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Comments by Double Bass Atheist


51. I suppose it's due ('Expelled' review)

Comment #147946 by Double Bass Atheist on March 21, 2008 at 4:23 pm

Pattern Seeker-
Now that's seriously funny!


SilentMike-
I sure hope not, but personally, I am concerned. It certainly will serve as ammunition for the creationist IDiots (at least in their mind), and probably may sway many who don't really know too much about these matters (which is quite a lot of people here in the US).

There are a hellava lot of people who really feel evolution is a "controversy" and that we should just teach "both sides." After all, that is the target point and focus of this movie.

We have our work cut out for us.

52. I suppose it's due ('Expelled' review)

Comment #147927 by Double Bass Atheist on March 21, 2008 at 3:41 pm

I really think there should be some kind of official response to the movie. There is nice thread in the forums here under the "Debunking Creationism" heading for this same topic. Worth checking out.


Personally, I think RD should make his own movie and call it "Repelled!" ;-D
Interview Ben Stein and ask him to assign a number to just how bad an actor he is... and then throw other random numbers at him.
Let's all have a good laugh, too!

53. EXPELLED!

Comment #147901 by Double Bass Atheist on March 21, 2008 at 2:36 pm

The many misguided and/or misinformed people who already think there is a "controversy" surrounding the teaching of evolution will love this film, quote it thoroughly, and feel that it's exactly what society needs... finally get the "truth" out, and other assorted bullshit.

The rest of us will just laugh.


However, do not forget that there are more of "them" then there are of "us", nor underestimate the power of a film to reach a large audience.
Frankly, this thing worries me.

54. EXPELLED!

Comment #147546 by Double Bass Atheist on March 20, 2008 at 9:46 pm

It's mildly amusing that 'they' would be on the lookout for PZ, but WHY was he banned?

I have this mental image of a bunch of "Expelled" movie executives sitting around a table making a list of all the people who they need to keep out from theaters.
And they missed RD?!

Knowing the devious history by which it was made, and how PZ was lied to in order to participate, combined with the bullshit that it's based on, this really shouldn't surprise me...
Just another example of how the IDiot mind works. Keep the nonsense (non-science) flowing without giving anyone the opportunity to counter it.
"You will be indoctrinated. Resistance is futile"

55. Two More Fleas

Comment #147523 by Double Bass Atheist on March 20, 2008 at 8:58 pm

For anyone seeking more on human evolution from Australopithecus to modern humans I highly recommend the interactive presentation at www.becominghuman.org.

I had not seen this site before!
Thanks for posting this!!!

56. Report: 32% Of Prayers Deflected Off Passing Satellites

Comment #147058 by Double Bass Atheist on March 19, 2008 at 6:07 pm

Koreman -
Nice post! Very clever... although one would have to be a geek like us to really appreciate this.
The unconditional brain format at the end was the best!
:-D

As to the article, about all I can say is... The Onion does it again!

57. Jesus saves

Comment #146707 by Double Bass Atheist on March 19, 2008 at 9:42 am

Pattern Seeker -
Nice play-by-play! I was laughing out loud!!!

Kept waiting to see if Moses and Lucifer were going to drop the gloves?
Worth 5 for fighting, don't ya think?
;-D

58. Atheists claim censorship by billboard company

Comment #146240 by Double Bass Atheist on March 18, 2008 at 8:02 pm

Comment #146236 by 82abhilash

I am amazed and impressed with my atheist peers. I bet if this was a Christian forum, everyone would be crying foul in unison.

Oh, how right you are!!!

As most of us have experienced, I've even had non-confrontational posts deleted from theist sites.

Atheists are rational, logical, and even-handed. We go with the best available evidence (that's why we're atheists!), and that's why most posters here will not see this issue as big deal... private company, it can do what it wants.

59. Two More Fleas

Comment #145905 by Double Bass Atheist on March 18, 2008 at 9:39 am

Comment #145895 by black wolf

clearmind, please answer the following question:
Grass grows green but not is made tree, how explain invisible air Darwin step in red paint 4 billion years?

Trying to speak his language, eh?
black wolf - that just might be the funniest comment yet! Good post!!!
If you get an answer, I'm going to lose it completely! ;-D

60. Fleabytes

Comment #145898 by Double Bass Atheist on March 18, 2008 at 9:33 am

Ummm... God, your caps lock button is still stuck!
I mentioned this to you on a different thread weeks ago, and you still haven't gotten a new keyboard. I mean, you're god, right? So how come you can't afford a new keyboard. No enough donations this week??? ;-D

61. Two More Fleas

Comment #145896 by Double Bass Atheist on March 18, 2008 at 9:28 am

Wow... miss a couple days, ya miss a lot around here!

I just finished reading the last few dozen posts... what mind-numbing stupidity!
"clearmind" you obviously are not!
This is some of the strangest writing since "BecomesTheArrow" was here!

Thanks for the laughs, everyone. ;-)

62. New Atheists Are Not Great

Comment #145129 by Double Bass Atheist on March 17, 2008 at 9:41 am

Another irritating pile of feces for the 'fleas' to snack on.

There is so much to pick apart from this drivel. Skipping the obvious assertions that atheists are responsible for more deaths then theists (this one's old and tired), I'll pick just a few others:

Yet science has insurmountable limits. It cannot answer empirical questions about the origins of the universe, for instance.
But religion can?!?! So, why is a made-up answer better then no answer at all?!

If reason can explain everything, why can't it explain where things come from?
'Reason' CAN explain where things come from. We've already shown, for example, how the heavier elements came from the lighter elements via fusion in stars. Of course, there are hundreds more examples, but why bother? These people will never take the time to read the complex subject matter. 'God did it' is just so much easier.

Moral laws have changed less over the millennia than the recognized laws of physics and mathematics

WTF???!!! That has to be one of the most ridiculous statements I've ever heard. The mathematical laws have never changed! They are the cornerstone of all understanding. The laws of physics haven't changed either, they've only been enhanced (ie. Newton/Einstein on gravity). BUT, "moral law" changes almost daily... courts review/reinterpret law, governments pass new ones, and even the Catholic Chuch just passed a new set of sins!!!
Hypocrites!

Atheism cannot reach our hearts. A rigorous atheist cannot console in a time of grief, cannot explain love, cannot sigh in happy wonder at life's endless surprises. He can only utter, "What is, is."
This is perhaps the most disgusting part of this diatribe. These people simply cannot fathom the idea of life without their sky daddy! Why can't we "console in a time of grief" or "sigh in happy wonder at life's endless surprises"? I have been to many funerals, expressed my condolences, and cried with the family. 'God' was not ever mentioned! I am constantly in 'happy wonder' as new discoveries are made!

63. In Britain, creationist theory is evolving

Comment #144553 by Double Bass Atheist on March 16, 2008 at 10:27 am

As an American, I've always looked to European countries with envy. The secular, rational nature of your countries gives me hope that in can be this way one day here in the US. In other words, Europe (especially my friends in the UK) are an "inspiration."

When I read words like:

"There is a lot of American influence, and there are a lot of moral and political and financial resources flowing from the United States to here"

...I absolutely cringe!
Damn, this pisses me off!!!

We need your influence here, not the other way around!

64. 'Anonymous' takes anti-Scientology to the streets

Comment #144529 by Double Bass Atheist on March 16, 2008 at 9:41 am

Comment #144519 by Fiesoduck

But both answers wouldn't make any sense.


True, but the Scientologists answer is certainly more entertaining then the Christian one.

Scientologists believe 'Thetans' were supposedly released into the atmosphere nearly 100 million years ago, when a galactic tyrant named Xenu exiled billions of beings to Earth's volcanoes and had them vaporized by bombs.

What do you expect from a "religion" made up by a Sci-Fi writer?

65. The atheist delusion

Comment #144133 by Double Bass Atheist on March 15, 2008 at 6:53 am

Comment #144116 by Apathy personified

WHY DO THESE CRACKPOTS DELIBERATELY MISINTERPRET EVERY ARGUMENT WE HAVE THEN TELL US WE ARE WRONG BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE SAY


Childhood indoctrination does not go away easily. In addition, believing a god just magic'd everything into existence just soooo much easier to "understand" then a dozen different disciplines of science.
Besides, they really want to believe that all their nonsense (I call it non-science) is true! It gives their life "meaning." ...and I absolutely cringe every time I hear those words. Life cannot possibly have "meaning" without spending it praising some omnipotent sky fairy?

66. Deadly Sins 101

Comment #143182 by Double Bass Atheist on March 13, 2008 at 3:12 pm

Sitting here relaxing and reading these wonderful posts, I'm feeling most rather slothy...
Oh Shit! I'm going to hell!

New sins, eh?
Is there any clearer example that these people really are just making this stuff up as they go along?!

67. Chemical brain controls nanobots

Comment #142320 by Double Bass Atheist on March 12, 2008 at 10:05 am

Szymanowski-
I was going to comment on the article, but found your repudiation of squinky much more interesting! I could quote your entire post, but especially enjoyed:

We are all equally qualified to comment - it's the internet and your authority will be revealed in your words, not your academic record.

Bravo!

squinky -
We all have our own special 'qualifications,' but rather then mention my own, I'm going to say just how much I've learned from reading these pages.
A little humility goes a long way...

68. Discovery Challenges Finding of a Separate Human Species

Comment #142291 by Double Bass Atheist on March 12, 2008 at 9:10 am

Articles like this, or rather the headlines themselves, always make me a little nervous... for I know 3 months from now some fundie is going to challenge a point I'll make in a debate with, "No, I saw an article in NY Times that said humans did not have separate, common ancestor!" ...never mind that this is NOT what the article stated, or it had NOTHING to do with common ancestry, the misinterpreted headlines are what these people remember.

69. When blasphemy bit the dust

Comment #141043 by Double Bass Atheist on March 9, 2008 at 8:03 pm

A special thanks to all our friends on the other side of the pond who responded to my question in Comment #24 of this thread.
Your answers make a lot of sense. Thank you.

Ahhh... the things I've learned from this website... ;-D

70. When blasphemy bit the dust

Comment #140569 by Double Bass Atheist on March 7, 2008 at 10:11 pm

Hey, look on the 'bright' side of this (pun intended!)...
At least the UK is moving in the right direction. Here in the US, even simple things like an evaluation of basic science standards is a battle, and now that moronic "Expelled" movie is coming out.

Question for our British counterparts:
How come the UK has an official 'Church of England', but as a nation, is very secular; And yet here in the US we have a constitutional separation of church and state, but we're so much more pious? How did you guys manage that?

71. How to abandon your God

Comment #139398 by Double Bass Atheist on March 5, 2008 at 6:05 pm

Hell, even Christian megachurches have become more fluid and modern in their perspectives on love and sex and human evolution than the House That Dogma Built.

Priceless!!! ;-)
In general, a pretty good article. The author makes some good points... worth reading.

With the obvious exception of the biblical literalist YECs, most christians have had to constantly redefine 'god' in order to fit into what we are learning factually about our world, and the universe in general. As a result, god has become a moving target of sorts.
I'm sure we've all had the experience of debating one of these people, so you know what I mean... their definition of 'god' can change even as the debate progresses!

72. Fleabytes

Comment #139299 by Double Bass Atheist on March 5, 2008 at 2:20 pm

Hi all!
I've been away for a few days.
Glad to see Paula's thread still booming!

Does anyone know if 3600 posts is the new record for these boards?

73. Survey shows Non-Religious Outnumber Those of Every Single Faith (But One)

Comment #138509 by Double Bass Atheist on March 4, 2008 at 1:06 pm

I posted variation of this on a different thread:

Occasionally, a issue can be over-analyzed... And something like that may be at work here. For example, if someone says, "I don't really care about religion. It's just not important to me." Is that person 'Secular Unaffiliated'? ...Agnostic? ...or an Atheist? Most importantly, is the distinction even worth drawing?!

It's been said many times on these boards that atheism is simply the default position when one does not believe in god(s).
Does someone have to actually say, "There is no god" to be considered an atheist in surveys like this?
Isn't "I don't really give a shit about religion" the same thing???

However, all in all, this survey does give us encouraging news.

74. A God blog

Comment #137327 by Double Bass Atheist on March 2, 2008 at 4:49 pm

This is a very refreshing article.

Diacanu -
I was in a local video store the other day and saw "Left Behind, The Movie." It stars Kirk Cameron (but of course!)
I guess I had no idea this was a movie! Stupid book series, yes, but a movie?!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190524/

75. Fleabytes

Comment #136664 by Double Bass Atheist on March 1, 2008 at 2:29 pm

Ummm... GOD HIMSELF, this is Satan Himself. Your Caps Lock button is stuck again.

76. Berlin gallery in Islam art row

Comment #136650 by Double Bass Atheist on March 1, 2008 at 2:17 pm

DBA> Yea man, why do they always treat their gods like defenseless gimps? Poor guy can't stand up for himself? Can he only hear you when you pray? Why not all the time? Why would it even bother God if some people were mocking him? Heeeeey, if God created man in his image, does that mean God is as stupid as us, or does he just look like us?

Good questions, all!
Isn't mocking religion fun?! :-D

My favorite question for theists is about death... when we die and go to heaven (or hell), at what age we suspended at? ...12, 25, 50? or the age at which we died? If a 95 year old dies, does he stay at that age, or become younger? If a new born baby dies a crib death, is he/she suddenly catapulted to say, age 30?

77. Berlin gallery in Islam art row

Comment #136599 by Double Bass Atheist on March 1, 2008 at 1:37 pm

Sometimes I think religious people live to be offended.
...and I find that offensive! ;-)

A theatre I work for performed a play last year that had some strong language in it. However, two people wrote letters to the theatre to complain, not about the excessive use of the word "Fuck" (and all its derivations), but to complain about the use of "Jesus Christ." In the show, an actor has to exclaim "Jesus Christ!" several times when he is surprised to find a dead body. THAT is what they were offended by!
"Taking the lord's name in vain," as they say.
I say, bullshit! If your god exists and is anywhere near as powerful as you claim, then he is quite capable of taking care of himself. A 'god' would not need his sheep to get offended for him.

78. America: slouching towards the Enlightenment

Comment #135772 by Double Bass Atheist on February 29, 2008 at 9:05 am

Occasionally, a issue can be over-analyzed... And something like that may be at work here. For example, if someone says, "I don't really care about religion. It's just not important to me." Is that person 'Secular Unaffiliated? ...Agnostic? ...or an Atheist? Most importantly, is the distinction even worth drawing?!

It's been said many times on these boards that atheism is simply the default position when one does not believe in god(s).
Does someone have to actually say, "There is no god" to be considered an atheist in surveys like this?
Isn't "I don't really give a shit about religion" the same thing???

However, all in all, this survey does give us encouraging news.

79. Are they running for President or Pastor-in-Chief?

Comment #134786 by Double Bass Atheist on February 28, 2008 at 7:57 am

while the groundbreaking Pew study on American religious attitudes which came out several days ago

Quill - I sent that story to the admins, as well. I agree that it should have been posted. What better news for the readers of this site... chistianity is losing ground and more people then ever are expressing non-belief!

However, on a personal note, I don't really feel right complaining too much. They have posted several of my submissions. However, with multiple people submitting the same story, the sheer weight of it should have gotten someone's attention.

For the record: the admins here, and the moderators on the boards, do a great job keeping up with a lot of traffic; much more so then almost every other site I frequent.

80. Are they running for President or Pastor-in-Chief?

Comment #134476 by Double Bass Atheist on February 27, 2008 at 9:12 pm

At what point did the U.S. political system become secondary to image?


The US political system IS image.

81. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #134460 by Double Bass Atheist on February 27, 2008 at 8:20 pm

JuxtaMonkey - True, great minds and all.
However, I clearly lack your humor and style! - can I get some lessons? ;-)

The "diabolical grin, muhahahaha" thing had me laughing out loud!

82. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #134429 by Double Bass Atheist on February 27, 2008 at 7:24 pm

JuxtaMonkey -
I tried talking to you in post #300, but apparently you prefer talking to yourself. LOL!
;-)

83. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #134416 by Double Bass Atheist on February 27, 2008 at 6:50 pm

Scientific authors usually demand a bit of knowledge and >critical thinking which is much more challenging. I know myself, can only take in so much at one time. I think it is more convenient to stay "holy". You know?

JuxtaMonkey, this is so true. I just posted something very similar in the Evolution Mistakes thread:
http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,2308,Evolving-Mistakes,Olivia-Judson#134382

It has been my experience that most theists want to believe in their god soooo badly that if anything contradicts said belief, it must be discredited. Unfortunately, this usually involves so effing many misconceptions, misrepresentations, and just plain BULLSHIT, that there just isn't enough time to correct it all!

As you know, there are many former theists who regularly post here. (perhaps you too?) While this encouraging to me, the fact remains that most theists simply won't spend the necessary time investigating something that they just do not want to believe!

84. Evolving Mistakes

Comment #134382 by Double Bass Atheist on February 27, 2008 at 4:55 pm

Yet another excellent article!!!

As I was reading this, I was realizing that this is actually part of the problem... meaning that one has to read and actually spend time thinking about complex aspects of science.
By and large, people are intellectually lazy.

"God did it" is just so much easier!

85. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #133793 by Double Bass Atheist on February 26, 2008 at 7:41 pm

Goldy-
Yeah, you gotta ask! ...and you're gonna love the answer!

Steve-
I guess I won't be the only one any longer, eh?
(*hangs head*)

86. The Encyclopedia of Life, No Bookshelf Required

Comment #133791 by Double Bass Atheist on February 26, 2008 at 7:36 pm

What about beetles? ...the bugs not the band! ;-)
Aren't there some 350,000 different kinds of beetles?
I always wondered what was god's fascination with these things? I mean, when you're creating the earth and all the diverse forms of life, wouldn't one or two types of beetles do just fine?

I guess god must have had some kind of serious beetle fetish, eh?

87. Pakistan blocks YouTube over blasphemous video

Comment #133532 by Double Bass Atheist on February 26, 2008 at 9:59 am

Al-

If they didn't hand him over we should have attempted to apprehend him. He committed a crime and should be taken and tried, like any other criminal. Then we could have presented our plethora of evidence against him and then executed him. Failing that I would have accepted the summary execution (although I usually don't) of this "nutter" via bombing.

We were trying to apprehend him (Bin-Laden), but Bush suddenly felt that Saddom and Iraq were a greater threat... Well, I guess that's what god told him, anyhow. ;-)

So, the 'nutter' in Afghanistan is probably sitting in a cave somewhere plotting the next major bombing, and we're stuck in Iraq.
Damn. God sure gives shitty advice!

88. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #132947 by Double Bass Atheist on February 25, 2008 at 12:37 pm

A God that does nothing!

God is so great, he doesn't even have to exist!

Neat trick there, David Blain can't do that shit!


Diacanu - now that's seriously funny!
I wonder just how desperate the theists are getting? I mean, atheism is obviously no longer a closeted minority, and the pious just can't seem to say enough about it!
Keep 'em comin' theists... keep 'em comin'!

Remember, the more these fools write, the better we look.

89. How he was sentenced to die

Comment #132600 by Double Bass Atheist on February 25, 2008 at 3:02 am

And my countrymen are losing their lives for this shit hole of a nation

JS Bach - I had very similar thoughts while reading this. Afghanistan is supposed to be one the of the "success stories" so to speak.


His fate appeared sealed when the Afghan senate passed a motion, proposed by Sibghatullkah Mojeddeid, a key ally of the President Hamid Karzai, confirming the death sentence

The senate?!?! And these are supposed to be the educated ones! Fanatics in the populace is at least expected; unfortunate, but expected. However, this is the official government position!

Sad. So sad.

90. Evidence can't shake your faith if your faith excludes it as evidence

Comment #132424 by Double Bass Atheist on February 24, 2008 at 6:25 pm

St. Augustine's advice when confronting something that appears to contradict Christian belief: the phenomenon should be subjected "to diligent scrutiny until an interpretation contributing to the reign of charity is produced."

The real irony here is that if these people would only apply this type of thinking to their own religion, they too would be atheists!

I enjoyed reading this article with the exception of the fact the author repeatedly makes reference to the "atheist beliefs" or "belief in atheism." This is one of those things I find irritating. Why is this concept so hard for people to understand? Atheism is NOT a belief. In the absence of evidence for god(s), it is merely the default position.

91. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #132191 by Double Bass Atheist on February 24, 2008 at 12:38 pm

markg -
LOL! I remember that thread now!

It irritates me because a lady I work with claimed that her diabetes was in god's hands and that there was no way she could deal with this disease with out "him".

JuxtaMonkey-
This story is all too familiar to me. It always amazes me how people like this can mix science (getting treatment for their condition, like insulin in that case) with their 'beliefs.'
People are living longer today not because the invisible man in the sky is suddenly being nice to us. It is due to advances in science! Why can't they see this obvious fact?!

After all, the only reason your diabetic coworker hadn't died years ago is not because of "Him." If she doesn't accept this, ask her to stop following her doctor's orders and just pray. Let "him" take care of her.
Please see this comment for my similar story to yours:
http://www.richarddawkins.net/articleComments,2073,Man-and-God,The-Times,page2#103418

92. The coming religious peace

Comment #132140 by Double Bass Atheist on February 24, 2008 at 9:42 am

Now I think I fully understand your avatar

Well Radesq, you make a good point... more proof that god doesn't exist. Praying has never helped the Phillies!

So now I understand your avatar as well... you are the Red Sox Bat Boy! (*drummer plays a rim-shot*) I know, I know..... A really bad pun... "don't quit your day job, DBA" and all that. ;-)

93. The coming religious peace

Comment #132135 by Double Bass Atheist on February 24, 2008 at 9:21 am

My only qualm is that he is a Yankees fan (but what are you going to do he is from Jersey).

Hey Radesq! I'm from Jersey! ...and I'm a Phillies fan, which is actually more painful ;-D

94. The coming religious peace

Comment #132100 by Double Bass Atheist on February 24, 2008 at 7:11 am

The real question is why there are "some" very intelligent people who still believe in a supernatural being?

Most likely, this is simply because the individual never really applied his/her intellect to their religion. In addition, some use just enough of their brain, and learn just enough science (though misunderstood) to actually feel that they can conclude that god must exist, and they think science proves it!
These are the fundies and IDiots we engage nearly everyday. And their intellect appears to be completely impervious to correction or the introduction of new information.

Never underestimate the sheer power and longevity of childhood indoctrination.

95. The coming religious peace

Comment #131983 by Double Bass Atheist on February 23, 2008 at 6:30 pm

DBA:

Interesting that you say that religiosity is on the increase in the USA

That stuff I posted earlier which came from Mark Driscolls video suggests otherwise

SG-
I had watched the youtube clip and read the pdf from your earlier post. I sincerely hope that you are right and I am wrong. Frankly, I was only writing from a personal perspective... what I've observed in my life here in the US so far (I'm 43). Obviously, I admit that my observations are hardly a scientific study. However, it sure seems like the Christians are really sinking their pious claws into everything. I cannot remember a time when religion was such a large part of politics. Neither can I recall there ever being such a strong and ubiquitous objection to science as there is now, specifically cosmology (as it relates to the origin of the universe - Big Bang), and biological evolution.

In either case, I still have a hard time agreeing with the author of this article about major secular changes in the "next few decades."

96. The coming religious peace

Comment #131916 by Double Bass Atheist on February 23, 2008 at 3:41 pm

I would even say that religiosity is on the increase here in the US.
When I was a kid and first learned about evolution, it was really no big deal. The teacher even talked about the "Scopes Monkey Trial" and we all laughed at the backwards beliefs. There was no debate. No one argued about creationism. We just learned the facts of science.
About 20 years later, I met my first Young Earth Creationist and I have to admit, I thought he was kidding! What do you mean the universe is only 6000 years old?!?!?!?!
Today, it seems that I can hardly have a simple conversation with someone without being confronted with YEC insanity! There's even a monument to this ignorance now, the effing "Creation Museum"!!!
Many people here home school their kids to just keep them from hearing "this anti-god nonsense" and that number is steadily growing.
Political candidates talk about religion more now then I can ever recall.

We really do need the assistance of our rational friends in Europe and elsewhere if the US is ever going to reverse this trend.

97. The coming religious peace

Comment #131869 by Double Bass Atheist on February 23, 2008 at 1:43 pm

Also Double bass athiest, can you think about changing your name to Double Bathiest?

Ironically, when I first began frequenting these boards (Dec '06) after reading TGD, I had an alias similar to this. But I ended up completely forgetting the exact user name and password, so I ended up eventually reregistering. For the record, it's the musical instrument, not the fish or the ale! :-)

Back on topic...
This is happening while secularism is on the increase, and a recent survey shows that less than half of the UK population are religious

Unfortunately, I haven't seen any recent equivalent surveys in the US. The popularity of the Horsemen's tomes are certainly encouraging, though!

98. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #131862 by Double Bass Atheist on February 23, 2008 at 1:28 pm

Shrommer wrote:

Double Bass atheist writes, "so it says in the Bible". Please show me where in the Bible it talks about people dying for their testimony of having witnessed the resurrected Jesus. I can't think of any right now. I am referring to historical accounts outside of the Bible (extra-biblical).

Shrommer, I was quoting YOU. You are the one who said "Jesus' resurrection is historically verifiable with multitudes of witnesses who preferred to die for the truth if the record of what they had seen and heard." I was simply pointing out to you that all you have are these stories in the bible... you are the one lacking the extra-biblical evidence you seek!
If these stories are true, is it just dumb luck that no contemporary of Jesus ever chose to write about him? Why is it that absolutely everything that has ever been written about Jesus was written AFTER his alleged lifetime?

As Frankus1122 asked, why not just try stepping out of your Christian bubble? What if Jesus never really existed?!?! Hmmm... no more excuses needed; no more apologetics... just the realization that your god (and indeed all gods) are man-made objects of devotion, created by people who were ignorant of their natural world.

99. The coming religious peace

Comment #131812 by Double Bass Atheist on February 23, 2008 at 11:20 am

From the article:

The French philosopher Blaise Pascal once famously showed that it would be irrational to bet against the existence of God. It would be equally foolish, in the long run, to bet against the power of the Enlightenment. The answer to the question of which religion will dominate the future, at least politically, may well be: None of the above.

Good article, an interesting read. As the author's core point, the above is encouraging but probably not realistic... well, at least not in our lifetimes.

Historians may one day look back on the next few decades, not as yet another era when religious conflicts enveloped countries and blew apart established societies, but as the era when secularization took over the world.

I sure hope so! But, like I said, I just can't this happening in our lifetimes, let alone "the next few decades."
Opinions people... Agree? Disagree?

100. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #131645 by Double Bass Atheist on February 22, 2008 at 9:11 pm

Why believe any of the myths? I don't think we should. We should be able to weigh the evidence to distinguish between myths and historical fact. Jesus' resurrection is historically verifiable with multitudes of witnesses who preferred to die for the truth of the record of what they had seen and heard; the myths are mere inventions of people's imaginations.

(*yawn*) So it says in the bible, but apparently none of those people ever chose to write about him. Absolutely EVERYTHING that has ever been written about Jesus was written AFTER his supposed lifetime. Therefore, Shrommer, all you have is a collection of stories. When faced with a lack of evidence, or contradictory evidence, one can only conclude that a given story is fiction. Jesus is a myth, just like all the other 'virgin birth', '3-day death', and 'resurrection' gods.
One additional point, people have been willing to die for their god throughout the history of civilization. What YOU consider mythology wasn't mythology to its followers.

"Mythology - where all gods go to die" - Sam Harris

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