Comments by notsobad

451. Richard Dawkins on The Big Questions

Comment #117950 by notsobad on January 30, 2008 at 3:46 am

I disagree with this. The so-called democracy of the ancient Greeks is totally hyped up. The massive suppression of slaves and women was a matter of course to the 'democratic' ancient Greeks. There is evidence that certain Roman emperors such as Domitian did more for women and slaves than the leaders of Athens ever did.

Modern pluralistic democracy is a superstructure on top of the capitalist economy. It is a product of the progressive struggle of the middle class from about 1700 and onwards, and the working class from about 1820 and onwards.

You disagree and then confirm what I said. The Greek democracy was first. The Romans and later Europeans used it and improved it. Without Ancient Greece there would probably never be democracy in the world on a larger scale than a tribe.

And Christianity probably played a part. In Christianity, god became man of flesh and blood in Jesus. This translates into a respect for the material world (and for work as a virtue) that you don't see in for instance Islam.

This part was played only after the Renaissance started, inspired by Greek and Muslim writings as I already stated.
BTW, Islam was much more progressive than Christianity before the Renaissance. Muslim scholars adopted Indian decimal system and came up with advanced mathematics. It was later imported into Europe, which was still using the Roman numerals inadequate for advanced mathematics.

I am not a Christian, but I regard Christianity as probably the most progressive religion, because it resembles secularism and atheism most closely.

The latest god-is-love Christianity may resemble secularism but it's not because of Christianity. And there still are many denominations, dogmas and particular believers who are as silly and ignorant as always.

452. Atheism and Violence

Comment #117942 by notsobad on January 30, 2008 at 3:21 am

Edward T. Oakes,
learn what 'fittest' means in biology before you want to write books.

453. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117939 by notsobad on January 30, 2008 at 3:11 am

Several people are upset at Day's claim that Dawkins said raising a child religiously is worse than child sexual abuse. Several have said that Dawkins never said that.

From page 317 of The God Delusion (which I have in front of me) second paragraph, second sentence beginning in the middle of the third line of text for said paragraph "I replied that, horrible as sexual abuse no doubt was, the damage was arguably less than the long term psychological damage inflicted by bringing the child up Catholic in the first place."

So yes Dawkins did in fact say what Day claimed he said get the book and check for yourself, I did, it's easy). The thing I find funny is how so many of you want to accuse Day of not checking his facts, when apparently you can't even be bothered to read the book of your 'champion'.

That was a particular case of two people. It does not apply generally.
There are levels of religious upbringing just like there are levels of sexual abuse.
Day generalizes and deals in absolutes here.

454. Richard Dawkins on The Big Questions

Comment #117799 by notsobad on January 29, 2008 at 5:00 pm

Well, the one thing I didn't like was when Prof. Dawkins agreed with Lord Carey that the freedoms and liberties of "western" societies is a basically a product of Christianity... definitely not!

I concur. Thanks go to the Ancient Greeks. The only nation in the world that invented democracy.
And the Italians came with the Renaissance after translating classic Greek writings and Muslim writings.

455. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117711 by notsobad on January 29, 2008 at 12:27 pm

Their identity and bank account is at stake, after all (the actual "truth value" of religion is irrelevant).

Good point. He has written a series of Christian Fantasy novels.

456. Belief in Belief

Comment #117683 by notsobad on January 29, 2008 at 11:24 am

Maybe I'm just one of the weak or ignorant people that can't get by without one, but it's caused me some serious and profound distress just in the last few weeks trying to deal with my new almost certainty that there is NOTHING after death. I haven't gotten over it yet and I wonder if I ever will.

Isn't that actually comforting?

457. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117663 by notsobad on January 29, 2008 at 10:38 am

What a peaceful message full of love and tolerance.

Using reason, science and historical documentation

Such as this libellous straw man?

Dawkins's stupid assertion that a religious upbringing is worse than sexual child abuse.

And this guy, a game designer, hates science? Did he pray and a computer just materialized in front of him?

458. Scientists want rewrite of Earth's time line

Comment #117652 by notsobad on January 29, 2008 at 9:49 am

waste of time

How about we focused on other things so that this epoch, no matter what you call it, is not the last for humans?

459. New atheists or new anti-dogmatists?

Comment #117645 by notsobad on January 29, 2008 at 9:37 am

In each and every Communist state Christia believers were hunted down and locked up. In many cases they were tortured and executed, and this was done to them because they were not atheists.

That's such a false view of history that a politruk would be proud of it.
The only European communist states in which religion was harshly treated was Albania under Hoxha (and Albanians are mostly Muslims) and Soviet Union under Stalin and Lenin.
Priests were tortured and executed in other states because they were opposing communism, not because they weren't atheists. They were harassed for the same reasons anybody else was. Intellectuals and army veterans who fought for the Allies were common targets when communism took the power after WWII, no matter what their stance on belief in god was.
There were clergymen who fought against the regime just like there were clergymen (in top ranks) who cooperated with the regime and snitched on others.
When the communists in Czechoslovakia destroyed the beautiful historical centre of Most (now in the Czech Republic) because they were going to build mines there, the only building they saved by moving it a few hundreds meters was a church!

Communists' opposition to religion is easy to explain. It was a competing dogma, and highly dogmatic belief systems are incompatible with each other.

460. New atheists or new anti-dogmatists?

Comment #117114 by notsobad on January 28, 2008 at 9:29 am

Religion is dogma's most successful child. That's why.

461. New atheists or new anti-dogmatists?

Comment #117066 by notsobad on January 28, 2008 at 7:35 am

In response to FreeThink25: Well, my religion is built on my lengthy experiences with others; that sex is the door to enlightenment and a feeling of oneness with the universe. There is no dogma involved in my religion, nor is there any real faith, but a sense of awakening and realization that, the more I act in accordance with my physical and mental desires, the more I seem to be in touch with myself, aware of the human experience and open to new ideas. Strangely, I've also noticed that, through sex, I've discovered a way of looking at life that is absolutely counter to any religion I've practiced in my past.

Does this count?

If you use 'religion' as a synonym with 'lifestyle' then it does count.
But why would you call it religion?

462. 'Telepathic' Genes Recognize Similarities In Each Other

Comment #116862 by notsobad on January 27, 2008 at 4:38 pm

The authors of the new study carried out a series of experiments in order to test the theory

...hypothesis?

long pieces of identical double-stranded DNA could identify each other merely as a result of complementary patterns of electrical charges which they both carry.

This is an important part since the title and introduction make it seem like there is some kind of out-of-this-world cooperation. Of course, we understand that it's just a word play, but the author should be more careful about his choice of words because it can get misunderstood by the general public.

463. Launch of 'Atheists in Foxholes' Book Anthology

Comment #116702 by notsobad on January 27, 2008 at 7:22 am

So let me understand this.

They are trying to prove that atheists too join the army to do someone else's bidding under the impression that they are doing it to protect their country and freedom, and that they too did not have anything better to do with their lives and, especially today, because they couldn't get into college or get a proper job?

Also, this makes it seem that atheism is something more than just lack of belief in the unproven.

464. Shermer's 'Mind of the Market' Reviewed in L.A. Times

Comment #116168 by notsobad on January 25, 2008 at 5:08 pm

This seems like a biased review.

465. Three Little Pigs 'too offensive'

Comment #115574 by notsobad on January 24, 2008 at 10:56 am

...or ex-pornographers

How does that make you a nutter?

466. Banned From Church

Comment #115535 by notsobad on January 24, 2008 at 9:49 am

I can't stand it when these dickwad pastors cherrypick scriptures

Should they not cherry pick and just stone her instead of calling the police?

467. Top 10 Reasons to Believe Logic Over Religion

Comment #115178 by notsobad on January 23, 2008 at 5:54 pm

herbal medicine, botanical medicine...

468. Banned From Church

Comment #115097 by notsobad on January 23, 2008 at 2:40 pm

I think this clearly demonstrates that Atheists have more morals then the religious.

Don't generalize.
This shows that organized dogma is fucked up.

469. Top 10 Reasons to Believe Logic Over Religion

Comment #115094 by notsobad on January 23, 2008 at 2:36 pm

Read comment 66.?

470. Three Little Pigs 'too offensive'

Comment #115033 by notsobad on January 23, 2008 at 12:47 pm

The prohibition of pork is the only good thing about Islam.
But this is ridiculous.

471. Banned From Church

Comment #115031 by notsobad on January 23, 2008 at 12:46 pm

Stupid is as stupid does .. and so on

472. Top 10 Reasons to Believe Logic Over Religion

Comment #115023 by notsobad on January 23, 2008 at 12:38 pm

I wouldn't call herbs and such alternative medicine, but many people do, which is exactly why I asked.

Religiosity poisons a lot of things.

There is Exogenesis with scientific background (e.g. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10699.html) and then there is Scientology and D�niken bullshit.

473. Top 10 Reasons to Believe Logic Over Religion

Comment #114956 by notsobad on January 23, 2008 at 9:20 am

He is a doctor yet supports "alternative medicine"?

Well there is alternative medicine, herbs and chiropractic, and "alternative medicine," new-age bullshit.
Does he support the new-age crap?

474. Islam in Europe

Comment #114955 by notsobad on January 23, 2008 at 9:09 am

To be honest, I don't know what he adds to the debate.

Maybe he adds to the debate in which people do not listen to scientific arguments because they likely don't even know how many laws of thermodynamics there are. You know, the debate with an overwhelming majority of people.
But don't forget he said he was not trying to convert anyone.

475. Islam in Europe

Comment #114891 by notsobad on January 23, 2008 at 6:04 am

If ever European Parliment wanted a coat of arms they should use "surrender and capitulate" as its motto.I cant believe that Europe is shitting itself over the invasion of Islams.Spineless cowards.

...was that a joke parodying the average conservative Christian Republican talking about things they know nothing about except for "sources" such as Bill O'Reilly?

476. Top 10 Reasons to Believe Logic Over Religion

Comment #114888 by notsobad on January 23, 2008 at 6:00 am

I am afraid when I read this kind of phrase, it seems like an attempt to disguise things. What is needed is a clear statement of belief in evolution. If Paul can apologise for misunderstandings on other issues, he should have cleared this one up as well.

The ridiculous thing is that Ron Paul majored in biology!

477. Top 10 Reasons to Believe Logic Over Religion

Comment #114741 by notsobad on January 22, 2008 at 4:40 pm

Well, yes, but that is hardly intellectual, is it?

Sorry. I may be being fussy, but I think Harris and Dennett are definitely at a different level intellectually (well, at least academically) than Condell.

I should have used "witty" instead of "intellectual" to avoid the possible confusion with academical.

478. Top 10 Reasons to Believe Logic Over Religion

Comment #114705 by notsobad on January 22, 2008 at 3:29 pm

Pat Condell... intellectually stunning?

Witty, sure. Outrageous and outspoken, certanly. But intellectual?

I enjoy his practical approach and lack of political correctness.
See: "Why does faith deserve respect?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPAC_cGVnUg

I have even heard it argued that we need not worry, as he would never be able to put some of those policies into practise if elected. Not a very safe way to use your vote, in my opinion.

I guess people said similar things about Bush too...

479. Ken Ham in Leicester April 2008

Comment #114704 by notsobad on January 22, 2008 at 3:28 pm

You are giving this guy too much credit if you go there. He and other IDiots are not gonna change their minds about anything.

480. Top 10 Reasons to Believe Logic Over Religion

Comment #114697 by notsobad on January 22, 2008 at 3:14 pm

Some parts are mildly amusing but overall it's a weak article.
People like Pat Condell, Sam Harris and Daniel Dennett are both funny and intellectually stunning.

481. Gay Jesus play blasted by bishop

Comment #114258 by notsobad on January 21, 2008 at 4:32 pm

Could these stop being offended on god's behalf all the time?

Didn't he leave some instructions, like "Vengeance is mine" and "Do not judge, and you will not be judged?"

482. Vatican slams California firm's cloning experiments

Comment #114145 by notsobad on January 21, 2008 at 12:49 pm

These people can't even take proper care for born children.

483. Mandrake: Charles's letter in support of Islamic 'fundamentalism'

Comment #113964 by notsobad on January 21, 2008 at 5:07 am

Sarkozy warns on intolerant religion

Mr Sarkozy triggered a political furore in France this week when he suggested on a visit to Saudi Arabia that religion should hold a bigger place in the social and political life of his own, officially secular country.
In a speech in Riyadh, he mentioned God 21 times, and on a visit to the Vatican last month he celebrated France's "essentially Christian" roots. Mr Sarkozy's declaration prompted his political opponents to accuse the president of failing to respect the constitution, which prohibits public displays of religious affiliation.

484. Minnesota Atheists Interview Richard Dawkins

Comment #113777 by notsobad on January 20, 2008 at 2:05 pm

The restaurant advertising after the interview offers a very unhealthy menu.

485. Mandrake: Charles's letter in support of Islamic 'fundamentalism'

Comment #113771 by notsobad on January 20, 2008 at 1:37 pm

This is a good reminder what happens when people have influence only because they were born in the right family.

History taught us that these people think that the best way to defend faith is to attack everyone who doesn't have it.

486. Ethical storm as scientist becomes first man to clone HIMSELF

Comment #113636 by notsobad on January 20, 2008 at 8:38 am

I'd like to ask all the millions of offended and their self-appointed speakers what they are doing about those 15,000 already born children that die because of undernutrition every day.

And the Vatican condemned the cloning of human embryos, calling it the "worst type of exploitation of the human being".

That'd be brainwashing and indoctrination, sometimes combined with molestation.

487. King Me!

Comment #113421 by notsobad on January 19, 2008 at 2:42 pm

Th worst thing is that otherwise reasonable people turn into infantile ignoramuses when debating their faith.

488. The New Theology

Comment #113151 by notsobad on January 18, 2008 at 5:10 pm

I stopped reading after a few paragraphs because it was apparent that the guy is a pantheist or deist.

These people can worship the Sun for all I care, but don't identify as Christians in census so that the Church can use those numbers to influence public matters and steal from the budget.

489. Gigantic fossil rodent discovered

Comment #112619 by notsobad on January 17, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Real "ROUS's", as in The Princess Bride. I LOVE it!

That gem of a film has everything in it.

490. Ben Stein Bribing Schools to See His Anti-Evolution Movie 'Expelled'

Comment #112566 by notsobad on January 17, 2008 at 1:28 pm

Religious dogma at work. Either that or I can't think what else than dogma could turn you into a zombie who wants to do everything possible to harm science and reason.

491. Dinesh D'Souza: Winner of the 2007 Bad Faith Award

Comment #112245 by notsobad on January 16, 2008 at 4:09 pm

He doesn't deserve any awards, not even the negative ones.

492. Huckabee Wants A 'Faith-based' Constitution

Comment #111948 by notsobad on January 16, 2008 at 3:46 am

Meanwhile in Europe:

Pope pulls out of visit to Rome university after outrage at his views on Galileo and science

493. Why people believe weird things about money

Comment #111636 by notsobad on January 15, 2008 at 8:39 am

Maybe he meant shouldn't be reached by feelings or good solutions are never reached by feelings.

494. The Group Delusion

Comment #111551 by notsobad on January 15, 2008 at 2:00 am

Is wooter mad or he just writes that way?

Once one of my students asked how all the animals and human bodies act? This is just flesh. Who is moving them around? One of your guys tried to explain it but every time your explanations cannot get through my students' reason of sieve and mine too.

Have you ever heard of energy?

Jerry Bergman, Ph.D

"In 1992 Bergman received his Ph.D. in human biology from Columbia Pacific University, a now defunct nonaccredited distance learning school." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Bergman

495. Why people believe weird things about money

Comment #111264 by notsobad on January 14, 2008 at 7:20 am

The problem is that Michael Shermer, like most people, doesn't understand basic economics.

What you don't understand is that Shermer wrote the book for the general public and thus identifies with them in reactions.

And you are correct about utility, but its irrational composition is the point here.

496. Why people believe weird things about money

Comment #111128 by notsobad on January 13, 2008 at 4:53 pm

I'd take the $100,000 job too, because I know money don't matter most to some women. So I could count on my other, less shallow, qualities ... looks.

Anyway, I'd like to see the results of the job survey conducted in other countries.

497. Why people believe weird things about money

Comment #111044 by notsobad on January 13, 2008 at 11:48 am

Most people wouldn't take $90-$10 because it's not 'fair', but they would rather earn less than what they could as long as it can be twice as much as others just to show how special and superior they are.
Douche bags ... so nothing new here

498. The Group Delusion

Comment #110245 by notsobad on January 10, 2008 at 5:20 pm

So what's the practical point of proving group selection the way Wilsons see it?
Do they observe the same thing as advocates of gene selection and just call it differently?

499. Richard Dawkins on The Late Edition with Marcus Brigstocke

Comment #110053 by notsobad on January 10, 2008 at 12:06 pm

ridicule fundamentalists
debate with the rest

500. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up

Comment #109776 by notsobad on January 9, 2008 at 4:48 pm