Interview with RA

FrostCloud Member Interview [June 2004]
This Month’s Member: RA
Member Profile: http://www.frostcloud.com/forum/member.php?u=526

>1) Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in Ohio, matured in Florida and now live in North
Carolina. I am married and have three teenage children and am a chemist by
trade. The last thirteen years I have worked in chemical sales to Industry
and Pharmaceuticals.

>2) What are some of your favorite books, movies, and music CDs?

I most often read books involving History, Religion, Science and Egyptian
Mythology. I also read Stephen king and Greg Iles.
Growing up in the late sixties and seventies during a music revolution has
created an ability for me to listen to almost anything. However, I do prefer
my music fast and hard. It is interesting that my relationship with my
children in regards to music is way different than with me and my dad. I
often swap CD’s with my son or we burn them for each other. My dad listened
to Otis Redding whom I could not connect with at that young age.
We watched the Lord of the rings, Return of the King the other night. Good
movie but they could have cut about 30 minutes out of it.

>3) What’s the meaning behind your username, “RA?” Why did you choose it?

RA is simply the pronunciation for Re. Re was the supreme solar deity in
Egyptian Mythology that existed since the beginning of time. Thus, “The
original sun god”.
A friend once said to me “Imagine the very first person that claimed there
is a god”. The question stuck and I have not stopped trying to find the
original source of god ever since. Thus far my studies have carried me to Re
as the primary god or first god ever. So I choose to be Re, “RA“.

>4) Do you have any personal heroes and/or role models?

My heroes are the men and women that fight nonviolently for the rights of
others no matter what the cost to themselves. An Example from the US would
be Martin Luther King. Truly an incredible man whom would not stand down
against the extreme hate and prejudice of others. He changed the social
fabric of America in a positive way and paid with his life.
A recent hero of mine is the mayor of San Francisco whom took a stand for
gay Marriage putting his career at risk and faced possible jail time. He was
doing what he believed was the right an honorable thing to do for the sake
of humanity despite the horrible religious backlash.

>5) You describe yourself as an atheist and I’m sure you know that the
>overwhelming majority of people in the United States are religious. As an
>American, do you feel frustrated by this?

I am frustrated that religious people think they have the only answer to the
worlds oldest question of “Why are we here and what is our purpose, if
any?” Then they feel the need to convert everyone and chastise anyone that
will not conform. Long ago people that did not conform paid with their lives
yet this history is completely ignored by the religious.
My daughter is experiencing this now in school. Several of her friends feel
this intense need to “save” her. Especially since they found out her dad was
an Atheist. They keep harping and I have noticed she is starting to change
her circle of friends.
I see this as harassment and a form of hate. People need to just be people
and accept one another. This is my primary goal.
I have noticed some religious on frost cloud are at least willing to look at
the other side and accept that others have differing opinions despite how
misguided they may think those opinions are.

>6) Why do you think so many people believe in God?

Religion is a part of our everyday lives. From birth to death and in
between. Symbols, signs, and slogans are everywhere. Try to get through the
day without seeing a church or billboard or hearing any verbal references to
god. People believe this is evidence of god himself! They do not know any
better and simply do not care to take the scholarly road and find out about
that which they worship.
Try getting rid of god from your life. I bet almost all Atheists have been
through a transgression of first dismissing their religion and eventually
all religions, then becoming Agnostic and trying to explain god in some
scientific terms or other worldly terms before accepting Atheism.

>7) Do you think religion is dangerous?

The religious mind set can be very dangerous. The history of religion shows
us the violence and bloodshed it has caused and still is today. These
Islamic extremist blowing themselves up are doing it for Allah. They are
told that they are fighting for Allah and Allah has a special place for
them. This case is not all political as some might think.

>8) What beholds the future of humanity? In other words, what’s your outlook
>of life for future generations?

I try to be as optimistic as possible about the future of humanity. The
computer age and www have changed life dramatically throughout the world.
The pace and distribution of knowledge has accelerated at a rapid rate. It
is interesting to live during this information explosion.
I hope to raise my children to be able to face the demands of life. They
are facing a true global economy. Barriers are being broken down and
business as we know it has changed and is still changing. My advise to young
people is learn Chinese.

>9) Anything else you like to say to the members of FrostCloud?

My wife also participates in this forum. Everyone has become like our
neighbors and friends. We talk about it as if we “really” know everyone and
in a sense do. You eventually glean enough information to know where people
live, their age, marital and job status and of course their views and
opinions. All through electronics. Interesting. Now let’s go type.