I recently watched the short film by Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders.
It’s posted at ReligiousFreaks.com
Islam, like all religions has been created by humans and because Islam is strongest in a part of the world that is still somewhat of a “frontier” land its religion reflects that. By western standards the Middle East has a rather lawless and barbaric side to it. You can ignore this if you wish but it’s still true. How many people were beheaded in the west by westerners in the last few years?
The problem is however cause and effect.
Does Islam make people violent?
Or is Islam violent because it’s a creation of violent people?
I suggest the latter.
If I pick up a rock from the ground that rock has no violence in it. If however, I swing it through the air and land a cracking blow to someones head and they die they were just killed by a rock.
Except of course they weren’t killed by a rock at all. The rock was merely a tool, an inanimate object possessing all the attributes of a weapon but only became a weapon in the hands of a violent person.
Islam is a violent religion because it was written by and is now practiced by violent people.
Some violent people.
It’s the people that are the problem and blaming everything on a religion is like blaming a rock.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Expelled. No intelligence used.
Oh dear, what a shame for these poor film makers.
Their propaganda piece touting creationism is getting ripped to shreds.
Read more…
Their propaganda piece touting creationism is getting ripped to shreds.
Read more…
Saturday, March 22, 2008
When you know you've won.
You know when you have won an argument with a believer?
It’s when they say one of two things. Either they know they have lost the argument (Which they ALWAYS DO) and they call you arrogant.
The choice therefore becomes this.
Arrogant
Or
Ignorant.
If I have to choose one or the other I certainly choose arrogant.
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not at all arrogant but if dems da choices that’s mine.
The other clear sign that you’ve won is when they pathetically bring up Pasqual’s Wager.
I do this. I write these two things on a piece of paper at the outset and have someone hold it while the argument is under way. When I have beaten my opponent into a pitiful loss and they are sniveling on the floor with tears in their eyes, whimpering about arrogance or Pasqual’s Wager and hoping for a miracle from their non existent god, I smile triumphantly ask the piece of paper to be read.
You know, now that I think about it, maybe I am arrogant.
AND IT FEELS GOOOOOD!
It’s when they say one of two things. Either they know they have lost the argument (Which they ALWAYS DO) and they call you arrogant.
The choice therefore becomes this.
Arrogant
Or
Ignorant.
If I have to choose one or the other I certainly choose arrogant.
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not at all arrogant but if dems da choices that’s mine.
The other clear sign that you’ve won is when they pathetically bring up Pasqual’s Wager.
I do this. I write these two things on a piece of paper at the outset and have someone hold it while the argument is under way. When I have beaten my opponent into a pitiful loss and they are sniveling on the floor with tears in their eyes, whimpering about arrogance or Pasqual’s Wager and hoping for a miracle from their non existent god, I smile triumphantly ask the piece of paper to be read.
You know, now that I think about it, maybe I am arrogant.
AND IT FEELS GOOOOOD!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Excellent News!!
I blogged about something like this in April of 2006.
"Become a plaintiff in the greatest mass filing of lawsuits the earth has ever seen."
Have you ever purchased a religious product or service? Ever paid a "tithe", sowed a "faith seed", or given a "love gift"? Ever donated money to a church, ministry, religious leader, or televangelist? Missed out on an inheritance, because a parent or relative gave money or willed their estate to a church, religion, or religious leader?
Has a religion, church, or televangelist made any false, misleading, or deceptive claims or representations? Statements that may have influenced your decision to purchase a product or service ... or to give your money?
It's time to get your money back.
Vists the website.
I really hope this works.
"Become a plaintiff in the greatest mass filing of lawsuits the earth has ever seen."
Have you ever purchased a religious product or service? Ever paid a "tithe", sowed a "faith seed", or given a "love gift"? Ever donated money to a church, ministry, religious leader, or televangelist? Missed out on an inheritance, because a parent or relative gave money or willed their estate to a church, religion, or religious leader?
Has a religion, church, or televangelist made any false, misleading, or deceptive claims or representations? Statements that may have influenced your decision to purchase a product or service ... or to give your money?
It's time to get your money back.
Vists the website.
I really hope this works.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A one word description of believers.
There is a word that perfectly describes people who believe in god.
It’s not a bad word but it’s certainly not a good one either. This word is not by any means a swear word in fact I’ve used it before in an affectionate way to describe friends.
I wouldn’t want this word directed at me but I’m sure that there have been times in the past when it could have been and I would have temporally deserved it.
The word is Gullible.
To believe all the fairy tale stories religious people are required to believe they must have a very high gullibility level.
It’s not a bad word but it’s certainly not a good one either. This word is not by any means a swear word in fact I’ve used it before in an affectionate way to describe friends.
I wouldn’t want this word directed at me but I’m sure that there have been times in the past when it could have been and I would have temporally deserved it.
The word is Gullible.
To believe all the fairy tale stories religious people are required to believe they must have a very high gullibility level.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Immortality. It just goes on too long.
As I argued with someone recently that god is a man made myth, created by humans for various reasons it slowly began to dawn on me why this person had no intention of believing any of my points.
For them to do so, they would have to give up the greatest belief of all.
Immortality.
They simply were not able to accept that this life is all we have and that when we die that’s IT!
They would listen to my evidence, logic and reason with a completely deaf hear allowing nothing I said to permeate their indoctrinated mind.
As an atheist I know that I need to enjoy this life because it’s all I have.
For them to do so, they would have to give up the greatest belief of all.
Immortality.
They simply were not able to accept that this life is all we have and that when we die that’s IT!
They would listen to my evidence, logic and reason with a completely deaf hear allowing nothing I said to permeate their indoctrinated mind.
As an atheist I know that I need to enjoy this life because it’s all I have.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Mother Theresa's doubts.
The actor Tim Robbins was heard to defend Mother Theresa when, on his television show, Bill Maher brought up the subject of her recent diary admissions that she had doubts about the existence of god.
Tim Robbins quoted the line of all the faithful that, in effect states “To be faithful is by definition to be doubtful and that all religious people have, at one time or another, had doubts.”
This is fine if you a member of the public but if you are a member of an organization that collects money from people based on your teachings and sermons about the existence of god you had better have no doubts at all.
None.
You can’t take money from people and be unsure if god even exists. That is called “swindling” As a church leader, as soon as you hear a little voice in your head say “Is this all a croc? Is there really a god or is my whole life based on a lie?” you need to either announce that to your congregation so they can make an informed decision as to whether or not they want to keep funding your lifestyle or immediately resign.
If you keep these doubts to yourself you are taking other peoples money under false pretenses. A very serious crime indeed.
Mother Theresa was, at the very least, a hypocrite. She had her own private misgivings but kept them to herself and let the Catholic church keep collecting their weekly offerings.
Shameful!
Tim Robbins quoted the line of all the faithful that, in effect states “To be faithful is by definition to be doubtful and that all religious people have, at one time or another, had doubts.”
This is fine if you a member of the public but if you are a member of an organization that collects money from people based on your teachings and sermons about the existence of god you had better have no doubts at all.
None.
You can’t take money from people and be unsure if god even exists. That is called “swindling” As a church leader, as soon as you hear a little voice in your head say “Is this all a croc? Is there really a god or is my whole life based on a lie?” you need to either announce that to your congregation so they can make an informed decision as to whether or not they want to keep funding your lifestyle or immediately resign.
If you keep these doubts to yourself you are taking other peoples money under false pretenses. A very serious crime indeed.
Mother Theresa was, at the very least, a hypocrite. She had her own private misgivings but kept them to herself and let the Catholic church keep collecting their weekly offerings.
Shameful!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Why gods zombie hoards hate gays.
I met a gay person recently. Nicest person you could ever meet and the first one I have ever really talked to about life, god and the universe and I came to this conclusion. The reason religious people believe that homosexuality is a personal choice is because, if it’s not, it throws all their beliefs about god being omnipotent into doubt.
If it’s not a choice that means one of two things:
Either god created them that way and that means that he obviously condones homosexuality or
He didn’t create them that way and that means that god is not infallible. He makes mistakes.
Neither one of these is acceptable to the religious and so it has to be the fault of the gay person. It was very clear to me that my homosexual friend had no control over what turned him on. His best friend is an extremely attractive blond girl who made my pulse rate rise and my heart rate soar. Two physical things over which I had no control at all. But for him she was simply a friend. He neither had nor ever wanted to have any sexual contact with her even though he loves her dearly as a friend.
If it’s not a choice that means one of two things:
Either god created them that way and that means that he obviously condones homosexuality or
He didn’t create them that way and that means that god is not infallible. He makes mistakes.
Neither one of these is acceptable to the religious and so it has to be the fault of the gay person. It was very clear to me that my homosexual friend had no control over what turned him on. His best friend is an extremely attractive blond girl who made my pulse rate rise and my heart rate soar. Two physical things over which I had no control at all. But for him she was simply a friend. He neither had nor ever wanted to have any sexual contact with her even though he loves her dearly as a friend.
Man cuts off his penis ‘to stop him sinning’
31 August 2007
SALAMANCA – A man cut off his own penis and threw it in a toilet ‘so he would stop sinning’.
The 30-year-old was recovering in the Hospital Clinico Universitario in Salamanca in western Spain.
Doctors said his condition was ‘stable’ and he was not in danger of losing his life.
The man, from Salamanca, cut off his penis with a knife on Thursday morning.
The local newspaper La Gaceta reported when relatives called emergency services, he told ambulance workers he did it “so would not sin any more”.
Read the story here:
SALAMANCA – A man cut off his own penis and threw it in a toilet ‘so he would stop sinning’.
The 30-year-old was recovering in the Hospital Clinico Universitario in Salamanca in western Spain.
Doctors said his condition was ‘stable’ and he was not in danger of losing his life.
The man, from Salamanca, cut off his penis with a knife on Thursday morning.
The local newspaper La Gaceta reported when relatives called emergency services, he told ambulance workers he did it “so would not sin any more”.
Read the story here:
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Religion causes harm, says poll
NEARLY half the British think that religion is harmful, according to a poll carried out by YouGov.
Read the story here.
Read the story here.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Friday, August 31, 2007
New item for sale on eBay soon.
Up for auction is a guaranteed place in heaven.
As a close personal friend of Jesus and someone who talks to him every day I am in the unique position of being able to offer you a place at his side for all eternity. Don’t worry about where you will spend your afterlife because of a few Earthly indiscretions committed during your youth (or even recently). A good word from me will assure your place right next to Jesus and just a stones throw from God himself. In fact, once I have put your name on the list, you can continue to perform all the indiscretions you want.
Learn to play the harp as one of Jesus’ favored few. Sing hymns in perfect pitch all day every day. Don’t worry about going to the bathroom ever again. And men, those nasty erections will be a thing of the past.
You could go to church every Sunday and spend tens of thousands of dollars and countless boring hours ensuring your place in the after life but why bother? Stay home and watch TV instead, comfortable in the knowledge that when you finally shed your mortal coil you’ll ascend to heaven on a fast track to the savior himself.
Of course if Jesus isn’t your particular deity I also know Allah, Buddha and many others.
This offer is absolutely and unconditionally guaranteed and if, in the unlikely event, you don’t make it to heaven I offer a full and complete refund. No questions asked.
What have you got to loose?
<-------- End Ebay Auction -------->
Follow the thread here at atheists.com
As a close personal friend of Jesus and someone who talks to him every day I am in the unique position of being able to offer you a place at his side for all eternity. Don’t worry about where you will spend your afterlife because of a few Earthly indiscretions committed during your youth (or even recently). A good word from me will assure your place right next to Jesus and just a stones throw from God himself. In fact, once I have put your name on the list, you can continue to perform all the indiscretions you want.
Learn to play the harp as one of Jesus’ favored few. Sing hymns in perfect pitch all day every day. Don’t worry about going to the bathroom ever again. And men, those nasty erections will be a thing of the past.
You could go to church every Sunday and spend tens of thousands of dollars and countless boring hours ensuring your place in the after life but why bother? Stay home and watch TV instead, comfortable in the knowledge that when you finally shed your mortal coil you’ll ascend to heaven on a fast track to the savior himself.
Of course if Jesus isn’t your particular deity I also know Allah, Buddha and many others.
This offer is absolutely and unconditionally guaranteed and if, in the unlikely event, you don’t make it to heaven I offer a full and complete refund. No questions asked.
What have you got to loose?
<-------- End Ebay Auction -------->
Follow the thread here at atheists.com
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
I laughed so hard I couldn't see straight!
This is not what this blog is about at all but I thought you might get as big a laugh from this as I did!
A CREATIONIST FAQ
By Richard Harter
Q: What is the principle evidence for Creationism?
A: The Holy Bible, of course. After all, is it likely that the author of the Universe would be mistaken about its age?
Q: But isn’t the Bible religion and not science?
A: Truth is truth. It’s a poor sort of science that ignores truth.
Q: But isn’t there a lot of evidence for evolution?
A: Not really, most of it is from university professors writing papers for each other. If they didn’t write papers they wouldn’t have jobs.
Q: How big was Noah’s ark?
A: Big enough.
Q: But what about radioactive dating?
A: Hey, everybody knows that stuff is bad for you. Stick with good Christian girls.
Q: What about the fossil evidence?
A: The real fossils are university professors writing papers for each other.
Q: Is there any other evidence for creationism besides the Bible?
A: Yes.
Q: Can you give us some?
A: Yes.
Q: Could you give us a specific example?
A: Yes.
Q: What would be a specific example of evidence for Creationism?
A: I’ve already answered that question.
Q: What about the Antarctic ice core data?
A: Now I put it to you. Coop up a bunch of men in a Quonset hut in the worst weather in the world, with nothing to do but gather data and drink, and what do you expect?
Q: Did the dinosaurs coexist with man?
A: Look, the liberals were preaching coexistence with the Communists, and you saw what happened to them.
Q: Should Creationism be taught along with Evolution in the schools?
A: Creationism should be taught instead of Evolution in the schools.
Q: Doesn’t the Geologic Column prove that the Earth is very old?
A: The geologic column proves that some things are on top of other things and some things are underneath other things. But we already knew that, didn’t we.
Q: Hasn’t evolution been demonstrated in the Laboratory?
A: Students are demonstrating everywhere these days. To their shame, many professors are demonstrating also.
Q: Aren’t Hawiian wallabies an example of Evolution in action?
A: No.
Q: Why not?
A: Because they aren’t.
Q: What is a kind?
A: A kind is cards of the same rank. Thus 4 aces and a king are four of a kind, but four spades and a heart are not.
Q: Doesn’t genetic variation indicate that life has been going on a long time?
A: Let’s be up front about this. That’s deviation, not variation, and yes, there is a lot of deviancy out there. That just shows that there has been a lot of Sin since the garden of Eden.
Q: What about Neanderthal Man?
A: Hey, you take one of those geezers and put him in tweeds and give him a pipe and he could be a professor anywhere.
Q: Some scientists state that the earth’s continents are drifting around on top of a molten interior which has shaped life as we see it now. Are they right?
A: As you well know the Bible says that beneath the surface of the earth is Hell where there is eternal fires and brimstone. If the continents appear to be moving around that is Satan’s doing.
Q: Why do almost all of the scientists believe in Evolution?
A: The real scientists don’t. As for the rest of them, that’s a very good question, isn’t it?
Q: Are you talking about a Satanic conspiracy?
A: Did I say anything about a conspiracy? You might want to think about the shape the world is in since the Evolutionists and the Liberal Humanists captured academia and how Evolution is hand in hand with Godless Communism and crime in the streets but I certainly wouldn’t want to say anything about a Satanic conspiracy. I just want you to think about it with an open mind.
Richard Harter is an eclectic auto-didact, a man of letters and software. By turns a mathematician, a software maven, and an entrepeneur, he has retired to the wilds where he tends his garden and his web site. He has a keen interest in science, the philosophy of science, and science fiction, and professes to have the wit not to confuse the three
Q: What is the principle evidence for Creationism?
A: The Holy Bible, of course. After all, is it likely that the author of the Universe would be mistaken about its age?
Q: But isn’t the Bible religion and not science?
A: Truth is truth. It’s a poor sort of science that ignores truth.
Q: But isn’t there a lot of evidence for evolution?
A: Not really, most of it is from university professors writing papers for each other. If they didn’t write papers they wouldn’t have jobs.
Q: How big was Noah’s ark?
A: Big enough.
Q: But what about radioactive dating?
A: Hey, everybody knows that stuff is bad for you. Stick with good Christian girls.
Q: What about the fossil evidence?
A: The real fossils are university professors writing papers for each other.
Q: Is there any other evidence for creationism besides the Bible?
A: Yes.
Q: Can you give us some?
A: Yes.
Q: Could you give us a specific example?
A: Yes.
Q: What would be a specific example of evidence for Creationism?
A: I’ve already answered that question.
Q: What about the Antarctic ice core data?
A: Now I put it to you. Coop up a bunch of men in a Quonset hut in the worst weather in the world, with nothing to do but gather data and drink, and what do you expect?
Q: Did the dinosaurs coexist with man?
A: Look, the liberals were preaching coexistence with the Communists, and you saw what happened to them.
Q: Should Creationism be taught along with Evolution in the schools?
A: Creationism should be taught instead of Evolution in the schools.
Q: Doesn’t the Geologic Column prove that the Earth is very old?
A: The geologic column proves that some things are on top of other things and some things are underneath other things. But we already knew that, didn’t we.
Q: Hasn’t evolution been demonstrated in the Laboratory?
A: Students are demonstrating everywhere these days. To their shame, many professors are demonstrating also.
Q: Aren’t Hawiian wallabies an example of Evolution in action?
A: No.
Q: Why not?
A: Because they aren’t.
Q: What is a kind?
A: A kind is cards of the same rank. Thus 4 aces and a king are four of a kind, but four spades and a heart are not.
Q: Doesn’t genetic variation indicate that life has been going on a long time?
A: Let’s be up front about this. That’s deviation, not variation, and yes, there is a lot of deviancy out there. That just shows that there has been a lot of Sin since the garden of Eden.
Q: What about Neanderthal Man?
A: Hey, you take one of those geezers and put him in tweeds and give him a pipe and he could be a professor anywhere.
Q: Some scientists state that the earth’s continents are drifting around on top of a molten interior which has shaped life as we see it now. Are they right?
A: As you well know the Bible says that beneath the surface of the earth is Hell where there is eternal fires and brimstone. If the continents appear to be moving around that is Satan’s doing.
Q: Why do almost all of the scientists believe in Evolution?
A: The real scientists don’t. As for the rest of them, that’s a very good question, isn’t it?
Q: Are you talking about a Satanic conspiracy?
A: Did I say anything about a conspiracy? You might want to think about the shape the world is in since the Evolutionists and the Liberal Humanists captured academia and how Evolution is hand in hand with Godless Communism and crime in the streets but I certainly wouldn’t want to say anything about a Satanic conspiracy. I just want you to think about it with an open mind.
Richard Harter is an eclectic auto-didact, a man of letters and software. By turns a mathematician, a software maven, and an entrepeneur, he has retired to the wilds where he tends his garden and his web site. He has a keen interest in science, the philosophy of science, and science fiction, and professes to have the wit not to confuse the three
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
My CNN I report on "How strong is your faith?"
We all live by faith. Everyone of us. As an atheist I have faith in all kinds of things because faith is believing in something for which there is no proof.
I have no proof that pixies don’t exist but I have faith that they don’t. Just like I have faith that there are no invisible fairies hiding in the clouds. There is an endless number of things for which we have no proof. Most people believe that their spouse is not cheating on them. We don’t have solid proof that they are not because we can’t watch their actions 24 hours a day (nor should we of course) which is why, if they have been cheating, it’s called being un-faithful.
What I refuse to do is have faith in something for which there is no proof at all. God for example.
With a spouse there is a track record that one can refer back to. She or he has told you on many occasions that they love only you and that there is no one else and their actions toward you indicate that is true. If you start to see evidence to the contrary your faith in your spouse will start to slip.
I have never seen a pixie and there is no recorded evidence of human-pixie contact. Unless of course you believe some story books.
I have never seen god and there is no recorded evidence of human-god contact. Unless of course you believe some story books such as the Bible and the Koran etc.
There is enormous amount of evidence that shows mankind has, all through out our history, created many many gods to explain things that we simply didn’t understand because our comprehension of the natural world was limited. Things like thunder, lightning, the northern lights, earthquakes. These are all things that we know now are just natural events of weather and plate tectonics but to early humans they couldn’t have been anything else than a god or gods.
Rain is another superb example. We need water to live and we have to carry it back to our villages. It’s heavy. We also know that it falls from out of the sky. That would be, to people with no understanding of water vapour and clouds, proof that there is something up there capable of holding all that weight until it’s time to let it fall to earth.
I win all the discussions I have against with people who believe in god and their entire argument always comes down to one thing. Pasqual’s wager.
Submit your report to CNN here:
http://www.cnn.com/exchange/ireports/topics/forms/2007/07/faith.html
I have no proof that pixies don’t exist but I have faith that they don’t. Just like I have faith that there are no invisible fairies hiding in the clouds. There is an endless number of things for which we have no proof. Most people believe that their spouse is not cheating on them. We don’t have solid proof that they are not because we can’t watch their actions 24 hours a day (nor should we of course) which is why, if they have been cheating, it’s called being un-faithful.
What I refuse to do is have faith in something for which there is no proof at all. God for example.
With a spouse there is a track record that one can refer back to. She or he has told you on many occasions that they love only you and that there is no one else and their actions toward you indicate that is true. If you start to see evidence to the contrary your faith in your spouse will start to slip.
I have never seen a pixie and there is no recorded evidence of human-pixie contact. Unless of course you believe some story books.
I have never seen god and there is no recorded evidence of human-god contact. Unless of course you believe some story books such as the Bible and the Koran etc.
There is enormous amount of evidence that shows mankind has, all through out our history, created many many gods to explain things that we simply didn’t understand because our comprehension of the natural world was limited. Things like thunder, lightning, the northern lights, earthquakes. These are all things that we know now are just natural events of weather and plate tectonics but to early humans they couldn’t have been anything else than a god or gods.
Rain is another superb example. We need water to live and we have to carry it back to our villages. It’s heavy. We also know that it falls from out of the sky. That would be, to people with no understanding of water vapour and clouds, proof that there is something up there capable of holding all that weight until it’s time to let it fall to earth.
I win all the discussions I have against with people who believe in god and their entire argument always comes down to one thing. Pasqual’s wager.
Submit your report to CNN here:
http://www.cnn.com/exchange/ireports/topics/forms/2007/07/faith.html
Monday, August 27, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
I predict another attack.
I predict that. Sometime before the next election, we are in for an attack similar to 911.
It won’t be as dramatic and devastating as the destruction of the World Trade Center towers but I won’t need to be.
All Bush has to do this time is kill everyone in a McDonalds.
That will be enough for him to terrify the nation into voting Republican.
He knows that he has so destroyed the country’s support for Republicans that something drastic has to happen.
I’m not accusing the Bush regime of being behind the 911 atrocity but here’s the thing. The fact that I found myself taking the accusation seriously and pondering it shocked me. I suddenly realized that contemplating the evidence as even a possibility spoke volumes. After all the terrible things this president has done to America, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights It was not beyond the realm of possibility that Bush, and his dark puppet master Cheney, could orchestrate a “false flag” attack on their own country.
Were they behind 911? - I just don’t know.
Was it something they could have done? - I have to answer with a whispered “Yes”
So, to my prediction, sometime in April or May of 2008, somewhere in Americas heartland, a “terrorist” will kill himself and everyone else in a fast food restaurant. Or maybe it will be an attack on a train station or perhaps a library. It will have to be shocking enough to cause panic in the populace but not so horrific that the stock markets collapse. After all, that’s the only reason Bush was placed in the position of President. To generate huge amounts of money for his corporate overlords.
I am very reluctant to publish this because if it does happen, then me and my little blog will suddenly become prime suspect number 1.
I ask again. Where is the outrage? Where are all the decent Americans who want to restore their country to the shinning city on the hill that it should be?
It won’t be as dramatic and devastating as the destruction of the World Trade Center towers but I won’t need to be.
All Bush has to do this time is kill everyone in a McDonalds.
That will be enough for him to terrify the nation into voting Republican.
He knows that he has so destroyed the country’s support for Republicans that something drastic has to happen.
I’m not accusing the Bush regime of being behind the 911 atrocity but here’s the thing. The fact that I found myself taking the accusation seriously and pondering it shocked me. I suddenly realized that contemplating the evidence as even a possibility spoke volumes. After all the terrible things this president has done to America, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights It was not beyond the realm of possibility that Bush, and his dark puppet master Cheney, could orchestrate a “false flag” attack on their own country.
Were they behind 911? - I just don’t know.
Was it something they could have done? - I have to answer with a whispered “Yes”
So, to my prediction, sometime in April or May of 2008, somewhere in Americas heartland, a “terrorist” will kill himself and everyone else in a fast food restaurant. Or maybe it will be an attack on a train station or perhaps a library. It will have to be shocking enough to cause panic in the populace but not so horrific that the stock markets collapse. After all, that’s the only reason Bush was placed in the position of President. To generate huge amounts of money for his corporate overlords.
I am very reluctant to publish this because if it does happen, then me and my little blog will suddenly become prime suspect number 1.
I ask again. Where is the outrage? Where are all the decent Americans who want to restore their country to the shinning city on the hill that it should be?
If, after everything that has happened to this country and to the world, you still support Bush and the Republicans you are an absolute fucking idiot!
And remember, I used to be a republican! That was before I realised how insidious they are of course. I am certainly not a Democrat but what else is there?
Monday, August 13, 2007
Unbelievable! Un-fucking-believable!!!
This is from April 1994.
Tell every bugger you know about this.
These filthy bastard Republicans need to be in jail!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Back into the fray.
Okay.
I’m getting back into the fray.
I can no longer drive past churches filled with cars on a Sunday morning and remain silent.
I can no longer listen to the stupid declarations of news casters on Fox news and not get angry.
I can no longer watch the devolution of our species as hysteria over imaginary gods takes hold without fighting back.
I am now going to fight back.
I was at a friends house recently enjoying a lovely afternoon when I saw that she had a curious book on the floor near her coffee table. It was entitled “A Christian Agenda”
- A Game Plan For A New Era - by Marlin Maddoux and Christopher Corbet.
Giving her the benefit of the doubt I never for a second believed that she would read such a thing, even though she does profess to believe in god. And I was right. She had bought it to resell on eBay.
I idly started reading the small paperback and after about 20 minutes a silent rage swept over me and the next thing I knew the book was in two halves, one in each of my hands.
I looked up at my friend, who had not witnessed the destruction of her book, with an obviously guilty look on my face because she inquired as to what was wrong. I didn’t say anything. Instead I simply tossed the two halves of the destroyed book on to the carpet before her. To my great relief she greeted the news with loud and long laughter.
It felt good.
I have never, ever, criticized someone for destroying a book because there is an enormous difference between destroying a book and destroying books. Plural. A single book is no more worthy of protection than a gaudy china statue of a pig dancing in a frilly dress. In fact one of my favourite pastimes now is to browse second hand shops, flea markets and garage sales for religious books, knick knacks and paraphernalia to take home and smash.
People can destroy books if they want. So long as they own them. I didn’t own this one and I therefore owe my friend an apology. My intention is to continue her plan and sell it on eBay.
The important difference between destroying a book and destroying books is who is doing it. If it’s an individual or a group of individuals that’s fine. If it’s the state that’s bad.
If you want to throw a copy of the Koran into a toilet I applaud your judgment. I would simply suggest that you be fair about it and throw copies of the bible in there also along with any other holy book you might own.
If hearing this upsets you and if you believe in god I make this promise to you. If you ever want to debate the existence of your supreme being with me I will win.
That is not such a boastful claim as it first might appear because quite simply I have all the logic, reason and evidence on my side. You have nothing. NOTHING.
You have no logic.
You have no reason.
And you have absolutely no evidence.
None!
I’m getting back into the fray.
I can no longer drive past churches filled with cars on a Sunday morning and remain silent.
I can no longer listen to the stupid declarations of news casters on Fox news and not get angry.
I can no longer watch the devolution of our species as hysteria over imaginary gods takes hold without fighting back.
I am now going to fight back.
I was at a friends house recently enjoying a lovely afternoon when I saw that she had a curious book on the floor near her coffee table. It was entitled “A Christian Agenda”
- A Game Plan For A New Era - by Marlin Maddoux and Christopher Corbet.
Giving her the benefit of the doubt I never for a second believed that she would read such a thing, even though she does profess to believe in god. And I was right. She had bought it to resell on eBay.
I idly started reading the small paperback and after about 20 minutes a silent rage swept over me and the next thing I knew the book was in two halves, one in each of my hands.
I looked up at my friend, who had not witnessed the destruction of her book, with an obviously guilty look on my face because she inquired as to what was wrong. I didn’t say anything. Instead I simply tossed the two halves of the destroyed book on to the carpet before her. To my great relief she greeted the news with loud and long laughter.
It felt good.
I have never, ever, criticized someone for destroying a book because there is an enormous difference between destroying a book and destroying books. Plural. A single book is no more worthy of protection than a gaudy china statue of a pig dancing in a frilly dress. In fact one of my favourite pastimes now is to browse second hand shops, flea markets and garage sales for religious books, knick knacks and paraphernalia to take home and smash.
People can destroy books if they want. So long as they own them. I didn’t own this one and I therefore owe my friend an apology. My intention is to continue her plan and sell it on eBay.
The important difference between destroying a book and destroying books is who is doing it. If it’s an individual or a group of individuals that’s fine. If it’s the state that’s bad.
If you want to throw a copy of the Koran into a toilet I applaud your judgment. I would simply suggest that you be fair about it and throw copies of the bible in there also along with any other holy book you might own.
If hearing this upsets you and if you believe in god I make this promise to you. If you ever want to debate the existence of your supreme being with me I will win.
That is not such a boastful claim as it first might appear because quite simply I have all the logic, reason and evidence on my side. You have nothing. NOTHING.
You have no logic.
You have no reason.
And you have absolutely no evidence.
None!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
A Good Slogan.
I just came across this slogan at atheistplanet.com (a Cafepress site)
"Any belief worth having must survive doubt"
And of course god and the bible does not.
"Any belief worth having must survive doubt"
And of course god and the bible does not.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
I really am getting exhausted!
As I sit in my car at a traffic light my gaze wanders sideways to the person in the vehicle next to me, staring intently at the light waiting for permission to proceed with their life or I’ll find myself sitting in the barbers shop idly watching the other punters waiting for a haircut. And as I walk through the grocery store or the shopping mall I notice various shoppers walking busily past and I think to myself “well…. They all look normal”.
But, I remind myself, looks can be deceiving.
Most of these people will get up early this Sunday morning, (a time when everyone should sleep until well past 10 unless they have a plane to catch) put on their best clothes, pile all their children into the car and drive across town to participate in a huge celebration of nothing. In fact as I think about it, celebration is the wrong word. Their own word is much more suitable. They go to worship nothing.
They have all bought into this enormous myth of an afterlife and that they must please the fictitious gatekeeper so he’ll let them in.
It is a culture of death. They worship a man who supposedly died for us. The Catholics even wear jewelry that depicts him nailed to a cross. They live their entire lives focused upon their death. Everything they say and do is geared towards that final day. Their every waking moment is spent in a constant struggle to be prepared for their death.
Live life people!
It’s a fantastic thing and no one should have to go through life worrying about what comes next because nothing does! We die and become soil from which new stuff grows. It’s a beautiful thing!
But, I remind myself, looks can be deceiving.
Most of these people will get up early this Sunday morning, (a time when everyone should sleep until well past 10 unless they have a plane to catch) put on their best clothes, pile all their children into the car and drive across town to participate in a huge celebration of nothing. In fact as I think about it, celebration is the wrong word. Their own word is much more suitable. They go to worship nothing.
They have all bought into this enormous myth of an afterlife and that they must please the fictitious gatekeeper so he’ll let them in.
It is a culture of death. They worship a man who supposedly died for us. The Catholics even wear jewelry that depicts him nailed to a cross. They live their entire lives focused upon their death. Everything they say and do is geared towards that final day. Their every waking moment is spent in a constant struggle to be prepared for their death.
Live life people!
It’s a fantastic thing and no one should have to go through life worrying about what comes next because nothing does! We die and become soil from which new stuff grows. It’s a beautiful thing!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Another look at morals and god.
I hear atheists argue all the time that they don’t need god to provide them with a strong moral code and that morals and the ability to know right from wrong have nothing to do with god, the bible or any religious teachings. They are completely man-made.
They argue forcefully that morals are the obvious result of an evolutionary need to assist others around them and that their well being is closely tied to that of the tribe at large. Their logic is both compelling and reasonable as they point out that primitive humans had a vested interest in helping each other prepare, for a hunting party for instance, and if one of them needed assistance in any way it was in everyone’s self interest to help that other person.
I also hear the logical argument that tribes were fairly small, and that unlike today’s modern cities, if you treated someone badly you were likely to see them everyday of your life and so things could become very difficult for you on a daily basis. This meant that your self interest was advanced by behaving well towards others.
What I don’t hear atheists point out is that this supposedly wonderful guide to morals called the Bible was written by humans. There is obviously no such creature called god and that everything in the Bible was written by men. There was no divine inspiration that guided the hands of the various authors it was simply a bunch of mischief making scholars who collaborated on a huge work of fiction in which you have to spend an enormous amount of time trying to tease out meanings that might be a guide to right and wrong from passages that are quite honestly gibberish.
Even the 10 commandments are not at all clear considering that they show up in a couple of different places and are totally different each time.
I’m getting exhausted.
It is mind boggling that grown ups in the 21st Century still believe in this massive fairy tale.
Christians should to be ridiculed! They ought to be openly laughed at and, quite honestly, made to wear a Dunce Cap and told to sit in the corner with their other religious friends until they can behave themselves and to leave the thinking to those more capable of doing it properly.
They argue forcefully that morals are the obvious result of an evolutionary need to assist others around them and that their well being is closely tied to that of the tribe at large. Their logic is both compelling and reasonable as they point out that primitive humans had a vested interest in helping each other prepare, for a hunting party for instance, and if one of them needed assistance in any way it was in everyone’s self interest to help that other person.
I also hear the logical argument that tribes were fairly small, and that unlike today’s modern cities, if you treated someone badly you were likely to see them everyday of your life and so things could become very difficult for you on a daily basis. This meant that your self interest was advanced by behaving well towards others.
What I don’t hear atheists point out is that this supposedly wonderful guide to morals called the Bible was written by humans. There is obviously no such creature called god and that everything in the Bible was written by men. There was no divine inspiration that guided the hands of the various authors it was simply a bunch of mischief making scholars who collaborated on a huge work of fiction in which you have to spend an enormous amount of time trying to tease out meanings that might be a guide to right and wrong from passages that are quite honestly gibberish.
Even the 10 commandments are not at all clear considering that they show up in a couple of different places and are totally different each time.
I’m getting exhausted.
It is mind boggling that grown ups in the 21st Century still believe in this massive fairy tale.
Christians should to be ridiculed! They ought to be openly laughed at and, quite honestly, made to wear a Dunce Cap and told to sit in the corner with their other religious friends until they can behave themselves and to leave the thinking to those more capable of doing it properly.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
I pinched this from Richard Dawkins' forum.
11. Comment #11213 by Joad on December 3, 2006 at 7:19 pm
God: Here, have some free will
Man: No thank you, I don't need any
God: You cannot refuse Free Will
Man: Oh, so it isn't a gift?
God: Correct. I am forcing it on you
Man: Gee, thanks...What do I do with it?
God: Nothing. Just continue to obey me. If you use Free Will, I will send you to Hell.
Man: You surely work in mysterious ways.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Saturday, November 25, 2006
MY GOD PROBLEM by Natalie Angier
MY GOD PROBLEM
By Natalie Angier
So, on the issue of mainstream monotheistic religions and the irrationality behind many of religion's core tenets, scientists often set aside their skewers, their snark, and their impatient demand for proof, and instead don the calming cardigan of a a kiddie-show host on public television. They reassure the public that religion and science are not at odds with one another, but rather that they represent separate "magisteria," in the words of the formerly alive and even more formerly scrappy Stephen Jay Gould. Nobody is going to ask people to give up their faith, their belief in an everlasting soul accompanied by an immortal memory of every soccer game their kids won, every moment they spent playing fetch with the dog. Nobody is going to mock you for your religious beliefs. Well, we might if you base your life decisions on the advice of a Ouija board; but if you want to believe that someday you'll be seated at a celestial banquet with your long-dead father to your right and Jane Austen to your left-and that she'll want to talk to you for another hundred million years or more—that's your private reliquary, and we're not here to jimmy the lock.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Atheists: The New Gays
By Scott Adams
Is it my imagination or have the atheists come out of the closet (in the United States) since 9/11?
Prior to 9/11, it would have been career suicide for a public figure to come right out and say God is a fairy tale. Now it’s a feature of popular culture. You can see it on cable of course, in shows such as BullSh*t, Real Time, The Daily Show, and Southpark. But it’s also a feature of network TV. The main character on House is written as the most brilliant human on the planet, and he’s an atheist. The new show 3lbs has a similar character. I can’t remember anything like that ten years ago.
Read the rest here.....
Is it my imagination or have the atheists come out of the closet (in the United States) since 9/11?
Prior to 9/11, it would have been career suicide for a public figure to come right out and say God is a fairy tale. Now it’s a feature of popular culture. You can see it on cable of course, in shows such as BullSh*t, Real Time, The Daily Show, and Southpark. But it’s also a feature of network TV. The main character on House is written as the most brilliant human on the planet, and he’s an atheist. The new show 3lbs has a similar character. I can’t remember anything like that ten years ago.
Read the rest here.....
Monday, November 06, 2006
His heart isn't really in his work.
I have no idea if this has been Photoshoped or not but either way I like it.
This is my version.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
I had to concede to a believer “Perhaps you are right”
Yesterday a friend of mine confronted me regarding my atheism.
We had quite a long, involved and heated discussion and at one point I said to him:
“You are a very intelligent person, in fact far too intelligent to believe in god”
His immediate response was an angry:
“I most certainly am not”
I let that hang in the air as we both silently pondered its truth and I finally conceded:
“Perhaps you are right”
We had quite a long, involved and heated discussion and at one point I said to him:
“You are a very intelligent person, in fact far too intelligent to believe in god”
His immediate response was an angry:
“I most certainly am not”
I let that hang in the air as we both silently pondered its truth and I finally conceded:
“Perhaps you are right”
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Replace the word “faith” with “superstition”
Every time you hear the word “faith” used in a sentence you can substitute “superstition” for a more accurate reading.
The governments faith based initiatives
The governments superstition based initiatives
Faith schools.
Superstition schools.
I have deep faith.
I have deep superstitions.
The governments faith based initiatives
The governments superstition based initiatives
Faith schools.
Superstition schools.
I have deep faith.
I have deep superstitions.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Little Johnny comes home from school 100 years from now.
Johnny: High mom, high dad.
Mom: High Johnny. How was school today dear?
Johnny: It was okay. Eddie Wisnall came to class with a toad from the creek near his house, I got a B on my math test and, oh yeah, the school nurse told me I have a brain tumor in my frontal cor, cort….
Dad: Cortex. It’s your frontal cortex. It’s the part of the brain where you do your higher level thinking and planning.
Johnny: Is that serious then dad?
Dad: Sure is Johnny. If we let it grow you’d be unable to think things at all. Come into the kitchen and I’ll get rid of it for you.
Mom: The pills are next to the coffee. I used one today for Mrs. Bennett next door.
Dad: Here Johnny, take one of these and drink this.
Johnny: Thanks dad. I sure am glad my thinking wont be messed up.
Dad: I agree. Did you know that just 100 years ago people tried to stop pills like these from being invented?
Johnny: No! Why dad? That is crazy.
Dad: It sure is Johnny. Well there were these people, lots and lots of them in fact, that thought that the world was run by magic.
Johnny: Magic?! How come dad?
Dad: Well Johnny, there were what we call “religious” They thought that the world and everything in it was created and run by an invisible creature and that this creature wanted them to live their lives a certain way and one of those ways was to stop scientists doing research into what are called “Stem cells”
To be continued……..
Mom: High Johnny. How was school today dear?
Johnny: It was okay. Eddie Wisnall came to class with a toad from the creek near his house, I got a B on my math test and, oh yeah, the school nurse told me I have a brain tumor in my frontal cor, cort….
Dad: Cortex. It’s your frontal cortex. It’s the part of the brain where you do your higher level thinking and planning.
Johnny: Is that serious then dad?
Dad: Sure is Johnny. If we let it grow you’d be unable to think things at all. Come into the kitchen and I’ll get rid of it for you.
Mom: The pills are next to the coffee. I used one today for Mrs. Bennett next door.
Dad: Here Johnny, take one of these and drink this.
Johnny: Thanks dad. I sure am glad my thinking wont be messed up.
Dad: I agree. Did you know that just 100 years ago people tried to stop pills like these from being invented?
Johnny: No! Why dad? That is crazy.
Dad: It sure is Johnny. Well there were these people, lots and lots of them in fact, that thought that the world was run by magic.
Johnny: Magic?! How come dad?
Dad: Well Johnny, there were what we call “religious” They thought that the world and everything in it was created and run by an invisible creature and that this creature wanted them to live their lives a certain way and one of those ways was to stop scientists doing research into what are called “Stem cells”
To be continued……..
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Richard Dawkins Foundation Introduction.
Visit richarddawkins dot net for more information on this exciting new foundation!
"The enlightenment is under threat. So is reason. So is truth. So is science, especially in the schools of America. I am one of those scientists who feels that it is no longer enough just to get on and do science. We have to devote a significant proportion of our time and resources to defending it from deliberate attack from organized ignorance. We even have to go out on the attack ourselves, for the sake of reason and sanity. But it must be a positive attack, for science and reason have so much to give. They are not just useful, they enrich our lives in the same kind of way as the arts do. Promoting science as poetry was one of the things that Carl Sagan did so well, and I aspire to continue his tradition." - Richard Dawkins ... (more)
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Do We Really Need Bad Reasons To Be Good?
By Sam Harris October 22, 2006
THE MIDTERM elections are fast approaching, and their outcome could well be determined by the “moral values” of conservative Christians. While this possibility is regularly bemoaned by liberals, the link between religion and morality in our public life is almost never questioned. One of the most common justifications one hears for religious faith, from all points on the political spectrum, is that it provides a necessary framework for moral behavior. Most Americans appear to believe that without faith in God, we would have no durable reasons to treat one another well. The political version of this morality claim is that our country was founded on “Judeo-Christian principles,” the implication being that without these principles we would have no way to write just laws.
Read more ......
Thanks to OneGoodMove
THE MIDTERM elections are fast approaching, and their outcome could well be determined by the “moral values” of conservative Christians. While this possibility is regularly bemoaned by liberals, the link between religion and morality in our public life is almost never questioned. One of the most common justifications one hears for religious faith, from all points on the political spectrum, is that it provides a necessary framework for moral behavior. Most Americans appear to believe that without faith in God, we would have no durable reasons to treat one another well. The political version of this morality claim is that our country was founded on “Judeo-Christian principles,” the implication being that without these principles we would have no way to write just laws.
Read more ......
Thanks to OneGoodMove
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
America?
Keith Olberman on the Military Commissions Act of 2006.
Very sad stuff!
It's 8:30 long watch here...
Thanks to Crooksand Liars
Very sad stuff!
It's 8:30 long watch here...
Thanks to Crooksand Liars
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Tri County Times hotline submission.
This was posted on the hotline submission page of my local paper the Tri County Times.
"WHEN YOU CAN explain how a caterpillar decided it wanted to fly and turned itself into a butterfly, I'll start listening to your theories of evolution."
I don't blame the people who think that things like this are a valid argument. They have been completly failed by their schooling. America has a mostly useless school system.
My reply was:
WHEN YOU START using your brain for thinking and not simply as a repository for stupid statements I'll explain evolution to you. It's really quite simple, very beautiful and requires no fictitious characters.
"WHEN YOU CAN explain how a caterpillar decided it wanted to fly and turned itself into a butterfly, I'll start listening to your theories of evolution."
I don't blame the people who think that things like this are a valid argument. They have been completly failed by their schooling. America has a mostly useless school system.
My reply was:
WHEN YOU START using your brain for thinking and not simply as a repository for stupid statements I'll explain evolution to you. It's really quite simple, very beautiful and requires no fictitious characters.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Richard Dawkins BBC Interview.
At the outset of this interview Richard Dawkins says "After 6 years of Bush, America is ready for an attack on religion"
I'm british living in America and because of Bush I have felt compelled to start this website and attack religion. Go Richard!
Where on the spectrum do you fall?
1. Strong theist. 100 percent probability of God. In the words of C. G. Jung' I do not believe, I know.'
2. Very high probability but short of 100 percent. De facto theist. ' I cannot know for certain, but I strongly believe in God and live my life on the assumption that his is there.'
3. Higher than 50 percent but not very high. Technically agnostic but leaning towards theism. 'I am very uncertain, but I am inclined to believe in God.'
4. Exactly 50 percent. Completely impartial agnostic. 'God's existence and non-existence are exactly equiprobable.'
5. Lower than 50 percent but not very low. Technically agnostic but leaning towards atheism. 'I don't know whether God exists but I'm inclined to be sceptical.'
6. Very low probability, but short of zero. De facto atheist. 'I cannot know for certain but I think god is very improbable, and I live my life on the assumption that he is not there.'
7. Strong atheist. 'I know there is no God, with the same conviction as Jung "knows" there is one.'
I am probably a 6.
I want to say 7 but to me the whole point of being an atheist is not believing in something for which there is no proof. This also means that there is no proof there isn't a god also.
However I life my life as a 7 (or even an 8 or maybe a 9!!)
2. Very high probability but short of 100 percent. De facto theist. ' I cannot know for certain, but I strongly believe in God and live my life on the assumption that his is there.'
3. Higher than 50 percent but not very high. Technically agnostic but leaning towards theism. 'I am very uncertain, but I am inclined to believe in God.'
4. Exactly 50 percent. Completely impartial agnostic. 'God's existence and non-existence are exactly equiprobable.'
5. Lower than 50 percent but not very low. Technically agnostic but leaning towards atheism. 'I don't know whether God exists but I'm inclined to be sceptical.'
6. Very low probability, but short of zero. De facto atheist. 'I cannot know for certain but I think god is very improbable, and I live my life on the assumption that he is not there.'
7. Strong atheist. 'I know there is no God, with the same conviction as Jung "knows" there is one.'
I am probably a 6.
I want to say 7 but to me the whole point of being an atheist is not believing in something for which there is no proof. This also means that there is no proof there isn't a god also.
However I life my life as a 7 (or even an 8 or maybe a 9!!)
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Talk of the Nation on NPR, October 6, 2006
Talk of the Nation, October 6, 2006 · In his new book, The God Delusion, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins says fundamentalist religion "subverts science and saps the intellect." Dawkins discusses religion, the teaching of evolution and creationism in science class, and his call for atheists to "out" themselves.
Guest:
Richard Dawkins, Author, The God Delusion (Houghton Mifflin, 2006), Charles Simonyi Professor of Public Understanding of Science, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
Guest:
Richard Dawkins, Author, The God Delusion (Houghton Mifflin, 2006), Charles Simonyi Professor of Public Understanding of Science, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Homer proves that there is no God.
What is really interesting in this clip from the Simpsons is Flanders response to Homers proof that there is no God.
It is exactly what would happen. Reality and truth are annoying impediments to religions strangle hold on our society.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Sam Harris interview on NPR.
In his new book Letter to a Christian Nation, author Sam Harris argues that faith is an antiquated and destructive notion that should be challenged more vigorously.
Harris attacks religious moderates -- Muslim moderates in particular -- who in defending their faith as tolerant and peaceful, provide cover for extremists.
Harris talks with Madeleine Brand about the controversy his new book is already generating. He's no stranger to controversy -- his 2005 book The End of Faith sparked thousands of hate-filled letters to Harris, many from Christians angered by his thesis that religion is dangerous for the future of both mankind and the Earth.
Those letters, Harris says, formed the basis of Letter to a Christian Nation -- it was his reply to the many notes from fundamentalist Christians after his first book was published.
"What most people call 'faith' (in the religious sense of the word) is nothing but a willingness to accept religious dogma uncritically," Harris says. "I am definitely arguing that we have to transcend this impulse."
Listen here...
Richard Dawkins Interview.
Richard Dawkins' asserts that belief in god is irrational and inflicts great harm upon societies. Jeremy Paxman interviews Professor Dawkins as part of the Newsnight book club.
Faith.
“Faith” is believing in something for which there is no proof.
The problem with “religious faith” is that it means not only believing in something for which there is no proof but believing something for which the huge preponderance of evidence points to something else entirely.
Faith is not a thing to be commended as religious leaders would have you believe. It is a shameful way of ignoring reality. It’s simply another way of closing your eyes and sticking your fingers in your ears while loudly singing a nonsense tune as someone tries to explain something very important to you.
Whenever you encounter someone who proudly boasts of their “faith” you should sadly shake your head and tell them that it’s a shame that they think that faith is a good thing. Ask them how they would feel if they found themselves in court, on trial for something they didn’t do and instead of taking a hard look at the evidence the jury gets to decide your guilt or innocence based simply upon how they feel.
An ostrich has “faith” that, when it pushes its head into the sand, it can no longer be seen.
The problem with “religious faith” is that it means not only believing in something for which there is no proof but believing something for which the huge preponderance of evidence points to something else entirely.
Faith is not a thing to be commended as religious leaders would have you believe. It is a shameful way of ignoring reality. It’s simply another way of closing your eyes and sticking your fingers in your ears while loudly singing a nonsense tune as someone tries to explain something very important to you.
Whenever you encounter someone who proudly boasts of their “faith” you should sadly shake your head and tell them that it’s a shame that they think that faith is a good thing. Ask them how they would feel if they found themselves in court, on trial for something they didn’t do and instead of taking a hard look at the evidence the jury gets to decide your guilt or innocence based simply upon how they feel.
An ostrich has “faith” that, when it pushes its head into the sand, it can no longer be seen.
Friday, September 29, 2006
LETTER FROM JESUS CAMP (A Parody of ‘Camp Granada’)
By Don Davis of The Satirical Political.
This is an insider’s view from a whistle-blowing camper, with thanks to the classic Camp Granada by the immortal Allan Sherman.
Hello Muddah, I’m in pieces
Here I’m stuck at, Camp for Jesus
Camp is really, like a prison
And they’re just about to do an exorcism
Six a.m., blowin’ reveille
Class at ten, Study “Devilry”
Kids all screaming, top of their lungs …
Can’t understand them since they speak in ancient tongues
All the counselors, hate the Jews
And the Muslims, Confucius too
And the coaches, for sports like soccer
Say they never want to deal with a Macaca
Don’t worry ’bout me, though I’m homesick
And my scalp has, just a few ticks
But there’s one problem, that I can’t fix …
My bunkmate’s forehead has a hu-mongous “666″
Take me home, I’m, falling to pieces
Christ Almighty, I hate Camp Jesus
This is worse than, nightmare fiction
For the play I drew short straw for Crucifixion
Take me home, I’ll, be a good boy
Clean my room, not, touch my own toy
These fanatics, just can’t stand them
One day here seems like a whole goddamn millenium
Dearest Mother, Dearest Father
Boot camp and Anbar, would be less bother
Come and save me, come to my aid
Color War at camp is called the next Crusade
Wait a minute, they’re serving hot fudge
If you defame, a liber-al judge
And if you beat up, a homo queer
You’re a cinch to lock up Camper of the Year!
The original is here...
This is an insider’s view from a whistle-blowing camper, with thanks to the classic Camp Granada by the immortal Allan Sherman.
Hello Muddah, I’m in pieces
Here I’m stuck at, Camp for Jesus
Camp is really, like a prison
And they’re just about to do an exorcism
Six a.m., blowin’ reveille
Class at ten, Study “Devilry”
Kids all screaming, top of their lungs …
Can’t understand them since they speak in ancient tongues
All the counselors, hate the Jews
And the Muslims, Confucius too
And the coaches, for sports like soccer
Say they never want to deal with a Macaca
Don’t worry ’bout me, though I’m homesick
And my scalp has, just a few ticks
But there’s one problem, that I can’t fix …
My bunkmate’s forehead has a hu-mongous “666″
Take me home, I’m, falling to pieces
Christ Almighty, I hate Camp Jesus
This is worse than, nightmare fiction
For the play I drew short straw for Crucifixion
Take me home, I’ll, be a good boy
Clean my room, not, touch my own toy
These fanatics, just can’t stand them
One day here seems like a whole goddamn millenium
Dearest Mother, Dearest Father
Boot camp and Anbar, would be less bother
Come and save me, come to my aid
Color War at camp is called the next Crusade
Wait a minute, they’re serving hot fudge
If you defame, a liber-al judge
And if you beat up, a homo queer
You’re a cinch to lock up Camper of the Year!
The original is here...
Friday, September 22, 2006
A fun thing to do.
Every time that I visit a gas station or a store that I have never been to before I ask the cashier:
“Please can you tell me where they hold the big monthly atheist meeting?”
He or she will look perplexed and mutter something about not knowing.
I then say something like:
“Yes, apparently Byron (or wherever I happen to be) has the largest number of atheists per capita of anywhere in Michigan and they have a huge atheist meeting once a month. People come in from New York and California.”
I chuckle to my self as I leave the store knowing that, at some point, the clerk will one day say to someone in conversation, “Did you know that we have the largest number of atheists in all of Michigan”
In the story book world that takes place inside my head word about this huge population of atheists soon spreads and becomes an enormous game of “Telephone” (Chinese Whispers as we called it in England).
People start to cast furtive sideways glances at neighbors who they have lived next to for years. Church goers look suspiciously at each other on Sunday mornings wondering if any “Fifth columnists” have infiltrated their ranks. A committee is organized to combat the problem but falls apart due to infighting and mistrust. Friends who have known each other for years start to doubt one another’s commitment to the word of god and slowly stop all contact with each other.
Parents take their children out of bible camp because they no longer trust the strange looking man with the paisley waistcoat who greeted them on the first day. A teenage boy is imprisoned because he has red hair. Two elderly sisters are shunned for growing strawberries. A posse of townsfolk gather at midnight with pitchforks and shovels and storm the old castle high on the hill.
“Please can you tell me where they hold the big monthly atheist meeting?”
He or she will look perplexed and mutter something about not knowing.
I then say something like:
“Yes, apparently Byron (or wherever I happen to be) has the largest number of atheists per capita of anywhere in Michigan and they have a huge atheist meeting once a month. People come in from New York and California.”
I chuckle to my self as I leave the store knowing that, at some point, the clerk will one day say to someone in conversation, “Did you know that we have the largest number of atheists in all of Michigan”
In the story book world that takes place inside my head word about this huge population of atheists soon spreads and becomes an enormous game of “Telephone” (Chinese Whispers as we called it in England).
People start to cast furtive sideways glances at neighbors who they have lived next to for years. Church goers look suspiciously at each other on Sunday mornings wondering if any “Fifth columnists” have infiltrated their ranks. A committee is organized to combat the problem but falls apart due to infighting and mistrust. Friends who have known each other for years start to doubt one another’s commitment to the word of god and slowly stop all contact with each other.
Parents take their children out of bible camp because they no longer trust the strange looking man with the paisley waistcoat who greeted them on the first day. A teenage boy is imprisoned because he has red hair. Two elderly sisters are shunned for growing strawberries. A posse of townsfolk gather at midnight with pitchforks and shovels and storm the old castle high on the hill.
Since Hugo Chavez referred to Bush as the Devil I have been quietly outraged.
Since Hugo Chavez referred to our president as El Diablo, The Devil, I have been quietly simmering with rage.
To call the president of The United States of America the Devil from the perhaps the most prestigious political stage in the world, that of the United Nations is one of the most shocking moments in international discourse.
George Bush is certainly not the Devil. If anything he is the boil on the Devils bum!
Call Dick Cheney or even Donald Rumsfeld the devil but not George Bush. It’s an insult to the office of the Devil.
George Bush is nothing more than a festering whitehead on Lucifer’s backside and to grant him complete “Devilhood” is to afford him much more import than he warrants.
If you insist on referring to Bush as a character from fiction he should be “Pinky” as in “Pinky and the Brain” Karl Rove of course being the other player in that duo.
Coming to the Cartoon network “Pinky and the Brain and their diabolical plan to take over the world” Watch as the bumbling dimwit Pinky assists the diabolically brilliant Brain in their doomed efforts at world domination.
Richard Dawkins new website.
Richard Dawkins new website.
This is a website that I am sure will help in the struggle against ignorance.
http://richarddawkins.net/
Watch the Introduction to the Foundation (Video) located on the left side near the top graphic.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Head-in-the-Sand Liberals.
To prove that I am by no means a Kool Aid drinking liberal I would like to offer my kudos once again to Sam Harris.
He seems to be among the very few in this world today who are able to see with total clarity the incompetence of almost everyone else.
I hate the Bush administration with a passion. They are vile despicable people who use religious nonsense to coerce Americans into voting for their extreme right wing agenda but the stupidity with which today’s liberals are fighting the fight is astounding.
If you condemn Israel for reaching a breaking point and lashing back at the bastards who have been tormenting them for the last 12 years you are a fucking moron.
Read this by Sam Harris: Western civilization really is at risk from Muslim extremists
(Thanks to Walt for this link)
He seems to be among the very few in this world today who are able to see with total clarity the incompetence of almost everyone else.
I hate the Bush administration with a passion. They are vile despicable people who use religious nonsense to coerce Americans into voting for their extreme right wing agenda but the stupidity with which today’s liberals are fighting the fight is astounding.
If you condemn Israel for reaching a breaking point and lashing back at the bastards who have been tormenting them for the last 12 years you are a fucking moron.
Read this by Sam Harris: Western civilization really is at risk from Muslim extremists
(Thanks to Walt for this link)
I just want to blaspheme.
I have given some thought recently to the concept of blasphemous language and as a result I would just like to say “Fuck Jesus up his own ass”
Does this now mean I’m going to hell?
If so then god is a vindictive bastard who should not be in charge of bag of dead rats let alone a whole universe.
Blaspheming is good.
Try it now. Say with me “God is a wanker and Jesus is a toss pot”
Does this now mean I’m going to hell?
If so then god is a vindictive bastard who should not be in charge of bag of dead rats let alone a whole universe.
Blaspheming is good.
Try it now. Say with me “God is a wanker and Jesus is a toss pot”
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
A website to add to your favs.
Dark Sided
I would like to sit down with the author of this site, Michael Martine and have a beer.
He is clearly my kind of guy, in that, he also sees through the bullshit that is religion and has decided to speak out.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Islamofascists?
Islamofascists
The first time I heard one of our right wing overlords use the term Islamofascist I was confused. It obviously was not being used in the proper context and I expected it to be a one-off blunder. But then I heard Limbaugh use it and Hannity then Rumsfeld and finally the president. It now seems to be the rallying cry of Bush apologists everywhere.
Al Qaeda, fascists? It made no sense. They are simply criminals whose tactic is to use murder to cause fear and terror amongst a population. They are merely a “rag tag” group of individuals with very little central control not an authoritarian government like that of Hitler or Stalin who would arrest people in the dead of night and wisk them away to a secret prison somewhere and hold them incommunicado for years on end. They don’t spy on their own population and turn friends and neighbors into snitches for the good of the state. They don’t use fear and alarm as a method of control over the populace and scare innocent citizens so much that they simply want the government to protect them no matter what the cost.
No. Al Qaeda doesn’t do these things.
Our government does. The Bush government.
Of course! Unpleasant as they are I have to admit that Bush’s controllers are brilliant people.
It’s a dark, nasty brilliance to be sure but it is clever.
Because of the direction they have taken America they knew that pretty soon the country would wise up and see what was really happening.
Americans would see the parallels between Germany and Russia in the middle of the last century and the United States of America today and would be appalled at how a once beautiful example of freedom and democracy had been subverted in just a few short years and transformed into a vicious hate filled fascist semi-dictatorship.
They are now labeling Al Qaeda as the fascists as a way of deflecting the name away from themselves. Their thinking is obviously “Call our enemy fascists first and no one will then be able to use it against us”
The first time I heard one of our right wing overlords use the term Islamofascist I was confused. It obviously was not being used in the proper context and I expected it to be a one-off blunder. But then I heard Limbaugh use it and Hannity then Rumsfeld and finally the president. It now seems to be the rallying cry of Bush apologists everywhere.
Al Qaeda, fascists? It made no sense. They are simply criminals whose tactic is to use murder to cause fear and terror amongst a population. They are merely a “rag tag” group of individuals with very little central control not an authoritarian government like that of Hitler or Stalin who would arrest people in the dead of night and wisk them away to a secret prison somewhere and hold them incommunicado for years on end. They don’t spy on their own population and turn friends and neighbors into snitches for the good of the state. They don’t use fear and alarm as a method of control over the populace and scare innocent citizens so much that they simply want the government to protect them no matter what the cost.
No. Al Qaeda doesn’t do these things.
Our government does. The Bush government.
Of course! Unpleasant as they are I have to admit that Bush’s controllers are brilliant people.
It’s a dark, nasty brilliance to be sure but it is clever.
Because of the direction they have taken America they knew that pretty soon the country would wise up and see what was really happening.
Americans would see the parallels between Germany and Russia in the middle of the last century and the United States of America today and would be appalled at how a once beautiful example of freedom and democracy had been subverted in just a few short years and transformed into a vicious hate filled fascist semi-dictatorship.
They are now labeling Al Qaeda as the fascists as a way of deflecting the name away from themselves. Their thinking is obviously “Call our enemy fascists first and no one will then be able to use it against us”
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Great tag line.
HolyRolyPoly, one of the regular contributers at the atheists.com forum is currently using this tag line:
"If the lord had meant us to have faith, he'd have given us lobotomies." - Zlatko
Excellent!
Although it could be argued that, for a lot of people, he did.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Take Heart.
400 years ago there were no atheists on the entire planet.
300 years ago there was 1 or 2.
200 years ago there where perhaps a few dozen.
100 years ago there were maybe a few hundred.
Today there are millions!
300 years ago there was 1 or 2.
200 years ago there where perhaps a few dozen.
100 years ago there were maybe a few hundred.
Today there are millions!
Jonathan Miller's: A Brief History of Disbelief
This is a 3 part documentary by Jonathan Miller that explores the historical rise of Atheism.
Part 1: "Shadows of Doubt"
Part 2: "Noughts and Crosses"
Part 3: "The Final Hour"
Each part is about 1 hour long and are excellent.
Part 1: "Shadows of Doubt"
Part 2: "Noughts and Crosses"
Part 3: "The Final Hour"
Each part is about 1 hour long and are excellent.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
A good habit to get into.
When you are asked if you believe in god, reply with something more definitive than simply saying “no”.
Start saying “Of course not” or “Not even slightly” that way you leave no room for misunderstanding and your strong conviction will cause some doubt about their own beliefs in the mind of your questioner.
You could use my answer if you wish:
“Don’t be ridiculous! I grew out of that nonsense when I turned 5”
Start saying “Of course not” or “Not even slightly” that way you leave no room for misunderstanding and your strong conviction will cause some doubt about their own beliefs in the mind of your questioner.
You could use my answer if you wish:
“Don’t be ridiculous! I grew out of that nonsense when I turned 5”
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
What is Patriotism?
Patriotism is loving ones country, it’s people and what it stands for.
It is NOT blindly loving it’s current leaders and supporting their policies regardless.
Patriotic Americans are beginning to stand up to those who have hijacked Americas government. And I say “Stand Tall”. Make the world know that you are ashamed of this government.
The rallying cry of decent people in the USA should be “Let’s take America back”
It is NOT blindly loving it’s current leaders and supporting their policies regardless.
Patriotic Americans are beginning to stand up to those who have hijacked Americas government. And I say “Stand Tall”. Make the world know that you are ashamed of this government.
The rallying cry of decent people in the USA should be “Let’s take America back”
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Those bastard republicans.
Those fuckers the republicans are painting anyone who is against the war as anti American.
I say if you are for this outrageous war that has destroyed Americas credibility all over the world you are the anti American!
I say if you are for this outrageous war that has destroyed Americas credibility all over the world you are the anti American!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Katherine Harris says failure to elect Christians will `legislate sin'
That nutcase Katherine Harris in Florida is showing how she really feels about the seperation of church and state in this country.
Katherine Harris said this week that God did not intend for the United States to be a "nation of secular laws" and that a failure to elect Christians to political office will allow lawmaking bodies to "legislate sin."
There are people who desperately want America to become a theocracy.
Read the story here...
Friday, August 25, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Google is excellent!
I just Googled "miserable failure" and the first website that came up was Biography of President George W. Bush
Miserable failure
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Slogan of the Day.
“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
Voltaire
Voltaire
Friday, August 18, 2006
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Move the spectrum and the middle moves too.
By Harry BathwaterI’ve been mulling over Bush’s recent stem cell decision for the last few weeks and have come to understand what their rational is.
As we know, the Bush gang doesn’t do anything without good reason. And that reason has to be to further their right wing agenda and please their corporate overlords.
To do this they have to pander to their religious base.
It’s obvious to everyone (who thinks for themselves) that these cells which would otherwise be discarded should be used for medical research.
This, however, is the clever right wing plan.
They want to make abortion illegal but most people in America don’t want that. Those who are anti abortion are seen as “right wing kooks”
By creating a song and dance over these unwanted embryonic cells they shift their position so far to the right that the anti abortion position now looks to be in the middle. And secondly, if the government is so concerned about “killing” a few useless cells, then aborting a baby becomes (in their eyes) all the more dreadful.
I gotta say, it’s clever. Damn clever. If your position is not in the center, move the entire spectrum so that the center has moved.
I have no doubt that if this recent ploy doesn’t work they will move the spectrum even more to the right and outlaw masturbation because that kills millions of innocent sperm every day.
Then I’m fucked!
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Richard Dawkins Quote.
"By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out."
-- Richard Dawkins, in "Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder," The Richard Dimbleby Lecture, BBC1 Television (12 November 1996)
For more superb Richard Dawkins quotes click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)