itsTolkien_time's forum posts

Avatar image for itsTolkien_time
itsTolkien_time

2295

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

68

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

#1 itsTolkien_time
Member since 2009 • 2295 Posts

I hope no one minds that I bring this thread back up to the front. It's a few months old, but only on the second page, so I decided to post what I was remembering here. :)

I was not raised in a religious background. Both my parent's parents are religious, one set more devout than the other set(well, not a set anymore, only one), and my parents were raised as the American brand of Christian. You know, when you pretty much believe it butit doesn't affect things you do. They weren't strict with me about religion while growing up. We never talked about it or mentioned it. I found that pretty normal.

When I was about 7-8 we did start attending Church more often, but I didn't see it as the other attendees did. When I was little one of the first things I took interest in (besides dinosaurs, which also fit better in time when not using the bible ;)) was Greek mythology.

Before I could tell you why we celebrate Easter and probably even Christmas I could tell you about the Labours of Heracles. I knew the pantheon of Olympus before the Holy Trinity was even mentioned to me. I didn't think the Greek myths were factual. I knew what myth meant, I wasn't stupid by golly. But I was familiar with them before I was exposed to Christianity.

That affected my view of the religion. I saw it more as just another set of myths and morals that I was wise to abide by. Right off the bat, without any questioning, I was practically an atheist. It wasn't until I moved from the area and really got older and out into the world that I realized people actually formed their lives around this belief in god. I was pretty naive.

So I just accepted it and moved on, until I started reading up on other religions and wondering why people I knew didn't follow those instead. Then I met the first atheist I'd ever known in school. Atheism is something I wasn't likely to encounter after moving to Texas, but it happened. The exposure really opened me up to the fact that people actually give consideration to choices of religion and it began the process of questioning myself. I concluded that I was, indeed, an atheist.

I still like Greek mythology.

Avatar image for itsTolkien_time
itsTolkien_time

2295

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

68

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

#2 itsTolkien_time
Member since 2009 • 2295 Posts

I'm rather glad this topic came up, as I have been thinking about it the last couple days, what with going back to school and all. It's rather difficult to find any non-religious girls in the middle of Texas. :P Of the two atheist girls I do know (the only two I know of at all in my high school) one I don't care for and the other is a friend but not an attraction.

 I do not think it would be possible for me to be in a serious relationship with a religious person. Atheism, although in itself not a philosophy or lifestyle, has a big effect on how I think and how I act in my life. Philosophy and psychology are things I am hugely interested in, and I would love to discuss with people close to me, and have them form an understanding as well. My views on both subjects are influenced by the lack of gods in my reality.

I'm not sure Icould ultimately relate to a religious person.

Really the only option I have to consider is a single one of my attractions, who states she doesn't really care about religion. But simply not caring about a subject I have invested many weeks into might not be the best relation. :/ She might change, however.

I'd like to have friends more apt to discuss things with and just forget all this relationship baloney. :)

Avatar image for itsTolkien_time
itsTolkien_time

2295

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

68

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

#3 itsTolkien_time
Member since 2009 • 2295 Posts

Well my mind works through alot of skepticism nowadays. Always about something or other. I've stopped doubting atheism in general, though. I'm quite concrete in my belief that no currently existing belief system fits what I know, and that will not change in the future. Maybe someday logic, proof, and emotion will coincide around a new spiritual being we somehow haven't yet concieved, but I have a feeling I will find a way to doubt that also, and revert to atheism.

I'm not sure it is physically possible for me to accept a spiritual belief. :P

Avatar image for itsTolkien_time
itsTolkien_time

2295

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

68

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

#4 itsTolkien_time
Member since 2009 • 2295 Posts

There is a bit of a spin in the title that makes it seem like they are actually twice as likely to just kill you. The study was about discussing the option of assisted suicide with the patient/patient's family. And if I remember and correctly interpreted what I read last night the study only refered to the most recent death of a patient under their care, not their practice in general.

 

Avatar image for itsTolkien_time
itsTolkien_time

2295

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

68

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

#5 itsTolkien_time
Member since 2009 • 2295 Posts

Nothing is even close to perfect but I don't think I'd have it any other way. :)

So I'm content for the most part, but saying good or bad is a stretch. To be honest, I need just a flat out "I don't know". And I might never know, frankly I have no idea what my ideal world would be.

I can't say I'm happy, but I can't imagine being better. XD  I can't say that I would go back and alter any of my experiences, and I'm eager to continue experiencing the future. Happiness and anything else just seem to be fleeting or merely single components on a path through life that is most of all confusing and wonderful. But yet my personal happiness is very important.

 It's like a good videogame or gripping tale, even with struggle, or deaths of characters you loved, you just don't want to put it down. Because, good or bad, there's going to be something fascinating around the corner.

Sometimes I feel I take too much of a third person view of things. That I should do important things instead of being passive and relatively average.

If that made sense, I'm glad. I'm rather tired and I'm not sure I made any sense to myself. I felt compelled to write something, though.

Avatar image for itsTolkien_time
itsTolkien_time

2295

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

68

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

#6 itsTolkien_time
Member since 2009 • 2295 Posts

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]I don't care about his religious beliefs. RationalAtheist

You care enough for at least 43 clicks and key-presses!

And you cared enough about him not caring to count every single keystroke... :P

Now for me. I was going to say basically the same as that message, but after that reply I should clarify in advance. It's not that I don't care what he believes as much as I don't think it really matters to how he caries out the presidency. Nothing he has done thus far shows a significant sort of religious bias, and his job is to simply uphold the constitution's standards.

Whatever he is, I don't think he's a strong and fully practicing version of it. Maybe a doubter.

Avatar image for itsTolkien_time
itsTolkien_time

2295

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

68

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

#7 itsTolkien_time
Member since 2009 • 2295 Posts

It would have to be this:

VIZ Profanisaurus

The VIZ Profanisaurus.

 

RationalAtheist

Do you swear to serve this country in the name of profanity and all sexual euphemisms ideal for use in the home and office?

Avatar image for itsTolkien_time
itsTolkien_time

2295

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

68

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

#8 itsTolkien_time
Member since 2009 • 2295 Posts

My family knows I'm not religious, and my family isn't very religious anyhow. One set of grandparents would probably be dissapointed with the "atheist" status. My family on that side (parents of my father and their relatives) lives mostly in Ohio and I know a couple of them that are profoundly Christian. I don't see them very often, and most of them don't know anything about my family's religious status.

My immediate family probably knows what I think, but I don't discuss it with them.

My friends at school are probably the most numerous to know or hear of my atheism. Majority of the people I know have heard, a few I have discussed with, and three of my friends are atheist themselves. All of whom are far more outspoken about it than I usually am, often referencing their disbelief anytime religious practice is mentioned, save by certain people.

I don't care who knows, besides the older members of my family, who would probably take it badly. But I don't make a point to talk about it, and slowly other people are making less of a point to talk about it with me. There was a time people seemed to find it useful (a novelty, perhaps) to mention my atheism more than necessary, but now it's old hat. 

Avatar image for itsTolkien_time
itsTolkien_time

2295

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

68

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

#9 itsTolkien_time
Member since 2009 • 2295 Posts

Same with me.

I can't tell if it is actually saving my bracket. Whenever I do return to the Greatest Villain Bracket page (through means other than the broken link) the bracket is always blank, even though I have made my choices.

Avatar image for itsTolkien_time
itsTolkien_time

2295

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

68

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

#10 itsTolkien_time
Member since 2009 • 2295 Posts

Faith School Menace? "Professor Richard Dawkins calls on us to reconsider the consequences of faith education, which, he believes, indoctrinates and divides children, and bamboozles parents" This should be interesting to watch. I saw it being advertised on Channel 4 recently, and it showed a clip of a Muslim woman telling Richard Dawkins that they do not teach evolution. My personal opinion on faith schools is that I would agree with Richard Dawkins, and I would be supportive of them being abolished. However, the opposite is happening: the current coalition government is planning to expand them. :|michaelP4

XD I'm imagining Dawkins saying "bamboozles". It's funny to me when he says odd words in his soft accent.

I am, of course, fairly opposed to faith schools, and I certainly do not endorse leaving evolutionary process out of the curicculum. I'm not sure why a government would plan to expand them, I might need to read up on that.

Faith schools can easily indoctrinate children (though that can happen at home anyway), and it also seems to leave children with less options and less exposure to the surrounding world and people that are different from them. Never a good thing. :(