Dare Devil Thinking

**The Professor** · 07-14-2012, 08:57 PM

Well, I've always enjoyed hanging out with people that know how to think; but interacting with an entire community of natural inquisitors? I think I might lose myself like a kid in Disney World.

Contrary to what my user name suggests, I'm not a professor. I'm actually a U.S. Airman that earned that call sign down range last year for my know-it-all-ness and a tendency to spout random trivia.

The title of this thread came from one of my favorite inspirational quotes from C.S. Lewis: "Do not dare to not dare."

Since my early teens I've been faced with an identity challenge. Who am I? Who am I supposed to be? Who can I become? Can I change who am now? With the discovery of my bisexuality, some things became more clear and others far more complex; especially when this discovery clashed with my Christian upbringing and more conservative politics. I distanced myself from everyone, liberal and fundamental, for a while so I could learn and discern truths on my own. After a while, the word "truth" became paradoxical. When is it absolute? When is it relative?

Where am I now? I'm still a Christian, and glad to say so. Though I've become very detached from my church. I'm currently writing a fiction novel that helps to convey things I've learned and struggled with, and directly addresses the white elephant in the room in more than one way. I'm buried waste deep in all kinds of studies and research into human sexuality and Biblical studies, sorting through the why's and why-not's. Hopefully I can find more answers here at INTJf.

I look forward to some fascinating dialogues.

**Monte314** · 07-14-2012, 09:00 PM

There are quite few theists here, many of whom are Christians. Welcome to the Forum.

**ButterflyPsyche** · 07-14-2012, 09:07 PM

I was once an extremely devout Christian and was that way for my whole life, but lost my faith about 10 months ago to proclaim myself as an agnostic. This was partly because of my newly realized bisexuality and also partly because of personal tragedy among other things.

I really look forward to what you have to say, just because I miss that part of me. I'm not sure if I'll ever close that door, so I am grateful someone else will be on here that has struggled to understand the truth as well. It's good to not accept answers blindly.

**The Professor** · 07-14-2012, 09:48 PM

@Monte - Thanks for the welcome.

@BP - I agree on not accepting answers blindly, or taking things for granted. Being a military member, the phrase "blind faith", when applied to religious dogma, sounds a lot like "shut up and do it, airman!". I don't challenge Christ or God; I simply challenge those that use Them for their own political gain and societal comfort zones.

**zeroemission** · 07-14-2012, 10:30 PM

wow, don't see much theism

my god only cares what's in the heart & i guess do the right thing is the only commandment.

Cooper · 07-15-2012, 11:08 AM

Welcome to the Alley...

**Bailalobos** · 07-15-2012, 11:57 AM

	Originally Posted by The Professor
	...interacting with an entire community of natural inquisitors? I think I might lose myself like a kid in Disney World

Just so. You'll likely find interacting with "us" will open you up. "We" are so accustomed to "our" hermit condition it's quite empowering to feel connected w/like minds in a low-risk social environment.

	Originally Posted by The Professor
	...my know-it-all-ness and a tendency to spout random trivia.

HA! After finally being conscious of my companions' extravagantly rolling eyes when I held forth, I just keep the conversations in my head. Why cast pearls before swine?

	Originally Posted by The Professor
	After a while, the word "truth" became paradoxical. When is it absolute? When is it relative?

Reality itself is relative (zeroemission, this is NOT a flip gutless axiom ); check out Ortega y Gassett. Here's just a sample: "We are what and where we are."

	Originally Posted by The Professor
	Hopefully I can find more answers here at INTJf.

Don't know about answers, but you WILL find all the stimulating, challenging dialogue you could want.

Welcome!

**zeroemission** · 07-15-2012, 01:07 PM

i don't speak much spanish and avoid other languages here as it's considered bad forum.

3 1/2 years of french, and it never got me laid once

**Bailalobos** · 07-15-2012, 01:54 PM

	Originally Posted by zeroemission
	...3 1/2 years of french, and it never got me laid once

Where did you use it, Mexico? China?

**The Professor** · 07-16-2012, 12:57 AM

	Originally Posted by Bailalobos
	HA! After finally being conscious of my companions' extravagantly rolling eyes when I held forth, I just keep the conversations in my head. Why cast pearls before swine?

Because it's amusing to witness their priceless reactions.

	Originally Posted by zeroemission
	i don't speak much spanish and avoid other languages here as it's considered bad forum. 3 1/2 years of french, and it never got me laid once

I devoted the same amount of time to French, myself, and ended up with the same result.

**kookoonuts** · 07-16-2012, 01:21 AM

I'd love to pick your brain sometime regarding how your analyses led to your pride in faith, whereas mine resulted in deconversion. I'm agnostic, but honestly wish I wasn't.

**Monte314** · 07-16-2012, 01:08 PM

Is that what "picking a brain" sounds like? I was expecting something more along the lines of "eeny meeny mynee moe"...

**kookoonuts** · 07-17-2012, 04:04 PM

	Originally Posted by Monte314
	Is that what "picking a brain" sounds like? I was expecting something more along the lines of "eeny meeny mynee moe"...

I'm thinking more along the lines of spelunking in caves with a pick-ax...

**Monte314** · 07-17-2012, 07:54 PM

Ooh! Do me next!

**CrudeHypothesis** · 07-18-2012, 04:09 AM

Welcome. Maybe you can write some valuable responses to any topics on religion or sexuality from your particular perspective.

**kookoonuts** · 07-18-2012, 01:06 PM

	Originally Posted by Monte314
	Ooh! Do me next!

*nearly spews drink* Thank you for the offer, but I carefully avoid beastiality...

:P

**The Dan Keizer** · 07-18-2012, 01:24 PM

Jesus, I haven't seen this many people in one place be so excited about their bisexuality since I was in Royal Oak back in 1997 or so.

**Monte314** · 07-18-2012, 03:42 PM

	Originally Posted by kookoonuts
	nearly spews drink Thank you for the offer, but I carefully avoid beastiality... :P

... with the pick-axe, silly man! It's brain-pickin' time.

**kookoonuts** · 07-18-2012, 03:54 PM

	Originally Posted by Monte314
	... with the pick-axe, silly man! It's brain-pickin' time.

<sarcastic self-conscious worry>

Just because "nuts" is in my name, doesn't mean I'm male...
Is my face that masculine-appearing? Don't you know gender is one of the first associations we make about humans? Oh my god, I have a boy's mouth. No straight man will ever love me. I have boobs, I tell ya. Not moobs. Boobs. Ok, so they're not firm and perky, but they are real!

I wonder what it is like to have a penis, though...

</sarcastic self-conscious worry>

**Monte314** · 07-18-2012, 04:31 PM

Oh, my! No one likes to hear that they have annoyed someone.

There is clearly only one thing to do...

*dogs puts in ear plugs*

**The Dan Keizer** · 07-18-2012, 07:30 PM

Holy shit Monte have you seen your new avatar? 10/10

**Monte314** · 07-18-2012, 07:58 PM

I seem to have gone over to the dark side for some reason. I suspect it's from having a wall of Estrogen fall on me in the dating fiefdoms.

Hopefully I'll revert before a roving band of HUMORLESS CHIX hunts me down...

What does our new member, The Professor, think about all the gender-based controversy brewing around here? Can wimmins take a joke?

**kookoonuts** · 07-18-2012, 08:34 PM

	Originally Posted by Monte314
	I seem to have gone over to the dark side for some reason. I suspect it's from having a wall of Estrogen fall on me in the dating fiefdoms. Hopefully I'll revert before a roving band of HUMORLESS CHIX hunts me down... What does our new member, The Professor, think about all the gender-based controversy brewing around here? Can wimmins take a joke?

I personally laughed at your "knowing men are jerks" photo. If you think about it, it is more insulting to men than women. Don't know why some people got offended by that.

07-14-2012, 08:57 PM	#1
The Professor New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 8	Well, I've always enjoyed hanging out with people that know how to think; but interacting with an entire community of natural inquisitors? I think I might lose myself like a kid in Disney World. Contrary to what my user name suggests, I'm not a professor. I'm actually a U.S. Airman that earned that call sign down range last year for my know-it-all-ness and a tendency to spout random trivia. The title of this thread came from one of my favorite inspirational quotes from C.S. Lewis: "Do not dare to not dare." Since my early teens I've been faced with an identity challenge. Who am I? Who am I supposed to be? Who can I become? Can I change who am now? With the discovery of my bisexuality, some things became more clear and others far more complex; especially when this discovery clashed with my Christian upbringing and more conservative politics. I distanced myself from everyone, liberal and fundamental, for a while so I could learn and discern truths on my own. After a while, the word "truth" became paradoxical. When is it absolute? When is it relative? Where am I now? I'm still a Christian, and glad to say so. Though I've become very detached from my church. I'm currently writing a fiction novel that helps to convey things I've learned and struggled with, and directly addresses the white elephant in the room in more than one way. I'm buried waste deep in all kinds of studies and research into human sexuality and Biblical studies, sorting through the why's and why-not's. Hopefully I can find more answers here at INTJf. I look forward to some fascinating dialogues.
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07-14-2012, 09:00 PM	#2
Monte314 Core Member [407%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16,286	There are quite few theists here, many of whom are Christians. Welcome to the Forum.
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07-14-2012, 09:07 PM	#3
ButterflyPsyche Member [21%] MBTI: eNFP Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 863	I was once an extremely devout Christian and was that way for my whole life, but lost my faith about 10 months ago to proclaim myself as an agnostic. This was partly because of my newly realized bisexuality and also partly because of personal tragedy among other things. I really look forward to what you have to say, just because I miss that part of me. I'm not sure if I'll ever close that door, so I am grateful someone else will be on here that has struggled to understand the truth as well. It's good to not accept answers blindly.
ButterflyPsyche is offline post a comment

07-14-2012, 09:48 PM	#4
The Professor New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 8	@Monte - Thanks for the welcome. @BP - I agree on not accepting answers blindly, or taking things for granted. Being a military member, the phrase "blind faith", when applied to religious dogma, sounds a lot like "shut up and do it, airman!". I don't challenge Christ or God; I simply challenge those that use Them for their own political gain and societal comfort zones.
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07-14-2012, 10:30 PM	#5
zeroemission Core Member [126%] MBTI: Intx Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 5,070	wow, don't see much theism my god only cares what's in the heart & i guess do the right thing is the only commandment.
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07-15-2012, 11:08 AM	#6
Cooper Core Member [1338%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 53,539	Welcome to the Alley...
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07-15-2012, 01:07 PM	#8
zeroemission Core Member [126%] MBTI: Intx Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 5,070	i don't speak much spanish and avoid other languages here as it's considered bad forum. 3 1/2 years of french, and it never got me laid once
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07-16-2012, 01:21 AM	#11
kookoonuts Member [02%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 95	I'd love to pick your brain sometime regarding how your analyses led to your pride in faith, whereas mine resulted in deconversion. I'm agnostic, but honestly wish I wasn't.
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07-16-2012, 01:08 PM	#12
Monte314 Core Member [407%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16,286	Is that what "picking a brain" sounds like? I was expecting something more along the lines of "eeny meeny mynee moe"...
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07-17-2012, 07:54 PM	#14
Monte314 Core Member [407%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16,286	Ooh! Do me next!
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07-18-2012, 04:09 AM	#15
CrudeHypothesis Veteran Member [74%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,999	Welcome. Maybe you can write some valuable responses to any topics on religion or sexuality from your particular perspective.
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07-18-2012, 01:24 PM	#17
The Dan Keizer Core Member [109%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 4,386	Jesus, I haven't seen this many people in one place be so excited about their bisexuality since I was in Royal Oak back in 1997 or so.
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07-18-2012, 04:31 PM	#20
Monte314 Core Member [407%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16,286	Oh, my! No one likes to hear that they have annoyed someone. There is clearly only one thing to do... dogs puts in ear plugs
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07-18-2012, 07:30 PM	#21
The Dan Keizer Core Member [109%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 4,386	Holy shit Monte have you seen your new avatar? 10/10
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07-18-2012, 07:58 PM	#22
Monte314 Core Member [407%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16,286	I seem to have gone over to the dark side for some reason. I suspect it's from having a wall of Estrogen fall on me in the dating fiefdoms. Hopefully I'll revert before a roving band of HUMORLESS CHIX hunts me down... What does our new member, The Professor, think about all the gender-based controversy brewing around here? Can wimmins take a joke?
Monte314 is offline post a comment