Comments on: Lurkers, Come Out! http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/ by Hemant Mehta Sun, 27 May 2012 16:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Mark http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-204272 Mark Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:35:34 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-204272 I'm not really a "lurker". I came across this website when doing a google search for "atheist virgin". Most results were either atheists bashing the virgin birth story or religous fanatics bashing liberals for not being able to get any (?). There was also <a href="http://www.vampirefreaks.com/SOADchick13" rel="nofollow">this</a> chick who is having relationships problems with her mother. In any event, it was one of the most disappointing google searches I can remember. Goodnight. I’m not really a “lurker”. I came across this website when doing a google search for “atheist virgin”. Most results were either atheists bashing the virgin birth story or religous fanatics bashing liberals for not being able to get any (?). There was also this chick who is having relationships problems with her mother. In any event, it was one of the most disappointing google searches I can remember. Goodnight.

]]> By: Erica http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-165876 Erica Sat, 17 May 2008 19:49:13 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-165876 I can't remember if I've ever commented before, but I really enjoy this blog. So, hello! :) I can’t remember if I’ve ever commented before, but I really enjoy this blog. So, hello! :)

]]> By: mavaddat http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-165300 mavaddat Fri, 16 May 2008 04:16:18 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-165300 Hello! I've commented once before, but I consider myself a lurker anyway. Hemant Mehta is something of a hero of mine. I think this blog really advances the human aspect of the conversation between theists and atheists, and even amongst atheists ourselves. Hello! I’ve commented once before, but I consider myself a lurker anyway. Hemant Mehta is something of a hero of mine. I think this blog really advances the human aspect of the conversation between theists and atheists, and even amongst atheists ourselves.

]]> By: Cubik's Rube http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-165087 Cubik's Rube Thu, 15 May 2008 19:20:52 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-165087 Ah, go on then. Twentysomething atheist from the UK here, still just getting started with all this "skeptical community" malarkey, having realised that it exists only a few months ago. I'm still generally commenting much less than I'm lurking, and doing actual blogging even less than that, but making an effort to ramp it up from time to time. Big fan of the site, been stopping by every so often for a while now. (Tried to post this from work a little while back, pretty sure it didn't go through but apologies if I'm repeating myself.) Ah, go on then. Twentysomething atheist from the UK here, still just getting started with all this “skeptical community” malarkey, having realised that it exists only a few months ago. I’m still generally commenting much less than I’m lurking, and doing actual blogging even less than that, but making an effort to ramp it up from time to time. Big fan of the site, been stopping by every so often for a while now. (Tried to post this from work a little while back, pretty sure it didn’t go through but apologies if I’m repeating myself.)

]]> By: Kaitie http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-164716 Kaitie Thu, 15 May 2008 00:58:46 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-164716 I lurk no more! I think I might have commented before, but its been so long since I have that I still consider myself a lurker. I enjoy reading this blog because its funny and friendly atheism is certainly the best kind =] I live in small town Missouri, so, needless to say, I know very few other atheists personally. Now that I think about it, I've only ever met one atheist who wasn't emo/alternative/trying too hard not to be mainstream. I'm 18 and will be graduating high school next week (OMG) and think I may just be the first ever inspirational speaker at my high school's graduation that will not include a bible verse in my speech =] Oh yeah, and I've officially considered myself an atheist since I was 16, before that I was skeptical for quite a while, and before that I was really into christianity and church and stuff but never really felt a connection like most christians I know. Anyway, done rambling. Nice to meet you all! I lurk no more!
I think I might have commented before, but its been so long since I have that I still consider myself a lurker. I enjoy reading this blog because its funny and friendly atheism is certainly the best kind =] I live in small town Missouri, so, needless to say, I know very few other atheists personally. Now that I think about it, I’ve only ever met one atheist who wasn’t emo/alternative/trying too hard not to be mainstream. I’m 18 and will be graduating high school next week (OMG) and think I may just be the first ever inspirational speaker at my high school’s graduation that will not include a bible verse in my speech =]
Oh yeah, and I’ve officially considered myself an atheist since I was 16, before that I was skeptical for quite a while, and before that I was really into christianity and church and stuff but never really felt a connection like most christians I know. Anyway, done rambling. Nice to meet you all!

]]> By: Carlos http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-164644 Carlos Wed, 14 May 2008 21:20:15 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-164644 Just yesterday I was about to post a comment for the first time (about coincidental meetings), but got caught up with work. I guess I can't ignore this invitation. I've always been atheist (born that way, right?) but have recently become more aware of and interested in the issues we face as non-religious people in the United States. My baptism (Catholic) was probably the last time I actually took part in any religious ceremony. My mother always wished my brothers and I would go to church, but we were never forced to go, which was probably due to my father being atheist. Growing up in the diverse population of a university town (Ann Arbor - Go Blue!), I was not overtly aware of the extent to which I was an anomaly. Whether coincidentally or by subconscious measures (ooh, maybe it was Divine Providence!), my friends tended to be non-religious if not atheist, or were simply private about their faith. I now live in Washington (the state), about 30 minutes north of Portland, OR. While the Northwest is considered one of the least "churched" regions of the country, I have found that, particularly in the smaller cities and towns, people seem to be quite dedicated to their religious beliefs. There are certainly times when I feel a bit out of place in the small towns where I live and work, but it is far from inescapable. I am thrilled that there exist places, both on the internet and in real life, where we atheists can freely exchange ideas with like-minded people. Especially the friendly ones. - Carlos Just yesterday I was about to post a comment for the first time (about coincidental meetings), but got caught up with work. I guess I can’t ignore this invitation.

I’ve always been atheist (born that way, right?) but have recently become more aware of and interested in the issues we face as non-religious people in the United States. My baptism (Catholic) was probably the last time I actually took part in any religious ceremony. My mother always wished my brothers and I would go to church, but we were never forced to go, which was probably due to my father being atheist.

Growing up in the diverse population of a university town (Ann Arbor – Go Blue!), I was not overtly aware of the extent to which I was an anomaly. Whether coincidentally or by subconscious measures (ooh, maybe it was Divine Providence!), my friends tended to be non-religious if not atheist, or were simply private about their faith.

I now live in Washington (the state), about 30 minutes north of Portland, OR. While the Northwest is considered one of the least “churched” regions of the country, I have found that, particularly in the smaller cities and towns, people seem to be quite dedicated to their religious beliefs. There are certainly times when I feel a bit out of place in the small towns where I live and work, but it is far from inescapable.

I am thrilled that there exist places, both on the internet and in real life, where we atheists can freely exchange ideas with like-minded people. Especially the friendly ones.

- Carlos

]]> By: Lauren http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-164583 Lauren Wed, 14 May 2008 18:19:40 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-164583 I've been lurking for months and months. My name is Lauren, I'm a Christian, and I've found your site to be a really interesting place for me to hear and understand more about the atheist viewpoint. Clearly, I don't agree with everything I've seen posted here, and sometimes my feelings are a bit hurt, but I am generally so impressed with the kindness and openness both Hemant and the other posters show daily. I admire the community you are working to create for yourselves! back to lurking... I’ve been lurking for months and months.

My name is Lauren, I’m a Christian, and I’ve found your site to be a really interesting place for me to hear and understand more about the atheist viewpoint. Clearly, I don’t agree with everything I’ve seen posted here, and sometimes my feelings are a bit hurt, but I am generally so impressed with the kindness and openness both Hemant and the other posters show daily. I admire the community you are working to create for yourselves!

back to lurking…

]]> By: one3rd http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-164576 one3rd Wed, 14 May 2008 17:59:04 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-164576 I just started looking through this blog today, and I really like the friendly, intellectual atmosphere. I think I'll keep coming back. I'm a 24-year-old Shinto Buddhist in the Marine Corps. I also try to adhere to Bushido as closely as possible. I really enjoy studying religion, philosophy, culture, language and the way they interact and influence each other...also the ways they don't. It's important not only from a military perspective, but also for my personal understanding of the world. I just started looking through this blog today, and I really like the friendly, intellectual atmosphere. I think I’ll keep coming back.
I’m a 24-year-old Shinto Buddhist in the Marine Corps. I also try to adhere to Bushido as closely as possible. I really enjoy studying religion, philosophy, culture, language and the way they interact and influence each other…also the ways they don’t. It’s important not only from a military perspective, but also for my personal understanding of the world.

]]> By: Zoe http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-164549 Zoe Wed, 14 May 2008 16:20:44 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-164549 I've been reading forever. Well, not forever but for a long time. You're in my blogroll and have been for<strike> forever</strike>, yeah, well for a long time. :-) I’ve been reading forever. Well, not forever but for a long time. You’re in my blogroll and have been for forever, yeah, well for a long time. :-)

]]> By: MizBean http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-164544 MizBean Wed, 14 May 2008 16:14:02 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/05/13/lurkers-come-out/#comment-164544 I must say that all this openness and comraderie is making me feel like an old stick-in-the-mud fraidy-cat snob, so here's my Hello! I've been reading Hemant's blog for about a year; it was my introduction to the wonderful world of atheist/skeptic/science/political blogs. It felt a lot like coming home. I gave up any pretense of religiosity when I was about 9 and never looked back, even though I was treated like a mutant (not a cool X-Man either) throughout school. As an adult being an atheist was something that came up rarely, so I mostly never sweated it, until I had a child after moving to Georgia. Now it's hugely important to me to "rear 'im right", especially because we're embedded in Bible Belt culture, including my Jesus-loving, preacher's-daughter MIL. So many thanks to all of you for giving me the intelligent, warm, strong environment I need to think well and be a better woman and mom. I must say that all this openness and comraderie is making me feel like an old stick-in-the-mud fraidy-cat snob, so here’s my Hello!
I’ve been reading Hemant’s blog for about a year; it was my introduction to the wonderful world of atheist/skeptic/science/political blogs. It felt a lot like coming home.
I gave up any pretense of religiosity when I was about 9 and never looked back, even though I was treated like a mutant (not a cool X-Man either) throughout school. As an adult being an atheist was something that came up rarely, so I mostly never sweated it, until I had a child after moving to Georgia.
Now it’s hugely important to me to “rear ‘im right”, especially because we’re embedded in Bible Belt culture, including my Jesus-loving, preacher’s-daughter MIL.
So many thanks to all of you for giving me the intelligent, warm, strong environment I need to think well and be a better woman and mom.

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