Poor, poor pitiful us

On 5 Apr 2005 10:56:47 -0700, "skyeyes" <skyeyes.RemoveThis@dakotacom.net> wrote:

>Cary Kitterell wrote:
>
>>Atheists roll their eyes, and properly so, at the recent trend
>>among some -- and I emphasize "some" -- among some
>>Christians to portray Christians in America as pitiable
>>beleagured victims of oppression and persecution.
>
>There's nothing "recent" about their persecution complex, Cary. They
>were lamenting about it 50 years ago when I was an itty bitty theist
>being dragged to Sunday school and church every week. Being
>"persecuted" is proof, to them, that they are true followers/believers,
>because the Bible *says* *so*. Therefore, if they aren't *really*
>suffering persecution, they aren't true believers. So they howl about
>persecution that isn't really happening, because they need it to get
>their heavenly tickets punched.

Any US Christian who howls about being "persecuted" needs something
besides their "heavenly tickets" punched, if you ask me...
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us 

On Tue, 5 Apr 2005 17:26:31 +0000 (UTC), cary DeleteThis @afone.as.arizona.edu
(Cary Kittrell) wrote:

>...these young theist-ettes won't let me be...
>
>
>Atheists roll their eyes, and properly so, at the recent trend
>among some -- and I emphasize "some" -- among some Christians to
>portray Christians in America as pitiable beleagured victims of
>oppression and persecution. Never mind that like-minded
>politicians are firmly in control of the government, never mind
>that they have so large a majority that no admitted atheist could
>ever win a major election, never mind tax breaks and legislative
>special rights such as Least Compelling Interest, never mind
>uncounted tens of thousands of freely flourishing churches, never
>mind a culture that will reflexively call for unified prayers to
>God whenever He commits an Act of Himself -- never mind that
>conservative Christians today have a lock on the levers of power
>that Boss Tweed would have admired -- they're still poor, poor
>pitiful victims.
>
>Well, that was fun, and I feel MUCH better now -- but before
>anyone launches a rant: that wasn't what I'd like some feedback
>on. Quite the opposite: I see not infrequent, and rather like-
>sounding claims of victimhood on the part of atheists.
>
>Now admittedly atheists are the runt of the demographic litter in
>this country, but nonetheless I personally cannot recall having
>been subjected to anything I could describe as more than mildly
>annoying on account of to my atheism. And I certainly have
>suffered any dark-of-the-night Southern-gothic incidents.
>
>But maybe I'm atypical? I've spent most of my life in academia,
>and even when I was in industry I was surrounded by very bright
>people, and in my experience there tends to be a high correlation
>between intelligence and tolerance. So maybe I've simply led a
>sheltered and (you should pardon the word) blessed existence?
>
>I'd like some feedback from other atheists on what they see as
>oppression -- or lack thereof -- in this country.
>
>Personal anecdotes are MUCH preferred over impersonal
>observations such as "No atheist could get elected president".
>I would like to hear how hard -- or easy -- it's been for you
>personally to be an atheist.

I too have spent most of my life associating primarily with more
educated, "intellectual" types, and like you I've experienced no
serious problems due to my atheism. My life hasn't been difficult at
all. But then, I don't live in the Bible Belt. I can easily believe my
story would be very different if I did.




>
>
>-- cary
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us 

On Tue, 5 Apr 2005 10:50:47 -0800, "Dana" <anon.TakeThisOut@noneya.com> wrote:

>
>"Cary Kittrell" <cary.TakeThisOut@afone.as.arizona.edu> wrote in message
>news:d2uho7$jr3$1@onion.ccit.arizona.edu...
>> ...these young theist-ettes won't let me be...
>>
>>
>> Atheists roll their eyes,
>
>Atheists are foolish cowards.
>They are a bunch of sheep.

Hello, Mr. Pot.


>
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us 

In article <976651lj3silgi158j3kk2ntoqs2f0ulfv RemoveThis @4ax.com> John Baker <nunya RemoveThis @bizniz.net> writes:
> On Tue, 5 Apr 2005 17:26:31 +0000 (UTC), cary RemoveThis @afone.as.arizona.edu
> (Cary Kittrell) wrote:
>
> >...these young theist-ettes won't let me be...
> >
> >
> >Atheists roll their eyes, and properly so, at the recent trend
> >among some -- and I emphasize "some" -- among some Christians to
> >portray Christians in America as pitiable beleagured victims of
> >oppression and persecution. Never mind that like-minded
> >politicians are firmly in control of the government, never mind
> >that they have so large a majority that no admitted atheist could
> >ever win a major election, never mind tax breaks and legislative
> >special rights such as Least Compelling Interest, never mind
> >uncounted tens of thousands of freely flourishing churches, never
> >mind a culture that will reflexively call for unified prayers to
> >God whenever He commits an Act of Himself -- never mind that
> >conservative Christians today have a lock on the levers of power
> >that Boss Tweed would have admired -- they're still poor, poor
> >pitiful victims.
> >
> >Well, that was fun, and I feel MUCH better now -- but before
> >anyone launches a rant: that wasn't what I'd like some feedback
> >on. Quite the opposite: I see not infrequent, and rather like-
> >sounding claims of victimhood on the part of atheists.
> >
> >Now admittedly atheists are the runt of the demographic litter in
> >this country, but nonetheless I personally cannot recall having
> >been subjected to anything I could describe as more than mildly
> >annoying on account of to my atheism. And I certainly have
> >suffered any dark-of-the-night Southern-gothic incidents.
> >
> >But maybe I'm atypical? I've spent most of my life in academia,
> >and even when I was in industry I was surrounded by very bright
> >people, and in my experience there tends to be a high correlation
> >between intelligence and tolerance. So maybe I've simply led a
> >sheltered and (you should pardon the word) blessed existence?
> >
> >I'd like some feedback from other atheists on what they see as
> >oppression -- or lack thereof -- in this country.
> >
> >Personal anecdotes are MUCH preferred over impersonal
> >observations such as "No atheist could get elected president".
> >I would like to hear how hard -- or easy -- it's been for you
> >personally to be an atheist.
>
> I too have spent most of my life associating primarily with more
> educated, "intellectual" types, and like you I've experienced no
> serious problems due to my atheism. My life hasn't been difficult at
> all. But then, I don't live in the Bible Belt. I can easily believe my
> story would be very different if I did.

Speaking of which ... excuse me a sec, if you would be so kind...


Yo, To'! You there?


(perfectly OK if you aren't, of course)


-- cary
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us 

"Cary Kittrell" <cary DeleteThis @afone.as.arizona.edu> wrote in message
news:d2v6m1$4h$1@onion.ccit.arizona.edu...
> In article <976651lj3silgi158j3kk2ntoqs2f0ulfv DeleteThis @4ax.com> John Baker
> <nunya DeleteThis @bizniz.net> writes:
>> On Tue, 5 Apr 2005 17:26:31 +0000 (UTC), cary DeleteThis @afone.as.arizona.edu
>> (Cary Kittrell) wrote:
>>
>> >...these young theist-ettes won't let me be...
>> >
>> >
>> >Atheists roll their eyes, and properly so, at the recent trend
>> >among some -- and I emphasize "some" -- among some Christians to
>> >portray Christians in America as pitiable beleagured victims of
>> >oppression and persecution. Never mind that like-minded
>> >politicians are firmly in control of the government, never mind
>> >that they have so large a majority that no admitted atheist could
>> >ever win a major election, never mind tax breaks and legislative
>> >special rights such as Least Compelling Interest, never mind
>> >uncounted tens of thousands of freely flourishing churches, never
>> >mind a culture that will reflexively call for unified prayers to
>> >God whenever He commits an Act of Himself -- never mind that
>> >conservative Christians today have a lock on the levers of power
>> >that Boss Tweed would have admired -- they're still poor, poor
>> >pitiful victims.
>> >
>> >Well, that was fun, and I feel MUCH better now -- but before
>> >anyone launches a rant: that wasn't what I'd like some feedback
>> >on. Quite the opposite: I see not infrequent, and rather like-
>> >sounding claims of victimhood on the part of atheists.
>> >
>> >Now admittedly atheists are the runt of the demographic litter in
>> >this country, but nonetheless I personally cannot recall having
>> >been subjected to anything I could describe as more than mildly
>> >annoying on account of to my atheism. And I certainly have
>> >suffered any dark-of-the-night Southern-gothic incidents.
>> >
>> >But maybe I'm atypical? I've spent most of my life in academia,
>> >and even when I was in industry I was surrounded by very bright
>> >people, and in my experience there tends to be a high correlation
>> >between intelligence and tolerance. So maybe I've simply led a
>> >sheltered and (you should pardon the word) blessed existence?
>> >
>> >I'd like some feedback from other atheists on what they see as
>> >oppression -- or lack thereof -- in this country.
>> >
>> >Personal anecdotes are MUCH preferred over impersonal
>> >observations such as "No atheist could get elected president".
>> >I would like to hear how hard -- or easy -- it's been for you
>> >personally to be an atheist.
>>
>> I too have spent most of my life associating primarily with more
>> educated, "intellectual" types, and like you I've experienced no
>> serious problems due to my atheism. My life hasn't been difficult at
>> all. But then, I don't live in the Bible Belt. I can easily believe my
>> story would be very different if I did.
>
> Speaking of which ... excuse me a sec, if you would be so kind...
>
>
> Yo, To'! You there?
>
>
> (perfectly OK if you aren't, of course)

Just my 2 pennies - I live in northern NJ and have never encountered a
problem here - with the exception of what's brewing with my in-laws.
--
---------
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us 

"Dave Thompson" <abre.DeleteThis@thedoor.com> wrote in message
news:115671gog1hdhf2@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Cary Kittrell" <cary.DeleteThis@afone.as.arizona.edu> wrote in message
> news:d2umir$irn$1@onion.ccit.arizona.edu...
> > In article <1155ljc5sp50540.DeleteThis@corp.supernews.com> "Dave Thompson"
> > <abre.DeleteThis@thedoor.com> writes:
> >>
> >> "Cary Kittrell" <cary.DeleteThis@afone.as.arizona.edu> wrote in message
> >> news:d2uho7$jr3$1@onion.ccit.arizona.edu...
> >> > ...these young theist-ettes won't let me be...
> >> >
> > {...}
> >> >
> >> > But maybe I'm atypical? I've spent most of my life in academia,
> >> > and even when I was in industry I was surrounded by very bright
> >> > people, and in my experience there tends to be a high correlation
> >> > between intelligence and tolerance. So maybe I've simply led a
> >> > sheltered and (you should pardon the word) blessed existence?
> >> >
> >> > I'd like some feedback from other atheists on what they see as
> >> > oppression -- or lack thereof -- in this country.
> >> >
> >> > Personal anecdotes are MUCH preferred over impersonal
> >> > observations such as "No atheist could get elected president".
> >> > I would like to hear how hard -- or easy -- it's been for you
> >> > personally to be an atheist.
> >>
> >> Please consider including us poor put-upon agnostics who have to endure
> >> good
> >> christians telling us and others that agnostics simply don't know about
> >> god
> >> yet and are just empty vessels awaiting the word to be poured in.
> >
> > Ah, of course. Good point. I'm interesting in hearing from
> > the unfaithful of all flavors (particularly as, just like
> > believers we often enough disagree on what we, and others,
> > should be described as)
>
> I forgot to add that many times Christians lump us agnostics in with the
> atheists for simplicity of argument an villification.

I guess it's only fair.

I have a habit of lumping Christians in with inbreds, bedwetters and
general-purpose idiots.

--
-Donald in Austin
AA #2104
Apatriot #22
Atheist FF/EMT
.....and ordained minister
Stork pin recipient: May 1, 2003 -Madelyn
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us 

Dana wrote:

> "Cary Kittrell" <cary RemoveThis @afone.as.arizona.edu> wrote in message
> news:d2uho7$jr3$1@onion.ccit.arizona.edu...
>
>>...these young theist-ettes won't let me be...
>>
>>
>>Atheists roll their eyes,
>
>
> Atheists are foolish cowards.
> They are a bunch of sheep.
>
>

0/5 on the troll meter.

--
Olrik
aa #1981
Qualified SMASH member
EAC Chief Food Inspector, Bacon Division
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us 

"Cary Kittrell" <cary.TakeThisOut@afone.as.arizona.edu> wrote
> > Ever consider becoming a supporting member of NPR, and
> > thus fully sealing your doom for eternity?

Dave Thompson <abre.TakeThisOut@thedoor.com> wrote:
> You forgot the ACLU.

I don't listen to NPR (I much prefer rock and roll ), but I
was a card-carrying member of the ACLU until very
recently, and intend to be so again once I've found a
better-paying job.
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us 

"Abner Mintz" <abnermintz.TakeThisOut@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:1gukcay.634b8svtjvgsN%abnermintz@earthlink.net...
> "Cary Kittrell" <cary.TakeThisOut@afone.as.arizona.edu> wrote
> > > Ever consider becoming a supporting member of NPR, and
> > > thus fully sealing your doom for eternity?
>
> Dave Thompson <abre.TakeThisOut@thedoor.com> wrote:
> > You forgot the ACLU.
>
> I don't listen to NPR (I much prefer rock and roll ), but I
> was a card-carrying member of the ACLU until very
> recently, and intend to be so again once I've found a
> better-paying job.

I prefer rock music, too - '50s, '60's, '70s, '80s, some '90s. I
became an oldie myself in the '90's when I realized I'd lost
touch with the current music. It wasn't intentional. It just
happened. I ran to the classical rock stations when a friend
of mine (who was and still is a Led Zep fan) told me that her
big music thing now was modern jazz. Yikes! That's like
New Age elevator muzak. Jazz ain't jazz anymore. At least,
the stuff she calls jazz.

But, to get back to the subject of this thread, I'm doomed,
too. I've belonged to many groups that the Nazi Elite in the
White House don't approve of - the ACLU, American
Atheists, Americans for the Separation of Church and State,
a humanist group, MoveOn.org, a group that supports
impeaching the squatter in the White House, AARP (horrors!)
and more.

I've probably sealed my fate just by posting this message. But,
I'll tell ya, I'd rather be dead than live under the kind of
government that Bush and his Dominionist cronies envision
as our future.

And, to end this message on an even less cheerful note, anyone
who doesn't think that newsgroups like alt.atheism are being
monitered is a fool.
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us 

In article <NdWdnfE5o8hx0s7fRVn-rA.DeleteThis@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote:

> "Abner Mintz" <abnermintz.DeleteThis@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:1gukcay.634b8svtjvgsN%abnermintz@earthlink.net...
> > "Cary Kittrell" <cary.DeleteThis@afone.as.arizona.edu> wrote
> > > > Ever consider becoming a supporting member of NPR, and
> > > > thus fully sealing your doom for eternity?
> >
> > Dave Thompson <abre.DeleteThis@thedoor.com> wrote:
> > > You forgot the ACLU.
> >
> > I don't listen to NPR (I much prefer rock and roll ), but I
> > was a card-carrying member of the ACLU until very
> > recently, and intend to be so again once I've found a
> > better-paying job.
>
> I prefer rock music, too - '50s, '60's, '70s, '80s, some '90s. I
> became an oldie myself in the '90's when I realized I'd lost
> touch with the current music. It wasn't intentional. It just
> happened. I ran to the classical rock stations when a friend
> of mine (who was and still is a Led Zep fan) told me that her
> big music thing now was modern jazz. Yikes! That's like
> New Age elevator muzak. Jazz ain't jazz anymore. At least,
> the stuff she calls jazz.

I liked early rock too, until the '70s when it got too commercialized. I
also liked folk and folk rock. Some of the protest songs from the '60s
seem very apropos for today. Fortunately, my favorite is still
classical and that doesn't change.

>
> But, to get back to the subject of this thread, I'm doomed,
> too. I've belonged to many groups that the Nazi Elite in the
> White House don't approve of - the ACLU, American
> Atheists, Americans for the Separation of Church and State,
> a humanist group, MoveOn.org, a group that supports
> impeaching the squatter in the White House, AARP (horrors!)
> and more.

I not only support NPR, but in addition to all of the groups above, I
also belong to People for the American Way, I support Planned
Parenthood, and perhaps worst of all, I'm a registered Democrat. (Yes, I
belong to AARP too.)

>
> I've probably sealed my fate just by posting this message.

I'm sure that I'm on Alberto's little list too.

>But,
> I'll tell ya, I'd rather be dead than live under the kind of
> government that Bush and his Dominionist cronies envision
> as our future.

If that's the case, then I'm glad that I'm getting older and won't have
to put up with it forever.
>
> And, to end this message on an even less cheerful note, anyone
> who doesn't think that newsgroups like alt.atheism are being
> monitered is a fool.

Since 2000, I've assumed that it was.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us 

"Olrik" <olrik666@yahoo_BACON!_.com> wrote in message
news:igJ4e.117976$5A5.1543692@weber.videotron.net...
> Dana wrote:
>
> > "Cary Kittrell" <cary.TakeThisOut@afone.as.arizona.edu> wrote in message
> > news:d2uho7$jr3$1@onion.ccit.arizona.edu...
> >
> >>...these young theist-ettes won't let me be...
> >>
> >>
> >>Atheists roll their eyes,
> >
> >
> > Atheists are foolish cowards.
> > They are a bunch of sheep.
> >
> >
>
> 0/5 on the troll meter.

Yup. Kinda sad when a sheeple calls atheists sheep.
No originality at all. And, for a sheeple troll, it's
downright pathetic.
>
> --
> Olrik
> aa #1981
> Qualified SMASH member
> EAC Chief Food Inspector, Bacon Division
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us 

"Cary Kittrell" <cary RemoveThis @afone.as.arizona.edu> wrote in message
news:d2uho7$jr3$1@onion.ccit.arizona.edu...
>
>
>
>
> Now admittedly atheists are the runt of the demographic litter in
> this country, but nonetheless I personally cannot recall having
> been subjected to anything I could describe as more than mildly
> annoying on account of to my atheism.

Really...I don't even live in the US and I've received a dozen personal
death threats, had a girl break up with me because I was an atheist, lost
out on a chance at a government job because their "personality profile" took
points off my score for not believing in god and have been accused of
potentially being everything from a liar and a pervert to a mass murderer
for no other reason than I am an atheist!
 >> Stay informed about: Poor, poor pitiful us