The_Metatron speaks

[The_Metatron]

Well, not that it's a big deal or anything.

I signed up here when RDF melted down a couple years ago, and from here was directed to RatSkep. I probably haven't visited here twenty times since then, for no good reason. One forum can keep my attention, apparently.

My wife and I started down the path of atheism after the premature death of what would have been our second son. Prior to that, we were fairly (almost said reasonably, there) devout believers in the protestant Christian tradition. My oldest son carries that tradition in his middle name of Christian. We tell him now it was taken from a good friend. That was a pretty emotionally rattling experience, and in our typical search for answers, one of the places we wound up was with Dawkins' book, The God Delusion. Which, as you might expect, un-wound the whole theistic worldview. In fact, it wasn't until we worked our way out of the fog of theism that we actually dealt properly with that death.

A side note here regarding still births: That boy's death was as traumatic to us as would have been the death of a child that had been born alive. We had a name chosen, had made plans for his future, etc. It sucks.

We now have two sons, Primus is eight years old, and Secondus is now five years old. Most of the time, they're good boys.

I have a shelf full of books on atheism, humanism, and rationality now. I've read most of them, too. What we found was that there is not going back to a belief system that has been unraveled so. This forced us to move forward. More of a lengthy journey for my wife than it was for me. But, there was a lot of learning. Then finally came the liberation that comes along with that journey.

Well, that was what started our path to where we are today.

I've had a ton of different hobbies through the years, but don't get a lot of time for any of them now. My boys get most of my attention lately. In order of age, oldest to youngest, I've enjoyed motorcycles, shooting, taking the odd photograph, amateur radio, astronomy, and of late, bicycling. I'm a classical violinist, having played since I was eight years old. I have a collection of twenty or so slide rules. I use a wonderful old Royal manual typewriter to write the odd letter on paper. I shave with an old fashioned double-edged razor, and can hone and use a straight razor as well. I'm sure there are other oddball things I have gotten into over the years, too.

I enlisted in the American Air Force in July 1982, and retired in July 2007. While on active duty, I earned a BSc degree in electronic engineering. After retiring from the force, I accepted a position at the NATO military headquarters (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe), where I am a network engineer. I'm a third of the way through my studies for my MSc degree in the same field.

We've submitted our demands for Belgian naturalization last winter. We have decided this is where our home is, and want to make this permanent. It is all our boys have ever known. They attend the local school a couple hundred meters from our house, and speak French as perfectly as their peers. My wife's French is quite good. Mine, not so much. I'll concentrate on that after I complete my MSc degree.

Some of you have known me for years, as I've had the same username on RDF and RatSkep (where I am one of the moderators), where I can see we have a fair number of common members.

Not too sure how things work around these parts yet. But, I'll see you around.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Welcome. Know any good Mexican restaurants? I want some tequila. (No spitting!)

[redunderthebed]

Welcome do belgians only agree on beer chocolates and the king?

[Cormac]

Welcome Metatron!

Thanks for a very interesting introduction.

My neighbours here started a charity called feileacain (the Irish for Butterflies), specifically for parents who have lost children in stillbirths or neonatal death. It is a really good charity.

I can only imagine what an awful experience that was, and it is no surprise that it caused you to reconsider key aspects of your life.

[JimC]

Welcome to the forum!

[FBM]

Welcome, Metatron! I agree that was a riveting self-intro. We've got a retired military-type person or two lurking around in the shadows. Maybe they will lurch forward shortly and share a salute.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Welcome, Metatron! I agree that was a riveting self-intro. We've got a retired military-type person or two lurking around in the shadows. Maybe they will lurch forward shortly and share a salute.

My brother was in the Air Farce for 27 years. He ain't a member so I can call him an idiot, right?



(Being in the Air Force was coincidental to him being an idiot, not a requirement. )

[FBM]

I know nothing.

[The_Metatron]

We are registered to vote in the local elections this year. Reading about all that has been interesting, too. Lots of party lines split across language lines, which is completely unknown and baffling to me. I did figure out the advantages of a multiple party system of politics over the American two party system with which I am most familiar.

Indeed, they know their way around beer and chocolate here. Not to mention coffee, and the chip (frites, as it's known locally).

Funny thing about the interview with the national police after we submitted our demands for naturalization. The inspector had never even heard of an American family making such a demand. I hope, mainly for my boys' sake, that we are successful.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I would prefer a multi-party system here.

[Rum]

Nice intro there Meta. I hope you find the time to participate in the best mostly atheist forum on the planet.

[Animavore]

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Welcome to Ratz, Metatron. Fascinating intro but you accidentally forgot to mention your views on cheese. Being almost Belgian, you obviously put it on your frites - but a little more detail would be useful.

[Clinton Huxley]

Hello there, old chap.

[orpheus]

You and I have talked a lot on RatSkep, but this is the first I've learned that much about you. Nice intro! If you and your family are ever in New York, I'm taking you to dinner.