Comments by Frankus1122

Comment #156230 by Frankus1122 on April 7, 2008 at 6:33 am

I would like to sincerely thank clearthinker. if he is the best the theists can offer as a defense of their position I am truly satisfied with my athiest position.
I am out to prove myself wrong about God. I don't think God exists. I don't believe the Bible or the Koran are inspired by God. I am willing to be convinced otherwise. If Robertson's writings here are truly the best that can be offered in the way of 'evidence' or even rational argument for the existence of God then I feel okay.
Actually, that is not true. I am a bit disappointed. Is what Robertson says what the vast majority of people believe? The evidence and the reasoning seems pretty flimsy.

How does one counter such willful ignorance?

602. Fleabytes

Comment #156101 by Frankus1122 on April 6, 2008 at 6:26 pm

He does it to me all the time as well. The main point is not dealt with. As you said, Max, the "meatiest bits" are left.
My last question was dealing with why there is so much confusion about the Bible and the other holy books. If God loves us and wants us to know him why is it so difficult? Why do I have to be born in a country that has a lot of Christians if I want to know God? (I mean the one true God here, not the heathen god of those other folks).
Then there is sect after sect of Christians who all have their own take on the Bible. Is sin the fault of all the confusion? I thought God loved me. Why so difficult? I was brought up a Catholic. According to the Robertson church I was following the Anti-Christ. I was told it was the one true religion. How was I to know?
There is one easy way out of the morass: realize that it is all bunk.
If there is another answer I am willing to hear it. Robertson told me: "Life is complicated."
Thanks.

603. Fleabytes

Comment #156099 by Frankus1122 on April 6, 2008 at 6:04 pm

He does this with individual posts too. Where he picks the easiest thing to respond to-very often out of context of course-while leaving the meatiest bits unexamined

It's the gnats/camels problem. Didn't he focus on the grammar or the translation of the gnat/camel quote rather than the substance of its meaning thereby proving exactly what the poster (sorry I forgot who - m?) was trying to say.
Either he is an extremely intelligent wit playing with the irony or.... not.

604. Dawkins warns of human extinction

Comment #155187 by Frankus1122 on April 4, 2008 at 8:18 am

"Dawkins is God"

I thought it was Clapton.

Anyway, something has slowly dawned on me: where are the arguments from the theists?
Is Artful Dodger, Kardashovel, clearthinker, etc. the best there is?
There seems to be a lot of dancing around issues and questions. Have you ever cracked an egg in a bowl and got a bit of the shell in there? You know how you try to pick it out and it sort of slides away? I get that feeling when trying to get an answer from a theist here.
One would think that a clear convincing true statement could be made that would not be easily refuted if you were truly inspired by the Living God.
I am not totally dim. However, I am yet to be convinced by anything the apologists have put forward to convince me God exists.

605. Fleabytes

Comment #155156 by Frankus1122 on April 4, 2008 at 7:49 am

Comment #155139 by jac12358

I enjoyed reading the post, but have not ready through all 30 pages of comments!

Try 154 pages!

This is not a thread; it's a whole sweater!

606. Protests no concern for outspoken atheist

Comment #155113 by Frankus1122 on April 4, 2008 at 7:20 am

She said that what needs to be demonstrated are not the same old 'Proofs of God' (PRATT), but evidence of God's love

Either one would do.

God's love? I would like to see more evidence of the Humans' love.
We can't prove God exists. We certainly don't know what he thinks. So why don't we just drop the pretense and do what we collectively agree is right? We may argue about this but the constant turning to scripture (which one? and what part of it?) is fruitless.

607. Anti-gay Okla. lawmaker attracts 1,000 backers

Comment #154522 by Frankus1122 on April 3, 2008 at 11:51 am

Aaron I like this idea but does it lend legitimacy to the Bible just by allowing it to be studied?
What about the Koran?
What about other 'sacred' texts?

Comment #154492 by ThoughtsonCommonToad:
You have to watch the Youtube link I provided above.
Here it is again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-zhNiGlogQ

608. Anti-gay Okla. lawmaker attracts 1,000 backers

Comment #154458 by Frankus1122 on April 3, 2008 at 9:56 am

Comment #154449 by quantum tuba :

She said her beliefs are rooted in Biblical passages, did she. Coming soon: Sally Kern discusses the threat posed by masturbating, eating shellfish, and permitting witches to live.

For absolute pwnage on this topic watch President Barlett dress down a Dr. Laura /Sally Kern

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-zhNiGlogQ

609. Fleabytes

Comment #154438 by Frankus1122 on April 3, 2008 at 8:53 am

A LICK, THEN ERR.

clearthinker: He? Irk central.

RANKLE THRICE

THANK ERR LICE

RENT HECK LIAR

That's enough for now.

610. Fleabytes

Comment #154104 by Frankus1122 on April 2, 2008 at 4:20 pm

I don't know if this is atheist music but just as I was reading your last post I was also listening to a mashup of Jimi Hendrix singing 'All Along the Watchtower' with Stone Roses 'Fools Gold' music.

Try:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/78683550cb1fd4/

or

http://devinemashup.blogspot.com/2008/02/stone-roses-vs-jimi-hendrix.html

for a listen.

F'n A!

611. Vote on freedom of expression marks the end of Universal Human Rights

Comment #154088 by Frankus1122 on April 2, 2008 at 2:50 pm

In Canada we have a completely unfunny show called "Little Mosque on the Prairie". Jokes (if you can call them that) are made about Muslims, Christians, everyone.

Here is an example (warning: UNfunny):
http://www.cbc.ca/littlemosque/baber_rants.html

612. Vote on freedom of expression marks the end of Universal Human Rights

Comment #154084 by Frankus1122 on April 2, 2008 at 2:35 pm

Comment #153999 by jbath

I have a book in my library for which I will include the bibliographic information below. It is a small book with a back and forth format. From my perspective the evidence is overwhelming on the 'war' side.

Is Islam a religion of war or peace? / Jann Einfeld, book editor.
Farmington Hills, MI : Greenhaven Press, c2005.
Subjects Islam -- 21st century

Terrorism -- Religious aspects -- Islam

War -- Religious aspects -- Islam

Islam -- Public opinion

Description: 108 p. ; 24 cm.

ISBN: 9780737731002
0737730994 (lib.)
0737731001 (pbk.)

Series: At issue. Religion

613. Fleabytes

Comment #154079 by Frankus1122 on April 2, 2008 at 2:22 pm

It is just another one of his little tells.

Wouldn't it be great to play poker with this guy?
He IS so very predictable; one would be sure to win a bundle. And there would be no worry about him paying up; he only has to pray and poof! the specific amount he owes will fall right into his lap.

614. Fleabytes

Comment #154059 by Frankus1122 on April 2, 2008 at 1:27 pm

Now you know one of the reasons I love metallica. That and 1980's hair.
Nugent (or Spugent as I call him) wrote the book "God, Guns, and Rock and Roll".

For al rawandi:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ewY3hlRV2Ew&feature=related
This mentions 80s metal bands and Ted Nugent.

615. Fleabytes

Comment #154039 by Frankus1122 on April 2, 2008 at 12:35 pm

mixmaster:

I forgot about Rush: Freewill

Comment #154010 by AlanF

Great post Alan.

Ditto.
I don't think it will make any impact whatsoever on Robertson but I enjoyed reading it. It becomes more and more clear the nature of this sad little man.

I can say deliberately because you're
not so stupid
that you don't understand exactly what we said and meant.

I am not so sure of that.

616. Fleabytes

Comment #153968 by Frankus1122 on April 2, 2008 at 9:33 am

mixmastergaz,

I think I sent you a link to some good atheist themed music in the past. I would like to hear anything by Frankus Zappa. I can't think of anything specific right now that includes atheistic lyrics but the Zappa himself was pretty clear on the subject.

617. Fleabytes

Comment #153953 by Frankus1122 on April 2, 2008 at 9:06 am

clearthinker

do you think you could break out of the cycle and actually give us some evidence or example of where I have lied?

How is it that you can see and hear god everywhere (when there is nothing to see and hear)but fail to realize that you have been answered again and again? To pretend that you have not been answered or provided evidence is another lie. You cannot seem to help yourself. It is really hard to feel sorry for someone who comes off as such a prick, but you do have my sympathy you poor deluded tardo.

618. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'

Comment #153944 by Frankus1122 on April 2, 2008 at 8:52 am

I was talking about the potential violent reaction, which has yet to take place.

Perhaps the radicals have turned to the more peaceful passages in the Koran and decided they want to play nice.

Or not.

619. Fleabytes

Comment #153939 by Frankus1122 on April 2, 2008 at 8:40 am

Comment #153938 by mixmastergaz

I can't help noticing that you've avoided the 'camel' and gone for the 'gnat' again.

Nitpicker.

I'm finding it hard to grant you the benefit of the doubt and believe that you aren't deliberately avoiding answering it.

mixmaster, you are one funny guy!

620. Fleabytes

Comment #153858 by Frankus1122 on April 2, 2008 at 6:50 am

Steve,
As for yesterday's posts you could perhaps put them down to an elaborate April Fool's joke.
In that regard I think clearthinker posted a day late.

621. Beware the Believers

Comment #153209 by Frankus1122 on April 1, 2008 at 7:53 am

Speaking of brainworms:

I have Rick and Dick competing in my head right now.

"Dick to the Dawk to the Phd.
He's smarter than you
He's got a science degree"
was sung at the family dinner table last night by all but my wife.
I am hoping my 6 and 8 year old spread this meme to their school. Perhaps we will have a version by Ms. Smith's grade 3 class at the Spring concert.

622. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'

Comment #153198 by Frankus1122 on April 1, 2008 at 7:37 am

I just read an article in the Globe and Mail by Irshad Manji. Basically her take is that Fitna is too one sided. She points to other verses in the Koran that are more positive and call for tolerance. These should be the weapons that people use against the crazy nutter Muslims.
I can see her point in this light: an Imam will not listen to reason. If you can quote scripture to defeat him at his own game you may make some headway.
But if you are of the belief that reason, not 'revealed truth' is the language of dialogue you may have some problems with her approach.

623. Vote on freedom of expression marks the end of Universal Human Rights

Comment #153148 by Frankus1122 on April 1, 2008 at 5:58 am

The UN is a broken bureaucratically bloated bastion of (something that begins with the letter 'b').
But it is all we have.
It is broken and in need of repair. If we can't at least try to come together as a species then we are without hope.

Srsly, stop hatin' on the UN unless you've got a better proposal.

624. Christian Founders 3D Adventure Computer Game

Comment #152944 by Frankus1122 on March 31, 2008 at 6:37 pm

Ooooh! I notice they now have a video game of my favourite series: BibleMan! Cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXsHPLl-zFY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jsm2v8TJ-8&feature=related

625. Vote on freedom of expression marks the end of Universal Human Rights

Comment #152939 by Frankus1122 on March 31, 2008 at 6:26 pm

Was George W. Bush right when he said:
"They hate our freedoms -- our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other."?

The thing that bothers me most about this is you cannot argue against bad stupid ideas if they are bad stupid religious ideas.
Because that would be hate.

Well, yes. I hate your stupid religious idea that I should be put to death for saying your religion is stupid.

626. Vote on freedom of expression marks the end of Universal Human Rights

Comment #152901 by Frankus1122 on March 31, 2008 at 5:25 pm

This is extremely troubling. I am shocked, stunned.

For the first time in my life I'm afraid of an international conflict.

I am afraid of an international religious war. If once a thing like this starts how does it end?

627. Beware the Believers

Comment #152711 by Frankus1122 on March 31, 2008 at 11:50 am

Comment #152697 by sent2null

Yo! Word!

628. Fleabytes

Comment #152643 by Frankus1122 on March 31, 2008 at 9:39 am

. Comment #152606 by Steve Zara

So what would he be wearing then....? Gosh, the mind boggles.

I think Steve has taken up the slack for Richard Morgan.

I meant Anabana would find Robertson's inanities so ridiculous she would break out into paroxysms of uncontrolable giggling.

Honestly, Steve!

629. Fleabytes

Comment #152602 by Frankus1122 on March 31, 2008 at 8:50 am

Comment #152589 by annabanana

Of course, I might well be thrown out of the church for uncontrollable giggling

That might happen even if Al were not there in his loin cloth.

630. Beware the Believers

Comment #152510 by Frankus1122 on March 31, 2008 at 7:14 am

Dr. Benway;

a group of griefers

I was just reading about these people in Wired the other day and made the connection. I don't think the people who made this video are the people who invade Second Life with giant penises (penii?) but the sentiment may be along the same lines.

We did it for the lulz.

According to the Wired article these guys invented lolcat!

For the people who still think it is a propaganda weapon for Expelled: You are wrong. Trust me on this. I am a lot smarter than you in this regard and perhaps most other areas as well.

lulz

631. Beware the Believers

Comment #152320 by Frankus1122 on March 30, 2008 at 5:19 pm

Well it is interesting to see so much divergent opinion about the intentions and meaning of the video posted yesterday.

Imagine if it were a book, or several books assembled over hundreds of years, hundreds of years ago. How many interpretations would there be for something like that? How could you tell what the true meaning was? Perhaps some of it is to be taken literally while other parts are merely metaphorical. But how could you tell?

I suppose if that kind of a book were to be written and inspired by God then it would be clear.

632. Fleabytes

Comment #152300 by Frankus1122 on March 30, 2008 at 4:23 pm

Comment #152211 by AlanF

Well, no surprise, it looks like David Robertson has bowed out of our discussion

He is polluting on other threads.
So he is here, just not here.

633. Beware the Believers

Comment #152219 by Frankus1122 on March 30, 2008 at 1:09 pm

Comment #152216 by Enlightenme..

Frankus - I think your dog Shayla has distemper or summat - have you had her checked, she's madder than my mum's siamese cat.

Shasta was just scratching her inner ear. She is dead now.
Sad but she had a good long life.

634. Beware the Believers

Comment #152201 by Frankus1122 on March 30, 2008 at 12:27 pm

This may be enlightening:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5BtEeVs2vo

It is a hastily put together video.
If you can't read the text it says: What's with the pants?

635. Beware the Believers

Comment #152182 by Frankus1122 on March 30, 2008 at 11:16 am

Podaar and Enlightenme..,

I copied it, thanks.
I may go for the total bling package (pink-fur bucket hat, gold chains etc.).

EDIT: Damn! You beat me to it!
Where are the chains?

636. Beware the Believers

Comment #152179 by Frankus1122 on March 30, 2008 at 11:07 am

Comment #152168 by Richard Dawkins

So why is it funny if Sam Harris has a grill?

It is the same as the Monty Python sketch you referred to in an earlier post: the incongruity of the situation is funny. You sir, as a rapper is funny because it is about the furthest thing from what you actually do.
When I suggested that Steve Zara don a pimp hat my intention was to be funny because I know from his posts on this site and from his own admission he is a rather genteel old fogey; not the kind of man to actually put on the 'bling'.

I wouldn't classify this aspect of the video as satire.

If you note I have had the tables turned on me -or at least my avatar. I find it funny because I have been fed some of my own medicine.
All in good fun IMO.

637. Beware the Believers

Comment #152169 by Frankus1122 on March 30, 2008 at 10:52 am

Podar,

Good one!

638. Beware the Believers

Comment #152150 by Frankus1122 on March 30, 2008 at 9:09 am

Steve, can we expect a pimp hat on you when you next change your avatar?

639. Beware the Believers

Comment #151976 by Frankus1122 on March 29, 2008 at 8:32 pm

As there has been a lot of discussion as to the intent of the maker(s) I decided to ask him/her/them. I sent a message to the creator (randomslice) on Youtube asking for an explanation. No response yet.

640. 'We Make Our Own Heaven'

Comment #151880 by Frankus1122 on March 29, 2008 at 3:54 pm

Comment #151876 by Rachel Holmes,

Can you genuinely not see that?

There is a shared incredulity on this point. One would think that a reasonably intelligent person could not fail to see this.
One is left with one of two options.
Or perhaps both.

641. Beware the Believers

Comment #151877 by Frankus1122 on March 29, 2008 at 3:46 pm

Dr. Benway,

I also found that funny ("...and then he stamped her passport... twice) when I wandered in to it after the Benny Lava video.
This was featured a while ago and although the musical style is different yet again (not Rap nor Rick but R & B) I giggled.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc8tPTVBRSc

642. Beware the Believers

Comment #151765 by Frankus1122 on March 29, 2008 at 10:44 am

And so it Began....

Early in the days of the Church of the Dawkins a schism broke out between the Humourists and the Funniarians. One group claimed real humour could only be found 'elsewhere' in the realm of Leher and Zimmerman, while the others believed there was humour here in front of us, if only we could understand it.

Others still disbelieved altogether. Why was the Almighty creator of "Beware the Believers" so ambiguous in his text? Why didn't the images match up with the lyrics? Why communicate through Rap? Surely this was proof that the Creator was a shame - not real at all...

643. I always aim to misbehave

Comment #151729 by Frankus1122 on March 29, 2008 at 9:08 am

TheSwede,

So why have the Expelled producers set out to lie so big, I wonder?

Years ago I watched a tv show called 'Witness to Yesterday'. The host interviewed characters from history. He asked Rasputin why were so many lies told about him. Rasputin's response was, "If you throw enough bullshit at a wall, some of it will stick."

644. Beware the Believers

Comment #151728 by Frankus1122 on March 29, 2008 at 9:03 am

Bonzai,

Well said, you have a way with words that makes me envy. I wish I could have expressed it so well and elegantly.

Damn! I wish I could have said so well to Carto what you just said.

645. Beware the Believers

Comment #151717 by Frankus1122 on March 29, 2008 at 8:49 am

You mean you don't understand it well enough to know which side it is satirizing, yet you still consider it well made, clever and very funny?

Sometimes 'art' can be ambiguous. This is part of the appeal for the 'artsy'; maybe not so much for the 'sciencesy'.

I think both sides of the debate are laid bare:

IDers: science is a big bad machine that tramples and 'expells' dissenters; Dawkins and the like think they are so smart because they have Phds, etc.

Scientists: IDers and the like are stupid; know when you've been beat, "creationists slipped on the soap of their own slippery slope", etc.

Here is the argument, crudely put; you decide or perhaps just enjoy.

646. 'We Make Our Own Heaven'

Comment #151706 by Frankus1122 on March 29, 2008 at 8:36 am

Comment #151697 by Steve Zara

do we want children to be able to decide things for themselves on matters of religion or not? If not, why not?

Remember the controversy surrounding The Golden Compass?

Would it not be a more harmonious world if people were not allowed - no - burdened with the anxiety of thinking freely? When people begin to do this it creates disharmony.
The Chinese government is trying to prevent disharmony in Tibet.

647. 'We Make Our Own Heaven'

Comment #151694 by Frankus1122 on March 29, 2008 at 8:06 am

It's very alarming that politicos and business people have been put in leadership positions in the sciences under president Bush. When non-scientists censor and re-write scientific work, we're all in serious trouble.

We have to fight this idea that science is just another special interest group to be managed and used to some political party's advantage.

Our PM has dismissed the National Science Adviser. I think he is anti-science because it sometimes does not 'fit' with his political agenda.

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/quirks-blog/2008/01/no_science_in_the_pms_ear.html

648. Beware the Believers

Comment #151690 by Frankus1122 on March 29, 2008 at 8:00 am

I don't understand it but it makes sense to me.

This reminds me of what one of my students said the other day (one of the ones I try to teach critical thinking to):

"I believe palmistry is 100% true but I don't believe it because my religion doesn't allow it."

What.....? But....?

649. Beware the Believers

Comment #151688 by Frankus1122 on March 29, 2008 at 7:56 am