I got a cross for christmas...

[Eilonnwy]

First, I like crosses. I know, torture instrument and all, but I think they're pretty. I would wear them if it didn't automatically brand me a Christian.

I'm pretty soft spoken around these issues with my family. I don't really make a big deal out of Christmas or Easter, I just abstain from certain aspects.

When I first became an atheist I got a necklace from my Godmother that was religious in nature. I didn't make a fuss because I don't think she knew.

However, If I got religious paraphernalia from someone who knows what my beliefs were and ignored it the way your aunt did, I would probably give it back saying something like "I'm sorry, but I do not believe in God so please give it someone who would appreciate it". I would even make it a public thing to embarrass them for completely disrespecting me when I've been good enough not to do the same to them. I'm usually good about gifts, nodding and smiling if you have one or don't like it. But what your aunt did flies in the face of respect so I tend to reciprocate how people treat me.

[Ace Otana]

Thankfuly I live in a very secularistic enviroment. Only 3 members of my family are religious. Only one of them know I'm an atheist which is my nan and she isn't bothered, but if say my uncle who is very religious found out about my atheism, he'd probably preach a little. He is a JW. One of the worst kinds of theist.
If I was given a cross for x-mas or birthday...I'd probably either burry it, dump it into the ocean when I go on my next fishing trip, send it back after pissing on it or do as frodo suggested "wear it up side down".


If it happens to be wooden then I have a few more ideas for what to do with it.

[theVOID]

Thankfuly I live in a very secularistic enviroment. Only 3 members of my family are religious. Only one of them know I'm an atheist which is my nan and she isn't bothered, but if say my uncle who is very religious found out about my atheism, he'd probably preach a little. He is a JW. One of the worst kinds of theist.
If I was given a cross for x-mas or birthday...I'd probably either burry it, dump it into the ocean when I go on my next fishing trip, send it back after pissing on it or do as frodo suggested "wear it up side down".


If it happens to be wooden then I have a few more ideas for what to do with it.

I'd go buy a figurine Jesus and nail it to the cross first, then wear it upside down.

[A897]

I'd go buy a figurine Jesus and nail it to the cross first, then wear it upside down.

but don't tie feet of jesus!

[Dotard]

I say you should have done this;

[youtube]Jpoki4wBwtA[/youtube]

[A897]

I say you should have done this;

[youtube]Jpoki4wBwtA[/youtube]

Aunty Chicken!

[binny]

Has anyone heard of Dean Braxton? My bible thumping nephew gave me a couple of CD's for xmas of this dude telling his story about his near death experience. He said to me "I know you guys hate god and all" that's where I interrupted him and said that we don't hate god, we just don't believe in god. He told me that this dudes story was a powerful one. He was dead for 2 hours and came back to life. I tried to listen to it, I really did, but I couldn't get past the part where that dude said after his story the listener would believe in jesus and the listener will want to spread the word. First of all that's just his personal experience. How would that convince me of anything? My husband thought I was nuts for trying to listen to it. He said "I'm sick of all this jesus shit." I agree. The CDs are in the trash now.

[Rhizomorph13]

Binny,

I agreed to get a copy of, "Converstions with God" a book where the writer apparently asks questions about god then "free-writes" the answer. The reason I am going to look into it is because my brother finds it valuable and wants to have a book to discuss between the two of us. He isn't much of a reader so it is a rare opportunity to find common ground to discuss with my brother. I love reading and true to my open-minded approach to life I WILL read the book even though it sounds kooktastic.

My only request was that he read, "The God Delusion" because quid pro quo makes everything better! He is of the opinion that ALL models of god are equally valid so his opinion of god is so amorphous as to be unarguable. He also told me that he feels that he is too old to weigh his beliefs because he already did that while he was young. (My bro is 32! obviously well past the age where we need to use our brains ) Weird, I know, but engaging my brother in religious debate sounds like a fun time to me!

I think we should be ready to consume and interpret theistic materials when they are presented or we can become as close-minded as religious people who will only consume material that jives with what they already believe. Also, what if we are wrong and the key to unlock belief for us exists out there...(ok after reading that last sentence I realize how bat-shit crazy that sounds but it DOES point at my internal feelings on the matter so I will resist the urge to edit it out, enjoy)

What do you think about this approach to opening religious dialog with my brother?

Rhizo

[binny]

I think that sounds like a good idea. You read "Conversations with God" and he reads "The God Delusion". Are you saying I should listen to the CDs? They're so long and boring. I find things like that brutal. It makes me mental, but I see where you're coming from. I am probably as closed minded as those religious nut bags running around. I never read "The God Delusion" because I didn't see the point. I already don't believe god exists and I haven't for probably 30 years give or take. Should I give that book to my nephew next xmas? I wonder what his reaction would be?

---

Shit, now I'm going to have to get in the shower, then dig the CDs out of the trash and listen to them. 2 hours...oh I'm going to go mental.

[theVOID]

I haven't read a single Atheist book in it's entirety either Binny, most i did read was about 1/3 of God is Not Great.