Sierras of California

[MotherLodeBeth]

My name is Beth and I am here in the California Sierras between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, closer to San Andreas if you know the area. Have way to many interests. From kayaking (haven't drowned yet). skiing (fall down often), Fly fishing, Going barefoot, Astronomy, Shooting skeet, Disabled athletes, Shakespeare, Debate, Secular Homeschooling, Richard Dawkins,Christopher Hitchens, Richard Feynman, Camille Paglia, Sensuality, Non fiction Literature, Theological debate, Classy erotica, Geeks and Nerds. And very curious about life and love learning new things and having my thinking challenged and my comfort zone being tweaked.

[hotshoe]

Sounds great !

I think I've been through San Andreas on one trip in the Sierras, but if I remember correctly (not likely, the way my mind has been going lately) it's just a wide spot in the road overwhelmed by surrounding mountains.

I could imagine wanting to homeschool your children in that area, even if there was nothing wrong with the local public school, merely because them getting to school each morning would be such a problem. Add in the snow days, and you might as well be prepared with a lesson plan

Glad you found your way to this forum and hope you enjoy the many discussions.

[Durro]

Hello from Brisbane, Australia and welcome to the RDF forums. I hope that you enjoy your stay and find your time here interesting. To help you find some relevant external resources and to bring a smile to your face, here are some links that may be useful.

Handy Links

Some reasons why many posters here disagree with theists and wonder Why Won't God Heal Amputees ? and then realise that God is Imaginary

If you want to read the Bible, Koran or Book of Mormon with some helpful commentary which point out the many contradictions, fallacies and absurdities, try reading The Skeptics' Annotated Bible.

Maybe check out some of the humanist assocations and secular groups around the world...
The British National Secular Society, the British Humanist Society, the International Humanist and Ethical Union, the Council of Australian Humanist Societies, the American Council for Secular Humanism and the American National Centre for Science Education.

If you want to see just how bad the delusion can get, visit (at your own risk of brain damage) these infamous creationist sites - Answers in Genesis, The Discovery Institute and The Landover Baptist Church

- Can you guess which one is the parody site and which two are sincere in their delusion ???

Know people who think that Evolution is "Only a Theory" ? Maybe show them this explanation of what a scientific theory actually is and why Evolution is as scientifically sound and factual as the Laws of Gravity. And for further discussion on "controversies" in Evolution, take a look at the Talk Origins Archives

For the days when you lose perspective, have a look at Pale Blue Dot or the Powers of 10.

If you are having trouble with Intelligent Design/Creationism, a comprehensive list of counter-creationism resources can be found here or have a look at Thunderf00t's series of videos entitled Why Do People Laugh at Creationists ?

To avoid being duped by woo and superstition, take a look at Michael Shermer's Baloney Detection Kit or maybe the James Randi Educational Foundation website.

Have a laugh or be offended, the choice is yours when you watch Achmed the dead terrorist!! (Silence, I kill you!) or everyone's favourite god, Mr Deity

Oldies but goodies...Classic comedy routines of catholic guilt by the legendary Dave Allen ... Nuns & Blessings, Adam & Eve and Self Abuse.

...and once again, welcome to RDF !



Durro

[flyingscot]

Hello Beth and welcome to the forum. Glad you found us and decided to join.

Thank you for taking the time to introduce yourself and hope you enjoy your time in the Oasis.(shoes optional! )

Regards
fs

---

If you have not already done so, please take the time to read our User‘s Agreement

---

Some books to consider reading if you have not already done so
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. The foundation of this site.
The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins. Detailed study of natural selection.
The End of Faith by Sam Harris. A slamming indictment of religion.
God is not great by Christopher Hitchens. Beats the crap out of religion.
Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett. Why we invented God.
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Escaping the clutches of Islam. Fantastic!
The Quantum World by Kenneth Ford. Mind numbing physics made approachable.
God: The Failed Hypothesis by Victor J Stenger. How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist.
The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan. Science as a Candle in the Dark. Excellent!
River Out of Eden by Richard Dawkins. A Darwinian View of Life. Wonderful!
The Ancestor’s Tale by Richard Dawkins. A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution. Superb!
Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris. A little book with a BIG message. Brilliant!
The Portable Atheist by Christopher Hitchins. Essential readings for the non-believer.
The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins. The Evidence for Evolution. Enthralling!

[redwhine]

Classy erotica

[Joey] How you doin'? [/Joey]

Anyhows...

Welcome!


Some stuff to help you settle in:-

Intro Boiler Plate

Please read these at least once - the Forum User's Agreement and How the forum Works

Advice to new fellow theist members by one of our longest active resident theists, Jerome

Student? ...check out The Beekman

Parent or educator? ...Parenting & Education will be of interest.

Military? ...take a look in Atheists In Foxholes. (Looking's free but if you want to post there, you need to get permission from admin. - the mods with red names (Topsy, Sciwoman or Peter Harrison), 'cos there were problems with trolling.)

Why this site and others like it matter - a member's posts about TheTreatment of Women in Saudi Arabia and read about the lovely people known as The American Taliban.

A couple of examples of how bad the delusion can get by some of our fundie ex-members - "Proof" that God exists and even more "proof". And for those that have heard it all, here's one fundie member asserting that polar bears are white because they were scared white by humans after the Noachian flood.

A place on the front page that you may like to visit and hear stories from people who have successfully moved away from their religions - Converts Corner

Need a picture for your user profile ? Look here for Avatars

Look here to see what AFAIK, LOL and STFU mean as well as other forum acronyms.

How to add links and pictures, etc, to your posts using BBCode.

How do I insert quotes? The instructions are here

A big list of links about evolution that will help you make sense of this important topic.


...and welcome again !



redwhine