and somewhat on the left, but the political effects of that are nowhere near as bad

Anti-science attitudes don't have to be political to be harmful - antivax activism kills more people than creationism.

Yeah, good point.

I think the global warming deniers trump both.

Pantheists represent. I am one with all the universe and all humanity, and man, part of me is freaking CRAZY, yo.

That's part of our charm, right? The freaking CRAZY? Plus the part where we don't tell other people what to believe or not believe?

At one point in my 20s, I went to the hospital, and they asked me what religion I was, and I blurted out “Atheist”, and that was that. Hasn’t been a big deal for me since.

I have issues with the authenticity of the Bible - how can we know what we read today is what was really written and what was meant to be? There has been so much time and so many people between then and now.

I was raised Southern Baptist, I haven't agreed with that for a very long time. But I've always asked those unanswerable questions that some people can just take on faith. Questions like -what happens to all the people who never got to here about Jesus? Do they go to hell? If Adman and Eve were the only humans and then they had children - who did their children marry?

I've also heard various forms of what salvation means - one church (I went to 1 service and nearly left in the middle) they were preaching that being overweight is a sin against God. The local paper did a big expose on that particular church as being part of a cult. I heard from another (non cult) church that you get 1 chance and that's it at salvation. Basically if Jesus knocks and you don't answer (or realize he's at the door) you're screwed. You may later decided to accept Jesus and *think* you are saved. But you aren't. God doesn't forgive you for that.

I've heard all you have to do is be saved and anything that happens after is forgiven. Or/unless you deny God's existence at any point in your life. Again that's totally unforgivable. So if you are an atheist and then come to Jesus, you aren't really saved.

Then I have a huge issue with churches being bullies and hurting people. And also how so many church people end up being liars or bullies. I've had the experience of knowing someone was a youth pastor and seeing them lie about things. Not an "oh I forgot" but straight up, bald faced, asked a question and lied. Putting someone else - who was standing right there! - in the position of looking like a liar.

But then I hate to see atheists to good people who are believers or make fun of them.

It's interesting to read that many move to atheism as they age. I think I'm moving to the other direction. I think I'd like to start taking Noah and Grace to church. There are many things I am willing to relax about and my intense anti-religion, atheist stance is one of those.

I think my biggest issues is that like most of the medieval catholics, I just don't think there is an allmighty power that gives a damn about ME personally. My vision of a god, when I really try to envision god, is not of something that cares about my prayers etc.

So, in some ways, I'm the opposite Steph. I think salvation might only be based on good works, or at least the goodness with which we live our daily lives.

Also, Steph, I don't think that the Catholic Church really believes in Purgatory either. Purgatory, historically, comes from Dante more than anything else.

I did find out that the daughter of Mom's best friend is following in the foot steps of the Duggar family. She's got 2 kids, her youngest is about 1 and is expecting. Mom asked "was it planned?" And her friend had to explain that, no it wasn't, that her daughter and SIL are using God as birth control and believe he'll only give them as many children as they can handle.

Mom's friend is having a hard time with this she is a liberal Episcopalian and her daughter went off to a small college and met her husband, who is some form of strict Baptist, and some sort of pastor - youth or music or something - and now she's a good pastor's wife and obeys her husband and all of that. Mom's friend was seriously against this marriage and nearly stopped talking to her daughter until Mom sat her down and had her "which would rather - have a relationship with (insert loved one) or not have a relationship and be 'right' " talk. So now Mom's friend has learned to deal.

Things I don't understand: planking [link]

I have issues with the authenticity of the Bible - how can we know what we read today is what was really written and what was meant to be? There has been so much time and so many people between then and now.

Too bad we don't read ancient Aramaic!

This year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. I think over the summer, I'm going to try to read as much of it as I can. The Folger Library is having an amazing celebration. One of the things I didn't realize is how many people worked on KJ Translation and how difficult this task must have been. Manifold Greatness is a really cool site that celebrates the KJV. What I love is the beauty of the language, how amazingly poetic this bible is even though it was done by anonymous committee!