Is there a profession you find a turn-off?

Benthoven comments on Jan 18, 2018:

I think I would have a hard time knowing my potential partner was a defense attorney for energy corporations or other organizations that wrought havoc upon the land.

Can friends remain friends after a serious breach of trust?

Benthoven comments on Jan 18, 2018:

Yes. It may take some work, and it will be involved, but it can be done.

If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be?

Benthoven comments on Jan 18, 2018:

Paul the apostle. I'd like to pound the snot out of him, and then keep him sequestered away from humanity where he wouldn't have the opportunity to create one of the most dysfunctional organizations on the planet.

Atheistic Orgasms What's the biggest problem for an atheist?

Benthoven comments on Jan 18, 2018:

The orgasm IS God!

If you could become a musical virtuoso, what instrument would you play?

Benthoven comments on Jan 18, 2018:

I have always played the piano, though I've never been a virtuoso. I think I could have been at one point, but I chose to go outside and play instead. The other instrument that I love deeply is the Cello. I've always wanted to learn that, but they cost more than cars.

Did the historical Jesus exist?

Benthoven comments on Jan 18, 2018:

The preponderance of evidence is on the existence of an historical Jesus, big brother of James the Righteous (Notice James is the significant name here). Who Jesus was, what he taught, things like that are very difficult to ferret out. It's just too complicated considering that much of the religion was created by a temple thug and megalomaniac Saul of Tarsus. Jesus probably would have gone down into obscurity (or been a footnote in his brother's biography) if it wasn't for Paul.

Should employers have the right to hire someone based on looks?

Benthoven comments on Jan 18, 2018:

Well, if you're trying to get in a Hooters, or Girls Girls Girls, I think looks are a huge part of those jobs. Modeling is another.

Do you celebrate religious holidays?

Benthoven comments on Jan 18, 2018:

I celebrate Christmas and New Years, and any other holiday that offers a day off.

Do you fear death?

Benthoven comments on Jan 18, 2018:

I really don't fear death... dying on the other hand, frightens me. I too have lost many that I love... spectacularly... and it's something very difficult for the mind to wrap itself around. That's because we are not used to "not being." Even when we're sleeping, we're dreaming, and so there's still some form of consciousness at work. I think the best way to look at is is within the context of a surgery or medical procedure. If you've ever had to have anesthesia administered to you, you'll notice that the moment the anesthesia takes affect, you're gone. You don't feel anything, you have no awareness. When they wake you up, you remember nothing past the moment you 'fell asleep.' But I think it's okay to fear it. I think that as humans we do many things around death. We fear it, we anticipate it, we court it, we play with it, we ignore it, we pretend we can beat it... but ultimately we know, nobody gets out of here alive. All of those responses are how the mind has figured out how to deal with the ultimate. We are capable of having all those feelings at the same time, and we've been taught to run away from them, but if we get to know them, they become allies. They can help us get more out of life and even more out of death.

How long has everyone been single. For me it's been over 2 years.

Benthoven comments on Jan 18, 2018:

Ten years for me.

Tell me something random about you...

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

I love Disney music...

Recent comic from the Atheist Pig: [theatheistpig.com]

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

When my friends (Christian) talk to me about the Radical Left, I quote Jesus to them: “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ So I remind them that, according to Jesus, THEY'RE the Radical Left. And they might as well admit their love for goats.

“Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am ...

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

But just to be safe, "don't disagree with me." ;)

Stupid. Lacking in knowledge. No common sense. If my pastor said it than it must be true.

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

Wow, I had no idea he'd been to any of my family reunions.

What do you think of this statement?

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

I can only say I'd need to see their data.

I will get the look from Hell when I remind Christians about this.

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

This is only partially true. Jesus did say this to THIS woman (A Canaanite... and there's a long history of animosity between the two tribes). She, however, rebuffed Jesus: The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” When she called him out on his racism, he recognized that and recanted. We all have issues. What's important is what we do when those issues are brought to our attention.

What is your favorite kind of dog ?

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

I've always loved the Malamute... But any wolf-high-bred would be awesome too.

Why do you think that just because my boobs are big?

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

People stare at my boobs a lot too... But I think it's more because I'm not supposed to have them.

If you could live anywhere in the world except your homeland, where would that be?

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

It's a tossup between Australia, or Germany. Both countries appeal to me.

I wonder why Jesus didn't come in a modern world?

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

Fox "news" would still label him as an anti-capitalist non-patriot and then vilify him, while Evangelicals shouted "Lock Him Up!"

What do you do for the world?

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

That's a tough one. I write... Stories, books, articles, blogs... But if nobody reads them, does that count for doing something for the world?

Do you think non religious people can be racists too?

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

I think it's a human thing. It goes back to the days we traveled in tribes and clans.

What a relief.

Benthoven comments on Jan 16, 2018:

Normal? That's awesome. I wonder what that feels like. ;)

One of my favourite activities on this site is reading people's bios.

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

You know what they say, it's Bio-Logical... ;)

How comfortable are you with the idea of same gender sex?

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

Normally I'd say I'm VERY comfortable with it, but as it's been so long since I've "practiced," I'd be really stressed out.

How do you define sexual orientaion?

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

The closest I've ever been to another human being was a woman (I'm gay). At the time I was in Reparative Therapy and so I was sure God had sent her to me to help me "heal" from my sexuality. However, having been in Reparative Therapy for a couple of decades, I knew that 'marriage' wasn't necessarily going to fix it, and so I tried to work things out. We loved each other, and I think we could have had a few really good years. But there are things that couldn't be explained, but I knew had to do with biology...

Re: Prayer requests.....

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

As long as they're asking for themselves or their friends or relatives, I don't care. It's when they want to pray for me that I'd rather not.

What is with the hatred of police officers?

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

I'm not sure how to answer this. This isn't about the actions of a "few bad cops." It's about the actions of bad cops, the coverup, the system that keeps them in play no matter what they do, and the fact that they're never held accountable. I would never say "all Germans are bad because of Nazis," but I would never all anyone to defend the Nazis because "a few get bad acts publicized." We have a problem that goes far deeper than just the police, and it must be dealt with or we're in real trouble. I sincerely think you should familiarize yourself with what's going on. It's only a simple Google search away.

Hello guys, I'm new here so this is my first post.

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

As an Agnostic, I'm far less "certain" about what happens after death. So I spend a significant amount of time thinking about it. I've also experienced it. My little brother died when I was ten. I held my grandmother's hand when she took her last breath. My sister's best friend was on flight 11 which flew into the WTC on 9-11. My brother-in-law was killed in a C-130 over Mississippi in July. A day that will etched on my mind until I die. So I think about death a lot. I think about my own death as well. But I've learned to deal with this "anxiety" by allowing myself to live in the space of "I don't know." As a species, we have this weird need to be "right," and therefore we have to "know" what happens. But we can't... not definitively anyway. So we make friends with the question. I say make friends. In my case I've written a lot about it, giving doubt and fear real personalities. So I write a story where I anthropomorphize the questions, the fears, the frustrations. There's a lot of questions they can't answer, but that's not what makes it work. It's that I get comfortable with them. I get comfortable with the "mystery."

President what religion are you?

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

This president isn't a religion. He thinks he's God. And the Evangelicals that prop him up think he's God too.

Hi, are there any Atheist gatherings happening around here?

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

If you're looking for a truly godless, soulless place to hang out, why not just go to church.

Is there a church for anthiest groups I need to know please

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

In my community we call it, "Brunch."

Forgive and forget?

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

We can forgive. But I do not think we can forget. Nor do I think we're supposed to. Some things stick with us forever. If someone we dearly love says something that breaks our heart, we may never forget those words, though we have long-since forgiven the person who said it. When someone does something to undermine our trust, it's best that we keep that in mind until we know if it was by accident or if it is a character flaw. As to forgiveness, I forgive for MY sake, not for the other. It's been so often said, holding onto resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. In 2010, my best friend and his partner were murdered in their Miami home in cold blood. Only this year was he finally sentenced. I will never forget this. But I have a few more years left to go without him. So I deal with the resentment, the hatred, and, most importantly, the "need for closure." Just because he was sentenced, doesn't mean it's over. He has a shit-ton of appeals, and this guy is going to use them all. He has absolutely not remorse for what he's done, and he's gotten sick pleasure out of how it has affected the rest of us. And then there's the third aspect. I can still hate this guy... with the hate reserved for the creators of Barney, but still forgive. It's about ME... I have to deal with these emotions or they will eat me up. To me, forgiveness is the equivalent of removing the poison from my body... or as much of that poison as I possibly can.

How Well Do You Suspend Your Disbelief?

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

I don't worry about disbelief. It's belief that scares me. Belief is created in the absence of fact. I don't believe that the sun will come and go every day, it just will. I don't believe that the earth is round, it just is. It's those things that I can't prove that create belief. I believe in God... I believe in aliens, I believe in angels, demons, ghosts, Santa... Since I don't believe in any of those things, suspending disbelief isn't an issue. I can (and do) watch ghost stories and think nothing of it. I write ghost stories. Harry Potter is my favorite movie franchise. I've read and watched The Lord of the Rings trilogy at least a couple of dozen times. When I watch or read those stories, I "believe" them. I buy the premise, but I leave it there. It's the story. The story is the story, and belief is the result of the story. When the story is over, the belief is gone.

Why am I getting a notification that my Bible app needs to be updated?

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

You didn't accidentally "poke" God, did you? ;)

SNOW! Anybody else like having all 4 seasons?

Benthoven comments on Jan 15, 2018:

Well, there's a long answer and a shorter answer. The short answer is: No. The long answer is: Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Do you still hold any superstitions? did you bury them with your faith, or before?

Benthoven comments on Jan 13, 2018:

I have a couple. I hate Friday the 13th. I've never been a fan of the franchise. And I panic when a black panther (cat) crosses my path.

What is the best way to get rid of someone preaching to you?

Benthoven comments on Jan 13, 2018:

I found Jesus: He was passed out under the coffee table.

How do I tell my family I'm an atheist?

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

You could try something along this line: I came out to my parents at Thanksgiving. I said, “Mom, please pass the gravy to a homosexual.” She passed it to my father. A terrible scene followed. ~ Bob Smith—Gay Comic As a gay agnostic, I can assure you, it's best to just say it. Maybe let them know you'd like to have a sit-down, and then tell them what you need to tell them. Just the facts at this point. They're probably not going to care about the logic of how you got there right now. Over time, though, they'll probably start asking questions. That's why I posted the above quote. It's hilarious, AND, it accomplished what it was meant to accomplish without being unnecessarily harsh.

What if you are wrong and there IS a god

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

I’m often the recipient of Pascal’s Wager, and whenever I’m asked, “What do you lose?” my response is always this: “You lose your soul.” And Christians are proof of that. When you give your life over to anything or anyone—you give your life away: including your conscience, your will, and your heart. This is why they're so comfortable telling us that god loves us, AND he’s going to torture us forever just to show you just how much he loves us. Their god is an alcoholic father and their psychology is that of the children of alcoholics. When god is sober, he’s loving and kind and giving… but when he’s on a bender, it’s hell-fire and brimstone in the most torturous way. To that end, most Christians suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome because of it. I am told often that "Christians are “loving,” and while I can partially agree with that statement, I ultimately come down here: they can’t be totally loving—not as long as they never call into question their god’s predilection to eternal torture, or his lack of concern to the suffering of humankind. Love does not torture, and love would not accept torture as a possibility. If a Christian has to convert me because they’re afraid I will be tortured, then there’s nothing loving about that… that’s fear, and naturally, that makes your motives suspect. Keeping with the hell meme: a loving god wouldn’t send anyone to hell. The loving thing to do would be to send you back and make you do it again until you get it right. Therefore, if God were truly loving, he would reincarnate you, rather than torture you forever. But ultimately I ask this question: “You show me one person—just one—suffering in hell right now, and I’ll consider your hypothesis.

T.G.I.F. It needs a new definition!

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

Thank GANDALF it's Friday?

Is this an agnostic site or a dating site? ????

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

Yes.

Colorado is using profits from its marijuana industry to help the poor and needy........

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

Truth be told, I support legalization regardless.

What are some of the best books?

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

Ironically, the Bible. I read it several times, and each time I read it, it seemed less and less plausible.

What is god?

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

If God was love (and real), there wouldn't be Evangelicals and Fundamentalists. Radicals wouldn't harm innocent people because their ideology isn't the same. Donald Trump would never have even been CONSIDERED, let alone elected President. Men like Roy Moore would not be allowed to proudly proclaim their love of "God." Paul Ryan would be deposed for his antagonism toward those who suffer. BUT... that's if God was love.

What does “Spiritual Atheist” mean? Isn’t it a contradiction?

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

I think we have to keep in mind that when it comes to words (and our labels are words) that there is always the denotative and the connotative meanings, and they don't always match. How the dictionary defines certain words (like spirituality) is rarely how the average English user defines it... particularly when it comes to etymologies and common vernacular. To some, spiritual just means "connected" to something bigger than themselves. That could be our connection to the earth via oxygen, sunshine, food and water... So denotative(lyl) (at least for now), yes it's a contradiction. But connotative(ly) it's all part of the growing experience we are having with who we are and how we fit into the scheme of things based on our new knowledge and understanding of science.

Knock knock "Yes" "Hello we are Jehovah`s burglars and we are persecuted because of our beliefs" ...

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

Well, I'm going to have to see your data first...

What are you most looking for in a relationship? Just your 1 Thing

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

Does "breathing" count?

Would you rather: Sit through an entire church service, or get shots at the doctor's office

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

I guess it depends on the church service. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO-_rX4FG_M

Are there any objects, even seemingly ordinary, that you attach an emotional significance to?

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

Apparently mine is my cell phone. I have stress dreams often where I lose my cell phone and I'm freaked out. I feel lost, cut off, afraid... I think it represents my ability to reach out if I'm ever in trouble.

What song would you want played for your funeral?

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

At my funeral I would love for my best friend to deliver the eulogy. But I also have to give my sister equal time for the rebuttal. As for the song, I don't just want this song played... I want everyone to participate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkplPbd2f60

How do you, as a nonbeliever say you're sorry for the death of someone's spouse or children or ...

Benthoven comments on Jan 12, 2018:

My family has been dealing with quite a bit of grief, and one book that has been a brilliant approach to both dealing with grief, and to talking to someone who is grieving. https://www.amazon.com/Its-That-Youre-Not-Understand/dp/1622039076

Why haven't you uploaded a pic?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

It's best for you all if I don't. Seriously. With this face... I have to sneak up on a glass of water. I look into the mirror first thing in the morning, and my reflection runs for cover. I once walked by a dressing room mirror and looked inside, and my reflection turned to stone. I was watching Scooby Doo, and the whole cast ran away, including Velma.

Does belief in aliens equate to belief in god?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

I think it's entirely possible that there are other planets that have life on them, and that maybe some day we will connect... probably through technology. It's highly unlikely, at least with the world as we know it now, that we were ever 'visited' or that we will make it off this planet any time soon. I've seen a few episodes of Ancient Aliens (I miss the days when the History Channel was actually history), and it's pretty much the same ideology as any religion. "I can't explain this, so God did it." "I can't explain this, therefore aliens did it." Or worse: "I love aliens and I want them to be true, and so therefore I'm going to look for ways to confirm my bias. They fall prey to the same types of conspiracy theory when science disagrees with them, and they have the same vitriol to those who challenge their ideology. And what's with the hair? Seriously, ever heard of a comb (that last bit was meant for comedic relief...) I hate the fact that I can no longer believe anything I see on the History Channel, and even if they were telling the truth, I would have to use several other sources to make sure because their brand has become so implausible.

Pffftttt.... there aren't enough sarcastic people here.

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

Well, I like to think I have enough for a small group. And if that's not enough, most of the voices in my head can be pretty snarky at well. But I like to keep most of them sedated: vodka. Otherwise they'd be up in my grill arguing all night long.

I don't like humans - is that bad ?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

I feel the same.

So atheist or agnostic men don't shave, huh?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

That's news to me.

Hi fellow non-believers, It appears that I am the oldest person in the room, possibly by a quarter ...

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

I don't want to say I'm old, but I used to babysit God when he was young. God now comes to me when HE has memory lapses.

If god made Adam first, why do men have nipples? And did Adam have them too?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

It was to give God... and Eve... .something to "twerk." Who doesn't like nipples?

What melts your heathen hearts?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

Children (as long as they belong to someone else). The smile of a baby. A good song. Coffee. A good story.

This has always been MY argument .... ;)

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

They seem to have that Invisible Touch! They reach in and grab right hold of your heart.

Omg! I just found out a good friend of mine died last night when he was hit by a car while riding ...

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

I am so sorry. I hope that justice will prevail, and that in your grief you will see hope.

What do you think of the positive thinking movement?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

It's noxious and corrupt. It's led by purveyors of pseudo science who use our desire to feel better as a way to make themselves exceptionally rich. It's also another great way of victim blaming. Are you suffering? Well, it's your fault for your negative thinking. Did something bad happen to you? Well, you probably "attracted" it. If we're having as many as 50,000-70,000 thoughts per day, 35-48 thoughts per minute, how in the world are we going to keep all those "positive"? And what about the non-positive thoughts? What do we do with our grief? What do we do with fear, rejection, confusion. We can't "pretend" they're not there. Unless we meet them head-on, they'll kill our asses until the only way we know to cope is through chemicals, or excessive media binging. Finding gratitude IN all things is a powerful way to approach life, but that doesn't mean blocking emotions that we don't want to have. We also have a mind... a biologically oriented organism that works (and doesn't work) in ways that cannot always be controlled by us. With medicine we can mitigate some of the problems, but that is not always the case. We are products of a universe that goes to great lengths to allow for life, and even greater lengths to kill it.

What moral code do you follow now that you are non-religious?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

Primum non nocere: "First do no harm." Or as it's stated in the Hippocratic Oath "...abstain from doing harm..."

Are we alone in the universe?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

About the time I think I'm alone, I simply try to talk along Seventh and Broadway... Feeling's gone. I am definitely not alone.

Have you ever taken the "Bird" Test?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

This says that I'm an owl, but I'm pretty sure that's not the case. For proof I point to my grades in math and science.

Ladies, do you think our questions and posts are particularly prone to receiving long-winded ...

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

You mean like mansplaining?

Damn right, Sylvia.

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

Sometimes I wish men were like puppies. When you see one you could go up to him and scratch him behind the ears and rub noses and make googly eyes while he wags his tail. But NOOOOoooooooooooo! You grab one cute guy by the ears and rub noses with him and the next thing you know you’re being escorted out of Starbucks.

Who among us has cut the proverbial TV cord?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

I cut the cord many months ago. Of course it was an accident, and I started to panic. Fortunately, I was able to splice the cord back together, so I won't miss any more Desperate Housewives. ;)

If God was a real being, how would you see him as being?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

I think "he" (my God's a he, but he sound a lot like Cher) would be more like a In fact, I was recently asked by an old friend who knew me as a devoted Christian, what happened? “You had such a wonderful relationship with God. He was your father and we could all see how much you loved him and how he loved you.” And I told him: In my mind I created the perfect father based on deficits in my own life. A being of passion, gentle, creative, hilarious, wise, devoted, loyal, and he loved me more than Ioved myself. I could trust him with my deepest darkest secrets, and he would help me become the lovable person I always desired to be. He joked with me, he called me Toots, and he comforted me when I was down. And he looked a lot like Zeus... As a writer, I create characters all the time, and they’re powerful to me. They “exist!” I laugh with them, I cry with them. This has always been how I saw God... as that character "created" by me, but as I write, those characters take on their own lives... and it is with God.

When Is It Time For Sex?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

I would say, "Any time that ends in o'clock."

Dating after 50

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

I wouldn't know. I couldn't get a man if I was the only man on earth. Of course the fact that I only date men makes the problem that much worse.

Do you play a musical instrument?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

I play classical Armfarts, but have branched out to Country Nose Hair Twang.

What's the atheist equivalent of 'OMG'?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

I wonder what God says when he's annoyed. "Oh My ME!" Or Jesus when he's peeved. "Oh my DAD!"

Hey everyone! I'm an ex-muslim atheist from Pakistan.

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

Wow, you got away. I've never been to Perth, or to Australia, but it is my hope to visit someday.

Do any of you know the old jokes about how many people it takes to change a light bulb?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

Question: How many moms does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Don't you worry about me, Dear, I'll just sit here alone in the dark.

Do any of you know the old jokes about how many people it takes to change a light bulb?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

Question: How many Conservatives does it take t change a light bulb? Answer: None. They'll just sit in the dark and blame Obama.

What canceled T.V, shows you wish you knew the future of?

Benthoven comments on Jan 11, 2018:

Soap. To this day I hate the way the show ended.

If god made Adam first, why do men have nipples? And did Adam have them too?

Benthoven comments on Jan 10, 2018:

He had to give Eve something to pinch when she got frisky.

Do any of you know the old jokes about how many people it takes to change a light bulb?

Benthoven comments on Jan 10, 2018:

Question: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Just one, but the light bulb has to want to change.

I had someone get really mad at me the other night.

Benthoven comments on Jan 9, 2018:

This is kind of a soap box I sometimes jump on every time I'm up against people like that. It's not "narrow minded" to ask for evidence. It's not "hate speech" to disagree with someone. And if someone is lying, and I call them a liar, that doesn't make me a hater. It's a simple diagnoses of the conversation as it's being presented. It's not bigoted to call out pseudo science, and just because we disagree, doesn't mean we have to be enemies. I really wish that we were taught how to have a discussion in high school or college so we could actually have civil discourse in our society.

Anyone else as surprised as I am that there are so many Atheist Republicans on here?

Benthoven comments on Jan 9, 2018:

Can you show me where is the "pro-atheist-Republican commentary by Agnostic.com Admin in comment"? I've read through all the comments and don't see any such thing. I do see a comment admonishing you to be polite, but that's not political in any way. It's just saying that this is how the rest of us wish to present themselves on this site.

Fellow agnostics, how do you feel about believers joining?

Benthoven comments on Jan 9, 2018:

I don't think they'll be joining for the conversation. It's more likely they'll be coming so that they can convert us. Personally I have better ways to spend my time.

A pastor told me today that he is sorry that I have not felt the love of god.

Benthoven comments on Jan 9, 2018:

Logic never works on these guys. I find that if you gently mock them, that helps. Pastor: Have you met Jesus? Ben: Of course, I'm dating his dad. Pastor: I'm sorry that you've never felt the love of God. Ben: I'm sorry that you haven't either. Or experience the love of Zeus, or gotten to kiss Eros on the mouth. Pastor: You're going straight to hell. Ben: Pastor, of all the ways I'm going to hell, "STRAIGHT" is not one of them. Pastor: Jesus loves you. Ben: Yah, but he's two thousand years old and still lives at home. Pastor: Jesus sent me to you. Ben: I'm not surprise, Heaven always did have it out for me.

A pastor told me today that he is sorry that I have not felt the love of god.

Benthoven comments on Jan 9, 2018:

Logic never works on these guys. I find that if you gently mock them, that helps. Pastor: Have you met Jesus? Ben: Of course, I'm dating his dad. Pastor: I'm sorry that you've never felt the love of God. Ben: I'm sorry that you haven't either. Or experience the love of Zeus, or gotten to kiss Eros on the mouth. Pastor: You're going straight to hell. Ben: Pastor, of all the ways I'm going to hell, "STRAIGHT" is not one of them. Pastor: Jesus loves you. Ben: Yah, but he's two thousand years old and still lives at home. Pastor: Jesus sent me to you. Ben: I'm not surprise, Heaven always did have it out for me.

Does The Universe Have Intention?

Benthoven comments on Jan 9, 2018:

I'm a storyteller. In fact, all of us are. It's why we have the gods, the myths, the legends, hiSTORY, our "stories." Whether the Universe has intention or not, we do. We may not understand that, or be aware of that, but it's inherent in all we do. Our movies, our T.V. shows, documentaries... As a writer I sit in coffee shops around NYC to write, and very often I will overhear others talking... not because I'm listening, but because they're talking in such a way that they're being heard throughout the room... and it's usually gossip. Something that happened between them and someone else... and guess what? It's a story. The gossiper is the protagonist, the hero, the victim of some offender... the antagonist, and it's a story. The Universe has, at least in this little backwoods spot, made a way for life to life, and even for that life to express itself. It's very often brutal, but it's just as often beautiful. While we have no idea what the Universe thinks (or doesn't think) about all this, we do know that WE have thoughts. It's difficult not to anthropomorphize the container that holds us and for now, we're like a puzzle inside of the box. We cannot see the picture from the outside, so all we can do is our best to get the pieces to fit in such a way that can make out the picture as best we can. The odds of some of the things happening to me that have are so astronomical that it "feels like fate." But fate is another story. A fascinating story according to the Greeks. So I tell the story, and I play with the story. As a storyteller, I don't have a lot of options. https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-Animal-Stories-Make-Human/dp/0544002342

Does it matter anymore who makes the first move?

Benthoven comments on Jan 9, 2018:

For me, yes. Mostly cause a face like mine tends to scare the hell out of people. Children flee, women faint, men weep. But if they approach me, they've already acknowledged they're not afraid and I don't have to fear the pitchforks.

Religius criminal

Benthoven comments on Jan 9, 2018:

So what law was he breaking? What was his crime? What did he do that made him a criminal in the eyes of Rome? I ask only because it's a common accusation, but always made without evidence or at least awareness of the situation as it's currently understood. Jesus was indeed crucified by Pilot for a crime against Rome... The crime of calling himself "a messiah..." not THEE messiah, but A messiah. The messiah was viewed as someone who would free the Jews from oppression. David was a messiah. Judah Maccabee was considered a messiah... John the Baptist was considered by some to be a messiah. Only he would deny that, creating the confusion we see in the gospels around who he was. Jesus, however, seemed very comfortable with that term... though he never actually used it. He used a term from Daniel 10:5 "Son of Man..." Probably because it wouldn't tip Rome off to what he was doing. To call yourself a messiah was treason, and Rome made a public spectacle out of it. A careful reading of the gospels suggests that it was Pilot, and Pilot alone who made this decision. More than likely, Pilot allowed the Temple Police to accompany his guards, but the Romans were in charge. That he remanded Jesus to Caiaphas' for a time suggests that they were trying to get Jesus to back off his claim... which he didn't do. All the gospels agree that it was his raid in the Temple that set Pilot off. Had that not happened, it's hard to say how the rest of his life would have gone. But let's look at the hierarchy and the part that Jesus played. Rome was Wall Street. They owned the government, demanded huge tax breaks while they taxed the shit out of the Jews. Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin were our lawmakers, who did the bidding of Rome even if that meant destroying their own people. And the zealots were the Evangelicals: ignorant, volatile, and itching to fight. Jesus' message was, in essence, "capitalism is evil because it harms the poor." The fact that he claimed to be someone who could lead the into a better life was profoundly threatening to Rome, and they crucified him publicly, as they did with all traitors.

Any other vegans/vegetarians on here?

Benthoven comments on Jan 9, 2018:

I used to be a vegetarian many years ago. But after about five or so years, I decided to be the man I was created to be... an omnivore.

Is your idea of love over romanticized?

Benthoven comments on Jan 8, 2018:

For me it's like "Looking for love in Alderaan places!"

I'm kinda surprised with the bountiful expression of arrogance toward religion(s).

Benthoven comments on Jan 8, 2018:

There's a huge difference between "not knowing," and "not understanding." I know there is a specialty in mathematics called Physics. I don't "understand" how that mechanism works. I know that our universe is here through a process of evolution, but I don't understand how many of those mechanisms work. Yet if someone tries to tell me that we're NOT here through a process of evolution, They're claiming to "know" something that they don't even "understand," and it's not arrogance to point that out. We can reasonably "know" that the gods of humanity never existed. We have the mathematics and observations to show that. And when it comes to religion, it's not that difficult to spot someone who doesn't "understand" trying to convince the rest of us that they "know." What we can't "know" is the nature of the Universe itself. How aware is it of itself... if at all? Sagan said that we were the Universe studying itself. What does the Universe see, if this is true. Will the Universe learn from our experiences? Can we teach the Universe compassion if it's observing us? Of all the questions we keep asking ourselves, the one answer that seems to elude us is... "why?"

Higher power or Human psychology?

Benthoven comments on Jan 8, 2018:

I wouldn't say "all humans." Most indigenous peoples lived in harmony with the land, and took great care. Most of our problems, and yes, I realize that I'm way over generalizing, came with "world conquest," mostly out of the west. We also have three holy books that tell us we're special and that we can do anything we want with impunity.

I'm getting hit with stupid at work too.

Benthoven comments on Jan 8, 2018:

I think most of us know that our food is being tortured, and it bothers us. There's nothing unethical about wishing for better treatment for our food. Nor do I see a need to argue with someone who wants a more ethical process in how we treat the animals we eat.

What is your moral compass?

Benthoven comments on Jan 7, 2018:

A regular compass with the word "moral" written next to it.

Do you believe that we have souls? If so, can you answer why?

Benthoven comments on Jan 7, 2018:

What's a soul? I "believe" that there's more to us than what we are, but what does that mean?

It is my deepest belief we live in an age of doubt by choice.

Benthoven comments on Jan 7, 2018:

Doubt is the beginning of "faith."

Not sure which category this goes under since there is no general "rant" category.

Benthoven comments on Jan 7, 2018:

I pray for people all the time. Do I think it does any good? Probably not, but what can it hurt? Maybe... just maybe... there is something out there that knows me, and is at least willing to hear my plea... Even if it's just me at a deeper subconscious level.

What is your response when people threaten you with religious punishments? (i.e. Hell/Jahannam)

Benthoven comments on Jan 7, 2018:

Hell doesn't scare me. YOU do, but Hell doesn't.

Should this site add a chat feature?

Benthoven comments on Jan 7, 2018:

Why? How many people do you think will really chat?

How does one define consciousness?

Benthoven comments on Jan 7, 2018:

I "used" to believe in consciousness... then I tried to read your post... and then I "lost" consciousness.