51. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #192867 by KRKBAB on June 14, 2008 at 5:13 am

oops- in my last rant I wrote life's instead of live's. I guess I got too ANGRY and didn't properly check my wording (but do I ever?). ta-ta

52. Kerry O'Brien's exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama

Comment #192865 by KRKBAB on June 14, 2008 at 5:07 am

Who cares about all the negative issues that could be dealt with and some real wrongs being righted- just DON'T GET MAD! ? What utter crap! Think of C. Hitchens dealing with THAT subject. Mr. "don't tell me to LOVE my enemies- I want to HATE my enemies". Of course getting angry too much and too often could impede rationaity, but this eastern philosophy of "let the world's troubles and anxieties just wash over me- they'll go away kind" of bullshit is annoying as hell. Hands off- do nothing! fuck that. That sounded appealing to me before, and granted it has it's usefulness in alleviating (temporarily) anxieties, but it's like willfully giving yourself a frontal lobotomy.
Who cares that he's a nice person. He still speaks drivel and many people hang on to his last word as if their lifes are going to be guided onto a better "path". Buddhisim bothers me because there are so many intelligent people in the West that are leaving the idiocy of their family's inherited religion, well onto the way to rationality and then BAM (or more like mush), just before they discover proper skepticism they get trapped in the gooey fluff of buddhism. Yes, I said it- the gooey fluff of buddhism. And it's adherants think it's crystal clear thinking!

53. The Expelled Evolutionist

Comment #189083 by KRKBAB on June 5, 2008 at 11:30 am

"Teachers should have the right to teach what they believe is right even if it runs counter to the scientific mainstream". Wow. That's horrible. How about if you tag onto the end of that: "as long as they have sufficient evidence that their "beliefs" are on a reasonably level standing with the rigors and integrity of scientific mainstream". A teacher shouldn't be allowed to teach what she/he believes if it flies in the face of rational thought!
P.Z. Meyers says "I personally believe that religion is a lie and a danger". Ayup! (Maine speak) We need more direct statements like this to be made. I think that statement of P.Z.'s rates right up there with Dawkins' frequent remark: "I'm not concerned with (fill in the blank), I'm just interested in whether it's true or not". That one always makes me cheer out loud (looking rather silly I would suspect). He (Dawkins)just re-directs the discussion back to the center after some post-modern bullshit usually tries muddle things up.

54. Darwin still causing waves after 150 years

Comment #188968 by KRKBAB on June 5, 2008 at 4:29 am

You people don't get it, do you? A book for the MASSES to explain the Theory of Evolution (not evolution) will have to be MORE dumbed down than The Blind Watchmaker. Please don't be in denial about HOW simplistic it should be for the right percentage of the WORLD'S population to finally get it. I'm living proof! Seriously though, there should be several books on several levels- but clearly a VERY simple read (let's not go overboard here) should be available if not just for the masses, but also for a primer to get people (the public) to want to learn more. ALSO- I think one of the best ways to get Christians (at least) see the light of reason, is to focus the hell out of the major elephant in the room. The fact that (as an earlier person posted) thirst for knowledge is associated with being "tempted" by the devil. SURELY this has to be under a HUGE spotlight when-ever there is any debate between Christians and rational thinkers (i.e. skeptics).

55. Karma comedians

Comment #186791 by KRKBAB on May 31, 2008 at 10:15 am

FightingFalcon says he hates the phrase "everything happens for a reason". I agree- I hate that too. A phrase that bothers me more that I hear way too often here in the USA is "there's gotta be sumthin'!" Think of the stupidity of that one. When ever I tell people I don't believe in a god OR any pseudoscience, that's the phrase they hit me with, as if it's supoosed to really trip me up. Deep logic, huh?

56. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce

Comment #186785 by KRKBAB on May 31, 2008 at 10:06 am

C'mon- you guys (people) make me sick- "Gee, I really can't imagine what (homosexual, lesbian, bi-sexual, heterosexual) sex could be like because I'm not one of those. I'm another type. WTF- Is it really hard to imagine what a couple who prefers a different type of sexual activity does. Wow, do you people really have that little imagination? On the topic of the article though- I'm also sickened by the people who say things like: "well, technically she did lie, blah, blah, blah...".Again- WTFX10! If a woman is brought up in a HORRIBLE culture of promising lifelong shame and/or possible honor killig, why would ANYBODY give one ounce of credibility to this pathetic excuse of a muslim husband to be. Really, WTFX 100 this time.

57. Synthetic Copycat Of Living Cell Underway: Life, But Not As We Know It?

Comment #186291 by KRKBAB on May 30, 2008 at 4:38 am

Those "capsule like structures" look too clean and perfect. I want to see some dirt and fuzz on 'em. Then I'll get excited. Hey KING OF NH- I live in NEW England (Maine), not England, so does the NH stand for what I think it does, or is it something like Notting- Ham? or something like New Hinklebottomshire?

58. Louisiana's latest creationism bill moves to House floor

Comment #185562 by KRKBAB on May 28, 2008 at 4:34 am

I'm really startung to think that making religion mandatory in public shools is a brilliant idea. Just make sure it's taught objectively (History- Sociology, Literature...) and it should really hammer home the "man made god" point. Show all of the major religions of the world, AND the newer ones (Jehovah's Witness, Mormans...)It might shed some light with kids when they're most vulnerable that religion is so damned created- BY HUMANS! What the heck? Prof. Dawkins himself repeatedly says he first started doubting religion when he learned how many there were and it made him really think about it. Lets embarrass the hell out of these creationists by putting the spotlight on religion.

59. Town moves against Islamic school

Comment #184889 by KRKBAB on May 26, 2008 at 10:48 am

Granton, here is how a Muslim could integrate: by adhering to all of the governmental laws; not EVER trying to insitute "sharia"; and by granting all Muslim women the rights that the laws of Australia grant. Also, this "school" should not be allowed to be built or any other faith based school. Obviously, any previously built shit based, I mean faith based schools should remain, but faith based education taking the place of a secular education should not be allowed for ANY child (or adult) IMHO. These Aussies are partially right, as long as they would be this adverse to ANY religious school. (I realize the obvious zenophobia amongst some of them but perhaps not amongst all of them)

60. Edgar Mitchell ushers in the Next Epoch in Evolution

Comment #183416 by KRKBAB on May 22, 2008 at 4:50 am

Someone previously called this article new age babble. I agree. Mitchel says he was "engulfed with a profound sense". The word SENSE should be highlighted here. Can you imagine a scientist when asked for evidence of a claim saying well...I was "engulfed with a profound sense". Being impressed with someone who says that is like thinking (religious) faith is a virtue. I'm not wording this too well, but maybe my point is made?

61. Non-religious summer camps develop niche

Comment #183408 by KRKBAB on May 22, 2008 at 4:21 am

You know, Im having a hard time with the idea of teaching kids to be rational being on the same ground with teaching kids a specific religion. If proving that a belief isn't validated just because it can't be disproven is equated with atheism, then so be it. THAT'S THE POINT. If rational and critical thinking naturaly lead one to become an Atheist- well.....sounds good to me!
Aren't we being a little intimidated by theists into feeling like "we're just as bad as them" because we "espouse" Atheism?! WTF

62. Is Science Killing the Soul?

Comment #180916 by KRKBAB on May 16, 2008 at 5:07 am

Wow- what a good read! It was obvious to me that when in the intro it said Dawkin's latest book was Unweaving The Rainbow, we were into the past. Well, it was very interesting indeed. Soul 1 for me is a useless topic, unless of course you're talking to a theist. But deeply discussing soul 2 should become a very tasty and popular topic for people in the scientist/atheist community. Although I'm not well read AT ALL it's still a discussion I think I could really enjoy and contribute to. Soul 2: a perhaps non-material entity that might be able to be proven empirically by neuroscience? Now that's interesting. Am I off the mark here, anyone?

63. Gods and earthlings

Comment #163450 by KRKBAB on April 18, 2008 at 11:13 am

rwrjunior- Yes, your right. The people who like intelligent design haven't really thought it out. Most of the time when I TRY to have a discussion/argument, it usually doesn't go too deep. They seem to like it the same way they like comfort food. The familiarity of the concept makes them feel at home. It's as if we're asking them to leave home and strike out on an adventure. Home is limiting, but the limits don't seem to matter to theists. I don't know of an effective way to communicate with these folks.

64. Sexpelled: No Intercourse Allowed

Comment #163221 by KRKBAB on April 18, 2008 at 4:32 am

If yer not a Stork fearing American- YOUR NOT AN AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!

65. Rep. Davis: The Worst Person in the World

Comment #157419 by KRKBAB on April 9, 2008 at 4:30 am

Teratornis, I howled with laughter when I read your words: "It's like scat singing"! Holy mother of god, that's real fuckin' funny! Ow! Yeah Baby, (Austin Powers). You must be American, right? (bad grammer. eh?)If your not, you should be. We have a sense of humor that's a little different than the Brits (not that there's anything wrong with their's). Excuse my real slow response and bad grammer.

66. Cult leader Pyotr Kuznetsov tries suicide after realising he was wrong about doomsday

Comment #155078 by KRKBAB on April 4, 2008 at 6:24 am

Steve, you strike me as a pessimist. I know, my wife is one and she's always insisting she's not a pessimist, but a realist. A fine line. I'm reading the biography of Carl Sagan. He was/is a true inspiration to me. He's was living proof of the possibility to be rational and optimistic at the same time. Lots of his way-out ideas were more like thoughts and conjectures, but at the end of the day, he always yielded to reason. He was a quite complex men. He would often appear to be offering up wacky ideas, only to bring them to the table, so he could then, step by step, disprove them and "occaisionaly" prove them correct. He was one of the few scientists pushing the greenhouse effect theory of Venus when a lot of others were still hanging on to the possibility of life on Venus. Oh my, I've strayed. My original point was I think it's quite possible, and even beneficial to be rational and be optimistic at the same time.

67. Cult leader Pyotr Kuznetsov tries suicide after realising he was wrong about doomsday

Comment #155052 by KRKBAB on April 4, 2008 at 5:41 am

Okay folks- you like humour? I live in the state of Maine (USA) and I just heard on the news that a man was recently caught tryng to steal an electric guitar from a music store here in maine by trying to walk out of the store "WITH THE GUITAR STUFFED DOWN HIS PANTS"!!!. But wait, there's more; apparenly it has happened in maine before. Hmmmmm. a copy-cat crime. A copy-cat crime of a FAILED ATTEMPT! Yep, that's the kind of intellect we're facing here, Steve.

68. Cult leader Pyotr Kuznetsov tries suicide after realising he was wrong about doomsday

Comment #155046 by KRKBAB on April 4, 2008 at 5:30 am

"Improved education for the masses"? Exactly, but at the present moment in the USA, that's wishfull thinking. I think we're still in the "hitting them over the head with the obvious" stage. But yes, improved education for the masses is needed here like water in a desert!

69. Cult leader Pyotr Kuznetsov tries suicide after realising he was wrong about doomsday

Comment #155040 by KRKBAB on April 4, 2008 at 5:19 am

Yeah, a little like denial I suppose. but what's the alternative?- just stop trying to "convert" (or "de" convert) the nuts?

70. Cult leader Pyotr Kuznetsov tries suicide after realising he was wrong about doomsday

Comment #155036 by KRKBAB on April 4, 2008 at 5:10 am

Oh c'mon Steve Zara (I've read and appreciated other posts by you). Here in the USA people need to be literally beat over the head (no pun intended) with the obvious. Perhaps you don't realize how bad it really is here? Okay, maybe my "transformation of society" bit was a little over the top.

71. Cult leader Pyotr Kuznetsov tries suicide after realising he was wrong about doomsday

Comment #155031 by KRKBAB on April 4, 2008 at 4:57 am

First, I agree with Richard Morgan; sympathy for the mentally ill. Yes, the image of a crazy person hitting himself in the head with a log is VERY funny, but so are a lot of things very ill people do. These stories, however, are a great opportunity for we atheists to point out to the fence sitters the obvious (to us, anyway) parallel to any and/all religious prophecys. I try to point out as often as I can in atheist/theist conversation that Jesus, Mohammed and MOST other religion starters were most assuredly mentally ill and suffering from EXTREME delusions of grandeur. Articles like these are golden opportunities folks. Not just to wallow, but to help speed up the transormation of society into a more rational one. These articles should get a LOT more attention in the mainstream media.

72. It was a bad year for God.

Comment #109171 by KRKBAB on January 8, 2008 at 1:34 pm

Don't forget, in America (and everywhere else, for that matter) what a conservative believed 50 years ago compared to what a con. believes now, is a lot different- thanks to the "ever changing moral zeitgeist".
I'm an American and a liberal (on most issues, except our horrific illegal immigration issue) and I have to keep reminding myself of the afore mentioned point. It's very similar to the belief in god, thanks to the "god of the gaps". Yes, I know the fundies in the USA are getting louder, but it's only because they're slowly getting cornered by the changing moral zeitgeist! They're like cornered animals acting out defensively. Isn't it wonderful!
The so- called "New Atheists" are only taking fundies to the task and exposing them. Maybe I'm being a little too optimistic. I know the damage that fundies can do (in all religions) is currently huge. And as much as I want to get behind the idea of moderates enabling extremists (it's true, but only to a certain extent), if I step back and take a look at it, it seems to be a bit alarmist to me.
But to re-cap; YES, it's been a bad year for (the concept of) god. We're heading in the right direction, despite the terrorists and the intelligent design nuts.
Up next- lets take on all the pseudo science crap that's polluting our world. It's VERY unfortunate that many "liberals" in my country are all caught up in some sort of mystical psuedo-science bullshit.

73. Blind Faiths

Comment #108878 by KRKBAB on January 7, 2008 at 7:01 pm

Sorry, Goldy- I mis-interpreted you on that one.

74. Blind Faiths

Comment #108868 by KRKBAB on January 7, 2008 at 6:47 pm

Goldy says- "And it is always Israels fault..." meaning what? Israel can do no wrong? Or how-about the USA can do no wrong? The USA, Israel and Palestine can all do wrong (and right). Let's not prop up a single country as being the leader of correct behavior.

75. Blind Faiths

Comment #108826 by KRKBAB on January 7, 2008 at 5:16 pm

al-rawandi- I read the "other comments by al-rawandi" and I'm satisfied you are not an islamic apologist. Rather, you seem to be able to stand back and take a rational look the Islamic fundamentalist problem that could easily cause irrational reaqctions due to obvious reasons.
However, you wrote , in comment #38- "You cannot apply your general understanding of what religion is to the cognitive functions of everyone who claims to act out of a religious motivation". Why not? Does it really matter how religion is accurately defined, or by it's affect on human reaction?

76. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Edd Doerr

Comment #58331 by KRKBAB on July 24, 2007 at 1:50 pm

Okay folks, the crux of the problem is becoming clearer and clearer. I once told a Jehovah's Witness about my disbelief of anything supernatural. She said there's nothing supernatural about the Jehovah's Witness religion!!!! And she was serious! Obviously the definition of the word "god" is being constantly re-defined to accomodate the gaps. Now, it's very clear that Ed Doerr's only defense of his useless argument is that people define "religion" to fit what ever their a-la-carte philosopy is! It's true that Ed Doerr probably agrees with about 99% of Hitchens, but in the end, he's "enabling" people of faith to define religion how ever they want. We need to hold on to definitions- other wise everything will turn to JELLO!!!!!

77. Richard Dawkins Replies to David Sloan Wilson

Comment #55987 by KRKBAB on July 13, 2007 at 5:17 am

Hey Old Atheist-
Again, expanding the definition of the word "religion" to trivialize someone's point? Also, can't we stop picking apart every word some one says in excitement, like Sane1 has above?
Maybe you should write about something more interesting, or simply "get out".
Sane1- I really like the expression "Rock-on Dawkins. It's Superficial and a little jerky/American sounding (I'm an American), but I've quite often wanted to use it myself! Maybe make a bumper sticker with it! We do love our bumper stickers in America. The one I have on my car has a symbol of earth on it and it reads "United We Stand"

78. Bill Moyers interviews E.O. Wilson

Comment #55443 by KRKBAB on July 11, 2007 at 5:27 am

RICEY,
There are a lot of people in my country (USA) that need to "come out" to counteract the anti-science- "the earth is a temporary stop on the way to heaven" people. We've (American atheists) really and truly have been squashed by the "faithful" and the negative consequences of the whole of what has happened in this extraordinary country since it's inception. I think a problem that is just as big in this country, is the "junk food" style appeal of the pseudo-sciences which people cling to. So many people in this country can't seem to go strait to atheism from religious faith. They get caught up in things like astrology or new-age philosophy, or try to hang on to the "badge of faith" that seems so prevalent here. It is so frustrating in this country to have a great beginning of a conversation with someone, only to find out that they've adopted an equally non-reasoned form of some pseudo-science or post modern foggy reasoning. Any other Americans share this frustration with me? Back to the article, though- E.O Wilson calls himself a Secular Humanist! Coming from the deep south (E.O.Wilson), he really deserves lots of accolades and respect. I'd be real happy to see even a start of the online cataloging of information of all the life on earth. That would be phenomenal!

79. Christopher Hitchens and Al Sharpton

Comment #53602 by KRKBAB on July 2, 2007 at 7:41 am

Look, we're talking about the American media here. It's not so much about dumbing down as it is about speaking to the audience, although I admit it's a fine line. Again, as far as the atheism/theism debate is concerned, why do we have to speak in such extreme, black or white concepts of moral absolutism and moral relativism. It really stinks of extreme armchair intellectualism (hey, that sounds like a great monty python meets junky reality t.v. program- "Extreme Armchair Intellectualism"!). The moral zeitgeist suggests moral relativism slightly (to me), and the idea of having possible innate altruism (via utilitarian evolutionary explanation) suggests a type of moral absolutism. This black or white stance seems to be more about stubborness than about seeking real answers to me, anyhow. Obviously though, I'm NOT an intellectual or well read at all. I'm an average American (don't persecute me, please), but I don't think one needs a superior intellect to ask the right questions. After all, I came to my atheistic views with-out either an ultra high I.Q. or haveing read a zillion books. I'm not bragging or being arrogant about my averageness (as some Americans actually do) but rather am just trying to state the value of my moderate kind of intellect. I'm happy to be commenting in the middle of some genuinely impressive intelligence, but sometimes some simplicity is refreshing.

80. Christopher Hitchens and Al Sharpton

Comment #53579 by KRKBAB on July 2, 2007 at 5:25 am

Hitchens missed a great opportunity! He often does, but I still like him a lot . A question was, do you believe in absolute morality. No!- of course not. The ever changing moral zeitgeist! Religious people ACTUALLY think they're tripping up we atheists when they ask this question. Just slam the stupid issue back at them! Why were woman and minorities treated differently in the past? Because of the ever changing moral zeitgeist! Why didn't Hitchens present this to them? I really LOVE Hitchens' style, but often in his razor sharp concentration AND stubborness, he misses golden opportunies.

81. Lecture on Sex Ratio Theory and Sexual Selection

Comment #53160 by KRKBAB on June 29, 2007 at 7:40 pm

Kind of nice to hear R.D.s 29 minute lecture on sex ratio and evolution. However, I'm finding the majority of the questionner's comments to be pretty superficial. The first question is about the possible effects of global warming and temperature on the sex ratio?! Maybe a topically interesting subject, but it really had nothing to do with what R.D. had been talking about. Wasn't he getting the gist of what the lecture was about. I guess the main thing is to get to see R.D. speaking on Darwinism/Evolution (to our benefit) and to pretty much ignore the Q & A afterwards. Another of R.D.s talents seems to be to follow a lame question or comment with a very interesting and informative response. Science lectures are a much needed break from hearing R.D. take on the theists. Rock-on Dawkins!

82. Lecture on Neo-Darwinism

Comment #53055 by KRKBAB on June 29, 2007 at 6:11 am

regarding Downunders comment #52995- it reads like good critical human analysing at first, but then ends up reading like postmodernist drivel. The "we're such a small and insignificant species that all of our reasoning amounts to nothing more than musing and folly" attitude is kind of dismissive and even arrogant. If all we can think about is all we can think about, then my response is- so what? Downunder's commentary sounds a little too self deprecating to me.

83. Science of the Soul? 'I Think, Therefore I Am' Is Losing Force

Comment #52789 by KRKBAB on June 28, 2007 at 4:53 am

At the end of the article, Dr Miller says- " As a scientist, I have nothing to say about the soul. It's not a scientific idea". No shit? That's the trouble with scientists who are also people of faith. That's always their pitiful reasoning. When people use the "You can't argue religion in a scientific context" bullshit, that's when I present them with my all time favourite C. Sagan quote: " Science is not perfect, but it's the best we have" (I hope I got it right). Amen. Until the faith-heads come up with a VIABLE better method than the scientific one, all their arguments are, at best, postulation, and at worst (which is usually the case) nothing but vain fiction. The logic that faith-heads use to counter new evidence by science to continue to justify their preposterous claims are not only ridiculous, but also very PREDICTABLE and often very humorous! It's sad to see so very often in my country (USA) perfectly intelligent, rational people stubbornly coming up with their defences whenever science renders their views as false.

84. Science of the Soul? 'I Think, Therefore I Am' Is Losing Force

Comment #52788 by KRKBAB on June 28, 2007 at 4:53 am

At the end of the article, Dr Miller says- " As a scientist, I have nothing to say about the soul. It's not a scientific idea". No shit? That's the trouble with scientists who are also people of faith. That's always their pitiful reasoning. When people use the "You can't argue religion in a scientific context" bullshit, that's when I present them with my all time favourite C. Sagan quote: " Science is not perfect, but it's the best we have" (I hope I got it right). Amen. Until the faith-heads come up with a VIABLE better method than the scientific one, all their arguments are, at best, postulation, and at worst (which is usually the case) nothing but vain fiction. The logic that faith-heads use to counter new evidence by science to continue to justify their preposterous claims are not only ridiculous, but also very PREDICTABLE and often very humorous! It's sad to see so very often in my country (USA) perfectly intelligent, rational people stubbornly coming up with their defences whenever science renders their views as false.

85. Look Forward to Anger

Comment #52595 by KRKBAB on June 27, 2007 at 11:57 am

Wow, just how many mis-spellings can I actually produce at one time? I preview my responses several times, and then I noticed I've still mis-spelled! I just turned 50 so maybe thats why. No, wait a minute, I guess I'm just careless. Since I've name dropped already, I've also tuned Keith Richards Piano, Martha Stewarts piano (pre-jail) and lately- the piano at the "Bush Compound" in Maine. I saw several pics of father and son in the house. kinda made me proud- err- wait a minute...

86. Look Forward to Anger

Comment #52594 by KRKBAB on June 27, 2007 at 11:46 am

BT Murtagh- as long as I don't get the "you can tune a piano, but you can't tune-a-fish" line, we'll be okay. You'd be surprised at how many times I hear that lame comment. I'd love to tune Hitchens' piano, but since he's in the D.C area, and I'm now thouroughly entrenced in the Portland, Maine area, I don't see that happening. Do you think he's a piano player?

87. Look Forward to Anger

Comment #52561 by KRKBAB on June 27, 2007 at 9:34 am

Well SummerSeal, using the ugly American dumbed down expression of "bad guys" isn't exactly endearing to your ideas. I agree that islamic fundies have to be fought, and fought hard, but Iraq was not the place to go. We should be more deliberate in USA about the fight being against all religious fund. and not just islamic fund. though. BT Murtagh- maybe you don't get a party leaflet, but your intelligently over wordy responses make you sound like a "lefty" version of William Buckley (who, btw, I actually tuned his piano in Greenwich, CT. When he met me as I was leaving, while in his pajamas, gave me a huge tip! God bless his capitalist wallet!)

88. Look Forward to Anger

Comment #52470 by KRKBAB on June 27, 2007 at 4:56 am

I can just hear them now:"and he frequently mis- spells words!"

89. Look Forward to Anger

Comment #52468 by KRKBAB on June 27, 2007 at 4:50 am

I'm a pretty strong American leftist (and atheist), but not a "blind faith" leftist! I have finally come to the conclusion that as an atheist, I want to see the world as it really is- FILLED with extremely awe inspiring, beauty, and EXTREMELY horribly vile things. So; the wishy washy "can't we all just hold hands and sing" leftist ideal is no more correct than the moronic vision of the theists rosey clored glasses. I've got to agree with Hitchens (and SummerSeal) on the war. I HATE my current "commander in chief" and most of the entire administration. I don't even like the pretense of why we went into Iraq- BUT- whether we stay or pull out of Irag, it seems to be a wise move on par with the vision of reality we ateists are SUPPOSED TO HAVE, to fight fundamentalism (and yes, especially islamic fundies) with real life warfare (which should BY ALL MEANS also include non combative solutions). I'm getting tired of the apparent double standard of the "party line" leftist atheists: life is beautiful AND cruel, yet we need to be pacifists?!?!

90. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #50819 by KRKBAB on June 20, 2007 at 4:48 am

goddidit-god of the gaps-goddidit-god of the gaps-goddidit-god of the gaps-goddi...That's mainly what I keep hearing from people interviewing the new atheists. They always think there asking such a profound question that's ACTUALLY going to trip up Dawkins! What happenned BEFORE the big bang smart guy? HUH? Well? What about THAT?!?! Sheesh, is this as far as we're going to get in the dialogue? Can't we have some even SLIGHTLY more challenging questions? A caller then states that it takes MORE faith to believe that god DOESN'T exist! WTF! Really! What kind of statement is that?

91. Should Science Speak to Faith? A dialog between Lawrence Krauss and Richard Dawkins

Comment #47340 by KRKBAB on June 4, 2007 at 6:02 am

It seems to me that religion MAY be in it's death throes (perhaps wishology- hopeology). The STRONG resurgence in my country, the USA (can't you tell by all the miss-spellings!) seems to indicate that to me. Also, the gaining popularity of Buddhism in the west seems to me to be about people who have reduced the god of the gaps so much, yet they can't totally let go. The form of Buddhism in the USA seems like a minimalist form of it. Also, the profusion of all the new age wishy washy ambiguous thinking also seems to indicate a desire in society to shed the embarassments of old school dogmas with harder to dispute pseudo scientific crapola. (well, actually not that hard to dipute)

92. What I Think About Evolution

Comment #46708 by KRKBAB on June 1, 2007 at 8:15 am

Spiritual truths?!?!?!? WTF?!?!?!? There are no "Spiritual Truths"! There are fictitious spiritual truths. I'ts sad to hear people spout so much rubbbish

93. The Fastest-Growing Religion

Comment #42722 by KRKBAB on May 19, 2007 at 7:09 am

Incidentally, I never got too far in my wicca searching, 'cause it seemed to get rediculous very fast from the outset. I was just pointing out how powerfully alluring the mystical aspects could be for some people (like myself), but DR BENWAY'S comment #42623 cuts right to the chase.
BTW, sorry about the typo, Dr Benway in my previous post (sats-says).

94. The Fastest-Growing Religion

Comment #42721 by KRKBAB on May 19, 2007 at 6:59 am

TUIBGUY- Yeah, that's right. Witches, not warlocks. I do remember something like that. I guess I'm trying to forget, though. Great sex?; great brain candy?- it just seemed liked GAMES for adults. Not at all what I was searching for. I wanted (and still want) truth. Solopsism, as DR BENWAY sats.
comment #42647 TURIEL hits the nail right on the head.

95. The Fastest-Growing Religion

Comment #42598 by KRKBAB on May 18, 2007 at 2:30 pm

About 12 years ago, I looked into wicca because I was very interested. I was still afraid to make the total dis-connect with the "majick" concept. The more I learned , the more it sounded like just another flavor of what I really wanted to leave in the first place on my way to becoming an Atheist. Also, being male, I would have had to call myself a "warlock". That's when the bullshit meter started smoking. Let's face it; the idea that majik, or the supernatural might exist is a VERY alluring prospect. I still to this day feel almost "dis-appointed" that I came to the obvious conclusion of there really being no chance of anything supernatural even being remotely possible. Being very environmentally concerned, the wicca/paganinism thing had been attractive to me. But after the smoke cleared, it seems like "believing in belief. Now, I'm really irritated when pagans or wiccans want to call themselves atheists. Maybe there technically right, but I think most people (at least on this site) want to also consider themselves full fledged sceptics (I do) when they use the term atheist. Also, it's kind of funny that you'll get all different spellings, complete with "real important sounding reasons" why the word magic, majik, majick should be spelled a certain way. It's basically like FANTASY-ITIS!

96. Hitchens' flat world

Comment #41651 by KRKBAB on May 16, 2007 at 1:37 pm

CJ22- point WELL taken. Asking him to preach to his choir would leave us preaching to our choir. Not good. America should have a dialoge with Iran: atheists should communicate with theists. (related only in concept)I really don't like when theists cloak there messages in OVERLY wordy and intellectual emails designed to engage us in a wild goose chase. To engage in his comments is to validate his theist presumptions, unless I read into it too much. On another note- all the talk about whether R.D, S.H. or C.H. has the best style for the atheist argument: variety is a wonderful thing for getting out information to all segments of society. I happen to like all three, even though they all have their strong and weak points. Daniel Dennett's writings are not for me, but apparently a lot of people do take to his approach. The fact is, the more angles at which the pitfalls of faith can be brought into the public forum, the better. It clearly shows that atheism is finally becoming an engaging topic. I must be careful not to alienate the theists- especially the ones that speak with-out demonizing atheists.

97. Hitchens' flat world

Comment #41589 by KRKBAB on May 16, 2007 at 11:18 am

DIANELOS GEORGOUDIS- We (atheists) don't give a flying *uck what "Christianity's official dogma" states, and as far as we're concerned, there is no "creator" of the world. By the way, Danielos, me thinks there is more than one world. Be gone and go preach to your choir. Since it appears you have lots of book knowledge and a decent vocabulary, your "choir" will be quite proud of you.

98. Hitchens' flat world

Comment #41581 by KRKBAB on May 16, 2007 at 11:01 am

PHASMAGIGAS- I'm the only one in my "hood" to use a non-motorized "reel" style push lawnmower. I'm probably the only atheist in my neighborhood, too. Is there a connection?! maybe.
My neighbors are Jehovah's Wintnesses. There actually very nice neighbors. However, they once commented that they noticed how environmentally aware my wife and I were. Then they said they were "concerned" also, but that god ultimately was calling the shots or something to that effect. Yuk! What a horrible attitude. Nothing like passing the resposibility to a fictional entity. Plus, if the world is going to end- why bother taking care of it!?!?

99. Hitchens' flat world

Comment #41450 by KRKBAB on May 16, 2007 at 6:17 am

Oh, phasmagigas- you make my blood boil- because you're RIGHT about American's bad habits- all of which I painfully witness every day (I'm an American). The irony of being an American is we mindlessly keep shouting the mantra:"Freedom, Freedom, Freedom...", yet most of us are like brainwashed robots all excercising the same bad habits. Of course the connection of this rant with the R.D. website is it seems to me to be the exact same way about American's over the top religiousness. A learned, un-questioned stamp on our logic centers! Why can we (Americans) so EASILY think out of the box on inventions yet not FAITH?!?!? Real Freedom to me means freedom of thinking, not freedom of gluttony!

100. Ape gestures 'show human links'

Comment #37335 by KRKBAB on May 4, 2007 at 5:50 am

Anybody thinking what I am with this article? I'm picturing that kooky Comfort guy in the now infamous "banana video" going thru all of his remarkable shenanigans with the atheists nightmare which I gather from another video which mocks the original that the banana Comfort "used" was a modern version of a wild banana cultivated by man. hmmm, cultivated by man...so perhaps man is god!?!?