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thanks for the link to your post re: outing oneself as an Athiest. Too late for me. My family and friends (the one or two I have) already know me to be a non-believer. Yes, they think I am strange, but I really do not care. I cannot pretend to believe in the myths of my childhood. I have heard talk among them that perhaps my MS has damaged my brain and caused me to be so different. I love it.
zen
posted by
ZenMom
on December 27, 2007 at 6:32 PM
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ZenMom - it is not often that I do this as a comment response but I'm gonna
drop one of my own links.
I know it is goche to do such a thing but I feel you would enjoy reading a letter I wrote to and about Richard Dawkins: HERE
posted by
gomedome
on December 27, 2007 at 6:04 PM
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Thanks
I truly enjoy reading your posts. I have read Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins and others, and I must say that I am learning as much, sometimes more, from reading your posts.
Zen
posted by
ZenMom
on December 27, 2007 at 5:37 PM
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strat - the sad reality is that aside from a few sadistic sickos that we
seem to produce in our societies, satanic ritualistic murders are a myth.
The FBI has investigated all aspects of satanic ritual murders. Their conclusions are simple enough. They have hundreds of witnesses, mostly providing identical stories about literally thousands of ritualistic murders but with not a shred of physical evidence. There is also a disparity in numbers of missing persons on file and the alleged murders of thousands of people which does not accomodate such claims. Then there are the simple logistics to consider; in the nearly 30 years that these stories have been circulated not one instance has been corroborated. How could so many persons have been abducted, murdered and their bodies disposed of, while involving so many people, yet not produce any physical evidence whatsoever?
Another sad reality is that of the few murders that have been prosecuted as satanic ritual killings, it is becoming apparent that the mass hysteria that allowed so many people to believe these things took place has tainted the investigations. The one I mention in this post with a falsely accused teenager, is still referred to as a satanic murder though there is no reason to do so.
posted by
gomedome
on December 27, 2007 at 2:05 PM
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Actually, the last ritual slaughter I read about,
barring nutbag suicide bombers, was the one Krakauer wrote about in his "Under the Banner of Heaven" -- this was about a splinter group of fanatic, polygamist Mormons.
I have seen nothing about ritual murder involving Satanists lately -- aside from the occasional nasty animal cruelty episode -- which are horrible, but probably not really Satanically motivated, even though the perpetrator might have said they were.
posted by
strat
on December 27, 2007 at 8:36 AM
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You are absolutely correct!
I never knew anything about atheists before I came on blogit because I never knew anyone who claimed to be an atheist. I do believe, however, that you are correct about how people view atheists. My query was why atheists did not have faith in religion period. But evidently I didn't go about it correctly to find out what I really wanted to know. Since I believed all my life in religion and the words of God, I thought it was natural for people to express their religious beliefs so it seemed unnatural when I experienced those who vehemently disapproved of religion altogether. And I thought that was unnatural. I know now that it is not and I thank those who have conversed with me here and privately to give me a better knowledge of a non-believer. And I truly do not hold any of those preconceived ideas or thoughts any longer. I still have my faith in God, however, but I want to learn more about our universe and other religions so I can be fair and considerate of other's beliefs.
Please do not think that believers might have the same reasoning for conversing with atheists. My reasons are strictly knowledge-based. The more I can get that can lead me where I wish to be, the more I will ask. I don't desire to convert anybody that's for sure. I'm just trying to find answers so I read a lot and ask many questions. And if you don't mind answering my questions, I would be pleased to converse with you more.
posted by
b2008
on December 27, 2007 at 5:58 AM
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