Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rosemary LYNDALL WEMM on June 9, 2011 at 6:30pm

If my life or health was in danger, yes.  I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one! 

 

There is a time to stand up for what you believe and there is a time to dissemble, for your survival's sake.   Atheism offers no rewards for preventable martyrdom.

 

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Permalink Reply by Rosemary LYNDALL WEMM on June 9, 2011 at 6:35pm

This raises an interesting question of its own.  If atheists are prepared to fake a belief in god in a jail then how accurate are the surveys which find that atheists are under-represented in prison populations?   [I was about to say "penal populations" but I anticipated some lewd comments :-)  ]

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Permalink Reply by Heather Spoonheim on June 9, 2011 at 6:44pm

Actually that is the point of the discussion.  Robert and I were talking earlier about the benefits of religious affiliation in prison skewing those results.  Those who subscribe to a religion get a few extra hours out of their cells for 'worship' as well as some extra time with their spiritual counselor.  I would grab a religion, join AA & narcotics counselling (just to hear the stories of others), get into a lesbian support group, join a native heritage group as well as support group for the white minority in prison - everything I could to help pass the time.

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Permalink Reply by IEatDinosaurMeat on June 9, 2011 at 6:39pm

I would pretend to be religious for $.50.

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Permalink Reply by IEatDinosaurMeat on June 9, 2011 at 9:43pm

To expand, I see it not as selling myself out but as doing whatever it takes to get one step ahead from where I was before. If I have to sell my soul for a loaf of bread I would, I don't have a soul anyway so it really doesn't matter.

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Permalink Reply by Arcus on June 10, 2011 at 5:17pm

Beware though, there's no completely free lunch..

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Permalink Reply by UnTarded on June 9, 2011 at 8:22pm

I was released from prison 13 months ago. Everyone knew where I stood. I had no trouble with the muslims or

the crackpot xians. By claiming faith, I could have gotten out more. I had a tv a couple of crossword books (hard

ones) and the Oxford Complete Works of William Shakespeare. What more could one want?

(My crime wasn't one of dishonesty.)

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Permalink Reply by Heather Spoonheim on June 9, 2011 at 8:45pm

Now that you are out, the incarcerated Atheist population just dropped significantly.

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Permalink Reply by IEatDinosaurMeat on June 9, 2011 at 10:55pm

1) What do you mean 'gotten out more'?

2) Was there a Sunday chapel or church service?

a) Was there multiple denominations to attend?

b) Was there any time or activity for you to do during that time?

3) Was there much opportunity to expand your mind?

 

I don't plan on attending prison any time soon, I'm just really curious about your experience.

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Permalink Reply by UnTarded on June 10, 2011 at 7:38am

1) There were sunday services for all the xian sects. even j.w.'s & morons. In week gatherings were also present for certain faiths.  The largest single faith were the muslims (and the largest gang).

3) there was a library that wasn't too bad. I read alot of history & literature. I had my Shakespeare

& puzzlers, so my mind kept busy. I also have a mind that lets me travel to anywhere in the cosmos.

That helped out alot (but it fucked me in high school).

All in all it was a negative, but learning experience.

The biggest lesson I learned, was that I'm a lousy card player.

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Permalink Reply by Caesar MacEntire on June 9, 2011 at 8:55pm

Why would I be in prison?

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Permalink Reply by Bryan B on June 9, 2011 at 9:11pm

For Heresy!

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