Coffeo's Profile

Growing up, was there a common superstition?

Coffeo comments on Jan 4, 2018:

Drop a piece of cutlery — a visitor is coming.

Ever have a blah day?

Coffeo comments on Jan 4, 2018:

You're blowing it wrong.

Non-Supernatural Religions, This Community and Dawkins’(and other activists’) critique on ...

Coffeo comments on Jan 4, 2018:

The thing that surprises me most about the posts on this thread so far is the lack of any mention of faith. To me, the concept of faith, and the requirement that followers have to possess it, is far and away the most damaging thing about religion. It (deliberately) prevents followers from asking important questions. There may be religions, or belief systems, which don't impose this requirement, and with these I have no problem. Let people believe what they will, but don't require others to do the same, and don't try to stop them from asking questions.

So atheist or agnostic men don't shave, huh?

Coffeo comments on Jan 3, 2018:

I don't shave, but only because someone stole my electric shaver when I was living in America almost half a century ago. (I guess I was an atheist of sorts back then, too.)

Is anyone else on here part of the LGBT community?

Coffeo comments on Jan 3, 2018:

Straight and supportive.

How many of us here went to a religious school?

Coffeo comments on Jan 3, 2018:

I went to a Methodist school. Religion showed up in morning assembly and twice-weekly religious education classes. Otherwise it might just as well have been a secular school, for which I am grateful. They had no silly ideas about science, which was taught, well, scientifically. (I became a scientist.)

Cemeteries, creepy, or peaceful?

Coffeo comments on Jan 2, 2018:

I like old English cemeteries, neglected, peaceful and returning to nature. This one is at St Clements in Cornwall.

I am pretty new to this site, but is christian slamming a normal part of things here?

Coffeo comments on Jan 2, 2018:

I think most of us try not to attack the befuddled believers. We aim, usually, to attack those who are in it for power and money — church leaders (all religions) and politicians.

Whistle-blower Mark Edward exposes how psychics con believers | Daily Mail Online

Coffeo comments on Jan 1, 2018:

I hope so.

A math geeks distance from jesus. How far have we come in 2018 years.

Coffeo comments on Jan 1, 2018:

Yes, but Jesus, if he existed at all, was not born in the year 0.

How do you think time works?

Coffeo comments on Jan 1, 2018:

It has to be more than a figment of the imagination, since there are sound reasons to think that time flowed in the early universe, and the early stages of our planet, long before there was any creature with what might be considered an imagination. Yet it remains a thorny philosophical question. The laws of physics work equally well if you run them backwards. Most people think thermodynamics holds the key, but it's still physics: why the directionality?

Space

Coffeo comments on Jan 1, 2018:

It would be very strange if time did not exist there. And even interstellar space isn't really a void; there just isn't much stuff there.

Quick poll.

Coffeo comments on Jan 1, 2018:

I do not regard what I was told as lying, because the people saying it believed it to be true. And I was never angry.

Did you experience Religious Trauma Syndrome in leaving religion?

Coffeo comments on Jan 1, 2018:

I'm so glad my parents weren't fanatical about religion and church-going. Made it fairly easy to escape, although my mother wasn't happy about it.

What is your New Years Day meal this year?

Coffeo comments on Jan 1, 2018:

It's Jan 2 here now. New Year's Day meal was lamb curry. No special reason.

Are all views and beliefs of cultures equally valid? And is relativism toward these beneficial?

Coffeo comments on Jan 1, 2018:

I agree with other comments. That fact that millions of people do it does not make it right. And I also think you have the wrong psychiatrist for you.

You are given 5 choices of television stations with the luxury of no commercial breaks, but can only...

Coffeo comments on Jan 1, 2018:

I've seen some good history documentaries, but I'm not interested enough to watch them exclusively. SF rarely makes good TV, unless it's comedy, like _Red Dwarf_. Animal documentaries are good but again, I'd get satiated. Home and Garden not of much interest to me. Discovery channel might have a wider variety of interesting stuff.

Were Adam & Eve Neanderthals?

Coffeo comments on Jan 1, 2018:

If Adam and Eve existed, either they weren't Neanderthals or they weren't our ancestors. (_Homo sapiens_ is not directly descended from Neanderthals). Anyway, the whole idea of souls is absurd.

Look at all these Christian animals

Coffeo comments on Jan 1, 2018:

Yeah, they must. None of us in this group would ever behave morally, would we?

So what did you guys do for new years?

Coffeo comments on Dec 31, 2017:

A few days ago someone on this site asked about plans for New Year's Eve, and I replied that I would have a little drink, go to bed about eleven, get woken up by car horns and maybe fireworks, and go back to sleep. What actually happened was this: I had a little drink, went to bed about eleven, got woken up by fireworks (no car horns), and went back to sleep. As for New Year's Day, it's nice and sunny and not too hot so I'll do some work in the garden.

I just befriended my Ordained Minister Older Sister in facebook, with all the aggravation and chaos ...

Coffeo comments on Dec 31, 2017:

If she can accept you as you are, great! But you might have to accept her as she is. I hope you stay friends.

CHOPIN - Nocturne Op.

Coffeo comments on Dec 31, 2017:

Excellent choice!

Why does it seem that some people are harder to brainwash than others?

Coffeo comments on Dec 31, 2017:

I don't know the answer to your question. Maybe some brains are dirtier than others :-) I found church boring, too. But at least the Anglican church has proper music.

I cannot lie, I am a Bibliophile

Coffeo comments on Dec 31, 2017:

So if you want the truth, ask a bibliophile?

15 Scientifically Unexplainable Places That Actually Exist

Coffeo comments on Dec 31, 2017:

I only looked at some, and no, I don't have any explanations. But I take exception to that site's use of the word _unexplainable_. They are simply _unexplained_ for now. (And I don't mind betting that some of them have known explanations.)

The first half of my life was made awesome by my parents.

Coffeo comments on Dec 31, 2017:

Yes, you have been fortunate. So have I: though my parents were church-goers (in a lethargic sort of way) and I went with them, and to Sunday school, it was never a major part of our lives. My mother was disappointed when I left the church. If it bothered my father, he didn't say so. The woman I married was (is, sort of) religious and our two children went briefly to Sunday school. Our son hated it and is now an atheist. Our daughter — not too sure, but definitely no longer into organised religion. Our first grandchild (due in April) will not be exposed to religion much, as our son his wife are both atheists. I'm not sure about her parents but they don't strike me as the religious sort.

Wouldn’t the Bible be considered a book full of hear-say?

Coffeo comments on Dec 30, 2017:

In my opinion, the bible is best ignored. There may be some true things in there, but how would you identify them? My guess is there are very few, anyway.

Why Our Children Will Be Atheists - The Last 100 Years of Religion, and the Dawn of a World without ...

Coffeo comments on Dec 30, 2017:

I haven't read it, but I don't mind betting the last 100 years of religion will take a while to get started.

I’ve Never Believed Finding myself in a different space than most atheists and agnostics in ...

Coffeo comments on Dec 30, 2017:

I think your experience is interesting and unusual, in that you have never believed in god as far back as you can remember, despite being from a Christian family. Thanks for sharing!

Are you an open or closet agnostic/atheist, and why?

Coffeo comments on Dec 30, 2017:

Open, except that no one ever asks.

HOLY NUMBER 12 This is inspired by a post by @steveB. Therein he asks "Why 12?

Coffeo comments on Dec 30, 2017:

Very interesting. I knew about the musical stuff, but had no idea about its uses in computer science.

does desire to convert someone to atheistic belief sometimes undercut our abiding love for science?

Coffeo comments on Dec 30, 2017:

If someone appreciates science, I wouldn't care whether they were atheists or not. My parents were both church-goers but they had no problem with such things as evolution.

People tell me there is no such as atheism.

Coffeo comments on Dec 30, 2017:

The bible will not convince you, unless you are already convinced. It's a mass of contradictions. (Not that I've read very much of it, or have any intention of doing so.)

God is supposed to be good, kind and just and if this is so then we must live in hell! Because I ...

Coffeo comments on Dec 29, 2017:

I like your post, but it's too idealistic to be realistic. And you can't live in a world without people if you are one.

How long should a nonbeliever In a relationship with a believer wait for them to acknowledge slavery...

Coffeo comments on Dec 29, 2017:

To me, this does not look like a very promising relationship.

figured you guys might like this :) steal away :P I sure did lmao

Coffeo comments on Dec 29, 2017:

I could never have read the bible cover to cover. A few pages and I was bored stupid.

If you were given the chance, would you want to be famous?

Coffeo comments on Dec 29, 2017:

I wouldn't want to be famous, but it is possible to be famous without being horrible. The first example that springs to my mind is Paul McCartney, who is a nice bloke. Given time, I could list many more.

Is it inevitable that in order to accept scientific discovery all humans must think the same way and...

Coffeo comments on Dec 29, 2017:

There are many humans who accept scientific discovery. They do not all think the same way (hard to prove, but do ANY two humans think the same way?) So the answer (in my opinion) is no.

Precognition

Coffeo comments on Dec 29, 2017:

I think we have a lot of dreams that we do not remember. If we have a precognitive one, it is the occurring of the dreamt-of event that triggers recall of the dream. (Just my opinion.)

What do you say to your kids when a pet or family member dies?

Coffeo comments on Dec 28, 2017:

I think you did it exactly right, and I'm glad you resisted that gut inclination.

Tim Minchin's Storm the Animated Movie - YouTube

Coffeo comments on Dec 28, 2017:

So spot on!

What to do if someone credits religion for the good they do?

Coffeo comments on Dec 28, 2017:

Some people may have had their sense of morality enhanced by their religion. It's not a prerequisite though. I was brought up in a religious (but not fanatically so) family, so I can't really tell where my sense of right and wrong came from. I don't think religion was heavily involved, but it might have had some influence.

I think there is a lot of confusion with terms in this area.

Coffeo comments on Dec 28, 2017:

Are the people who take offence in this forum? I hope not. When pressed, I describe myself as an agnostic DE FACTO atheist. That is, I don't believe there's a god, but then I don't believe anything else, either. I don't think a hard atheist, that is, one who is convinced that there is no god, could also be agnostic.

He is vain, insecure, requires constant praise and is moody & vengeful.

Coffeo comments on Dec 28, 2017:

Because he's very scary and you need to be very brazen (like most of us) to speak ill of him.

How Did you Discover Agnostic.Com?

Coffeo comments on Dec 28, 2017:

It appeared in my Facebook newsfeed. Don't know why, but I'm glad it did. I probably wouldn't have thought to go looking for it.

Hello, Atheists and Agnostics.

Coffeo comments on Dec 28, 2017:

There are heaps of things wrong with capitalism. There are heaps of things wrong with communism. There are heaps of things wrong with any political system you care to name. We need to work towards fixing the system, not abandoning it.

Are you the same person you used to be? Is personality static or changing?

Coffeo comments on Dec 28, 2017:

For me, while there have been some changes over the years (how could there not be?) I don't think I'm dramatically different from the person I was many years ago.

Whats everyone doing for new years?

Coffeo comments on Dec 28, 2017:

Might have a little drink, go to bed about eleven, be woken up by car horns and maybe fireworks, go back to sleep.

Just found this,site & am curious

Coffeo comments on Dec 28, 2017:

Welcome. Stick around, browse the posts. It won't be long before you'll find stuff you want to comment on. There's a surprising variety, and not much rudeness.

I haven't been here long at all, but I feel comfortable here. Thanks, all!

Coffeo comments on Dec 27, 2017:

Yes, it's a good place, isn't it? I've been here about 2 weeks.

camping and backpacking

Coffeo comments on Dec 27, 2017:

I'm kind of past that sort of thing now, although I still like walking. I've done hikes of two days or more in New Hampshire, New Zealand, and Australia.

Why did you choose your username/avatar?

Coffeo comments on Dec 27, 2017:

The photo is of me. As for the name, I think I just felt like having a cup of coffee at the time.

So... we obviously attract "others". How best to make them feel welcome?

Coffeo comments on Dec 26, 2017:

If they're persistent, report them Otherwise, ignore them.

What do you guys think of the whole MGTOW, AWALT, red pill movement?

Coffeo comments on Dec 26, 2017:

No idea what you're talking about.

The kids just got back from grandma's house for Christmas.

Coffeo comments on Dec 26, 2017:

I think leaving the room is a little extreme. I'm trying to think what I would have done at that age. My inclination would be to just pick up a (non-religious) book or magazine and read quietly during the prayers. But I'm not sure that I actually would have. As for what to do with the books, the top of the linen closet might be a good place to forget where they are.

Any transhumanists here?

Coffeo comments on Dec 26, 2017:

Don't know. What are they?

Should I baptize my kids to appease my mom?

Coffeo comments on Dec 26, 2017:

My two kids were baptized, not as babies, but they were still quite young. I wasn't altogether happy about it, but yielded to pressure. It hasn't done them any harm. One's an atheist now. The other — well, I'm not really sure, but she's not strongly religious, anyway. Probably a 'weak theist' on the Dawkins scale.

What's your weather like right now?

Coffeo comments on Dec 26, 2017:

It's a sunny morning, 27.8 C (82 F) heading for 34 C (93 F). A little too hot, but not ridiculous.

I’ve been on this site almost a week now, and haven’t received a single unsolicited dick pic so ...

Coffeo comments on Dec 26, 2017:

It seems to me there is no way you could be both enlightened and a believer. There are probably quite a few non-enlightened non-believers, too, but the balance is in our favor.

is there any countries that are not so religious as usa ?

Coffeo comments on Dec 26, 2017:

Here in Australia we're a long way behind Norway, with about 29% professing 'No Religion'. But at least the religious people here are not much 'in your face'. In the 40 or so years I've lived here, I've only had to fend off one bloke who pestered me about whether I was 'saved' or not. So my impression is — definitely not as bad as the USA.

What is your response when people threaten you with religious punishments? (i.e. Hell/Jahannam)

Coffeo comments on Dec 26, 2017:

Hell is quite a nice little town in Norway, and I'm very fond of Jahannam on toast.

As an Atheist , that is , a person who has no religion , it's interesting how much Christian themed ...