Glad to be here!

[Kerri-Lee]

Guess I've always been an atheist but didn't know it. Stumbled across Dawkins and it all fell into place. He has inspired me to come out of the closet,so to speak, to be proud and stand up and be counted.
The forum is my escape from the insanity of religion (aka stupidity and ignorance), especially in the 'fundy' area I live in.

[Vonnie]

Good to see another "chick" here!

Vonnie

[davo]

Hi, i'm new here too ... Great people (so far Hehe) have fun, i know i feel at home sure you will too!

[Fiery]

Hi Kerri-Lee welcome aboard!!!!

How did you manage to get through life without being indoctrinated in a religion? Were your parents non-religious? Most people get it at least a little bit as a kid.

And watch out for Davo he speaks fluent technobable of the computer geek variety. It will blow your mind if you aren't careful!

[Duffy]

Hi Kerri-anne welcome, like Vonnie said, its good to have another chick on board. If like me you will learn a lot and have a good laugh too. I highly recommend Mr Black's coming out stories. Best read with a good red.

[davo]

Originally Posted by Fiery

And watch out for Davo he speaks fluent technobable of the computer geek variety. It will blow your mind if you aren't careful!

I did install god the other day ( You can download here http://god.rubyforge.org ) for monitoring services on servers ...

It's not bad, it's open source, very simple, and easy to extend with your own conditions... I'm actually finding it quite useful

The google group is pretty active,

http://groups.google.com/group/god-rb

some interesting titles of threads tho :

" god status not returning anything, but god running?"
" God can't start backgroundrb" (very telling, definitely not omnipotent)
" Bug in latest god (0.7.11) "
" How can I make god LOUDER! "
" God is monitoring mongrels correctly; restart command fires when conditions are met; process doesn't restart."
" can I customize god's logging behavior? "
" God's configuration syntax is confusing "
" How do I avoid a god zombie? "
" Issues with god "

[Duffy]

Originally Posted by Protium

Welcome Kerri-Lee, good to see you here.

(Sorry Duffy changed you name, she didn't mean it, too much daytime TV

Jeebus...did I do that? So sorry... those gawdy KAK outfits have interferred with my brain.

[Kerri-Lee]

Originally Posted by Fiery

Hi Kerri-Lee welcome aboard!!!!

How did you manage to get through life without being indoctrinated in a religion? Were your parents non-religious? Most people get it at least a little bit as a kid.

You're right on the mark Fiery. I count myself as one of the lucky ones. My father is and his father before him was an atheist, although he prefers free-thinker. I have fond memories of my father debating religion with the god squad on a Sunday. My mother is agnostic and her mother said the bible was the filthiest book she ever read and that you didn't need to experience the seedier side of life, you just had to read the 'good book' to find out all you wanted to know.

Saying that, my father's mother is religious and I used to go to Sunday school with her but I just wanted to be with her. As a teenager, I wanted to be a part of something and a few friends talked me into going to youth group. The fervour scared me off, I just didn't fit. I actually thought there was something wrong with me but I was OK with that. After that I just ignored religion- it was off the radar.

The rise of fundamentalism and some experiences with religious friends have put it on the map again. Like I said, it took Dawkins for me to see that actually I'm fine, it's religion that's the problem.
well you asked...

[Kerri-Lee]

Originally Posted by Duffy

Jeebus...did I do that? So sorry... those gawdy KAK outfits have interferred with my brain.

Duffy don't lose any sleep over it. In fact I don't know what I was thinking, usually I use KL for emails etc because typing Kerri-Lee all the time is a drag.

[Fiery]

Thanks for the quick summary KL! )

I have fond memories of my father debating religion with the god squad on a Sunday.

Do you happen to remember the arguments he used? Was it creationism v evolution or omniscience v omnipotence or a just and loving god v the horror of eternal suffering or some other religious bs v reality? Did your father have any luck deconverting anyone?

Do you mind if I grill you?

I have to admit that I am fascinated by your upbringing and your reaction to it as my kids are growing up atheist and neither their father or I did.

Thanks in advance!