Comments by irate_atheist

1701. What he wishes on us is an abomination

Comment #125323 by irate_atheist on February 11, 2008 at 8:25 am

Bearded wonder continues to defend the indefensible:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7239409.stm

Classic line in the article:

The Archbishop of Canterbury has defended his decision to speak on Sharia law, saying it was his duty to speak on behalf of other religions.

So, Cap'n Rowan, does that include Mormons? Scientologists? Pastafarians? Followers of Thor?

1702. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #125177 by irate_atheist on February 11, 2008 at 3:29 am

I wouldn't want to pay his electric bill.

1703. Conservative Rabbis to Vote on Resolution Criticizing Pope's Revision of Prayer

Comment #125168 by irate_atheist on February 11, 2008 at 3:23 am

Stupid is, as stupid does...

1704. Charles Simonyi Professorship in the Public Understanding of Science

Comment #125161 by irate_atheist on February 11, 2008 at 3:18 am

As one chapter in life closes, another opens.

I hope you enjoy your time and freedom, even more so than you have done so far.

1705. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123951 by irate_atheist on February 8, 2008 at 2:47 am

178. Comment #123948 by Tyler Durden -

Stop, please, my sides are splitting :)

Wait three days and you'll be fine again.

1706. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123940 by irate_atheist on February 8, 2008 at 2:28 am

176. Comment #123933 by Tyler Durden -

Aye, but he's brutal when it comes to dealing with crosses :)

You hit the nail on the head with that one.

1707. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123929 by irate_atheist on February 8, 2008 at 2:14 am

138. Comment #123805 by keith -

I understand that Jesus, playing upfront, is good in the air.

Keith, I'm sorry but you're mistaken. In actuality he's a goalkeeper. As the saying goes: Jesus saves! But Shearer scores on the rebound...

1708. Christopher Hitchens Debates Timothy Jackson

Comment #123512 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 9:30 am

56. Comment #123186 by krisking -

Simply being part of a religious system, does not make you a true christian.

Ah, yes, the 'no true Scotsman' fallacy, yet again.

I'll refer back to your post whenever anyone else looks for an example of this particular debating error.

(It really is too easy pulling apart the theist nonsense, isn't it?)

1709. Christopher Hitchens Debates Timothy Jackson

Comment #123510 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 9:25 am

72. Comment #123509 by RobED -

...never a chore.

1710. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #123507 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 9:22 am

1845. Comment #123496 by Peacebeuponme -

Oh, yes, they are liars as they espouse untruths. THe particular individual may not know or understand that they are peddling falsehoods. Hence my schizophrenia analogy.

1711. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123490 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 9:01 am

112. Comment #123467 by Phoenix42 -

I'll take the beer, but bollocks to the parrot. I don't want one of those shitting down my back.

1712. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #123486 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 8:57 am

1833. Comment #123482 by Peacebeuponme -

Even more to the point, schizophrenics can discuss their delusions, but the doctor knows they're not real.

1713. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #123483 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 8:51 am

1830. Comment #123477 by Tyler Durden -

Argumentum ad desperandum?

1714. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #123480 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 8:48 am

1829. Comment #123476 by Kardashovel -

a discussion with Atheists inevitably becomes another episode of "show me some evidence", and "I'll accept only scientific evidence,...

Yes, well, that's because if it doesn't stand up to scrutiny when exposed to scientific methodology it's not evidence. It's heresay, anecdote, wishful thinking, ignorance of the facts or just plain bullshit.

That you're gullible and ignorant enough to fall in love with one particular pile of bullshit, is your failing. That we don't, is to our credit.

1715. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #123475 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 8:39 am

1824. Comment #123460 by Kardashovel -

Actually me old mucker, you're outnumbered. There's more people that don't believe in your god than do. The same goes for any religion. We just go one god further than some other people. I doubt that many people understand the full Navier-Stokes equations either, but their ignorance doesn't make the equations wrong.

1716. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123464 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 8:14 am

110. Comment #123461 by Phoenix42 -

Now, I wonder what he studied for his Doctorate?

1717. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123451 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 7:50 am

Update on the madness of Rowan Williams. The 'bish is being slated left right and centre for his comments here: http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4246

1718. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123445 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 7:29 am

102. Comment #123426 by Johnny O -

I have lost all respect for the man after this insanity. Next thing, I'll have to refer to him as a...well, you all know what.

1719. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123418 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 6:01 am

And in other news, half-witted dunderhead speaks:

If anyone wonders why I don't want so-called 'moderate' belief tolerated, just look at what its leaders would do if left unchecked:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7232661.stm

Madness, complete fucking madness.

1720. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123415 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 5:48 am

err..

1721. Apologetic billboard replaces atheistic sign

Comment #123406 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 5:34 am

er...you all know what I'm obliged to post about this sort of activity...

1722. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123347 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 2:37 am

Dear Sir,

I don't wish to be rude, but we've heard it all before, and you can fuck off.

Yours faithlessly,

Irate_Atheist

1723. Ad 'likely to offend gay people'

Comment #123341 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 2:17 am

Oblig: Fucktards.

1724. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #123338 by irate_atheist on February 7, 2008 at 2:09 am

568. Comment #123145 by Quetzalcoatl -

Do I get an extra lump of sugar in my tea?

1725. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122963 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 9:45 am

537. Comment #122954 by hes2@usa -

Irate-Atheist,
I have been thinking this since our first interactions. Your avatar humors me. Good choice of pics.

I hope nothing I do humors you. And I wouldn't call what you do 'thinking'.

1726. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122956 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 9:41 am

536. Comment #122953 by steveroot -

Splitter!!!!

Quetz will be severely narked at you.

1727. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122951 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 9:39 am

530. Comment #122946 by hes2@usa -

3-1F Diabetic Charlie

4-1 Two Headed Sex Beast

20-1 Mrs Boothroyd's Holiday Dancer

1728. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122944 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 9:34 am

525. Comment #122939 by hes2@usa -

And this part of the conversation thread has been intelligently designed by . . .

...not you.

1729. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122936 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 9:31 am

487. Comment #122885 by steveroot -

Include me there. BTW, Irate, you are showing admirable restraint here. I would have expected:
"Fucktard, anyone?"
Steve

Well, I'm not one to point out the obvious to those that can make their own informed decisions. Besides which, being a generous kind of guy, I thought I'd leave an opportunity for someone else.

1730. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122926 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 9:24 am

509. Comment #122921 by hes2@usa -

Ok, ok, so I am what you would call a Fundamental, Bible-believing, Christian

Oh, well, fuck your luck then.

1731. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122895 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 9:02 am

Has anyone got a Hitchens Enema Kit(TM) handy?

1732. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122886 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 8:56 am

484. Comment #122882 by wednesdayguevara -

How do you stand it? How are you not punching walls and bashing your heads bloody against your keyboards?

I am. My posting to show the lies told by him vis a vis Einstein was for the benefit of those who are literate and can read. Certainly not for the benefit of this particular half-wit.

1733. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122865 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 8:30 am

462. Comment #122852 by hes2@usa -

Anthony Flew: There were two factors in particular that were decisive. One was my growing empathy with the insight of Einstein and other noted scientists that there had to be an Intelligence behind the integrated complexity of the physical Universe.

When this is compared with the words of the man himself, we can clearly see that Flew is either a liar or he is being misquoted. After all - Flew still has to explain the existence of God, which he singularly fails to do. It is the 'ultimate cop-out'.

If you prefer the lies or misrepresentation of a deluded individual to the insight of one of the greatest minds in science, well, that's your problem.

By the way some, of us here find the idea that you have a 'PhD in Biblical Studies' risible. I happen to be one of them.

1734. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #122856 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 8:21 am

1790. Comment #122842 by Epinephrine -

My point was that 'respect of beliefs' is pretty much a one-way street from the perspective of many religiites. Thy would rather profess respect for a completely conflicting set of beliefs eg. Christianity/Islam, than none at all.

1735. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122851 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 8:14 am

453. Comment #122841 by hes2@usa -

There were two factors in particular that were decisive [in changing my mind]. One was my growing empathy with the insight of Einstein and other noted scientists that there had to be an Intelligence behind the integrated complexity of the physical Universe. The second was my own insight that the integrated complexity of life itself

“It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it.” -Albert Einstein, in a letter March 24, 1954; from Albert Einstein the Human Side, Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman, eds., Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1981, p. 43.

“As the first way out there was religion, which is implanted into every child by way of the traditional education-machine. Thus I came " though the child of entirely irreligious (Jewish) parents "; to a deep religiousness, which, however, reached an abrupt end at the age of twelve. Through the reading of popular scientific books I soon reached the conviction that much in the stories of the Bible could not be true. The consequence was a positively fanatic orgy of freethinking coupled with the impression that youth is intentionally being deceived by the state through lies; it was a crushing impression. Mistrust of every kind of authority grew out of this experience, a skeptical attitude toward the convictions that were alive in any specific social environment-an attitude that has never again left me, even though, later on, it has been tempered by a better insight into the causal connections. It is quite clear to me that the religious paradise of youth, which was thus lost, was a first attempt to free myself from the chains of the ‘merely personal,’ from an existence dominated by wishes, hopes, and primitive feelings. Out yonder there was this huge world, which exists independently of us human beings and which stands before us like a great, eternal riddle, at least partially accessible to our inspection and thinking. The contemplation of this world beckoned as a liberation, and I soon noticed that many a man whom I had learned to esteem and to admire had found inner freedom and security in its pursuit. The mental grasp of this extra-personal world within the frame of our capabilities presented itself to my mind, half consciously, half unconsciously, as a supreme goal. Similarly motivated men of the present and of the past, as well as the insights they had achieved, were the friends who could not be lost. The road to this paradise was not as comfortable and alluring as the road to the religious paradise; but it has shown itself reliable, and I have never regretted having chosen it.” - Albert Einstein, Autobiographical Notes, Chicago, Illinois: Open Court Publishing Company, 1979, pp 3-5.

“The idea of a personal God is quite alien to me and seems even naïve.” - Albert Einstein in a letter to Beatrice Frohlich, December 17, 1952; Einstein Archive 59-797; from Alice Calaprice, ed., The Expanded Quotable Einstein, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2000, p. 217.

“Why do you write to me ‘God should punish the English’? I have no close connection to either one or the other. I see only with deep regret that God punishes so many of His children for their numerous stupidities, for which only He Himself can be held responsible; in my opinion, only His nonexistence could excuse Him.” - Albert Einstein, letter to Edgar Meyer, a Swiss colleague, January 2, 1915; from Alice Calaprice, ed., The Expanded Quotable Einstein, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000, p. 201.

“It is quite possible that we can do greater things than Jesus, for what is written in the Bible about him is poetically embellished.” - Albert Einstein; quoted in W. I. Hermanns, "A Talk with Einstein," October 1943, Einstein Archive 55-285; from Alice Calaprice, ed., The Expanded Quotable Einstein, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000, p. 215.

“I received your letter of June 10th. I have never talked to a Jesuit priest in my life and I am astonished by the audacity to tell such lies about me. From the viewpoint of a Jesuit priest I am, of course, and have always been an atheist. Your counter-arguments seem to me very correct and could hardly be better formulated. It is always misleading to use anthropomorphical concepts in dealing with things outside the human sphere�quot;childish analogies. We have to admire in humility the beautiful harmony of the structure of this world as far�quot;as we can grasp it. And that is all.” - Albert Einstein, to Guy H. Raner Jr., July 2, 1945, responding to a rumor that a Jesuit priest had caused Einstein to convert from atheism; from Michael R. Gilmore, "Einstein's God: Just What Did Einstein Believe About God?," Skeptic, 1997, 5(2):62.

Would you care to reconsider your position?

1736. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #122840 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 7:54 am

1785. Comment #122832 by Epinephrine -

But if they came to your wedding and you specified 'no religious symbols' on the invitation, I somehow doubt they would respect your wishes and beliefs...

1737. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #122815 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 6:30 am

1778. Comment #122760 by Richard Morgan -

May I offer up, not my thoughts, but someone else's (one we are familiar with, but should remind ourselves of from time to time):

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opiate of the people

You illustrate a case in point.

1738. Science Debate 2008

Comment #122804 by irate_atheist on February 6, 2008 at 5:43 am

5. Comment #122616 by Double Bass Atheist -

Anybody care to add a few more???

Q. Are you, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?

1739. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122414 by irate_atheist on February 5, 2008 at 8:42 am

378. Comment #122411 by Peacebeuponme -

Oh, maybe the trillions and trillions of years God existed before He spoke us into existence.
Why do you think that?

Aren't you stretching the definition of the verb, 'to think', a bit far?

1740. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122410 by irate_atheist on February 5, 2008 at 8:38 am

372. Comment #122404 by hes2@usa -

I know - it's a kind of 'hangman' with acronyms.

I'll start by suggesting the Press Complaints Commission.

Am I close?

1741. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122406 by irate_atheist on February 5, 2008 at 8:34 am

363. Comment #122392 by hes2@usa -

Breathtaking inanity.

1742. God the psycho

Comment #122295 by irate_atheist on February 5, 2008 at 6:36 am

65. Comment #122292 by annabanana -

And irate_atheists posts always correspond wonderfully with his avatar...

I'd never really considered that my posts corresponded with reality, let alone a fictional construct of myself. I actually look like my avatar. Except for the fact that I'm not a priest and in no way resemble Ardal O'Hanlon.

1743. God the psycho

Comment #121866 by irate_atheist on February 4, 2008 at 9:19 am

31. Comment #121862 by Phoenix42 -

What did Peter Tatchell think of Ian McKellen's approach?

Well, I'm guessing he turned him down.

*coat ->

1744. God the psycho

Comment #121864 by irate_atheist on February 4, 2008 at 9:15 am

29. Comment #121856 by Incredulous -

Theists can be like horny young men caught masturbating; they hate to admit the pointlessness of their solitary activities

Don't knock masturbation - it's sex with someone I love.- Woody Allen

1745. There Are No Ghosts in Your Brain

Comment #121858 by irate_atheist on February 4, 2008 at 9:08 am

76. Comment #121743 by LorienRyan -

I think keeping atheism free of baggage cannot be separated from those who espouse atheism, once one is known as an atheist one's rationality is immediately called into question, as we have seen so many times on this site, by theist/trolls. Yep, it's going to be a battle.

Fuck 'em. Bring it on, I say. After all, if they think Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot were atheist role models, shouldn't they be a bit more wary of us?

1746. Atheists to celebrate at Darwin Day in Coconut Creek

Comment #121850 by irate_atheist on February 4, 2008 at 8:47 am

3. Comment #121789 by jakelovatto -

I saw that particular documentary. It should have been title 'The Problem With Rod Liddle'. A pathetic collection of wilfully ignorant tripe.

1747. My critics are wrong to call me dogmatic

Comment #121848 by irate_atheist on February 4, 2008 at 8:40 am

52. Comment #121801 by Artful_Dodger -

Pathetic as an analogy I presume?

Not really:

1) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scottish-Fairy-Belief-Fifteenth-Nineteenth/dp/1862321906

2) http://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Fairies.htm

3) http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/f/fairies.html

4) http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/photos/cottingley.html

Fairies are the perfect analogy. What is pathetic is believing in the absurd despite all contrary evidence.

1748. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #121779 by irate_atheist on February 4, 2008 at 6:28 am

207. Comment #116546 by hes2@usa -

...when we both meet the God of the sky...

Er...precisely which god? Thor, Baal, Jehovah, Ra, Quetzlcoatl, Loki, Krishna, Allah or Saturn, to name but a few. You'd better have picked the right one - get it wrong and he'll be mightily pissed off with you.

1749. There Are No Ghosts in Your Brain

Comment #121740 by irate_atheist on February 4, 2008 at 4:03 am

64. Comment #121720 by LorienRyan -