Atheists, do you get excited when you meet another atheist?

Question

I know that sounds a little weird, lol, but it seriously delights me so much to meet others who think how I think. It is very rare in the area of the country that I live in to find free thinkers.

I mean in real life, that is.

But you're not an atheist, Rach.. you'd understand what I meant if you were an atheist living in a city where most of the population thinks you're crazy for coming to the conclusion that no god exists.

(((mags)))

LOL @ chem sickle.. I try, too, but I end up acting all gay anyway :o) But then, I'm kinda gay...

Answer 1

I get excited whenever I think of you

Answer 2

Here goes my somewhat long-winded answer: I grew up in a fundamentalist household, studied and adhered to Biblical law. I grew up in a British Israelist church. Google it. I was enthusiastic about it in my earlier years, soaking up as much as I could about the Old Testament and Jesus. The children in the church were expected to do their age-appropriate Bible study booklets, and I sure as hell did my part. The fear of Armageddon and the Apocalypse scared the living crap out of me, so I wanted to make sure I was safe. As I grew, the family attended church each and every Saturday. One of the first there, the last out. Questions were slowly growing and the answers explaining them didn't seem to fit. I still studied and learned the Bible, accepted a majority of it because my parents and the other grown-ups believed it all. Figured as adults, they knew what was right. Over time, the disagreements grew more and more. When I was 16, I let my parents know that I'd had enough. When I was 17, I moved away. I'm 30 now. About 11 or 12 years ago, the church, which was global and had a huge following, decided the teachings of it's founder, who had since died, were wrong. Overnight the beliefs and customs changed, yet people stayed and were happy with the changes. This reaffirmed my feelings about how objective religion is and how so many people will believe anything preached to them. Even if it changes overnight. I still study the Bible today, as well as other religious texts from other faiths. I see the same feelings and emotions behind believers and practices of their respective faiths. The noted similarities between Voodoo rituals, where members work themselves into an altered state, and the trance that some fundamentalist Christian sects get into by dancing and receiving the "Holy Spirit". The rejection of every other faith because their own is the "correct" one. I cannot say I am an atheist, however. This is a multi-dimensional world and I've experienced too many inexplicable events to say that it is once specific way. As the current human race progresses, we unveil the superstitions and magical explanations behind things. That said, I feel the Bible is nothing more than the collected works of largely unknown authors that span thousands of years. Many stories are not unique, being modified adaptations of many previous versions. The book was created by men and biased by those men. Everyone has a personal bias; the compilers of the Bible were no different. The book has been used as power behind an empire that conquered and brutalized a large part of the world, and still does today. Other books do the same today and their followers are equally faithful. Just because one is claimed to be written by or directly inspired by God, and it's writings claim the same, does not invalidate another on the same grounds. There is a common underlying theme behind all religious beliefs. This could be nothing more than a part of the human psyche we've yet to discover, or it could be a unified draw. However, to say it is a specific way is foolish.

Answer 3

I'm not sure I have met an out-of-the-closet atheist since I came out of my own closet on the subject. It's only been a couple of months. But I'm assuming that many of the members of the Ethical Society are atheists, as much because they are members as from anything they say. Some do speak negatively about religion, but most just talk about specific issues. When I did a presentation on propaganda and brainwashing and used fundamentalist propaganda and the movie "Jesus Camp" as an example of brainwashing, there were appreciative comments. But it's indirect. People don't talk about atheism as they would about a religion, after all.

Answer 4

It's very uncommon that I meet someone who shares my beliefs in this region of the country as well. As you may know, I live in North Carolina and atheists aren't exactly the majority here. I do get overly excited when I meet a fellow atheist (or even agnostic). I only know 1 or 2 in real life. I was very excited to find out that another R&S regular lives in my area. It's exciting to meet people who share our interests and opinions...there's nothing wrong with that!

Answer 5

I guess so, because it makes the whole interpersonal dynamic thing easier.

The company I work for has a two-story building: the “basement” houses the atheistic archaeologists and environmental scientists, while the top (parking lot-level) floor is occupied by the religious land brokers.

It’s a Venus-Mars environment and management has learned that it is best not to send us to business seminar/workshops that have any underlying religious motivational tone because it only motivates us to walk out and then baitch at them about it.

Company social functions are a real laugh-riot.

Answer 6

Very rare to find freethinkers here in Mississippi, but it's dangerous. Like living in Darfur. I've actually had a gun pointed at me.

So, when I meet another atheist, we have to use hand signals from the Evil Atheist Conspiracy.

And yes, it is always exciting to know I'm not alone.

Answer 7

Not really anymore. I work for a Geological consulting company and a big chuck of them are also atheists.

There is probably a group that meets weekly somewhere near you. Most of them are little more than social clubs with a guest speaker. You sound like you would enjoy it. I used to go all the time.

Answer 8

I'm a DEAF atheist. I'd love to find another deaf atheist but unfortunately most deaf people are christians. I'm a proverbial needle in a haystack. One of my deaf female friends is more of a pantheist. That's as close as I've gotten because she at least doesn't believe in a personal god who watches over all of us and answers prayers.. I'm not sure what her views are on evolution tho because I've never asked her.

I don't actually personally know any true atheists at all, whether deaf or not. So yeah I have to agree with you it would be nice.

Answer 9

I am a Unitarian Universalist so there are many among our belief system who are atheists...I will say that it feels better to be among like thinkers than those with dissimilar views...I suppose you could call that excitement, though I believe that to be a poor choice of words. Suggest you check out www.uua.org, PEACE!

Answer 10

I like meeting good people, regardless of affiliations. Although I would have a difficult time getting along with someone who is so embedded in their (religious) position that they don't even consider alternatives. IOW, there isn't much to discuss with someone like that since they talk at you instead of converse with you. I'm not here to convert, just engage.

Answer 11

Oh, yeah, especially if she's hot! And on another serious note, many of my acquaintances and relatives are what I would term "closet atheists." They go along with believers just to get along, if you know what I mean. I'm just a bit more straight forward about my (non) beliefs than they are.