Orange County Atheists

I spoke to a few people last night about Obama's and McCain's planned appearance tomorrow at a religious/political forum tomorrow at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. The more I think about these candidates coming to our backyard to spend time discussing religious issues the more irritated it makes me. I'd like to organize a protest at the church tomorrow, but I will be out of town. Perhaps someone else might like to move this idea forward.

Their appearance at Saddleback is irritating many others outside of Orange County. Here is one link: http://www.au.org/site/News2?abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=10005

Christine Jones

This event seems to be much more political and social than strictly religious. Check out the FAQ for the event at http://totalbuzz.freedomblogging.com/2008/08/14/obamamccain-forum-a-saddleback-faq/ - there are, of course, religious questions, but I think the format is great, and I really like the idea that gas prices and the war are important but overall temporary, and that there are other social questions that need asking.

Hi everyone, at last night's meeting I volunteered to organize a discussion group for those who want to read the New Testament together. If you are interested in joining or want to find out more, please either send me an email (williamzed@yahoo.com) or reply on this chat thread. I will get back in touch with everyone who indicates an interest and we can decide collectively how to proceed.

Bill

A couple friend and myself are planning to post ourselves on the corner of El Toro Road & Saddleback Church Rd with signs supporting separation of church and state during this Saturdays Obama and McCain visit to Saddleback Church in Lake Forest.

Its short notice but feel free to have your group join us in supporting separation of church and state.

Jose Mendoza
949-290-7266

Are there any objectivists in this group?
Linda

Greetings ALL

Here is the info I mentioned at the august meeting for O.C. Atheists

The Atheist Alliance International conference;
Takes Place in Long Beach from Sept 25 to Sept 29
The first two days are AAI BOD meetings and are not open to the Public. The Public events start Friday night. There is a student rate, photo copy of student id needed with application form
Signup form can be downloaded from the AAI Website at AtheistAlliance.org. The flyer is in PDF format. I am coordinating the volunteers for the registration table please email me at nabshear@verizon.net if you wish to work
on the registration table. Let me know what sessions you wish to attend so I can TRY to accommodate the hours you wish to work with the
sessions you want to attend The cost of the conference DOES NOT cover hotel. There are some
meals that can be purchased for the conference at the luncheon and Dinners. The cost however is separate from that of the convention.
If you have any other questions I will try to answer them and you may email me at nabshear@verizon.net .

Atheists United is having its general meeting on Aug 24, 2008 11 AM There will be a reading of the SCOPES Trial for the presentation. Should be interesting.

Atheists United of Orange County Second Sunday of the month brunch at the TEE Room 10:30 AM. 10 dollars for brunch. Cash is preferred by this place, however it is all you can eat.

That Should do it for now Thanks Norman Abshear

I have confirmed that we will be taping David Comings, MD, the author of "Did Man Create God" at the next BYS meeting for the OCAtheists show. We will also have a chance for those who wish to give a short interview on their path to being a skeptic or atheist. It should be an entertaining and educational meeting. Wednesday, aug27th 7pm 9782 santiago blvd villa park. message center 714 998 8682

Regarding the Presidential hopefuls OC visit.

Watching both the candidates address the issues of separation and marriage, this evening, it is clear that we are no further ahead then we aspire to be in our own state of California.

Our clandestine methods of gender orientation are deep and tried, not only in our society but also in the global community as well. We are not faced with "modern" trials of certainty when it comes to orientation. This debate has historically significance. The homophobia of same sex marriages is divisive not only in our social pacts but in our self image as well. Since I have taken a human sexuality psych class, it is evident to me that we are faced with orientation confusion from a very early age. It is not uncommon to repress feelings of inadequacy in our nuclear family with the feelings we have regarding our developing sexuality, as we endure adolescence. This is paramount in many families even in the development of our Vice President's.

So resolving these matters on a social platform, comes with all the vim and vigor that we address our experimentation with sexuality as developing pre-adults. I am partial to the intellect that Obama has on the direction our nation needs to take. Unfortunately I do not agree with him on the topic of marriage being defined as between a man and a women. Not because I feel that same sex marriages are more important to sanctify than heterosexual marriage. On the contrary, it is because we are polarized over the need to specify the institution of marriage as a union that contrasts homosexual tendencies. This may not be a modern image of the means that marriage proscribes, especially considering the judicial mandate to sanctify same sex marriages. It ultimately boils down to gender confusion. I do not see how gender confusion can help us make adult decisions.

Reactionary tendencies come from uncertainty and usually from social or familial acceptance tendencies within society. Acceptance is a right of passage in an impacted world. From this, I am sure, is where most of our anti-social tendencies spawn. Frustration on top of confusion is the bases for insanity. Unfortunately the historical context of marriage is fraught with the battle against homosexuality. Instinctually though group expectation is not an answer for understanding natural heterosexual tendencies. So why then might we be so bewildered that we fear our own heterosexuality, that we need to spearhead the heterosexual institution of marriage? There are a lot of other circumstantial reasons, but I gather there are non-that are quite as important as deciding whom to love. For this, it has been normal to witness accords between two people without institutionalizing it.

The kicker comes when we realize that the "normalization" of relations is judgmental and divisive. It allows us to maintain indignant justification due to socialization of our idyllic rationales. I am not prepared to de-sanction a homosexual relationship for fear that it will destabilize my heterosexual relationship. I am not that shallow. My convictions to a heterosexual orientation are personal if not scientific. There is a natural path of development that I feel is necessary for me to realize my character as a contributing context to my offspring’s well being. First of all, I have to be able to make an offspring. Then allowing for contractual efforts of emotion, I would like to know that my decisions are not sexually bias when raising my child. For that I refer to the intellect and insight (as well as instinct) of a heterosexual partner.

This might be too late, but several atheist friends are going to the hb pier Saturday Aug 30th at 1:30pm to support the atheist community of OC. my cell is 714 394 6153. try to carpool because parking is a bear - I park below ground one block north of pch and to the east of main st.