1. Richard Dawkins Responds to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #181290 by christianjb on May 16, 2008 at 9:00 pm

Aha, I finally get to disagree with RD about something!

Referring to someone's speech patterns as Hitlerian shows a complete lack of tact, and could be perceived as grossly offensive by a Jewish person (and others).

Maybe Stentor would have been a better choice.

I watched this Rabbi's debate with Hitchens on Youtube. He's a nut, and Hitchens came up with some very funny putdowns.

Don't get me wrong. The Rabbi deserves to be insulted, but let's insult him for his ridiculous arguments and not for any perceived similarities with Hitler's oratorical style.

It's only my opinion, but I would have apologized.

2. Charles Simonyi Professorship in the Public Understanding of Science

Comment #125142 by christianjb on February 11, 2008 at 2:51 am

I nominate either of the following theoretical physicists/philosophers of science:

Max Tegmark of MIT
Christopher Isham of Imperial College
Huw Price of University of Sydney

The above have devoted their careers to answering the big questions: The nature of time and space, identity, the limits of logic and mathematics and the structure of science itself.

They are all inspiring visionaries who have not been afraid to think deeply about philosophy, science, mathematics, truth and beauty.

3. Sam Harris seems like a nice fellow, but very confused

Comment #77265 by christianjb on October 8, 2007 at 11:04 pm

Prieten:

Well- I don't agree with Harris here- but atheism is in fact the default state for all animals (including newborn humans).

4. Praying to a milk jug

Comment #55318 by christianjb on July 10, 2007 at 2:52 pm

Um, that's not an 'optical' illusion.

5. The God Delusion

Comment #36384 by christianjb on May 1, 2007 at 2:57 am

Yes, let's replace God with Ayn Rand's nutty philosophy.

That's the hidden meaning of this review- in case you're wondering.

6. Boxmind E-Lectures

Comment #35756 by christianjb on April 28, 2007 at 7:32 pm

The date on the Guardian link is 2001. This was news 6 years ago!

7. Boxmind E-Lectures

Comment #35755 by christianjb on April 28, 2007 at 7:31 pm

This is ancient news, 2-3 years old. The site has gone now.

8. Crucifixion 'makes God into a psychopath'

Comment #30121 by christianjb on April 7, 2007 at 2:13 am

Brian:

You can't just ditch the Bible. It's part of our cultural heritage, which has inspired art, music, language and philosophy- not to mention wars, discrimination and suffering.

Art is not superseded by modern discoveries in the same way that scientific models can be.

Not even the most ardent atheist would be in favor of ditching the Iliad or denying that it contains stories which are important on a whole range of different levels, even though its historical accuracy is close to zero.

9. Crucifixion 'makes God into a psychopath'

Comment #30105 by christianjb on April 7, 2007 at 1:25 am

Brian:

Exactly- and this guy is questioning that part, but I can still see why some people find some parts of modern Christianity attractive for purely philosophical and moral reasons.

I also suspect that some parts of the Bible are among the most important contributions to humanist philosophy that have ever been written. Of course, you have to cherry-pick, but there are some very good cherries there.

10. Crucifixion 'makes God into a psychopath'

Comment #30099 by christianjb on April 7, 2007 at 12:58 am

Many people are Christians because they are attracted to a modern humane philosophy of kindness and non-violence.

I don't have any problems with that.

11. Amazing Meeting 3, 2005

Comment #26148 by christianjb on March 17, 2007 at 8:19 am

Christian,

I like our name- it's kind of cool. I even liked it when they shortened my name to Christ on a pizza box a few weeks back.

I hope our name outlives the religion.

12. Amazing Meeting 3, 2005

Comment #26073 by christianjb on March 16, 2007 at 1:06 pm

AtheistJunkie: Christian is my name.

13. Amazing Meeting 3, 2005

Comment #26036 by christianjb on March 16, 2007 at 7:17 am

Roscoe-

That's what I figured, but then again, you don't know me from Adam, so for all you know I could be dumber than firewood and have meant those comments as genuine.

Seems like AtheistJunkie may have missed my 'satire' label. Oh well, guess I'm no Colbert.

14. Amazing Meeting 3, 2005

Comment #25943 by christianjb on March 15, 2007 at 6:21 pm

Wow, look at those two atheist fanatics, frothing at the mouth like rabid dogs.

They look just as threatening as Muslim extremists.

Dawkins in particular has fire in his eyes- a visage of pure hatred.

I had to turn the volume down- the noise of their atheistic fire and brimstone was overloading my poor speakers.

(satire)

15. Discussion of The God Delusion

Comment #17947 by christianjb on January 17, 2007 at 4:48 pm

Nope- none of them had carefully read the book.

They claimed that Dawkins had omitted acknowledgment of the cultural influence that religion has had on architecture, music etc.

Untrue.