Hello
Hey there. I dont know if anyone here would remember me. I used to post at the universist forum as "heretic".
I've been checking in with this page often, and when I saw a forum up, I was really glad to meet some of my fellows again. John, great work with the site.
For the others, my name is Sam, I live in Vancouver, BC. I'm 32, and although I'm sort of Deist, I couldnt find "doesnt give a damn" under the religious affiliations. Ah well, whats in a name.
I look forward to exchanging views with you all sometime.
Welcome aboard! Glad to see former Universists on this forum.
For those who don't know, Universism was an effort to unite freethinkers under one umbrella, from atheists to transcendentalists. It was going well for a while but I put my head down to work on my book. When I looked up again, the movement had imploded.
In retrospect, "Universism" was an uninspired name and too close to the Unitarian Universalists. I kept having to fight that confusion. Also, calling it a "Freethought Religion" was an oxy-moron. We should have called it "the un-religion", since the objective was to emulate the fellowship normally offered in churches and jetteson the dogma.
By the way, there's a name for "don't care". It's called "apatheism". I think we actually have that on the list.
Hey there John, read my above post to Dana and tell me what ya think.{regarding Apatheism and ApaDeism}
{Quote/}In retrospect, "Universism" was an uninspired name and too close to the Unitarian Universalists. I kept having to fight that confusion. {Unquote/}
I'm not so certain on that. Because the same thing can be said about Deism and Theism; and has been said by some. In fact in the enlightenment era Deism was allmost the equivelent of liberal theism{of course, it's become more agnostic and anti-theistic in modern times in alot of cases}. So, I'd say that point is arguable.
{Quote/}Also, calling it a "Freethought Religion" was an oxy-moron. We should have called it "the un-religion",{Unquote/}
Modern Satanism is sometime called "the un-religion". Even where there is dogma , it is not highly obeye dor folowed, it's mere window dressing. The same was tue in Universis, because there WAS dogma/doctrine in a sense, but they were like modern satanists dogma/doctrine -LOOSELY SUCH and largely just window dressing not really followed.
What exactly is a difference between a "freethought religion" and a "Un-religion" aside from the way the words are phrased?{in your opinion}
In Reason:
IconoBill
"Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the "transcendent" and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself. Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you. "- Christopher Hitchen
It's under: Apatheist
^_^
fablespinner.com
Hey there Dana. Apatheism is usually understood to be either Apathetic Atheism or Apathetic Agnosticism{don't care if there is a "theistic" god or not; hence "apaTHEISM"}.
I've a much better term for what Heretic is{myself included}, ApaDEISM. Apatheistic deism and Apatheistic Agnostic-Deism.
I'm trying to get the word/terminology and meaning out there. Of course I would like the world to know I invented it{and I did; I've googled it and sarched for it and can't find the word in use anywhere}- as I DO have a rather huge ego, LoL!
But yeah, I think it's a more accurate term for people like heretic or myself than Apatheism. Bill Maher calls himself Apatheist, but he's obviously a agnostic-deist who's apathetic, he should hear thid more accurate term and use it. Meh.
In Reason:
IconoBill
"Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the "transcendent" and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself. Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you. "- Christopher Hitchen
I added: "Apatheistic Agnostic-Deist" to the choices in the affiliation drop down menu, you can switch/edit your profile information HERE.
Anyone else want an affiliation added?
^_^
fablespinner.com
I think we're splitting hairs too fine if we start getting into distinctions like this. The list will get to be unmanagably long. I think "apatheist" will do fine.
EDIT TO ADD: I've removed it. Dana wants everyone to know I'm the "bad guy" here.
Hey Heretic, I recall you.
I'm sorta the same as you, an Apathetic agno-deist{at least that's what you sound to be}. I've a better word for this ideology than ApaTheism; mine is ApaDeism{apathetic agno-deism/ or apathetic deism}.
But, hey , good to see you're still kickin.
In Reason:
IconoBill
"Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the "transcendent" and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself. Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you. "- Christopher Hitchen
Hey Bill.. how are ya..!! Yeah I remember you too.. Still pissing off the religious..? :-D
Well I think Universism imploded partly because of naming. While it did unite all freethinkers into the same team, we all sort of couldnt decide on what tee-shirts to wear. And the whole discussion about what a person is or not escalated until things blew up..
For the moment, un-religious sounds about right. I'm just not into the whole religion thing. No god shaped hole, nothing of the sort. Just fine and dandy by myself.
I've (since universist days) moved to Vancouver, BC and am settling in well. I did go to a small freethinkers meetup once organized by someone here. The people who showed up were everything from communist to athiest to deist to anything else you could think of. And all of them tried to convert me to their point of view. I mean, I already dont believe in god, and someone wants me to believe in communism or something else..? So I stopped going for those too.
What we need is a "live and let live" policy and while exchanges of ideas is one thing, evangelism is another.
Just a thought.