1. The Mind of the Market

Comment #109934 by frankie1958 on January 10, 2008 at 4:52 am

Does anyone think Richard would sign his books and perhaps donate some of the money to Ayaan Hirsi Ali's security fund? I know I'd buy his books all over again if he signed it. Oooooh, and i'd love it if he personalised it just to me. Perhaps someone can mention this to him.

2. The OUT Campaign has its own Flea!

Comment #107063 by frankie1958 on January 4, 2008 at 2:57 am

The so-called xian life is an impossibility. It is a perfection that no one can achieve and striving to achieve it has been the cornerstone of many psychiatric institutions. It doesnt make you happy except in the dazed, glassy eyed, dense sense of the word which one can easily achieve by smoking a joint. It is utter nonsense based on nothing but questionable sources and very little archeological evidence. One can lead a moral, fulfilling life without being a slave to an invisible Big Brother.

3. This Week's Flea

Comment #100880 by frankie1958 on December 19, 2007 at 2:05 pm

PZ has dissected the interview with Haught with surgical precision.

The more I read about Jesus, the more he reminds me of Elvis. Many people still report seeing Elvis working in Burger Kings across the land. Pilgrims trek to Graceland every year on the anniversary of his death holding candlelight vigils. In 1000 years, the Church of Elvis and Graceland will be America's answer to Catholicism and the Vatican. Makes ya wonder dont it?

4. Borders Tags Atheist Book with 'O Come All Ye Faithless' Cards

Comment #100263 by frankie1958 on December 18, 2007 at 12:37 pm

Some people get their sigmoids in a knot over nothing. It is in vogue to be 'offended' these days by everything. Pick your battles...be offended by poverty, illiteracy, stupidity, corruption, greed, violence and war etc.

The Christians getting their panties in a pucker over a pun have lost their perspective.

5. Highway to hysteria

Comment #94332 by frankie1958 on December 5, 2007 at 10:43 am

They can do as they like so long as the rest of us dont let them get their mitts into politics and remove our civil liberties and other freedoms that people take for granted....

Righteous leaders? In religion? There aint no such animal...

6. Ask The God Delusion author Richard Dawkins

Comment #94329 by frankie1958 on December 5, 2007 at 10:25 am

Oh that pope....cracks me up every time. :)

The one thing that I like about Dawkins, Dennett, Harris and (most of the time) Hitchens, is that they are NOT strident. They are well spoken and direct which is not nearly as strident as some of the fundamentalist religious folk I see on TV calling for the execution of a primary school teacher because she let her students call a teddy bear Mohammed.....

I think I'll call my dog Mohammed.....

7. Debate: Ayaan Hirsi Ali vs Ed Husain

Comment #92384 by frankie1958 on November 30, 2007 at 11:53 am

There is nothing strident about Ali. They are both very good speakers and made their points eloquently. However, Husain appears to be desperate for Islam to be seen as a humane religion which all the evidence does not support. We only have to watch the news to see that it isnt so. The jailing of a school teacher in Sudan for allowing her students to name a teddy bear Mohammed and the subsequent demonstrations calling for her execution only illustrate to the rest of the world that Islam is anything but humane and far from reasonable or just. Of all the ridiculous notions out there, Islam is the most dangerous. We do very well to keep an eye on it or risk the freedoms that we in Britain enjoy now.

8. Can the rest of us have our planet back?

Comment #82790 by frankie1958 on October 27, 2007 at 3:11 pm

Absolutely brilliant! I am laughing out loud,

Accident of Evolution: STOP doing that to Richard Dawkins face!! for the sake of coding DNA please stop making him look like a £20 hooker on the Spank Me Please website.

Fantastic stuff, i have to pass it on to my fiends in non-theism :)

9. Don't write off religion - it can be the key to a stable family

Comment #82780 by frankie1958 on October 27, 2007 at 2:50 pm

Anne
It's lovely that you make an argument for families but essentially what you are saying is that living in Smallville is better than living in the real world. I cannot accept that telling children lies about the world is better for humanity in the long run than keeping an open mind and exploring all possibilities.
An ethical life need not be based on religious text. As an exercise, what would you do if god were not in the picture. My guess is not much different if you are a moral person to begin with. When you impart your ideas to your kids, you had these ideas all ready and god plays no part.

You say 'Atheist fundamentalists, I can't help thinking, see religion in their own image: they're curiously drawn to the fanaticism of other fundamentalists. And in the middle sit the rest of us, struggling to impart to our kids some values that go beyond the material, commercial or purely rational, though not necessarily incompatible with all those. I want my children to know about the long cultural tradition that they come from. And yes, if I'm honest (and though I recognise I might fail), I'd like them to continue this in some way.'

Imparting to children the long cultural tradition is fine so long as it is based in reality and not wishful thinking. A moral and ethical life can be lived without religion as its bolster. In fact, it can be lived much fuller and more honestly than the belief in supernatural things can ever do.

10. Sam Harris at AAI 07

Comment #82773 by frankie1958 on October 27, 2007 at 2:25 pm

I love this because Sam Harris is not excluding those who do not think as he does. He wants to arrest the 'us' and 'them' argument. He also acknowledges the ecstatic feelings that humans experience but cant explain, and how some interpret that as spiritualism or a religous experience. He wants to acknowledge this as real which it is. He is not saying it is religious, he is saying that it has meaning especially to those who experience it. This in itself needs understanding and acknowledgement and investigation. He obviously doesn't believe that it is god that causes these sensations but as humans it is worth discussing and investigating. I couldn't agree more with this. As far as the label (atheist) goes, he may be right on that score as well. I could never call myself an a-astrologist so the term a-theist is meaningless as well. This is intelligent controversy and it is great when it is intelligently & gently delivered.

11. Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #80585 by frankie1958 on October 22, 2007 at 8:51 am

Fanusi Khiyal
Perhaps you are right. I am not Muslim and do not understand the mindset of Islamism let alone Islamic extremism. However, I cannot agree to going to war in the classic bombs and bullets sense of the word. The West can win by putting in place policies that prevent the things mentioned in my previous post. Dialogue is also important. It is one thing to be tolerant but we cannot be accepting of criminal behaviour in our midst from any group. And if that group abuses the freedoms and civil liberties available they should be imprisoned or deported. What we shouldnt do is give them the opportunities to expand their ideology if that ideology advocates the murder and destruction of innocents. This can be done peacefully with legislation (such as the abolishment of all faith schools) and robust national security without going to such abhorrent lengths as war or trodding on the civil liberties of peaceful citizens.

12. Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #80545 by frankie1958 on October 22, 2007 at 6:04 am

AHA is NOT advocating war with Islam. She is saying stop pussy footing around with Political Correctness and put a stop to Islam infiltrating it's ideology into Western society. Stop allowing them to teach fascism in their faith schools. Stop allowing them to enter the country to commit heinous crimes against innocent people. Stop looking away when they mutilate their women, force them into marriages, or kill them in the name of honour and Islam.
AHA is blaming the West for allowing moderate Muslims to look away as well. If anyone should be in dialogue with the radicals it should be the moderates but there is a level of tolerance,understanding and advocacy and perhaps a level of fear from moderates for radicals. And if moderates are fearful, how much more fearful should the West be? If moderates outnumber radicals why arent they doing something about it? Not a word of dissent was heard from the Muslim community after 9/11.
Islam is killing and warring with people who are NOT out to war with them. I am quite happy to live, work, and play with Muslims. They can live next door, eat at my table, be my friend, work with me. However, I am not tolerant of anyone who behaves criminally or hurts, maims or kills innocent people whether they are Muslim or not. So those Muslims who commit their crimes in the name of allah must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and the West must not create opportunities for radicals to practice their evil ideology.

13. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams criticizes popular atheist writers

Comment #80171 by frankie1958 on October 20, 2007 at 11:43 am

Ok i just watched Christopher Hitchens speech at the AAI so I'll have to take it back about him being polite (re: Mother Theresa) but i do understand where he is coming from and his anger at the misery she and her kind have caused in the name of god.
A long time ago, I read Ayn Rand and she said something that basically religion makes beggars of people. That the do-gooders actually do no good because they allow people to owe their benefactor which becomes some sort of cycle. Anyway, I cant find the book now but it always stuck with me and that is what I thought when I saw Mother Theresa with the poor in India. You are better to make someone earn their money, no matter how small, than to just let them sit there with their hand out. I can see that religions do this to the poor and in effect they feed off each other. Another reason to get rid of religious institutions and let people get back to work making an honest living. Anyway, if I've got this wrong I'm sure someone will correct me.

14. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams criticizes popular atheist writers

Comment #79941 by frankie1958 on October 19, 2007 at 7:16 am

I must say that I really object to the term militant atheist especially when applied to Richard Dawkins, Dan Dennett, Sam Harris or Christopher Hitchens. These men assert a certain idea and provide logical, reasonable and above all rational proof. Every interview, every article, every documentary that I have seen of any of the above mentioned gentlemen has shown nothing but well spoken, extremely intelligent, educated and polite people who are speaking from evidence.
The Archbishop should be careful not to tar atheists with the same brush as the religious fanatics he is so familiar with.

15. God's honest truth?

Comment #79921 by frankie1958 on October 19, 2007 at 3:52 am

I havent read all the posts so please excuse me if I am repeating someone else's thread. The whole idea of education should be non biased and encourage students to think and be critical of what is taught to them. This cannot be done if we teach religious doctrine as fact. I am all for the abolishment of all faith schools of any sort. If you want to teach religion to your children, keep it at home and not in the schools.

16. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath

Comment #79451 by frankie1958 on October 17, 2007 at 9:35 am

Well for a second there, I thought it was John Cleese....to which i owe an apology to John Cleese.

McGrath is clearly an educated man but that does not make him smart or right or rational. I actually felt sorry for him at the end, as Hitchens had clearly won the debate without any real effort at all. There just isnt any argument that stands up to evidence.

17. The New New Atheism

Comment #79079 by frankie1958 on October 16, 2007 at 4:24 am

What a cheek! Accusing atheists of being motivated by money? Has he seen that behemoth in Rome or the innumerable cathedrals and churches dotting the planet? Do we even know the extent of the wealth hidden in the coffers of the church.

I'll say it again. What a bloody cheek!

The argument that only the really enlightened can understand all the nuances of religion is also a bloody cheek since most believers are run of the mill humans with an average size brain. If only the brainiest can fully grasp and appreciate the mind of god, then why are they flogging it to the rest of us who couldnt possibly understand!?

The egotism of claiming that humans are the most wonderful creatures of all is key to the egotism that god is personally interested in every little detail of each individuals life and watches you like some cosmic CCTV security guard.

Honestly, the stupidity of these arguments beggars belief.

There isnt an instrument on earth that can measure my incredulity at this moment.

18. Ayaan Hirsi Ali: abandoned to fanatics

Comment #77900 by frankie1958 on October 11, 2007 at 3:55 am

There are 551 signatures on this petition now but we can do much better I think. Can there be a link on the front page please? This is such an important issue, everyone should see the link easily and sign up to the petition for her safety.

19. MORE GOOD NEWS for US taxpayers

Comment #74899 by frankie1958 on October 1, 2007 at 4:07 am

Amanda S. Charities enjoy tax exemption whether they are religious or not. Amnesty International is also a charity and isnt affiliated with a religion. As RDF is a non-profit organisation (i'm guessing) they qualify for the tax exemption. If I am wrong on this point, can we hear from Josh Timonen whether this is true or not.

20. MORE GOOD NEWS for US taxpayers

Comment #72538 by frankie1958 on September 21, 2007 at 1:39 pm

As a Canadian living in Britain, I would love to see RDFRS in Canada. Good to see that common sense prevails in British Columbia re: faith based school funding.(Goes to show that all that pot-smoking and shroom picking in the 70's didnt do too much damage) Would like to see more proactive lobbying against religious schools in the rest of Canada.

Keep God out of the class room.

21. OUT Campaign Launched, 'Scarlet Letter' Shirts Now Available!

Comment #60087 by frankie1958 on August 1, 2007 at 12:04 am

Ok I posted at #229 and I think I know why this bugs me. While I applaud people who want to come out and stand out, there are some of us who are quite happy being quiet atheists. I dont feel the need to tell anyone that I am an atheist anymore than I need to tell people I'm a liberal or a heterosexual or a healthcare worker or a wife or a mother. If it comes up in conversation, I'm quite happy to be upfront about it. If it comes to voting, I'm happy to vote my conscience and support science and reason in policy.
Accusing atheists of cowardice for choosing not to wear a t-shirt is akin to telling them they will go to hell if they sin. PZ Myers comments about "whiners and concern trolls" is the kind of bullying language that I can do without. I'd like to be able to post my opinion and read others opinions without the personal attacks on someone's character.
There is room for all points of view here and isnt it better to support those who are a bit wary of being "in your face" rather than berating them?

22. OUT Campaign Launched, 'Scarlet Letter' Shirts Now Available!

Comment #59657 by frankie1958 on July 30, 2007 at 4:03 am

I'm not sure this is such a positive take on atheism. It's all starting to look organised and congregational which is what puts me off religion. For some reason, wearing a shirt announcing your atheism or anti-theism isnt any different than wearing a turban or a habib or a chastity ring or plastering your bumpers with fish stickers. When I can put my finger on why this bugs me, I'll get back to you.

23. Transcending God: An interview with Christopher Hitchens

Comment #55974 by frankie1958 on July 13, 2007 at 4:37 am

ok well i'm the 11th poster woohoo! :)

CHWWer

Enemy of the World? Trinity of the Hitchens Watch?

What? WHAT??

At least we can see Hitchens and know he actually wrote his book and while I agree with most of what he says, I wouldnt say I was beholden to him.

But I can see that if he were invisible, say, and supposedly told others to write his book that that would be a much more credible scenario. Uh huh. Yeah.