Can you honestly believe that Pat Robertson, Mr.

genessa comments on Oct 17, 2018:

of course i believe it. what i find hard to believe are 1. that he's still alive, 2. that anyone takes him seriously and that 3. he hasn't been locked away in a mental institution. g

What’s the one movie you watch every Halloween!?

genessa comments on Oct 17, 2018:

i don't have a favorite hallowe'en movie, and although i celebrate the holiday in my own quiet way, it's not a biggie for me. i don't like the horror genre, in general. however, i thought this would be a good place to mention, by way of recommendation, that the scariest movie i ever saw in my whole life was the original version of the manchurian candidate. if anyone wants to shiver in a different way this hallowe'en, try that! g

If you're wondering about my new profile picture, I'm the one on the left.

genessa comments on Oct 17, 2018:

where was this taken and may i borrow your time machine? g

One of my co-workers who is a chaplain with the agency I work for approached me to say that her son ...

genessa comments on Oct 17, 2018:

remind her that if she raised him right he is a good person, and a good person is a good thing to be. that's all. g

When does people believe that there is a god?

genessa comments on Oct 17, 2018:

which people are you talking about? by "when" do you mean what time of day? most of the people here do NOT believe there there are any gods. g

Any comments on Jamal Khashoggi?

genessa comments on Oct 17, 2018:

he was a dissident. the saudi government is anything but liberal, whether or not it allows women to drive. it has a history of punishing dissidents. this was a particularly gruesome murder and dismemberment, following torture. the saudi government is claiming -- and coincidentally, trump is claiming, using the same language -- "rogue" persons murdered khashoggi. video and other documentation shows otherwise. huge surprise, that! g

I had a brother in law that always held his love and approval for his kids just out of reach.

genessa comments on Oct 17, 2018:

as far as i am concerned, it's not parenting. reproduction it might be, but parenting, no. g

Call me an asshole, but I am blocking any and all Trump supporters on here.

genessa comments on Oct 17, 2018:

you may find other reasons to block me, but never that one! i can't stand him or the whole republican party. g

Believe me when I say.

genessa comments on Oct 17, 2018:

most people blur the lines between agnosticism and atheism. some blur them so much they cross right over in either direction. i think of this as a place to escape random blessings and proselytes, not to mention outright attacks on the basis of religion. so this is a sight for folks who don't believe in any gods. some of us also believe there are no gods. i don't see a huge conflict. i don't plan to talk about gods or no gods all day long; it's just nice to talk about other stuff (too) with people who won't bring gods and religion into the mix. "do you like cats?" "yes, they're one of god's finest creatures." "did you grow up in a nice neighborhood?" "yes, we were blessed." stuff like that. if you just want to talk about atheism all day long, you can probably find a group here for that, and that's fine -- do your thing. but i don't see a conflict, myself. i know i'm an atheist. i don't care if some of the nice people i talk to are agnostics. g

Do You Believe The Apollo 11 Moon Landing Actually Happened?

genessa comments on Oct 17, 2018:

yes. it happened. our not returning to the moon is not even evidence, much less proof, of some hoax. that's a silly reason to think it never happened. your friend is right. g

A complaint I have since adopting an agnostic position is that too much of the atheist/agnostic ...

genessa comments on Oct 17, 2018:

well, since atheism isn't a religion and has no rulebook, atheists are a diverse group, and some are bound to be negative while others are positive. i can understand both. i don't think about whether or not there are any gods all day long, but if i encounter a proselyte or suddenly get told that i can't possibly be a moral person because i don't belong to the club, then i can't help getting a little testy, if you'll pardon the patriarchal reference. but there are lots of categories here besides religion. in that category, some antitheism is bound to emerge. if you don't like it, find a category you like better, or don't respond to the antitheistic posts and favor milder ones, and/or make some positive posts yourself. it should work out :-)) g

Planetai It is by way of naturalistic patterns and order, I feel gifted to have a foundational ...

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

it turns out we may be black-hole-centric. but i getcha. but be careful -- some folks will read the concept of empyrean events' influencing terrestrial events as an endorsement of astrology. i know that's not what you mean. tides and extinctions, not payraises or love lives! but people grasp at straws. (i guess that makes them strawcentric.) g

What if god was an alien?

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

then he'd be a fictional alien. g

Turn off the TV and go for a walk instead. Much better for you.

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

i don't walk so great. i am mostly, not quite totally, homebound. it's been a hot summer; walks would've killed me. now that it's cool i should be able to use my walker (until it gets snowy and icy) but i have a sinus infection and that's triggering my asthma, so i can't really move about much at all. even if i could go for a walk, i would not go for more than several minutes. there is plenty of time to have the tv on AND go for a walk. g

Is god just chaos theory?

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

nope. he/she/it is just a fictional character. g

When I was growing up never had one of these, have any of you?

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

i made a lot of ugly potholders with mine. g

[aish.] Muslims and Jews Saving Each Other? Hidden History.

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

good stuff. some of it i've heard, other parts not. we don't HAVE to hate one another. g

While a great cartoon, it DOES kind of make you question that "Intelligent Design" thing:

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

uh, not it doesn't. cute, though. g

Senator Elizabeth Warren has been proven to be a liar! She claimed to be Native American to take ...

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

she never said she was full-blooded native america. all she said was that her parents told her she had some native american ancestry. it has already been proven that she did not take advantage of affirmative actions laws. she also doesn't just go around saying "i'm an indian, hey look at me, i'm an indian." it's trump who goes around saying "pocohantas, pocohantas." he should vacate his office immediately. g

Another day of high confidence.

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

confidence is good. another day, come to think of it, is also good. g

Anyone in NYC care to get together Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday evening?

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

hope you had a fab time! g

Why is it so hard to make friends post 30?

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

i found it easier to make friends once i was over 30. i don't mean that exact moment; i just mean it's easier as i get older. g

It has been 4 months since I got laid off from work.

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

i also ran up against the o word when trying to find jobs, even in as big and diverse place as caifornia. i found out why people don't just hire the most qualified person available, even if that person has more than the necessary qualifications. they're scared. they think you'll take over the company. i had one employer tell me that. first he said it was because there was no room for advancement for me and i would get bored and leave. then he implied that i would want to take over the company! as for oklahoma... sorry, but my advise is not to leave oklahoma because of your ethnicity, but to leave oklahoma because it's oklahoma lol. g

Therapists are just venting machines.

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

actually that may be true of mediocre or even bad therapists. good therapists are not only that. i speak from experience. g

Never compromise on your dreams always give up on them.

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

always give up on your dreams? seriously? also... sometimes compromise is a GOOD thing. sometimes new information brings new dreams. g

My "Hail Mary Pass" last week seemed to have worked. Just need a few minor details to iron out.

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

care to elaborate? g

Rains and rains and rains....

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

no rain here in mn but i'm sick anyway so it might as well. it did snow the other morning. g

Which phobia do you suffer from? [instagram.com]

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

republicanphobia. g

Science!!!

genessa comments on Oct 16, 2018:

care to say anything ABOUT science? g

Who's really on welfare?

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

me. i'm on welfare. i am disabled. i am old now too. i became disabled before i was technically (according to the government) old. i worked my ass off for my whole life and paid more taxes than i will ever get back in the form of food stamps that barely support me and social security that is insufficient as well. by the way, the social security comes from taxes i paid into the system specifically for that purpose. my welfare support doesn't come from the dickbag's taxes. those go to the war machine as well as the welfare recipients mamed above, who, by the way, diligently avoid paying taxes. they send their employees to collect welfare because they're too cheap to pay a living wage. g

Im new to dating

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

no one can tell you the age of the person you should date. no one even knows whom you're going to meet much less how old she will be! meanwhile, a girlfriend isn't someone to get. it's not like buying a tv. you make friends. some friends will be female. don't try to make someone your girlfriend. instead, find out whom you like and who likes you. then you'll get the idea of maybe doing some stuff together, like going to a movie or eating out or whatever. it's better to let it happen than to make it happen. g

Remember, remember, the sixth of November, and the Republican treason and plot I know of no reason ...

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

i voted and mailed in my ballot a week and half ago :-)) g

Here's a mystery I've been trying to solve for a long time.

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

i will quote isaac asimov:“I am an atheist, out and out. It took me a long time to say it. I've been an atheist for years and years, but somehow I felt it was intellectually unrespectable to say one was an atheist, because it assumed knowledge that one didn't have. Somehow, it was better to say one was a humanist or an agnostic. I finally decided that I'm a creature of emotion as well as of reason. Emotionally, I am an atheist. I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect he doesn't that I don't want to waste my time.” g

What religion is the most ridiculous?

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

any religion that depends on a god is ridiculous since there are no gods. the more reasons a religion gives you, in modern practice, to hurt other human beings, the more ridiculous it is. g

How Many Christmas stories are in the Bible and how many can be documented.

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

zero christmas stories in the bible of my people. torah has no christmas stories whatsoever. the christian bible? i wouldn't know. i like the danny kaye around the world story book better, at any rate. unlike everyone's bibles, it's out of print. g

Ice Hockey vs Church Some time ago, I had nice conversation with my brother, and we get to a nice ...

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

neither. opera! g

Is the Pentagon preparing for another total US War?

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

the pentagon is always planning for another war. why would now be different? g

So the reason I'm an agnostic instead of an atheist is because I would rather be happy than right.

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

i'm an atheist and i am perfectly happy as an atheist. i don't worry about being right. that's a weird way to look at atheist -- that we'd rather be right than happy. that's not based on any reality i have observed. i've heard people say it. it doesn't ring true at all. g

Science and Futurism

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

i would turn myself inside out and become a matryoshka doll. g

Where do broken heart goes?

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

they don't go anywhere. they stay put and heal. g

Do you like being spontaneous or planning ahead?

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

yes, i do. when i went to europe for the first time i had every reservation in place for every town i intended to visit. while i was staying out in the french countryside, another year, a friend called from paris. i dropped everything and took a bus to a train and a train to paris, to meet him. i can do both! g

Why are you here

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

i have been here a few weeks. i am here because i am interesting in seeing what other people have to say on a variety of topics. i have no particular goal or expectations. i'm not looking for anything exact. i'm certainly not looking for romance; i'm spoken for! g

Breast, Thy, Leg or Wing???

genessa comments on Oct 15, 2018:

wings, not enough meat. breast, too dry. leg, okay. thigh, the best. note it's not spelled "thy." and i can do without the breading! g

So a man messaged me earlier.

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

when i was in japan i was asked about the holocaust. i briefly explained (not easy to do). i was asked "if people didn't like jews, why didn't the jews just stop being jewish?" g

Arguments and debates

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

i have never heard a good one. they all sounded stupid to me. the worst was probably from my philosophy teacher who said "god exists because the word god implies existence and therefore god exists. next question." i think he was an idiot. g

Line dry or mechanical?

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

i do not have the freedom to line dry; the townhome association would have me dry cleaned if i did that. i PREFER line drying -- but even if the association let me, it rains and snows here an awful lot too. when i lived in california i line-dried all the time. g

Turn you phone of for 20 minutes a day, or better still leave it at home. See if you can do it.

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

only 20 minutes? i don't use it that much. i have a laptop. i rely on my phone for messages as my landline is plain vanilla, no voicemail. i can check my messages with google voice; they come through as email. but the main reason for my cell phone is to keep track of my guy, who has alzheimer's. i just bought him a phone. when it arrives, i will feel less worried when he goes to the doctor or elsewhere. g

Have you ever gotten one of these as a kid on your travels? ??

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

i'm sure i had one, or maybe my sister did and i saw hers, but how, why, where, i cannot recall. g

What are some songs which feature ample polyphony?

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

not as ample as i remembered, just a bit in there. g

What are some songs which feature ample polyphony?

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6JQj7WiJ3M g

I am so sick of hearing about violent predatory men.

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

yeah? i am sick of NOT hearing about them when they're out there being violent and predatory. sick of hearing about it? how about doing something about it? here are some things that normal, nonviolent, nonpredatory men can do about it: 1. don't give your support, actively or tacitly, to violent, predatory men. 2. raise your sons not to be violent, predatory men. this means raising them to respect women the same way they respect men. this can be done by example and fortified by speech. 3. vote for people who don't mock, but do support, women who have been the victims of violent, predatory men. 4. be careful not to be a violent, predatory man. 5. don't post stuff about how tired you are of hearing about violent, predatory men. g

The establishment will blame their next crash on freedom—just like last time, and they will blame ...

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

it is true that you're only scratching the surface. that is why it cannot be taken on face value. well, that and the fact that you use the word "establishment" to describe different establishments, different administrations anyway, and the fact that you make statements that might be true but you just state them AS true without any backup. some of what you say IS true. some of it... not so much. that's generally true of generalities lol. g

Sex and Gender - Scientific American

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

and this is why it's not called scientific american man :-)) g

Trumpism and a part of the mewho movement.

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

there are idiots everywhere. that doesn't in any way invalidate the way women who are assaulted get treated in this country. g

Are you for or against President Trump? Why?

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

why would i be for someone who is as ignorant and ill-natured, owned by his russian handler, cheap, mean, egotistical, self-centered, stupid, bigoted and generally awful as trump? g

Was the Apollo 11 Moonlanding Faked?

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

no. next? g

Why is no one talking about the Bulgarian journalist that was raped & murdered or the Russian anti ...

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

it's not a pain contest. by the way, the saudi journalist is not PRESUMED dead. his torture and murder were recorded. meanwhile if you have information on the other murders, by all means share. g

A God has no NEED or WANT.

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

is this apart from the fact that there are no gods at all, wanting or not wanting? g

Did Jesus actually exist? yes for yes no for no

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

how can i vote yes or no? how about 3. i don't know and i wish i knew and 4. i don't know and i don't care? i vote for 4. g

This is how congress pass their agenda, same way they passed their pay raises.

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

yes, that is well known. it's not how it should be, but it's been that way for a long time. g

Hmmmm.......

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

interesting fantasy but of course not how the earth works. we actually already know what causes global warming. g

Have had my first encounter with a rather rude person on this site.

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

you know, i had a weird experience as a greeter too. most people just say thanks, or make a short goal statement, but one person thanked me and then went on to ask me what i was up to that evening. well okay, not weird per se, so i said i was making dinner for my guy (hint hint right?) and some other stuff i was doing. his response was to ask me to tell me everything about myself -- my likes, my hates, etc. i told him i wasn't going to make a list, to look at my profile and read my posts and he would learn about me soon enough. i may have mentioned again that i have a guy. i forget where it went from there but not a good place; he was still trying to pick me up. my profile clearly says i am taken and i'd told him outright twice i had a guy. so i told him off, rather, pointing all this out, and what does he respond? that he wants to be my very close friend. at this point i told him he had better leave me alone or i would report and block him. fortunately he backed off then and i have not heard from him. but there are some people out there who are not right in the head! mine was likely a scammer. yours just sounds like an idiot, and an ill-natured one at that. g

What if USA got rid of the Presidentship and returned to being a British colony?

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

silly. as if britain is doing that great. true there isn't a trump there, not in power anyway, but it wouldn't work. it isn't trump alone. g

Everyone says their religion is the right one.

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

i might add that not every religion says it's right and everything else is wrong. judaism is one religion (maybe not the only one, but the only one i know) that doesn't teach that only jews go to heaven and everyone else goes to hell, that judaism is right and everyone else is wrong. that just isn't part of judaism. in fact, jews have 613 commandments but judaism only demands of nonjews that they follow seven (not murdering, for example -- pretty universal and not unreasonable). jews do not proselytize and in fact although there are many converts, all would-be converts are officially discouraged three times, and you have to show you have a good reason for wanting to be a jew. so... i am not trying to tout judaism, but only to respond to the assertion that all religions say they are right and everyone else is wrong. i've just named and described an exception. g

Would you rather have an intellectual conversation about the universe or have a deep conversation ...

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

i find conversing about sexual activity a total bore. i don't want to talk about it. i want to do it. if i'm not doing it, there is no point in talking about it, and if i am doing it, there is no point in talking about it! g

What do you do to kill time before work?

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

mazel tov on new job. time... i don't think of it as something to kill. there is always something to do. even dreaming can be useful. g

Stillness can give you extraordinary strength.

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

i don't like stillness. some people do. lying on the beach, eyes closed, soaking in the sun... i would find that a kind of torment. if i am still, i want to be unconscious. otherwise i want to be moving, physically or mentally. these days i don't move so great physically, but mentally i think i'm still somewhat mobile. g

Why do people never learn a lesson from their experiences like war, crime, hate, pain, starvation, ...

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

why do you assume people NEVER learn? you mean all people, individual people or peoples, such as populations? some learn. some do not. g

Freud says, penis envy. I say, theist envy?

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

i have never envied theism, and i have never particularly thought about an afterlife of any kind with any seriousness. g

Should children be placed back in homes where they were once abused?

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

why would this question even need to be asked? children should be safe. period. g

I'm less fearful of death now because I'm a agnostic/atheist .

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

kindness is the key :-)) fear or no fear, glad you're still with us. g

After drinking a bottle of wine tonight this song is funny ??? [youtu.be]

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

i didn't know records could drink! g

Let's see if anyone can guess one if not both ( 2) reasons when walking down the sidewalk with a ...

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

one is because of the garbage that used to be tossed out of upper-story windows. of the other am unsure -- maybe something to do with being run over by a horse? g

It's officially fall (autumn to you in oz) and my usual cooking mania is taking over.

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

it's spring in oz. g

Had the pleasure of attending this concert tonight truly amazing IRIS Orchestra under the ...

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

midori is wonderful! i am GREEN with envy! g

"Spiritual materialism is rampant and a life filled with spirit is a rarity.

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

well, that is very poetic of ellis, and a little puffy. some of it is good advice. some of it... well, why would i want to have a life filled with spirit? he hasn't defined spirit. g

Have had my first encounter with a rather rude person on this site.

genessa comments on Oct 14, 2018:

i wonder if this is the same person who spent some of his apparently unlimited energy and very limited intellect calling me, among other things, the c word, under the mistaken impression (which i tried to correct) that i was a muslim woman wearing a hijab (he was wrong on two out of three counts -- i'm a woman), and under the mistaken impression, which i didn't bother trying to correct because he was obviously too stupid, that there is something wrong with being a muslim woman wearing a hijab. g

Apologies for not responding for a little bit.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

previews of...? g

Belief in the absurd

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

of course. religion is a major example of that. g

Atheists Are Brainwashed By The Scientific Method

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

well, it's in the right category, silly! g

Validity of a theory

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

theory doesn't mean in science what it means in casual speech. "i have a theory that the guy across the street is stealing my lawn signs" can be proven if you stay up all night and watch the guy like a hawk but until and unless you catch him, it's just a theory. the theory of gravity can't be proven per se but it can be observed and we can assume it's true until it's disproven. i am not expecting to float to the ceiling any time soon, since i am not an astronaut, so i think we can say that gravity is as GOOD as proven. as for religion... there is no point in wasting time trying to prove there was no talking snake in the garden of eden, but we do have some experience of snakes to tell us how unlikely that is. g

Walking around Philly, I'm reminded of just how beautiful the people of this city are.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

i was born there but left at age six and a half. it was not my decision g

How do such smart people get conned by such a petty scam as religion ???

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

the scam starts when people are very young. g

Don't ask me to respect something that conveniences harm to humans.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

who, on this site, do you expect to be asking you to respect religion? g

DEAR CHRISTIANS, Mark 16:17-18 Says That True Belivers Can Drink Poison And Be Perfectly Fine.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

You will not find many christians reading your post here. g

Everyone says their religion is the right one.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

no one who died found out anything. they're dead. g

I'd be interested on your thoughts on giving cats CBD oil.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

i have not but i've thought about it so i am very interested in the responses you may get here. g

Set boundaries in your life and stick to them.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

why? maybe boundaries, like everything else, should be revisited periodically instead of blindly stuck to. g

If it ain't one thing it's another.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

i hate edge. only chrome really works well for me. firefox isn't too bad. g

Should starting every second sentence with the word "So" automatically attract a death sentence?

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

that seems extreme. g

What is the difference between the Agnostic site and the Humanist site?

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

the meme shows the difference. g

Today is National No Bra Day.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

i haven't worn a bra regularly since 1971. i tried one on the other week. nah. g

(Radical) Feminists are rejoicing.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

oh, you seem to think radical feminists want to live without men. you are incorrect, of course. feminism is to humanism what black lives matter is to... well, humanism. black lives matter doesn't mean white lives don't matter. the thing is, we already "know" white lives matter. an awful lot of folks don't seem to know black lives matter TOO. feminism isn't anti-male. it's just that female lives matter TOO. in this case i use "lives" in the broadest sense: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, bodily autonomy, equal pay for equal work, as much or as little respect as any individual deserves.... you know. equality. not equivalence. not superiority, despite the jokes, some of which are astute. not substitution. equality. g

The future of religion

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

i have no idea, nor any stake in it, really. people may believe what they will. stupid ideas are not limited to religion. there will always be stupid people. the trick is to get people to stop trying to legislate, execute and adjudicate religion. if that happens, even door knockers won't bother us as much. g

All the single ladies

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

it's a kind of nebulous, general "it" which could mean anything from the ring finger to sex to (talk about objectification) the woman in question. g

Looking at a few of my old post. damn im meek as shit.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

well i guess biblically speaking you'll inherit the earth :-)) g

Do you accept or reject objective morality?

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

i don't have a clue what it is. i don't even accept the idea of morality, which is something imposed from outside. there is law; that's good enough, as far as outside is concerned. i believe ethicality is more important, and that comes from within. follow the law, petition and work like hell to change bad laws and enact good ones, and be a good person. i don't care whether that's called objective morality or fred. g

I need help

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

yep you have correctly identified the source of your feeling. it will pass as you educate yourself more and more (i am not implying you're uneducated, only that there is ALWAYS more). this is what isaac asimov said after most of a lifetime calling himself an agnostic: “I am an atheist, out and out. It took me a long time to say it. I've been an atheist for years and years, but somehow I felt it was intellectually unrespectable to say one was an atheist, because it assumed knowledge that one didn't have. Somehow, it was better to say one was a humanist or an agnostic. I finally decided that I'm a creature of emotion as well as of reason. Emotionally, I am an atheist. I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect he doesn't that I don't want to waste my time.” as i say, the feeling will pass. there may be some tiny residual but i wouldn't worry about it. in this case, follow your head and your heart will adjust. g

Share your most cringe worthy interaction with a believer.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

i've written of this before but i'll try to summarize here: i've been an atheist since the age of 15 but i have always enjoyed the culture of my people and will always consider myself a jew, too. toward the end of the year jews get ignored by media while christmas reigns, but one day, when i was in my mid-20s and being car-pooled into work at the department of justice, i heard a chanukah song on the car radio. i was so delighted about this that i mentioned it to a coworker, not one of whom i was fond, or who was fond of me, but she was someone with whom i worked in close proximity. her response was "if you don't believe in jesus christ, what have you got to sing about?" it wouldn't have done any good to mention, at this juncture, that there are no gods, so i gently said "his father?" she frowned, puzzled. "you know... god?" her response was to grumble "well, the catholics have been suffering a lot longer than the jews anyway!" and stalk off. i found the entire encounter idiotic. i tried to talk to her from within her bubble of reality but she was, let's face it, just not a nice person, and stupid to boot. g

This is a brilliant statement by a lucid mind: Stephen Fry on political correctness.

genessa comments on Oct 13, 2018:

he IS brilliant, and heartful. i agree with him. i have explored the problem of pc myself and i hope you will forgive me if i link to my writing on the subject; also pardon me if the page, which needs a little work, doesn't display as well as it might. meanwhile i will say here that pc has its place, but not the place most folks assume it does. pc is for folks who legitimately don't know it's not okay to hurt (i said hurt, not offend) others. these people need to be told not to call names and speak thoughtlessly. for everyone else, pc is not necessary; a simple reminder to be mindful that other people actually exist and have thoughts and feelings will suffice. okay here is what i wrote some years ago: http://sh1.webring.com/people/wg/genessa/pc.htm g