This is a re-post of my first post on CFI Michigan—I’m slowly finding my way around and hoping to make time for online conversation.

It was great to meet folks from this neck of the woods at the recent Solstice party in Ann Arbor. I’m looking forward to meeting more “inquiring” types, and learning more about CFI.

I am recently unchurched, after nearly pursuing a career as a pastor, including an MA in pastoral ministry. I never was fundamentalist, and remain friends with some very progressive Christians who understand that the bible is a myth, that questions and uncertainty are healthy, and that what is important is how we live, not what happens after we die.  People in mainline churches joke about “graduating” kids out of church when doing “Confirmation,”  usually at about age 12. Well, I guess I needed to graduate from seminary before I could fly—call me a slow learner.  Perhaps I’ll still find a way to continue to help with life celebrations like weddings and memorials.

What is important to me? Three things: Affirming the value and joyful wonder of each person and creature and element of nature. Coming together to enjoy life, explore questions and unite resources to make a difference in the world. Taking science seriously to make informed ethical decisions about our life on this planet and the hope for a future worth living for the generations to come.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
― Margaret Mead

Welcome, Diane.  As you may have guessed, most of us here are atheists or agnostics, however, we are open and happy to have discussions on a wide variety of topics including theological ones.  So, I’m sure your input will be appreciated.

Occam

Well, I’ve always been open to all points of view, and stand decidedly on the agnostic end of the spectrum (certainly never pious) even when I think I may believe in God (for “whom” we don’t have adequate pronouns in my book—neither “he” nor “she” cut it), and love a good conversation about most any topic. I learned a bit about giving a decent “Christian apologetic” for understanding faith without creeds or magical thinking.  I generally argue against fundamentalism of any variety. My greatest weakness may be an inability to say anything briefly enough to twitter. Thanks for the welcome!

Don’t worry, Diane.  While I am a strong supporter of succinctness, many of us here do tend to be quite garrulous so you should be right at home here. 

Occam

Welcome Diane.  Glad to have you here.  Hopefully you will find something that strikes your interest.  Jump in and join the conversations.

Diane Jonas Locker - 30 December 2011 01:27 PM

Well, I’ve always been open to all points of view, and stand decidedly on the agnostic end of the spectrum (certainly never pious) even when I think I may believe in God (for “whom” we don’t have adequate pronouns in my book—neither “he” nor “she” cut it), and love a good conversation about most any topic. I learned a bit about giving a decent “Christian apologetic” for understanding faith without creeds or magical thinking.  I generally argue against fundamentalism of any variety. My greatest weakness may be an inability to say anything briefly enough to twitter. Thanks for the welcome!

Welcome again Diane, I see you made it to the general forum….

If you browse through some of the topics, you will see that the moderators are very lenient about size of posts, as long as they are pertinent to the title of the topic. But succinctness is encouraged. It is just more practical to respond to a few questions or paragraphs, than to a pagelong story.

And links to in-depth information on a subject are sometimes very useful. Most posters here are critcal (skeptic) thinkers and if anyone makes a reference to an informative link, I make it a point to check out the referenced material. The main idea here is to ask good questions and dispense good information.

But I am becoming verbose…....

Welcome Diane;  looking forward to yor posts.

Diane Jonas Locker - 30 December 2011 01:27 PM

My greatest weakness may be an inability to say anything briefly enough to twitter. Thanks for the welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome Diane and happy new year!

Cap’t Jack