401. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #193072 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 2:26 pm

Quetzacoatl
I am new to this philosophy game, but how can an action not carried out as a result of a moral decision be described as moral.
Given that morality is a construct of an individual mind and is subjective to that mind how can a random event be moral.

402. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #193057 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 2:04 pm

"I maintain that it is actually the other way around for most religious people: they are drawn to religion because they see it as a way to help others."
I most certainly don't- without indoctrination to belief there would be no church jumble sales.

403. As the world becomes smaller, the need to understand each other's faith grows

Comment #193047 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 1:53 pm

What was the name of that faith foundation again?

404. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #193033 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 1:18 pm

Steve

I remember being enchanted by cosmos as a young lad, so much so I bought the book with my meagre pocket money. Though it was 25 years ago I can still remember my father saying "I don't know why you like him, he just tells a good story". When that story is the history of science I can not think of a finer compliment.

405. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #193024 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 1:01 pm

I can only speak for myself but empathy is "hard wired" (WTF is this ,thought for the day) in to me, altruism is a different matter, that means actually getting off my arse.

406. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #193016 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 12:48 pm

"Since buddhism claims there is no self it can't be egotistical"
Yeah that would be true if buddhism were correct.
Unfotunately the idea that a human isn't a self contained individual seems like a long shot to me.

407. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #193008 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 12:34 pm

No, Lil means immoral.
Unless there are no absolute morals.
Which few except me and Henri seem to believe.

408. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #193006 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 12:31 pm

Lil
I think we have finaly shook everyone else off now.(sorry peacebeuponme - you beat me to it)
Great point about buddhist enlightenment being all about the I .I had never thought about it like that before, but now you mention it, how far up your own chuffer could you get.

409. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #192995 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 12:07 pm

Where speciesism kicks in is when man is aware that he is causing AVOIDABLE pain to a fellow traveller down the evolutionary trail and just doesn't give a shit. Plenty of caring religious people will do that because they will, a) never be in the victims position and b) think they won't be judged harshly about it because if there is a judge he says it is ok.
I might also add plenty of non religious people will do the same because they are thoughtless bastards.
Or because they,inspite of all the similarities, choose to believe we can't be that similar.How convenient.

410. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #192986 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 11:38 am

I am not suggesting religious believers are selfish people, I am just saying they believe the world is created for them.(I believe we have recently included the blacks too)

411. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #192970 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 11:13 am

Sorry, but concern for my tribe is a form of egoism, a little extended but not by much.

412. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #192964 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 10:46 am

Steve,

Since when was religion not egocentric.
That is what shouts out at me most about the bible.
The book of job is my favourite. The world revolves around Job (and god of course).
If I hear the word straw man one more time...

413. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #192953 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 10:32 am

Why do we have to adhere to anyone elses views on life. I am sure buddha and spinoza were both as happy and unhappy as you or me, regardless of how many self help manuals they sold.

414. As the world becomes smaller, the need to understand each other's faith grows

Comment #192896 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 6:43 am

I remember seeing footage of Carole Caplin's place.
There were Tony and Cherie Blair pictures almost wall to wall. A real "Alan Patridge" moment.
Alan ,bless his fictional socks, when confronted with a similar scenario had the sense to run like hell, the Blairs probably think people having their pictures on every wall only right and proper.

415. Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology 'cult'

Comment #192888 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 6:24 am

Excellent news.
I ve got my Tom Cruise is a cunt banner ready and I am raring to go.

416. As the world becomes smaller, the need to understand each other's faith grows

Comment #192882 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 6:09 am

I prefered his shock and awe period.

417. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #192843 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 3:29 am

Recieved the gift

Why do you come to an essentially atheist web site and tell people that you will pray for them.
That is annoying in the extreme.

Why not go to an alcoholics anonymous web site and then close off with "have a drink on me lads"
I could think of thousands of similar comparisons but I shan't bore you. I am sure you have got the point. (Perhaps not, if you were that bright you wouldn't do it in the first place)

418. As the world becomes smaller, the need to understand each other's faith grows

Comment #192841 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 3:17 am

Why is faith still flourishing?
Is it. Looks like it is dying in my little neck of the woods (the UK).
But keep saying it is flourishing and people will believe you and you may turn the tide. Cute trick.

419. As the world becomes smaller, the need to understand each other's faith grows

Comment #192833 by the great teapot on June 14, 2008 at 2:56 am

comment 192830
7teist
"FFS he can't even spell his own name"
Cast the beam from your own eyes first.

420. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #192669 by the great teapot on June 13, 2008 at 10:11 pm

"your Holiness"
Ha.

421. Hints of structure beyond the visible universe

Comment #191907 by the great teapot on June 12, 2008 at 5:09 am

Thanks everyone,

I have have just started watching the Caltech video Jon, the whole series looks pretty interesting. The wet weekends should pass a bit quicker- even moving at my speed.

422. Hints of structure beyond the visible universe

Comment #191891 by the great teapot on June 12, 2008 at 4:15 am

Slightly off topic, I have always wanted to "get my head around relativity", particulary the constant nature of the speed of light and the twin paradox (time going slower when traveling close to the speed of sound). Whenever popular TV approaches the subject all I ever learn is light can not escape from a black hole (no, you don't say! another hour wasted)
Can anyone recommend any books or sites that explain clearly and correctly the theories.

423. Hints of structure beyond the visible universe

Comment #191874 by the great teapot on June 12, 2008 at 3:25 am

Is there an explanation for a speeding up of the expansion? (that can be understood by an idiot.)
Although I suspect the reality of the expansion is itself beyond my comprehension, I live in a strictly 3D world and can't escape.

424. Prayer to feed the hungry

Comment #190027 by the great teapot on June 8, 2008 at 8:45 am

And those who starved to death?

425. Ben Stein 1, Yoko Ono 0 in 'Expelled' copyright spat

Comment #188245 by the great teapot on June 3, 2008 at 12:15 pm

Does free speech include free music.
Sure they could quote the words, but how does free speech allow them to play the music as well.
Constitution my arse.

426. We happy hooligans

Comment #185784 by the great teapot on May 28, 2008 at 2:11 pm

Stop it, enough already, you can only flog a horse to death once.

427. Top 6 Incestuous Relationships In The Bible

Comment #185781 by the great teapot on May 28, 2008 at 2:06 pm

No need to aplologise FSMteapot .I bet you are the first person in the world to say those words in that order

428. Top 6 Incestuous Relationships In The Bible

Comment #185578 by the great teapot on May 28, 2008 at 5:43 am

Reminds me of a favourite joke of mine
"Woody, how's the wife and Kid?"
"Oh she's fine"
(Not quite incest I know but what the hell)

Mitchell I am with you on this one. "Immoral" appeals to emotion and prejudice. The article specifically quotes cases of incest not just rape.
Incest is seen by most as repellent,except of course in Norfolk and Arkansas.

429. Does Time Run Backward in Other Universes?

Comment #184251 by the great teapot on May 24, 2008 at 7:06 am

Do winkimtots have snort werzels?

430. Six 'uniquely' human traits now found in animals

Comment #184249 by the great teapot on May 24, 2008 at 6:51 am

Whatever next.
Blacks and fags have feelings too?

431. The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing, ed. Richard Dawkins

Comment #181157 by the great teapot on May 16, 2008 at 1:38 pm

Carbonman
You asked them to recharge you?Where do you get such moral values from?
You been reading the buybull on the sly?

432. Indian village proud after double 'honor killing'

Comment #181151 by the great teapot on May 16, 2008 at 1:30 pm

When you consider mankind is a few hundred thousands years old, how far behind our own society is this, a few decades(kkk) may be a couple of centuries ( witch hunts) tops, thats a fraction of our existence as a species let alone a life form. No excuse I know, but we really don't know how good we've got it (in the UK at least) rightnow.

433. The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing, ed. Richard Dawkins

Comment #181132 by the great teapot on May 16, 2008 at 1:11 pm

Yeah
Most recent post!
Eat my shorts.

434. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #178302 by the great teapot on May 11, 2008 at 5:55 am

Why does Boyd make such a deal over the question "Can you give a succinct definition of life?"
Apart form being in awe of the credentials of the questioner,"one of the finest legal minds in the country",Boyd spends an awful lot of words not telling us why this is a clever question.
No doubt there are many definitions of life one could give.It is a little smug, to ask a question which gives no hint to it's point and then sit down thinking you have scored a point,without letting someone know what your real question is.
A bit rich as well to criticise an inadequate reply when you consider how often we ask theists to define their god, just to make sure we are not destroying the famous straw man, only to recieve no reply.

435. Atheists are nice people who will roast in hell, says Cardinal

Comment #178102 by the great teapot on May 10, 2008 at 1:49 pm

By not existing at all.

436. Richard Dawkins interviewed by John Humphrys on Cardinal Murphy O'Connor

Comment #177711 by the great teapot on May 9, 2008 at 2:25 pm

I suppose confidence tricks work.
Yup, I'll give you that one.
By the way quoting names and saying that "as mr X has shown in his great book y" is not the same as actually quoting the particular things the person has said which make their views so great.
It is a common religious trick to list names without actually stating the arguments presented in the citation. Nice to see fides is continuing in the tradition.

437. Richard Dawkins interviewed by John Humphrys on Cardinal Murphy O'Connor

Comment #177710 by the great teapot on May 9, 2008 at 2:22 pm

Belief Works?

438. Richard Dawkins interviewed by John Humphrys on Cardinal Murphy O'Connor

Comment #177699 by the great teapot on May 9, 2008 at 2:06 pm

Well said Paula, sharing doubts about religion is what we should be doing, according to the Bish.
Now fides we have voiced our doubts. Let's hear yours.

439. Richard Dawkins interviewed by John Humphrys on Cardinal Murphy O'Connor

Comment #177676 by the great teapot on May 9, 2008 at 1:12 pm

To be fair,Paula, he only featured the next day on the today program because somebody realised that it was a load of old, out-dated twaddle and wouldn't it be fun if we could get (the topical) Richard Dawkins on to point out its absurdity.
I am eternally gratefull to the today program for their thought for the the day parody spot. Although the better side of my nature sometimes thinks it is a little cruel to allow these people to make pricks of themselves in public.
I was particularly impressed with yesterdays speaker who managed to turn the tragedy of 10s of thousands of deaths in Burma into a trite lesson on how faith helps us to see the big long term picture. Pure comedy genius.

440. Shaw TV Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #175134 by the great teapot on May 4, 2008 at 2:19 pm

Did she say " The wonderful story of the ark". Would that be the cracking yarn where god wipes out nearly all of earths inhabitants, even those pate de foie gras geese who have no self consciousness.
Even stalin and hitler left more than one family alive (ed, although this probably had more to do with time constraints) and at least hitler liked his dog.

441. Bill Good Interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #174619 by the great teapot on May 3, 2008 at 2:10 am

Teratornis,
The only answer to hitler, stalin, mao was an atheist is "so what".
Under what circumstance do we accept something as true just because it is usefull, if it has no evidence to support it.

442. Humans nearly wiped out 70,000 years ago, study says

Comment #169575 by the great teapot on April 26, 2008 at 10:31 am

Hang on,
5000 votes have just been added in the last 5 minutes.
I smell a rat.
Someone isn't playing by the rules.
Shame on you.

443. Humans nearly wiped out 70,000 years ago, study says

Comment #169573 by the great teapot on April 26, 2008 at 10:22 am

yes 816
No 319099
To their credit the poll is still on the webpage.
But,flying in the face of overwhelming odds and evidence is their favourite passtime.

444. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169046 by the great teapot on April 25, 2008 at 2:25 pm

I like my women battered ok.
be happy not gay not ok.
?

445. Humans nearly wiped out 70,000 years ago, study says

Comment #168814 by the great teapot on April 25, 2008 at 11:23 am

The greatest comeback until Lazarus.

446. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #158373 by the great teapot on April 10, 2008 at 12:02 pm

Regarding the soft balls Paula threw Richard,
what exactly are the hardballs religion has to throw.
why is g=9.81?(on earth for the pedants)
The god of the gaps is the best religion has to offer. Nothing else I've seen or heard or read can't be hit for the easiest home run.(pardon the double negative}

447. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #157147 by the great teapot on April 8, 2008 at 3:28 pm

Where do I sign up?

448. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #157139 by the great teapot on April 8, 2008 at 3:19 pm

Steve,
I don't doubt it takes hard work, but I could practice and train for a month of sundays and get nowhere near that level of competence.

449. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #157106 by the great teapot on April 8, 2008 at 2:57 pm

Bloody hell Paula,
You're a natural, you should be on telly.

450. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #155975 by the great teapot on April 6, 2008 at 1:01 pm

An definition on line?
surely A definition.