Hiyas, how goes it?

Can you really be here and not bring tacos?

Hi, everyone knows I'm an atheist, but it is no big deal here in the UK, the US seems to more of a theocracy

(April 4, 2024 at 2:44 pm)brewer Wrote: Welcome Woof. Hoot might be more appropriate for your avatar.

Curious about your change. Was there one specific experience that began this new path. Maybe the weight of the entire experience?

Thanks, brewer.

I'd say it's been the weight of the entire experience, but a few things have had a more significant impact than others. My journey from passionate follower of Christ to head-shaking skeptic has, chronologically, gone something like this:

• Abandoning the biblical literalism so common in evangelicalism, particularly the interepretation of Genesis 1-11 that posits a young earth and global flood
  
• Recognizing that Christianity, especially the American flavor of it, is a community of fear (as evidenced in its attitudes and actions toward those who are not part of the religious in-group)
  
• Recognizing that Christianity inflicts a good deal of harm on women, including those (or, maybe, especially those) within its congregations
  
• Recognizing that Christianity has embraced an anti-intellectual approach to nearly every facet of science, politics, and culture
  
• Prompted by all of the above, re-evaluating the evidence, both scientific and historical, for Christianity
  
• Concluding that the evidence is a bit too thin
  

There you have it.

~jamie

Welcome!

(April 4, 2024 at 3:26 pm)zebo-the-fat Wrote: Hi,  everyone knows I'm an atheist, but it is no big deal here in the UK, the US seems to more of a theocracy

Hello, zebo.

American Christianity, especially evangelicalism, has adopted the notion that the United States exists and prospers because God desires it to be a beacon of righteousness and truth to all nations. American exceptionalism is, unfortunately, a phrase I have heard from the pulpit.

(April 4, 2024 at 4:01 pm)Jamie Boy Wrote:

(April 4, 2024 at 3:26 pm)zebo-the-fat Wrote: Hi,  everyone knows I'm an atheist, but it is no big deal here in the UK, the US seems to more of a theocracy

Hello, zebo.

American Christianity, especially evangelicalism, has adopted the notion that the United States exists and prospers because God desires it to be a beacon of righteousness and truth to all nations. American exceptionalism is, unfortunately, a phrase I have heard from the pulpit.

Humans have a psychological propensity for thinking they are special, and religion enjoys taking advantage of egos built around 'Murican patriotism.

(April 4, 2024 at 3:41 pm)Jamie Boy Wrote:

(April 4, 2024 at 2:44 pm)brewer Wrote: Welcome Woof. Hoot might be more appropriate for your avatar.

Curious about your change. Was there one specific experience that began this new path. Maybe the weight of the entire experience?

Thanks, brewer.

I'd say it's been the weight of the entire experience, but a few things have had a more significant impact than others. My journey from passionate follower of Christ to head-shaking skeptic has, chronologically, gone something like this:

• Abandoning the biblical literalism so common in evangelicalism, particularly the interepretation of Genesis 1-11 that posits a young earth and global flood
  
• Recognizing that Christianity, especially the American flavor of it, is a community of fear (as evidenced in its attitudes and actions toward those who are not part of the religious in-group)
  
• Recognizing that Christianity inflicts a good deal of harm on women, including those (or, maybe, especially those) within its congregations
  
• Recognizing that Christianity has embraced an anti-intellectual approach to nearly every facet of science, politics, and culture
  
• Prompted by all of the above, re-evaluating the evidence, both scientific and historical, for Christianity
  
• Concluding that the evidence is a bit too thin
  

There you have it.

~jamie

Thank you. I left for most of those reasons also but, it sounds like, at a much younger age.

Welcome. Life long give-a-fuck-ist here. "You can spit on the mat and call the cat a bastard." Plus to get to be with the 90% of humanity that don't really care about the god boys.

Now for your first heathen joke: What was the first thing in Mary's vagina? Jesus's penis.

(April 4, 2024 at 7:31 pm)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote: Welcome. Life long give-a-fuck-ist here. "You can spit on the mat and call the cat a bastard." Plus to get to be with the 90%  of humanity that don't really care about the god boys.

Now for your first heathen joke: What was the first thing in Mary's vagina? Jesus's penis.

Thanks for starting with the soft stuff.