My fellow atheists, how do you do it? (soul, Christianity, experience)

[Vic 2.0]

Originally Posted by Lilac110

I'm sure it's going to be fun when I have jury duty later this week.

"Excuse me. Excuse me? I'm an atheist. May I just affirm instead, please?"

If I'm lucky, both attorneys will be religious, take an instant dislike to me, and excuse me from serving.

That would be fortunate for you, but not for the poor sap on trial. Seems to me they should kinda welcome thinking individuals when forming a team to decide on someone else's fate

I agree with the OP. It bothers me that people expect everyone to believe in a god when we are all atheists by default. Why not expect everyone to be transgender while you're at it? I'm not one of those who get offended at the mere mention of God or Christianity. You can say "God bless you" to me when I sneeze, fine. But don't expect me to talk of this "God" in any way when I don't even believe in it/him/her.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by Lilac110

I'm sure it's going to be fun when I have jury duty later this week.

"Excuse me. Excuse me? I'm an atheist. May I just affirm instead, please?"

If I'm lucky, both attorneys will be religious, take an instant dislike to me, and excuse me from serving.

Report back! Be curious to know what the reaction is. If I actually get that far (being considered for a jury) I definately will not swear on any "wholy full of it" book. So far I've never even had to show up, as here the jury summons assigns a number, and you call the night before and find out which numbers have to report the next day.

[Vic 2.0]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

If I actually get that far (being considered for a jury) I definately will not swear on any "wholy full of it" book.

Maybe say, "To the extent that the contents of this book are true and accurate, I swear...", lol. Might make 'em think

Then again, no, even that probably wouldn't

[Mambomouse]

When my husband & I were discussing wedding plans, I was not prepared for the family crisis that erupted over our decision to have a civil ceremony - my mother flatly refused to speak to me for several months & eventually my eldest brother convened what can only be described as an "intervention".

There were so many opinions raised at that meeting (held on neutral ground, might I add!) that made my blood boil:
- it's not a real marriage;
- what’s the point in getting married if we don't believe in god? (still unable to get my head 'round this one);
- people will think one of us is divorced (why exactly should I care about this?)
- how will I know how to lead a moral life? (because obviously I've been routinely bashing old ladies with my handbag ever since I realised I don’t believe in god);
- what about the [not yet conceived] children?;

I had to exercise every diplomatic muscle in my brain to assert my beliefs in a calm & intelligent manner, and present carefully worded arguments to convince them that, at the age of 34, it wasn’t just a phase I was going through, and neither had my husband brainwashed me. (I’m pretty sure I didn’t manage to convince them of this.)

Ironically, the vicar who my mother insisted on me talking to before I "made any rash decisions” was the kindest, most understanding voice of reason amidst all the drama, reassuring me I didn’t have to answer to anyone regarding my belief or otherwise.

[Thinking-man]

Originally Posted by raison_d'etre

I feel like I am going to scream. Just the other day my fiance and I went to get our marriage license for next weekend and they asked us if we swear to god that we are telling the truth. I told him that I don't have a belief in god and so it would be wrong for me to swear my marriage to it. He just looked at me like.... I think he didn't want to give us the license. I told him that if he wanted me to swear to god that I was telling the truth, it would be a lie, because to swear to something I lack a belief in.

Finally he gave it to us, but seriously...

I hear it everywhere I go. How do you not just start going off on people? Even on this forum. The mental capacity of some people still astonish me.

How do you go through the day listening to all the willful ignorance and misconceptions that people have and not say something?

Mockery. i use Mockery.
When i hear stuff like that, (and i do, almost on a daily basis), i typically say something completely sarcastic and ridicule the person for having said something THAT stupid. I try to attack the silly belief and not the person who holds the silly belief, because i try to understand that it was the environment he/she grew up in, that indoctrinated the silly belief....and....as i was a silly believer until only a few years ago, i always assume that there's a chance the person may find the path to enlightenment in the near future.
But the bottom line is that mockery, although often ineffective in changing the mind of the silly religious folks, makes me feel good enough that i can go on another day without throwing myself off a bridge as i lose more and more hope in humanity and its collective intelligence, the more i hear about religions and gods alike.

[PoppySead]

Originally Posted by peppermint

I am dealing with this now. My mom has cancer, and she's been experiencing complications from the chemo - partial kidney failure and, most recently, congestive heart failure. We are actually in the hospital now.

I always thought it was not permitted for hospital personnel to talk about religion. Clearly, I was wrong. I have never been so furious or so annoyed with fanatical Christianity until my mom was admitted to the hospital. The first time she was here 3 days, and we didn't have any issues. The second time she was here 12 days, and she almost died. At first the nurses and staff gave her the classic "God bless you", "God be with you", "He's got a plan for you" BS. One of the people from her hometown came and prayed for her "Lord, we ask you to heal ___, if that's your will, and if it's not, your will be done." Um, excuse me? I realize how zealous Christians interpret this phrase, this request, but my mom was lying in a bed, unable to walk, with IVs coming out of her chest and arm. She was suffering from a potentially lethal bacterial infection in her blood with malfunctioning kidneys, and you say "if not, your will be done"? I was really angry. I said nothing because I care more about my mom than spouting off.

This last visit to the hospital made me even angrier. I rushed her to the ER when she couldn't breathe. The ER doc said she had fluid in her lungs and needed medications to get rid of it (turns out it's congestive heart failure). He was talking to her about future chemo treatments, which he knew little about. His tone was pessimistic, and he asked, "Is your heart right with God?" I know my eyes shot sparks. Mom looked at him blankly and muttered, "Yes". He went on to talk about God's miracles in his life, etc. I was so, so angry.

Despite the fact that my parents live in the buckle of the Bible belt (Mississippi), I do not think medical personnel have any right to evangelize or preach or threaten or guilt or scare life threateningly ill patients with religious BS. I think these people should be fired. I really do. I don't give a crap about their sincerity or their good intentions; they should never put their patients in this position. Once my mom's out of here, I plan to write a letter of complaint.

OP, it's so difficult to keep my mouth shut with this nonsense flying all around. Even in the elevators, it comes up. Example 1: I was in a packed elevator heading back upstairs to my mom's room after getting lunch. A man entered and said, "Well, I'm a Baptist preacher, and I don't know if I can miss an opportunity to preach to a captive audience." I thought, Mr., I will throw my tea on you. Example 2: Two women carrying Bibles were on the elevator with another woman. The third woman walked off, and I walked on. The women with the Bibles were talking about things they should have said to the third woman to "encourage and uplift her". Again, I thought, Best not start with me, ladies. They didn't and I got off. It's just constant in the hospital. I freakin' hate it! I have never been so glad that I escaped this religiously fanatical state, and I hate it for any non Fundy who can't get out. It's awful here. I think a Southern hospital has to be the most fanatical, religious prison on earth.

I know how you feel! I often wonder, when I'm lying there critically ill how it's going to be. The last thing I want to hear is how I got there because I didn't have enough faith in God to stay well.

I don't think the hospital personnel should take the place of religious representatives in the hospital. If you are religious, call in an on staff religious person. They have plenty. But don't send me a doctor/preacher or a nurse/priest. What do you say to the person treating you? Get out? lol They might decide to send me to the happy ever after place, they might save me by sending me to their version of heaven early.

[PoppySead]

Originally Posted by Mambomouse

When my husband & I were discussing wedding plans, I was not prepared for the family crisis that erupted over our decision to have a civil ceremony - my mother flatly refused to speak to me for several months & eventually my eldest brother convened what can only be described as an "intervention".

There were so many opinions raised at that meeting (held on neutral ground, might I add!) that made my blood boil:
- it's not a real marriage;
- what’s the point in getting married if we don't believe in god? (still unable to get my head 'round this one);
- people will think one of us is divorced (why exactly should I care about this?)
- how will I know how to lead a moral life? (because obviously I've been routinely bashing old ladies with my handbag ever since I realised I don’t believe in god);
- what about the [not yet conceived] children?;

I had to exercise every diplomatic muscle in my brain to assert my beliefs in a calm & intelligent manner, and present carefully worded arguments to convince them that, at the age of 34, it wasn’t just a phase I was going through, and neither had my husband brainwashed me. (I’m pretty sure I didn’t manage to convince them of this.)

Ironically, the vicar who my mother insisted on me talking to before I "made any rash decisions” was the kindest, most understanding voice of reason amidst all the drama, reassuring me I didn’t have to answer to anyone regarding my belief or otherwise.

Yikes! Sounds like a rough pre trial. lol

[PoppySead]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

Report back! Be curious to know what the reaction is. If I actually get that far (being considered for a jury) I definately will not swear on any "wholy full of it" book. So far I've never even had to show up, as here the jury summons assigns a number, and you call the night before and find out which numbers have to report the next day.

Best way to get out of Jury Duty. Put you can't serve because you're an atheist. Even though you don't have to swear on a bible anymore, (they have a different oath for us) 9 times out of 10 they don't want an atheist on a jury. Sometimes though, they want an all atheist jury. lol Depends on the case.

[rifleman]

Wow! Good answer. Then, if the lawyers actually and personally believe in the Bible (frankly this is highly unlikely, given the Satanic™ mindsets and Evil™ ways of the lawyer crowd...), you'll possibly get on in! (lucky you!) But... if they realize it's all a hugely hypocritical and conditional book, they may have a minor brain burnout. Ouch!

What if you have a relaly theocratic judge, and you note that he's writing something down beside your name in his "Little Book of Future Jurisprudence" (Sub-section: the "People who I hope come before me in the future!" list.. Oooopppsss...)

[Ilene Wright]

Originally Posted by rifleman

I'm shocked at your confession, Ilene! Here I thought I'd hack-tracked you down and found this picture of you on the 'net!

Google Image Result for http://www.celebritylifestyleblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Beauty-public-relations.jpg

I guess I'll just have to do better at sleuthin', huh?

Oh, but PS: just to keep 'em guessing, perhaps you should show up to a family dinner event made up just like in this picture some time, and ask mom if your "new look" is "right" with her.... (tell her it came to you in a waking-dream visionary and prophetic moment, just as you touched your old bible...)

You can't damn a girl for tryin' after all, eh?

Keep it up, drln!

Haha lol that's priceless!! You know, barring the fake eyelashes I kinda did look like that in the 80's.

I have decided to get my hair cut but it's not to bow down to other people's desires or requests, it's because I'm tired of spending 10 to 15 minutes trying to get a comb through it every time I wash it. It's for ME, no one else. Also, I think I'm looking a little like that old lady in that commercial (can't remember what it's for) where the homeowners come home to find a big mess where the old lady and old man threw a party, and the old lady says "you weren't supposed to be home until Monday".

So, ease and "you must have the appropriate hair for your age" win out I guess. But I'll be damned if anyone is going to make me wear make-up unless I want to.

Thanks for the pic Rifleman......made me chuckle.