101. Public school teacher tells class: 'You belong in hell'

Comment #9139 by Anonymous on November 23, 2006 at 6:44 pm

@Comment #9132 by Anonymous
Oh, and one other thing - atheism is a religion. Technically and logically...

Ahhh, no. Religion is nearly universally defined as "a system of ideas and rules for behavior based on supernatural explanations."

Atheism is nearly universally defined as "a lack of belief in the existence of God or gods."

Both are doctrines, but one is not the other.

102. Public school teacher tells class: 'You belong in hell'

Comment #9132 by Anonymous on November 23, 2006 at 6:08 pm

@Laya (again, oops):

From your point of view, we should give all religions equal say. However, for a Christian, this just isn't possible.

One side of the fence: Religions who believe in works as a way to salvation. Started as a result of man looking for a god, also brought about by the Devil.

On the other: Christianity - Jesus' death on the cross means we depend on grace for salvation. The only true faith, and one which logically has been around ever since Adam, but which came to fruition with Christ (if you don't believe me, read the Bible, with an open mind, as you love telling Christians).

Don't tell me that Christianity ISN'T on the other side of the fence to all other religions. Who is picked on the most? Christians. Who is the usual scapegoat? Christians. Who do we you get annoyed at when beliefs are aired publicly? Christians. Isn't it interesting that no other religion is like that?

Finally, the point of all this: the Christian doctrine teaches that people should go out and make converts of the world. Nothing wrong with 'stuffing convictions down throats'. In fact it's encouraged.

Oh, and one other thing - atheism is a religion. Technically and logically, it's a religion of self, that you are the one who controls your destiny, and that since you 'can think, you are' (look up Descartes).

Please don't use the typical straw men if/when replying to this, which include referencing the Crusades and others. It's just annoying and shows a lack of knowledge and *gasp* scientific proof.

103. Welcome relief in a world full of superstition

Comment #9126 by Anonymous on November 23, 2006 at 5:49 pm

... I've forgotten everything I learned, but... If DNA proves that Jesus never had a father... would that mean he was actually a girl?

kerblimey...

104. Public school teacher tells class: 'You belong in hell'

Comment #9124 by Anonymous on November 23, 2006 at 5:43 pm

Oh, about "American rights". Can someone really say anything they like in a teacher's post in America? :| ... Amazing... So, like, can anyone waltz up to the front of the classroom and say "Jesus sucks, I spit on God, you losers who worship him are ninnies" and enjoy the same indulgence from the school board that this guy seems to be enjoying...?

Do you honestly expect me to believe that you would say "oh you parents who believe in God - why do you fight this Satan-worshipper who laughs at your children? It is his American right to say whatever he likes. Teach your children that God exists at home, and suffer this man's madness during lesson time because it is his American Right." Excuse me, but I can't see you anywhere but at the front of the line waving a pitchfork.

Could you please also tell me why you sound so bitter?

105. Public school teacher tells class: 'You belong in hell'

Comment #9081 by Anonymous on November 23, 2006 at 3:20 pm

>>> Comment #8913 by Mark on November 22, 2006 at 7:02 pm

Hey, you're two protagonists are part of the same belief system, the second forgot to say that it's the "many magical little beings" that do the work for the "massive magical being".

In real-world terms, if a supreme being works through nature you have no scientific proof that denies their existence.

106. Public school teacher tells class: 'You belong in hell'

Comment #9077 by Anonymous on November 23, 2006 at 3:04 pm

The U.S. has lost the war against religious fundamentalism. They should withdraw. Too bad the Britains don't want them back.

107. John Safran vs. The Mormons

Comment #8987 by Anonymous on November 23, 2006 at 4:38 am

"We follow the teachings of a man named Charles Darwin..."

Ahaha, brilliant.

108. Beyond Belief 2006 Videos

Comment #8964 by Anonymous on November 23, 2006 at 2:05 am

Re: Ray and Anonymous, please don't debase yourselves by being the prattling yes-men of Harris and Dawkins. You can respect them without demeaning the intellect of others. Nearly all of the speakers at the conference were insightful and intelligent.

109. Richard Dawkins and the "new atheists" come to America

Comment #8929 by Anonymous on November 22, 2006 at 9:05 pm

It was His duty? Don't recall reading that anywhere in the Bible. He had a system already in place – sacrifice for atonement. He didn't NEED to do it if He didn't want to, but because He loved us, He did!

I don't get what you mean…if you are the one who created the universe then you are pretty much it's ruler by default. So I don't fully understand what this statement: "Then where was the sacrifice? He knew that he was only going to have a 'bad weekend' for your sins".

So love ends here on earth, but hate and torture go on forever in Hell…have you heard of Heaven? Love doesn't end here, it continues into the afterlife. I'm not sure where you got the idea that love just ends hear. There isn't "earthly love" – there is just love plain and simple.

Jesus was showing His love for these people. While they were murdering Him and yelling obscenities, He STILL loved them. And they wouldn't be going to Hell for their crime, they would be going because they rejected God's gift of forgiveness.

I've read the words in those passages. Notice how the people were being… "stubborn", "hostile", "sinful"…I'll use the reference that use. If your child is clearly not listening to you and being hostile and doing harmful things and shows no sadness or reconciliation of his ways, you punish Him don't you? Because that's what a good parent would do. If he wouldn't learn from his lesson, the punishment would get more severe too wouldn't it? These people were willfully sinning and showing absolutely no signs of remorse. As a parent, shouldn't you punish your children? It is the right thing to do isn't it? You admit that there are an ABUNDANCE of love in the Bible and God is described as being the essence of love. Again if you don't want to believe it which is plainly obvious, than don't! But just know that this viewpoint you doesn't hold up with the Bible! God is Love!

"FaithWorks" is the main ministry at my church, so no need to read me the verses. James says that it is hypocritical to be saved and have the love of Christ, but then have no works to help man and show your gratitude to Christ. He uses the example of seeing a beggar and just saying, "Good day! Be clothed in Christ!" and then going on without helping him when you could show love to him by giving him a clothes or something to help him. You can get to heaven by just faith and love in Jesus Christ. But once there, he then judges you according to what you did in life. You will have salvation, but you will see what good you could have done with your time here.

Every choice has a consequence. OK, so you say if people choose to reject God they should get rewarded with just getting blotted out, so they don't have to worry about anything. There is no punishment for rejecting and sinning now, it is just a life of non-existence. This is no type of justice. God is just and He can't go against his nature. For Him to let people off the hook for living selfish, sinful lives is not just.

On the Stalin argument - I made my views on that evident in my last comment "Here is the difference to me. Did Stalin create those people he wants to trust in him and love him? Does Stalin truly love them no matter what they decide? Does Stalin love these people no matter what they do? " You answered no to all of those. God is a yes to all of those. No matter what Bible verse you would take out of context, you can't change that fact! It is illogical to compare God to Stalin.

Yes, sin is paid for by the spilling of a perfect animal. It is innocent. Do you think this act is barbaric? If so, please think rationally about this: we hunt innocent deer just for the fun of it, with some not using it for anything but a trophy. These is no point to compare it to murdering in animal in cold blood.

You made my point sir. "The passages about lopping off body parts was to illustrate the sheer horror of finding yourself being sent to hell." This was an illustration, like you just said. You have been talking as if it were supposed to be literal, at least that is what I perceived. About my Peter question, am I right to take it that you agree with me that Jesus wasn't endorsing and promoting the amputation of limbs.

Again, this is in the context of the tribulation. People will receive the mark of the beast. Judgments will come upon the earth that will cause anguish and pain to those who reject and denounce God and worship the beast. Those are the verses before it that you left out of the comment. God will punish people when they blaspheme and sin openly. Like I said, he is a just God.

I don't know who is twisting the Bible's teachings. The main concern to me is salvation. If people do not believe that salvation is found through Jesus alone, then they are contradicting the Bible, and this is clear. And it doesn't beat around the bush about redemption. That is what I said I thought? They may differ on smaller issues, but on the big one, the major Christian group agrees: Christ alone is our way to redemption.

You aren't forced to pay in church. Yes, it would be nice if you did support it. You are attending and doing things there, so why not help support something you enjoy. You used to HAVE to pay to sit in a pew…money or go. We don't do that. Money or no money, everyone is welcome to hear about God. And I didn't say slavery was condemned. I was saying that we believed it to be bad. The culture had changed to this time…in Biblical times slavery was an EXTREMELY common thing. It wasn't seen as out of the norm, it was a way of life. From what I have read, slaves back then weren't what you seem to be picturing. It wasn't "early America southern whipping boy" type stuff, more like an occupation. The master took care of you with food and shelter and you worked for him like an job. Don't act like I'm giving an OK to slavery nowadays, so don't think that. I'm saying Jesus was pushing the idea that in whatever you do, do it to honor your God in heaven. If you are a slave, than show respect for your master and don't speak evil about him and such. Even Jesus didn't speak harshly to the Devil himself in the desert, so why should we be any different. So no, I'm not sure of a verse that openly condemns slavery. It was a custom in those days in every civilization and not seen as a bad thing by anyone. And Christianity makes us as slaves? We aren't slaves, we are admirers of Jesus. But I guess you can call it "slaves" because I am in love with Christ so I will follow Him. And I love Christ that I WANT to please Him and do His will. You're view of Christianity seems so twisted I would like to know how it got this way. If you really study the Bible, I don't know why you would skip over the multitude of "love" just to see where all the "hellfire" is. Did you begin studying with an open mind, or with a goal in mind to prove your belief correct? If so, than that is probably why you focus on the Hell and Brimstone so much and overlook the love of God which is the majority of the Bible's message by far.

Up until earlier, you knew nothing of Free Methodists. Now you are judging them for twisting the Bible. We didn't. We didn't believe a pew tax or slavery to be right in today's world – would you agree? So please, don't try to make arguments against something you know so little about sir! You accused Randall of doing that when He said he rejected Apollonius even though he didn't know much about Him. Follow your own advice!

P.S. Early Christian's were the ones who were murdered for their beliefs. They were the ones in the coliseums eaten alive by animals and used as human torches in the Emperor's garden. Later the Crusades happened and those were dark, awful years that I regret so very much. Those people were entirely wrong for what they did. To me, it seems you have a kind of hatred towards Christianity and that is saddening to me. I'm sorry that you got to this kind of thinking because it is not true sir! I wish you could see the Bible for what it is! Any unbiased person would tell you the God of Christianity is a God of Love sir! Just read the Bible without presumptions! And by the way, have a good Thanksgiving tomorrow! :-)

110. Public school teacher tells class: 'You belong in hell'

Comment #8865 by Anonymous on November 22, 2006 at 2:46 pm

Our son's middle school history teacher kept sneaking in biblical "references"; we tried to call him on it, his defense was "it's in context with lesson". BS!! We too wish there were Athiest private schools.

111. Beyond Belief 2006 Videos

Comment #8822 by Anonymous on November 22, 2006 at 11:31 am

This was awesome, but I was surprised some of the ignorent people who were there and one took the stand defending god, like that lady! Wow there are some delusional scientists and that is scary, that woman was no scientist of course, I don't remember her name but she was unbelievable delusinonal

112. Beyond belief: In place of God

Comment #8767 by Anonymous on November 22, 2006 at 8:30 am

8704 by John C.
"Well I guess we won't worry about literature, history, art and architecture, music and dance ... need I go on?"


Of course not John, science can explain the faculties or functions of the brain/mind that we have such as the narrative function that I mentioned which is the basis for human artistic endeavor, for story-telling, art etc...it was also this function that created myth and ritual..early man used it to explain his position in his world. Over the years this faculty has evolved..we have more sophisticated works: plays, movies, dance, poetry etc.

It's fascinating to me to read some of Professor Dawkins pieces and feel the poetic in his own writing...science doesn't deny that it only enhances our understanding of it.

113. Atheism, not religion, is the real force behind the mass murders of history

Comment #8701 by Anonymous on November 22, 2006 at 2:58 am

Here it is: dineshjdsouza@aol.com

114. Atheism, not religion, is the real force behind the mass murders of history

Comment #8647 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 10:23 pm

Dinesh D'Souza is the Rishwain Fellow at the Hoover Institution. His new book, "The Enemy at Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11," will be published in January.


I rest my case...what drivel...and as per usual a right wing rewrite of history...yawn

115. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8630 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 9:26 pm

571.


"What I am saying is we need to assign probability to G, rather than assume 0 or 1."

OH MY GOD... I think you are attempting to drive me crazy!!! Of course I might have already arrived at the destination...

Please show me an analylitical method of deriving a probability that God exists, or does not exist. Or you need to admit that such a method does not exist. Which means that proof of G or not G is not currently possible.

116. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8625 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 8:59 pm

564. Comment #8607 by asdf on November 21, 2006 at 8:20 pm

"You are saying that God either does or does not exist and that is it. (you are not even proving that god exists!)"

hat a fucking idiot, typical of those who talk but don't listen. I admit I have a little buzz, so my language might not be political.

My position is that we cannot know one way or the other - and that those making the attempt are equivalent. My proof shows that one or the other is true it is not an attempt to prove one way or the other. God!! One would think some things are obvious.

117. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8597 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 7:53 pm

Comment #8591 by Joad on November 21, 2006 at 7:33 pm

Is that bait? Either you are a parrot or you are learning. Hopefully it is the later.

118. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8590 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 7:33 pm

119. Why there is no God

Comment #8531 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 2:47 pm

This is the instruction: A very fundamental truth in the
basics of reality is that inconsistency proves truth, and
what that means is that events when gathered for the
purpose of accuracy are gathered without there being
subjective editing to make a cohesive and perfect whole.
In any court record one can find several contradictions
given enough witnesses and this is how it is in a reliable
voluminous accounting, In-fact a cohesive perfect
whole would prove the Holy Bible or any voluminous
and objective Multi-book accounting as false.
There are many revelations that have come, from Hindu
to Buddhist to Judaism to Christianity to Islam and to
being Asanas. Now I will say that those of you who have
become gracious by God are called Asanas. Am I saying
you cannot be these other religions? No! I am saying
that these are progressive states of understanding so to
the truly religious there is only pure religion. You are
men and women of God. So if God has made you
gracious I say you are Asanas. Of course you are
followers of Jesus the Christ, Of course you bow in
submission to God(Muslim), Of course you seek
enlightenment(Buddhist) of course you worship The
Eternal Supreme God(Brahmin) So, there is nothing to
take away from you and there is nothing to take away
from the highest point of any truth, which is Truth and
God is absolute Truth.
Is this hidden or is it in plain sight? Isn't the day of
judgement an open day rejected by those who do not
believe? The ones called Atheist do not believe in The
owner of the Sovereign Throne and yet they will see
with terror in their eyes The Truth which they rejected.
Destroying the contents of the universe is at His
command and no one can prevent Him from creating
the likes of it again and He will both destroy this world
and recreate it. Who is He? Lord of All the Worlds "The
Supreme God".
[At this point Asana Bodhitharta prayed again for
guidance and for protection against Satan and all
whispering backbiters]
Have you heard about the Jinn? They are a creation of
spirits that are not like the Angels. The Angels are always
obedient but the Jinn in which Satan is one of, are
capable of disobedience. They are the spirits that play
games with people and people usually think they are
ghost or in some cases they may let someone think they
have channeled some sort of superior consciousness but
in reality they are these sometimes dangerous spirits
called the Jinn. As I said not all Jinn are evil as some
have went the path of the righteous but the ones that are
evil are called demons. Now the reason I bring this to
your attention is because in learning to listen to the
Voice of God you must understand first what is not the
Voice of God. Demons "demand" or suggest but God
only "Commands". To understand a demand as oppose
to a command is a very important key to gaining
spiritual discernment.
The evil spirits will whisper suggestions and demands,
they will make claims of urgency, they will make you
feel like something is unjust or owed to you. They often
whisper things (just below your conscious hearing level)
that are suggestive of you demanding something of
others. They do not have mastery over you but may
dominate you by default of your own lack of authority.
What I am saying is, these spirits may suppress or
oppress you, they may make you evasive and
dumbfounded. They can cause you to feel discontent
and resentment by causing you through demands to
covet possessions or qualities of another.
This is the instruction: The Voice of God directs with
exact authority and control. His Commandments are
worthy to be followed because His Glory commands
respect and awe. He is the Possessor of The Highest
Rank with the Absolute authority to command.
Authority is not required to "demand" therefor it is outlaw
in the spirit world.
You must reflect the attributes of God and reflect the
image of God. It is God that will give you the authority
to command your actions and behaviors and it is those
actions and behaviors that command respect from
others( all praises due to God). When you speak of
accomplishing a thing on the earth say, "God willing",
this is best for you.
The truth is God has sent you someone to teach you
these things. This witness He has sent to you, has a
certain mastery, and what is a master but someone who
is supremely accomplished in a matter and we have
trained him quite well. But, he (Bodhitharta) will not
demand anything of you. So when he is directing you,
know that it is by Command of The Utmost High God.
This is the Command of The Utmost High God: Listen
to the one whom He has sent to you. He(Bodhitharta) is
your friend and his mastership is pure. Any other way
than the way we provide is a perversion.
This is the instruction: Demands cause perversions.
Demands of the flesh cause perversions of the flesh,
consider the way God provided man with the woman in
perfect goodness, this is purity. Now consider when a
man takes another man as he should take a woman, this
is perversity. God provided one version and each
additional version is a per-version. God is Absolutely
Most-efficient, He has provided a way for everything
and a way out of any tempting demand.
This instruction to you is not another version, it is The
Truth. Understand this: No one can go wrong in the
purity of worshiping God in spirit and truth, That is the
first and last way to worship God. Do not take the
prophets and servants of "The God" as God with God or
besides God. There is no God but "The God". There is
no trinity of "gods" that comprise His nature and there
is no reason to violate His command: "The Lord God is
One" Once again it is clear that God has commanded
one way and for man to change the Pure way results in
perversity. The term baptize in the name of The Father,
The Son and The Holy Spirit are no more an indication
of three in one as is the term On earth as it is in Heaven
is an indication of a two in one relation. The word
"Father" means creator, the word "Son" means servant
and the words "Holy Spirit" mean the pure essence that
proceeds from God that unifies the will of the creator
with his servant. This is how God becomes "Father" in
term and This is how servant becomes "Son" in term. In
regards to Jesus The Christ however the term "Son"
happens because of the pure essence that proceeded
from God to cause him to "be". It is the unification of
the Will of God with the will of His Servant by the
power of Gods divine grace and mercy that communion
is achieved.
This is the instruction: Communion with God is not
achieved by the vain denial of things called worldly. So
many so-called religious teachers are creating so much
false righteousness. You are not righteous because you
don't take drugs, smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, play
cards, go dancing or any other so-called worldly
recreation. In-fact these things are no more worldly than
not doing them. There are some who treat there wives
as mothers or worse, as dogs are they righteous? Of
course not. Your Worship of God and Your godly
relationship with others is the criteria for righteousness.
These false teachers tell you to abstain from this and that
and in-fact you should only abstain from your dis-belief
and whatever else the Witness relates to you as
forbidden.
There are some religions that drink blood or use blood
for rituals and they sacrifice some animals for such and
such reasons but this is forbidden to you these are the
false religions of Satan. God has revealed to man with
ritual many practical things like how to properly
slaughter and cook an animal for food, how to clean and
bathe oneself, how to build ships and palaces and even
how to read.
All the rituals of God have been geared to educate man.
For, there is nothing truly that a man can do or not do,
that can take away from or add to the Kingdom of God.
God is All-sufficient in Himself.
The Atheist think they can escape the truth,
Say: Think about it, you sit there with your vast
knowledge (not kidding) and you go around using your
God given creativity and talents and then you enjoy all
the benefit of being human and then arrogantly you
deny your Ultimate Creator. The truth is you can't even
stop something as insignificant as a mosquito from
biting you, and in some cases killing you.
Say: You see how God uses parables to make things
clear. You should be thankful but how can you be
thankful and who can you be thankful to? If there is no
God, then there is no one to be grateful to. There is no
god but God! You are sitting there breathing not
knowing which breath will be your last and after that last
breath you assume it will be all over but don't you know
that the Resurrection is True and you will face the
judgement? Yes, In the end you will be helpless to
thwart off the truth or deny it. Yes, you will be just as
helpless as you are now against a tiny mosquito.
When I speak of Hell to someone, I talk about it to
terrify them, to make them cringe at such an evil place
and change their arrogance into humility and this is why
I speak of Hell. Is it a real place? Yes! But I don't speak
of it to condemn anyone to it, I speak of it to drive them
from that direction, that is what the word "repent"
means, it means to turn back.
This is the instruction: It is predetermined who will go
to Heaven and who will go to Hell. Now, what does
that mean when I say it is already determined in-fact
"predetermined" Is this life about destiny? Is this life
about fate? Is that what I am saying to you? Let's
examine this and see what is the conclusion. What is the
most efficient way for life to proceed? The most
efficient way for any purpose to be reached is to
establish in advance the solution, and cut off or decide
any alternate route for the purpose to be reached to be
an act that is out-law. In other words, God has solved
and we must resolve through the exercise of choice in
making a firm decision and cutting off any alternate
route other than the Will of God, this is the ultimate
bliss and most efficient way. This is the Honest way,
when you go off course of what you purpose(meaning
good purposes) you are out of the Will of God from that
moment and at that moment you are lost in the desert.
The most efficient way then is to turn back(repent) and
get on purpose.
You see, there is no "free" will outside the will of God,
as it will have an expense, so it would be accurate to say
that, "we exercise choice". It is vital that a person restrain
their selection to the God given choices. Let's go back to
the garden and see things a little more clearly. God gave
the man and woman a wide selection of fruits with no
consequences and a single restriction of "not exercising
their ability to exercise a choice that was restricted".
Now Satan called the fruit a choice piece of fruit so in
other words a "perfect choice" he said could be made.
This choice would cause one to die which means to
give. Satan said, "You will not die but become like God
knowing good and evil." The fact is when they
disobeyed they did in fact die which means to give, and
what they gave up was their piety and that was all they
possessed that they could give away so they became
naked and ashamed, but God Almighty who is most
merciful forgave them and saved them from waste
which means to become empty. So, instead of wasting
them they were put out into a wasteland or an empty
space. This is most efficient to show what you almost
lost on the inside with what you can see on the outside.
If they had been in a wasteland to begin with, they
would have not known forgiveness, nor would they
appreciate paradise.
This is the instruction: God gave man the ability to
freely choose out of the selection given to him and man
used this handy tool to acquire the capability(which
means "to take") to choose outside the provided
selection. In other words, God did not give man free
choice to obey or disobey. Man took his God given
ability and missed the point(sinned).
God historically works the same continuous way. One
seed eventually becomes the whole tree. You must grow
through the correct sequence if you try to go around the
proper sequence you will miss the point(sin).
Do not go out of sequence and do not miss the point.
You must worship God first and foremost. They say,
"We have a secret, follow us and we will tell it to you
and you will have good health, wealth and knowledge. "
They say "Think Positive, follow the spiritual laws of
the universe". They say all these things but what they
really are saying is break sequence. I am saying "I don't
have a secret, God is Real! Think about God, follow

120. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8517 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 1:48 pm

536. Comment #8514 by Chumly on November 21, 2006 at 1:30 pm

"I'm not that good with anything that looks like a math problem"

Actually what I was doing is binary logic which cannot be manipulated in the same way as algebraic equation. In binary logic one operates on either 1 or 0, true or false. There is no minus (-) operator, the operators include

AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR and probably a few others.

121. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8513 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 1:24 pm

533. Comment #8507 by asdf on November 21, 2006 at 12:42 pm

"We do we often find babies so cute in appearance? Again, we've been programmed to respond to the facial features of babies."


What! Babies just annoy me. Stink and make too much noise. I wonder - just who is the programmer?

BTW the statement G+not(G) is a binary logic statement. G is either true or false, + is the logical "OR" operator. So that the statement yields either (true or not true) or (false or not false) which is always true.

I'm not sure probabilities in a strict sense can be used in this context. How does one assign a probability to the existence or non-existence of God? Also an event can be very improbable but still virtually assured. The probability of tossing a fair coin ten times and obtaining heads each time is kind of remote, unless you toss the coin 10 E10 times then it is very likely a string of ten heads will occur.

122. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8510 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 12:56 pm

Exodus 20:1-17
1. you shall have no other gods before me. Comment: O.K. a little out there but for an Atheist (or agnostic) bearable. An Atheist believes there is no God by default follows this one.

2. You shall not make for yourself an image, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God. Comment: Again a little out there, but an Atheist should have no problem following this one. Even if not who cares?

3. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. Comment: Jesus Christ! This is one I just cannot abide by.

4. Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Comment: I have a hard time with this one also.

5. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. Comment: This one's ok, I like a day off - even the slave gets a day off.

6. Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Comment: This one's ok as long as they're not ass holes.

7. You shall not murder. Comment: Now this one I wholeheartedly agree with, and think should be included in legal systems.

8. You shall not commit adultery. Comment: Probably a good one to follow – improves survivability. Should not be included in legal systems however.

9. You shall not steal. Comment: Agree, I believe in property rights. Should be included in legal systems.

10. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Comment: I agree, I can't stand a liar. Should be included in legal systems.

11. You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Comment: 11??? I guess 1 and 2 should be combined. I don't know about this one. As long as you don't act out on it I'm not sure what the problem is. And what was that about slaves?? Does this imply that slaves could be legitimate and property of another. I guess this is one reason I'm agnostic I don't particularly like this one.

123. Why there is no God

Comment #8500 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 12:10 pm

Oh my..!!

I just had a vision of Jesus. He said that Asana is an infidel and a tool of satan.

124. Why there is no God

Comment #8498 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 12:02 pm

Asana - "You might want to reconsider telling people you have atheistic values as if that is something to be proud of. "

Me - You might want to reconsider telling people you are a Christian as if it is something to be proud of, linking yourself to a history of bloodshed, torture, cruelty, heartlessness and general apathy towards the feelings of fellow humans of all races or sex's.

125. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8482 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 11:19 am

Just did, but dont need to considwe a gods that there is no evidence for, or would you like to prove the chocholate demon is incorrect.
Educationally deprived - ha! if only you knew!

good by mr strange logic

126. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8480 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 11:12 am

519. Comment #8476 by asdf on November 21, 2006 at 11:03 am

My God are you educationally deprived? You make the assertion not(G). I agree if one makes an assertion one should at least attempt to prove it. I am proudly agnostic and proved it's validity now prove yours.

127. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8478 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 11:07 am

Anonymous (presumably curious)
What shit is that? Now REALLY prove theism is true or shut up. What evidence do you have for your beliefs. Atheism is only faith in the sense that we dont believe in chocolate teapot demons. Quite different from belief in a creator really (and there are so many wrong ones to choose from as well)

BTW Pi=iCRT therefore you are wrong!

128. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8474 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 11:01 am

516. Comment #8466 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 10:45 am
I can trivially prove my position.

Theorem

Either God exists or God does not exist

Proof:

Let G=God exists
Let not G=not God exists

G+not(G)=True

Therefore my position is true.

Now as my grand pappy used to say either sh*t or get off the pot. Admit atheism is a faith or prove it's true.

129. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8466 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 10:45 am

Curious, there is no positive evidence for a god. Disbelief until proven otherwise is the only sensible position. That is still true regardless of your personal view of the alternatives (which are at least testable) The burden of proof most definately is on you. Or do you blindly follow the spagetii monster?

130. Dawkins Delusion (3rd article, Same Stupid Title)

Comment #8428 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 7:38 am

And all organisms are in transition - every fossil is a transitional specimen.

131. Dawkins Delusion (3rd article, Same Stupid Title)

Comment #8425 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 7:34 am

astralcat,

Evolution is well supported. Mainstream science accepts common ancestry, not just because of the fossil evidence but because it explains so much in biology.

Without presupposing one model of a family tree to understand the natural order of living organisms it is possible to map out relationships between them with regard to completely different systems. For example, take comparative anatomy - Darwin's primary evidence. Map out the names of all living things placing those with the most similar anatomical features closest to each other, working from the simplest to the most complex in a nested heirarchy. Then take biochemical relationships and draw another diagram, again placing organisms that are most biochemically similar closest together. Do the same with embryology - another independent discipline. All these lines of evidence reveal identical nested heirarchies supporting the theory of common ancestry. Don't presume that these systems have been distorted to fit a handed-down Darwinian 'family tree' model. That simply isn't how science works.

132. How Full Is Your Quiver?

Comment #8397 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 5:57 am

FollowTheGourd - Illiterate peasants churning out litters for the cause is not new. That's why many religions shun birth control, as those dictating from the executive offices need the money and know full well that getting kids hooked is the key to addiction.

The USA does not educate the poor as it demands a ready supply of pawns from that social class to fill the demands of it's hegemonic military. John Kerry made a reference about that a couple of weeks ago which upset people.

My question is why is everything taboo? Why can't we say what is?

133. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8368 by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 at 3:30 am

493
"Believers........[live] in a parallel universe where truth is not important"

Not so. In fact its only believers who can subscribe to the notion that truth can be known.
Charles Darwin wrote, "With me the horrid doubt always arises whether the convictions of mans mind, which has been developed from the mind of the lower animals, are of any value or at all trustworthy".

Since mans mind is the product of millions of random errors and his thoughts are nothing more than chemical processes it would seem that the naturalist has no basis for truth

134. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8315 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 9:10 pm

stardust (#476) said:
"Dawkins gives himself the airs of the emperor who wore no clothes. I get disgusted when atheists such as Dawkins use religious terms such as "immoral". If you are going to be an atheist and puff yourself up as a "great mind" at least be consistent with your philosophy. There can be no "evil" or "immoral" actions against people. There is no ultimate purpose and there are no moral standards in this life according to atheism. Be consistent!!! Anything should be acceptable because we are basically machines that have evolved from nothing. Act like one, don't get so outraged over murder. Murder cannot be wrong as there is no right or wrong with atheism, right:)!!! Oh, and one other thing, how does science explain something from nothing? Sounds like a fairy tale to me."

How do you explain where morality comes from, stardust? The bible, which is a mass of violence, murder, rape, genocide, and slavery? This is why morality is not inconsistent with atheism: morality is prescribed behavior, not the worship of supernatural power.

Religious morality is far inferior to atheist morality. Atheist morality is absolute, while religious morality demands that you be in a certain place in a certain time (in a culture, while the religion is predominant) to be moral.

135. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8277 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 7:46 pm

I'll prove my position.

Either God exisists or he does not.

X+(not X)=true

If an atheist cannot prove his position then it is simply faith. QED

136. How Full Is Your Quiver?

Comment #8207 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 4:00 pm

Re: Malcolm, comment #8185

If only it were that simple. Even with a number of "losses" within families of that size, they still outnumber us. And, at the same time, low education and income don't necessarily mean that their children won't survive long enough to spread the meme. My only hope is that this idea doesn't go very much further than it has so far. I shudder to think of the harm it might cause!

137. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8170 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 2:58 pm

curious said:
"All y'all Atheists don't really have to prove your position, but by not doing so you are just relying on faith. So I guess we can agree your belief is faith based."

Boy, do you guys love putting not believing in god in the same category as believing in him.

By your logic, I must take it on faith that there aren't big, pink tarantulas crawling up my nose. In that sense, I suppose, atheism is a faith based position as much as apinktarantulism is. However, since there is no way to prove or disprove pinktarantulism -- they cannot be measured, they can't be detected by any means -- then saying that apinktarantulism is a faith based position is about as meaningful as saying that baseballs are platitudinous.

138. The Big Question: Why are we here?

Comment #8166 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 2:52 pm

All Hail Wikipedia, the source of all knowledge...of motivated parties who can shout louder and longer than anyone else... ;)

139. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8165 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 2:47 pm

Oooops,

1800's and early 1900's.

140. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8146 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 2:05 pm

"What if I demanded that you prove you "faith" that the flying spaghetti monster does not exist? "

Actually I could probably prove it does.

1. Boil some spaghetti.
2. Add some heated marinara
3. Throw the mixture in the air aim toward an atheist

That would be simply monstrous.

Yours is faith nothing more as you admit you cannot prove it.

141. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8145 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 2:00 pm

433
"First, there is no such thing as an atheist (please, don't capitalise that) based system."

The former USSR, China, Cuba, North Korea, others?

142. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8127 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 1:23 pm

426. Comment #8119 by Phlogiston on November 20, 2006 at 12:58 pm

Dictatorships have a tendency to establish order. Under an Atheist system there would be no "All men are created equal" and in fact genetics would prove that to be not true. An Atheist based system would likely be fascist and very much elitist. With no such thing as men are equal slavery would likely result.

425

"The onus is on the theist to prove that god exists because, well, skepticism is the default position. And unless you think it isn't, why don't you believe that every other god exists beside your own?"

I personally don't have a "god", I don't think the existence is provable one way or the other. I just think it is disingenuous for the Atheist to claim his is a rational belief but not be expected to prove it's true. I guess from your perspective it's just a matter of faith.

143. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8114 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 12:46 pm

420. Comment #8105 by Phlogiston on November 20, 2006 at 12:22 pm


"I don't think I would be going out on a limb to say that atheists also believe killing, rape, stealing, incest, downloading illegal music, etc... are, and always should be, illegal. "

What is the basis for this? If natural selection were to be the basis, then those with stronger survival genetics would be fully within their rights to take from those with weaker ones. What is wrong with rape, it is simply a method of passing on one's genetic code ensuring it's survival.

"Why do we need to prove that he exists? The onus lies with the believers to prove why I should give them 10% of my income and do as they say without question."


421

What is the point of setting up a straw man? No one insists that you give your money away to a church. The theist claims there is a god (x) the atheist claims there is no god (not x), why is it on the theist to prove x?

Many Christians I know believe that for God to reveal himself such that faith is no longer an issue then man would no longer have free will to believe. They do not try and prove God exists they just have faith that he does. The only difference is you have faith he doesn't.

If the atheist is to prove his is not just faith then the onus of proof is on the atheist.

144. Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November...

Comment #8113 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 12:43 pm

@ Alex Bloor

'Could someone enlighten me as to how his daughter's third birthday "reminds us of Jesus" ? I just fail to see any link between the two.'

It's *far* too tempting to consider that question via reference to Jesus' paternity. Does Radio Devon's finest fool suspect himself to be playing Joseph to his daughter's Jesus...?

(I'm glad there's no hell for me to go to.)

145. Atheists: The New Gays

Comment #8108 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 12:32 pm

Philo ... Nice bit of humour about the version 3.0 made me laugh well done.

Honestly though how wrong could we go with Gates as Pres. A non christian wow what a start.. only 4 years. Can't be any worse than the last 4 with the bush wacker.

146. The Big Question: Why are we here?

Comment #8090 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 11:45 am

but (I'm 63) it looks like I'll be disappointed.

Maybe not, and I don't want to give us false hope, but there is reason to believe that we might be hearing from our friends sooner than you might think.

If as expected, the evolutionary process of the universe produced a commonly developed "plane", layer, "reefline" of life, (time and "location-wise), then, oddly enough, we will be in reach of similarly developed life on the other side of our galaxy by Christmass day of this year.

http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-75-1535-10258-10/on_this_day/science_technology/twt

147. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8086 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 11:34 am

Hi racoach, are you replying to me? or somebody else?

I totally disagree with public money being diverted to support a superstition, and I am passionately opposed to seeing "Intelligent Design" sold as science in the public schools.

There are some religious people I would like to peacefully cooperate with, and they're the ones who believe that separation of church and state is as vital to their right to believe privately in their homes as it is to my right to non-belief. I don't have a quarrel with them and would just as soon let them be.

#410 to what point?

Free exchange of ideas is beneficial, especially to those who are open to new ideas. And may the best ideas win!!! ;-)

148. Dawkins's version of the deity does not exist

Comment #8082 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 11:21 am

Quentin apparently thinks my proposed notion of 42,232 gods is frivolous--which is fair--but why is it any more or less frivolous than his notion of one god to answer his questions...God is not an answer--it is ignorance masquerading as knowledge. Taking something for which there is not a (complete) answer-be it free will, the beginning of matter, consciousness, etc and then saying the lack of a (complete) theory as evidence FOR God is utter god of the gaps nonsense....Calling ignorance God is still ignorance- no matter the name given.

Newton could not come up with a theory of how the planets all lined up in a plane...he posited that this was proof of God--turns out we have no need for that hypothesis...

I have on occasion in my professional experience spoken to people that even theists accept as deluded...psychotic people with paranoid delusions-schizophrenics, demented, senile people--they will do anything -bend any logic, ignore any reason- and maintain their delusion-there is no reasoning them out of it...

theists are no different--just generally less obvious and direct is their danger to themselves and others.

149. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8081 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 11:10 am

408

"I think serious criticism of religion should at least be on the table of public discourse."

Why, what would be the point? Which religion should be criticized? Some are more violent in the face of criticism than others.

150. Atheists: The New Gays

Comment #8010 by Anonymous on November 20, 2006 at 7:10 am

I for one welcome our new goggle eyed overlord.