1. 'My daughter deserved to die for falling in love'

Comment #178579 by Jenin on May 11, 2008 at 4:10 pm

huzonfurst--
I simply cannot believe anyone with any moral compass could suggest launching a nuclear bomb on a group of people with no provocation, with millions of people in these areas who have committed no crime other than living there. How is this any solution to problems of religious fanaticism? And even if the proposition were not morally abhorrent, I hardly think this would make us any safer--but rather turn more hatred against us than already has been directed our way.


People like you give atheists a bad name and I am sorry I have to share any sort of identity with you.

2. The real danger in Darwin is not evolution, but racism

Comment #115195 by Jenin on January 23, 2008 at 6:25 pm

Although I should no longer be surprised at religious people's inability to be logical, I cannot believe how facetious this argument is. Whether or not Darwin wrote racist things (I myself don't know, although I have read Origin and can recall no such remarks) has nothing to do with the validity of his theory. Furthermore, even if the theory of evolution did somehow promote racism (which I don't think it does) this has nothing to do with its truth value.

3. Pope's exorcist squads will wage war on Satan

Comment #104792 by Jenin on December 29, 2007 at 12:45 pm

These people have the mindset of children.

On the other hand, it might be a good thing--most moderate Catholics I know would see this as over the edge--maybe it will prompt them to start questioning.

4. The Pagan Christ

Comment #102022 by Jenin on December 21, 2007 at 12:07 pm

According to Harpur's critic, "the evidence is incontrovertible" that Jesus existed and was crucified. He also claims the evidence shows that he was resurrected. He also claims that the four gospels are independently written. Not so--everyone knows the Synoptic gospels (matthew, mark and luke) were borrowed from each other.

What an idiot.

5. The Pagan Christ

Comment #102020 by Jenin on December 21, 2007 at 12:02 pm

I love how the Christian critics of Harpur claim that he is not looking at the "evidence" and he is "buying into a view" that no historians believe is credible.

Robaylesbury--there are only two independent references to Jesus from the time, one by Tacitus and one from Josephus, I believe. Both are, as you mentioned, very vague and neither source claims to have actually seen Jesus or even heard about him from a firsthand witness.

6. An Open Letter to Richard Dawkins

Comment #97026 by Jenin on December 11, 2007 at 9:48 am

I am so sick of people using the example of Hitler as an "evil atheist." How much evidence do they need that he at least claimed to be a Christian. Furthermore, if they argue that he wasn't "really" a Christian, then it's fair to argue that Stalin and Mao weren't "really" atheists for the reasons Sam and Richard have given.

7. Is Infant Male Circumcision An Abuse Of The Rights Of The Child?

Comment #96035 by Jenin on December 9, 2007 at 8:12 pm

Although I have not formed an opinion as to whether or not male circumcision is "right," comparing it to female circumcision seems to be a false analogy. Female circumcision, which usually involves the removal of the clitoris and labia, is extremely painful, and ensures that throughout life a woman will never feel any pleasure and intercourse will always be painful. This is analogous to removal of the entire penis, not the removal of the foreskin, which is what male circumcision involves.

8. Secret Swami - About Sai Baba

Comment #95199 by Jenin on December 7, 2007 at 2:51 pm

That Dr. Goldstein strikes me as worst of all. Betraying people like that, and refusing to even consider the possibility that the accusations were true is the height of stupidity and arrogance.

I wonder if the Rahms became atheists or at least skeptics, or if they went on to another religion.

9. Secret Swami - About Sai Baba

Comment #95185 by Jenin on December 7, 2007 at 2:21 pm

also add Joseph Smith to that

10. Sherri Shepherd needs to go away now

Comment #94744 by Jenin on December 6, 2007 at 12:06 pm

Is this a joke? How can anyone be so stupid?

11. Christopher Hitchens - God Is Not Great

Comment #55138 by Jenin on July 10, 2007 at 5:12 am

CruciFiction: Oh, they're not facts I would have known were wrong. I have just noticed other comments on some of these blogs that he said things that were incorrect--although most such comments have had to do with his understanding of science not religion.

12. Christopher Hitchens - God Is Not Great

Comment #55034 by Jenin on July 9, 2007 at 7:24 pm

Just a question: does anyone know if it is true that there is no mention of Hell in the Old Testament? As much as I enjoy Hitchens, I know he sometimes gets his facts wrong and this surprised me.

13. Religion and Child Abuse

Comment #47710 by Jenin on June 5, 2007 at 10:38 am

This is hardly an easy issue to tackle. Parents' freedom to raise their children as they choose vs. children's freedom from indoctrination...also excessive government intervention in family life which to most is a frightening proposition. Although I have not thought enough about this issue to say with confidence this is the best solution, I think Sam Harris' ideas apply here : we should not make religious indoctrination by parents illegal per se, but consider it as socially unacceptable as verbal abuse. We should force parents to think about just what they are doing to their children through this indoctrination--although needless to say many will still see nothing wrong with it. However, if religious indoctrination of children becomes akin to verbal child abuse, I think many more people would refrain from it.

14. Pedal power takes Islamic shape in Iran

Comment #42092 by Jenin on May 17, 2007 at 3:38 pm

USA_Limey:
I know that most people on this site fit your description. I have been reading and browsing it for at least six or seven months now, I simply rarely feel the need to respond to anything. I only wanted to point out the double standard: that the comment to which I first replied seems to be acceptable to people on this site, whereas if another group of people was characterized this way, more people would be reacting as I have.

15. Pedal power takes Islamic shape in Iran

Comment #42078 by Jenin on May 17, 2007 at 3:13 pm

USA_Limey and sauronlord:
Yes, racist was the wrong word. I should have said bigoted. As for the other comments, I agree that those who believe in the Koran etc. deserve to be criticized. However, the majority of people in the Muslim world are undereducated and poor and have never been exposed to Western, enlightened thought. Moreover, most of them have no interest in harming others--that is a small minority of Arabs and Muslims--and the comment I was responding to implies that is the case. Having actually come from and lived in the Muslim world, I can attest to the fact that most people there really just want to live in peace and have enough food to feed their children. My guess is that if someone had written on this site characterizing African Americans by the bad behavior of a few others, or Jews by the Revava extremists, there would be an outpouring of criticism on this comment. I know it's fashionable and acceptable now to speak about Arabs and Muslims this way, but it's really no different.

16. Pedal power takes Islamic shape in Iran

Comment #42046 by Jenin on May 17, 2007 at 2:17 pm

Comments like the one made by Solera remind me of the sort of remarks I have been reading from Jerry Falwell. To associate Iranian and Muslim individuals with terrorism and violence in this manner is hateful and racist.

17. Television evangelist Falwell dies at 73

Comment #41665 by Jenin on May 16, 2007 at 2:00 pm

I guess one of the drawbacks of being an atheist is that I don't get to feel any satisfaction at the thought that now he realizes how wrong he was.

While I never want to wish death or suffering on another living being, he is probably among the least likely sentient beings to warrant any sympathy. The racism and sexism he preached are an example of how anything is tolerated under the guise of "religion." Imagine anyone saying these things for any other reason than religion; people certainly would not be writing tributes to them and giving them an aura of legitimacy in the public arena.

18. Educated, Inspired Conservative Christians

Comment #41656 by Jenin on May 16, 2007 at 1:47 pm

"Jerry Falwell loved life and he loved people."

No, he loved people who shared his own bigoted as well as idiotic view of the world.

Furthermore, as to the description of those "trained and educated at Liberty university" I should be more likely to say "uneducated." From what I've heard, the "university" does more harm than good.

19. Bill Maher - APATHEIST

Comment #35461 by Jenin on April 27, 2007 at 8:27 am

I'm surprised to hear so many negative comments about Bill Maher. I am a huge fan; just because Maher has not been a vocal atheist or may have changed his mind hardly makes him shallow or an idiot. He has bravely defended his views even when it harmed his personal career (like getting fired from politically incorrect) and has done us all a great service by courageously expounding the truth about the Bush administration, among other things, on public television without concern for his safety or career. While I do not agree with everything he says, particularly his lack of concern for the well-being of Arabs and Palestinians in particular, I truly admire his courage and intelligence.

20. Richard Dawkins Explains 'The God Delusion'

Comment #28540 by Jenin on March 29, 2007 at 4:42 pm

Pdiff: Dawkins and Collins did have a debate, published in Time Magazine late last year.

21. Peanut Butter, The Atheist's Nightmare!

Comment #27960 by Jenin on March 27, 2007 at 12:40 pm

What about the coconut?

On a serious note, I simply cannot believe idiots like these exist. It would be amusing if they did not indoctrinate young children who are too young to think for themselves, and then grow up within an ideology they cannot escape. It's horrific.

22. Debate between Alister McGrath and Peter Atkins

Comment #27205 by Jenin on March 23, 2007 at 2:19 pm

Maybe McGrath thinks his ridiculously dramatic gestures and tone of voice cover up the fact he has absolutely nothing to say.