I really tried...really...

[BJ10]

being a Republican...or shall I say, conservative. I live in an area that is dominated with conservative thoughts and ideas (Lynchburg, VA...home of Liberty University). So naturally all I hear is one side of the story. And I always thought that conservative politics must be the right path because liberals are simply ruining this country (according to all the people I know). And I believed it for a long time...but then something funny happened, I did something different than the others around me. I began to question things...

I soon realized many of the thoughts and ideals I have been trained to believe are simply bullshit. Blame it on marijuana for initially opening my eyes. I could believe most of the ideas pushed out by the right wingers but when I heard people demonize weed and I heard the horror storied attributed to marijuana use, I didn't just think it was bullshit, I knew it was bullshit. So I thought, what else are they full of shit about?

I began to see that despite all of their hate for abortion, they didn't give a fuck about the poor people. And I started to think, if they outlaw abortion, the numbers of those in poverty will rise. So I deduced that wing-nuts only care about babies up until they leave the womb.

I began to see that most of the ones talking about bombing the shit out of towel-heads and kicking ass overseas never even thought about serving in the military.

I began to see their disdain for intellectuals, not to mention other races.

I could go on and on all day, but I observed one common thread for all of these idiots: they are all CHRISTIANS!!! Well guess what? I read the whole Bible (which converted me into an Atheist) and these people aren't anything like Jesus. I might got hell for being a non-believer, but according to what I read, these "Christians" will be right there with me for being the very things Jesus said he hated.

So here I am at DU, my conversion complete. Glad to be here and join the club. Happy Mother's Day!!!

[LiberalAndProud]

1. Welcome.

Yes, their lies are killing them, little bit by little bit. Glad to have you.

[Xipe Totec]

2. Welcome to DU

Where you will find people to the left of you, people to the right of you, and people in the peanut gallery heckling just for the fun of it.

:hi:

[CountAllVotes]

3. Welcome to the DU

:hi: and welcome!

I know what you mean. On another discussion board of which I am a member of there is a woman on there that is sending in prayer cards for people. After she does this and spews her religious crap she goes on to begin telling blatant racist "jokes". :grr:

Glad to know you don't go for it. I don't either!

:dem:

[laughingliberal]

4. welcome. eom

[PassingFair]

5. Welcome to the Enlightenment!

Now keep READING!

Voltaire.
Paine.
Jefferson.
Hume.
Mill.

and welcome to DU!!

[whereaminow]

55. But don't forget to read:

Nietzsche
Aristophanes
H.S. Thompson
Wilhelm Reich
B.F. Skinner
Some old DC comics
and of course this guy

[MN TN]

88. Also if you read Bible, Christ had to be the biggest Democrat on the planet!

[PassingFair]

103. Um...he already read the bible...

Did you read his post?

[MN TN]

109. You misunderstood me

We all know there are many "Christians" who claim to read the Bible and they still don't get it.

[Walk away]

6. Here is a cool abortion fact for you. Abortion rates generally go down...

when Democrats are in control. It's usually attributed to better access to birth control and sex education. So the christian right causes more abortions. That alone would make me dump their stupid asses.

[BJ10]

7. I know I must be a DUer now...

because I got pissed today when I saw a bumper sticker that said "Have You Prayed For A Liberal Today?"

Check this out, this is how they roll here where I live.

http://www.lc.org/media/9980/adopt_a_liberal.htm

[47of74]

10. Here's my response to any of those idiots who think I need to be adopted;

[tjwash]

20. People say that Californians are liberal...

[rurallib]

26. that is one angry car.

[47of74]

30. Here's hoping that when it's time to trade in the vehicle

The owner of the vehicle takes part of the vehicle's coat off when removing all those stickers, or leaves parts of the stickers on the vehicle, and as a result doesn't get as much on trade in as he or she might have otherwise.

[tjwash]

32. I'm sure the paint job will be good and keyed by the time he goes to sell it.

Not because of the bumper stickers. It'll most likely get keyed by people like him who realize he's basically driving a Toyota Corolla.

[Quantess]

34. Never mind what those bumper stickers say, that's hideous!!

Jeez what an eyesore. They should be ticketed for disturbing the peace.

[Contrary1]

37. "The Pacifist - A Traitor To His Country And To Humanity As Is The Most Brutal Wrongdoer " ?

:wtf: Teddy Roosevelt was wrong about this.

[liberation]

81. Those are faux TDR quotes...

The actual domestic policies by Teddy Roosevelt would be consider extreme left wing by these insane conservatives of today.

[bobbolink]

43. "Drill locally" Kinda makes ya want to get their address so you can put an oil well in their yard

doesn't it?

[Tsiyu]

85. +1

I was thinking the same thing :)


On edit: Welcome to DU, to the OP :hi:

[liberation]

80. So that is what logical dissonance looks like?

Good grief...

[wolfgangmo]

132. Not that I am advocating this at all ... but. ...

There is a reason I carry a sharpie (permanent felt) marker in my car.

YOu could rework a few of the stickers. Dink Nationally - shrill locally. An idea whose time has past. Idiot Hunting permit. One republican, one child please. Co-exist. Bush - a traitor to his country. I support Weed. Those who voted a monkey for a president ... .


I'm sure you can come up with more.

[dana_b]

148. no words. only....

:puke:

[dem mba]

157. Scion is owned by Toyota

PATRIOTISM FAIL!

[whereaminow]

58. That's a funny site

However, it's extremely tragic that anybody would take them seriously and actually build a platform around it.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.

Basically a good message there. I am fascinated by how they twist it into their little spiel. And even more so that a person can believe any of it. We're not dealing with politics here, this is a psychological problem. That's how we should treat it. Freud and Reich have these people pegged to the tee. We can form a "Cure a Conservative" Foundation. Draw up "God hates Bush" posters?

[Mojeoux]

70. What you are going through is what happened in the 60s. The "Great Society" lied...

about the war in Viet Nam.

about the effects of Marijuana.

about sex.

about Gay People.

about Women.

about weird fucking secret experiments.

about so much, we were ready to push everything to find out the truth.

This led to the ends of many Boomers, as in,

"Who says we can't eat these mushrooms? The Man! Fuck the Man!"

[MikeH]

96. A Liberty Counsel Prayer for an Adopted Liberal

Oh dear God, THANK you that I am not a godless, socialist liberal, or a phony Christian liberal. Thank you God that I see and am in possession of Your truth, unlike the liberals. Thank you God that I do not have a big beam in my eye and am not blinded to Your Truth like the liberals. Thank you God that I am a Christian, and that I am the REAL THING, a REAL Christian, unlike the phony Christian liberals.

Oh dear Heavenly Father, help my adopted liberal see Your Light and come to Your Truth like I have. Open his or her heart to Your Truth like mine is open. Take that big beam out of my adopted liberal's eye, and so that he/she will see clearly how wrong he/she is in being a liberal, and how contrary liberalism is to Your gracious will. Help my adopted liberal to come to REALLY know You and know Christ like I do, and to see the truth that being a conservative and a Republican (as well as accepting Your Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior) is in accordance to Your will and plan, just like I have come to see the truth.

[Dollface]

153. I want to tell them, "Please don't pray for me, God might think I agree with you."

[MikeH]

97. And welcome to DU, BJ10

:hi:

[mwb970]

111. How embarrassing.

I am ashamed of some of my fellow Americans. How can they be so blind?

[defendandprotect]

125. "Religion makes it harder for them to be deprogrammed" . . . that's what

an internet friend of mine from the South said to me the other day in commenting

on how religion complicates the right wing political atmosphere . . .

You seem to be saying the same thing -- ?

Welcome to DU -- but it seems you're still going to have to survive among the right

wing where you are -- ?

[wolfgangmo]

129. What kills me is that these douchebags actually think that any of those .. ...

politicians are actually liberal. That's fucking funny.

[dana_b]

150. +1

that list was a joke except for maybe a couple of t.v. folks.

[dana_b]

149. this ALMOST made me laugh..

"Schwarzenegger, the Republican governor of California, was elected on a generally conservative platform but has become quite liberal on social policy issues."

Really?! Tell that to the women who were beat up, abused and then found out that they had no place to go because der gropenator chose to cut off funding for women's shelters last year. Funding was only restored (partially) after people protested. If he had his way, welfare would be gone! These fucking idiots have NO CLUE as to what they are talking about! The audacity - to pray for a liberal. I'm sure true liberals (and there are very few true liberals on their list of people to pray for) would tell them not to bother and to go to hell.

[Oceansaway]

8. welcome !!...nt

[sarge43]

9. Welcome BJ10

Enjoy.

[MadMaddie]

11. BJ10 Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Sometimes it is the simple things that raise our awareness of truth!

Your observation that they use their "Christianity" to support their hate filled beliefs is accurate. For some reason they are unable to equate their actions from those feared religious zeolots that hate America.

Welcome to DU!!

:hi:

[tjwash]

12. Welcome! And yeah...reading the bible sorta had that effect on me too.

I saw "ancient aliens" on history the other day. It's a pretty lame show where they get various weirdos and cranks that give you their wild theories that the human race was actually genetically engineered from ETs eons ago and originally meant as slave-labor to mine the planet for them...you know; L Ron Hubbard style crap.

Anyway, as I was watching it, and as nutty as these bozos were, it was actually not as far fetched and out there as half of what comes out of the average christ-lovers mouth when you get them going.

[BJ10]

14. The end is near...

I know becasue I hear it every other day...they are so full of shit.

[LiberalAndProud]

92. Do you think they will manufacture Armagedon eventually?

It seems to me that there are those who grow impatient among the religious.

[Dappleganger]

13. Question everything!

and welcome to DU!

Read, read and read as much as you can. Don't stop asking questions. Don't take anyone's word for granted and look for evidence to back up claims, even from this site. Be careful of your sources, too.

[Quantess]

15. What a refreshing OP.

For a while now, I've been thinking that most neo-conservatives / RWers accept what is told to them without really thinking it through.

But there will always be people who eventually change their minds after examining and questioning things. For example, the idea of gay marriage is an issue that is gaining acceptance. It's traditional to immediately say "no way!", and that is how most people felt about gay marriage for a long time. But once people really think about it, they are more likely to accept gay marriage. That's just an example.

[socialist_n_TN]

24. Yeah, I never thought that right wingers ...................

could be converted. I'm glad to admit that I was wrong.

[Crystal Clarity]

16. From one Newbie to another

Welcome! :hi:

[gateley]

19. Welcome to you, too, Crystal Clarity!

:hi:

Edit -- how rude of me to welcome you and mispell your name. :eyes: All better now.

[Crystal Clarity]

28. Awwwh, sweet!

And thanks so much for the welcome! :-)

[dana_b]

151. Welcome Crystal!

I love your name too. :)

[Crystal Clarity]

159. Thanks!

:hi:

[HysteryDiagnosis]

17. Welcome, glad you could make it.... you might also like....

http://exchristian.net/exchristian/2002/10/how-many-people-have-been-killed-by.php

[gateley]

18. Welcome to DU BJ10! I'd suggest tuning in to

Ed Schultz, Keith Olbermann and (my personal fave) Rachel Maddow on MSBNC. They'll keep you up to date and Rachel especially, presents background and facts in a way that makes it easy for me to understand.

And listen to progressive radio!

:hi:

[dotymed]

56. And don't forget

Naomi Klein and Jeremy Scahil for some excellent facts, (The Shock Doctrine is an eye-opener). You can also tune into DEMOCRACYNOW.COM and Thom Hartmann, live on these "tubes." It's nice to welcome two questioning souls on one OP :hi:

[pinboy3niner]

21. Welcome to DU, BJ10!

:hi:

[BJ10]

22. Ken Cuccinelli helped me too...

I mean, here in Virginia we have issues with jobs and problems just like the rest of the country. But did you know that we have much more dire issues than the rest of the U.S.? Oh yes, we have an exposed titty on our state flag!!! Holy Shit!!! Porn right there for all to see!!!

What a fucking joke...

[Greyhound]

23. Welcome, it will be interesting to see your reactions to the "New Democrats". n/t

:kick: & R

[G_j]

25. welcome

:applause:

[kentuck]

27. Good introduction !

Welcome!

However, not everybody here is pro-marijuana or anti-Christian but you may be in the majority on at least one of those counts.

:hippie:

[BJ10]

31. I know not everyone agrees...

But the Christians here probably didn't attend Falwell's Liberty University. And I don't hate Christians, only Fundies. And if you don't want marijuana legal...well you SUCK!!! Just kidding.

[Ernesto]

42. make that......

Liberty Madrasah

[madamesilverspurs]

29. Welcome aboard!

My own departure from republicanism was compelled by Reagan, something for which my Reagan-is-god brother will never forgive me. Happily, my other siblings and I are all on the same page.

Stick around -- reality really is a trip worth taking!

-

[grantcart]

33. Welcome to DU

Took a similar route 30 years ago - even read the bible in Greek!!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

35. I understand. I really do.

K&R

[BJ10]

36. Wow, the response is nice...

Nothing like the evil liberals I was brought up to hate...lol.

[handmade34]

75. Awwww

everybody is just being nice because you're new :grouphug:

[JoeyT]

38. Welcome to sanity!

Now prepare to be driven insane arguing with people that think facts are socialist propaganda forced on them by intellectual elitists.:evilgrin:

[Arugula Latte]

39. Many theologians are secretly atheists or non-believers

because they are the ones who really study religious texts and see how full of holes and what a sham it all is.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[dotymed]

59. That is so true.

As a Church junior warden, I spent alot of time with my priest (not Catholic, Episcopalian), we had both studied a little Greek mythology in school. We discussed how Christianity "borrowed" a lot of stories from mythology. This was heresy to some "true believers". We kept our discussions to ourselves after that. Father Harold was never quite accepted by some parishioners after some of his observations, even though he was retired and donated his time free of charge. He took it in stride til he finally completely retired. We were a Church that was supported by the Diocese because of our dwindling membership. The same people "seethed" when he helped the locals with rent, utilities, etc.. from our tithes. I was a healthy, union carpenter back then. I gave money to help the needy, even if they did not attend our church. lol. Father Harold was an easy mark though.. He was a good man who couldn't turn people away.

[handmade34]

76. did it for me

took one year in Seminary...

[KonaKane]

40. Welcome. You may want to scrutinize the religion factor though..

The consensus is that atheism in conservative circles is growing. Pete Stark of California is a declared conservative atheist. I think the religion line is being blurred politically now, and might not be the best litmus test of conservatism.

[defendandprotect]

126. Religion teaches obedience to authority . . ..

"pie in the sky when you die" -- so as a friend just recently said to me

the religious beliefs make it harder for them to see thru the political lies.

[MrScorpio]

41. Welcome to DU, BJ10

Glad to have you

[Cha]

44. You are a rare breed..one who

has been indoctrinated but still capable of critical thought.

Welcome to reality, BJ10..it can be life long passion.:)

[lumberjack_jeff]

45. The freedom which underlies all others is freedom of thought.

Never surrender that.

Welcome to DU.

[TlalocW]

46. It takes more than that to join us I'm afraid...

First you have to eat 2 dozen goldfish in less than five minutes then there are the spankings!!!

TlalocW

[FailureToCommunicate]

118. "I can eat fifty eggs"

[Rebubula]

141. LOLZ

You must have been waiting for a long time to use that one!

Nobody can eat 50 eggs...

[FailureToCommunicate]

158. Seemed a nice round number.

(Yes, I guess I have waited awhile for that one. First time too!)

Well, it be something to do...

[Truth2Tell]

143. Am I allowed to put the goldfish

in the beerbong? :shrug:

[NYC_SKP]

47. "...wing-nuts only care about babies up until they leave the womb."

Welcome to DU!

:thumbsup:

NYC_SKP

[Initech]

64. George Carlin: If you're pre-born you're fine, if you're pre-school, you're fucked!

[cutlassmama]

48. Welcome to DU!

You'll be glad you joined. There are alot of nice (sane) people here.

[diane in sf]

49. Congratulations on your awakening! The powers that be prohibit those eye opening drugs for a reason

[defendandprotect]

128. Cheers for Marijuana -- exactly what I wanted to say . . . !!!

Agree -- there are many reasons why Marijuana is illegal and certainly that is

one of them -- an eye opener.

The attack on normal human sexuality is another -- making it sinful -- putting it

under religious control.


:evilgrin:

[Motown_Johnny]

50. an open mind is our best ally, Welcome to DU and Congratulations

[dotymed]

51. Welcome aboard with

the rest of us batshit crazy, lazy liberals. I too exist in the land of the red. I noticed an attractive single lady yesterday (about my age) and I considered, at some point striking up a conversation. While I was there (I am pretty socially conservative in appearance too). I heard her talking, rather loud :( , to her friends. They got on the subject of school, she graduated Butler, I graduated a community college in Tn., no biggie) then she started demonizing Obama (I do too) about raising taxes (???) and not cutting social programs, etc..) when she glanced at me again (yes she had looked at me earlier and smiled).I am sure my disgust was evident. soon, before the game was over, she and her (in their minds anyway) elite friends left. Thank God. I went for about 4 years not dating. I finally dated a professional woman (Butler grad!) that I had known casually for years. We had similar political ideas that she gave lip service to, but socially, IMO, she was batshit crazy... I have no idea why I shared that... Can't wait to get back to Tn. next month after 15 years here, I'll be going home to another red state...but my family is there..my 14 y.o. son is going with me too :toast: , my daughter graduates next year, from that same Tn. college I did. She is just a "hot mess" sometimes..lol.. but blue to the bone :bounce: :hi: :hi:

[archiemo]

52. Hope you enjoy DU!!

[tabasco]

53. Continue to ask questions, be rational and be loyal to your principles.

Let's make this country a better place.

[tpsbmam]

54. I love, love, love your post! And love people who are intelligent and open enough to

examine core beliefs and challenge them. I get so excited when I encounter such a person! A huge WELCOME to DU! (And, of course, K&R)

(I just read my post and realized it could sound a little creepy & orgasmic -- no creepiness intended and no orgasms occurred in the past hour. Just a warm huggy welcome. :grouphug:)

[SocialistLez]

57. WELCOME!! ::hugs you::

[barbtries]

60. welcome to DU

:hi:

[beac]

61. Welcome to DU, my fellow Virginian.

It's not easy being a liberal (outside of the Beltway) in this state, much less BECOMING one! Congrats on your conversion and WELCOME to DU. :hi:

[southernyankeebelle]

62. Wow, please don't be down on all christians. There are plenty of liberals that are

christians. I still be in god I just don't go to organized church any longer. I don't give my money to any church. There are good liberals out the in the world. Am sure there are good republicans that are moderate and don't agree with the extreme right. Welcome to the compassionate side.

[SemperEadem]

106. his post wasn't down on all xtians--only the counterfeit ones

[BJ10]

63. A Greatest Thread?

I just want you guys to know I'm totally stoked you find my conversion so interesting. I already love y'all!!!

[Initech]

65. To paraphrase a quote from Scarface: "You know what conservatism is? Getting fucked!"

[chillspike]

66. Don't think you are alone

My own conversion followed a very similar pattern...Like a cascade of epiphanies where conservative premises and beliefs about everything from capitalism to the environment to their hatred of feminism fall one by one.

They are wrong across the board.

Welcome.

P.S. They are not entirely all Christians. There are the Ayn Rand atheists among them.

[deacon_sephiroth]

67. welcome to the party

I say that but I'm new too :p

[handmade34]

73. Welcome to you also!!

[kedrys]

68. Welcome to DU!

We're always glad to have one more intelligent, thoughtful, dedicated person in these parts. :hi:

[unlegendary]

69. Lot's of good atheist sites..

Another great site you might want to check out, http://whywontgodhealamputees.com Ask your Xtian neighbors why won't GAWD heal amputees..
I'm just wondering when do atheists get to have a TV network..

[Truth2Tell]

71. Every American, at the age of 15,

should be given a large blunt and told to smoke it and begin reading the bible. They should be told to keep smoking and reading until both are done. I think such a practice would cure much of what ails this nation.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[liberation]

82. ... and do the same for every other major religious text.

Chances are that the majority of us would end up Buddhist by the end of the class.

It should be no coincidence that personal mind expansion is seen as such a threat, by those hellbent in controlling the minds of others.

[Truth2Tell]

142. True. That's how I ended up.

:) :hi:

[handmade34]

72. relevant points about double standards

you can't be against abortion and not do everything in your power to feed, house and otherwise care for all living beings.

you can't demonize marijuana and accept alcohol, coffee, processed food and chemical additives.

you can't be pro-military and purport to put such emphasis on "national security" without joining the military or serving our country in another official capacity.

you can't believe in the American Dream without accepting diversity

you can't be pro-democracy without respecting education and intelligent thought

you can't claim to be Christian and hate

I suppose a person can do these things but not in my reality...

Welcome BJ10 - I know how difficult it is living in a conservative community.

[nradisic]

74. WooHoo!

Good thing you woke up.....welcome to DU and reality.

[Richard Steele]

77. Sounds like you and I have a lot in common, BJ10.

Be afraid.
Be VERY afraid.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[Festivito]

78. Wait until you find out Conservatives don't conserve anything.

Especially money. They spend like crazy only more expensively borrowing rather than taxing.

Hey, perhaps you and I can wrangle over atheism versus deism some day. The rest of the DU wranglers can't seem to argue their way out of a soaking wet tissue paper bag.

BTW, glad you tried, welcome to the other side.

[felinetta]

79. Spread this info to others who still are Republicans. They may listen to one of their "former" own.

[madmax]

83. Welcome to DU

I've lost a few friends trying to reason and present facts. Guess they'll have to find it as you did, on their own.

[Jokinomx]

84. Well said... and thanks for sharing....

I agree ... that is my experience also. IN FACT... I heard today on NPR a study of divorce rates and teen pregnancy in Red and Blue states.... and lo and behold... the RED frikken states have higher divorce rates and higher teen pregnancies. In the piece, they made it sound as if they were surprised. Of course most here at the DU would know otherwise.

:toast:

[mwb970]

112. *All* social ills are noticeably worse in "red" states.

Besides the ones you mention, they also have trouble with drug use, life expectancy, divorce - the list goes on and on. And they take more government money than they pay in as (newly reduced) taxes. The "blue" states are the opposite, meaning that "we" are subsidizing "them".

Of course, in the Bizarro Land of Fox "News" and right-wing hate radio, all of the above facts are reversed. The ignorance of conservatives is overwhelming.

[defendandprotect]

131. True -- and if they can't lie, they can't win . . .

Newt Gingrich conveyed that to Bill Clinton at some point --

[JDPriestly]

86. I suggest that you watch the Ricky Gervais movie, The Invention of Lying.

We live in a world of lies. Some of those lies keep us alive; others give us hope. But many of them destroy life and make us useless.

The movie is delightfully funny and makes you stop and think about why people lie, which lies are OK in that they help society function and which lives harm our society.

Welcome to DU. Happy Mother's Day to you, too.

(Mine was wonderful -- Mother's Day, that is.)

[Althaia]

114. interesting that you bring up Ricky Gervais..

...because he is an atheist.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ricky+gervais+atheist&aq=f

Welcome to all the new members.
I recommend Thunderf00t's youtube channel. His conversation/debate with Ray Comfort is a good place to begin.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Thunderf00t#p/c/762A731FA12BCB57/0/N2FskTKrx40

[MN TN]

87. Yes. Remember the Bible Verse: "Above all else, beware of the hypocrites!"

[caseymoz]

89. Welcome!

Let it be a trend.

[eleny]

90. Welcome to DU - fasten your seat belt

:hi:

[Name removed]

91. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[complain jane]

93. Welcome.

[knixphan]

94. Yo!

Welcome!
:hi:

[ZombieHorde]

95. Welcome to DU. nt

[colorado_ufo]

98. A big, big Welcome to DU!

You will find that this fits just fine :-)

[tavalon]

99. Welcome to DU

You'll be a policy wonk before you know it.

[mahina]

100. Welcome.

I'm a Christian, there are lots here, but I agree with pretty much everything in your post.

Thank you and happy Mother's day to you too!

[ashling]

101. Welcome!

My daughter attended Sweetbriar down the road.

She was seeing a friend in the hospital while Jerry Fallswell was in the hospital for a heart attack. She overheard the nurses talking and was able to learn that his cardiologist was muslim and the head nurse on his case was gay. I thought that was interesting. They got him through that one. :rofl:

[BJ10]

104. That's an awesome story...

too bad he never changed his views...

[Granny M]

102. Welcome!

Your post gives me great hope.

[handmade34]

113. Welcome to you

also! :hi:

[SemperEadem]

105. welcome to DU

and you're right--those to whom you refer to in your post who call themselves "christians" are really "Paulists"--they'd rather cut their right arm off than to follow the teachings of Jesus. They'd be the very ones in line to insist that Pontius Pilate crucify Jesus and set the criminal Barabas free.

I'm glad that you've been able to see the light of truth behind those counterfeit xtians.

[elocs]

107. If you love marijuana you've come to the right place here at DU.

Plus, big bonus points for being an atheist, although a few token Christians are tolerated here.

Yes, between those 2 things you will do quite nicely here.

[DailyGrind51]

108. Welcome! I never met a Republican who actually read the New Testament him/herself.

They always repeated what some televangelist told them it said.

[DWilliamsamh]

110. I for one would like to invite you to "go on all day," I never tire of conversion stories.

Welcome to DU. I for one seriously NEVER tire of hearing about people's eyes being opened to the bullshit they have been told. Regale us with more of the crap and what made you realize that it was just that. :-)

[EnviroBat]

115. My girlfriend came from strong right wing leanings.

Lots of military in her family, her sister lives in NC and despises Obama. Well, since my girlfriend and her daughter have been living with me, they've "seen the light" so to speak. They both mock Sarah Palin constantly, (which I love). Realize what a complete buffoon John Mccain is. They basically see republicans as they are.

Glad you're here with us!

:hi:

[YOY]

116. Now perhaps you can see something that many so called "moderates" can't as well.

That "trickle down economics" flat out DO NOT WORK and that our defense budget is bloated and is basically a funnel to money for something that Eisenhower warned us about.

[Stellar]

117. They demonized weed?

ROTF laughing !

:crazy:

[crim son]

119. It is ALWAYS great to meet a new member,

and your story makes it that much greater. Welcome to DU!!

[DevonRex]

120. Welcome to DU. My journey has been much like yours.

It's much more difficult to make that conversion than a lot of people realize. And for me, the religion aspect was also intertwined with the political aspect. In order to make the conversion complete I had to reject everything I had been taught and realize that my family and old friends were completely wrong on every level of faith and politics. And at some point I accepted that many of their beliefs weren't just wrong but evil.

My conversion to liberalism occurred decades ago, thankfully. Yet I know I'll struggle for the rest of my life with still loving my family but being horrified at their racism, homophobia, stinginess and belligerence. I'll also struggle with being horrified that I ever parroted the things I was taught at home - all the while knowing at a gut level that they were wrong but lacking any liberal input to tell me just why they were wrong.

[defendandprotect]

130. And another . . .

"wow!" post --

Very interesting --

An internet friend of my from the south -- NC -- just commented to me yesterday

at her pessimism about people in her area waking up because religion makes it so

hard for them to be "deprogrammed."

[DevonRex]

134. That's exactly what has to occur - deprogramming.

When a person does begin that process it's seriously frightening, almost like the sensation of falling from a great height. That's because you have to let go of everything that held you to your family and community and everything that you thought defined you as a person.

And that's why changing hearts and minds is so very difficult.

[FailureToCommunicate]

121. Dope leads to Democrats? Sure, why not. For me it was seeing how disability

is viewed by the non disabled ( "TABs" "temporarily able bodied")

My father was "disabled", and growing up hearing peoples' whispers and looks made me question all manner of things even more than usual.

He was also a minister (United Church of Christ) and shared that church's out spoken stands on the Civil Rights movements and the Viet Nam War as well as a host of social justice issues, poverty, unions, better schools, womens' rights, etc. so I guess there was little chance of me drifting back to the conservative side of our Mid West extended family...

Anyway, glad your eyes are open now. It's a more difficult world you'll see around you -there is much less cognitive dissonance when your eyes are still shut!

But, all in all, 'It's better this way'

Welcome!

[October]

122. Welcome!

There's in-fighting here -- we don't walk in lockstep -- but that's democracy for 'ya. :)

[proud patriot]

123. Reality has a liberal Bias

Welcome Underground

[V_Byl]

124. Similar to my situation...

...without the marijuana ;) I live in Grand Rapids, MI - home of Amway and down the road from the birthplace home of Eric Prince (who just gave a speech there last weekend, and for some reason wanted the media not to cover it, lol). Very right-wing religious area. Got married, started attending a 'small group' from church with my wife, a lot of the scripture didn't match up to what they were talking about, actually read the Bible for more answers, and have a hard time being Christian any more.

I come to DU on occasion, but I don't participate too often... I'm also pretty disheartened with Democrats, as it seems they are nothing more than a pretend opposition party to the Repukes. Damn depressing when I think about it, so I try not to :)

Anyway, good luck to you man. The worst part about being in the minority opinion in a super conservative area (for me anyway) is biting your tongue during family gatherings - there have been times when I haven't done it, but it doesn't pan out well... No sense in creating flak inside the family, especially when there are kids around/involved.

Also - I am sick of going into local businesses because the majority of them have a TV blaring Fox News. I'm pretty sure 75% of their viewing audience is right here in GR. Blah.

Glad you woke up though! :toast:

[OnionPatch]

127. Always glad to have thinking people.

Welcome!

My RW fundie cousin keeps sending me anti-Obama/anti-liberal emails. I am always able to send her ample, indisputable facts that prove the emails are nothing but BS. Yet she keeps right on believing them and sending them out over and over. It never occurs to her that since the last one was BS the next one might also be. Someone like her is hopeless. People like you, on the other hand, are what this country needs. And may we always continue to question the "facts" we get from both sides.

[EXneoCON]

133. Me too!

Tried, that is. Welcome from one Southern Progressive to another. Glad we both came out, so to speak!

[Indepatriot]

135. The World is now truly your oyster......WELCOME!

[SirRevolutionary]

136. Welcome to DU BJ10

:hi: I'm a transplant from up north, currently in Lynchburg. This town definitely has the highest religious nutjob to normal person ratio I've ever seen. You're not alone, there are normal people here though, we just hide during the daylight hours.

[Jester Messiah]

137. A soul saved, hallelujah!

Congratulations on freeing yourself from blighted ignorance. It takes courage to open one's eyes and call bullshit what it is. Way to go!!
:yourock: :applause:

[ooglymoogly]

138. Welcome to the light.

may you have many followers.....great post by the bye.

[abelenkpe]

139. Welcome!

I'm originally from VA too. Stay strong!

[Divine Discontent]

140. The Paulists (non-christian religious zealots) are the embarrassing loud more highly visible

representation of "Christianity".

I am a compassionate liberal who loves Christ and am functionally poor because I am literally, 'my brother's keeper', and the frauds that do nothing for the poor, their relatives, and invade everyone's private lives to tell them how to live are a bunch of followers of Paul's hardline beliefs - which is hardcore Catholic and doesn't give women the proper reverence, and judges Gay people. Just chiming in to say we're out there.

Your post is refreshing to see, I'm glad there's some converts and that's because you have a good heart and a working comprehension. Scary, isn't it? That there's millions who eat the BS Rush & Beck spew forth?

[condoleeza]

144. I could have written this myself about 20 yrs. ago - totally agree

[dana_b]

145. great post and obviously a person

with an open mind and a free thinker. Welcome to the "dark" side! :evilgrin:

[BobbyBoring]

146. Welcome

Drop some acid now (Guess they still make it). Your eyes will really open up then! Oh, maybe a bad idea. Might prove pot is a gateway drug. Glad you made it anyway~

[Dollface]

155. Stay away from acid. Stick with mushrooms. Much cleaner.

[WillyT]

147. Welcome To DU, BJ10 !!! - K & R !!!

:bounce::toast::bounce:

Glad ta have ya aboard!!!

:hi:

[KansDem]

152. Welcome, from a former Republican...

I began to see that progressives think with logic and reason; conservatives with faith and emotion.

And thinking with logic and reason requires a lot less stress than thinking with faith and emotion...

KansDem:
1971--Republican
1972 to 1992--Independent
1992 to now--:dem:

[Surya Gayatri]

154. Great 'conversion' tale...

So glad you've seen the light and joined us here on the left--wellspring of most human progress. Stick to your principles. Remember, by definition, lefties & liberals don't toe the line or behave like sheep, so there are always a hundred different opinions on even the most banal topics. SG

[GoddessOfGuinness]

156. There's some pretty country around Lynchburg...

It's too bad that so many of the people who live there have been sucked into the conservative machine without thinking. To my mind, this is what Jesus was warning about when he said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many." It's so much easier to maintain the status quo and continue our self-indulgent lifestyles than it is to make the necessary changes and make this earth a better place for all who live here.


Welcome to DU!

[Motown_Johnny]

160. Kicking

just because it was about to fall off the front page