Comments by the great teapot

Comment #30283 by the great teapot on April 7, 2007 at 11:56 am

2 Billion christians.
I expect we are all incuded in that figure.

652. Crucifixion 'makes God into a psychopath'

Comment #30278 by the great teapot on April 7, 2007 at 11:41 am

If he had to come down to ajudicate between ,say,christians and muslims how would he do it?
By getting himself gord to death in a bullring?
or perhaps running out in front of an indianapolis 500 race? Should be great can't wait.

As for the virgin birth I don't know why anyone ever raises that. I would have thought if you believe he can create the universe etc one egg inside the womb of a god replicant is surely a piece of cake.

653. Crucifixion 'makes God into a psychopath'

Comment #30251 by the great teapot on April 7, 2007 at 10:38 am

Bouwe wrote :
"I think these things go some way to help explain the origins of this bizarre doctrine which is FRONT AND CENTRAL and AT THE HEART of Christianity. I think it is important that if one wishes to give Christianity a fatal blow that one should learn to strike it at it's heart (after all, that's where the blood is, eh?)"

It would be nice to think so but christianity has a twisted heart. Stab it and it just twists again.
If this ridiculous notion of atonement has survived so long I don't see how it will ever go away. I assume all religious people must have their own "reality" already which explains why it all makes perfect sense.

654. Militant atheists: too clever for their own good

Comment #30197 by the great teapot on April 7, 2007 at 7:57 am

re comment 60- well said dirtpiggy.(heet jij ook aardvark?)

If the club were elitist I would have to leave it.

Spinoza wouldn't say that if he was being burnt by the mob.

655. Militant atheists: too clever for their own good

Comment #30192 by the great teapot on April 7, 2007 at 7:43 am

That is a very short surname you have Stephen H.
I am assuming that H is your surname and you don't just have the single Christian (sorry) name stephenH.
I have just read Richard Dawkins comments about people not using their real names, he seemed particularly irked by septembre using a pseudonym when he was in a heated debate about postmodernism (whatever that might be). I don't know if I speak for many but I use a pseudonym because I, like most people who don't queue up for Pop Idol or work in the media, have no desire to have 15 minutes of fame in any shape or form and this may be typically English but I actually am embarrased by any degree of publicity. But by using a pseudonym name which in many cases also expresses a belief,I am able to contribute without feeling uncomfortable. (not because I wish to hide from my opinions being exposed).
Your name is already in the public domain Richard so I expect you might not understand this.
If you read this Richard thanks for the Website it's one of my favourites, (almost as good as mfc.co.uk) and thanks for all the books down the years.

656. The Most Hated Family in America

Comment #29687 by the great teapot on April 4, 2007 at 6:02 am

It is often said in England (not by me I hasten to add) particuarly by worldly wise teenagers that Americans have no sense of Irony. I take my hat off to Americans having visited The sites recommended above and particularly this groups own website.The USA has taken comedy to a whole new level. No wonder Louis favourite was peeing herself all the way through the film.
I seriously can't tell whats real and what is not anymore.
What ever their motives for doing this I have changed my views- training children to act out your prejudices is definitely child abuse.

657. The Most Hated Family in America

Comment #29619 by the great teapot on April 3, 2007 at 3:58 pm

The whole time I watched this I just keept thinking to myself "how does this differ from Christianity, Judaism and Islam?"
All they said was "we know the word of God, Join us you'll be saved .If you don't you'll burn in hell. Lust is evil." Religious leaders say this kind of thing everyday. One of the few differences I could see was these people weren't out to convert anybody by flattering them. The church tells us we all have original sin and we are going to hell unless we believe and yet when we die, regardless of how we have lived our lives they will gladly bury us as if we were believing saints all our lives.But the biggest difference was there are only a few of them, if halve the country believed in what they preached they would be considered normal. They are religion distilled. But unlike the catholic church they haven't burned anyone to death, so they are one up on them.

And is it just me but the frequent aggresive, violence threatening comments that appear on Youtube put me off posting anything on there.

658. Is this another Sokal Hoax?

Comment #28961 by the great teapot on March 31, 2007 at 11:57 pm

looks like they have found Alistair McGraths phd submission.

659. Richard Dawkins: Author of the Year!

Comment #28917 by the great teapot on March 31, 2007 at 3:05 pm

Reading the spines of the books in the picture just before the announcement all one could read was chard Dawkins- my first reaction was christ not another bloody flea.
I was dissapointed he nevr thanked god but for whom non of this would be possible.
Well done on the award but clearly there are no Martin Amis's around anymore.

660. A History of Violence

Comment #28904 by the great teapot on March 31, 2007 at 2:33 pm

How did they record casualties over the years.
Reminds me of the first series of black adder when the king wandered around the battle field collecting the battle averages of his knights.
There must be 12th century versions of wisden out there.

661. A History of Violence

Comment #28903 by the great teapot on March 31, 2007 at 2:27 pm

I 've just noticed your from Belfast Luthien- You
probablly know better than me about the terrorism there.
Sorry if I have annoyed you.

662. A History of Violence

Comment #28900 by the great teapot on March 31, 2007 at 2:19 pm

If one platitude annoys me more then any other it is that religion is the cause of all wars.
It flies in the face of the facts, even if you accept that Northern Ireland was religious which i don't, (The IRA where the Irish republican army
their aim was to drive britain back out of Ireland) Countries generally invade other countries for political and economic reasons not to protect or spread faith. Although that does sometimes occur granted. The problem with suggesting this and other deliberatly antogonistic things like taking a child to church is child abuse is it allows the so called fleas to print slim books picking on these red herring arguments. I am not sure where chesire cat quite stands but I think thats is what he or she is getting at and I agree.

663. A History of Violence

Comment #28892 by the great teapot on March 31, 2007 at 1:46 pm

pate de foie gras anyone.

664. The Fifth Flea!

Comment #28878 by the great teapot on March 31, 2007 at 12:56 pm

A little.

665. The Fifth Flea!

Comment #28876 by the great teapot on March 31, 2007 at 12:39 pm

Talk about letting other people do your thinking for you.
The idea that the universe is fine tuned for life, down to the physical constants.
Think of that one yourself did you?
So a conscious being who we have no proof for must be twiddling the knobs. Yes lets jump to this conclusion shall we that seems like the sensible thing to do. No,now call me illogical if you like but I will stick with not believing in something I have seen no compelling evidence for in my entire life.And even those who do believe have to admitt it is just a faith.
There have been some very interesting programs about slavery and religion today on the radio.
I found it interesting the church grappled for many years with the thorny problem "should the slaves be allowed to be baptised and converted to chrstians" difficult one that I know. So much for the church providing us with our morals. Morals are quite clearly manmade and reflect the zeitgeist not absolutes from god.
God why am I even bothering?

666. Richard Dawkins Explains 'The God Delusion'

Comment #28689 by the great teapot on March 30, 2007 at 11:55 am

"I am well aware of the continuing significance of class in the UK"
Do go on. I am dying to hear more.

667. Richard Dawkins Explains 'The God Delusion'

Comment #28686 by the great teapot on March 30, 2007 at 11:50 am

you're quite right Cheshire cat it is a very poor analogy indeed. No stamp collector ever tied someone to a stake and burned them alive.

668. Neil Peart cites The God Delusion in new album's liner notes

Comment #28024 by the great teapot on March 27, 2007 at 3:51 pm

Christ, Progressive rock.
What next star trekkies?

669. Hell is real and eternal: Pope

Comment #28022 by the great teapot on March 27, 2007 at 3:44 pm

Look don't shoot the messangers.
If god can change his mind about slavery,killing children for disobeying elders and stoning for collecting firewood on the sabbath he can change his mind on his garbage disposal policy as well.

670. Hell is real and eternal: Pope

Comment #28018 by the great teapot on March 27, 2007 at 3:33 pm

The point is the Pope said it, then a vatican official- not the Pope- said something different.

See you all in hell

671. Hell is real and eternal: Pope

Comment #28010 by the great teapot on March 27, 2007 at 3:22 pm

I am confused by HenriBergson saying the article contradicted itself and sometimes atheists can be as dumb as theists.
Where does the article contradict itself?
It just reports what the Pope said and what the Vatican official said afterwards to try and regain some credibility( in their eyes atleast).
Undoubtedly atheists can be as stupid as theist but where does it happen above.
Or do you just like insulting people generally?

672. Peanut Butter, The Atheist's Nightmare!

Comment #27837 by the great teapot on March 27, 2007 at 2:35 am

Did anyone see god in the jar?

673. Nigeria teacher dies 'over Koran'

Comment #27649 by the great teapot on March 26, 2007 at 1:41 am

two problems with the title -

1 Dies- why not "is brutally murdered."?

2 more trivially- Nigeria- Why don't people say Nigerian, Spanish etc anymore (particularly on the BBC website- Spain results, France international etc)

674. Orr vs. Dennett/Dawkins

Comment #27274 by the great teapot on March 23, 2007 at 5:08 pm

fonex

I am an Engineer- I have worked with possibly 40 Engineers in my life- I have only worked with 2 Companies- and I have only met with 2 fellow Engineers who think there is a personal God - 1 is retired and the other is 2 years away (but should be retired now- he lacks good judgement generally) so less of the Engineers are stupid scientists in future.

675. Orr vs. Dennett/Dawkins

Comment #27267 by the great teapot on March 23, 2007 at 4:48 pm

2 months ago I never knew what a straw man was.
I have never looked up the word straw man in a dictionary or had anyone explain the term to me but i have read so many comments by theists in the last 2 months I now feel like I could recognise a straw man before I could recognise a member of my own family.

676. Germany Cites Koran in Rejecting Divorce

Comment #27257 by the great teapot on March 23, 2007 at 4:35 pm

This should be published in the liverpool echo-
tieving by scousers legal in Germany-
It might be against German Law but nicking stuff in liverpool is the cultural norm -so let it be.
(sorry to pick on Liverpool, but Evertonians are the scum of the earth- even rational people can be bigots)

677. 'God Is Not a Moderate'

Comment #27248 by the great teapot on March 23, 2007 at 4:15 pm

what Sam Harris is forgetting is that his desire not to believe in the miracles of jesus is belief.
In fact God said to me, only last tuesday "He that does not believe in me believes in me the most."
A bit annoying really, it ruined my 147 break.

678. 'God Is Not a Moderate'

Comment #27243 by the great teapot on March 23, 2007 at 4:06 pm

mmm.... marzipan.

679. Lonely Atheists of the Global Village

Comment #26490 by the great teapot on March 19, 2007 at 5:15 pm

680. Lonely Atheists of the Global Village

Comment #26489 by the great teapot on March 19, 2007 at 5:15 pm

onus probandi

why do people insist in speaking non english.
I could argue in spanish, french, dutch or German if you like what does it prove?

681. Lonely Atheists of the Global Village

Comment #26488 by the great teapot on March 19, 2007 at 5:10 pm

"I recognize that the Christian horizon sketched above in broad strokes may seem preposterous"
me too

682. God's dupes

Comment #25926 by the great teapot on March 15, 2007 at 5:19 pm

Bush is Sober?
Good god, that's my theory out the window.

683. Does God answer prayer? ASU research says 'yes'

Comment #25921 by the great teapot on March 15, 2007 at 4:53 pm

I have read this article twice and I can not see anything but a statment that the final outcome was that the results of several tests showed something to be true.
Is this the whole article?. Where are the details so we can be convinced of the validity of the results?
Also how is this news? surely at least one of the tests must have already proved the power of prayer.
Or Am I being thick?

684. Science, Faith, and Evolution

Comment #24892 by the great teapot on March 9, 2007 at 4:23 am

etny
I never heard him say we are the crown jewels or the end of evolution. He didn't suggest this in your quote.

685. Why there are almost no genuine atheists

Comment #24513 by the great teapot on March 7, 2007 at 2:29 am

I think his freind is confusing atheism with nihilism.

686. Was there ever dog that praised his fleas?

Comment #24085 by the great teapot on March 4, 2007 at 5:45 pm

I am ashamed to say I bought the Dawkins delusion today. It took me back 25 years. I have never felt like this since I bought a porn mag back in the early 80's. First there was the toe curling embarrasment of standing opposite the religous section of the bookshop- nobody around to see me there though, not so embarassing, but if I am going to buy it how do I get it to the counter without being seen. No I shouldn't buy it, It is just pure exploitation. But how do you know until you have read it? I just do.Ok leave it , leave it. Walk away, walk away.It is a waste of money.
Just on the point of leaving when my curiosity gets the better of me, it is a stupid vacant looking man at the checkout, buy it ,buy it,he looks like he has read it himself. ok ok go for it.
I bought it. I feel so ashamed , so dirty.
The only difference was the magazine I bought 25 years ago was worth the embarrasment. Anyone want a copy of TRD?

687. Send The God Delusion to your MP

Comment #24026 by the great teapot on March 4, 2007 at 10:53 am

No way would I send a free copy to my MP.
My copy cost me twenty pounds and I earn a 5th of my MP.(and I earn it)
They get enough free crap as it is.
If Richard Dawkins wants some free press let him send them.
If anyone wants to send a copy of the Richard Dawkins delusion to their MP they can have my copy. I dont object to the �8 I spent on it but the 2 hours I wasted reading it I'll never get back.

688. Daggers Drawn

Comment #24011 by the great teapot on March 4, 2007 at 6:47 am

One of the witnesses or crossexamined said
(loosely)
"Religion or spirituality enables us to think outside ourselves and about others and the enviroment"
What does she thinks is going on in the head of atheists. Must go now.
Me need food, me need drink.
Mmmm me see woman.

689. Lewis Wolpert and William Lane Craig on Religion

Comment #24003 by the great teapot on March 4, 2007 at 5:21 am

I used to think there was a tiny tiny smidgen of a chance that there might be a god (out of politeness to others), but this final trace of doubt is being washed away by the fact that the only argument thinking believers have is that you can't prove anything to be right or wrong.
Belachelijk.

690. Lewis Wolpert and William Lane Craig on Religion

Comment #24002 by the great teapot on March 4, 2007 at 5:12 am

The female presenter then wrapped up the item by saying something along the lines of " so the debate is still unresolved then"
I wasn't sure which conversation she had been listening to, could it really have been the one we just heard.

691. Merkel wants EU to be vocal about Christian roots

Comment #23596 by the great teapot on March 1, 2007 at 4:14 pm

Together we can work it out.

692. Merkel wants EU to be vocal about Christian roots

Comment #23592 by the great teapot on March 1, 2007 at 4:04 pm

ok ok

It saddens me to read you write "we should have bombed your country more properly"

As any English schoolboy knows - It is
"We could have bombed your country more effectively"

693. Merkel wants EU to be vocal about Christian roots

Comment #23590 by the great teapot on March 1, 2007 at 3:56 pm

Comment 12
Well said.

Cllr Merkel refers to we. So the whole of the EU is at one with her is it?
We are a christian nation are we?
I must live in a different country to her.
Oh , hang on a minute I do, I live in England she Lives in Germany.

694. Merkel wants EU to be vocal about Christian roots

Comment #23581 by the great teapot on March 1, 2007 at 3:34 pm

@ the author comment 13

It saddens me to hear you say that we should have bombed your country more properly.

Didn't you learn anything in English lessons.
It's "we should have bombed your country properly." The more is superfluous.

695. The Dawkins Confusion: Naturalism ad absurdum

Comment #23577 by the great teapot on March 1, 2007 at 3:06 pm

surely God does not achieve knowledge-
that would imply god was not always all knowing.

By the way tk - regarding gods genitals, if I am created in Gods image - he is hung like a hamster.
I hope your creator was more more gifted than mine.

696. The Dawkins Confusion: Naturalism ad absurdum

Comment #23570 by the great teapot on March 1, 2007 at 2:45 pm

I have not read the above article fully as I am getting bored with reading the same old arguments, but one thing I do notice is that atheists are increasingly being attacked for being philisophical light weights for trusting common sense over deep philosophical logic.
The bolt hole that religion seems to be cowering in is - nothing can be proven, admitting that religion is actually not verifiable logically, but nothing else can be proven either therefore any single claim to "truth" is as good as any other (pink unicorn included.)
How many religious people do they believe actually think like that. Most think God is a thinking being in the sky. If Moses came down from the mountain and said "hey, I've got these rules but the best we can say for them is the're as equally as likely or unlikely to be as true as anything else so it really is down to personal interpretation" do you think we would have a judeo-christian god still today

697. Bishops must not sit in reformed House of Lords

Comment #23425 by the great teapot on February 28, 2007 at 2:31 pm

how will all the other members of the reformed house of lords be selected?
What is the purpose of the house of lords?
If it is to ensure that MP's are required to think again when they pass laws etc based on knee jerk reactions thus preventing mob or popularist rule then I believe Bishops could do that job as well as anyone. Surely you can't object to them just becaus they are bishops. Will they then be the only non elected lords?

698. Faith

Comment #23281 by the great teapot on February 27, 2007 at 1:38 pm

Is this right ,StPetes has had his account removed?
I hope not, contrary views should, particularly on a site like this, always be welcome even if offensive. Surely it is freedom of thought and opinion over everything.
Bring back Pete
Bring back Pete
Bring back Pete.

699. Battle for Europe's secular values

Comment #23072 by the great teapot on February 26, 2007 at 5:45 am

Yawn

All this discussion over a usless constitution of a state that doesn't exist and a god that doesn't exist.

I notice that lots of people defend the constitution as Holy because it agrees with them.
Suppose the Constitution had started "We the christian nation .... ",would it be a holy document then or should it be changed.

700. Richard Dawkins on The Sunday Edition

Comment #22920 by the great teapot on February 24, 2007 at 12:57 pm

I used to like Anthony Wedgewood-Benn.
I had no idea he was so stupid. His rationale belongs to the 1600s.
This is not a debate between science and religion.
It is reason against faith (otherwise Known as a debate between thinking about things and jumping to cocnclusions)
He is saying "I won't listen to you because what you are saying is not cosy enough for me.
Please leave me in my own cosy little world."
Even an atheist believes we should all be nice to one another - stunning revelation Tony thanks.
Tony, Tony, Tony. I am so dissapointed in you.