51. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #116592 by Big City on January 26, 2008 at 7:16 pm

That was pathetic. People need to learn the difference between what they think and what they know.

"I know the fossils aren't there, because I've never seen them!"

It's so damn frustrating.

52. The devilish church practice of exorcism

Comment #114254 by Big City on January 21, 2008 at 4:26 pm

babrock,
I'm pretty sure you can delete those 4 inadvertent posts.

53. Vatican slams California firm's cloning experiments

Comment #114252 by Big City on January 21, 2008 at 4:11 pm

cowalker said:

Just to be safe they could squeeze off a drop of sterile water into each petri dish and say "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." Bingo.

54. King Me!

Comment #113523 by Big City on January 19, 2008 at 10:35 pm

Atheists are arrogant in thinking that the rules of chess are meant to be understood. Chess has its reasons.

55. The Group Delusion

Comment #110660 by Big City on January 11, 2008 at 8:48 pm

Damn, Janus beat me to it.
Still:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUkpR2Q6Oy8

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

Comment #110113 by Big City on January 10, 2008 at 1:53 pm

Blake,
I, too, fail to understand how any sort of transfer of consciousness could be achieved through transfer of information. Honestly, though, I do believe what he says about the future of technology, in large part because I see the exponential rate of growth in that area to be mindblowing, even in my short lifetime. I do believe that nanotechnology will have the extreme affect that he says. Like I said, I question it, too, but I think this is largely a result of how unbelievable it seems now, not how impossible the task really is.

57. Richard Dawkins on The Late Edition with Marcus Brigstocke

Comment #110044 by Big City on January 10, 2008 at 11:24 am

Tyler,
Luke, Chapter 9, Verses 59-62:
[59] He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
[60] Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
[61] Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family."
[62] Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

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

Comment #110035 by Big City on January 10, 2008 at 11:07 am

studiorat,
Stephen Hawking released a children's book recently that's been getting a little flack for being godless.

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

Comment #109829 by Big City on January 9, 2008 at 9:30 pm

Amnis,
Transhumanism is the idea that humans have evolved to the point that we now have a means (technology) to supersede evolution. In other words, survival of the fittest and natural selection took a relatively long time, but got us to such an advanced level that we can take advancement into our own hands.

This fact, and its implications, means that we are becoming a level of human that is hardly comparable with, say, medieval man. We are already modifying ourselves in ways that they would think is magic. Soon we will merge with technology, and eventually, the boundary between us and computers will blur. Technology is making us posthuman. If you are looking for beginning information, I would search wikipedia for transhumanism or posthuman and follow the links and search for articles about the major players.

A great set of books on the topic, for any level of reader/interest, are Ray Kurzweil's "The Age of Spiritual Machines" and "The Singularity is Near". They are two of the most interesting books I have read. They should give you a very good grasp of the topic.

I honestly cannot recommend these books enough.

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

Comment #109773 by Big City on January 9, 2008 at 4:44 pm

OsakaGuy,
Thanks a lot for that reference and link! Very helpful.

Everyone else,
The link to John Allen Paulos's Beyond Belief 07 speech that OsakaGuy posted earlier deals directly with the book. He reads excerpts from it and describes how people's misconceptions about math and probabilty affect the way they think about logic. It's very interesting. Reminds me of the Penn & Teller Bullshit episode "Numbers".

Now I understand how his profession is relevant to the topic.
But I still say most Christians see being smart as a flaw.

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

Comment #109732 by Big City on January 9, 2008 at 3:08 pm

Stone,
That's hilarious, I have had that exact thought on the "admitted schmo" book, unfortunately, I still have to pay student loans in the meantime!

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

Comment #109730 by Big City on January 9, 2008 at 3:05 pm

Quetzalcoatl,
I think you're point is consistent with what Baeoz said. "...if your favorite thing doesn't need a cause, then why does anything need a cause?" is a pretty good way to put it. You're pretty much using their logic to show them that their argument doesn't make sense (namely, Baeoz's first premise).

63. The Mind of the Market

Comment #109715 by Big City on January 9, 2008 at 2:47 pm

Steve,
I 'half-agree' with you. The good doctor may know that he's being a bit weasely in his logic, but I think the reasoning of these people (including him and his audience) is "Now, I know this doesn't make sense, but how can I convince myself that it does?" Reconciling themselves with their rose tinted glasses, more than a deliberate misrepresentation. After all, they obviously believe it is true, that it must somehow be true.

64. The Mind of the Market

Comment #109693 by Big City on January 9, 2008 at 1:55 pm

cyris,
How very disconcerting!

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

Comment #109691 by Big City on January 9, 2008 at 1:52 pm

I don't really understand how the author being a mathematician figures into the argument. I think that it may actually hurt the debate, considering a lot of Christians view science as an excuse to dismiss a point of view. "Oh, the scientists think their logic makes them smarter than God, little do they know, we don't care about logic."

66. The Mind of the Market

Comment #109644 by Big City on January 9, 2008 at 11:22 am

epeeist,
I think your first theory on the hit counter is pretty plausible. I've been there a few times in the last hour just to convince myself they're being serious. Also, the comments on that post are pretty pathetic. Reminiscent of someone covering their ears and shouting "I'm not listening!"
(PS: TNG>DS9)

annabanana,
You see what happens to young ladies once they become atheists? They turn their back on the Lord, and they instantly become pimps. Sad fact.

67. The Mind of the Market

Comment #109631 by Big City on January 9, 2008 at 10:16 am

Damn you, Brian,
Atheismsucks just ruined my day. The most recent video post is one of the most ignorant things I've ever seen.
More evidence that Christianity is one big circle jerk. "How can we lie to ourselves and make it sound smart?"

annabanana,
I'm gonna need you to send that 'single, hot, atheist' my way, if you'd be so kind.

That having been said, this book seems pretty interesting. Any religion pales in comparison to evolutionary psychology, in my opinion.

68. Hook, line and rapture

Comment #109150 by Big City on January 8, 2008 at 12:44 pm

"...but it would be, if it were,"
This is great. The ending is hilarious and makes some really good points.

There's recently been an uproar here in Atlanta about the 'megachurches' and the extravagant homes their preachers own. The news interviews with the congregations make them seem like they don't have a problem with it.
If you guys haven't seen Pat Robertson's television show, you really should. Sow a seed of faith!

69. Sam Harris debate with Rabbi David Wolpe

Comment #108121 by Big City on January 6, 2008 at 4:14 am

I have to agree that Wolpe is more competent than D'Souza, but I'm with the Horsemen in that I really wish that one of these guys would put forth an argument that made me reconsider atheism.

I know they won't, because they're just running around shoving their fingers in the dam, but I really feel if I was a Christian (or Jew), that I would be bothered by their inability to make it flat-out obvious that there is a god. I know that when I was a Christian, I had never even heard an atheist argument, so I have to think the faithful in attendance have to at least be shaken a little.

Also, Wolpe lumps "there is a god" in with a lot of opinions. If you listen to the examples he gives of unscientific, unprovable statements, they're all personal opinions and value judgments, not facts about truth.

Also, the only reason the Civil War was so devastating to us was that every casualty on both sides was an American, so of course the American casualty rate is going to be high.

70. Sam Harris debate with Rabbi David Wolpe

Comment #107769 by Big City on January 5, 2008 at 9:05 am

1:00:02

71. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!

Comment #101112 by Big City on December 19, 2007 at 10:04 pm

walk and Graham,
I, for one, smoked off and on for 4 or 5 years and never felt any sort of addiction or 'need' for a cigarette. It's been about two years since I've smoked a cigarette and I could still take it or leave it.

72. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!

Comment #101110 by Big City on December 19, 2007 at 9:57 pm

Jesus Christ, Cartomancer, just go to YouTube if you're gonna rant.

73. 'Growing Up in the Universe' now available free online

Comment #98636 by Big City on December 14, 2007 at 1:02 am

I had never seen this before, and just got through with the series. I kept thinking, "I wish I had seen this as a kid."

I grew up in the Bible Belt, and the only biology we learned was to emphasize God's glorious plan. No one there has science explained to them like this (at least not in school), and as a result, no one I grew up with cared about science. It was just seen as another of God's mysterious ways.

If I saw this when it came out (I was like 8), I'd probably be a scientist right now.

74. Creation vs. Reality

Comment #98627 by Big City on December 14, 2007 at 12:33 am

For those who have some problem with this video or don't understand the premise, I think it's kinda obvious they're simply juxtaposing the different formats and language of the Creation theory and the real origin story. I don't think a religious person would make this.

I don't know why so many people here seem to have a problem with it. I think it's great both conceptually and in its delivery.