Atheists & Agnostics
In reply to the discussion: Should we [View all]NeoGreen
(4,031 posts)I am, male, ~75 days from completing my 50th circle around the sun, come from Scots/English/NY Dutch/Native American families & raised in rural bedroom community outside of the most rusted of rust-belt cities (Buffalo). I joined the Air Force in '84, did 4-years active (North Dakota/Korea) and did well (early promotion, medals of commendation/achievement). After the active stint I did a try-one in the NY Air Guard, went to school (geology) earned my BA/MA, got a job, got married, bought some land (13 acres), built a house, raised a family, paid off the loans, and now have a kid in high school, a kid in college and am starting the process of a divorce (amicable). So here I am as I plod on.
I read, canoe, camp, hunt (a little), maintain the homestead (no furnace, so lots of time in the woods), work (cause I have too) and take care of my kids (because I love em for they are better persons than I). Both my kids are well inoculated against the dreaded faith virus.
I am active in my sons scout troop and try to teach them/show them how to enjoy the woods and water all around. I love water and canoeing and (after many years watching yard sales) am the proud owner of 5-canoes. With these I have being trying to (patiently) teach the scouts (and their parents) the right way to hold a paddle, sit in a canoe properly and get from point A to point B without drowning. It is funny how frustrating it can be when you try to teach something that is as easy as breathing air to you and as foreign as breathing water to your student (but I endure).
I know that as an atheist, being active in scouting is counter-intuitive, but I have always held the thought that you are more effective at changing a system from within, than from without. Plus, to me, Scouting (in of its-self) has value and is more than the BSA.
I used to dabble in politics, Society of Creative Anachronism and a number of other hobbies but I also have to work for filthy lucre now and spend much time on scouting so those days are behind me
I have been an atheist since at least the age of 8, heck I think I believed in Santa longer than god. On every birthday that I can remember since at least age 5 (while I was young enough to still have a cake) I wished for one thing, and one thing only, peace and understanding for all of humanity. And, every following year I was disappointed and had to make the same wish again (I have never shared that insight before with anyone, ever). I quickly realized that it was just that, wishful thinking, and that if it were ever to come to pass, it must be done by us, humanity. There is no magic or sky daddy who will make it all better.
I have (philosophically) run the gambit from fence-sitting agnostic (child-hood), to vague transcendentalism (teens/early 20s), to druidism (mid 20s), to weak atheism (late 20s) to strong atheism (30s) and now (damn it) to Realism (40+).
I too, always enjoy reading the discussions here. I have learned more, here in A&A (and in the active sparring in Religion) about Atheism and the active defense of Atheism than in all the books I have ever read.
Seeing the practical application of logic is edifying.
For my part too, youse guys are some of my favorite people!