Wheetsin

I always thought that was just the Hispanic catholics! A Hispanic friend of mine once told me there are three truths to every Hispanic household: 1. There is a statue of Mary somewhere in or around their house 2. There is an oversized crucifix in or around their house 3. At least one room in the house is or has been haunted Disclaimer: no that doesn't mean I believe these things are true or that he really believed these things are true, blah blah blah, etc. etc.

Yes, and I knew someone somewhere would interpret my message to be about christians in general. Hence my footnote. But when I'm talking about my experiences with christians, I'm not going to note every other possible demographic that has been or could be mean in reocrded or future time. I think sometimes it's ok to talk about the group you're referring to or thinking of, and trust other people can infer that you mean your comment "on target". If we're talking about how Indian food is good, and I say "Indian food is spicy", I'm not really inclined to qualify that by saying "Indian food is spicy, and so is American Mexican, and so is some Thai, and so is some Argentinian, and so is some Tex Mex." That doesn't mean I'm trying to imply that only Indian food could be spicy. But at the same time, my dinners were not shared with Indians who claimed to have the mildest cuisine, either.

Couple'r things, naturally. Comments inside the quotes in blue for the sake of coherence.

Being anything other than a christian is very hard in our society, and lacking it brings conflict and scorn to your life that you wouldn't otherwise have because, let's face it, christians can be really mean and judgmental people. I believe I was 12 the first time I was told I would burn in hell. A statement that doesn't have any more fearing consequences than "you will fly to Neverland", but that still carries very strong messages of judgment, self righteousness, disdain - perhaps even digust - and instantaneous discrediting of that person's beliefs. Because of this, and many other reasons, many younger people who don't necessarily believe yet pray for a clear sign, pray for faith, pray to feel the holy ghost because they want nothing more than to believe in God. Believing in god means acceptance, and being "right", and fitting in, not being the outsider -- and most of our younger people covet those things above all others. So it seems more like - "Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do. Ask God to work faith in you, and even then you may remain without faith." **edited, where I have amde generalizations, in was in reference to the groups of people I'm recalling at that time, and not intended to be representative of entire populations.

This is me. I don't go to the doctor unless I believe I absolutely need to. Since it doesn't hurt very often anymore, I figure I don't really need to, and I can sock it away until my physical. My doctor knows me. She will say, "You need to be on medications, but I know you don't want to take them." I need to call for a fill appt. anyway. And I somehow lost the lab orders she mailed. I'll mention it when I talk to her about that.

You mean things haven't done that already? Ok, you be here to remind us. And as you sit there typing your message, we'll be envious because WOW, you really have a lot of spare time.

Mmm, marinate that baby in some evoo laced with garlic salt and other seasonings of choice, wrap it in a slice of hickory bacon, and throw it on. The evoo bath will keep it from drying out, and the bacon just makes it straight up delicious. My father has been to Australia several times (he loves telling the story of the time the wombat chased him down the street) and one thing he brought me (I was very young) was a stuffed koala covered with kangaroo fur. I was very surprised at how incredibly soft kangaroo fur was, I had always assumed it would be tough, matted, and scratchy.

My grandma could clean my house naked, as long as she does a good job. Beggars definitely cannot be choosers.

I wish Bush would fizzle out. Into non-existence. Wishes never come true for me.

I don't have a lot of time on my hands. But I make time to voice my opinion. Our voices are one of our greatest assets and, like soap, should be used daily. And I never criticize or condescend someone else for doing the same. It's pretty ironic that you took the time to post that people have too much time to post.

My motivation is getting my PCP's blessing for pregnancy. I have a physical later in January and I'm eager to get her feedback, even though it will be at least March before we try anything. And all the other things that come with weightloss. Let's see... I'm on my 4th wardrobe. About every 2 sizes I completely abandon most of my clothes & bring in all new, keeping just a few favorites, but only if they don't hang. The purchasing isn't the reward, it's being able to look at something, think . o O ( that looks small ), and then have it fit. Then I have to buy it, it's like an obligation. Now the material rewards... I wasn't sure my insurance company would approve me because I did not have comorbidities, so DH and I had kind of assumed we'd be paying out of pocket. Well, insurance approved no questions asked, so I told him that since we weren't writing a check for $17,000 - instead he would take me to http://www.turtlefiji.com/rates.php when I reached goal. $17,000 will buy us a full week and I CAN'T wait. Of course, it will also buy a lot of plastic surgery... but if I lose 200 lbs, I'm going to have both. And DH also knows that when I reach goal, and maintain it long enough that I'm confident I'm at the size I will be in for a while, it's a full wardrobe, no questions asked, no comments about the amount I spend, nothing. He understands that, that one time, his job is to run bags out to the car and nothing else. I'm thinking Mall of America. Not only do they have great stores, but there is no sales tax on clothing. And with as much as I'll be spending, that could be significant.

I tolerate shrimp, but find it a little too hard to chew it well enough - not worth the effort. I've eated chicken since day 1. Eggs are iffy. Real eggs are usually ok if I go slow, and they aren't scrambled. Processed eggs - stucksville every time. I ate tuna salad, chicken salad, ham salad, egg salad, etc. during my mushy stage. Just made sure it was really wet.

Mushies... let me try to remember... Refried Beans saved my life. Add some tabasco, red sauce, and chile verde, top with cheddar cheese...mmm... Cottage cheese Mashed potatoes Tofu (in any sauce/marinade you want) Wet & well chunked tuna salad

I grew up in San Diego. When we ordered a "coke" at a restaurant, we were then asked, "Do you want Coke, Sprite, Dr, Pepper..." because "coke" wasn't "Coke", it was "soda" . Or as they say here, "pop" *cringe* When we moved here I would order "coke" and couldn't figure out how the waitress possibly knew what I was talking about. Ok, so that's not about meat, but it's relevant damnit.

Puddin, awesome photos. Was it you who long ago redid their basement in a tropical type theme, or am I completely confusing you with someone else?

Consider what you get from the sex that's so addictive. Sometimes it's just the pleasurable feeling (in which case we get manic masturbators). Usually it's centered around acceptance, or control, or blurred lines of fantasy, or aggression, or... Dependency = you need people. Codependency = you need people, and you need them to need you. Not so well aligned with the drivers behind sexual deviancy (yes, that's technically where we are, but it's not negative.). You'll find many codeps working in social service fields - care providers, group home supervisors, etc. Because they "need" their clients, but they also "need" their clients to need them, and it's the perfect environment to have that need met. America is under-medicated! Except our children..

I actually bought my grandmother housekeeping services. Methinks I bought too soon. Think it's him?

Sesame? Not in my baklava! When made "right" it's not so sweet. Well, that is if you consider honey not so sweet. If honey is terribly sweet to you, then baklava will always be as well. But I don't like sweet things, and I *switching to Missouri mode* love me a good piece of baklava. I don't like most nuts though, so I can skip the middle. Just give me the cripy top layers, booey bottom, and stick a fork in me 'cause I'm done. And yes Jack, you're forgetting the 4ish stick of butter. Each of those flaky dough layers is thoroughly brushed with melted butter before the next layer goes on.

This is one of the major "if I could know then what I know now" issues. We did buy Lucent. Ouch. My great uncle was their high up accounting something or another... either CFO or something right below it. Double ouch. Then his house burned down. Triple ouch. Wish I'd invested in Google too, but at the time altavista DIGITAL was the buzz. Porn is a sure thing. When Mantra Films becomes publically traded, I'm there. :biggrin1:

Theological debates are difficult. Side "A" is up against this unknown, unseen, unproven force capable of anything and everything who can have anything & everytyhing attributed to it, without "proof". because this unseen & unknown entity can be capable of anything and everything, "because it's god" becomes a sort of dismisser for any logical rebutes. That's very hard to argue against. It's like trying to argue against all the superheroes that were ever conveived of, wrapped up into one mega avenger: Side "B" has the very core of their faith resting in just that, and as such can attribute what side "A" sees as plain and simple events to a higher power. Side "A" demands evidence, side "B" can't produce the type of evidence they're looking for, but insists the whole point is to believe in the absence of evidence. Which is the exact opposite of what 95% of the atheists out there can do. For the most part, I dig other people's perceptions. Even I think they're stone cold wrong, they're still right to that person. (Insert additional thread here re: denial of absolute reality) ** editing to add: the above quotes are not my own writing, they are borrowed from askanatheist.org. Nor do they necessarily reflect my personal beliefs (because I would never give any credit to free will)

I've never once, ever, flamed anyone here. You certainly won't be the first, least of all for answering what I ask. I absolutely wouldn't ask a question unless I truly wanted to know someone's answer. It appears you EXPECT me to flame you, and I think that's unfair. You aren't judging me, are you? I've heard -- in this thread as well as in life -- an awful lot of contradiction. Thus the glory of perception. But the proverbial down side is that everyone believes their interpretation/belief is the correct one. I find it interesting. And I thank you for sharing not necessarily your opinions, but your information.

Yes! I was lured into The Surreal World and he mentioned it at some point during one of the 2 or 3 episodes I saw. I truly thought he must be joking. That's just creepy in so many different ways and on so many different levels.

Green, excellent point. My parents (I know I've already said this, but wouldn't assume everyone reads/remembers) are different religions - dad is baptist while mom is catholic. We have lots of very interesting conversations. They aren't thrilled with my "decision" to be an atheist, but they don't disapprove of it. They are comfortable that I have done what is right for me. They understand my reasoning. I often tell them that I think chrisitanity (although this could apply much more broadly than christianity - but that's what we're normally talking about) is the easy way out, so to speak. For alot of reasons, one of the more minor being the afterlife. When someone dies, perhaps the pain is that much less potent because of a belief that you will be reunited, or that they're in a better place. Compared to a belief that the person has absolutely stopped existing and is irrevocably gone, and instead of being in another place, just isn't. I was in the room with my grandfather when he lost a terrible and ironic battle with cancer, and just maybe it would have stung a little less to walk over and close his eyes if I could have believed that he was anything but dead & gone. ** Edit - my father is methodist, not baptist. I don't know why I keep wanting to say baptist. Somehow it's Carlene's fault, I'm sure.

Yeah, pretty much what I said. Do whatever evil acts you do because you aren't perfect. Just regret doing them and we're square. Unless you deny me, and then you're in trouble because that's not forgiveable. So you'd better live in regret. I'm not saying that's how it "is". There is no "is" because you ask 100 people and you get at least 90 different answers. I'm just saying that from my perspective, that's how it seems. **edited to try and clarify I know murderers. I have worked with them. Not as peers, but as a counselor. And I know from my work with them that the vast majority of them regret their actions at some point. Some never regret their actions, mostly due to now knowing any better (be it mental retardation, chemical imbalance, truly not understanding right from wrong, etc.) So how would your god judge the schizophrenic who lashes out in the middle of an episode and inadvertently kills his sister, but due to his own mental impairments, is not capable of regret? He has comitted murder, but is not repenant. So it "intentional action" the qualifier? Because he did not intentionally kill the person is he OK? Because people who murder under the influence of drugs don't necessarily kill under intention either.

But in order to resist, you have to have some type of "pull" or beckoning. Or there is nothing to resist, there is just indifference. So by that definition, if an atheist has never felt a "pull" to faith, then they aren't resisting anything. They just "are". Only the ones who once had faith would have then resisted or denied that faith. And I use atheism, but you could use any other faith or any other state of missing or undefined faith.