Is he just not into me?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 7, 2018:

Maybe he isn't sure what he wants and is just afraid to speak his mind on that issue. If this is the case then you have not lost anything. Don't take it personally. The problem with most of us is that we take too many things personally.

Widowed? Any experience?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

I'm sorry for your loss. At one point in my life I was a widower. The bottom line is that this grief and experience is different with every individual. Therefore, take as much time as you have to in order to cope and adjust. Some people also do not understand that it is sometimes necessary to talk about the deceased person even if it seems extreme to others. I once knew a lady who lost her husband and she was in therapy over his passing. She told me the therapist once said she should shake her fist at him in spite and declare "if you had taken better care of yourself you might still be alive today." I told her that didn't set right with me. She said it didn't set right with her either and that was her last visit. "Good for you," I said. The therapist wanted her to get better but you cannot do this by berating the departed.

Fear of Hell

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

I'm a relatively new atheist, but I must have been thinking about all this in the back of my mind for some time. I can honestly say I have no fear of hell. If I do have any fear of hell it seems to be on the same level as a fear of being bitten by the Easter Bunny.

Duck Dynasty Dad: The Bible is Enough to “Stop Human Beings from Murdering” – Friendly Atheist

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

Duck Dynasty is another Reality TV show. Before the family came up with a top selling duck call they looked like normal people. Reality TV came along and re-made them into Daniel Boone types and they became famous. Some of them from time to time have taken to talking about god and the bible. Big mistake.

I hear various people talk about the concept of unconditional love.

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

God does not love you unconditionally. If he did he would not send you to hell. Avoid the sermon here where the believer says you send yourself to hell. Pah leese! Actually I do not believe in unconditional love. I find love to be more like a commitment. More like a decision. Passion and lust fade away but true love is commited love. Even so, it has conditions.

Do you own any exercise equipment or props?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

Currently I workout 3 days a week but mostly it's limited to upper body and some waist twisting movements. I used to workout as a bodybuilder years ago but things have changed and I have also. I got away from weights and went with an early model Bowflex. I invent my own movements with this and also use a Total Gym as a rowing machine, again inventing my movements. Much needed are more for my waist and legs. I get lazy. These days I'm an old man who is a 250 lb. gorilla.

Is the Dunning Kruger effect real?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

Maybe it should be called the Archie Bunker effect. I have a former mother-in-law who really liked that show and said that Archie was funny but he was also exactly correct.

Preferences in dating

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

You have the freedom to date anybody of any persuasion or any race. It's your choice. In my area we have what I call "racists unawares." I don't mean people who would not date another race simply as a preference. I mean religiously ingrained white supremacists. Most know what they like but they are not sure why. Also, my area was thick with the KKK in the 60's and 70's. I hear they are still around but the old ones have now died off. We actually have a few blacks and latinos now. A Chinaman even had a recyle place around here unttil 2016.

Are you a gamer?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

No, not at all. When my ex and I were first married she couldn't find the games on my PC. I told her that was because I never used them. She had to unpack that to use them for a first time.

So.

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

Big waste of time for nothing. I have a friend who wants me to check all his unknown phone calls. He puts this on me coz he knows I can do it. He also thinks all of his unknown calls have something to do witha girl he is fascinated with. Some things are just ignorant. We all get unknown phone calls.

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

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

You might as well threaten me with the Easter Bunny.

Conservative Christians Kill Bill Banning Child Marriage In Kentucky

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

Of course. They all envy Roy Moore.

I will try my best to keep this brief but I must vent.

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

A dread of "what might happen after death." It comes form childhood indoctrination and repeated reinforcing during your active religious years. How would anyone know what happens after death? They simply make it up. If you die there is no way to know anything else. There is no electric power at the light bulb once the switch is turned off. Fear of death is the greatest motivator for religions. You must get over this in order to get on with a healthy life. This takes some people a longer time than others. I do not remember what was before I was born. I'm also not likely to "know" anything after death. Once this is fully understood you can go on about living your life without fear. Good luck.

Population Control

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

With the anger and other mixed feelings Trump is causing to surface we will not have to worry about population control for too long. Do more children make a country more powerful? Usually if they live to grow up in a good economy. Ah, the blending of ethnicities. That's a good one. Some ignorant preachers still claim that god wanted the races to remain separate. Their god was too stupid to imagine ships and airplanes. People are people. If you drift towards racism or white supremacy others can spot it quickly. I have brushed shoulders with all of them in my time, and I have also been interracially married. I'm not a "show dog" and white is not a race. It's a color. I've never known any person that was "white."

Who is good enough ( my Sunday morning rant)

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

I have been with older and younger women. One woman was 18 years my senior. Some not that much older. Currently I tend to be attracted to women half my age. This isn't carved in stone. My ex is 37 and I have an "online girlfriend" who is 54 but looks 28. Am I going to be living with my significant other in the future sometime? Who knows? It's hard to say.

What do you consider a "long term" relationship?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

In my lifetime so far long term seems to be about 12 years. I have never been with anyone longer than that. Once it ended by death after 12 years, and this last time was by divorce after 12 years. I have had other relationships that were less time.

Who farts first?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

In most of my relationships the farter runs off to the bathroom and nobody know the difference or if anything happened at all. To believe it otherwise you would have to assume that nobody farts.

Are snakes with apples always up to no good?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 6, 2018:

Evangelicals get upset when you call the snake a snake. Since it had legs (later to be lost) they call it a "serpent." (Some people even call a snake a serpent.)Then they get into this rant about how a serpent is NOT a snake and they go on talking about this as though it was an actual event. Well, it has to be an actual event because if it was not there would be no reason for salvation from anything at all and no reason for Jesus. No reason for this Jesus to be killed except that all this nonsense when put together explains it in a dramatic way. Blood, guts, and remission. Set this aside and you have a man with an earthly genealogy whom a few thought might be the long prophesied leader and earthly Messiah. Sorry. If that was so, then you killed him.

Are you fulfilled?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 4, 2018:

I feel exactly the same way this poster does. Even so, I know we cannot have everything. An ideal situation for me would be that time machines are real and I had tons of money, therefore being able to go anywhere and do what I want. What I am only vaguely aware of are the many things that seem to work for me every week. It's like I think of something and suddenly it is happening. Not that I have a magical power in any way, but maybe I'm learning how to think. I'm secretly learning what is important to me, and if you keep this in the back of your mind enough it might be seen soon as a reality. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to apply to money.

I went antiquing today! Yay!

DenoPenno comments on Mar 4, 2018:

Cool. I don't care much for antiques but I do resale shops and yard sales often. The strange thing is that when I need an item and have a certain thing in mind, I normally find it soon afterwards. There are many within 30 miles of where I live and if you have a date for this you can also go out to lunch afterwards. I prefer buffet style. Come see me, ladies, and we will do this and then go eat.

Is anyone doing anything cool for St. Patrick's Day?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 4, 2018:

Nothing cool here that day. I don't even care if I have green beer or not.

Co Dependancy?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 4, 2018:

You are asking some very hard questions. I love my ex to death but have not seen her in over a year. We text sometimes briefly because we decided to remain friends. Her appetite for nice things can cause money problems. She is half my age and I sent her back to Kenya 3 times during our 12 years together. The last time was just over a year ago with some of the settlement money she got when I did the divorce. She is a nice person but we all have to understand that we do not think alike. We go in different directions. I have to ask myself what I would do if we were still together and she maxed out her cards again, (she's working on it) and what would I do if some of her family in Kenya died? I bit off more than I could chew. I simply cannot afford her and I miss the long term relationship, but our parting is for the best. I miss her, yes, but I have better peace of mind today. If we got back together it would be this same old thing again and that is what I wanted to avoid in the first place. Not that we were a mistake. It's just that we did not work out as a team. I hope that some of my personal feelings here help you and that maybe you see more on your own.

When traveling what are your thoughts on visiting religious sites?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 4, 2018:

At least the sites are historical. In Germany they have dead saints embalmed inside some of the old churches. I saw this while stationed in Nurnberg. I'm sure other sites worldwide are of similar interest. As for it being "religious bullcrap" this would fit anything to do with god belief. Seeing something that you may never see again would be my point in visitng them at all.

Blessed to share God’s creation.

DenoPenno comments on Mar 4, 2018:

Isn't it a wonderful world that Casper has made? May his sheet never rot further and the holes in it heal up. Right now Casper is the Holy Ghost. Avoid those who say similar things during your hike and enjoy yourself.

Do you believe in karma? reincarnation??

DenoPenno comments on Mar 4, 2018:

Karma in its most simple form is "doing." That's all it means is doing. The saying of "what goes around comes around" is not demonstrable but is a part of cosmic momentum if given enough time. What happens to karma that you create? Does it tie in with the physical body and will it help you come back after death? Apply the same questions to a sculpture or painting that you did. Reincarnation is an unvalid belief that has about as much evidence as a god belief. God belief is supernatural by explanation. Where is the logic? Where is the evidence? To believe in reincarnation is about as good as believing in Slenderman. These beliefs continue because no one can face their own non existence.

When I listen to Wish You Were Here, by Pink Floyd, I catch myself getting lost in thought to the ...

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

If you like and listen to music all songs are this way. The truth is, songs mean different things to different people. That is what attracts us to them. Try finding a songwriter sometime as he explains what he meant when he wrote the song. Most of us would be amazed.

"Free at last.

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

That alone is a very good freedom to have. It took me a very long time personally.

Why is it so important to break someone else's faith?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

I do not have to break your faith. I was once a person of faith but have come to see the fallacy in that. People of faith are taught by their religion to make converts. This means they nag me to death constantly in ways of bringing up their god again. Maybe I am just "angry at him" they say. Yes, it is true. I'm as angry at god as I am at the Easter Bunny. The believer has a different logic than you do. To them their bible is logical. The very idea is a big laugh. They think we take "logic lessons" or courses. It's pretty simple to me actually. They have no problems with the resurrection as a thing that god allowed ONCE. Why can I not believe this also? There is no evidence and it isn't logical. By the time we get to questions like what would I accept as evidence it is so plain they had their minds made up in advance. A resurrection that god allowed ONCE. Look around you and read other scriptures. The world is full of accounts of ressurection. It's all myth.

What does it mean when someone says 'I don't want a commitment'?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

What it means is I want to screw you NSA and we can be friends, but when this cools off I want to move along and we will both go our separate ways. In other words, I wanna milk the cow without actually buying the cow. Gimme free milk and it's all OK as long as we think the same. Women either want the same thing at this point, or they go with it coz they all think deep inside "I can change him." Changing him usually does not work.

Flat earthers, truthers, birthers, holocaust deniers, moon landing deniers?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

Most of this is insanity of one form or another. Strange things on You Tube. Some true and some not. Some doctored and some not. Here's one that gets me. UFO's are real and here is the picture to prove it. This grainy, unclear, "it might be" photo. Sorry folks. We live in a digital age and this means you should have clear and concise pictures. Stop showing me this nonsense.

My spirit animal is probably something that runs into screen doors.

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

If a spirit animal was possible mine is likely a gorilla. Maybe not a gorilla of today but some form of gorilla type in the past.

Whould you date a woman UFC fighter?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

It would not bother me except for the knocks and bruises she might have all over her after she fights. As for women beating you up if that is your fear of a female UFC fighter, I knew a young woman named Sally that could always beat my ass. A great amount of my time in life has went to weight training and working out. I have very large arms and weigh over 250 lbs. I was once very good at arm wrestling. It still didn't matter. Sally was a buzz saw and she could beat my ass. Hmmm. Maybe I should have married Sally.

When looking for a significant other, there are lots of easy to detect deal-breakers like smoking, ...

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

I avoid extreme jealousy of any kind. People who want to make things up as being "true" when a logical timeframe makes the supposed issue absurd. Is this sort of argument gaslighting? I'm not sure. Years ago a GF came over and after our greeting she was upset that I continued to watch the news. It was on when she came through the door. Im not god's gift. Neither are you. It goes without saying that I'm not fond of smoking. I don't smoke in my house. If you do then we are both smoking, so you have to smoke outside.

Man shot himself outside White House, Secret Service says - CNNPolitics

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

Well, that was close anyway. If they keep on trying sooner or later they might get inside. It doesn't matter. Trump will still be golfing.

One liners and pickup lines?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

Mine are not working. "You know I'm pretty good at muff diving." That just doesn't seem to attract them much these days. Maybe I need to update my language.

What would you define as critical human rights?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

We have very few "rights" and they are always changing. Usually this is for the better as time goes forward, but not always so. We should have a right to a decent POTUS also, but that man has no idea what the word "decent" even means. Oops! I got sidetraked.

Fear, is it a motivator in your life?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

I am starting to develope a fear of Orangatans and men with orange hair. This is very strange to me because I am an animal lover.

Do you complain a lot? Has anyone ever told you that you complain too much?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

Actually, I do. I complain about those who complain a lot. I hate drama but I talk about all those who have too much drama. I suppose all of this is my drama.

I'm an atheist but I still say bless you after someone sneezes.

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

I think we should also say "bless you" if someone farts. It's only fair.

Unexplained Religious Experiences

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

I'm also ex-Pentecostal. My explanation for it all is simple. Back when you believed it this was real to you. Now that you no longer believe it is not real to you. This does not make the experience go away. What it does raise is the question of how can "ho si con didli eyi" in any way be a language of any type that is used for edifying or spreading a gospel? It simply cannot be. It is make believe put upon you by your religion. While in the religion you were lost. Only now you are found. Of course, you are found by yourself and not found by a make believe god. All gods are imaginary. Anything coming out of holy books is imaginary. Be happy and enjoy your life.

Fun fact for the day ! The Guillotine was still in use in France, when the first Star Wars film was ...

DenoPenno comments on Mar 3, 2018:

If that is true it can possibly be said that worldwide the guillotine has never completely dissapepared from use. I'm saying this simply because Evangelicals point to the book of revelation and claim "in the end times they will bring back use of the guillotine."

Suggestions accepted

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

I can agree with your every word. Along came tRump and all the rules went out the window. The man was no good at Reality TV. Now the White House and all of America is Reality TV. The entire world must be laughing at us. I'm ashamed and embarrassed. Racists and white supremacists have come out of the woodwork after 8 years of Obama, and all because they seem to be allowed by this Orange Clown. I'm stressed, bothered, and seriously worried. It's like suddenly I wake up in a world that has went insane and it threatens to take me with it. Help! The current battle is for each party to convince you that they are actually the other party. While this is being done the NRA and gun manufacturers want to redefine the 2nd Amendment. The second thing going on here is to finally give America the Jesus that it always wanted. Why not? Everybody else already has theirs. The powers that be are trying to do these 2 things while they steal us blind. Even Trump says "everybody will be happy." Well, NOT ME! None of this is "my salvation." I'm an activist but starting to believe that the best advice I can give is to turn off the news, don't watch TV, and don't give a damn about nothing. On an individual level that move may save our health. We need it coz they are also trying to take our healthcare.

What is everyone’s guilty TV binge pleasure?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

I've never got into that one but have watched all of Lost." I follow "The Flash", "Supergirl," "The Walking Dead." Anything about forensics, and most of what's on ID Discovery. Most series that are top rated if I can get them. BTW, don't call any of this a "guilty pleasure." I have no guilt. I came up with TV when it was in its infancy and TV, movies, and music have always been a big thing in my life. I once had a GF that was OK until I turned on the TV at which point she would declare "if you don't have anything to do you could" - and she would suggest something. Don't tell me that. I do not own a "Nothing To Do Machine." Instead I have a television.

Something that happened the other day as I am leaving the grocery store I have to share.

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

I have a good sense of both smell and hearing. Some people in checkout lines have bad smells and you know by being there that they do not bathe properly or often. Disgusting.

Nightmare

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

The fear of being hunted is out of evolusionary remnants from many years ago. The fact that we did react to it is why we are alive today. This is your "survival instinct" at work and you see it in a dream.

Different path?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

I agree. I would have chosen a different profession. As it is, I have learned that the entire world is crazy, then I look back in time and can see how incerdibly stupid I have been. It's mind boggling. Is there a "do over?" Is this idea secretly why theists believe?

Is true love hapens in a distance relationship?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

If you are falling "in love" beware that you are not falling in love with words upon a screen. The trend today is to text and this is only words upon a screen. I can't do that. You can be so easily fooled. I have to hear a voice.

Twice now on this site I have encountered a post that was posed as a question, but it became ...

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

I often get carried away in answering something and I give examples out of my own experiences in my answers. It makes me an open book to almost everyone. Either block the bad ones or contact an admin.

What are some double standards that bother you?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

I try to avoid people with double standards. It's hard to do. I work with white supremacists (not everyone) and just found out yesterday that a man I know favors the KKK. I know all these people but have to watch my tongue So many think that because I am white I should "be proud that I am white." What does that mean? Racial prejudice. I have none, but I am an activist. I was married 12 years to a woman from Kenya.

What would it take to get rid of the electoral college?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

One person, one vote, no exception. This would eliminate the "Crosscheck" voting machine used by the GOP this last time to make sure that Smith and Jones in Georgia did not also vote in Wisconsin. The idea was absurd but used only on Dem votes. The results were accepted by the electoral college.Look for more nonsense with this in the future. It's illegal. One person, one vote, no exception is the only way.

Death without God

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

I try not to respond to them. I do not elaborate on what they have said to me. Some at a cemetary know the body is lowered into the ground and immediately tell you the dead person is in heaven now. If wind rustles the trees the wind is immediately that same dead person. Then we have that awful line "they are in a better place now." WTF? I'm living in an insane world.

Are you more calculating or spontaneous?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

I am borrowing here, but I calculate spontaneously. My stepdad says it is my biggest downfall. However you look at it I'm a good cop although not employed in that field. I'm currently into a local rape in my area that all happened because of drug activity and the cops cannot tell you that much already because they are still investigating it. I also did a secret investigation into my own grandson's murder. Many things were hidden there perhaps because he was a drug dealer. In turn he was betrayed by friends. Law enforcement never did anything about it and helped perpetuate a lie to shut it all down. Why? The killer was their own man playing both sides as a narc. To this day (2 years later) the killer walks free and claims he did not want to kill him. The big question is "then why did he?" The best answer is drugs and confusion. Regardless of early theistic training I can claim that my inner calculating mind brought me to logic in such a way that I "woke up" and stopped following Christianity. Are there any claims of deity that are valid in this world? Not that I have found. Did anyone fly to heaven on a winged horse? Do cats fly?

Has anyone read the, "Left Behind" books?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

The whole idea of "left behind" is absurd to me. Evangelical churches came up with this and I am ex-Pentecostal. Well, there you are. Out of a little bit of nothing they invent an entire happening that "comes from the bible" and is based on very little scripture. In fact, there is great confusion here on whether you are "being raptured" (a dubious doctrine indeed) or being spirited off to a great war that might have happened for real in 70 AD. It's also interesting to note that a lot of scripture writing happened about that same time also. People were trying to have meaning in their lives and understand just what was happening. Today we have given this a "futuristic" approach and imagined that god would "remove the poor Christians from upcoming suffering" before the end of the world. It's something that god never did before but people like the idea because they are now "special" and besides, nobody likes to be "left behind." It also sells lots of different books on the absurd subject.

Nicknames: Do you have one? What is it? Who gave it to you and why?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

I'm using one right now. It's African shing out of Kenya.

How often do you like it?

DenoPenno comments on Mar 1, 2018:

Twice a week or so is great. I have nothing to prove or no reason to lie.

Are you in favour of a revolution?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 27, 2018:

he only thing wrong with our current system is that the Kock brothers (and others) buy our politicians and stack the deck against democracy. If we could eliminate this big money factor we could get rid of the greed that controls Congress. I'm not for outright revolution, but one way of doing this would be Democratic Socialism. All you need do is look at the countries in which this is working. Greed is doing our current system in.

Do you think the religious really believe?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 27, 2018:

I think you are correct. I found in Pentecostalism people who had to be a center of attention. The religion gave them this as they spoke on tongues and rolled on the floor. Did they really believe what they were taught? Probably not. They had theater and drama. They were taught a way of life. Every now and then they could "sin" and act up. Why not? They could always ask for forgiveness and be a center of attention again. Then if that denomination does not believe something that you do, you can always go on to the next one.

I always had doubts about the story of Lot.

DenoPenno comments on Feb 27, 2018:

Maybe, but this is all sort of like wondering why pixies are playing in your shoes and wanting to know what they might do next.

Im drunk and I lost my job Friday. Good thing I have 3 interviews this week.

DenoPenno comments on Feb 27, 2018:

Good luck, rebel. I was once like you and always said "I was looking for a job before I found this one" After a time you do realize that a good job is harder to find with age, and therefore also worth keeping. In other words, sometimes we do have to put up with the normal amount of crap.

I'm struggling and looking for advice.

DenoPenno comments on Feb 27, 2018:

I do sympathize. I'm divorced and 71, living alone and doing much like I did in younger life. I have a very cheap mortgage and do not want to move. (Maybe if the woman was super rich.lol) Friends tell me you have to take chances, etc, and to me it does not mean giving up what little I have to take that chance. If you took a chance and lost all you had it is doubtful you would ever get that back. What would you do then? My ex wanted more than we had and she now has a mortgage 3 times that of mine. She's also half my age and broke. She just can't figure out where my money comes from. Most of us have limited money and the secret of mine is in this writing. I might invite another woman into my life but I will not give up what little I have because of ignorance. Call me stubborn or whatever you like. I like to be in control of my life and not "gamble" it away in some chance of betterment. You make your own luck in life.

This week I tried to motivate a coworker.

DenoPenno comments on Feb 26, 2018:

Most radical right religions would be in a panic without a minute of their Jesus. They do not know how you live without him. Just as many would be in for a TV show re-make now called "Johnny Socco and his Giant Flying Jesus." That ought to keep the kiddies happy.

Why is Ivanka allowed to represent the US in anything?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 26, 2018:

I know a good hair stylist in St. Louis who is pretty good and I think she would be the perfect person to have talks with Kim Jung Un. I'm also sure he would want to listen to her. Let's bring her into the picture. It couldn't hurt.

What do you fear most about death?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 26, 2018:

I do not fear death. I fear all the unfinished business that death causes and the possibility of pain involved in death.

How do you tell religious people that you're an atheist?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 26, 2018:

Every time I have to deal with this they assume I'm an old man who just never knew anything about the "good news." Sometimes even telling them that you were once a preacher doesn't even work. They assume there is something "new" that I must have missed. Many coming to my door with their message even want to tell me of sunsets and trees, etc. God works in hysterical ways!

Need help defending my lack of faith in Christianity

DenoPenno comments on Feb 26, 2018:

Most people do not know what I'm talking about but I will try to define it. I have knowledge of only 2 types of reality. 1. Objective reality 2. Subjective reality The simple explanation is that we have tangible proof of objective reality while subjective reality deals more with "what if" and "let's suppose." Religion is all subjective. It has no choice to be anything else but subjective. This is because it has no proof and is faith based. Faith means nothing and proves nothing. If you have "faith" it simply means that you believe. Your mind is made up without evidence. The lines of objective and subjective reality may cross at times in order to make advances in science or discovery, but this does not apply to the bible. The bible is static and will never be any more than what it is right now. You may prove by the bible that there was a Jericho and also see this in history, but you can never prove that the walls came tumbling down. Believers continue to think that you can. Why? It's because the bible said so. This is not a fact or proof of anything. When objective and subjective reality cross there has to be something present called "logic." This means rather than take it as fact that "Elijah was caught up into heaven" you have to ask yourself would this be a likely event? Probably not. Believers for the most part think that their religion is the right one. It is very important for them to do this. Christianity seems more right to them than Islam, etc. Is it logical? Not really. With all the religious claims in the world it is more logical to say that they are all wrong. There is no one true religion. Just the fantasies of minds. Most often the religion that you belong to is the one you were raised up in. Sometimes it is a decision the person has made later due to faulty logic.

This talking cougar will have you laughing!!!

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

The cat seems a bit uncertain as to what is going on, yet it seems to want attention.

When someone invites you to a wedding, how do you feel?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

I've went to a few but as a rule I do not like them. I have stopped going to many events at all and I'm an extreme introvert. That is strange when you consider that I work with the public Monday thru Friday.

I'm a college professor and for the past 10 years, I've noticed and my colleagues have as well, that...

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

My college is limited but I've seen what you are talking about and I share your concern. For one thing today, every spare minute is spent texting. Even the ones who tell you not to do it are texting. Everybody is looking down and smiling at their phone. Schools and colleges, the workplace, and even the military go through this. If this is how kids learn anything I'm sure a lot is left out. The only hope we have as a nation is that all the rest of the world could be doing it also. America is going through a great "dumbing down" that needs to stop.

The atheist commandments.

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

As an atheist I'm not sure if there are any "Commandments." All I know is that atheists do not believe in gods. In my quest for evidence I also through in on a personal note that I have no belief in anything supernatural.

Alternate religions or life philosophies?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

I have not studied other religions except for the brief amount your religion of choice has to say. I have no religion today because the concept of gods is something you get from certain holy books. In the end they have to be the same. They give no evidence of gods. This is because they were written by men. If a god existed and had plans or a message for us it would be plain for everyone to see. That doesn't appear to be the case. I cannot believe a being made us for his pleasure and wanted to be worshipped, laid down some rules for us, then said if we follow him we can go to a place called "heaven." Of course, if we want nothing to do with this god we end up going to hell. Many argue with me that their bible does not say that. They believe, they cherry pick, and they have no idea what it says. Most do not even read it. I've studied and read it cover to cover. Do I need to study Buddhism or Islam? What would be the point? I need objective evidence. There is no proof. What believers have is subjective evidence. This means it can be anything you say it is and anything you want it to be. Subjective religious arguments go on like forever. In the end it is all the same. There is no evidence.

Atheism

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

I thought it made all the sense in the world. I mean, why would our parents and grandparents lie? I was a teen who studied for the Pentecostal ministry and everyone called me "preacher." Later on I got away from it, started drinking, and lived with tons of guilt for most of my life. Then one day on You Tube I watched a Jerry DeWitt video. OMG, I said. This is me! It didn't take me long to see there is no evidence of gods.(Notice I use gods as in more than one.) I've only been atheist for maybe 6 years but I have no guilt, I'm not afraid of hellfire, and I feel more free than I've ever been in my lifetime. Some tell me that at 71 I'd best be thinking about god. What god is that? Do you have evidence? Moist likely all you have is someone's holy book.

How do you respond?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

I either say "thanks" or I do nothing. The old superstition that this goes back to says you are so close to death when you sneeze. I suppose they mean that short time you are not breathing just before you sneeze. (Who Knows?) The "bless you" and "god bless you" comes about because you did not die. God did not take your breath away so you are blessed with continued life. As to when people started this nonsense I am not sure.

HATER: How do y'all like being called that?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

"Which god" is a valid question. I'm not fond of "body art" or "beauty marks." (Whatever happened to plain old tattoos?) I once made it plain that in my mind moles on the face are not beauty marks and I was instantly called a "hater." Of course, I feel the same way about facial jewelry. I know people who look like Porky Pig literally. They can think it's cool, but it shows me they were trying to root under the fence and escape. Maybe they took cartoons too seriously. IDK?

I can't believe I only just found this out now, but New Zealand's famous blind bi sexual goose has ...

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

I recall when Andy Williams was a popular singer. He had a song that "remembered when we were all happy and gay."

I have lived in the south for most of my adult life.

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

Try telling people like this that there would be no gods without people. Let him think on it.

God was looking out for me this morning.

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

Maybe it was because you were not holding your mouth right. Put your tongue in your cleft. That might help.

Asking for prayers....?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

I wonder those same things, friend. Likes and prayers do nothing. That's right. Nothing. My religious friend has a transplanted liver. He tells me that even his doctor says "it was god" who saved him. WTF? The doctor didn't go to school or admits he is a bad doctor. I never believe all those religious folks or politicians who are "praying for you." How do we know they are? The religious put all the prayer requests in a big mail bag pile and forget them saying "we are praying over them." How convenient. Then we have all these children with cancer. What is god doing for them? Absolutely nothing. Oh, well. God is "faithful." Maybe it was something the parents did. If so, then this wonderful god works just like the Mafia.

Do you think my position is too extreme? (Warning: graphic descriptions inside)

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

I totally agree. Over the centuries Christians have been poisoned by their own belief. Burning the Jews in ovens was OK because many see the Jews as "rejecting Christianity." Maybe they have forgotten where it came from, but just as many again today think that America is the modern day Israel and it's people are the new "Jews." This is some religious nonsense they think was passed on to them through "British Israelism." Martin Luther himself hated the Jews "because the Jews killed Jesus" who was also a Jew, so go figure? You are not too extreme. This is about par for the course in Christianity. Then you have others like my friend who says I do not understand "because those people were not true Christians." I think there is over 4000 examples of what a true Christian might be and the numbers grow each time we see a new denomination.

Honesty.

DenoPenno comments on Feb 24, 2018:

I feel that not speaking out is the same as lying. Sometimes I have to hold back to keep and continue with my job, but I try to be honest about politics. I pray for Donald Trump every day. I pray that he will get ebola.

Do you think hating someone is unnecessary?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 23, 2018:

It depends on the hate. Many tell me that I now have to "hate" my ex-wife. People change and directions change. The truth here is that these people are simply racist. Lets take that on into someone saying they "forgive" the killer of their spouse or their children. This is insanity and something they thing a religion taught them. I could never forgive a killer of my family. Not now or ever. I don't really think those that claim they do are honest with you. I think they say it coz "they want to go to heaven." Hate is a strong word and a prime mover for many of us to get things done. It may be unnecessary to hate in dire circumstance but it is a valid emotion.

Beliefs

DenoPenno comments on Feb 23, 2018:

Everyone has beliefs. All beliefs are not factual in any way. My remaining religious friends all seem to have 2 standard beliefs in which they take world events today and superimpose them into what they think their bible has taught them. I've had a lifetime of this and as I look back it has not been proven right in any way so far. It also is always changing. You cannot tell the believer that coz they won't listen. The next group when you assume there are only 3 of them is the ex-religious group. They believe the above nonsense and also many other things that are absolutely impossible. To some Jesus may even be Aquaman's friend. The last of these is the "all of the above and more" group where some never did have a religion but assume aliens, outer space, and distorted mind boggling nonsense is really the explanation of everything, including how we all got here. It's OK to say that you do not know something. People, please. Stop making everything up.

What has been the dumbest religious comment/response/statement you have ever heard personally?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 22, 2018:

Check your calendar? She is also a very ignorant person. Her belief in Caesar Crisp has poisoned her mind.

Is there any possible way that Roy Moore will not be Alabama’s next senator?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 22, 2018:

Satan does exist. He has orange hair and he lies a lot. You cannot believe anything that he says, but he is a genius. He has a plan that will get rid of ISIS in 30 days and he is going to bring coal mining back. He will take a school shooting and turn it into something about himself.

How do you tell someone, with diplomacy that you don’t want to have a prayer with you?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 22, 2018:

People are so stupid. I wonder what god's purpose was when I see all those crippled and cancer ridden children at St. Jude. The most simple answer is there is no god to have a purpose for anything and we make our own purpose through opportunity. Yet, the religious keep acting foolishly.

Would you date/marry a Muslim?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 22, 2018:

The problem is not a Muslim, but it is any religious person. I have no problem with them but deep down I know they will eventually want to "save me" and may even get into crying because I won't listen. Then their religious leader comes along and declares the both of you are "unequally joked." Did I get that right?

At what point will the mass shooting become, too horrific?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 21, 2018:

They are starting to react now and might hear these kids. The kids are serious and right at voting age. Plans for rallies go on now into March and Cheeto and the bunch had best listen. Keeping us divided is not working. People are angry and lots of the younger ones are running for office. We encourage it and tell them we can change this in November of 2018. Vote the bastards out because we can do better than this. The issue is our survival as a nation and a democracy. This is not a party issue at all.

Christian Host: School Prayer Would Have Prevented Florida School Shooting

DenoPenno comments on Feb 21, 2018:

My daughters are of this opinion also and it is sickening. I'm 71 years old and I do remember school prayer. We were allowed one minute of silent prayer in school in my day -- if we wanted to pray. That's it. That's all it was. How in the hell would this have effected the Florida school shooter? Someone please explain that to me. In the case of my daughters who never had school prayer in any form, my oldest says "dad, you have your belief and I have mine." The only thing is, they don't know what they are talking about.

I dared to ask to have the radio switched to a different station from a Christian station today in a...

DenoPenno comments on Feb 21, 2018:

They call it Christian music like in "Christian rock." My question today is how do you know the difference? Yes, I do find it offensive but it takes a few minutes to figure out what you are listening to. Modern "Christian music" is hypocrisy, but to each his own.

Christian Wife Swappers Preach The Word Of God Through Swinging - YouTube

DenoPenno comments on Feb 21, 2018:

This might work for them until they decide it was wrong and then they all have crocodile tears for Jesus. "Oh, forgive me, my lord." But isn't this what it's all about? How often do you hear "I'm not perfect, just forgiven." Believe it or not, I've actually heard this one. A couple caught in adultery said "at least it was a natural sin. It wasn't like tobacco or anything."

The Case Against Christian Film Episode 96 with Dr Robert M Price - YouTube

DenoPenno comments on Feb 21, 2018:

I have watched Dr. Price on You Tube often. As for Strobel and his book, I started to watch the movie version of it. Didn't get far and could not bring myself to finish it. Why? Early on it hit me that Lee Strobel had a wife and family and he made a decision that would allow him to keep them. He loved them and wanted to keep them all together. That's really all I got out of it. Sorry. I did not see a "case for Christ." Strobel made the choice that he had to make.

Near-death experiences: inside the scientific search for the afterlife

DenoPenno comments on Feb 21, 2018:

We are emotional beings and have many experiences, sometimes being unable to explain them. I have personally had many experiences that some would call supernatural. What is going on? I have also had "out of body" experiences. The facts are simply that we do not always understand. Try to remember that "near death" is not really death and nobody was dead nor did they go anywhere. While you are "in heaven" (or hell) the body is still right here. Then people start making things up and talk about "the soul." It's a way of trying to say you were right all the time. But you are not right. Things go on in a mental realm and mankind has never really understood his dreamtime or his sleep. Misconceptions about all this has produced our religions and supernaturalism.

Are athiests happier than thiests? Explain why

DenoPenno comments on Feb 21, 2018:

It is possible. As an ex-theist I know others who are constantly worried about their status with their imaginary friend. I've known people well enough to where they tell me about it. They would confess what they thought their failings were. To me it's like having a fear that Porky Pig might tell the Easter Bunny what you really did with that candy. Then you have this constant fear of making Thor angry. Remember what happened to Sodom and Gomarrah, etc. God can do anything he wants to at any time. Then they get angry with me when I point out that gods do absolutely nothing at all.

Be honest! Have you ever let someone just fall during church when they caught the Holy Ghost?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 19, 2018:

No, but I remember the tongue talking well. A language the Devil can't understand, they say. Well, where's he been? If he practiced maybe he could get it. And they go . . . Ho see con didli eyi, hondala seka. la la la la. And then it goes into something like Hezakiah, Obadiah, Jeremiah, etc. until it seems they mentioned every OT book in the bible. What's that all about? Me oh miah, they now have Jeremiah. Keep that up and we could make a song out of it.

Have you ever stayed up super late because you found yourself watching addictive shows on YouTube?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 19, 2018:

I watch these things on You Tube as you do, but I have 2 desktops and 1 laptop. They say you can't hurt a laptop but I disagree. Since I'm normally in bed with the TV on, I'm gonna have to get me a tablet so I can watch You Tube from bed. A tablet should hold up better.

Easter is on April Fool's Day this year.

DenoPenno comments on Feb 19, 2018:

Isn't Easter always on April Fools Day every year?

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

DenoPenno comments on Feb 19, 2018:

I have that happen just about the time the conversation is over. Walk away or hang up is good. One time a religious troll was getting nowhere with me and he suddenly went into 3rd person. He said the Holy Spirit was talking to him and told him how afraid I was of hell. Sorry. Not me. I outgrew all that when it became clear to me that it was nonsense. Anyway, it would have been more fun if he told me the Easter Bunny was talking to him. Maybe Casper the Friendly Ghost. Hell, Casper is so old today that his sheet has holes in it. He could be the Holy Ghost.

I was just on my Facebook responding to a post on Roy Moore of Alabama-how he molested a 14 year ...

DenoPenno comments on Feb 19, 2018:

Facebook is a special animal. I love it but you have trolls and gaslighting. Anything about Trump is answered with Hillary and Obama. If you do not want people's healthcare to be taken away you must be liberal. It's plain to see that half the political talk on there is by people who don't (or can't) read. I doubt that they even watch the news. With the clamor to have gun registration after this recent Florida school shooting my own daughters get involved in posts that simply are not true. Maybe they think they are protecting gun rights, IDK. People post that the shooting happened because god was taken out of schools. Prayer was taken out of schools, and the pledge of allegiance was taken out of schools. I don't know what it sounds like to you, but it's bullshit to me. I posted and enlightened them on the separation of church and state and what it meant, etc. My oldest daughter answered and said "you have your belief and I have mine." NO. I have the articles of government and Constitutional amendments. It's not a belief or an opinion. Such are the ways of Facebook even within one family.

How do you socialize?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 19, 2018:

Most people are not to my liking either. An "atheist church" would be nice for social gatherings but I will never go to one. Theists would have more ammo to say we are just another church anyway. They miss (sometimes deliberately) the basic tenant of atheism--we do not believe in gods. That's it. That is the doctrine. As a former theist who studied for the ministry I do not believe in anything supernatural. There is just no evidence. Emotion maybe, but no evidence. This means I cannot hang out with the majority of people in any belief. There is just too much ignorance and nonsense. I attract people and they attract me, but we usually fizzle out quickly once the nonsense starts. I go to social events sparingly and my social life is almost non-existent.

are you afraid of death?

DenoPenno comments on Feb 19, 2018:

What bothers me about death currently is the vast amount of unfinished business. Since you did not ask for death there would have to be many things that you would want to continue. I'm not afraid of death really, but you might say I'm afraid of the pain of death. I don't want there to be any pain.

Why do people think you need to believe in a god and read the bible and or go to church to live a ...

DenoPenno comments on Feb 19, 2018:

Good question. The disciples didn't go to church. They also didn't have bibles. Would an ancient church be anything like the ones today? Maybe not. Today we mean a building. Back then they meant the people.