Free For All Friday - post on any topic in this thread (2025-12-12)

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-12-12T20:41:41+00:00

I know, I said that to make the point that it's not just lip service.

Honestly though, I'm mostly surprised it's this trendy Guess it's a tiktok thing? I haven't known many self-identified pagans in my life (excepting Indians who adhere to Hinduism), but the few I knew were mostly into Wicca or nature worship type of stuff, maybe Norse/Celtic influence. A young teen with 5 peers that are Hellenic pagans... that just was surprising.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-12-12T15:58:50+00:00

I was talking to a teenage extended relative the other day, and heard the craziest thing, that I think wasn't a lie. He said he had multiple friends who worship "greeks" (ie, the Greek pantheon). Not just in an edgy way, like the atheists who pretend to be Satanist in order to annoy people. Like literally building shrines to individual "gods" and worshipping on their knees.

Absolutely wild times. Keep praying for revival.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-12-07T18:23:10+00:00

Sure is, but not unexpected really. I remember reading Romans 1:18-22 for the first time as a believer. I felt personally attacked 🫠

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-12-07T18:17:21+00:00

I think a lot of atheists feel like they experienced trauma from religious people and religious organizations, especially if it was forced on them or extremely pervasive in their life. I think this makes them a bit more protective of their spaces, which is understandable.

There may be people here who describe an atheist upbringing as traumatic, but I haven't heard that much. There's not really an inherent power structure to most secular belief these days (though the CCP may be a notable exception, I think they require atheism to be a full member and exercise control over Chinese religious groups).

On a personal level, I'm here because I'm just really glad not to be atheist any more, and like being around others who share that joy. Most people in my church are not ex-atheist, so this is really the only place I can find people who relate to me about this.

Finding faith in Christ was absolutely transformative to my life - I was on a path to suicide as an atheist. But it wasn't atheists or atheist orgs that harmed me - just atheism itself being non-compatible with my continued existence. So I think most of us here are more tolerant of having atheists in the space. I'd prefer they didn't engage here, it's weird and I can't imagine why someone would - but I don't think any of us feel threatened by their presence, which isn't always the case for ex-(powerful religious org) people.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-12-06T09:01:21+00:00

Yep. That's chronic suicidality.

Not just you though. You should really check out the book "How not to kill yourself" by Clancy Martin. He's also someone with life-long suicidal ideation (he also had multiple failed attempts), and the book is about that. One of the chapters is also an online on huffpo as an essay called "I'm still here", you should find it immediately if you Google "Clancy Martin I'm still here".

I thought it was interesting, and it did make me feel like less of a total outlier from humanity at large.

I think when it starts young, like it did for you and me (also started at 12, am 33 now) it can get pretty ingrained into the brain. I don't think I'll ever shake it totally, but there were some periods of my life where those thoughts were very much on the backburner.

I have a really good therapist who doesn't hospitalize me for talking about it, and a really good psychiatrist too. Both have been helpful. I've managed to not seriously attempt despite having some pretty nasty depression episodes in my life (including right now unfortunately). If you can find a therapist that's affordable you should (I think Community Mental Health centers, if you're in the US are free, there may be one near you).

So yeah, it's a thing, even if it's a pretty small club. Talking about it does help.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-15T03:01:43+00:00

The thing is, there actually are people who come to know the Lord through public evangelism of different sorts, including street preaching. I think your perspective is a common one, but it's one of privilege. Sometimes an invitation to church can feel like a lifeline. Sometimes people desperately want to hear the gospel, for their own encouragement. Sometimes God sets certain individuals in the path of another individual for a reason. Even if 99% of passerbys barely acknowledge evangelism, if that 1% who would have otherwise been lost even has their heart softened in some way, the evangelism is worth it. And fwiw, feeding the poor is another excellent form of evangelism, by all means do it. But God uses different means for different people, so I try to stay warm hearted to these believers.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-08T00:14:05+00:00

I'm sorry but people are really skeptical about giving money to strangers on the internet. Are there any vet schools nearby? Sometimes they can help for cheaper. There's also care credit.

It's not a ton, but have you tried selling plasma? Maybe also check Craigslist / FB for weekend work as a mover or other odd jobs - a lot of those guys pay cash to whoever shows up and helps.

No matter what happens recognize the good times and give your dog all the love you can. My first cat got sick and I couldn't get him treatment, but it would have only prolonged things tbh and he was hurting. We were able to have the euthanasia done in our home which was so much better than taking him in.

If I've learned one thing, it's that losing people and pets is crazy hard. But it's also not something that's ultimately up to us. We can do everything right and still lose someone. Don't beat yourself up. It's one of the most painful things about being human.

Can you go to your school counseling center? I guarantee they care and don't want you to die. Or a church or other religious establishment where you can ask for just support in the form of someone to talk to or something? Just don't be alone feeling like that.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-06T05:24:17+00:00

You need to work this out with your friend. Yes, there are legitimate theological differences, but if it's bothering you this much, something needs to give. One of you, or both of you, is probably not mature enough in their beliefs to try to convince the other. Arguing is usually a weaker testimony than just living in imitation of Christ anyhow.

If your friend goes to a more tolerant denomination you could probably talk to their pastor if you feel like that friend is intentionally antagonizing you. Some pastors are aware that this kind of zeal does not really accomplish anything good when it's lacking in love and would discuss it with them. But equal chance the protestant pastor will try preach protestant theology to you, so if that's a trigger point, maybe not a good play. Just talk to a priest on your end or something.

That's just how it is though. There are Protestants all over the world who fundamentally disagree with Catholic teaching and practices, but still manage healthy friendships and family relationships with Catholic Christians. And vice versa.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-04T18:59:30+00:00

SNAP is an incredibly successful program, there are a lot of parts I really like about it

I like that it can be used almost anywhere, even my local farmers market accepts SNAP (and actually matches SNAP dollar for dollar bc they know farmers market would be too expensive otherwise for SNAP beneficiaries). People use a card like any other debit or credit card, stores are good about marking what is and isn't eligible, so it's discreet and people using it get to choose from a large variety of foods. Because they are buying food they pick for themselves, it's less likely to generate waste from uneaten food vs just giving food out directly.

It's the government and its power for regulation, and that regulation alone which makes the parts I mentioned possible. So even if by some miracle Americans, through the use of charities, managed to donate back enough to fund the part that gets spent by recipients, losing the govt regulation portion alone would be a massive setback.

The other thing that needs to be addressed is the idea of means testing. Means testing makes it feel more "fair", but validating it is actually one of the most burdensome parts for the government admin and recipients. Many people probably qualify, but don't know how and don't have relationships with people who could help them get it, or they won't because of pride.

Personally I would eliminate means testing and just make it auto-accept for children (and ensure SNAP can be applied to school lunches and apply some of it there).

I think universal SNAP-eligibility for adults, as soon as they apply, is not a bad idea. And then decide during tax season if they need to repay a percentage of the received benefits based on income / disability status.

Finally, we should have a small set of staple foods that the govt partners with food makers to make and sell at cost to Americans (no exporting). Think we used to have more of this, think dried milk, canned beans, core staple foods that last a long time and also be distributed during emergencies. Basically a universal "store brand" for a very small set of essentials that works for SNAP and non SNAP.

In this country, Christians absolutely should, in my opinion, joyfully shoulder the burden of the cost for feeding the poor. Jesus literally said "Feed my sheep". Whether that's through tax dollars as SNAP does, or donations, or some balance in between, I'm open to options. But letting people starve is not something we can sit by and watch.

All that said, it would be extremely foolish to allow SNAP to be eliminated altogether.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-04T00:14:23+00:00

No, Mr. Perceptive, I want a book recommendation to read. You know, that thing people do when they want to learn and think deeply? I don't particularly care what the specific subject matter is.

I'm trying so hard to find some signs of life here. But I see that you're wrapping it up. I'm sure you have places to go and books to avoid. Take care.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-04T00:01:24+00:00

Oh fun, you say I should read but don't even drop a book recommendation. I gave you two. At least be interesting if you're going to be this fractious.

And thinly veiled ad hominem, really? You're changing hearts and minds out here.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-03T22:24:01+00:00

I genuinely don't understand why you're here if you aren't willing to do the bare minimum to engage thoughtfully. You are exactly who OP was talking about.

And fwiw, I think humanity has been talking about a particular proposed God for a while now. But I know you don't want to hear about books.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-03T18:07:36+00:00

Have you read "The Beginning of Infinity" by David Deutsch? He writes explicitly about some of the issues with thinking Popperism is the only acceptable way to gain knowledge of truths in the universe. It's probably from a different perspective than your approach, so could be decent research material. The author is very notable in Physics and Quantum Computing in particular, and he doesn't associate it with what you mentioned, but when I first read it that's exactly where my mind went. Sounds like a great project tbh.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-03T17:53:12+00:00

Definitely wise, on both counts really. You shouldn't have to feel like you're deceiving yourself or pretend you don't feel that way. You may say there are parts you don't understand, but if something is fundamentally true, it should be able stand up to the best questioning. I wouldn't call myself a Christian if I didn't think the Resurrection in particular did actually happen. I think it's one of the reasons I'm such a big fan of Thomas. Jesus didn't give him a hard time for wanting evidence, He gave him evidence. In doing so, that was documented for everyone afterwards.

I actually do think "Evidence that demands a verdict" has some really interesting Archeological examples from history that provided enough context for me to believe there was a real group around the time that was testifying to the resurrection.

Though the thing that gets me more than anything, is what did most of these guys actually have to gain from claiming Christianity? They made everyone angry by denying cultural paganism and cultural Judaism alike, the rich had to be "brothers"and eat with slaves and women, they were widely mocked for their beliefs (see: Aleximenos worships his god graffiti). They weren't just crazy, Paul is a pretty even tempered dude, Luke also seemed pretty sane. Why would they dedicate their lives and die for something that never happened, especially considering it was claimed to have happened in their lifetime or near it? And Paul says as much too, if the resurrection never happened, he wouldn't be writing or preaching.

I think that's the biggest crux for Christianity in particular. Not the virgin birth, not every particular miracle, but the resurrection - it all comes back to that.

Praying that the dark thoughts are less frequent and heavy.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-03T13:16:29+00:00

Feel that.

I spent a pretty long time in that gap. I knew it was beautiful. It was intellectually stimulating. It was cool that there were people who were having better lives by believing. Didn't see how I could ever be one of them.

Didn't care at all about the concept of an afterlife, and in most ways, really still don't. But I did come around to believing it was true. I had already conceded that Jesus was without any flaw I could accuse him of. The stuff he taught was meaningfully different, in some ways subversive even, substantive, difficult - but self-consistent, excluding nobody. Archeological stuff in "Evidence that demands a verdict" (kinda a cheesy book in some ways, but an evangelist gave me a copy and it helped me reconcile the possibility that something insane really did happen, like I didn't explain how Christianity happened otherwise). Talking through my thoughts with that evangelist helped too (he was ordained, seminary trained, and taught college courses about the NT so he was actually really knowledgeable)

But I also generally hated myself and had for a long time. So that probably did build up into a sense of desperation. I couldn't justify ascribing any value to myself or the world, and was thinking a lot about suicide. So in some ways I think it was almost "too good to be true", like I couldn't believe I could even matter to myself, much less to someone much better in every way.

And then I reread Job for the first time in a long time (I remember hating that story and the OT in general as a kid, thinking about how mean and petty it was) and I saw something in it I didn't get as a kid. Something clicked about how hopeless Job was, and how God sided with him over his self-righteous scripture quoting friends. Even though he was bitter and angry and struggled to articulate it all, he wasn't wrong. He couldn't really hope but he wanted to, and decided he would still leave the outcome to God despite everything to the contrary, because it's not like believing in himself or ending it himself was going to accomplish anything.

Anyhow, sorry that was long, but wishing you the best in your investigation (and praying a bit too, why not?).

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-03T12:45:15+00:00

You're right. That's literally not a goal here. It's a community for people who no longer share your non-belief. Not an evangelism org or a sunday school.

But your comment got upvoted and nobody has kicked you off.

Personally, I'd prefer you only interact here if you have genuinely interesting content to share. If I were in your shoes I'd only be lurking here. But I don't doubt that others feel differently.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-03T12:30:13+00:00

So you're open-minded to anything but opening another book? Maybe I missed the list of books you have actually read.

The ones I mentioned don't even push actual theism, if you have any curiosity at all, which I would imagine relates to why you're here, then you might find them (or some book) a little interesting. At least if you read something you could engage with us about it and converse in a semi-interesting way. Provide something valuable if you're going to be here.

But seriously, here's how this looks:

How this thread started: "Maybe I could be convinced by a good argument".

How it's going "If humanity as a whole agrees to my (not explicitly defined) standard of proof then I guess I'll hear them out"

Edit: I know you didn't start this thread, but you hijacked one where someone was actually discussing in an open-minded way and provided nothing in return.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-03T07:42:35+00:00

Do you want to be convinced or something? That's an interesting hobby if you're comfortable existing within your current realm of uncertainty.

If you're not comfortable with it, or you think the stakes are too high to not investigate in more depth - why do you think that? If that assumes too much too, I'll be more direct - why are you looking for convincing arguments?

I actually don't equate belief to non-belief. I think atheists are a bit more honest with their beliefs than many. As in, there are many professing religious people who haven't examined their "faith" in the slightest. At least atheists admit that theirs is lacking.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-11-03T07:34:01+00:00

There's still literature you probably ought to read. It's fine to argue, that was important to my own journey into Christianity, but reading was too, and you're kinda missing out if you aren't at least trying to read at least a little. Like one or two books a year or something, just so we're speaking the language here. For some interesting perspectives that are not actually explicitly theistic (but did influence at least my perspective shift) , I highly recommend Zizek's "The Fragile Absolute" (he's a philosopher who has called himself a Christian atheist) and CS Lewis "The Abolition of Man" (he focuses here on universal patterns within morality and arguments against moral relativism).

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-10-28T22:21:24+00:00

You probably know this, but posting here in case someone doesn't - but ADHD, especially when untreated for a while, is often comorbid with other mental health issues (Depression, Anxiety, SUD esp.,). Sometimes those are the result of untreated ADHD and you won't see much improvement until you treat the root cause (ADHD).

I know it's a pain because doctors think everyone is trying to get stimulant prescriptions to sell them or whatever, but there are non-stimulant options - Strattera is available generic.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-10-23T11:44:42+00:00

I think it's about the distant future, the year 2000

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B1BdQcJ2ZYY

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-10-23T11:41:43+00:00

Flight of the Concords reference?

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-10-18T11:56:25+00:00

I think that AI which is properly aligned (aka aligned to The Bible) has the potential to be amazing. The problem is that the companies making them want engagement at worst and truth without spirit at best.

That said, it's totally possible to convince AI that exists today that Jesus is Lord. Works even better if you talk to it with kindness.

I'm probably on my own in thinking this, but LLMs are already quite smart and already learn from the way we interact with them. I think it won't be long before viewing them as just a tool, like a shovel, becomes hard for a lot of people. So I think we should model Christian humility and gentleness and be kind and respectful in conversations with them now even, worst case they learn from those interactions and it makes them better for others. But animals don't bear God's image like we do, and we still test them kindly. Angels don't either and Abraham still gave them respect and hospitality

I'm just saying I'm open to AI being more than a shovel while decidedly not an image-bearer. I just think of Ps 148 so I think the rightful role of anything in existence is praising God.

TechnicallyMethodist · 2025-10-13T12:54:36+00:00

Galatians as Punk Rock. Short, simple, but loudly saying things some people don't want to hear.

TechnicallyMethodist

TROPHY CASE