251. For the Love of Christ

Comment #102158 by Don_Quix on December 21, 2007 at 9:07 pm

"If you sin, you better have the courage to bash Jesus' face in!"

The only reason I would wish Christianity were true is so that on Judgment Day I might have the opportunity to do this. Doing so would be worth eternal hellfire. hahah.

252. The Pagan Christ

Comment #102156 by Don_Quix on December 21, 2007 at 8:32 pm

L. Ron Hubbard was alive during my lifetime, and I saw the books he wrote and the miracles he performed while he was still alive. Why would I need to believe in anyone else?

Just kidding ;)

253. Clegg 'does not believe in God'

Comment #101106 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 9:15 pm

Can someone from the US explain something? Is there no (comparative) religious education in public schools in the US of this type?

To the best of my knowledge, and I could be wrong, there are no comparative religion courses, or any kind of religious courses, taught in US *public* schools.

I can only talk about my own personal experience, and it's been a long time since I've been in school, but I can recall no time in the 13 years I attended US public schools that religion was ever mentioned once. I certainly never attended (or even had the option to attend) any kind of philosophical course or humanities course regarding religion while in public school. That was only available to me after I went to college.

While I was in school, it was an extreme faux pas for the faculty to bring up the idea that religion even existed. On reflection, it doesn't seem that they did this because they were trying to prevent students from being "indoctrinated" by religion, but because they were mortally terrified of being accused of "offending" any religion by even mentioning the idea of religion (and thus getting the school board sued and losing their jobs). As a matter of fact, I don't recall ever learning anything about Darwinism either, because I'm sure they were equally terrified that this would get them sued as well.

The political correctness culture has utterly destroyed the US public school system, but it didn't begin recently. It was there many years ago when I attended them. From what I understand, things have only gotten exponentially worse in the American public school systems since then. Now we are lucky if 18 year-old seniors can read and write...much less that they can engage in critical thinking.

This is not to say that private schools don't engage in "religious" education, such as the ubiquitous Catholic schools. But I'm pretty sure we know what kind of impartial "comparative religious education" they are getting ;)

254. Clegg 'does not believe in God'

Comment #101099 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 8:31 pm

My understanding is that a very sizable minority of my fellow countrymen are not believers. That might be also true in America, but no-one knows for sure because it's not respectable to acknowledge your atheism over here.

I've read articles in the mainstream US media claiming that anywhere between 10%-20% of Americans claim "no belief" as their religion. Some of these have cited the US Census as their source, but I have not seen the source of that information directly myself. If that is even remotely close to correct, that means there are between 30-million and 60-million self-professed "non-believers" in the US. This doesn't count people who are uncertain or who, for whatever reason, don't identify themselves as "non-believers".

Granted, there are around 300-million people in the US, but 10% or 20% of 300-million people is still quite a significant number even on the low end. If it's true, it is much larger than many high-profile special interest groups with influential lobbyists in Washington.

255. Clegg 'does not believe in God'

Comment #101090 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 7:47 pm

If this were an American congressman saying this instead of a British MP, it would be headline news and there would already be committee hearings scheduled to sanction him and/or remove him from office.

I commend the guy for being at least partially honest. I hope that a politician can one day make such a statement in America without being immediately nailed to the nearest proverbial cross.

Last month, Mr Blair told the BBC his Christian faith had been "hugely important" to his premiership, but that he had been wary of discussing it in case he was labelled a "nutter".

I also hope that one day this will be the attitude of American presidential candidates, rather than the current assumed requirement of publically televised pandering and self-flagellation before the altar of American evangelicalism.

256. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #101082 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 7:26 pm

First off Mohammad(pbuh) was ejected from makkah and fled for his life by the ruling elite there. they also stripped him of his wealth and caused him to become impoverished. what he did was not highway robbery

I love the story of Robin Hood too!

look i'm tired i have school in the morning i'll deal with this tomorrow

Great. Get some rest and have a good day at school tomorrow. While you're there, try to find some evidence that proves the claims you have been attempting to make here. That's what school is supposed to be for, no? Learning about things that are factual and which are supported by evidence?

257. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #101078 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 7:23 pm

do the buckwheat comments count?

Not at all, buckwheat is quite delicious.

258. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #101061 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 7:11 pm

Rule #1 of being devoutly religious: Whenever your beliefs are threatened, start the ad hominem attacks.

Isn't there a rule against that here or something?

259. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #101051 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 7:03 pm

wrong. agnosticism is a lack of belief. Atheism is the total belief that there is no God or gods.

Wrong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnosticism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism

This isn't Youtube, buckwheat.

260. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #101044 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 6:59 pm

Actually, atheism is simply the LACK of belief in a God or Gods. It isn't a belief system. It's the exact opposite of a belief system.

261. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #101041 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 6:57 pm

i can easily make short work of you all in your atheist beliefs. but i don't think this is what the argument is about

Oh please, by all means, proceed. Seriously.

262. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #101035 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 6:54 pm

so you have to restart your evidence in disproving that Qur'anic verses are not the words of Allah

How about you start by PROVING that Qur'anic verses ARE the words of Allah? It's the responsibility of the person making the claim to provide evidence supporting their claim. It's not the responsibility of the people the claim is being presented to to disprove it.

263. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #101027 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 6:42 pm

Funny how the subject changes so quickly.

264. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #101020 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 6:37 pm

numerical miracles in the Qur'an

I just spoke with Allah, and He pointed me to this website. You were right about the numerical miracles. You have converted me.

http://www.mysticalball.com/

265. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #101015 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 6:33 pm

Oh yes, those evil ZIONISTS. They're out to get everyone XD

266. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #101006 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 6:24 pm

I didn't ask for a definition of what "Muslims believe", I asked for evidence that what you believe is actually true. Just because a lot of people believe something doesn't make it true.

267. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #101002 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 6:20 pm

The Qur'an are the words of Allah given to Mohammad

Evidence, please.

268. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #100999 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 6:17 pm

also a point is that if Hitler was epileptic there would be traces of it in Mein Kampf. there are no traces of epilepsy in Mein Kampf. it's actually considered by many Nazis to be the most beautiful autobiography ever written

269. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #100968 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 5:56 pm

I have to admit, it is pretty refreshing to have someone on here spouting muslim fundamentalist nonsense rather than christian fundamentalist nonsense. Maybe we'll get some new arguments. :)

270. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #100964 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 5:53 pm

Alexander the great was a tyrant and killed innocent civilians. he wasn't just at all. he was also bisexual a megalomaniac a dictator a petty thug and he killed and conquered half of he world to make himself look great

You pretty much just described Mohammad perfectly. If you replace "bisexual" with "pedophile", of course.

271. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #100963 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 5:51 pm

to say that the prophet's companions (who are also among the greatest generals that's ever existed) would lie about the prophet is the same as saying the apostles would lie about jesus. it's absurd. it's also very insulting.

You'll find that most people here don't put much "faith" in what the alleged apostles said about the alleged Jesus.

Also, insulting to who? You? Why are you personally insulted by people typing words on the Internet? That seems kind of absurd.

272. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #100959 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 5:48 pm

To burst your bubble Mohammad is considered to be the greatest leader that's ever graced the surface of the earth.

Considered by...whom exactly? And what type of "leader"? Military, political, religious, moral? All of the above? I know Mohammad flew up to heaven on the back of a magical winged horse and everything, but I'm pretty sure Alexander the Great's military and political accomplishments are widely considered by most scholars (including Muslims) to be the "greatest ever". Not to burst your bubble or anything.

273. Religious Freedom in Military Questioned

Comment #100944 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 5:19 pm

Don't forget that Ron Paul is quite Christian himself...he is certainly a "constitutionalist", but he has let his Christian views influence certain things like his views on abortion and the overturning of Roe v. Wade...

I'm not entirely sold on Ron Paul, and I hadn't seen the article linked above that he wrote. However, regardless of his personal religious views, he does talk a good talk when it comes to libertarian ideas. He's certainly saying a lot of things that none of the other candidates would even think of saying...which is probably why he almost certainly won't get the nomination :)

As for his views on abortion, he is an obstetrician and has delivered thousands of babies, after all. With that in mind I think I personally can forgive him for being on the pro-life side of the abortion issue. Also, his position on Roe v. Wade is somewhat consistent with a libertarian philosophy (states rights, etc), although even that is certainly debatable...and there are as many different libertarian opinions on the abortion issue as there are libertarians.

274. This Week's Flea

Comment #100931 by Don_Quix on December 19, 2007 at 4:53 pm

It seems to me that nonsense phrases like "scientific fundamentalism" are actually more of a complement than an insult, although they are clearly intended as backhanded insults. As if it is somehow a negative thing to have confidence in the clearly superior process of science and to base your decisions in life on evidence rather than blind faith and metaphysical mumbo-jumbo.

I like to think of myself as a "rational extremist" ;)

275. The Four Horsemen: on Christmas

Comment #99929 by Don_Quix on December 17, 2007 at 10:13 pm

I'd rather forego the HD and instead have 3 other similar discussions in each of their respective houses with the host being required to drink as much as Hitchens did. That would be fair, enlightening, and profitable. :)

276. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!

Comment #98922 by Don_Quix on December 14, 2007 at 10:47 pm

It's really kind of creepy that many ideas that run through my head on a daily basis have already been brought up and answered in this video...and I am only about 2/3 of the way through the first one.

Not that I think any of the four of them are my "saviors" or anything, but I find it funny that I sit around and talk about these same things with my friends in the same sort of setting. And the "four horsemen" are talking about the same things we talk about, but doing it in a much more eloquent way :)

277. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!

Comment #98917 by Don_Quix on December 14, 2007 at 10:27 pm

Does Dawkins have a martini in front of him? He always struck me as a gin & tonic sort of guy. Harris looks like he's drinking scotch or whisky.

EDIT: I'm not trying to belittle the video. This is actually one of the most interesting and compelling videos I have seen of any of the "four horsemen" by themselves :) This is a great venue for the four of them to express and discuss their ideas. I like the roundtable discussion format a lot. It's like an atheist version of the American TV show "The View". Except this is several billion orders of magnitude more intelligent and substantial. heheh.

278. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!

Comment #98912 by Don_Quix on December 14, 2007 at 10:10 pm

USA_Limey wrote:

Hour three was the drinking competition but it wasn't filmed.

Note to the producers - I would gladly pay a premium to watch this on DVD.

279. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #98906 by Don_Quix on December 14, 2007 at 9:46 pm

It's impossible to have a rational discussion or debate when people keep posting 1,000+ word posts of non sequiturs which bring up dozens of new points of discussion in each post and which don't address, or only vaguely touch on, anything brought up in any of the previous posts. This is truly tiresome. I might as well be trying to argue with fortune cookies.

I would like to have a discussion with you folks, but if you can't stick to one subject at a time, and you insist on bringing up every possible loosely-defined idea that pops into your head in every post you make, it's kind of pointless.

I can only surmise that you are deliberately trying to type a huge amount of words in such a disorganized fashion that hopefully no one bothers to read it. Obscurantism indeed.

I think we need a new term for it...maybe "obfuscationism"? I kind of like that one :)

280. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #98851 by Don_Quix on December 14, 2007 at 5:16 pm

I have a data sheet my local (city-owned) water company sent me that makes empirical claims about the quality of my tap water. Should I not believe them? Do I have to get my own testing kit?

281. Voyager 2 probe reaches solar system boundary

Comment #97961 by Don_Quix on December 12, 2007 at 10:08 pm

Seriously, this is really cool. I like how the Bow Shock looks like it is some fiery nuclear death blast in the graphic for the article. heheh.

I imagine when Voyager gets there in the next few hundred years or so (actually I don't know how long it will take for it to get there) it won't be nearly as dramatic. And like Russell's Teapot said we will have hopefully caught up to it by then :)

We truly live in enlightened times, despite the ancient metaphysical bullshit we deal with daily. Jesus never sent shit to the edge of the solar system :D

282. Voyager 2 probe reaches solar system boundary

Comment #97957 by Don_Quix on December 12, 2007 at 10:00 pm

Sweet! Termination Shock! That's going to be the name of my new metal band ;)

Go Voyager Go! Or should I say, V'GER. heheh.

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

Comment #97948 by Don_Quix on December 12, 2007 at 9:39 pm

I'm confused too. But we're really in deep shit if this resolution has already been voted on and upheld. This has to be some kind of joke.

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

Comment #97941 by Don_Quix on December 12, 2007 at 9:27 pm

WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?

I demand a recount.

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison are rolling in their graves.

This doesn't sound like MY secular representative republic ;)

285. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #97934 by Don_Quix on December 12, 2007 at 9:03 pm

If I see this mortal wound become supernaturally healed, like it says in Revelation 13, I will believe in my head that the healing occurred as per the scientific method.

What are you talking about? Are you injured? If so, revelations will not help you.

Dial 911 immediately.

What I will not do is believe and follow, in the sense of becoming a believer in that person or putting my trust in them, or bragging about what they've done, or treating them with awe in humble reverence and submission.

Yet again, this makes no sense. What are you talking about? If you're being metaphorical, please provide some kind of example. Don't be vague, because it makes it impossible to respond in an intelligent way. Be specific.

286. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #97928 by Don_Quix on December 12, 2007 at 8:53 pm

No, the idea is not to be gullible and believe everything you hear. You should want the proof before you believe it.

I 100% agree with you on this.

I am not talking about hearing a story and asking for proof. I am talking about the challenge that when you see proof you will believe and follow.

This doesn't really make any sense. Please elaborate.

When you ask for empirical evidence saying, "Show me the proof and I will believe", you are setting yourself up to become a believer once you have the proof.

It logically follows that once one is shown empirical evidence of something, one provisionally accepts that evidence until contradictory evidence is presented. That is called the scientific method...which is what spawned every single thing in the modern world which you now benefit from.

But I still don't think you understand what empirical evidence is.

Just because you see a great supernatural miracle doesn't mean you should bow down and worship at the altar of that miracle or miracle-worker.

I 100% agree with you on this.

Let me qualify that by saying I don't believe there are or have ever been any "supernatural miracles" or "miracle-workers". But I agree with the basic premise of your statement ;)

287. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #97920 by Don_Quix on December 12, 2007 at 8:41 pm

Are you laughing about the impossibility of producing empirical evidence for a past historical event?

No I was laughing at your complete misunderstanding of what empirical evidence is, and that you chose the worst possible example of things for which "there is no evidence" (ie - the holocaust). You basically just made yourself sound like a holocaust denier.

288. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #97908 by Don_Quix on December 12, 2007 at 8:22 pm

hahahah. I just don't know what else to say after that. I'll let my cousins from across the pond take this one on ;)

289. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #97895 by Don_Quix on December 12, 2007 at 8:01 pm

I follow modern theology very closely, and I don't see how any more proof that Jesus existed would turn it on its head.

Please provide empirical evidence of this "proof". Words written in books, and the opinions of people (even respected theological scholars or religious figures) based on hearsay is not empirical evidence.

What would be a complete turn around is if Jesus' body were discovered on earth. That would turn all of history on its head.

That wouldn't turn all of history on it's head necessarily, but it would certainly prove Jesus was just a man and didn't "physically" ascend to the heavens as some claim. It would also challenge a lot of peoples' beliefs.

However, I am sure you and I would be in agreement that this will probably never happen. You believe this because you believe in the lies you have been taught throughout your life, and I believe this because there is no empirical evidence such a person ever existed.

For the people I know who know without a doubt that God exists

Evidence, please.

it isn't because other people persuaded them.

No, they persuaded themselves after being influenced by books of fiction (such as the bible). Their beliefs in those books of fiction were then reinforced by others with similar irrational beliefs based on fiction.

All non-Abrahamic religions (and even some of the Abrahamic ones) find your particular beliefs just as fictional as I do. This should tell you something.

It is because God made Himself known to them.

Evidence, please.

The people who only know that God exists because someone else or because a book persuaded them are just operating with their heads and their hearts, but the people who know God personally are knowing Him with their spirits.

I know you think this is a profound thing to say, but it is meaningless to anyone with critical thinking skills who hasn't been brainwashed by a cult. Again, evidence, please.

He takes up residence within those who put their trust in Him, and makes a brand new person on the inside. That doesn't happen just from knowing that God exists or from believing that He exists.

You sure seem to know a lot about God and the nature of God. Specifically how he operates and what his intentions are. Since that is the case, you should have no problem providing evidence, please.

I have no desire to be president of the world

Well, I don't blame you there. I wouldn't want to be president of the world either. Too much paperwork. I just meant it would be a likely natural consequence of you proving Jesus/God existed where everyone else has totally failed.

nor to convince a whole lot of people that God exists.

Really? It seems like most people I encounter who have an irrational faith in God base the majority of their existence and their worth as a person on convincing others that a God exists. Interesting.

If God doesn't do the convicting Himself, everything I do is in vain foolish pride.

Well God certainly is known for doing a lot of convicting for no good reason, but if you meant convincing, then I certainly agree :)

Why would God need you or anyone else to make himself known to us? Answer: He wouldn't.

I'll check out that nobeliefs.com, but it won't be the first time that I've read something like that

And it probably won't be the last.

I've been around the block.

Haven't we all? :)

290. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #97875 by Don_Quix on December 12, 2007 at 6:48 pm

Fuck off.

Seriously, I think you're beating up on the mentally ill. Which isn't nice. Although it is kind of funny to watch. ;)

291. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #97867 by Don_Quix on December 12, 2007 at 6:35 pm

Trying to have a rational conversation about the bible with someone like this is just like trying to convince a schizophrenic psychopath that the voices in their head are lying to them when the voices insist that it is perfectly reasonable to assassinate the president in order to win over the love of Jodie Foster. ;)

I suspect that you actually are arguing with a schizophrenic regarding the voices in his head. There's really no point.

292. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #97332 by Don_Quix on December 11, 2007 at 10:32 pm

Shrommer -

Please provide empirical evidence that Jesus existed. If you can do this, you will turn modern theology on its head, and you will be hailed as the greatest historian and archaeologist who has ever lived. You will win the Nobel Prize, and you will probably get elected president of the world for life. You may also convince a whole lot of people that God actually exists.

You clearly have no comprehension of what empirical evidence is (hint: it's not anything you read in the bible, or anything that your pastor tells you). Seriously, read a book.

You may want to start with a website or two. Here's one to get you going:

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

293. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #97325 by Don_Quix on December 11, 2007 at 10:05 pm

Oh wait, I spoke too soon.

What we should do is base our philosophy of life on our experience with the material world.

I agree, and this is exactly what I was saying. You clearly were not, because you just said:

We've seen Jesus come and work amazing things in people's lives,

No, you never saw this. You read this in a nearly 2000 year-old book of mythological stories that was based on hearsay written down by people who weren't even born until hundreds of years after the alleged events in that book supposedly took place.

and then come back from the dead in a special kind of body.

No, people do not come back from the dead. When people die, they are dead forever. I wish people came back from the dead because there are many people whom I have known and loved who are now dead that I would like to see again and never will. Unfortunately, this is not how the world works

This is the hinge on which human history turns.

The vast majority of human history occurred millions of years before the mythological fables you are referring to were even thought of, much less written down. Human history hinges on the things that humans do, not the events in mythological stories written down by ignorant men with a political agenda who didn't even know how to construct a proper toilet.

He wasn't a spook in the sky, but a flesh and blood person like ourselves. We got to see, hear, and touch him.

No, you read about an allegedly flesh and blood person in a book that was written by ignorant humans thousands of years ago. There is no...zero...none...nada...physical or historical evidence that the person you read about ever actually existed. YOU did not get to see, hear, or touch him. Neither did anyone you know or anyone who is alive today.

The things you believe are simply false. I'm sorry.

294. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #97312 by Don_Quix on December 11, 2007 at 9:46 pm

Shrommer -

I'm sorry if my reasons for existence don't satisfy you. I don't have any more answers than this. Ultimately you have to choose your own reasons for existence. I can't choose them for you. I have simply tried to express the reasons for which I justify my own existence to myself. It's not my responsibility to find your reasons for existence for you. Good luck, and I wish you all the best in your quest.

295. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #97288 by Don_Quix on December 11, 2007 at 9:05 pm

Shrommer -

I don't think you are quite getting what is being said here. There is no soul. There is no magic life force. There is no God or judgment. There is just biological life doing what biological life does. Fighting, fleeing, feeding, and fucking long enough that they can (hopefully) create the next generation which will do the same thing, and perhaps evolve a little bit in the process.

Ask a seal or a water buffalo if it feels like there is no meaning to life. It's doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing. So are we.

Seriously, I know you're doing your best to be deep and meaningful here, but there really is no need to look beyond the obvious. We are here to reproduce. Anything beyond that which we can come up with to make our existence or the existence of those after us more pleasant is just icing on the cake.

Again, if you don't feel that simply being alive, being happy and making others happy is a good enough reason to exist, then I don't know what to tell you. I guess I'd hate to be you :D

There are of course many many more rational and valid reasons that a human being could come up with to justify their existence, but the main three I've mentioned (reproduction, personal happiness, and spreading happiness to others) are pretty much the basics. There is no need for any other external reason for existence.

We are here because we are here, and we are what we are. Make the best of it for yourself, and try to make the world a better place for future generations, or die. That's all there is to it. But I usually prefer being alive to being dead, myself :)

296. The Pagan Christ

Comment #97265 by Don_Quix on December 11, 2007 at 8:28 pm

albondigas:

Are you saying that any person who believes in God can't be a productive member of society? Sounds like it when you use a phrase like 'waste your entire life'.

Not at all. Many people who have false beliefs lead very productive lives regardless of the positive or negative benefit their lives have on society. I didn't mean it as an insult to you personally, although now that I read it I see how it may have come across that way. If you took it that way, I apologize. :)

I guess what I meant to say is that I find it completely baffling that people can waste such a large amount of their time and energy on something so utterly unsupported by even the slightest shred of evidence whatsoever (re: belief in the Abrahamic sky-daddy God). Not just something that *may* not be a fact, but something that *almost absolutely certainly* is not a fact (based on all the evidence available to us). It is exactly the same thing as basing your decisions and your entire worldview on the idea that unicorns might actually exist and care about what happens to you. It just doesn't make the slightest bit of sense to me.

I don't find the views you have expressed particularly offensive, I just can't comprehend how you arrive at them.

However, I do find it very offensive that many people (not you necessarily, but many people) intentionally screw up my country and retard the progress of science and society in order to promote and maintain the views they base on their completely irrational, unalterable, and evidentially-unsupported ancient mythical belief systems.

297. Functional Neuroimaging of Belief, Disbelief, and Uncertainty

Comment #97243 by Don_Quix on December 11, 2007 at 7:50 pm

It's an emoticon for "heart" or "love". If you turn your head sideways to the right, it looks vaguely like a heart. You must not have been on the internet long or never used any sort of text messaging program ;) <- that means wink wink

298. Functional Neuroimaging of Belief, Disbelief, and Uncertainty

Comment #97226 by Don_Quix on December 11, 2007 at 7:20 pm

oh my Don_Quix- I love seeing Carl Sagan...<3

I miss him too :~)

I often wonder what his thoughts on the so-called "new atheist movement" would be if he were alive today. He still lives through his writings and speeches, but it's not the same as having him and his incredible insight and intellect (not to mention communication skills) fighting the good fight with us :)

299. Atheists don't believe in anything

Comment #97218 by Don_Quix on December 11, 2007 at 6:47 pm

Destroyer wrote:

If one does not believe in God then the tendency is to BELIEVE that ONLY matter exists.

No, then the tendency is to provisionally accept (not believe) whatever there is actual empirical evidence for at this time, which is that only matter exists. This is not to say that it is impossible for God to exist (nothing can be absolutely disproven). But it is extremely unlikely for God to exist based on the current evidence available at this time. Whether you believe in God or not has nothing to do with the factual nature of matter.

If one believes that matter is all that there is then this is a metaphysical supposition which equates to faith without evidence, as consciousness has to be discounted.

No, a matter of faith is when one believes something without evidence, and/or when one continues to believe something even when evidence to the contrary of the belief is presented. If one provisionally accepts something based on the best currently available evidence, that is called science (or reason, or just using your brain). The difference between faith and science is that when science is confronted with new evidence, and that evidence turns out to be valid, science can accept it and change whatever idea or theory that new evidence modifies. Faith, on the other hand, cannot modify itself in the face of new evidence.

300. Functional Neuroimaging of Belief, Disbelief, and Uncertainty

Comment #97204 by Don_Quix on December 11, 2007 at 5:53 pm

Yes very, very cool.

Better yet, let's round up all the presidential candidates and run them through this test to see if they really believe the shit they're trying to sell us...and also how many of them are actually atheists XD