Former lurker, first time poster here
Offline Hi guys...
I have been lurking here for a little while and finally decided to join in. I am a New England transplant now living in North Central Florida outside of Ocala...it is VERY Christian here, and a tough place to be an atheist. I feel like a one-woman army around here...when my voice goes hoarse from debating Christians, I have to resort to eye-rolling, and I have sprained my eyeballs several times from rolling them so much.
I have been living here for about 8 years and have made only one friend...finding rational, freethinking individuals in this area has proven to be near impossible, and there aren't any atheist groups that meet within a reasonable radius of my home either. I'm on a friggen island here! 
So, here I am. Glad I finally joined. Hopefully I will have something to contribute once in awhile.
-Kathie
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Hey Kathie, welcome to memberhood
I can definitely relate to your experience of Florida. I live in Kentucky, the land of bluegrass pastures and fat-arse pastors
Stultior stulto fuisti, qui tabellis crederes!
OP: "Hopefully I will have something to contribute once in awhile" .... /////
Hey pretty KathieG, you already have, sweet thing .....
You is a love song ! Thanks for showing up ....
Atheism Books.
Yo Kathie! Thanks for introducing yourself. Welcome aboard!
How long have you been an atheist? Or (like me) have you been an atheist your whole life? Would you identify yourself as a 'stong atheist' (who thinks that there is compelling evidence that God almost certainly does not exist) or a more 'mild' atheist (who simply thinks that there is no compelling evidence of God's existence)?
(...Oh, and don't mind I AM AS GOD AS YOU. He's probably going to jump in here and compliment your appearance in a variety of ways.
)
[EDIT: Oh. I see he already beat me in here. I love being correct.]
- Leon Trotsky, Last Will & Testament
February 27, 1940
Kevin is very wise ! ((( with eyes that can see clearly !!!!
I just know goddess Kathie can convert Xain men into Atheist men .....
Go Atheist Girl Power !
Atheism Books.
Welcome!
I joined this site for the exact reasom you did-I didn't know any athiests IRL and was drowning in theism.I have since been unable to tear myslef away.I trust you will enjoy!
If these guys don't scare you away first..
Psalm 14:1 "the fool hath said in his heart there is a God"-From a 1763 misprinted edition of the bible
Argument from Sadism: Theist presents argument in a wall of text with no punctuation and wrong spelling. Atheist cannot read and is forced to concede.
Kathie is not afraid, funny bright Loc !
Kathie is very powerful ! Thanks again Kathie. Your instant fan from wild, surf city, So. Cal ......
Have fun .....
Atheism Books.
You are in the same boat I am. I do have some Christian co-workers who are open minded, but still don't understand why I am an atheist. I live in an island too(not litterally|). I cant find any atheist groups where I live and the only humanist group is an hour away and they are tea-tottalers.
You've picked a nice oasis. But unless you prove to us you are a "true atheist|" by BBQing a kitten, you will not gain our respect. (Did I think that, or type it?)
"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers."Obama
Check out my poetry here on Rational Responders Like my poetry thread on Facebook under Brian James Rational Poet, @Brianrrs37 on Twitter and my blog at www.brianjamesrationalpoet.blog
Welcome to the forums Kathie!
Yay...the ladies are growing in numbers
Have fun here, if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask any of the moderators!
Slowly building a blog at ~
http://obsidianwords.wordpress.com/
Welcome to the forums! Have fun!
Welcome to the forums, Kathie! Make yourself at home.
Central Texas here. One good thing about the Bible belt. You never run out of theist targets.
"I am an atheist, thank God." -Oriana Fallaci
Welcome to the hizzle!
Welcome to the boards, it's great that more women are joining up.
Welcome Kathie. You should consider moving to the west coast definitely more of us out here.
The fairy is strong in this thread...
Taxation is the price we pay for failing to build a civilized society. The higher the tax level, the greater the failure. A centrally planned totalitarian state represents a complete defeat for the civilized world, while a totally voluntary society represents its ultimate success. --Mark Skousen
Speaking of tough places to be atheist, I'm in Georgia. Luckily, I've got a university down the street from me, so there are lots of science types running around. Anyway, I used to live very near the panhandle, so I definitely know what you're going through.
Welcome to the boards. If you ever have any problems or questions, don't hesitate to send me or one of the other mods a PM.
Atheism isn't a lot like religion at all. Unless by "religion" you mean "not religion". --Ciarin
http://hambydammit.wordpress.com/
Books about atheism
I feel at home already.
There are actually a good number of atheists on the Panhandle. A site I used to go on (no longer around) the majority of people were from that area and there were plenty. If you get into Valparaiso and meet Carla, throw eggs at her for me.
Matt Shizzle has been banned from the Rational Response Squad website. This event shall provide an atmosphere more conducive to social growth. - Majority of the mod team
Welcome to the war.
Hi Kevin,
I would consider myself a strong atheist. I evolved over time. I started out in a mildly religious protestant home (church on holidays), then was the victim of an attempted brainwash by a devout catholic friend and her family as a young teen. I then started reading the bible...drifted back towards the protestant/congregational side for a short time, and by the age of 22, I was agnostic. From there I did a lot of reading, and evolved into an atheist mindset in my late 20's. Now that I'm in my *cough* 30's...I can safely say I am a "strong" atheist.
BTW...Thanks for the attempted warning. I don't mind I AM AS GOD AS YOU...girls love compliments. If he gets too obnoxious, I'll smack him around a little.
I like this one...
"I am an atheist, thank God." -Oriana Fallaci
Yes, it is good to have more women join in. The estrogen ocean is growing. I'm from northern Minnesota and, very few atheists around here, at least they haven't come out of the preverbial closet. Or is that just me hiding still? Have you tried a meetup group in Florida? I have one in Minneapolis, but I'm 200 miles north of there.
YaY! More women! Kathie, where are you from in New England? I'm from MA.
I'm in Gainesville, at UF. I think there is a rather large atheist group at UCF.
Anyway, welcome!
OK. Guys. Er, Ocala is in north central Florida. About an hour south of Gainesville or about an hour north of Orlando, depending upon your point of view. The panhandle is a painful long drive (north and waaaay west)...and a lot more like Alabama than it is Florida.
Kathie, as you can see, we need more estrogen around here.
Ocala is famous for its horses, its lightning...and John Travolta's airport/house.
Yep...have tried the meetup thing...I am on the list as ready and waiting for a group to start in my area. I think the closest group is in Gainesville (1/2 hour north of me), but I'd LOVE to see something start up in the Ocala area...this place is saturated with fundies!
BTW...I LOL'd at "estrogen ocean"...that may sound scary to some...who know's what might live in there
*insert jaws music here*
*Looks at pic*
And is it just me or do girls welcome threads get more attention..
cough
Psalm 14:1 "the fool hath said in his heart there is a God"-From a 1763 misprinted edition of the bible
Argument from Sadism: Theist presents argument in a wall of text with no punctuation and wrong spelling. Atheist cannot read and is forced to concede.
Welcome on board; and warning do not smack I AM AS GOD AS YOU around-----he enjoys it tooooo much.
"Very funny Scotty; now beam down our clothes."
VEGETARIAN: Ancient Hindu word for "lousy hunter"
If man was formed from dirt, why is there still dirt?
You got it! John Travolta lives about 4 miles down the road from me...we see his plane take off, and come in to Jumbolair on a regular basis. And yes...this is big horse country, in fact I have a small farm myself and own 3 horses...this is what brought me down here originally. It's rough...I'm the only atheist horse person I know...especially in the barrel racing world. A lot of the girls ride with crosses dangling from their saddles, and everyone has jesus fish, and religious window stickers on their trucks. Imagine how well-received I was at my first barrel race down here...Darwin fish on the truck, and the stereo pumping out techno rather than country.
Just be careful John Travolta doesn't drop any thetans on you. That could hurt.
Hey...I'm originally from Connecticut, I used to work in the NE corner right over the border from Worcester MA...had quite a few friends in MA.
Hi Kathie. Welcome to the boards.
I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to be the only atheist for miles. I think I have known only one overtly religious person in my entire life, and even she was just a new agy kinda person, believing in reincarnation, angels, spirits, and various pseudo-science stuff. She didn't attend a church (since she more or less had made up her religion herself) and was fairly reasonable and open to debate.
I really feel for all of you who are live deep in religious areas. If ever any of you want to take a break from it all, and can afford and find time for a vacation in Europe, you are all welcome to stay here with me in Copenhagen.
Well I was born an original sinner
I was spawned from original sin
And if I had a dollar bill for all the things I've done
There'd be a mountain of money piled up to my chin
Hmmm, I was afraid that might be the case
. Oh well...I will think of another suitable punishment to inflict if the need ever arises. 
I am as far as I know the only atheist in the town I live in. The Atheist meetup grooup for the nearest city has like 8 people in it - including me - and that includes people from other counties (Wank Falton tried to join but he got booted when they realized what he was like.) I think like 3 people actually went to the last one (not me.) By the way Kathy is a baelicious cutie.
Matt Shizzle has been banned from the Rational Response Squad website. This event shall provide an atmosphere more conducive to social growth. - Majority of the mod team
Atheist Warrior, KathieG. She's got the POWER ! I'm wild about her ! Thanks proud women !
A song for bright KathieG , fighting the good fight, to the power and the glory, Go Girls ....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJIFq1-kXso
Hey, my atheist uncle , brother of my Dad was a fighter for justice. "Flash Gordon" !
Here he is , and KathieG you look like his wife, my cool aunt, no fooling ....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Holland
Atheism Books.
Steve Holland was really your uncle? Very cool!
I'll bet he had some stories to tell.
Kathie: Stories, yeah. Many about what he didn't like about show biz, modeling, and wild New York. He wanted to make a living from his passion, painting. He was good ice skater and played hockey for fun.
He was also the cigarette "Winston Man", like the 'Marlboro Man' in the old magazines. Life; Look etc.
When I was a kid, I was proud of him, but wished he was Superman instead with more powers!
Dad was a screen play and script writer at the "Hollywood Guild" back then. (I was born in Hollywood in 51, an have 2 brothers and 2 sisters, me the oldest) They were lucky guys ..... like me and you !
Be extra nice to yourself Kathie ..... LOL
Atheism Books.
Sounds like we're in similar situations as far as drowning in theists. There are so many churches in the town I live in it's almost funny. I swear if I see one more Jesus fish...
I can't even imagine ever living in an area where a person religion was something I even thought about. Its not so much that the majority of Europeans are atheists (we arent) its just we are secular and generally irreligious. A typical Christian might go to church for a wedding (through the majority of weddings do not take place in a religious site) or a funeral/baptism etc and possibly for Christmas (christmas carols are jolly even Richard Dawkins likes them).
Of course the US doesnt have .1% of its population so religious they tend to blow themselves up on trains but thats an entirely different problem of cultural integration rather than religion in my opinion)
PS Why do all Atheist ladies look like angels, are they sent to tempt me to the dark side of believing in fairies etc!!!
I would love nothing more than to live in a place where religion isn't being thrown into my face on a regular basis...sounds like vacation!
It wasn't nearly as bad when I lived in Connecticut...religion was around me, but I didn't feel threatened like I sometimes do here in N. Florida. I definitely feel like the minority that I am. I often equate it to the movie "The Matrix"...I feel like I chose the red pill, and am living in reality outside of the matrix while all the Christians around me remain happily attached to their delusions, completely oblivious to reality.
I will say that living in this environment has only strengthened my atheistic views, which is a good thing IMO. I began to read more in preparation for future debates with theists, and I educated myself more than I might have otherwise. I also started to read more about politics because around here...it's usually a package deal (Christian/Republican)
. It get's exhausting, but I guess I can't say it's ALL bad living in a highly religious area of the country...I think it has strengthened my character. The thing I hate the most is the isolation and lack of like-minded individuals to "hang out" with. I guess that's what brought me here! 
*grabs shotgun* I'll show you something that grows . . . . .
Welcome Kat (yes I am too lazy to type out "kathie" but more than willing to explain my laziness in full detail).
" Why does God always got such wacky shit to say? . . . When was the last time you heard somebody say 'look God told me to get a muffin and a cup tea and cool out man'?" - Dov Davidoff
Thanks KathieG for hanging out all night. Surely you are near ready for bed time stories and relaxing stress relieving play ! .....
ummmmmmm geezzzzz 
........ and then a nice restful 
It's nice to know you ARE ..... and an A+ GIRL 
Atheism Books.
Welcome aboard!
M
Ignore that noise, it's just the theme from 'Jaws'...happens every time a pretty lady joins the forum...
Enjoy the madness.
LC >;-}>
Christianity: A disgusting middle eastern blood cult, based in human sacrifice, with sacraments of cannibalism and vampirism, whose highest icon is of a near naked man hanging in torment from a device of torture.
Ah laziness...reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw once..."Hard work never killed anyone, but why chance it?"
Indeed
" Why does God always got such wacky shit to say? . . . When was the last time you heard somebody say 'look God told me to get a muffin and a cup tea and cool out man'?" - Dov Davidoff
Now the ladies whom are ugly by logical contradistinction know it?
" Why does God always got such wacky shit to say? . . . When was the last time you heard somebody say 'look God told me to get a muffin and a cup tea and cool out man'?" - Dov Davidoff
Welcome, Kathie!
I am originally from Orlando (one of the few), and I just wanted to recommend the Orlando Atheists & Freethinkers Meetup Group. I know it is kind of far, but you wouldn't be the only one coming from that area. It's a pretty big group, and it continues to grow as the area's religiosity becomes more intolerable. They have speakers every month and lots of good people.
Your new friend in Atlanta,
Heather
heike6
A single woman with no kids.
Baiting the religious is only fun for so long. At least here you'll find a nice place to chat amongs relatively like-minded people.
Welcome to the group.
How can not believing in something that is backed up with no empirical evidence be less scientific than believing in something that not only has no empirical evidence but actually goes against the laws of the universe and in many cases actually contradicts itself? - Ricky Gervais
Santa Cruz, Silicon Valley and San Francisco I think are the best places. Used to have the church of Satan out here, but I think they've all died and gone to hell(as they wished).
Taxation is the price we pay for failing to build a civilized society. The higher the tax level, the greater the failure. A centrally planned totalitarian state represents a complete defeat for the civilized world, while a totally voluntary society represents its ultimate success. --Mark Skousen
Hi Heather,
I wish the Orlando group was closer! With gas prices so high, it's an expensive trip. Maybe I can plan on a couple days in Orlando, hit a theme park, and kill two birds with one stone. I will check out their web site. Thanks!