Comments by Colwyn Abernathy

1. Atheists launch bus ad campaign

Comment #314689 by Colwyn Abernathy on January 7, 2009 at 12:28 pm

"However, Christian belief is not about worrying or not enjoying life."

Aye, we know. It's about obedience.

Must...order...T...shirt...

2. Atheists don't believe in anything

Comment #309709 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 31, 2008 at 12:59 pm

Elentar,

The capacity for independent ethical consideration is so atrophied that they need to be told what to do.

Hence, the term, 'sheeple' is quite apt.

3. Atheists don't believe in anything

Comment #309706 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 31, 2008 at 12:53 pm

A14,

Kinda reminds me of another great mind...
"The argument goes a little something like this:
'I refuse to prove that I exist, for proof denies faith, and without faith, I am nothing!'
'Well,' says Man. 'The Babel Fish is pretty much a dead giveaway, innit? It PROVES You exist, therefore You don't! QED.'
'Dear Me!' says God, 'I hadn't thought of that!' and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic.
'Oh, that was easy,' says Man, and goes on to prove that black is white, and gets killed at the next zebra crossing." -Douglas Adams

Miss you, Doug. :_(

4. Atheists don't believe in anything

Comment #309703 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 31, 2008 at 12:47 pm

Atheists don't believe in anything.

Well, define belief then. If by "belief" you mean the hope that which cannot be observed or demonstrated in any way exists in reality, then you have a point. However, as "belief" also encompasses KNOWLEDGE, as in, "My belief of the properties of electrical current", then you're just abusing semantics.
This, I believe:
I believe that there is hope for our species.
I believe in a thing called love.
I believe I'll have another.
I believe that the educational potential of our mass media is grossly underused.
I believe in that which can be observed and/or demonstrated.
I believe, in general, we are genuinely good. It's the pockets of idiocy that gain so much influence that's holding us back.

I believe everyone has a choice, and I believe forfeiting that choice in deference to a vain hope that which can neither be observed or demonstrated is downright foolish.

This, I believe.

5. Religious Test

Comment #309698 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 31, 2008 at 12:34 pm

chewed,

He DOES have a point in saying that it would be easier, but then, the religious seem to prefer the path of least resistance. And it's far easier to obey than it is to take control. "Givin' it up to god" and all that. Hitchens's point still stands: In order to enjoy the quality of life and freedom we do today, we have had to defy the gods at every major crossroads. As we discover more about our cosmos (which, granted, is very little) the more we're pressured to leave our comforting beliefs behind.

6. Religious Test

Comment #309694 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 31, 2008 at 12:17 pm

WTH? What about people WITHOUT FAITH? People of faith my ass. What she means is, "people of MY faith". 5 quid says she doesn't give a shit about Sikh faith, Hindu faith, or Shinto faith. Hollow...

at best.

7. Heaven for the Godless?

Comment #309445 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 31, 2008 at 7:08 am

What on earth does this mean?

That, on the whole, we like being fair...at the very least. Everyone should get a shot at heaven, even the heathens.

8. My Christmas message? There's probably no God

Comment #307320 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 27, 2008 at 3:52 pm

mord,

*twiddles thumbs innocently whilst whistling Dixie*

9. The Ten Days of Newton

Comment #307319 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 27, 2008 at 3:51 pm

A frontal labotomy?

A monkey in an apple tree?

10. The Ten Days of Newton

Comment #306709 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 26, 2008 at 7:01 am

"I brought some gifts for you, they're up in my buuummmmmm."
-Peter Griffin

Happy Newton's Day, everybody!

11. Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism (Response by Dawkins and Jones)

Comment #305950 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 24, 2008 at 1:58 am

Hell no. I'd resign first and find another district if I was required to teach non-science in a science classroom, but that's just me.

12. Origin Of Life On Earth: Simple Fusion To Jump-start Evolution

Comment #305678 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 23, 2008 at 12:50 pm

Wonderful! :) Now Cretinists...STFU already!

13. Jimmy Carr on Richard Dawkins

Comment #304832 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 22, 2008 at 10:59 am

Bill,

OOOOOOO..

Ding! Fries are DONE, dude. Ow...

14. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #304831 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 22, 2008 at 10:57 am

Dia,

And please observe that we experience many things beside our physical environment, namely the hugely significant part of *subjective* experiences, which are private and not measurable by any instrument.

Is this how "God" is defined? Like "love", "hate", "red" etc? And please observe that even these labels have naturalistic bases.

15. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #304826 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 22, 2008 at 10:40 am

Irate,

You forgot Arahabaki. ;)

And Take-Mikazuchi.

And Poseidon.

And Ba'al Zebul.

;)

EDIT:

Al,

And THIS time,

I REALLY mean it!

16. Obama Chooses Divisive Inaugural Pastor

Comment #304823 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 22, 2008 at 10:33 am

From yesterday, in case anybody missed it.

Searching for Common Ground,

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-warren21-2008dec21,0,4070038.story

17. Secularists' vital war on religion

Comment #304516 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 21, 2008 at 6:58 am

If what is suspected turns out to be true, the burning of Wasilla Bible Church is a metaphor for the onslaught against Christianity that aggressive secularism has mounted in Europe and which, under the influence of the morally degenerate Democrat party, is now invading the United States.

IF? When was the last time rampant homosexuals burned anything more than Crate & Barrel patchouli? This is purely linguistic. Turning their own language and terminology against a group that, at worst, is shouting "Bullshit!" at full voice. Don't see secularists and humanists committing acts like this. It would be uncharacteristic. And I have a feeling these fuckers KNOW it, too.

18. Secularists' vital war on religion

Comment #304512 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 21, 2008 at 6:49 am

As long as religion is a danger to the lives and liberties of others, secular liberals will never relent in their protests

Damn right. AND you don't see us blowing ourselves up, OR killing anyone in general, so the whole "war" thing is a mighty misnomer.

19. Most 'do not believe in nativity'

Comment #304506 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 21, 2008 at 6:30 am

mconsul,

to say that utter skepticism or complete denial of the historical person of Jesus (whose death makes perfect sense in light of other contemporary events in Jerusalem between popular/charismatic figures and Romans) is to step about two centuries back in terms of historical scholarship and critical method.

How so? What other records and evidence do we have on the historical Jesus? There's no corroborating archeological evidence of the great Exodus, why should we just take for granted that a mass of humanity wandered the desert for 40 years? It's why I don't buy the historical Jesus. Even his alleged ossuary was a fraud. It isn't whether we assuage believer's feelings or not. It's about the truth. Truth based on evidence and observation. I don't see how coddling will help either.

EDIT:

Where are my manners!? Greetings and hallucinations! :) Welcome to RD.net! Glad to have another aboard!

20. Is Yahweh a Moral Monster?

Comment #304478 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 21, 2008 at 4:44 am

Besides, wasn't Jesus quoted as saying he had not come to replace the OT, but to FULFIL it? Not to bring peace, but a sword? Even "Jeebus saving the day" is contradictory. Hell, they even forget how big of a rebel he was. (allegedly) Imagine him coming back today, seeing all these eyesore megachurches. It'd be bedlam in the temple marketplace again.

21. Is Yahweh a Moral Monster?

Comment #304477 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 21, 2008 at 4:37 am

Yes.

22. Most 'do not believe in nativity'

Comment #304473 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 21, 2008 at 4:18 am

"Jesus was born while Augustus was emperor of Rome just before Herod died... we're talking about events that are anchored in real history not in ancient Greek myths."

Then why does the damn story bear so many similarities to said myths? Which is more likely: an invisible, all-powerful deity condensed into man-form by impregnating a Jewish girl,

-OR-

Said Jewish girl told a lie. Besides, the virgin birth was hardly a new idea.

23. Most 'do not believe in nativity'

Comment #304467 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 21, 2008 at 4:07 am

And yet, every year, some jackass needs to steal at least one baybee Jeebus from a public display. Because it ALWAYS makes the bloody news. As if it was meant as an affront to the whole faith. Grow up, it's a hunk of moulded plastic. Its very existence cheapens the season. If it's not a damn cracker, it's something else for the religilous to get bent outta shape on.

24. 'Tis the Season To Be Incredulous

Comment #303244 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 18, 2008 at 12:59 pm

The moral and aesthetic nightmare of Christmas.

In this town,
we call home,
everyone hail to the Pumpkin Song.

25. The Latest Face of Creationism in the Classroom

Comment #303236 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 18, 2008 at 12:49 pm

gkk,

Do see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npel0CEZk2A

lol

"HELLO?! WHAT?! NO, I'M AT CHURCH!!! NO, IT'S RUBBISH!! CIAO!!"

MAX,

I am not even halfway through Speaker for the Dead!

My personal favourite. :) Wholly moving. I want a Speaking myself.

EDITEDIT:

Eshto,

Wings? I don't have wings!

Of course not, you're a boy. ;)

26. The Latest Face of Creationism in the Classroom

Comment #303230 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 18, 2008 at 12:36 pm

Eshto,

It sounded like theistic pantheism.

Jesus iz in ur mitochondria.

27. Giant Dinosaur Fossil Found in Sahara Desert

Comment #303204 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 18, 2008 at 11:54 am

friendlypig,

It's that sneaky god again; hiding fossils in North Africa where he knew we would look a few thousand years later just to test our faith.

"We'll see who believes in me, NOW! Huh, huh, huh, I'm a prankster god! I am KILLING me!"

"I think God put you here to test MY faith, Dude. I think I figured this out."
-Bill Hicks

28. The Latest Face of Creationism in the Classroom

Comment #302608 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 17, 2008 at 12:30 pm

Stop ranting against religion

Stop trying to force it down our throats.

29. The Latest Face of Creationism in the Classroom

Comment #302546 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 17, 2008 at 8:46 am

The designer, the proponents say, might be God, but it might be space aliens or time-traveling cell biologists from the future.

And yet they don't take the Raelians' take on our genesis seriously.

Odd...

30. Faith Equals Fertility

Comment #302078 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 16, 2008 at 12:40 pm

MAX,

Good thing I'm a lezzie trapped in a man's body. I'm halfway there! ;) With the decades long studies done on children of gay parents, the sole dilemma they consistently found was suffering the BIGOTRY OF OTHER PEOPLE. I'm seriously considering lobbying for parental licensing. Oh, and mandatory gun insurance.

31. Faith Equals Fertility

Comment #302075 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 16, 2008 at 12:21 pm

Sarm,

but I think it an accurate summation of biblical text. As if women were some sort of non sentient, brainless, subservient easy bake ovens for progeny.

Astute, as usual. Illustrated by the fact that the Bible doesn't mention lesbianism...at ALL. Because it was written by men, who couldn't fathom that a woman might want to be with another woman. It probably occurred, but not to the extent that it would require god's wrath. Now it's just ASSUMED, which is typical of Biblephiles.

EDIT:

(Notice Tito's comment was apparently withdrawn, and for good reason)

Tito,

Sex without responsbility is probably the number one narcisistic value amongst non-believers.

What about sex WITH responsibility? You know, condoms, spermicidal lubricants, proper hygiene, etc. Based on birth rates, who do you think is having more responsible sex? Is this even correlated? We seriously have to take the Puritanical stick out of our asses, unless, of course, it feels really good up there. ;) Truth, Health, and Fun: the "Holy Trinity" of the thinking person.

32. Warning: A Truckload of Stupid

Comment #302067 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 16, 2008 at 11:35 am

As atheists, Maher and Dawkins commit the same sins they mock and condemn.

AHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

No

33. What does atheism say about the purpose (or the meaning) of life?

Comment #301683 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 15, 2008 at 10:53 am

Lise,

"You shoulda got 'im a tiiiieeee."
-Cat

;) Nicely obscure screenname, btw.

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

Comment #301269 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 14, 2008 at 10:58 am

VICTORIAN state primary school students will soon have an alternative — religious education lessons taught by people who do not believe in God and say there is "no evidence of any supernatural power".

Why not? We study mythology, too. Not to mention sex ed taught by clerics. Figure that out.

35. Vatican tightens in vitro opposition

Comment #301265 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 14, 2008 at 10:08 am

"There are those who say that the moral teaching of the Church contains too many prohibitions. In reality, however, her teaching is based on the recognition and promotion of all the gifts which the Creator has bestowed on man: such as life, knowledge, freedom and love," it said.

Quoth the childfuckers. Seriously, fuck you. To those of us who THINK FOR OURSELVES, we can see through this. It's not about any of those things. It's about OBEDIENCE, because ONLY the Church knows what's best for us. We can't be trusted to FIGURE IT OUT FOR OURSELVES, which is downright hilarious, because none of these fuckers knows what it's like to have a WOMB. And they're also so certain that their creator loves us. For reals, how do they KNOW THAT?

36. Vatican tightens in vitro opposition

Comment #301264 by Colwyn Abernathy on December 14, 2008 at 9:52 am