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, Tristan Russell; you can call me STA. I've been an atheist for many years now (I was a devout Pentecostal for about five years). I've been outspoken on the internet for the last couple of years. My blog (at thesmalltownatheist.blogspot.com) focuses on many of the same topics as my Gather articles, topics such as what it means to be an atheist and the horrible things done in the name of religion. I participate at AtheistNexus.org, and I have (much to my reluctance) a mySpace profile that really only acts as a portal. I joined YouTube to continue these discussions face-to-face with people from around the globe, and I've had a wonderful time doing it. My newly formed Gather group "Debate Faith" seeks to be another forum for this type of discussion, only this time it has to be a proper, reasoned discussion and not just bible-quoting, off-topic lunacy.
I hope to see more nonbelievers actually engaging in conversation in this group. There's plenty of us on here, and yet I only see a few of them actually arguing. I realize that for some, argument is distasteful. To me, argument is the way in which we move ideas forward -- it gets things done! Nothing should be held so sacred that you can't talk about it. If you like to argue about religion, faith, or god (either for or against these ideas), please sign up with us and let's work toward a better understanding of all sides of this time-tested argument.
You can contact me directly at thesmalltownatheist@gmail.com if you need to. This group will further spread my time from the above activities, but I look forward to seeing the debates. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Now it's your turn...tell us about yourself!
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Comments: 104 ( 1 removed by Tristan Russell )
Will that exclude condescending remarks toward others with differing views? I'd like to know before making a decision.
I promise I will never bring a bible quote into the discussion. Never. Ever.
My beliefs are my own. I don't mind discussing them if anyone is interested, but I feel no need to tell you about them if you don't ask. Nor do I feel a need to prove anything to anyone. I'm happy with myself and my beliefs and don't need approval or acceptance from anyone.
Thanks for the invitation, Tristan. I look forward to reading, even if I don't contribute.
Who am I fooling? You know I can't sit on my hands forever.
I don't think I ever really believed that a supreme being exists. I was reared as a Presbterian, but something didn't smell right about Christianity. Anyway...I love a good debate and I am looking forward to participating in Tristan's group.
My motive has never been to recruit atheists. But...I will argue against religion because I do not think that religion offers us benefits that can possibly out weigh the damage it causes.
I will argue the case for "we don't know." :-)
:oP
Just to add to what Slim said, I too do not "recruit" atheists. I'm just fed up with religious believers trying to get their ideas into my country's laws. Your rights end where others' begin, and I'll fight for that. I also am disheartened by how religious dogma hurts individuals and society in general. I work daily to try to at least get people to openly question what they believe and why.
In whose opinion?
I'm with Debra W. for now, and will watch before deciding.
If everyone is given the same respect for their beliefs/non beliefs, I will enjoy it. (except I hate proselytizing)
I have no faith in organized religion. I tend to lean toward spirituality, (American Indian, my ancestry) I tried to be religious for years in my young adult life, and it didn't feel right. So I went on a quest to learn the history of Christianity, and compared it with Paganism, then ultimately with Native American Spirituality. There are no rituals involved, no religion, no deity. I can't call myself a non believer... because I believe there's something intangible, within, all around that is part of the life force. I do not attempt to define it.
The basis of my spirituality is observation and respect for all living beings. (that includes Earth)
Science is the catalyst for discovery and understanding.
"I'm The Small Town male Atheist......:>)
I dont believe in a higher power I believe in personal responsibility and thinking for yourself.
This sounds like a great idea Tristan. I am just hoping that you dont get a bunch of Christians who want to "bless everyone" cause they need it.
But I also dont want to see a bunch of Christian bashing either.
Debate even heated is good but we must be respectful of one another.
I dont want to recruit anyone I just want to be accepted for my non belief.
Hiya Lori! Thanks for joining.
Members please read the full group description!!!
One of the biggest reasons I formed this group is that, a lot of the fatigue that comes with the numerous Gather religious debates has to do with the fact that most of the arguments tend to fall apart. A lot of people just can't seem to understand the basics of arguing. They don't know when a valid point is made, and that can't tell when they've lost an argument. They then turn around and use those same defeated arguments time and again. This group seeks to limit those kinds of pseudo-debates. If all you plan on doing is proselytizing, don't bother joining.
I'm not an agnostic.
I don't believe in imposing my views on others, but neither do I wish the views of others to be imposed on me. These are reasons why I like the Constitution (we still have one, don't we?).
Best wishes.
Oh, and I'm culturally Catholic, but my parents themselves are agnostics.
(I don't think a group moderator can delete comments on other people's articles, by the way. He/she can boot members and articles from the group.)
Someone else stated the reason that I have become a loud voice in opposition of organized religion: "I'm just fed up with religious believers trying to get their ideas into my country's laws.
:D
I've recently developed a crush on hyphens and I don't know why.
Thanks!
@Dorian: Glad you joined. I too am fascinated by hyphenated words. Perhaps some Hyphen-God pre-programmed me to like them?
Sorry, I didn't mean to open a discussion yet. LOL. Please reserve debates for other articles!
Would you be my alter Sandy?
I'd be honored.
I've evolved from a vague and bored non-church-going Christian, to a politically po'd agnostic (with strong pagan tendencies). I'm still charitable, I still don't steal or lie. I'm friendly and polite in real life. All the traits people associate with Christianity are, in fact, human traits.
This is an interesting group idea!
And probably absinthe. This isn't an exhaustive list.
She stuck in her thumb and pulled out a plum and said "What a good girl am i!"
-Mark
(I haven't had enough until you repeat your speil at least ten times.)
My bad.
Love, Mark
Do we greet you first then nuke you?
I wear my pirate shirt and earrings every Friday, but on special occasions (Talk Like a Pirate Day) I will put on the full gear from hat to boots.
There is a Pastafarian group on Gather if ye want to know the whole story.
I sometimes align with the Invisible Pink Unicorn, as I do not see this as conflicting with Pastafarian beliefs.
-Mark
Every good stew ought to include small town carrots. . .
-Mark
STA
May the Lord bless and keep you. . .
-Mark
I grew up in a slightly bigger town right next to Tristan's. When he says small...he's not exaggerating!! I was Baptised at 10, and by 12 I'd decided that most of what I'd been taught was bunk. My mom started attending an independant charismatic church and got "born again" and things went downhill from there. I was a practising Wiccan for a while. I can see the truth to it in a very Joseph Cambellian sense, but it didn't ring true for me.
My husband is a Liberal (non-Christain) Quaker and a soldier (isn't that a contradiction!!) So I have researched MANY different faiths. We believe in an ultimate spiritual truth that the finite human mind can't fully encompass, and that the quest for truth is universal and fullfilling.
And that ALL religious dogma should keep it's nose out of public policy!
Beth and I actually know each other -- she's good friends with my wife....and I've seen her husband naked. If you really have to know exactly why, email me.
LOL
Thanks for joining the group. Your perspective is valuable here.
"I won't even try to impose them on my own children."
That truly is a relief to hear (though I didn't really think otherwise anyway). How are the little shits doin'?
Anyway, great idea and I hope you all have much success :)
I grew up Catholic, but through my career have worked in a wide range of churches of different denominations and came to see that they are all the same, especially in negative ways. My first step was away from organized religion, then to total non-belief. I've always been interested in science and the aspect of 'faith' has always left me uncomfortable. I am not looking for proof - I have no desire of it now. My energies are focused on creating a better existence now, whatever the veracity of an afterlife may be.
I enjoy discussions about philosophy and the aspects of historical religious concepts that are inherently good and universal, with intelligent, open-minded people. And I look forward to the postings in the group, Tristan.
Shannon: You're welcome to join the group. You don't have to be an intellectual or have any training or experience in professional debate or anything like that. I only ask you read and understand the guidelines specified on the description page. The discussions won't be in formal debate format -- unless the poster or members agree in specific cases. We'll most likely not ban anyone on a first offense. We're not Nazis here, just passionate people seeking engaging and stimulating conversation.
Sandy Knauer™ , Feb 4, 2009, 10:38pm EST
You may be lost, but I detect life in you. Has the Holy Spirit got His eyes on you? The girl in braids always slugs the boy she loves. . .
Are you Jezebel or Mary Magdalene? I suspect the latter. . .
His love, -Mark
If you think you can make a case for your argument, I suggest you follow the group guidelines and post an article backing up your statements. Play fair or take your ball and go home.
I have a lengthy review of a very worthwhile atheist NOVEL by Dale McGowan in the July/August issue of The Humanist, on my Gather page, and on Amazon.com. I have another I just submitted to The Humanist of Ronald Aronson's 2008 Living Without God, a worthwhile read. I will likely be discussing Aronson's main point here.
I am a libertarian humanist. I belive in freedom and I believe in people.
"I believe in freedom and I believe in people. . ."
Me too!
-Mark
Yeah, Mark, but I also think that belief in God is antithetical to both freedom and people, and actually is contrary to human nature as rational beings.
In any case, very little was "knowable," so they made up reasons. And a popular 'reason' for things, both good and bad, was that 'someone' or 'something' MADE them happen. And gods were born. Good gods, and evil. Strong gods, and weak. And eventually... a God. One God to bind them all.
And here we are. We have better, more accurate, more complete explanations for all of it now, and the IDEA of god/gods/A God being a useful description or explanation for ANYthing strikes me as worse than useless. I see it as an great impediment to growth.
Or are you just a fun guy?
-Mark
Oh, Happy Darwin Day everybody!
It is true that many terrible things have been and continue to be done in the name of religion. But terrible things have been done in the name of greed, xenophobia, and sport.
Its funny that you cited Darwin. You know, of course, that he wasn't an atheist?
From Wikipedia:
"Though reticent about his religious views, in 1879 he responded that he had never been an atheist in the sense of denying the existence of a God, and that generally “an Agnostic would be the more correct description of my state of mind.”[7] He went as far as saying that "Science has nothing to do with Christ, except insofar as the habit of scientific research makes a man cautious in admitting evidence. For myself, I do not believe that there ever has been any revelation. As for a future life, every man must judge for himself between conflicting vague probabilities."
I am somewhat amused that you and others take pride in being atheists. Its not that I think you should be in some faith system beating up all those who disagree; rather, I would think an atheist would just be that.
I don't really care what religion, belief system, moral code, etc that people cling to. I know this is a naive statement but here it goes: to you be yours and to me mine.
Do you believe in the dragons who live in the center of the sun? I hope you do, because you can't disprove them, at least not with the technology we have today. So therefore you must believe in them! If you don't, you'll need faith! After all, faith is believing in something for which there is no good reason to do so; and if there's no good reason NOT to believe in the dragons, any "a-dragonists" would be equally faithful to "dragonists", huh Umar? Even when the "a-dragonist" says that he doesn't claim to "know for sure" that no dragons exist in the center of the sun but that he'd rather not claim there are such things until a sufficient reason to do so, you'd still claim he has just as much faith as those who worship the dragons.
"Even when the "a-dragonist" says that he doesn't claim to "know for sure" that no dragons exist in the center of the sun but that he'd rather not claim there are such things until a sufficient reason to do so. . ."
What if the Creator of dragons wrote and told you many facts about these hot solar lizards - would you believe Him? If ESPN gave you the score of your favorite team's latest contest, would you believe them?
Who is your authority?
-Mark
And they wouldn't try to write their stories in books -- anyone can write a book about anything. Besides, books are soooooooo last century! You only know about the dragons if you just believe in them first. Then, when you look at the sun, you can witness their glory first-hand!
I'll be back when it's a bit less sleepy out.
How do you know this? Where is the proof for this preposterous assertion - an eternal effect without a cause? - This would be unprecedented!
Tristan - do you believe in an omniscient, all-powerful Creator of all things, dragons included?
"I hope you do, because you can't disprove Him, at least not with the technology w