The Shrine

So, ruminations isn't around anymore, and we haven't really discussed religion much for years. I am an atheist -- always have been (thanks family). I kill a LOT of time watching the Atheist Experience on youtube. It's not an especially highbrow show, thanks to the caller focus format, but it is both entertaining and enlightening.

The clips are funny (search Best of Atheist Experience on youtube), but if you want to watch the full episodes, go to:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAtheistExperience

On a slightly related note, a space freed up and a snagged tickets to the Imagine 5 conference. That should be cool - Dawkins, Krauss, Dillahunty, etc. I am going to try and make a date outta of it with someone new I am seeing...that could work out badly or good...lol.

I identify as an atheist but the way I approach spirituality in others is probably more in line with the idea of agnostics. In the end, I think religion is a "mind your business" kind of thing and it should butt out of things like public education and legislation. I enjoy hearing people preach about god about as much as I like listening to people talk about how and why they don't believe in religion, which is to say not at all.

The BBC put out an interesting article today about how 7% (about 5 million) or so less people in the USA identify as Christian as opposed to seven years ago, with people identifying as "none" on the rise. To be perfectly honest, I hope that one day I live to see a president who doesn't have to pretend like they believe in god. To steal a joke from 30 Rock, "You're so rich you don't have to run as Republican Christian fundamentalist."

I am less nice about it...I mean, if a 30 year old tells me they believe in santa claus...well, I am going to roll my eyes and be very tempted to pick apart their claim. Why cut the god claim any slack?

As for the presidency...that would be nice. Its pretty fucked up when mormon beliefs are more acceptable in a candidate than non-belief.

I get that but the less of my life that I make about what other people think the better. I'm guarded with my opinions, considering I've lived all but 2-3 months of my life in the deep American south (Virginia/Georgia) and that I'm brown in a way that confuses people as to what I could be.

I do my best to keep my Liz Lemon over the top eye roll in my head.



Last year when I was leaving a grocery store I heard some 20-something talking about what was going on in his life in regards to "Gods plan" and I blurt laughed... with my back to him and 20 some feet away. But it happened.

Yes I spent last week re-watching 30 Rock

Edit: I'm ninja editing this post for the fourth time for no reason because I can and I see that you're currently browsing the forums :D
Edit 2 or technically 5: Your name disappeared while I was typing that last edit

Any time people have irrational and unsupported beliefs, I need to speak up. And if I hold unsupported and irrational beliefs, I want to be called on it. If everyone held rational and supported beliefs, the world would be a better place...so you gotta start somewhere.

I'm an atheist myself. I was living previously in central/southern Illinois where there is a far greater religious population. When I was there I'd listen to atheist podcasts like the Infidel Guy and Point of Inquiry, etc. However, now that I've moved to far more secular Madison, WI I've lost interest in those sort of things. Most people are secular here and those who are religious keep it to themselves. Maybe I needed the encouragement then that I wasn't alone.

I've learned that it's very difficult to have discussions on religion because it's a proxy for other things: culture, family, personal meaning, financial security (Jesus the lucky rabbits foot), etc. People generally need to be in a stable place emotionally and financially before they can think rationally about religion.

I can see that, I guess. Personally -- I have never been surrounded by many "believers". Vancouver is relatively secular, I think ("spirituality" and other supernatural nonsense aside)....but I am constantly reminded so many are out there in the world. I suppose my interest in arguments, not just on religion but all things irrational, is equal parts:

1. See less people hold unsupported and, in some cases, offensively stupid beliefs.
Example: http://crooksandliars.com/2015/05/pasto ... h-shows-us

So much of that short Fox video offends me, intellectually. Now, of course, I don't pretend all religious people are nuts in that particular manner...but whether you believe in a santa claus or a santa claus made entirely of cotton candy that eats gay people...we are just talking degrees of absurdness of unsupported beliefs.

2. I am entertained by absurdity in general (I am not pretending to be entirely righteous or noble )

I'm black and from the South, to say I know few and far between athiest/agnostic people is putting it mildly.

I'm team agnostic, tell no one!

Eric wrote:I'm black and from the South, to say I know few and far between athiest/agnostic people is putting it mildly.

I'm team agnostic, tell no one!

Yep. You see more churches in poor black neighborhoods than anywhere else. I definitely saw that in St. Louis. It's like I said, there is a correlation between fervent religious belief and financial insecurity. People who are in a precarious financial situation are more apt to look toward religion. There's the implication that if they do right and go to church, then God/Jesus/Allah/etc will reward them for following the righteous path. If not financially now, then at least with eternal life when they die.