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Quotations – Momentous, Memorable, Meaningful

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A place to share the words of others (or your own!) which have been impactful in your life, whether they're serious, poignant, humorous, or just something worth noting.

Members: 23
Latest Activity: 10 hours ago

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I have been a quote collector and quote monger for at least as long as I've been an atheist and probably a good deal longer. My admiration for those who enjoy reputations as wordsmiths extends even further back, whether we're talking about John F. Kennedy's assertion: "We choose to go to the moon," George Santayana's warning: "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it," or James T. Kirk's deft observation when faced with the dauntingly huge First Federation ship: "Not chess, Mr. Spock ... poker!"

The realm of atheist activism has had its own share of verbal craftsmen and women, from Madalyn Murray O'Hair's: "An atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church." to Aron Ra's succinct: "If you can't show it, you don't know it."

Regardless of the topic, these are words which are capable of fomenting inspiration, reflection, and sometimes even action. They can educate and illuminate the human condition and allow us to better know ourselves. That said, here is an open invitation to share those words which have been particularly meaningful or impactful or timely or just special to you for one reason or another.

Let's share those words and have fun!

One bit of clerical business: please hold your quotes in the comment area below to 20 lines or 200 words. One comment should not so dominate the Home page of this group that no other comment is visible. That way, the briefer comments and quotes of all participants are more likely to be seen, read, and appreciated. If you have a long quote or commentary, create a post, please.

Discussion Forum

Truth

Started by Joan Denoo. Last reply by Joan Denoo Feb 11. 14 Replies 2 Likes

"APHORISM XXV. He who begins by loving Christianity better than Truth, will proceed by loving his own sect or Church better than Christianity, and end loving himself better than all."~…Continue

Tags: Truth

Ideas

Started by Joan Denoo. Last reply by Joan Denoo Sep 14, 2018. 2 Replies 2 Likes

The word “Permaculture” is the combination of the two words “permanent” and “agriculture.” It is a method of agricultural philosophy that allows gardeners to create and sustain growing food in a way…Continue

Tags: production, shelter, food, permaculture, Mollison

On Emotion, Vulnerability, and a Flawed God

Started by Loren Miller. Last reply by Grinning Cat Sep 10, 2018. 5 Replies 5 Likes

On 31 May, 2018, Joan Denoo posted a most excellent quote from David Hume: That quote was well deserving of a response, which is the following:The most preposterous notion that H. sapiens has ever…Continue

Tags: flawed, vulnerable, emotion, god

Will McAvoy's Rant: "America Is NOT the World's Greatest Country"

Started by Loren Miller. Last reply by Joan Denoo Aug 25, 2018. 3 Replies 4 Likes

Aaron Sorkin has a habit of swinging for the fences when he writes political commentary as entertainment for television. This was first evinced in the network television series, The West Wing, and…Continue

Tags: The Newsroom, Will McAvoy, Aaron Sorkin

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Comment by Joan Denoo on February 11, 2019 at 4:58pm: Ruth, my 83 years show in my joints and muscles, my wrinkles get deeper. It reminds me of an old friend, Mrs. Swan, a Native American, who had wrinkles so deep I swear she could hold a nickel in them.

Comment by Joan Denoo on February 11, 2019 at 4:55pm: Loren, as usual, you write powerfully and bring to clear light definitions of the challenges women face. Sadly, men who have feminine characteristics face ridiculous hurdles. Even the language demonizes principles of compassion, i.e., effeminate.

The good news is, there exist many individuals who love individuals as they are and who censure those who act brutishly, irresponsibly, unreliably, or are untrustworthy.

Comment by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on February 11, 2019 at 4:31pm: Joan, how beautiful you look. How do you pull that off when tired?That's a great picture, perfect light.

Take care of yourself, Loren. I take sublingual B-1 when fighting a cold.

Comment by Grinning Cat on February 11, 2019 at 12:17pm: The Bible is so self-contradictory that believers of every leaning, from militantly authoritarian to rather humanistic, have no choice but to cherry-pick. (Wouldn't be surprised if that applies to lots of other scriptures as well!)

It would be wonderful if more/most believers were to explicitly acknowledge the Bible as a relic that does not have, and should not be given, authority over people in the present day. (A cat can dream...)

Comment by Loren Miller on February 11, 2019 at 5:54am: ... this attitude [of male supremacy] is reinforced throughout the bible, that woman effectively have no authority, are worth half what a man is, and may be held to account for adultery, where the man gets off scot-free? Also worthy of note is that female equality is a relatively new concept, coming to the fore only in roughly the last 150-200 years, and still resisted by strongholds such as the Roman Catholic Church, which allows no women to join the clergy. Islam is no better in this regard.

Male chauvinism may not have originated with religion, but male-dominated religion has been used to reinforce males' position with virtually every opportunity afforded it.
-- me

Granted that some churches have become more enlightened in their attitudes, but only by IGNORING more and larger parts of the book their beliefs are supposedly found on.

Comment by Loren Miller on February 11, 2019 at 5:50am: I hear you about being tired, Joan. I'm pretty pooped myself, having been fighting a LOUSY cold for the past five or so days. Take care, my friend!

Comment by Joan Denoo on February 10, 2019 at 9:49pm: Yes, Eva, life is short. I have no control over destiny. Wealth, renown, and social reputation are not worth sacrificing a single strand of my white hair.

Given these realities, I have the power to live a life filled with compassion, gentleness, empathy, care, warmth, joy, gratitude, love, and peace.

Today, I am tired.

Joan Denoo 2019-02-10

Comment by Bertold Brautigan on February 10, 2019 at 8:15pm: Why not acknowledge that life is short, that you have no control over destiny, and that wealth, renown, and social reputation are not worth sacrificing a single strand of your hair for?

~Eva Wong

Comment by Loren Miller on February 10, 2019 at 11:14am: The hell of it is, Bertold, we've been tolerating disinformation as news ever since Faux Noise came on the scene. All this is is them and their followers-on, refining their act.

Disturbing as hell.

Comment by Bertold Brautigan on February 10, 2019 at 10:28am: The subjects of Robert Mueller’s investigation are cashing in.
For people in the greater Trump orbit, the publicity of a legal clash with Robert Mueller provides a chance to tap into the thriving marketplace of fringe pro-Trump media. Disinformation in America is a business. And the profit to be turned from that business is a warning sign that the alternative stories of the Mueller investigation spun by the president’s supporters will have a long shelf life.
~Quinta Jurecic