Comments by Peacebeuponme

Comment #135494 by Peacebeuponme on February 29, 2008 at 3:31 am

2. "While today's digital hardware is extremely impressive, it is clear that the human retina's real-time performance goes unchallenged. Actually, to simulate 10 milliseconds (one1hundredth of a second) of the complete processing of even single nerve cell from the retina would require the solution of about 500 simultaneous nonlinear differential equations 100 times and would take at least several minutes of processing time on a Cray supercomputer. Keeping in mind that there are 10 million or more such cells interacting with each other in complex ways, it would take a minimum of 100 years of Cray time to simulate what takes place in your eye many times every second."

Evolution and the complexity of life sure are amazing.

952. Fleabytes

Comment #135473 by Peacebeuponme on February 29, 2008 at 2:36 am

I've missed out on all the fun here.

Pain in the arse job.

* Resolves to drink and dance a lot this evening *

953. Fleabytes

Comment #134944 by Peacebeuponme on February 28, 2008 at 11:15 am

Wicked witch of the west? "I'll get you my pretty!"

No, you're all trolls! Trolls I tell ya!

954. Fleabytes

Comment #134748 by Peacebeuponme on February 28, 2008 at 7:05 am

Clearthinker

did you you think I was referring to some philosopher/scientist etc?!

I did. I'm pretty comfortable with my former ignorance in that area. I'd heard of Auschwitz and Belsen, but not Dachau. But I've learnt something. I don't see any shame in that - you should try admitting what you don't know sometime.

Why for you is it just a matter of feeling and not objective fact?

Because its not an objective fact, its patently subjective. It was a good thing according to the Nazis. Absolute morality is a logical absurdity, and quite a babyish notion that you theists really should give up.

So? Can only professors debate?

No at all. Its just that I usually call them "Professor" rather than "Dr".

So now he only debates with the sophisticated! (and I assume sophisticated means agrees with him?).

As you well know he has debated many people who disagree with him.

In effect you are stating that because I am from a working class background

That's just a pathetic misrepresentation.

both of us are delighted to have the other on our side.

I'm sure McGrath is "delighted" in the same way Richard is "delighted" to have the RRS on his "side".

955. Fleabytes

Comment #134579 by Peacebeuponme on February 28, 2008 at 2:35 am

Paula Kirby

Hell is meant to be the place where God is absent, n'est-ce pas? And Jesus is meant to be 100% God as well as 100% human, n'est-ce pas? So how can God ever be where God is absent? Wouldn't hell by Christianity's own definition cease to be hell the moment Jesus put in an appearance there?

Such questions keep theologians fed and watered.

956. Fleabytes

Comment #134568 by Peacebeuponme on February 28, 2008 at 2:08 am

Isn't that technically known as a "tweeter?"

Err, no.

Actually Woofer and Tweeter could be good words to describe D'Souza and McGrath.

957. Fleabytes

Comment #134566 by Peacebeuponme on February 28, 2008 at 2:06 am

For those who don't know, Einstein based General Relativity on Reimann's work, using ideas like the metric tensor, that describes how space is curved

Whenever Epeeist posts, my Google gets called in to action.

958. Fleabytes

Comment #134563 by Peacebeuponme on February 28, 2008 at 1:59 am

Hi David,
i'll give a whole 4 pound note (i mean it) if you make a genuine attempt to answer epeeists question.

I'm sure he can come up with something. Whether you can call it "genuine" is another matter. Its likely to be better described as "bluster".

959. Fleabytes

Comment #134557 by Peacebeuponme on February 28, 2008 at 1:49 am

If English was good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for me

I'd love to think that Ma Ferguson said that, but not sure it was the case.

960. Fleabytes

Comment #134374 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 4:43 pm

I apologize for the sidetracking.

There's no theists to play with so why not? I'm actually glad to learn about your musical tastes. Its great to hear about about the characters here, and metal still has the power to make people say "Oh, you're not a fucking metaller are you", so its good to juxtapose this with your excellent philosophical posts.

Think I'm going to turn in anyway. Work tomorrow and all that.

961. Fleabytes

Comment #134370 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 4:38 pm

MPhil - all I can say is that I hear the energy, but its just not thrash. I'm probably a bit too mainstream (relatively). For me, the pinnacle of metal is something like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUWxV1bczak

962. Fleabytes

Comment #134366 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 4:29 pm

Or if you're into polymetric subdivisions, I suggest Meshuggah:

You can always rely on the Swedes for that kind of action. I'm afraid there is only a certain amount of death grunt I can handle. I did like Misery Loves Co. though.

963. Fleabytes

Comment #134361 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 4:21 pm

MPhil

Next time any Christian mentions hell, just say:

"So, hell is like a celestial Auschwitz, only infinitely worse... That means God is infinitely worse than Hitler. Wow, and you actually worship someone like that? Scary!"

And correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't every single Jew that ever existed condemned to hell according to christianity?

Hitler seems to be God's padawan by all accounts.

964. Fleabytes

Comment #134355 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 4:13 pm

Diacanu

Hell, I'm headbanging to that one like a metal tune

Yes, but which one?

Jesus Saves by Slayer;
Leper Messiah by Metallica; or perhaps
Old by Machine Head?

965. Fleabytes

Comment #134352 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 4:09 pm

ianmkz

Well they're being malevolent on good authority.

Good points. But what I am saying is that, irrespective of the rewards DR may get for being higher up in the chistrian food-chain, by not trying to save our souls that he truly feels will go to hell, he is behaving maximally evil* towards us. In fact, given what you say above, its even worse than I thought. He is doing so, not just because he doesn't care about our forever-scorched flesh, he actually wants it to happen so that he can get extra reward.

*vocab alert - damn where is my thesaurus?!

966. Fleabytes

Comment #134342 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 4:02 pm

BillySands

Would it surprise you to know that this has been pointed out to him before and he said that we were fundies who did not want to believe in god?

The only surprises I get on this site are from atheists. These have been many and wonderful.

MPhil (point also made by Brian English)

But losing consciousness from too much pain is a neurochemical process... only our ghostly-spirity-eternal souls are going to be punished... the idea of which is even more ridiculous.

I couldn't really work out how to express myself properly, but I think the absurdity of the idea is deeper than the fairly standard 'materialist' come back I gave earlier. An entity actually experiencing constant distressing pain forever. When theists talk about these things they very much have a materialist worldview in mind and human response to certain stimuli (hence all the fire, boiling water etc). I'd be really interested to have a theist come on here and explain how pain is conferred on our soul, how we will 'cope' with it (for we can do no other) forever, and why this 'coping' is not actually therefore negating the pain.

967. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #134331 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 3:46 pm

AAnd I thank you for yet another wonderful piece of information I wasn't previously aware of!
And I have to return the compliment you made somewhere else - your posts are a major reason why I love RD.net. Truly inspiring.

After spending so much of my time trying to convince my friends that we needed to do something about religion, it was truly wonderful to see Dawkins, Dennet, Harris and Hitchens bring out their books. The cherry on the top for me was typing "Richard Dawkins" into google and finding this site. Never has a site so lived up to its banner - and this even though anybody can come on, log in and say what the fuck they want.

From the wiki article

leading some scientists to prefer a "slushball" to a "snowball".

I'd rather take a slushpuppy myself.

968. Fleabytes

Comment #134322 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 3:31 pm

MPhil

I must say, sometimes I'd prefer that approach to endless attempts to "save my soul" which are boring at best, obtrusive and insulting at worst.

I agree that the concerned christians are way more fucking annoying, but they are at least more genuine. And I give them some credit for having a go at helping since they really believe we are going to burn in everlasting fire.

Just while we are on the hell topic, do you ever wonder if the fire and brimstone people ever sit back and consider the absurdity of the proposition? Its just not even logically sound. Just in terms of feeling constant extreme pain forever: most people black out when something really bad occurs.

969. Fleabytes

Comment #134319 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 3:23 pm

A Sokal-style Flea parody.

It would just be too easy to do. All you have to do is take each of Dawkins arguments and say:

Dawkins said that for X to be true there must also be Y. But why does Y follow from X? [insert arcane theist here] says that actually X can be true independently of Y.

That and some very old science and philosophy and you are on your way.

970. Fleabytes

Comment #134314 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 3:15 pm

Diacanu

Well, it occurs to me, that if I truly thought souls were at stake, I would have to try to maximize the good I thought I could do.

You've hit on a really interesting point there. Sometimes an atheist can act like a smug wanker, or enjoy ridiculing stupid theist claims. The total effect of this is (as the atheist sees it) nothing more than putting a theist nose out of joint. It may not be the most sophisticated or politically adept move, but does no significant harm.

However, for a theist to act in such a way, they are not only trying to wind the atheist up but (in their mind) actually saying "Fuck you, go to hell" and truly beliving that to be the consequence.

This seems somewhat less than charitable.

Its also an act of extreme malevolence that is more extreme than any atheist could manage.

971. Fleabytes

Comment #133983 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 5:46 am

Clearthinker, a few things

(i) Richard Dawkins is a Professor.
(ii) Remind me where you saw that the article was commissioned by Richard Dawkins?
(iii) Interesting that you attempt to chastise Richard or not accepting your challenge when you have left perfectly reasonable questions uanswered on this and other threads.
(iv) I think Richard won't debate you because you are just not very sophisiticated. Many of your arguments are way out of date and have been dealt with by contributors to this site (check out the debate points section). I imagine McGrath and Francis Collins would cringe at the thought of having you put forward a theist case against someone of Richard's standing (as Richard would cringe if I stood up against Collins).

972. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #133966 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 5:11 am

Shmeezers

No proof. No proof in the lab

Err...have you read anything about DNA?

973. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #133960 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 4:13 am

Shmeezers

No proof. No proof in the lab; no proof with fossils. Nothing. Just an assumption based on a worldview.

Wheres Hinduism is irrefutable. I urge you to abandom your false prophet, Jesus, and start worhip of Brahman the great creator. By the arms of Vishnu I pray for your soul.

974. Fleabytes

Comment #133926 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 3:13 am

Glad to see that fewer people are rising to the bait.

It is however, nice to let the record show that we have asked questions that have gone unanswered. When theists come here and claim that they are attacked and ridiculed rather than debated, at least we can say we tried.

Its also uncomfortable to leave really boring old theist questions unanswered lest another theist wander past and think we were stumped!

975. Fleabytes

Comment #133922 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 3:08 am

Us theists see the Universe and life as being a little more complex!"

Even if that were true (which it isn't) its still a very poor argument. One could just dream up ever more complex theories about reality and claim them as superior on the basis of complexity.

What matters is truth, David, you talk about it a lot, but don't seem to understand what it is.

976. Fleabytes

Comment #133902 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 2:32 am

Quetz - cheers. I usually check these things but couldn't be bothered then.

Clearthinker - do you see my point about evidence?

Also now that I know that Dachau was one the concentration camps, I could also open up the whole "objective morality" debate but not sure I want to. You meant to say you feel that genocide is wrong, not that it is wrong, right?

977. Fleabytes

Comment #133887 by Peacebeuponme on February 27, 2008 at 2:13 am

Clearthinker

Yes. I accept that my wife and children love me. I accept that Dachau is wrong. I accept that Beethoven's music is beautiful.

I guess my wording did leave me open to you responding with the tired "can you prove you love your wife argument". I would say this:

- you have plenty of scientific evidence that your wife and children love you, I'm sure their interactions with you on a daily basis provide you with ample evidence of their strong feelings towards you. They probably also say "I love you" a lot. You certainly don't just accept this. Sadly a lot of marriages break down and when that starts to happen one party does question whether their other half really does love them. They analyse their interactions, wonder why they are spending so much time out of the house, wonder when the last time they said those 3 little words and many other things to weight up whether the love really is still there.

- You accept that Beethoven's is music is beautiful. Well, its not objectively, but you feel it is and thats great. That you have a feeling that Beethoven's music is beautiful requires no truth claim on your part and is thefore no comparison to the god question.

- when it comes to god though, we are not talking about personal feelings, we are talking about an actual entity that supposedly exists. Surely you can see that we should require some evidence for this?

(I missed one out becuase I need to find out who Dachau is: its amazing how well you can debate without name-dropping).

978. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #133332 by Peacebeuponme on February 26, 2008 at 4:30 am

Irate_Atheist

Onion Terror 2-1 favourite
Massive Bereavement 7-4
Trust Me I'm A Stomach 100-30
All the rest, 3-1 bar

Continually impressed by your on-demand recall of Day Today and Brass Eye quotes. My favourite horses though were Zena Bedabi's 20 hotels and there was one that ended in ...Porn Dungeon?

979. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #132992 by Peacebeuponme on February 25, 2008 at 1:53 pm

but I have found it can be worth reading a "Flea" book.

I've read a few of them. When I read the contents page of "Dawkins God : Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life" by McGrath I was honestly a little scared at first: surely I would be christian when I put the book down? What would I say to my friends? Then I read the chapters and found they did not live up to their titles. There was just no substance behind any of the words.

980. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #132861 by Peacebeuponme on February 25, 2008 at 10:10 am

Anyone care to join me in this pact?

I mentioned this a while back. Trouble is, its so tempting to post something.

I would like to see the site amended so that responses are linked to particular comments. That way interesting conversations do not get lost in the stupidity.

981. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #132855 by Peacebeuponme on February 25, 2008 at 9:57 am

I don't usually like to blow my own trumpet...ah so what!

I'd still like to see (as some wit posted a while back) the tags expanded to read

Flag as: [troll][spam][offensive][wooter]

Others may be able to dazzle with string theory, planck lengths or modal logic, but at least I can come up with the odd crap gag every now and again!

982. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #132841 by Peacebeuponme on February 25, 2008 at 9:19 am

Bad words belong to the mouth they pop out so thanks for your describing yourself to us.

I know you are so what am I?

983. Fleabytes

Comment #132813 by Peacebeuponme on February 25, 2008 at 8:21 am

Another thread joining the 1,000 club, god willing.

984. Fleabytes

Comment #132789 by Peacebeuponme on February 25, 2008 at 7:58 am

Ages ago from clearthinker

But then you will only allow the kind of evidence that can be proved in a lab

Assuming by "proved in the lab" means "can be corroborated scientifically", can any theist let me know of any other type of evidence that can be used to assess whether a claim about reality is truthful? In respect of this evidence, do you accept it in any other area of your life, outside of metaphysical claims?

985. Fleabytes

Comment #132170 by Peacebeuponme on February 24, 2008 at 11:54 am

Asolutely. Furthermore, it's an utterly transparent attempt to invent evidence to support the belief, rather than to form the belief on the basis of the evidence.

The conversation only ever goes one way. After you arguing that their God must be complex, they respond by saying that God is supernatural, outside of the physical laws. You ask them to define what God is rather than what it isn't. Cue some sub-McGrath murkiness (this usually starts with "For me...").

Whenever a hint of a specific definition comes up, you ask them for supporting evidence. This is invariably met with silence.

986. Fleabytes

Comment #132156 by Peacebeuponme on February 24, 2008 at 11:18 am

I'm picking up old stuff here.

Epeeist

If current cosmological theories are anywhere near the truth then the initial universe would have been simple, and hence could be the production of a simple designer. However, such a designer would not have been able to impose a specific direction on the development of the universe and certainly wouldn't be capable of generating each individual snowflake (sorry!). Unless the designer evolved of course, but that would undermine the omnipotence and omniscience properties of course.

That's just great isn't it? McGrath and other theists try to pick holes in Richard's "ultimate 747" argument by saying God could be simple. But if he was simple, then he wouldn't really be God would he?

I really want to know how McGrath can square in his mind the concept of a simple entity (as opposed to a simple process like evolution) that can somehow be responsible for the complexity of, and control, the universe.

(EDIT: Notwithstanding some semantic tricks regarding the definition of "simple" of course.)

987. Fleabytes

Comment #132118 by Peacebeuponme on February 24, 2008 at 8:15 am

So bizarre i waded thru this whole thread!

Just click on "Other comments by...". A useful tool. There are other examples.

988. Fleabytes

Comment #132113 by Peacebeuponme on February 24, 2008 at 7:46 am

peace,
where can i find krisskrings inflammatory remarks?
cheers, mike

Hi Mike. How about this (Comment #130825):

Amazing. Paula is clearly passionate about this. i wonder what drives her passion. Most non-believers I know just don't give any of a moment's thought.

The last sentence (generallising incorectly in the negative about atheists) is clearly there not because KK thinks its true but to try to get a reaction.

989. Fleabytes

Comment #132104 by Peacebeuponme on February 24, 2008 at 7:25 am

Letters from McGrath's Angel: Godawful Delusions of a Former Atheist

Its quite difficult when the titles are all bastardised versions of the atheist books!

Maybe:

Muddled by McGrath : Unclarity, Obfuscation and the Meaninglessness of Theology.

990. Fleabytes

Comment #132092 by Peacebeuponme on February 24, 2008 at 6:35 am

So much noise from clearthinker and KrisKing (actually becoming a major troll and posting deliberately inflammatory remarks) I haven't read through all, so apols if this he been said.

Just wanted to comment on the remarks about Paula being a "flea's flea" or "fleapowder". Paula has written a review of the fleabooks. She hasn't written a book rebutting them, and with the authors' names in the title, which is what Richard was referring to when he criticised McGrath.

991. My Argument With God

Comment #132040 by Peacebeuponme on February 24, 2008 at 1:41 am

Not exactly Christian, but definitely religious...

Yes, he is Jewish. Disappointing that he is a believer. He is a funny guy.

992. The Lava Lizard's Tale

Comment #131250 by Peacebeuponme on February 22, 2008 at 5:47 am

And if RD smiled when he said "and that brings me to the point of the lava lizard's tale" I didn't hear it.
I think it was just an excuse to show off his holiday videos. "look how well, I'm doing, I can afford to visit the Galapagos Islands....

Yeah, sure it was.

993. Fleabytes

Comment #130803 by Peacebeuponme on February 21, 2008 at 9:56 am

David Robertson

I haven't seen any of your "Wee Flea" posts, but there's plenty of theists on here who say things we disagree with. There's at least one atheist here who bugs the shit out of me, and plenty of theists who spout inanity and/or borderline bigotry. They manage not to get hit with the "Alernate Comment Thread" action.

One wonders what you must have said...

994. Fleabytes

Comment #130663 by Peacebeuponme on February 21, 2008 at 6:07 am

The other is the fact that we are not totally controlled by our genetic inheritance, as shown, for example, every time we use contraception (thus overriding the "desire" of our genes).

Artful-Dodger says its "meaningless" to do things like this....

995. Fleabytes

Comment #130656 by Peacebeuponme on February 21, 2008 at 5:43 am

What I am saying is that if evolution is indeed indifferent, if it neither knows nor cares, then it is meaningless to expend our energies in defense of the weak and vulnerable.

AAAARRRRGGHHHH!

How many times do we have to explain this!

996. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130320 by Peacebeuponme on February 20, 2008 at 9:47 am

Sorry to have been away for a bit. Just had one of my parishioners knock at the door asking for some advice on how to deal with a couple of rather persistent atheists who seem to have take up going round door to door selling copies of the "God Delusion". I mean, can you believe it...trying to sell them. Surely, they should be giving them away.

Troll, surely?

997. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130303 by Peacebeuponme on February 20, 2008 at 8:35 am

Ah well, this has been kind of fun. However, I think it is time I was more productive and put some time and effort, for a while at least, into some more substantial personal projects to help promote reason and rationality. The excellent results of others' efforts in this area have made me feel like I need to buckle down and actually do stuff!

Are you signing off from the site?

998. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130302 by Peacebeuponme on February 20, 2008 at 8:31 am

Presumably the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Atheists 347-9 off 50 overs.
Theists are 74-5 off 21 overs before rain. Need 278 off remaining 24 overs to win (D-L).

A McGrath and F Collins at the crease.
To bat: R Williams, A S A H Khamenei, D Robertson.

Betting: Theists looking for divine intervention

999. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130275 by Peacebeuponme on February 20, 2008 at 7:59 am

Well, of course it is! It was written by one person.

Your challenge of post #130180 is therefore totally unfounded.

Now where is that evidence?

1000. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130226 by Peacebeuponme on February 20, 2008 at 7:24 am

If you can't, then I consider myself equally justified to quote the wise words of Elrond - from Lord of the Rings - back at you with equal authority.
Please do. Let's see if they make any sense.

The Lord of the Rings is a much more coherent work of fiction than the Bible.

I'm going to have to ask for the third time. Are you going to provide evidence for your biblical claims mentioned earlier?