Okay, this is about lgbt identity, but also about religiosity.

paul1967 comments on Oct 18, 2017:

Honestly, it would surprise me more if they didn't. You need to understand that saying "I'm religious" does not in any way mean they support Christianity or Islam. They may believe in an afterlife or ghosts, or they may believe in Jesus and ignore the parts they don't like. Almost all Christians do that. They pick what they want and ignore the rest. That's why Christianity still exists. If Christians had to believe the entirety of their book very few of them could or would do it, I suspect.

On a scale from 1-8 how much of a militant atheist are you?

paul1967 comments on Oct 18, 2017:

I could have selected multiple categories. 2-6 fit me. This really isn't a scale of how militant I am it's what parameters match my idea of what atheism is to me and what I'm willing to do.

I call my weed 'The Quran', as burning that shit will get you stoned :-)

paul1967 comments on Oct 18, 2017:

I like it. I haven't smoked weed in over 30 years. I hear it's pretty powerful compared to what we had in the late 70's and 80's.

Bumping Uglies

paul1967 comments on Oct 18, 2017:

I smoke, and it's the most idiotic habit anyone can develop, but I enjoy it so much. It's my escape from anxiety. I'm working hard to stop.

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 18, 2017:

That story was very uplifting and it made me think.

Literally, ALL of my colleagues are hyper-religious.

paul1967 comments on Oct 17, 2017:

My position is while at work don't discuss religion or politics. I just deal with it and move on.

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

paul1967 comments on Oct 17, 2017:

A generous partner who will be there with me through the hard times and still find it in her heart to want and love being with me.

What, in your opinion, are some characteristics of a mature person?

paul1967 comments on Oct 16, 2017:

Being able to change your opinion. Being willing to really listen and pay attention to opposing views. The ability to laugh at yourself. The ability to own up to your own failures. Someone who has high levels of integrity The capability of being kind to those who have not been kind to you. The ability to put off reward for a better outcome later These and more. A person who has most of these qualities would be someone with a higher than average level of maturity and the age of someone isn't a quality indicator of maturity.

Could prominent religious ideologies be perpetuated by time traveling beings that are altering our ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 15, 2017:

Anything is possible, but like God, I have no reason to believe it.

Do you think the "Idiocracy effect" is taking place in real life'?

paul1967 comments on Oct 15, 2017:

What is the Idiocracy effect?

Should forgiveness always be given?

paul1967 comments on Oct 15, 2017:

I think you must do it for yourself and not always for the offender. Giving forgiveness can be as much a gift to yourself as it is a gift offered to another. If forgiveness has been earned through an honest attempt at restitution then doing so can bring relief to yourself and others around you. However, even without an earnest effort to restore the situation or where there is no hope of ever achieving restitution, finding peace in yourself requires that you forgive. It doesn't mean you must allow the offender any alleviation from their guilt or punishment. You can forgive an individual internally and move on without allowing contact with that individual.

Is ignorance bliss?

paul1967 comments on Oct 15, 2017:

The studies would indicate that it does. Anyone who knows me knows that science is the subject with which I hold great reverence. However, I take science to be an understanding of the physical world that is in constant flux, and never an absolute declaration of absolute truth. It may be true that the comfort it offers allows for an extended life but it could be could also be something unrelated.

Are you still able to appreciate religious art, or does the religious message prevent you from ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 15, 2017:

I enjoy a lot of religious art, music, authors, and poets. Amazing Grace is a song that has always affected me. In my mind, I can apply it to my life. I was a drug addicted youth, failing out of school. I was destined to be a bum on the streets or in prison. A single person (Not God or divinely sent) turned my life around by showing me my future. There's a long and painful story behind that story but the song "Saving Grace" gave me some inspiration to change my life around.

Will science be our saviour or are we over confident?

paul1967 comments on Oct 15, 2017:

If you're talking about being our saviour from religion, I think having a strong scientific influence in our society will make a measurable impact on how religious we are as a nation. If you're asking will science save us from destroying ourselves, I don't think anyone will know until it happens or doesn't happen. As it stands right now, as optimistic as I try to be, I can only say it doesn't look good. Especially with climate deniers running our country and people who will sell the good of our future for the good of the now.

How do you respond?

paul1967 comments on Oct 15, 2017:

I thank them, assuming I believe they're offering it in a generous light. There is no point, in my opinion, to allow yourself to get offended. It isn't their intent to do us harm, but that's just my opinion of course.

Do you think that the abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianism and Islam) become popular because ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 14, 2017:

I doubt it had much to do about weekends. Some people go we're they're told. Accept ideas that make sense. We are a lazy minded people and if someone sells you on something many never bother to investigate it

Why isn't there any atheist tv programs?

paul1967 comments on Oct 14, 2017:

There's the Atheist Experience if you live near Texas

What is the furthest away you've met someone online and then met in real life?

paul1967 comments on Oct 14, 2017:

California is we're I lived at the time and she lived in Alabama. The date was a disaster and I flew home the next day.

At what age did you know you were going to die?

paul1967 comments on Oct 14, 2017:

4 or 5. My parents took a lot of time explaining what happens when we die. My cousin (about the same age as me) died from cancer and I asked what that meant so I got my first lesson on death early in life.

How long has your longest relationship lasted?

paul1967 comments on Oct 14, 2017:

14 years twice. Both of my marriages lasted 14 years. At my age if I can do another 14 that should be perfect timing.

Can empathy be learned?

paul1967 comments on Oct 14, 2017:

I would argue that empathy is not instinctual and is learned as we mature and develop from childhood into adults. I would also say that the foundation of empathy comes about due to socialization and has been seen it in dogs, primates, and most if not all social animals. For an example of this click or copy the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HJTG6RRN4E

Are morals objective or subjective?

paul1967 comments on Oct 14, 2017:

Morality is a big complex subject. Is it objective? Well, that depends because I think it can be after you agree on terms. Is pocking my eyeballs out for the fun of it, objectively immoral? I would say if society decides on the well being of individuals as its goal for a prosperous civilization then plucking my eyeball out for fun would be harmful to my well being and therefore objectively wrong. Is everything therefore objective? No, because very few things are black and white. You could argue that if I ran you down with my car, that's directly impacting your well being and therefore objectively wrong. Well' maybe but what if it was an accident? Or what if I did it because you were threatening my family with harm? Things get a little muddy and it becomes more difficult to draw an objective position. I think intent and situation must be evaluated to determine if the act is objectively or subjectively moral. A far easier and better solution is to discard your concern for whether something is objective or subjective because, in the end, they're useless terms. If something is immoral, does it really matter if it's subjectively wrong or objectively wrong? In each case, the action is either good or bad and the degree to which side it lands on has no impact on the deed being done.

Who is your favorite Horseman of New Atheism?

paul1967 comments on Oct 13, 2017:

The first Hitchens debate I saw was with his brother where I wasn't very impressed by him. I think he went easy on his brother because every debate after that Christopher wiped the floor with his theist counterpart

Do you think a religious person is more or less inclined to be racist/sexist/all around bigoted?

paul1967 comments on Oct 13, 2017:

I claimed no affect and here's why religion itself doesn't make somebody a bigot that's a worldview separate from religion but I will say that generally speaking people that hold bigoted worldviews tend to be religious, I just don't hold the religion itself responsible

How many believe we have been visited?

paul1967 comments on Oct 13, 2017:

It's not impossible, but I would still say it's unlikely. Here's the thing a lot of people don't get, just because it's currently impossible for humans to do it, doesn't mean aliens don't have the technology to achieve it. However, you need to ask why aliens would come here? To a culture advanced enough to travel vast distances, we would appear to be irrational apes, playing with archaic tech. The last thing I'll add is that if they did come here, they might be less interested in communicating with us and more interested in dolphins, whales or octopus. They won't look anything like humans. It's more likely that they would have virtually nothing in common with us. However, never say never. It would be very cool if someday it happened.

How can belief in Hell be moral?

paul1967 comments on Oct 13, 2017:

Hell is anything but moral, and theists know it. Apologist had to devise a way that made it our fault to take away the apparent cruelty that an all-loving being could not do. They spun it so that we're choosing to go to Hell. It's a load of kaka. It never stops to surprise me how far people will go to maintain their belief in this fairytale.

Do you never get bored of talk about God?

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

I'm more interested in why people believe and why they seem to have such a hard time leaving it. They must know at some level its all a bunch of hooey because if the didn't, none of them would fear death, they would look forward to the end, and that's just not the case.

It seems as if every time I’m in contact with a Christian, and I tell them I’m agnostic, they ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

Not to mention pascals wager isn't a 50/50 as it makes it sound. Not only do you need to believe in God but you need to pick the correct God out of all the religions in the world. Odds would drop a bit even if there were a God. For all, we know the Mormons have the right answer. And I agree that was very well written. You're an inspiration.

How many and which languages do you speak?

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

One fluently three if you call broken Spanish verbal only and if you count a small amount of sign language.

Any other 3rd/4th gen atheists

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

3rd Gen. Grandfather on fathers side mother and father and then me and my sister

The Truth About Religions - YouTube

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

You need to be skeptical of this because most of the parallels between Horis and Christ have long since been debunked as not being factual. I learned this the hard way in a debate because I accepted a source without proper vetting and I paid dearly for it.

LOTR or Harry Potter?

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

I've only seen Lords of the rings I tried watching Harry Potter and fell asleep 5 minutes into it, not because I was bored I was just sleepy. I haven't read either story. It's just not my genre.

Say you find someone who seems amazing in your eyes, but they turn out to be religious; Do you move ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

If you love him, you love him. If you get to the point of marriage, then consider this. Marriage is a commitment, and that means hard work. Differing positions on politics or religion can add to the work. If you have kids, kick that work up tenfold because each parent will want to influence their kids to their beliefs. How ok will you be raising a son or daughter as a theist? If you think you can handle it and he's worth it then amen to you sister you have some hard days ahead of you, but he may be worth it.

What is the most progressive philosophy?

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

I'm not sure that can be answered. I agree with the simple statement that Bikersurfer said, "The one that gets you where you want to go the fastest" It's probably the only answer that makes sense.

The first thing in the Bible that made me question it was the first story in Genesis.

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

It starts when young kids get indoctrinated, later in life you either, break free, or you compartmentalize what you know scientifically with what you believe spiritually.

Hello everyone, I'm new here.

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

I have a perfect retort to that. If I were asked why don't I kill myself if there is no God I would inform them it's NOT me who should want to end my life for not believing. The question really is if you do believe why do you do anything that might extend your life. If your sick, do everything in your power to get sicker, for crap sake Heaven awaits you. It is curious why theists fear death, if they truely believe and they claim absolute certainty because of this relationship with God they should not fear death in any way. They should be the heros that charge straight into enemy lines without a worry in the world of being shot.

How comfortable are you with the word "Atheist" ?

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

If you view the word Atheist as an inadequate description of your beliefs or perceive it as a hostile attack against believers you have many other ways of communicating your disbelief when the situation arises. I would use the term non-believer or secularist or just say I don't believe in God because of the lack of evidence. But remember this, I call myself a Democrat, but there are significant aspects of this party I loathe. In many ways, I'm a conservative. I'm not for higher taxes. I'm for fair taxation, but I don't think of other ways to describe my political party. What I do is voice my concerns. If what you see in any group that represents you as being in some way harmful be that voice that says, this should stop, just as you have in this post. Get descriptive with examples and post something about how you feel and ask others what they think.

New Bus Campaign?

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

I think it's too much reading for the average person to process as a bus drives by and even when parked most people won't read a complete passage. You would need a fast message like "BIBLE STUDY" Read: A Rebellious Son - Deuteronomy 21:18-21 -LOGIC- or something like that. My fear is Christian parents might start stoning their kids instead of understanding how immoral it is.

One always hears about the 4 horsemen of atheism; Dawkins, Dennet, Harris & of course Hitchens.

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

Michael Shermer is a great skeptic and skilled debater, but there are those in the atheist debate community that didn't appreciate him for debating the young-earth creationist, Kent Hovind. They view it as giving credibility to a worldview that is too far disconnected from reality. Mr. Hovind is known as a manipulator of scientific data, and he relies on the ignorance of the layperson. I define ignorance here as being uninformed, not stupid. An example of this is Mr. Hovind's argument against radiometric dating. He cites as an example of an experiment performed on a ten-year-old rock from Mount St. Helen by the young earth creation scientist, Dr. Steve Austin. The analysis used potassium-argon as it's dating technique (On a ten-year-old rock) those of you who know how dating techniques work, already know the conclusion and why it's fraudulent. The sample came back as being up to 380 TYO (thousand years old) to 2.2 MYO (Million years old). Here is the deception that a layperson might not understand. This planet is 4.5 BYO, and potassium-argon dating is used on rocks expected to be billions of years old and has a margin of error that would allow for this especially on a ten-year-old rock. Other dating techniques would have flushed this out. Mr. Hovind knows that a large percentage of laypeople will view 380 TYO to 2.2 MYO as being a noteworthy discrepancy and therefore unreliable. To educate an audience on radiometric dating techniques with a 10-minute rebuttal is unreasonable and will leave people not understanding what to believe. I'm not for excluding any argument that challenges science however when an unquestionably deceptive argument is used to manipulate uninformed people in a debate platform, I believe that person should be sanctioned from any future debates.

When is freedom not fair against equality.?

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

I agree with Bikersurfer. Your question needs to include more information because the parameters for this issue are wide open. I could think of any numbers of things where one's freedom isn't fair against equality. Slavery of a race would be my first thought. Oppression based on gender is another. I just don't know if that's what you mean.

What kind of useful information have you found in this community?

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

I learned pineapples don't grow on trees lol

Most terrifying experience?

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

When I was six, my father took me hiking in the High Sierra. We had stopped to eat near a cliff as we were getting up I was goofing off walking backwards, and my father in a calm but very stern voice Said, Paul! Stop and don't move. Take a step forward and turn around. I had been inches away from the edge of the cliff and had I taken one more step back I would have been dead, and there is no question about it. Down below was a substantial 75-foot drop straight down onto large boulders. That's not the only time my father saved my life, but that was the scariest

Non traditional vs traditional weddings

paul1967 comments on Oct 12, 2017:

I've gone to a bunch of very non-traditional weddings, and most of them were a blast. My best friend growing up asked me to be his best man at a "gay?" wedding. I say gay? because his bride was trans and as far as I knew he was straight but he fell in love with her, and it's been six years of happy bliss for them.

Wasn't sure where to post this, so I figured I would post it here.

paul1967 comments on Oct 11, 2017:

I've never heard of Itachi but I like the quote, and I see how it could have influenced you. It's something that I need to think about because it leaves reality and truth to be personal and subjective, as it moves you to question the clarity of what you think you know. The reality you accept, I agree it can and often is a personal construct but truth as being that same thing takes faith if you are saying, the truth is in the mind of the beholder. At least I think it does.

Are you the only atheist/agnostic in your household?

paul1967 comments on Oct 11, 2017:

No, my dogs and cats are too. My wife is a hardcore Christian, but we legally separated after seven good years followed by seven more bad years. The more religious she got, the worse things got. It's not all her fault I'm guilty of losing interest and not wanting to be around her as she fell deeper into her faith.

Anyone had an out of body experience ?

paul1967 comments on Oct 11, 2017:

Yes, but I know exactly what it is and it's not my spirit. I suffer from sleep paralysis and one of the effects of that is a feeling of being out of body. To test this I had my x wife right something and place it on the lamp on the nightstand. I didn't see a note that next morning until after it went away and I looked for it. It said you snore

Has anyone ever done street epistemology (SE)?

paul1967 comments on Oct 11, 2017:

I'm forced to say no because it wasn't on the street, but when debating or discussing religion with a theist, I practice the philosophy of street epistemology because it's far more useful. It is less threatening, and it allows for the person to acknowledge things he/she otherwise wouldn't.

What would you call something you know exist and yet you cannot see?

paul1967 comments on Oct 11, 2017:

Atoms, air, magnetism, black holes, energy waves, thoughts, emotions, gravity, empty space, the past, the future, the earth mantle, infinity, dark matter, speed of light, nonexistence, time, antimatter, quantum particles, the entirety of the universe about a billion other things.

Three days new

paul1967 comments on Oct 11, 2017:

Ah, a good well placed cuss word is more than acceptable when said tactfully or at Trump lol (just kidding, well maybe not totally kidding) I've enjoyed your presence here and I love reading your posts.

What would you do?

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

You're asking a human that doesn't have those powers what they would do with them if they did. I suspect any answer you get would not reflect the reality if this actually did happen to them. Not that anyone is lying it's just impossible for us to comprehend what that power would do to us. I hope I never get to find out.

Saying "grace" at someones house?

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

I had this happen to me this past Saturday night at my bosses house. My boss lives quite a distance from where we work, and I had casually mentioned that I had been on several dates with a lady I met online who lived near his home, and things were going well. He asked me to invite her to dinner. My date was excited to meet my boss, so she agreed. Everything was going great, and then he asked me to lead "the supper prayer." I was in shock. I was prepared to hold hands and even bow my head, but I wasn't ready or willing or even capable of leading the prayer. I tried twice to turn him down politely, but he isn't the type to accept a no. I have never felt so threatened about telling someone that I didn't believe. Needless to say, my date won't return my calls, and my boss wasn't as friendly with me today at work. Now I have two people at work both different but similar issues that dislike me, and one is my boss.

SAS vs Navy Seals

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

Navy Seals is my completely uninformed vote.

Who makes a better single parent?

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

I would say it depends, but I guess if I'm forced to answer one or the other it's more common for a single mother.

Being a positive person who makes the conscious decision to smile at strangers and be grateful for ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

Funny yet embarrassing story. I moved to Kansas City back in 2004 from Los Angeles. When I would find myself driving through my neighbourhood on the way to work, people I didn't know would smile and wave at me. In my cynical LA brain, I thought what in the hell do these people want from me? It took a few years of this before I came to the conclusion that they wanted to be neighbourly. I have a hard time with change but I find myself doing it to others now, and when I'm visiting LA and do it, people look at me with a stinkeye and I think that used to be me.

For all you Zen masters out there in wonderland.

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

LMAO- I don't think I could pull that off with my customers.

What is your opinion of the Dalai Lama?

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

Tenzin Gyatso is a religious leader who seems from what I've read to be a relatively passive individual. I can't claim anything he's done that I would consider as being negative, but I can't claim to have researched it all that much.

I'm not a psychologist but I sure wish I knew what's inside the mind of the average trump supporter!...

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

I live in Kansas City, which could easily be renamed Trumpland. I saw a licence plate that said Trump 4 just the other day. People here seem to be delighted that several decades worth of civil rights work is being destroyed, that environmental protections are being dismantled and that hateful sentiment is becoming normalized. I'm surrounded by Trump enthusiasts who all claim he's doing wonderful things and then when I ask them to name a single thing he's done that's positive all the can claim, are those things I find abhorrent.

What are your views on bible stories?

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

I abstained from voting because I think they're utter BS and they should be taught AND exposed in either theology or philosophy class.

Does it matter to you where you get your words of wisdom?

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

I think that everything is relative. Words that offer significance to us can come from your worst among us. Let me explain how words of "wisdom" can be relative. I'm all about helping make the world a more just place for all. However, these words of wisdom anger me. "Black lives matter" To some they hold an essential message, a message I'm aware of and value, but the message became (at least to me) is cops lives don't matter. Words are words, and they relay our thoughts to a limited degree, they can drive great change as they did in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speech, "I had a dream." There are too many occasions where cops killed black people when they had no justification to do that. However, the Black lives movement is forgetting an essential aspect of their message to America. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin "BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER."" So my point is not to bash Black lives matter but rather to point out how words of wisdom can be wise words, but that's not the same as the implementation of those words.

Do you believe in fate?

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

I voted, No. I (think) I'm making choices that offer certain variable outcomes. As I make more choices, several results become more or less likely. Some may have a positive, neutral or negative effect. I think what people describe as fate is when one of those less likely (usually positive) results presents itself in the end.

Health care

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

I need to do more research because I lack a solid understanding on this issue.

Star Trek or Star Wars?

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

Trek to the end

Can you explain why you are for or against single payer healthcare?

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

I'm for Healthcare reform but I'm undecided as to what kind of reform. I have great healthcare at my job but there are so many of my friends who need it but can't afford it. That's crazy that we can spend billions on building a bigger military but we can't seem to figure out how to take care of the health of our citizens.

Why can't Americans disagree respectfully?

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

I'm not sure it's just an American thing. I think most people have an issue with listening, considering someone else's perspectives and then discussing something rationally. Here's a perfect example. I won't name names but there is another member here who views Trump as a great president, and he's perfectly entitled to that belief. However, whenever he says something like Trump is fixing America, I instantly think "This guy is an idiot" My first instinct is I hate this guy because he's supporting a guy I can't stand. Mind closed, I've made up my mind and there's nothing left to talk about. My reaction should be, is it possible this guy has information I lack? Let me talk to him and see if I value his opinion. Instead of doing that I get pissed. I try my best to fight that closed-mindedness but I fail frequently. It's my desire to do better in the future.

What was the worst, but funniest, date you've ever been on?

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

What stopped you from kicking him the balls so hard he could never breed? I'm sure a jury of your peers would have found you justified, I sure would have and then after the trial, I would have kicked him in the balls for good measure.

A couple of good reads: Decoding The Universe by Charles Seife, deals w/ quantum mechanics & ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

Thanks I'll read Evolution For Everyone later this week.

Anyone ever feel lonely and want to go out to meet new people but your anxiety stops you, that's ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 10, 2017:

I've never had an issue with that but I guess it's because I've never given a crap if people don't like me. I am who I am and fckem if they don't like it.

Have you ever seen anything that no one believes you saw?

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

I saw something I don't believe I saw. I was walking to school, and I saw a man in a black jacket 20 yards up the road. I looked away for a second, and in that second he went from 20 yards away to walking past me. I either thought it was a second and it wasn't, or he's the Fash. Either way, I don't know what it was I experienced, and I will most likely never know, but it freaked me the hell out.

Why are citizens of the US so against socialism when countries like the Netherlands are so ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

I don't know what impact that would have on us. I claim ignorance.

Does anyone have a bucket list they'd like to share?

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

I have only two things left on my list. Hang glide and dive into the ocean from 100 feet. I've done 50 in Hawaii but never 100

My 16 yr old son is about to become an Eagle Scout in a few months.

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

You give your son credit as you should but take some for yourself too. You gave him the gift of rational thought and love, that is all you.

George Carlin was one of the best when it comes to poking fun at religion.

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

I agree. He was able to make the insanity clear to even theists.

How many times have been in a situation where you know you could or should have died but didn't?

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

Once at age 7. I was behaving foolish, and I flipped a motorboat tossing my father and me out of the boat a few miles off the coast of Catalina. The boat kept going without us in it, and the tide was pulling us deeper out into the ocean, just around sunset, someone saw the boat with nobody in it, and they turned it around long after I had flipped it. It was beyond lucky that they were able to find us.

Hundreds of humanists, atheists, agnostics, freethinkers and scientific skeptics, are expected to ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

Thanks! that's very cool

Who do you prefer, Schwartzenegger or Stallone?

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

Arnold cause heez da beast

Is mysticism a valid alternative to religion or is it 'the same old story just a different face?'

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

I see no reason to believe in mysticism. If it makes you happy and it's not being used to infringe on my life, I'm good with anyone who wishes to accept it. I will say I would rather people didn't, but I'm happy not to dissuade someone of that belief which doesn't want to be.

Just joined! Hello all! I live in SC.

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

Welcome, I'm thrilled to have another person join our group. I look forward to reading your posts and having you add to the conversation. I like feedback, especially when I'm wrong, so feel free to speak out against anything I say. I promise you as long as it's done with respect, it won't hurt my feelings, it will make my day if you convince me I'm wrong.

Do you all advertise your Atheism publically?

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

Is it frowned upon in my city? YES! and that makes me do it all the more. Not so much to piss off the theists but to let the Atheist or non-believers know it's ok to be open about it. T-Shirts I own: You pray for me. I'll think for you. Science doesn't care what you believe. LOGIC I'm an ATHEIST! on the back, it say's: Mythology is all things supernatural. Atheist - Because imaginary friends are for four-year-olds In Science we Trust Science flies you to the moon Religion flies you into buildings. I think therefore I'm Atheist. I have a ton more but I wont bore you with all of them

A lonely 70-year-old widow decided that it was time to marry again.

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

LMFAO. That was very funny!

Having seperate bedrooms: Would you be open to this?

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

I think as long as you don't lose a romantic connection with your partner it's fine but be warned it happens sometimes without you even noticing.

Darwin's Song

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

I liked that one because I could read what I couldn't hear. It sucks have impaired hearing.

A Perfect Circle - Judith

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

I wish my hearing was better. I can't make out a single word of what he's saying.

I thought this was suppose to be a community of like-minded people.

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

If done respectfully I don't mind one bit when someone says Paul, you're proposal is stupid, or that belief you have is stupid. We all hold stupid beliefs, but here is the punch, if you're calling an idea of mine stupid, back it up with evidence showing me why my view of something is stupid or if evidence isn't possible then show me the failure in my logic. Allow me to demonstrate this to you. You have a belief that I hold to be "stupid" although I would rather use the word unjustified. If this belief makes you feel better then I'm happy for you, but it is important to me that I'm not believing things that are untrue and here is why I think Karma is likely an irrational belief. Karma is a cosmic accounting of good and bad. Belief in this would suggest that the more good we do, the more good we get in return, and vice versa. There is no evidence to support this, and it is a superstitious belief. Based on the lack of evidence you would need to believe this on faith. The evidence that show's that is not true is all over the place. A healthy child is about to be born but an umbilical cord gets wrapped around its throat, and it suffocates to death. Where is the karmic force that should prevent that?

My dads entire life he was an Atheist.

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

I think you have the right to be mad, BUT I wouldn't have been for this one simple reason. Your stepmom did it out of love for him. I would have told her that she is disrespecting the wishes of my father, but I'm not one to cut someone out of my life for an act that is meant as a loving act no matter how misguided it was. Had I had the power to stop it, I wouldn't have in this instance because it isn't bringing any harm to him, but it is easing her grief. This opinion of mine is just that an opinion and it's not meant to decare that you are wrong for how you responded to it.

If a genie granted you 3 wishes, and you used the first one to wish for happiness, what would you ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

The first wish would not be for happiness or any emotion, because that happiness would be an illusion and my knowing that would defeat the wish. I would wish that Barry Sanders had become president. I would wish that pets would only be adopted by people who will care for them and never by people who would abuse them. I would wish that the God question could be answered so that we could finally be done with this nonsense of religion.

Do you have a rational argument that worked on a religious person?

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

I disagree with people who say it's a waste of time, period. It can be with indoctrinated people, who say they believe and they do it only on faith. Those people don't care if what they believe is true, they just want to accept it as true. For everyone else, you can use logic, evidence and research to convince them, but you're being irrational if you think they'll stop believing on a dime. It's a long arduous process. You need to first uncover what it is they believe and then go from there. If your goal is to get them to stop believing DON'T start with facts that contradict their beliefs. Start by asking why they believe what they believe. Then get them to look into the facts. It's much easier to convince yourself of something than it is for someone else to do it. Otherwise nobody who was religious would ever stop being religious. And there is no argument that acts like a silver bullet. You just need to practice guiding people to research their beliefs using competent sources, otherwise they do there research on apologetic websites.

First date, who pays?

paul1967 comments on Oct 9, 2017:

I'm old school so I pay regardless of how well the date went. I don't assume the woman isn't independent. She may very well make more than me, but tradition has it that the man pays. I would feel awkward if she paid and it wouldn't feel like a date going dutch. For me, there are no strings attached and no expectations beyond getting to know each other. First dates don't usually involve physical romance beyond a hug possibly a kiss if the date went extremely well. None of that has any obligation tied to the payment of the food. I would be crushed if a women told me she kissed me because of a feeling of obligation.

Has anyone watched Open Minds with Regina Meridith on Gaia.com?

paul1967 comments on Oct 8, 2017:

Nope never heard of it but I'll check it out.

What's your thoughts on prostitution?

paul1967 comments on Oct 8, 2017:

I'm not a big fan of it but it should be legal for the mere fact that it's safer for all involved and it can be regulated and taxed.

Who is your favorite author?

paul1967 comments on Oct 8, 2017:

Different categories different authors. On the subject of religion it's Joseph Campbell.

My local atheist group was run by a group of polyamorous .

paul1967 comments on Oct 8, 2017:

I personally agree, I've been in both types open relationships have never worked out for me. My girlfriend was bi and I was "young and open minded". It's not a life style I'll ever invest in again.

Favorite podcasts?

paul1967 comments on Oct 8, 2017:

Atheist Experience

Agnostic gathering in the Hampton Roads area?

paul1967 comments on Oct 8, 2017:

https://www.meetup.com/topics/atheists/us/va/virginia_beach/?_cookie-check=rdOIREa8BLbsNMfY

If you had a whole week free, no responsibilities, and whatever resources you needed, what would you...

paul1967 comments on Oct 8, 2017:

I would build the most comprehensive animal rescue shelter anywhere, with large and luxurious kennels and an animal hospital on site. I would fill them with toys and serve only the best food. The sad thing is, this shouldn't have to be just a fantasy. The conditions for homeless animals is only a small step above inhumane. These animals come in sick with heartworms, broken bones, burn marks and so many other horrors I can't speak of, and their shelter is a tiny cage where they spend most of their days afraid and alone. The lucky ones get adopted and find quality homes. The ones who are too sick, too old or just aren't cute enough, those animals spend weeks or months in hell only to be put down before their time to make space, with no one holding their heads and crying that they will be missed. Please, people, don't buy from pet stores and spay and neuter your pets.

I would like to start a new church.

paul1967 comments on Oct 7, 2017:

Hey at least it would be tax free

Does anyone practice meditation?

paul1967 comments on Oct 7, 2017:

Only when I sleep.

Will the world ever progress to a utopian civilization?

paul1967 comments on Oct 7, 2017:

God I hope not. What a bore that would be.

Does it matter how or why the universe was created?

paul1967 comments on Oct 7, 2017:

Does it matter how matter became matter? I think we know a lot about that but not everything. Why assumes intention which I find highly doubtful. How it happened is answerable and we're working on it. What was before may not be answerable. Or what triggered it may also be unanswerable.

Most people I talk to, regardless of political and religious beliefs agree that money and greed are ...

paul1967 comments on Oct 7, 2017:

I'm sure I should be more informed but sadly I'm not. I'm not sure what Citizens United does or doesn't do.

I often am frustrated by the lack of events in my town WITHOUT some kind of religious affiliation.

paul1967 comments on Oct 7, 2017:

I live in Kansas City Missouri so like Michael I'm blessed constantly throughout the day. More often when I wear my Atheist T-shirt. I smile and walk away.