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Comments by ThoughtsonCommonToad


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

Comment #192973 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 14, 2008 at 11:14 am

Primary motivation for religious belief? Ask the believer themselves. For example I assume Goodall assumes she's being humble in the statement I posted above, but in actual fact she is saying "the whole universe was created so I could experience that moment", the most arrogant statement possible.

So I think we arguing over primary motivation of individuals versus the most salient thing about religion itself: solipsism.

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

Comment #192962 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 14, 2008 at 10:43 am

Whenever I want to illustrate narcissm and arrogance I quote Jane Goodall.

When I was a child, born into a Christian family, I accepted the reality of an unseen God without question. And now that I have lived almost three quarters of a century I still believe in a great spiritual power. I have described elsewhere the experience I had when I first visited Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. When, as I gazed at the great rose window, glowing in the morning sun, the air was suddenly filled with the glorious sound of an organ playing Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. It filled me with joy, brought tears to my eyes. How could I believe that blind chance had led to that moment in time�"the cathedral, the collective faith of those who had prayed and worshiped within, the genius of Bach, the emergence of a conscious mind that could, as mine did then, question the purpose of life on Earth. Was all the wonder and beauty simply the result of purposeless gyrations of bits of cosmic dust at the beginning of time? If not, then there must be some extra-cosmic power, the creator of the big bang. A purpose in the universe. Perhaps, one day, that purpose will be revealed.
It would be an incredible feat to find a more arrogant paragraph than that. It makes me ill reading it.

53. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #192961 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 14, 2008 at 10:38 am

Steve,

I prefer Pale Blue Dot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pfwY2TNehw

The folly of human conceits.

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

Comment #192943 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 14, 2008 at 10:04 am

If anyone wants a good resource for studying Buddhism I found this one very helpful

BUDDHISM

N.B Somebody mentioned Hinduism. Here's a great clip with Bill Bailey LINK

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

Comment #192935 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 14, 2008 at 9:45 am

Four Noble Truths

1. Suffering exists
2. Suffering arises from attachment to desires
3. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases
4. Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path

Noble Eightfold Path











Three QualitiesEightfold Path
Wisdom (panna)Right View
Right Thought
Morality (sila)Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Meditation (samadhi)Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Contemplation


Three Characteristics of Existence

1. Transiency (anicca)
2. Sorrow (dukkha)
3. Selflessness (anatta)

Hindrances

1. Sensuous lust
2. Aversion and ill will
3. Sloth and torpor
4. Restlessness and worry
5. Sceptical doubt

Factors of Enlightenment

1. Mindfulness
2. Investigation
3. Energy
4. Rapture
5. Tranquillity
6. Concentration
7. Equanimity

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

Comment #192918 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 14, 2008 at 8:40 am

http://www.salon.com/news/1998/07/13news.html

The Hitch on Tenzin Gyatso, aka the 14th Dalai Lama.

57. Intelligent people 'less likely to believe in God'

Comment #192259 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 3:36 pm

I doubt many people even though their IQs. I know I don't. I've taken a few online tests but these are often biased to be flattering to suborn payment. I was going to suggest an informal poll but how many people have taken a certified test?

58. Intelligent people 'less likely to believe in God'

Comment #192158 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 1:50 pm

A survey of Royal Society fellows found that only 3.3 per cent believed in God - at a time when 68.5 per cent of the general UK population described themselves as believers.
...
A separate poll in the 90s found only seven per cent of members of the American National Academy of Sciences believed in God.
...
He said religious belief had declined across 137 developed nations in the 20th century at the same time as people became more intelligent.

There are no other factors than IQ. Just like the Bell Curve.

59. Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech

Comment #192149 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 1:46 pm

Banning material requires a censor. Give them an inch they will take a mile. The idea that power is benign is the reason that "sensible" restrictions on liberties are allowed throughout Europe. In Britain the numbers of days a suspected terrorist (vaguely enough defined to mean anything) can be held without charge was extended to 42 days (still has to be passed by the Lords however). Democracy without an American style constitution is dangerous because people are stupid.

60. Report: Troubling texts at Va. Islamic school

Comment #192139 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 1:39 pm

If you closely read the story, it's not about banning the Quran itself that is the issue, but rather a series of the school's textbooks that endorse barbaric passages of the Quran.


I know what the story said I'm merely remarking on the inconsistency of the laws application. It shows it up for what it really is vote-mongering.

61. Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech

Comment #192129 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 1:31 pm

It's my right as an American to go to any street corner and say that the Holocaust was a lie invented by Jews. Or that World War II never happened. Or that we never landed on the Moon...

Just listen to this says everything we can say only better

HITCHENS - FREEDOM OF SPEECH

62. Godless

Comment #192116 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 1:13 pm

I thought Atheists were all about collecting as much data as possible and then making an educated decision based on what the evidence seems to favor?

One speech by Obama does not make him a secularist. Especially when there are plenty of other speeches that show his sympathy for the oft-mentioned "Judeo-Christian roots of America".

He has repeated this a few times and it takes pride of place on his website. The fact is it's incredibly important that Obama gets in so that the when the next supreme court judge is appointed its not another conservative Christian. How many 5 to 4s does it take to show just how important this issue is.

63. Report: Troubling texts at Va. Islamic school

Comment #192100 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 12:53 pm

Hate speech surely? The Bible and the Qu'ran should be banned if consistency was valued. How is this double standard allowed?

64. Godless

Comment #192097 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 12:51 pm

Because Mr. Obama has said things that are the opposite of this speach...it's impossible to determine what he 'really' thinks. His critics on this website, I'm afraid, are spot on.

He hasn't, not contradictory, just less explicit.

65. Godless

Comment #192084 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 12:36 pm

Just to refresh: it was televangelist Pat Robertson who predicted "earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly even a meteor" would hit Orlando for inviting gays to Disney World, and Rev. John Hagee who blamed Hurricane Katrina on a vengeful God angered over a gay pride parade in New Orleans.

Even though I know they said this I still think it must be some kind of Onion type joke. Poe's Law.

66. Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech

Comment #192081 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 12:33 pm

Britain has barely even a conception of Freedom of Speech. Incitement to Hatred, libel laws ...

67. Intelligent people 'less likely to believe in God'

Comment #192077 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 12:27 pm

I saw the title and wondered why this was published in the Telegraph. The Telegraph? Then I saw who conducted the research, Richard Lynn. I now know why the Telegraph published. Sigh.

Let's not forget who Richard Lynn is.

68. Discussion on PZ Myers being expelled from Expelled

Comment #191973 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 8:04 am

Is the full interview ever going to get posted?

69. Debating creationism in Louisiana schools

Comment #191969 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 12, 2008 at 7:48 am

If the resurrection happened, then there had to be a "fall", which really does imply some kind of Eden-like state of the world before some species of Homo did the first naughty thing.

If not, what was the death and resurrection of Jesus for? One can't talk about dealing with the sin of Adam if Adam didn't exist, you know..


A catholic priest dealing with that exact paradox.

Original Sin: A Disputation

Edward T. Oakes

Copyright (c) 1997 First Things 87 (November 1998) 16-24.

I've always wondered why this isn't rammed down the throats of moderate Christians who are fine with evolution. The evangelicals are right it is either straight up creationism or nothing.

70. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #191271 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 10, 2008 at 1:32 pm

In fact colonial powers almost put a minority group in power in order to better control them:


1) Lebanon: Maronites
2) Iraq: Sunnis
3) Syria: Nusayris
4) Saudi Arabia: Saud family
5) Jordan: Hashemites

The list really does go on and on, it is a little trick by colonialists and it is still part of the problem to this very day.
That's pretty astonishing when laid out like that.

71. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #191265 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 10, 2008 at 1:24 pm

Its pretty sad actually. A great living example of how power corrupts.
I don't know what you mean by that Mugabe has always been a scumbag. Just read about Gukurahundi, which the British Government were knowingly funding.
Incidentally neither have the Catholic Church spoken out, never mind Mandela. Mandela attended his wedding for fucks sake.

72. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #191250 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 10, 2008 at 1:10 pm

The shit happening in Zimbabwe is absolutely disgusting
The British government installed him in the 80s and he was given honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 94 for his troubles, that's basically a knighthood except he is not called Sir.

73. Complex Synapses Drove Brain Evolution

Comment #191216 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 10, 2008 at 11:54 am

Close to it, yes.

However, during development, various parts of the brain will have been stimulated by the various nerves that attach to it, and in the womb the fetus will have experienced warmth, touch, and sound, so not quite blank.
How do you explain things like differences in intelligence and physical ability etc with this model. How do you explain the existence of specific areas of the brain common to all humans that always perform the same types of processing?

74. Complex Synapses Drove Brain Evolution

Comment #191136 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 10, 2008 at 9:25 am

Yes, that is just what I am saying. Brains develop as a result of learing and nerve stimulation.

A potential way to look at a very, very young brain is like a huge disk drive. Vast amounts of the same structures (neurones/magnetic domains), ready to store information, and as a result, contain complexity.

A Blank Slate?

75. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #190672 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 9, 2008 at 11:08 am

Steve I must say even though your debating skills were formidable before your hiatus, they are now an incredible force to be reckoned with. The impatient edge, the take no prisoners attitude.
You do not suffer fools gladly.

76. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #190525 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 9, 2008 at 8:25 am

Republicans are also the biggest war mongerers in the US, always willing to send an army consisting of the economically disadvantaged to some shit hole to die for some ridiculous cause (Iraq!).
A quote that is attributed to Orwell goes like this
It does not matter if the war is not real. For when it is, victory is not possible. The war is not meant to be won, but it is meant to be continuous. A hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance, this new version is the past and no different past can ever have existed. In principle the war effort is always planned to keep society on the brink of starvation. The war is waged by the ruling group against its own subjects and its object is not the victory over either Eurasia or east Asia but to keep the very structure of society intact.

77. Complex Synapses Drove Brain Evolution

Comment #190514 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 9, 2008 at 8:13 am

There can't be that much initial complexity in the brain, as there are only around 20-30,000 genes in our genome. Not enough for much software :)
That seems like plenty enough considering their complex interactions. Am I wrong?

78. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #190511 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 9, 2008 at 8:09 am

I'm coming to the view that most people simply want to belong to one particular camp, and will then subscribe to nearly all the views of that camp, no matter how incoherent. It's well documented that most people are likely to support a policy if they are told that "their" party subscribes to it. And in a peculiar inversion, a couple of years ago a British opinion poll found that people were significantly less likely to support a policy if they were told in advance that the Conservative party espoused it.
Yes religion is only one place for dogma, there are many others.

79. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #190483 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 9, 2008 at 7:25 am

That's why I'm not surprised to see so many single-issues voters here. How many people commented here that, after watching a 2 minute video of Obama, they suddenly have hope for America?
Actually I merely pointed out, that's how you get elected in America without having to pander to the religious. That is a tolerable amount of pandering. On the other issues I have never commented. I do not get the impression people think this a single-issue on which to pledge their vote, it is just refreshing to hear.

80. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #190467 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 9, 2008 at 6:57 am

Wish you could be more politically neutral.
I do enjoy irony.

81. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #190231 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 3:06 pm

Now, can you see him winning?
It's too close to call. McCain is going senile in front of our eyes and we can only hope the debates will highlight that fact.

82. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #190225 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 2:53 pm

Szkeptik

Everyone has to bitch around for the presidency. Many people want to hear crap like this, so they will get it. I bet Obama or Hillary don't give two shits about religion, and for the republicans it's a main political point, but I guess a fair share of them don't care eighter. This is just a hollow show off from McCain to get some fundie votes.
Again listen to Obama. That's how you do it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg8lCLumByw

Can I repeat this needs to be posted. Otherwise, Ah well that's just pandering isn't it, will be the common dismissal. No listen to Obama, that's how you do it.

83. Prayer to feed the hungry

Comment #190224 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 2:51 pm

Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion, and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish.
I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs. ~Frederick Douglass
Call on God, but row away from the rocks. ~Indian Proverb

84. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #190207 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 2:24 pm

And he remained an Atheist? I'm surprised, and encouraged, to hear that.
I think it's like anyone who reads about the Holocaust. How can you believe in God after that? I think he took that attitude.

85. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #190203 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 2:19 pm


McCain spent 7 years in a POW camp. I find it hard to believe that anyone could endure that much torture without some religious beliefs to get them through it. Say what you want about religion, one of its tenets is that it gives people strength to believe in a higher purpose and that an all-powerful being is protecting you.

McCain is less vocal about his religious beliefs than fellow Republicans but I wouldn't be surprised if deep down he is very religious. I just don't see someone spending that much time getting tortured without finding some sort religion. Belief in a just cause can only get you so far...

My Granddad did. He was a Japanese POW.

86. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #190201 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 2:15 pm

As such, until education systems improve you can probably expect all your candidates to be talking like this for a long time.

Listen to Obama. That's how you pander to the religious and be sensible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg8lCLumByw

McCain is senile.

87. Albinos, Long Shunned, Face Threat in Tanzania

Comment #190197 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Anyone who says the human species is innately rational has a lot of work to do.

Cause and Effect. Humans see erroneous relationships between the two consistently, this is where all superstition begins.

B.F. Skinners famous experiment with pigeons (it was later done on humans with the same result) shows this in action perfectly.

88. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #190193 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 2:01 pm

Barry Pearson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg8lCLumByw

That is a fantastic link

If this site has posted McCain's views it is obliged to post Obamas as well. I recommend it be this one, the one you linked.

89. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #190181 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 1:46 pm

FightingFalcon

methinks you should support Bob Barr.

More like Grover Norquist

Here he is on the Colbert Report

90. John McCain: America a Christian nation, needs Christian president

Comment #190157 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 1:14 pm

Here is Obama on the same topic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPBxl53ZNxQ

Refreshing

I think this should be posted on this site. It's important to see both candidates views, even though I'm British, what happens in America affects the world.

91. Albinos, Long Shunned, Face Threat in Tanzania

Comment #190096 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 11:24 am

Reading this article made me wonder, where is the benevolent all-seeing Intelligent Designer in all this?
Theodicy. I think that must be the hardest thing to reconcile with religious belief. I just don't know how anyone could do it without dishonesty.

92. Albinos, Long Shunned, Face Threat in Tanzania

Comment #190069 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 10:12 am

It's a good job people in the developed world don't judge people by the colour of their skin ... oh

Police officials are at a loss to explain precisely why there is a wave of albino killings now. Commissioner Paul Chagonja said an influx of Nigerian movies, which play up witchcraft, might have something to do with it
Ah the old ones are the best

93. Couple charged in Norway over genital mutilation of daughters

Comment #190068 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 8, 2008 at 10:11 am

Surely their beliefs must play some part in explaining their practice?
Surely that is the most significant part. The most important part, perhaps even the only part.

94. Town moves against Islamic school

Comment #189068 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 5, 2008 at 10:50 am

Sorry but this was just too good to not post, it seems a little "spun" but hey

(CNN) -- A man and a woman have been charged by police in Italy after they were found having sex in a confession box, it was reported Wednesday.

The Italian ANSA news agency said the young man and woman were taken into custody by police in the northern city of Cesena following a telephone complaint from a man attending morning Mass in the city's cathedral.

Authorities were alerted after a parishoner heard "rustling and groaning" coming from inside the confession box and pulled back the curtains to reveal a goth-rock couple engaged in oral sex, ANSA said.

The agency said the pair -- a 31-year-old laborer and a 32-year-old teacher -- defended their conduct saying: "We are atheists and for us, having sex in church is like doing it any other place."

However, Bishop Antonio Lanfranchi of Cesena-Sarsina took said the couple's behavior was "an outrage of notable proportions which bespeaks unutterable squalor."

He added that a special ceremony would be held to purify the confession box.

95. Town moves against Islamic school

Comment #189064 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 5, 2008 at 10:36 am

The DM is so vile that irate_atheist won't even buy it for his cat to shit on.
Alan Partridge's favourite paper.

96. Town moves against Islamic school

Comment #188991 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 5, 2008 at 6:49 am

Or perhaps they were sick of the way Muslims behave in their country. For instance the grand mufti of Australia saying that women are to blame for rape. Or this Islamic council saying apostasy should be punished by death.
Don't know if this has been mentioned but in Australia the Deputy Prime Minister declared that Sharia law would never be implemented in Australia. This has allowed (this is according to Clive James in Cultural Amnesia) the moderates to come to the fore, and the grand mufti who made that comment about women was forced to resign.

97. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce

Comment #187544 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 2, 2008 at 9:47 am

Decades of studies show that there is NO statistical difference between the welfare of children of adoptive straight parents and adoptive gay parents. Sexuality is NOT a viable quality for fitness of parent. So, yes, we ARE sure that gay parents can be just as fit as straight parents. That's the difference, sure: but it's IRRELEVANT.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2006.00444.x

There's a nice list although you can see why it seems counter-intuitive considering the social stigma of having gay parents. It's important to consider.

98. Put a Little Science in Your Life

Comment #187262 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 1, 2008 at 5:11 pm

I wish I could be allowed to teach the subject, and hopefully pass on my passion & enthusiasm for it.
Allowed? Is the reason something shady or some more banal reason such as lacking a teaching degree. ;)

99. Scientists rally against creationist 'superstition'

Comment #187207 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 1, 2008 at 1:32 pm

%
The "evolution theory" 48
The "creationism theory" 22
The "intelligent design theory" 17
Don't know 12

Which best describes your view?
I'm most annoyed at the don't knows. And surely every religious person has to believe in intelligent design, or every monotheist at least?

100. Scientists rally against creationist 'superstition'

Comment #187204 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 1, 2008 at 1:27 pm

Is it really growing or does it only appear so because the CofE and the like are becoming irrelevant and all we are left with are the vociferous nutters? Alternatively, could it be growing in response to and increasing Islamic presence or influx of money and lunacy from the States?

I think it is a fallacy, or more accurately a cognitive bias. I mean it is common to be more outraged at terrorism than say the catholic churches activities in Africa but there is no doubt which one is more destructive, more worthy of outrage.

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