Posted by Lindsey Fay in When I was first asked to contribute to this website, I was completely ecstatic. I even jumped up and down and yelled the words ‘HOLY F, MOM, GUESS WHAT?!’ And she literally fell over and died when I mentioned the word ‘atheist’ but was immediately resurrected after I explained myself.
However, anxiety soon set in, but only after reading the other dudes’ bios. Hellooo? Have you read their credentials and stuff? We have Hemant who’s like the chair of the secular student alliance board of directors or something and he wrote a damn book, not to mention he’s good at math, which practically makes him God anyway. And then Mike who is the founding pastor of a church, studied philosophy and stuff in college and has a master’s degree in something . And then Richard who has two master’s degrees and did marriage and family counseling. Also, he said the words ‘temple of science’ which, wow.
And then there’s me. Seriously, guys, I’m a 21 year old college student who works at a coffee shop and who’s been LDS her whole life, but has only recently started trying to get good at it. I find poop jokes and cuss words positively hilarious. I’m mildly obsessed with the lives of celebrities, especially that nutcase, Amy Winehouse. Also, every time I read the word ‘ass’ in the Bible, I get the giggles. And I sometimes like to wonder how God would react to knock-knock jokes and gangsta slang. I think He’d be secretly impressed by how clever we are.
My point is this: I’m kind of an idiot. So, I guess what I’m trying to do is warn you all, and ask you to bear with me. Because I’m still in the middle of finding it all out for myself. You have already missed the ‘lightbulb moment’ when I realized that I really and truly believe in the LDS teachings, however I still have a long way to go. I still need to discover the person that I really and truly am.
But until then, expect an extreme amount of semi-coherent blather and occasional lists.
I’m so excited to be a part of this awesome site and for the opportunity to grow and learn from some amazing people!
I’m 16, and discarded my religious believes of the LDS church (if that is what you are referring to) when I was 15 . Are you still religious?
Anyway, cool to have someone new writing for FriendlyAtheist!
Well, I for one, welcome you with open arms. I’ve poked around your blog since Hemant mentioned you and liked what I read. You’ve got a great personality and you are gifted to show that in your writings.
I can’t speak for the others here, but I doubt you will find any hostility to your “associating with the wrong side of the tracks”. I am interested to hear how it goes with your not-so-atheist friends.
I hope that, in the end, you will look back upon your time here with a smile on your face.
Now… Start dishing up some dirt girl!
What a great place to be in!
Welcome.
It totally took me a minute to get LDS. My brain inadvertently switched the letters LSD
Welcome!
Welcome Lindsey. I can understand your anxiety about being intimidated by the “credentials” of others here, not just Hemant, Mike and me. I felt the same way at first. People who frequent this site are often very smart and very well educated, whether in colleges or by their own scholarship.
But none of that means squat to me. What I look for and what I respect is when people are honest and genuine in what they have to say. I’ll learn more from a straight-forward high school drop-out than I will from a PhD who only talks to hear their head roar. A person may or may not have knowledge, but if they pretend to know more than they know, they’ll be shot down in flames. The only fatal flaw around here is the unwillingness to say “I don’t know.” Honesty, empathy, respect and genuineness are so much more valuable than the ability to impress.
As for your light bulb moment, I’m sure you will have many more. Every time a person has a realization they become more prone for more realizations. It’s like when you add a piece to a jigsaw puzzle, there are now three more spaces where new pieces can fit.
I look forward to your youth, your energy and your humor, as well as your unique points of view. Stir things up!
Welcome, Lindsey! I’ve read and enjoyed your personal blog articles ever since the link was posted here a while back. I don’t know you, but I’m damn excited to get to read more from you and in this context.
I think a young, female LDS perspective will be really neat! You should join the forums too. In fact, everyone should join the forums!
Welcome! This turns out to be good time for me. I just finished reading “Under the Banner of Heaven” which is mostly concerned with the FLDS, but gives the history of the mainstream church as well. I look forward to your posts.
Credentials don’t mean that much to me; you seem really intelligent and interesting and your approach to writing posts is chatty and easy to read! I’m really surprised to see someone from LDS background writing on an atheist blog: but in a good way.
I find poop jokes and cuss words hilarious and I also adore Amy Winehouse. I’ve only just weened myself off my unhealthy Britney Spears addiction and I’ve stopped buying celebrity gossip magazines. But I do struggle ;D So here’s a 24 year old, female, atheist (raised Jehovah’s Witness) that is pretty interested in a 21 year old, female, LDS’s perspective on things. Welcome
I just want to add my voice to the proverbial choir and say that I’ve been reading your personal blog since Hemant linked to it and enjoyed it greatly. I look forward to hearing your input on these more intellectual topics as well!
Good to have you here!
It’s ok that you’re still LDS, nobody is perfect
This is me, btw.
I have also been enjoying your blog since Hemant mentioned it. I almost didn’t want to make a comment because there were 13 when I read your post, which I thought was apropos! Welcome!
I’m glad you’re on the team now. Post often!! I’ve read some of your blog and you sound awesome. Can’t wait to hear your opinions on stuff.
Welcome. I enjoy your blog and can’t wait to hear your thoughts over here.
Lindsey,
I’m delighted that you were invited to be a part of “the team.” I love your writing voice and the realness about you. Credentials? What are those? The heck with them!
I’ve found that the only credentials you need here are honesty, the ability to not take things too personally or seriously, and an open mind. Looks to me like you have an abundance of those qualities. So welcome! No need to be intimidated. Just BEEEEE yourself! If anyone doesn’t like what you have to contribute, it’s their loss, I’d say. (I’ll beat ‘em up!)
I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts on various topics!!
The new GIRL? Pics?
Glad to read your story! I think it is good. I hope you write again.
Welcome.
I’ve read your blog on a number of occasions (and even commented once or twice). I think you’re a good fit.
Don’t sweat the “qualifications” thing - take it from a guy with a PhD, it means squat here (as it should); a PhD only tells you the person did some original work in one very narrow area (and in some cases, not even that much); its more a mark of endurance (to work on one thing well past the point of boredom) than of anything admirable. It says nothing whatever about their ability to say something intelligent or worth reading more generally.
It’s not like we’ll be saying “oh, no qualifications, what would she know?”.
That’s an IDist tactic - it doesn’t belong here, because arguments from authority carry no weight with us. Your words will stand just fine on their own.
Be warned, however, that robust debate is something that you should be prepared for; it’s generally a given in academic circles, no less so among skeptics, and certainly so with atheists. FA tends to be politer than say, a Pharyngula comment thread, but be prepared for occasional robust disagreement.
Again, welcome.
Welcome, Lindsey. I’m sure I’ll enjoy reading whatever is on your mind here. Hemant (and those who commented above) obviously think you’re pretty cool, and you can add me to that list.
Welcome Lindsey,
Positive coexistence needs fresh new ideas. As a member of a minority group (LDS) that has a hard time getting a member elected president, I’m sure you will have plenty to say that will find resonance with many atheists and skeptics here. Or maybe that’s not where you are coming from at all… Either way, welcome to the discussion.
Welcome Lindsey! Seems like there’s quite a few college students on here, including myself - it’ll be nice to hear from someone that’s still going through the process. And like everyone else, don’t worry about cred - that’s not what we’re about
Welcome. I suppose I can say you are braver than I was when I was a believer. I think back then I tended to avoid things that would tempt me to doubt to much, which might lead to a slippery slope down the path to atheism. Thanks to the internet, I couldn’t avoid it forever and now here I am a happy atheist.
I am interested to see what you have to post for the site though. Perhaps it will offer a little change in pace.
Warmest regards,
Zach
Hi Lindsey, like your blog, but i’m very confused about the LDS thing; all i know of mormons is from books and t’internet (it’s not big in britain), and tbh it sounds like it just adds another layer of wtf to the already bizarre oddity of christianity. are you going to post about what being a mormon means to you?
I must agree with Ash; I too, am very interested in what being a LDS means to you. I’m always interested in people justifying their beliefs and I’ve never heard a LDS’s reasonings.
tee, I’ve asked friends and people I’ve met about their beliefs and asked them to justify their beliefs, but I’ve never heard anyone give their Own beliefs. Most people I’ve asked seem to only believe because they were taught to, and have never been taught to think for themselves or question their beliefs to come to their own conclusion.
Personally I think religion is a crock of shit. Altho I don’t believe in god, if I did, i wouldn’t be apart of any religious group since religion is basically one man or a groups point of view of what god may or may not want.
My 2c anyway.
Anyway I wish you the best Lindsey, you have a unique personality and i have no doubt you will write some enjoyable pieces.
I’m a 21 year old atheist serving active duty Air Force in northern Texas. This makes for an interesting life.
Hi Jason. Your comment might be lost here because of the subject matter. I would like to hear more about your experience as an atheist in the Air Force in northern Texas of all places. Maybe you could post more of your story over on this recent thread here at the same site.
Welcome Lindsay!
“Also, every time I read the word ‘ass’ in the Bible, I get the giggles.”
And don’t forget about cock.
Welcome! I look forward to seeing your posts. I’ll echo in and say that qualifications are not so meaningful. I have a Ph.D. and, as Efrique said, it’s a pretty narrow test of endurance. I’m very curious to learn about your religious beliefs. You say
From the use of “would,” and “He’d be” I gather that you believe in a God, but one who is either no longer around, or lacks omniscience, as he has never heard of knock-knock jokes?
I figure the best way to welcome you is with some petty nit-picking!
Cheers.