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Checking in
September 3, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Whitey has landed. So happy to stumble into a place to share thoughts. Most of my family and friends (mostly Mormons) are just too far gone to even bring up atheist concepts, or at least so it seems to me. So for some time I have felt somewhat stifled.
I am retired, started as an engineer, but spent most of my life as a realtor. Moved from Utah to Seattle to be near 2 of our 3 kids about 2 years ago and timed it perfectly as our first grand child was one this week. Lovely thing being a grandpa!
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS GIVE AND TAKE! Right now I have two topics on my mind: 1 if you believe life is eternal and that life on earth is the test which determines how you spend the rest, well hell, if you draw an infinitely long line representing all of that, the test portion of the line is so small as to not exist. How can that be the plan of a smart and just god? And 2 Who set up the rules ie. if you "sin" you have to pay a "fine" and just exactly what is a sin, and just exactly what are the fines for the various sins, and (with Christians) that some ONE can pay all of your fines? Are these thought to be just a part of the fabric of the universe, like gravity, or...?
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RE: Checking in
September 3, 2013 at 12:35 pm
See? That wasn't so hard.
Welcome, Whitey.
I'm sure some of our resident jesus freaks will be along to explain - in their own inimicable fashion - what their god was so clearly unable to explain himself.
(Poor communication skills, that "god.")
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RE: Checking in
September 3, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Welcome.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
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RE: Checking in
September 3, 2013 at 1:05 pm
(September 3, 2013 at 12:30 pm)Whitey Wrote: Whitey has landed. So happy to stumble into a place to share thoughts. Most of my family and friends (mostly Mormons) are just too far gone to even bring up atheist concepts, or at least so it seems to me. So for some time I have felt somewhat stifled.
Then welcome to the club. I'm also an ex-Mormon, and though only my father has since left the Church too, he's still got some ass-backwards ideas about this world. No other family members will even approach me on the subject of religion because they fear for their "testimonies". I can't make this shit up.
(September 3, 2013 at 12:30 pm)Whitey Wrote: 1 if you believe life is eternal and that life on earth is the test which determines how you spend the rest, well hell, if you draw an infinitely long line representing all of that, the test portion of the line is so small as to not exist. How can that be the plan of a smart and just god?
Truly the question is: What plan? What god? If this god is supposed to be so perfect, and yet the plan has obvious flaws or absurdities, then obviously it was fashioned by beings that were not so perfect, i.e., humans.
(September 3, 2013 at 12:30 pm)Whitey Wrote: 2 Who set up the rules ie. if you "sin" you have to pay a "fine" and just exactly what is a sin, and just exactly what are the fines for the various sins, and (with Christians) that some ONE can pay all of your fines? Are these thought to be just a part of the fabric of the universe, like gravity, or...?
I've heard it explained that sin, to the religious, is like drops of blood that little by little stain your white clothes. Jesus Christ apparently washes your clothes with his own blood that he spilled when atoning for the sins of mankind. This analogy fails for obvious reasons, but I trust most here are smarter than the average creatard, so it shouldn't be hard to point out the flaws here.
![[Image: 10314461_875206779161622_3907189760171701548_n.jpg]](https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-9/10314461_875206779161622_3907189760171701548_n.jpg)
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RE: Checking in
September 3, 2013 at 1:41 pm
(This post was last modified: September 3, 2013 at 1:47 pm by Whitey.)
Thanks for the welcome and response. Glad to hear that I have a somewhat kindred soul out there. I'll think about your thoughts and get back.
Oops, I got confused about who wrote what, but thanks for the messages. I am happy to be here.
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RE: Checking in
September 3, 2013 at 2:42 pm
(September 3, 2013 at 12:35 pm)Minimalist Wrote: I'm sure some of our resident jesus freaks will be along to explain - in their own inimicable fashion - what their god was so clearly unable to explain himself.
Especially A Theist, considering the username.
Have a seat, new guy.
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RE: Checking in
September 3, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Hello Whitey and welcome to AF! ^_^
When I was young, there was a god with infinite power protecting me. Is there anyone else who felt that way? And was sure about it? but the first time I fell in love, I was thrown down - or maybe I broke free - and I bade farewell to God and became human. Now I don't have God's protection, and I walk on the ground without wings, but I don't regret this hardship. I want to live as a person. -Arina Tanemura
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RE: Checking in
September 3, 2013 at 2:46 pm
(September 3, 2013 at 1:05 pm)BadWriterSparty Wrote: I've heard it explained that sin, to the religious, is like drops of blood that little by little stain your white clothes. Jesus Christ apparently washes your clothes with his own blood that he spilled when atoning for the sins of mankind. This analogy fails for obvious reasons, but I trust most here are smarter than the average creatard, so it shouldn't be hard to point out the flaws here.
The shit these morons believe!
![[Image: Jesus-Soap.jpg]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=thechurchsofa.co.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F06%2FJesus-Soap.jpg)
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RE: Checking in
September 3, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Welcome, Whitey.
I just finished reading a quick little missive called, "It's Not About the Sex, My Ass," by Joanne Hanks, a self-described former ex-Mormon, ex-polygamist ex-wife. I reckon it explains your former fucked-up religion as well as anything. I recommend it!
As someone whose early formative years were spent in Salt Lake City (and no, I never was), I find writings on Mormons, both the Made-for-TeeVee version and the Dark Side versions, particularly absorbing. I gotta hand it to your former tribe... that Joseph Smith had a rich imagination!
Glad you escaped their clutches.
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RE: Checking in
September 3, 2013 at 3:32 pm
Welcome whitey. Enjoy this corner of the web!
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