1. It's no wonder evangelical atheists need to shout so loud

Comment #241571 by JLD Calgary on September 2, 2008 at 2:50 pm

Hello all,

The Calgary Herald has run numerous letters, all debunking Barry Cooper and his poorly written editorial, including one of my own (See below: Reading List).

I thought you all would like to see some of the very well written responses to this article that made it into print.

Enjoy!

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Reading list
Saturday, August 30, 2008

Barry Cooper's column clearly indicates he has not understood any of the arguments against belief in any deity or supernatural phenomenon. He even fails to grasp the simple, logical counterarguments to the cosmological argument, which Occam's razor and other rational questions thoroughly dismiss.

His statement that atheists' arguments "are so weak that they have to obscure this fact with a high-decibel diversion" is a shining example of his naivete.

I challenge him to read The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins, or God: The Failed Hypothesis, by Victor Stenger, to truly have a grasp of the kinds of questions "goddidit" fails to answer.
Religion can certainly encourage wonder and awe at the universe's mysteries; however, it hardly encourages in-depth exploration of those answers. Critical thinking, rational thought, logical approaches and a reliance on evidence are pillars of an atheistic mindset, not blind faith, and are much more capable of answering the difficult questions.

Justin Deveau, Calgary

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Atheists in awe
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Re: "It's no wonder evangelical atheists need to shout so loud," Barry Cooper, Opinion, Aug. 27.

Atheists need not sacrifice their wonder at the beauty of existence. How can one help but be cast into awe at the thought that our pale blue dot floating in the inconceivably vast nothingness of space harbours all known life?

Is it not wondrous to consider that fantastically simple unconscious replicators competing over billions of years yielded the full complexity of life?

My pulse never fails to quicken when I ponder that we are the first species with the
rational capacity to reflect on its own existence, to understand its origins, and to rebel against the interests of the replicators that gave rise to it.

Science does not offer answers for what preceded the Big Bang, but with the exponential increase in our knowledge and intelligence that will occur over the coming centuries, that may not always be so.

If ever we uncover evidence of a power existing outside the universe, it might well be termed God -- albeit a god so remote and unconcerned with our existence as to be unrecognizable to theist religion.

Until that day, I am content to wonder at the beauty of life.

Robert Guterson, Calgary

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First in line
Sunday, August 31, 2008

Re: "It's no wonder evangelical atheists need to shout so loud," Barry Cooper, Opinion, Aug. 27.

I don't consider myself to be an atheist, enlightened or otherwise. However, I wonder if enlightenment could be gained in this instance by arranging to have Barry Cooper and me bitten by mad dogs and following which one of us would apply to the universal creator for relief, and the other to the Foothills Hospital for rabies shots. Dibs on the shots!

R. C. Hawkey,
Calgary

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On the defensive
Sunday, August 31, 2008

We non-believers are getting tired of rising to deal with the same old arguments. Just when it seems the last one has been put to bed, another person steps up and delivers the same old drivel again. Dogmatism, by definition, means an authoritative, undisputable belief in something. We non-believers, whether we call ourselves atheists, agnostics or secular humanists are capable of believing in anything. We only ask for sufficient evidence to justify the belief.

I take issue with Barry Cooper's comment about atheists shouting. Outspoken, unashamed atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Victor Stenger don't shout -- they publish.

Stuart A. Milc,
Calgary

2. It's no wonder evangelical atheists need to shout so loud

Comment #239282 by JLD Calgary on August 29, 2008 at 11:26 am

Here is a Letter to the Editor that was published in the August 29th edition of the Calgary Herald.

It's quite nice I think.

Doh! Was beaten to it. Good response none the less.

3. It's no wonder evangelical atheists need to shout so loud

Comment #237957 by JLD Calgary on August 27, 2008 at 1:05 pm

I've submitted a letter to the editor regarding this naive article, I'm hoping it gets published in response. Wish me luck!

Justin

4. Cardinal accuses Anglican Communion of 'spiritual Alzheimer's'

Comment #217332 by JLD Calgary on July 24, 2008 at 8:13 am

"If this context is ignored in favour of a myopic world-vision, Christ's salvation will be conveniently dismissed as irrelevant."

Bingo. He sees the light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not paradise, it's reality.

Justin

5. Taking a Cue From Ants on Evolution of Humans

Comment #210923 by JLD Calgary on July 15, 2008 at 8:58 am

Of the differences between science and religion, he says: "Stop quibbling ?quot; I'm willing to say 'Under God' and to hold my hand to my heart. That's recognition of how this country evolved, and that we are using strong language to strong purpose, even if we may not agree on how the Earth was created."

I wonder if he'd still feel the same way if he was forced on his knees to pray to Allah. I'm not even sure his position would exist in that environment.

Some of us are not willing to pander to irrationality.

6. Religious bigotry upheld in court

Comment #208022 by JLD Calgary on July 10, 2008 at 1:59 pm

As soon as you give people an ability to cop out of their duties of their role or job, you open the floodgates. If you don't like the requirements of the job, there's the door, find another one.

A police officers risks getting shot, fireman risks being burned, and in this case, a registrar risks they may have to perform a civil partnership, even though it might be uncomfortable. Comes with the territory, get over it.

Edit: Just re-read a bit... she won because she was harassed, fine, but does that mean she doesn't have to do the job? It's not harassment if you're asked to do what's in the job description or has that word's meaning changed? Is she exempt now?

7. Atheism on the buses

Comment #206489 by JLD Calgary on July 8, 2008 at 12:08 pm

Great initiative! I would love to know how this turns out or if there are any problems encountered trying to purchase the space.

8. Evolutionarily Preserved Signature Found In The Primate Brain

Comment #198605 by JLD Calgary on June 24, 2008 at 9:47 am

The big question is whether it the homosexuality genes would be turned off in the future by parents when the technology makes it easy to have designer babies who want their kids to have the "normal life" (or at least fit in the norm).

They already do this with some congenital defects and such. It's not a far stretch. Depends on which Christians (and others) get over first, homophobia or gene manipulation.

9. Pastors Challenge Law, Endorse Candidates From Pulpit

Comment #196723 by JLD Calgary on June 20, 2008 at 11:30 am

How much do you want to bet the IRS doesn't end up doing anything on this? Pretty disappointing.

10. Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech

Comment #192183 by JLD Calgary on June 12, 2008 at 2:26 pm

I saw a great hour long interview with the "three sock puppets" (the three individuals who are the model Islam spokespersons) and the fellow who wrote the article (probably through this site) debating at the end.

At no point did they debate whether the article points where true or not, just that it hurt their feelings that it was being said, and frankly, I've read the piece, it's controversial for sure, but doesn't incite any sort of hatred or violence.

I'm going to be making quite the scene here in Calgary AB if they go through with this horrible misuse of the Human Rights tribunal.

And didn't you just love how the Ontario Human Right's dismissed it, yet still released a non-legally binding verdict statement without even looking at all the facts and going through the process? They should be tarred for that horrible showing of un-professionalism and disgraceful conduct. One should wonder how these people came to be in such a position.

11. Intelligent people 'less likely to believe in God'

Comment #192131 by JLD Calgary on June 12, 2008 at 1:31 pm

I have to agree with this articles premise, though I'd love to see some nice graphs with the details pulling it all together. I think we'd find though that the higher the IQ, the less religious. It just seems like common sense, I'm glad research is being done on it.

Take careful note about how those critics quoted in the article seem to be more concerned with whether it will make religion seem primitive or spawn hostility towards it without actually debating the scientific data.

Perhaps they are a bit too quick to pull the "don't hurt my feelings" card without actually looking at the information?

12. Stupid flies live longer: study

Comment #189072 by JLD Calgary on June 5, 2008 at 11:06 am

Any information on their birth rates? Reference: The movie Idiocracy (Very funny movie if anyone hasn't seen it, where the dumb shall inherit the Earth)

13. Darwin still causing waves after 150 years

Comment #189065 by JLD Calgary on June 5, 2008 at 10:37 am

Border Collie: JLD Calgary ... read "Origin" ... If I can do it, you can do it. Don't look for quick, easy answers ...

Oh don't worry about me, I'm an avid reader and love these big novels, it doesn't take me long to go through them.

I've just found that certain individuals, the kind that aren't sold on evolution that I'm trying to find a short book for to explain this concept, are not the types to read very often and most of the materials are daunting to them. Such is expected though right?

Btw: T4Baxter has a really interesting idea. Does the RDF members ever go to creationist or any other type of misinformed forums to discuss logic, reason and evidence? I would love to read/participate in more informal forum debates.

Members of this forum usually trip over each other in agreement, usually… 

14. Darwin still causing waves after 150 years

Comment #188809 by JLD Calgary on June 4, 2008 at 3:47 pm

Thanks for the suggestions all. I'm still working my way through The Blind Watchmaker and the Selfish Gene, but when I hit up Chapters there's so many other's that seem interesting it can be a pain to find a simple and short one that still gives you the details.

I actually had someone say that we're "only" 97% similar in DNA to our Chimp cousins... as if he'd be convinced if that number was just a bit higher *laughs* He's also not one to read any length of a normal book, so brevity in novel suggestions is ideal :)

15. The Great Evangelical Decline

Comment #188706 by JLD Calgary on June 4, 2008 at 12:02 pm

[quote] Evangelical leaders defend their stance by claiming that God doesn't change and that neither does sin. But sin does change. Slavery wasn't sin once. Now it is. Taking a wife and a concubine wasn't sin once. Now it is.

And God - or our understanding of what God is, which is all we actually have - changes, too. Human understandings are remolded so that faith can remain vital and effective during new times. [/quote]

With a line like this… you still don't think god was a human concept and that people are desperately altering to try and fit with their fairy tale, happy ending fantasies? Seriously?

16. Darwin still causing waves after 150 years

Comment #188694 by JLD Calgary on June 4, 2008 at 11:51 am

Anyone know of a really good book that thoroughly explains evolution from top to bottom? One that's easy to read and digest? Naturally, I'm all for Darwin, but I'm still running into people that question evolution's merits. I wouldn't mind having a quick read to lend to them when it comes up (Akin to Sam Harris' A Letter to a Christian Nation, something short, sweet and to the point).

17. Opponents of Evolution Adopting a New Strategy

Comment #188691 by JLD Calgary on June 4, 2008 at 11:47 am

Wow that site is pretty bad; the way it's written, the shamelessly emphasized words, the plea to parents. The internet needs a giant "Crap" stamp that gets thrown on sites like this one that spew this kind of garbage out.

18. Group wants Wi-Fi banned from public buildings

Comment #186105 by JLD Calgary on May 29, 2008 at 3:23 pm

I'm sure there are a few Amish communities that would open their doors for them :)

19. Richard Dawkins Interview on TVOntario

Comment #181215 by JLD Calgary on May 16, 2008 at 4:22 pm

Really disappointing that Dawkin's wasn't there to school that panel at the end. That was a bad arrangement, bringing a guest on then letting three opponents try and tear into him and his book without him there to set them straight.

I found I kept going through the list of Dawkin-like responses after every statement that he would have said had he been present.

20. Christian Founders 3D Adventure Computer Game

Comment #152855 by JLD Calgary on March 31, 2008 at 4:33 pm

As an adult gamer, this just makes me cringe :)

21. In His Name We Pray, Ramen

Comment #151741 by JLD Calgary on March 29, 2008 at 9:38 am

Ramen brothers, Ramen ;)

22. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #149848 by JLD Calgary on March 26, 2008 at 9:50 am

Happy B-day! I'd say "make a wish", but I think we're on the same page on that one... ;)