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Czarjorge

Joined: 01 May 2007 Location: I now have the same moustache, and it is glorious.
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| If only the government would put so much effort into protecting kids from the truth about Santa Claus. |
Art imitating life imitating art.
Even seen 'Futurama.' Robot Santa, hopefully minus the programming error is a distinct possibility. Give him nanite powered elves, shoot him onto an asteroid and watch the annual return trip that showers the world in various metal/carbon toys. |
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Justin Hale

Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Location: the Straight Talk Express
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:02 am Post subject: |
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| Rteacher wrote: |
Yeah, it would be better to base it on a 5000 year old book (with an oral tradition going back much farther than that ...)
Actually, atheistic philosophies - just as sophisticated if not more so - than the current "bright" ideas also were extant in ancient times.
However, they were logically defeated by Vedic personalist philosophies (and even Buddhism was later intellectually driven from India ...)
The atheistic materialists of today have nothing spiritually positive to offer - good Christians are better role-models for kids... |
By disclaiming the idea of a next life, we can have more excitement in this one. The here and now is all we have and an inspiration to make the most of it. Atheism is life-affirming in a way religion nor spirituality can never be. |
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Miles Rationis

Joined: 08 May 2007 Location: Just Say No To Korea!
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:46 am Post subject: |
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| Justin Hale wrote: |
| Rteacher wrote: |
Yeah, it would be better to base it on a 5000 year old book (with an oral tradition going back much farther than that ...)
Actually, atheistic philosophies - just as sophisticated if not more so - than the current "bright" ideas also were extant in ancient times.
However, they were logically defeated by Vedic personalist philosophies (and even Buddhism was later intellectually driven from India ...)
The atheistic materialists of today have nothing spiritually positive to offer - good Christians are better role-models for kids... |
By disclaiming the idea of a next life, we can have more excitement in this one. The here and now is all we have and an inspiration to make the most of it. Atheism is life-affirming in a way religion nor spirituality can never be. |
Don't plagiarise; attribute it to Dawkins as he said it first... |
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Bagpipes11

Joined: 10 Nov 2006
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:33 am Post subject: |
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Religion is an institution created by man to control the masses. I was raised in a Christian family but am not religious. I have been shun by members of my own family for not wanting to participate in the Church.
Christians feel that they have to make others believe what they do. Don't get me wrong. I am not attacking the moral fabric that is the basis for Christianity. But Christians do attempt to force their beliefs unto others.
A scary example of this is a documentary called "Jesus Camp". I think it is something that everybody should watch, and even devout Christians would probably agree that this belief in Christ has deviated way too far from traditional Christian morals. |
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Biblethumper

Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Location: Busan, Korea
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
I support Davis's denunciation of atheism, but Biblically it would be better for the children of Illinois to be taught by their parents to know and avoid atheism, rather than never know of it. |
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Omkara

Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Location: USA
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Biblethumper wrote: |
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
I support Davis's denunciation of atheism, but Biblically it would be better for the children of Illinois to be taught by their parents to know and avoid atheism, rather than never know of it. |
Thumper, I think you are playing.
You are smart enough to see the logical fallacy in the statement that god can be understood through the seen. There is no necessary logical connection.
I agree. Don't teach the kids atheism. Teach them objectively. Teach them comparatively. But don't burden them with these poisonous arguments and let them grow up to be as healthy as possible. |
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Justin Hale

Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Location: the Straight Talk Express
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Miles Rationis wrote: |
| Justin Hale wrote: |
| Rteacher wrote: |
Yeah, it would be better to base it on a 5000 year old book (with an oral tradition going back much farther than that ...)
Actually, atheistic philosophies - just as sophisticated if not more so - than the current "bright" ideas also were extant in ancient times.
However, they were logically defeated by Vedic personalist philosophies (and even Buddhism was later intellectually driven from India ...)
The atheistic materialists of today have nothing spiritually positive to offer - good Christians are better role-models for kids... |
By disclaiming the idea of a next life, we can have more excitement in this one. The here and now is all we have and an inspiration to make the most of it. Atheism is life-affirming in a way religion nor spirituality can never be. |
Don't plagiarise; attribute it to Dawkins as he said it first... |
Couldn't remember who said it. Could remember the quote word for word though. What I've done is write my own reviews of the books I've read with many quotations and it's all jumbled up in my head. |
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ED209
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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She's said sorry
| Quote: |
Lawmaker Apologizes For Comments Against Atheist
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- State Representative Monique Davis is apologizing a week after she blasted an atheist activist during a hearing over a million dollar grant for a South Side church.
Because of Davis' rant, she was named Tuesday night as the "worst person in the world" --a dubious award doled out daily by news commentator Keith Olbermann on MSNBC's "Countdown" program.
Rep. Davis told atheist Rob Sherman that, "What you have to spew and spread is dangerous" and that "This is the land of Lincoln where people believe in God."
But, after being on the receiving end of a week�s worth of public criticism, Davis called Sherman yesterday to apologize.
Sherman says Davis told him she "took out her frustrations and emotions on me and that she shouldn�t have done that." Sherman says Davis' explanation was "reasonable" and that he forgives her.
According to Sherman and State Rep. Jack Franks�.Davis claims her outburst was triggered by learning shortly beforehand�that there�d been another Chicago Public School student killed.
State Rep. Jack Franks was chairing the hearing that day and says Davis� outburst was uncharacteristic, adding "she was having a bad day." |
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mack the knife

Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: standing right behind you...
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:58 am Post subject: |
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| Sherman says Davis' explanation was "reasonable" and that he forgives her. |
Excellent!
It brings me much joy to witness the Christian/Catholic viewpoint that they alone somehow hold a monopoly on forgiveness sha-sha-sha-shattered. |
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Omkara

Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Location: USA
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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I agree. I've often thought that anything that is either true or wise in christianity is not wise or true because it is christian. Moreover, any position which can be held only in the context of christianity is either false or superstitious.
Now we can introduce one further category of truth claims. I will grant that there are many things that are true because of christianity; but these are historical and sociological. Some are good, some bad.
At certain moments, we can grant (assuming we are objective) that christianity has done good and brough about progress in society. But, these were pre-modern times; and the discoveries which christianity helped to birth eventually negated the doctrine itself.
So, we have work to do. The word "atheist" has too many negative connotations, as does the word "skeptic." "Faith" is too often, and with serious and dangerous consequences, been called a virtue, at the expense of truth, objectivity and progress. |
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ED209
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
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Justin Hale

Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Location: the Straight Talk Express
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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| mack the knife wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Sherman says Davis' explanation was "reasonable" and that he forgives her. |
Excellent!
It brings me much joy to witness the Christian/Catholic viewpoint that they alone somehow hold a monopoly on forgiveness sha-sha-sha-shattered. |
Like some clever person said one time whose name I forget (might've been a Greek)....one of the following occurs:
1. God wills things because they are good
2. Things are good because God wills them
In either case, God is a superflous entity and we can directly appeal to good
Much than importantly than all this, atheists have a monopoly on the most crucial thing in the world: Rock music. Dear God by XTC being one example
Sterilize her with fire and radiation, I say. |
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AbbeFaria
Joined: 17 May 2005 Location: Gangnam
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Rteacher wrote: |
| good Christians are better role-models for kids... |
Yes, because I want my son to grow up thinking that it's perfectly acceptable to believe in magical sky fairies based on absolutely no evidence whatsoever.
After all, if there was evidence, you wouldn't need faith, would you.
-S- |
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laogaiguk

Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Omkara wrote: |
So, we have work to do. The word "atheist" has too many negative connotations, as does the word "skeptic." "Faith" is too often, and with serious and dangerous consequences, been called a virtue, at the expense of truth, objectivity and progress. |
Very true. Also, show me an openly athiest (or even agnostic) politician. I know of none. Hell, there are even openly gay politicians.
And while Christianity did help in progress, it doesn't mean we have to stick to it. Songs help children learn in kindergarten. I don't think there are many songs sung in highschool math class. |
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itaewonguy

Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:01 am Post subject: |
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The big bang theory! is as crazy as a white bearded man sitting in the clouds throwing lighting bolts! im surrounded by idiots!!!  |
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