Comments by USA_Limey

51. U.S. Congress Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith

Comment #98730 by USA_Limey on December 14, 2007 at 6:49 am

Quite right ehudson, and a great first post!

Welcome aboard.

Comment #98724 by USA_Limey on December 14, 2007 at 6:25 am

Comment #98720 by Jack Rawlinson

MADNESS.

Gor Blimey mate, it's Austraaaalia. If ya can't knife some bloke in the chest in a drunky brawl every once in a while yur not a real man see?

53. Jail for creationist row killer

Comment #98689 by USA_Limey on December 14, 2007 at 4:05 am

This is an article about a drunken brawl gone wrong. Nothing more.

Are we to now have all and sundry articles posted just because they have the loosest possible connection with topics of interest on this site?

Sorry to be sniffy about it but jeese. If I want to read about a'holes and their moronic behaviour I'll buy a tabloid paper.

54. What are your qualifications to question religion anyway? Just who are you?

Comment #98425 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 3:19 pm

Comment #98409 by Fiziker:

I just thought I'd comment on how you are annoyed how they mess up the 'latest visitor comments' section and yet your comment has done what you find irritating

Exactly! The irony was not lost on me.

That's why I did it.

Petulant moment over however and apologies to all, etc etc.

55. People who've experienced God KNOW that God exists

Comment #98394 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 2:43 pm

I hate these stupid 'debating points' so much I am going to be childish and petulant.

They completely mess up the 'latest visitor comments' section which helps us keep track of responses to the latest articles posted.

So there.

56. What is the role of free will to an atheist?

Comment #98390 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 2:41 pm

57. What are your qualifications to question religion anyway? Just who are you?

Comment #98388 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 2:40 pm

I hate these stupid 'debating points' so much I am going to be childish and petulant.

They completely mess up the 'lates visitor comments' section which helps us keep track of responses to the latest articles posted.

So there.

58. You can't be moral without God!

Comment #98387 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 2:40 pm

59. Pascal's Wager

Comment #98386 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 2:39 pm

60. Atheists only promote divisiveness, as any other separatist movement.

Comment #98385 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 2:39 pm

61. How can the Earth be so perfectly suited for life by coincidence?

Comment #98384 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 2:38 pm

62. Hinduism and Buddhism offer much more sophisticated worldviews (or philosophies) and I see nothing wrong with these religions.

Comment #98382 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 2:37 pm

63. How do you explain the lack of transitional forms in nature, the gaps in the fossil record?

Comment #98380 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 2:37 pm

64. Voyager 2 probe reaches solar system boundary

Comment #98320 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 1:21 pm

Comment #98313 by Et in Arcadia ego

Funny thing is , we are going to catch up to those 2
birds , perhaps in 50 or even 100 years

I love your optimism, I really do. But in 50 years we will be at the end of the solar system?

In fifty years the USA will still be pissing around in Iraq and China will just be landing on Mars. Maybe.

65. Voyager 2 probe reaches solar system boundary

Comment #98317 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 1:17 pm

Comment #98267 by steve99:

Shame on you, you cynic!

Ah, you're right of course. Probably I am just a) jealous I didn't get to experience 1969 and b) frustrated people my age haven't had our 'that's one small step' moment. When are we going to Mars!

Sigh.

66. Atheists' sign sparks controversy

Comment #98268 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 11:51 am

You are also in error when you state "we are all grownups here" as evidenced by the childish exchanges.

But that is just your opinion.

Others might have the opinion that it is childish to come to an internet forum and expect everyone to conform to your view of what it should be.

Just another point of view that's all.

67. Voyager 2 probe reaches solar system boundary

Comment #98255 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 11:36 am

I was three years old in 1977.

I remember, (just), being taken to see Star Wars which had just come out.

We are still quite some way from hyperspace travel amoungst the stars aren't we if our fastest spacecraft is just leaving our system after 30 odd years!

Fantastic achievement though. Robot explorers always were the way to go; all those billions to send fly boy test pilots to go take a piss on the moon.

:-)

68. Voyager 2 probe reaches solar system boundary

Comment #98247 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 10:53 am

I also feel terribly proud to be human when see space craft crossing the final frontiers

***Warning: Terrible joke coming up****

You know Captain Kirk had three ears? The left, the right and the final frontier?

69. Voyager 2 probe reaches solar system boundary

Comment #98245 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 10:50 am

Comment #98241 by Vaal:

Have they spotted God yet?

That's my point Vaal. If god is lurking in our neck of the woods then she must be a very provincial sort of god.

___OR___

If god is everywhere, why did we get his only son?

Convenient eh?

70. Voyager 2 probe reaches solar system boundary

Comment #98239 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 10:39 am

Comment 98236 by Nero:

"I enjoy using these stats to show my friends how huge the universe really is and how isolated we are."

Yes,

This is why christianity is so ridiculous and the most vulnerable of all faiths when put along side this kind of perspective.

The claim is that the god who created, ALL THAT sent his ONLY son to save some jews 2,000 years ago in Palestine?

How egocentric can you get?

71. Atheists' sign sparks controversy

Comment #98223 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 9:54 am

Comment #98184 by gr8hands:

Sad. I had expected better. This is exactly why I don't involve myself more

...More than the 18 posts you have made in the last day and a half?

It is also exactly why Richard Dawkins himself doesn't bother posting.

... actually he posts quite frequently I think.
You should do a search:

http://richarddawkins.net/userComments,page1,53

So much energy wasted on silly posts. Please take a good hard look at yourselves and what you're putting out for worldwide display

... good advice. I'd follow it.

Sorry for the attack. But we are all grown ups here. We are responsible for our own posts and don't need to be lectured by you.

If the quality doesn't always meet your standards, well so much the better for your smug sense of superiority eh?

72. U.S. Congress Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith

Comment #98209 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 9:10 am

82abhilash,

see my post 98204 right above yours. Looks like we are thinking along the same lines.

I am not saying Jefferson was wrong, or that 'separation of church and state' has failed. Just that it hasn't quite worked out to the best advantage of secularism at all times.

73. U.S. Congress Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith

Comment #98204 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 8:57 am

The seperation of church and state is, to me, the best thing about the United States. I only wish we had it in the UK, too.

I am not so sure.

In theory yes it was a great idea, but in practice I often wonder if it has been counter productive. As a result of this separation religion in America became a business; it is market driven and fractured every which way you can imagine.

In the UK, with its monolithic established church what happened? It withered on the vine and is all but dead.

I'm open to persuasion that this view is BS, it's just another way of looking at it I think.

74. Voyager 2 probe reaches solar system boundary

Comment #98181 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 8:14 am

You can't beat a good Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator for durability, relability and power ouput.

If it wasn't for the nuts who who would use the radioactive material to build a dirty bomb we could make much more commercial use of this superb technology.

What a shame.

75. U.S. Congress Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith

Comment #98162 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 7:01 am

It's a display of christian dominance.

I agree, it is.

But they are dominant.

They can't choose not to do this anymore than a peacock can choose not to strut and show us his feathers.

I'm just saying I'm not that impressed or scared by it.

76. U.S. Congress Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith

Comment #98153 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 6:37 am

I wouldn't get too exited about this.

If you are a congresswoman from back of beyond nowheresville Oklahoma you can put forward a house resolution that Cow Shit is the best thing since pig shit and it will get voted on.

A member of congress can't be seen to have NOT voted for this resolution; but it means nothing in practical terms. Political postering only, rest easy folks.

77. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #98075 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 3:42 am

Ruht,

I really want to talk to you about Jesus Christ.

1) Of what possible signifigance was the life of the historical jesus to humans living in Australia 2,000 years ago. Or North America? Or Russian Siberia?

2) How do you explain the multitude of world religions extant today? Does this not give you a moments pause?

It all comes down to a balance of probabilities. What are the most LIKELY explanations for the data available to us when it comes to the worlds religions? Is it not simply common sense that supernatural answers are the LEAST likely explanations we can come up with.

Again, try and look at the wider picture, it's so simple and easy to see that religion is MAN MADE when you step outside of your narrow framework of culture and upbringing and simply think BIGGER.

All the best to you.

(Apologies to others yes I have copied this from another thread)

78. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #97860 by USA_Limey on December 12, 2007 at 6:15 pm

Oh WOW. I mean. Just WOW. I have not looked at this thread until now.

Is this Ruht for real?

What's the consensus?

79. Functional Neuroimaging of Belief, Disbelief, and Uncertainty

Comment #97414 by USA_Limey on December 12, 2007 at 3:40 am

Comment #97236 by eric.malitz was:

This could be used as a lie detector it sounds like, unfortunately.

Why unfortunately? You got something to hide? ;-)

It may well be the basis for the ultimate lie detector. I think that's a good thing.

80. Functional Neuroimaging of Belief, Disbelief, and Uncertainty

Comment #97203 by USA_Limey on December 11, 2007 at 5:47 pm

Very cool.

Now, I would like to gather up every televangelist preacher and run them through that test and see if they really believe the shit they preach.

Wouldn't that be fun?

81. An Open Letter to Richard Dawkins

Comment #96947 by USA_Limey on December 11, 2007 at 6:25 am

totalitarian regimes of Stalin, Hitler, and Mao, among others, were intrinsically atheistic systems

Whilst Stalin and Mao are harder cases to refute, 10 minutes internet research would have shown this guy he was wrong about Hitler. But he probably knows and just finds the lie convenient.

This one website alone nicely refutes the 'Nazis were atheists' argument.

http://www.nobeliefs.com/nazis.htm

http://www.nobeliefs.com/mementoes.htm

82. The Pagan Christ

Comment #96189 by USA_Limey on December 10, 2007 at 6:18 am

ADH is active on some other threads but seems to have run away from this one.

"They don't like it up 'em Captain Mainwaring Sir, they don't like it up 'em".

83. The Pagan Christ

Comment #95766 by USA_Limey on December 9, 2007 at 7:10 am

Where is ADH recently?

Desperately trying to find 'answers' or just gone away?

I go back to my earlier point. The fact that this is all so questionable and debatable at all should be enough for a person to decide that living your life believing this stuff is a waste of time.

84. Holy Nonsense

Comment #95436 by USA_Limey on December 8, 2007 at 10:42 am

Comment #95266 by Diacanu:

*Sigh* I knew it, we are mutants.
:(

If that's true, shouldn't we have special powers?

;-p

85. The Pagan Christ

Comment #95364 by USA_Limey on December 8, 2007 at 6:54 am

Oh dear.

The conversation has ploughed into the 'how do we explain morality' groove.

Theists love that one, they can debate until the sun goes nova and not have to answer any uncomfortable questions.

Speaking of which, ADH, you continue to ignore my questions.

If jesus christ, son of god, was sent to save us why was this extremely important event restricted to an area of palestine 2000 years ago? Why was the evidence so poor that it was challenged even at the time let alone now, and why did the word only travel at the speed of European expansion into the rest of the world over the next 2,000 years and STILL hasn't done the job.

In short: Why didn't god want to save the innuit of Northern Canada?

Was this gods plan?

I really, really need an answer please.

All the best to you.

86. The Pagan Christ

Comment #95255 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 6:19 pm

Dave G...

Thanks, but really - this is nothing. If you have a few days free check this out:

http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,1212,Richard-Dawkins-and-Alister-McGrath,Root-of-All-Evil-Uncut-Interviews

This thread literally lasted for months. I was only a very minor active participant. If you want to see truly valient patience shown to a dogged theist from some of our more admirable contributors,(Steve99 for example), that's a pretty good example!

87. Merry Mithras 2007

Comment #95249 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 5:57 pm

Remember folks: Axial Tilt - it's the reason for the season!

:-)

88. The Pagan Christ

Comment #95247 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 5:46 pm

Comment #95233 by ADH was:

I haven't got time to go into the minutiae right now. But I will tomorrow if you think there's any point.

But this is your problem. You focus on the minutiae and miss the wider point. You simply cannot see the wood for the trees.

You must think on a grander scale, both in time and space.

You are arguing historical details because you can. You have ignored anything you cannot answer, but I'll try again. So, some questions:

1) Of what possible signifigance was the life of the historical jesus to humans living in Australia 2,000 years ago. Or North America? Or Russian Siberia?

2) How do you explain the multitude of world religions extant today? Does this not give you a moments pause?

It all comes down to a balance of probabilities. What are the most LIKELY explanations for the data available to us when it comes to the worlds religions? Is it not simply common sense that supernatural answers are the LEAST likely explanations we can come up with.

Again, try and look at the wider picture, it's so simple and easy to see that religion is MAN MADE when you step outside of your narrow framework of culture and upbringing and simply think BIGGER.

All the best to you.

89. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #95165 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 1:28 pm

Thirdchimpanzee..

I don't disagree with any of that. I probably should have put 'smart money' in inverted commas in my previous post as you did!

We agree that Giuliani is a big problem for many conservatives.

As I stated on the Chapman thread though, I feel totally disenfranchised by the whole damn lot of them.

90. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #95139 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 12:27 pm

Northern Bright,

The smart money is generally on Rudy Giuliani because of his 9/11 hero status and because he is seen as a viable candidate against Clinton or Obama.

However, the religious vote in the Republic party have serious problems with Rudy because of his perceived liberalism on several social issues not to mention his own personal history.

If Mitt Romney can get the Christians on side he might really be a viable nomination in my opinion. Others will disagree, but the way the conservative talk show hosts have been talking him up since his 'faith' speech I really think he now becomes a possibility.

91. The Pagan Christ

Comment #95075 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 10:00 am

Monoape wrote:

if we accept that the 'Aussie locals' arrived on the continent ~45,000 years ago, they had to wait (along with the rest of us) a feckin' long time

Quite right.

Consider my time scale as beginning with the final revelation of God.

Well, almost final. I suppose the messages of Mohammed and Joseph Smith with have to join the queue.

92. Colouring book warns kids of pedophile priests

Comment #95069 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 9:38 am

Delicious!

Reading this was like irony made flesh.

93. The Pagan Christ

Comment #95065 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 9:32 am

ADH,

Did anything you just say in Comment 95063 give us any reason to accept the divinity of Christ?

Jesus was a political activist who didn't like the Roman occupation or the Jewish leadership. Great - ok great, I could be persuaded to go with that. Do we need to go further? Why make him god?

Can we just drop that rubbish?

94. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #95059 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 9:14 am

Comment #95052 by jetdriver was:

This is one of the scariest political speeches I heard since I arrived in this country

Couldn't agree more. I was horrified by this speech. Others may say I am over reacting, that Romney has little or no chance of getting the nomination, no chance of becoming president. But this I think is missing the point. That a presidential candidate can say this kind of thing at all in 2007 in the USA is the point. It shifts the Zeitgeist of what is acceptable political discourse at the highest level in America just that little bit further toward theocratic lunacy.

The actual risk of a Romney presidency is irrelevent. It's the overall trend that scares the crap out of me.

95. The Pagan Christ

Comment #95051 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 8:51 am

Comment #95048 by ADH Comment #95048.

ADH, can't you recognize that that the fact alone that this is all debatable and questionable and shrouded in antiquity makes the likelihood of it being true rather suspect.

Based on the available evidence what is more likely?

A) Jesus was the divine some of god sent to redeem us.

B) He was just some guy who's story got spun out of all recognition into a new religion for political reasons.

Again, based on the paucity of evidence, which is more LIKELY? It's really that simple.

96. The Pagan Christ

Comment #95047 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 8:25 am

Shouldn't the fact that there is a debate AT ALL be enough to cast doubt on the story of Christ? After all, this was meant to be the most momentous event in human history, a direct intervention by god; sending us his son to save us right?

You'd think he would have made the paper trail a bit more convincing.

Oh, and shame about those Aboriginal Austrailians who had to wait another 1,700 years for the 'good news'

What bollocks.

97. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #95037 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 7:59 am

Comment #95028 by briancoughlanworldcitizen was:

America is unlucky enough to have been infected with two of these ideological viruses, the nationalism and the religion.

Brian, you are so spot on with that. In many ways gushing patriotism is a bigger problem for the USA than religion. At least there is a debate on the latter and somewhat of firewall against religious influence through the constitution. Question the flag though? That is much tougher. I just don't think there wil be an end to it until America has its 'fall' just like every empire before it.

Shame because America was a good idea in theory.

:-)

98. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #94996 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 6:18 am

I listen to alot of talk radio in the States because I am a news junkie. Talk radio in the USA almost exclusively means conservative talk radio. I can tell you from a fair sampling of all the main hosts, Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck et al that this speech is universally being hailed as a great and wonderful thing.

If they can get the christians on board with Mitt, and it looks like they are trying, then this guy might actually have a shot at the nomination.

A president Romney would mean my departure from the USA. I just couldn't take it.

99. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #94949 by USA_Limey on December 7, 2007 at 3:23 am

I watched the speech twice last night.

In a way I thank him for it; at least I am in no doubt now that with Romney as President I as an atheist in America will become a second class citizen.

Quote: "any person who has knelt in prayer to the Almighty, has a friend and ally in me"

So where does that leave us?

I'm wondering what the equivalent of the yellow star will be that I will have to sow on my clothing.

100. Sherri Shepherd needs to go away now

Comment #94609 by USA_Limey on December 6, 2007 at 3:49 am

Whoopi Goldberg is pretty smart; the problem is she intentionally dumbs herself down in this forum because she is too steeped in left wing group politics.

She simply can't bring herself to look her fellow black presenter in the face and say, "no that's wrong. You need to read a book".