There are 300 FEWER ATHEISTS today than there were yesterday.

[Danno 1,228]

Danno- Have you ever heard of the NAS?

http://en.wikipedia....emy_of_Sciences

http://www.nasonline...nas/membership/

They are our nations most elite scientists. About 10% of them hold Nobel Prizes (and not in Bullsh!t like Peace or Literature). We are talking biology, physics, chemistry, medicine, mathematics, etc.). There advanced work are things that you and I could NEVER understand, ever.

93% of the group identify as atheists.

Oh, and the US prison population? About 1/5th of 1% are atheists.

If true, those are interesting stats.....but you left out another interesting factoid.... the USSR was the first country to put a man in space.

Now returning to the main question, which country which holds Atheism as a principle would you hold up as the shining light?

[웃 910]

If true, those are interesting stats.....but you left out another interesting factoid.... the USSR was the first country to put a man in space.

Now returning to the main question, which country which holds Atheism as a principle would you hold up as the shining light?

There was an interesting video I saw the other day. Basically was saying "Why are you labeling people as Atheists when they have no beliefs in Super Gods? You are categorizing them based on religion. We're not religious.....It's like judging everyone into a category of stamp collector and non-stamp collector..."

Something like that. Paraphrased of course.

So Danno, can I refer to you as a non-stamp collector? If you do something wrong I can say that Danno - the non-stamp collector - did something wrong?

It doesn't make sense.

Atheism is not a "principle."

[Amby 490]

Gooooooooo Jesus!

[mawilson 2,133]

Coming Out: The Other Closet

“Coming out of the closet” is a term most associated with gays and lesbians announcing to the world that they are homosexual. Few regret it, having found their way toward a more open and satisfying life.

But there is another closet which is hiding a different minority: atheists. Many of us, like many gays of previous decades, hide in the shadows due to fear of hostility and aversion to confrontations.

...

Degrees of "Outness"

There are degrees to which one is open about his or her atheism. While there is often overlap, these are the degrees as I see them:

Degree 1: Completely closeted. Not even your spouse knows. You tell everyone you're a believer, and you may even attend church services to convince those around you. You're living a lie, terrified that someone may learn the truth. If you fit into this category something must change in the near term. Your spouse, who loves and trusts you for who you are, needs and has the right to know.

Degree 2: Mostly secret. Your spouse knows, but most of your family and friends don't. You avoid the subject at all costs at work, and if it does come up, you will hide your atheism.

Degree 3: Somewhat open. Some family members and most friends know, but you are hesitant to bring it up in conversation. It's still a secret at work, unless you are very close friends with a coworker or two who know. You have friends who are atheists, and may belong to an organization like American Atheists for moral support and connectivity. You may write a letter to a congressperson, but not to the local paper, because you don't really want your atheism published. You may avoid the subject when it comes up, but if pressed you will not call yourself a believer (though you may soften the blow by using the term "agnostic" or "freethinker", even if you're an atheist by definition).

Degree 4: Mostly open. Almost anyone who knows you knows you don't practice religion. Coworkers, perhaps including your boss, all your friends and your entire family is aware. You don't shout it from rooftops, but you make no effort to hide your atheism when it comes up in conversation, and may occasionally raise the conversation yourself.

Degree 5: Completely open. Every time the subject comes up, you state your disbelief with pride and frankness. Anyone who doesn't like you because of your atheism is a bigot and is not your concern. You've written letters to the editors of newspapers on the topic, and you may have an atheist bumper sticker on your car.

...

link

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Muslims are widely undercounted. Many Muslim countries don't keep accurate census, and, in the west, Muslims are counted by who attends masjid. That leaves a large number, mainly women and chikdren, uncounted, since masjid attendance is an obligation for men only, and not all of them can leave work each Friday afternoon to pray.

And the relevance of this is what?

[sandinista! 1,816]

And the relevance of this is what?

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

I'm sorry but I don't think of you that way.

[Amby 490]

Coming Out: The Other Closet

“Coming out of the closet” is a term most associated with gays and lesbians announcing to the world that they are homosexual. Few regret it, having found their way toward a more open and satisfying life.

But there is another closet which is hiding a different minority: atheists. Many of us, like many gays of previous decades, hide in the shadows due to fear of hostility and aversion to confrontations.

...

Degrees of "Outness"

There are degrees to which one is open about his or her atheism. While there is often overlap, these are the degrees as I see them:

Degree 1: Completely closeted. Not even your spouse knows. You tell everyone you're a believer, and you may even attend church services to convince those around you. You're living a lie, terrified that someone may learn the truth. If you fit into this category something must change in the near term. Your spouse, who loves and trusts you for who you are, needs and has the right to know.

Degree 2: Mostly secret. Your spouse knows, but most of your family and friends don't. You avoid the subject at all costs at work, and if it does come up, you will hide your atheism.

Degree 3: Somewhat open. Some family members and most friends know, but you are hesitant to bring it up in conversation. It's still a secret at work, unless you are very close friends with a coworker or two who know. You have friends who are atheists, and may belong to an organization like American Atheists for moral support and connectivity. You may write a letter to a congressperson, but not to the local paper, because you don't really want your atheism published. You may avoid the subject when it comes up, but if pressed you will not call yourself a believer (though you may soften the blow by using the term "agnostic" or "freethinker", even if you're an atheist by definition).

Degree 4: Mostly open. Almost anyone who knows you knows you don't practice religion. Coworkers, perhaps including your boss, all your friends and your entire family is aware. You don't shout it from rooftops, but you make no effort to hide your atheism when it comes up in conversation, and may occasionally raise the conversation yourself.

Degree 5: Completely open. Every time the subject comes up, you state your disbelief with pride and frankness. Anyone who doesn't like you because of your atheism is a bigot and is not your concern. You've written letters to the editors of newspapers on the topic, and you may have an atheist bumper sticker on your car.

...

link

A large portion of my family and a lot of my friends are super religious. I just avoid the subject.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I'm sorry but I don't think of you that way.

You think of me that way. Sandinista's just commenting on how transparent you are.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

You think of me that way. Sandinista's just commenting on how transparent you are.

Sorry, Sir, I'm not gay.

[scandal 951]

Coming Out: The Other Closet

“Coming out of the closet” is a term most associated with gays and lesbians announcing to the world that they are homosexual. Few regret it, having found their way toward a more open and satisfying life.

But there is another closet which is hiding a different minority: atheists. Many of us, like many gays of previous decades, hide in the shadows due to fear of hostility and aversion to confrontations.

...

Degrees of "Outness"

There are degrees to which one is open about his or her atheism. While there is often overlap, these are the degrees as I see them:

Degree 1: Completely closeted. Not even your spouse knows. You tell everyone you're a believer, and you may even attend church services to convince those around you. You're living a lie, terrified that someone may learn the truth. If you fit into this category something must change in the near term. Your spouse, who loves and trusts you for who you are, needs and has the right to know.

Degree 2: Mostly secret. Your spouse knows, but most of your family and friends don't. You avoid the subject at all costs at work, and if it does come up, you will hide your atheism.

Degree 3: Somewhat open. Some family members and most friends know, but you are hesitant to bring it up in conversation. It's still a secret at work, unless you are very close friends with a coworker or two who know. You have friends who are atheists, and may belong to an organization like American Atheists for moral support and connectivity. You may write a letter to a congressperson, but not to the local paper, because you don't really want your atheism published. You may avoid the subject when it comes up, but if pressed you will not call yourself a believer (though you may soften the blow by using the term "agnostic" or "freethinker", even if you're an atheist by definition).

Degree 4: Mostly open. Almost anyone who knows you knows you don't practice religion. Coworkers, perhaps including your boss, all your friends and your entire family is aware. You don't shout it from rooftops, but you make no effort to hide your atheism when it comes up in conversation, and may occasionally raise the conversation yourself.

Degree 5: Completely open. Every time the subject comes up, you state your disbelief with pride and frankness. Anyone who doesn't like you because of your atheism is a bigot and is not your concern. You've written letters to the editors of newspapers on the topic, and you may have an atheist bumper sticker on your car.

...

link

I'm a "Degree 4" on this scale.

I think it's fair to say I've never had faith, as far back as I can remember. My parents enrolled me in Talmud Torah day schools and after my Bar Mitzvah I was quite observant for several years - from about 13 to 16. I kept kashrut and Shabbat strictly, davened daily and was externally frum to all appearances though internally did not believe in any of it. I was miserable. I kept thinking I'd "find" faith by observing the rituals. It was never there to be found, for me. I slowly stopped observances and have been a happy and content atheist ever since.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Sorry, Sir, I'm not gay.

you're no longer a Muslim, and now you're a tranny

[Amby 490]

you're no longer a Muslim, and now you're a tranny

I am so confused by this gender bending!

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I am so confused by this gender bending!

I care about the #######, too, Amby. And, the balls. It's a shame when one of the guys loses their set

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

you're no longer a Muslim, and now you're a tranny

Officially the most moronic thing that you've ever posted, thanks for the laughs.