What does being an atheist mean to you?

[Hugh]

For me being an atheist simply means that you don't believe in god. Any personal views that I have is unrelated to my atheism. Also, being pedantic, it doesn't mean that you believe that there is no god because of minor differences in semantics.

So what does being an atheist mean to you? And does it impact on your world views?

[Aspirin99]

To me, it means I don't believe in anything supernatural.

It affects my world view by allowing me to examine my ethics based on what's best for the human race vs an non-evolved list of morals I take from ancient texts.

[sadhu]

Hugh this a deep one. The general urban squirm has us typecast as
god haters and/or autotheists. "Oh, so you think you`re god!". But to me
it simply means going through life without unnecessary metaphysical
baggage. More could be said.
Sadhu

[phrog]

I have to say I enjoy the clarity of thought. It means I don't have to involve myself in mental gymnastics trying to wrap the physical realities made evident in science around the confines of some dogma dictated by some prophet. It means I can masturbate on Sunday mornings.

[ScottE]

I have this discussion with people a lot, even people who aren't religious, who don't understand what atheism is. A lot of the time I'm told atheism means having an arrogant, stubborn attitude about the world and sitting around saying "well, this can't exist, this can't exist." All it means to me is living in the real world, free from belief in the supernatural and free from superstitions.

[Cancer]

To me, atheism means that I don't have to live my ONE life on my knees telling myself that I'm not good enough for god. I can make logical decision based on intelligence and experience instead of decisions based faith. I feel I only have boundaries that i put up myself, no one can tell me how to live my life and that way, when I'm close do death if it's been a wonderful life I can thank myself, if it has been a horrible life then ill know that i made all of my mistakes on my own, and that alone is worth living for. :)

[Leto]

To me it means that I can live this life to the fullest without worrying about the next.

I don't spend my Sundays closeted in a church or temple, but instead enjoying my time off.

I feel no sense of guilt when I act in ways normal for humans, but against the code of behavior for believers.

I do not feel compelled to pray when presented with a bad situation, and can instead approach it rationally.

I do not fear death; there is no chance of hell fire. Life will have been a grand journey.

[Phineas]

I lack belief in that which is supernatural in nature or otherwise inevident in the observable universe.

[psychomonkey62]

I can masturbate.

w00t.

[Kingreaper]

To me atheism means I have one less incorrect belief about the way the world works.

Part of the reason for my atheism is probably my conviction that the world must work in a consistent way. If it doesn't, nothing I do matters anyway, so I've got to assume it does. And God would have to be inconsistent.

[formerfundie]

being someone brainwashed with christian thinking for most of the years of my life, and only recently breaking free from that, being an atheist is extremely meaningful, almost defining. I'm having to rethink the way i've thought about everything. relationships, morality, love, guilt, self-worth, survival, science, politics, entertainment.... and on and on. It's turned my world upside down (or right-side up depending on your perspective). The world to me is much more about the subtle shades of gray than it is black and white. In a sense I feel more mentally healthy.

FF

[home8896]

Atheism means being free from a supernatural being of one sort or another that seemed, in my most questioning phases of agnosticism, to be incompetent, malicious, or irrelevant. Not a pleasant sort of Higher Being, if you ask me. No matter how good I was told this Being was, all I could see were the failings of such a Being and the untold miseries of the world that this Thing couldn't be bothered to help out with. Atheism and the understanding that the brain is where it all happens has freed me from thinking the world itself must be a place that is either abandoned by God or where God stores everyone to suffer what seems extraordinarily unnecessary harm. My own childhood and the knowledge that others suffer as much as or greater than I did left me both wishing for something better than this life and this world and then feeling that since I was unworthy of help from this Great Being, I must be worthless, altogether.

A world without a Divine Thing of great power and control who COULD, if this Being wanted, help us, is a world without self-hatred for the suffering I endured as if being punished by God, almost continually for several years as a child.

But it isn't just petulant anger at God, because I was agnostic for many years, trying to get back on God's good list for whatever wrong I was born with so I could have some kind of paradise that believers kept telling me was waiting for me if I just had faith. It was seeing the other miseries of the world, seeing only inconsistencies in all belief systems to explain to me why these things would still be happening if there was some kind of parental figure (Mother, in the case of Wicca) that was really out "there" watching the world. It was information about the brain and about the nature of being human that freed me from worrying over these ideas anymore.

It was a slow process of stripping down some divine ideas or a supernatural vocabulary in my worldview to get to the point where I don't live in a state of paranoia that I'm a truly awful creation that has been denied the bliss and "gifts" the faithful believe they have and deserve from God.

I still struggle sometimes, when things are not so good, not to get swallowed up in a feeling of being somehow not-good-enough and being punished by something unseen, but it's a lot easier (an understatement) now than it ever was with the last beliefs in God still gripping me.

My conversion to atheism means not being at the mercy of a divine maniac who has it in for me. It is my life, and I can take the good and bad as they come without assigning meaning that isn't there to it.

Since I didn't believe in Hell, I can't say it freed me from that notion, but it has stripped from me the fear that I will have to come back to another miserable life if I "fail my objectives" in this life. It has made me focus on here and now, and to enjoy the little things that I was told to transcend and discard - to detach from - while they last. It was a huge relief.

[BigHairyMonster]

I am a scientist - I poke, I prod, I try to find out how things work. The immense satisfaction of finding out what's REALLY going on is hard to explain to someone who doesn't share this outlook. Atheism is merely a consequence, for me. It's not a position I hold on to for its own sake, but the logical conclusion of all my experience.

It's also an expression of my search for simplicity, power and elegance. A universe which requires a god at the helm is so much less than it could be - less perfect, less likely, less wondrous, less rich, less thoughtful, less free. I would be really sad if anyone ever proved God's existence.

[phrog]

I would be really sad if anyone ever proved God's existence
I would be really amazed.

[formerfundie]

I would be really amazed.

I would say, "he got some splainin to do!"

[oogabooga]

Being an atheist doesn't define me and it really only tells people that I don't believe in anything supernatural - until it's scientifically proven. But not believing in the ultimate truth of one single book means that I can exercise my brain and doubt everything people tell me. I know this might sound funny, but seeing how brainwashed people can be by religious zealots and how afraid they are to doubt anything, I feel that kind of freedom is probably the most precious thing I have. Not being religious also means I can safely say that I don't know the answers to certain questions, it means I don't have to cling to an ideology to define myself and I have the freedom to change my mind when someone proves me wrong.

Does this make any sense at all?

[phrog]

Does this make any sense at all?
Perfectly.

[minorwork]

Being solopsist, er, atheist I like Phineas lack belief in that which is supernatural in nature or otherwise inevident in the observable universe. But I've seen some weird stuff when David Blaine was not in evidence.

[phrog]

Being solopsist, er, atheist I like Phineas But I've seen some weird stuff when David Blaine was not in evidence.
Odd you should say that. My father and I ofter comment on how world class illusinists could perform their tricks to the masses and proclaim themselves miracle workers and launch their own religion.

[minorwork]

Black Magick. The Crowley kind for sure when claiming religious authority.

Ancient observatories sure do suggest that a knowledge of the sky phenom gave somebody seemingly god-like powers of prophecy don't they?

It's all in the timing that's for sure.

See anything like that today? Maybe sponsored by the UN?

[phrog]

Kind of full circle on this thread, being Atheist means not believing in magic. Never accepting cop out answers like "God did it" and leave it at that. I hate to think of all the wonders I would have taken for granted accepting it as a given that some sky daddy had done it all. Mostly I feel incredibly comfortable knowing how full my life is, solid and complete. I don't relish the idea of dying but I don't fear death. I can only hope that I can postpone the inevitable long enough to take care of my wife.

[chasm]

I don't relish the idea of dying but I don't fear death.

Sorry - that line triggered a Blood Sweat and Tears flashback, for some reason.

"I can swear there ain't no heaven, but I pray there ain't no hell."

[phrog]

Might you be showing your age?

[Stumpy]

To me it means that:

1. I can spend Sunday morning recovering from Saturday night.
2. If you go out to lunch Sunday get there at 11:45 before all the churches let their flocks loose (flocks, love that word! A bunch of sheep! Baaaahh)
3. Sundays are devoted to what's truly important-racing or football.


:D

[minorwork]

Me be free to pursue an objective language that describes consciousness. Just got Roger Penrose's, The Emperor's New Mind. He makes the case that no matter the power of a computer it will not be conscious. Whether it passes the Turing test or not it will not be conscious. Looks, so far, like I will be reading others of his.

So I experiment on myself. Admittedly with more caution than in my youth. Being retireded is a heady thing.

Being atheist wipes the slate on one level and lets the mind objectively examine the effects of my past influences. Record dreams. Interpret them. Keep some form of a journal. And the big bug-a-boo for me, discipline. Work at the mine precluded experimenting and required a practice and refinement of the art and science of magick. The Crowley kind. Though a practical, not his ritualistic bullshit, kind.

The mine was not exactly a haven for the theists. The theists brought out the worst in me as I now look back. I seemed to target them. Mainly to question them about the power of prayer. If it worked. I did not want them praying for me. I did not want them responsible for anything good or bad that happened to me as a result of their wailings.

Being atheist separates one from the pack. The miner's union did not thrive by that type of character. One "friend" told me he liked me, but he would slit my tires if he had to. Uh huh! For once I was at a loss for words.

Being atheist means being vigilant of your environment. There are times when survival is not enhanced by "coming out." The old axiom applies here: When drinkin' and drivin' you don't want a sticker that says Cops are pigs.

'nuff

[stan2reason]

I've thought a lot about this question. Atheism is a made-up word that defines my "lack-of-belief" so I find it difficult to explain what it means. The absence of a quick answer left me perplexed. I mean, I am who I am--that's it. Perhaps atheism means a great deal more to those looking on--I become categorizable. Still, I felt there was something more; why else would I feel so good about this life-transition.

I think, for me, the answer is tucked away in my own concept of legacy. More than anything, I rejoice that my children will be able to live unfettered; they will be limited only by their own imagination and power of reason. Hey kids, with apologies to Bill, the world's thine oyster and reason's the sword that'll pry it open.

[Bunterx]

Being Agnostic means that I am not bound by a code of practice that was written thousands of years ago. A code that is sometimes no longer applicable to modern society and are too easily changed.

It also means I am able to objectively research new theories and learn as much as I can about the world.

[nosuch]

Are you a true agnostic or a teapot agnostic?

[Bunterx]

Are you a true agnostic or a teapot agnostic?
Lol, please define "teapot agnostic", although I probably am >_>

[nosuch]

Well, in order to do that, we have to start at the beginning. Agnosticism, in its strictest and most literal sense, is a the logical outcome of the epistemological question as to whether or not you can truly "know" anything. The agnostic position is really the only position here: you cannot know anything for certain (I'll ignore the paradox unless you want me to explain). The result of this premise is an inherent agnosticism to everything, no matter what you do, or how completely certain you are about anything. In spite of popular misconception, this un/certainty does not apply to what one feels one is certain about. This means that one is not an agnostic towards the God hypothesis by choice; agnosticism concerns only what one can know (which is nothing), and not feelings of certainty concerning the non/existence of God or gods. You are agnostic towards the God hypothesis, whether you like it or not; agnosticism is not a belief system. If you are uncertain, you are still an agnostic, but "agnostic" does not and cannot describe those beliefs. Now, to say that one is a "teapot," or "toothfairy" agnostic means that one acknowledges that, no, one cannot know anything for certain, but that one believes there is no God. This is tantamount to saying that one is an agnostic atheist, which is what I would call myself.

Anyway, the point of my question was not to make you out to be stupid, but rather, to determine if you actually disbelieve, or if you remain basically uncertain about the whole thing. Let me know if any part of my response was unclear.

[Bunterx]

Hmmmmm, when I was younger I just didn't believe. I think I just refused to believe. But lately (well in the last year or so) I've started thinking about it more. I keep thinking and coming to the conclusion that no there is no God, but then something happens or I think of something else and I wonder if there is a God up there. Lol, I have even prayed on occasions when I have felt quite down >_>. Really I am just uncertain about the whole thing (I think I may have confused the whole issue even further >_>)

[minorwork]

Not to decide is to decide. Excellent. The doubter of all things not seen with his own eyes. My hero.

[phrog]

We've talked about this on another thread. I contend we, that is Atheist/Agnostics, don't choose to believe. We observe the evidence, apply to that logic and reason and draw conclusions. It's the scientific meathod. Those that choose to believe do so contrary to the evidence at hand.

[Bearlaker]

I agree phrog, we go with examining facts and using(in my case trying to use) logic where the fundie thinks that they're superior for going with faith.

[home8896]

We've talked about this on another thread. I contend we, that is Atheist/Agnostics, don't choose to believe. We observe the evidence, apply to that logic and reason and draw conclusions. It's the scientific meathod. Those that choose to believe do so contrary to the evidence at hand.

That's a fantastic way to look at it. I concur!

[lorryfach]

Why "teapot"? Where does that come from?

[phrog]

That comes from philosopher Bertrand Russell:

If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is an intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time.

[lorryfach]

Very good. Thanks.

[El Judio Bravo]

Being an atheist to me is to be outside the "mainstream". I had lots of preparation for this as I am a Jew, but now I am so far out, even some Jews loathe me.

I am hurt and offended when prominent -albeit, bigoted- folk such as Herbert Walker Bush presume to exclude me from my birthright citizenship, because of a feeling that only believers are entitled to that boon. What he dasn't say is his definition of "believer" does not include Ibrahim ibn Mustafah, nor any Hasidic rebbe, nor the Romish pope.

Still, I feel good about myself. No one can dazzle my eyes or make see or acknowledge what cannot and will never be demonstrated to exist. Not one second of my day is passed worrying about the torments of some hell or other. (As a believing Jew, I was never troubled about it either.)

I do feel a certain smugness about myself vis-a-vis theists. I can't help this. Religious belief is to me either a neurosis or a phobia. It's not part of a healthy mindset. Already, I take fluoxetine three times a day for depression. I don't know what med can suppress belief in the supernatural.

That is my take.
El Judio Bravo

[David]

even some Jews loathe me.
That's just because they're jealous that you can eat Pork-ribs.. Yummy!
Not one second of my day is passed worrying about the torments of some hell or other. (As a believing Jew, I was never troubled about it either.)
One of the benefits of being Jewish; a permanent Get-out-of-Hell FREE card :)
I do feel a certain smugness about myself vis-a-vis theists. I can't help this. Religious belief is to me either a neurosis or a phobia. It's not part of a healthy mindset. Already, I take fluoxetine three times a day for depression. I don't know what med can suppress belief in the supernatural.
Prozac three times a day? Hm, you might want to investigate other medications.. Seems like a large dose to me. But, I'm not a doctor (although, my undergrad is in Psychology).

But, in answer to your question: Lobotomy.

[El Judio Bravo]

That's just because they're jealous that you can eat Pork-ribs.. Yummy!

One of the benefits of being Jewish; a permanent Get-out-of-Hell FREE card :)

But, in answer to your question: Lobotomy.

I'm unsaved, but happy!

I've been on more Prozac than that, brother. It works, and I'm resigned to it. (My shrink and I used to reason that if I was a diabetic, I'd have to take meds every day till I die. Well, I am diabetic now! :rolleyes: Arrgh!)

Aren't those potzim suffering already from a sort of self-inflicted lobotomy?
El Judio de razon

[phrog]

So drugs create in one a chemical lobotomy, does religion create in one a spirtual lobotomy?

[El Judio Bravo]

So drugs create in one a chemical lobotomy, does religion create in one a spiritual lobotomy?

Before I attempt the answer to that, I'd need your definition of "spiritual". In my experience, it packs a bunch of meanings. There are those atheists who reject the "s" word in any of its inflections.

I have a strong spirit but I don't feel "spiritual". I guess I haven't find a meaning that applies to me.

I do know that the religious have discovered/created a hole in themselves and then attempt to fill it with the ineffable. Eff that! As the man said, "Extraordinary claims, etc."
El Judio perro hereje

[Unbeliever]

Atheism means to me that I'm free to find out how I really got here, as opposed to some silly fairy-tale answer that tells me nothing at all about the truth of the matter.

[El Judio Bravo]

Atheism means to me that I'm free to find out how I really got here, as opposed to some silly fairy-tale answer that tells me nothing at all about the truth of the matter.

Just so! Why opt for an answer that you sneer at when it comes out of the mouths of everybody but you and your posse? What does it say about the reasoning faculty in believers? Oy!:mad:
El Judio Bravo

[Bearlaker]

To me it means another level of freedom.

[El Judio Bravo]

To me it means another level of freedom.
Yes, but how so? Free to sleep in on weekends, or something <harrumph!> higher? ;)

[Bearlaker]

LOL, mostly freedom from the guilt feelings of not measuring up to mythical standards.

[El Judio Bravo]

LOL, mostly freedom from the guilt feelings of not measuring up to mythical standards.
For my part, a well-rested carcass is as close to the divine as can be. Or close enough for rock 'n' roll, anyway! :shakehands:
El Judio Descansado

[Logicat]

For me being an atheist simply means that you don't believe in god. Any personal views that I have is unrelated to my atheism. Also, being pedantic, it doesn't mean that you believe that there is no god because of minor differences in semantics.

So what does being an atheist mean to you? And does it impact on your world views?

Athism is a two edged sword, to me. I crossed the threshhold into full Atheism the day I could say I no longer believe in a life after death, overseen by an invisible person that demands my full devotion, above anything, and will punish me or any non-believer, for eternity, in some horrible place called Hell. I could allow myself the freedom to be fully responsible for my actions, good or bad or inbetween, and make decisions based on my own logic and understanding of the world we live in.

The other edge of the sword is that I had to give up the idea that I would someday find a way to believe with the 'faith' of believers in something closely akin to Santa Clause that would make all my wishes come true. And that I would never have the dream of seeing my son that died a few years ago. But since I didn't believe in life after death before he died, and neither did he, there was no reason to believe in it now.

Atheism freed me to take credit when I do something good for my fellow man and to take any punishment if I do something that harms another, even if the only punishment is from myself. Atheism allowed me to open my eyes to the people, animals and life in general that I share this planet with.

When I was diagnosed with cancer in February 2005, I was asked on a few occasions if I would pray to get better or if I would start believing in god before the end came. I replied, no. My faith, for whatever it is, is in the hands of my medical team and so far, so good. They are aware that I am an Atheist and the three that deal directly with my cancer all said I had the best attitude of any patient they've worked with. Incidentally, this was an advanced case, not a maybe based on some little tiny anything.

So for better or worse, I am what I am and I'm not ashamed to say so.

Logicat

[minorwork]

Hang tuff 'cat. Mom got it in the bone, Dad has it in prostate, sister Sue breast. Treatments have much improved. A buddy was told 8 months ago he had 6 months left on inoperable colon, doctors signed a lot of papers confirming and his life insurance gave him the money. I don't understand all of what he did, but he has a new car and wintered in Florida. He does wonder if he'll owe any back if he lives 3 years. He does regular chemo.

[Logicat]

Hang tuff 'cat. Mom got it in the bone, Dad has it in prostate, sister Sue breast. Treatments have much improved. A buddy was told 8 months ago he had 6 months left on inoperable colon, doctors signed a lot of papers confirming and his life insurance gave him the money. I don't understand all of what he did, but he has a new car and wintered in Florida. He does wonder if he'll owe any back if he lives 3 years. He does regular chemo.

Ugh! Chemo is a bear to deal with but it apparently works and I'm still here to prove it! Along with the surgery and radiation treatments, of course. I did have one very good thing happen as a side-effect of chemo, I no longer have an ingrown toenail!!! LOL! You don't want details. Let's just leave it that chemo does strange things to the body that most people never hear about.

Yes, I've heard of companies that pay the life insurance ahead of time. They're usually set up by a third party company and the 'debt' is a loan, bought at 40-80% of the original life insurance and repaid when the person dies and the 1st party life insurance holder pays up. It's become pretty common in the last few years and was pushed for by an AIDS coalition. Whether your friend has to pay up all depends on how the contract was set up. I hope it's something he lives to worry about!

I had (?) breast cancer, like your sister Sue. Once someone is diagnosed with cancer, it's best to consider that the person has a chronic disease because of the reoccurance rate. It's not fair to call a person "cured" until they die, in their sleep, at the age of 103, never having another cancer. Only then can one consider a person to have been cured of cancer.

I do hope for the best for all three members of your family.

Logicat

[El Judio Bravo]

... Atheism freed me to take credit when I do something good for my fellow man and to take any punishment if I do something that harms another, even if the only punishment is from myself. Atheism allowed me to open my eyes to the people, animals and life in general that I share this planet with.

... They are aware that I am an Atheist and the three that deal directly with my cancer all said I had the best attitude of any patient they've worked with. Incidentally, this was an advanced case, not a maybe based on some little tiny anything.

So for better or worse, I am what I am and I'm not ashamed to say so.

Logicat

I applaud you on your freedom from magical thinking. If you expend all your energy on pie-in-the-sky, you won't have any left for the struggles you'll need it for.
May it go well for you!

El Judio empatetico

[stan2reason]

Athism is a two edged sword, to me. I crossed the threshhold into full Atheism the day I could say I no longer believe in a life after death, overseen by an invisible person that demands my full devotion, above anything, and will punish me or any non-believer, for eternity, in some horrible place called Hell. I could allow myself the freedom to be fully responsible for my actions, good or bad or inbetween, and make decisions based on my own logic and understanding of the world we live in.

The other edge of the sword is that I had to give up the idea that I would someday find a way to believe with the 'faith' of believers in something closely akin to Santa Clause that would make all my wishes come true. And that I would never have the dream of seeing my son that died a few years ago. But since I didn't believe in life after death before he died, and neither did he, there was no reason to believe in it now.

Atheism freed me to take credit when I do something good for my fellow man and to take any punishment if I do something that harms another, even if the only punishment is from myself. Atheism allowed me to open my eyes to the people, animals and life in general that I share this planet with.

When I was diagnosed with cancer in February 2005, I was asked on a few occasions if I would pray to get better or if I would start believing in god before the end came. I replied, no. My faith, for whatever it is, is in the hands of my medical team and so far, so good. They are aware that I am an Atheist and the three that deal directly with my cancer all said I had the best attitude of any patient they've worked with. Incidentally, this was an advanced case, not a maybe based on some little tiny anything.

So for better or worse, I am what I am and I'm not ashamed to say so.

Logicat

Hi Logicat,

Thanks for telling us about some of your personal journey. You've faced some of the toughest emotional challenges that come with "letting go of God" (apologies to JS). It is extremely pleasing to believe in a grand meeting place after this life when faced with our own mortality or worse yet, the mortality of a loved one. I've had to face this in my own life and for me it was a struggle that's hard to describe. Like you, when the emotional dust settled, I wound up in a much better place without the constraints of religious belief.

Stay strong!
S2R

[Logicat]

I applaud you on your freedom from magical thinking. If you expend all your energy on pie-in-the-sky, you won't have any left for the struggles you'll need it for.
May it go well for you!

El Judio empatetico


Thank you, El Judio, I'll use any magical thinking for my dreams. That's where they belong.

Logicat

[El Judio Bravo]

Thank you, El Judio, I'll use any magical thinking for my dreams. That's where they belong.

Logicat

Sweet dreams! I find when I'm asleep, things go well, for the most part. When I open my eyes; pow! Nightmares! ;)

El Judio duerme

[Logicat]

Hi Logicat,

Thanks for telling us about some of your personal journey. You've faced some of the toughest emotional challenges that come with "letting go of God" (apologies to JS). It is extremely pleasing to believe in a grand meeting place after this life when faced with our own mortality or worse yet, the mortality of a loved one. I've had to face this in my own life and for me it was a struggle that's hard to describe. Like you, when the emotional dust settled, I wound up in a much better place without the constraints of religious belief.

Stay strong!
S2R

S2R,

You are so right about ending up in a much better place. I'm not bothered by so many things that others go through after the deaths of loved one, starting with accepting the fact that they're gone. No hokus-pokus about how they're 'watching over' me, daydreaming about the ghosts hanging around, I've heard all kinds of stories from 'believers' and no thanks. I think that would prolong the healing; keep the pain in place longer. Many spend too much time thinking about the 'reunion' with the loved one to find a quality in THIS life, for themselves and the children, siblings, family that are still here.

I still miss my son, my husband, maybe not so much my step-daughter, but I still have a step-son and his family and my son's two children to be there for. I don't see that trying to live this life devoted to mourning the loss of the ones gone will help anyone. But that's just my feelings.

[tetsuo29]

I'm gonna ignore the thread above. Not because I don't think it has value, but just because as I was reading people's responses, these things came to mind.

Being an atheist to me means:
being misunderstood by most people I meet
being alienated from friends (those who knew me when I was a believer), family, and coworkers
being intellectually honest with myself
being perpetually irritated/amused with the culture around me
being free to enjoy the music I listened to when I was a believer without having to tell myself lies like, 'they wouldn't sing that if they had the truth I have'
finding family of choice (i.e. finding people who see the world the way you do who then become like your family)
sometimes wishing I lived somewhere besides the USA (Canada seems more possible, but the number of non-believers in Sweden sounds nice)
occasionally going to atheist brunches at Sizzler even though factory farming boils my blood- I had hoped atheists had better taste/morals than to patronize a joint like that :confused:

[lorryfach]

sometimes wishing I lived somewhere besides the USA (Canada seems more possible, but the number of non-believers in Sweden sounds nice)
What's your profession?

[tetsuo29]

I'm a Systems Admin/IT kinda guy. Bachelors in software engineering. Never been paid as a programmer, but I do keep at it as a hobby (http://saltybytes.com). I've taken care of Netware, Linux, Solaris, Mac, and yes, even Windows servers. I did about 7 years of IT help desk work. Then, I was an email administrator for 2 years. I spent the next 16 months keeping Solaris boxes happy. Now, I work as a network support technician in one of 2 national network control centers. My current job is a bit boring compared to what I was doing before, but it's a good career position with incredible job stability and there will probably be lots of opportunities to transfer elsewhere before I reach retirement age.

Also, I have a wife and 2 kids. We're very settled. Been in our house for 9 years. Just finished the basement. My wife is in her last semester at the local community college and has applied to the local universities. The kids both go to local charter schools and are very happy and involved there. I can't see all 4 of us up and moving to Sweden any time soon- assuming that's what you were going to suggest.

[phrog]

occasionally going to atheist brunches at Sizzler even though factory farming boils my blood- I had hoped atheists had better taste/morals than to patronize a joint like that :confused:

We are open to suggestions.

(Your avatar has too much hair.):D

[tetsuo29]

We are open to suggestions.

That's not the response I got from Steve when I asked him about it.

(Your avatar has too much hair.):D

Well, when I get a chance, I'll pull him into photoshop and give him a buzz cut.

Your avatar is lacking red foot wear. ;)