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Comments by Don_Quix


1. The Boundaries of Belief

Comment #204976 by Don_Quix on July 6, 2008 at 10:45 am

I "believe" that the graphs showing atheists and Christians as polar opposites are the ones that Sam and the other researchers were probably most interested in. It's probably a lot easier to see what's really going on in the brain when the people being scanned have the same level of certainty about their beliefs, but those beliefs are diametrically opposed.

2. New Zealand man sells his soul to 'Hell'

Comment #203749 by Don_Quix on July 3, 2008 at 1:37 pm

Hmmm. Since the Mormons can get away with posthumously baptizing people, I wonder if I could get away with selling deeds to other peoples' souls.

3. Obama Wants to Expand Role of Religious Groups

Comment #203069 by Don_Quix on July 2, 2008 at 10:53 am

Pandering in a political campaign? I am outraged!

4. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203065 by Don_Quix on July 2, 2008 at 10:48 am

Muslims? Outraged??? Say it ain't so!

5. It can be right to discriminate against the religious

Comment #202413 by Don_Quix on July 1, 2008 at 1:07 pm

I think the only true equality we will ever have is that we're all equally SCREWED.

6. Stephen Hawking's explosive new theory

Comment #202408 by Don_Quix on July 1, 2008 at 1:02 pm

I'm still waiting for the discovery of the crouton.

7. Can't Darwin and God get along?

Comment #202403 by Don_Quix on July 1, 2008 at 12:42 pm

So let me see if I understand:

God (presumably the Christian one) created the Universe, but does not meddle in the affairs of the Universe. However, the Universe needs God's constant attention on a moment-to-moment basis in order for it to continue to exist.

What?

It seems like he's describing some strange hybrid form of deism that allows the deluded to continue to believe that their God is not totally irrelevant.

8. Jesus and Mo on Militant Atheists

Comment #202113 by Don_Quix on June 30, 2008 at 10:08 pm

Vinelectric:

Take a cartoon in one hand and a bazooka in the other then declare: If you can't "read this" then "eat this", paedo-fuckers...!

That sounds like a relatively recent episode of South Park :D

9. An Interview with Prof. Richard Dawkins

Comment #202111 by Don_Quix on June 30, 2008 at 9:54 pm

I thought Australia was enlightened! I want to travel there someday soon, so don't spoil my dreams with your yobbo talk ;)

10. An Interview with Prof. Richard Dawkins

Comment #202086 by Don_Quix on June 30, 2008 at 8:48 pm

interested observer:

I've had a look at a lot of religious blogs and forums and I truly don't remember seeing that sort of language written there (although I wouldn't doubt they exist ). Bile, yes. Lousy arguments, absolutely. But no bad language yet.

Clearly, you have not read any of irate_atheists's posts yet ;)

They will take whatever ammunition they can get in this fight and use it to show how good they are and how bad we are. A good start for them is a foul mouthed activist sounding atheist who loves to argue. Poorly, but with great colour.

Fundamentalist Christians, especially those who frequent fundamentalist Christian forums, already do this. They even do it when no one is using foul language. All atheists are demon-spawn to most of them, it makes no difference how "polite" one is in one's postings. Most of them genuinely believe all of us (atheists) are going to their (fundamentalists) Hell, and they think if they aren't diametrically opposed to us, they will too.

Oh yes, my deepest apologies for using the word redneck incorrectly.

Redneck has a special meaning in the United States. It usually refers to people from the southern part of the country (usually south-east or south-central), who are missing a good number of teeth, or have a few extra rows of them. For reference, see the more action-packed parts of the 1972 movie, Deliverance. Then again, many of my relatives fit this description *cry*

Anyway, again, welcome to the forums here :) Just don't be surprised if you see more people using colorful language. It's hard not to vent sometimes, and many times it's appropriate considering the infuriating frustration many regular posters experience here.

11. Jesus and Mo on Militant Atheists

Comment #202081 by Don_Quix on June 30, 2008 at 8:23 pm

Styrer:

Unfortunately that would require that the ones being targeted could read.

12. Who Was More Important: Lincoln or Darwin?

Comment #202078 by Don_Quix on June 30, 2008 at 8:15 pm

Sorry, W.C. Fields wasn't born until 1880 .

Yeah, but Darwin didn't die until 1882. I know, it's a stretch, but still ;)

13. Who Was More Important: Lincoln or Darwin?

Comment #202074 by Don_Quix on June 30, 2008 at 7:58 pm

mordacious1:

If they want to compare americans, who were contemporaries with Darwin, who contributed to western culture and civiliztion, then I would nominate Dr. W.C. Minor, long before considering Lincoln.

Or better yet, W.C. Fields!

14. An Interview with Prof. Richard Dawkins

Comment #202059 by Don_Quix on June 30, 2008 at 6:43 pm

I'm sure Styrer believes his down to earth, redneck, foul mouthed approach is the way to go but I don't believe that's the case. Someone earlier used the word 'polarise' and that's exactly what that sort of over the top language will do.

I'm not sure where you live, but in most of the southern United States we would be much better off with a bunch of down to earth, redneck, foul mouthed atheists than we would be with the current crop of down to earth, redneck, foul mouthed fundamentalist Christians.

It will polarise those people who already think we are some kinds of demon possessed abominations.

But...we are!

*Holds black mass and sprinkles Anton LaVey's ashes around*

Also, welcome to rd.net :D

15. Who Was More Important: Lincoln or Darwin?

Comment #202054 by Don_Quix on June 30, 2008 at 6:09 pm

That is far and away the creepiest avatar I've seen on these forums.

I aim to please.

16. Who Was More Important: Lincoln or Darwin?

Comment #202050 by Don_Quix on June 30, 2008 at 5:55 pm

Darwin vs. Doctor Who seems like a much more appropriate match up.

17. Aliens need Christ's redemption, too

Comment #201455 by Don_Quix on June 29, 2008 at 4:56 pm

Given that it is extremely likely that any intelligent alien civilizations the human race encounters will be tremendously more technologically advanced than we are, I doubt any humans will be doing any converting. If anything, the aliens will be converting the poor backwards humans to their religion, and vaporizing those who resist.

18. The $10,000-a-Month Psychic

Comment #200879 by Don_Quix on June 28, 2008 at 11:32 am

If you've ever read Newsweek in the past, this sort of poor journalism will come as no surprise to you. Newsweek is a notch above The National Enquirer, peddling itself as a "serious" news magazine.

19. Stop distorting young minds!

Comment #200083 by Don_Quix on June 26, 2008 at 7:46 pm

Comment #200073 by TeraBrat

If a school district feels strongly about teaching creationism and the parents agree, they can have a separate class that teaches it.

Comment #200081 by Scot Rafkin
Unless it's illegal. Like teaching creationism as science.

I am actually in favor of teaching creationism in US public schools...in mandatory comparative religion classes, that is.

I think if US schoolchildren were required to compare and contrast the creation myths of the thousands of current and historical religions throughout their scholastic careers, we would have a LOT more atheists :)

20. Creationist critics get their comeuppance

Comment #200071 by Don_Quix on June 26, 2008 at 7:04 pm

Is it just me or is Michael Behe the biggest Dick ever!! What quazi-college gave him a degree in biochemistry.

As much of a fool as Behe is, I find the people who claim to have a degree in "Theobiology" more ridiculous. WTF is that supposed to be?

21. PZ Myers - Science and Atheism in the Blogosphere

Comment #200051 by Don_Quix on June 26, 2008 at 5:26 pm

How dare you close-minded atheists demand evidence for something before you accept it as fact! For shame!

22. The End of Theory: The Data Deluge Makes the Scientific Method Obsolete

Comment #199819 by Don_Quix on June 26, 2008 at 11:37 am

Wired has been going continuously downhill for a decade. I pretty much only read it for the gadgets and ads anymore.

23. Spanish parliament to extend rights to apes

Comment #199817 by Don_Quix on June 26, 2008 at 11:35 am

A moderately-sized asteroid would clean things up in a jiffy too.

24. Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies

Comment #198147 by Don_Quix on June 23, 2008 at 9:28 am

It's difficult to express the sense of loss I feel at this development. I feel like a member of my family has died...or at least a beloved pet or something. heheh. Although I imagine George would have something witty and sarcastic to say about a bunch of people he never knew being upset about his death.

Nevertheless, I'm gonna miss him :~)

Remembering him by watching and listening to him and appreciating his contribution to culture and to comedy is probably the best eulogy we can give him.

*goes off to watch all of the Carlin videos available on Youtube*

George Carlin On Death:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PiZSFIVFiU

George Carlin On Language:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h67k9eEw9AY

George Carlin On Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=george carlin&search=Search

25. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #197920 by Don_Quix on June 22, 2008 at 10:46 pm

:~D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

Sorry, I'll stop posting about George Carlin in this thread now :)

26. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #197914 by Don_Quix on June 22, 2008 at 10:24 pm

Sound like it's true. :(

More Carlin-death-related stuff :(

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2339172520080623

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080623/ts_nm/carlin_dc

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/arts/24carlin.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

I'm going to go ahead and skip through the whole denial and anger part of grief and go straight to depression :(

27. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #197910 by Don_Quix on June 22, 2008 at 10:02 pm

BREAKING NEWS:

I hate to interrupt this thread with potentially bad news, but it sounds like George Carlin may have just died :(

http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/06/62841/index.html

It's also a current breaking news headline on foxnews.com as of 10pm MST (not necessarily to be believed).

I hope this is not true :(

28. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #197899 by Don_Quix on June 22, 2008 at 9:20 pm

I think that's the trouble. I haven't had a beer in a few weeks, and my brain seems to be functioning a little better. Maybe a beer would stop that nasty effect. :D

Clearly, God is a Russian, because vodka > *

29. On this Day: Galileo Sentenced for Believing Sun Is Center of Universe

Comment #197897 by Don_Quix on June 22, 2008 at 9:18 pm

And by the way, as a matter of fact ,I DO OWN THE ROAD.........

A number of drivers on the Loop 101 in Phoenix, Arizona would beg to differ.

30. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #197879 by Don_Quix on June 22, 2008 at 8:09 pm

Terabrat:

2. They will survive. Cockroaches are amongst the most adaptive insects and they will adapt.
They will be the last to survive after a nuclear war too.

Not to jump in the middle of a very interesting discussion and be pedantic, but I'm fairly certain that the "cockroaches will be the only creatures that survive a nuclear war" thing has been disproven. I recall reading that cockroaches have no particularly special ability to resist radiation, and that they would die just as readily as most other complex life forms in the event of a full-scale nuclear war. There was even a Mythbusters episode that dealt with this particular myth. Looks like flour beetles win :D

Then again, I'm going off memory here, and my memory is notoriously bad ;)

31. On this Day: Galileo Sentenced for Believing Sun Is Center of Universe

Comment #197837 by Don_Quix on June 22, 2008 at 6:20 pm

I don't claim to be a historian or have any special expertise in history (in fact, I have none). However, doesn't it at least on the surface stand to reason that if the reason-based Greek and Roman philosophies of the ancient world had not been stifled by a combination of political upheaval and religious (specifically Christian) dogmatism during the middle-late part of the 1st millennium, and had instead been allowed to develop unabated, that we would be living in quite a different (and probably more intellectually/technologically advanced) world today?

32. On this Day: Galileo Sentenced for Believing Sun Is Center of Universe

Comment #197782 by Don_Quix on June 22, 2008 at 5:04 pm

When do we get to put the current leadership of the Catholic Church on trial for crimes against humanity?

terabrat:

Do you ever wonder where we could be scientifically if Christianity never existed?

Yes I do occasionally ponder that. I think it might have been Sam Harris or Hitch (although I could be mistaken) who said in one of his books something to the effect of:

If Christianity had not existed to place a stranglehold on knowledge and progress towards the end of the 1st millennium, and there had instead been an awakening of reason and logic similar to what happened during the Renaissance, we may have very well gone to the moon and had the Internet sometime in the 15th century. I'm paraphrasing and more than likely severely mangling that quote and its attribution, but the sentiment is the same. IMHO, western religion (primarily Christianity, and more primarily the Catholic Church) is directly responsible for setting back human progress at least a thousand years.

33. Bright Chunks At Phoenix Lander's Mars Site Must Have Been Ice

Comment #196955 by Don_Quix on June 20, 2008 at 5:05 pm

It's about the same temperature as Alaska too ;)

34. Science teacher dissed evolution

Comment #196804 by Don_Quix on June 20, 2008 at 12:59 pm

Prison time baby!

35. Muslim countries win concession regarding religious debates

Comment #196412 by Don_Quix on June 19, 2008 at 10:52 pm

If George Washington were still alive he could easily resolve this with his laser beam eyes.

36. Darwinists for Jesus

Comment #195795 by Don_Quix on June 18, 2008 at 8:21 pm


If we evolved, and evolution explains our foibles. Whither original sin?

That's what I was wondering. If evolution is "God's Plan" (or ethereal-cosmic-conciousnesses' plan), then it must be perfect, and we must be perfect. Otherwise, if there is still Original Sin, then the plan must be imperfect, and therefore God must be imperfect, because we would not have been able to commit Original Sin if we are evolving according to the perfect plan. Unless of course part of the plan involves us committing Original Sin, in which case God is just an asshole. XD

Oh but then there's that dastardly devil character too, isn't there? ;)

37. Is the Universe Actually Made of Math?

Comment #195604 by Don_Quix on June 18, 2008 at 3:38 pm

If the Universe is made of math, then how come I sucked so bad at it in high school?

38. Oystein Elgaroy - the Christian defender who became an Atheist

Comment #195104 by Don_Quix on June 17, 2008 at 6:26 pm

We just sound like angry atheists.

That's because some of us are angry atheists! And with good reason! :D

39. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #194338 by Don_Quix on June 16, 2008 at 3:57 pm

Help you heel? Are you suggesting that Steve and his partner are playing games that involve leashes and rolled up newspapers?

This almost made me fall off my chair. XD

40. Divine Impulses: Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #194139 by Don_Quix on June 16, 2008 at 1:01 pm

Although a friend of mine tells me Arizona can be as bad in the Summer.

It's 107 at 1pm right now. It's supposed to be around 112 later this afternoon. And summer just got started. I can't wait for August :D

41. The day of judgment

Comment #189605 by Don_Quix on June 6, 2008 at 4:08 pm

"Texas Cult Leader: Doomsday begins next Thursday, June 12".

Yikes indeed! Fortunately I'll be in the Bahamas, which I don't think is a primary nuclear target ;)

42. Opponents of Evolution Adopting a New Strategy

Comment #188867 by Don_Quix on June 4, 2008 at 9:09 pm

I don't have a problem with this as long as all students are also required to have an equal number of years of comparative religion courses where they discuss the "strengths and weaknesses" of major religions...with a particular emphasis of the discussion on fundamentalist interpretations of Christianity.

43. 'Uncontacted tribe' sighted in Amazon

Comment #186631 by Don_Quix on May 30, 2008 at 9:51 pm

This has been asked many times: what happened to all the people's souls in these tribes over the last thousands of years? They have never heard of Alla, or Christ. An answer that can never be rationaly explained.
Sure it can. What happened to all the people's souls in these tribes over the last thousands of years? Answer: Nothing.

:)

44. 'Uncontacted tribe' sighted in Amazon

Comment #186626 by Don_Quix on May 30, 2008 at 9:36 pm

Wasn't this already covered in a Star Trek episode?

I was thinking more along the lines of M. Knight Shyamalan's "The Village".

45. Car dealership advert tells atheists to 'shut up'

Comment #185408 by Don_Quix on May 27, 2008 at 6:43 pm

Hmm. I wonder if these guys are aware of Henry Ford's woo woo beliefs. Doesn't sound very Christian to me ;)

46. A Tribute to Douglas Adams: Towel Day May 25th

Comment #184323 by Don_Quix on May 24, 2008 at 3:25 pm

Hoopy froods unite!

47. The Faith of Flanders

Comment #184294 by Don_Quix on May 24, 2008 at 10:54 am

I've watched all of Matt Groening's shows since the first episode of the Simpsons aired. I have never gotten the impression that the Flanders character is anything but an outright parody of religion...fundamentalist religion specifically. If you watch the Simpsons or (especially) Futurama, or read any of Matt Groening's old comics like Life In Hell, it's quite clear that Groening is at best a cynical agnostic with no sympathy whatsoever for organized religion or authority in general, and more probably an outright atheist. He may have even said as much himself in an interview somewhere.

Anyone who who thinks Flanders was created so as to portray evangelicals in a good light either hasn't watched the Simpsons or Futurama, or is deluding themselves.

48. Does Time Run Backward in Other Universes?

Comment #184140 by Don_Quix on May 23, 2008 at 7:03 pm

I often feel like time is running backwards in this universe. Especially after a few too many pints!

49. Sun's properties not 'fine-tuned' for life

Comment #183812 by Don_Quix on May 22, 2008 at 10:15 pm

Vergil:

As I said before, I am generally in agreement with you. But, I would point out that it is probable that any civilization that is more than perhaps a thousand or so years more advanced than we are (a millisecond in cosmological time) would likely have a much better understanding of physics than we do, and also have much more advanced technologies that could take advantage of their understanding of physics. Just because we think we have a fairly firm grasp on physics right now (which I think we probably do, at least on a basic level) doesn't necessarily mean that there is no more physics to discover :)

Again, this is not to say that such civilizations exist. We could very well be the only intelligent life in the universe (that would be kind of cool in its own right). But, we also shouldn't limit our speculations of what other intelligent life, especially highly-advanced intelligent life, could be capable of based solely on our current, somewhat limited, understanding of physics :)

50. Sun's properties not 'fine-tuned' for life

Comment #183800 by Don_Quix on May 22, 2008 at 9:18 pm

Vergil:

I think we're in agreement. Neither of us are saying that there is no chance of there being any life besides us, and neither of us are saying that the universe (including areas nearby) are "teeming" with life, as you say. My only point was to say that since we are still a relatively young species, and no member of our species has left our own solar system yet, and we have no idea what types of communication or technology other species (if they exist) would be using, it is difficult to make a determination as to whether there is life at the same level or more advanced than we are somewhere in the universe.

Although I'm not prepared to conceed the point that we are the only intelligent life in the universe (and don't get me wrong, I know you weren't arguing that), I agree with your point that, so far, it is likely that we are the only intelligent life forms in our immediate vicinity...although I'm not sure if I'm prepared to give up the whole galaxy yet ;)

Then again, it would be nice if we had a whole galaxy to ourselves, I guess ;)

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