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Permalink Reply by Jacob LeMaster on May 26, 2011 at 5:31am

Welcome Welcome

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Permalink Reply by Jon van Rooyen on May 26, 2011 at 7:32am

Hi Autumn

You are without a doubt not alone in this. I'm also quite a recent member of TA and it surprised me how immediately welcoming a lot of people here were.

I still haven't even told my dad (a devout christian) that I am an athiest because I know the result will probably not be pleasant. So I endure the sermons he gives until I can summon enough courage to "come out" as it were. Some of my other christian friends and family members who were previously pretty close to me, while still talk to me, seemed to have backed off and started keeping a bit more distance when they found out, almost as if they believe that they will be damned by association.

I also have experienced a great thirst for knowledge (especially in the cosmos) and still do. It's funny that when you stop listening and blindly accepting religious dogma, your mind actually begins start working. It is a fantastically rich and rewarding experience.

I was so happy to finally find a social network where I have the opportunity to truly relax and be me. This is a good community full of intelligent discussion and free thought.

Welcome! :)

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Permalink Reply by Jason Ward on May 27, 2011 at 2:02am

It might make you feel better to know (though you'd have to confirm this with them) that it may not have anything to do with being damned by association. A few former christians I have talked to stated that those who were of different faiths were to them less likely to ascend into heaven but even with members of other faiths there was at least a chance, for an atheist however, that chance is nil. As a result it actually hurt them to "know" that those whom they cared about would inevitably fall into the pit of torment, and no I don't mean marriage. Though I can't say whether the mantra was intended to segregate initially, or simply a benefit of the initial fear tactic, nevertheless it is still quite effective. Why get close to someone whom you know will be existing in torment forever?

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Permalink Reply by Genice Daniels on May 27, 2011 at 1:52pm

My thought on what some of their thoughts is that if we are left alone and ostracized then we, as a pack species, would have to come around and go back to religion.

I have recently lost a lot of "friends" because I have decided to let everyone know what I think. People on Facebook are posting bible passages, etc. Sad but I don't need them in my life to be happy.

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Permalink Reply by Autumn_in_jeans on May 27, 2011 at 1:55pm

I actually just posted a blog based on this: http://www.thinkatheist.com/profiles/blogs/evangelical-atheist?comm...
or if you prefer: http://www.autumninjeans.com/

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Permalink Reply by Genice Daniels on May 27, 2011 at 2:52pm

I enjoyed your Blog. Thank you for those passages. I guess if they were not forbidden to associate with non believers they would have seen the truth before. They have so many rules against questioning that it is ridiculous. I'm sure that is why the religion has lasted as long as it has.

 

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Permalink Reply by Autumn_in_jeans on May 27, 2011 at 2:55pm

Thanks, I am of the opinion that no matter how much we teach others, there will always be ostriches in the world. And that's okay. They taste like chicken ;)

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Permalink Reply by Genice Daniels on May 27, 2011 at 3:09pm

No doubt.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Karp on May 26, 2011 at 8:24am

Hi Autumn,

 

First, cool tat! Secondly it's always hard to lose friends or loved ones not because you've done anything other than being yourself. But in the end, they will either accept you for who you are, or you move on and it will be their loss. You will always have people challenge your non-belief, but know that your search for truth gives you a sense of freedom that they will never know. 

 

Here you will be supported and loved for you. So jump in to any discussion and reach out at any time in need. We're happy you are here!

 

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Permalink Reply by Danny Beton on May 26, 2011 at 9:00am

I am pretty much the only atheist out of my friends and it can be very hard at times! They can't understand why I'm so passionate about atheism and religion, they see it as not important or arbitrary. The funny thing is though, the all consider themselves Christians, but I know more about their religion then they do!

I couldnt agree with this more "I mean, if you're going to say you believe in something, and devote your life to living a certain way, shouldn't you understand exactly what it is you claim to believe? ".

I have literally just joined this website an hour ago because like you I have no one to discuss any of this interesting stuff with! I have ONE agnostic friend, the rest all believe in God and dont take to kindly to my atheism.

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Permalink Reply by Tim on May 26, 2011 at 9:30am

Hello and welcome, Autumn. Great intro!

 

Yes, atheism is a lonely road, but I honestly believe that there are a lot more of us out there than the current statistics indicate. Social and family pressure are, I suspect, keeping a lot of atheists in the closet. My hope is that sites like these will give more people the courage to stand up and speak out for what they [don't] believe in. I truly believe that a wave of rationalism is building in this country that is, little by little, chipping away at the religiosity that has kept this country (on some levels at least) in the dark ages for so long. A lot of people are beginning to wake up from the fairytale. As Dawkins and Hitchens have stated in so many words, we (atheists) aren't going to roll ver and keep silent anymore!

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on May 26, 2011 at 9:59am

Welcome to the club.

 

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