Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Farren · 03-19-2003, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by King Rat
Ha! Nah, it just means that I'm more concerned with trying to get myself figured out, then maybe I can spread it around. I imagine it'll take oh, I dunno, a lifetime...

Wise words from the rodent. I read a post the other day saying "WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR SECULARISM".

I spose its the Buddhist influence but I kind of feel you find what works for you, don't worry about anyone else - and if it works for you, people who haven't found "it" and think that your "it" or aspects of it is what they haven't got then they're likely to emulate it. And if it works for them ... its a passive process, the message prosthetylises itself.

Of course that doesn't mean getting REALLY %^$%^%$% upset about Bush and shouting at people about it isn't cathartic at times.

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Guilty as charged. I was thinking of calling myself Perdido, but I thought is sounded a bit too wimpy.

Yeah King Rats a better nick (but Perdido Street Station was a masterpiece)

Aside from Barker, he's one of the few fantasy Authors I can still stomach. He's a genre unto himself. Pure Genius.

King Rat · 03-20-2003, 07:48 AM

Quote:

I spose its the Buddhist influence but I kind of feel you find what works for you, don't worry about anyone else - and if it works for you, people who haven't found "it" and think that your "it" or aspects of it is what they haven't got then they're likely to emulate it. And if it works for them ... its a passive process, the message prosthetylises itself.

It's the only way that makes any sense to me. I'd hate to be the one to destroy someone else's faith. Sometimes that is all they have, sad really.

Quote:

Of course that doesn't mean getting REALLY %^$%^%$% upset about Bush and shouting at people about it isn't cathartic at times.

oh yeah, I yell at the TV all the time! Actually that is one of the reasons why I don't feel that an active method for the dissemination of an atheistic viewpoint is prudent, especially in a stongly evangelical christian country like the US. It's too deeply entrenched. I'm not gonna change the world, I can only change myself.

But you already know this.

So, while Bush's "relationship" with god repels me, I'm clearly in the minority. And there is also the old quote about how we deserve the leaders that are inflicted upon us.

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Yeah King Rats a better nick (but Perdido Street Station was a masterpiece)

Affirmative!

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Aside from Barker, he's one of the few fantasy Authors I can still stomach. He's a genre unto himself. Pure Genius.

I had given up on fantasy in my teens. On a whim I bought "Perdido" to read while on a camping trip, I was stunned. What a great read. I had dreams about Slake Moths for weeks after I finished the book. I have yet to read The Scar, maybe on my next camping trip.

DonaldW112 · 03-20-2003, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Seeker630
I belong to a UUA congregation and I'm an atheist. It gives me a group to interact with that provides the good, beneficial things associated with a church like a sense of community, social activism, participation in charities and so forth. It is a good social group and I like it so far. There is no dogma or doctrine and you don't have to believe in anything supernatural. You only have to keep in mind that some of them do. My group is close to half agnostic or atheist, with a couple of Wiccans and other pagans, some secular Jews and a lot of Deists. They are a very accepting group. I have been active in the anti-war movement here because they are associated with the local peace movement.

But as the other poster has said--the composition of a UUA church can vary quite a bit from one place to another. I have been told that some are more pro-theistic or even Christian leaning than others. My bunch are definitely pro-humanistc in their outlook.

I would also add my voice to the UU atheists. More than 70% of UUs identify themselves as humanists. This gives you an international community of people. I am also active in a local secular humanist group but it seems that no humanist/atheist group can more than a couple of 1000s of members nationally. The UUA congregations are over 200,000 strong with a very strong religious education program (which my atheist wife runs for our congregation). It teaches about religions not what to think. They also have a world-class sex education program usually focused at 6-8th graders. No organization is prefect and you can get some people who are much more supernaturalist than others, but everyone is very respectful and really agree on some big issues (religious freedom for all (including those without faith), church state separation, social action, social justice, and in general socially liberal)

Donald

Farren · 03-20-2003, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by King Rat
I had given up on fantasy in my teens. On a whim I bought "Perdido" to read while on a camping trip, I was stunned. What a great read. I had dreams about Slake Moths for weeks after I finished the book.

Thats EXACTLY my experience. I just got tired of the same rehashed Tolkienesque drivel masquerading as "original" work. Another fantasy novel I would recommend for true(tm) originality is "Imajica" by Clive Barker, if you haven't read it already.

Farren · 03-20-2003, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DonaldW112
I would also add my voice to the UU atheists. More than 70% of UUs identify themselves as humanists. This gives you an international community of people. I am also active in a local secular humanist group but it seems that no humanist/atheist group can more than a couple of 1000s of members nationally. The UUA congregations are over 200,000 strong with a very strong religious education program (which my atheist wife runs for our congregation). It teaches about religions not what to think. They also have a world-class sex education program usually focused at 6-8th graders. No organization is prefect and you can get some people who are much more supernaturalist than others, but everyone is very respectful and really agree on some big issues (religious freedom for all (including those without faith), church state separation, social action, social justice, and in general socially liberal)

Donald

Heh, its looking more and more to me like the UU is a form of Secular Humanism by stealth. I'm def gonna try find a local branch when I get out from behind this computer (possibly in a month or two

)

King Rat · 03-20-2003, 02:21 PM

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Another fantasy novel I would recommend for true(tm) originality is "Imajica" by Clive Barker, if you haven't read it already.

What the hell? How can you see my bookshelves across an ocean?

Farren · 03-20-2003, 02:40 PM

funny how memes tend to gather in the same general assemblies

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03-20-2003, 02:40 PM	#27
Farren Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: South Africa Posts: 2,194	funny how memes tend to gather in the same general assemblies

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