Simone Jester

I'm an atheist who sees the "Religious Right" and its power and worries, especially as the Democrats, instead of embracing reason, have gone out of their way to show off their religious (and nearly always American-style Christian) bona-fides. Don't get me wrong, I acknowledge the good in religion, but the most hard-core believers in government and pulling the strings of government are trying to do harm, and sometimes they succeed. Just look at gay marriage and adoption bans and restrictions on abortion. All in the name of "God."

And, yes, I worry about President Obama receiving spiritual counseling when it comes to affairs of state. (Personal matters are none of my business and I don't think it's stupid to take comfort in one's faith in times of hardship, especially when it's all one has. I think it's false comfort, but that's my opinion and this post isn't being made to persuade, it's being made to inform.) He's already said that because of his religion, he supports civil unions for same-sex couples but not marriage equality. As an atheist and as a queer, I have the right to worry about that.

Fizzy: then treat others as you would wish to be treated. Mutual respect, without the assumption that the person you're talking to is somehow ignorant for believing as they do
me: I do treat people that way.
Fizzy: not this time you haven't
me: Just because I believe something doesn't mean I'm going to treat people different.
I'm still listening politely to your argument.
I give your words the weight they deserve.
Whenever I get into a debate about religion, I listen carefully to the argument.
Fizzy: and yet still telling me I'm easily fooled, liking a story that makes less sense than Harry Potter
me: Not easily. You're a smart person, and religious arguments have evolved too.
So there must have been something good to convince you in the face of all evidence to the contrary.
I know a guy who did quantum physics before quitting when he got saved to go to seminary.
You don't have to be stupid to be a believer, nor vice versa.
Sent at 9:15 PM on Thursday
me: I have never, ever said that being a believer automatically made one stupid, nor will I ever.
Because I do not believe that.
Fizzy: say exactly what you just told me, you may be able to stop yourself getting into trouble
me: I will.

I don't see faith (defined here as belief without proof) in a conscious higher power as reasonable, or rational. This is my personal opinion and belief. It is open to reasoned debate. And you can ask Fizzy--when corrected, I change my mind and say so. She's corrected me often enough.

( some science )