I wanted to make this particular post to be special in some way as this one gets me my 5th star being that this will be 500 for me. I don't think it is going to qualify as special. And you know what, that is just fine by me.
Ultra, thanks bro for your comments as well as who ever else has stood beside me on these views in the past. There have been many of you that I have talked with and I have appreciated all of your support over my "family" issues. I have often used your (Ultraforge) words from your posts to help me get my point across without using copy and paste like other posters might have done.
I wanted to wait for Iza to respond to my questions but that seems unlikely. And seeing as how she got personal with me and it touched a nerve I want to go ahead and get this off my chest.
I'm not going to jump on you Iza for bringing up my personal family issues in a religious documentary forum. I wanted to at first, but when I realized why you posted that, it wouldn't be the most responsible thing for me to do. So no "how dare you!"s or "it's none of your f&$king business!" rant from me here.
First of all, define preaching. Because your post quoted me using satire about the magical flying teapot that was for nothing more than a laugh. The guy that I quoted using that satire went way above anything I've ever posted to be mean about the subject. Yet you replied to me.
Secondly, in Alabama, having guts to come out of the closet about being a
n atheist isn't always the smartest thing. And me coming out to my family and people who I care about what they think of me will be something that I do in my own time. And at that point I will not make an arguement out of it. I will answer any questions they might have but in no way will I press my beliefs on them. My wife is catholic and we have a 15 month old son together and I don't feel my unbelief is reason enough to jeopordize my marriage. She isn't very devout and really just practices the traditions of the catholic service ritual and doesn't voice strong opinions about religion in the first place. She has her belief and keeps it hers and doesn't go around putting it on others. I have no problem with this even though I disagree with her beliefs. And because we do live in Alabama and because an overwhelming majority of the people here are christians me coming out about being an atheist
might be influenced by her family and friends to leave me and I don't think that me claiming not to believe in something is a justifiable reason at this point to put myself in that situation.
For me it comes down to being able to spend time with my wife and son vs. expressing a negative. Does it require some sacrifice for me on my part? Sure it does. But this is a no contest sacrifice I will make in order to keep harmony within my family.
Thirdly, the "get off my planet" comment that I have made was actually a quote from another poster here. And it didn't refer to religious people as a whole. It referred to the religious people who not only push thier beliefs into everyone's faces but also try to or wants laws to be passed that would govern the way I live my life in order to try and make me conform to thier beliefs. This is for the extremist right wing fundamentals who do have influence in Washington or to those same people who scare the shit out of thier kids with the promise of an eternal torture chamber for not believing in their particular god. In its context, that comment was a funny way of telling these people that we are not going to stand for this type of persuasion and if they want to push that shit onto us to just leave us alone or just plain leave!
Fourthly, and might I add, my favorite part about this post. You having respect for me. LOL!
Me getting you to respect me is about one millimeter above me getting vaginal rejuvination surgery. Since you know I'm a guy, you do the math. I post what I post because I want to express my thoughts on the topic or comments made on the topic. Be they funny, serious, angry, or playful. If it influences someone or makes them laugh then great. It isn't something that is needed. I would hope that this need isn't something that is shared by most people who do post because that would probably lead to a lot of anger and sleepless nights.
And lastly, you wonder how many other atheists like me are out there. I'm sure you do. These people must scare the shit out of you. I'm sure there are quite a few people out there who are in the closet about thier non belief in any god. When 92% of the people that live in the same country as you have religious beliefs that persecute people who don't believe in the same things they do, that can lead to oppression to the non believers. So a lot of people stay anonomous or even completely in the closet for fear of this prosecution.
I know that you hold your beliefs dear to you. I also know that you know deep down that there is zero evidence for them. With this knowlege comes fear and anger. So when you are completely unable to support your beliefs with anything that is convincing to those who need evidence, you do what most christians and other religious people do. Jump straight to ad hominem attacks. You can't objectively debate these topics with critical thinking or without google so you make it personal to try to take away the attention to the frailty of your arguements. I understand Iza. It's ok with me.
The only thing you have done by attacking me is make yourself look like an ass and rallied those who I consider to be my friends to come to my defense.
Now here is the amazing part. I respect you. I respect that you do defend your position to the best of your ability and are outnumbered in doing so. However, in attacking me you lived up to the stereotype that many of us hold about evangelicals and unskilled theological debaters. You made it too easy for me to attack you personally and I will not be baited into attacking you or your family. I'll stick to attacking your beliefs and comments.
I hold no ill feelings toward you and I think you can say whatever you want, even if it is a personal attack on me. Just don't start crying when others jump on you for it.
This might have been worthy after all of 500!!!