I don’t know where to start. I guess I’m just reaching out so I can have a conversation with someone like minded. I feel extremely isolated. I am in recovery and have used AA for many years. 2 years ago I got tired of the god shit and started a secular meeting and it boomed. Well I had to move away a year ago and cannot find anyone I can relate to. Not just about my recovery, but even my interactions with other atheists always have some degree of conform to my thinking or you don’t fit. I’m hardly political and would consider myself a classical liberal, but everyone I talk to that’s atheist is so far left wing, I just feel like we have nothing to talk about. I just feel alone in this. Wish I could find a place where I could belong and fit.
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Hi, TJ. You’re welcome here at AR. Not everyone agrees with everyone else on everything but it seems to work anyway. Grab a cup of joe, pull up a stool, and join us.
That’s the goal. I’d really like to make some new friends that I can just have healthy conversations with.
Welcome TJ Dudeman, this may be a refuge, the Batcave 2.0.
I also went through the AA program and left with a foul taste in my mouth. Despite the numerous emails, letters, and pleading to participate and send money, I have left all of that far behind.
And I now control my life and it is good.
Let me tell you about my politics. I do not adhere to any single political dogma. IMO each system, be it capitalism, a monarchy, even a dictatorship have positives and negatives. I don't give a crap about political dogma, all that matters is that we elect people who are dedicated towards finding a solution, of fixing the problem.
Here is a gem I love to spring on ultra-right anti-socialists. I ask them if they have ever driven on the Interstates, and point out how convenient they are. I then progress to pointing out that after the Interstates were completed the US enjoyed the greatest prosperity it has ever seen. It has become the backbone of US commerce.
Then I spring my trap by pointing out that Interstates are as socialist as it can be. Mussolini (fascist) had the idea, Hitler (national socialist) expanded it into the Autobahns, Eisenhower was very aware of this, and once he was elected president, began the Interstate project.
The taxpayer's money, public funds being spent on a make-work project that benefits no single entity, but everyone.
I was raised conservative, but I embrace so many human rights issues my overall leanings are towards the left. But I am definitely NOT what we refer to as "the looney left".
What an excellent comment. I appreciate your articulation. I can relate to a lot of what you said. I also don’t fit into any one “group” or “tribe” being that my experiences have forced my worldview a to broaden. Thanks for writing back. It’s nice to have some intellectuall discussions. About the A.A. thing, I still find some use in the human connection aspects, and I also still utilize the self analysis skills I learned in the program. I have occasional communication with my very first sponsor who is also atheist, but he seems to be less annoyed by the incessant god talk. A trait I kind of admire because even 5 years later it still annoys me to no end. Anyways. Thank you all for your replies so far. It’s very nice to know I’m not alone.
I do appreciate the skills I learned from the program. But my wife is a psychologist and from what I have learned from her, all of those skills are basically simple psychology. The problem I have with AA is that it wraps too much religion around it and it has become more of a cult than a method in dealing with social issues.
TJ Dudeman, you have an interesting moniker. TJ is cool, but since The Big Lebowski is one of my favorite movies, this is for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYsw0KVRjCM
And have you ever considered joining the Church of the Latter Day Dude?
https://dudeism.com/ordination/
Dudeism, somehow I really like that.
Hello TJ Dudeman,
I think here we do not care much on politics because we're too much focused on tearing apart stupid religious arguments. As a french, i am not sure of what classical liberalism is because it didn't catch much in France.
I, too, am feeling isolated since i left metropolitan France and returned to my island. Try hanging regularly on theses forums it will help you.
This has been fantastic so far. And David, you nailed it. Haha. The big Lebowski is by far my favorite movie. TJ comes from a nickname a bunch of outlaw bikers gave my father, Turk, and when I was born they called me Turk Jr. So that’s how TJ came about. Also, I am in total agreement about the AA psychology connection. I used to work in a treatment center and a lot of the cognitive behavior therapy approaches we used were similar to the ones I used in AA. Thanks for replying !!!
Talynn, thank you so much for joining as well. I’m sorry you’re feeling isolated too. I understand that I’m my own way. On what island do you reside?
@TJ Dudeman
I live in the Reunion island, in the Indian ocean.
@TJ Just out of curiosity, what is this A. A.?
AA Is Alcoholics Anonymous, a faith-based organization that was created to help people with drinking problems. Their success rate is below 10%. But it's better than nothing.
Addiction is a disease.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholics_Anonymous
Hey everyone, and welcome TJ. I've followed certain threads here and there over the past year or so but actually just joined today (motivated by this thread and original post, so, thanks for that!). Based on what I've read I'm pretty hopeful to contribute to some productive conversations and enjoy the ideas of like-minded people. Trying to engage and hold conversations with people on other platforms has been mostly useless to very frustrating. It's exhausting to engage with someone who can't follow the simple path of a conversation as they present nonsense as fact. It seems on here some good can come from the discussions and even the frustrating ones will help me learn how to better present arguments and statements. I'm also looking forward to refuting religious nonsense and helping religious apologists drop ridiculous beliefs and see the errors of irrationality. Cheers!
@ The MetaVersalist
Welcome to our little corner of the WWW hell. Come right in. The temperature is nice roasty 15,983°C. Just ask any theist. Since you have been perusing the boards, dive right in, but remember, it is "at your own risk."
I look forward to hearing from you. Find something you like and have at it.
Again, Welcome!
rmfr
Cheers The MetaVersalist, jump in, the water's fine.
Interesting name, we shall have to indulge in why you chose that label.
There can be some fantastic exchanges of opinion in here, but sadly there is also a lot of baby drool too. Unfortunately that comes with the territory. I suggest you take it for what it is, confusing babble by confused babblers. Of course, religion is a very serious subject, it does involve one of the most significant part of any person's beliefs. Or lack thereof. Personally, I think that living a quality life is more important than wading in the deep end of the shit pool, so I also indulge in very silly humor.
If you can't laugh occasionally, I feel pity.
And AJ Dude, I pulled the trigger, I got myself ordained at the Church of Latter Day Dude. It is free, found at https://dudeism.com/ordination/
After the holy printing ceremony for my certificate, I covered myself with the obligatory vestment of housecoat, and proceeded to dude out, namely abiding. This is more fun than being a Pastafarian.
David Killens: "After the holy printing ceremony for my certificate, I covered myself with the obligatory vestment of housecoat, and proceeded to dude out, namely abiding. This is more fun than being a Pastafarian."
I did the same. But my holy vestments are at T-shirt that says "I like Big AZ and I cannot lie." and undershorts. Of course, the T-shirt has the word "sandwiches" in small print just after the "AZ."
rmfr
Welcome TJ Dudeman.
Come right on in. The temperature is nice 15,372°C. Just ask any theist. As long as you can come to the forum boards, you ain't never alone, dude.
As for AA, I think they are just an offshoot cult of Christianity from what I have read. Can't help much with the AA thing. The only time I truly went pure alcoholic, and every other drug I could my hands on, was right after losing my whole family. Something like that would just about drive anybody loopy for a few years.
However, I recovered. Went back college and earned my Master's in volcanology. Now I am doing the job I love, but my body is kind of saying, "Fuck you! I ain't doin' it no more."
Hang in there dude. Always remember you us godless heathens to pick on and rant at if you ever feel the need.
Peruse the boards. You might get some laughs at some of the posts. However, remember, it is an "at your own risk" forum boards. We cannot be held responsible for any injuries accrued by facepalming or falling out of your chair from laughter.
Welcome to AR.
rmfr
EDIT: inserted omitted word for clarity
And we need to mention that "thou shall never have any liquids in thine mouth while reading posts".
I have sprayed Coke and milk out my nose on occasion.
Actually that is my updated Third Commandment of Forum Reading:
rmfr
TJ! How's it hangin'? Welcome to our little corner of Happy Heathenistic Happenstance. Same to you, MetaV! We have a wonderful little abode here full of many fantastic folks, and there is pretty much always some sort of nefarious hijinks at play in which to immerse oneself. Bathroom is down the hall, last door on the left. Kitchen is first door on the right. I suggest you put your name on any items you leave in the fridge, though. Old Man and Cog have a bad habit of pilfering unmarked items. Just sayin'... Oh, and if Arakish is around, you might want to mind your step. Those above-ground roots of his can catch your foot when least expected.
Hey, TJ, I have to agree that The Big Lebowski is definitely a fantastic movie. Here are my two absolute most favorite lines from that classic...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWdd6_ZxX8c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPYz6AWxjGk
Granted, there are many others, but those are my top two... *chuckle*... Anyway, you are in a great place here to meet folks and have some good conversations. You no longer have to be alone, man. Good having you with us.
MetaV., if you have been lurking around these parts for a year or so, then you are very much aware this is a target-rich environment. Happy hunting. Tally-ho!
@ Tin-Man Re: "Bathroom"
"Bathroom is down the hall, last door on the left."
And don't forget to never enter the bathroom when there is a banana peel on the knob. Long story.
rmfr
Don't be aggressive to yourself Mr.TJ Dudeman .. You need to be out You need to be with people .. The debates of different views are necessary to grow .. That's our conscious way We always need to find a problem to solve it !! To criticize it .. To live with its consequences and chose the best idea we find .. That's the life for me .. For me I don't strongly agree with anyone I don't like the stability at all , We always need to change our mindset and criticize it every time .. Hope you enjoy in AR , You gonna find your people .. Remember humans are social beings you always need to communicate with someone , Just do it ..
Welcome TJ AND Meta. I share your sentiments and this place has been great. Even better,. There's so many people here from different countries and backgrounds. So many different perspectives. So although we don't always agree on everything, the camaraderie is real.
Welcome to the forums!
Look on the brighter side, nothing matters and everyone's going to die.
@Rickdiculous Re: "Look on the brighter side, nothing matters and everyone's going to die."
*spewing V8 drink across table*.... *cough-cough-cough-gag*.... Careful, man! There's a beverage here!... Bwaaa-haaa-haaa...!
(On a side note: Forgive me, Arakish, for I have sinned. I have broken your Third Commandment. What shall my penance be for my mistake of not obeying your divine Word?)
@ Tin-Man
Since it is your third time, once before with a beverage, once with the pie, and a beverage again, I'd say 12 laps around the forum boards. ;-)
@ Rickdiculous
You almost caught me. I had already swallowed by coffee and set the cup down before reading.
As a side note, since I almost got caught my self, Tin-Man, just make it 6 laps.
rmfr
@TJ Dudeman Original post:
Welcome to AR! Please feel free to share your thoughts, I am usually happy to read other people's thoughts and even comment on them without turning it into a debate, (if it is posted on here on the atheist hub rather then the debate boards.)
I personally have never faced alcohol addiction, so I can not properly relate, but I do have several close family members that struggle with alcohol. I too gripe how little secular alcohol support groups there are compared to the non-secular alcohol support groups. To me, combating an addiction to alcohol is undermined when the "support" is based on a lie (about god.)
But then it does help for some people, and I consider the alcohol problems in this world to be so great that help from anywhere, including religion is okay if it actually helps. I imagine that unfortunately sometimes it makes it worse.
Me personally on a scale of Left <==========center=========> Right I consider myself off that map, I would like to think somewhere high above it, but I know others would consider/label me mostly far left. But I could easily write a 20 page paper with all my gripes on democrats, and "liberal" viewpoints. I am also well aware that I live in a major college town and where I live is about as blue as it gets and my peers and neighbors do influence my own views.
In conclusion TJ Dudeman I say you are likely to find some like minded people here, but I can also guarantee you will find atheist here of whom you disagree with on at least some issues. This an atheist hub however, posting here and in general you will get support. Do not worry if everyone here agrees with you, as explained many times, the only thing that unify's atheist, is that we are atheist. We can differ greatly on every other subject. To me that just makes it more interesting and fun, might learn a thing or two from people that hold a view point different then your own, I know I have.
I also recommend that you don't start off assuming every atheist here is far left wing, instead look for similarities and common ground.
@The MetaVersalist
Welcome to AR! Great to see a lurker join up in the conversation. At least on my part I am interested in hearing your own input and your addition to the conversation. It sounds like you also have an interest in debate and I invite you to join in on those boards to debate your ideas there. I do have to warn you, in my years here and elsewhere, getting a theist apologist that visit boards like these to actually see their irrationality and errors is very rare. The only people I ever managed to help drop their religious beliefs and see the irrationality and errors are the people that on their own were already 90+% of the way there, on the "fence" so to speak, and I was able to give them the final little nudge.
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▮I am an atheist that always likes a good debate
▮Please include @LogicFTW for responses to me
▮Tips on forum use. ▮ A.R. Member since 2016.
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LogicFTW: "Me personally on a scale of Left <==========center=========> Right I consider myself off that map..."
Damn! Finally. I ain't the only one who ain't on that Left <==========center=========> Right map.
Or another for me to put is that I am scatter plot that comes nowhere near it.
rmfr
@LogicFTW I'd consider myself as slightly left of center of your chart. I believe in many liberal values like equal rights for all, a woman's right to choose until the fetus is viable, (absolute) freedom of speech and the press, I care about the environment, I acknowledge that climate change is a problem and a very real threat to us and our planet, etc. However, I disagree with many other "liberals" on things like affirmative action (for various non-trite reasons), and especially my pet peeve for the left: blindly defending Islam and using "Islamophobia" instead of "Muslimophobia" to describe real, actual anti-Muslim bigotry.
So much amazing camaraderie here. I really enjoy this.
Rick... btw one of my favorite shows and I do believe you really seized the essence of Rick’a entire persona there. Also, I can take myself way too seriously sometimes and the reminder that life is a death sentence can be comically comforting. Thank you for that!!!
Also to everyone else thank you so much for your replies. It has been so nice to hear from you all.
David, I’ll be asking you to be master of ceremony if I ever get married again so keep that ministers license handy. Lol
As far as the politician stuff, I really appreciate everyone’s gentleness in discussing those topics. I guess I can be presumptuous at times and still find myself boxing ideas. It’s definitely a current fault of mine. I do enjoy being challenged and having healthy discussion. I think what I tend to not enjoy are people who call themselves freethinkers, only to imprison themselves in ideas they believe are protected. I geneuinely believe no idea is sacred and protected from healthy criticism. Even my own views. Without being challenged I cannot grow or learn.
Thanks to everyone who dropped in. You all helped me tremendously. I apologize for poor grammar. Yet and still, I don’t approach these posts the way I would an essay. Lol.
@ TJ
I also got my ordination from there also. Currently waiting for my ordination in the Holy Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (it does cost money). That make me twice ordained.
rmfr
That is super cool arakish. So what shall we call you? Naturally, I took the name of "Pastor Fuzz", but .. how about "Father Woody"? lol
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