501. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #299350 by Laurie Fraser on December 9, 2008 at 1:18 pm

I'll give you perfection, boys: a class that tops the state average in two of its subjects; guess who the teacher was? :)

502. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297787 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 8:02 pm

I'm a slide rule whiz!

503. Richard Dawkins and Aubrey Manning

Comment #297772 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 6:51 pm

isthatclear

What subjects do you "teach"?

504. How Camp Inquiry introduces kids to the principles of humanism.

Comment #297745 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 2:39 pm

That's a great idea, Rod. I suppose you'd have to jump through all sorts of regulatory hoops, but if you could attract a sponsor, a place such as yours would be perfect. I hope you think more on it!

505. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297585 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 6:45 am

Comment #297575 by decius
The latter, Decius;)

Comment #297569 by irate_atheist
Thanks, irate - but in that extreme situation, adrenalin is king. My friends and family (and me of course) were overtaken by bunches of chemicals. Fear is there, but forgotten.

506. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297567 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 5:35 am

That's not code, Quetz - that's Martian.

*Hey Quetz - let's go get a pint!*

507. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297564 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 5:28 am

Comment #297562 by Philip1978

Please, Philip - no hero; I was as shit-scared as one can possibly be that day. Pretty wild experience, though.

508. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297560 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 5:16 am

A rake, irate, a rake!

509. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297558 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 5:13 am

Shameless plug alert! Just finished a new blog post. It's in the spirit of the Christmas season:

http://churchofrationalism.blogspot.com/2008/12/here-comes-santas-claws.html

510. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297539 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 4:37 am

Night Brian. Yeah, Quetz, what irate said. We all know, now, that you reveal yourself by what you don't say. Bernstein told us, ergo...

511. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297535 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 4:31 am

No need, Quetz - it's obvious just by looking at your picture.

*runs*

512. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297533 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 4:30 am

5th columnist?? Now, that's savage, Brian. Hey - have you read all those beer references in that Mackie article? Tres bien!

513. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297527 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 4:24 am

Aw, poor Brian. Well, you started it, mate. Now, where was I? Ah yes - drawing diagrams of the leg glance for Mitchell.

514. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297521 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 4:20 am

Comment #297501 by Diacanu

Not my words, Diacanu - I'm reading between the lines of what Bernstein is NOT saying.

Edit: Oops - got Dianelos and Bernstein mixed up again. Hmm... I wonder how that could be?

515. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297506 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 4:08 am

Comment #297501 by Diacanu

He's working up a mega-thesis entitled "The meta-psychology of Diacanu, infantile scatologist" at this very moment, D.

516. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297497 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 4:03 am

Well, I must say, this is far nicer than fucking around with that dill Bernstein. I'm munching on Hawkesbury river prawns at the moment - sweetest prawns on earth.

517. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297489 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 3:56 am

Brian - Uriah Heep is a character from David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens. From Wiki:

"The character is notable for his cloying humility, obsequiousness, and general insincerity."

Hey, it was just a throwaway line :)

518. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297487 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 3:52 am

12thMan is excellent, Phillip. Billy Birmingham is a class act.

Jazz hands? You need 'em if you've got a Nice Gibson E5 slung over your shoulder. Otherwise, meh. (I hope I used that new-fangled word appositely.)

519. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297472 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 3:28 am

Comment #297467 by Brian English

Just keep tuggin' that forelock, Uriah.

520. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297468 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 3:25 am

Comment #297466 by Wosret

Hmm... looks like Vaal and I have another naif to take under our wings, eh Steve?

521. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297464 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 3:21 am

Bullshit - Wosret; I'd trade it all to be able to play a cover drive like Steve Waugh.

522. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297461 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 3:18 am

Comment #297455 by Baron Scarpia

So true, Scarpo (sorry, I'm from the colonies) - this forum is just like one long anarchic seminar class.

Steve - wasn't "separate but equal" what apartheid was supposed to be all about?

523. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297452 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 3:03 am

Comment #297448 by Steve Zara

Your point is perceptive and obvious at the same time, Steve - but it's a shame that we have to stoop to pointing out things like this. This is the sort of thing I'd bring up at a Year Six philosophy class - i.e. for twelve year-olds.

524. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #297424 by Laurie Fraser on December 5, 2008 at 2:28 am

Carto - immoral things include spraying children with napalm; ripping off people who just want to earn a living; selling junk to the innocent, etc. What two people do with their bodies is simply outside the perimeter of moral inspection.

525. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #297222 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 7:11 pm

I think that's the article I've got, Brian - I thought you meant something else: been flat out all day. :)

"A Refutation of Morals" AJP 1946

526. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #297218 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 7:05 pm

Without reading all the posts, Brian, I don't think Mike would take that view. As for me, I think the "observer" is a theoretical construct, without any necessity to flesh it out.

Gotta go - thanks for that offer on the book - yes please if you're able.

527. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #297214 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 6:57 pm

The observer doesn't have to be sentient, Brian.

528. Children of God?

Comment #297186 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 4:38 pm

Likewise, Titania - especially with my eldest, music was a big part of his gestation. I would put headphones on his mother's belly (she was, at first, a little concerned that I'd gone woo woo) and play a variety of excellent music to him. He is now an outstanding classical guitarist.

Q.E.D. ;)

529. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296759 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 3:16 am

Leviticus 11:12 "Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you"

So, mermaids are fair game, then?

530. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296748 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 3:00 am

Brian - a great Mackie quote:

"If someone stands me a pint, I like it; if someone stands an enemy of mine a pint, I dislike it: but I should approve of a state of society which provided free beer all round."

Now, THAT's an Australian philosopher!

531. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296722 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 2:24 am

Never understood that, myself. Oh, well, in fact, I do. All countries who are non-compulsory had those laws enacted by governments who were able to promulgate the false belief that compulsory voting unduly impinged on people's freedoms. They had no problems with enacting laws that forced people to drive on a particular side of the road, though, or forced people to wear clothes in public, or forced people to abstain from various recreational activities. I wonder why advocates for minorities are so enthusiastic about getting out the vote?

532. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296711 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 2:16 am

Nope, don't care, Bernstein. Just wondering if you're from a country that has compulsory voting.

533. Why we believe in gods

Comment #296709 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 2:15 am

You beauty! isthatclear's back. At last, a real intellect to engage in debate!

534. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296705 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 2:12 am

I travel a lot.

535. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296693 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 2:03 am

May I ask in what country you live, Bernstein.

536. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296684 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 1:57 am

I prefer not to vote, thank you.

537. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296671 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 1:43 am

It were the invocation of Hume that done it.

538. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296668 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 1:42 am

I only did a "post" graduate degree because I thought I could just pop my essays in the letter-box, Brian.

539. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296665 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 1:38 am

I'm only 3 more subjects (1 psych) away from a psych degree. :)

Don't feel too guilty, Brian - some of my best friends are psychologists.

540. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296658 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 1:31 am

Comment #296640 by Bernstein
No, Berstein, it doesn't. So what? My comment was to the effect that I am flabbergasted that you cannot understand such an easy concept. OK, I'll try.

There are certain inequalities, inequities, points of discrimination, etc., in any society that obtain from simple bigotry. Racism is one such. Sexism is another. Homophobia is one more. All such bigotries are wrong.

Rational humans are bound by the logical imperative to protest these.

Obviously, there are issues that are more pressing than others. Acid attacks on Muslim women, for instance, require stronger and more immediate support than the civil rights of gays to marry.

The last point does not discount the fact that the discrimination of gays is ethically wrong, and that the eradication of this discrimination should be part of the social program of any thinking person.

541. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296638 by Laurie Fraser on December 4, 2008 at 1:09 am

One minute Steve is saying there's no difference between condoning slavery and not supporting the right of homosexuals to get "married" and now he's saying there is.

542. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296586 by Laurie Fraser on December 3, 2008 at 11:58 pm

Comment #296581 by Steve Zara

Steve, have you noticed that since Mitchell gave up those rather silly cartoon avatars, and replaced them with that elegant portrait of himself, his quality of debate has simply soared to levels of greatness? Hmmm......

543. Win Ben Stein's Mind

Comment #296560 by Laurie Fraser on December 3, 2008 at 9:57 pm

A superb piece of writing. Intelligence plus, unlike the miserable effort of his subject.

544. Atheists want God out of Ky. homeland security

Comment #296008 by Laurie Fraser on December 3, 2008 at 5:31 am

Comment #296000 by Titania

You'll have to sign up on Facebook, then invite him as a friend (and invite me and the rest of the crew while you're at it). From then on, it's plain sailing.

545. Atheists want God out of Ky. homeland security

Comment #296005 by Laurie Fraser on December 3, 2008 at 5:29 am

Titania - we had a massive bushfire here on Christmas Day 2001 (yeah - thanks a lot, Jesus). We lost everything but the house, which had bits burnt off it: cars, the tractor, sheds, fences - the lot. After we'd secured the house, I went over to the chook pen, expecting to find a dozen roast chickens on the ground. Nope - there they all were, as large as life, huddled in a corner of the pen underneath a couple of incinerated orange trees. Go figure.

546. Atheists want God out of Ky. homeland security

Comment #295993 by Laurie Fraser on December 3, 2008 at 5:19 am

Me too, Titania - hey, have you seen Goldy's photos of little Isabelle? They're on his Facebook site.

547. Atheists want God out of Ky. homeland security

Comment #295990 by Laurie Fraser on December 3, 2008 at 5:17 am

No wonder they died, T. She should have put them in the microwave.

548. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #295986 by Laurie Fraser on December 3, 2008 at 5:16 am

Comment #295982 by Diacanu

*claps* Very droll, son!

549. Atheists want God out of Ky. homeland security

Comment #295980 by Laurie Fraser on December 3, 2008 at 5:13 am

Ah, Titania - I'm just sitting here in hysterics thinking about you trawling your way through that book. You know, about 90% of those expressions are now obsolete. They're still fun, though. We speak a much more civilised idiom these days, dude!

550. Atheists want God out of Ky. homeland security

Comment #295975 by Laurie Fraser on December 3, 2008 at 5:07 am

Well, Decius, chooks ARE incredibly stupid.