1. Hitler, Stalin, Mao, etc. were atheists, and they were terrible! Answer that!

Comment #84139 by PASmith on November 1, 2007 at 9:16 am

First of all I find it quite sad when religious people bring up "bad" atheists. A bit like a murderer pointing at another murderer and whining "He did it too!".

And if people really want to compare body counts between atheists and religion then surely one must include all of the people and animals killed during the great flood that Noah survived?
The flood that killed the vast majority of the people on this planet.
Atheists don't need to include those people as it didn't happen but religious people should.

2. Sam Harris at AAI 07

Comment #83164 by PASmith on October 29, 2007 at 6:18 am

I do not entirely agree that we don't need to label an opposing view or stand point. Surely in the past we have had...

Slave owner - Abolitionist
Alchemist - Chemist
Astrologer - Astronomer
Racism - Civil rights
Inequality - Equality/Feminism

and now...

Theist - Atheist

None of the opposing views are seen as "bad" so I see no reason for atheism to be seen as bad. It describes a persons view point about one aspect of life and if someone judges that person because of that then the problem does not lie with the atheist.
We could always use what we have been called by the religious before...Heretic, infidel, apostate? They sound any better?

3. Pascal's Wager

Comment #81792 by PASmith on October 25, 2007 at 7:29 am

To me now matter how bad the consequences for un-belief can be stated they make absolutely no effect on the potential truth of those beliefs.
I can tell someone that there is a charging Rhino behind them that is going to kill them.
Until they turn round and look for themselves the can infere no bias as to the truth of that statement either way.
There might be a Rhino or there might not be.
They are not in a position to say.
In the same way religious people cannot infere from Pascal's wager anything about the truth of god's existance.
Only when they die (or look behind them in the case of the Rhino) will the truth be revealed.
As such Pascal's wager is useless to debating the here and the now.

4. Another view

Comment #66207 by PASmith on August 29, 2007 at 9:26 am

Viz comic in the UK did a great parody of this "doctor" guy.
It was called "The Barefaced liar". :)

5. [Warning: Graphic] Children's foreheads slashed in Muslim saint's name

Comment #20069 by PASmith on January 31, 2007 at 8:35 am

There is a similar practice in parts of Italy as seen on "Francesco's Italy". Men hit parts of their bodies with wooden blocks studded with pins. The children often play the part of helpers (holding wine and flags) and are expected to follow in their Father's (bloody) footsteps. That happening in such an enlightened place as Italy is truly shocking.