If atheism is a religion, then I am not an atheist.

Rick Mc

-----Original Message-----
From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of DAVID MCMURRAY
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 1:12 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Taboo Topics

Bill Maher against the US 7th District Court of Appeals?  That is a joke:):)

What is even funnier is that I personally disagree with the court's ruling 
that this con's freedom of  religion was violated...but the Court hath 
spoken.

Who knows, they may be at this very moment having a group anti-bible study, 
with personal testimonies of how their faith (that there is no God), has 
been strengthened because of  their meetings....if it looks like a duck, 
walks like a duck, quacks like a duck,  what is it, a turkey?

dave


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rayilyn Brown" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 9:52 PM
Subject: Re: Taboo Topics


> Dave
>
> According to Bill Maher, "saying atheism is a religion is like saying 
> abstinence is a sex position."
>
> Ray
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: David McMurray
> Sent: Friday, February 24, 2012 9:34 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Taboo Topics
>
> Stated as a true atheist, Ray, since probably all pride themselves as 
> being
> non-religious.  However, (and this stirs controversy on both sides), in 
> the
> 7th District Court of Appeals (2005), a ruling came down in favor of an
> inmate who was denied the right to organize a study group on atheism, a
> violation of his 1st amendment rights of freedom of religion.  "Atheism is
> the inmates religion, and the group he wanted to start was religious in
> nature, even though it expressly rejects a belief in a supreme being", the
> court wrote.
>
> Referring to my dictionary, religion is "a set of beliefs concerning the
> cause, nature, and purpose of the universe".......
>
> You can't deny that atheism is a belief, and you have faith that what you
> believe is true.  And that is your right, as an  American citizen.  Unlike
> living under a Theocracy in the Muslim world, your nor my head won't roll 
> if
> we don't bend the knee.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Rayilyn Brown
> Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 10:08 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Taboo Topics
>
> ATHEISM IS NOT A RELIGION
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: A Phillips
> Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 3:38 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Taboo Topics
>
> Atheism a religion ?   I knew Americans could be a bit weird, but to 
> decide
> that ......!!!  :)
>
>
>> Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:19:37 -0800
>> From: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Taboo Topics
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> I don't have a problem debating the "right/leftt" issues you and Rick 
>> bring
>> up, but the only purpose to continue, (on either side) would be to
>> influence an undecided party to come over. If there was one response from

>> a
>> member asking questions or stating they are undecided it would be worth 
>> my
>> time.
>>
>> It isn't, and especially in the context of what has been written below,
>> i.e, comparing conservatives to the Taliban; returning to the "Dark 
>> Ages",
>> crazy conservatives, Republicanism being a religion; never mind that 
>> atheism
>> was, (thru a court ruling), identified as a religion.
>>
>> The beauty of being an American has been our freedom, established and
>> maintained by the blood of our heroes that gave the ultimate sacrifice to
>> defend it. Rick, you talk about losing personal rights, pointing to the
>> issues mentioned on this site. That's like swatting at gnats and 
>> swallowing
>> camels...and Ray, the Tea Party movement is in direct response to the
>> decades of the political spectrum sliding further and further to the 
>> left.
>> It may still have to swing further to the right to get back to where it 
>> was
>> when I first voted Republican in 1962.
>>
>> O.K., so I couldn't resist, forgive me; but the threats to our freedom 
>> are
>> much bigger than mentioned here. If the loss of freedom is the issue,
>> start with the present administration....wow!
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Rayilyn Brown" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 7:11 PM
>> Subject: Taboo Topics
>>
>>
>> > Rick
>> >
>> > I'm interested in why people think the way they do. I don't know about
>> > others, but in my case it was probably my mother, whose word was law.
>> > Being a Republican was kind of like a religion, hard to discard. She 
>> > was
>> > an atheist (yes you could be one and a Republican in those days), but 
>> > she
>> > never tried to influence me one way or another about religion. Maybe
>> > because force was lacking in this area, our religion was being
>> > Republican. Upon reflection I have concluded that politics and religion
>> > are similar in that they don't make much sense but people believe in 
>> > them
>> > anyway. As a teacher of controversy in AP classes I made a point to be
>> > neutral as I wanted students to think for themselves. I was so involved
>> > I forgot to think myself.
>> >
>> > I still so wish these were not taboo topics.
>> >
>> > PS - when Bush 43 banned stem cell research in 2001 my mother and my
>> > brother like me were no longer GOPers
>> > Ray
>> >
>> > -----Original Message----- 
>> > From: Rick McGirr
>> > Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 12:17 PM
>> > To: [log in to unmask]
>> > Subject: Re: Virginia personhood law
>> >
>> > Thanks for your comments, Ray. I respect you for embracing change, not
>> > only
>> > in medical research but also in your personal views on party politics. 
>> > I
>> > also respect you for continuing to live independently, despite your
>> > difficulties. And I respect your enduring hope demonstrated by your 
>> > being
>> > a
>> > fountain of information for this group. Thanks for all you do.
>> >
>> > Rick
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
>> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rayilyn Brown
>> > Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 6:57 PM
>> > To: [log in to unmask]
>> > Subject: Re: Virginia personhood law
>> >
>> > Rick
>> >
>> > You have my complete support. What could be more important to us than
>> > getting some relief from this cruel disease. I fell yesterday in my
>> > kitchen
>> >
>> > and luckily suffered no serious injuries, but for how long?
>> >
>> > It is 2012, not 1312 and we are debating contraception as a campaign
>> > issue.
>> >
>> > When I applied for SS disability in 1998 after doing menial jobs to 
>> > earn
>> > my
>> > credits, due to Reagan's "Double Dipper" law, I had it cut 60% from the
>> > $400-$500 I earned to $143 a month because I got a poverty level 
>> > teachers
>> > pension. I know now that Republican war on the have-nots was in effect
>> > before Bush 43, but it took his stem cell restrictions to FINALLY get 
>> > me
>> > to
>> > think about what I really believed. With Tea Party politics we can see
>> > what
>> >
>> > conservatives really believe and it does not resemble the GOP I grew up
>> > with.
>> >
>> > I have noticed the gradual takeover of state governments by 
>> > conservatives
>> > like Scott Walker and his union-bashing and all this crazy legislation
>> > which will, if successful, further stymie stem cell research.
>> >
>> > I am old, but still like it loud and will continue to report their
>> > activities which do not bode well for us. But what will it take to stop
>> > this stampede to the Dark Ages?
>> >
>> > -----Original Message----- 
>> > From: Rick McGirr
>> > Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:59 PM
>> > To: [log in to unmask]
>> > Subject: Re: Virginia personhood law
>> >
>> > Personhood! Peace be with y'all. I know that many members of this 
>> > listserv
>> > would like to avoid the issues which are politicizing many 
>> > conversations
>> > today. I wish each and every one of you nothing but happiness and good
>> > health. But I find it very difficult not to respond when dogma 
>> > threatens
>> > progress. I shall do so elsewhere, and I'll try not to mention anything
>> > upsetting here.
>> >
>> > Except for this one, last time. Don't you ever feel that our rights are
>> > being steamrolled by hysterical hypocrites who would take our laws and 
>> > our
>> > understandings back to pre-enlightenment times? Aren't you concerned by
>> > the
>> > fundamentalist threat to liberty represented not by the Taliban, but by
>> > conservative groups in our own country? Do you know how many directions
>> > this
>> > threat takes in American society? Do you plan to hold your tongue as 
>> > the
>> > last of our rights are dismantled, piece by piece? To speak, to 
>> > support,
>> > to
>> > advocate for ourselves sometimes causes heated debate. That's what our
>> > system is all about. Are we to keep the conversation nice and soothing
>> > because we don't like to hear or say words like "embryo", "fetus", 
>> > "God",
>> > "democracy", etc? I for one would welcome an increase in volume. But 
>> > I'm
>> > just an old rocker. I like it loud.
>> >
>> > I will continue as a member of this worldwide group. I feel that this 
>> > is a
>> > special community with a lot to offer. I also feel that we have more at
>> > stake today than most groups, and it confuses me when people shy away 
>> > from
>> > the debate. Yes, these can be subjects upsetting to discuss. I think 
>> > even
>> > more upsetting will be our realization that we no longer have a say in
>> > matters of life, death, science, taxes, and religion, if we disallow 
>> > our
>> > voices to be heard.
>> >
>> > But enough from me. I will inform the list if I happen to write 
>> > anything
>> > of
>> > tolerable quality. This is not goodbye. I will be around. Thank you all
>> > for
>> > your kind attention.
>> >
>> > Rick McGirr
>> > Buffalo, NY
>> > 58 yrs old, diagnosed with PD in 2001
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
>> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rayilyn Brown
>> > Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 6:50 PM
>> > To: [log in to unmask]
>> > Subject: Virginia personhood law
>> >
>> > all 4 Republican candidates support this:
>> >
>> > http://floridaindependent.com/69499/virginia-personhood
>> >
>> > Ray
>> > Rayilyn Brown
>> > Past Director AZNPF
>> > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation
>> >
>> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
>> > mailto:[log in to unmask]
>> > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>> >
>> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
>> > mailto:[log in to unmask]
>> > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>> >
>> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
>> > mailto:[log in to unmask]
>> > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>> >
>> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
>> > mailto:[log in to unmask]
>> > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
>> > mailto:[log in to unmask]
>> > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: 
>> mailto:[log in to unmask]
>> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: 
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: 
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: 
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: 
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn 

----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn

----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn