Sternwallow has shed this mortal coil

[GodlessHeathen]

This is very saddening news. I haven't been as active here as I once was, so I was not aware that Stern was sick. His command of reason and his ability to turn a phrase made his posts a great read. He will be missed.

[Eva]

http://ravingatheists.com/forum/show...ght=sternacuse

[psychodiva]

Eva wrote

http://ravingatheists.com/forum/show...ght=sternacuse

wish i could have been there

[ghoulslime]

Sonnet For An Atheist
By Daniel F Mitchell

O, how free was I when I went my way,
Each dogma cast as grit beneath my tread!
And how the simple facts in order lay,
When rid of every falsehood in my head!
Atheist I am called for my worldview,
Denying lies which render theists blind,
Seeking the path toward all that is true,
With a stalwart heart and resolute mind.
But I have more than rejection of lies
And cowardly comfort of endless breath,
Which religious fools and liars devise
To dull away the sting of certain death.
Rich in the lavish lap of truth I live,
Possessing gifts that gods can never give.

I think this poem sums up my feelings for Sternwallow. He was truly a standard to which we can all measure ourselves by. He was wise, intelligent, intellectually honest, articulate, incisive, bold, and brave! Though I never met him in person, I loved him and considered him to be my friend. He is free now, cosmic dust once more, relegated to an eternity of oblivion. All that he was and all that he might ever have been is gone, but he left a mark on our hearts and minds that will linger for the rest of our days.

It assuages my hurt and loss a measure to reflect on how privileged I was to have known such a remarkable man, but I will surely miss him. He was a better man than I. He faced the inevitable conclusion of his life with dauntless fortitude and fearlessness. It mitigates somewhat my fear of my own mortal demise, to know that when I face the bottomless black hole, he has blazed the trail.

I am certain that Sternwallow would counsel that our mourning is misdirected, that we should instead employ this energy in self-reflection, and endeavor to live our lives to the fullest - that our time is a precious resource, and our mortality is what makes existence so precious.

[Stargazer]

ghoulslime wrote

Sonnet For An Atheist
By Daniel F Mitchell

O, how free was I when I went my way,
Each dogma cast as grit beneath my tread!
And how the simple facts in order lay,
When rid of every falsehood in my head!
Atheist I am called for my worldview,
Denying lies which render theists blind,
Seeking the path toward all that is true,
With a stalwart heart and resolute mind.
But I have more than rejection of lies
And cowardly comfort of endless breath,
Which religious fools and liars devise
To dull away the sting of certain death.
Rich in the lavish lap of truth I live,
Possessing gifts that gods can never give.

I think this poem sums up my feelings for Sternwallow. He was truly a standard to which we can all measure ourselves by. He was wise, intelligent, intellectually honest, articulate, incisive, bold, and brave! Though I never met him in person, I loved him and considered him to be my friend. He is free now, cosmic dust once more, relegated to an eternity of oblivion. All that he was and all that he might ever have been is gone, but he left a mark on our hearts and minds that will linger for the rest of our days.

It assuages my hurt and loss a measure to reflect on how privileged I was to have known such a remarkable man, but I will surely miss him. He was a better man than I. He faced the inevitable conclusion of his life with dauntless fortitude and fearlessness. It mitigates somewhat my fear of my own mortal demise, to know that when I face the bottomless black hole, he has blazed the trail.

I am certain that Sternwallow would counsel that our mourning is misdirected, that we should instead employ this energy in self-reflection, and endeavor to live our lives to the fullest - that our time is a precious resource, and our mortality is what makes existence so precious.

Beautiful, GS.

[Eternal]

Stargazer wrote

Beautiful, GS.

Seconded

[ubs]

Thank you Kate.

[tread softly]

Only just seen this. I am actually crying. He was head and shoulders above me.

[Whisper]

I haven't been around much lately, but Psychodiva let me know what happened - so damn sad. I'll miss his thoughts, his humour, the way he ate the chew-toy's for breakfast. I only knew him through his posts here, but I'm glad I got to know that much.

[Erik]

Terribly sad news, will miss him very much. I can't count how many times I wanted to respond to some post only to find that Sternwallow had already done so, and a thousand times better than I ever could. Such incredible patience he had, too.

[West491]

Erik wrote

I can't count how many times I wanted to respond to some post only to find that Sternwallow had already done so, and a thousand times better than I ever could.

Ditto.

Sometimes I'd get ninja'd and get stuck with my response below his -quite a hard act to follow.

[merkin]

I have been gone for a few days and have just seen this.

I am devastated with the news. Like everyone here I had the greatest respect for the man. I never felt that a thread had been properly and thoroughly hashed out until we found out what Sternwallow had to say about it. And he usually provided the coda, leaving nothing left to say but "well said Sternwallow."

[lostsheep]

I am so, so sorry to hear this news. I am sorry for him, his friends here and elsewhere, and for the fact that I will never get to hear and learn from his unique and intelligent mind again.

[lostsheep]

Stargazer wrote

Beautiful, GS.

ubs wrote

Thank you Kate.

Yes and yes.

[VladTheImpaler]

No!! :'(

Sternwallow was my favourite RA poster; a brilliant man with words. His presence will be greatly missed.

I wish his memory and his close ones all the best.