Godless Apostate

[Hockey_Ninja]

Well I told my Mom that I didn't want to go to church anymore. I pretty much told her that I have other important things to focus on (school, my future, etc.) and that I'm not getting anything from going to church and that I pretty much want to live my life based on my own decisions.

She was upset but she understands. She thinks I don't believe in god, but I said this to her as a rebuttal: "I'm not saying there is a god or that there isn't, I'm just saying that I don't care if there is one. honestly don't know and I don't think anybody will ever know" I guess that makes me agnostic pretty much.

She also has this feeling that I'll fall into a bad crowd without church but I had to remind her that she taught me well and that I know the kind of people that I want to hang out with.

Anyhow I'm glad that I don't have to go anymore, but my mom does seem really upset and I have a feeling she'll be looking at me with disappointment for a while.

TL; DR: No more church. Yay!

[Jimmy Stang]

That's a huge weight off of your mind - good job for bringing it up politely and getting a relatively good result. I grew up in a non-religious house so there was never anything to opt out of, but I can imagine how difficult it would be if I were in your situation.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Well I told my Mom that I didn't want to go to church anymore. ...
No more church. Yay!

Well, I'm disappointed, you made her sound way more unreasonable than that.

[Roast Beef]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

Well, I'm disappointed, you made her sound way more unreasonable than that.

It's understandable. Hockey_Ninja is only 20. At that age almost anything about your parents is unreasonable.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

What other developed nations other than America are mentally unbalanced people like this even relevent?

The Yanks don't have a monopoly on nuts. We've all got 'em. Our own Prime Minister has some crazy-ass beliefs that he keeps tightly wrapped under his charisma-fuelled exoskeleton.

This duck guy is a special kind of hypocrite and moron to be sure, but he doesn't have influence beyond the stupid people that listen to him.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Well I told my Mom that I didn't want to go to church anymore. I pretty much told her that I have other important things to focus on (school, my future, etc.) and that I'm not getting anything from going to church and that I pretty much want to live my life based on my own decisions.

She was upset but she understands. She thinks I don't believe in god, but I said this to her as a rebuttal: "I'm not saying there is a god or that there isn't, I'm just saying that I don't care if there is one. honestly don't know and I don't think anybody will ever know" I guess that makes me agnostic pretty much.

She also has this feeling that I'll fall into a bad crowd without church but I had to remind her that she taught me well and that I know the kind of people that I want to hang out with.

Anyhow I'm glad that I don't have to go anymore, but my mom does seem really upset and I have a feeling she'll be looking at me with disappointment for a while.

TL; DR: No more church. Yay!

Happy for you in that you seem to have a found a cure for your particular virus. Good luck in managing the vectors that WILL continue to push you to see their way over the next few years.
Its a sad statement that in the year 2015 families still want to strangle their children with guilt for not following their chosen fantasy.
I sincerely hope you are strong in your convictions and steadfast when the pressure mounts. The use of imagery such as Hell and its associated demons and the ability to guilt you by suggesting break up of family is difficult.
Years of programming is difficult to break.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Double post but...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewir...urder-atheists



The ol' "no moral compass" fallacy.

I'm really starting to wonder if there are any differences between Phil Robertson and Osama Bin Laden. Both crazy religeous nuts who love guns and have crazy man beards.

[troutman]

nm

[T@T]

Originally Posted by troutman

nm

Love you like a brother but there is no worst post on any message board than "nm"

[troutman]

Originally Posted by T@T

Love you like a brother but there is no worst post on any message board than "nm"

Thought I found an interesting article showing Ted Cruz was making people turn Atheist, but it was satire.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Slightly off topic, but saw "Book of Mormon" last week. Hilarious. Poked fun at religion in general, but the jokes around some of the Mormon beliefs were almost too easy.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

Slightly off topic, but saw "Book of Mormon" last week. Hilarious. Poked fun at religion in general, but the jokes around some of the Mormon beliefs were almost too easy.

It was an amazing show. Really well done.

[Cheese]

If you havent seen "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief", find a copy and watch it.
Crazy mofos.

[driveway]

The Supreme Court of Canada rules against the city of Saguenay, Quebec. Making it clear that prayers at the start of City Council meetings are illegal.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle23966290/

Cities and towns across Canada began to review their tradition of reciting prayers at the start of council meetings after the Supreme Court ruled that the practice in one Quebec community violated religious liberties.

In a unanimous judgment tackling faith and freedoms in Canadian public life, the court ordered the city of Saguenay to cease its prayer inside its council chambers and pay damages to the citizen who fought the case on the basis his rights as an atheist had been trampled.

...

Prayer is a religious practice, the court said. “Even if it is said to be inclusive, it may nevertheless exclude non-believers.”

...While the highest court reaffirmed the duty of the state to maintain religious neutrality, it imposed no such burden on individuals – and, in doing so, sent a message from the bench at a time when legislators have proposed limiting the rights of some religious minorities to wear religious garb in civil-service jobs or at public ceremonies.

[troutman]

City hall to review council prayer custom as Supreme Court ruling prompts other cities to stop


http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...cities-to-stop

The Supreme Court of Canada:


”This neutrality requires that the state neither favour nor hinder any particular belief, and the same holds true for non-belief,“ the ruling read. ”It requires that the state abstain from taking any position and thus avoid adhering to a particular belief.

”When all is said and done, the state’s duty to protect every person’s freedom of conscience and religion means that it may not use its powers in such a way as to promote the participation of certain believers or non-believers in public life to the detriment of others.”

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by troutman

City hall to review council prayer custom as Supreme Court ruling prompts other cities to stop


http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...cities-to-stop

The Supreme Court of Canada:


”This neutrality requires that the state neither favour nor hinder any particular belief, and the same holds true for non-belief,“ the ruling read. ”It requires that the state abstain from taking any position and thus avoid adhering to a particular belief.

”When all is said and done, the state’s duty to protect every person’s freedom of conscience and religion means that it may not use its powers in such a way as to promote the participation of certain believers or non-believers in public life to the detriment of others.”

Wow, Calgary city counsel still does this? Rather than praying for good judgement, why don't they exercise good judgement.

[cracher]

A bit surprised that one of the most progressive mayors around would even consider doing this, but I'm kind of meh on it. Not dissimilar to "god keep our land glorious and free" or my golf buddies ritualistically jagertoasting the golf gods at every turn.

[troutman]

US Christians numbers 'decline sharply', poll finds

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32710444

Pew Research Center found that 71% of Americans identified as Christian in 2014 - down from 78% in 2007.

In the same period, Americans identifying as having no religion grew from 16% to 23%.

Fifty-six million Americans do not observe any religion, the second largest community after Evangelicals.

The United States still remains home to more Christians than any other nation, with roughly seven-in-ten continuing to identify with some branch of Christianity.

[troutman]

Bill O’Reilly Blames “Rap Industry” For Decline Of Christianity In America


http://www.stereogum.com/1801391/bil...america/video/

[old-fart]

Originally Posted by troutman

Bill O’Reilly Blames “Rap Industry” For Decline Of Christianity In America


http://www.stereogum.com/1801391/bil...america/video/

Bill O'Reilly also doesn't know what makes the tide go in and out.... you can't explain that.

Anything that comes from his mouth needs to be taken with a massive grain of salt. Think salt-lick size.