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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