tristane

I get that definition of atheism a lot, and one of the things I've noticed about the definition is that it's never a self-proclaimed atheist using it that way. It seems, to me, to be the greatest misunderstanding about atheism.

I look at it like this:

Atheist - I don't think there's a God, because I see no reason to think that there is one. To put a number on it, I am 99% certain that there is no God.

Agnostic - I don't know if there's a God or not. The lack of evidence for or against a God make the propositions "There is a God" and "There is no God" equally probable. To put a number on it, I believe that there is a 50% chance God exists and a 50% chance it doesn't.

Or, to be more specific, the agnostic doesn't believe we can draw any conclusions from our observations regarding the God question so far. The atheist thinks we've observed enough to safely assume that God doesn't exist.

I can't think of a single individual who, given legitimate, actual proof of the existence of God, would still choose to deny God's existence. I might still think he's an asshole, if we're talking about the God of the Bible, and I'd have a lot of questions, but I would indeed say, "Okay, I guess you do exist."

Atheism is a scientific conclusion and, like all scientific conclusions, changes with contradictory evidence.

Hey just wanted to pop in real quick and say I got your letter today, so your birthday wish actually showed up on the day itself, so thank you for that.

I guess now I will have to be vague if I comment so that my letter might have some gravitas. Woohoo first time I used that word ever, nice.

Curiously, what are the rules about dating your supreme officer?

Maybe it would be VERY good for being considered for a promotion? hahaha

Just teasing! You seem to travel a lot, but I'm unsure why. I feel like I've picked up a novel and started on chapter 7. Is it because of your job? Are you just struck with the urge to move?

I see you are like me and say that you are a bad person when you don't do something you know you should. I do that all the time, automatically go to far end of the spectrum, because when you get right down to it are you really a bad person, or are you just doing something that makes you feel bad about your decision?

Don't worry though, I think it's just a coping mechanism, so roll with it or something, at least I am not going to sit here and tell you to change your phrasing when I do the same damn thing.

Hope all is well over yonder.

Oh, yeah, I am. Don't get too excited, it's just outlining right now. I've done a lot of reading about theology and science of late (if you hadn't noticed, I'm a violent atheist) and I realized that these books tend to fall into the same two pitfalls: a confrontational or arrogant tone and confusing language.

So I thought I'd take it on myself to write my own "Atheism- Here's Why" book that a teenager can pick up and understand, or that someone who's already an atheist could give to a friend or family member to explain why and what it means.

I want to try to make it pretty thorough, but also simple. I'm also going to take a little time on the side to address the "America is a Christian Nation" misconception. My minimum goal is to finish it just to say "I wrote a book". My maximum goal is to get our Pledge of Allegiance restored to its original version without the added "Under God" crap.

Zuma is on the Xbox? Holy shit. I have to get that. I've mastered it on my cell phone. I'm like a zumancer. That's a new word I just made up. It means "one who practices the mystic arts of Zuma".

I can't really talk about my love life (or lack thereof) with my best friend, because my primary interest is his younger sister and, while he's given me his blessing to ask her out, he's not interested in hearing the particulars and I can't blame him. Fortunately, I have another best friend. The one who lives in Dublin. That Dublin thing, though, does get in the way. Whenever he comes into town it's nice to get his counsel. He's the only objective and honest observer I can get. I need to get him a girl, he never comes to me with his girl troubles because he can't be bothered to go and find one.

I can imagine wanting to do it myself every once in a blue moon. Maybe if I'm feeling really stressed, just being alone and stupid might be relaxing for a bit. But yeah, I can't imagine wanting to do it regularly. I don't know, I like being smart.

I tried it because the girl I mentioned in the above post wanted me to. Well, that's not all, but that's the main reason. I happen to know that she's a big fan, so I bought it for her for Christmas. I also have another friend who's a nightly smoker, and he keeps trying to get me to try it. So now I finally have, and all the people who stare at me in amazement, as if I'd told them that I've never tried ice cream, can shut up.

I'll admit, I was hoping for some developments between the girl in question and myself through this whole adventure, but if anything it left me further convinced that it's never gonna happen. I need to start looking elsewhere.

Now, that's the good kind of tired, run down for all the right reasons.

Sometimes I would like to just pack up and roam, but I don't know if I have the guts to do it.

I have a pretty good thign going here and now but sometimes I think if I just put myself out there and went for it that somethign amazing might happen, but once again I don't know that I have the guts to do it.

As of now I am just sitting and trying to let the money pile up so that I can make some kind of movement away from my hometown.

I hope things get better for you.

Been keeping busy? A week of inactivity is unprecedented for you.

I'm thrilled that you're home. the place you belong... older, wiser, better for your travels...

miss you, precious.

I only have one day of work left, tonight actually, then a three day weekend because I am laying off Saturday to go to a rodeo with my folks in the closest city to us that there is, or maybe there is one closer, oh well whatever, just one more night of cold, cold weather to deal with until Sunday night, that's good stuff right there.

Quitting jobs before has always made me less tolerant of the last few days, but in this particular case I'm having the opposite reaction. Having an end in sight (hypothetically, anyways - I won't know if I'm hired at this new place until sometime next week most likely) has made it easier for me to make it through the day at my current job. I think it's because I was becoming truly worried that I would stay there for the rest of my life. Now, with that lifted, most of the stress is gone. But if I never thought I would stay there, perhaps I would be more irritable at work than normal.

I have been in a similar positon as you, bar hopping whilst getting over someone, and I had quite a few good friends that I liked to go out with, but after my brekup I definitly focused only on the singles from that group. Of course that backfired for me as one of the girls took my wanting to go out and get drunk for something that it wasn't, and so on top of my own stuff I had a girl that was only a friend coming after me as well, that wasn't all that fun.

I can remember the last time I was out with friends and tried to excuse myself to go grab something to eat, I didn't get to leave and wound up drinking my supper, I guess your friends are just a little bit nicer to let you go, although I did usually wind up having fun in those situations, just paid for it the next day, but hey that's college.

Feel free. If anyone recognizes "lollerskate", you know they're cool.

I'd probably decide to jump, chicken out mid-leap and fall off the edge.

I am glad to hear that my mail arrived safely, it is my first experience with sending anything abroad so to hear it was a success is good news.

Speaking of news, sounds like you have some excitement in your future, or rather at least some change to experience. I could use some change in my life right now to act as a catalyst of sorts to spur me on, but the way the economy is over here really tells me I need to stay put and save up somemore so that I can survive moving on.

I hope sitting down with Goblet of Fire and tea was a success for you tonight, I think that might be my favorite of all of the books. It's the "shit just got real" moments within it that make it so. I just got the collector's edition of The Tales of Beedle The Bard off of amazon so I can peruse that in the near future, it has a real interesting packaging strategy. It looks like an oversized leatherbound book then you open it and there is a collection of JK's artwork from the book and then a small book with a skull and other decorations on the cover that comes ina velvet bag. It is really cool in that kitchy sort of way, but for now I have to read another 40 pages of Huck Finn before I can move onto another book, that and I just got a big box of comics today.

I, as well, am glad you posted that original post.

I'd suggest marrying Heath Ledger quick while he's still hot and riding the fame from his performance as the Joker. Someone else might beat you to it.

Was that tasteless? It felt tasteless.

Probably, but it would make me a worse person so don't feel too bad.

On the bright side, you can say you're a widow.

If the Mormons can convert people postmortem, certainly you can marry someone.