Introductions

[trevor]

So, let's to know each other a bit!  This is optional of course, but as a courtesy to other members on the board, it would be great if you could tell us a bit about yourself.  Some questions you might want to answer in your blurb are:

• What's your name!?
• Are you a student?  What department and year?
• What are your hobbies and interests?
• What is your philosophical stance? (Atheist, Agnostic, Theist, etc.)
• What attracted you to MASH?  What do you want to get out of it?
• Where do you work (if anywhere)?
• How was your day?

Of course, feel free to skip anything that you don't feel comfortable talking about.  And feel free to add in anything you want to talk about!

[trevor]

I shall get the ball rolling.

My name is Trevor Bekolay, I'm a 3.5th year Computer Science student.  I'm in the co-op program, through which I worked for four months at EISI, and four months at the University of Alberta (http://ircl.cs.ualberta.ca/games/passage/).  Though I do plan to finish this compsci degree, I want to go on to graduate studies in cognitive science.

In my free time, I play my fair share of video games.  Occasionally you might see me around the campus with a DS lite.  My favorite genre of game is without a doubt the RPG.  I also enjoy a good movie or TV show.  I'm very open as far as genre is concerned--I have favorites in comedy, drama, action, anime, documentary, etc.--but I'm pretty picky on quality.  Right now I'm watching Arrested Development, and I keep up with The Daily Show and Colbert Report, for starters.

At the moment, I'm working as a TA for first and second year computer science classes.  I actually had my first lab today, and though it was a bit nerve wracking, I'm satisfied with the outcome.

I actually grew up attending a public catholic school, though I was (apparently) baptized protestant.  I did actually thumb through a relatively large part of the bible while growing up.  As I grew up I got more interested in science and philosophy.  It would be nice if I could say "I've been an atheist since 2000" or something, but as we all probably know, it doesn't take a leap of faith to not believe in a god, so I just never really took it.

The idea to create MASH came quite randomly to me a week or so ago, early September.  I was looking through the list of student groups, and after reading the mission statement of a certain religious group that I won't name, I realized there was no group for atheists such as myself.  Honestly, I don't know if there is a big demand for a group like this outside of myself, but I'm hoping we can become a group dedicated to grounding our campus and the surrounding area in logic and common sense.

[Dave (a.k.a. Wessty)]

Well, here's hoping I'm able to join. *crosses fingers*

My name is Dave and you can call me Dave or Wessty. I'm in my final year of computer science here at the U of M. I'll be graduating from the U of M in February of 2008 and will be joining my co-workers in a startup they founded just over a year ago. Even though I will not be attending classes come January, I still think the idea behind this student group is a valid one and as such would like to support it regardless of my student status.

In terms of my beliefs, I wouldn't call myself an atheist but more of an agnostic person. My hobbies and/or activities involve scuba diving, golf and trying to stay healthy by swimming, but if necessary I'll head off to the gym. In my spare time, I also enjoy reading about the business of computer science (or technology) and hopefully attempt to take a stab at the economy myself. Along with the business, I like reading up and playing around with computer science tools and technology. I'm not much of a coder, but I find it exceptionally amazing that I am able to write programs that automate different tasks.
Between classes and activities, I'm working part-time for Revenge Software as a .NET 3.0/3.5 developer in many different ways. Along with that, I'm attempting to setup a small foundation for a small business of my own. This project was inspired by my interest in the business of computer science and can be considered as the "stab at the economy".

That gives you a nice introduction to who I am and what my interests are. If you get the chance to meet me though MASH, then please feel free to spark up a conversation about any of these topics. I'm far more sociable than your stereotypical computer scientist so don't be too scared of me.

[january]

 Hi! I'm jan. I don't live in Manitoba, so i hope this is acceptable. I just stumbled on this forum, and it sounded interesting. I do enjoy the forums. I'm a sometimes student of the Arts. I really enjoy philosophy. I can't really say where I stand, but it's not with Jesus I guess. What fascinates me with atheism has to do with the firm hold of superstition. It's pretty amazing to me when you can talk to someone, follow their reasoning in whatever, and then all of a sudden hit this enormous wall of crazy. But they're totally cool with it, and are still admittedly these intelligent, productive persons. Myself included, because I totally can't stop with the astrology mindset. Even though I know it's insane, and I think religion is weird. So maybe mine is more of an epistemological concern. I just love to learn about other people's ideas on the subject.

As for my personal history, it's whatever, but relevant to the discussion? I guess I'll add that both my grandmothers were adamant atheists. One of them publically, and one of them would sneak into my room at night and tell me "don't pray to me when I'm dead...when I die I'm NOWHERE". That also got me thinking about atheism, because I couldn't care less when I was five about god or death. I thought oma was nuts. The very idea of god just divides people and makes them take it all so personally. She wasn't grabbing my pyjamas and foresaking Santa Claus, you know? (even though she totally ruined that one for me as well). For work I dance naked. That's so so, good money and everything, but how I started it is a mystery to me. I also adore some fiction, movies, and tv...the really good ones.

So I hope I pass as a member! thanks

[brian]

Hi!  I'm Brian, I'm a 3rd year Civil Engineering student although I have been doing a lot of thinking recently long the lines of "Is this really what I want to do with my life?"  I'm taking an arts minor, so I'm looking forwards to a couple labour studies classes I am taking in winter.  I'm in the coop program and worked in an office downtown with Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation all summer.

Engineering pretty much eats up most of my life, but I also like to keep busy with a couple sort of activist things.  I also like to play computer games.  My favourite by far are the grand strategy games like the ones made by Paradox Interactive.

Regarding beliefs, I am an atheist.  I've never really gone to church, so I was never indoctrinated with any religious beliefs, so I guess I never had any reason to believe in anything in the first place.  And when I first thought critically about it, I realized that there is no such thing as god.  I was attracted to MASH by seeing those posters in the UC-Science tunnel and thought "this is cool, and free food!"

[Katie]

Hi, I'm Katie, and I'm a second year Arts student (although trying to get into Asper, and I'll eventually be Marketing bound, possibly with a double major in International Business).

My favourite past-times are surfing the internet, and listening to music/going to concerts. Oddly enough, the majority of music I've been buying lately has been vinyl records. I have over 50 albums at home, and a few singles.

I'm an atheist, and I have been since I was about 10 (nearly 11 years).

I really want to connect with some atheists/agnostics in my own area, as well as actually belong in a student group that suits me.

I work at McDonalds as a hospitality leader, meaning I do birthday parties, handle complaints, etc...

So, I have to get to Stats, so I'll talk with you all later.

[bryandoconnor]

hi,

  my name is Bryan. I'm a 3rd year mechanical engineering student. I've been interesting in join a humanist group for a while now and I'm very glad someone at the university took the initiative to start one. I am agnostic in my beliefs about god, and very concerned with the amount of misery a belief in a god can cause. (Palestinian/Isreali dispute, Catholic/Protestants in Ireland, etc). I believe that religions can give people a good moral code to live by, but I dislike the idea of a montheistic, all powerful god. I was baptised through the United Church, but I've never had "faith" in god. Being a science student, I believe the scientific method produces empirical truths and I see no reason to believe in a god.
    My favorite Atheist quote is from Bernard Shaw, English playwright: "The fact that a believer is happier that a skeptic is no more to the point that a drunken man is happier than a sober one." I'm pretty busy this year, but I'd love to get involved.

[Steve]

Greetings,

My name is Steve.  I am a graduate student in Medical Microbiology at the U of M (currently finishing off a few honours level pre-masters courses).  This is my 6th year as a U of M student.  As for my hobbies, I am quite fond of caring for small animals, reading, studying languages and most recently (a la the last 2 months) working out to lose weight and get in shape. 

I work at Cangene Corporation part-time (for now).

I was born a Ukrainian Catholic, and for a long time I was a very very devout one.  I would say since about the end of High School I found myself very displeased with the antiquated, sexist, anti-gay, and anti-progress ideals of the Church.  I don't believe two people who love each other should be labeled as "sinners" because they are of the same sex.  I do not consider myself an atheist, nor an agnostic, but a humanist.  I do not disagree with the existence of God, but I believe that we as Humans are totally responsible for our own destiny.  I am a strong believer in Humanity and our ability to overcome our problems and achieve our goals.  I believe that we all share a universal human morality based on our shared condition.  Whether this comes from God, or from evolution, I don't know yet.

I am very happy that you decided to do something like this Trevor, I think it is a great idea and a great opportunity to have a lot of deep and mature discussion with a diverse group of people.  I hope you can find a lot more people for the group.  Count me in.

FYI I have a lot of time on my hands Mondays and Tuesdays this term if you need help organizing things.  I've been through the process of student group formation before, so let me know if you need a hand.

[Kevin]

Hey,
My name is Kevin, I'm a 2nd year psychology student in my fourth year at the U of M.  Saw one of the posters posted in the hallways between Armes and UC and found this to be an interesting topic, so here I am.  I enjoy the only three things that there are to do in Winnipeg; Drink, chill, and watching movies.  I was raised in an atheist household where the topic of God and religion was never brought up, so I've never known what it's like to have religion forced upon me since birth.  I've attended youth groups at the suggestion of one of my high school friends and attended it regularly for a few months before deciding that it just didn't seem right.  It's difficult to believe in God when God never seemed to be apparent, though I've heard arguments from religious people that the "proof" of God existing is the fact that I'm here, or that there's trees and grass and air outside, and that those should be all the proof that I needed.  The logic in which religious people used to try to convince me of an existence of a greater being just seemed really weak, so I gave it up and decided to go with what I COULD see and believe and control.  I guess that that makes me a humanist, though I wouldn't go so far as to say that I'm an atheist, so I guess I'm a agnostic humanist.

[Steven]

Hi, my name is (also) Steve. I'm a 2nd year Arts student. I started university with the intention of doing Asian studies but I just couldn't hack the Japanese language so I switched gears in second term and went into Anthropology which I am currently in and absolutely love. I have wanted to join some kind of student group for awhile but looking over the list, nothing interested me. I came across this group on Facebook and saw you guys were having the first meeting and thought "why not?". The university needs a group like this to provide some balance to all the religion-based groups.

As for my interests, I love music/going to concerts (though not many bands comes through Winnipeg), watching movies, watching t.v. (House )and reading books. I also (try to) play the acoustic guitar.

I am currently "between jobs".

I would consider myself what Richard Dawkins calls "a de facto atheist", that is, while I cannot say with absolute certainty that God does not exist, the probability is so low that I put him in the same category as fairies/leprechauns. I live my life as though God does not exist. I am fortunate to not have had any kind of religious upbringing and so have never really believed in God.

I think it's important to have organizations like this because they provide a social outlet that atheists/agnostics/humanists don't get and religious people do. I also look forward to the variety of people because I think atheists/agnostics/humanists by their nature tend to be more independent thinking than others (maybe).

[bcortens]

Hi, my name is Ben.  I'm a 3rd/4th/5th year UofM science student, however this is only my first year in the department of zoology and am now focussing on a major Zoology degree (Or whatever the department is now being called).
I'm interested in movies, music, computers, books, really all sorts of things.
I am currently not working, but soon going to start looking for something, just something small so I can have some spending money.
I would describe myself as  an atheist, my religious journey is long and I don't feel like retyping it right now so I'll just say I was raised catholic and dropped religion about 3 years ago.

I'm really glad that there is (finally) a student organization for skeptics, religion does seem to play an important social role and discussions on how to create community cohesion without it is a topic I'm interested in.

[shadling21]

Hmmm... Steve Coutts... are you related to a guy named Michael? Who is taking film at the U of M?

In point form, to make it pretty!
- Kayla
- 3rd year Arts student. Film Studies
- Dance, music, film.... that sums it up, I suppose. I like gadgets, too.
- Philosophical stance? I was hoping to find out through discussions with people at MASH. Officially Catholic, but definitely doubting.
- I was attracted to MASH because I am curious about atheism. I hope to meet others who can broaden my view of the world. Having fun would be pretty okay too.
- I work at Music World. But it's now closed and my last day is tomorrow. Anyone know of a cool place that's hiring?
- My day was great, thank you very much. Stayed awake through most classes. Bonded with my soon-to-be-ex-coworkers at Applebees. All in all, twas good.

Nice to "meet" you all. I will try to come out to the next meeting to see all of your beautiful faces.
- Kayla

[Steven]

Hmmm... Steve Coutts... are you related to a guy named Michael? Who is taking film at the U of M?

no i'm not. sorry to disappoint you 

[cold]

I'm Tom
5th year mechanical engineering
I don't have beliefs, I just don't know anything.
I have one question:
At the top of this page a banner sits that says "Manitoban Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists"
I would resemble myself to a skeptic, so what may I ask is the comparison between an Atheist and a skeptic, and that of a Christian and a skeptic?
Aren't we just choosing sides here? Skeptics aren't buddies with atheists, atheists have the same crazy beliefs as Christians only opposite!
Go ask Micheal Shermer of skeptic magazine, atheism is fundamentally no different then Christianity.

I'm just curious, that's all.

Tom

[Admin] Discussion of question moved to http://ummash.org/forum/debate-and-discourse/are-atheism-and-skepticism-mutually-exclusive/0/

[X]

My name?
I am "X".
I saw nothing that said pseudonyms were not permitted, so I'm going to stay hidden behind the (false) anonymity of the internet.

About me?
It is enough to know that I am a current University of Manitoba student, I went to a Catholic elementary school, a public high school and went to a United church until a few years ago.

My beliefs?
Athiest.  Although I find theology to be a fascinating topic.  Particularly the history and formation of Christianity.

My intentions on this forum?
To be a (hopefully) anonymous voice of reason and knowledge.

Cheers, X.