Let's start over from scratch...

The initial couple of threads on this forum got a little out of hand, possibly because the room is still too new to have an "identity." So, how about we give it one? A couple of things I'd like to achieve in this room are:

1. Give writers who approach topics from a secular, freethinker, atheistic, agnostic, etc. viewpoint a place to discuss ways to achieve a non-biased sound to their writing.

2. Offer a list of potential markets to sell articles, stories and books.

3. Discuss aspects of NT existence and how it colors your vision of the world.

I'd love to know who is lurking here, hoping to find . . . something. What something are you seeking in this forum? Who are you and what sort of things would you like to see this room become?

I'll start, to get the ball rolling. Presently, I'm agnostic (I think.) To me, that means I don't know that evolution has any more merit than creationism. I'm skeptical about both sides--and I do mean "skeptical" in the truest sense. I have no firm opinion either way. Now, I've seem some really weird things that make me believe that there's more beyond what our eyes can presently see. Whether that's a product of parts of the mind we (or at least, most people) can't currently access and use, or whether there's a different plane of existence that guides our motions, I don't know. I've jetted all over the board of various religions in my middle aged life, and none of them seem to encompass the WHOLE of what I believe is "the truth." Bits and pieces of various religions, and non-religions, resonate for me. It's sort of like a deep gong in my head. I'll read something, or see something and think, "Yes! There, that little bit in that text . . . that's part of the truth!"

When I write articles or stories, I tend to incorporate that. But creating characters who are NT can feel dull to readers. So, I try to mix things up--make one catholic, and one lutheran, or muslim or buddist. That necessitates my reading a great deal from various holy documents. Yet, I still don't have a clear opinion of what lies beyond. If there's a hell, I've sold my soul--long ago. I'm hoping when my eyes close at the end and there's a fiery pit, that I can suck up to the management and run the reservation desk...

So, in a way, I'm also a secular humanist who lives a christian existance. IF this is it, and the world we live in is the whole enchilada, then I want to enjoy my time here. I want to be healthy and happy and do nice things for people. Even if they don't appreciate it. Even if they don't care. That's just to make ME happy. I don't care about a hereafter. But if there is one, and the scales are weighed, I'm likely to wind up with more checkmarks in the "Did Good" boxes than the "Did Evil."

But that's not to say I don't completely relish my evil side. I do. I seldom give into it, but I do relish the heineous thoughts of taking a crowbar to the windshield and the occupant of the car that cut me off in traffic this morning . . . or blowing the kneecaps off the old men who cut in front of me in line just because they felt like it.

So what am I? Dunno.

How about you?

William Haskins said:

just a note to let you know i lurk.

i really feel no particularly cultural or social identity as an atheist, but best wishes with the forum.

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Nice to have you here, William! I really don't feel my belief system (or lack of it, rather) is an "identity" either. But there are lots of people who do, so I'd like to find out more about the concept.

(notice no smileys...just for you.)

Oooo . . . Cathy's domain. I like the sound of that. It sounds very deity-ish, don't you think?

Okay, I did specifically ask what beliefs people had here. The goal was to ask what particular brands of non-theistic people we had frequenting the room so I could figure out how to create topics that would appeal to them. It's akin to asking in the Christian forum whether a person is Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, etc. So, let me rephrase the question:

IF you're a lurker here and are ALREADY of the non-theistic persuasion, what brand are you? As I said in the guidelines I originally posted:

In addition to atheism, this forum also includes agnostic, critical skepticism, postmodern cynicism, rationalism and materialism.

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Since I don't know the belief structure of several of these, I was inviting people WITHIN those beliefs to discuss how the belief structure works.

Now, if you're Christian, just say, "I'm Christian." Likewise, Jewish, Muslim, Buddist, Hindu, or any of the commonly accepted organized religions. Most all of us know what those are, so a lengthy discussion of the belief structure and how you apply it to your life isn't required.

As for discussions about organized religion, I think it's a good idea to keep to NT topics but please remember that this also isn't a forum for religion bashing (as I ALSO stated in the guidelines.) If a topic starts out NT and it strays into discussions about god, goddess, devils, demons or the various texts related to those entities (as they seem to be doing,) you'll be nicely asked to edit or remove the post in very short order. If you don't, I will. I probably should have stopped the last two topics faster than I did, frankly. Naturally, my goal isn't to stomp on free speech---it's to stay on topic and the topic here is Writing about Non-Theistic Views. Please, though, if you notice something "going south" on a topic, it's hard to be everywhere all the time. Please bring it to my attention.

Thanks!

Anything else you guys want to see/don't want to see in here?

aruna said:

Now you've got me wondering - I am none of these. I'm fine with "non-theistic spirituality" though. Should I slink away?

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Gracious no! There's LOTS of things I didn't include. I even forgot secular humanism, which is a pretty common one. Oops! I should probably add an "et al" or "and others."

Do you have a "name" of your particular belief system or is "non-theistic spirituality" the best you can define it ?