Comments by notsobad

651. Fox News Attacks 'Godless' Free Thought Radio

Comment #78537 by notsobad on October 13, 2007 at 2:11 pm

War on God? War on religion?

These people always have to declare war on everything (war on drugs, war on poverty...) and assume others are equally moronic.

652. Ayaan Hirsi Ali: abandoned to fanatics

Comment #77822 by notsobad on October 10, 2007 at 5:49 pm

Why do the Americans only have "leftie" and "conservatives"?

They don't. So your premise is incorrect.

I obviously didn't mean 100%, but it's true for an overwhelming majority.
Similarly to religious labels, some people want to simplify their lives by just going with either the Democrats or the Republicans and cannot think for themselves. Even a libertarian candidate - Ron Paul - took the Republican label to get at least some attention.

653. 'Dirty War' priest gets life term

Comment #77819 by notsobad on October 10, 2007 at 5:41 pm

The Christian god obviously doesn't give a shit who represents him.

654. Migrations influenced immune evolution

Comment #77712 by notsobad on October 10, 2007 at 9:00 am

That was just god reacting in real time.
/ID nut

655. Ayaan Hirsi Ali: abandoned to fanatics

Comment #77711 by notsobad on October 10, 2007 at 8:59 am

Why do the Americans only have "leftie" and "conservatives"?
I never said anything about atheists having to be left (or right for that matter). But I noticed that just like with many other things, the Americans always have to divide everybody into sides, parties, factions, etc.
You can be "right wing" and not be a neo-conservative like the AEI is. Or you can just think that these labels like left and right are only for the label-minded (to paraphrase Carlin).

656. Ayaan Hirsi Ali: abandoned to fanatics

Comment #77582 by notsobad on October 9, 2007 at 7:01 pm

American Enterprise Institute includes such people as Paul Wolfowitz (visiting scholar) and Lynne Cheney, Dick Cheney's wife.

657. Ayaan Hirsi Ali: abandoned to fanatics

Comment #77525 by notsobad on October 9, 2007 at 2:15 pm

I still need an explanation why she, while protesting against Muslim extremists, worked for Christian extremists, American Enterprise Institute?

658. Debate between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox

Comment #76927 by notsobad on October 7, 2007 at 8:13 pm

The Wee Flea

As regards Korea – 200 years ago there were no Christians in Korea – now there are 45%. How does this square with RD's oft repeated assertion (which he worked out when he was 9!) that your religion is determined by your birth. If that were true then surely the Koreas would all still be Buddhist?

The number 45% is completely made up since the last official census from 1995 says 26.3%.
Now about the difference made during the last 200 years. Maybe, just maybe, it's because of colonization of Asia and all the missionaries? Or how about that major conflict, which brought many Christians for a few years of whom many stayed after it? And Christianity has always been quite an aggressive religion when it comes gaining new victims.
By the way, Korea, despite its heavy industrialization and modernization after the war, has had a widespread problem with corruption (one of the highest rates in the industrialized world). That must be all those non-believers (about 50% of the country) participating in it..

659. Debate between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox

Comment #76441 by notsobad on October 5, 2007 at 10:43 pm

blackhaw, you like them straw men, don't you?

What kinds of knowledge are we talking about here?

660. Debate between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox

Comment #76221 by notsobad on October 5, 2007 at 5:49 am

After a series of opinions from the new hippie Christians, who seem Buddhist or deistic, we have an old-timer - miracles exist, the Bible is all true and foundation of everything, etc.
He also, of course, could not forget to say something as stupid as "Imagine world without atheism - millions would not die under Pol Pot, Stalin..."
Even the hosts from some Christian organization felt a little uneasy.

661. Hirsi Ali Returns to the Netherlands after Losing Body Guards

Comment #76205 by notsobad on October 5, 2007 at 3:49 am

Dutch Patty

Even though I made a few negative comments about Ali, I have to strongly disagree with some points in your post.

First, she is not responsible for anybody's death. The sick murderers are.
Second, no being tactful or 'political' in your speech may bring negative responses, but it should never be a reason for someone to threaten your life.

662. Christianity's Image Problem

Comment #76101 by notsobad on October 4, 2007 at 5:50 pm

People are starting to be rational about faith. What a crisis that is.

663. Hirsi Ali Returns to the Netherlands after Losing Body Guards

Comment #75933 by notsobad on October 4, 2007 at 5:38 am

The neo-cons thought invading Iraq would be a good idea. That didn't work out very well, and their not handling that successfully.

Don't be so naive. The war was an extreme success for them - Halliburton et al. are cashing billions, and Bush was re-elected and keeps passing laws - with help from the Congress - to protect the criminals.

Who cares what the public thinks or how it will affect normal people as long as money is rolling in and it's not possible to punish them.

664. Hirsi Ali Returns to the Netherlands after Losing Body Guards

Comment #75821 by notsobad on October 3, 2007 at 6:50 pm

She speaks against radical Muslims while working for radical Christians - neocons in the American Enterprise Institute.
...too bad these can't pay for her security while the Dutch have to.

665. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #75610 by notsobad on October 3, 2007 at 6:11 am

If you can't engage in a debate about religion without thoroughly studying it (as suggested by Revd David Heywood), then you shouldn't be brainwashed to believe in them without studying it in the first place.
This guy basically says that you cannot debate (question!) religion without certain knowledge, which seems unreachable, but you should believe in it by default.

666. Religion as a Force for Good

Comment #74725 by notsobad on September 30, 2007 at 6:11 am

This author also completely ignores that those are not "liberals" (I hate that sticker) in command in Burma, but just another group of fanatics - visionaries, romantics and true believers to cite the author.

667. Religion as a Force for Good

Comment #74634 by notsobad on September 29, 2007 at 6:41 pm

What a chaotic piece of writing. The black and white vision on the world can be seen from most if it, best summarized in:
"Liberals are most needed when compromises have to be made, but not as useful when faced with brute force. That is when visionaries, romantics and true believers are driven by their beliefs..."

Because we all know that you are either a liberal or a visionary, romantic or true believer (in what actually?), and the latter are the only ones who care...

668. Genes Tied to Bad Reactions to Antidepressant Drug

Comment #74434 by notsobad on September 28, 2007 at 8:19 pm

They need to make better drugs then. Or people can do something so they are not depressed.

But since the latter requires personal responsibility and other things people do not know any more, it's up to science to produce better drugs.

669. Keeping the faith at school

Comment #73339 by notsobad on September 24, 2007 at 7:31 pm

and the circle of ignorance and stupidity continues

670. Talking Action Figure Jesus

Comment #73292 by notsobad on September 24, 2007 at 4:34 pm

Chri$tianity

671. Teacher: I was fired, said Bible isn't literal

Comment #73288 by notsobad on September 24, 2007 at 4:32 pm

Pathetic and a little sad since those kids are being brainwashed just like their parents were.

672. New Rules: A Religious Test

Comment #72703 by notsobad on September 22, 2007 at 11:13 am

well said

673. Why Christians should take Richard Dawkins seriously

Comment #72430 by notsobad on September 21, 2007 at 4:09 am

Apemanblues,

read the new preface or watch it.

674. Why Christians should take Richard Dawkins seriously

Comment #72349 by notsobad on September 20, 2007 at 7:31 pm

And to think we could avoid all this if they taught 'argumentum ad ignorantiam' in the first grade.

675. 'Root of All Evil? The Original Program' available now on DVD

Comment #72340 by notsobad on September 20, 2007 at 7:06 pm

I understand the formats perfectly, but can I order it in Europe (without paying some crazy postage)?

676. Against the grain: There are questions that science cannot answer

Comment #71984 by notsobad on September 20, 2007 at 4:33 am

Belief does not compete with science; it means different things.

This does not even need to be commented on...

How can they publish such a piece of inaccurate, uninformed and childish piece of writing? (rhetorical question; I know how)

677. 'Root of All Evil? The Original Program' available now on DVD

Comment #71981 by notsobad on September 20, 2007 at 4:21 am

Is this US only and if so why?

678. Review of Darwin's Angel

Comment #70900 by notsobad on September 17, 2007 at 7:48 am

This guy would have been executed for heresy some centuries ago.

679. The Fleas Are Multiplying!

Comment #69597 by notsobad on September 11, 2007 at 8:11 pm

Forgot to add - Hitchens' fleas?

680. The Fleas Are Multiplying!

Comment #69596 by notsobad on September 11, 2007 at 8:10 pm

NMcC, calm down. Communism is very similar to organized religions.
Many people in communist countries were religious, and the Church and clergy were doing fine despite what some may believe.

681. Interview with Richard Dawkins and John Cornwell

Comment #69592 by notsobad on September 11, 2007 at 7:59 pm

All this responses are alike. They keep setting up straw man arguments and repeat already answered and explained questions.

682. The God Delusion One-Year Countdown

Comment #67545 by notsobad on September 3, 2007 at 7:03 pm

Sorry, I didn't help
...I bought it in Ireland ;)

683. In God we doubt

Comment #67497 by notsobad on September 3, 2007 at 3:39 pm

He sets up 7 straw-man arguments and actually fails at responding to them, using non sequiturs.
So just a few notes:
"2. Don't we all? Some use booze rather than the Bible. It doesn't prove anything about either."
There definitely are better "crutches" than religion or alcohol for that matter.

"5. This is also true in many cases but you can't actually bully someone into believing – just into pretending to believe."
Threatening with hell is bullying and there are many examples that small children won't just pretend but really believe.

"6. Of course the mad mullahs are dangerous and extreme Islamism is a threat to be taken seriously. But we've survived monotheist religion for 4,000 years or so, and I can think of one or two other things that are a greater threat to civilisation."

We have survived; many haven't. Using his logic, I shouldn't have to care about cancer or HIV because I haven't had them yet.

"For every fanatic there are countless ordinary, decent people who believe in their own version of a benevolent God and wish no harm to anyone."

I wish those "countless ordinary, decent people" did something about those fanatics then.

684. Review of Darwin's Angel: An Angelic Response to the God Delusion

Comment #66977 by notsobad on September 1, 2007 at 6:59 am

"If only Professor Dawkins and Co would remember that Socrates was deemed the wisest of men because he "knew that he didn't know"."

Says someone who is even without evidence convinced that there is a supreme being that cares about them and that wants them to hate homosexuals.

685. Christopher Hitchens and Bill Donohue on Mother Teresa

Comment #66729 by notsobad on August 31, 2007 at 6:51 am

Bill Donohue is a disgrace for the Irish when he uses his ethnicity to push his bigotry.

686. There is no God and Dawkins is his Prophet

Comment #66292 by notsobad on August 29, 2007 at 3:44 pm

"He divides the world into two camps: good, tolerant atheists who believe in science and evil-minded, intolerant believers who try to counteract science."

Once you start with straw men, your argument is dead.

687. Ancient Protein Tells a Story of Changing Functions

Comment #64700 by notsobad on August 21, 2007 at 11:26 am

But the findings of Dr. Thornton and his colleagues show that some aspects of evolution do occur solely by chance. The two mutations that reinforced the protein did not directly help the organism. So natural selection did not particularly favor them. It was only by chance that they occurred and persisted to set the groundwork for the other mutations.

Now watch creationists take the "aspects of evolution do occur solely by chance" part only and twist it in their favour.

688. Sikh girl will convert for a place at Catholic school

Comment #64527 by notsobad on August 20, 2007 at 1:26 pm

I'm arguing that all things being equal, we ought to respect a child's bonds of love and attachment.

You strongly overestimate this at that age. She will make new friends easily and still can meet the old ones.
The parents are just backing up and spoiling the child, which is far too common today.
Children should face the reality of life, which includes changes.

Anyway, Thor is laughing at this petty trade of false idols.

689. Sikh girl will convert for a place at Catholic school

Comment #64467 by notsobad on August 20, 2007 at 6:51 am

One of the pathetic things here is that they want to leave her there because she wants and has friends there.
That's lame parenting.

690. Democratic Candidates on a Personal God

Comment #64466 by notsobad on August 20, 2007 at 6:49 am

Gravel is the only normal candidate there. Along with Kucinich...

691. Interview with Richard Dawkins about 'The Enemies of Reason'

Comment #64167 by notsobad on August 18, 2007 at 9:03 am

Is Randi featured in the documentary? I'm gonna re-watch the first part but what about the second?

692. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #64162 by notsobad on August 18, 2007 at 8:11 am

Stop feeding the troll - darwin2.

693. Public Debate on Complexity and Evolution

Comment #61848 by notsobad on August 7, 2007 at 6:01 am

Great debate, thanks.

694. The Flea Circus Invites a Newcomer!

Comment #60865 by notsobad on August 3, 2007 at 3:03 am

The Wee Flea

There is no need to read the book because the video clearly shows that it has nothing interesting nor new to offer.

You said you read the GD and then repeat the same refuted arguments to support your personal belief again.

First, you start with the argument from design. Look at the beauty on earth -> must be god.
Among others, you forgot that there are also "ugly" things, animals, plants, etc. in the world and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder anyway.

Then you move onto the old "I want to live forever", which only proves desire for a god (soul, eternal life..) to exist, not a god itself.

And, of course, "Save me, Jebus" in the end.

695. The Flea Circus Invites a Newcomer!

Comment #60512 by notsobad on August 2, 2007 at 5:34 am

The Wee Flea

Even if there was a god, how did you figure - ignoring the Bible, which is not a reliable source by any definition - that it needs to be worshipped and wants us to behave in some way?

The answer is simple - you never figured this - you were fed this in the childhood.

And I have seen "The Dawkins Letters" video, and it's what I predicted - no argument, full of fallacies, playing the offended one.

696. The Out Campaign

Comment #60379 by notsobad on August 1, 2007 at 5:41 pm

So...how much does postage to the EU cost?

697. The Flea Circus Invites a Newcomer!

Comment #60355 by notsobad on August 1, 2007 at 4:48 pm

So all these Christians claim that they KNOW there is a being that created and governs everything.
Yet, they are so insecure about this they have to remind themselves and everybody else of this knowledge all the time.

If I was really sure there is a god and was really sure that this god would make everything right (to his will) eventually, like they claim they are sure, I wouldn't give a damn about questioning this fact.

Similarly I wouldn't give a damn about anybody worshipping whatever they want if they didn't try to spread their (insecure) beliefs on others all the time.