Statement of a confirmed atheist

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...who had a more clear picture of what spiritual life was all about than many believers.

"If I firmly beleved, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of faith in Jesus Christ in this life influences destiny in another, then that faith would mean everything. I would cast away earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as follies, and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Faith would be my first waking thought and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness. I would labor in its cause alone. I would take thought for the morrow of eternity only. I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering. Earthly consequences would never stay my hand nor seal my lips. Earth, its joys and its griefs, would occupy no moments of my thoughts. I would strive to look on eternity alone and on the immortal souls around me, soon to be everlastingly happy or everlastingly miserable. I would go forth to the world and I would preach to it in season and out of season and my text would be, 'What shall it profit man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?'"

This was found by a missionary, who said, "This is the only true statement of a consistent spiritual life," and he set out to live that life. Mt 16:26

-- (bygrace@thru.faith), August 22, 2000

Answers

yessir,---this pitiful-short-life-in-a world of sin & sorrow=sucks!! and if you live-long-enough-somebodys gotta change your diapers!! and if you got bucks-somebodys got there eye on your bucks! or you might get murdred-or-crippled-or-some funky-disease-or who knows what!!SO gimme=heaven-anyday!!in the meantime i'm raising - ducks-&-fish.----but would rather be with=JESUS!!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), August 22, 2000.

Right on Bygrace and Al-D. Much easier to have faith in fairy tales than having faith in oneself, isn't it?

-- (mygrace@true.faith), August 22, 2000.

mygrace--

How about both?

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), August 22, 2000.


Well it just proves that religious nuts will go to endless lengths to aggravate the shit out of everyone that doesn't believe as they do.

Never mind this life in the here and now, with everything a person needs to have a wonderful life. Never mind your family, home or any earthly pleasure or even doing something useful like, helping another, or helping take care of our beautiful planet and creatures. That is nothing!

The only thing that matters is to view this beautiful earth as a dog pile, and then bray and preach and proselytize and aggravate and pray and bawl and beseech and beg and grovel and sling snot and speak in tongues and tear out hair and fall to your knees like a fear-crazed, maudlin idiot.

Then find some poor stupid, credulous, bastard that you can scare shit out of with the threat of the everlasting lake of molten hell fire, and then you can live happily ever after, like the fundy religious nut, control freak that you are, and look forward to your fantasy, celestial Disney trip to Heaven, where you can sit at the feet of Gawd, on your ass, playing a harp and singing hymns and feeling smug about the sinners screaming in hell. My isn't religion grand!!

The very arrogance of that statement by a lunatic at large. In fact, that post almost pissed me off.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), August 22, 2000.


Your post almost makes me want to piss you off, just to read what you would say!

;-)

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), August 22, 2000.



LOL! Good to see you posting again, Gilda. :-D

-- Jim Morris (prism@bevcomma.net), August 22, 2000.

Now that's a keeper, gilda

-- Oxy (Oxsys@aol.com), August 22, 2000.

yay-gilda--your getting close=religion-sucks--but don't blame it on god!!---satan loves=religion.-the problem is most=won't=SEEK THE TRUTH-for themselves!!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), August 22, 2000.

Gilda: Why not tell us how you REALLY feel? :-0 I understand that you have alot of 'issues' with christianity, I dont have a problem with that, and it wouldnt matter IF I did. I would like to know what happened to you that made you so bitter. I am serious. If you dont wish to say (I did kind of ask on another thread) on here, please email me.

The key word at the top was by a confirmed atheist.

The other key word was IF....

Grace, I liked it. As a matter of fact, I pretty well like all the posts you have written.

It is people like you that provoke me to think.

If its just one who is willing to give the eye space and thought, it is one you have touched, by grace for that I thank you.

Perhaps others took it wrong, I dont think it was meant in a harmful way.

xoxo,sumer

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), August 22, 2000.


I don't know, consumer. This one sort of sounds like a "faith promoting rumor" to me. No names, no dates, no locations, couples witht he fact that the statement seems to be a little unctous and overproduced, makes it seem more like sermon fodder than a true story.

Here's a URL to a website about Christian Urban Legends. I'm too lazy to hyperlink, so just cut and paste into your browser.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_cul.htm

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), August 22, 2000.



Tarzan, I dont do urban legends, me thinks me is living mine :-)

But, if you read the beginning the point by grace was trying to make was that an atheist had more clearer picture of spiritual life than a believer.

That is how I took it. Now, Tarz, really, shouldnt you be thankful for the post? :-) Having made you beliefs known, I'd think you should have appreciated it for what it was...pointing out many 'so- called' christians are clueless....(um, broke down by moi)

No harm,

xoxo,sumer

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), August 22, 2000.


hi Gilda -

I respect your right to believe whatever you want. Faith can't be forced. We all get to choose what we believe. As for "helping another" - I totally agree...The principle of Mk 1:30-31 is that we (believers) are saved to serve.

-- (bygrace@thru.faith), August 22, 2000.


Gilda,

Try Tegretol for those Grand Mal seizures.

-- (frothing@the.mouth), August 22, 2000.


I am getting really sick of some on this forum calling me bitter. In my real life no one that I know of thinks I'm bitter. I have good reason to be--but actually, I'm not--I'm Pissed! There is a difference. I'm pissed because there isn't a day goes by that religion isn't shoved on non believers from somewhere.

Take this post for instance. Most times, I go straight to recent answers as I don't spend a lot of time, all at one sitting, on the computer. The topic line said, Statement of a confirmed Atheist....now that would lead you to believe it was an interesting statement by an atheist. I like atheists, although I'm not one. I'm a Pantheist. Atheists are interesting. They don't make me sick blathering about god. They make me think. Sermons do no make me think; I've heard it all.

If that statement was by an atheist, then shoot me, because the lunatics have taken over the asylum. If that "atheist had a more clearer picture of spiritual life than a believer," then I am living in a world gone mad. I'm going to post this double speak on the Atheist forum and see what they think about it, and I'll bet you they'll howl at the idiocy of the comparison.

That was a sermon, plain and simple. And Tarz is probably right that it's a Christian Urban legend, they are rampant, and the fairy tale followers always go for that stuff. Why don't you check it out?

Grace, faith shouldn't be forced but it is. You have every right to post sermons on this forum. But it's not a religious forum, so why do you want to? You really want to proselytize, and witness and make new converts which will make you points in your heaven. Well you've made your quota today. Sumer has been touched.

I'm not trying to be hateful, I just telling it like I see it. You don't see me posting on Pantheism do you? No, and I won't. When I want to talk about Pantheism, I go on WPM (World Pantheist Movement) where there are others that feel as I do.

Also sumer, I'm amazed how many Christians are so fond of calling other Christians, "so-called Christians" which are " clueless." If these pseudo Christians have accepted Christ as their savior then they are Christians. Period.They may not do good works, nor work at making converts, nor even tithe and pray--but they've accepted Christ so they have bought their ticket.

So sumer, let me assure you that nothing happened in my childhood or later to make me bitter, except for having to put up with this religious crap constantly. Kids are victims of religious nuts and parents that won't let them make up their own minds. I'm in my sixties and I'm simply sick of it.. When I see a post that says confirmed atheist, then I think it means what it says. From now on I'll check to see if it's one of Graces sermons.

And as far as believers "are saved to serve,"--yes, they serve, and make a point of handing out sermons with the bowls of soup. Did anyone see South Park with the missionary handing out the soup, and the little African boy getting in trouble for not being humble enough or pious enough or something.

Frothing, quit using soapy enemas and you won't have to worry about the froth.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), August 22, 2000.


Gilda, I would not on my most fanatic day, bore you with the details of why I Know there is/was a God. It is an odessy, for only me to marvel. I am not willing yet, to shout, while I still stand, transfixed. It might be Gods' power, or it may be the power he/she gifted me. Oh well, it has been a long story, and I guess you had to be there/here.

-- Training Wheels (amnot@prophetyet.com), August 22, 2000.


Hey, "trainig wheels"--

Bore me, Gilda doesn't need to know. I am very interested in HOW people have come to faith or, for that matter, how they have not (Gilda, Tarzan, Hawk, Whoever)

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), August 22, 2000.


why did GOD=JESUS-save a guy like->saul of tarsus?or better yet how did i get in the family of GOD?? thats the major-mind-blower of my life!!--i think what gilda misses-is the fact that not ALL christians [name used too loose]enjoy talking about the goodness of GOD=JESUS!! SPEAKING ONLY FOR MYSELF--IF-YOU COULD UNDERSTAND where i came from then you 2 would be amazed!!but very few-have been where i've been,so no surprise-that most think i'm wierd!you gotta be & experience the depths of hell-as-i-have--too appreciate=HIS SALVATION!! i agree with gilda about enjoying the blessings HE allows to fallen- humans!!----the turn-or-burn preachers-are-all-messed-up! in fact they are serving=satan!!the=goood news is ''IT IS FINISHED'' WHEN A MAJOR-SINNER LIKE ME ,GET'S SET-FREE--you just wanna share the good news!!not preach=AT--but preach=FROM!! IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT WE CAN-DO--IT'S ABOUT-WHAT HE HAS=DONE!! so now when satan comes & accuses-me-& tells me what a big-sinner'i- am-i agree!--then i turn to JESUS and thank him-for-paying the debt i owe!!--the blood of JESUS will ALWAY'S be sufficient for ALL my sins! do i like to sin=no!--do i sin=yes!hey i won't be perfect=until i'm=resurected--in the meantime=i,m covered=by HIS-BLOOD!! no-more=condemnation---free to live in =GRACE!! *ON christ THE SOLID rock I STAND--all OTHER GROUND IS SINKING-SAND!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), August 23, 2000.

gilda -

Sure, if (and assuming it is) it's an urban legend, then it is misleading. I'll try watch what I type in the subject line from now on, as I'm not trying to waste anyones time. But please assume, whatever the topic, that it will relate to the Bible. I'm not concerned with making points in heaven, but redeeming the time here on earth....can't say much more without sounding like a "sermon," which I know you don't wanna hear... and since I addressed this to you I'll refrain.

-- (bygrace@thru.faith), August 23, 2000.


Gilda if you wanted to post about pantheism to this forum you would have every right to do so. In fact it would be much more beneficial to type something original than ripping into everyone you disagree with.

-- Butt Nugget (catsbutt@umailme.com), August 23, 2000.

gilda,

please do both. post about pantheism -- new persepectives are always welcome -- and rip away when you disagree. both will be instructive experiences for me.

-- Oxy (Oxsys@aol.com), August 23, 2000.


Lars-

I don't really have a story as such. I've never felt a need for faith, god, or religion in my life. My parents are both atheists, and my father's mother and some of her brothers and sisters are as well, but I don't ever remember the subject being brought up. It wasn't until I was in junior high and the other kids started making fun of us for not going to church that it even struck me as odd. When I asked my folks about it, they said, "Well, we don't go to church because we don't believe in god, but if you're interested in that type of stuff you can try going to church if you like," I began to examine faith and the faithful, and that interest has continued into adulthood. While I don't share their faith, I'm fascinated by the faith of others, not just how they believe but what they believe.

St. Augustine said that everyone has a god-shaped hole in their heart (or words to that effect). I don't buy it. While I've been impressed with the services I've attended and the depth of belief among believers I've encountered, I haven't shared in it. I can appreciate it as art, contemplate its social and emotional impact and even give credence to its emotional power, but I simply don't hear an answering echo in my own consciousness. I guess it's the same reason I don't really drink alcohol or smoke- I have nothing against those who do partake, but I don't particularly feel a need to partake.

My brother got religion for awhile and even thought about becoming a Christian. My parents helped send him to a Christian college for a couple of terms (how's THAt for being open minded?) but he soon dropped out. He's still nominally religious, I think of him as an agnostic with mild Christian tendencies. I think a lot of Americans are in this boat- they call themselves Christians but aren't particularly fervent or perhaps even convinced.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), August 23, 2000.


Gilda I WONT even 'pretend' to Know you, but your words RING strongly of bitterness, like it or not. Read your own post about how Grace made points with heaven. That sure sounds bitter to me.

Yeah, you can speak your mind, we All can, that is our option.

Without attacking you, I still say you ARE bitter. Perhaps nobody else will call a 'spade a spade' but baby I will.

Shame on you, you are sooooo mean at times.

Perhaps one day you will understand how you come across at times, but it is NOT pissed off, more like pissed on to me.

I feel sorry for you, like it or NOT you are bitter, deal with it.

Grace, you handled that well. Keep posting, I need faith people at times, some may not, but I do. To each his/her own, but I am not gonna sit around while another gets pummelled for nothing other than a mere topic by an embittered Spirit.

xoxo,sumer

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), August 23, 2000.


I think that Gilda has a lot of anger toward religion, and I don't necessarily think that's a positive thing. However, I don't think that Gilda is bitter or "soooooooo mean", as sumer says. I do think it's ironic that people apparently find it easier to focus on the tone Gilda took rather than the issues she raises.

"To each his/her own, but I am not gonna sit around while another gets pummelled for nothing other than a mere topic by an embittered Spirit."

Interesting words, sumer. Why aren't you condeming Al for starting a thread with apparently no other purpose but pummelling Gilda's belief system?

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), August 23, 2000.


Tarzen:

FWIW, I dont read al-d's posts, unless I HAVE to... :-)

xoxo,sumer

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), August 23, 2000.


Maybe you should have said, "I'm not going to sit around while others I agree with get pummelled..."

Just trying to work through the cognitive dissonance.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), August 23, 2000.


Tarz; Whatever's clever

xoxo,sumer

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), August 23, 2000.


Gilda doesn't sound particularly bitter to me. That's her style of "calling a spade a spade". You can't accuse her of being overly PC (hypocrite) or overly polished. I feel the same way Gilda does about Christianity in general, but I couldn't be so eloquently to the point as she is ;)

Tarzan, the reason you can't understand other's "deep faith" and fascinated by it is because you haven't been brainwashed as a kid; all this stuff hasn't been beaten into you with fear and guilt. Gilda seems to have broken the shackles of Christianity the same way I did; by first rebelling and then looking at it with fresh eyes for what it is. It's a powerful cult.

-- (mygrace@true.faith), August 23, 2000.


Here's a perfect example of xian hypocricy. I only want to hear from people I agree with everyone else is wrong and has major personal problems. Grace backhands atheists, you say tarzan and Gilda should be glad that they're getting any notice at all. Gilda slaps back at grace and you call her names and say you won't stand still for people getting pummelled. Then when Tarzan points out someone pummeling gilda, you can't even be bothered to think about it.

What a hypocrite.

-- I Smell Something Bad (smellslike@bullshit.to.me), August 23, 2000.


Whatever, I had my turn to speak, so I'm leaving it alone, see I can do that, its called 'choice', and just because I dont get involved in a pissing keep up match does not mean I havent read the posts.

I wont apologize for speaking whats on my mind to you or anyone else. Nor do I choose to 'engage', does that bother you?

In a word : Tough.

xoxo,sumer

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), August 23, 2000.


Tarzan,

Thanks for your story. It's similar to mine. Altho I was raised in a nominally Christian family, we didn't go to church much and we didn't talk spiritual issues, either pro or con. To me, it was a big nothing. As a younger adult, it just never interested me and I even became an- tagonistic to it.

But time goes on. I'm sure I've got a few years on you. Certain things happened and I felt the need for "something". The hole in the heart deal? I looked into some of the contemporary, non-Christian stuff but none of them took hold for me.

So, ultimately, there was Christianity. I have thought about it, I have tried it, altho at present I do not attend church. But I do pray. Never did much of that. I continue to have trouble with faith issues but, on balance, I am very grateful to be moving in this direction. That is why bygraces's posts (and SOME of your's Al-d) are of great interest to me. As are the testimony by other's, both pro and con.

Consumer, I know a little of your situation, and I can't imagine any better way to deal with it except thru faith. Sumer, I also appreciate that you are not a preachy, moralizing person. In fact, it sounds like you know how to have a very good time.

Tarzan, your insights may sustain you to the end. But don't be surprised if someday you find they are not enough. In my case, they were not nearly enough. Thanks again.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), August 23, 2000.


"I smell something bad"--

Were you talking to "mygrace" ? If so, I think you totally misuinderstood his/her post.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), August 23, 2000.


I'm sure I've got a few years on you.

Lars, you have MORE than a few years on just about every inhabitant of this planet. Why repeat this statement so frequently? Your senior citizen discount card up for renewal?

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), August 23, 2000.


Lars, I don't think he meant me but "bygrace@thru.faith".

I'd like to come back to the original quotes that Bygrace posted apparently coming from an atheist. As Consumer pointed out, the keyword (IMO the most important) is IF. The author starts out as "IF I firmly believed..." Obviously, as an atheist, he doesn't believe.

To me, what the author means and wants to convey is that he understands the preachings of the true believers and why they preach. They BELIEVE firmly, and can't see any other truths. Their minds are closed to anything else. I don't see anything farfetched in that a missionary would pick that up and say, "why yes, that is exactly what a consistant spiritual life is like." So here, you have the atheist saying he understands the true believers' mindset, and you have the true believer confirming that atheist indeed does understand.

To clarify my point; these quotes could be re-written with a different belief in mind. Lets turn the clock 9 months, and say that I am a Y2K pollyanna, a non-believer. A big zero on the scale (I'm the Y2K "atheist".)

"If if firmly believed, as thousands, perhaps millions say they do, that the Y2K bug will bring the world to a stop and cause havoc, then that faith would mean everything to me. I would re-prioritize and redefine my life, my purpose for living. I would cast away my goals for life enjoyment as follies, thoughts of self-fulfillment as greed and vanity. Fear of Y2K would be my first waking thought and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness. I would labor in its cause alone....I would go forth to the world and I would preach to it in season and out of season and my text would be, "Prepare! The end is near!""

This is exactly what happened with the Y2K true believers. And they set out to live that life.

-- (mygrace@true.faith), August 23, 2000.


consumer-

I'm not trying to be flippant. There's a lot of internal inconsistancy between your statement and your actions. I think you should examine that.

MyGrace-

Point. I have never been a member of a religion. There have been times when I envied believers and times when I was glad not to be in their shoes. I do feel fortunate to have free thinking parents who value independance and free thought over forcing their children into their spiritual mold.

BS-

I don't know that hypocrisy is endemic to Christianity, however, I do think that consumer may be guilty of it.

Lars-

I'm older than you may think. I've certainly dealt with some difficult issues, but haven't ever felt a compulsion to believe in the supernatural. I simply have a very full life and don't have room for it. I'm glad you are happy with your faith, but in that happiness, do not lose sight of the fact that yours is not the only path.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), August 23, 2000.


GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY- Bob Dylan

You may be an ambassador to England or France

You may like to gamble, you might like to dance

You may be the heavyweight champion of the world

You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

-------------------------

Chorus--

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed

You're gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody

--------------------

You might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the stage

You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage

You may be a business man or some high degree thief

They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief

[Chorus]

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk

You may be the head of some big TV network

You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame

You may be living in another country under another name

[Chorus]

You may be a construction worker working on a home

You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome

You might own guns and you might even own tanks

You might be somebody's landlord, you might even own banks

[Chorus]

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride

You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side

You may be workin' in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair

You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir

[Chorus]

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk

Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk

You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread

You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed

[Chorus]

You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy

You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy

You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray

You may call me anything but no matter what you say

[Chorus]

-- (church_lady@church.chat), August 23, 2000.


Bingster--

My age was relevant to my post because it took me over 50 years to even wonder if there might be a different way for me. At age 45, I thought I had it all figured out. I still don't have it all figured out, never will, The revelation is that I now realize that.

Do I mention age that often? How boring. Thanks for your concern about my Sr Citizen card. It's not up for renewal but I did lose it again. Have you seen it? Oh, never mind, there it is under my specs.

Speaking of cards, it must be devastating to still be carded.

Tarzan--

I did not mean to sound like I thought my path is the only path. I am not a preacher-man. I accept that there are many paths to the truth. To my surprise, I discovered one (I think) that works better for me.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), August 23, 2000.


" I accept that there are many paths to the truth. To my surprise, I discovered one (I think) that works better for me."

All I can say to that Lars is, Amen ;)

I'm still far from being a senior citizen, but I've figured out long ago already that I would never have it all figured out, and neither would anyone else. So it's always been a matter of trying to do what's best for society and myself from the start, on a case by case basis.

-- (mygrace@true.faith), August 23, 2000.


Sorry, Lars. It has been too long between digs for me. Just couldn't resist. ;^)

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), August 23, 2000.

Bravo Lars Bravo...

Excellently put, I could not of said it better if I had tried.

Due to my current situations, I too couldnt go it if I had to do so on my own...

xoxo,sumer

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), August 23, 2000.


consumer, I didn't know your were a psychiatrist, or a psychologist, or even a counselor; you've analyzed that I am "bitter," and you are presumptuous in the extreme. If you can't tell the difference between bitterness and disgust, then quit labeling people and take down your shingle.

Consider this. I get just as vocal at the constant badgering, and non-stop blathering that we are assaulted with every day by advertising. It's just like religion, you can't escape from it, or have any peace from it. I's one reason I seldom watch TV, and our beautiful countryside has been ruined by boxcar size billboards. The radio has little on it anymore but religion and advertising. Buy a magazine and three-fourths of it is advertising. It's even hard to buy clothes without having some damn fools name on them. Does that make me bitter? Don't be silly--it's called disgust, irritation, resentful, or pissed off. It isn't important enough to make me bitter.

I've had a few things happen during my lifetime that might have made me bitter; but they haven't, because they are just part of this thing called life. Everybody has bad times. And I don't long and pray and whine for another perfect life in the sky called heaven. And I don't buy pills and potions and booze and new clothes and shop 'till I drop because some idiot Madison Avenue ad man (preacher) said it would make me happy and restore my peace.

Tragedies are just the luck of the draw. My personal tragedies have nothing to do with either religion or anything that happened in my childhood. So quit trying to analyze me, when you know little about me, and you don't know what you're talking about.

You may ask why I never go on a rant about advertising. Well I do, but not on here, because there's nobody like grace or al=d constantly preaching or advertising (it's the same thing) junk that has made their life wonderful, and will make my life some kind of earthly nirvana, like the sermonizers celestial paradise.

Everyone has a right to believe in anything they want--whether it's Hillfiger or heaven. But when you post, or talk about little else, then you have become nothing more than just another advertiser looking for suckers.

To me, most religion is "...a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing." (from Shakespeare's Macbeth)

Oxy pantheism predates Christianity by several centuries and was driven underground for over a thousand years by Christianity and Islam. Pantheism is basically a belief that all/everything is god. That the universe is God, and God is the universe But it doesn't require a big daddy in the sky, and this world is enough for those who welcome adventure and reality. The World Pantheist Movement is on the net. Oxy, thanks for your understanding, and thanks to all of you who knew where my rant was coming from, and knew that it was not coming from bitterness. But I must warn you, I go ballistic when I get on politicians and corporations. Granny D--move over!

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), August 24, 2000.


Gilda-

A woman in our office gave her husband a "TV Brick" for their anniversary. It's a soft foam brick that makes a sound like broken glass when struck. She says he yells at the TV so much she thought she'd give him another avenue to vent his aggressions.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), August 24, 2000.


Just because, you don't believe in him ,it doesn't matter, he believes in you and always well! Please call on him when you need him and he well be there. No questions asked! He loves you!

-- ET (bneville@zebra.net), August 24, 2000.

Just because he doesn't exist doesn't mean you can't believe in him! It doesn't matter, because thinking about imaginary deities will always make you feel better, even if they don't actually exist! Please call on the imaginary god whenever you need to, and you can think ha ppy thoughts to make yourself believe he's there, and after a while you will have convinced yourself! No questions asked! Imaginary gods love you!

-- Whatta Loada Crappa (bs@god.com), August 28, 2000.

To those, who, spike into this forum, every now and then. May my words of comfort, seek balm, upon your soul.

-- TO WHOLE LIKE CRAPPA (beenther@crappa.com), August 28, 2000.

All of you:

Stop your fighting, and do a Web search on the word: apologetics.

Bless you.

-- God bless (God bless@God.bless), August 28, 2000.


To Whole Like . . .

Sorry you got fooled into believing in a fairy tale. May my words of reality slap you back to your senses.

To Dog Bless . . .

Apologetics? Okay. I'm really sorry you believe in an imaginary deity. How's that?

-- Whatta Loada Crappa (bs@god.com), August 29, 2000.


Whatta Loada Crappa, LOL!

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), September 02, 2000.

"I simply have a very full life and don't have room for it."

How can anyone who hangs out here have a "very full life"?

-- Mr. X (-@well.how.can.they?), September 02, 2000.


Mr. X, you're not an elitist are you? What's wrong with hanging out here???? It's just like the neighborhood bar where everybody knows your name. That doesn't mean people don't have a full lives. Perhaps what I consider my "full life" would bore the shit out of you--but then your "full life" might make me glassy eyed with disinterest. To each his own.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), September 05, 2000.

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