That is amazing ! What did you get your degrees in .

@Cast1es BA Culinary Arts, BA Religion/Philosophy, BS Psychology, MA Education, DDiv.

@SkotlandSkye It's interesting you got a BA in religion/philosophy , and now you've joined Agnostics . So do any of these relate to your job/source of income ?

@Cast1es You are surprised by the BA in R/Ph but not the DDiv? One kind of leads into the other. If you read my profile and looked at my photos, you would know. I use all of them. I've been a chef for 30+ years, an ordained minister since 1993, and I teach/edit/write/do demonstrations. The Psych degree has also helped immensely with the wide variety of people and issues with which I've had to deal.

I apologize , I did not recognize that one when I first read it . Doctor of Divinity , of course . Which makes it even odder that you're here . Agnostics. com . Most of us weren't raised this way . We were brought up in a religion , and studied which ever religion our parents had been brought up in . After years of training (brainwashing) , it just didn't make sense . So we've left it behind us . And you ? Are you here because , after all of that training you've decided it didn't make sense to you either ? Or are you here to try to convert us back ?

@Cast1es I was never Christian. My BA in Comparative Religion I specialized in Earth-based and traditional, native, aboriginal religions -- specifically 2 Native North American Tribes, 1 MesoAmerican, and the Picts. After I left the USAF, I was heavily involved in Pagan rights and was a Wiccan and coven leader as well as the director for a large LGBT non-profit. I entered a traditional, church sponsored seminary program as a Wiccan. My reasoning for doing so was to receive ordination so that I could legally perform Pagan weddings and LGBT weddings (commitment ceremonies at that time since they weren't legally recognized). This was a time prior to the internet "churches" offering ordination on line. hahaha If I had waited a decade, I could have saved $15K! anyhow...after my ordination, I was one of the founding members of the LGBT Marriage Alliance and I also once owned a wedding chapel in Tennessee. All told, I've performed over 3000 weddings and over 200 funerals. I still do weddings and funerals today and have had the privilege of doing quite a few atheist services.

@SkotlandSkye Friend I met through the SCA is pagan , and I have been to both a gay wedding and a funeral she has performed . Beautiful services !

Good for you !

Ditto

How cool!

@BeccaVa Thanks. Yeah, I long ago realised I'm not going to get famous or change the world with my writing. But I've touched some lives and will do so long after I'm dead. Works for me.

@Druvius what do you write about?

@BeccaVa Science, history, current events, fiction. Through Thick and Thin: [patreon.com]

Also, I make a mean banana pudding.