I was born into a Christian fundamentalist, young-earth Creationist, die-hard Republican home. I grew up in a church where people spoke in tongues, had “faith healings”, made “prophecies”, and people were “slain in the spirit”. (Like this and this.) I went to a Christian school and Christian college. But, I am none of those things. I started having creeping doubts in high-school, and by the end of college (a Christian college), I was a closet atheist. I am a single 30-something evolutionist, agnostic/atheist, and moderate-democrat. (And, no, I don’t go out of my way to antagonize or advertise my beliefs to my family. In fact, I tend to avoid those discussions, because, well, what’s the point?)
The title image is copyright nellring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80415664@N00/), and is available under an attribution license.
A namsake whoe thinks the way I do. When you consider how unusual our last name is,what are the odds? I was raised in the Catholic cult and reached the same conclusions you have.
Hi Matt. Thanks for the feedback. I’m not sure what you mean by “When you consider how unusual our last name is,what are the odds?” My last name isn’t Schorr or anything similar to it. Perhaps someone named “Schorr” linked to my blog, and you thought it was his blog?
Nice to have stumbled upon your blog – glad to know another anti-creationism and atheist around. I am looking forward to read your posts on a regular basis because you properly know the fundamentalists and/or creationists mindset initimately, given that you grew up in such an environment… it is always nice to hear the stories and opinions of people like you.
frog,
this is really a good, well written blog. Please keep it up!
I’m really enjoying your blog.
Please drop me an email if you would.
Great blog. I”m adding you to my favorites. But I am curious about your educational/occupational background.
Aaron
Hi Aaron. My educational background is computer science and pre-med. I currently write software.
hi tinyfrog,
just read some of your book reviews, great stuff !
Keept it up,
cheers
Sed
-t, sorry
Here via a recommendation through Google Reader.
I’m definitely subscribing; you’ve got some AWESOME stuff here!
Cool frog…I like it.
I read your blog fairly regularly and I’m also involved in an atheist lending team on Kiva. I’m not sure if you know what Kiva is. If you don’t, I think you should. Anyway I thought you might be interested so check out the link.
http://www.kiva.org/
I figure the more I can promote such a good cause the better and what better place for an atheist like me to promote it than here.
> Re: http://www.kiva.org
Huh. That’s pretty cool.
tinyfrog,
I live in Denver and have a similar background to yours. I’m now finishing my PhD in computational neuroscience at the Health Sciences Center. Send an email if you’d like to hook up or talk more.
Tom
Re: Tom
Very cool. Maybe I’ll get ahold of you later.
I just found your website after searching for reviews about the film “The Case For Faith” and I have to thank you. Well thought out and articulate. I’ll bookmark this blog and visit often!
Thanks, debg.
OMG! I LOVE your writing! I stumbled across a link via a random comment on Hemant’s Friendly Atheist site and I’ve just been reading page after page of your review of Lee Strobel’s TCFF. My favorite is your review of chapter 5!
Our backgrounds are freakishly similiar! I grew up Assemblies of God, fundamentalist Christian family and K-12 Christian school. I attended an Assemblies of God college for 3 semesters and that was the beginning of my journey away from Christianity. I’m sorry to hear you endured a whole 4 years of christian college. That couldn’t have been much fun.
I loved your commentary about how “demanding” xianity is. The A/G was pretty hard on me mentally, but I’d say Islam is pretty demanding too. MUCH more so than any mainline Christian church could imagine being. Most Christians wouldn’t know what to do with themselves if they had to fast during the day for a month straight! Or pray five times a day in Arabic facing a certain direction after washing rituals.
I am now a huge fan! Your work deserves a wider audience!
I’m atheist, btw. My post makes me look like a Muslim. Sorry.
Thanks, Amy! Glad to hear you like it. Did I mention previously that I grew up in an Assemblies of God? If not, well, now you know. (And sorry for the late response.)
Hi tinyfrog.
I want to ask you something by email.
Can you publish your email? Or send me a blank one.
Sam
It’s not something you want to post?
Hello,
May I use your piece on the Muslim Demographics? Full credit will be given to you of course as well as linking to your article/site.
Thank you,
Amir
Sure. You can use any information on this website. All I ask is attribution.
Dear tinyfrog,
I appreciate this wonderful gesture. Consider it done.
You did a marvelous job on this piece.
Great work and keep up the good job.
tinyfrog, I would like to know how you created the timeline for the 5 September 2007 Creationism versus Archaeology post?
godanov
Which part? The Biblical history timeline, or the archeology timeline?
The archeology information comes from a variety of sources. Some of the links are posted there (http://nefertiti.iwebland.com/dynasties.htm). Those timelines were originally constructed through written histories of Egypt. This was done by archeologists in the early 20th century. These numbers were then rechecked by carbon dating after it was discovered in the late 1940s.
Here’s an example of matching up historical and radiocarbon (which helps us verify that carbon dating is accurate):
“[The creator of carbon dating, Willard Libby] first demonstrated the accuracy of radiocarbon dating by accurately measuring the age of wood from an ancient Egyptian royal barge whose age was known from historical documents.”
The Biblical information comes from the Bible. I can track down the individual verses that talk about who fathered who all the way down to the Jews entering Egypt. A number of young earth creationists have done the same thing and come up with similar dates.
Could you send me an email?
Hello,
We are a non-profit religious organization that has set a simple goal of buying the soul of atheists.
We would like to purchase your soul for a symbolic value (1$ – we can paypal it to you or send it via credit card – if you wish we can donate it to a charity of your choice). All we need is a scanned document saying “I [name] hereby sell my soul to Project Souls” (you can customize it any way you want).
You affirm that the soul does no exist and therefore would have absolutely no problem selling us this ‘thing’. If you don’t hold any value to the soul, then ‘put your money where your mouth is’ and sell it to us!
Please send us the scanned document or any questions to admin@projectsouls.info . Thank you very much.
NOTE : We are sorry that this is not a personalized message (we sent the same message to a group of self-proclaimed atheists) but if you reply we will gladly sent you a more personal message. Thank you.