We have all been to public events where unfortunately, there will be someone with a bullhorn or microphone preaching from the Bible. I have seen it numerous time out in front of concerts, sporting events, or any place where their is a continuous crowd to harass. I have watched to see how many people stop to listen, or take their brochures, and it’s very few. I have seen people tell them to shut up, refuse pamphlets, and argue with them. I have seen people go out of their way to avoid these assholes. Why, if the religious population is so high, are these folks not seen as heroes? Out there trying to convince us lost souls to convert! I believe people only want to be “seen” as religious. I believe most of them know it’s bullshit and just go on with the charade.
Subscription Note:
Choosing to subscribe to this topic will automatically register you for email notifications for comments and updates on this thread.
Email notifications will be sent out daily by default unless specified otherwise on your account which you can edit by going to your userpage here and clicking on the subscriptions tab.
@Pirate Jack
All of those reasons, and in my mind because christian people and all other religious people are so diverse. All the folks that do not ascribe to christianity, or also have no idea if the guy on the bullhorn ascribes to their particular brand of christianity. They already go to church (sometimes rarely) to get lectured at by god, my guess many of them just do not want to hear it from someone else, especially when they do not know for sure their exact position, so many religions are similar but also have differences within the details that people get very passionate (or not!) about.
I been to the strip in Las Vegas quite a few times. If I have a bit of spare time I always go to the major street corners and find some guy trying to save people on the street corner waiting for the pedestrian signal, and thank the person preaching for "saving me" so I can now free to go drink, and sin. I always offer to buy them a drink at the nearest titty bar and they always turn me down. Then comment that after all the "saving" they do, why are they not also allowed to go sin? They usually ignore me at that point, pretty hilarious to me every time. Ignoring the one person that actually engages them, after spending all day being ignored by 1000's of people.
Las vegas history is pretty hilarious as a whole when you realize: it was first settled by mormons, and currently hosts well into the 6 figures of mormon people. And Mormon bankers bankrolled the first casinos, even though mormons say they are opposed to gambling and casinos. Without the mormons, Las Vegas would probably just be a truck stop. Another example of extreme hypocrisy by religious folks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVpdcpXIWyo&t=821s
- I rarely drink and I also think: strip clubs, titty bars, etc. are just traps for people that like to be lied too while they pay out a bunch of money. I also don't gamble, (I did a college level statistics class.) -
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▮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.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
"I rarely drink and I also think: strip clubs, titty bars, etc. are just traps for people that like to be lied too while they pay out a bunch of money. I also don't gamble"
Jeez, now I am questioning the meaning of life, no drinking, no gambling and no titty bars. Now that's depressing.
@NewSkeptic
Hah! What other people find fun is just fine for them no judging here I have certainly tried all those things earlier in my life.
I have my own money traps, my family/wife, marijuana, traveling, fine dining, (usually with marijuana and maybe some alcohol!) Outdoor sports, I also used to spend a lot of money on tech toys, always wanting the latest and greatest, but that has waned for me lately, (innovation and advancements in this area has slowed considerably as well.)
On a side note, now that I am middle aged and not a teenager anymore and happily married, I have little need for porn anymore. That said, to me: online webcams/chats is a far cheaper and better way to go then titty bars. In either case you can not, (or should not!) touch the performers ever, so online webcams seems like a much better way to go in my mind. Cheaper, safer, (for all involved) and private.
@ LogicFTW
Ha! I'm laughing to myself because when you said that you were middle aged, I did a double take because I thought I remembered that you were close-ish to my age. So I looked at your profile, saw that you were 37, and immediately had an existential crisis of wondering how close my 32 year old self is to being middle-aged. So of course, I googled it. Ha! So ridiculous, I'm laughing at myself. For the record, Merriam-Webster says it's ages 45-65, so I'm safe for now.
@Stone Jade
Ah sorry, I suppose I should of said "close" to middle age. I consider 40 to be the start of middle age. What I really was trying to say is: I am not a highly hormonal teenager anymore that had large amounts of pent up teenage lust, which makes porn and tittybars of less intrest to me than I was when I was say, 21. Sure feels like a lifetime ago though!
Sorry LFTW and SJ but something aging this way hobbles....muhahaha....God it's fun being a sextegenarian.
I like saying I'm half a century old. Has a nice ring to it.
@ TM
a demi-centurion is a much more proud and uplifting term....
Then you have the term for me: Demi-Centurion Beyonder. And not very far away comes Sexidecadal Beyonder.
rmfr
@ Logic,
I was of course joking. I am well into middle age (57) and married almost 30 years, so the carousing is far in my past.
Are you in a marijuana legal state or country? Michigan just legalized recently so at some point I may test the waters again. I remember in my youth becoming a bit paranoid but the Pink Floyd sure sounded great.
Here in Canada pot is completely legal. The USA still have it listed as a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970, and thus banks can not touch the money, and other agencies likewise. But up here, I can order it online and have the post office deliver it. And since I must provide proof of age and sign for the product, they deliver it to my door.
Additionally, it is no longer the case of going to an illegal dealer and buying what is available, and not being able to control the quality of the product. But like a fine wine, there are numerous strains, each delivering different chemicals and effects. I can get indica for complete couch lock, or some jazzy sativa that has me bouncing off the walls and paranoid. Or a strain that directly targets my medical needs and provides relief.
@David Re: "But up here, I can order it online and have the post office deliver it."
Wow... Fascinating. I never knew that. Difficult to imagine how folks down here in the States would react to that, especially here in the Bible Belt areas. ... *chuckle*...
Personally, I have never tried marijuana, so I have no idea what it is like. Being raised the way I was, pot was always "demonized", and only "bad people" smoked marijuana. Therefore, it was always in my best interest to avoid it. Also, the smell of it makes me very nauseated, which I find to be amusingly ironic considering it is an herb that is suppose to help relieve nausea... *another chuckle*... Anyway, I have always been torn between the legalization of it. To be perfectly honest, though, I know the primary reason for my indecision is simply because of the "evil" stigma that has always been attached to it throughout my life. Other than that, I know it is far better and safer than many (most) legal substances such as alcohol and prescription narcotics. Also, I know from experience that it is MUCH easier dealing with a person high on marijuana than it is dealing with a person drunk on alcohol. Drunks are far too unpredictable and prone to sudden violent outbursts. Never much fun.
Overall, even though I have never used it (and likely never will), I have to say I would have no problems with marijuana being legalized. Just my two cents worth.
Tin-Man, I can select a strain that has almost zero THC (the stuff that gives you the high) but has (for example) chemicals that can promote eliminating nausea and insomnia.
On the military base I worked on for twenty years, beer was basically subsidized because of the simple fact it can make one belligerent. And if the day comes when those soldiers have to be sent into battle, it is preferable they are belligerent rather than chilling on some buds.
But as always, moderation and an understanding of the effects should be practiced.
@NewSkeptic
I live in Colorado, so one of the first to have access to retail grade marijuana. (This is not the pot you took in college!) Before pot was legalized I never cared enough to bother with it. My wife suffers from chronic pain so she started taking it. Boy what a difference, so SO! much better than opiates for pain management.
I ended up really learning and reading about pot to better understand the pot my wife was taking, and realized: its not the demon stuff so many make it out to be, and started taking it recreationally for myself.
First few times I took it, I too did not have great "trips" even if paranoia was not too bad for me (because it is legal,) but then once I knew what to do it got to the point where it is very relaxing for me. I encourage you to give it a try. If you do not have a problem with occasional alcohol you certainly should not have a problem with Marijuana. As in my research and experience marijuana is far less damaging than alcohol, just don't smoke/ingest marijuana and drive (or any thing else that requires you to be 100% alert) and you are good.
To me it is all about setting up the mood, be in a comfortable place with people you completely trust. (By yourself is fine too, pets also make great companions for this!) Then direct your thoughts towards happy thoughts and pot will take care of the rest for a fun and relaxing night. Pink Floyd is good, (don't watch "the wall" movie though I learned that one the hard way :) I also watch comedians, the whole "netflix and chill" also works great. Find shows that make you laugh or put you in a good mood. I do it at night on a day off where I have taken care of everything that needs taking care of so I can just sit back and enjoy.
If anything I think any atheist/skeptic here will find George Carlin very enjoyable on pot, even if you seen all his stuff before, I get very philosophical on pot.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▮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.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
LogicFTW: "I live in Colorado…"
Damn! We are practically neighbors. I live in New Mexico and hop over your state when flying to work up in Yellowstone.
Have fun. New Mexico is slowly getting to where they may completely legalize marijuana. Just wished those dumb ass federalies would AT LEAST decriminalize it. I may never have totally believed in legalizing marijuana, but I have always sided with decriminalizing it and getting removed from the controlled substances list.
I even wrote an essay report in college about this. Couple of my arguments were:
I even used this citation from one of Gore Vidal's essays (paraphrased): "I say we should just legalize ALL illicit drugs. This would allow those of an addictive psychology to weed themselves out of the gene pool by overdosing on their drug of choice."
Cruel, sad, but also true. Those persons who suffer a truly die-hard addictive personality are going to get their drug of choice and even overdose whether the drug is legal or not. Think Critically about that.
Those who suffer from ADHD and Complex-PTSD and has a mind that races at superluminal velocities have found that Marijuana definitely has a MEDICAL efficacy. Smoking marijuana slows my mind down tremendously allowing me to focus better and for longer periods of time (as long as the "high" lasts). I have even proposed a study on the efficacy of marijuana use and Adult ADHD. Still do not know either way on that proposal. However, there have been studies on persons with PTSD and Complex-PTSD and marijuana use. In almost 78% of the cases, the marijuana definitely had a postive result.
And another problem I have: Glaucoma. I am definitive proof of the positive effect of marijuana use on Glaucoma. After I have stopped using any marijuana for about three years, I went back for new glasses and the optometrist put on an anit-glaucoma eye drop. I had to stop using the eye drops after the 3rd day because it felt like dropping acid into my eyes. However, before this optometrist exam, my eye pressures for my R/L eyes was only 4/5. In this exam, my eye pressures were 18/22. Perfect proof. Even using marijuana only once or twice a week had a very high medical efficacy on Glaucoma.
And I ain't even going into the exceptionally tremendous efficacy of marijuana on chemo patients. My aunt was perfect proof. First starting chemo seemed as if she were going to be killed by the treatment. On the fourth day, I got here to try smoking some weed with me. BOOM! She was able to handle the chemo treatment with almost NO!, I repeat, almost NO! ill side effects.
Let's just at least elect some potheads into the Congress and Senate and maybe we can get marijuana off of that damned list. What we need to do is elect a bunch of George Carlin's, Bill Maher's, and bunch more I cannot remember the names of.
rmfr
@arakish
I would happily invite you over to stop by if you ever drove through the state instead of flying over it. Problem is, due to the nature of my work I may not be home, with as little as only one hour notice that I have to hop on a plane, although that little notice only happens a few times of the year and I only accept the jobs because they are so lucrative.
Good arguments. I would also add that weed is not chemically addictive, although it can create some dependencies, especially if used too much or if taken too young.
Don't know if I fully agree with that, certain drugs I think should be barred simply because they are so toxic to humans. Heroin and meth come to mind. Fentanyl and carfentanil definitely should be highly controlled, that stuff is pure poison. You could accidentally brush up on that with your clothes, hug your family and kill them doing so. A part of me thinks "let darwinism" sort it out, just about everyone has been well warned the dangers of illicit drugs like heroin and meth. And it definitely upsets me that marijuana is on the same class of controlled substance as those are on the federal level, which to me is really bad because people will experiment with pot, find out it is mostly harmless, then think possibly the same is true for meth/heroin. And ofcourse in my mind anyone that says pot should be illegal while in the same breath are fine with the ocean of alcohol that is available just about everywhere is being highly hypocritical.
Obviously the first critical thought that comes to my mind is the whole: it is impossible to OD on thc/cbd. The pesticides and other chemicals they spray on the plants are far more poisonous than the actual plant itself. (A reason to consider "organic" sourced pot - even if pot is not eligible for actual organic certification.)
Between that and your adhd it sounds like pot has a lot of positive benefits for you. For me I just take it recreationally or if I am feeling nauseous or have headache or other aches/pains I will take pot for pain relief. Good to hear how much it helped your aunt as well.
I am for that. Also nice that Jeff Sessions is no longer attorney general, so that pressure to criminalize is gone. As much as I disprove tRump, he did mention federally legalizing pot. Obviously, tRump's word is not worth even the electricity a tweet takes to send. As he is highly inconsistent on what he says and what he does.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▮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.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
@ LogicFTW
I guess I should have added that the Gore Vidal essay was a sarcastic essay. By no way did he actually advocate the legalization of all illicit drugs. His essay was actually an essay against legalizing illicit drugs by showing how it would be if they were legalized. I just always remember that one part about persons who are going to euthanize (kill) themselves through using those drugs would have it easier to do so. I just remember it as being a sarcastic way of saying those persons would do so whether the drugs were illegal or not. I am in agreement that most illegal drugs should stay illegal. Drugs like marijuana have been shown to really have no ill effects on society as a whole when they are legal. Look at the Netherlands. Marijuana has been legal there for 30 or more years? And the Netherlands seems to be doing OK.
However, sever abuse of marijuana can have ill effects. My sister is one good example. Severely abusing even marijuana can cause a person who will just vegetate all day every day. If my sister and I were to buy say $40 worth of marijuana, she would have it smoked in 3 or 4 days. For me, that same amount would last me at least 4 weeks, maybe even as long as 6 weeks. My sister is the type that would smoke marijuana non-stop until it was gone, excepting when she was asleep of course. The very first thing my sister does when she wakes up is to light up a cigarette, then fire up some weed. Yet, she would always use the excuse that it helped with her depression on top of the prescription medications. I always tried convincing her that perhaps her depression was caused by her severe abuse, but she always shot me down as not understanding. Right. And I suffer depression from the Complex-PTSD after suffering the greatest catastrophic tragedy any single person could suffer.
Anyway, I wished I could remember the title of that Gore Vidal essay. In the essay, he was trying to show that legalizing marijuana would possibly curtail the use of other, harder "killer" drugs such as heroin, meth, etc. However, as one read the essay with critical thinking, one could easily see that he made a good point. If people were allowed a "high" from a safer drug, they would have no need for the "killer" drugs.
As I have said, and as Gore Vidal pointed out, the US government could stand to make a lot of money taxing the production and sale of marijuana. I do not know the exact numbers, but Gore Vidal also pointed out the percentage of marijuana users MAY actually drop if it were legal. Another main point he made was that users of marijuana use it because it is ILLEGAL. It is nothing more than another way for them to "thumb their noses" at government and law. Kind of like I do anyway, even without using marijuana.
Currently, I do not use marijuana, nor keep it anywhere near the house, due to the fact of my nephew living in the same house and the fact that it is still illegal. If I got put into jail/prison for marijuana, what would the law do to him? Kick my brother and his son out on the streets because I was using it recreationally? I have seen such cases happen in real life. Thus, I do not use it since I do not have a Medical Card for using marijuana. However, that still does not stop me from wanting to use it for the reasons I gave in my previous post. Not only does it help to slow my mind down, it also helps with pain, the depression, the intrusive thoughts I have, the mood swings caused by the PTSD, and helps me to focus, thus alleviating the ADHD. Hell, my therapist I see once a month said I could get a Marijuana Card, but then I'd have to wonder about using it, making my nephew that much more in wanting to use it himself before he should.
Unlike a lot of people, I did not use marijuana until I was about 24 years old. I also know of the dangers of the usage of marijuana before a person's brain, not the mind but the brain, is fully developed. Thus, I also advocate for legalized marijuana having a minimum age of 21. The same goes for cigarettes, which should be also be raised to 21. And much to the chagrin of parents, I also feel a person should not be allowed a Driver's License until 18. And all this speaks from experience as I grew up, and later became an adult and a parent. Even my wife and I never used marijuana around our daughters. We were forthright in telling them we did use it, but we also advocated to them that they should at least wait until they were 21. We also advocated if they ever wanted to use, then please come home, tell us, then we would allow it. We reasoned that we would rather they be at home with us for safety reasons. Hell, when they were 15, they actually approached us about it, and we allowed them to try it. Afterwards, they said they did not like it because it interfered with their studies. Wow! Afterwards, they said if they ever wanted to use it again, they would do like my wife and I did and wait until they were 21 or older. Sometimes being open with your children can also work wonders.
rmfr
LogicFTW, it is true when we say "laughter is the best medicine". And mixing pot with great comedy makes for a very enjoyable and therapeutic evening.
And just about anything from Monty Python can have tears from laughter steaming down my cheeks.
Good idea, next time I partake I will load up some Monty Python. I am guessing that classic will be even better with a little bit of help from our friend pot.
Another reason I have a copy of the original Caddyshack on hand. Even though I have seen a thousand times (seems that way), I still cannot stop the "tears in the eyes," "pissing myself," and the "severe side pains" from laughing so hard when watching it after smoking some good weed. Monty Python is good too. George Carlin is best watched when high. He is even still good while not high.
rmfr
Funny that you mention your lesser paranoia since weed is legal. When I moved to Denver a few years ago, I couldn't help but feel super paranoid and guilty when I tried weed. And if anyone mentioned it in casual conversation in public, I had a knee-jerk reaction to shush them. Ha! That still happens occasionally.
I came from small town Kansas and was pleasantly surprised to discover all of the health issues marijuana can help treat, with virtually no side effects. It's so great to hear that your wife benefits from the pain relief. I had a couple of friends who had cancer, and the only thing that helped them to be able to eat was weed. Friends with PTSD and other mental health issues have benefited as well. It's still confusing to me why it isn't legal everywhere.
@Stone Jade Re: "It's still confusing to me why it isn't legal everywhere."
Because the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical companies would be losing a shit-load of revenue. Therefore, they have probably an army of lawyers and such doing their best to fight/lobby against making it legal. Just a personal observation/opinion based on various info I've picked up over the years.
@ Tin-Man Re: "Lobbyists"
Now one can see why I say lobbying should be illegal under penalty of death...
rmfr
@Tin-Man
Unfortunately so true.
Seen the cost of cancer medication lately? Or the cost of the stuff they give a cancer patient to manage the pain of the chemo/radiation? To keep nausea down?
When pot can do all these things but you can (in colorado and other recreational legalized states) just walk down to the store and drop a few bucks for pot? (I also report pot has started to get real cheap in Colorado since it was first legalized. I am still a bit of a lightweight when it comes to pot, but every day I walk in to a pot store these days they got all kinds of options where you can walk out with enough pot to get plenty high (for me anyways) for 1 or 2 nights for 1-2 dollars and that is out the door after taxes and everything. My coffee habit, (and I do not drink all that much coffee eithir,) is far more expensive although admittedly I do not buy the cheapo burnt black coffee at fast food joints and gas stations.
@ LogicFTW
I know. I know. The cost of my three medications to help manage my pain comes to a whopping $604 a month. And that is for the cheaper "generic" versions. Just imagine the cost for the name brands! If it weren't for insurance, I'd never be able to afford them. Then I'd simply be going back onto a constant look for marijuana and a liquor bottle everyday to manage my pain. But then that would only be when I am at home. Without those pain medications while at work, I'd never be able to the field work.
rmfr
Funny anecdote. A good friend of mine was recently in Colorado. He was never as much into the bud as I was back in our early days, but he's always been a "when in Rome" type of guy.
So anyway, he and his wife pick up some edible gummies. Now, the store clerk warned that they take some time to take effect, but he got tired of waiting and after half an hour took another one. At one hour, still no effect, so what the hell,one more, they're tasty anyway.
Then, another 10 minutes rolls by and it starts to hit. Another 10 goes by, and he is literally on the floor, unable to rise. This lasts the whole night until it finally wears off in the morning.
Needless to say, he is happily moving on to other pursuits.
Hahaha! This totally happened to me the first time I tried edibles. A friend and I had one cookie each. At an hour, we didn't think we felt anything at all, so we each had another cookie. 15 minutes later, we were layed out in fits of giggles, and then I fell asleep. I woke up a short time later to see that my friend was gone (I was staying the night at his place) and my paranoia told me that his entire family had probably been in an accident and he had to go to the hospital to care for them. I was super panicked and he wouldn't answer his phone when I tried to call. I eventually fell back asleep. In the morning, I found out he got cotton mouth so badly that he wanted to drink the soda he had left in his car, but was so high that he just decided to sleep there. Definitely learned that one the hard way. Haha!
Maybe an atheist republic convention should be held. Denver is the obvious choice!
Hah I would be fine with that, obviously would not have to travel far for that.
I do know most folks here prefer the anonymity online only interaction offers. I can report denver metro area does have a pretty active atheist organization scene that does meetups etc.
Denver/Boulder has a fast growing tech industry sector, plus colorado attracts youth interested in outdoor activity and many of these younger more active folks that have IT and STEM related education and work tend to skew more atheist and secular. But the same could mostly be said of just about any large city that has multiple large colleges in or nearby the cities.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▮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.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Denver's a fine place! It was an interesting shift for me to go from small town Kansas to Denver. In Kansas, I would generally assume someone was conservative and religious unless I discovered otherwise. Here, I assume they're liberal and at least not seriously religious. I find many are some sort of spiritual, but rarely dogmatic. It's a pretty atheist-friendly place. Also: the mountains are gorgeous.
Pages