Comments on: The Atheist Closet http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/22/the_atheist_closet A Blog of Atheist Thought Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:59:40 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Dagny3 http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/22/the_atheist_closet/comment-page-1#comment-86349 Dagny3 Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86349 I'm sorry this is off-topic, but I just thought of it, in reference to the thread about Gideon Bibles. Why don't we start our own version of such an organization? We could call ourselves the Ingersolls, the Russells, or otherwise name ourselves after a well-known former Atheist (and a better role model than Gideon!) and leave Atheist literature, such as the non-tracts available from ffrf.org or our own material that points out the errors/inconsistencies in the Bible, in hotel rooms? The Gideons encourage men who travel a lot or stay in hotels a lot to join their organization; why can't we do the same (and include women too)? Instead of merely recycling the Bible, why not contribute our own material, agreeing to leave those Bibles alone as long as our pamphlets are left alone too? Am I being too optimistic here? I’m sorry this is off-topic, but I just thought of it, in reference to the thread about Gideon Bibles. Why don’t we start our own version of such an organization? We could call ourselves the Ingersolls, the Russells, or otherwise name ourselves after a well-known former Atheist (and a better role model than Gideon!) and leave Atheist literature, such as the non-tracts available from ffrf.org or our own material that points out the errors/inconsistencies in the Bible, in hotel rooms? The Gideons encourage men who travel a lot or stay in hotels a lot to join their organization; why can’t we do the same (and include women too)? Instead of merely recycling the Bible, why not contribute our own material, agreeing to leave those Bibles alone as long as our pamphlets are left alone too? Am I being too optimistic here?

]]> By: dsilverman http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/22/the_atheist_closet/comment-page-1#comment-86351 dsilverman Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86351 Dagny,<br /> <br /> Please address this in the next post. Dagny,

Please address this in the next post.

]]> By: subflea http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/22/the_atheist_closet/comment-page-1#comment-86361 subflea Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86361 The more info link doesn't work. The more info link doesn’t work.

]]> By: dsilverman http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/22/the_atheist_closet/comment-page-1#comment-86363 dsilverman Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86363 http://healthyaddict.googlepages.com/home<br /> <br /> worked for me... http://healthyaddict.googlepages.com/home

worked for me…

]]> By: George Ricker http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/22/the_atheist_closet/comment-page-1#comment-86378 George Ricker Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86378 http://healthyaddict.googlepages.com/home<br /> <br /> The link worked for me too.<br /> <br /> I realized my own atheism more than three decades ago. As I wrote in my book, "Once I had escaped the spell of god-belief and religion, I felt like someone who finally has been restored to health after a long, lingering illness." http://healthyaddict.googlepages.com/home

The link worked for me too.

I realized my own atheism more than three decades ago. As I wrote in my book, “Once I had escaped the spell of god-belief and religion, I felt like someone who finally has been restored to health after a long, lingering illness.”

]]> By: cbo http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/22/the_atheist_closet/comment-page-1#comment-86401 cbo Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86401 I have not come out yet. Inside I really want to and I know I should, but right now in my life it is just so much easier and convenient not to. On the other hand I am at a turning point in my life at the moment (moving schools, and in a year moving out of the country) so it makes sense to come out, but I am scared. I am scared at what my extremely religious(my mom is on practically every committee and organizes every event and is on vestry) parents would say and what my friends would do, especially my friend since most all of them are pretty religious. I don't want to continue to lie to everyone, but at the same time it's not like it is taking that big of a toll on me, I do try and express that I hate church to people and I don't act religious. I am just stuck and I don't know what to do. Some help please? I have not come out yet. Inside I really want to and I know I should, but right now in my life it is just so much easier and convenient not to. On the other hand I am at a turning point in my life at the moment (moving schools, and in a year moving out of the country) so it makes sense to come out, but I am scared. I am scared at what my extremely religious(my mom is on practically every committee and organizes every event and is on vestry) parents would say and what my friends would do, especially my friend since most all of them are pretty religious. I don’t want to continue to lie to everyone, but at the same time it’s not like it is taking that big of a toll on me, I do try and express that I hate church to people and I don’t act religious. I am just stuck and I don’t know what to do. Some help please?

]]> By: sam moore jr http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/22/the_atheist_closet/comment-page-1#comment-86405 sam moore jr Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86405 I begin by identifying myself as a Unitarian Universalist. Then comes the question what's a UU? I proceed to explain that historically, Unitarian means one God and Universalist means God loves everybody and everybody's eligible to Salvation. I continue that UUism has evolved over the years into a secular humanist ungodly meta-religion and although God is sometimes mentioned in our services, some 30% of UUs are Atheists and that I belong to the 30%. I am completely "out" at church and in the workplace where I converted a Southern Baptist to Deism and an Apatheist (don't know, don't care) firmly to Atheism. Unfortunately I cannot be "out" in the 2 civic groups I belong to which begin and end with prayer-- but I am planning to explain to them what a UU REALLY is. I begin by identifying myself as a Unitarian Universalist. Then comes the question what’s a UU? I proceed to explain that historically, Unitarian means one God and Universalist means God loves everybody and everybody’s eligible to Salvation. I continue that UUism has evolved over the years into a secular humanist ungodly meta-religion and although God is sometimes mentioned in our services, some 30% of UUs are Atheists and that I belong to the 30%. I am completely “out” at church and in the workplace where I converted a Southern Baptist to Deism and an Apatheist (don’t know, don’t care) firmly to Atheism. Unfortunately I cannot be “out” in the 2 civic groups I belong to which begin and end with prayer– but I am planning to explain to them what a UU REALLY is.

]]> By: teammarty http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/22/the_atheist_closet/comment-page-1#comment-86421 teammarty Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86421 I have a saying.<br /> <br /> You don't really lose any friends, but sometimes you find out who they really are.<br /> <br /> I'd say just hoist the sails and head straight into the wind.<br /> <br /> You'll get told all kinds of shit. You'll get told to get out if you don't believe in god. Go swim to Canada (or Cuba if you're in the south) (Swimming to Canada is pretty easy for a skilled swimmer. Just avoid the undertow, the shipping and don't swallow ANY of the Detroit River). That you've given up your right te be an American (by daring to exercize them, of course). You'll get screamed at for you bumper stickers and maybe even punched for not standing during god bless America during some game.<br /> <br /> You'll also get asked all kinds of questions by honest curious people. You'll be expected to give detailed answers to questions on evolution that are so esoteric that only a handful of scientists know more than the 2 paragraph artilce that appeared on page C-5 of your local newspaper. <br /> <br /> But for the other 99.5% of the time, you'll go through your daily life unnoticed and ignored, just like normal. I have a saying.

You don’t really lose any friends, but sometimes you find out who they really are.

I’d say just hoist the sails and head straight into the wind.

You’ll get told all kinds of shit. You’ll get told to get out if you don’t believe in god. Go swim to Canada (or Cuba if you’re in the south) (Swimming to Canada is pretty easy for a skilled swimmer. Just avoid the undertow, the shipping and don’t swallow ANY of the Detroit River). That you’ve given up your right te be an American (by daring to exercize them, of course). You’ll get screamed at for you bumper stickers and maybe even punched for not standing during god bless America during some game.

You’ll also get asked all kinds of questions by honest curious people. You’ll be expected to give detailed answers to questions on evolution that are so esoteric that only a handful of scientists know more than the 2 paragraph artilce that appeared on page C-5 of your local newspaper.

But for the other 99.5% of the time, you’ll go through your daily life unnoticed and ignored, just like normal.

]]> By: Jim diGriz http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/22/the_atheist_closet/comment-page-1#comment-86446 Jim diGriz Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86446 cbo, you're probably better off waiting until you're financially independent before stating your views to parents, relatives, friends, etc. And unless you own your own business, keep your views to yourself at work.<br /> cbo, you’re probably better off waiting until you’re financially independent before stating your views to parents, relatives, friends, etc. And unless you own your own business, keep your views to yourself at work.

]]> By: what http://atheists.org/blog/2008/07/22/the_atheist_closet/comment-page-1#comment-86464 what Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-86464 <blockquote> And unless you own your own business, keep your views to yourself at work. </blockquote> Speak your minds.

And unless you own your own business, keep your views to yourself at work.

Speak your minds.

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