgive me, but oh my that was funny. ========================================= Yes, newlifemom, the post was meant to be light-hearted. No one should take offense unless there truly *are* hardcore al dente purist Pastafarians. If so, I guess they can whip me with a wet noodle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 you think it's rude that I am calmly and politely posting in a thread trying to understand YOUR position? Stacey, if that's the way you feel, then I feel I should tell you that it is not the way you came across. Maybe in your heart and your head you were politely trying to understand someone else's pov, but when you state that you can't imagine how anyone could possibly hold that pov and that it makes you sad that people have that pov, naturally it's going to be taken as judgment, not curiosity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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