Atheist group wants to join with community
James Gillham, president of Albany Georgia Atheists, said his organization wants only to provide a social network for other “free thinkers,” and to dispel misconceptions and prejudices about atheists and agnostics. The two and a half year old group has grown to 65 members, Gillham said.
By Jim West
jim.west@albanyherald.com
As of Saturday, May 4, 2013
© Copyright 2013 Albany Herald
ALBANY, Ga. -- James Gillham says he's a happier man these days, now that he's with others of his kind. Gillham is an atheist -- a rare bird in Southwest Georgia -- and that can be a solitary life. For the two and a half years since he arrived from California, he's managed to ease his loneliness through Albany Georgia Atheists, a group he serves as president.
"So much here is on the foundation of the church," said Gillham, a contractor at MCLB. "It's a huge part of the culture."
While he was warmly welcomed as a newcomer, a typical question posed by residents was "Have you found a church yet?" or "Why don't you visit my church?" Gillham said. While the well-intentioned comments were appreciated, it seemed to intensify his sense of isolation. He missed the relationships he'd had back home in California.
"Albany Georgia Atheists (albanygeorgiaatheists.com) is a place where free thinkers like myself can come together and build those social networks," Gillham said. "Our first meeting was in December of 2011 -- just myself and one other guy at Joe Muggs coffee shop at the mall. Now we have 65 members."
http://www.albanyherald.com/news/2013/may/04/atheist-group-wants-to-join-with-community/
http://www.albanygeorgiaatheists.com/
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At least the ones I've been to.
Furthermore, they don't understand why you won't come when they invite you to their church.
None of that live and let live stuff in the country.
I'm 60 miles from the nearest UU Fellowship.
AAGGHH!! The stupid, it burrrrnnnnnssss.......
I gave up on that. The people would start talking about how wonderful Christianity was, even when we weren't talking about a book that mentioned Christianity. They can talk about that at church.
One woman said "I told my niece that God gets angry when you text OMG!!! She shouldn't do that!!" She was really angry. I thought that was one of the stupidest things I'd ever heard.
Also they would have food I couldn't eat (I have lots of food allergies and I'm a picky eater).
So I'd have to bring my own food. Why should I bother??
There are quite a few authors and subjects they would not read. Like a couple of my suggestions: Here Comes Trouble, by Michael Moore (too liberal) and Jack Kennedy, Reluctant Hero by Chris Matthews (again, a Democratic president).
Then 2 guys decided to start a spinoff club where they would drink Martinis and talk about Shakespeare. I told guy No. 1 that I didn't want to be around people that drink a lot. He told me I'd be "disruptive" after I told him I was sick of hearing about Christianity at the book club. Then he saw me in person at the local Oktoberfest and said it would be "okay if I came". I was nice and noncommittal, and decided to ignore the whole thing.
He had said "I bet you're sorry to hear I go to church and sing in the choir". I said, I was happy he enjoyed it. I've sung in a lot of church choirs myself and directed a few at UU fellowships, and even played the piano numerous times at a UU fellowship.
As it happened, the No. 2 guy has gotten cancer and so they haven't had any meetings. No. 2 guy is probably 80. No. 1 guy got in an argument with me over Nietzsche. He speaks German and has a degree in German Lit from Rice University. I decided to not argue with him over the meaning of Nietzsche, since I don't speak German. No. 1 guy is about 70. I'm a baby boomer myself, but they frustrate me. And they're not uneducated either--No. 2 guy is a retired English professor.
I suspect that there are a lot of closet drinkers here since we only went wet in this county about two years ago. Seems like when I tell people I don't like alcohol, they look at me like I have two heads or something. Like you're supposed to have a beer or Jack Daniel's in your hand.
I've met some horrendous bigots and racists working at the library (one that hates Mexicans) and one at the local junior college where I go to school--one who uses "damnyankee" as a real insult and hates French people and everybody else, although she's trying to get in the D.A.R. as well as the daughters of the Confederacy.
