December 2010
46 posts
More on why Bible's God was an insufferable prick...
goodreasonnews:
Of course, I don’t really believe in the story, but look at the character of these characters. Let’s say you’re a parent. Say your child is 5-years-old. You tell your 5-year-old not to eat any of the cookies you just took out of the oven while you go upstairs for a minute. When you come back downstairs one cookie is missing. How do you, as a loving parent who wants to teach a...
goodreasonnews asked: Are you sure that you're not just "Christian" in the sense that you agree with the popular conception of what Jesus' philosophy was?
I wonder if it's not the case that you aren't so concerned with the literal historical event of the life of Jesus (and others) as described in The Bible as you are with the general moral concepts prescribed within.
I wonder if it's not the case that you aren't so concerned with the literal historical event of the life of Jesus (and others) as described in The Bible as you are with the general moral concepts prescribed within.
Fundamentalism and Occam's Razor
“For me, fundamentalism is an attempt to comprehend that which cannot be comprehended, to rationalize the unfathomable, “effing” the ineffable. It is similar to trying to measure the immeasurable or the “indefinitely extensive.” It is the human mind doing what it is supposed to do, making sense of things. But some things are ineffable and attempts to make sense of...
Snarky Christmas Traditions
Favorite moment so far of the holidays: Was discussing religion with one of my extreme right-wing ultra conservative relatives.
Him: The bible is still relevant to our lives today! George W. Bush reads the entire book every year!
Me: Hmm, yeah, and we saw how well that turned out. Guess we better stop reading it.
I have to say, he may be brainwashed by Fox ‘news’, but at least he...
savagemike:
“Since there is nothing to know about god, a comedian knows as much about god as any one else. An atheist however is alone in knowing that there is nothing to know so probably has the edge. An Atheist comedian can make people laugh about belief or lack of it. A good atheist comedian can make people laugh AND think about belief or lack of it. An agnostic would say that since you can...
http://www.cracked.com/article_15759_10-things-christians-atheists-can-and-must-agree-on_p3.html
This is suddenly my favorite person ever.
Reflection
http://www.slate.com/id/2278923/
This article is deeply troubling in that it points out one of the major problems in American culture- we are obsessed with what other people think of us. Superficial appearance, the need to follow certain idealogies in order to be valued by others. Is it any wonder why so many people suffer through eating disorders, fad diets, overmedication, unecessary procedures...
“Since there is nothing to know about god, a comedian knows as much about god as...”
– Rick Gervais’ response to the question, “What does a comedian really know about God anyway?” | The Wall St. Journal (via thenoobyorker)
Um, yeah, that argument is mildly funny at best, and says nothing. Proving the non-existence of something is not possible with classic logic. But guess what?...
constantflux:
(kivateam:therecipe:im-a-crazy-breed)
How the Global Food Market Starves the Poor
This is 9 mins long, and it goes by quickly. I suggest watching this for a quick primer (or refresher) on the global food situation, and there are even a few tidbits of advice on what we, the rich, can do to alleviate some of the horrid conditions elsewhere. However, I have one problem: the video...
Pedophiles Guide author arrested in Colorado |... →
goodreasonnews:
nikkiwiley:
goodreasonnews:
nikkiwiley:
goodreasonnews:
Free speech advocates put to the test. Thoughts?
Speech is only free when it does no harm.
I’m gonna play devil’s advocate with you here.
What about this speech causes harm? I understand some speech can cause harm, like calling for the murder of a political leader or celebrity or something, but consider this. By...
Morality vs Science
http://www.amazon.com/Moral-Landscape-Science-Determine-Values/dp/1439171211 -Book I need to get. I keep hoping that there is some common ground between pure rationality and pure individualistic morality. I.E. that we neither need to rely entirely on logic for everything nor entirely on ‘because I believe it.’
As a side note, if this is the way every atheist argued(so far I know of...
I'm not racist, but...
theworldisnotenough1:
cognitivedissonance:
“Now, I don’t care to discuss the alleged complaints American Indians have against this country. I believe, with good reason, the most unsympathetic Hollywood portrayal of Indians and what they did to the white man. They had no right to a country merely because they were born here and then acted like savages. The white man did not conquer this...
theworldisnotenough1:
logicallypositive:
dofl:
nueve-:
it just really bothers me when people say they hate religion like good grief learn to tolerate things
Amen. I love how the “tolerant” claim that anyone and everyone religious isintolerant. That’s rather intolerant of them.
herp derp this!
There’s a difference between hating religion as a set of beliefs and hating people who...
The Green State: God helps those who help... →
goodreasonnews:
corruptpolitics:
“God helps those who help themselves” is probably the most often quoted phrase that is not found in the Bible. This saying is usually attributed to Ben Franklin, quoted in Poor Richard’s Almanac in 1757. In actuality, it originated from Algernon Sydney in 1698 in an article titled Discourses Concerning Government. Whatever the original source of this saying,...
Study: Fox News Viewers Most Misinformed
greenstate:
liberal-lad:
This is one ranking Fox News doesn’t want to top. Viewers of the top-rated cable news channel are the most ill-informed news consumers out there, according to the University of Maryland. The study, called “Misinformation and the 2010 Election,” found that despite political party, the majority of Fox News viewers erroneously believed statements such as, “Most economists...
Compromise
Heard something interesting regarding the ‘compromise’ tax bill that got signed today. Basically, it was about how thrilled Obama seemed to be to get this done, and it ushered in a new era of bi-partisanship and Christian spirit or some such bullshit. Problem is, it’s not so hard to be bi-partisan when you’re talking about cutting taxes and implementing policies that...
Democrats
Well, it’s been a long time coming, but I’ve decided to renounce my claim to being a democrat. I’m tired of never really supporting candidates that I like or that have anything in common with my views, and justifying it on the grounds of being politically convenient and practical. Every time I identify myself as a democrat lately I just feel a little bit dirtier. They never fight...
savagemike:
“Most epochs are defined by one or another anxiety. More important, though, is the form which that anxiety takes. Millions of Americans are currently worried about two things that are, in their minds, emotionally related. The first of these is the prospect that white people will no longer be the majority in this country, and the second is that the United States will be just one among...
subjective values masquerading as normative claims
theworldisnotenough1:
logicallypositive:
People treat statements on value as if they are normative claims. Nothing could be further from the truth. “Value” in the traditional sense of morality are completely human constructs: without a rational entity to determine a course of action, value judgments would be impossible. For example, a dog cannot assign values of morality to it’s actions,...
The nature of reality
I feel increasingly that there is very little difference between religious faith and subjective experience. Also, this article was interesting, even if their argument for the existence of God is highly flawed, scientifically speaking: http://www.scienceandquran.com/articles/matrix.htm
Reality is highly subjective. We like to think we know the difference between truth and fiction, but our brains...
Emotions: They're Actually Crucial To Making Good... →
stfusexists:
This article was sent to me by mollymillions. It’s a pretty good article that points out that even if we were to buy into the stereotype that all women are more emotional than all men, being emotional does not actual hinder decision-making.
And a good article is often really, really hard to find on Psychology Today. But more on that later.
Much, much later. >:(
Interesting...
Are the American people obsolete? →
theworldisnotenough1:
Globalization has eliminated the first reason for the rich to continue supporting this bargain at the nation-state level, while the privatization of the military threatens the other rationale.
The offshoring of industrial production means that many American investors and corporate managers no longer need an American workforce in order to prosper. They can enjoy their...
Would you like to have a 'religion' directory?
fightthefaith:
I quite often find myself trying to fit in some of the directories. I usually pick politics since it’s partially related to my topic, but it’s not a perfect solution. Why isn’t there a religion directory? I can’t think of a reason other than to avoid controversy. And that’s not right.
So Reblog this if you would like a place to find those blogs you like to read, If you enjoy...
goodreasonnews:
“Not a single time have we gotten a right from Congress or from the President. We get them from God.”
—
Glenn Beck (via reallyfoxnews)
quick question, glenn beck: if you think we don’t get any rights from our government, then why do you think the government owes you anything? and what about when government screws up? isn’t that technically god’s doing as well? and if it’s all...
reallyfoxnews:
““[Liberals] teach our children multiculturalism rather than American culture, revisionist history rather than American history, the thinly disguised religion of secular humanism and extreme environmentalism rather than capitalism. They train our young to criticize America, not celebrate it. They welcome condoms into the classroom but ban God and the Ten Commandments. They...
friendlyatheist asked: Tanks for your comment. :)
Just a quick note. Where do you think fundamentalist christians in the US get their homophobia from? I would argue that the bible. Just like the bigot in the interview.
Just a quick note. Where do you think fundamentalist christians in the US get their homophobia from? I would argue that the bible. Just like the bigot in the interview.
Liberal v. Conservative Christianity
politicalprof:
Some years ago, while I was flipping through TV channels looking for something to watch/kill time with, I stopped for a few minutes on C-SPAN. As it happens, C-SPAN runs a lot of thoughtful, serious programming—although none of it comes from its actual coverage of Congress, of course. In this case, I stopped because a former professor of mine, Jean Bethke Elshtain, who was on my...
liberal-lad:
“Friendly Reminder”: Fox’s Unbalanced Ethics Threaten Democracy
Anyone who still clings to the notion that Fox News is actually a news organization rather than a propaganda machine for special interests — and that it actually is led by journalists who adhere to the code of ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists — must read the leaked memos Media...
theworldisnotenough1:
logicallypositive:
I don’t understand why people debate over whether sexuality is a choice or an inherent trait. It doesn’t fucking matter. Let people sleep with who they want. By emphasizing the debate of nature versus choice, you only contribute to the stupidity surrounding sexuality. Who cares if someones faking it or if someones genuine, who cares of wehther they can...
theworldisnotenough1:
corruptpolitics:
I find it ironic that the same people who call for smaller government want to assassinate the man who exposes big government lies.
How dare you suppose the Tea Party thinks logically.
Really, that’s just insulting. Every tea-partier knows the gut is the source of all knowledge. The brain is just some squishy grey thing.
“The essence of Christianity is told us in the Garden of Eden history. The fruit...”
– Frank Zappa (again)
But who would have wanted to stay? The pursuit of knowledge DOES cause suffering, but it brings positive benefits as well. People seem to take an overly negative view of that story. I see it as you can’t get something from nothing. All the wealth and power of our country...
cocknbull asked: I guess it just seems like such a benign belief. You believe in God--but not that he can be proven to exist. You believe it without reason, and no reason can convince you otherwise. No one can disprove God, because nobody knows enough about his/her/its existence. Does that about sum it up? So why bother believing? Why not believe in things that are known to exist? The universe runs just fine...
Politics
stfuteabaggers:
now that the republicans have their tax cuts, can we blame them when they don’t create the millions of jobs that they’re promising? or will that be obama’s fault too?
It will be Obama’s fault. The deficit will increase, which will be his fault, and lead them to claim that various ‘progressive policies’ need to be cut. They’ll use it against him during...