1. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #210613 by flistr8 on July 14, 2008 at 10:30 pm

You're correct, Brian. There are many counter-arguments to go around and round and round...Bottom line for me, I have a choice in my life and I'm comfortable with my decision. Doesn't get much better than that.

Have a good afternoon.

2. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #210601 by flistr8 on July 14, 2008 at 10:07 pm

Just call me negative, but if someone enters my home univited, I'm assuming they are there to do me wrong. If it were to occur midday, I'd probably be better able to exercise judgement a little more calmly and decide if I was at threat or someone had just stumbled into my house not knowing where they were or why. At 3am, I'm going to be a little more edgy. Personally, I'd carry on much better the next day having shot someone than being shot myself.

One of the surprising effects of losing faith later in life is the awareness that I'm responsible for my life. Sweet baby jesus, my guru or god himself ain't gonna do it. I always knew it was up to me to take care of the daily tasks but I figured my personal safety, based on my belief, would see me through. Luckily, I came to know that was bogus before it cost me big.

I know you and Chicago are rejoicing, Broshiesq. Bout damn time ! !

3. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #210590 by flistr8 on July 14, 2008 at 9:26 pm

Thanks for taking a swing, Brian. Here in the States, gun ownership does not give one the right to "use it against anyone I perceive to be a threat". Predominately, it allows a person to protect themselves inside their home against an imminent threat of harm. I'm glad for you and your country that that isn't a pressing issue.

Would you consider it batshit insane if you weren't allowed to own a gun if you felt there was a need?

4. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #210570 by flistr8 on July 14, 2008 at 8:07 pm

Broshiesq, thanks for posting that.

Still waiting for a gun-fearin' atheist to answer my question.

5. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #210533 by flistr8 on July 14, 2008 at 6:52 pm

Asked this question earlier and nobody seemed willing to take it on. With as many great debaters as we have here, I'm hoping one of the anti-gun proponents will respond.

Guns are in the world. How do you propose to protect yourself against someone who would do you harm using a gun? Follow-up...how would you propose to eliminate guns from the world?

Anyone who would say the Founding Fathers of the U.S. would be of a different mind today is missing the point of the 2nd Amendment. They were completely aware of the ability and course of governments to consolidate power and the absolute necessity of the population to maintain the ability to protect their personal freedom from attack, in my humble, godless-based opinion, of course.

6. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #210064 by flistr8 on July 13, 2008 at 9:00 pm

Fact: there are guns in this world. Question: How do the anti-gun posters on this forum propose to protect themselves against those that would cause them harm using a gun? Will the police do it for you? Your government? Your god? ok scratch that one. Seriously, how does one feel secure against armed attack while there are those out there who would take your freedom?

I lived most of my life without owning a gun. Those times coincided with my belief in a god. When that belief fell away, it revealed the fallacy of protection I walked around with. Now, at least in my home, I can protect myself and my family legally with some type of firearm.

And to the poster who thinks the U.S. is not free due to gun ownership and that the government could take our guns if it wanted to, I don't think so. The U.S. is armed to the tune of one gun for each citizen. Do the math.

7. Origin of the Novel Species Noodleous doubleous: Evidence for Intelligent Design

Comment #205908 by flistr8 on July 7, 2008 at 9:33 pm

Noodleous doubleous - food for the soul

8. Obama Wants to Expand Role of Religious Groups

Comment #203357 by flistr8 on July 2, 2008 at 5:32 pm

I didn't get no gumbo at lunch and I'm plenty riled up now, goddamit ! ! !

I just knew it was too good to be true. Why Obama, why ? ?

Why can't the politicians who want to govern just stick to doing the stuff individuals can't do for themselves. You know, stuff like fighting wars against other countries or fixing the traffic lights, that sort of thing. How the fuck does charity funded by public tax dollars somehow become the realm of the government....what a shame.

9. Texas Supreme Court rules church can't be sued in exorcism

Comment #201057 by flistr8 on June 28, 2008 at 10:12 pm

Perhaps it's just my bad attitude but, who gives a fuck?

What happens in Texas should stay in Texas.

10. Band T-shirt draws charge

Comment #199541 by flistr8 on June 26, 2008 at 12:08 am

bobrobertsnz - thanks !! I've never seen the Landover Baptist website. Loads of fun...my favorite tee says "Abstinence makes the church grow fondlers".

If Jesus is not a cunt, may he strike me dead.

Thought so.

11. Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies

Comment #198100 by flistr8 on June 23, 2008 at 7:54 am

George, you motherfucker, you pissed yourself good this time, didn't you. Seriously, your shit has given my lifetime a humor and perspective that couldn't be found anywhere else, at least not on public tv.

I strongly recommend to all who haven't seen it, go to youtube and search George Carlin Modern Man. It's a recent bit he did that shows how releveant his style was, literally up to the end of his days.

To test his faith in non-belief, after dissing religion and god for awhile, he would proclaim, "If there is a God, may he strike the audience dead !!" Well, after what the audience had previously been laughing at, some were obviously quite worried. When they all survived, he summoned the Almighty to smite him right there on the stage. I'm quite certain it never happened either.

We've lost a brother-in-arms in the struggle to take ourselves less seriously.

Fuck.

12. George W Bush meets Pope amid claims he might convert to Catholicism

Comment #194418 by flistr8 on June 16, 2008 at 6:46 pm

Dumb & Dumber

Christ I'll be glad when that shit-for-brains leaves office.

13. Richard Dawkins Interview on TVOntario

Comment #181966 by flistr8 on May 19, 2008 at 12:25 am

I'm starting the third segment in just a minute. I have to say, Prof. Dawkins would sound a lot more convincing if he would just raise his voice somewhat, perhaps to a shriek like, you know, Hitler for instance. But perhaps that's just me, I was raised in a Jewish household.

14. Pat Condell: Anthology DVD available now!

Comment #174581 by flistr8 on May 2, 2008 at 7:35 pm

I just started watching Pat Condell on youtube after seeing his name on this site. I am an instant fan and will buy the dvd, most likely giving them to friends and family as gifts. It would never have occured to me to compare him to stand-up comedians. He's an articulate voice speaking to the world in a way I stongly condone. Thanks Pat and thanks RD for featuring him.

15. I suppose it's due ('Expelled' review)

Comment #147998 by flistr8 on March 21, 2008 at 6:32 pm

I'm looking forward to posting a review of this drivel when it comes to the big screen in my little berg. My local paper knows me as 6of66 and they think Planet of the Apes was a documentary.

16. Flipping particle could explain missing antimatter

Comment #147134 by flistr8 on March 19, 2008 at 10:11 pm

"The Bs is one of a handful of mesons that transforms into its own antiparticle and back again 3 trillion times per second before decaying into other particles (see Diagram)."

It seems it would just be easier to believe in god, who only transforms between a handful of names every 1000 years or so.

17. Pleas for condemned Saudi 'witch'

Comment #127063 by flistr8 on February 14, 2008 at 9:38 pm

I hate cockroaches. They disgust me. When I stomp on a cockroach and it drags itself off to the shadows, it gives me the creeps. Reading this story makes me feel like I just stomped a cockroach. Sorry I couldn't be more articulate.

18. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #127056 by flistr8 on February 14, 2008 at 9:14 pm

"It's reason that's the season."

Fav e-card

037_TravisMorgan

19. The Repeater

Comment #118720 by flistr8 on January 30, 2008 at 9:52 pm

This is an excellent example of the wonderous manner God's creation reflects His sublime touch.
.....crickets.....

20. A Letter From Hell

Comment #116018 by flistr8 on January 25, 2008 at 9:54 am

That's good enough for me, I'm now a CHRISTIAN. Do you hear me???? A Christian. Ain't no way I want to spend eternity roasting in the Lake o'Fire. Consider me so hooked up Jesus. And so, for all you others posting here, you are so fried in the damnation that is HELL. Repent sinners. For God's sake, repent.

Not.

21. Darwin Day (Feb 12th) E-Cards

Comment #114291 by flistr8 on January 21, 2008 at 7:44 pm

Three monkeys and a priest is cracking me up...good one Dr. Unfortunately, I can't share it with anyone here at work. The guy next to me just confided that his church is coming up with the money for a new high school, Pope John Paul High School. Thank dog for the internets.

22. Stop revisionist Christian nation House Resolution 888

Comment #113876 by flistr8 on January 20, 2008 at 9:51 pm

A brief phone call to your rep's office or a brief email expressing your lack of support for this measure can have an effect. Especially if they don't have a strong opinion either way. Please take the time to weigh in on this folks.

23. Stop House Resolution 888

Comment #109811 by flistr8 on January 9, 2008 at 7:43 pm

The important thing to remember is your government representative isn't interested in your story, just your opinion. Briefly and clearly advise why you are against the bill. His or her office will tally public input either for or against and hopefully vote in concert with the majority opinion. Do not think it doesn't matter if you don't write.

24. Sam Harris debate with Rabbi David Wolpe

Comment #108857 by flistr8 on January 7, 2008 at 6:30 pm

Comment 341 DuarfDog The most interesting definition I've yet heard for God / eternal life is "ever existing, ever conscious, ever new joy".
Not a bad gig if you can get it. Unfortunately, the guru that uttered these words couldn't demonstrate it as fact. Seems to be a common problem with the supernatural claims.

25. Sam Harris debate with Rabbi David Wolpe

Comment #108423 by flistr8 on January 6, 2008 at 8:29 pm

316 aznxscorpion517 Sam was answering the Rabbi's claim that he didn't need proof or evidence of God's existence because it isn't a scientific claim. Sam's "Elvis is alive" analogy was awesome. Wolpe gives it a good go throughout but Sam is truly in a league of his own. Seems the live audience agrees.

26. Wisdom From The Founding Rationalists

Comment #104432 by flistr8 on December 28, 2007 at 1:26 pm

Chris Bell comment27 - thanks for leading me to "Blasphemy". A great response to Gingrich.

27. Wisdom From The Founding Rationalists

Comment #104059 by flistr8 on December 27, 2007 at 5:47 pm

I'm halfway through a dvd entitled "Rediscovering God in America" by Newt Gingrich. A family member thinks viewing this will somehow convince me that our country really is founded on religious principals. It becomes apparent, literally in the first spoken sentence, that a serious amount of cherry picking went into the choice examples used.

Thomas Jefferson did say "God who gave us life gave us liberty". But the rest of the paragraph puts into context his concern about a slave's lack of liberty. Newt forgets to mention that part. Newt then goes on to say "There is no attack on American culture more deadly and more historically dishonest than the secular effort to drive God out of America's public life." You can imagine the way this dvd plays out...

It's abundantly clear that god and religion were part of the background the founders of the United States worked in. The FACT is they didn't put ANY of it into the government. A fact American religionists aren't willing or able to fathom.

28. Disquiet over schools' moment of silence

Comment #103426 by flistr8 on December 25, 2007 at 2:51 pm

I'm somewhat astounded and disappointed that some on this forum would feel this is not a valid issue to fight. This is clearly another attempt from the fanatic christian right to further their attempts at creating a theocracy in the U.S. As a U.S. citizen, I feel it's my patriotic duty to block attempts from those that would undermine our system of government.

29. The Nonbelievers

Comment #71120 by flistr8 on September 17, 2007 at 8:57 pm

"Leading the service for Burke was a chance to act on his vision, to begin filling the emptiness inherent in atheism."

That's odd, I thought I left religion due to it's inherent emptiness.

30. God '08: Whose, and How Much, Will Voters Accept?

Comment #57994 by flistr8 on July 22, 2007 at 7:47 pm

I just finished reading Sam Harris' "Letter to a Christian Nation". In his conclusion, he says he doesn't see much chance of the world experiencing an end to religion in our lifetime. I would concur, sadly. We, who populate this forum and others like us, non-believers, are the cutting edge of this transformation. While the masses fuss over whose imaginary friend is best, we at least get to savor the freedom of rational thought.

In response to Rtambree, I voter against Bush in both elections. I never detected Nader's "irreligion-ness" as a part of his platform. I would be most interested in hearing a candidate profess a humanist/atheist worldview. That person would have to be ready to debate the faithers on a level of Harris or Dawkins.

31. Religion beat became a test of faith

Comment #57865 by flistr8 on July 21, 2007 at 5:33 pm

Just to reiterate, the LATimes site does allow comments. And the readers have been overwhelmingly supportive of Lobdell. I emailed him this morning with a link to this site. This is a continuing trend where people losing faith are showing up in the mainstream media in a positive light. 'Bout time.

32. Sean Hannity with Christopher Hitchens

Comment #55240 by flistr8 on July 10, 2007 at 10:18 am

There was a recent article posted here from the Daily Mail in which an anonymous writer was beseeching the religious community to offer up defense of faith to the likes of Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris et al. I can't imagine the results of this obviously-edited interview is what they had in mind. It's not often one sees Hannity reduced to sputtering while trying to retort.

Hitchens has now been on many nationally viewed programs. I, for one, am grateful to have this eloquent and stong voice speaking out on an issue so important to me and, I feel, society.

33. Brainwashed children plead to die as martyrs in Red Mosque siege

Comment #54735 by flistr8 on July 8, 2007 at 7:28 pm

I was wondering the same thing yesterday mdowe. I found a link to an Islamic website that answered this question, being asked by a Muslim female. She didn't sound very happy about the deal. In the nutshell, Allah will take away any thought you may have once in Paradise that would make you unhappy. So, if you are having a problem with your earthly husband staking a claim to his virgins in Paradise, presto chango, Allah will make you think it's cool. Also, part of the answer entailed a discussion about man's sexual needs being higher than a woman's. Hence, the enticement with the virgins for being "patient" while on earth.

It's ghastly how backwards this religion is.

34. Brainwashed children plead to die as martyrs in Red Mosque siege

Comment #54686 by flistr8 on July 8, 2007 at 1:20 pm

One would have to go a trifle further than "taking obligatory shots at Christians" to trivialize this: "Its leaders responded in March by sending in burqa-clad women armed with Kalashnikov rifles to occupy a government-run children's library next door."

I'm stumped as to how to deal with this problem. I've noticed a lot of opinions on this site but no solutions. Any suggestions?

35. Won't anyone stand up for God?

Comment #54569 by flistr8 on July 7, 2007 at 8:55 pm

Logicel has nailed it straightaway "religious believers have been isolated from critical confrontation for so long." This was one of the first points I heard Dawkins make that captured my fading spiritualist's heart, that religion is given a pass in society. Don't question why someone believes in God. Makes it kind of convenient to not have to question your own beliefs too. I have no qualms over bruised feelings religionists may suffer. I'm much more interested in motivating latent atheists to speak out.

My thanks to PaulJ for the Douglas Adams link. Awesome. This board is wonderful.

36. The Great Mutator

Comment #50242 by flistr8 on June 16, 2007 at 1:50 am

Christian Reconstructionism and more specifically Dominionism seems to be the engine driving this push to remove separation of church and state, religion and politics, in the U.S. After reading Coyne's refutation of Behe and listening to Dawkins debate McGrath, it seems more clear to me that folks taking the ID position are running from personal resposibility.

37. Baptists Warned About Islam, Atheism

Comment #49680 by flistr8 on June 12, 2007 at 11:34 pm

I am the virus, you are the virus, we are the virus, goo goo g'joob (sorry John)

38. Religion and Child Abuse

Comment #47848 by flistr8 on June 5, 2007 at 5:54 pm

As sad and immoral as this appears, perhaps we should take some solice in the fact that evolution is at work here. If teaching children this behavior results in the horror most of us think it will, the selfish gene will put an end to it eventually.