I get to put up the first thread? OK...a blessing from an Atheist;

[A HERETIC I AM]

May the participants in this discussion group move toward peace and friendship. May their conversations be heartfelt and honest, and may they ever strive for a more perfect understanding of the divine.

[NYC_SKP]

1. Amen, Hallelujah, Shalom, Namaste!

[ZombieHorde]

2. When did this group appear? nt

[lovemydog]

6. Today, I think.

There's something about it in the Ask the Administrators forum.

[kentauros]

8. I don't know when the idea was first floated,

but MADem got the process rolling sometime last year. We PMed back and forth for a while and when the ATA forum reappeared, it was the opportunity to remind Skinner of the idea. It's come together rather quickly.

Glad to see you and everyone else here!

[Goblinmonger]

12. I told MADem last year that I would get the number of supporters needed

and in a thread in Atheists & Agnostics got non-believer support for this group.

[kentauros]

14. He did tell me he'd posted to a group and gotten that kind of reponse.

I just didn't remember when that had happened.

Anyway, I'm glad to see y'all here, and the group growing already

[cbayer]

15. Thanks to you and MADem for getting this going.

I hope you will request to be a host and get the proposed SOP up so we are all on the same page here.

I very much look forward to getting to know you better and engaging in discussion.

[Goblinmonger]

17. ..............

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12307658

[kentauros]

18. Thanks for posting that link.

I knew that thread was around somewhere, but didn't even know where to begin looking.

And I think what CB may be saying is that I kind of rekindled MD's interest in getting Skinner's attention. I had only heard of the proposal and had nothing to do with its beginnings. However, I did want to see this place come to fruition, so it's good that MADem was still interested. Had I known you were too, then I likely would have PMed you as well

[kentauros]

19. You're welcome :)

My primary reasons for seeing a group like this is to be able to have discussions on these topics without having to resort to putting people on ignore just to have said discussion. That gets confusing, especially if those on ignore have things to say in other groups and forums where I might agree with them.

Of course, I'm also here to learn, especially from our members that may be more advanced in some of these spiritual and religious thoughts and messages

[MADem]

23. I'd been gnawing on this idea since way back in DU2 days!

It was one of those balls that just got tossed around for a bit, then put to the side, then tossed around again. I was frustrated on a number of occasions when I just wanted to chit-chat about some arcane bit of business re: one organized religion or another, and found it difficult because of thread derailments for this reason or that. It got difficult to have a conversation, and there was no place for people of many faiths (and none) to have a conversation where challenges to the beliefs of the conversationalists were off the table.

I don't discuss my belief system here, I consider that personal information I am not interested in sharing; I am (due to age and travel) very familiar with a number of faiths, though. I found I was sometimes challenged and "accused" of having a POV because I was a (insert faith group here). It was kind of funny, in a way, when someone would make that sort of a leap (if you talk about it, you must be on that team!), but it was also kind of rude. I also felt bad for people who were plainly of good will and well meaning who were being excoriated for their beliefs, and I wished there was a place where that kind of thing was just not OK.

At long last, here we are!

I have high hopes for this little group...I hope we'll all speak with (as opposed to at) one another like we're sitting across the table from each other, and not behind a keyboard!

[hrmjustin]

3. This group is a great idea.

Blessings to you all.

[struggle4progress]

4. +

[jsr]

5. Peace. To each their own. Whatever works.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. Cool first post. Nothing at all wrong with atheism...

my church has lots of atheists.

We just don't insult each other or fight over it. Hope it goes as well here.

[kentauros]

9. Thank you :)

I'm not an atheist, nor do I belong to any religion. Basically, I'm one of the "nones" while still having beliefs. I just want to learn more about what all is out there, beyond what I can read online elsewhere.

[Xyzse]

10. Amen = So Be It

At least, that is what I was told what Amen means.

[cbayer]

11. That is simply beautiful, my friend.

I hope we will be seeing you around these parts.

[Goblinmonger]

13. And another blessing from an Atheist.

I hope this is all that people have said they want in Religion.

I promise, barring a request for me to comment in here, that I will not post in this group again nor will I troll it to see what everyone is talking about.

Enjoy your safe haven. I hope the discussion is robust and fulfilling.

[mr blur]

24. +1

[goldent]

27. Why not read this group?

I guess I don't know the definition of "trolling" but I don't think that is trolling, just wanting to know what some other groups are talking about. I do it all the time across the web and in DU - didn't think it was shameful

[pinto]

16. Cool.

[Meshuga]

20. Great idea for a group

Thanks to all who worked toward creating this group. And those who supported its creation. I hope it is a place where we can learn from each other.

Shalom!

[okasha]

21. Thank you.

What a beautifully gracious post.

[lovemydog]

22. What a cool first thread

Peace!

[wryter2000]

25. This Episcopalian says amen to that. n/t

n/t

[MAD Dave]

26. Much thanks from this Baha'i

Any forum promoting peace and harmony is worth checking into!