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RE: Taking a Break
June 3, 2012 at 8:07 am
(June 3, 2012 at 7:54 am)Panglossian Wrote: FallentoReason Wrote:Actually, all of this has got me thinking that maybe it's time for me to face reality. Ever since I deconverted 3-4 months ago I have used online forums to express my new self. I haven't said a word to any real life friends and have just been going with the flow. That way I can avoid all the drama but I feel like I'm not exactly free just yet. Maybe I can only be truly free in life once I start discussing the things I have discussed on here with the people around me in real life...
This is a good idea. I started calling myself an atheist a couple of years ago, and was terrified at first to admit it to anyone (most people in this area are either Protestant or Catholic). However, when I started to openly discuss it with people, they were really supportive and didn't care a jot that I didn't agree with them. Extremely lucky to be honest.
Hopefully the people in your life will be this cool with it too 
The people that matter in my life are Pentecostal. I don't want them to huddle around me and start trying to cast out demons!
I'll start with my family as my parents are Catholic and they have already told me when I first began with doubts that they want me to do the thinking and not anyone else doing it for me. I think if I thoroughly talk to them about everything then they will be there for me and help me express myself better to my friends.
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it" ~ Aristotle
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RE: Taking a Break
June 3, 2012 at 10:05 am
(June 3, 2012 at 7:43 am)FallentoReason Wrote: Actually, all of this has got me thinking that maybe it's time for me to face reality. Ever since I deconverted 3-4 months ago I have used online forums to express my new self. I haven't said a word to any real life friends and have just been going with the flow. That way I can avoid all the drama but I feel like I'm not exactly free just yet. Maybe I can only be truly free in life once I start discussing the things I have discussed on here with the people around me in real life...
It's not possible to do both?
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RE: Taking a Break
June 3, 2012 at 10:11 am
I often find people use online communities because their friends in "real life" give them a hard time over it.
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RE: Taking a Break
June 3, 2012 at 10:14 am
I'll miss your contributions, FtR. Maybe I'll check out FTF myself.
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RE: Taking a Break
June 3, 2012 at 10:32 am
(June 3, 2012 at 7:20 am)FallentoReason Wrote: Some good advice there. I'll have to pass on laughing at theists though 
Really? Their beliefs are fucking funny. The fact that they are coming from adults makes it even funnier, a little sad at the same time but is something that causes me to laugh till I cry.
Which is the other reason I come here. I come for the laughs. 
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence - Carl Sagan
Mankind's intelligence walks hand in hand with it's stupidity.
Being an atheist says nothing about your overall intelligence, it just means you don't believe in god. Atheists can be as bright as any scientist and as stupid as any creationist.
You never really know just how stupid someone is, until you've argued with them.
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RE: Taking a Break
June 3, 2012 at 10:56 am
(June 3, 2012 at 8:07 am)FallentoReason Wrote: The people that matter in my life are Pentecostal. I don't want them to huddle around me and start trying to cast out demons!
I'll start with my family as my parents are Catholic and they have already told me when I first began with doubts that they want me to do the thinking and not anyone else doing it for me. I think if I thoroughly talk to them about everything then they will be there for me and help me express myself better to my friends.
Sounds like you won the family lottery. I don't know many people who think as highly of their parents as you do, though I know some.
I think it is great that you carry as little resentment toward religious people as you do. We should all be so fortunate. But judging by the amount of animosity toward religious folks exhibited here all the time I'd say the scars run deep for many.
I didn't get as lucky as you did in the family lottery. My lot is plenty caring but not terribly reflective or bright. At least they were ineffective proselytizers so I too have very little resentment towards religious institutions or their minions.
Enjoy your break or greener pastures.
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RE: Taking a Break
June 3, 2012 at 11:18 am
(This post was last modified: June 3, 2012 at 11:25 am by FallentoReason.)
(June 3, 2012 at 10:05 am)Napoleon Wrote: (June 3, 2012 at 7:43 am)FallentoReason Wrote: Actually, all of this has got me thinking that maybe it's time for me to face reality. Ever since I deconverted 3-4 months ago I have used online forums to express my new self. I haven't said a word to any real life friends and have just been going with the flow. That way I can avoid all the drama but I feel like I'm not exactly free just yet. Maybe I can only be truly free in life once I start discussing the things I have discussed on here with the people around me in real life...
It's not possible to do both?
Well I said I'll be checking back once in a while. I just don't want to fully depend on this site when it comes to expressing myself. I need to try it out for real now and live the life that reflects who I really am now.
whateverist Wrote:Sounds like you won the family lottery. I don't know many people who think as highly of their parents as you do, though I know some. I am pretty lucky I guess, although I take it for granted sometimes..
Quote:I think it is great that you carry as little resentment toward religious people as you do. We should all be so fortunate. But judging by the amount of animosity toward religious folks exhibited here all the time I'd say the scars run deep for many.
I have been extremely lucky to be surrounded by good company. Only twice in my life has a theist said anything remotely hurtful via their faith but I understood why it was said I guess..
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it" ~ Aristotle
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RE: Taking a Break
July 19, 2012 at 11:19 am
So, I feel like I need a break again. This time it's because I want to stop depending so much on this forum for some intellectual freedom.
I have to play at a massive 2 day conference at church starting tomorrow night. I can't do this any longer and I feel like I need to start acting and saying the way I really feel. Next week will be life changing and very decisive because I agreed with two seperate friends to go discuss some 'easy' questions with a scholar type guy and also a preacher who apparently knows a lot of Church history. I'm planning on letting it all out and asking the questions that don't receive satisfactory answers here at AF.org. Hopefully this will be my new beginning where I can start being myself and start leading a life that will see me distancing myself from my church enough that I can live how I want and not hurt anyone around me.
It's all going to happen, but firstly I need to stop coming back here so often. I need to put myself out there and not back on here where I feel safe to speak my mind.
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it" ~ Aristotle
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RE: Taking a Break
July 19, 2012 at 11:56 am
i hope you find the answers you're looking for out there, in real life. i just read back on this thread and i agree with some of what you said. there are a lot of shit slingers and they're amped up by the kudos posses that pounce on each of their tirades (every once in a while i can get a laugh at some of the more creative ones too.) granted, it may be because they've heard the arguments too many times and are bored, but my reply to that would be to just exit that thread and go read the next one. to me, if i have nothing to add, besides ad hominem, then it would be just as good to reserve comment on that particular topic.
because of that, i now just ask specific questions and hit on the off-topic variety of posts. i found quickly that the one thing that the majority of folks on here agree with, is that god doesn't exist, after that, we're on our own. lol. calling someone an idiot or dumb or a nutjob can be funny, but it's simply nothing more than conjecture. i won't refer to anyone who is getting along well in life, a dummy because of something they chose to believe in - whether i agree or not. i simply won't ask for advice from that person on the issue i don't agree with but i'd be stupid to disregard anything that person said because of one simple discretion.
so anyway, have a blast and come on back later!
they can land a rover on mars, yet they still have to stick a human finger up my ass to do a prostate exam?! - ricky gervais
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RE: Taking a Break
July 19, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Well, this is no scientology, so no apology is needed for leaving. You will find your way back, once tasted the dark side, there is no coming back, MUWAHAHAHAHA *tetric laughter echoes*
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