Posted by Jason on: 02.25.2008 /
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.
I was raised in a household that did not consider God in any way. If it was not for contact with religious people through school and clubs I would have had no idea that the idea even existed. Born an atheist, I remain one. My children (all four of them) are being raised in the same way.
It is really since the horrible events of 9/11 that I have paid much attention to matters pertaining to God or Gods. What I have seen has not filled me with confidence and has not led me towards any religion. Quite the opposite actually. It is unfortunate I think that my view of religion grew progressively worse as I had more contact with its proponents. Rather than simply ignore religion as I had in my youth I was forced to confront it. I’m not one to confront something without knowing what it is. Forewarned is forearmed after all.
I began debating (badly) on various forums and sites. I made some hugely glaring errors and insulted a lot of people. In return I noticed a lot of hugely glaring errors and got insulted a lot. Hardly what you’d call a constructive method of debate. After a time spent re-evaluating my opinions on faith and reading up on the subject I stumbled upon Hemant’s* site and also FC. It was here that I finally worked out that Christians and atheists are only enemies when we make ourselves enemies. We have much more in common than we let ourselves believe. It took long enough.
I still have strong opinions about faith and some of them might be a bit extreme (for want of a better word) but I hope we’ll be able to find common ground. I drink coffee black with no sugar and have a tendency both to go on a bit and to use awful puns.
Does anyone have any questions for me?
*as an aside I’ve been unable to find “I Sold My Soul on eBay” in any shops in my local area. I have to confess that I still haven’t read it.
Leave a Reply
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
1 02/25/08 5:22 AM | Comment Link |Just one, Jason - is that you in the second photo? :)
(I wish it was me in the first - except for the gun - but alas, no…)
Oh, one other question: how was your weekend?
Comment by: Jason
2 02/25/08 6:03 AM | Comment Link |I do look just like that. I’m really handy to have around.
My weekend was a terrible disappointment. After spending most of it trimming my hedge (not a euphemism) I got stood up at the pub by a Jehovah’s Witness.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
3 02/25/08 7:41 AM | Comment Link |Four arms must come in handy.
I’m sorry you were stood up at the pub. Was this by someone who generally doesn’t let you down?
Comment by: Pseudonym
4 02/25/08 6:22 PM | Comment Link |Thanks, Jason, for the opportunity to interrogate you. There’s only one question that I need to know the answer to, to accurately judge whether or not to take you seriously, so here goes.
What kind of coffee?
Comment by: Jason
5 02/26/08 3:29 AM | Comment Link |Carte Noire. I’m afraid it’s instant but there are time factors involved when it comes to coffee. I do have this cafetiere at home for ground coffee but I’ve not found a decent blend for it. I’m open to suggestions.
Comment by: Karen
6 02/26/08 11:08 AM | Comment Link |Hi Jason, and welcome! I recognize the hoverfrog moniker from FA.
Comment by: Randy
7 02/26/08 1:12 PM | Comment Link |Welcome aboard, Jason! Somebody needs to do a photoshop job on the banner so you are sitting between Hement and Jim. I’d suggest using the picture you supplied of your four-armed self.
I’ve been on the other side of that gun with Helen, btw. It’s been mostly a good thing for me, so far.
Looking forward to hearing more!
Comment by: Jim Henderson
8 02/26/08 2:54 PM | Comment Link |Jason
I enjoyed your short autobiography. We have enjoyed developing a unique community here and it sounds like you are alredy up and running with the ways in which we like to communicate and learn from each other.
You alos might want to read Jim and Casper Go to Church (if you havent already)- that will give you a vibe on me and what other OTMers are into.
My life has been changed and enriched immensely through my relationships with people who disagree with me about important things.
Thanks for being willing to help us move the dialog a little farther down the road. You have a good heart
Comment by: Pseudonym
9 02/26/08 4:03 PM | Comment Link |Jason: Oh, dear. Still, there’s time to convert you to the side of good (coffee), I suspect. Welcome aboard!
Comment by: Jason
10 02/27/08 2:46 AM | Comment Link |Hi Karen, at some point I might explain the frog thing. When there’s a discussion on evolution or inherited traits in species would be best. :)
Thanks Randy, wouldn’t I sort of obscure that delightful lamp if you photoshopped me in? Helen’s been lovely actually. Even if she’s been proofreading my entries for me. ;)
Jim, thanks for the pointer. I’ll dash off and read it right away. I couldn’t agree with you more about the enrichment of honest discussion. Infuriating as it can be sometimes, I’m never mad about learning something new or about being made to think.
Pseudonym, it’s true that my coffee intake works on a quantity rather than quality approach. Having said that any improvements that I can make in the field of caffeinated beverages is always welcome.
Comment by: Jason
11 02/27/08 3:18 AM | Comment Link |Jim, there’s a two week delay in getting your book from Amazon. So my “dashing off and reading it right away” might be more an “I’ll read it in a month or two”.
Comment by: Jim Henderson
12 02/27/08 10:53 AM | Comment Link |Dont buy it
Send your address to
infoAToffthemapDOTcom and we’ll get a copy to you
Comment by: Mike O
13 02/28/08 10:40 AM | Comment Link |Welcome aboard, Jason!
For what it’s worth, this quote is something I’m trying to bring back to the church - we’ve got a lot of fixin’ and undoin’ to do in regards to how we’ve related to non-C’s in the past.
I don’t think our problem(s) (Chrisians, that is, among whom I am proud to number myself!) could be put in a nutshell any better - and my goal here is to STOP THAT TREND!
As for caffeinated beverages, I’m a HARD CORE Diet Mtn Dew drinker. I like it for it’s triple-advantage of being:
1) A good source of fruit - the #2 ingredient is OJ
2) A good workout - I call it “workout in a can” becase it achieves the same result as a treadmill - it makes your heart beat faster!
3) A good sleep suppliment - With sleep and most sleep aids, you still lose all that valuable time sleeping. But with DMD, you can just keep going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going.
Comment by: Jason
14 02/28/08 3:49 PM | Comment Link |Mike, if you want to stop the trend then I think it is first important to identify the cause. I don’t believe it is one single thing. Rather an accumulation of many different factors. I think that the trend is also getting worse rather than better but that might just be my own bias coming to the fore.
As for your drink recommendation I am forced to pour scorn upon it. Diet. DIET! That’s just wrong. Also caffeinated beverages should be piping hot. Cold drinks should be water and iced tea. The fruit component is acceptable though.
Comment by: Pseudonym
15 02/28/08 5:05 PM | Comment Link |FWIW, the Mountain Dew that we get in Australia is pathetic. It tastes nice enough, but the caffeine content is negligible.
I have no idea why.
Comment by: Traci Cumbay
16 02/28/08 6:17 PM | Comment Link |Nice to meet you, Jason. I am full of sinful envy: I’m still making glaring errors in my conversations with believers. Also, I have only two arms.
Maybe we can have some bible study together. I’m trying to read that book so I won’t make so many glaring errors, but — FORK! — it’s a tough read, resistant as I am.
Comment by: Jason
17 02/28/08 11:17 PM | Comment Link |Traci, two arms must be easier. You wouldn’t believe the trouble I have getting shirts. As for the bible study thing: don’t you just google quotes that you want from t’Internet? Shh, I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.
I had considered going on an Alpha course. Are they just a British phenomena or did it transfer over from America (like McDonalds)? The thing is I can be a little argumentative at times and I don’t want to create trouble where there is no reason to.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
18 02/29/08 7:00 AM | Comment Link |Jason I think Alpha started in the UK and then was exported to the US. It’s here as well now.
If you go PLEASE blog about it. That would be sooo interesting. When Eliza (another atheist who posts comments here sometimes) went to a weekly Lutheran class and blogged about it on another of our blogs (CatE), it attracted a lot of interest.
I expect Alpha would be more relaxed and friendly than Eliza’s class. But I’d caution you that since the point of the these classes is to give people a favorable introduction to Christianity, the leaders may not be receptive to you asking a lot of questions which indicate a thought-out alternative viewpoint.
It would be like you going to some sort of Sainsbury’s reception to introduce people to a new product line, and you start asking questions and citing research indicating that Tesco’s has something similar but better.
If you were willing to limit your questions during group time then maybe the leaders would be open to discussing them one-on-one afterwards.
If you think that would be difficult for you then maybe an Alpha course wouldn’t work out so well.
You could try it and if things get awkward, use your four arms to ‘win’ the argument then run away and never come back :)
Comment by: Mike O
19 02/29/08 12:16 PM | Comment Link |I don’t know if it’s getting bettor or worse overall, but there are changes happening. I’m not about to say that, on the whole, things are getting better. But within Chritsianity, I can vouch for pockets of influence that are starting to pop up (this blog is a case in point) that are at least going against the flow.
I know i can’t stop the trend myself. But whatever small influence I and the tens or hundreds or thousands of other likeminded believers can have IS there. These conversations are happening more and more lately.