1. Debate between Richard Dawkins and Robert Winston

Comment #45617 by Rationalist on May 28, 2007 at 1:41 pm

It's odd that so many religious people take offense at the term delusion. Delusion is a false belief or opinion such as I am under a delusion if I think pi is rational.

The one thing one can say with certainty about people with a religious faith is that most (perhaps all) are wrong in their beliefs. The Catholics, the Muslims, the Mormons and the Pastafarians and thousands of other religions and denominations can't all be right, indeed thay have radically different beliefs, both in practice of how to follow God's commands and in what God is.

In fact if they were being honest they would say that people of other religions are under a false set of beliefs or delusion.

2. Ask Richard!

Comment #41728 by Rationalist on May 16, 2007 at 5:56 pm

It's wonderful to talk about science. I love the God Delusion, wished I had read it 30 years ago, but it's not really a science book. The selfish Gene is about science, biology specifically, and allows the reader to explore how science works and how a biologist thinks. Yes it's good to decry the irrational and arbitrary thought process that is religion, but then go positive and explore the rational and evidential mindset that is science

3. Nothing sacred: Journalist and provocateur Christopher Hitchens picks a fight with God

Comment #41013 by Rationalist on May 15, 2007 at 10:43 am

I always capitalize the word God, but then I always capitalize Santa Claus as well. I strive to be consistent.

4. Christians and atheists start a calmer dialogue

Comment #40479 by Rationalist on May 14, 2007 at 10:36 am

Just a side comment on the article's source, the Christian Science Monitor and its parent denomination Christian Science. It's interesting that many mainline Christians would deny the Christian aspect of Christian Science and scientists would deny anything scientific about its denomination's confused metaphysics.

It never ceases to amaze me what people will believe through faith.

5. How dare you call me a fundamentalist

Comment #40372 by Rationalist on May 14, 2007 at 7:32 am

I agree. It is so wonderful to have an intelligent, articulate and pleasant spokesperson for atheism. He is firm in his opinions and that drives believers mad as it questions the fundamental foundation of their beliefs.

And the ultimate aggravation is that he is willing to admit he is wrong if presented with evidence, something religious people are loathe to even contemplate.

6. Atheism in America

Comment #40351 by Rationalist on May 14, 2007 at 6:50 am

I was raised a Catholic in a community with a strong Protestant evangelical element and I was taunted, confronted and told outright I was going to hell when I died. I found that harrowing enough, I don't know what I would have been subjected to if I had have been the atheist I am now.

My total sympathy and support for that young lady and her family. The only consolation for her is that times are changing for the better and she is helping make that change.

7. Christians and atheists start a calmer dialogue

Comment #40330 by Rationalist on May 14, 2007 at 6:21 am

A dialogue between believers and atheists cannot but help the atheist side. For way too long religion has been imposed by society with no belief equated with immorality. With discussion, some moderater believers sill come to see that religion isn't neccessary and all the stereotypes of athiests are not neccessarily true.

I only wish I had Richard Dawkins book 30 years ago, it would have saved me a lot of wasted years and intellectual contortions.

8. Atheist Richard Dawkins on 'The God Delusion'

Comment #18295 by Rationalist on January 19, 2007 at 12:19 pm

I was reading an article on Carl Sagan who felt priviledged to be alive during the generation when the knowledge of the planets and their moons changed from being points of light in the sky to actual bodies with a wealth of information. Similarily, thanks to authors like Richard Dawkins, I'm so glad to be alive during the time when the shackles of religion are being removed from so many. It is acceptable to not believe. How wonderful.