Hee. Thanks!

That's a fascinating discussion, Allyson.

I'm working on the chapter The Atheist's Guide to Tragedy, and trying to sort through why it is that I'm less angered by some people's beliefs in god(s) than others, and how big of a hypocrite that makes me.

What megan said. I personally don't care if you believe in The Great Green Arkleseizure. I don't really even care if you preach about it on the street corner (though I will roll my eyes). But if you try to outlaw Kleenex, or expect me to keep boogers and snot because they are sacred I will call you an asshole.

So you're okay if I live my life in fear of the Coming of the Great White Handkerchief, so long as those behaviors are only limited to my immediate sphere?

So you're okay if I live my life in fear of the Coming of the Great White Handkerchief

Pssst! Liese, it already showed up last week. Where were you?

Yep!

Damn. That happens to me all the time.

It's a good point, Strega. I'm definitely more relaxed about people who don't use their religion as a handful of magic beans to cure health issues and such...but still, as someone who thinks it's nuts to believe in some supernatural being/creator/judge/ward, it's kind of difficult. I mean, people I love deeply believe in god. And yet, I don't. I think it's a delusional thing, and I'm not plugged into the matrix. And I understand that's an offensive thing to believers.

How can you sit across someone at a table who thinks a belief you hold so deeply is completely ridic? Wouldn't you be all, "why do I want to hang out with someone who thinks this thing that is so important to me is false?"

I had our friend S cracking up the other day.

I tried to get a hold of Joe - no answer. My mom - no answer. My sister - no answer. Joe again - still no answer. Finally, I tried S as he always ansswers his phone. Except this particular day. I yelled into his voicemail, "Did the god-damned rapture happen and I get left behind? WHERE IS EVERYONE??"

How can you sit across someone at a table who thinks a belief you hold so deeply is completely ridic? Wouldn't you be all, "why do I want to hang out with someone who thinks this thing that is so important to me is false?"

IMO, because me holding that belief (generally) doesn't make the other person love me any less. Personal example: I'm Christian, Joe's very not. I believe in God and Jesus and I pray for people and I pray quite a bit during the day and I try to live a life that I think God will be pleased with. Joe has his own sets. He doesn't believe what I believe, but he believes in me and for that, I love him.

On the other hand, I think he's a heathen and going to Hell.

(Just kidding.)

And becuase I forgot to bring it around to why I'm a hypocrite, while it doesn't bother me if someone goes to church on Sunday and has issues with abortion and such, it makes me bonkers when someone holds up a copy of The Secret in the same way as a friend would hold up the Bible.

And it's all coming from the same belief in the supernatural. Therefore, I am a hypocrite and haven't found a way to sort it all out.