What do you guys do for a living?

[whoosanightowl]

I am just curious (nosey) as to what your occupations are?
Also, what college did you attend and what was your degree(s) in?

[eltraen]

I was also curious as to how you two know one another.

[Emery]

Wow, more opportunity to talk about myself. Score!

I'm a freelance graphic artist, work from home, been doing it since 96. Before that, I worked as a graphic artist for the City of Austin's environmental department.

I got my art degree from the University of Minnesota, then moved to Austin for grad school, but didn't end up going.

I'm going back to school this fall though, and will be studying to be a lawyer. So hopefully if you ask me this question 3 years from now, I can tell you that I'm an attorney. With any luck, maybe I can go work for the ACLU. I'd love to be an atheist lawyer defending the free speech rights of some evangelical church somewhere. Now wouldn't that be a kicker!

[Emery]

I was also curious as to how you two know one another.

One of the church deacons from my old congregation had a "burden" on his soul for me. He and his wife knew someone in Austin who was a minister, and they thought he might be able to re-save me. So they put me in touch with this guy named Matt, who turned out to be a very nice guy. He was a minister at the local EV Free church, and we started to meet and discuss religion. Norton at that time was attending that same church, and happened upon my religion web site. He wrote to me, and we figured out that he was in Austin, and knew Matt. So soon the three of us were going to lunch, and discussing religion. Then Norton moved away to go to seminary, and we continued to write and debate from time to time.

In the meantime, I got involved with the Atheist Experience, an access TV show put on by the local atheist group. It was fun, but I felt the conversations were one sided, as it was just a bunch of atheists talking about stuff, including Christians and their beliefs. Across the hall there was a similar show called Regeneration TV, where local Christians got together and talked about atheists and what they believed in. Having been on both sides of the issue, I could see that neither side was doing a very good job representing what the other believed. So I thought it would be better if there was a show that included both points of view.

About that time I came across a podcast called "The Christian and the Atheist." I thought that was a fabulous idea, and listened to their shows. I decided that this was the format I wanted to use too, so started looking for a Christian that would be interested in doing the show with me. At first I asked Matt, and he was interested, but didn't have much time. Neither did another Christian I knew. So it was time to scrape the bottom of the barrel and try Norton, and voila, Norton has no life, just like me. The rest, as they say, is history...

[whoosanightowl]

Thanks Emery,
I'm glad you ended up getting Norton to be your sidekick, I've heard some of the best stuff is at the bottom of the barrel!
Also, good luck in law school. Hopefully you'll still have time to do this podcast!

Norton,
You haven't told us about yourself yet. Come on, brag a little! You may even be able to top Emerys list of accomplishments!

[Emery]

Norton,
You haven't told us about yourself yet. Come on, brag a little! You may even be able to top Emerys list of accomplishments!

I doubt that, residing as he has been, at the bottom of the barrel...

Thanks for the well wishes, I also hope I'll have time to do this while in school.

[Norton]

Hey Sue,

Just saw this thread, somehow I missed it before. Though I will admit that it's a lot nicer to remain a mystery!!

Well, in a nutshell, I went to Virginia Tech (go Hokies) where I studied mechanical engineering and minored in math and history. I focused on the more theoretical aspects of engineering: fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and mechanical behavior of materials. I graduated (with a BS) and worked at a small consulting firm in Austin, TX designing mechanical systems for large commercial buildings. I even got to help design a Jewish synagogue which was pretty cool. About this time is when I met Emery who also lived in Austin. After a while, I went to work at a church then decided to pursue biblical studies at Denver Seminary. I spent most of my time studying Hebrew, Greek, the Bible, and theology and after three years I got a masters of divinity degree. Then I moved to the Atlanta area where I now work at a church. However, I'm not your typical pastor or church person. Our church has a lot of non-Christians that attend and I help organize small groups of non-Christians and Christians who explore issues of faith together.

So, there you have it.

[spongebob]

Hey Sue,

Just saw this thread, somehow I missed it before. Though I will admit that it's a lot nicer to remain a mystery!!

Well, in a nutshell, I went to Virginia Tech (go Hokies) where I studied mechanical engineering and minored in math and history. I focused on the more theoretical aspects of engineering: fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and mechanical behavior of materials. I graduated (with a BS) and worked at a small consulting firm in Austin, TX designing mechanical systems for large commercial buildings. I even got to help design a Jewish synagogue which was pretty cool. About this time is when I met Emery who also lived in Austin. After a while, I went to work at a church then decided to pursue biblical studies at Denver Seminary. I spent most of my time studying Hebrew, Greek, the Bible, and theology and after three years I got a masters of divinity degree. Then I moved to the Atlanta area where I now work at a church. However, I'm not your typical pastor or church person. Our church has a lot of non-Christians that attend and I help organize small groups of non-Christians and Christians who explore issues of faith together.

So, there you have it.

That sounds interesting. What kind of stuff do the non-Christians do? Are they looking to become Christians or just hanging out with safe people?

[Norton]

SB-

Well, most non-Christians that come to my church are there because they are curious about spiritual issues. Some become Christians, some don't. Some just show up on Sundays, others actually serve in all kinds of ways. Of course, most come, not out of obligation, but because they are impacted in positive ways and their lives, and marriages, and families are the better for it.

Drive over to Atlanta sometime and join us...

Norton

[Emery]

...where I studied mechanical engineering and minored in math and history. I focused on the more theoretical aspects of engineering: fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and mechanical behavior of materials.

showoff.

[Norton]

At least I'm not proudly posting my equation derivations all over the forum like some people do with their artwork...

[Emery]

That's because no one wants to see equation derivations. Sorry, if you ain't got it, you can't flaunt it

[spongebob]

I'm curious, Norton. Do you feel that God wants us humans to be good stewards (whoops) to the environment and find ways to reduce pollution? Or do you feel that its just common sense that we should want to preserve our environment? Or do you reject the strict limitations on pollution as wasteful?

SB

[Norton]

SB,

Wow. Where did those questions come from? Yes, I do believe that environmental issues are pretty important. If God does exist and he created everything, then we're dishonoring him when we don't treat the environment with care. Regarding pollution, you'll have to be more specific. For the most part I think limitations and regulations are a good thing, even if they make it tough on businesses in the short run. Why do you ask?

Norton

[spongebob]

SB,

Wow. Where did those questions come from? Yes, I do believe that environmental issues are pretty important. If God does exist and he created everything, then we're dishonoring him when we don't treat the environment with care. Regarding pollution, you'll have to be more specific. For the most part I think limitations and regulations are a good thing, even if they make it tough on businesses in the short run. Why do you ask?

Norton

This blended over from another thread, Norton. I only asked because I've seen a significant split in Christians where environmentalism is concerned. Most old-time, conservative Christians still seem pretty indifferent to environmentalism and still criticize those who find it an important issue. The younger generation of both Christians and non-Christians are more likely to be supportive of environmental conservatism (basically in line with your comments). Christianity seems to be slowly, but surely incorporating this as a god-driven issue.

For the record, I'm an environmentalist myself, not for religious reasons of course, but because it's going to be hard for people and other animals to live on a poisoned world. I find it a little annoying that religion is now getting into the environmental ballgame and claiming it to be derrived from god when, as I said, conservative Christians have scoffed at it for decades. But I guess it's ok because the end result is good.