Attention whore.
This sounds like this idiot in a vegan forum I was on earlier who claomed that everytime she went out to eat at a restaurant it became 'vegan outreach'. My fist, let me show you it. If people could stop cnstantly self validating and advertising to the entire world about their god damn isms and focus on being decent people the world would be a much better place to live.

chemical_angel: everytime she went out to eat at a restaurant it became 'vegan outreach'

I had a complete stranger asked me if I knew how much suffering went into my dinner one day at the grocery.

Sure, it was a food co-op in Cambridge MA, but still out of line.

I'm bi-secular.

Yes, I turn to the Deseret News and Drudge when I need unbiased coverage.

Deseret News? Seriously?

Just call it the Moroni Herald Tribune.

Being an atheist can be socially awkward sometimes, but comparing it to telling your family that you have teh ghey is being a huge farking drama queen.

Eddie Adams from Torrance: Being an atheist can be socially awkward sometimes, but comparing it to telling your family that you have teh ghey is being a huge farking drama queen.

As a gay atheist, I disagree. I'd much rather have to tell my Grandmother that I'm gay than tell her that I'm an atheist.

Of course, I don't have to do either, so I don't.

what_now: chemical_angel: everytime she went out to eat at a restaurant it became 'vegan outreach'

I had a complete stranger asked me if I knew how much suffering went into my dinner one day at the grocery.

Sure, it was a food co-op in Cambridge MA, but still out of line.

Someone asked me that once, I told them I did in fact know and thought it made it more delicious. It went on like that until I checked out. Doesn't happen often round here.

chemical_angel: Attention whore.

What a tool.

Well, for many families that's true. Does anyone really doubt that there are millions of parents who would react as harshly if their children came out as atheists as they would if they came out as gay?

As an atheist, I say that other atheists who wander the earth spoiling for a religious argument are almost as dickish as their Christian counterparts.

Nobody else gives a damn what you do or do not believe in.

I'm a kerfitualist. It means I don't happen to read the Garfield comic strip on a daily basis (or ever, for that matter). I know it sounds silly to come up with special words for things I don't happen to do, but everyone needs a hobby, right?

Eddie Adams from Torrance: Being an atheist can be socially awkward sometimes, but comparing it to telling your family that you have teh ghey is being a huge farking drama queen.

Depends on the community you life in, no?

I didn't become an atheist. I was born that way.

SphericalTime: As a gay atheist, I disagree.

Gaytheist?

Being neither, my expert opinion on the subject is that it seems like it'd be a lot easier to fake believing in God than fake being straight.

As an atheist, I couldn't care about other people's religion. I mean, seriously... I lack the energy to have a faith of my own, why would I give a shiat about someone else's?

Mugato:

Everyone fakes believing in God, because God is obviously fake.

Outtaphase: I'm a kerfitualist. It means I don't happen to read the Garfield comic strip on a daily basis (or ever, for that matter). I know it sounds silly to come up with special words for things I don't happen to do, but everyone needs a hobby, right?

As a Garfialdist I must wish you a 1000 deaths and raise a fatwa upon you for your indecency to the great cat of orange!!

There is not enough lasagna in the oven for you to undo the spiritual damage you have done to the great slayers of Odie, The Bishops of fur, the covenant of our savior, Garfield.

ahhh....Garfieldist...

AcheronX: Nobody else gives a damn what you do or do not believe in.

Well said, but the problem is people who shouldn't give a damn, do. There is no corner on the market for asshattery.

what_now: I had a complete stranger asked me if I knew how much suffering went into my dinner one day at the grocery.

you should have responded "yes, and it arouses me"

sloppy shoes: As a Garfialdist I must wish you a 1000 deaths and raise a fatwa upon you for your indecency to the great cat of orange!!

There is not enough lasagna in the oven for you to undo the spiritual damage you have done to the great slayers of Odie, The Bishops of fur, the covenant of our savior, Garfield.

Yeah, well I love Garfield minus Garfield, and it should be taught in schools.

I've worked in Cambridge, MA, which is basically the Vatican of atheism.

I used to think fundamentalist Christians were the most self-righteous asshats on the planet. They're pipsqueaks compared to a full-throated atheist. Gawdamighty.

DarthBrooks: I've worked in Cambridge, MA, which is basically the Vatican of atheism.

I thought Mass was the Catholic capitol of the US?

sloppy shoes: ahhh....Garfieldist...

nah, Garfiald was right, because it's shiat... ;-)

/sorry if you actually like it - I never did, not even as a kid... Far Side / Calvin and the like were more my style...
//ZOMG I AM A CALVANIST ;-)

RoxtarRyan: I thought Mass was the Catholic capitol of the US?

Cambridge is the East Coast Berkeley. It just happens to be across the river from Boston.

So he's an atheist evangelist?

ridiculous.

DarthBrooks: Cambridge is the East Coast Berkeley. It just happens to be across the river from Boston.

Eh, beats the hell out of me. I'm a college dropout, so there that is. Actually, it took me about a year to even figure out I was a college dropout.

/actually was yanked from college go to Afghanistan

RoxtarRyan: DarthBrooks: I've worked in Cambridge, MA, which is basically the Vatican of atheism.

I thought Mass was the Catholic capitol of the US?

Nice pun?

daychilde: sloppy shoes: ahhh....Garfieldist...

nah, Garfiald was right, because it's shiat... ;-)

/sorry if you actually like it - I never did, not even as a kid... Far Side / Calvin and the like were more my style...
//ZOMG I AM A CALVANIST ;-)

Calvinism is an excellent interpretation of the Lord, Our God, Garfield; however, there is no substitute for the orange joy within all our hearts.

sloppy shoes: Calvinism is an excellent interpretation of the Lord, Our God, Garfield; however, there is no substitute for the orange joy within all our hearts.

"And he doth offered his one and only friend Hobbs unto the wash, to cleanse him of the blood and dirt that plagues us all. And so, the people waited for three hours, and upon the third hour, they had found the wash empty. It was at this time that Hobbs descended back unto the people, cleansed of the blood and dirt from before."

burndtdan: what_now: I had a complete stranger asked me if I knew how much suffering went into my dinner one day at the grocery.

you should have responded "yes, and it arouses me"

Oh, AFTER the fact, I came up with all sorts of comebacks.

:(

chemical_angel: Attention whore.

First; This.

DamnYankees: Eddie Adams from Torrance: Being an atheist can be socially awkward sometimes, but comparing it to telling your family that you have teh ghey is being a huge farking drama queen.

Depends on the community you life in, no?

Nah, I think telling folks you're gay is a much bigger deal. Would be an interesting study though, to see peoples level of reactions.

FireBreathingLiberal: So he's an atheist evangelist?

ridiculous.

There is a line I try to avoid crossing. If someone approaches me and wants to have a discussion, (or if it's the internet and we're always having this discussion) I'll happily participate. But I refuse to be the one doing the approaching.

For example, on my walk to school I routinely pass a corner where the Jehovas Witnesses pass out pamphlets detailing the coming apocalypse (as they have been pronouncing for the past 150 years). They'll often try to engage me in discussion, and I politely decline, usually take a pamphlet, and wish them a good day. I could get all in their face about it, but its neither the time or the place, and frankly a bit rude.

On the other hand, two weeks ago the Mormon missionaries came to my door to talk about Jesus, I declined, we chatted, I offered them some water, chatted some more, declined again, they left.

Three days ago, they returned to followup with me and see if I still didn't want to talk about Jesus. Obviously they are persistent. This time I traded them a copy of James Randi's book Faith Healers for a Book of Mormon (which I already owned, but w/e). They're supposed to read it and then come back and have a discussion with me.

I'm not trying to convert them, or make them atheists, whatever. But they're the ones visiting me. Fair is fair.

ninjakirby: Nah, I think telling folks you're gay is a much bigger deal. Would be an interesting study though, to see peoples level of reactions.

Depends on your parents. Frankly, I don't know which my parents would have a bigger problem with. My dad would probably care more if I outright told him I was an atheist.

Mugato: Gaytheist?

Yup. Due to the rejection of gay people by most Christian groups, there tends to be a higher percentage of non-religious people among gays, I think.

Being neither, my expert opinion on the subject is that it seems like it'd be a lot easier to fake believing in God than fake being straight.

This is true. You end up saying "she's just not my type" a lot. Of course, considering how many religious denominations are out there, you can usually just excuse yourself from any service and people will just assume that you're Jewish or something.

ninjakirby: FireBreathingLiberal: So he's an atheist evangelist?

ridiculous.

There is a line I try to avoid crossing. If someone approaches me and wants to have a discussion, (or if it's the internet and we're always having this discussion) I'll happily participate. But I refuse to be the one doing the approaching.

Idiots who accuse people of "atheist evangelism" tend to confuse internet discussion boards for real life. I am happy to admit that atheists online are very vocal, argumentative, and boistrous. But that's online - where we are both anonymous and we have come to that message board for the specific purpose of having a debate and discussion.

If anyone really thinks the level of atheist influence in larger society is even proportional to religious influence, they must be living in Iceland or something.

DamnYankees: If anyone really thinks the level of atheist influence in larger society is even proportional to religious influence, they must be living in Iceland or something.

UR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ARE RIDICULOUS LOL FSM FOREVER!!

I would be extremely upset with my parents if they told me they believed in god.

ninjakirby: chemical_angel: Attention whore.

First; This.

DamnYankees: Eddie Adams from Torrance: Being an atheist can be socially awkward sometimes, but comparing it to telling your family that you have teh ghey is being a huge farking drama queen.

Depends on the community you life in, no?

Nah, I think telling folks you're gay is a much bigger deal. Would be an interesting study though, to see peoples level of reactions.

FireBreathingLiberal: So he's an atheist evangelist?

ridiculous.

There is a line I try to avoid crossing. If someone approaches me and wants to have a discussion, (or if it's the internet and we're always having this discussion) I'll happily participate. But I refuse to be the one doing the approaching.

For example, on my walk to school I routinely pass a corner where the Jehovas Witnesses pass out pamphlets detailing the coming apocalypse (as they have been pronouncing for the past 150 years). They'll often try to engage me in discussion, and I politely decline, usually take a pamphlet, and wish them a good day. I could get all in their face about it, but its neither the time or the place, and frankly a bit rude.

On the other hand, two weeks ago the Mormon missionaries came to my door to talk about Jesus, I declined, we chatted, I offered them some water, chatted some more, declined again, they left.

Three days ago, they returned to followup with me and see if I still didn't want to talk about Jesus. Obviously they are persistent. This time I traded them a copy of James Randi's book Faith Healers for a Book of Mormon (which I already owned, but w/e). They're supposed to read it and then come back and have a discussion with me.

I'm not trying to convert them, or make them atheists, whatever. But they're the ones visiting me. Fair is fair.

People comming to my home with their missionary crap seriously gets under my skin. I applaud your patience. I've always thought it was incredibly rude and presumptuous.

RoxtarRyan: sloppy shoes: Calvinism is an excellent interpretation of the Lord, Our God, Garfield; however, there is no substitute for the orange joy within all our hearts.

"And he doth offered his one and only friend Hobbs unto the wash, to cleanse him of the blood and dirt that plagues us all. And so, the people waited for three hours, and upon the third hour, they had found the wash empty. It was at this time that Hobbs descended back unto the people, cleansed of the blood and dirt from before."

"And so he writes in the prophecy of the Spot on Orange, the fool of an Odie shall play witch tricks of fire and grimaces of deception; Come he shall in the form of false kitty; Blonde shall fool the good men who worship the orange; Pray not to the falsity of kitteh, or Cathy shall take you For Better or For Worse upon the great Circus of flames Odie calls Family"

DamnYankees: ninjakirby: Nah, I think telling folks you're gay is a much bigger deal. Would be an interesting study though, to see peoples level of reactions.

Depends on your parents. Frankly, I don't know which my parents would have a bigger problem with. My dad would probably care more if I outright told him I was an atheist.

As someone who comes from very religious parents, I will put it this way: If your parents truly believe and have faith in God, then you are presenting them either two options: 1. You are gay and are a sinner, God may not love you or 2. You are an atheist and you deny God- certainly God is not particularly enthralled with you.

The former is an assault upon the technicalities of religion and can be over come, but the latter is a true rejection of God, something someone like my Great Grandma or Grandma would never accept.

If asked, I have no problem telling someone I'm an atheist -- except my mom. The one time it came up, she started crying, and that was pretty tough for me to deal with. Luckily, the subject has never come up between us again.

What the man in the article describes, though, is attention whoring (as mentioned above).

sloppy shoes: If your parents truly believe and have faith in God, then you are presenting them either two options: 1. You are gay and are a sinner, God may not love you or 2. You are an atheist and you deny God- certainly God is not particularly enthralled with you.

Also, there are plenty of tolerant religious people who are ok with gay people but are still highly religious and care about god.

DamnYankees: sloppy shoes: If your parents truly believe and have faith in God, then you are presenting them either two options: 1. You are gay and are a sinner, God may not love you or 2. You are an atheist and you deny God- certainly God is not particularly enthralled with you.

Also, there are plenty of tolerant religious people who are ok with gay people but are still highly religious and care about god.

That's why I'm a Garfieldist- we only mandate that you accept Garfield as the one true Sunday comic. Also, Caturday is our day of peace and salvation.

"And on the seventh day, he ate lasagna, and it was good. For it was covered in sauce ever so delicious... the tomatoes squeezed between the thighs of virgins, and the pasta cooked only to the point of tenderness and no more. He then went to rest with Pookie the bear, son of Pookums, slayer of Nermal, and friend to the Orange One."

couldn't reconcile the two (religion and science) and became an atheist


dumbass.

DonnyBaker: couldn't reconcile the two (religion and science) and became an atheist


dumbass.

It's modern religions own fault. You try to logically explain the illogical and require people to believe if, as soon as they find out you're wrong, they'll reject it.

It's like if I told you that the Superman comics were historical events and after you grew up your entire life believing that you find out there is no such city as Metropolis, and there is an entire community of people out there devoted to cataloging and studying Superman as an art form - you'll probably get really pissed and stop reading comics.

The Bible, like comics, isn't meant to be taken literally/logically. Don't teach it that way, you'll find people stick with it much longer.

ninjakirby: DonnyBaker: couldn't reconcile the two (religion and science) and became an atheist


dumbass.

It's modern religions own fault. You try to logically explain the illogical and require people to believe if, as soon as they find out you're wrong, they'll reject it.

It's like if I told you that the Superman comics were historical events and after you grew up your entire life believing that you find out there is no such city as Metropolis, and there is an entire community of people out there devoted to cataloging and studying Superman as an art form - you'll probably get really pissed and stop reading comics.

The Bible, like comics, isn't meant to be taken literally/logically. Don't teach it that way, you'll find people stick with it much longer.

Haven't millions of people been 'sticking with' the bible taught literally for a very long time?

chemical_angel: ninjakirby: DonnyBaker: couldn't reconcile the two (religion and science) and became an atheist


dumbass.

It's modern religions own fault. You try to logically explain the illogical and require people to believe if, as soon as they find out you're wrong, they'll reject it.

It's like if I told you that the Superman comics were historical events and after you grew up your entire life believing that you find out there is no such city as Metropolis, and there is an entire community of people out there devoted to cataloging and studying Superman as an art form - you'll probably get really pissed and stop reading comics.

The Bible, like comics, isn't meant to be taken literally/logically. Don't teach it that way, you'll find people stick with it much longer.

Haven't millions of people been 'sticking with' the bible taught literally for a very long time?

A recent comprehensive PEW study found that American religious attitude is very fluid and people tend to gravitate towards religious beliefs they find appeasing rather than adapting to what is put forth upon them.