I am asking the community what they want me to do. Leave? Keep posting? Comment but don’t post? Convert? Read everything posted and come back later?
I want you to keep doing what you have been doing. I find it distressing that you seem to think it’d be a reasonable, or even realistic, response for us to chase you out with torches and pitchforks. I am sorry to hear that we have created an environment that has led you to conceal this fact about yourself for such an extended time. I am pleased to note that you seem to find us worth hanging out with and seeking advice and help from in spite of us apparently having created this unwelcoming atmosphere.
I’m also personally curious about your exact flavor of theism, but that may, as you indicate, be neither here nor there.
If you haven’t already, you might want to read Theism, Wednesday, and Not Being Adopted. I don’t know if the case I describe is similar to yours or not, though.
I find it depressing that you seem to think it’d be a reasonable, or even realistic, response for us to chase you out with torches and pitchforks. I am sorry to hear that we have created an environment that has led you to conceal this fact about yourself for such an extended time.
I really don’t know how the community is going to respond. The last time I talked like this I made a comment that ended up receiving the most upvotes of anything I have done. I don’t expect torches and pitchforks, but I do expect some form of ultimatum. I also expect an intangible response that will affect my future comments/posts.
But your comment is certainly encouraging. I wasn’t so much “hiding”. I just didn’t have a good reason to come forward. Why would I? Why would any theist in this community? The reason I did is because I am weighing whether I want to actively devote time to continuing this path. If I commit to this path it is (a) better to say this now than later and (b) a good way to ping for impassable objects in regards to using LessWrong to continue my journey.
EDIT: Oh, and a response to Wednesday is forthcoming but will take more thought. :)
I don’t expect torches and pitchforks, but I do expect some form of ultimatum. I also expect an intangible response that will affect my future comments/posts.
I suggest changing your expectations. I identified myself as a theist here long ago, and haven’t noticed any negative response. At least one other person did at the same time, I think we got upvotes and someone commented on it being interesting, but that was that. Can’t find the link.
I now self-identify as an atheist, so stick around, the magic works. :-)
This is the response to the Wednesday post. (Which, by the way, I read way back when it was written. You can find a few of my comments down in the threads. :) )
Wednesday’s case is certainly interesting. My younger self used similar logic during his big crisis of faith and I don’t consider it to be a poor choice of action. I think my current situation is very apt for a future Wednesday that begins to wonder about some of the things she has seen. Future-Wednesday and Present-MrHen would probably have some excellent discussions.
The big question that is relevant for Wednesday is whether you can successfully compartmentalize areas of your map. You say, “I reject out of hand the idea that she should deconvert in the closet and systematically lie to everyone she knows.” I would respond by asking the same questions I asked in my post. Is it helpful to pursue “rational” theism? It isn’t true rationalism by any means. But is it better than the alternative?
I want you to keep doing what you have been doing. I find it distressing that you seem to think it’d be a reasonable, or even realistic, response for us to chase you out with torches and pitchforks. I am sorry to hear that we have created an environment that has led you to conceal this fact about yourself for such an extended time. I am pleased to note that you seem to find us worth hanging out with and seeking advice and help from in spite of us apparently having created this unwelcoming atmosphere.
I’m also personally curious about your exact flavor of theism, but that may, as you indicate, be neither here nor there.
If you haven’t already, you might want to read Theism, Wednesday, and Not Being Adopted. I don’t know if the case I describe is similar to yours or not, though.
I really don’t know how the community is going to respond. The last time I talked like this I made a comment that ended up receiving the most upvotes of anything I have done. I don’t expect torches and pitchforks, but I do expect some form of ultimatum. I also expect an intangible response that will affect my future comments/posts.
But your comment is certainly encouraging. I wasn’t so much “hiding”. I just didn’t have a good reason to come forward. Why would I? Why would any theist in this community? The reason I did is because I am weighing whether I want to actively devote time to continuing this path. If I commit to this path it is (a) better to say this now than later and (b) a good way to ping for impassable objects in regards to using LessWrong to continue my journey.
EDIT: Oh, and a response to Wednesday is forthcoming but will take more thought. :)
UPDATE: The response is up.
I suggest changing your expectations. I identified myself as a theist here long ago, and haven’t noticed any negative response. At least one other person did at the same time, I think we got upvotes and someone commented on it being interesting, but that was that. Can’t find the link.
I now self-identify as an atheist, so stick around, the magic works. :-)
This is the response to the Wednesday post. (Which, by the way, I read way back when it was written. You can find a few of my comments down in the threads. :) )
Wednesday’s case is certainly interesting. My younger self used similar logic during his big crisis of faith and I don’t consider it to be a poor choice of action. I think my current situation is very apt for a future Wednesday that begins to wonder about some of the things she has seen. Future-Wednesday and Present-MrHen would probably have some excellent discussions.
The big question that is relevant for Wednesday is whether you can successfully compartmentalize areas of your map. You say, “I reject out of hand the idea that she should deconvert in the closet and systematically lie to everyone she knows.” I would respond by asking the same questions I asked in my post. Is it helpful to pursue “rational” theism? It isn’t true rationalism by any means. But is it better than the alternative?