151. 'God Is Not a Moderate'

Comment #21526 by CruciFiction on February 9, 2007 at 7:09 pm

Sam Harris and Reza Aslan participated in a debate on "Reason and Religion", 1/25/2007, at Los Angeles.

C-Span BookTV video:
http://www.booktv.org/ram/feature/0207/btv020407_4.ram

Info:
http://www.booktv.org/feature/index.asp?segID=7890&schedID=475

152. Panel discussion on atheism where no atheists are included

Comment #21494 by CruciFiction on February 9, 2007 at 12:55 pm

And in the same week as this perverse Paula Zahn program, an atheist on YouTube has had his entire account deleted, including all his videos, SOLELY on the basis that he recently posted one video that showed actual verses from the Quran in illustrating the violence it contains -- no additiional commentary whatsoever!

His story:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fRPVsamLaKk

Digg it here:
http://digg.com/videos/people/Popular_YouTube_atheist_BANNED_for_posting_video_critical_of_the_Koran#c5164694

He has reposted the "offending" video at another account here:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NEHAn36Hq9w

(See it before they delete that account too!)

153. 'God Is Not a Moderate'

Comment #21359 by CruciFiction on February 8, 2007 at 10:22 pm

Sam is playing rougher now (which is great). After Sullivan's last piece, I wondered how Sam might counter such a heap of inane nonsense. And I'm delighted with how he did. As far as I'm concerned, this last one is filled of the stuff that makes Sam the master he is.

I found his last 2 paragraphs to be just exceptionally profound. Just, wow! If only people would seriously contemplate such a world. Like John Lennon, I wonder if they can.

154. Panel discussion on atheism where no atheists are included

Comment #21334 by CruciFiction on February 8, 2007 at 7:30 pm

CNN has rescheduled the Dawkins piece for Monday, 2/12.

Heh, Darwin Day!

155. Panel discussion on atheism where no atheists are included

Comment #21305 by CruciFiction on February 8, 2007 at 3:35 pm

Hopefully the piece is only postponed to another evening. Anyway, it could prove to be best that way because in the same timeslot as Zahn tonight is the season premiere of Survivor, which always draws in the most viewers and gets huge ratings.

156. Panel discussion on atheism where no atheists are included

Comment #21252 by CruciFiction on February 8, 2007 at 8:56 am

In my opinion, there is no better qualified and astute person in the world to represent atheists, their plight and their cause, than is Richard Dawkins.

157. Panel discussion on atheism where no atheists are included

Comment #21163 by CruciFiction on February 7, 2007 at 8:29 pm

At the end of Paula Zahn's show tonight, she said that in response to the MANY THOUSANDS of letters they've received regarding last week's show on discrimination against atheists, that they will be covering it again tomorrow (Thursday) with "possibly the world's most famous atheist, Richard Dawkins". She also said last week's show has turned out to be "the most controversial program we ever did".

158. Panel discussion on atheism where no atheists are included

Comment #21063 by CruciFiction on February 7, 2007 at 1:19 pm

Many of us who emailed complaints about this program have received this unassociated reply from CNN:

=================================================
Dear I-Reporter,

On behalf of CNN, please accept our sincere thanks for your I-Report submission during our memorial coverage of the tragic death of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. Thanks to the many submissions from our viewers, our coverage carried the personal touch that came from his vast and personal outreach to his many fans. Our programming effort was a huge success, and you are part of the reason for that.

Again, we sincerely thank you and hope you will continue to send relevant submissions to us at http://www.cnn.com/exchange/ireports/topics/

Best wishes,

CNN Public Information
=================================================

So what's up with that?!?

159. Panel discussion on atheism where no atheists are included

Comment #20815 by CruciFiction on February 6, 2007 at 5:17 pm

Damn it! We've been "SHUT UP" for decades now. But no longer. They WILL hear us.

160. Atheist Rap: Extian, The Verse from Atheist Nation Pt III

Comment #20687 by CruciFiction on February 5, 2007 at 7:17 pm

Very exciting to see rational thought breaking into yet another segment of US society. Much more is needed for this superstitious nation of fantasy-loving nitwits.

161. 'God Is Not a Moderate'

Comment #20625 by CruciFiction on February 5, 2007 at 7:23 am

Update 2/5:

Andrew Sullivan's reply:

http://time.blogs.com/daily_dish/2007/02/faith_unchosen.html

162. 'God Is Not a Moderate'

Comment #20473 by CruciFiction on February 2, 2007 at 9:15 pm

Sullivan to post reply on Monday (2/5).

http://time.blogs.com/daily_dish/2007/02/responding_to_s.html

163. Neil deGrasse Tyson - Death by Black Hole

Comment #20070 by CruciFiction on January 31, 2007 at 8:38 am

The Daily Show segment with Dr. Tyson can be viewed here:

http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/index.jhtml?ml_video=81508

(following an advertisement)

164. Blashpemy Challenge Interview

Comment #20060 by CruciFiction on January 31, 2007 at 7:29 am

There are many ongoing debates now taking place at the ABC Nightline forum for this program that could use more valuable input.

http://forums.go.com/abcnews/Nightline/forum?start=0&forumID=15&byThread=true

165. Blashpemy Challenge Interview

Comment #20056 by CruciFiction on January 31, 2007 at 7:22 am

["This is such a petty project, it does little but undermine the intellectual argument for atheism." ~ toaldingham]

It's going to require assaults of EVERY kind in order to inflict real and significant damage on these dangerous and ancient superstitious beliefs. "Intellectual arguments" alone are no more effective than pissing on a fire.

"It is impossible to reason someone out of something that he did not reason himself into in the first place." — Jonathan Swift

Ridicule does indeed have its place in this global fight, as to which many living and dead intellectuals themselves have attested:

"Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is the mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus."-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Francis Adrian Van der Kemp July 30, 1816

166. 'God Is Not a Moderate'

Comment #19908 by CruciFiction on January 30, 2007 at 3:39 pm

re: Sam's response of 1/29

While I too, had wanted to see Sam tear some particulars of Sullivan's ridiculous arguments to shreds, he seems to have taken an alternate track. He's delivered to Sullivan, a kind of primer on critical thinking and that which actually constitutes reality. In this vein, I don't think of his reply as being weak at all. Perhaps Sam feels this approach will yield better results (understanding) than the typical back-and-forth nitpicking at particulars. While I remain doubtful of his approach, I'm prepared to be pleasantly surprised by Sullivan's next reply. It will be interesting. We shall see.

167. 'God Is Not a Moderate'

Comment #19315 by CruciFiction on January 26, 2007 at 7:48 am

On his continuing tirade over "truth", inasmuch as he sees it, Sullivan tries to take another swipe at Harris from outside the debate:

http://time.blogs.com/daily_dish/2007/01/in_my_own_langu.html

However, I don't know what the hell he's trying to say here -- that is, something rational within the realm of reason. ???

168. 'God Is Not a Moderate'

Comment #19237 by CruciFiction on January 25, 2007 at 5:24 pm

"Similarly, mathematics can achieve a proof that has no interaction with the physical world. It may even be the closest to divine truth that human beings can achieve." ~ Sullivan

WTF?!?! What kind of "mathematics" is that? Because mathematics has demonstrated, for example, that a multi-universe is plausible, how does that make it "closest to divine truth" as opposed to just opening a new door to what may indeed prove to be physical reality? What happened to the revelation of divine truth that the earth is at the center of the universe? Heh, divine truth indeed. Sullivan needs a checkup, from the neck, up.

169. 12 Year Old Girl Prodigy Paints Pictures of God

Comment #18752 by CruciFiction on January 22, 2007 at 6:48 pm

Does resemble the 'real' Jesus here:

http://www.mrdeity.com

170. Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling' Theory

Comment #17979 by CruciFiction on January 17, 2007 at 8:14 pm

Still a funny spoof more than two years later.

171. Discussion of The God Delusion

Comment #17970 by CruciFiction on January 17, 2007 at 7:03 pm

Audio of the November 26, 2006 "Background Briefing" program is available here:

http://odeo.com/audio/3719393/play

172. Open Letter to Rev. John Auer

Comment #16846 by CruciFiction on January 9, 2007 at 7:02 am

Oh, BTW, religious institutions now own more than 20% of the privately owned land area in the whole of the US. A tremendous strain on the American people who must subsidize this shortfall of billions of dollars in tax revenue.

173. Open Letter to Rev. John Auer

Comment #16845 by CruciFiction on January 9, 2007 at 6:57 am

Beth:

You said "...he sought to ban religious organisations from having to pay property tax..".

Religious institutions have been exempt from paying taxes in the US since 1913. I suspect you meant to say that he sought to repeal the exemption religious organisations now enjoy.

174. Open Letter to Rev. John Auer

Comment #16798 by CruciFiction on January 8, 2007 at 8:53 pm

"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own." - Thomas Jefferson

175. The Nodder

Comment #16772 by CruciFiction on January 8, 2007 at 3:31 pm

What kind of bastard god is it who "intelligently designs" the human body in such a deficient and shabby fashion that simply reading a superb and enlightening book causes such horrific pain and agony?

176. Atheists challenge the religious right

Comment #16110 by CruciFiction on January 4, 2007 at 4:19 pm

In "The Rights of Man" Thomas Paine spoke on the mythology of "tolerance" that is worthy of consideration:

"Toleration is not the opposite of intoleration, but it is the counterfeit of it. Both are despotisms. The one assumes to itself the right of withholding liberty of conscience, and the other of granting it. The one is the pope, armed with fire and fagot, and the other is the pope selling or granting indulgences."

Then there's this quote:

"Toleration is a good thing in its place, but you cannot tolerate what will not tolerate you, and is trying to cut your throat." ~ Froude, James Anthony

177. Pat Robertson: God told me of 'mass killing' in 2007

Comment #16034 by CruciFiction on January 4, 2007 at 8:24 am

>>"God also said, [Robertson] claims, that major cities and possibly millions of people will be affected by the attack, which should take place sometime after September."<<

Well then, I suppose we already have our leading suspect.

178. The Atheist Delusion: a pisspoor presentation

Comment #12231 by CruciFiction on December 11, 2006 at 11:16 am

"BRAVO!", Edward Current.

Brilliant production! And quite the humorous piece for irreligious people of reason who actually feel no great joy that we receive it this way because of the overarching sad state of delusional humanity that underlies it.

179. Richard Dawkins on The Late Late Show with Pat Kenny

Comment #12201 by CruciFiction on December 11, 2006 at 8:20 am

Among one of Richard's great quotes is this:

'It worries me about religion in that it teaches people to be satisfied with not understanding.' ~ Richard Dawkins, [God Under the Microscope]

The audience for that program clearly supports this notion that religionists simply do not want to know and understand the truth. They much rather prefer to remain wrapped in their comforting delusion and utter ignorance. This spreading mindset does not bode well for the future of humankind.