Comments by irate_atheist

2201. Sudan demo over jailed UK teacher

Comment #93046 by irate_atheist on December 2, 2007 at 3:49 am

Steve M -

You couldn't be more wrong about this particular incident if you tried.

2202. Double-checking Dawkins

Comment #93044 by irate_atheist on December 2, 2007 at 3:46 am

Seriously, who gives a shit?

2203. 'Muhammad' teddy teacher arrested

Comment #91430 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 9:29 am

116. Comment #91424 by al-rawandi -

Should we begin killing Mexicans named "Jesus"?

Don't tempt me and my gunboat into such rash actions. We'll have enough trouble fighting our way across the Sudan. By the way, has anyone seen my copy of 'The African Queen'? I was hoping to pick up a trick or two from it.

2204. 'Muhammad' teddy teacher arrested

Comment #91428 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 9:25 am

114. Comment #91422 by Donald -

The days of gunboat diplomacy are gone

Well, that sort of attitude certainly kept us out of Iraq. At least we have reasonable evidence to suppose that this Woman of Mohammedan Disasters (WMD) is actually in the country.

Zeusdammit - I'll buy the damn gunboat myself if I have to. Might bag myself a duck or two for dinner while I'm at it.

2205. 'Muhammad' teddy teacher arrested

Comment #91421 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 9:15 am

Perhaps they'll let her apologize and be done with it. They wouldn't want to be seen as a backward, semi-literate, shit-hole of a nation would they? Oh, OK...

2206. Turkey probes atheist's 'God' book

Comment #91409 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 8:51 am

22. Comment #91407 by CJ22 -

We do have laws against incitement to violence. They should be enough to go on.

Either that or have these nutcases arrested for 'behaviour liable to cause a breach of the peace'.

2207. 'Muhammad' teddy teacher arrested

Comment #91408 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 8:48 am

109. Comment #91405 by epeeist -

It rather begs the question why these fanatics are allowed to call their children Mohammed and get away with it. Perhaps the child's parents should be flogged for naming him after the prophet.

From the article:

A spokesman said the first step was to "understand the rationale behind the charge"...

How pathetic. It's enough to make one nostalgic for the days of gunboat diplomacy.

2208. Turkey probes atheist's 'God' book

Comment #91395 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 8:16 am

9. Comment #91387 by AllanW -

Calm down? I don't think the good lady Beth was suggesting that we burn effigies of the prosecutor, attack Turkish Embassies worldwide or demand the death penalty for those who oppose rationalism.

We leave such displays of lunacy to the other side in this non-debate. It would serve you well to remember who needs to calm down as the screams of the deluded masses yet again try to drown out reason and free enquiry across the world.

2209. Turkey probes atheist's 'God' book

Comment #91384 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 7:38 am

Humanity: (coll. n) Species that strives to make life more difficult for itself and others. Capable of mass slaughter of out-groups and prone to irrational behaviour. The species is believed to have evolved 120,000 years ago. Many scientists are of the opinion that becasue of the species self-destructive behaviour it is bound to die out as a result of it's own actions. See also dodo, collective insanity and delusion.

2210. Islam and the modern world don't mix

Comment #91369 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 7:17 am

25. Comment #91368 by jimbob -

And this in a country that wants to join the EU?

Well, they can certainly fuck off.

2211. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #91367 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 6:58 am

342. C342. Comment #90278 by Ruht -

Further football results are now in.

League division two:

Sheffield Bonanza 1, Dynamo Abadair 4.

Manchester Coherent 2, Jill Morrell 2.

The Scottish division one game between Taste of Dunfermline and Strathcarnage CANNOT BE STOPPED.

2212. How condescension benefits terrorism

Comment #91360 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 6:36 am

9. Comment #91356 by keith -

Well, the rise of the Yen is probably linked to the fall in the dollar which is linked with the USA's trade deficit which is partially linked with inflation in China which is certainly linked with increasing global demand for oil which is potentially linked with the US's unwillingness to sign up to Kyoto which could be seen as tacit ongoing support for Saudi Arabia.

OK, I'll get my coat.

2213. Monotheism was a con from the beginning

Comment #91358 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 6:24 am

24. Comment #91355 by prettygoodformonkeys -

I simply cannot comprehend how the collective masses are able to believe the absurd in the face of all reason. Some do eventually come to their senses, but most do not.

Believing that which is demonstrably false is a delusion. Why is humanity so amenable to this mental illness? And why do many of those who do not share this irrational mindset, respect - nay applaud - those who hold it?

I have gone beyond the point of trying to understand them. I have no desire to 'get inside their heads'. I do not want to be someone who understands the 'faith-head'.

I want their creeds kept away from power and influence wherever practical.

The only long-term solution is to keep their influence away from children, but even then, many will no doubt embrace the ridiculous as they grow-up.

With the inability and unwillingness for humanity to face reality, I am not of the opinion that the prognosis for our species is good.

2214. Mitt the Mormon

Comment #91351 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 5:43 am

May I assume that if he wins, the Presidential Seal will bear the words 'Mormon Mitt Uns'?

2215. Golden Compass author hits back

Comment #91350 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 5:39 am

I would prefer God Delusion III - The End Of Faith.

A much more satisfying trilogy.

2216. My life under a fatwa

Comment #91345 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 5:19 am

40. Comment #91342 by hungarianelephant -

Well, I for one don't expect to see Turkey voting for christmas, if that's what you mean.

2217. Golden Compass author hits back

Comment #91341 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 5:07 am

45. Comment #91336 by Dundee Atheist -

I would prefer 'God is not Great'.

A punchier and more bombastic polemic by far.

2218. Study: Babies can tell helpful, hurtful playmates

Comment #91319 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 3:16 am

30. Comment #90344 by fides_et_ratio -

Anyway, presumably if this discussion continues you'll continue erecting mobile goal-posts,

No. We tend to leave such obfuscation to the experts in the field, as it were.

Perhaps you'd like to engage us in a game of Mornington Crescent?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A769395

Personally, I like to play a recent variation of the game known as 'American Rules'. In this case, the winner is the player that turns up three years late and declares himself the winner. Leicester Square cannot be crossed on the diagonal.

2219. Golden Compass author hits back

Comment #91318 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 2:58 am

41. Comment #91311 by D'Arcy -

These would be censors no longer have the same clout as they used to and are seen for the buffoons they are.

If only they really were...

2220. Tony Blair: Mention God and you're a 'nutter'

Comment #91317 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 2:55 am

Interestingly, a good family friend - a kindly, decent, CofE Canon - refused to vote for his local MP in 2005. This was despite the help he had provided him and his parishioners in the past. His refusal of support was given on the grounds that the MP (a Tory - no habitual anti-Labour voter our good Canon) had voted to support the war. He could not, in all good conscience, vote for anyone who had supported the war.

In fact, the same principle was applied by my in-laws (comprising, at the last count, 2 vicars, 3 preachers and an ex-nun).

At least my in-laws convictions and upbringing lead them to care for the elderly, sick, frail and marginalised. I can't imagine any one them actually bombing people and then saying 'God will be my judge'. They just tell children that a man was nailed to a plank of wood because people - including YOU - are bad. They prefer destroying minds to bodies.

It just goes to show that one man's faith is another man's delusion.

Tony Blair - you are a nutter. Good riddance.

2221. Taking Science on Faith

Comment #91308 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 2:28 am

It is quite clear what he is trying to do. Not a sophisticated 'scientists should question things more' message, but an apologist for faith.

Do the contents of this article come under the heading of 'Honest mistakes or wilful mendacity?'

2222. The absurd world of Martin Amis

Comment #91305 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 2:22 am

Methinks that instead of merely writing and presenting the jokes, Chris Morris has gone one step further and become one.

Shame of you Chris for your self-debasing, delusion tolerating, idiocy.

2223. You can't be moral without God!

Comment #90171 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 8:55 am

Arguments? Around here we prefer evidence and facts.

You make statements of breathtaking inanity such as:

My God is by definition good. If He isn't good than he is something else, not what I call God.

and even more absurdly

Yes, but when I do it, I do it because I think that what I feel right is really right. The other way is that nothing is right, so it doesn't matter what I feel right.

Quite frankly, someone who writes such drivel is not worthy of reasoned debate. After all, around here we know that it's impossible to win a debate with an idiot - they simply can't comprehend when they've lost.

Yours disgustedly,

Irate Atheist

P.S Are you closely related to a certain Prof. McGrath? Your mental processes seem uncannily similar. I think we should be told.

2224. Logical Path from Religious Beliefs to Evil Deeds

Comment #90163 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 8:33 am

177. Comment #79807 by Eric Blair -

How about if he'd said "...leads them more towwards bigotry and tribalism. More likely to condemn their children for what they think and do?"

Would you at least agree with that?

2225. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #90162 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 8:31 am

317. Comment #90159 by Matt7895 -

Has anyone read Hitch's book on Clinton?

No, but I have put money on a horse before.

2226. You can't be moral without God!

Comment #90161 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 8:30 am

143. Comment #90156 by Tibor -

Just when you thought it couldn't get any more dumb, it does.

2227. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #90155 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 8:07 am

314. Comment #90150 by epeeist -

But surely it all hinges on what the definition of the word "is" is?

2228. You can't be moral without God!

Comment #90154 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 8:05 am

140. Comment #90144 by Tibor -

And bang go decades of experimental psychology, anthropological studies and not to mention recent advances in Magnet Resonance imaging of the brain.

Good grief. It's as if someone said to Newton "but the apple is dragged to the earth by small demons! You must know that!".

1) What is a "soul" made of.
2) Where does it "come" from.
3) What does it "do".

2229. Romney's Mormonism is fair game

Comment #90153 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 7:55 am

Hee Haw!

2230. Malaysia firm's 'Muslim car' plan

Comment #90142 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 6:54 am

50. Comment #87818 by Veronique -

What can female suicide bombers hope to achieve by their martyrdom and transport to Paradise?

A good seeing to by dead male suicide bombers?

2231. Make Richard Dawkins a Knight

Comment #90136 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 6:23 am

89. Comment #90080 by Matt7895 -

Perhaps he'd sing the Sex Pistols version.

2232. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #90132 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 6:09 am

And in other news:

http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/071123/340/hokeg.html&e=l_news_dm

2233. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #90131 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 5:55 am

305. Comment #90120 by hungarianelephant -

...putting pictures of his Mum on a grilled cheese sandwich.

I ate that sandwich, thank you very much. I had it with a nice Chianti and some Fava beans.

2234. Religious scholars mull Flying Spaghetti Monster

Comment #90111 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 3:20 am

Q. "Are you the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?"

A. "Fuck off!! We're the Holy Pastafarians!"

2235. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #90108 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 2:17 am

And now some late night soccer results, division Two.

Hull Paragraph 5, Portsmouth Bubblejet 1

Sheffield Hysterical 3, Chunky Norwich 1

Richmond Arithmetic versus Nottingham Marjorie - match postponed due to bent pitch.

2236. Study: Babies can tell helpful, hurtful playmates

Comment #90107 by irate_atheist on November 23, 2007 at 1:58 am

7. Comment #90031 by steve99 -

They must have overheard Bible readings while in the womb.

No. Goddidit.

2237. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #89979 by irate_atheist on November 22, 2007 at 9:34 am

260. Comment #89977 by hungarianelephant -

Well, there's three, but they're only actually one. Saints etc. don't count as gods but can be prayed to for miracles - rather like gods.

Oh - and the one who came down as a man, is god, but was concerned he had forsaken himself towards the end. He was then tortured to death to please himself. It all goes back to a talking snake and a poisonous fruit that wasn't poisonous, apparently.

I hope this clarifies matters for our readership out there.

2238. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #89974 by irate_atheist on November 22, 2007 at 9:02 am

254. Comment #89971 by Ruht -

OK. So if I punch you on the nose I'm just as good a person as if I offer you some of my crisps?

Are you for real or are you just taking the piss?

If the latter - well done, it's been a laugh - if the former, I pity your limitless stupidity and wilful ignorance.

2239. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #89970 by irate_atheist on November 22, 2007 at 8:47 am

Am I allowed to use the hallowed phrase 'breathtaking inanity' on this thread? It does seem rather appropriate...

2240. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #89964 by irate_atheist on November 22, 2007 at 8:32 am

P.S - I'm calling Poe's law on this one before anyone else does.

2241. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #89960 by irate_atheist on November 22, 2007 at 8:29 am

233. Comment #89944 by Ruht -

Latest betting odds:

7/4F Saturn

5-2 Mithra

10-1 Thor

20-1 Red Rum

All other gods are 33-1 bar.

2242. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #89950 by irate_atheist on November 22, 2007 at 8:15 am

228. Comment #89939 by Ruht -

Well, I guess that would make god an indecisive flip-flopper.

But as all gods are man-made, it's a purely hypothetical question and of no real use to anyone.

2243. Richard Dawkins and Alister McGrath

Comment #89262 by irate_atheist on November 20, 2007 at 6:02 am

... what else?

I, for one, can recommend Cadbury's Caramels.

2244. The Transcendental Argument for God

Comment #89260 by irate_atheist on November 20, 2007 at 6:00 am

520. Comment #89256 by Dr Benway -

Ooh, biting, biting...

2245. Richard Dawkins and Alister McGrath

Comment #89257 by irate_atheist on November 20, 2007 at 5:58 am

2500. Comment #89255 by steve99 -

And nobody spotted the edit in your post...

2246. Richard Dawkins and Alister McGrath

Comment #89254 by irate_atheist on November 20, 2007 at 5:55 am

irate_atheist, Steve99 I think our plan is working.

No, no, no. There's no plan. You're making the usual human mistake of seeing a pattern where there isn't one. I still don't see how we can get 2500 posts on this thread.

2247. Richard Dawkins and Alister McGrath

Comment #89248 by irate_atheist on November 20, 2007 at 5:33 am

Steve -

I'm inclined to agree with Peacebeuponme. I'm not entirely convinced that particular tactic would move this thread forward. However, please feel free to expand further on the subject as I may very well be mistaken.

2248. Richard Dawkins and Alister McGrath

Comment #89238 by irate_atheist on November 20, 2007 at 4:44 am

Alas, I have, of late - wherefore I know not - lost all my mirth. To wit - thou can'st not speak of that which yea does not feel. Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?!

2249. Richard Dawkins and Alister McGrath

Comment #89233 by irate_atheist on November 20, 2007 at 4:21 am