1. Richard Dawkins on The Alan Colmes Show

Comment #144183 by sanjiv on March 15, 2008 at 9:25 am

Comment #143929 by loki

Exactly my thoughts. Saved me the typing.

2. Christopher Hitchens on Real Time with Bill Maher

Comment #140545 by sanjiv on March 7, 2008 at 7:31 pm

Nice discussion....but what I enjoyed most was watching Shashi Tharoor keeping his mouth shut. He's a devotee and defender of Satya Sai Baba, a cheap illusionist and con artist whose favorite trick is to materialises ash in his hand in front of gullible crowds. This Baba has also been accused by his ex-devotees (many of them Europeans or Americans) of sexual harassment under the guise of spirituality. Indian politicians bow before him and no one has the courage to question or prosecute this Baba for his vast amount of unaccounted wealth.

Notice how Shashi Tharoor quickly avoids any discussion of Hinduism when Bill Maher asked him 'and you are a Hindu?'

I was hoping Hitchens would corner Tharoor about his links to the Baba. Looks like Tharoor walked into the wrong show but managed to get away by keeping shut! This guy even tried his hand at the UN Secretary General post, but lost. I like to think that the chain mail I sent out exposing this suave vendor of irrationality, may have played just a small role in his losing.

3. Launch of 'Atheists in Foxholes' Book Anthology

Comment #116715 by sanjiv on January 27, 2008 at 8:32 am

The way I understand it, the word Foxhole doesn't just refer to the literal foxhole that military people may find themselves in. A Foxhole to me means being in deep trouble or being troubled by something. It means facing the difficulties of life. Many of us have never been in the military or a literal foxhole, but understand financial foxholes, marital foxholes, career foxholes, love foxholes, etc. Some people do die fighting in these foxholes (suicide). Some come away maimed by the experience while others come away stronger. Why restrict ourselves to the literal military foxhole? All of us clear thinkers have probably had our share of foxholes in life. The point is how did we deal with these foxholes without supernatural assistance? At present, I'm in a foxhole called 'limerence'. Its as difficult to deal with as any military foxhole. Believe me!

4. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!

Comment #98923 by sanjiv on December 14, 2007 at 10:48 pm

Comment #98903 by Cartomancer

Thanks for the Revelation. Enjoyed it!

5. Daniel Dennett Debates Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #98243 by sanjiv on December 13, 2007 at 10:44 am

Saw the whole debate. Boy, did DIN-esh make a whole lot of noise. But I've got to admit, people like DIN can present their bull to a believing audience and get the applause. That does not in the least diminish granpa Dennett's mild chastising of the young 'un spouting a lot of bull and nothing else. I think we need some real good atheist evangelists with presentation & oratorial skills. Sam is too stone-faced, Hitch's accent and vocab (vicarious redemption) is too high and British for the ordinary religious believer, Dan's stutter distracts from his valuable inputs and Dawkins is too truthful - the concern for truth is betrayed by the frown on his face, which can be misconstrued as a confused look. I'd rather watch the latest Sam Harris debate than the latest Hollywood blockbuster, but I think atheism needs a star with presentation skills and simple language that effectively gets across to the believing part of people's brains that orators with meagre facts and tons of crap like DIN manage to get across to. Right now I think Ayaan is the closest fit to what I'm proposing. She's got the charm, intelligence, facts and that irresistable smile.

6. Nurses Told to Turn Muslims' Beds to Mecca

Comment #95080 by sanjiv on December 7, 2007 at 10:24 am

Careful all you Gauls. Don't pounce on the Roman (Abdullah) all at once. You might make him bolt.

7. Richard Dawkins at AAI 07

Comment #87135 by sanjiv on November 11, 2007 at 9:41 am

A bit off-topic, but can anyone tell me whether Richard Carrier, Dan Barker or Cliff Walker were at the AAI 2007?

8. The good that comes from belief

Comment #86650 by sanjiv on November 9, 2007 at 8:36 pm

These religious writers miss an important point.
You only need one atheist doing the same good work the Christians do, without jotting up points for encashment with a supernatural entity or future rewards system, to prove that there are alternative, better, unifying and more economical drivers for doing the same good.

9. Atheism isn't the final word

Comment #63192 by sanjiv on August 13, 2007 at 1:06 pm

Comment #32332 by Andrew Brown

There are no secularist counterparts to Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, William Wilberforce (the evangelical responsible for abolition of the British slave trade), Martin Luther King Jr., or the Christians — from France to Poland — who rescued Jews during the Holocaust.

Just off the top of my head Bob Geldof springs to mind. Can anyone think of any more?

What about Bill Gates and Warren Buffett? Their charity is totally secular, well managed and targeted and dwarf religious charities.

10. Atheism isn't the final word

Comment #63173 by sanjiv on August 13, 2007 at 11:46 am

Comment #32350 by Spinoza

If you're only nice because your religion tells you God's gonna be pissed if you're not... then YOU'RE NOT nice, you're just pretending to eat your veggies so God will let you eat dessert, of course, you've actually fed the broccoli to the dog when God wasn't looking (little did you know, the dog is God).

That was hilarious!

11. Come Out!

Comment #59418 by sanjiv on July 29, 2007 at 2:30 am

I'm from India - a very religious and superstitious country. Also a very violent country when it comes to religion being attacked. Nevertheless, I'm as Out an atheist as they come. I never lose an opportunity to undermine religious faith. My style is more in the form of planting seeds of doubt. A 'God bless' or 'Thank God' from religious folk is always accompanied by 'Which God?' and a smile from me. I never miss an opportunity to reply to religious chain-mails to sow my seeds of doubt.

But.....(sorry PZM and RD, I've got to use the 'but' word), I don't have a bumper sticker or wear T-shirts proclaiming my non-belief. No, I'm not afraid of being attacked. 'God' is a common noun. Most people won't attack you for attacking the common noun 'God'. Most people I know would be content to accommodate atheism as just another religion but without a God and not debate the issue. No debate, no discussion, is precisely what's bad for the growth of atheism and helps religions.

I'm not against grouping or having a symbol that bonds us, but it should be effective and work towards achieving the end-result of replacing un-reason with reason as a way of thinking to deal with our fears and uncertainties.

I don't think T-shirts or bumper stickers are going to cause much damage to religious beliefs unless they sow seeds of doubt and makes people entertain questions about their beliefs. The most they may achieve is bond like-minded people – and I am one of your like-minded people – very atheistic, very free-thinking.

The Out campaign is a welcome initiative. I support it and will join it when I find something that fits my style of attack on religion. In the mean time I encourage all those who wear the T-shirt and sport bumper stickers. Each one to his own style of attack on religion. Our Four Musketeers – Sam, Daniel, Richard and Christopher (also Ayaan, Salman and many others) each have their own style and I agree to a large extent with all of them and applaud their efforts. Similarly I applaud all those who sport atheistic T-shirts and bumper stickers but let's not forget those who contribute to furthering reason by just not taking part in religious rituals or quietly undermining religious belief. The population of the latter is a lot greater, so let's not undermine their quiet efforts. They will 'come out' in their own time.

We are a widely dispersed team with a common objective. Let's support each others efforts

12. Why I Believe Anti-Evangelism Is Wrong

Comment #57645 by sanjiv on July 20, 2007 at 11:57 am

This Tyrone guy, is he a Christian in atheist clothing by any chance? Sounds like a Christian slyly trying to lecture us by becoming 'one of us'

13. Convict sues God for broken contract

Comment #56973 by sanjiv on July 18, 2007 at 2:38 am

Have they tried looking for God in the Vatican? Or how about the Holy Land? I've heard religious people say 'God lives in my heart'. That could be a good starting point to look for him.

But one things for sure - they won't find him in any atheist's heart.

14. Interview with Alister McGrath, author of 'The Dawkins Delusion?'

Comment #49248 by sanjiv on June 11, 2007 at 6:31 am

Many people come to believe in God when they're older, but I've yet to meet somebody who has started to believe in Santa Claus later on in life.

My dear Alister, at 6 you find your older friends sniggering not so quietly at your belief in Santa. Mummy and Daddy prolong your childhood belief a little longer but laugh it off when you finally catch on. Then they tell you not to upset little Suzie's Santa belief - she'll find out in time, they say.

So grow up Alister. Just as you listened to the adults about Santa, now listen to the Atheists about God.

Nobody starts believing in Santa in adulthood because there are billions of adults playing Dawkins with the Santa delusion of 6-year olds. Tremendous social pressure and ridicule awaits those who hang onto the Santa delusion or acquire it in adulthood. You could probably find a few Santarians in mental asylums, but there are billions of similarly God-deluded people walking around outside their walls.

15. Importing a slave class

Comment #45690 by sanjiv on May 29, 2007 at 1:37 am

Aren't all those who call themselves American illegal immigrants too? Ask the Native Americans! Just wondering....

16. Those fanatical atheists

Comment #40165 by sanjiv on May 13, 2007 at 1:08 pm

mjr1007 and elfinabout,

I just wanted to compliment Dan Gardner on a wonderful article, but had to run a scroll hunt to the end of the thread. Try to keep your posts short because nobody is likely to read your posts, except the two of you (even though there may be a lot of merit in your arguments)

Dianelos,

Dan Gardner did not use the word 'objective' even once in his article (check it).

Do one thing - remove the word 'objective' from your post and read it again. Are you sure about this: "people believe in the existence of other minds without basing this belief on some evidence"? Applause at a rock concert, happy gurgling of a baby when you make funny faces, a smile when you thank someone, a frown when you abuse someone - aren't these evidence of the existence of 'other minds'? These responses can be achieved by anyone, at any place, at any time. Isn't that objective evidence? We don't just 'believe' these 'other minds' exist, we can test it anytime, any place, any number of times.

Here's another one without the word 'objective': "Since Kant it is well known that there is no evidence for the existence of the universe itself" Are you sure? We can see, touch, taste, smell and hear parts of the universe around us. Isn't that evidence that the universe exists? Anyone at any place, any time and any number of times, can see, touch, taste, smell and hear parts of the universe. Isn't that objective enough to prove to you that the universe exists?

Why is a God whom I and millions like me, have not seen, heard, felt, tasted or smelled, objectively more likely to exist to you, than the universe? Couldn't your whole experience of God be a subjective one?

Let's learn from each other. I'm not so smart (seriously). I had to remove the word 'objectively' from your post to understand it.

17. The kiss that brought immorality debate to a head

Comment #37949 by sanjiv on May 6, 2007 at 11:39 am

Intolerant Iran may be just the place that produces closet atheists on a large scale. Who knows, it may one day be home to the largest atheist population in the world!

18. The moment a teenage girl was stoned to death for loving the wrong boy

Comment #37822 by sanjiv on May 5, 2007 at 10:19 pm

The video brings two questions to mind immediately. Why didn't God save the girl? Why didn't God stop the killers? This video knocks out the two excuses given by moderate believers for belief in God: (1) God provides comfort in times of difficulty (2) God keeps people under control.

The girl was faced with the most difficult situation in her life, but God was absent. And God the policeman, was unaware, unable or too busy to stop the killers.

I'm sure people at the girl's funeral prayed to this God for comfort.

19. 'god is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything' by Christopher Hitchens

Comment #36522 by sanjiv on May 1, 2007 at 12:09 pm

2. A detailed analysis of the role of religion in creating masterworks of art, music and architecture

Religion definitely didn't have any role in the development of the computer chip, all the electrical gadgets we use, the internet, medical advances and a million other useful things. Art and music preferences are subjective. I love Bob Dylan's voice, but few people I know like it too. A masterpiece for one may be a monstrosity for another. Religion's most notable offerings - the Bible and Koran - are masterpieces for many who haven't read it, but for many who have read even snatches of these books, they are the ancient brutal tribal history of a certain region of the world and their god.

20. Are You There, God? It's Me, Hitchens

Comment #36343 by sanjiv on May 1, 2007 at 1:02 am

We need all kinds. Dawkins, Harris and Barker have their own style and get the message across to different audiences. But we also need someone like Hitchens. His style is more down-to-earth. Praying for an erection! Man that's funny - most people would connect with that kind of stuff! I can't imagine Dawkins or Harris talking like that!

On Iraq I support him (and inadvertently support that moron Bush). The American lifestyle depends so much on Oil and unfortunately most of it lies under Arab lands. Americans are also the champions of freedom. To maintain these two factors, Americans are bound to come up against dictators and rogue states sometime or the other. You can delay, talk, discuss, slap them with sanctions, demonise them, etc. But eventually, you may have to use the hardware on them. People get killed in such conflicts, but like a hostage situation, the police cannot endlessly talk and negotiate, while the hostage is systematically brutalised.

I am willing to be corrected on my stand on Iraq.

21. Atheism's Big Night In Little Rock

Comment #35996 by sanjiv on April 29, 2007 at 7:51 pm

Chris Davis wrote:

but as it is their minds are wrapped up so tightly in their warm and fluffy fantasy that only Jesus hisself could extract them from it.

I doubt even Jesus could save the Christians from Christian nonsense. And I don't think they're going to believe a carpenter today.

22. The Video: Bill O'Reilly Interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #34528 by sanjiv on April 24, 2007 at 11:33 am

Answers popped up in my mind even before Bill could finish asking his questions - and I'm relatively an amateur atheist. Richard is a pro. He already had Bill running for cover and could have had Bill on the floor given a few minutes more. Richard was very effective. I think O'Reilly just helped the atheists chip away a little more of God.

23. Britain Proposes Allowing Schools to Forbid Full-Face Muslim Veils

Comment #26885 by sanjiv on March 22, 2007 at 6:57 am

The cleverest crooks makes you 'want to' part with your money. Religion makes people 'want to' do stupid things. Young Muslim girls (and women)are victims of a systematic con, which makes them 'want to' wear the veil. The British government should consider it a duty to save it's citizens from being conned and not give in to the con-men.

24. US Congressman Holds No God-Belief

Comment #25464 by sanjiv on March 13, 2007 at 10:47 am

For what its worth, atheists on this forum may like to know that India, the most populous democracy in the world has at least two openly atheist members of the ruling Cabinet - Mr. Jaipal Reddy and Mr. Manishankar Aiyar. While Mr. Reddy calls himself Agnostic and respects his wife's religious sensitivities, Mr. Aiyar is more direct - he has written a book - 'Secular Fundamentalist' in which he defends Secularism and clearly states that he is an atheist. India's ruling coalition also crucially depends on the support of an atheist party, the DMK. Another fact of interest is that two of the most literate states in India - Kerala and West Bengal, continue to vote in Communist parties. We atheists in India know that Communists are not atheist, but having Communist parties supporting the government does help in keeping religious fundamentalist parties at bay.

As an Indian atheist, I also take pride in the fact that Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India was an atheist. Here's something that Nehru said:

"The spectacle of what is called religion, or at any rate organized religion, in India and elsewhere, has filled us with horror, and I have frequently condemned it and wished to make a clean sweep of it."

25. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #7671 by sanjiv on November 19, 2006 at 2:32 am

Comment #7437 by Penny Roberts

"BUT I never admit it to a religious person who I otherwise like - unless of course I am asked - because it seems tantamount to telling them that I think they are deluded, foolish and misguided."

When a person says he's Christian (or Muslim or Hindu), doesn't that tantamount to saying that the other guy is deluded, foolish and misguided because he doesn't believe in Jesus? Just a thought....think about it. This is exactly what Richard is trying to hammer home. If we atheist bend over backwards to avoid disturbing the religious waters, we can share the blame for religion's longevity.

26. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #7419 by Sanjiv on November 18, 2006 at 1:55 pm

Richard is right on all counts. I agree with him 100%. I'm an outspoken atheist and speak out even at my place of work. I have debunked many a religious chain mail and in the process "hurt" many people's religious feelings, but I notice they still want to keep cordial relations with me. I think spreading the atheist way of thinking is a noble thing to do. At least in my case I have been able to give atheism a good name by matching my words with my deeds. I am confident that religion will diminish a lot in the years ahead. Remember it's only been a few centuries since Gutenberg and a few decades since the advent of the internet. Now all we need are more Richard Dawkins, to hasten the demise of religion. We ordinary atheists can do our bit by planting a seed of doubt in the religious mind whenever we can, instead of saying "what's the use" or "why waste our time".