Comments by Fuller

1. Atheist bus ad campaign provokes bitterness in Barcelona

Comment #315104 by Fuller on January 8, 2009 at 2:40 am

The posting of atheist advertising on Barcelona's buses has been branded "an attack on all religions".

Then it has been accurately branded. Success!

2. Darwin shouldn't be hijacked by New Atheists - he is an ethical inspiration

Comment #308290 by Fuller on December 29, 2008 at 6:35 pm

Bunting's long, lame ramble was no match for Dawkins concise reply. Nice work.

3. The New Atheism, a definition and a quiz

Comment #308279 by Fuller on December 29, 2008 at 6:18 pm

A search for 'new atheist' on wikipedia takes you straight to 'anti-theist'. Personally, the term doesn't bother me (although it is mainly used by theists and is supposed to be insulting somehow). To me it just refers to the metaphorical refresh button that was hit when that bunch of fine books came out at around the same time.

I don't think you need to qualify the term 'new atheists' by putting 'so called' in front of it every time. It's a pretty innocuous term, and it means there's a new movement with which to title - which must be a good thing.

4. Storm

Comment #308155 by Fuller on December 29, 2008 at 2:43 pm

On the bright side, it seems you did Tim Minchin more of a favour than you did him harm. Many of us who were scarcely aware of Tim's existence are now *very* interested in his work and his CD.

I agree with that. While it sucks a bit that it's out there now, and we know that Tim doesn't want it out there, there is an upside as you say. I'll be going to his show now for sure.

5. Storm

Comment #308124 by Fuller on December 29, 2008 at 1:49 pm

KRKBAB - hey, it's your own loss if you can't get past the presentation :)

6. Storm

Comment #307918 by Fuller on December 29, 2008 at 1:36 am

Damn, video removed. I just got home and I really wanted to watch it again >:|

7. Storm

Comment #307897 by Fuller on December 28, 2008 at 10:20 pm

Yeah it's fine and all... but it's nothing that hasn't been said before.... hundreds of years ago... no one who ought to listens... not even to Tim Minchin.

And how wonderfully he expresses this very sentiment at the end.

Yes they're old points but how eloquent, funny and entertaining he makes them. What a dude.

8. Darwin's dangerous idea: Top 10 evolution articles

Comment #307880 by Fuller on December 28, 2008 at 7:56 pm

Sweet, I gots me somes readins to do

9. Storm

Comment #307836 by Fuller on December 28, 2008 at 4:49 pm

What makes it funny, is that we have all conversed with a Storm...

So tragically true.

Wonderful performance.

10. Dawkins Delusion (3rd article, Same Stupid Title)

Comment #305892 by Fuller on December 23, 2008 at 10:28 pm

Anyway, what makes religion a religion is the faith that it takes to believe in it, so to be an atheist you must have faith that there is no God because none has ever given any irrefutable scientific evidence against God.

I already told you, the burden of proof is not on me. Believe me or not, that's how it works. You are wrong that I have faith. I do not. And by the way, what are you trying to prove by claiming that I do have faith' That I'm just as unimaginative and gullible as you' Great.

Also these thing about virtues, you mean to tell me that they have always existed' Where did they come from' How does atheism/evolution account for them'

Again, I already told you, evolutionary psychology gives a very thorough and explanatory account of the origins of morality, virtues etc. Read up on it. Learn it. If you don't, I will be forced to assume you are not interested in real answers.

Christianity is not as bad as you make it look like man. it's not.

Maybe (I doubt it), and atheism certainly is not what you make it out to be. So where does that leave us' One world view based on evidence and science, and one based on faith, wish thinking, outdated morals, lies, and unverifiable accounts of physically impossible events. I know where I stand.

11. Dawkins Delusion (3rd article, Same Stupid Title)

Comment #305870 by Fuller on December 23, 2008 at 8:16 pm

Atheism does not explain to how we live, atheist live by christian virtues yet they deny the source of those virtues, sounds contradictory'

If you honestly believe that Christianity is the SOURCE of virtues such as love, peace, mercy and self control, then you're seriously mistaken. They existed before Christianity, continue to exist in non-christian cultures and will continue to exist when Christianity is gone.

The bigger point is that while atheists act so militant toward christianity and accuse it as immoral, most of the violent crimes of the 20th century were carried out by atheistic regimes, stalin, Mao, Hitler, and pol pot.

Urgh. All the hits in the anti-atheist catalogue. Hitler was catholic, the others were probably atheist but it was not their atheism that led to their atrocities, it was their dangerous ideologies (that resemble religion in many ways).

atheists should not depict their religion as if it's delivers a utopian idea, it's just as dangerous as any other ism.

You may have heard the term 'so wrong its not even wrong'. This would be applicable of your statement here. Firstly, and again, atheism is not a religion, it is precisely and perfectly the absence of one. Secondly, you're right that atheism should not be presented as a utopian idea, and I don't know one atheist who does this. It has been said that atheism is an essential position but not a sufficient one. Thirdly, no, not all ism's are equally dangerous, that is a ridiculous thing to say. Racism is obviously more dangerous than agnosticism, for example.

I don't mean to be rude, but I'm calling a spade a spade here: You don't know what you're talking about and you're spouting rubbish.

12. Dawkins Delusion (3rd article, Same Stupid Title)

Comment #305857 by Fuller on December 23, 2008 at 7:23 pm

Gah, can’t leave it at that. Here we go then.

Why is that every comment they make contain some animosity toward people who have opposing ideas'

Totally unfounded and not true. It’s only about 75% of comments, and it’s almost always justified.

Atheists know that they are standing in a dangerous ground when they say there is not God, they know that if they are wrong and God actually exist, then they are doomed.

Pascal’s wager. Old, old argument and very useless. Even if a god or gods did exist (and there is no reason to think they do), it does not follow that not believing in said god or gods would lead to eternal torment. Why is believing in god so important, as opposed to say, leading a good life' What kind of insecure god is this' It’s a total non-sequitur. Next.

Truly there is not enough evidence against God, just as faith is needed to believe in God, faith is also needed to not believe in him

Wrong, I have no faith, and do not need any for my position. The burden of proof lies with the person claiming the existence of something.

When you examin this religion

Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.

it seems as if they are no boundaries on what one can do;let's say some guy killed another man

Are you saying that if you didn’t believe in god, you would go around killing people randomly' That the only reason you have to be good is because you believe you’re being watched and judged' If yes, you are a despicable person. If no, you contradict yourself.

On the contray, Christianity can easily explain morality

The bible is an astoundingly immoral piece of literature. Genocide, rape, incest, ridiculous punishments for minor or no crimes, endless violence and so on. Morality is much, much better explained by evolutionary psychology. Go away and learn something and return with something worthwhile to say.

13. Dawkins Delusion (3rd article, Same Stupid Title)

Comment #305854 by Fuller on December 23, 2008 at 7:09 pm

And here is what I think.

You're wrong.

14. What do atheists do at Christmas?

Comment #305847 by Fuller on December 23, 2008 at 6:20 pm

Same as every year - copious amounts of drugs, sadomasochistic sex acts, and concocting a new evil destructive substance from stem cells in my science lab. Maybe I'll run over a kitten as well, just to spice things up.

15. New 'Molecular Memory' Only 10 Atoms Thick: Massive Storage Possible

Comment #303572 by Fuller on December 18, 2008 at 9:41 pm

Yeeaah nanotechnology! It'll be all about the nano in the future. Nanoo

16. 'Tis the Season To Be Incredulous

Comment #303571 by Fuller on December 18, 2008 at 9:38 pm

He's not alone, being unlucky in love. This piece I wrote pretty much sums up my experience generally:

http://www.youngausskeptics.com/2008/12/nice-girl-shame-about-the-woo/#more-692

Yes, shameless plug. My one for the year.

17. 'Tis the Season To Be Incredulous

Comment #303539 by Fuller on December 18, 2008 at 8:32 pm

Are we drinking tonight'

It's my works christmas function in a couple of hours. No way I'm getting through that sober.

18. 'Tis the Season To Be Incredulous

Comment #303528 by Fuller on December 18, 2008 at 8:12 pm

On a trip through northern Western Australia, we counted 24 kangaroos, all dead.

Also counted 6 backpackers, all...well. Best not to get into it.

19. 'Tis the Season To Be Incredulous

Comment #303516 by Fuller on December 18, 2008 at 8:03 pm

For the record (I'm sure I'm going to be sorry about this) I'm a 53 (until Dec 30) OLD female.

Wow, that is old for a cat.

20. 'Tis the Season To Be Incredulous

Comment #303281 by Fuller on December 18, 2008 at 1:56 pm

At the train station this morning, religiously themed christmas carols were being pumped out of a ghetto blaster (wrapped in tinsel). My train was cancelled so I had to stand there and take it. I wondered if noise pollution of this kind would be accepted at any other time, for any other reason.

I don't mind christmas, but stuff like that really gets on my nerves.

21. Evan Solomon Interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #302791 by Fuller on December 17, 2008 at 5:48 pm

<-----

22. Religion in [Australian] schools to go God-free

Comment #301745 by Fuller on December 15, 2008 at 5:18 pm

Back to the OP, someone please tell me, what is the function of the Aussie RE classes ' Is it to teach ABOUT each belief, or to CONVINCE or reinforce each belief '

We had RE in my primary school (Western Australia). It was certainly about trying to convince the kids of Christianity. I remember asking how descendants of Adam and Eve got past the first generation. The answer was something like "things were different back then".

Needless to say, not very convincing.

23. Religion in [Australian] schools to go God-free

Comment #301449 by Fuller on December 15, 2008 at 12:17 am

Now I'm sorry to somewhat deflate the Aussie claim to being the only civilized nation on earth, but this is the way it has been in Swedish state schools for decades.

Pre-comma: huh?
Post-comma: duh.

24. Religion in [Australian] schools to go God-free

Comment #301367 by Fuller on December 14, 2008 at 3:24 pm

Great news from our great state!

Not such great reporting though, giving equal coverage for an opposing point of view as if it were equally valid..

25. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296392 by Fuller on December 3, 2008 at 1:52 pm

I don't have any trouble at all picturing Fred Phelps & Co. tossing and turning in their seething hatred of homosexuals and never having a crisis of faith.

I can take a wild stab at why they may struggle to sleep with those thoughts swimming around their head.

"Why can't I stop thinking about this'! I'm getting the devils horn again!"

26. Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson Debate

Comment #295639 by Fuller on December 2, 2008 at 3:34 pm

The audience appeared to be mostly believers. In some cuts to the crowd, when Hitchens was talking, there was a lot of fidgeting and distracted looks etc. A lot of them looked like they just didn't want to hear it.

27. Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson Debate

Comment #295173 by Fuller on December 1, 2008 at 11:52 pm

Just got through the Hitchens opening, balls-to-the-wall awesome. I've been lukewarm on Hitchens for the last year or so, but that reminded me of why I became a fan. Good show.

28. Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson Debate

Comment #295060 by Fuller on December 1, 2008 at 6:07 pm

Your response reminds me of the theists "knee jerk" response - "it's true because the bible says it's true"

Can you expand on your assertion that JMCARVAS was "outrageously wrong" -or is it just because he is "outrageously wrong".

Arwel

JMCARVAS stated that philosophy has never done anything useful for humanity, and that it stands directly opposed to science. To me this is self-evidently wrong, but if you're not convinced, I recommend Hume, Bertrand Russell, Dan Dennett. All philosophers and very much science and reason based.

Surprised this even needs to be said, to be perfectly honest.

EDIT: There you go, MPhil laid it out much better than I ever could.

29. Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson Debate

Comment #295036 by Fuller on December 1, 2008 at 5:39 pm

We are all on the same side - why make enemies of our loyal allies'

Because JMCARVAS was wrong, and outrageously so. MPhil's response was appropriate.

30. Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson Debate

Comment #295016 by Fuller on December 1, 2008 at 4:58 pm

Anyway, philosophy never did a useful thing for humanity. Philosophy stands in the oposite side of science, almost as religion does.

Wow, where did this come from. Wash your mouth out, sir.

31. Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson Debate

Comment #294978 by Fuller on December 1, 2008 at 3:57 pm

Even more disturbing is that despite this promise, Wilson immediately appeals to reason. God damn-it man, if you're claiming mysticism then at least have the courage to be mystical!

Totally. A theist will use reason and logic as far as it takes them (which is basically nowhere), and then dismiss it the moment it's used against them.

You can't have it both ways.

32. Forced to Marry

Comment #294971 by Fuller on December 1, 2008 at 3:38 pm

Hitchens was right on the money when he said that the most important factor in becoming a progressive, enlightened society is the emancipation of women.

33. God No!

Comment #294268 by Fuller on November 30, 2008 at 10:14 pm

Pat only gets a few seconds on this. But it did make me want to stab my own ears.

34. Atheist Foundation of Australia Bus Slogan Rejected!

Comment #294175 by Fuller on November 30, 2008 at 5:43 pm

celebrate how - should I throw a party'

YES!

They can reject anything they want,

This is true, and we're free to criticise them for it, which is what we should do and have been doing.

35. Terrorism That's Personal

Comment #294152 by Fuller on November 30, 2008 at 5:18 pm

saadiamalik - are you claiming that these attackers would use non-religious justification for their despicable actions' I'm curious as to what those justifications would entail.

I think our assumption that religion is involved is not at all baseless, in fact I consider it to be quite reasonable.

36. Anti-terror law requires God be acknowledged

Comment #293462 by Fuller on November 29, 2008 at 2:20 am

If things get really bad, Superman will step in.

37. Atheist Foundation of Australia Bus Slogan Rejected!

Comment #293460 by Fuller on November 29, 2008 at 2:10 am

Very sad story.

It would take a pre-warped mind to find TGD depressing though. It's inspiring and uplifting. It's tragic that religion can have such a tight grip that all your happiness is contingent on it's truth value.

38. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #292510 by Fuller on November 27, 2008 at 9:08 pm

Mine is an analogy. I'm not using it as a supporting "argument".

uh...huh.

39. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #292501 by Fuller on November 27, 2008 at 8:55 pm

As a football player insisting that basketball be redefined to accommodate you, I think the onus is on you to provide the reasons. Otherwise, there is no reason to accommodate you. After all, the two sports are essentially "equivalent".

And just yesterday Bernstein was accusing others of invalid comparisons..

40. Atheist Foundation of Australia Bus Slogan Rejected!

Comment #292480 by Fuller on November 27, 2008 at 7:16 pm

P.S- AP outdoors is affilated with JP Morgan-
affiliated with the Liberal Party,that should explain everything nicely.

For non-Australians - our Liberal party has nothing to do with the typical use of the word 'liberal'. We get around it in conversation by specifying 'small L liberals' and 'capital L Liberals'.

41. Atheist Foundation of Australia Bus Slogan Rejected!

Comment #292389 by Fuller on November 27, 2008 at 3:24 pm

83. Comment #292388 by Stublore

The bus company is public but the advertising is always done through a private company.

42. Atheist Foundation of Australia Bus Slogan Rejected!

Comment #292387 by Fuller on November 27, 2008 at 3:23 pm

I was hoping this rejection would have been reported from a mainstream news outlet...if that had happened it would have been wider coverage than the original bus campaign.

I haven't found any reports though.

43. Atheist Foundation of Australia Bus Slogan Rejected!

Comment #292372 by Fuller on November 27, 2008 at 3:04 pm

They should just keep trying with different slogans. There's no shortage of them. If one is rejected, and a reason isn't given, try it again with a different phrase. Why not'

44. Atheist Foundation of Australia Bus Slogan Rejected!

Comment #291834 by Fuller on November 26, 2008 at 9:37 pm

Nice quotes. Do you think they would actually air a correction'

45. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #291829 by Fuller on November 26, 2008 at 9:27 pm

Both DP and Bernstein appear to be implying that gays haven't suffered enough to earn equal rights. Fascinating..

46. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #291824 by Fuller on November 26, 2008 at 9:18 pm

Out of those three, gays have had it the easiest.

Explain why this warrants different treatment.

47. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #291822 by Fuller on November 26, 2008 at 9:16 pm

Bernstein, you need to address this. What is it about homosexuals, as a group, that differs from other groups in regards to equality' Why is it not comparable to issues of racial equality, or gender'

48. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #291811 by Fuller on November 26, 2008 at 8:53 pm

It's you that wants to make the change. You provide the reasons. That's how it works.

I call troll. Wosret has provided reasons multiple times now. Bernstein is completely ignoring them. This suggests a complete unwillingness to engage in a productive way.

1598. Comment #291807 by Cartomancer

Excellent! I laughed.