Comments on: Independence Day http://brandnewatheist.com/2008/07/04/independence-day/ I'm Rob Jones, I Exist and I Can Prove It Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:15:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Rob Jones "Brand New Atheist" http://brandnewatheist.com/2008/07/04/independence-day/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Rob Jones "Brand New Atheist" Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:18:06 +0000 http://brandnewatheist.com/?p=6#comment-74 xJane, I'm sorry to hear you experienced poor acceptance. I've heard really bad stories about how families shun and manipulate those of us who are willing to share our truths. I was concerned at first but realized I wasn't putting my family in danger so I went for it publicly. This morning I had a multi-hour conversation with a pastor. He's a friend (I have several pastoral friends) and our conversation was 100% civil and neither of us was trying to prove anything to the other person. We were just talking and to a third party it would have been obvious we didn't agree on things. One of the keys for me is this website. It allows me to spout off, speak my mind, be an ass, offend strangers and release the pressure. Most of what is on this site that would be considered offensive never makes it into my real world, meaning I don't to people in person the way I do here. I appreciate your comments. xJane, I’m sorry to hear you experienced poor acceptance. I’ve heard really bad stories about how families shun and manipulate those of us who are willing to share our truths. I was concerned at first but realized I wasn’t putting my family in danger so I went for it publicly.

This morning I had a multi-hour conversation with a pastor. He’s a friend (I have several pastoral friends) and our conversation was 100% civil and neither of us was trying to prove anything to the other person. We were just talking and to a third party it would have been obvious we didn’t agree on things.

One of the keys for me is this website. It allows me to spout off, speak my mind, be an ass, offend strangers and release the pressure. Most of what is on this site that would be considered offensive never makes it into my real world, meaning I don’t to people in person the way I do here.

I appreciate your comments.

]]> By: xJane http://brandnewatheist.com/2008/07/04/independence-day/comment-page-1/#comment-72 xJane Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:46:45 +0000 http://brandnewatheist.com/?p=6#comment-72 I'm very glad for you that your experience of atheism has been one of acceptance...it was certainly not mine! Most Independence Days I end up seeing far too much reference to god and getting depressed. Although parades are fun and so are fireworks. Also, there are other days that are referred to as their dates: September Eleventh (or just Nine-Eleven) is the obvious one, but there's also Cinco de Mayo, an awesome American holiday. I’m very glad for you that your experience of atheism has been one of acceptance…it was certainly not mine! Most Independence Days I end up seeing far too much reference to god and getting depressed. Although parades are fun and so are fireworks.

Also, there are other days that are referred to as their dates: September Eleventh (or just Nine-Eleven) is the obvious one, but there’s also Cinco de Mayo, an awesome American holiday.

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