tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337050523047172372.post7650711448544477010..comments2023-10-31T10:34:11.250-06:00Comments on Atheist Self: Congress -- more nontheists or not?David W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01382366849659434427noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337050523047172372.post-45032679800197675812007-03-09T19:49:00.000-06:002007-03-09T19:49:00.000-06:00Thanks, I hadn't actually meant to publish the Com...Thanks, I hadn't actually meant to publish the Comebacks post yet :-) I'm going to hold on to it for a while as I build it up slowly, and then publish when I've got something more substantial.David W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01382366849659434427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337050523047172372.post-58453922845787026742007-03-09T11:33:00.000-06:002007-03-09T11:33:00.000-06:00David,Yes, I found the whole hit by a truck, jump ...David,<BR/><BR/>Yes, I found the whole hit by a truck, jump out a window analogy quite amusing, as well. I was going to try to address it, but I got caught up addressing his other absurdities. I found that I could go on and on, but normally trolls hit-and-run, so I didn't really think I should continue to ramble, even if it was comforting to me... <BR/><BR/>I liked your "comebacks" post. Don't you hate how blogger keeps the original start date for posts? I saw it in my blog reader, but then when I came here, I thought something was amiss, because it wasn't the top post.Terrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08070030463879741408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337050523047172372.post-29860755519499913612007-03-09T11:30:00.000-06:002007-03-09T11:30:00.000-06:00Naomi,I wish preachers understood a lot of those t...Naomi,<BR/><BR/>I wish preachers understood a lot of those types of truths! ;)Terrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08070030463879741408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337050523047172372.post-23409035114306469742007-03-09T00:57:00.000-06:002007-03-09T00:57:00.000-06:00Conversation is a good use for a "voice". Dialogu...Conversation is a good use for a "voice". Dialogue beats monologue every time. Don't you wish preachers understood that?Naomihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354947211835100686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337050523047172372.post-50844440944340155062007-03-07T19:22:00.000-06:002007-03-07T19:22:00.000-06:00The irony is, I read let your visitors easily emai...The irony is, I read <I>let your visitors easily email posts from your blog to their friends</I> in the settings, and thought, <I>Well, who'd want to do that?</I><BR/><BR/>I just turned that on! I'm enjoying finding my voice, and very happy to have found conversation, too.David W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01382366849659434427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337050523047172372.post-64821349370142622002007-03-07T19:10:00.001-06:002007-03-07T19:10:00.001-06:00And to think that most blogs go for months without...And to think that most blogs go for months without a comment--and the proprietor starts commenting on his/her own posts, just to break the silence! Soo they give up the ghost...<BR/><BR/>But you, David, have posted three time in three days and have seven comments total!<BR/><BR/>Lest you think it's a fluke, I promise you most people do not reward schlock! So your writing has invited comments. And they're positive rather than negative, which means--<BR/><BR/>--you're doing something right!<BR/><BR/>Good on you!<BR/><BR/>(It would be nice if you allowed emails...)Naomihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354947211835100686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337050523047172372.post-386795066660176722007-03-07T19:10:00.000-06:002007-03-07T19:10:00.000-06:00Ooh! Now that's something to look forward to! :-) ...Ooh! Now that's something to look forward to! :-) Blogging is definitely helping. I got really depressed over things after the CNN Paula Zahn piece, but am feeling better now that I am finding good discussion and lots of like-mindedness online.<BR/><BR/>I saw your troll's post and it's interesting that he mocked you by equating the certainty of God's existence with the certainty of gravity. Because, after all, gravity is just a <I>theory</I>! Just like evolution....<BR/><BR/>Also, I'm glad you mentioned the atheist/satan-worshipping confusion on your blog. I've never understood how people can understand atheism that poorly, but I've heard that a lot. My wife doesn't even believe me when I tell her that there are people that think this.David W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01382366849659434427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337050523047172372.post-36527505796880493232007-03-07T18:45:00.000-06:002007-03-07T18:45:00.000-06:00David,My comment is going to be somewhat off topic...David,<BR/><BR/>My comment is going to be somewhat off topic. Actually, mostly so. I'm also excitedly awaiting the "outing" of the congress person. For the record, my money's on Barney Frank.<BR/><BR/>Here's the off topic part: Welcome! I just got my first troll today and I emailed Naomi to tell her the good news. She linked me to your blog and I think I can safely say you'll not only enjoy atheist blogging, you'll be very successful at it. <BR/><BR/>Looks like you have a strong beginning. I find (and I'm sure you will too, judging by what I already read) blogging to be very cathartic. I'm also a pessimist, but I'm finding that there is some hope. The blogging certainly helps to give an outlet and a sense of community and belonging. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, I hope it lessens the loneliness for you. Just wait until you have your first troll! I joked with Naomi about that being the time when I would know I had really made it. She said something to the effect that they get together in big trolling parties and all hit your site at the same time. I haven't had that happen yet. I don't really want it to, except that I will find some satisfaction in knowing I raised the ire of so many.Terrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08070030463879741408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337050523047172372.post-6136316164928779042007-03-07T09:15:00.000-06:002007-03-07T09:15:00.000-06:00I usually go by the 14-16% number as those that cl...I usually go by the 14-16% number as those that classify themselves as "non-religious" but I know there's a lot fewer people out there that will openly use the title of atheist.<BR/><BR/>I think it was a study done in Norway that showed that despite only 10% or so that called themselves atheist, only 2/3 of those polled said they had a religion. In other words, there are a lot of closed closet doors in Norway!<BR/><BR/>I heard yesterday that this congressperson that is coming out does not identify with themselves as atheist either, just as a nontheist. Semantically, I don't see a difference, but psychologically I know there is one.<BR/><BR/>It's like the bit in Julia Sweeney's show where she tells her parents she doesn't believe in God anymore. They take it hard. But then her parents local newspaper takes up an AP story about her change of faith, which opened by calling Julia an atheist. Her mother calls her, frantic, "Honey, you told us you didn't believe in God -- but an <B><I>ATHEIST</I></B>!?"<BR/><BR/>I was openly "out" to anyone I talked to in college, and I'm open to my friends and family. I'm a little less open around strangers. I think my wife usually tells people I'm agnostic, so most everyone in her church at least knows that I'm non-religious. But I keep a tight lip when it comes to my clients. That's one group that I just don't think being with is going to turn out ok. (More on all this later!)David W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01382366849659434427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7337050523047172372.post-50427257191703365422007-03-07T03:00:00.000-06:002007-03-07T03:00:00.000-06:00David, I am so flattered! Thank you.And thank you...David, I am so flattered! Thank you.<BR/><BR/>And thank you for your excellent analysis. From the length of my post, you can imagine I cut quite a bit out...<BR/><BR/>The figure I used to get about 50 possible atheists is a broad group that encompasses: atheists, anti-theists, agnostics, secular humanists and those who are just "non-believers"--that maverick group that refuse to label themselves. This conglomeration represents 14-16% of Americans--or 42million-48million people!<BR/><BR/>That said, most are Other-closeted as yet. I, myself, am "out" to my close friends and within my DrinkingLiberally meetup group. And most of them are atheists, as well. (In fact, for a group to model for atheists, you can't beat DL's: no leader, no agenda, no dues--just mingling and conversation.)<BR/><BR/>PS: I only just peeked in to see what was new--and found that I was the news! Thank you, again!Naomihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354947211835100686noreply@blogger.com