secular parenting, atheist blog
I was awake quite late, as I do, and I decided to do what is, apparently, called a Vanity Search. I searched my own name. I've never thought to do it before and it was delightful to reread old blog posts and comments to friends.
I wasn't surprised with much of what I found. Lots of this blog, the Carnival of Atheist Parenting blog, the many comments I make on blogs, The Secular Parents on SecularTv, and the like. But I also found two different blogs that mentioned me by name. One of the authors of the blog called me a hypocrite (check his/her blog out of you like) because of my statement and meme My life is far more meaningful to me and far more genuinely happy since becoming an atheist. The amusing part of the blog post, which seems to meander and become kind of confusing a bit, is this statement:
How can you know you live a better life, such as asserted by Karen Loethen, My life is far more meaningful to me and far more genuinely happy since becoming an atheist. if her standard of a good life is based on the subjective criteria of man? What happens when someone thinks that a more meaningful and happier life is to shoot a dozen people in cold blood?
Good grief! Did I mean that I thought shooting people was OK when I said that my life is far more meaningful to me and far more genuinely happy since becoming an atheist?
Or is it possible that this writer has taken a very simple and profound reality of mine and has tried to warp it into the fears and misinterpretations of the religious people who can not see beyond their fears and misunderstandings? Correct me if I am interpreting the blog post wrong because it really seems as though much of the commentary rather supports my point of view...except for that part about atheists being hypocrites.
Or maybe, as my friend Gen suggested, the blogger is trying to sell cheap tickets to the Caribbean.
Anyway, to my knowledge this is the only time anyone has bothered to read my stuff (or see it on Pinterest or whatever) and reply to it, so I'm grateful. If I'm ever in Lee's neck of the woods and in need of appliance repair, I'll give a call.
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You might also like this post:
My Writing Process Blog Tour
PC Enough?
An Unfortunately Necessary Evil
Why I Accept Your Beliefs as Valid for You
Moments of Reflection
That Hideous Dance Between Faith and Critical Thinking
Wow, reading that other blog post made my head hurt... round and round in circles, yet saying nothing of substance! This person doesn't get it: it's about intrinsic motivation vs extrinsic motivation. Following your own core values to try to be a loving, positive person = intrinsic; being motivated to "be good" by promises of halos and harps from an old man in the sky = extrinsic.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you read it because I thought it was just me...
DeleteYeah, Lee doesn't get it and that 's OK. ;)
I couldn't even bring myself to read the other blog. I find that quite alot of people think of athiest as being a devil worshipper. I am an athiest myself and have many religious friends who try to make me understand that the devil is evil, it's like banging your head against a brick wall!!
ReplyDeleteOn the brighter side, thank you for your blog.
Being an atheist is just trying to live a fulfilling and liberating life through ethical deeds and trying to do good not out of fear of being watched or being punished, but because it's the right and fair thing to do. Check out the thoughts of the 93-year old Simone Klugman about atheism and religions here: Simone Klugman's Smashing the Tablets.
ReplyDeleteGood one! Thank you!
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