Posts by TheClarinetist

21

I messed myself up...

by MC RubberMallet in

the past few weeks have been hectic.. but i went through an experience that has messed me up since.. i met up with an old friend one day who i know went apostate.

it was a really bad day for me, which was really bad for me since i've been taking ttatt as a speed bump but still moving along in life with an ok adjustment.

he since brought a really nice house, cars, new job, everything he always wanted without feeling guilt.

MC RubberMallet: I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience. If the depression sticks around for more than a couple weeks, you may want to consider seeing a mental health professional, but you probably don't have anything to worry about.

While it would definitely be adviseable to stick with your gut on not doing anything for a while, I wouldn't be so quick to completely rule out smoking marijuana in the future. Get over your bad feelings from the bad trip, give it some time, and maybe try it (in much more controlled doses) at some point in the future if you're comfortable.

45

Can Atheists Be "Religious"?

by AGuest in

jw
friends

it appears so (may you all have peace!):.

http://firstchurchofatheism.com/.

http://www.factschurch.com/.

TheClarinetist

Only a matter of time, dear FHN (the greatest of love and peace to you, dear one!). Only a matter of time.

I'll believe it when I see it. lol

45

Can Atheists Be "Religious"?

by AGuest in

jw
friends

it appears so (may you all have peace!):.

http://firstchurchofatheism.com/.

http://www.factschurch.com/.

TheClarinetist

I still don't think they're the best example and that calling that particular group a religion isn't quite accurate.

Taken from the same FAQs:

How we got started.

The First Church of Atheism was born out of necessity. Created by Paul and Jacki McMaster, the FCA is the first society of its kind. Dedicated solely to ordainingatheists so that they too may perform ceremonies previously performed by religious men. When Paul and Jacki were wed, they hired a non-denominational minister to perform the ceremony. They requested that the ceremony be entirely faith neutral, as they were both devout atheists. To their dismay, the ceremony that the minister submitted for their approval was littered with references to, and direct statements about, god. They pulled out a red pen and started editing, paring down the ceremony into a 2 minute long affair.
For the next year, they would laugh about that story, telling their friends about the “non-denominational” minister who read them their vows in a Friar Tuck shirt, complete with collar. While funny, this also says something tragic about the state of our society when it comes to atheists. Non-denominational means generally Christian. For atheists, this is impossible to accept.

45

Can Atheists Be "Religious"?

by AGuest in

jw
friends

it appears so (may you all have peace!):.

http://firstchurchofatheism.com/.

http://www.factschurch.com/.

TheClarinetist

Very simply, atheisim is an absence of belief.

Unless you put an "in a divine power" at the end of the sentence, Atheism is anything but. The beliefs held by atheists may not be unified, but they are still there. In fact, I am 99.99% sure that you can find something you believe in.

The real question here *as far as I can see* is worship and ritual, which are largely missing the lives of atheists (not that we actually miss them), but even then there are always exceptions.

EDIT: I should mention that I divide religion into religion and spirituality, where spirituality deals with emotions similar to the emotions brought on by religion, namely awe and reverence. I think that a lot of atheists (based on my experience and reading) are spiritual with regard to their conception of the universe and nature.

45

Can Atheists Be "Religious"?

by AGuest in

jw
friends

it appears so (may you all have peace!):.

http://firstchurchofatheism.com/.

http://www.factschurch.com/.

TheClarinetist

The First Church of Atheism was created for the reason of creating ordained atheist ministers. It is illegal in the United States for an atheist to perform a wedding ceremony. To get a "atheist wedding", you have no choice, before the First Church of Atheism, but to get married by a judge. This fact is toned down on the website because doing otherwise would basically un-ordain all of their ministers.

The FACTS Church you could make an argument for, and I would agree that someone who joined them according to what they say on their website would be considered religious, and that the church itself could be considered a religion.

There are also branches of atheistic paganism and satanism.

41

How do you deal with your "down" time?

by compound complex in

by that, i don't mean so much what you do in your leisure time but how you manage the freedom to choose what you will or will not do.

off the wt treadmill, i no longer feel guilty about what is now my neglect of theocratic activity; however, after a nonstop week such as i have just lived through (barely), i am doing nothing, going nowhere, and accepting no new obligations (for the moment).

i can stare at the sky, enjoy the beautiful day and not worry that demons are rushing to fill the void in my empty skull.. you?.

TheClarinetist

Sex, drugs, and classical music. Also, video games and Netflix.

30

How important are birthdays?

by Disillusioned Lost-Lamb in

jw
friends

extremely, cause it's mine!.

go shorty it's my birthday.

gonna party like it's my birthday.

TheClarinetist

Happy birthday

26

Peter Singer Atheist Champion "A Pig Is Worth More Than A Disabled Person!'"

by Bubblegum Apotheosis in

richard dawkins at a recent conference for atheist, told his followers to mock muslims and christians for their stupid beliefs!

we have been down the path of this kind of thinking dawkins, harris and peter singer promote, it lead to the near irradication of the jews, gypsies, disabled, mentally ill and any other undesirables who were not contributing to the greater good of hitler's, stalin's, pol pot and mao's ideals.. .

can we address the issue at hand, how would you debate peter singer's statement that a "pig is more valuable than a disabled child, human"?

TheClarinetist

Richard Dawkins at a recent conference for atheist, told his followers to mock Muslims and Christians for their stupid beliefs!

Source please, with context. There is a big difference between challenging someones beliefs and criticizing them, and as far as I've read, Dawkins has always encouraged the former, not the latter.

As far as Singers beliefs, your quote is taken out of context and doesn't represent his actual beliefs, as cantleave's post points out.

Also, be very careful about grouping atheists together in one lump... It's like grouping all theists together...

10