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Bringing you atheist articles and building active godless communities takes hundreds of hours and resources each month. If you find any joy or stimulation at Atheist Republic, please consider becoming a Supporting Member with a recurring monthly donation of your choosing, between a cup of tea and a good dinner.
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Bringing you atheist articles and building active godless communities takes hundreds of hours and resources each month. If you find any joy or stimulation at Atheist Republic, please consider becoming a Supporting Member with a recurring monthly donation of your choosing, between a cup of tea and a good dinner.
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Gosh, a truly kindred spirit. I also hate that "word." Can't stand. I even hate when the African-Americans use it. However, there is one situation where it can be fun to use that "word." Get one of those bigoted pillow-case rednecks and call him that "word." Oohhh... Let the fireworks begin...
rmfr
I have a problem with the word "Nigger" and it stems from the fact that black report that they do not like it and it is disrespectful when a white person uses it but perfectly okay for them to use it. Howard Stern was a big influence here. He walked up to a bunch of black BB players one day and started using the word. "Hey niggas, what's up." etc.... Got them all riled up.
Anyway, I play poker with a group of guys from the local military base and frequently we get one of these dumb young black kids that wants to play gangsta-rap. When I hear cuss words or the word "Nigger" I start singing along. "niggam nigga, nigga, fuck shit nigga, shoot him in the head.... whatever the lyrics sound like." I really do start singing along. I have not been in any altercations yet. I just tell them that I really like the music and sing along. The music is generally changed out before too long. There aren't many of us that appreciate good gangsta-rap.
Hell, You guys are getting my whole life history. I also lived in Pratt Kansas. I was a Christian at the time and traveled around in a small revival group singing and witnessing to the people in nearby cities. PRAISE THE LOAD! It's off my shoulders now and laying in the mud where it belongs.
Welcome Anna! I hope you will find people that would share your toughts. We will help you, take that for granted. ( You can call me Thomas if you like)
Thomas, that's very considerate.
Just some random thoughts as I read this thread...
And this always reminds me of what George Carlin once said (I paraphrase and in bold): "In the Bullshit Department a businessman can’t hold a candle to a clergyman. Because I got to tell you the truth folks. I got to tell you the truth when it comes to bullshit. Big-time major-league bullshit. You have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims. Religion. No contest. Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there’s an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things he has a special place full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever till the end of time. But he loves you. He loves you and he needs money. He always needs money. He’s all-powerful all-perfect all-knowing and all-wise but somehow just can’t handle money. Religion takes in billions of dollars. They pay no taxes and they always need a little more. Now you talk about a good bullshit story. Holy Shit!"
Still does for me. As Anna said, it is literally like stepping into some "Twilight Zone" story.
And that is how I felt my entire life. Still feel that way. Especially when I was at family get-togethers until I told them all to "go f__k yourselves." Only me mom has seemed to be coming to terms with either "accepting" or at least "tolerating" my atheism. Sometimes, a mother's love for her child can override anything.
And I am still the complete opposite. I cannot stand being near a church or anything religious. Since those repressed and oppressed memories have been surfacing, it has been making me even more hateful towards religion. Maybe writing that third book about it would help.
Sounds like SENCNESC (southeaster North Carolina, northeastern South Carolina). I just told a person here in the Old West that I lived in place that was so humid compared to here, that it is like trying to breath underwater.
rmfr
Hi Arakish,
I can just about stand religious rituals provided they are very short: say a meal blessing or a quick funeral, etc.
Looking back (w..a..y back) to my childhood when I was forced/indoctrinated into going to church, even then, I always considered it a complete waste of time. And that stuck with me into adulthood. That is the thing I resent the most about the 55+ years I was a non-atheist, all those hours and minutes of my life that have been wasted on religion.
@ Alembé
I hear ya dude. I never could understand how any person with intelligence could believe the Bible. Even as a very young child I just could not get over the contradictive nature of the Bible and its stories. I will attend a funeral. However, if anyone expects me to honor the "religious" rituals, well, I just ignore them.
Looking back (w..a..y back) to my childhood..."
You mean back when I use to have to chase the T-rexes out my backyard so my siblings could play? I am the eldest.
Yeah, I know about that indoctrination. And if you don't believe, they would resort to the violence of humiliation and corporal punishment. And for me, it even went so far as ass-whoopings by my parents, and rape and beatings by the other "Christian" children. Eventually, I did succumb and "pretended" to be "saved" just so I would not have to put up with the humiliation and violence us "godless heathen" children deserved. And sometimes I would ask, "If God is LOVE, then where is it?" just to get more beatings. Gee Whiz!
You know, I think I will start writing another book focusing on all those repressed and suppressed memories. I know I said oppressed, but suppressed is a better word.
rmfr
I still don't get things posted in the right places sometimes.
arakish, your story saddens me. My awkward moments when someone asks me what church I attend are nothing compared to that. I have also read some stories from this site about people whose lives are threatened.
Churches and money, arrggh! Lots of stuff kept coming to mind when I was a churchgoer. The Bible suggests selling your belongings and giving the money to the poor but the pastor had a higher standard of living than a lot of his "flock." And why are we paying this guy to tell us what God wants? And as you pointed out, why does God need our money?
Heat: Today, as I left the house at about 10:30, it felt like walking into a slightly damp blanket that had just been removed from the dryer. To adapt an old joke:
What's the difference between here and Hell?
Here, we have screened doors.
@Arakish Re: A bit more on my "being at ease around religious things"
After reading your response, it made me realize that perhaps I should have expounded a bit more on that subject. In the interest of trying to keep this "short"... *chuckle*.... the thing is, I am very much aware of the insidious nature of religions. Truth be told, I am actually much more aware NOW than I was only a few months ago. Matter of fact (and I really hate admitting this), it was barely a year ago that I was one of "those people" who got upset when I heard about people trying to ban group prayer at the beginning of public events such as high school football games and such. "That's outrageous! How DARE they try to keep people from praying like that!" And that was in spite of the fact that I was personally very uncomfortable around praying and other such religious practices.
Basically, I was living a very complicatedly contradicting life within my head. On one hand, I was indoctrinated to believe in God/Jesus/Heaven/Hell, and because I was raised to trust my elders, I was bound by an unspoken "code" to respect those beliefs they taught me. On the other hand, I was constantly tormented by the fact none of that stuff had ever made any logical nor practical sense to me. The reason part of my brain would just never fully accept it. Therefore, I was always in a state of indecision and inner turmoil on the subject. Hence, my constant feeling of discomfort whenever I was directly around it.
Thankfully, NOW I no longer have those contradicting feelings of doubt doing the tug-o-war battle in my head. And it feels AMAZING! And I guess maybe that is why it no longer bothers me being around religious stuff. I finally know where I firmly stand, and I am incredibly confident in that stance. Like I said, nowadays when I find myself among a group of religious folks or caught in the middle of some type of religious event, I have a strange sense of serenity come over me that allows me to step back and see the whole thing for what it truly is. And, more often than not, it causes a funny little smile on my face and a mild sense of amusement inside me. Ironically, most people take my smile to mean I am "getting into the spirit."... *shaking head in amusement*.... Ooooh... If only they knew the truth. lol As somebody else (maybe it was Logic?) said earlier in another thread, "I feel like a wolf in a herd of sheep." Lucky for them, though, I am a sheepdog and not a wolf.
Although, in all fairness, I never did experience any of the horrors you had to endure. So, in that respect, I can most definitely understand your totally justified aversion to being around anything religious.
@ Tin-Man
I hear ya dude. I can completely understand. We had two totally different paths. I was born an outlier as John Breezy said. The only thing I can think of is that I was born a rational thinker. Star Trek: The Original Series, and especially Mr. Spock who was my hero, helped to cement how rational thought truly works. Logic and reason was the only way to find the true facts. The actual truth.
Yes, I had my irrational fun as a kid. But I was always reading and studying. I even went so far as to sneak into me dad's office and "steal" his college textbooks just to read them. I am also perhaps the only child to actually "read" the dictionary and found it fascinating and interesting. Now what is up with that?
I just never accepted religion. Never could get past the irrationality of the Bible. And then to be treated so heinously for simply asking question for no other reason than wanting to "know more."
My dad even commented to me mom when she asked why he never did anything about me sneaking into his office and "stealing" his books. He said, "He is simply doing what is natural for an inquisitive child who thirsts for knowledge." They did not know I overheard that conversation.
I guess my problem is that I do have a very deep-rooted hatred for anything religious. And as you kind of said, who can blame me as these suppressed memories keep coming back. I guess one could say that is one drawback for joining these forum boards. Talking about and arguing against religion is dredging up those old memories. However, as I once said to LogicFTW, getting them out and put down elsewhere keeps them from rattling inside this mind made sick.
Ultimately, I do have to admit that joining AR has actually helped more than it has harmed. And when get on one of those sick humor runs...
Thanks. Dude, where I grew up, you are what we called good people.
rmfr
Hi Anna,
Welcome. I live close to a "large urban "conurbation" in Georgia, therefore I can relate.
Not sure if you are into politics or which way, therefore I will just state that some of the active members of the local county Democratic Party (i.e. executives, active volunteers, etc.) are atheists.
I know that you have just moved. Would you consider moving again to a "university town"? For example, Athens Ga (home of the University of Ga) is a pretty liberal place in an ocean of conservatism.
Thanks for the suggestion about moving. THIS is a college town. Many years ago I lived in one that I liked better; hmmmm....
Is it normal to get red-boxed warnings from time to time about CAPTCHA failures, although the post is accepted anyway?
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