I have been married before and I learned a lot about what makes a good relationship great and what ...

Diogenes comments on Nov 23, 2017:

I read many years ago that the most successful marriages were when one person had been divorced and the other never married. To me it would seem that the divorced person wasn't going to make the same mistake twice- wasn't going to get in with the 'divorce crowd', with the boozers and all the crap that goes with it. After the Saturday night party- there is also the waking up the next morning- and that's when the 'real fun' begins

What is/are your favorite TV show(s)

Diogenes comments on Nov 21, 2017:

I like the English comedies from PBS Buffalo: The Last of the Summer Wine, etc. But the travel shows by Ric Steves are also fabulous. I have been to Europe a few times and seen a bit, but he really does things well.

How many here exercise regularly?

Diogenes comments on Nov 21, 2017:

It's like this, Nature 'provided' me with a reasonable body, unlike some who were not so fortunate at birth. Turning myself into a fat slob, would be to dis my good fortune. Yesterday I did 5 km on the rowing machine- will do that again today. Rowing exercises the arms, back, stomach, legs: a good all round exercise. I am probably the oldest person on here. In the spring of this year, 2017, I won the month long rowing contest against 23 other club members, some of them in their 20s. I also like to get out in the bush and hike- although I must admit, I have not been out much this year.

I've discovered something about people and it is quite confusing to me.

Diogenes comments on Nov 20, 2017:

Ben Carson: any black man that would suck up to the likes of Trump, is worse than a white person doing it, because he should know better- especially if he is educated- he is a neuro surgeon (supposedly). Apparently he suffers from profound stupidity. "Success", to me, would be knowing what this trip is about. Certainly this experience is not "just"; it is not a level playing field. But maybe this is just a test for the 'next adventure'---- if Nature has provided one. Maybe in the next session a person's wealth would all be in coin in a bag, and like Sisyphus with his boulder, they would have to endlessly have to push/pull it up a mountain.

How open are you about debate?

Diogenes comments on Nov 19, 2017:

If I am going to have a debate with a theist- it just proves I have nothing better to do with my time than to waste it.

Post a lyric that empowers or motivates you.

Diogenes comments on Nov 19, 2017:

The drunken, Welsh poet Dillan Thomas wrote a poem 'to his father', apparently. Even though I am 110 years old, I try to live by this poem. "Do not go quiet into that good night/ But rage, rage against the closing of the light." The way I look at, being dead 30 years before the actual event, makes the event rather inconsequential. If we sleep 8 hours a day and reach the age of 60, we have slept for 20 years.

For other skeptics out there, what are some books from your youth that influenced you in your ...

Diogenes comments on Nov 19, 2017:

Please excuse my VERY warped sense of humour when I write this. My old mother, now dead, had a very small book collection- it was about the same height of the broken bed post leg. But if there was ever a hypochondriac's bibliography she must have had it- and contributed a few hundred thousand entries.. She loved going to the doctor. She had pains in places that hadn't been invented yet. Sick people die- some very young. She died at 86, due to gluttony and lack of exercise. There is a cardinal point here: LEARN, by whatever means, even exploring bad examples. I dropped out of school much too soon. There was no second choice. But I have taken many credits, and I constantly read. Religion disgusts me- needless to say.

Arab Atheists and agnostics are risking their lives as they express their opinions and spread facts ...

Diogenes comments on Nov 19, 2017:

Yousif, ALL religions are false and man-made. Some of the popes had their own armies and they fought each other------- none of them ever talked to any god. Same goes for all the other allahs, mullahs, whatever. You have courage- but remember, to save yourself, to fight another day.

How do you answer theists who say "science can't explain the complexity and order of life.”

Diogenes comments on Nov 17, 2017:

Religion is not worth talking about---- and of course religion has held education back- any thinking person knows that. As far as the "complexity" of Nature, that is not known- and that is why I am an agnostic

Which last longer, Christian marriages or agnostic/atheist marriages?

Diogenes comments on Nov 16, 2017:

I was divorced many decades ago. My 'bride', an uneducated candidate for Salvation Army 'officership', and young, and very stupid me, got married. Was that ever hell on wheels! There wasn't anything she wouldn't fight about---- just proves she should be in someone's 'army'. I started reading- and the more I read the more I wanted to know. Religion dropped away as so buffoonish, that it wasn't even worth talking about. When a person is interested, and actually participates' in actual life, there isn't time left to psychologically participate in 'mud wrasslin''. There are better things to do in life. Education, honesty and a sense of humour are essential.(I have taken MANY credits and courses) Throw the religious lies and bull shit out the window.

What do you think of 'acknowledging' the Winter Solstace?

Diogenes comments on Nov 15, 2017:

I forgot that I had written "celebrating"---- but then the question is, is the fornication of the fictional god-dude and the fictional, so-called, 'Virgin Mary' something to celebrate?

Does the soul exist?

Diogenes comments on Nov 12, 2017:

Soul! I am assuming, correctly or incorrectly, that this is a conscience of being: fear, courage, a desire for learning, some desire of comfort. It seems that some humans think that they are the only ones that have this "soul"; some dogs have loyalty and bravery. Cows bawl when their calves are taken away from them-----to be locked into a cage and turned into 'tasty' veal. HOW GROSS! Humans seem to have no connection with compassion; they are only connected with their own self-centered interests. And does the mind exist after the 'meat/body' no longer exists? Nature has never sent a messenger to tell us.

What do you think about the idea, "God gave us this Land"?

Diogenes comments on Nov 10, 2017:

I don't think satire is appropriate- but a point that was brought up was 'all' the land thefts, but once in a while the thieves got more than they bargained for- such as George Armstrong Custer. Then there is the histories of all the thieving of the land from indigenous peoples, in Canada, Australia, US--- And something worse than the theft of land: "God (that god-dude again) gave us these slaves." And that was probably said with a straight face- not even the smallest sense of irony.

How comfortable are you with the word "Atheist" ?

Diogenes comments on Nov 10, 2017:

I am neither comfortable or uncomfortable with the word "atheist" because it doesn't apply to me. Compared to the history of what we know of the current universe, humans created all their gods- and it was such a short time ago. It just doesn't interest me.

why are agnostics afraid of using the word atheist?

Diogenes comments on Nov 10, 2017:

I am glad to see it written by others- "there is no 'god' to deny". A point to be made; that should have been plural- and in a large number- millions of "one-true gods".

How long did it take you to realise that you're an atheist / agnostic?

Diogenes comments on Nov 9, 2017:

Zanyfish, you aren't the only one that feels dumb about being indoctrinated by religion- for me it started when I was born. The only reason it continued was because of my lack of education. Yes, it lasted about "30 years" too. Now I constantly read, not to become a 'world class' scholar (which would be fantastic) but because of curiosity. Facts interest me- lies make me angry.

Are there any other alcoholics in this group?

Diogenes comments on Nov 7, 2017:

A while back, (decades) I was drinking too much and I went to AA a couple of times. That was weird. This is where they replace one addiction for another. "Rely on god-dude; don't practice self control." When a person walked out the door there was so much cigarette smoke it was hard to see. I still have one or two beers---- the idea of having so many beers that I could swim in it is rather moronic.

Does anyone believe that theists are generally honest and sincere in their claims?

Diogenes comments on Nov 7, 2017:

"Christ's teachings"- you really don't get it do you? Christianity is just a Jewish cult that got out of control; a matter of one-upmanship, where the group found the "prophet", even though he had to be invented. J.C. is a piece of fiction. So now "you are an atheist"; you are ready to deny something that never existed in the first place. Interesting!

I'm just curious since it is November already.

Diogenes comments on Nov 7, 2017:

'Santa Clause's birthday' is about as gross a period as it is possible to endure: the gluttony, the materialism. "Buy, buy and buy, and save, save!" Can't figure that one out; every time I "save" that way my bank account gets smaller. It is Nov. 7 and it has already started and will go on for another two months. Somewhere through the torture I shut off the TV and radio so I don't have to listen to that insane howling. My visits to even the grocery store are made as fast as possible. "How to cope?" Grit your teeth; there is only another 60 days of torture.

What do you think of the Christmas "season"?

Diogenes comments on Nov 4, 2017:

My most depressing time of the year is at Santa Clause's birthday. The non-stop howling about Santa Clause and his dog, Jeezuz: the racket about god-dude fornicating with the "Virgin" (ya sure) Mary, starts about October 1 and goes on till Jan 7- the end of Boxing Day Week. (surprised that it isn't soon called Boxing Half Month) Some day I am sure that I will throw a hammer through the TV.---- and there is no relief- except to turn everything off. And how is it possible to worship materialism and gluttony to such an extent- while billions have nothing- not even food.

Vegans

Diogenes comments on Nov 4, 2017:

Hi. First, my claim to 'fame': I am the biggest vegetarian hypocrite in the world----- that does not make me proud! I go for awhile not eating meat, then, with other problems, not involving eating, I get depressed, and chew up another resident of this rock. We go into the supermarket and there are the rows of packaged 'pinky stuff' (meat, no hair or blood on it) all in shiny cellophane, and we hear the cloying music- no sounds of the pain and terror that went into the creation of this 'product'. But what about Nature? I am not going to say, Nature "created" anything; sounds like I am on a religious 'trip'. We have carnivores, omnivores and herbivores. It is part of Nature, whether we like it or not. To me, it is not pleasant to watch a cat rip apart another animal, that also wants to live. Would it be less distressing to see a lion wither away and die of starvation? Reality is not always pleasant- sometimes it is hard and mean- at least to some standards.

Who agrees with the theory of multiverse?

Diogenes comments on Nov 4, 2017:

This is an inconsequential point and I don't relate it directly to a multiuniverse, But a recent happening I experienced is a strange event. I draw cartoons and I wrote the word "WHAT" on a designer licence plate in a cartoon. It wasn't published so few people saw it. About two weeks later someone published their Trump for this Halloween and wrote, "WHAT" beside it. I don't know anything about the other person and I have read no articles where we may have mutually read the word "what". Then there are the events where we seem to be living them for the second time. We can tell what is about to happen for a few seconds or minutes. I am not 'attuned to the psychic' (in fact I find the subject one to be held up to conjecture), but it has happened a few times to me.

Pushy Atheist?

Diogenes comments on Nov 3, 2017:

The reason your friend termed you a "pushy atheist" is because you were taking him out of his comfort zone. Some people like to live in a vacuum, in the 'Land of Mush'. As far as talking about anything as unimportant as man-made gods, my choice is to be able to understand and read about the latest scientific finds, in any scientific field; enjoy some great jazz; read an incisive article about the human condition. Yes, "jazz", a person will burn out if they don't stand back and take a rest.

Hello everyone.

Diogenes comments on Nov 3, 2017:

I think you have a big problem, first of all, with the term "belief". You can believe the world is flat- and the sun circles it- due to scientist/astrologers, like Galileo, that was proven false centuries ago. Yes, and Galileo was lucky to get off with his life for his research. Being an atheist hasn't got much bearing on anything. A person is "believing" or "not believing" in man-made gods. Why take the time? Even Thomas Paine, one of the signers of The Declaration of Independence, one amongst the millions to say this, said, "Man created god." Do at least a little bit of reading. There is no explanation for the ultimate 'first step'- IF THERE IS ONE. If there is a cognitive planner, that planner would obviously be a 'creator' too. READ; get some information; it is so much more interesting than kid's fairytales about going to La La Land.

Hey everyone thx for answering my first question.

Diogenes comments on Oct 29, 2017:

Zoe, good for you to be a decent human being. There is already too much crap in the world.

I am about to raise the righteous indignation in here.

Diogenes comments on Oct 29, 2017:

To "Atheist", I still don't know how to use this site, but yes 'I do use aroma therapy'- the smell and, not to forget, taste of beer, is better than Prozac. And I hope you find- and get, a life.

What's the most surprising fact you learned about the religion you were born into, that wasn't ...

Diogenes comments on Oct 29, 2017:

What wasn't discussed in The United Church in Canada was that it was all bull shit. The joke was so big that it was far beyond unbelievable. And from there they embraced the secular lies- there was no end to the lies. And my extra-crazy mother used to beat the shit out of me if I even moved on the first day of the week, because it was the seventh, and the day of rest. Thanks Constantine!

It someone could prove the existence of a supernatural God, wouldn't that defeat their own purpose?

Diogenes comments on Oct 25, 2017:

Good point- but I have another question: when we get to scientifically understand how universes are made- from scratch, wouldn't that make us god?

It was a good day here in the mid-west.

Diogenes comments on Oct 25, 2017:

It is good to feel and see pleasant events- that is an unequivocal certainty. Nature just is. It is also unpleasant. Carnivores 'came about' (I refuse to say "created"- sounds like I am a godster) because of Nature, and watching another resident of this planet being ripped apart is not very pleasant. Reality is reality- it will not set anyone "free"- it will often depress- but enjoy the good when it happens.

What are your thoughts on “foul” language?

Diogenes comments on Oct 24, 2017:

I am in a coffee shop and my WiFi will be deleted if I type "'ucker". (How silly can it get?) I can think of lots of evil words: war, kill, god, lawyer, Bush, Trump. I have never figured out why 'uck is the archangel of evil communicating. I assume it was derived from the Nederlandse, "fokker", which is a vocation meaning "breeder" of horses, dogs, etc. The over use of it is not vulgar- it is boring- it is an indication of a lack of vocabulary. It is like the idiot whose only adjective is "great" or "The little boy walked down the little street in the little town with his little dog...."

Do you believe in Bigfoot?

Diogenes comments on Oct 22, 2017:

Science is finding undiscovered fauna and flora all the time. No, I do not believe in contrivances created by man- in other words- no " Big foot".

I call myself a catholic agnostic, what do you call yourself?

Diogenes comments on Oct 22, 2017:

I am NOT an "atheist", because I refuse to even comment on the thousands of silly beliefs in just one foolish religion. So you believe that 'Jeezuz' came back from the dead. In the information age how can you have such a belief? Is there anything you WON"T believe? Second point: procreation was 'provided' by Nature- and that's what priests should be doing- instead of claiming celibacy- then buggering children. I am an agnostic- I do not know the reason for Nature and I have no idea whether Nature is cognitive or not, and I will not fill the void with brainless, religious misconceptions.

Just because unbelievers have shed one delusion are they really as free of others as they might like...

Diogenes comments on Oct 21, 2017:

Paul, I agree with you. It seems that when persons who are addicted to one delusion and they reject that , they must somehow fill the vacuum with another one that is as silly, or even more so, than the first. They have been called the "sheeple"- they must be part of the crowd- and show no shame for being so. They must show 'righteous indignation'. And "unbelievers" is a negative term- I am a "believer"----- in reality.

Hello! I'm from Georgia, and find it hard to make friends with people I can relate to here in the ...

Diogenes comments on Oct 19, 2017:

Elizabeth, hi. Poor you in the so called "Bible belt". I believe that 'this', being on Agnostic.com, is one of your better choices- but feel enlightened about yourself- and forget about people who believe in slow-learning, children's fairy tales. I've forgotten how Jonah ended up, in the belly of the whale- not that it matters. I think he was electrocuted while trying to install lighting. But why? Lighting wouldn't have helped him much; a whale's stomach acids would have taken his eyes and skin in nanoseconds. And the feeding of the thousands! Was that done when the magic wand was waved over the can of sardines and the stale bagel and that turned into grand meals with candle light- the works. All too foolish to even be funny!

Does anyone know someone that was an Atheist or Agnostic and then became Christian?

Diogenes comments on Oct 16, 2017:

Don't know of such a 'thinking' person that has turned to religious fiction!

What moral code do you follow now that you are non-religious?

Diogenes comments on Oct 16, 2017:

After the huge amount of non-moral choices I have made, I try to live an honest, secular life. It is depressing to think it is too little, too late. But unlike religion where lies define truth, and actual truth is a lie----I try to live a better life.

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

Diogenes comments on Oct 16, 2017:

Laughter- after all they are trying to be funny- aren't they?

Do you ever miss the religious life?

Diogenes comments on Oct 16, 2017:

"Never"- one word! I do not want to be cloistered in a web of stupidity. Although truth will very often take one out of their comfort zone- that is a better choice than being in La-la-land.

I was a born again Christian for 35 years and I have recently been questioning my faith.

Diogenes comments on Oct 16, 2017:

Freethinker, The reason that the god-crowd tell you not to listen to "the voice of the Devil", is because if you ask the first question, that the answer to all the rest is going to be just as revealing as the first. Nothing has ever come back from the dead- not a dinosaur, not a cockroach- or anything in between. The reason so many of these 'preachers', of any stripe, end up in jail is because they don't know when to stop. If the 'born agains' will believe in coming back from the dead---- is there anything that they won't believe in?