http://smalltownatheist.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Tristan Russell en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:53:52 GMT 2010-01-06T13:53:52Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977631188 [This is re-posted from my March 18 blog post ] Most people are stupid. I've probably said a thousand times by now that the education in this country is atrocious, and our critical thinking skills . . . Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:52:59 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977631188 Tristan Russell 2009-03-19T22:52:59Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977584969 As this group has a specific purpose, I'd like its members to add articles, videos, and images only if they're targeted toward the group's campaign.  That is, don't just add this . . . Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:50:54 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977584969 Tristan Russell 2009-02-05T03:50:54Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977584855 Since Gather really isn't the idea place to have these kinds long-winded discussions, we'll need to find ways of working around the limitations.  How many times have you came across an article . . . Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:45:38 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977584855 Tristan Russell 2009-02-05T01:45:38Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977584778 This is a simple, corny article of introduction (or re-introduction, for those who know me).  Please comment below and introduce yourself to the group!   I'm The Small Town Atheist, . . . Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:19:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977584778 Tristan Russell 2009-02-05T00:19:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977578809 I suck at math. If it weren’t for this humongous calculator I’m typing on, I’d probably be S.O.L. I remembered working on a programming problem when I realized that losing your religion (or at the . . . Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:03:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977578809 Tristan Russell 2009-01-29T23:03:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977570717 Some of my recent online augmenting has prompted several trips to the book of Genesis , and subsequently sparked a few nits that I haven't picked yet. Ergo, here are three mini-rants dealing with . . . Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:06:53 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977570717 Tristan Russell 2009-01-21T23:06:53Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977459076 Due to recent conversations, I've been challenged to provide an answer to the religious-based question: "What could atheism ever provide?" I can only answer this question for myself, . . . Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:05:02 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977459076 Tristan Russell 2008-10-08T23:05:02Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977459305 In my previous "share", I prompted a quite lengthy dialog with several Gather users.  This thread is a continuation of those discussions , as well as an opportunity to talk with others. . . . Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:26:40 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977459305 Tristan Russell 2008-09-25T22:26:40Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977449792 It’s amazing to think that many people in today’s modern society hold faith up as a virtue.  I am not one of those people.  There is no sense in replacing reason and evidence with faith -- . . . Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:48:35 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977449792 Tristan Russell 2008-09-15T21:48:35Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977419151 Anyone else see our Commander-in-chief at the Olympics last night? Here's some wonderful quotes from our President : "..if you're a religious person, you understand that once religion . . . Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:01:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977419151 Tristan Russell 2008-08-11T21:01:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977413462 My readers have probably noticed that I've been taking it easy online.  I haven't made a Gather article, blog post, or YouTube video for a while now.  Don't worry, I'm just taking . . . Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:28:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977413462 Tristan Russell 2008-08-05T21:28:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977400768 Ever since I can remember, I've always disliked mustard.   We all develop our own tastes, and those tastes change as we grow.   But for years I would send back a burger if it had mustard . . . Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:48:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977400768 Tristan Russell 2008-07-18T17:48:30Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977392209 Hi all.  Just letting you know there's a new social networking site just for atheists, humanists, and freethinkers called Atheist Nexus . Join now and add me as a friend! Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:09:11 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977392209 Tristan Russell 2008-07-07T23:09:11Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977386352 Our nation's birthday is once again upon us.  It seems like it was only a year ago when were celebrating our independence from tyrannical dictatorships and oppressive religious ideals by blowing . . . Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:25:51 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977386352 Tristan Russell 2008-07-01T23:25:51Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977381596 Earlier this month, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry vetoed a measure co-sponsored by state Rep. Sally " Gays are Worse than Terrorism " Kern.  Thanks to everyone who wrote emails and letters, . . . Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:31:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977381596 Tristan Russell 2008-06-24T21:31:10Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977372292 Myth #10: Atheism can't give you the meaning of life. Actually, this myth is true.   Atheism isn't supposed to provide you with a meaning to life.   If you've been following . . . Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:15:36 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977372292 Tristan Russell 2008-06-14T00:15:36Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977371054 Myth #9: "There are no atheists in foxholes" This myth is akin to the idea that, when pressed with fear for their life, atheists will cry out to God.   This idea is ridiculous in . . . Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:36:50 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977371054 Tristan Russell 2008-06-13T16:36:50Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977370806 Myth #8: Atheists hate God Anyone with a god might feel the urge to tell a non-believer of that god that they "hate it".   We here this all the time: "You just hate (or are mad . . . Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:03:53 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977370806 Tristan Russell 2008-06-13T00:03:53Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977370744 Myth #7: Atheism leads to Darwinism. It's funny how many of these myths are used by Ben Stein in his new movie , huh?  Well, maybe not funny, more like sad, really.  A lot of people . . . Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:22:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977370744 Tristan Russell 2008-06-12T16:22:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977369232 Myth #6: Atheism is a religion. Hopefully you've been following along and have read the Myth #1 .   If you have, you know that an 'atheist' is a person who lacks god-belief.   . . . Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:02:41 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977369232 Tristan Russell 2008-06-12T02:02:41Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977368352 Myth #5: Atheists do not believe in objective moral standards.   Like so many of these myths, they generalize nonbelievers and then equate morality with the supernatural.  I'll . . . Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:24:29 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977368352 Tristan Russell 2008-06-11T16:24:29Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977368083 Myth #4: Atheism is responsible for the greatest crimes in human history. Any nonbeliever who's ever engaged a theist has heard this myth before.   Most believers have used it, or at least . . . Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:38:14 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977368083 Tristan Russell 2008-06-11T00:38:14Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977367973 Myth #3: Atheism is dangerous to society. Today's first myth concerns the danger not believing in a god can pose to cooperative societies in general. I think that right off the bat, atheism . . . Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:15:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977367973 Tristan Russell 2008-06-10T16:15:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977367083 Myth #2: Atheists are stubborn and closed-minded. The second myth for today involves the tired old attack that we non-believers are just too stubborn to hear "the knock", as they say.  . . . Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:41:44 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977367083 Tristan Russell 2008-06-10T03:41:44Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977367046 Since its triple points week here on Gather, I figured I'd try to make the most of it. This article will begin a series of common myths and misconceptions regarding atheism . Whether you're . . . Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:22:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977367046 Tristan Russell 2008-06-09T21:22:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977354950 This is sort of a 'part two' to a post I just put up on my blog .  Check it out when you get time. Out In God's Country While relaxing at a lake-side campsite with my folks over . . . Tue, 27 May 2008 19:12:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977354950 Tristan Russell 2008-05-27T19:12:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977337393 I figured I'd do another quick promo for one of my absolute, can't-do-without favorite on YouTube: Edward Current. Edward takes the approach of sarcasm in his video style.  He plays . . . Fri, 02 May 2008 23:26:04 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977337393 Tristan Russell 2008-05-02T23:26:04Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977336052 Since I can't seem to figure out how to spotlight articles I wrote before the new Gather update, I've decided to list them here and spotlight this article.  This will be a collection of all . . . Thu, 01 May 2008 04:03:53 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977336052 Tristan Russell 2008-05-01T04:03:53Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977334360 Ben Stein has a new film out now, and although there are plenty of sites devoted to tearing it to pieces , I wouldn't feel right if I didn't drop my coin in the pond too. So here goes. . . . Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:58:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977334360 Tristan Russell 2008-04-29T01:58:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977326189 I just checked my Gather stats and noticed that every single one of my articles and videos have dropped in rating by at least 2 points.  Someone hates me. I don't put much stock in the . . . Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:14:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977326189 Tristan Russell 2008-04-17T23:14:30Z