Now I'm Hungry!
American Atheists definitely seem to go over the top sometimes. Both my parents and my brother's households are 100% atheists, and they still put up nativity scenes, go to the 3-wise-men parades, etc. Way I heard it, since most atheists in the U.S. used to be religious, and religion is wayyy more on your sleeve here, old habits get carried forward.
Here's the problem with atheist groups, you're forming a collective identity over something you don't believe in. And that's kinda weird, because then the group starts to make that a part of their identity. I'm an atheist, but I wouldn't characterize that as a part of my identity. Yes, there is some merit in pushing against religious groups when they begin to overstep bounds, like attempting to put religious doctrine into public laws or what have you, but for the most part you just get the same shitty tribal "us vs them" stuff that they will claim is what makes religion so bad.
It is hard to be militant, when you don't believe in anything.
But most atheists believe very strongly that there's nothing. The only sensible and moderate options is agnosticism.
Communists promote atheism because they (rightly) believe that religion is the one of the greatest tools of social control and that it's being used to control the masses into doing the bidding of a bunch of rich old men who have personal issues with various groups and to distract/legitimize the suffering of the proletariat. "Religion is the opiate of the masses" isn't just a catchphrase... it's literally describing what religion does: it dulls the proletariat to the pain of their friends and neighbors under the guise that they somehow deserve their suffering because they aren't following a magical book. Most of their disruptive actions are done with the idea of breaking the chains of this oppression so that the masses can see they are being controlled and reject their masters so that the common man may take what is his and so that logic and reason may direct the peoples of the world to a better future. This is the "thing" that atheists believe in.
Agnosticism holds that the "truth" of existence or not of a deity cannot be known. I do not adhere to that. I believe the secrets of the universe are knowable, we simply are not yet advanced enough to find them.
No, you are holding onto strict definitions too closely. I'm telling you the colloquial definition, which is different from the strict meaning. And telling you the why.
Chubby Checker and the Fat Boys!
Well, not the threesome I had in mind, but we can work with that.
A date, but without the expectation/hope of a kiss/fondling/sex/whatever.
I think he said it was definitely not a date a week or so ago?
Moon moon agrees.I've always been annoyed at the phrase "better than sex".
Now now, I know, this isn't the rant or whine or pet peeve thread. Stay with me for a minute.
All my life, people have been using "better than sex" in a hyperbolic way. Personally, I've never bit into a piece of chocolate cake that made me have to change my underwear. I've never had a thrill ride, haunted house, or nature walk that even held a candle to the flirty chase, consummation, and post-coital bliss of human sexual relations. It's always been a ridiculous and overblown statement.
That said, my wife bought two of these a couple weeks ago (safe for work):
And while they're not better than sex, they're pretty dang close to it. I swear, this thing almost gives me a scalp-gasm. My eyes roll up, I moan and shudder. It makes me tingle all over. If it would take me just --> <-- that much further, I'm sure it'd be just as good as sex
That's the feeling exactly
We have one of those. It does nothing for my wife, but I cannot remain standing or really do much else than writhe when one's used on me. Indeed comes pretty close to normal sex.I've always been annoyed at the phrase "better than sex".
Now now, I know, this isn't the rant or whine or pet peeve thread. Stay with me for a minute.
All my life, people have been using "better than sex" in a hyperbolic way. Personally, I've never bit into a piece of chocolate cake that made me have to change my underwear. I've never had a thrill ride, haunted house, or nature walk that even held a candle to the flirty chase, consummation, and post-coital bliss of human sexual relations. It's always been a ridiculous and overblown statement.
That said, my wife bought two of these a couple weeks ago (safe for work):
And while they're not better than sex, they're pretty dang close to it. I swear, this thing almost gives me a scalp-gasm. My eyes roll up, I moan and shudder. It makes me tingle all over. If it would take me just --> <-- that much further, I'm sure it'd be just as good as sex
