Atheist?

[trickykitty]

I saw this on PostSecret today, and the first thought through my head was, "Then you're not an atheist."

The second thought through my mind was, "Whenever you say, 'Blah, Blah, Blah, BUT...' then you completely negate anything that came before the 'BUT'." We've had this conversation before.

The two thoughts complement each other.

Comments

[damia]

Found the quote that kept rattling around in my head. It's not that the reason for the words are important - it's that using words that everyone understands is important.

"It's up to the artist to use language that can be understood, not hide it in some private code. Most of these jokers don't even want to use language you and I know or can learn . . . they would rather sneer at us and be smug, because we 'fail' to see what they are driving at. If indeed they are driving at anything--obscurity is usually the refuge of incompetence.”
― Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land

Being able to speak in an easily understood tongue and still get your point across is an art.
I still wouldn't say "Atheist" is the best description of me - but it is an easily understood one. Marketing has taught me that you have to get as much information as possible to an audience that is easily distracted.
Yes, spouting off about the exact nature and diameter of your spiritual self would be more informative. But chances are most people will become disinterested before you get to the point.
That's what I meant by 'it's not about me.'

Good quote

[trickykitty]

LOL - I think we're saying the same thing, but in different ways, which is kind of ironic given the subject matter.

What I've learned from that book on communication styles is that it boils down to being more attuned to the communication styles of others so that I can tailor my speech to fit their style more than my own. They're more likely to understand "correctly" the message being conveyed if I am able to pay attention and meet their communication needs which may be different from mine.

Re: Good quote

[damia]

Ah, yes indeed.
I've recently been realizing that having a full time job that requires me to create stuffs that illicit a specific response, means I've become more attuned to what's motivating people when they talk more than what words are coming out of their mouths.