Comments on: Coming out of the closet . . . http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/ Commentary, news, and rants on the evils and stupidity of belief in the big invisible daddy in the sky. Illuminating and watchdogging the widespread attempts to institutionalize the theocratic rule of the US. Making fun of believers everywhere. Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:03:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Joe http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-146125 Joe Wed, 03 Jan 2007 06:09:20 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-146125 I never remember a time that I wasn't an Agnostic/Atheist. It was never an issue with my parents who never took us to church. I have Fundy in my family but they've learned to leave me alone. I've married Baptist, Catholic and Baptist again and it was only an issue the first time. I don't shy away from the bible beaters though I don't seek them out. I never remember a time that I wasn’t an Agnostic/Atheist. It was never an issue with my parents who never took us to church. I have Fundy in my family but they’ve learned to leave me alone. I’ve married Baptist, Catholic and Baptist again and it was only an issue the first time.
I don’t shy away from the bible beaters though I don’t seek them out.

]]> By: Stardust http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-146007 Stardust Wed, 03 Jan 2007 03:06:08 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-146007 <i>I do not want to be “in your face” about it. It mostly amounts to correcting somebody when they assume I share their believes, and not being afraid to point it out when somebody is full of BS.</i> Zipi, this is how I feel, also. I do not want to turn into an "evangelistic" atheist. I don't even care to discuss religion or atheism in my everyday life, but so many xian people do and like you say, they just assume that I believe as they do and I am not going to just sit silently and let them believe that about me anymore. I do not want to be “in your face” about it. It mostly amounts to correcting somebody when they assume I share their believes, and not being afraid to point it out when somebody is full of BS.

Zipi, this is how I feel, also. I do not want to turn into an “evangelistic” atheist. I don’t even care to discuss religion or atheism in my everyday life, but so many xian people do and like you say, they just assume that I believe as they do and I am not going to just sit silently and let them believe that about me anymore.

]]> By: Stardust http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-146000 Stardust Wed, 03 Jan 2007 03:00:00 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-146000 <i>Celebrate Punctuated Equilibria</i> Dave, I love it! LOL! Celebrate Punctuated Equilibria

Dave, I love it! LOL!

]]> By: Zipi http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-145997 Zipi Wed, 03 Jan 2007 02:57:20 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-145997 There is an article at Richard Dawkin's site by Daniel Dennett that sumarizes well some of my opinions on being out: http://richarddawkins.net/article,471,Not-Yet-The-Majority-But-No-Longer-Silent,Daniel-C-Dennett An excerpt: <i>How times have changed -- and for the better! It is now possible for homosexuals to be elected to Congress, to star in television shows, to be honored for their accomplishments and treasured by their friends. Could an atheist be elected to Congress? Probably not now, but if we can just raise the consciousness of Americans to the fact that some of their best friends are atheists, this will change.</i> I put a lot of emphasis on the <i>casual</i> part of being out of the atheist closet. I do not want to be "in your face" about it. It mostly amounts to correcting somebody when they assume I share their believes, and not being afraid to point it out when somebody is full of BS. There is an article at Richard Dawkin’s site by Daniel Dennett that sumarizes well some of my opinions on being out:

http://richarddawkins.net/article,471,Not-Yet-The-Majority-But-No-Longer-Silent,Daniel-C-Dennett

An excerpt:

How times have changed — and for the better! It is now possible for homosexuals to be elected to Congress, to star in television shows, to be honored for their accomplishments and treasured by their friends. Could an atheist be elected to Congress? Probably not now, but if we can just raise the consciousness of Americans to the fact that some of their best friends are atheists, this will change.

I put a lot of emphasis on the casual part of being out of the atheist closet. I do not want to be “in your face” about it. It mostly amounts to correcting somebody when they assume I share their believes, and not being afraid to point it out when somebody is full of BS.

]]> By: Zipi http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-145992 Zipi Wed, 03 Jan 2007 02:49:55 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-145992 <i> Atheisim doesn’t keep the LDS missionaries away here, but asking them to join you while you sacrifice a small child in the back yard for your atheist ceremony, does tend to keep them from knocking on your door…at least for a while. </i> LDS missionaries? Those are the young, cute, in a suit and tie ones, right? I flirt with them. It is very effective and it so catches them by surprise. Atheisim doesn’t keep the LDS missionaries away here, but asking them to join you while you sacrifice a small child in the back yard for your atheist ceremony, does tend to keep them from knocking on your door…at least for a while.

LDS missionaries? Those are the young, cute, in a suit and tie ones, right? I flirt with them. It is very effective and it so catches them by surprise.

]]> By: Dave http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-145987 Dave Wed, 03 Jan 2007 02:22:28 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-145987 My wife and I moved to a Bible Belt retirement community nearly four years ago. You can't swing a dead cat here without hitting three born-agains, and the churches are piled one atop the other. Thus far I have displayed the Darwin fish, and I interchange two magnetic signs I had made: "Geez if you love Honkus" and "Celebrate Punctuated Equilibria." I love the signs because my targets must intuit that they're being put down in some manner, but they can't be sure how. It has to be frustrating. Anyway, no repercussions to date. I'm not so naive that I think it can't happen, but I'm compelled to express my disdain in some manner. As to day-to-day personal encounters, I see little to be gained by expressing my beliefs (or disbelief) when they haven't been solicited. If someone asks -- or tries to proselytize -- I'm more than happy to identify my position. My wife and I moved to a Bible Belt retirement community nearly four years ago. You can’t swing a dead cat here without hitting three born-agains, and the churches are piled one atop the other. Thus far I have displayed the Darwin fish, and I interchange two magnetic signs I had made: “Geez if you love Honkus” and “Celebrate Punctuated Equilibria.” I love the signs because my targets must intuit that they’re being put down in some manner, but they can’t be sure how. It has to be frustrating. Anyway, no repercussions to date. I’m not so naive that I think it can’t happen, but I’m compelled to express my disdain in some manner. As to day-to-day personal encounters, I see little to be gained by expressing my beliefs (or disbelief) when they haven’t been solicited. If someone asks — or tries to proselytize — I’m more than happy to identify my position.

]]> By: Stardust http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-145848 Stardust Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:28:21 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-145848 <i>And I have told my fat-ass fundie brother-in-law when he tries to preach to me to shut the fuck up.</i> Spencer N - LOL! Regulars here know why I find that so damn funny (because of my Baptist niece and her pastor wannabe husband who is a real asshole.) Good for you wearing your atheist pins and speaking up! And I have told my fat-ass fundie brother-in-law when he tries to preach to me to shut the fuck up.

Spencer N - LOL! Regulars here know why I find that so damn funny (because of my Baptist niece and her pastor wannabe husband who is a real asshole.)

Good for you wearing your atheist pins and speaking up!

]]> By: Spencer Neal http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-145844 Spencer Neal Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:22:15 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/12/31/coming-out-of-the-closet/#comment-145844 I proudly wear my atheist pins, etc. And I have told my fat-ass fundie brother-in-law when he tries to preach to me to shut the fuck up. Although I am a slightly-built 58-year old guy, I don't take anyone's shit and never have. Being a martial artist helps, though, as well as carrying around a mouthpiece in my pocket. When things get hot, I just pop in the mouthpiece and see who wants to back up their blatherings with more than just hot air. I proudly wear my atheist pins, etc. And I have told my fat-ass fundie brother-in-law when he tries to preach to me to shut the fuck up. Although I am a slightly-built 58-year old guy, I don’t take anyone’s shit and never have. Being a martial artist helps, though, as well as carrying around a mouthpiece in my pocket. When things get hot, I just pop in the mouthpiece and see who wants to back up their blatherings with more than just hot air.

]]>