The other day, as I was sipping on an Americano from Starbucks, and kicking myself for not bringing my own reuseable cup, when I looked down at the paper cup I was drinking from and read this quote:
“You can learn a lot more from listening than you can from talking. Find someone with whom you don’t agree in the slightest and ask them to explain themselves at length. Then take a seat, shut your mouth, and don’t argue back. It’s physically impossible to listen with your mouth open.” (John Moe)
As I’ve embarked on a journey of conversation with my newly found friend Lawrence, who happens to be an atheist, I was struck with how important this concept of listening really is within the framework of spiritual conversations.
Read the rest of this news item »
When Helen asked me to be a guest blogger for the eBay atheist blog I was initially surprised. A gun to the head can do that *joke*. Surely she’d gotten me mixed up with some other blogger, someone who can string more than a half dozen words together coherently, who has the wit and intelligence to play with the grown ups? She assures me that the other bloggers here aren’t nearly as grown up as I thought. What a relief.
This first post is something of an introduction for me although I’ve been a blogger for many years over at my hoverFrog blog and before. I’m also a guest blogger over at the Friendly Christian blog. If I start talking about FC you’ll know who I mean. I shall be filling the recently vacated Monday slot left by Siamangfor as long as I’m still wanted and I have something to contribute. His seat isn’t even cold yet. Tsk! If you want it back Siamang then just say so and I’ll move to a different day. I’m easy like that.
The most relevant thing about me for this blog is that I am an atheist. I am well aware of the path that led me to atheism. More accurately, I am well aware of the path that did not lead me to theism. I think that the distinction is important. People learn religion. I never did, so I’m an atheist.
Read the rest of this news item »