Comments by Philip1978

Comment #114107 by Philip1978 on January 21, 2008 at 11:36 am

But the Da Vinci Code proved he loved Mary, look at the Last Supper painting...! :)

What a thing to get hung up about, like the rest of you I think proving Jesus's existence would be on the top of the list first.

Unhistorical, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight good going there! Why not check his sodding birth date first, was it 4BC or 6AD? Did Nazareth exist then or was it a graveyard for the small village of Japha up until 67AD? Are there any historical documents other than the Bible confirming his miracles? etc etc

As for Jesus or one his mates being gay, yes, its a possibility if he or they ever existed, why not?

Philip

802. Mandrake: Charles's letter in support of Islamic 'fundamentalism'

Comment #113948 by Philip1978 on January 21, 2008 at 4:26 am

I actually quite like some of the work Charles has done for the environment and charities etc His Royal clout has pushed a lot of crap out of the way and helped people in need when they really needed it. But then he goes and wiffles on about stuff like this, its just odd and all shades shapes and sizes of wrong. Its not like he hasn't got some modicum of intelligence, I know folk who have met him and he comes across as quite knowledgeable about a lot of things. Why does he talk such wiffle? Islam has never been that fluffy so why bother insisting it is?

Plus I agree with Steve, Harry and William should have had the chance to Goth it up and be proper teenagers! Its such a waste of a life if you haven't moshed at least once! :)

Philip

803. Dinesh D'Souza: Winner of the 2007 Bad Faith Award

Comment #112349 by Philip1978 on January 17, 2008 at 12:11 am

Diacanu

Thank you so much for that joke about D'Souza, Anne and the mayo, I can't stop laughing!!

I voted for the Pope but in all fair play I will now donate £19.78 to the RDF in D'Souza's honour - Well done D'Souza, you are finally contributing to a good cause!

Philip Priestley

804. The Group Delusion

Comment #111945 by Philip1978 on January 16, 2008 at 3:41 am

Wooter you still haven't answered my most important question, what's your view on a good cup of Tea?

:)

Philip

805. Huckabee Wants A 'Faith-based' Constitution

Comment #111923 by Philip1978 on January 16, 2008 at 2:51 am

But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God.

Yes Mr Huckabee, that would explain how Unicorns ended up in the King James Bible or that the divinity of Jesus was VOTED on BY MEN in 325 in Nicaea. Just a couple of examples, ask if you need more!

Idiot!

Philip

806. 2 fleas for the Christmas week

Comment #111665 by Philip1978 on January 15, 2008 at 11:30 am

Irate

Am in complete agreement with you there old friend, they brought it on themselves and I can't see any of it changing. I can't see how that religion can perk up at all, it is one of the more dreary of the lot of them and that is saying something!

I know full well being kind to the likes of David is like attempting to eat a packet of cotton wool and wetabix, ie its tedious, highly difficult and monumentally stupid! You know me, I am too kind for my own well being, its a habit I picked up and can't shake off! Might learn one day if the pigs are fed watered and ready for take off!

Matchbox you say, thats too generous surely? :)

Philip

807. 2 fleas for the Christmas week

Comment #111633 by Philip1978 on January 15, 2008 at 8:13 am

The Rev David Robertson, editor of the Monthly Record, said worshippers needed to dispel the notion that Wee Frees, as they are nicknamed, are characterised by "doom, gloom and joylessness".

Correct, can't fault his Highness there!

Mr Robertson wrote: "The definition of a Calvinist as being a person who is miserable at the thought that someone somewhere is actually enjoying themselves is sadly all too typical.

I wonder who perpetuates that image?

"In the Free Church I'm afraid that we are not good at joy in worship. So much of our worship has no soul, no spirit and very little joy."

Damn, did we get through to him in the end? I doubt it very much

_J_ put hours of effort in to sort him out which Hercules himself would have been around to pat him on the back for and he still wouldn't cheer up!

I also did my best to cheer him up, I did my best to be polite to him but he shoved it back in my face and I doubt I will ever forgive him for it.

As long as he is in charge I can't see the Wee Frees changing any time soon

Philip

808. Richard Dawkins on The Late Edition with Marcus Brigstocke

Comment #111600 by Philip1978 on January 15, 2008 at 5:41 am

Stephen H

I would agree with you but most of the interview was about science, the Out Campaign obviously does need more publicity but they were not just talking about that subject so hence the suit might have been more appropriate.

It is amazing people can be beaten up for wearing such a Tea shirt - I wear mine around Maidenhead and nobody bats an eyelid! Then again, if I put my Goth gear on (Went to a Marilyn Manson concert, it had to be done!) I get asked all sorts of questions - might mix the two and then I can spread the Out Campaign message loads :)

Philip

809. The Group Delusion

Comment #111585 by Philip1978 on January 15, 2008 at 4:17 am

Ah, so its more on the Douglas Adams way of thinking

Once something actually happens somewhere in something as wildly complicated as the Universe, Kevin knows where it will all end up – where 'Kevin' is any random entity that doesn't know nothin' about nothin'.

Cheers Steve (and Douglas!), I appreciate the help! :)

Irate has a good point Wooter, what is your opinion on drinking a good cup of Tea?

Philip

810. The Group Delusion

Comment #111577 by Philip1978 on January 15, 2008 at 3:49 am

Wooter

I have some advice for you, really, I would advise you to calm down

You sound highly confused and angry - taking it out on these guys and gals will only make it worse. Their irritation is made worse by your insistence that you are right without leaving a proper explanation.

If I wanted to change Professor Dawkins's mind, Steve Zara's, Tyler's, Eepeist's, Irate's, AllanW's - basically everyone who is very well informed on their subjects I would actually find some thing that could counter their arguments. I would read what they have to say and then, if I could, find information pertinent to the subject and then reply to them.

Their irritation stems from the fact they don't feel you have read enough on the subjects you are addressing. I also get the feeling you are getting confused with what is in front of you.

I can answer your question 3 very quickly and simply - What Professor Dawkins is saying is that the planet Earth is in the right place near the sun, not too far, not too close to be able to support the life that now inhabits it. The right conditions to make life inhabit a planet are right in front of you - you would not be talking about it if it wasn't because you wouldn't be here. Planet Earth is proof that with the right conditions of Physics, Chemistry and Biology you can have a planet where life exists and evolves. Since this is the benchmark planet to prove life can exist in the universe scientists are now able to look for planets with similar attributes. Planet Earth is still a very unique planet and that is what I hope Professor Dawkins was getting across

(If I have been silly and got something wrong can someone correct me on this?)

If you want more detailed explanation of this I suggest you read the posts of other people who have desperately done what they can to help you.

If you still maintain that a deity is involved in this you have to have a working, testable set of evidence to support it. These people are scientists, you have to become familiar with their practices if you want to convince them your God actually did what you say he can. They had their work scrutinised by the best in their fields, they have had their work tested to see if it was wrong and it wasn't - not all the answers are there but I am convinced they know what they are talking about.

I am guessing you can't find any evidence but that's my point, if you want to show these guys they are wrong that is what you need. If you continue the way you are I am afraid you will be teased a lot for your insistence your ideas are correct but you are not backing it up properly even when asked to.

The rest I leave to you, good luck with your decision

Philip

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

Comment #111366 by Philip1978 on January 14, 2008 at 12:38 pm

Dear Mr Scales,

I too wish you the most speedy recovery and would like to thank you for your contributions to the RDFRS. If I had not found this site or heard of Richard Dawkins I would never have had a more renewed enthusiasm for knowledge and for life in general.

Better than that RDFRS has managed to offer much help and encouragement to people to aid their recuperation from their battles with religious dogma and I am glad that people like you are contributing to help making things better.

Wishing you all the very best,

Philip Priestley

812. Six Reasons to be an Atheist

Comment #110366 by Philip1978 on January 11, 2008 at 4:00 am

Forgive the sarcasm but I think one word needs changing in that sentence:

I'm not going to pontificate about religion. I believe that a habit of religion can induce a kind of psychological dependence on the fantasies that are normally associated with it... This kind of dependence is obviously unhealthy, from a psychological, social and emotional point of view.

There, thats much better! :)

Its only sex ADH, nothing to get worried about. It would be more worrying if people started to derive their sexual fantasies from Deuteronomy or Book of Judges.

Philip

813. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up

Comment #109858 by Philip1978 on January 10, 2008 at 12:40 am

Diacanu,

I think you should write a book, call it

"If Jerry Falwell had an enema...!"

Obviously ask Hitch first if its ok but I am sure it would go down brilliantly!

:)

Philip

814. Richard Dawkins on The Late Edition with Marcus Brigstocke

Comment #109856 by Philip1978 on January 10, 2008 at 12:21 am

Of course I loved the doll and Marcus Brigstocke was his usual amazing self but I think the most telling part of that was when Professor Dawkins was talking about science.

If there is one thing I could watch over again its scientists talking about science and how just utterly mind boggling and Tea drinkingly good it all is. Be it my friend who is a Biologist/Psychologist/Pharmaceutical genius to my old Biology teacher at school - I just love watching or listening to people explain things about how interesting life can actually be. Be it looking at the smallest bacteria and molecules to the sheer mahooosiveness of the universe, there is always something to get excited about and that it is of actual help and usefulness because it can explain REAL things.

Plus it can change as well, ideas don't just have to have one explanation if a better and more useful theory or fact becomes apparent. Of course science isnt perfect, never will be - but at least its doing something useful. Ideas and procedures don't have to last 2000 years and never change, they can be fixed if facts are not correct.

BRAVO TO SCIENCE!

Apologies for happy rant but I have had some rather nice Spice Imperial Tea this morning and wanted to share it with you!

Cheeeeers

Philip

815. The Mind of the Market

Comment #109575 by Philip1978 on January 9, 2008 at 8:09 am

How is the biochemical joy of sex similar to the rewards of business cooperation?

Is he doing it right? :)

I might actually give this book a go sometime later, I think I need to study evolution a bit more first before I can get into this a bit more. I have read a book on the brain and the changes it goes through from birth to old age but I think I need to know Theory first, right Professor, you seem like a knowledgeable chap on this subject, I might go for one of your books first! :)

Diacanu

My perpetual singleness isn't tricky - it seems to come naturally hehehe! :)

Philip

816. Six Reasons to be an Atheist

Comment #108986 by Philip1978 on January 8, 2008 at 4:57 am

PlagioClase

Hi! Good to have you here!

I am impressed with your arrival on here and I hope you are ready for a few questions hurled your way :)

The true God who created this world, including each of us, is not the god of Islam. And what we believe about all that will not change reality.

Ok, there were/possibly still are people in this world who believe that Vili, Ve and Odin created the Earth out of the remains of their dead father. This hopefully to you and me sounds perfectly ludicrous, though I do still recommend the Norse myths they are great stories, quite an imagination behind them.

You mentioned quite correctly that the Islamic god is not the creator of this world and that makes sense to me.

My rather inevitable, but honest, question, one I am sure you have been asked a lot please can you elaborate as to why you think/feel it is your god and not the others that humankind has created throughout history?

I personally have difficulty seeing the difference between Allah, Odin and his murderous brothers or your god creating the world - each one has just as much a viable claim to the property rights to the universe as the other

I also don't understand how you can easily and correctly state that Allah has no part in this whatsoever but are willing to accept your god is responsible. I will bet if you had grown up in Islamabad you would be thinking differently! :)

Ask any Muslim which God it is and he/she will be dumbfounded to think that anyone other than Allah had a hand in it for a lot of similar reasons that you are convinced by for your god's case.

Could you possibly explain as I am interested to hear what you have to say

Cheeeeeeers

Philip

817. US 'doomed' if creationist president elected: scientists

Comment #108945 by Philip1978 on January 8, 2008 at 2:35 am

Northerners,

I am a Southern Jessie and proud of it, I have no problem with the North (Dad's family from County Durham if it helpls!) its just too sodding cold up there! Beer is brilliant though, I am all for that!

Goldy

I live in Maidenhead, I am closer to Slough than you are and the chav population is rapidly rising near my flat, please have sympathy! :)

Roger Stanyard

Timothy Taylor Landlord is a very fine ale, if I didn't respect you enough already for the considerable hard work that you do, now I know you drink that you have my salute sir! hehehe!

The American election scares me, I have a lot of sympathy for you American guys and gals because I would not know who to vote for. I do agree with this article, if a creationist gets the White House G Dubyar is going to look like a genius in comparrison, its a tough choice but I think Huckabbee might be more intelligent, I dont know, too close to call! :)

Philip

818. The religiosity test: Doubters need not apply

Comment #106455 by Philip1978 on January 3, 2008 at 1:37 am

In fact, he (Romney) went out of his way to denounce decadent European societies "too busy or too 'enlightened' to ... kneel in prayer.

Yes Mr Romney, at least I don't think the Enlightenment shines out of my arse like the sun supposedly shines out of yours, bloody cheek!

I suppose anyone who believes the rubbish that John Smith wrote down in that stupid book of lies, they are ready to believe anything they like!

This election is going to be a weird one for sure! :)

Philip

819. The OUT Campaign has its own Flea!

Comment #106436 by Philip1978 on January 3, 2008 at 12:14 am

Steve, as a straight man I find this really offensive for the same reasons you do - what a cheek! The Bible has not done gay people any favours at all so the fact they have done this quite frankly makes my blood boil.

The fight that gay people had to go through to even get where they are today is just incredible, I still think the lingering prejudice is disgusting but things have come such a long way. I too supported Professor Dawkins for the Out Campaign for the same reasons I support gay rights, I am fed up with Atheism being treated like some disease - in my humble opinion its just people's lack of understanding and indoctrination from the church that makes it that way. The constant reminders of Atheists having the same moral outlook as someone like Stalin or Pol Pot simply has to stop, I am sick of it.

So this particular religion is feeling persecuted? Not surprised if they have to resort to plagiarism to make ends meet!

I dont want to wipe out Christians, let them get on with it for all I care but I would like to wipe out the crack pot ideas that they have about people who don't believe in their peculiar form of supernatural gibberish. Archaic, bronze age stupidity is not going to help this planet's population progress any further and neither will pouring this rubbish out to all Christians help them even come to terms with what Atheism is really about. This crap just muddies the waters even more and I can't see it having any beneficial effect at all.

Grrr I need more Tea!

Philip

820. Richard Dawkins on 'Have Your Say'

Comment #105963 by Philip1978 on January 2, 2008 at 8:15 am

irate_atheist
Happy New Year to you and your family, I hope Irate Junior had a wild time!

stribs

I found that too, reminds me of D'Souza and his use of "If my voice is loud enough and stroppy enough my ridiculous comments sound good!" Then again I'll bet there are some Christians watching it thinking "Wow, how can Dawkins refute THAT? Doesn't he SEE the logic?" :)

That Polish chap was the one that got me a bit, I could hear the struggle in his voice, I almost felt sorry for the way he could not differentiate from meeting Thor in the after-life and his own God. Poor chap

Oh well, more Tea to the Professor, am proud of him!

Philip

821. Richard Dawkins on 'Have Your Say'

Comment #105901 by Philip1978 on January 2, 2008 at 5:07 am

Father Morris cracks me up, he always starts out so smug and " clever me, look I know about God!" Then as the hard answers pile in he has to muddle his poor brain around like seeing the difference between why the Spanish Inquisition did what it did because of religious motivation and that Atheism is not a prime motivator for evil.

You could see him panicking when he started getting louder and nearly wetting himself after having to deal with the fact that what the latest drivel from Darth Ratzinger is in fact absolutely not true.

"But the POPE wrote this, it has to be true, he is the Holy Father, Pope Benedict the 9th
...he cant lie....can he???!!"

I quite liked that Turkish woman, she had something constructive to say.

Well done Professor Dawkins, I enjoyed that

Philip

822. Interview with Richard Dawkins: On Christmas

Comment #105286 by Philip1978 on December 31, 2007 at 4:52 am

Few things are sexier than a man who can sing

Bugger!

I can play guitar, does that help my case or am I forever consigned to having the armed response unit turn up should I ever dare sing in public again? :)

Philip

823. Richard Dawkins on 'Have Your Say'

Comment #105259 by Philip1978 on December 31, 2007 at 2:50 am

Styrer

Whats this?

When I read crap like this, I wonder if, in fact, you are nothing more than a clever web-based search engine result, whose designer is using semi-appropriate words to support some esoteric desire to be here.

Dr Benway is one of the funniest posters on here with a very sharp, intelligent mind and who, in my humble opinion, I have a lot of respect for. I think you are very wrong to call her vacuous and I suggest you apologise or its custard pies all round!

Philip

824. Pope's exorcist squads will wage war on Satan

Comment #104718 by Philip1978 on December 29, 2007 at 8:14 am

Erm...riiiiiiiight, look out Satan, here comes Darth and his Sith legions - if Satan wasn't evil enough here comes Darth Ratzinger to replace him!

Can't they train these people to do something more constructive than fight a figment of their imaginations?

So let me get this straight, all this time and effort is being put towards fighting Satan when there is world hunger, disease, suffering, homelessness, global warming - you name it there are a few massive problems that really need looking into and this is the best they can come up with? Oh I forgot, they would rather indoctrinate, kill the credulous and help spread disease than help save the world.

I know the Vatican does some work around the world - I just wish they would do more for the planet that arse it up. I think I might respect them some more rather than have them pretending to do something busy and important that actually accomplishes nothing

What a load of rubbish

Philip

825. Archbishop of Canterbury Praises Richard Dawkins

Comment #104522 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 5:30 pm

Apologies kirsking I posted that and then discovered to my horror the conversation had bounced on a bit! :)

In answer to your question though, I was looking for some meaning to what was going on around me, I was only 8 (Not the intellectual giant I am now - HA I am such a liar!) so I think the main motive at that age was to test the boundaries like any small kid likes to do. I was looking for some difference in people who believed, I wanted to see the effects of my actions in my little world around me.

I dont want to generalise too much but it is the wont of most small male kids to basically investigate things when they are young. So if an adult tells them not to do stuff, the little buggers have to find out for themselves anyway. Eg tell them not to touch something, 10 to 1 they will do it anyway to find out why! Its how the boundaries are figured out, you test the adults until you are convinced.

I think this is what I was attempting to do, I had these adults telling me I had to do this thing and I had to find out what would happen if I didn't.

Hows that?

Philip

826. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104514 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 5:11 pm

Corylus

I do admit to being a very naughty boy, ever since I found out that I was not in fact the Messiah...!

:)

Philip

827. Archbishop of Canterbury Praises Richard Dawkins

Comment #104509 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 4:59 pm

krisking

Unlike Brian (Brilliant article sir, really enjoyed reading it!) I have NEVER been religious, things just didn't add up for me at a very early age.

I was at school, I think about 8 or 9, not sure but this is when I even bothered thinking about religion - specifically prayer time.

There we all sat, heads down towards the floor hands together saying amen when instructed to by either a teacher or the local vicar. I basically just kept my head down and did nothing, was just doing as asked. Being a rather inquisitive little chap I decided one day I would test to see if anything different happened if I just simply sat there. I tested this theory for quite a number of days, you know what? Nothing happened - I was told that praying was important if things needed to be done yet I realised even at that age prayer meant absolutely nothing. I tested this theory by observing the people who really believed in this stuff to myself who wanted to know if this stuff worked or not. There was no difference so I continued to sit or stand up straight whenever prayer time came along. Obviously being 8 or 9 I was far more interested in Transformers and getting as mucky as possible and I only truly thought the whole religion thing out when I was about 11 and made up my mind gradually from what I read and saw in life.

When you say that all Atheists harp on about is

"God doesn't exist, science proves it, and that's all we're saying!"

I get a bit confused. Is this really what you think about Atheists or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

I also have to ask, as Phil Rimmer has done so, do you really think Atheists are barely moral without religion? I find that very difficult to understand - mainly I think that it suggests that if I had a religion, doesn't matter which one, that I would have a better moral outlook than I do now. So if I was a deep believer of Odin would that make me a better person morally?

I hope I am wrong and just caught your sentence badly, I dont mind admitting that have made mistakes in the past of accusing people of things they did not mean. I would be interested to hear your response and also thoughts about my story above

kind regards

Philip

828. Al Qaeda: We're open to questions

Comment #104487 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 4:04 pm

Oh my dog, has no one offered the most obvious question of all to ask them?

Markus Brigstock

"Can the rest of us have our planet back?"

Philip

829. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104486 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 3:57 pm

Corylus

hmmm # 4....well, I am a hopeless cook...!

*Runs for cover and hides*

Philip :)

830. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #104473 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 3:11 pm

http://richarddawkins.net/articleComments,904,Dinesh-DSouza-says-I-dont-exist-an-atheist-at-Virginia-Tech,Mapantsula-Daily-Kos,page3#33997

Here you go al-rawandi, my apologies for getting this late to you. Please read what D'Souza writes first, look at how he thinks he is so self righteous in what he says and then read what that utter hero Mapantsula, one of the Virginia teachers who was left to help the kids, has to say.

D'Souza makes me sick to the core about how arrogant and self congratulatory he is because he is a man of "Faith" and so therefore better than everyone else. I don't know if you have noticed from my posts I am usually a happy easy going man, but D'Souza is one I will always make exceptions for for all the uncaring and evil things he has done.

Mapantsula on the other hand is a true reminder of what is right and good about this world when it comes to caring about others in need. A real hero and one heck of a good man, I can't say enough about how much I respect him.

I hope that helps

Philip

831. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #104238 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 7:33 am

al-rawandi

And his greatest sin. He slept with Ann Coulter.

No, his greatest sin is when he wrote that evil article after the Virginia Shootings claiming Atheists were not there to help, he is a sick, evil individual who I have no time for

Philip

832. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104214 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 5:50 am

liddlefeesh

Excellent first article, I think went on about tea too much in my first! :)

the best support our new church would offer was to "pray"

Sounds so true and I am sorry you and your wife went through that but more than glad you got out of it. "Pray!" It sounds so disingenuous yet has such an effect on some people that it sounds like a proper answer. Just confuses me as to how the person who told you that had the balls to say it to you, I could not live with myself for being so callous.

Were you part of a big community at the time?

Philip

833. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104203 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 5:18 am

You could always quote back, "If you think you know Quantum Physics, you dont know Quantum Physics!:)

Well, cheers and a pint of beer to you (or cup of Tea if its too early where you live!), I think I know where you are coming from a lot more so I wont wiffle on any further but would like to say thanks for the chat!

I sometimes wish discussions like this with the religious were as easy going, cheers a lot!

Tally Ho

Philip

834. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104195 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 4:35 am

DasSquid

I've been an atheist all my life, probably realised it when I was 8 but properly around 12 or so, I too cannot fathom the religious mind in anyway shape or form, nutters! :)

I have no nasty experience of having it forced upon me, I just told people who questioned me that I didn't and could not believe in gods, they seemed to get that in the end.

I was curious as to what it felt like and some people on here have given me very good explanations as to why they did what they did. Billy Sands described this as mental slavery which I think is a great analogy - its the sort of circular arguments spinning in your mind where your end answer is always God and your trust in him.

Others have described how they went to the vicar or pastor etc and told them about their nagging doubts that were really affecting them psychologically - guess what the answer was- go and pray or read the bible passage which might correspond to your problem to help you keep believing.

Its sheer turmoil all the way when people start doubting themselves and their beliefs, its so much simpler to carry on. There is a whole community around you, the school you go to, your parents look after you, if you get married it will be to someone equally brainwashed.

Then bang, the doubts come, the guilt presses on you - especially if Hell is a factor, imagine being terrified of Hell! Hell to me is nothing, but its a nasty torture device if you want to get something out of the credulous.

Reminds me of one chap who came on this site looking for advice as to how he was having doubts but his love for his wife, kids and community kept him in constant turmoil, he really was not happy. He had nearly lost all his faith and had no idea how to deal with it - it was heart breaking talking to the guy, I hope he is ok

I hate all this psychological warfare, I hate the way people like the Pope or these evangelists pick on people and end up ruining their lives so they can hold on to a power that they don't deserve.

Grrr!

Philip

835. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104186 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 3:53 am

Though I guess that it's another tactic of these nutjobs. Give 'til it hurts, then come to us for help.

Think you got it in one there!

I guess my point of view stems from my experience of meeting people who have been in horrendous trouble and keep turning to their tormentor for help.

They do know of other options, I agree with you here but I think Professor Dawkins summed this sort of behaviour well in The God Delusion - The whole part about how kids listen to adult figures early in life because the adult is supposed to be there to protect them, help their struggle for survival. I reckon the religious figure on TV telling folk to give till it hurts is similar to that, the immediate recognition of an authority figure telling them to essentially jump off a cliff or let me be slightly extreme here and compare it to someone told to go fly a plane into a building.

No matter who much you want to bellow at these people and say "for fecks sake what are you doing listening to that bastard, he only wants your money and he gets off by screwing you for it!!" they wont listen. The woman in this article, it never occurred to her to stop paying the bastards - no, she borrowed to feed her addiction.

Ah well, enough of my mischief, sorry if I repeated myself a bit, just felt like a good chat!

Tally ho

Philip

836. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104173 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 3:32 am

Incredulous

I still reckon your punctuation and syntax is far better!! :)

Philip

837. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104169 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 3:25 am

DasSquid

I would still have to blame the religion for making them that way, I would go so far as to compare it to the beaten wife or girlfriend who refuses to leave the one thing that they should have left well alone.

Its Stockholm Syndrome, its credulous people being manipulated to a disgusting degree - have you ever seen Derren Brown's Messiah before? Utube it, he does a "message from the dead" session in a church, its frightening, it really is.

Or look for that superb documentary Professor Dawkins did called Enemies of Reason, great example would be the Dowsers who even after they were proved to be completely rubbish at locating water started finding excuses to convince themselves they could still do it.

This is religious brainwashing, these people are not thinking straight, they think they are doing something right. A religious figure has promised them something - God's love - Entry into heaven- ANYTHING to get them to believe and part with their money - Especially through fear of going to hell or have God's punishment inflicted on them in some way.

Its like those stupid chain letters hurtling around the internet - if you don't send this to 5 or more people you will be dead by 12 o clock - people are susceptible to it and will do as they are told. No matter how many times I tell my friends not to send me the messages, some still do out of fear.

These people have no will power, religion has done away with it and I for one do feel sorry for them and I am completely disgusted at the people who are doing this to them

Philip

838. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104132 by Philip1978 on December 28, 2007 at 12:56 am

How odd that they only started realising this now, you would have thought with all the millions of people who give money to these evil people that it would have bitten them sooner.

aquilacane - are you sure she got what she deserved? I promise I am not having a go, I just think this woman was practically brainwashed into giving this money like all the rest. Religion can do this to people- they honestly believe this can help them, the Bible practically encourages it with all that guff about rich people not being able to get into heaven. But if you give up all your goods and be as poor as you can - well Jesus says that's virtuous! If people are prepared to believe in invisible sky gods, they are prepared to give out money blindly when told to by a religious figure.

This woman was definitely suckered into this - its a bit like alcoholism, they don't know its going out of control until its completely out of control. Why these idiots who keep shouting "in the name of the lord" for this money are not arrested I don't know... well, actually I do know, anything in the name of religion is automatically above the law because its "holy".

I am glad this is getting more media attention - people will hopefully become more aware that religion does not work and these evilangelists will get what they deserve

Philip

839. Top Ten Stories of 2007

Comment #103818 by Philip1978 on December 27, 2007 at 12:24 am

Chin up Ed-words, the F word aint that bad!

Personally I am with Stephen Fry on this one, if you want to express your complete dissatisfaction about something, there is a word for it. Diacanu is correctly using the word - if he said it simply for Fuck's sake, then even I would tell him off!! :)

Duff, brilliant summary, proud of you!

Diacanu, completely with you there mate, I too am sick of hearing about people like Falwell getting the praise they dont deserve. Its like the Pope, I can't see why these people have not been arrested for their crimes against humanity - but no, its religion so therefore they are Holy and its right. It doesn't matter how much they beat their wives up or how much crystal meth they fart about with - Noooooo they are great people for what they do for the world, it is quite sickening

Being the optimist I am I wont let these bastards get me down too much, can't let them win can we?

Philip :)

840. Chasers war on everything: Evangelicals

Comment #102957 by Philip1978 on December 24, 2007 at 3:31 am

Steve + V

My only advice for folk travelling to Oz is to NEVER go in the Woolshed Pub in Cairns when you have something important to do the next day like catch a plane or in my case go scuba diving :)

I know many people who knew they had to do something the next day but thought "a couple of beers" would go down well

I went there, got very drunk, got to bed at 4 to wake up at half 6 to catch the minibus. I remember filling out the forms and one of the questions was "have you had any alcohol in the last 24 hours? well no, last 2 hours hehehe! (I tell you what that scuba tank cured my hangover, brilliant stuff!)

I loved OZ, tis a beautiful country with some mad people there!

I love this video too, very funny!

Philip

841. 'Atheistic fundamentalism' fears

Comment #102951 by Philip1978 on December 24, 2007 at 3:08 am

Fundamentalist Atheist?

Someone who beats the shit out of people for not agreeing 100% with the Anthropic Principle?

Nutters!

Philip

842. Blair converts to Catholicism

Comment #102929 by Philip1978 on December 24, 2007 at 1:50 am

I have asked many people on this site what it is like to believe in a god because I have never believed at all. I kind of understand that bit now, sort of...

But how does someone change Faiths? What did Bliar do one morning to change his mind? How can someone justify it all, its crazy!

"Anglicanism...nah its all lies...bit sissy as well...whats next, aha, one of the more dangerous and unfathomably nasty religions in the world, thats what I want, I'll give Darth a ring, he can help!"

Ring ring...Yes, is that the Pope?... Hi Darth, can I join the Dark Side please? Exxxcccelllent!

Tis bollocks I tell you!

Philip

843. For the Love of Christ

Comment #101933 by Philip1978 on December 21, 2007 at 7:48 am

Jack Rawlinson

Jesus is a zombie remember - nails are not going to work this time, go for the head!

"Have you sinned in the last 24 hours? Have ya?! HAVE YA?

Yes, I just blasphemed and I am very proud of it!

Philip

844. For the Love of Christ

Comment #101927 by Philip1978 on December 21, 2007 at 7:31 am

Nighttripper

I would rather tell Jack Bauer that Fatica said something about his mum and that he also knows the location of a bomb that will blow the CTU building up... that should do it shouldn't it?

Philip

845. Do the laws of God trump those of man?

Comment #101887 by Philip1978 on December 21, 2007 at 4:31 am

"Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe and not make messes in the house."

That's me buggered then, I am rubbish with numbers! :)

God/Quetz obviously designed my body to cope with Shakespeare better!

Philip

846. 2007, a bad year for God squadders

Comment #101775 by Philip1978 on December 21, 2007 at 12:50 am

Bollocks!

My goodness, its as if the writer of the article didn't even read the first half of it - the bit about people doing incredibly stupid things on behalf of religion!

I really can't understand the mentality of it all - its like saying " Well, I know the sky is not an amusing shade of the colour purple but I still want to believe it, after all it is Friday!"

Tis still a mad world my masters!

Glad I am completely sane, beep!

Philip the Badger!

847. Borders Tags Atheist Book with 'O Come All Ye Faithless' Cards

Comment #100688 by Philip1978 on December 19, 2007 at 5:57 am

Hmm found this, what do folk think?

http://www.jesuspolice.com/common_error.php?id=2

I think its hilarious!

Philip

848. Borders Tags Atheist Book with 'O Come All Ye Faithless' Cards

Comment #100685 by Philip1978 on December 19, 2007 at 5:36 am

Dog Boots

In the church where I sing every sunday and my dad plays the organ, I hear it every December 24th. He always plays this particular song after each of the 3 services with 2 trombones and 2 trumpets besides the organ.

Good grief, how many arms and mouths does that guy have? Thats bloomin impressive!! hehehe :)

I too love the way these guys are frothing over something that they don't own the intellectual property rights to!

Philip

849. God rest you merry atheist

Comment #100009 by Philip1978 on December 18, 2007 at 4:04 am

HEY V!!

Gotcha! You posted again didn't you!! hehehehe

Happy Mithras my dear!

Philip

850. World History

Comment #99600 by Philip1978 on December 17, 2007 at 6:52 am

Fides, you seem to have missed a lot of what I was saying

More specifically, on the subject of that young girl. You seem to be blaming the Church for what happened to her.

I am indeed, prove to me that wasn't the Catholic Church's fault in anyway shape or form that they thought traumatising a 13 year old girl was better than helping her come to terms with the nightmare that she has to live with.

The callous church you speak of is just not reality.

Huh? Didn't I make it clear enough? The Vatican's effect on this planet is horrific, I am annoyed that they are doing good and bad things in God's name- why not do just good things? The doctrine clearly states it, the Pope clearly states it ALL abortion is wrong, all contraception is wrong and people are DYING because of it - how much more proof do you need?

"it's merely a reflection of media portrayals of some people and some events.

Er no, media had nothing to do with it apart from reporting it

You also pay no attention to any psychological damage that she might suffer as a result of her own child being killed.

Sorry, I have a real hard time telling a 13 year old rape victim that instead of being able to abort the baby of her attacker that she must in fact have it because God insists. What is so wrong with the morning after pill in that situation? Does quality of life somehow not matter here? She is 13 years old, traumatised beyond belief for being raped - something that will never leave her for the rest of her life and you think its right to grow up with a kid that is unplanned and forced upon her in the most horrific circumstances? I don't want to think you would be that cruel - I know the Catholic Church would, its written in their doctrine, not the media.

Whilst we are on the subject of abortions, you do know that about 50/60% of pregnancies abort without women realising they are even pregnant? Plus there are the horrible misfortune of mis-carriages which accounts for about 30%, plus babies being born with diseases that end up killing them very shortly after birth so the list of women aborting for other reasons is very slim indeed and I feel the Church's opposition of this is quite frankly pathetic and highly unjustified

Stop justifying the actions of the Vatican - unless you can prove to me that they don't commit global atrocities that would have had them locked away had they not been religious then I am sorry, I will continue to call for their arrest.

Philip