Questions for Atheists: What Else are You Passionate About?

Good question, Mike. Thanks!

As will surprise exactly nobody who reads my blog, I’m passionate about sex information and sexual civil rights — including gay/ lesbian/ bi/ trans rights, but by no means limited to them.

I’m passionate about global warming. Deeply. If that problem doesn’t get solved, then game over. Every other problem and debate will be a moot point.

I’m passionate about social justice issues, such as poverty, health care, all the various -isms, etc.

And not politically: I’m passionately curious about science — especially the sciences of the brain and mind, such as neurobiology, evolutionary psychology, linguistics, etc.

Plus dancing, music, food, and books.

And, of course, I’m passionate about my partner Ingrid. More than all the others combined.

Simple (common) passions: MUSIC (listening and creating), Reading (Fiction and Non Fiction), Exercise (Running and Cycling)

More personal: Arguments! (I almost said “conversations”, but I prefer there to be opposing sides.), Apple Products, Simplifying Life! (What a feeling it is to look over your house and know you have no excess crap! )

Fruit Smoothies. There’s a brand called “Naked”. Amazing.

Simple (common) passions: MUSIC (listening and creating), Reading (Fiction and Non Fiction), Exercise (Running and Cycling)

More personal: Film making (Check My URL) Arguments! (I almost said “conversations”, but I prefer there to be opposing sides.), Apple Products, Simplifying Life! (What a feeling it is to look over your house and know you have no excess crap! )

Fruit Smoothies. There’s a brand called “Naked”. Amazing.

GLBT rights, Environmental causes (especially global warming, as Gretchen says above, all other arguments are moot if that isn’t solved), Autism diagnosis (health care coverage for Autism) and treatment, reproductive rights, and abolishing the death penalty.
As for personal passions, reading, exercise, playing with my son and educating him about the world we live in (which requires quite a bit of self education as well).

Even more than atheism, I’m passionate about ethically made products which support the person who made them rather than the person who imported them. After a year of working with a group in India, I can see how far the money that we in the West spend on simple things, such as scarves, can go in foreign economies.

I also love to bake. Anything. You name it, I’ll make it for you. In fact, I like to bake things that I myself won’t eat (hello, ever-expanding waistline) for people around me to enjoy.

This is something that I have been thinking about a lot lately. Now that I have settled myself as an atheist, I feel more at peace and less riled up and passionate about it. Strange. I read this atheist blog and several other “religious” blogs (just to keep an eye on what smart people of faith are saying and doing), along with blogs about other things I am interested in (feminism, environmental issues, pets, current events, sex and politics) and while I am new and excited atheist, I just don’t get all worked up about it I guess. I am much more interested in discussing feminism, art and other aspects of society I feel are under attack. I am passionate about writing and books and thoughtfully examining the art produced this way. But I am also passionate about some of the things mentioned here like good food, good drink, good friends, and having a good time.

Vegetarianism, combating racism, bias and poverty, ecology, biology, physics, astronomy, the stock market and computer programming. In my personal life, I’m passionate about exploring, backpacking and sailing.

Incidentally, I’m not passionate about atheism. Little would please me more than if I never had to utter the word “atheist” again. Instead, I view the discussion as aberrant branches of physics and politics which I am passionate about 🙂

I’m passionate about evolution! Haven’t I told you that Darwin is my dead boyfriend? Haven’t I haven’t I haven’t I haven’t I?

Oh, wait…

I tend to be either very passionate about things or not interested at all. As far as issues go, though, I’m most passionate about veganism.

I am passionate about Spanish literature (weird, I know), reading for pleasure, and great music. Also feminism, GLBT issues, and fat acceptance. And crossword puzzles.

I’m passionate about science. I am really fascinated by all the new worlds we are discovering, over 200 extra solar planets now. I can’t wait for LHC at CERN to turn on either. Clearly physics and astronomy are my main focus, but I enjoy learning about other sciences as well.

I am passionate about politics, which is by extension why I care about atheism (living near Liberty University will do that). Social Justice is probably my main diving focus for my political interest. Climate Change is another issue I am interested in, as well as environmentalism, coloured by the science interest of course.

I am also passionate about sports. It reminds me that we can all come together and support something if we can put aside our differences for a few hours, and they’re fun.

What else are you passionate about?
To throw in a mix of superficial and not, my research (…and yet, somehow, not so passionate when it comes to writing about it), mammalian systematics, a good book on occasion, motherfrakkin BSG, the political causes du jour that I feel are worth fighting for, the people i love and (on the occasions when this is applicable) the people i love, trying to live more sustainably, whatever video game is cluttering my free time.

What issues are most important to you?
Anthropogenic global warming and ecological sustainability, the extension of equal civil rights to all people, the restoration of democracy to America and the spread of it around the world. I’m fairly convinced that all three of these tie in together, I’m just wondering what’s taking a critical mass of people long enough to figure it out too.

What causes have you devoted your life to?
(looks at short existence thus far) N/A (so far?)

Are “atheist” and “religious” issues your primary interests or are those simply what shows through here on this blog?
I think the interest of mine that shows through here on this blog is my interest in being a follower of Eris.

It may sound like I’m echoing previous commenters, but I’d say
1. global warming & peak oil
2. social justice, racial and sexual equality
3. evolution, science and critical thinking

I’m a Canadian who’s always loved the US, but right now I’m ashamed of both of our countries, for their (non) stance on global warming, peak oil, growing worldwide food shortages, inaction on misery in Africa

Are there any atheists out there who aren’t liberal?

Is anyone pro-life? Anyone think global warming is a hoax (wait, climate change?) How many of you believe in the individual right to keep and bear arms (in the United States anyway)? How about illegal immigration, lower taxes, affirmative action, stem cell research, and the war in Iraq? Pro or con?

Mike,

I’m passionate about reality-based comprehensive sexuality education.

Although I’m an atheist, I belong to a church (Unitarian Universalist) that affirms freedom of belief as a core value and is non-creedal. Because of that, my atheism is affirmed along with the other religious beliefs in our congregations.

We have a series of excellent sexuality education curricula for children, adolescents, and adults that called Our Whole Lives or OWL. More information on OWL can be found here:

http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/ourwhole/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Whole_Lives

OWL was developed in partnership with secular sexuality educators (Planned Parenthood, SIECUS, etc) and it was also developed in partership with the United Church of Christ (a liberal Christian denomination with historical roots in New England Congregationalism and German Reformed Christianity).

As an atheist who works in church settings, I think it’s our job to provide salvation from those things that deny life or make life less whole. And sexuality education is one example of this type of salvation. Not only do we save lives, we can also make lives more whole by affirming the goodness of bodies, sexuality, pleasure, etc.

I’m passionate about computers, and more specifically the Linux operating system. I’m so passionate I’m doing a degree in Computer Science at the moment 😀

I’m also passionate about other science, like Evolution (for obvious reasons). You could also say I’m “passionate” about Intelligent Design…I mean, I’ve read numerous articles on it and know a load about it. I still think it’s an outrage.

I’m also into Gay Rights, support of Gay Marriage, abortion, secularism, gun control, animal rights, you name it.

Social liberal (beleive the government has no place in the bedroom and religion has no place in government).
Fiscal conservative, I vote Conservate in Canadian elections due to their fiscal stance and the fact they largely stay out of religion/attacking gay marriage.
I believe taxes have a horible impact on the economy (deadweight losses), but I still beleive in universal health care and glady pay taxes for this (although I think the GST needs to be abolished). I beleive in progressive not regressive personal taxation, but those who’ve invested in their education in fields where the pay is good need make no excuses so progressive taxation to an extent.
I beleive Canada needs a stronger military presence and more military spending and I wholeheartedly support our troups.

Also if I lived in the US I’d be tempted to vote for McCain just because I beleive the middle east is a real threat and I think he would do the best job in this area even if I disagree with his social conservative stance.

So for a Canadian I’m pretty right wing.

Composting. When I moved to Texas I learned the soil is pretty bad so I have learned to be a natural gardener and rarely use chemicals on my lawn(only use Scott’s Bonus S because I bought a huge bag). Big on pro-choice and use to go out regularly to counter protest the guys with the slaughtered baby signs. (Son’s in sports now so Saturday’s are busy)

Sodo,
I have changed my view quite a bit since getter older. I understand why the gun people want

Any of you that are pro-choice ever come down in favor of the father’s rights?

A man and woman have sex. She gets pregnant.

She wants the baby – he gets to pay 18 years of child support payments, whether he wants a child or not.

He wants the baby – she doesn’t. Too bad, it’s her body!

Equal right? I think not. If a woman wants the sole right to decide whether to have a child or not, she should accept full responsibility for raising that child, too.

Any of you that are pro-choice ever come down in favor of the father’s rights?

A man and woman have sex. She gets pregnant.

She wants the baby – he gets to pay 18 years of child support payments, whether he wants a child or not.

He wants the baby – she doesn’t. Too bad, it’s her body!

Equal right? I think not. If a woman wants the sole right to decide whether to have a child or not, she should accept full responsibility for raising that child, too.

Umm, Sudo, child support laws do not exist to punish men for having sex. They actually exist, well, to support children. Now, I don’t speak for all women, but its hard to imagine a woman making a man have sex with her, forcing him to not use protection, just so she could get $500 a month. If the man does not want the responsibility, condoms are very effective. I agree it is difficult for men, I can only imagine how hard it is that men don’t get to have abortions, but, biology is as it is. As for the part of your statement about the woman getting an abortion even if the man wants the baby; you’re right, it is her body. No one has the right to force someone to carry their genetic material for nine months. If a man wants a baby that bad, go find a surrogate.
I am also curious about your problems with evolution. A lot of people confuse evolution with abiogenesis. Do you have a problem with species evolving, or is it more, where did the universe come from, how did the first life form develop, etc. Usually, evolution is not the problem, its the “where it all began” thats the issue. Also, what evidence leads you to believe global warming is a hoax?

By the way, I too am a gun owning atheist. But I am an unapologetic liberal one as well:) Don’t despair, though, my sister is an atheist, but a conservative Republican one. But like you, she is pro choice and thinks Bush is an idiot.

sudo:

Talk about a minority: an atheist conservative.

Well…methinks you’re not alone.

That said, I’m “looking forward” to this thread becoming a place to debate political opinions so that we can show that atheists are passionate about arguing. Since, well, we kinda are.

(i’d like to have an argument, please)

I am a big supporter of human rights as well as separation of church and state, however I wouldn’t say I’m passionate about these things.

I am passionate about the outdoors, I love to hunt, fish, hike, camp, mountain bike, ski etc.

You don’t have to be a vegetarian/vegan to be an atheist 😉

Or buy Fair Trade, conflict free diamonds.

Ooohhh…I’ve been shunning diamonds for so long…I honestly didn’t know they had them in Canada. I started shunning them because of the gross human atrocities in Africa, and then because I learned that DeBeers were hoarding diamonds and artificially inflating the price. Then, add the fact that engagement rings were not exclusively diamond until the 1940’s until Debeers ran ads stating that “diamonds are forever”. After that, I was sickened by the whole industry. But this is great..thanks Mike.

Well, I am glad to see I am not alone. Thanks for the link to Ayn Rand (how could I have forgotten?) and for the personal anecdotes.

Sabrina wrote:

Umm, Sudo, child support laws do not exist to punish men for having sex. They actually exist, well, to support children. Now, I don’t speak for all women, but its hard to imagine a woman making a man have sex with her, forcing him to not use protection, just so she could get $500 a month. If the man does not want the responsibility, condoms are very effective. I agree it is difficult for men, I can only imagine how hard it is that men don’t get to have abortions, but, biology is as it is. As for the part of your statement about the woman getting an abortion even if the man wants the baby; you’re right, it is her body. No one has the right to force someone to carry their genetic material for nine months. If a man wants a baby that bad, go find a surrogate.

Although I appreciate your argument, nothing you’ve said puts men and women on equal footing as it pertains to reproductive rights. Condoms work wonders; so do birth control pills, IUD’s, and whatever other method a woman prefers. And yes, there are *plenty* of women out there who lie about being on birth control in the hope of becoming pregnant in a misguided attempt to dupe their lovers into marrying them; and, there are women who have more children for the express purpose of getting extra money in their welfare subsidies. More children = more $$$.

I am also curious about your problems with evolution. A lot of people confuse evolution with abiogenesis. Do you have a problem with species evolving, or is it more, where did the universe come from, how did the first life form develop, etc. Usually, evolution is not the problem, its the “where it all began” thats the issue. Also, what evidence leads you to believe global warming is a hoax?

Abiogenisis is one problem, yes. Panspermia and ‘lightning striking primordial ooze’ seem just as far-fetched to me as the loving Sky God who sends his progeny to the Lake of Fire for all eternity. On the other, I just don’t feel the evidence justifies the hypothesis. The same thing with global warming. Just a couple of decades ago we were headed for another ice age. Now everything is going to dry up and kill half the planet because the planet is too warm. Call me a cynic, but I don’t believe it. Just like the oil companies underestimated how much oil would be needed to meet fuel needs, so prices are going to go up to meet the demand. Yeah, righ! LMAO

By the way, I too am a gun owning atheist. But I am an unapologetic liberal one as well:) Don’t despair, though, my sister is an atheist, but a conservative Republican one. But like you, she is pro choice and thinks Bush is an idiot.

Gun owning liberal = oxymoron? Just kidding. All kidding aside, it’s not saying much that we all think Bush is an idiot. That’s the majority view! 😀

To Txatheist: Yes, I am / was a Ron Paul supporter. I pretty much agreed with about 90% of his policies.

An interesting question. I agree, this is a good way to learn more about possible areas of common ground.

Here are some things I am passionate about, ranging from abstract values to favorite interests and hobbies:

* Equal rights under just laws (that’s “just” as in “justice,” not as in “only”).
* Proper enforcement of those laws, with appropriate punishments.
* Term limits for political offices, and other limitations on their power.
* Environmentalism and sustainable energy technology.
* Fiscal responsibility.
* Critical thinking, especially applied to everyday concerns (e.g., advertising, comments made in the media, so-called “alternative medicine”).
* A free, open, and honest press (whatever form of media it actually takes).
* First Amendment rights all around. (I’m a big fan of the Bill of Rights, but of course this one occupies a special place for me.)
* My significant other (when I have one).
* Manners in all circumstances (e.g., not driving like a self-important jerk).
* Good grammar, spelling, and other aspects of communication skills.
* Promotion of learning foreign languages.
* Education in general, including tying it into the real world more.
* Writing (both appreciating it and creating it).
* Music (both listening to it and creating it).
* Sciences, especially astronomy, paleontology, and archaeology.
* History, especially ancient history (i.e., premediaeval).
* Classic literature (mostly Shakespeare and earlier).
* Science fiction, especially the Golden Age of literary SF.
* Comic book superheroes. (Don’t judge me!)
* Roleplaying games (e.g., Dungeons & Dragons).

I don’t necessarily get to indulge in all my passions frequently, but I share time on them in whatever ways I can, whenever I get the opportunity.

~David D.G.

My main passion is animal protection (particularly for farm animals). I’m not PETA-militant or anything, I’m not even a vegetarian. But I do believe very strongly that animals need to be treated as humanely as possible. And a lot of the really bad stuff is just so easy to avoid, but of course factory farmers just don’t care enough to make the little changes that really make a world of difference.

I am passionate about protecting the only planet we have to live on (into the mix add passionate about mountain biking and backpacking)

I have a passionate dislike for sprawl and consumerism (though I am by no means a luddite or communist)

I am passionate about human rights worldwide.

I am passionate about gay rights (I’m straight buy have gay friends and relations)

I am passionate about art (mostly classicism and surrealism) and music (many genre).

The answer to the underlying question posed by your title, is I am not ‘passionate’ about atheism (I don’t try to convert people). I am passionate about reason; the atheism is just a by-product.

Arkonbey said:

The answer to the underlying question posed by your title, is I am not ‘passionate’ about atheism (I don’t try to convert people). I am passionate about reason; the atheism is just a by-product.

I think this is one of the most exquisite expressions of this view that I have ever seen. It sums up my position exactly as well.

~David D.G.

Condoms work wonders; so do birth control pills, IUD’s, and whatever other method a woman prefers.

Why is it automatically assumed that its the woman’s responsibility to provide birth control? As a woman, I don’t especially want to add hormones into my body, or put a plastic device in my uterus. If I was a guy, and I didn’t want a baby, I wouldn’t trust someone else’s birth control methods.

there are women who have more children for the express purpose of getting extra money in their welfare subsidies. More children = more $$$.

That’s a myth. The government stopped that. I think its after two kids you don’t receive any extra money.

there are *plenty* of women out there who lie about being on birth control in the hope of becoming pregnant in a misguided attempt to dupe their lovers into marrying them

That comment makes me feel like you have some kind of hostility/bitterness towards women. I would hope that if you had sex with someone, you would know their values, or if they’re the type of person to do that. Plus, I don’t know any woman who wants to be married to a guy that felt like he was “trapped”. I assume you’ve seen news articles and studies where the men actually are messing up their partners birth control, to force her to become pregnant, to stay with them. I imagine it happens on both sides. In other words, thats not a gender thing, as much as an insecure, deceitful act. I will give you that its a lot easier for women to sabotage their birth control, than it is for a man to do it. But, like I said before, condoms are the key.

Now everything is going to dry up and kill half the planet because the planet is too warm. Call me a cynic, but I don’t believe it.

It’s a good quality to be skeptical, but, I really think you should research the evidence and studies before ruling it out. Just dismissing something out of hand is what Christians do to evolution or atheism, without ever understanding it. I agree about abiogenesis, it is a wild field, and some of the theories seem out there. But, unfortunately, there are no answers. I’m of the mindset that I don’t really care how the universe came to be formed; maybe it was aliens, purple space monkeys, a collective soul, a god or gods. I think it may be something we won’t ever know. Have you checked out the Miller and Uley experiments, though. They’re pretty interesting.

Gun owning liberal = oxymoron?

I always thought so, but if we can’t even get enough gun control to keep criminals from having guns, then I’d better have something. Plus I love the shooting range. I’d like to add, though, that I never use my gun to hunt animals. Well, I might go quail hunting with Dick Cheney 🙂

Although I appreciate your argument, nothing you’ve said puts men and women on equal footing as it pertains to reproductive rights.

There never can be totally equal rights when it comes to reproduction. The fact is, a woman gets pregnant, not a man. You can’t give men rights over a woman’s body, even if it is their baby. How would you stop a vengeful, abusive ex? Making a woman carry an unwanted pregnancy to term seems cruel, and a way to make it easy for a bitter ex to punish his partner. As a human being, I know you would not want someone to have control of your body and reproductive organs. And I really can’t imagine many men shrugging off their responsibilities when it comes to supporting their children. I know thats not a man I would want to sleep with. I really wish men could get pregnant and decide if they want an abortion or not; really, I do, especially one week out of every month 🙂 But thats not the case. And once a child is born, that child is important. Not if the man was “duped”, or if he didn’t want the baby, or etc. Its not easy for women; its not like they get these $300-500 monthly checks and go “yippee. I’m a single mom with an extra $500. Of course, that has to go to electricity, food, diapers, daycare, water, etc. But, woo hoo, I really got that guy! Being a single mom is great. I can stay home all weekend and finger paint!”.

Hi Sabrina
Wow, lots of comments! You and I are going to take up all the bandwidth just between the two of us, lol. I won’t cut and paste your comments, I will just respond here to your thoughts.

I never said birth control was the woman’s responsibility. Likewise, it isn’t just the man’s responsibility, either. Me, personally, I don’t trust any birth control method 100%, so I’m certainly not taking someone’s word for it, either. But alas, everyone isn’t as smart as we are, Sabrina. 😉

I have no bitterness towards women. I suppose if I’m bitter about anything, it’s what I perceive to be the constant beratement of men on these issues. Woman gets pregnant, it’s the guy’s fault, he should have used a condom. Wait, he wants the baby. Too fookin’ bad, it’s not his body. The issue isn’t really reproductive rights – it’s whining and complaining about equal rights when a woman already has more rights than a man (in this issue and many others, like qualifications for law enforcement or fire fighter positions, for example.)

I admit it’s been awhile since I’ve looked up the actual regulations for welfare, but there was a time when more children = more $$$, and I heard women with my own ears admit that’s why they wanted to get pregnant. Not to mention free medical care while pregnant. And not every woman is a 30 something New Yorker living the Sex In the City lifetyle. There are plenty of women out there who will try to get pregnant on purpose to ‘trap’ a man. It’s a fact of life. So who is to blame in such cases? The man for being fooled, or the woman for lying? Again, is it solely the man’s fault that he trusted a woman? (Don’t make me trot out the Garden of Eden example. 😀 JK)

The Miller and Uley experiments were debunked, as far as I know. I don’t recall the details but I remember being keenly disappointed after researching it further.

If you go hunting with Dick Cheney, make sure you spot the quail before he does!

Orgasms.

Oh, and some other stuff, too.

I am pro-choice- militantly so, in the sense that I am not going to judge women for their repoductive choices. Their body, their choice, no questions. I am a vegetarian, a college graduate from a Jesuit school devoted to “justice” which is an idea I like very much, even if the school drove me crazy in most ways. I love being in cities. I studied abroad in Rome and would love to return. I would love to go back to London, too. I enjoy being social but I need my alone time or I would go crazy. I don’t believe in life-long monogamy.

I care about peace, substainable methods of farming, shopping locally, supporting small businesses, and recycling. I am interested in personal finance- I would love to have a cushy retirement. I too hate diamonds, though I love watching Diamonique (a CZ company) on QVC. I also love QVC, though I try not spend any money there.

I love to read. This week, my library books include a history of pornography, several romance novels, a bunch of personal finance guides, Shakespeare, and book on feminism as it relates to fairy tales.

I am a feminist, and as such, I care about race issues, human rights, peace, equality, GLBTQ issues, and being pro-choice.

But I really do love orgasms.

Oh man, this is great! Thanks for the question, Mike.

I have a lot in common with Jeremy (comment #1). I love to cook and recently got into playing classical guitar. I also enjoy a good debate/discussion – a good one, though – not the kind where the debaters simply dismiss things the other has said. My atheism passion is waning as well – but I see that as a good thing. I am less abrasive now and I think I think about being sensitive to others more clearly.

Other passions include observing and testing human behavior. A good beer with the friends out on the patio talking about what they want to talk about – you learn a lot more this way. Cigarettes and coffee – seriously a passion, I don’t know why. Environmentalism, biking, hiking, canoing are all wrapped up in the same category as well.

I’m pretty passionate about feminism. I should mention that my idea of feminism includes the fight for equality regardless of gender, race, sexuality, size, socio-economic class, etc. (as in, I don’t limit myself to questions of gender). This summer, I’ll be doing community service at a local francophone women’s shelter.

I’m also passionate about issues relation to censorship, whether it’s the press, individuals, or art.

I’m passionate about writing and politics, which is why I chose to study journalism once I enter university next year. I also enjoy a good book. =)

I’m passionate about games and fun. Not just video games, but also table top games, board games, role playing games, card games, miniature games, LARP, etc..

In fact, I volunteer time to a organization where I live at called White Tower Gaming. We hold Games Days every so often to get people interested in playing games and meeting other gamers locally. Our goal is to use gaming as a deterrent to deviant behavior, such as gang/gun violence, drug use, alcohol abuse, etc. And also to create friends, relationships, and networks. Gamer groups are pretty tight knit groups. You never really know a person unless you know what D&D class they like best! (Can you say Ninja/Wizard, Hell ya!) I think games are a great way to be competitive and cooperative in a safe environment. Not everyone can make the football team, but everyone can roll a dice or draw a card. But listen to me rant.

Any ways, check us out at our website. It’s small right now, but I live in W.V. so there aren’t many people around here anyways.

I guess you could say that my other passions make my atheism an inevitability.
I’m passionately pro-choice, and for the equality of all people, and in particular, women and homosexuals. Also, education and opportunities for single parents (as a single mom myself).
While there are exceptions to every rule, for the most part, women who consider abortion do so because they do not have a sperm donor who is willing or able to live up to the role of parent. As a single parent, I understand that dilemma. However, being pro-choice preceded being a parent. Being a parent only reinforces my beliefs that not everyone is fit for the job.

Apologies for the double post

Sorry for the double post, but half of my previous post was omitted for some reason.

Hi Sabrina
You added ‘always’ to your comments, where I did not say ‘always.’ I did not say ‘some,’ although perhaps I should have, but I hoped that it would be implied from the context. I think we’re a bit more in agreement on this than perhaps it first appeared, at least regarding responsibility, but I doubt we shall ever see eye to eye on whether it’s ‘fair.’

Not every police or fire department requires the same standards as every other deparment. The kind of thing I’m talking about requires men to do X number of pushups, carry X lbs. up a flight of stairs, but requires women to complete only Y (Y=

Not sure what’s happening but half of my post continues to be omitted:

Anyway, you get the gist. Why shouldn’t man who can complete only ‘Y’ in any task also qualify for the job?

This is also found in entrance exams, where different passing scores are required for people of different ethnicities. The White and Asian applicants, for example, must pass with an 85 to be considered. Hispanics, an 80, and Blacks a 75. Yes, I know, past discrimination, diversity goals, yada yada, but the fact is this is not equal rights. I find that when people say they are ‘for’ equal rights, what they mean is they are for SPECIAL rights for their particular chosen group, not EQUAL rights for all.

Saying I am for equal rights, then listing all the special sub-groups for whom one wishes ‘equal rights’ seems like another oxymoron to me.

Finally, some of the commentors here keep saying how dumb it would be for a woman to get pregnant just to trap a man or to receive more child support. I mean, who would do that, right? Trying to say that someone wouldn’t do something because it is ‘dumb’ is ridiculou. Obviously, people do dumb things all the time. The biggest atheist rant of all is how dumb people are to believe in God, yet 90% of the planet believes in some deity or supernatural force or other, so what does that tell you about the probability that some women will get pregnant on purpose or some man will have unprotected sex without thinking of the consequences. Come on.

Whether or not people do dumb things is not the point; the question is more about what we legislate, and what we don’t. How much liberty do we allow? How much should the courts interfere? Whose rights should be protected above all others?
The courts don’t demand child support to reward the moms; they do it in the interest of a child.
And fear not, there are still plenty of deadbeats running around – my ex-husband being one of them!

Adrian said:
“Incidentally, I’m not passionate about atheism. Little would please me more than if I never had to utter the word “atheist” again. Instead, I view the discussion as aberrant branches of physics and politics which I am passionate about.”

I would like to second that. It’s not atheism I am passionate about it’s not believing in non-sense that I am passionate about. I believe in having all the facts or at least as many as possible before believing something.

I am passionate about not making sweeping social or political changes by mandate without making damn sure that all the facts are in. This includes going into hobbyist wars on one hand and trying to combat global warming on the other.

I have lots of passions like food (sushi especially) and good coffee and reading but few things get me going quite like people advocating radical change without any clue what the consequences will be. So many social and political errors have been made because people want change or something new but without weighing history and experience or all of the science or without considering other cultures and norms. We are thinking beings with so much information available and so much recorded history behind us and we seem to, as a species, learn nothing. We cry out against oppression, as we should, but when we win the freedom of the oppressed the newly freed leap at the first opportunity to become the oppressor. We hold up freedom and government by the governed, as we should, but try to deliver it to the people of the world at the point of a sword and then proclaim that their resulting anger is hatred of our freedom.

I suppose what I am passionate about is thinking.

I am passionate about so many things!!

I love to be politically involved (debates, writing to representatives, speaking out) and issues such as GLBT rights, pro-choice, education, environment and more. Science, especially astronomy, and skepticism. Volunteering with Special Olympics and with children. Rollerblading, biking, surfing, scuba diving. Moral philosophy. Yankees baseball. Comedy. Writing. Reading. Traveling.

I wholeheartedly apologize to Mr. Mehta and the others here for my long string of what are essentially double posts. Thanks for the conversation.

Is anybody else passionate about human overpopulation? We should be as most of our world’s shared problems are directly or indirectly caused by unlimited population growth on a planet with limited resources.

Is this thread only for atheists? Or are non-atheists allowed to comment? 😉

Anyway, I’m passionate about life in general. I’m passionate about living, breathing, laughing, eating, singing, dancing… all of life, even pain and sorrow. I’m passionate about enjoying and being fully “in” each and every moment. I’m passionate about people and making the person in front of me the most important thing in my life in that moment. I try to model each day after Leo Tolstoy’s short story, Three Questions.

Oh, and nature. Nature is awesome. Period.

A subtle chain of countless rings
The next unto the farthest brings;
The eye reads omens where it goes,
And speaks all languages the rose;
And, striving to be man, the worm
Mounts through all the spires of form.

*Writing

*Education–I’m a teacher.

*Environmental issues! I’m on this mission now to let everyone know they can now recycle styrofoam in Los Angeles–it’s true! Put it in the blue bin, people! I’m interested in urban sustainability issues. Yes, Joe G-K, I’m extremely worried about human overpopulation. Even though I am personally adding to it at this very moment.

I just finished graduate school and I’m about to be a mom, so I can’t really say I get too involved in sustainability causes, beyond doing some reading. But maybe soon.

Oh, and when I have money to invest, I always pick socially responsible and environmentally sustainable investments, which is one way to be a sort of passive activist. Less of a return, but I have a clear conscience. I’m passionate about putting my money (when I have it) where my mouth is.

Geeze! 93 posts already!

I’m passionate about animals- esp my own cats, writing, my family, life, Humanism, nature, freedom, equality, education

Sudo asked if there are any pro-life atheists out there…

I am pro-life but not involved with any organizations. Do a Google search for pro-life atheists and you’ll find a lot of information.

I’m passionate about music – it’s what I do and what I plan to do for the rest of my life. Incidentally, I love gospel music and a lot of religious music, and I find one of the most frustrating elements of employment-seeking to be that so many religious groups demand that applicants be devoted christians playing music in the service of God. As if that makes the music “purer” or something.

Also passionate about free speech, improved sex education, sexual liberation, women’s rights, and everyone getting a better sense of humor.

I don’t know that I’d say I’m passionate about atheism as much as I am passionate about science, reason, and reality. These foci have led me to atheism, and I see religion as standing in direct opposition to them. Separation of church and state is very important to me, but so is quality secular education, social justice, the environment, reproductive rights, preventing animal cruelty, and a host of other political issues.

Is anybody else passionate about human overpopulation?

Oh jeez, yeah. Human overpopulation is the cause of so many other problems! I also have no kids.

Euthyphro,

I am passionate about Freethinking, that is thinking without the encumberence of prejudice.

Amen to that! But it’s easy to say and hard to practice… even for atheists (in my observation) and, of course, moi.

I also love Latin and languages in general. Hebrew, Greek, and Chinese are absoulutely fascinating as well! But I like Chinese mostly, because everything is symbolic.. it’s a visually beautiful language. What does Euthyphro mean?

My puckish passions: Education and literacy (not science specifically, but that’s definitely included). Carl Sagan said it very well when he said that “with [education] comes a certain decency, humility and community spirit.” I believe that this is at the root of many of the issues our society (I’m in the US) faces today and that we need to start here if we hope to get things moving in the right direction for future generations.

When I’m not boring folks to tears with that, I’m a huge hockey fan and love to read as much as I can about travel, culture, sociology, and science.

I love pretty much everything on the Humanist Network News podcast. It’s nice to hear a compassionate, rational voice 🙂 It’s wonderful to think about positive things for a change!

I love that podcast! One of the highlights of my month. 🙂

how come the Brits, for all their stuffiness have the most amazing sense of humor

They’re Kiwis, not Brits, but for a similarly hilarious, dry sense of humour 😉 check out Flight of the Conchords some time. It’s an HBO series and I don’t get HBO, but someone gave me the first season on DVD and it is too funny. My teenagers are really loving it too.

Hey Spurs Fan! I’m in San Antonio, and a Spurs fan, too! Not a rabid one (too busy with my own life to follow closely all the time), but a fan anyway. The first sticker I’ve put on my car in 25 years celebrates last year’s championship.

I always think it’s funny when theists wonder what we care about, outside of atheism or church/state issues, like our whole lives revolve around it. It’s like saying all Asians are inscrutable and reserved. You know, a real “WTF????” moment. If that’s what being an atheist is about, it’s news to me!

Anyone who knows me knows one thing: I’m passionate about everything. It’s my defining characteristic. The ironic thing is that I’m passionately rational–if that makes sense. Rationality is what keeps me from being taken in by cults, weirdoes, scams, or creeps. Not that there’s anything wrong with weirdoes. As long as they don’t try get me involved in their form of weird. Observing is good enough for me.

But the things I’m passionate about: My husband, my child, arts and literature, philosophy, science, history, politics (almost all of the liberal shebang), anime, foreign cultures, noodling on my computer–and so much more. I write for my own amusement, and have done so since I was a child. Taking away my computer, or paper and pens, or books, would be a torture on a par with waterboarding to me!

Of course the negative of this is that my dislikes are pretty strong, too. But nobody’s perfect.

Oh: GO SPURS GO!

It’s like saying all Asians are inscrutable and reserved.

What?!?? You mean, they’re not? Hmmm…. 😕

Mike,

I’m passionate about reality-based comprehensive sexuality education.

Although I’m an atheist, I belong to a church (Unitarian Universalist) that affirms freedom of belief as a core value and is non-creedal. Because of that, my atheism is affirmed along with the other religious beliefs in our congregations.

We have a series of excellent sexuality education curricula for children, adolescents, and adults that called Our Whole Lives or OWL. More information on OWL can be found here:

http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/ourwhole/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Whole_Lives

OWL was developed in partnership with secular sexuality educators (Planned Parenthood, SIECUS, etc) and it was also developed in partership with the United Church of Christ (a liberal Christian denomination with historical roots in New England Congregationalism and German Reformed Christianity).

As an atheist who works in church settings, I think it’s our job to provide salvation from those things that deny life or make life less whole. And sexuality education is one example of this type of salvation. Not only do we save lives, we can also make lives more whole by affirming the goodness of bodies, sexuality, pleasure, etc.

And OWL is something that is also available to Christians as well — OWL can be offered in secular settings, Unitarian Universalist settings, or Christian settings depending on what supplemental materials are used with the basic secular curriculum.

I have many passions (some say too many):

-Learning, books (dark fantasy, sci-fi, philosophy, a little science)
-Blogs (Reading and writing)
-Music (Heavy metal, celtic folk, new wave, classical)
-Dogs (big dogs, man’s best friend, always happy to see me)
-Comic books (yes, I am a nerd)
-Role playing games (again, nerd)
-History of Ancient Rome (I have always been fascinated by its impact even on today’s society)
-Great TV series (Boston Legal, Rome, Deadwood, Penn & Teller, Star Trek to name a few)
-Movies (action, westerns, sci-fi, fantasy)
-Collecting vintage video games (eBay sellers love me)
-Good conversation with friends (I don’t have that many friends, but they are good ones)
-Sex (However I do not care for long term relationships – too restrictive)
– Freedom (DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!)

Atheism is really more of an intellectual pursuit for me. I am only passionate about it when confronted with something that disgusts me. I have been an atheist since I was very young; it just seemed to make sense.