tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post2704679649209185532..comments2024-03-27T12:58:00.592-07:00Comments on Snowbrush: Upon entertaining atheistsSnowbrushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-15402479714815438332011-03-17T07:29:32.558-07:002011-03-17T07:29:32.558-07:00C Woods said: "National Day of Prayer every y...C Woods said: "National Day of Prayer every year."<br /><br />Oh, man, don't you just hate that kind of thing? When I think of Obama, I often remember the man whom I met on a rainy winter's day the ten months before the election. All by himself, he was going door-to-door to campaign for Obama. So many worked so hard and believed so much only to get the same-old same-old.<br /><br />Fodder, there is a Mennonite community not far from here, but the only Mennonite I've known was an ex-Mennonite who loathed her former religion due to the fact that she felt the people ignored the fact that she was sexually abused as a child. I do see women Mennonites in stores sometimes. They are easy to pick out because they find it necessary to wear the most unattractive clothes they can find--or, more likely, make--and to keep their heads covered.<br /><br />Dana said: "I've learned to avoid them and have managed to not join any group that will welcome me just because I'm another ass to fill a seat."<br /><br />You mean that literally, no doubt.Snowbrushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-25895621480662538522011-03-17T04:14:37.327-07:002011-03-17T04:14:37.327-07:00The only purpose of a meeting is to schedule the n...The only purpose of a meeting is to schedule the next meeting. I'd be an alcoholic but I would refuse to go to AA.<br /><br />I follow my own path and listen without comment when others robotic-ally say "thank god" (who think it makes them sound trustworthy and pious). I've learned to avoid them and have managed to not join any group that will welcome me just because I'm another ass to fill a seat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-64886991192741279972011-03-06T09:14:25.374-08:002011-03-06T09:14:25.374-08:00I prefer recommendations for any business but with...I prefer recommendations for any business but without them I will NOT deal at an overtly religious "Christian" business. They tend to live by the bible verse that says "He was a stranger and I took him in". I prefer those that walk it and don't talk it. <br />Don't know if you know any Mennonites, but they are very active in the mission field but do NOT preach. They help in whatever way is needed and most effective. I like that approach from anyone.The Blog Fodderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11441978691701289074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-17872710048482319022011-03-05T00:54:20.358-08:002011-03-05T00:54:20.358-08:00I thought it was a great discussion that night, an...I thought it was a great discussion that night, and your post provides a good summary, right down to the nuts. (Boy, those were bad, weren't they?)<br /><br />I've never seen the fish symbols in the phone book (my generation believes that phone books are free door stops), but I will avoid businesses that overtly display their religious leanings (I used to avoid them when I was religious too, so this didn't work to their favor either way.) For the same reason, I'd never move to Utah. There are bee hives in every business window and I'd never be able to shop anywhere.Lee Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13736680452703464160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-78311006156729903222011-03-04T23:31:14.967-08:002011-03-04T23:31:14.967-08:00Snowbrush ---I'm not sure if you are intereste...Snowbrush ---I'm not sure if you are interested, but there is an online site www.meetup.com on which you can post your group's events and attract new members. If someone moves to your area and is looking to meet with like-minded people, they can find you. <br /><br />I believe there is a small fee (only a few dollars per month) but if you ask for donations at your meetings, the fee would be covered and probably give you a few extra dollars to pay for other expenses. If space is limited, you might want to look into holding dinner (or breakfast, lunch or brunch) meetings at a casual restaurant. As long as everyone orders something, most don't charge a fee. If you ask what night is slow for the restaurant (usually Mon or Tue) they will be glad to have you.<br /><br />I recently joined a local group that I found on MeetUp. I am in the next county and they hold regular meetings in an area that is difficult for me to get to and where it is even harder to park, so I won't be joining them often, but they met at a Unitarian Church near me last Sunday to see Dan Barker (Freedom From Religion Foundation) speak about FFRF's case (now being appealed by the opposition) which declared unconstitutional the president's declaration (mandated by Congress) to hold a National Day of Prayer every year. <br /><br />I wrote 2 responses to your comments on my blog about the lack of free college classes for seniors in your area. Check them out because there are some classes that are not free, but inexpensive, in your area.C Woodshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13053858627632648020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-75451894618444410602011-03-04T11:35:58.514-08:002011-03-04T11:35:58.514-08:00Good post, enjoyed it! I like the idea that you ha...Good post, enjoyed it! I like the idea that you have a support group for people who have been hurt by religion, that is a very needful thing in today's world.<br /><br />Religion is used to control the masses. The Catholic church has abused that power to the max, they know the truth. Why do you think they worship Mary & not Jesus.<br /><br />Like you, I don't know to much about the JW's. Your friends will be able to give you insight into that world.<br /><br />I know people who go to church & try to be the best they can. I also know those who go so they can be thought better of but who do not practice their beliefs.<br /><br />I think the God thing is highly over rated and I think you are doing a good thing helping people that have been hurt by religion :)Looking to the Starshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13211255507065858940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-6379850784086977892011-03-04T00:50:22.647-08:002011-03-04T00:50:22.647-08:00Really liked this post. My atheist friends and I l...Really liked this post. My atheist friends and I love getting into lively debates and getting better about not taking things personally. I think atheist support groups are incredibly important since we live in such a puritanical society that definitely seems to frown and ostracize those who have chosen not to believe in a higher being (and even more ostracized are those who have left a religion behind.) I'm glad it went well - I know from earlier discussions with you that you don't always enjoy support group meetings and I'm glad this one was different. :)Phoenixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07477498671080132176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-10229561593535933012011-03-03T21:11:41.052-08:002011-03-03T21:11:41.052-08:00The fish symbol, know what that means to me? It&#...The fish symbol, know what that means to me? It's like a My Kid Is an Honor student bumper sticker on the back of a van used in heists. An allusion, to delude people to blindly believe you are something, without you being that something.<br /><br />Well whatever. I should join your damaged by religion group because I certainly qualify and keep on qualifying. <br /><br />I see the Adventists are in the news, somebody got molested at the youth camp, Big Lake probably and the Adventists covered for the molestor. Boy, big news, eh? But everytime they're in the news, my neck starts hurting, where they beat me, on that damn psyche ward. I sure qualify as damaged by religious thugs and molesting religious fathers. I qualify. Undoubtedly I qualify. How do I get in?Strayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08124298302997708537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-16933575323498527622011-03-03T16:25:35.914-08:002011-03-03T16:25:35.914-08:00Aw, that's sweet. Loved reading your descripti...Aw, that's sweet. Loved reading your description of everyone. Would love to come around too, but too far for me.<br /><br />Thanks for coming by my blog every now and then. I might be back blogging now but who knows..<br />Hey and there is nothing wrong with having your dust bunnies symmetrically arranged..lyptishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12426035447552977566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-46162050688009343002011-03-02T13:51:39.656-08:002011-03-02T13:51:39.656-08:00Ann O'Dyne referred me to you AND SHE WAS RIGH...Ann O'Dyne referred me to you AND SHE WAS RIGHT. I love the idea of a support group for people damaged by the practise of religion. And in your earlier post I was wrapped that you challenged the doctors. Thank you.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-6757413268126780272011-03-02T06:07:05.805-08:002011-03-02T06:07:05.805-08:00Great stuff, an excellent idea, I look forward to ...Great stuff, an excellent idea, I look forward to hearing about the meetings.<br /><br />"Since I’m well past the age when it seems cool to act loaded, I faced somewhat of a challenge."<br /><br />HAHAHAHAHA, oh you do make me laugh, which is always a good thing. xAll Consuminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03089119991474852732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-6678425220705380462011-03-01T23:47:41.147-08:002011-03-01T23:47:41.147-08:00You painted a great picture of your group - I felt...You painted a great picture of your group - I felt as if I was sitting amongst you. I'm sorry though if you have been emotionally damaged by religionSelina Kingstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01515746813047397411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-28480695240754265702011-03-01T13:14:37.334-08:002011-03-01T13:14:37.334-08:00Sounds like you're gathering some interesting ...Sounds like you're gathering some interesting people together there Snow...it's great that you've been able to organise and host...am hoping that your pain has settled a little...as always, enjoy your writing very much...Chrisyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954004833710064612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-47257236530354934252011-03-01T07:43:30.309-08:002011-03-01T07:43:30.309-08:00I also liked the descriptive nature of the charact...I also liked the descriptive nature of the characters present at your meeting, that you so cooly portrayed. It's quite the chorus line. I think you shjould revisit this arena of character portrayl and add to your already Wiki on these members. Oh boy will the blankety blanks be upset when they finally do show. I'm sure they will, make em sit on the floor. It seems you need a Socrates and a courtesan, then I might fly out to drink the Gin like wine. No need to explain, but your proffessionalism was certainly on the line. I hope it wasn't to badly tarnished. That would be your proffessionalism as reputation goes.<br /><br />I was wondering why you hadn't commented on my Cull post, as I know this is a topic of your past, does it touch to close to home to speak about. I immediately followed it up with a Love, Courage and Conviction post to mask the post and then withdrew it as it just wasn't up to snuff. It was about addiction, but it missed the mark as it was hastily written.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />TuskThe Tuskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11372022574714082288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-81120978466396983922011-03-01T05:21:41.246-08:002011-03-01T05:21:41.246-08:00Don't take this the wrong way, but I think wha...Don't take this the wrong way, but I think what you have there is a church in the original sense. The Greek word <i>ekklesia</i> (from which our English word "ecclesiastical" comes) meant merely an assembly, a group of people who had come together for a common cause; for example, the inhabitants of the city-state of Athens constituted an ekklesia.<br /><br />Because of its New Testament use, the word came to mean a group of Christian believers gathered for worship of God, but originally it meant just what you have there without any religious connotation at all.rhymeswithplaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10870439618129001633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-91141026478230389032011-03-01T03:20:19.615-08:002011-03-01T03:20:19.615-08:00Definitely about religion.
Our country is not as ...Definitely about religion. <br />Our country is not as religious as yours,so naturally it is more tolerant of Atheists.<br /><br />I have come to accept, (but not endorse or condone) that most humans will make a buck any way they can.Fish symbol or no fish symbol. ♥Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12919764140075852854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-52613225092359429122011-02-28T18:13:40.430-08:002011-02-28T18:13:40.430-08:00I'm glad the group is going well. re your dis...I'm glad the group is going well. re your discussion. a friend one time accused me of having no morals because I didn't believe in religion, christianity specifically. I was a little dumbfounded especially coming from him. In his defense though, I think he had gone crazy by then. And his other actions certainly shored up this opinion. <br /><br />sounds like an interesting group.ellen abbotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00535475792150335186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-50006293212376407202011-02-28T15:04:00.870-08:002011-02-28T15:04:00.870-08:00Snow, even though I believe what I believe and you...Snow, even though I believe what I believe and you believe differently, I get such a kick out of your meetings. I always enjoy what you have to say. <br /><br />Take care my friend!CreekHiker / HollysFollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14987597104795294851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-64280346483855226122011-02-28T05:54:30.526-08:002011-02-28T05:54:30.526-08:00Natalie said: "We have the fish symbol too he...Natalie said: "We have the fish symbol too here on business advertising. Australia...has far more tolerance for difference than America..."<br /><br />Natalie, I think it's tacky to use your religion as a means to boost your income, so if my opinion qualifies as intolerant, then I'm intolerant. Yet, I would never dream of restricting such things because they are freedom of speech issues pure and simple. I wouldn't be the least surprised that yours is a more tolerant country precisely because it's a less religious country. Even in America, the amount of tolerance differs broadly from place to place depending upon the prevalence of religion.<br /><br /><br />Blog Fodder said: " I would never deal with a business that promotes itself as Christian unless I had references."<br /><br />But other businesses you would? I don't think that's what you meant though. Anyway, my assumption about people who use their religion as a part of their advertising is that they are ethically challenged as demonstrated on the basis of that action alone, and I take this as a mark against them. Still, if they were friendly, their prices were right, and they had raving reviews, sure, I would hire them, that is if I got so far as to even consider them in the first place, which isn't something I would ordinarily do.Snowbrushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-44964596812418171752011-02-28T05:19:07.938-08:002011-02-28T05:19:07.938-08:00It sounds like an intense group. The sense of comm...It sounds like an intense group. The sense of community that you have found by forming a group with a common cause is the very need that seems to draw many people to herd themselves into a religion. Having grown up in a methodist environment, the social interchange is compelling, the mythology, not so much. I left that organization while in college, but the temptation to join groups is still there. I am reluctant to join a group with a "cause". It sounds like an interesting gathering of people in your group. Do they relate in other areas and find common ground on other subjects also? I ran across this article which was interesting, and I don't agree with all of it, but I tend to keep arms length from the whole subject. http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/22/my-take-there%E2%80%99s-no-such-thing-as-the-bible/?s-no-such-thing-as-the-bible/?hpt=SbinR. J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10291839202970032184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-74416115845909881342011-02-28T05:09:02.128-08:002011-02-28T05:09:02.128-08:00Love your descriptions of the attendees and would ...Love your descriptions of the attendees and would love to meet some of them. Glad you're enjoying yourself Snow and I, too, would throw out the stale nuts. Yuk!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16813508472498593787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-78998551441158638822011-02-27T23:23:21.861-08:002011-02-27T23:23:21.861-08:00As long as stale nuts doesn't apply to the par...As long as stale nuts doesn't apply to the participants, i guess you are OK. I would never deal with a business that promotes itself as Christian unless I had references from others that it was honest and did quality work. Too many Pray on their knees on Sunday and their neighbours the rest of the week.The Blog Fodderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11441978691701289074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-76411314373520420822011-02-27T21:00:20.633-08:002011-02-27T21:00:20.633-08:00Mad said: "religion should be banned."
...Mad said: "religion should be banned."<br /><br />I don't know if you meant this literally, but we can't very well ban religion in what we still like to call a free society, and I don't think it works so well to do so in a totalitarian society either. I would like to see religion completely removed from public observances and decision-making, however, and I would like for religious institutions to be taxed.<br /><br />Natalie, Bella introduced the intuition topic because she thinks she intuitive. When asked for an example, she said that she realized intuitively one day that the cure for cancer is a strong immune system. Well, cancer isn't caused by a weak immune system anymore than allergies are, so her example--although satisfying to her--crashed and burned completely with me and, I think, everyone else. This is what I run into all the time with people who believe in psychic--or near-psychic--kinds of things. The evidence for their position simply isn't there. Of course, I know that you and I differ completely on this, so all I can say is that I'm glad we're friends anyway.Snowbrushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-72766726470934092952011-02-27T20:28:57.935-08:002011-02-27T20:28:57.935-08:00Snowybabe ~ We have the fish symbol too here on bu...Snowybabe ~ We have the fish symbol too here on business advertising. <br />Australia (generally speaking) has far more tolerance for difference than America seems to have.<br /><br />Seems like I am between a rock and a hard place. See my post 'Love is a Doing Word'. I am neither 'religious' nor am I an atheist. I would have loved to be at your 'intuition' meeting...stale nuts and all. :)Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12919764140075852854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-33923605294362442952011-02-27T18:49:38.491-08:002011-02-27T18:49:38.491-08:00Snow, you told Kylie about the fish symbol here in...Snow, you told Kylie about the fish symbol here in America. I feel they are just putting on airs. Too many people sit in a pew on Sunday morning and think that will make them appear to be good people. The reality is that the biggest hypocrites are the ones sitting in those pews. For that reason alone religion should be banned.Christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16198861828141020689noreply@blogger.com