Are you referring to that chart?

Which chart, hon?

This one

http://atheistforums.org/thread-7621.html

Mm, no, there was another one I was sure Adrian had posted but my cursory search through his threads yielded nothing tonight. I'll ask him in the morning if he hasn't responded to this by then. Glad you pulled that one up though - I hadn't seen it!

LOL...I can laugh at yself louder than anyone. I guess I'm coming out of the closet, so to speak. I'm just not sure where I fit into the fold. I don't know a lot about "being an atheist".

Not much to know, peach... It's more about how you define yourself after realizing you don't believe in god. That chart might give you some research options - are you humanist? Nihilist? That sort of thing.

Ah...looks as if I'm an existentialist. That would explain why I could so easily dissect Sartre's writings to my wife for a masters class she was taking, which earned her a respectful jaw-drop from the prof at my response (dictated by her) to the assignment.

(September 10, 2011 at 10:44 pm)LunchBox Wrote: I'll post my "conversion" story a little later, when I'm good and drunk.

But...reading the forum guidlines (yes, I'm THE guy that actually read them), I noticed there are different types of atheists. I've only recently embraced the label, so I'm not up to speed.

Here's my view in a nutshell:

I believe that science rules, based on the assumption that what is observable, and/or quantifiable is real. However, I find the assumption that what is not observable is not only real, but the magic behind the curtain, to be insulting to the advancement of our species.

I don't debate believers; I don't tell them they are wrong. Part of it is because I am a public school teacher in Texas, and "if word got out"...you know the rest. The main reason though, is I don't feel any compelling reason to explain to my dog how to make home made habanero-lime shrimp. The dog doesn't understand...they are focused on one thing. I don't feel the need to tell believers why they are wrong, because my belief-set exists with, or without anyone elses' approval. Believers, on the other hand, require others to "buy in"...or the religion goes away. Watching debates between Christians and atheists is very entertaining...but I cannot figure out WHY an atheist would spend his/her time trying to point out the obvious to someone, or a group, that is completely unreceptive. Who cares what they believe?

I find the idea of a diety laughable for a number of reasons. For one, it's counterintuitive to believe there is a magical space wizard that:

A. has "His" eye on us all, at all times...
B. is so thin skinned, if you refuse him, he "cast ye into a lake of fire for eternity"...
C. embodies (Christianity, for example) one of the youngest religions, and it's novel was written as a series of short stories by bronze age goat herders...
D. has never presented itself in any quantifiable manner...

Second...isn't it obvious, when browsing the hostory of religion...that it is simply a manifestation of our specie's lack of knowledge within a particular area? Gods have always been invented to explain that which science has yet to.

Lastly, religion, in my view, serves as a host for fears. I'm afraid to die...so I'll pick that option over there, that says I'll ive forever outside my body. I'm sick as hell...doctors are freaking out...maybe there's a divine hand that will step in, so I'll pray. Dear Aunt Sally died...how can I glaze over the mourning process and make it "easier"...those kinds of things.

As I stated in my forum-intro...I hope there really is a [G]od. I'm a science-nerd, and I love being proven wrong. I'm also supremely confident that I will not be proven wrong...because I cannot be.

There it is...I think that's about it. Feel free to ask me anything. Now that I've identified "where I belong"...I'd like to know what niche I serve.

I don't care what god people believe in, as long as it doesn't start effecting other people. Once it starts causing problems, that's when I start arguing.

The way I see it, religion is a negative force in this world that influences, even unconsciously, those that fall into its mesmer. It trounces on each and every one of us, especially when we aren't looking. It can be altruistic and sociable, but is mainly used to justify crimes against humanity, such as 911 and the Inquisition.

In this day and age, I cannot tell people straight out that they are wrong; however, I wouldn't if I could unless it was actively doing harm to anyone, or anyone's rights.

(September 11, 2011 at 1:09 am)LunchBox Wrote: Ah...looks as if I'm an existentialist. That would explain why I could so easily dissect Sartre's writings to my wife for a masters class she was taking, which earned her a respectful jaw-drop from the prof at my response (dictated by her) to the assignment.

I too am an existentialist, but I really do border on relativist. So I guess that makes me a "relative existentialist"?



It is what it is, and I am what I am.