I recall you having some great posts on more than a few occasions here. Pleased to meet you, and welcome!

Hi, Scott!

Wow, Wiki. Nice to meet ya all official like there Scott.

I remember hearing your name mentioned as a player in the NHL, but don't know if I ever got to see you play. Did you get to play many games for the Bruins? Your blog is always a good read.

Let's not blow things out of proportion with 'superstar'... I got hit by hard rubber objects at high velocities for a living. It's a miracle I still have any brain cells that work, especially in correlation with the hard-living!

(Not drunk... but not sober!!!)

@Vorjack, I quit because it was time to do something different. I could of kept playing in Europe, but then I would be the same age I am now and be starting over, instead I went and got a Masters.

I know nothing about hockey, so am I talking to a celebrity in the hockey world€?

He's got his own Wikipedia entry, so obviously he a superstar.

"I was born at a very early age..."

Lol.

But you played professional hockey? I know nothing about hockey, so am I talking to a celebrity in the hockey world€?

Yeah, I had no idea you'd played pro, and for that long.

Always nice to see you here, Scott. Drunk or sober.

I ended up playing professional hockey for eleven years all over North America and Europe.

Wow. I knew you'd been a hockey player, but I didn't realize you'd done it for over a decade. Did you quit because you got tired of it?

I've been creeping around here for awhile, thought I'd say 'hello', maybe introduce myself more formally.

I was born at a very early age... I was almost eight pounds. Since then my body has gone to hell in a hand-basket: I have gained almost one-hundred and ninety pounds!

Highlights of my infancy include the switch to the bottle. I like to tell people that my first word was "epistemology"; though my mother refutes this.

I grew up in a pentecostal charismatic christian home; which really means: absolute fucking whack job crazy world! Seriously, I was given absolutely no useful categories for interpreting natural phenomena as a child/teenager. Sick? Attack of satan! Origin of the world? Six days creation; Genesis says so!

I left home at fifteen almost a useless human being. I left because I was a hockey player and played juniour in Spokane, Washington. While playing juniour there I was drafted by the Boston Bruins. I ended up playing professional hockey for eleven years all over North America and Europe.

When I was done playing hockey I didn't really know what to do so I went to school. I ended up with an undergraduate in religion and theology with an emphasis in biblical languages and an MA in biblical studies. Pretty much gives you no useable skills other than pursuing further Phd studies.

During my studies, and sometimes blogging at scotteriology.wordpress.com, I began to value a new way to interpret natural phenomena. In a nutshell:science. Valuing this way of judging the veracity of hypotheses and theories in accordance with learning about ancient genre, mythology, etc. I began to move towards less 'christain' ways of interpreting the bible and explaining 'reality'.

I'm trying to keep this short, and I've had too many drinks...

Anyways... If I had to describe my epistemological position I would say that I am a practical realist; probably closer to atheist than agnostic; value science and rationality over 'faith'; and am certainly very critical of much of what passes as modern religion.

I have enjoyed reading many of your comments over the past few months, and especially enjoy when some of you visit my site and comment.

Thanks! And be well!

I will clarify or add more if there are any questions...

Why is that hilarious but not funny?

Who then proceeded to hold their children's heads under until they stopped struggling.

Dove in? No most are pushed in by their parents

Knee-deep in the church? All the Mormons I know are in it up to their ankles. But you must understand, they dove in head-first.

@Lucavii - thanks for sharing your story. From what I have read about LDS they can be very judgemental, and leaving the church is like the end of the world. It may be easier in your case because your family somehow isn't knee deep in the church, which I understand to be the standard mormon experience. I don't get missionaries where I live even though there is an LDS church nearby. I would talk to them for sure, because in most cases I don't think they know what they are selling, so to speak.

@FFR It's my understanding that LDS just sells the next level of crazy in the Christianity hierarcy. I doubt that they get many converts from the non-christian demographic.

I know how tough being a missionary can be. It's basically door to door sales. They are kind enough. I still get a couple of guys around my age who knock on my door every week. They know I'm not interested in what they have to say but I make them breakfast when they come by and they are more than welcome in my home.

We usually talk about sports, one of them is a BYU fan and we have heated debates because it is the rival school to my beloved University of Utah.

Heh, some LDS missionary guy started talking to me when I was walking to one of my college classes. He told me the story of Lehi and how he brought another family over, and I told him the story was impossible because you need at least fifty people in a group for genetic diversity or the children would have severe genetic defects.

He got a very sly look on his face and asked how Adam and Eve were possible then. I told him I didn't believe in Adam and Eve later. He looked like I'd hit him with a brick. The face was priceless.

@Drax-

I am very fortunate that I was not the only one of my family to escape the clutches of the LDS. I *AM* however the only one in my family to take it a step further and denounce all shackles of faith.

I have not come out and said it to my family as I imagine many of them would be either angry or disappointed. But I am fortunate enough that religion is not important enough to them to make it a huge deal. They don't regularly attend church and I'm sure by now they've all figured it out. They don't bother me about it and it's a non-issue. The closeness of my family is extreme and is unaffected by my beliefs or theirs. My brother is the only person I openly talk to about being Atheist. He is Christian and our relationship is unaffected.

So I am one of the lucky ones who is not punished for challenging the illusion!

Unfortunately, knowing the LDS faith as well as I do I can't really offer a whole lot in the way of advice. It is very tough not to be socially outcast by a group who is so judgmental they will scorn you for missing church a single Sunday for any reason.

Remember this flight does not stop at Kobel.

Welcome aboard earthling

Well done and welcome.

Welcome Lucavii!! I'm wondering how hard it was for you to escape Mormonism. Does your family know? Are you now outcast?

I have someone dear to me that I would love to free from Mormonism, but I'm not sure it's possible.

Welcome!!!

That's pretty awesome. Well done you, and welcome!

I already got my guidance. They were the Mormons! Born and raised Mormon and then I started to realize around 12 that everyone was Bleating from the same song book and I knew they were sheep by age 16.

21 Years old and reasoning for yourself, is that allowed? Maybe you should seek some guidance on the subject. You never know you could be wrong, but most likely are correct in your world view.

Sorry to dash off without telling you a little about me.

I am a young Atheist, 21 years old and living on my own. Ummm I love to play video games and I love my job. So I work hard and play hard. I recently moved out of Salt Lake City, UT. I want to get home pretty bad (I'm sure that sounds funny coming from an atheist wanting to get back into SLC)

Welcome to UF!

Welcome to the forum, Lucavii. Let us know if you have any questions.

Just watch out for the server squirrels.

Hello all! I spent the last hour reading through your website and forums. I liked what I saw so I thought I'd register!

I have to dash for work but the name is Stetson and I look forward to talking with you all!