Remarkable Story

[The Camel]

I'm sure it took some courage to say "actually I'm an atheist" but beyond that there's not much to this is there?

Without Doug Stanhope's intervention this would be a non-story. The fact that people donated money to help her to rebuild her life, because she was an atheist, actually feels pretty sad and depressing.

Why sad and depressing?

Christians and people of other religions have huge support networks, places to go and people to help when in times of need.

Atheists have no supoort networks. Especially in the USA. It's pretty much you against the world most of the time.

Doug proved this isn't always the case. Human spirit is strong.

I found the whole story heart warming and life affirming.

[kinboshi]

I'm sure it took some courage to say "actually I'm an atheist" but beyond that there's not much to this is there?

Without Doug Stanhope's intervention this would be a non-story. The fact that people donated money to help her to rebuild her life, because she was an atheist, actually feels pretty sad and depressing.

Why sad and depressing?

Christians and people of other religions have huge support networks, places to go and people to help when in times of need.

Atheists have no supoort networks. Especially in the USA. It's pretty much you against the world most of the time.

Doug proved this isn't always the case. Human spirit is strong.

I found the whole story heart warming and life affirming.

People sending her death threats because of her 'lack of faith' is sad and depressing.

[david3103]

I'm sure it took some courage to say "actually I'm an atheist" but beyond that there's not much to this is there?

Without Doug Stanhope's intervention this would be a non-story. The fact that people donated money to help her to rebuild her life, because she was an atheist, actually feels pretty sad and depressing.

Why sad and depressing?

Christians and people of other religions have huge support networks, places to go and people to help when in times of need.

Atheists have no supoort networks. Especially in the USA. It's pretty much you against the world most of the time.

Doug proved this isn't always the case. Human spirit is strong.

I found the whole story heart warming and life affirming.

People sending her death threats because of her 'lack of faith' is sad and depressing.

Agreed.

bombing abortion clinics is sad and depressing too, as are so many other things that happen in the world and which can be attributed to groups who are linked in some way to some religious organisation.

However, as Keith says, 'human spirit is strong' and the strength of our heroine in proclaiming that it wasn't a god that saved her reflects that. I just found it sad that the fundraising took place because Doug Stanhope wanted to make a personal point about his lack of belief.

Given that one in three of the U.S. population now polls as being atheist/agnostic/irreligious and a further 20% have no religious affiliation it's hard to see them as  a downtrodden minority.

[The Camel]

I'm sure it took some courage to say "actually I'm an atheist" but beyond that there's not much to this is there?

Without Doug Stanhope's intervention this would be a non-story. The fact that people donated money to help her to rebuild her life, because she was an atheist, actually feels pretty sad and depressing.

Why sad and depressing?

Christians and people of other religions have huge support networks, places to go and people to help when in times of need.

Atheists have no supoort networks. Especially in the USA. It's pretty much you against the world most of the time.

Doug proved this isn't always the case. Human spirit is strong.

I found the whole story heart warming and life affirming.

People sending her death threats because of her 'lack of faith' is sad and depressing.

Agreed.

bombing abortion clinics is sad and depressing too, as are so many other things that happen in the world and which can be attributed to groups who are linked in some way to some religious organisation.

However, as Keith says, 'human spirit is strong' and the strength of our heroine in proclaiming that it wasn't a god that saved her reflects that. I just found it sad that the fundraising took place because Doug Stanhope wanted to make a personal point about his lack of belief.

Given that one in three of the U.S. population now polls as being atheist/agnostic/irreligious and a further 20% have no religious affiliation it's hard to see them as  a downtrodden minority.

Don't think Doug was really doing it to make a point.

You know, he's a comedian.. he was making a joke.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think he did it to to honour a very brave woman.

And although 20% have no religious affiliation, I doubt the number is anyway near that high in Oklahoma.

And if nothing else it caused Doug to come up with the line "It's funny how hate can make you do real nice things every now and then". Which I'm adopting as my new motto for life.

[david3103]

http://www.oklahomaatheists.com/

[RED-DOG]

Lol.

'Oklahoma Atheists, a non prophet organisation'

[Ironside]

i think the word atheist is a horrid sounding word its sounds so angry
i like the word agnostic much better  i am probably more atheist than agnostic but if asked would likely say agnostic more than atheist

[RED-DOG]

i think the word atheist is a horrid sounding word its sounds so angry
i like the word agnostic much better  i am probably more atheist than agnostic but if asked would likely say agnostic more than atheist

I'm more puzzled than confused but if asked I would likely say more confused than puzzled.

[The Camel]

i think the word atheist is a horrid sounding word its sounds so angry
i like the word agnostic much better  i am probably more atheist than agnostic but if asked would likely say agnostic more than atheist

I'm as surprised anyone has complete certainty there isn't a god, as I am by people who have complete faith there is a god.

[RED-DOG]

i think the word atheist is a horrid sounding word its sounds so angry
i like the word agnostic much better  i am probably more atheist than agnostic but if asked would likely say agnostic more than atheist

I'm as surprised anyone has complete certainty there isn't a god, as I am by people who have complete faith there is a god.

What about Goblins, Santa, the Tooth Fairy etc?

[The Camel]

i think the word atheist is a horrid sounding word its sounds so angry
i like the word agnostic much better  i am probably more atheist than agnostic but if asked would likely say agnostic more than atheist

I'm as surprised anyone has complete certainty there isn't a god, as I am by people who have complete faith there is a god.

What about Goblins, Santa, the Tooth Fairy etc?

Odds against.

[RED-DOG]

i think the word atheist is a horrid sounding word its sounds so angry
i like the word agnostic much better  i am probably more atheist than agnostic but if asked would likely say agnostic more than atheist

I'm as surprised anyone has complete certainty there isn't a god, as I am by people who have complete faith there is a god.

What about Goblins, Santa, the Tooth Fairy etc?

Odds against.

But you're not ruling them out?

[The Camel]

i think the word atheist is a horrid sounding word its sounds so angry
i like the word agnostic much better  i am probably more atheist than agnostic but if asked would likely say agnostic more than atheist

I'm as surprised anyone has complete certainty there isn't a god, as I am by people who have complete faith there is a god.

What about Goblins, Santa, the Tooth Fairy etc?

Odds against.

But you're not ruling them out?

[teamonkey]

A lot of people believe in ghosts

A lot of people believe in "aliens"

A lot of people believe in a "god(s)"

Personally, i need proof of any of the above to really believe in them, however, of the three, the alien life form is something i would be happiest to put my money on.

[AdamM]

i think the word atheist is a horrid sounding word its sounds so angry
i like the word agnostic much better  i am probably more atheist than agnostic but if asked would likely say agnostic more than atheist

Theist/Atheist deals with the belief/absence of belief in a god.
Gnostisc/Agnostic deals with knowledge, rather than belief.

So it's possible to be an atheist agnostic, a theist agnostic, an atheist gnostic or a theist gnostic.

Granted some combinations are far more likely than others.