White folks, there are no ghosts. If there were then slaves would come back and haunt all of you!

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 8, 2017:

all y'all. Good southern saying. I have relatives that fought on both sides of the war. Are you sure there aren't ghosts?

Study: Renewables save Americans billions » Yale Climate Connections

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 8, 2017:

That's cool (so to say). That's just the health care costs. I'm sure it has/is saving even more. Sea water rise, strengths of storms, etc.

This could go for either gender. :) Just a great one liner, had to share

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 8, 2017:

Ha ha, I know people like that.

What is unique about your Generation?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 8, 2017:

The things that influenced me the most outside of my environment were: the assassination of JFK, MLK Jr, Malcolm X, Robert Kennedy, and the attempt on George Wallace. It was a very dangerous time (seemed to me), then came Woodstock, and finally Watergate. Somehow I lived through most of the Vietnam war. I'm not very trustful in the government. Wonder where that came from.

Atheism: Do you tell co-workers?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 7, 2017:

When i worked in a company, I never talked about atheism and I seldom heard religion as a topic. I think I must have worked too far down the ladder. But yes, I could see it causing problems pretty much anywhere you worked (in the U.S.). If I had talked about it, I would have been very selective in whom I told.

What is your favorite color?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 7, 2017:

Dark green, Gruembacher's forest green.

Can a theist and an atheist actually have a relationship?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 7, 2017:

I would say yes, it's possible but improbable. My experience has fallen into the improbable range. I've discovered and am continually discovering the foundation 'stones' which I think are necessary to share. Belief (or nonbelief) is one of those foundation stones I find is important.

How Did Consciousness Evolve? - The Atlantic

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 7, 2017:

I like to tell my kids that the ridge on my head is due to my reptilian ancestors. They always check theirs to make sure they aren't growing one.

I'm just curious since it is November already.

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 7, 2017:

I'm not totally neutral about it. I don't participate in our Christmas name drawing to swap a meaningless gift. But, I like giving things, so I buy something useful, thoughtful for my kids and mom and I try to make a piece of art that I can give to one of my siblings (I have 3). I think it'd be more fun to have a celebration on Winter's solstice, a hoe-down of sorts, though. I find that the gathering of family members is extremely awkward and seems to get worse every year.

I feel like non-believers are more likely to entertain the notion of implementing more gun control ...

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 6, 2017:

It's logical.

Any other old people out there?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 6, 2017:

Not yet, but I'm on my way.

Even with the reality and facts of the mass murdering inside of church People still believe that he ...

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 6, 2017:

We fool ourselves everyday. Everyone is in some regards are brainwashed. Some brainwashing is perhaps justified in maintaining a common 'unity'. Most people are so accustomed to 'brainwashing' they'd missed it if they didn't have it.

If the majority of members here are athiests, why are the majority of conversations about religeon ?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 6, 2017:

I'm not a sailor. I did want to be one when I was younger though. I've gone to a couple of local atheist meeting and religion is all they talked about. I refer to them as baby atheist. I don't find this site resembling those meetings in the least. Yes, some people get stuck and it might take a little patience, but the warm water eventually spills on them and they slide off.

Good Morning from the bible belt.

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 6, 2017:

As long as he didn't make a big mess and the body was found fairly quickly, way to go old man. After 85 years and his brain is still functioning, I believe he was mature enough to make that decision.

Let's play a game! You are in a room that contains seven doors representing each of the "seven ...

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 6, 2017:

Door #2

What gives life meaning to you?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 5, 2017:

Meaning in life: a difficult question to answer. I personally don't have a mission in life other than to make art. I have kids and I definitely feel responsible for them, bringing them up in a way so they look at people rather than concentrating only on themselves, which seems a lot easier said than done. I enjoy everyday that I am here knowing someday that my time will end. I don't buy into the idea that my life is meaningful in the extended sense of the word, at least not any more meaningful than the life of a squirrel, mouse, or bug.

I call myself a catholic agnostic, what do you call yourself?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 5, 2017:

I'm an atheist and have been for quite some time. I was raised Southern Baptist and have dated all across the spectrum, so I got to experience different religions 'up-close and personally'. I'm very comfortable being an atheist and can't imagine seeing the world in any other way.

What do you think of heathens? How would you describe a modern-day heathen.

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 5, 2017:

Interesting question. I'm not looking up the given definition of heathen, just to give a more honest approach to what I think a heathen is. To me, a heathen is someone that goes against the religious norms of a given society. With this definition, there are lots of heathens out there. People that practice witchcraft come to mind first, but any cult follower, Jews probably, atheist for sure. Anyone that doesn't 'practise' the societal religious norms. I like heathens, because I like it when people go against the norm.

Like to meet likeminded people.

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 4, 2017:

I believe most people like it when they meet like-minded people. You have been around the world, so your experiences are wider than most. I find that refreshing which I'm sure most of the people on this site will also find refreshing. Different perspective are important, even if everyone has the same grounding. Thanks.

Is it normal or healthy to prefer to spend the majority of my time alone?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 4, 2017:

This relates to a post that I placed today. I didn't delve into the health of it, just the preference. I believe it's very normal for certain people, for others it would be a horrible sentence. Why do you feel comfortable being alone? I find that when I'm really involved in something, the fewer distractions the better and meeting someone is a distraction that I only partially attend. Other times I find myself longing for company. It's a wishy-washy world.

Can someone be religious and scientific at the same time?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 4, 2017:

My father was a Southern Baptist minister and to his credit, wasn't form fitting in many regards. He believed in the sciences, observation, testing, etc. He explained most of the Bible in symbolistic and metaphorical ways, but he was a believer. Regarding science, he said it's just the way God operates. The whole idea of God is that you have to believe, have blind faith. He seemed content with this view.

A better place, really?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 4, 2017:

When s/he dies the living assume that there was pain involved, that s/he had a long illness, and/or s/he must have been uncomfortable (at least in the last minutes, days, or months). And I believe it must be comforting for people who view death in that way to assume s/he is no longer in pain. And, often to their detriment they assume you feel the same way. In my opinion, condolences should be thought and shown, not spoken.

Do you believe that experience leads to beliefs?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 4, 2017:

I will say it is possible, but improbable. Most beliefs don't come from experiences. Beliefs are normally taught by family and community starting on day one.

Why are religious people on this site? What is their intention?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 4, 2017:

I think they are trolling for new fish. Remain open-minded though, perhaps they are searching for the truth.

If you knew tomorrow was the end of the world. How would you spend your last day?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 4, 2017:

Hopefully the weather is good.

What are you rated and why?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 4, 2017:

A+, because I'm special.

If you don't have anything good to say about religion...

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 4, 2017:

Go to an atheist gathering in Chattanooga and vent all you want. Baby atheist!

Does absolute truth exist?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 4, 2017:

Absolute truth can be found when all the moving parts are found and recorded and this is absolutely impossible.

Who agrees with the theory of multiverse?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 4, 2017:

I see no reason to believe there is a Universe. I can't think of anything in nature that only happens once. Maybe it does and I just don't notice. Big Bang (not 100& sold on this idea yet). Why just one? I think of it more like popcorn. Can't eat just one. There are lots of verses out there, so we might as well start singing.

Is power everything?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 2, 2017:

I'm not sure how I'm suppose to approach this question. Are we talking rulers over parts or all of the globe? For them, power is everything. In today's world that translates to money. To the majority of people who have little or no power it is not everything.

We have to do everything possible to win.

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 2, 2017:

I too am a Bernie supporter. I couldn't bring myself to vote for Hillary. It doesn't matter who I voted for in the presidential, absolutely none. I live in a Republican state and thanks to the electoral college my vote never ever counts. That's our democracy!

How has atheism improved your relationships?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 1, 2017:

I can't tell that my atheism has improved any relationships, but it has altered my selection of relationships, which is an improvement.

What's a pet peeve of yours?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 1, 2017:

My most obnoxious pet peeve is when people tell me a pet peeve of theirs as if it's cosmic knowledge.

What is the general audience here like?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 1, 2017:

Cold and scary!

Do (negative) emotions serve a greater purpose?

AstralSmoke comments on Nov 1, 2017:

This is my way of looking at it. No expert though. Emotions and the way we express them are a type of communication we as a species rely on. The better we are at deciphering emotional displays, ours and others, the better communicators we become.

I'm an atheist but I still say bless you after someone sneezes.

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 31, 2017:

I think the tradition began in Europe, believing the spirit of the body was ejected by the sneeze (or something along those lines).

Do you judge any religions or beliefs below others? Or are they all the same to you

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 31, 2017:

I visualize this in a horizontal plane, so there are no aboves or belows. Some beliefs are physically dangerous and deserve red flags, some beliefs are mentally damaging, some beliefs are physically and mentally damaging, and some beliefs are like wearing sunglasses. They all deserve red flags except maybe not the sunglasses ;-)

Over the last year or so I've been taking travellers from other countries for short (2 to 4 weeks) ...

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 31, 2017:

I live in the southeast portion of the States and yes, more and more people are sporting tatoo and piercings. I thought they were being influenced by the Aussies.

Dunning-Kruger effect

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 31, 2017:

I believe everyone has perception problems, meaning everyone sees things from their limited points of views due to their environment and understandings. To call people stupid because of this is stupid. Like everything else there are varying degrees.

Energy practitioners

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 31, 2017:

Theoretically, I believe that energy cannot be created or destroyed. This has always been difficult for me to wrap my head around though. So, where does this energy come from and why is the amount fixed? I'm not a physicist and my lacking knowledge is a hinderance. There is so much energy in the vast space we occupy, I can easily see where humans look for an easy way to explain this.

People keep telling me that there's an invisible force guiding my life.

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 31, 2017:

It's invisible!

Having seperate bedrooms: Would you be open to this?

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 30, 2017:

I'm opened to it as well. I hadn't previously thought of this choice, but I could see it solving a lot of problems.

Why the oppressed buy into the oppressive narrative?

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 30, 2017:

It's all about money and propaganda. Most people accept what they are offered and the U.S. is one of the most propagandized country in the world. It's been going on so long most people accept it as normal and the 'truth'.

What would you LEAST be able to forgive in your spouse/partner?

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 30, 2017:

Dishonesty

I have a Sister who, though I can say I love her, our lives are do divergent that we don't ...

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 30, 2017:

I love people almost as much as I do the rest of the animal kingdom, but there seems to be similar problems when humans are placed in charge, too many unwanted dogs, cats, and human babies. We aren't afraid to reproduce, but after the miracle of birth is complete we gladly discard them as trash.

Given that infants do not have religion at birth, so that "regular" is the default setting, what's ...

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 29, 2017:

A born again nonbeliever. Have to love it!

Do you celebrate religious holidays?

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 29, 2017:

I 'celebrate' because that is when our families get together . I also celebrate the 4th of July and I can't say I'm patriotic either.

Not sure if this has been posted or not but I am curious about what denomination/religion people ...

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 29, 2017:

I'm a Southern Baptist PK (preacher's kid). My mom was raised Presbyterian. I was raised as a 'liberal' Southern Baptist; taught to love sciences and make decisions based on facts and experiences. In other words, not in the typical Southern Baptist tradition.

Hello! I'm from Georgia, and find it hard to make friends with people I can relate to here in the ...

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 29, 2017:

I live in Chattanooga, TN, also directly in the Bible Belt. One must learn to bite one's tongue and to limit one's self from certain conversations. I relate to your position very well.

My dads entire life he was an Atheist.

AstralSmoke comments on Oct 29, 2017:

It sounds as if you have the correct grasp of the situation. It is/was for her benefit. It is great to understand where she is coming from. Don't be afraid to let her be her, but let it serve as a caution to you and do not allow yourself become entrapped by them. I believe you are perceptive and because of that are also cautious. Bravo!