My beliefs on the age of our planet - in case it ever becomes an issue later on...

[wyldwolf]

Marco Rubio dodged the question... a just 'unearthed' Obama quote shows him dodging the question. Here is my answer:

"The earth is at least 4.5 billion years old, everything here evolved to what it is now and creation stories from the Bible and other religious books are fairy tales and make believe." --- Wyl D. Wolf, Nov. 21, 2012.

[Curmudgeoness]

1. That statement may bite you in the ass

if you decide to run for public office, Wyl. Doncha know you shouldn't put anything on the intertubes!

But I like your spunk.

[meeshrox]

2. I was chatting with an 'ol railroad guy in Central Florida (and a Dem)

while poll watching (outside) on election day. He was impressed that I knew my shit and had a snarky attitude regarding the republican mob in our state. He kept coming back to the precinct to check in and see if the campaign had given me any inside info (I didn't expect any). He asked me if I had any aspirations to run for office and I told him that I did but didn't expect to even get past the school board, if that. He said I'd be fine as long as I wasn't one of "them atheists." I couldn't help but smirk. He said that I'd have to have some kind of "come to Jesus" experience and then I'd be fine. Yeah, that'll happen.

It was kinda funny that he objected to my "heathen ways" and wished I'd reconsider. Once he found out I had been baptized at 3 years old, I was cool in his book again. I guess I'm covered no matter what else happens to me?

I just wish it didn't come up at all, it was great conversation until then. He even offered to be my campaign manager as he did for a handful of successful local candidates.

We heathens just need to all coordinate and end up on the ballot at the same time so we don't look so strange. A girl can dream, right?

[Curmudgeoness]

3. That is really funny.

As long as you aren't "one of them atheists". Oops! Well, I guess you won't be fine. But we all know that already.

But I think the time is coming when it will not be as impossible as it seems today. That time may be now and we are just afraid to act on it. But we have to stay strong and not back down.......or........you could always pretend. I doubt that it is too hard to do.

And thanks for letting me know that I am ok anyways, since I was baptized at age 13. Whew!

[meeshrox]

4. Oh, yes...

believe you me, I know the lingo. I can fake it with the most fundie of 'em! Not that I should brag about that, but the past is the past! (I should add that I was a fundie from as early as I could remember in my childhood until my college 'World Religions' class in 2001. I doubled down pretty hard in high school because of my boyfriend's family influence.)

I thought he would get it when I mentioned that my platform for school board would be to make sure that creationism had no place in the science class. Me and my big mouth!

I'm still young enough (31) to wait it out a couple more years for the mid-terms to see how the landscape goes. He did give me some good advice, though, before his discovery!

[Curmudgeoness]

5. Brag all you want---I think we all could

hold up in a fundie conversation. Not that we want to, but most atheists know their Bible too.

Depending on where you are, that platform could help you. I was trained as a biology/science teacher, and sadly, it is hard to keep discussion of creationism out of the classroom......there is always one who will fight you on evolution every time. You can fight back several ways, but to tell them that they should just shut up and learn evolution isn't one of them. You have to deal with it or you look as if you are not letting them think.

[meeshrox]

6. I'm in Florida now and

hope to be an Oregonian in the near future. I think I'll have better luck out west with that platform...

I understand that there is tact in the evolution/ID debate, especially on a school board. I am a geologist and deal with the global flood BS from family members. I know that I get much further without telling them they are delusional. I've taken some cues from NCSE on climate change discussions, also. It's a misunderstanding of science on the part of most people, the people that get under my skin misrepresent the science on evolution on purpose for political gain.

As for fundie conversations, yes, I know that we could all run laps around a lot of self-proclaimed Bible-believing Christians. Studying all religions has become quite a time-consuming hobby for me in the last few years.

[OriginalGeek]

7. I can promise you at least 2 votes

The Orange county school board needs some atheists!

[meeshrox]

10. Thanks!

It wouldn't hurt if there were one or two atheists on most school boards in FL!

[Odin2005]

8. 4.53 billion years, actually!

[JNelson6563]

9. I always just go with

"billions of years old". In case I need the wiggle room later.

Julie