1. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #212309 by Prieten on July 17, 2008 at 2:16 am

I once took my Japanese wife and step-daughter to hear some Christmas choral music in a Catholic Church in California, because they asked me to. My sister went too. Some quick background, I am a "fallen" Catholic and my sister is still a true believer. Well, the singing went on and on and I admit I got a little inattentive. The time for communion came and my sister headed off to eat her piece of Jesus. I failed to notice my eight-year-old step-daughter go with her, it was that crowded there (did I forget to say it was Christas Eve?). So my step-daughter did just like all the other people standing in line, she got her host cracker and started walking off with it, but I now assume she didn't say the magic words "Body of Christ" or "Amen" or "Thanks be to God" or whatever the password is these days (my step-daughter couldn't speak English then). Well, I was awakened from my daydreaming by sudden commotion up by the altar as a group of angry adults were chasing after someone or something, I couldn't see what. Finally, my sister appeared with my step-daughter and explained what happened. The Lay-ministers had swooped onto my step-daughter and "rescued" the body of Christ. I was worried she would get a complex from this experience, but fortunately not, she just laughed and shook her head in disbelief. My wife wasn't amused by what she saw and told me we shouldn't risk going into another Catholic church again. Halleluja!!!

2. The Stupidity of Dignity

Comment #179138 by Prieten on May 12, 2008 at 6:37 pm

Excellent article.

But I have a question. If genetic engineering has the potential to eliminate fatal genetic diseases or even slow the natural aging process, won't this just cause more overpopulation of the planet?

I guess that sounds really insensitive and I am not comfortable saying that. We have, thanks to science, managed to overcome many "natural" limits to our growth. Nature keeps trying to regain its lost power by evolving new diseases (or new versions of old ones), but science always is finding new ways to beat back nature's onslaught.

If one views the Earth and its resources as part of nature, we are finally bumping into some natural physical limits. The atmosphere can only take so much CO2. It takes billions of years to make oil. Our food supply has been expanded by confounding nature through the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, all by-products of fossil fuels.

The cheap energy we have been using to overcome nature's limits is running out. What does this mean for the Earth's ability to sustain its population (one that is also living longer and longer)?

There isn't much dignity in suffering from a debilitating disease and scientists are right to try to make our lives as comfortable as possible. But there isn't much dignity in starvation either.

3. When Congress Interferes With Science, Who You Gonna Call? (Hint: It's not Ghostbusters)

Comment #86021 by Prieten on November 7, 2007 at 9:42 pm

I signed up! How about you?

4. Muslims tell Christians: 'Make peace with us or survival of world is at stake'

Comment #78081 by Prieten on October 11, 2007 at 6:38 pm

I hate to be alarmist, but I think we all know that it is just a matter of time before Al Qaeda gets its hands on a nuclear weapon and uses it. This letter almost sounds more like a threat, than a real quest for peace.

5. Response to My Fellow 'Atheists'

Comment #77267 by Prieten on October 8, 2007 at 11:17 pm

"We should go under the radar for the rest of our lives."

That is the most cowardly thing I have heard in a long time. I guess even Sam Harris isn't perfect.

I don't think Atheists ever preface their spoken opinions with, "I'm an atheist!" but just about every atheist has had this screamed into his face, "Oh, you're an atheist!" in an ad hominem avoidance of the argument.

I have never heard Atheists suggest that religious meddling is an affront ONLY to Atheists. If something was annoying to ONLY such a small minority of the world, I don't think anyone would care. Religious meddling is almost always an affront to all OTHER religions, reason, women, the constitution, etc. This also covers Sam Harris's last underlined passage.

Sam Harris should really apologize to the Atheist Alliance. I think PZ Myers's analogy of the Abolitionists hits the nail on the head. Sam Harris goes to a convention of the Abolitionists and says, "You know, that word Abolitionist really is a red flag to the slavery crowd. We should drop it, go underneath the radar, and stay there for the rest of our lives..."

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

Comment #77262 by Prieten on October 8, 2007 at 10:49 pm

Dear Damien,

No, no, no, no. Non-belief in religions is not the normal rest-state of all life. We non-believers in religion (atheists) are a very, very small minority in the world.

The normal rest-state of all life seems to be belief in the religion you were brainwashed with since your early childhood. Maybe someday, if we atheists don't give up and crawl underneath a rock (like Sam Harris wants us to), the word "atheist" won't be needed anymore. The comparison to the word Abolitionist is very apt.

Until that day comes (probably not in my lifetime, I'm 48) non-believers need to get in the face of the believers and say, "No, belief in religion is not the only option. You can try to be an adult and stop talking to imaginary friends."

Will this make the believers happy? Of course not, but then I am not interested in making believers happy, unlike Sam Harris. I tell all the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses who knock at my door: "No, thank you, we are all atheists in this house." The shocked look on their face is just priceless.

PZ Myers is so right! Hurray for him!

7. Scandal brewing at Oral Roberts U.

Comment #76467 by Prieten on October 6, 2007 at 12:31 am

Another Okie has to give his two cents: everyone in Oklahoma knew Oral Roberts was a crook. As the Germans would say, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." I guess his children are carrying on his "good" works. The article mentions there is a giant sculpture on the campus of two praying hands. We Okies would say, if you watch those hands real closely for a while, you will see the thumbs rubbing the finger tips (hard to describe in words, but that is a gesture that signifies money).

8. The Problem with Atheism

Comment #76108 by Prieten on October 4, 2007 at 6:22 pm

Oh Sam! So you don't want to be an atheist? What does that make you, a theist? Of course not, you are an atheist. Why are you ashamed of the word?

Just because the religious snigger and roll their eyes when they say, "Oh, you're an atheist!" doesn't make it a bad word. The appropriate answer is a cheerful, "Yes, I am." If they roll out the same old tired arguments (Hitler, Stalin were atheists, everyone will be immoral without religion, etc.), well, just roll out the usual counter-arguments. Yes, this is tedious, but I believe a lot can be accomplished by repetition. The most important thing is that the religious are confronted with more and more people proud to state they do not believe in God fantasies.

Why should we try to go "under the radar"? Why is my Sam Harris running for the high grass, trying to blend into the background? That is not the way to bring attention to the cause of reason. Yes, non-belief in God should be the default position, it shouldn't require a label. But face it, we are not close to being a majority in this world. Thanks to early brainwashing, the vast majority of the world's population believes in some religious fantasy. As a minority we are going to be labeled. You forget, there once was a word for non-racists, it was called "Abolitionist". These brave men and women (give credit where it is due, most were religious) spoke up, in some cases took up arms, to free the slaves. We can all be happy that today, after much pain and consciousness-raising, the word Abolitionist is no longer needed. Slavery has been eliminated. Likewise, we must all fight day in and day out against religious superstition until the day is reached when the word Atheist is no longer needed. What would have happened with slavery, if the anti-slavery people had decided to "go under the radar"?

I think politically the term Atheist is very good. It is a big enough term to include scientists, socialists, feminists, humanists, heck even some Buddhists and many more kinds of people. I think it was very clever of the conservatives in America to create the "Conservative Coalition". It united libertarians, conservatives, the religious right and others under the unifying concepts of anti-communism and limited government. The power of this coaltion was far greater than any of the individual groups could have achieved themsleves.

As an atheist, nothing prevents me from singling out Islam as the greatest threat to human rights. But there happens also to be plenty to criticize in other religions. Yes, I criticize all forms of religion, but I don't feel compelled to do so equally.

Finally, on this meditation mumbo-jumbo: Sam, I tell you, if I had one percent of your gifts for eloquence and reasoned argument, I would be a happier man. But forgive me if I say I am pretty happy already. Thanks to Carl Sagan, Richard Dawkins and other scientists I know that I am the result of billions of years of cosmic and biologic evolution. Yes, my flesh is heir to a thousand blows, but what is the alternative? If you are not happy with an occasional tasty tidbit, the love of a kind woman, a refrigerator full of beer, modest career success, etc., and you think you are going to find happiness in jettisoning all your desire for these things, then commit suicide (no, don't!). That is the quickest route to Nirvana. No, Sam, our bodies have been programmed to seek good-tasting nourishment, to make babies, to survive in a sometimes hostile environment. Let's enjoy our brief time in this world while we can. There is no enlightenment to be found in a cave, only batshit.

9. Why are we Muslims so self-destructive?

Comment #73506 by Prieten on September 25, 2007 at 6:11 am

Richard Morgan, you are really way out of line. You should apologize to everyone here at Richard Dawkins Net. None of these people whom you have criticized is the "enemy within", they are all atheists like you. If they wish to use pseudonyms, that is their business. Nowhere in the Richard Dawkins Net does it say we have to use our real names. Who made you "God" here?

10. 'Delusion' Revisits Faith Vs. Reason Debate

Comment #63272 by Prieten on August 13, 2007 at 6:53 pm

I live here in Japan. After I read TGD, my Japanese wife ran out and bought the Japanese translation of TGD.

I am getting a constant stream of "Do Christians really believe that?", "Does it really say that in the Bible?", "People can't be that stupid!".

Yes, they do. Yes, it does. Yes, they are.

The Japanese have lots of Shinto and Buddhist temples and on the occasional holiday they will throw a coin into a temple box, but they don't take religion very seriously. Someone once said the Japanese do a Shinto ceremony at birth, get married in a Christian-looking chapel, and have a Buddhist funeral ceremony. I don't think they are hedging their bets, just enjoying the smells and bells.

It's quite nice to live in Japan. It is very rare, but an occasional Mormon missionary or Jehovah's Witness will pounce on me, thinking they have finally found a fellow God-believing foreigner. But you should see the look of disappointment when I say, "No, I'm an atheist."

The Christian churches have much more influence in Korea.

11. Why Richard Dawkins is right on alternative medicine - but not when it comes to religion

Comment #62490 by Prieten on August 10, 2007 at 1:17 am

Mr. Lawson comes right out and says it.

"For the most part, however - and certainly in the mainstream - the Christian churches have retreated to the safe high ground of ethics. Here, it seems to me, they are immune..."

Then he favorably quotes his late father-in-law A.J. Ayers, "all statements of ethics are factually meaningless, being no more than the expression of the view that we either like or dislike something."

Am I missing something? He just said Christian Churches have retreated to...meaninglessness???

12. God in the Military - The Pentagon and its Christian Embassy

Comment #61992 by Prieten on August 7, 2007 at 6:48 pm

Coretemprising, I have been there too. Raised in a Catholic family, I rejected that silliness as a teenager. But when I experienced some emotional problems in my twenties, I started attending a group similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, called Emotions Anonymous. Most everyone knows by now those groups are thinly veiled "religion as crutch" groups which encourage a return to religion. After a few very embarrassing episodes of stating my renewed belief in God to my parents, I thankfully came to the realization that talking with others was helping me, not this "higher power" that AA or EA was pushing. I have managed to stay atheist since then, but for a long time a quiet one, since openly saying you are an atheist in America has serious consequences for your career (I once had a boss who invited a minister from a local "Bible Institute" into his office every week for a prayer meeting). Thanks to Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris (and to all of you here at RichardDawkins.net) I now feel proud and happy that I am not delusional. But in the back of my mind, there is this fear that some emotional stress might someday come again which could make me weak...

13. Sen. Clinton: Faith got me through marital strife

Comment #47877 by Prieten on June 5, 2007 at 9:57 pm

Edwards's faith came "roaring back" when his teenage son died, when his wife was diagnosed with cancer? Sounds to me that he was under duress and wasn't able to think rationally. Does he thank God for killing his son? Did he send his wife to church for prayer healing or did he send her to the hospital?

It reminds me of the argument my Catholic mother always tried on me: John Wayne converted on his deathbed...(appeal to authority?) My answer, was easy: sounds like he was under a bit of duress, facing death's door.

As for Hillary Clinton, I suspect she and her hubby know they have/had to pay lip-service to the religious crowd. They would be unelectable if they said they were atheists. I'm voting for her anyway.

14. Hamas Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony

Comment #47530 by Prieten on June 4, 2007 at 9:41 pm

The little girls at the beginning of the video are being trained to become the 72 virgins waiting for the boys in heaven?

15. For the God Question, a Biological Perspective

Comment #43833 by Prieten on May 22, 2007 at 9:39 pm

A great review! Finally, a reviewer who actually has read the book! I was recently challenged by a god-believing friend to read the TGD book and debate it with him. Our debate soon degenerated to where my friend insisted there must be an "uncaused cause" for the universe and god could inhabit some non-material spiritual world we don't know about. I am amazed at the human mind's ability to fantasize. But, just the same, I am forever thankful that I read the book. I have since read a more recent version of The Selfish Gene which has after-the-fact commentary by Dawkins. I am amazed at the man's humility in admitting his (very few) errors and his equally modest I-told-you-so's.

16. Would the World Be Safer Without Religion?

Comment #43495 by Prieten on May 21, 2007 at 6:54 pm

"Atheists are so convinced of their total grasp of 'truth' that they don't really pay close attention to counter arguments. They go to their websites read their literature all of which will virtually never post anything that is critical of their position, especially books as strong as those that have come out recently. They have reviewers and commentators who airly attempt to dismiss them with a wave of their 'rationalist' hand. Just claim the high ground and thats it, but the arguments are threadbare and long worn out. Still they trot out the same nonsense that has been trotted out before."

This infantile substitution of the word "Atheists" for "Theists" shows The Wee Pee is either blind or intentionally stupid. Open your eyes!!! All these 50 comments are about an article by a Theist! That article and countless similar ones by other Theists are posted regularly here on RichardDawkins.net where they are subjected to the scrutiny they deserve, not by reveiwers and commentators who airily dismiss them with a wave of their hand, but by any Tom, Dick or Harry (or Helen) who cares to post, and that unfortunately includes you. If you can't argue a point above the "copycat" schoolyard level, why don't you rest your fingers a bit, just read the comments here and you may find a whole new world full of logical arguments and argument methods.

17. Freethinking Ruins All Things

Comment #42720 by Prieten on May 19, 2007 at 6:54 am

I just looked at the "What's wrong with the world" site. You guys are just fantastic! I have never seen a stupid blog turned around 180 degrees like that! The faith-heads' heads are spinning! The monitor is crying that you are disrespecting his site! "You are free to comment, as long as you don't use adjectives..." Okay, I think I am going to die laughing!!!

18. Among the Disbelievers

Comment #40705 by Prieten on May 14, 2007 at 6:26 pm

"If one does not believe in God, what should one believe in instead?"

When I read this question, I thought, oh no, here we go again. The Nation has been pushing marxism forever, and, during the Cold War, it was a reliable apologist/propagandist for every communist regime.

Maybe I overreacted, but I hope atheists don't substitute marxism for religion. We've been down that road, and atheists have been (unjustifiably) saddled with having to answer for Stalin's crimes ever since.

19. Mormonism: A Racket Becomes a Religion

Comment #35623 by Prieten on April 28, 2007 at 1:24 am

Regarding Comment #35599 by k1mgy about Romney for President: Considering we atheists are the most reviled minority in America (are we ahead of or behind the pedophiles?), maybe we should strategically endorse Romney and not the candidate that we really want to win...

20. Shout your doubt out loud, my fellow unbelievers

Comment #34671 by Prieten on April 24, 2007 at 9:21 pm

Re: Noble Savages

Was it the Aztecs who were ripping out captives' hearts or was it the Mayans who were throwing bejeweled girls into natural watershafts as part of their religious rituals, or vice versa?

In my opinion, not much worse than Abrahamic religious rituals, but not much better either...

21. Beatrix Potter, scientist

Comment #31038 by Prieten on April 10, 2007 at 6:33 pm

Have you seen the recently released movie about Beatrix Potter? Now, I think it focused a little too much on her love life and the Peter Rabbit books. I had no idea she was so accomplished in the field of botany.

On a different note, it is very hard to tell from the usernames used here in richarddawkins.net, but I have gotten the impression there aren't as many women active in these forums as there are men. Does atheism appeal more to men than women? Maybe women are just too busy to log on to internet sites like this.

22. U.S. Mint goof creates 'Godless dollars'

Comment #24830 by Prieten on March 8, 2007 at 7:03 pm

"After Washington, the presidents to be honored on dollar coins this year will be John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison."

These three: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison are listed as likely atheists in The God Delusion. So much for the frequently heard assertion "America was founded as a Christian nation."

23. 'Everyone Is Afraid to Criticize Islam': Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #20860 by Prieten on February 6, 2007 at 8:15 pm

Great woman! Sad news is she was hounded out of Holland based on some lies they dug up on her asylum application, but the good news: Now she is at the American Enterprise Institute and America has her! Yeeah!