Comments by GordonHide

Comment #136936 by GordonHide on March 2, 2008 at 3:51 am

As far as Ann Coulter goes, I think she must be an atheist who has decided she can make more money out of duping the religious and, as a bonus, bring Christian apologetics into disrepute.

2. The coming religious peace

Comment #132083 by GordonHide on February 24, 2008 at 5:30 am

A very enjoyable article. Mr Wolfe has, however, omitted the best argument which explains American religiosity compared to other developed western countries. It is to be found below.

http://richarddawkins.net/article,956,Why-the-Gods-Are-Not-Winning,Edge-Gregory-Paul-amp-Phil-Zuckerman

3. Exorcism undergoes a revival across Europe

Comment #125888 by GordonHide on February 12, 2008 at 8:22 am

Poor Poles! It looks like out of the communist frying pan and into the Catholic fire.

4. George Scales, War Hero and Generous Friend of RDFRS

Comment #111476 by GordonHide on January 14, 2008 at 5:58 pm

Thank you very much for your service to the country and to RDFRS.

Good luck with your operation.

5. It is possible to be moral without God

Comment #105285 by GordonHide on December 31, 2007 at 4:48 am

We should recognise and celebrate good wherever we come across it, while being ready to acknowledge and counter the darker side of human nature.

I should have thought that Dawkin's evolutionary explanation of the good side of human nature would have lead the bishop to realise that there is no "dark side" to human nature in the way that he seems to imagine. Insofar as individuals do not follow the dictates of their evolutionary gifted social proclivities, they have either been unlucky in the genes they have received, or, more likely, environmental conditioning has caused them to subvert their natural proclivities.

6. Monkey, Business

Comment #105273 by GordonHide on December 31, 2007 at 3:57 am

Shermers ideas, if properly represented by this article, are self contradictory. he seems to want to support the free market by saying it is self regulating due to our evolutionary tendency to cooperate. Cooperation is shared decision making for the general good. Of course, good government is also shared decision making for the general good. The only real difference between these two sorts of market interference is that Shermer believes in the free market.

7. Atheism's Wrong Turn

Comment #93386 by GordonHide on December 3, 2007 at 3:15 am

Lister: "Why Dawkins refuses to take this idea to its logical conclusion--to say that raising a child in a religious tradition, like other forms of child abuse, should be considered a crime punishable by the state--is a mystery"
That is because Dawkins is not the intolerant historical ignoramus you make him out to be. he knows that the tyranny necessary to bring about such a state of affairs would be worse than the tyranny of gods, who, at least, have the good manners not to exist.

8. Banishing the Green-Eyed Monster

Comment #92620 by GordonHide on December 1, 2007 at 12:59 am

I can't believe the good professor didn't work all this out years ago. Perhaps it's just taken him all this time to get his wife's permission to publish it?

9. The good that comes from belief

Comment #86712 by GordonHide on November 10, 2007 at 2:39 am

Two points about this article and the posts so far.
People are right to be suspicious about the quality of this research. I remember similar research where survey respondents were asked to rate human qualities most important to society. The religious did well there too with high votes for love, friendship, compassion etc. Of course, practical qualities, which atheists might have chosen, such as organisational ability, planning skills, problem solving skills, ability to work in teams and respect for the rule of law, did not form part of the survey at all.

Secondly, if you want a good counter example of atheist "charity", look at the Scandinavian countries where atheists predominate. They are, of course, properly organised. Giving is through a progressive tax system. Every citizen gets good quality health care irrespective of means. Every citizen has dignity and security in old age and infirmity and the education systems put these countries at the top of international league tables. And still these countries spend more as a proportion of GNP on international aid than most.

10. Fiction or prediction?

Comment #78619 by GordonHide on October 13, 2007 at 10:24 pm

For those interested, there was some research done and a book written by an epidemiologist and an historian. Unfortunately I can't remember the names of the book or its authors. Anyway, the black death is now thought to have been some form of haemorrhagic fever and was nothing to do with fleas or rats. It was not bubonic plague.

11. Not So Fast, Christian Soldiers

Comment #65395 by GordonHide on August 24, 2007 at 3:30 am

Yes, error in belief, all to often, leads to error in action.

12. Atheists: stand up and be counted

Comment #50533 by GordonHide on June 18, 2007 at 3:43 pm

It may be that this government's current love affair with the religious is partly fueled by it's concern for the perceived lack of morality and aimlessness amongst some of the young. I'm just afraid that we will have to wait until the government realises it's mistake. But don't hold your breath.

13. Is Prince Philip an island god?

Comment #49279 by GordonHide on June 11, 2007 at 10:29 am

At least Prince Philip exists. And judging by some of the things he says, probably in a different plain from the rest of us. So, in fact, this religion seems more rational than most of the others.

14. Wanted: Moral Education for Secular Children

Comment #48842 by GordonHide on June 9, 2007 at 7:09 am

Great article! Let's hope someone has some good ideas for getting this stuff into public education by overcoming the opposition of the "Here's the giant list of rules. See that you stick to them" brigade.

15. Atheism is the absence of belief

Comment #48788 by GordonHide on June 9, 2007 at 3:44 am

A short, clear and well argued article spoiled by the last line.

"Atheism is not only a viable alternative to faith, it is, I believe, the most probable, most promising, and most positive view of life."

If atheism is simply a lack of belief in gods how can it ever be an alternative to faith which generally involves many beliefs, a set of moral values, often a faith community and common rituals and traditions.

Gordon Hide.

16. Group Threatens to Sue Pentagon Over Military Role in Evangelical Festival

Comment #45268 by GordonHide on May 27, 2007 at 3:15 am

I just wanted to thank BT Murtagh for an insightful and knowledgeable post.

Gordon Hide

17. Fears for Democracy in India

Comment #44835 by GordonHide on May 25, 2007 at 11:25 am

As a general guide, it's safe to assume democracy is in serious danger whenever the electorate forms dominant political parties on ethnic or religious lines. My heart sank when I first heard of the BJP. Let us hope that a free press and improving education can save India.

18. Fortune-telling no longer in the cards in Philly

Comment #39030 by GordonHide on May 9, 2007 at 7:39 pm

Does this mean that if the second coming starts in Philadelphia Christ will be politely escorted to the state line?

19. John Paul Sainthood Nun 'Gentle, Simple'

Comment #28666 by GordonHide on March 30, 2007 at 10:23 am

A bit like having the casino's own security team carry out the investigation to see if the tables are fixed

20. Lonely Atheists of the Global Village

Comment #26464 by GordonHide on March 19, 2007 at 1:05 pm

What an unbelievable windbag!

21. Darwin's God

Comment #24149 by GordonHide on March 5, 2007 at 3:38 am

Atheists can't win on this research. If it eventually shows we evolved to believe then the theists will have a field day. On the other hand, if not, the theists will say "but we do believe, so God did it"

22. The Language of Ignorance

Comment #23759 by GordonHide on March 2, 2007 at 2:10 pm

Why don't we be charitable towards Collins and assume his book is just a scam to fleece the faithful? That would make him not nearly as disreputable in my book.

23. If God is talking to you, too, Mr Cameron - don't listen

Comment #23508 by GordonHide on March 1, 2007 at 10:07 am

Well I hope I'm wrong, but this looks very carefully worded to have his cake and eat it too.

24. Believing Scripture but Playing by Science's Rules

Comment #22120 by GordonHide on February 13, 2007 at 12:40 am

Just goes to show what a prophet George Orwell was. Talk about doublethink. It's amazing.

25. Doubters do it from the pulpit

Comment #20097 by GordonHide on January 31, 2007 at 10:50 am

"Fundamentalists have become such a threat to us all that a new deal is required between progressives, religious and non-religious."

This bloke just doesn't get it. Trying to reach an accommodation with "moderate" theists for a joint approach to fundamentalism is like asking the more docile inmates of an asylum if they have any good ideas for dealing with their more violent brethren.

26. The faithful have departed

Comment #20026 by GordonHide on January 31, 2007 at 5:32 am

When it comes to questions like this I pay more attention to what people do rather than what they say. There are statistics available which show the degree of regular attendance at places of worship and also the degree to which people like religious ceremonies for marriages or funerals.

27. Faith's Last Gasp

Comment #19660 by GordonHide on January 29, 2007 at 6:04 am

Ah sweet optimism, may I borrow thy rose tinted glasses?

28. If they preach the cause of the poor, they're my people

Comment #19279 by GordonHide on January 26, 2007 at 4:33 am

Surely this bloke must get some sort of prize for woolly thinking!

As just one example of what could have been many, I quote:

"The Pope also berated unbridled consumerism in his address"

He might have said:

"The Pope, speaking as the head of the richest religious organisation in the world from his apartments in one of the largest palaces in the world, also berated unbridled consumerism in his address"

Democracy, capitalism and the application of science have done more to alleviate poverty and human suffering in 250 years than religion has done since the dawn of recorded history.