Hello everyone, my name is Jarl. I'm 21 years old and a male. I've been browsing these forums for about a week before this point and have come to learn a good many things from the fine members of this community so I figured I'd sign up and see what happens. I'm a rather bluntly honest person so first of all I will state as to why I am here after some brief (probably not brief because I'm a long winded bastard who would rather be understood the first time than go through the effort of repeating myself) background information about myself.
I grew up in the ever loved bible belt of the Southern US. In fact I've lived in the same home since I was two years old. Now I don't really align myself with any labeling of a belief system because frankly I don't care one way or the other. I suppose if had to though I'd probably call myself an anti-theist because I don't believe children should be indoctrinated into a belief system that they can't even spell yet.(I could be very wrong if that's not what anti-theism means at all so feel free to correct me.) I'm all for people believing what they want though because I understand what it means to take comfort in something outside of yourself, despite how ridiculous it seems from a purely logical point of view.
Taking the above into account my family is of course Southern Baptist. My Mother is the most devout of them but by far the most openly accepting of my views. In fact as far as Southern religious families go, I'm quite fortunate really as they are all accepting in the fact that they still consider me family and treat me no differently because of my beliefs or rather lack there of but at the same time they don't respect my views. Example - as our beliefs differ I told my family once that "I understand and respect your belief in your god but since I don't hold the same beliefs we should completely avoid discussion of the topic of religion all together when I'm around" which at the time they agreed to do so. That agreement lasted all of a week I think, this was several years ago and I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning. It seems every discussion I attempt to have with them brings up god in some for or another leaving me going from my Father being more like my best friend to my Father being the acquaintance I respectfully nod to as I pass them in the hallway. That being said though there is absolutely nothing wrong with my living conditions and my Father is still the first person I go to if I need help with anything and I still put my family above all else and they do the same for me. Pretty much it's just me bitching about it for the sake of bitching about it.
With that background information here is why I am here. Simply put I'm here to learn. Other peoples perceptions outside of my own have always fascinated me. I like being able to communicate with people of all different walks of life and present multiple view points within a given argument if no one else is there to present that point of view for themselves as someone who actually holds it. I'm also here because I've got way too much free time on my hands and very little to do with it, and very very few people whom I can actually speak to about anything of any sort.
With all that said I hope to find my coming time here enjoyable and I look forward to it. Take care of yourselves folks.