The Religious Double Standard

[marqann]

Come live in Europe..lots of atheist over here :-)

[atheismisgreat1]

It sucks some of us have to live like that." in the closet" I was there for a long time. I was afraid to let my friends know. I was afraid to let the religious family members know. But after a while. I didn't care. I knew it would start arguments and I knew I might lose some friends. If they didn't care enough about me to love me for who I am. Then they're not worth having me in their life.

[Thelizzardcat]

When someone sneezes, the atheist says "Hope you don't catch the black plague!"

[ChipArgyle]

Well Alraera, since you're in the closet, make sure you push all those homosexuals that are in there with you out of it first, because they have more acceptance in your society now than you do.

It's amazing that people hold onto Bronze Age superstitions like they do. Religions evilly use guilt and fear to keep seemingly rational people trapped in their silliness. If the concept of Hell hadn't been included in the Bible, Christianity would have faded centuries ago.

[warren52nz]

Luckily it's not like that in New Zealand. You're more likely to get rolling eyes if you say you're religious. And New Zealand was voted best country to live in last year and 2nd this year (Australia was #1 this time) in an international survey that assessed quality of life. Americans just don't seem to get it. Religion is an Iron Age concept.

[Vagonbrei879]

@warren52nz Australian PM is an atheist. I am very proud of that. Still I feel that many people in Australia are as ignorant about atheism as they are in Australia. Personally, I am a Christian but not a religious person. While I believe in God I don't subscribe to what most religious people believe. I tend to find that I have more in common with atheists and agnostics than most religious people. I never understood people not using their brains and at least trying to think logically.

[warren52nz]

@Vagonbrei879 Yeah I find it a lot easier to believe SOMETHING started all this than that people know exactly what that something is. That's where Theism and Religion diverge. There's no doubt in my mind that all Theists are wrong about everything they think about their gods except possibly that it's responsible for the Big Bang and many religious people don't even believe in the Big Bang!!! Shocking!

I'm a bit worried about Australia's racist attitudes to be honest. On the news here yesterday.

[jamesjaw]

I always say 'salud' when some one sneezes, it means 'health.'

[mikefromwa]

I'm an atheist and proud of it. If other people want to believe in a holy book of fairy tales, that's their problem (but don't expect me to politely tolerate their fruitcake-like beliefs...I won't).

[hojoapp]

Someone sneezes, and the Atheist... hands them a kleenex.

Two hands working does far more good than a million hands clasped in prayer.

[horrorflesh]

Believe in Elvis only.

[1989eob]

there is only good and evil, love and hate, freedom and slavery. it doesnt matter your religion, race, or speicies

[neighbor1961]

And by the way, not having a God or religion does not mean you don't care about people. For instance, Why do religious people keep saying: You're gonna burn in Hell! Is that a "loving" thing to say. Supposedly, ALL Christian denominations should be working on loving their neighbors.

[neighbor1961]

You probably meant your lack of religion. I do believe you have beliefs. You can probably tell me that you believe Science has better answers than religion or that you believe Life is more important than worrying about death. It would be very interesting to talk to you. I do believe there is a God, but I strayed away from my religion (I was Catholic) because I started thinking. Truely enough, most progress in the world has been made by people outside religious circles. Greetings from Mexico!

[ToastmachineIdiot]

I know how you feel. I'm also a closet atheist, to a certain extent. It rarely goes beyond my own friends, and I fear being persecuted for my lack of belief in most other circles. I actually live with a Roman Catholic family, and none of them know that I'm atheistic.

I applaud you for putting this video up. Hopefully people will take note of this double standard, and they might actually have some shred of respect for what we believe in (or don't).

[Velvetroomdj]

I am an OPEN (wide) atheist as this way I can tell which ones are really my (type) of friends or not.

Plus this way I get to ask the believers what it is about the god and the bible they believe in. Then I ask them if they "AGREE" what god commands to gays and women that are not virgins on their wedding night, disobedient children, working on Sabbath,... (DEATH)!

[OldeVampyr]

Why do people only say "God bless you" when someone sneezes? Why not say "God bless you" when someone farts?

[MW2Addiction]

@OldeVampyr Cause when you sneeze your heart stops for 1 second.

[OldeVampyr]

@MW2Addiction My god, having a severe pollen allergy could cause you brain damage!

[kradrol]

what I didn't see was any sign of the religious discrimination you speek of in the video; in fact it was quite the opposite. all of the believers, and not just christian believers, but believers of different faiths, all said they sypathize with you; or feel for your situation. and yes you did even see some atheists saying we need to just bury the hatchet and respect each other. which is what I believer, and I come from a religion that onces had a death sentence placed apong it.

[kradrol]

I really agreed with this video and felt for your situtation, seeing how atheists are discrimanated against; then I read the comments. I see athiests saying all believers are delusional and they need to wake up, and see one person claiming athiests are more moral then believers, and I even see one atheist saying that when I problem between the groups arises the believer just needs to come to terms with reality.

[zodiakranch]

This reminds me of a time I bought a hotdog for a homeless man (and one for his dog) who was outside a gas station. He told me "god bless you" I told him I was atheist. He kind of got a funny look on his face and looked down for a second then looked back at me and said "well then bless you"

[ApollosInsight]

The thing w/ christians is that as long as one believes what they believe, one can commit just about any atrocity b/c they know that "Satan" is trying to bring one down whenever they commit the atrocity.

"He robbed and killed those men b/c Satan's helpers were trying to possess him"

Yeah, christianity eschews logic, facts, personal responsibility, self-motivation (God makes it happen) and unity.

[TheSNEEXE]

really good video, I like when religious people tell me that the're going to pray for me.  love it.

[Coquipirate]

I can totaly relate to this. I'm a closet athiest because I was a mormon missinary less than a year ago. All my friends whose life has changed because of the bullshit I taught... When people mention thier beliefs like that it's uncomfotable

[Alraera]

That's really interesting. I know some Mormon guys, and they describe their missions as two years of doing little else except studying scripture and talking to anyone who would listen about their faith. It doesn't seem like a time of much introspection (like what fostered my atheism), but at the same time it does seem like your beliefs would be challenged constantly, by talking to people who disagree with you. Did your mission experience lead to you to question your faith?

[Coquipirate]

Yes. I'd say learning more about the christian faith led me to doubt. I prayed to know like everyone else said they did, but answers never came. I'd hear stories about how other people "found God" and it's clear that they varied on fundemental principles of God's nature. The deathblow to my faith was when someone tried to convince us we were wrong and if we prayed we would know it. I still finished "honorably" and put on the mormon act for my family. I don't know how everyone will react to this.

[Alraera]

I don't know your circumstances, but I hope you are able to live in such a way that you feel happy and don't feel stifled or muzzled by having to continually pretend you're still in the faith.

[kradrol]

@Coquipirate I agree with alraera. Even though I'm sad you feel away from the gospel, being a praticing latter day saint myself, I'm glad you could leave the church without fear of persacution and still find happiness in life. my own brother left when he was 12 and even since has taking it apong himself to harrass or belittle every in the LDS church; claiming they are stupid for believe in an imaginary god. It's refreshing to see not all ex-mormons are like that.

[ViralMessiah]

We don't lack belief,we lack delusion,religion is almost universally a corrupter of morals,and almost never a giver of them. there are immoral people who HAVE read the bible,and believe it,but there aren't any moral people who have read the bible,and believe if,because it is repugnant,cover to cover inhumanity,atrocities,and most of them are committed at the behest of "God" don't be in the closet about being an Atheist,as a group,we are MORE moral than they are,regardless of what they think

[TheOnlyAttrition]

im pretty open about my beliefs. im an atheistic satanist. i see Satan and God as symbols (not actual beings).

Satan = carnal, natural man. the rebel.

God = ideal, unrealistic man. the tyrant.

[stonedrix]

Amen Brutha

[gamertillman]

I'm going to have to disagree with the message this is sending out because it is slightly misleading. First of all you perpetuate an instance where a theist and an atheist are talking about someone they have in common. One says "now she's walking with God" and you say the atheist bites her lip. Um whaa? If they have someone in common then they obviously know each other and would associate knowing of each other's religous takes. That takes your hypothetical situation and throws it out the door.

[gamertillman]

It seems this video is trying to make it sound as though Religious people are "cruelly" forcing their ideals on others who might disagree. When in fact I find it to be the other way around. It was an atheist who threatened to sue a man because he had the ten commandments in his front yard. Even though the man had every right to do so. Look at it this way. It could be just as easily offensive to wear a t-shirt that says "I believe in God" as it would be to wear one that said "I don't believe.."

[Gnomefro]

How is it offensive to state that you believe or don't believe in imaginary beings? Where it should become a problem is when those beliefs produce behaviors that impact the people with the opposite view. That's when we need to come to an agreement about what constitutes reality and not lean on blind faith.

If we can't, then the believers need to back the fuck off - because anyone can claim that "my skydaddy wants me to do X" and we just can't respect such claims in general.

[gamertillman]

please read what my entire statement was gnomefro maybe that will help you understand what I was saying. I was using the believe t-shirt idea as a way for someone to visualize the flawed logic in the message of the video nothing more nothing less.

[atheismisgreat1]

@gamertillman You missed the point of it. Maybe try to watch the video again before you get rude and insulting?

[ingodidoubt]

good vid, but the song is a sample of a sting song.

[MySuicideValentines]

Im afraid you've just been talking to the wrong people. Thing is, real christians wont treat you like crap because you dont bleieve what i believe. The problem is most people who claim to be christian are NOT christians. i would say at least 90% of christians are not christians.

A real christian, though he/she wouldn't agree on your perspective of life, would treat you with kindness, and (GOD FORBID) Maybe try to get you to change your percepption on life.

[locouru]

If your estimate of true Christians is correct it would mean that only 1.65% of the world's population is a "true" Christian. Why do you think god was so unable to get his message across?

And why do you think that the 90% are wrong. Perhaps they got the message right but you didn't?

[vore80]

You hit it right on the head. If you are not one of the big three, Christian, Jewish, or Muslim you are treated like crap. As a Pagan I face the same issues in the area where I live. When and if people find out I get called a Satan worshiper and they assume I kill animals and babies in sacrifice.

[Alraera]

I think we all face ungrounded assumptions based on our religious tendencies (among other things). However, being a believer in a common faith in the area often translates to those assumptions being positive, like you pointed out.

[MySuicideValentines]

Isn't that what pagans do?

[lewisner]

The only thing worse saying God doesn't exist is to deny Manmade Global Warming. I'm afraid I do both.

[CplWoods]

Thanks for putting this together . I NO LONGER hide the fact that i am a non believer . Time for ALL of us to stand up for what WE think is right for us . Funny how we are treated as criminal racists whenever we question a faith based Religion.

[Alraera]

Thanks for your comment, CplWoods. Good for you!

[polytriplica]

basis of my religion to do so. We are taught to walk in love, and ignorance and hatred is the exact opposite. I have a nihilistic, atheist, anti-christian friend. That's right. FRIEND. And I haven't burst into flames. We don't try and convince each other to convert. We co-exist. It works out. I believe atheism is wrong, and I believe that you should change your ways, but I'm not in control of your life, I don't want to be. Believe what you like. But have respect for all views. It's plain decency

[Alraera]

Thanks for your comment, polytriplica. I appreciate your attitude. I think it's extremely unlikely that everyone in the world will eventually convert to X faith, or ever hold no faith whatsoever, so in order to create an environment conducive to peaceful coexistence and productive cooperation, it's essential that we treat everyone respectfully.

[lewisner]

Do you respect Pastafarians who believe in The Flying Spaghetti Monster polytriplica? Or how about Satanists?

[Alraera]

Absolutely, as long as the respect is mutual, and the group in question does not actively promote activities that cause harm to themselves or others.

[Alraera]

Absolutely, provided that the respect is mutual, and that the group in question does not promote activities that are harmful to themselves or others.

[AndRod29]

What about the cult of cthulu?

[polytriplica]

I am a Christian. And I love this video. Not because I am an atheist sympathizer. But because it brings to attention the lack of respect and fair treatment for atheists. Most religious people are closed-minded about other viewpoints, attempting to completely control religious beliefs and shunning outsiders. This is wrong. I respect all viewpoints as an openminded person. Just because I think you are wrong doesn't mean I have to tell you or try and convert or shun you. It would be against the

[davidrulez37]

i am an atheist to.thank you.you've made me see that not all cristians are atheist shunners.thank you.

[bigboy45454545]

I like this video....... and almost feel the same way.

Except that I will openly ridicule people of any faith.....If I get the chance. I mean come on?

I have to bow before a retard.......who believes in a magic man......who lives in the sky?

Use a silly voice.....wave your arms around.

The point becomes clear.......They are delusional. You know what I mean??

[310245535]

I'm Canadian - and Christian, and I actually find it the reverse. Many atheists look down on people of faith, and at some points, I have been called names and verbally abused because I am a Christian. Many atheists have open blogs and videos, like these - all devoted to bashing people of faith.

[Alraera]

Speaking for myself at least, I do not look down on religious people, nor do I view them as misguided, illogical, etc. It bothers me when I see atheists who exhibit these attitudes towards religious folks (you're right, that happens quite a bit on the Internet).

[4me2cclearly]

Keep your head up. The world is changing.

[4me2cclearly]

(AP) — A wide-ranging study on American religious life.

Fifteen percent of respondents said they had no religion, an increase from 14.2 percent in 2001 and 8.2 percent in 1990.

Northern New England surpassed the Pacific Northwest as the least religious region, with Vermont reporting the highest share of those claiming no religion, at 34 percent. Still, the study found that the numbers of Americans with no religion rose in every state.

[Alraera]

Woot!

[realisoph]

I guess at the end you didn't want to say that you lack anything... maybe you add a little overlay comment to clarify that, in case you were rather refering to people telling you so...

Ok, you might be enjoying malnutrition... making you somewhat lack a "healthy diet", but then... that would be not just highly subjective but also off topic, at least not in the belief category, 'cause we know for sure, that we better stuff the right kind of stuff into our mouth to lead a long and healthy life.

[povaultrr]

Badass. Very well done set of videos.

[hornylink]

Ah I have had a few similar experiences, in the end though I am proud to be an atheist and will admit it freely. if someone has a problem with it let them fret. Though I still say bless you out of habit and courtesy and out of a lack of any secular equivalent. Peace be with you.

[Thisisnotmyrealname8]

Alraera, I will end this, because I don't want you to damage yourself on my concrete brain. It is significant that 2000 years ago a man who lived to 33 and traveled no more than 60 miles from His birthplace has affected the world more than any other person. That that man is spoken of by so many who claim to be witnesses of His righteousness simply because, as they also say, they opened their hearts to Him in earnest at His teaching... etc, etc.

[Alraera]

And what is your concrete brain's definitive proof of this Jesus? I would hope that for such extraordinary, reality-defying claims, there would be such extraordinary evidence so that the whole world could prostrate ourselves before such manly perfection, etc., etc.

[Thisisnotmyrealname8]

There is plenty of evidence, but you want something else it seems. Also, I am not boasting about a concrete brain; I meant it as I am set. Your expectations are typical, though, but you would do better to seek God first and not your own expectations. It makes perfect sense that God would work through a clandestine-to-the-world Spirit in His operations. God is not seeking believers who are flesh, but those who are believers in spirit. Does that make sense to you?

[Thisisnotmyrealname8]

Jesus Christ. You're right again here, it is better to ask, Is it significant that a person could be Jesus Christ?

[Alraera]

No more significant than if a person is you, or a person is me, as we are all the products of almost-infinitesimal game of biological probability, from which out of millions of sperm fertilizes egg, which crossover events happen to exchange genetic material, and which traits penetrate. Combine that with a person's background and experiences from birth to death, and we are all incredibly significant in our uniqueness. IF Jesus existed, was he any different than that? No.

[Thisisnotmyrealname8]

You're right again, it would be ridiculous to think of Jesus Christ as a sort of magical god figure. I said, have you considered the righteousness of Jesus? Is it significant that a person could be perfect?

[Alraera]

How do you define perfect?

[Thisisnotmyrealname8]

You're right, it is your choice. However, for you to make such a video suggests that you are invariably concerned with truth. Such is the territory, otherwise why say, Yeah or Nay? Have you considered the righteousness of Jesus?

[Alraera]

I have considered the ridiculousness of Jesus as any sort of magical god figure, and that seems to make sense.

[yashatono]

if you pretend to be a christian you dont really deserve to call yourself an atheist.

"those willing to give up freedom for safety or comfort deserves neither"

when someone sneezes i just say: "posses you." or wait a couple of seconds and say: "now satan's got your soul," smile and walk away.

[neomp5]

i'm afraid you've misinterpreted your rights. the united states only provides freedom of religion, not freedom from it. you have to pick one, or you will have no rights legally.

or move to canada, where our charter of rights protects "thought, belief, opinion, and expression"

maybe you can help me remove "belief" from that list.

[BeatBuddy]

I have a friend in Boston whose mother is Jewish, his father is black, he is himself gay, as well as an atheist. He's out of the closet in all respects, will not allow himself the indignity of hiding. Yes, he's taken a lot of verbal insults. Imagine how Archie Bunker would have received him!

[mdiem]

I have been threatened with murder for admitting I don't believe in god - and not over the internet either; in person, to my face.

[Synsacrus]

Yeah. Some theists get pretty crazy. Sorry you had to experience their behavior.

[PeXis]

I "hate" religious people as much as closet atheists.

I'd be proud to let religious nutbags around me know where I stand and if they have a problem with it.. fuck em.

How do you expect this to change if all of you are in closets over there?

If you don't show these people that atheists are normal people they interact every day with, they will always have a distorted view about us.

[Alraera]

I see your point, but I don't think angry atheists who are vocal about religions' and religious people's flaws will make as positive an impact as ones who demonstrate through their day-to-day actions, calm reasoning, and upstanding citizenry that atheists are moral, respectable, and admirable members of society.

My close friends know that I'm an atheist. As far as my larger social circle, I don't wear my (lack of) religious belief on my sleeve, but I do answer honestly if the subject arises.

[euhominid]

Good vid. Oddly however in the UK its the other way around nowadays - if you're openly enthusiastically theistic you're regarded as a bit of a whacko, then again if you're enthusiastically atheistic its the same sort of response but perhaps not quite as bad. Shame we can't all have our views and have others live with them, why people feel the need to tell us we're wrong about something that noone can no for sure in any direction, regardless of what our views are, is quite beyond me.

[Alraera]

Thanks for your comment, euhominid. I agree w/ your perspective. I have no problem w/ people practicing their religion in private - homes, churches, or other non-public areas - but it's a problem when those ideas become so pervasive in society that different groups (atheists included) resort to ridiculing, insulting, and bullying everyone who thinks differently.

[RavenBlaze]

I would say "ramen", but even in that I am invoking a god (even if it is fake). So, cool video, rock on!

[Alraera]

lol! Thanks for the comment, RavenBlaze =D.

[relic1076]

I've often wondered about that stuff myself. My brother and his wife became religious a few years ago and pretty much since then I've researched and studied and wondered how, how does anyone come to the all-loving god conclusion if they've read the bible. The book is so filled with hatred and it amazes me that people use this 'belief' to guide their life. They blow off every bad part of the bible and say "it's not to be taken litterally", but apparently the good parts are? It makes no sense!

[Alraera]

Thanks for the comment, relic. Yeah, I agree, it's totally up to (human) interpretation which parts of the bible to heed and which to ignore, what's literal and what's not, and what's real and what's not.

[hornedbeast91]

im pretty open about my atheism, i dont go around telling everyone just when a talk about religion is popped up and luckly i have pretty liberal friends and unluckly im in the theocrasy known as the boyscouts

[Alraera]

Eep. When I was a girl scout back in the day, the scout group and religious activities went hand-in-hand - masses, prayers, and so forth.

[Layz613]

well if you really want to be free about your beliefs or non beliefs rather come to canada :) i never got discriminated cause im an atheist

[Alraera]

I'm actually considering Canada more and more these days. That and Australia.

[404040wolf]

Hey come to Canada I think the rate is about 25% believe in God...

But you still get a lot of nasty lip some times here too..

[mrmyxlptlk]

thank you. my thoughts exactly. i must be honest. i use a lot of religious terms in society without noticing, but i do feel strongly about my non-belief.

and has anyone noticed that when an atheist is talking about what they believe on youtube, they tend to leave their comment section open, but if a religious person talks about atheism on youtube, the disable the comments box?

[Alraera]

lol, yeah. Obviously there are a lot of vocal atheists on Youtube that the religious people don't want to hear from, at one level because it discredits the theist's vid to some extent, and at another level (probably) because the theist doesn't want to consider the possibly the he/she may be misguided like he/she claims the atheist or religious person of a different faith are.

[DeadlyChinchilla]

As a rather strong atheist, I still say "bless you" to sneezes.

More out of general habit than anything else.

I also still use gods name as a curse, and that has been used as 'proof' by some that I obviously believe, otherwise I wouldn't curse him. That one is particularly funny.

I actually never cursed as a believer, because I was a "good" believer. As a non-believer, I find it a funny little remnant, an internal joke.

Sorry for the ramble. <_<

[andytoz]

I'm the same. I can't break the habit of saying 'oh my god', but it is a meaningless expression to me.

Alraera I feel sad that America is still so backwards in this regard. Here in New Zealand I'm very open about my beliefs, and while naturally I do come into conflict with christians on occassion, I've never felt like society doesn't allow me to be an open atheist, because here that's just not the case. I hope things improve for you soon.

[Alraera]

Thanks for your comment, andytoz! I have half an inclination to move to Australia/New Zealand/that part of the world in ten years or so if things in America (not just the religious environment, but the economy and state of personal freedoms) stay the same or get worse.

[Alraera]

Thanks for your comment, DeadlyChinchilla. That's funny about the "bless you" and invoking the lord's name in vain...I could probably do the same thing w/ my non-fanatically-religious friends (not that I have any fanatically religious friends, lol).

[NEWSTOGOD]

Let's share a holiday. How about we can have christmas and Darwin day on 12/25. We could send out Darwin cards and have Darwin parties and all that...Oh, and lighted monkeys or pictures of Darwin in our front yards. Seriously.

[Alraera]

That would be awesome! And we could put up phylogeny trees in our houses in place of Christmas trees =).

[NEWSTOGOD]

Let's start a campaign.

[farvision]

put up phylogeny trees - I love it!!

There can be different trees for the different kinds of evidence! Merely showing them will demonstrate the evidence! DonExodus2 has a cool video, "Proof of Evolution Part II - Summation" that shows them watch?v=-CvX_mD5weM#bknDncmDwY­4

[Alraera]

Thanks for the link, farvision, that video was really nicely-presented. The thing is that showing someone that won't do anything unless they've got a basic understanding in science and accept that it's real because it can be proven. Many (but not all) theists I know are pretty badly-informed about science and would take stuff in that vid - products of centuries of the scientific process - just to be on the same level of reliability as someone's "ghost sighting" or some other ridiculous thing.

[DeadlyChinchilla]

I find it particularly annoying that Christians (as my family is such) claim to "own" Xmas day. The 25th can't be "Happy Holidays" or any other such nonsense, since their holiday falls on that day.

The cahona's it takes to claim nobody has a right to holiday on any day of the calender because YOU happen to be holidaying that day... well, it just takes huge, aching cahona's worth kicking.

Parents didn't like my response. "Maybe just take the good will as its meant." Nope, can't do that.

[Alraera]

Thanks for the comment =). lol, I guess telling them that 12/25 was originally a pagan holiday just prompts scoffs? The holidays are actually my favorite time of the year - my favorite weather, my favorite season to shop, and I'll admit it - I love holiday decorations too. I'm for the continued secularization of the season - as an atheist, I don't like being accosted by religious imagery everywhere and think it's everyone's right to celebrate giving/the completion of another year/etc.

[gph61]

Sorry for being a little late in the conversation but I couldn't resist chiming in on the 12/25 discussion.

I'm an atheist from birth and was born on 12/25. My standard answer to any christian notion of the holiday is "But more importantly, it's my birthday, he's dead and I'm not".

[sum1unxpected]

why not celibrate christmas anyway? after all, christmas is about Jesus; not god.

[gph61]

sum1unxpected, I do celebrate the holiday, I celebrate family and my birthday.

[sum1unxpected]

you know whats really funny? read in the bible

jeramayah ch:10.

it actually tells christians not to celebrate christmas, easter, or any other pagan holiday, for it is idolatry.

[sum1unxpected]

thats great.

[TuesdayPillow]

Technically what we celebrate today is based off the celebration of the winter solstice.

People can claim it is about this Jesus dude but it seems to be more about spending money and getting presents.

[Alraera]

lol!

[hornedbeast91]

its really the fact that roughly 90% of people celebrate x-mas and its really a secular holiday now

[indignant99]

Contribution to your education: predominantly, not predominately.

[jshweid]

I'm sorry you feel so discriminated against. My view is, religion is like a shoe. It's not a one size fits all situation. and atheists simply walk this world barefoot. but you and I both have feet. So, no problems, no condemming. We're all human. I wish you a happy president's weekend!

[Alraera]

Thanks, I like that metaphor.  Have a good Sunday!

[klangsteiner]

When someone sneezes, I say "gesundheit" which is simply wishing them good health.

[Alraera]

I'm probably wrong about this, but I thought that word has religious origins as well - Gesu = Jesus in Italian.

[klangsteiner]

No, the origin is German.

[Alraera]

Right, but what are the origins of the German words it's derived from?

[klangsteiner]

Etymology:primarily from German gesund, "sound(cognate with);healthy; unharmed" which itself is from Old High German Gisunt, which is the earliest German source of the post-sneezing interjection. Ultimately steming from a term evolved from the from Proto-Germanic *sundas, from root Proto-Germanic *swen-to- (cf. English sound [adj], "healthy, safe, unharmed"; Old English gesund "sound, safe, healthy"...

[Alraera]

Thanks, that helps =).

[farvision]

This situation will only change if we all challenge it (at a time and place of our choosing).

[Alraera]

Yeah, that's true. Hopefully in a few years I'll be at a point in my life where I can be open about my beliefs not just on the 'net. In the meantime, it's great to be able to watch videos of other Youtube atheists.