751. Pat Robertson: God told me of 'mass killing' in 2007

Comment #16023 by scooternyc on January 4, 2007 at 7:23 am

It's a pity god didn't tell him how to avoid all these predictions in previous posts of his, again, Dawkins must be right then that god really is a Malevolent Bully who wishes his people dead, hurt, or extinct.

Where's the way out Pat, oh, please, help us find the way!

You mean if we turn our lives over to your specific god then we'll be okay?

Funny, eh, isn't that what Islam wants us to do as well?

I just can't keep all this religious shit straight! Best abandon it altogether and just rely on good instincts instead.

Cheers!

752. Letter From America: Atheists throw down the gauntlet

Comment #15984 by scooternyc on January 4, 2007 at 5:05 am

This is the closest I could find, but it's hardly an endorsement of Bush's statement, in fact, I would say they(Palestinian Leadership) are NOT endorsing the claim.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4320586.stm

Any one know differently, I would not want to perpetuate such a claim if I knew better. I'd really like to see the truth about this story once and for all.

Cheers!

753. Letter From America: Atheists throw down the gauntlet

Comment #15983 by scooternyc on January 4, 2007 at 4:53 am

Perhaps I can't find it because I can't spell! That word was assist, not assit.

Anyway, the only thing I find is that the reports are stating that President Bush told Palestinian leaders, blah blah.

I would find this information very questionable given the Palestinian leadership and their disdain for the relationship between the United States and Israel.

Certainly if it were true I would not object to it's precepts as invoking any god is stupid, but this story is starting to take on an air of "urban myth" with relatively little based on facts?

754. Letter From America: Atheists throw down the gauntlet

Comment #15974 by scooternyc on January 4, 2007 at 3:47 am

Comment #15936 by tholin on January 3, 2007 at 11:31 pm

You mentioned god told President Bush to invade Iraq, do you or anyone reading for that matter, have any link to audio of this or video? I've searched the web tirelessly about it and really would like to hear it for myself as I agree with the insanity of making such a remark.

If you know, please assit.

Cheers!

755. Letter From America: Atheists throw down the gauntlet

Comment #15915 by scooternyc on January 3, 2007 at 7:52 pm

Having worked as a therapist for several years, I can tell you that verbal/mental/emotional abuse is more damaging at times than physical abuse. That said.

"Christian fundamentalism engaging in no violence or threats"

The indoctrination and overtaking of our nation slowly, methodically, and with all intent of converting it to a nation of christianity will create more violence and creates more lack of hope than most behaviors from these christians that I see.

They're just as dangerous as if they were acting violent, at least we could combat their behavior in terms of violence, it's the tiptoeing of change that will kill everyone with ignorance.

756. Executing Saddam Hussein was an Act of Vandalism

Comment #15821 by scooternyc on January 3, 2007 at 7:34 am

Alice Miller has an amazing story regarding Hitler that I read some years ago while attending University.

Much of the manner in which Hitler's father treated him, one such example of Hitler attempting to run away from his father, he was humiliated by having been stripped of his clothing, chastised and beaten by his father.

Certainly you make the connection between this behavior and what Hitler actually did to the Jews. It's obvious. Alice's books are fascinating in this capacity. The abused identifies with the abuser and then becomes his/her self the abuser.

757. Executing Saddam Hussein was an Act of Vandalism

Comment #15817 by scooternyc on January 3, 2007 at 7:15 am

Comment #15805 by AkitaOnRails on January 3, 2007 at 5:18 am -

Thanks for your comment, pardon my lack of clarity on the subject. My position was that science can easily be dismissed if what is presented is done so in a manner which postulates a political agenda.

Clearly Al Gore has an agenda between now and 2008 of presenting himself as a leader by jumping on the global warming wagon, he desperately needs to build street cred as a result of his last campaign.

But as he presents his "science" of global warming it should bring to question in anyone's mind what is his agenda?

Although he claims he's been on this crusade for an extended period of time, one might wonder if it were that serious why didn't he get on with it sooner; why now?

I'm big fans of Dennett, Harris and Dawkins thus far as I've embraced their arguments about religion and god (I truly think it's just all ridiculous and have known so since I was 8) but I become concerned since I know how ugly politics can be when it wants to thwart someone's credibility, findings, or position. I would hate to see this valuable debate about religion thwarted because suddenly the press has decided that Richard Dawkins has a political agenda of whom he is supporting or not supporting.

While his quips are often humorous I'm not sure they will ultimately be useful. Time will tell.

758. Executing Saddam Hussein was an Act of Vandalism

Comment #15802 by scooternyc on January 3, 2007 at 4:55 am

Your point regarding research is a valid one, spot on. It would have been more useful to science to understand the inner workings of a mad man. I also understand the human reasons why the Iraqi people needed this hanging to occur.

The political tone at times through your work does not serve the greater argument at times and it's the mistake that I see often made when someone is brilliant in an area where great progress can be made. Politics and science don't mix as politics is not objective and science is, you either prove a theory or you don't. Politics has a subjective nature and quality that doesn't make for good science.

This is, of course, a fine line to walk most especially when one is famous for his appearances and writings as you are Mr.Dawkins. I contemplate the concern of having your science considered dismissed because statements of Bush, Blair, Rumsfeld and the like, provide a connotation of a political position whereby an agenda could be perceived thus negating it all together.

I like it when science stays out of the political arena, so to speak, because it allows for facts to be presented by politicians who we know have an agenda, but facts are facts, and the waters are less muddied, if you will, by the scientist presenting the information than the politician.

759. Beliefwatch: Blasphemy (Challenge)

Comment #15639 by scooternyc on January 1, 2007 at 6:41 pm

Jack - not a beer drinker, but I could grab a cup o'joe at a starbucks or one of the over 2,798 coffee outlets in the city! I've never seen so many coffee outlets prior to moving here in 2004(Nov 2004 to be exact)! YIKES!

760. Beliefwatch: Blasphemy (Challenge)

Comment #15633 by scooternyc on January 1, 2007 at 6:05 pm

Jesus is watching, look busy!

Where's all the jesus jokes!

A little boy wants a bike for christmas, his mother tells him to write to god.

He sits down and writes, "Dear god, if I'm good for one week", upon reading this he realizes that a week is too long.

"Dear god, if I'm good for 1 day", upon reading this he knows that this is too tough, as well.

He goes out to the back yard, grabs the statue of Mary in the garden, wraps it in a blanket, throws it in the back of his closet and writes to god once more.

"Dear god, if you ever want to see your mother again..."

761. Beliefwatch: Blasphemy (Challenge)

Comment #15632 by scooternyc on January 1, 2007 at 6:00 pm

Oh, and I denounce the holy spirit and all its Bill O'Rielly - Laura Ingraham - Dennis Prager - Michael Medved - Hugh Hewitt - followers!

762. Beliefwatch: Blasphemy (Challenge)

Comment #15631 by scooternyc on January 1, 2007 at 5:56 pm

Jack Rawlinson - shout out from another New York Non-Believer! Battery Park City to be exact!

I gave myself to jesus, that bastard gave me the crabs and never called!

:) LOL!

God is watching! Giv'em a good show!

Cheers!

763. Let's Hope It's A Lasting Vogue

Comment #15554 by scooternyc on January 1, 2007 at 9:05 am

As Mike Dickin said on his final broadcast referring to the number of phone calls about Richard's interview, "We are overwhelmed".

I utilize the same thought with regard to my own experience of Richard, Sam, Dan, and others, I am overwhelmed - additionally, enlightened, educated, inspired, and continue to garner information by which to reasonably debate this issue with the uninformed or ignorant when it comes to belief in religion along with it's dangerous precepts.

If possible, as many of you know, we have a huge issue regarding gay marriage in our country that is experiencing a lot of attention, I would be most appreciative of any ideas to further my debate about this issue with those of the religious persuasion.

764. Richard Dawkins: You Ask The Questions Special

Comment #15415 by scooternyc on December 31, 2006 at 5:43 am

While I'm sure this opinion is not popular and I'm a huge fan of Dawkins, Harris and others, I do believe we did the right thing to remove Saddam in Iraq.

As responsible human beings we should not have tolerated such behavior for so long. How many times does the woman fall into the street beaten by the husband before the neighbors say, enough, then do something about it.

To turn a blind eye to such behavior is irresponsible. Although I also agree that taking the eye off of the Taliban(sp) wasn't smart either, there's no reason our world should be tolerating dictators and their torture ways.

Start removing dictators and letting people govern themselves and you'll soon enough see governments change. It takes time but just because something takes time doesn't mean it's not worth doing.

We should never turn away from our responsibility as humans towards other humans.

765. Woman beaten on Jerusalem bus for refusing to move to rear seat

Comment #15082 by scooternyc on December 28, 2006 at 7:53 pm

Decius, what a maladjusted thought process you have that would think because someone is practicing a religion they would be deserving of such behavior.

I know that I would not have been able to sit by and let this happen without running interference.

While I do not endorse any religion, I certainly do not adhere to the idea that someone be beaten or killed because of such an endorsement, it's just as inhumane.

766. Orr on Dawkins

Comment #14809 by scooternyc on December 25, 2006 at 10:51 am

Comment #14734 got me thinking that if this "god" really wanted to do well by people, perhaps it would've never introduced or "inspired" Darwinism to begin with, stuck with the religious rituals and be done with it.

Why would a god who wants everyone to praise him, etc. not produce some scientific proof as we've evolved to dispell any "mythology of science", then?

It doesn't exist, that's why. The very nature and idea that there is some "god" out there is so absurd. While Dawkins and others feel agnostic about it because scientific proof could present itself at some point(I respect their choice to do this)I find the whole god concept ridiculous and I won't have such nonsense part of my life in any way, shape or form, it's just stupid.

Why would my little pea brain, or any other human pea brain, give a rat's ass about WHO created all this? It's such a waste of energy and only being pursued so that religion can say they're right and start imposing their garbage on us all.

I dare say that scientists with any level of intelligence probably wouldn't care about such fantasy, they have more important things to research and discover, of which we all benefit.

At least that can be said of science, WE ALL BENEFIT, the same can't be said of religion. That understanding alone should move people to reconsider their faith based ideas.

767. The Only One in Step

Comment #14549 by scooternyc on December 23, 2006 at 5:32 am

I'm guessing these 2 scientists are basing their ideas on "feelings", the dreaded word in society these days to justify just about anything that isn't science and attempt to induce a credulous truth for which nothing need exist outside of " I said so".

I see science as the negation of feelings for a very good reason: science is exact when one proves a theory "yes" or "no". Feelings are a randomness based on the level of disease within any individual for which no accounting of logic can be assessed, as it is subjective. I wouldn't deny someone his/her feelings, but I would observe the nature of his/her inaccurate view or distorted view of reality when evidence to the contrary is right in front of him/her…in other words, scientific proof.

Feelings seem relevant in that the absence of something can bring assimilation to the existence of something, certainly we wouldn't say that about the subject of god, though, would we? How stupid would that be?

I understand joy and I understand it's absence, therefore if I want to have joy in life I should make those choices which bring me to this feeling (even joy can be considered contentment) and choices which do not bring me joy are choices I should move away from. But it's subjective and proves nothing but my preferences.

Science cares nothing about feelings when it comes to the proving or disproving of observations, nor should it. As nature cares nothing about feelings, it merely exists and evolves; we too should care nothing about feelings when it comes to science. Religion is based on "feelings" and nothing more. It attempts to exert a scientific posture at times but it does so at its own peril since it only has itself to rely on as it's credential. It would be like my saying that Father Christmas exists because I said so.

768. The Blasphemy Challenge

Comment #14399 by scooternyc on December 22, 2006 at 9:27 am

I deny:

The Holy Spirit

God

Virgin Mary

Tooth Fairy

Easter Bunny

Unicorns

Flying Spaghetti Monsters

Flying Teapots

But, there's no way I can deny Santa.... ;)

769. I love the commercialisation of Christmas

Comment #14130 by scooternyc on December 21, 2006 at 8:32 am

"Of all the 'isms' in the world, commercialism is the worst" - Miracle on 34th Street ...how many decades ago? Oh brother.

Who cares about all this "dear lord baby jesus" cr*p?

Buy, buy, buy, it keeps the economy going, illegal immigrants employed, the 'war on christmas' overstated and exaggerated - thereby selling more of O'Reilly's stupid book(I'm sure there are illegals processing those orders somewhere in the U.S.); it keeps lawyers in business fighting all the 'secular progressives' who purchased winter paper plates for the school "winter party" defying "christ" in christmas; blah, blah, blah.

I wish I would be alive for the time when religion is no longer in our society - I can only hope for the future generations that they not be demoralized by all this religiosity.

I hear some people get use out of the bible by substituting it for toilet tissue. Not a bad idea, eh!

770. Richard Dawkins on the Mike Dickin Show

Comment #13545 by scooternyc on December 18, 2006 at 8:06 am

I LOVED this show and laughed my ass off! I'm from the good ol U.S. of A. and am concerned about the indoctrination that happens here.

I see that people are either indoctrinated without choice at an early age or have some life altering event by which they have no explanation and then attribute it to god. Rubish...all of it. The idea that I refuse to accept the responsibility and accountability that is my life and turn it over to some ghost in the sky and thereby absolve myself of all wrong doings(devil made me do it)and never take credit for the hard work I do (god made it happen)or make excuses for other's poor choices(god must have wanted that to happen)is so unbelievably stupid and immature. To try and address it is futile.

NATURE is awesome, but the need to personalize it by calling it god is abhorent, arrogant and egotistical. I equate the idea of watching a movie, play, et.al. You find emotion in the viewing because you find something that you can relate to your own life thus making it personal.

The moralizing that goes on in the United States, and dare I say, the world in general, under the auspicies of religion is sick. Making the decision about what is socially acceptable behavior and living by that seems much less judgmental or moralizing and certainly allows one to make the life they wish to make.

This site is amazing, glad I found it, it seems I've landed on a spot where like minded people DO exist! Yeah!

Happy Christmas!