1. The New Theology

Comment #113648 by Canuck#1 on January 20, 2008 at 9:34 am

to Richard Morgan..I could not agree more with your evaiuation of what we are dealing with in trying to convince christians of the error of their ways. I wrote a summary of this, based on my own experience for a forum entitled...WHY I AM A CHRISTIAN...there is so much more than just the belief is scriptures,salvation....

2. The New Theology

Comment #113293 by Canuck#1 on January 19, 2008 at 8:24 am

Such a wonderful,fuzzy,nebulous, warm feeling...GOD EXISTS...I get the same feelings from...hugging my grandchildren, working in my garden, my morning coffee, long walks, making love, a good book, reading VANITY FAIR...why would I need to invent a god to accomplish this when it is all here for the taking...

3. Hook, line and rapture

Comment #109211 by Canuck#1 on January 8, 2008 at 3:16 pm

My absolute favourite....another gem to go along with his previous body of "work"...well done Pat...

4. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104250 by Canuck#1 on December 28, 2007 at 7:58 am

I think we are talking about the human condition as the basis of this entire shameful mess...how many scams outside of religion do people get involved in...the promise of good health...of a peaceful life...of gaining friends...of whatever it is that people need or want...it is the "snake oil" of the late 1800s that promised everything..and this has been intensified in the 20th century with the ease of communication..so lets welcome the tele-evangelists to the ranks of the huckster..they do them proud...and add another chapter to the abuses of religion..well done you ..I can't think of a name strong enough for thes cretins.. heip me out here..I am going for a drink to get this horrible taste out of my mouth...

5. Man and God

Comment #103433 by Canuck#1 on December 25, 2007 at 3:41 pm

Paula... I too came out of the heart of fundamental christianity...including a home environment...my weeks were occupied by what was called prayer and praise services and by evangelistic meeting attempting to convert the "sinners". As well I attended youth groups and christian service brigades. Eventually I went away to a Bible school (3 years), an institution that called itself the west point of christian service (a reference to the miitary academy) and from there to a Lutheran University. From there I was a teacher during the week and a lay preacher on the weekend. My journey to atheism was long and difficult but here I have arrived and have found a peace I never had in my christian experience. A final note...I am 72 and I have never been more at peace than I am now. I would like to comment on the article but I will save that for a later time. I do appreciate what you and others like us have experienced...

6. 'Atheistic fundamentalism' fears

Comment #102265 by Canuck#1 on December 22, 2007 at 7:59 am

Lost my message and since I am a single finger typest I will spend another 10 minutes trying once more...my grand daughter is in grade one...I volunteer in her class a couple days a week...as a result I attended the school's Christmas concert...not one religios reference in the entire production...it was both funny and thoughful...and a pleasure to attend..

7. 'Atheistic fundamentalism' fears

Comment #102258 by Canuck#1 on December 22, 2007 at 7:52 am

My grand daughter is in Grade 1...I volunteer in her class 2 days a week..this past week I attended their Christmas concert....I was surprised and impressed...there was not a single reference to any connection between Christmas and christianity...it was an excellent production..funny and a thoughtful in turn..nobody seemed to miss the christian message...

8. For the Love of Christ

Comment #102094 by Canuck#1 on December 21, 2007 at 2:37 pm

Ian, I will always think of this guy as doing one good thing in a mis-spent life...I got to hear the song...I'm A Wanker...worth the price of admission...

9. Believing Scripture but Playing by Science's Rules

Comment #87128 by Canuck#1 on November 11, 2007 at 9:16 am

I wonder ... if I wrote to the professor that after reading his disertation that it convinced me that my faith in the Veracity of the Bible was shaken ...and therefore my faith in Christ..and as a result I am leaving the church..turning to the tenants of atheism...would this create a classic case of cognitive dissonance...maybe he would be fired from Liberty U....sounds like a lot of fun..if nothing else it would show the basic dishonesty of his work...

10. Face to faith

Comment #82959 by Canuck#1 on October 28, 2007 at 11:05 am

where do they (being authors of articles written in this vein) come up with "stuff" like this...next time I feel wonder I will have to make notes and then have to decide where it falls..the entire idea is nonsense...I know the exact process that brought my children (I was in the delvery room) and my grandchildren to me..but every time I look at them I am lost in wonder..and this applies to rainbows, storms..and oh yes Iam an atheist

11. The Squirrel Wars

Comment #78204 by Canuck#1 on October 12, 2007 at 6:08 am

I can understandthe concerns expressed in terms of flora and fauna and the effects of what seemed at the time to be harmless acts... but at least these plants and animals are doing what is natural...humans on the other hand have no excuse...I wonder what kind of life my grandchildren and great grandchildren will have...if even 50% of what is predicted comes about life will be very different...I tried not to make this a rant...but maybe that is what is needed...

12. In honour of Dan Dennett

Comment #76771 by Canuck#1 on October 7, 2007 at 7:20 am

Reading this tribute actually made me "teary eyed"...both because of the tribute itself (thank you Richard)...and because of my feelings for Dan...I finished his book a couple of months ago...and it affected me more than any of the others...not because of its content, but because of its style..it was like I was sitting down with a friend, enjoying a chat about things important to both of us...I look forward to more..best of health Dan

13. 'Flying Spaghetti Monster' Religious Group Turning Heads at MSU

Comment #76385 by Canuck#1 on October 5, 2007 at 4:59 pm

OH, OH,..I am JEHOVAH GOD...and the appearance of the FSM is a sign of the last days...my angels will smite his meat balls... and verily the FSM and his minions will be consigned to the depths of hell...and verily I say unto you that spaghetti sauce is bland and the meatballs are too spicy...return you sinners...well you get the point god is not a happy camper...personaly I am in favour of the new kid on the block..HAIL TO THEE FSM

14. Scandal brewing at Oral Roberts U.

Comment #76378 by Canuck#1 on October 5, 2007 at 4:40 pm

Lets see how jehovah god would handle this problem...Yea, I wii smite thee with the flaming sword..,thy body will be carrion for the birds...thy soul will reside in hell..there will be a curse on thy chidren and thy children's children to tne fifth generation....I am the lord god and I have spoken...AMEN...how do you like those apples Oral....you piece of....SORRY,SORRY ...got a little carried away there...BUT YOU ARE THE LOWEST OF THE LOW....

15. There Go The Dinosaurs

Comment #74276 by Canuck#1 on September 28, 2007 at 3:06 am

MATTINOZ... and everybody else who attempts to communicate with the "fundies"....they speak a different language than you...they cannot understand logic or science or rational thought...they made a commitment based on faith...I think any change must begin with them...
for me it was a long, difficult journey that started with some "niggling" doubts and some uncomfortable moments and ended years later with what I am now....atheist

canuck12.blog-new item-PRAYER

16. Scientists Feel Miscast in Film on Life's Origin

Comment #74271 by Canuck#1 on September 28, 2007 at 2:39 am

If you can't trust a christian, who can you trust..so damn devious...sermon titles..."When a Lie Is Not a Sin", "How To Make Fools of Atheists", "God Wins Again..With a Little help From His Friends"...now I understand the phrase..Jesus wept..

canuck12.blog...a new piece on prayer

17. Scientific Literacy and the Habit of Discourse

Comment #73151 by Canuck#1 on September 24, 2007 at 9:35 am

Amen and amen...verily an excellent article..sorry my christian roots showing...the article and the teacher involved remind me why at the end of 34 years of teaching I could not think of a another career that would have been as rewarding...mind you not in financial terms...but money isn't...oh forget it...anyway I did enjoy the article
canuck12.blog

18. New Rules: A Religious Test

Comment #72851 by Canuck#1 on September 23, 2007 at 8:35 am

I think that we need a variety of approaches to get our message across...humour (Mahar)...in your face (Hitchens)....scientific (Dawkins)...I have just finished "Breaking the Spell" which uses another approach...gentle humour, a soft approach, personal observations and feelings...I enjoyed it trmendously....by the way I have just posted a confidential, psychological report on Jehovah...canuck12.blog

19. Youtube hater, I respect your right to free speech.

Comment #70602 by Canuck#1 on September 16, 2007 at 9:20 am

Having taught and coached and worked with young people most of my life, RRS does not surprise me...one thing I learned, young people come in all sizes and shapes...and I learned early to accept them all...sometimes they did silly things...in your face kind of things....some were shy and scared...but you accept them for what they are...RRW is not my "cup of tea" but I agree With Yorker...I am with you RRS ..."rattle their cages"...

20. A Response to Jonathan Haidt

Comment #70015 by Canuck#1 on September 13, 2007 at 4:37 pm

Coming out of the conservative christian culture...and I was deeply in it for many years...I believe there are some points to be made about its contributions made to society...certainly financial giving was emphasized (at least 10% of your income, with special pleas on top of this)....where did this go...salaries, building upkeep, foreign missions..nothing went outside the church...or all the noney sent to tele-evangelists...how about a $300,000 home, wife and family all on the payroll...and the beat goes on...I think the amount provided by religion isn't as large as it seems....

21. Griffin's 'offensive' Emmy speech to be censored

Comment #69579 by Canuck#1 on September 11, 2007 at 6:52 pm

Strong medicine Kathy... but sometimes it is the only way to relieve constipation of the mind...I think the reaction indicates that the patient is indeed a very sick man....one can only hope some additional doses might save him from his terminal stupidity...I am proud of you Kathy.

22. Review of Richard Dawkins' new book 'The Fascism Delusion'

Comment #69269 by Canuck#1 on September 10, 2007 at 8:56 am

That should read.....
WE HAVE LOVED THE STARS TOO MUCH TO BE FEARFUL
OF THE NIGHT.

23. Review of Richard Dawkins' new book 'The Fascism Delusion'

Comment #69268 by Canuck#1 on September 10, 2007 at 8:53 am

a superb piece of writing...the best satire is the most subtle....start reading the piece...after a few lines... YES, this is excellent...than enjoy the rest...well done THE VALVE....A+

WE HVE THE STARS TOO MUCH TO BE FEARFUL OF
THE NIGHT.

24. The Fleas Are Multiplying!

Comment #68803 by Canuck#1 on September 8, 2007 at 5:08 pm

Not to worry...if any one is worrying....most christians will not read these books...they will simply be informed by a harangue from the pulpit that the atheist authors are in the employ of satan....so whatever they say is to be disregarded....they will read excerpts from the Bible to prove it...case settled...and any thinking person will see how weak the arguments are and will disregard them...so these books are a waste of time and paper and trees.... Note: I have an interview with Mary (the virgin) on my blog...canuck12.blog THANKS

25. Review of Darwin's Angel: An Angelic Response to the God Delusion

Comment #66960 by Canuck#1 on September 1, 2007 at 5:39 am

Please lets call a halt to this.....why bother answering the thoughts of a 12 year old....her age is obvious both with regard to her views of Rd and religion.....just for fun I would like her to go on tour giving her views on Christianity...she would be booted out (literally) of 95% of the churches...Rd has said all in his reply...so lets leave her alone and let her go back to playing with her dolls....

26. Christopher Hitchens and Bill Donohue on Mother Teresa

Comment #66542 by Canuck#1 on August 30, 2007 at 11:03 am

I agree with the ongoing comments on the quality of the debaters....I was ready to leap through the computer and smack Donnadummy....however beyond the debate is MT....being caught in the same situation I can sympathize. However when I multiply by 1000 what I felt, her life must have been a living hell....doubts and fears....agony at her inability to believe...praised by the whole world....heading for sainthood...talk about guilt....a tragedy of Shakespearian proportions....

27. Teresa, Bright and Dark

Comment #66396 by Canuck#1 on August 29, 2007 at 11:31 pm

Ican sympathize with MT, having been there....attending Bible school...praying in public...preaching...,doing it because it was expected...because all my friends were church friends....because my parents were so proud...and it was HELL....eventually, not having to worry about sainthood or a watching world, I walked away....but even for me that was difficult...the only remnant being a Christian wife who loves me in spite of my atheism...

28. The Sacrifice of Reason

Comment #66336 by Canuck#1 on August 29, 2007 at 5:58 pm

I am in the process of posting a new item on my blog....give me a few hours...than give a look
canuck12.blog

29. The Sacrifice of Reason

Comment #66333 by Canuck#1 on August 29, 2007 at 5:54 pm

As a retired teacher (History and English) one of the things I enjoyed most was reading an essay...well organised, well written in terms of both style and structure, facts clearly stated and explained....and then to enjoy a student's reaaction to the mark......a very large smile....

A+ Sam

30. Scientists should unite against threat from religion

Comment #65818 by Canuck#1 on August 26, 2007 at 10:30 pm

Please do not do this....ie wasting valuable space on site and your time trying to argue with BIZARRO....you are speaking rational...he is speaking christian....your life. your values, your future is bound to the earth....his thoughts, values, beliefs are beyond earth...he accepts fairy tales as fact....you deal in science, hypothesis, experiment, proof...I suspect he loves it when you call him names...make fun of his life style...this is exactly what scripture told him would happen...I wonder what would happen if if we just ignored him...poor boy would probably have to find some other way to "serve god"....

31. A hole lot of nothing found by astronomers

Comment #65561 by Canuck#1 on August 24, 2007 at 8:28 pm

Eureka....problem solved....god's blueprint for the brain of George Bush

32. A hole lot of nothing found by astronomers

Comment #65491 by Canuck#1 on August 24, 2007 at 1:11 pm

This is what happens when you go out for a smoke break...all empty space breaks loose....you're going to create a universe you have to keep at it...any more of this and we'll hire some one else to to do the creation....and there will be no letter of recommendation....

33. God Bless Me, It's a Best-Seller!

Comment #64581 by Canuck#1 on August 20, 2007 at 7:31 pm

My memories from my years as an insider in the church was... there is no denial that those individuals outside the church do all kinds of good works....helping people in many ways, but that these good works would serve no purpose in the grand scheme of things....this would not bring salvation and to put it plainly, they were still going to hell. In other words whatever the unbelievers did had no affect where it really counted...good works alone gets you HELL.....

34. Atheists and believers have got religion wrong

Comment #63595 by Canuck#1 on August 15, 2007 at 3:28 am

I am not sure that the phrase "irrational football fans" really captures the essence of what football fans are....restraunts with signs saying "No football buses allowed"....visitng fans being seated in a separate section protected by barricades and police and leaving the stadium after home fans have disappeared....films of fights, beatings, riots....however given the hatred, violence and verbal condemnation associated with religion maybe the comparison to fotball works.

35. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #63298 by Canuck#1 on August 13, 2007 at 8:36 pm

Am I missing something here....in my previous existence as a christian my understanding was that the key was FAITH....that god loves me, that Jesus died for me, that by faith I am saved, that faith is the evidence for things not seen and not understood....the ways of god are not our ways...so tell me why christians have to (try) to PROVE the existence of god. Just relax and believe and in the end the mounting proof against his existence will be explained by god...in the meantime let us go our merry way building our case against religion.. FAITH Darwin2,FAITH...

36. The Bible's literary sins

Comment #63183 by Canuck#1 on August 13, 2007 at 12:24 pm

Having been reared in a "christian Home"....attending service three or four times a week...attendng a conservative Bible school (3 Years)....one of the chief clues that something was amiss was the fact I could not read the Bible with the devotion and insight that was suppose t0 characterize someone of my background....like Sam J. I found it boring, unbelievable, full of murder, cruelty, untruths, fantasy, racism and just plain nonsence. It was from this foundation that I started the journey to unbelief and rationalism. Nice to read an article that reiterates what I have I have thought for years. THANK YOU.

37. Charles Brooker's screen burn

Comment #62748 by Canuck#1 on August 11, 2007 at 7:02 am

I know how he feels....sometimes you have to take off the velvet gloves....throw away the book on polite....shout rather than the well-modulated whisper.....in other words tell it the way it is and let the chips fall where they may to get the message across. (I realize I have used every cliche in the book... oldies but goldies.) An excellent article.

38. Curriculum for Baptist School

Comment #62663 by Canuck#1 on August 10, 2007 at 5:58 pm

As a retired teacher (history and English) I would really like to comment but I am speechless.....except to say this not education but indoctrination for which the model has to be the totalitarian governments around the world....and the problem is it works to produce little robots to do the master's (read god) bidding. If I believed in god I would say, "god save us all".

39. Scarlet Letter Campaign Update: A Victory

Comment #62295 by Canuck#1 on August 9, 2007 at 7:54 am

This has to be satire....and I know where it was plagerized from....THE WIZARD OF OZ.....Brownbeck is behind the curtain and citizens of Oz receive his messages and pass them on to the rest of us...I will be president...all atheists will wear a letter A....camps will be set up for any who oppose this law....I just hope it is a fantasy....it really is LA LA land.

40. God in the Military - The Pentagon and its Christian Embassy

Comment #61994 by Canuck#1 on August 7, 2007 at 7:05 pm

I wonder if discipline has changed in the military with all the praying and preaching...swearing gets you a reprimand... interupting a prayer meeting gets you a demotion... taking the lord's name in vain puts you in a military prison ...and questioning this strange, unlikeiy and perhaps uncontitutional scenario gets you a dishonourable discharge....we are living in the land of Oz...we just have to find the man behind the curtain...any suggestions???????

41. Pentagon: Hold On, Christian Soldiers!

Comment #61989 by Canuck#1 on August 7, 2007 at 6:36 pm

For followers of the Prince of Peace this would seem to be a strange choice for one's life work... on the other hand maybe the scripture which says....I have come not to bring peace but a sword is the scripture they abide by...or maybe they are auditioning to be one of the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse.. they might even get to carry the flaming sword...or maybe they see themselves as a modern Joshua with the secret of bringing down the walls of Jericho...what ever their delusion is it is scary stuff...and I live right next door...20 kilometres from the border....

42. New age therapies cause 'retreat from reason'

Comment #61476 by Canuck#1 on August 5, 2007 at 10:00 am

To me the most despicable thing about these practices and "cures" is what it does to the people who come to these "phonies".....many are scared and desperate,....in pain and suffering...willing to try anything....and are assured they will be cured. It doesn't happen and ... I can only imagine what this must do to them. To me the worst are the "faith healers" who blame god when there is no change...it was not god's will. If you get a chance watch
one of these "cretins" at work. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!!!!!!

43. The Flea Circus Invites a Newcomer!

Comment #60400 by Canuck#1 on August 1, 2007 at 7:00 pm

How is this for an idea....when the little flea comes on sporting the accepted line of the Christian right....just ignore him....no response...as if he doesn't exist...I have a feeling he loves the abuse....suffering for Christ and all that....besides it is just regurgitation of everything we have heard before...lets take away his forum.

44. The Out Campaign

Comment #60202 by Canuck#1 on August 1, 2007 at 10:01 am

I am exhausted...I have just finished 269 comments re the T-shirts and I have one Question "What's it all about Alfie?" I do think I see a pattern.........
1. Discussion about the T-shirts - Why? When? If? Where?
2. A comment from the wea flee...a conservative,fundamentalist, fundie (by the way these individuls take this designation as a compliment) who gives his views on the topic plus some general observations......
3.The "members" of this web site respond in a nuber of ways.....
a) a logical discussion of his points
b) rants that dimiss his points as rubbish
c) personal attacks on his intelligence, his character....
4. He (the wee flea) replies, including a number of return jibes...
5. See 3. a b and c
The best part turned out to be the blooming of "romance", some humorous comments on the romance, some challenges to duels at dawn....moe exciting than your aveage site BooBoo....

45. The Out Campaign

Comment #59951 by Canuck#1 on July 31, 2007 at 8:08 am

As I said in an earlier comment on one of the other articles on this topic and explained my reasons I will not be wearing the scarlet letter A....shades of Hester (Demi Moore). However I express my convictions on my blog (http://canuck12. blog) and will be doing so on the web site I am setting up.

46. Come Out!

Comment #59531 by Canuck#1 on July 29, 2007 at 11:50 am

This whole argument takes me right back where I started....carrying my Bible in public, a t-shirt that said Jesus saves, giving my "testimony" on the street corner in an "open air meeting....I do not want to go back to any thing that smacks of evangelism....I am not out to convert anyone to atheism...or to get into arguments with "believers, and believer is the key word. If asked I will explain what I am and why...or will deal with beliefs I disagree eith in a discussion. Trust me the A will not encourage discussion, only sermons.

47. Religion beat became a test of faith

Comment #58971 by Canuck#1 on July 26, 2007 at 7:42 pm

Reading this article and my life flashed before me...a slightly different journey, but it started from the same place and arrived at the same destinstion...grew up "saturated" in Christianity...the entire week devoted to it...3 times on Sunday,during the week, prayer meeting, youth group...at school Youth for Christ...eventually landed at Bible school...graduated a lay preacher and prayer leader...BUT...at the core of me...restless, dissatisfied,unhappy, embarrassed...who knew why, I just knew I was unhappy...THEN...started to drift away, to question (not out Loud), to withdraw...at this point an emotional response...started to look for somethng else...felt I could find it in a more liberal church...when the dissaisfaction continued ...dawned on me it was Christianity itself...an epiphany...sort of like Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus...I found writers and their web sites and thus individuals who felt like me..I moved to a rational view of who I am,how I got here, where I am going, and what my life means...and in the process found some peace...with only occasional flashbacks to heaven and hell. (Visit me at my blog (http://canuck12.blog.com) to read some of my new feelings and ideas.)

48. Reporter's Religion Beat Leads to Faith Crisis

Comment #58690 by Canuck#1 on July 25, 2007 at 7:29 pm

Amen and amen having come the same path...not an easy path but the end is so satisfying - like a new life... a rebirth (sorry reverting to my fundie days). To appreciate how far I have come visit me htt://canuck12.blog

49. The hitch in Hitchens' thinking

Comment #58688 by Canuck#1 on July 25, 2007 at 7:22 pm

I came to atheism through the entire spectrum of Christianity....the conservative right to the moderate centre to to the most liberal interpretations of Christianity.....and in none of these versions did I find any idea of god remotely related to to the concept put forward by Mr Hedges....a god so nebulous that he disappears like a whiff of smoke having served a personal approach to being able to argue with the bad atheists......

50. Richard Dawkins on Hardtalk

Comment #58602 by Canuck#1 on July 25, 2007 at 10:45 am

Thank you NORTHERN BRIGHT.........I've played in ice hockey games less confrontational than that interview.....