gdp's Comments

Atheist Revolution : Existence of Atheists Offends Christians

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 18:26:45 +0000

As a former Nebraskan, I know how lonely it can be being a non-believer in a fairly religious state. I'm glad to see this organization reaching out. I plan on contacting this group and offering my support.

Atheist Revolution : Idiot of the Week: Special 9/11 Anniversary Edition

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:44:45 +0000

Ugh, yesterday I did not turn on my TV at all and instead cleaned the house and went on a bike ride. 9/11 stuff is just played to death...and every single aspect of the day and the years following has been covered in some type of media. It doesn't make me feel any more solemn or remember it any more to sit and watch show after show 10 years on. But that is just me. I think the thing that annoys me is, that in places like East Bumblefuck, USA people are having 9/11 memorials...these are the same people that complain about those liberal NY'ers allowing teh gheys to marry, and are often accused of being socialists. Essentially, the type of people (generally speaking) killed on 9/11 are the type of people they hate. At the end of the day I don't think it's even about the victims for most Americans...America was attacked by foreigners, and they don't want to forget that.

Atheist Revolution : The Joy of Submitting to Authority

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:33:20 +0000

This explains why so many people enjoy the services of their local dom/domme (I have a friend who is a domme, and you'd be surprised...or not surprised...the kind of business she has).

Atheist Revolution : Vatican Asks Muslims for Help in Opposing Atheism

Fri, 9 Sep 2011 10:27:02 +0000

They all so badly want to be persecuted, but at the same time enjoy the power that comes with being the majority. It's the martyr syndrome...I know people who like to purposefully make their life look difficult (or pretend to do so) that they have it oh-so-hard so they receive affirmation of their importance and self worth from others. What drives me nuts is that so many people continue to give these institutions relevence, despite the fact many are very loosely affiliated with their religious groups. For example, I know so many Catholics who are simply not interested, never attend church or pay attention to anything the pope says...yet they continue to go through with the sacraments, just out of tradition. I don't know nearly as many Muslims personally, but most I do know aren't interested either. I think the question is how do we get these folks on our side? Easily that would be tens of millions people.

Atheist Revolution : Why Are Atheists Speaking Out?

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:45:19 +0000

My husband is from the UK, and thankfully my husband and inlaws are atheists. It's a running joke whenever we go down to Florida with them I threaten to take them to The Holy Land Experience instead of Disney http://www.holylandexperience.com/ For better or worse, America still has a huge amount of clout in the world politically and financially. As Bush's policies shaped world events, no doubt would the policies of the likes of Michele Bachmann or Rick Perry, who I think are far more odious than Dubya.

Atheist Revolution : Montreal Police Investigating Threats Against Atheists

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:19:27 +0000

Did he post on this site? Generally, I welcome d the coming of Depeche Mode, as they have taught me to "reach out and touch faith" LOL. OK, I promise no more Personal Jesus jokes!

Atheist Revolution : Special Prayerfest Edition of Idiot of the Week

Sun, 7 Aug 2011 12:19:31 +0000

Another point is that this is political pandering at it's worst. I don't understand how those in attendence don't see through Perry's little prayer party for what it is...duping them into voting for him by invoking the name of Jesus Christ. Btw, could someone explain to me what this Living Christ stuff is? It sounds like a zombie to me. Living Christ, is quite literally, after my brain.

Atheist Revolution : Live Video of Rick Perry\'s Christian Extremist Prayerfest

Sun, 7 Aug 2011 12:10:52 +0000

The video won't play for me...which probably isn't an alltogether bad thing. I worry too, if we elect this idiot or one of his ilk. He's not going to try to come up with solutions, make plans or anything of the such...he'll just putz around praying something will happen. After the way congress treated the debt ceiling and the pure bigotry and ignorance of the GOP presidential candidates, for f*@% sake the American people deserve so much better. But it begins with us...get out and vote in every primary and general election. Don't be afraid to run for office if you are so inclined. We need people who work for the people, not for themselves.

Atheist Revolution : Atheists as the Ultimate Outsiders

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 10:58:02 +0000

Great topic idea! I think for me, I was always an outsider of sorts. I grew up in a small town, and I didn't have the 5 generations of roots in the community that seemed to be required to be socially accepted. I wasn't ever treated outwardly in a negative way, but there was an invisible line that separated me from them. Of course I wasn't the only outsider so to speak, and us social outsiders tended to band together and form our own friendships amongst each other. I admit in my youth many times I longed to be accepted by everyone, but as I got older and closer to college age I figured out that wasn't a necessary component in living a happy life for myself. I was always fiercly independent, and I went through many stages of experimenting with my spiritual identity. My family was nominally Catholic, but my mom was very much a believer and I think she always though my atheism was just a phase. I am thankful that I was never forced to attend church, read the Bible or attend Sunday school though it was important for her that I at least go through the motions and receive the sacraments. My father, on the other hand has at various times taught science and history, and was therefore encouraged me in my interest in those fields. In retrospect, I think my dad was a non-believer...I don't think he would necessarily identify as an atheist but I think he simply just didn't really care about religion. In all, I was lucky to have grown up in the conservative Midwest with the parents I had, who allowed me to figure out on my own what to believe in. On a funny sidenote, somehow my dad was convinced to join the Knights of Columbus. He was telling us about the induction ceremony and how weird it was and my sister asked if they were like the Knights of the Round Table from Monty Python and started singing the song from the movie. My dad lost it then...so every time I think of the Knights of Columbus now, that song pops into my head.

Atheist Revolution : Idiot of the Week: Herman Cain

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 11:47:20 +0000

I saw this interview and I said "hallelujah, by his reasoning then we can ban Christian churches going up in our community!" Then I realized it was Mr. Cain. Face palm. Really, the current group of Republcan candidates are quite the sad sacks. I don't like alarmist views, but I am beginning to honestly believe they are intent on destroying this country to rebuild it as a Christian Theorocracy.

Atheist Revolution : Marcus Bachmann and the Science of Reparative Therapy

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:41:18 +0000

Mr. Bachmann should know, I believe he's brainwashed himself into being heterosexual. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADMgWXBzPwQ

Atheist Revolution : Christian Extremists Threatening the Lives of Critics

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 02:13:02 +0000

I thought the article was poorly written. Nevertheless, I wouldn't be surprised if all the events mentioned did happen. The way I feel is "bring it on." You want to threaten me...go ahead. Make me a martyr. You talk the talk but can you walk the walk? I suppose it's easy for me to say since I don't have children to worry about. But c'mon...pick on me. Please do.

Atheist Revolution : California Bigotry

Thu, 9 Jun 2011 11:43:20 +0000

The problem isn't the billboard, the problem is that atheists exist in this world. There is absolutely NOTHING offensive about this billboard (as a matter of fact, it's extremely clever advertising). There is nothing that we could ever say that would possibly not offend Mayor Rice and other conservative christians (little c on purpose).

Atheist Revolution : Legitimizing Faith

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 11:51:53 +0000

I can understand people, after a truly horrific tragedy like this, need to feel some kind of comfort. Nothing makes sense to them (why did an EF5 tornado rip through the center of my town), and I don't think people are in the right mindset to be totally logical. Which is why religion can be so dangerous...you have people who are in an emotionally weakened state, not able to really think a whole lot at the moment and someone comes in and says Jesus loves you. Desperate people need something to cling to. I feel that we should be a tad more compassionate for these victims at the moment. Yeah the Jesus stuff makes me cringe but there isn't much holding these people together as they pick through what remains of their lives. Undoubtedly, some churches are doing good and helping distribute food, clothing and providing shelter. That would have been enough to comment on...heck it would have been useful as it may have alerted victims to resources they weren't aware of. But instead we get a bland story that we've all heard before. CNN has really gone down the shitter in the last few years.

Atheist Revolution : As an Atheist, What Do I Want?

Sun, 29 May 2011 15:38:59 +0000

Sometimes if I look at the big picture I feel overwhelmed at all that needs to be done to bring about a true age of reason. So I tend to focus on the small steps forward. I've noticed, in the past few years that many people (at least ones I know) are more open about professing their atheism. I think a lot of atheists are coming out of the closet....in society in general it's still not acceptable to be atheist, but it's getting better. I think the Gen X & Y are a lot less religion than the Boomers on up and are a lot more open minded, so I'm hoping as long as we can hold on and not get beaten back that it will be a lot better for us in 25 years time. Though to be honest, I don't see a true age or reason happening in my lifetime...it's going to take several generations (and hopefully, fewer Quiverful adherents) to root out the religion strain in this country

Atheist Revolution : What Does the Arizona Shooting Say About Us?

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:19:26 +0000

What I have gathered so far, is that there are far too many violent mentally ill people in society. In the past someone like this young man would have likely been institutionalized. Mental health is chronically underfunded, and more and more people are freely roaming around when they should be closely monitored. Part of me feels that if Arizona had their database of mentally ill integrated with the federal database for gun checks, this may not have happened. To be honest, that probably wouldn't have stopped this guy and he may have stolen or borrowed a weapon. I'd like to think though, that we could at least make it more difficult for people like the Arizona shooter to carry out their horrible agenda.

Atheist Revolution : Faking It

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 12:54:20 +0000

It depends on time, place, individual etc. Most people I know aren't pushy and generally are fine letting me be an atheist and I'm fine with them believing what they want to believe. I can tell you what annoys me...is when people will say "I'll pray for you." I just find it a totally facetious statement, a false nicety if you will.

Atheist Revolution : Millions of Americans Are Good Without God

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 12:33:16 +0000

Indeed they are running scared...they don't want the cash cow to go dry! I'll have to remember where I've read this (perhaps even here) but I seem to remember seeing somewhere a lot of churches have funded expansion/repairs by borrowing money...and banking on the fact that their congregations will grow. It's no different than a business...another megachurch breaks ground across town and the established churches "business" goes elsewhere. Sure there are established customers, but people are attracted to what is shiny and new, right? The only difference with atheism is that to them, we thumb our noses at all of them! We're easy targets to rally against.

Atheist Revolution : Atheists Will Be On Right Side of History

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:24:17 +0000

Social change is usually a long, hard fought battle against the powers to be. I think maybe we became a little expectant of social change happening quickly with how fast the world changed post WWII - in particular the 1960's and 1970's. Most of the time it doesn't happen that fast...usually it runs over a few generations (women's suffarage, abolition of slaves etc). Let's face it...Europe sent over their religious nuts the New World, and we can't expect the deeply entrenched beliefs to dissapear overnight. (beliefs that also have deep ties to culture and geography). I think it's promising to see the statistics that say young people are leaving religion in large numbers, but it remains to be seen if this is a generational trend or if it is a momentary blip. However, I feel optimistic with access to technology and information that this will be an ongoing trend.

Atheist Revolution : What Do We Tell Young Atheists?

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:17:00 +0000

I third with The Nerd (alliteration not intended). I grew up in an unhealthy enviroment (not due to my atheism but a variety of other reasons). I could have dropped out like some of my fellow friends who had problems at home by using drugs, drinking to excess or falling into a series of bad relationships and other destructive behaviors. Thankfully I came from a family that did value education, and I knew from a fairly young age the only chance I would truly get in life to escape the madness was to be successful. I worked my butt off in school getting good grades, joining clubs and even found time to work a part time job to basically pay my own way as much as I could before turning 18. I still struggled but I learned how to rely on myself and to be true to myself. It's sometimes lonely and miserable but as said here before, it gets better as you get older. You aren't alone, and never let the past dictate your future. Life can be very very good if you let it.