51. A Nation of Christians Is Not a Christian Nation

Comment #77151 by Vendetta on October 8, 2007 at 3:38 pm

If the distinction between an American and Australian seems silly to you, consider that at every football game here in the US is proceeded by both teams praying to the same god.

Even if this silly god existed, wouldn't he have better things to do than determine if the Hurricanes cover the spread against the Seminoles?

52. Response to My Fellow 'Atheists'

Comment #77131 by Vendetta on October 8, 2007 at 2:03 pm

konquererz-

I understand what you're saying, sometimes it can be liberating to point out exactly what you think of someone's ignorant view.

When I am in that situation I usually reply that I am not superstitious. I could say I don't believe in fairies or unicorns or some other silly thing, but I think this is the point that Sam is making.

If you really want to get people to look at what they believe and get a meaningful dialogue going, it's probably not the best move to start by saying something that they will perceive as pointedly insulting. This is exactly like Sam's example: why insert the loaded label atheist into the statement? Why provoke unnecessarily?

You don't start a debate by saying your opponent is an idiot, even if they happen to be one. This is like a conversation stopper, much like how most of us would look at someone saying that "God is truth and all arguments we can give are simply the devil's work."

That stunned face they have as you walk away smiling isn't them asking themselves if their beliefs can really be compared to believing in fairies. That look is them wondering how you can be so foolish to believe that, combined with bewilderment and pity that you are probably going to hell.

I would view it as another lost opportunity to educate the ignorant... but that's just my opinion. We're both on the same side :)

Cheers!

53. Response to My Fellow 'Atheists'

Comment #77111 by Vendetta on October 8, 2007 at 1:35 pm

After reading his books, debates, letters, and watching his videos, I couldn't believe what so many were saying: that Sam was suddenly backing off and endorsing subterfuge. This should help clarify what he was saying (sadly this implies his speech at AAI was unclear, which I don't think it was). Perhaps it was how he prefaced the speech by saying it might not go over well, people may have assumed the worst.

54. The Squirrel Wars

Comment #77053 by Vendetta on October 8, 2007 at 10:06 am

This article is almost comically vile. At some points I thought perhaps it was satire, but unfortunately it wasn't.

Entire species are wiped out every day for many reasons, the biggest perhaps being loss of habitat. Trying to protect a species that is on the brink of extinction because of our careless growth is one thing, but systematically slaughtering a species because it is out-competing the species we 'like' is quite another. Anyone that cannot see the difference here is, in my opinion, just plain wrong.

We (humans, no distinction here between Americans and Brits) introduce the gray squirrel to this environment and it flourishes, so now we must exterminate them?? Huh?

The article admits that the gray squirrel is just "better at the job of being a squirrel." Because of this, it must die, for red squirrels are near and dear to our hearts. Sad.

55. Be Good Now, Or Else

Comment #77025 by Vendetta on October 8, 2007 at 8:10 am

Well this is a fascinating article and I agree with NB that it's not hard to see this in a sinister light. The term slippery slope comes to mind.

Oh and BCWC, your avatar always makes me laugh. Horn of Gondor indeed.

56. A New Debate

Comment #75779 by Vendetta on October 3, 2007 at 3:55 pm

All Hummers aren't bad, as long as you're talking about the kind that Clinton received and not the vehicle :)

57. A New Debate

Comment #75662 by Vendetta on October 3, 2007 at 8:35 am

If only! Sadly, nothing like this will ever happen. Especially when so many in this backward country think that religion & 'values' = good, while science & evolution = bad.

It's nice to daydream occasionally, though.

58. The Problem with Atheism

Comment #75643 by Vendetta on October 3, 2007 at 7:44 am

Sam, Sam, Sam... as usual you are making far too much sense. This is what I posted on the Washington Post comment section:


Kudos to Sam - I enjoyed this article and definitely agree with the comparison to racism. I also appreciate the fact that he didn't just preach to the choir but instead pointed out some problems that come with proclaiming yourself an atheist. I've often wondered and worried about some of these same issues. It is similar to how people discuss politics, as soon as you identify yourself as a Democrat, conservative, Republican, liberal or independent, you are putting yourself into a box where you are expected to hold certain views. You may very well hold some or all of the opinions that are expected of your label, but you should form your opinions on an issue by issue basis. When we say we are atheists, we are effectively doing the same thing that unthinking pawns do when they vote a straight ticket out of allegiance to a party.

In regards to the 'spiritual' things Sam is in favor of, I'm simply not interested. I don't have any desire to meditate or hide myself in a cave, but I also don't have any problem with other people pursuing such things. These are simply things that do not interest me. If it's not harming anyone else, then whatever floats your boat.

Cheers, and remember:

SMILE :) There is no hell.

59. God vs. science: Can religion stand up to the test?

Comment #5098 by Vendetta on November 7, 2006 at 12:37 pm

And, on my same subject, you will probably say that we have no history to agree with "lord of the rings" to prove Sauron, like the bible references real places like israel. I could write a novel about how in this time and age we are all Ferrets, and how the future will be a utopia, and all us Ferrets were wiped out in the war of 2007 that happened in the US and UK, and Moloch put Humans on the earth in 2008, this won't make us Ferrets.

Do you understand how referencing "feelings" and "Bibles" isn't proof?

60. God vs. science: Can religion stand up to the test?

Comment #5095 by Vendetta on November 7, 2006 at 12:31 pm

To TruthSeeker:

One more thing I have to add to this conversation.

You keep mentioning that people are given morality by god. I bet you would be surprised that there are hypothosis that morality has come from that horrible "E WORD" that you christians hate so bad (evolution, for those not paying attention). Why don't you go read Richard Dawkin's book "The Selfish Gene" which deals with this subject directly.

Religion wouldn't be so bad if it didn't take stands against science and rational thought.

Don't reference the "Bible" when trying to prove religion. I can prove we all believe that Sauron is real and wants to rule the world if I use Lord of the Rings as my reference.