









1851. The Group Delusion
Comment #112028 by epeeist on January 16, 2008 at 8:21 am
Comment #112020 by rod-the-farmer
I took BMC's suggestion about visiting the various theist web sites, and posting a few questions. I suggest you don't bother.I posted a few things on the "Atheism Sucks" site. The process was exactly as you describe, though to be fair they only censored one of my posts. The thing that irritated me was the juvenile idea that they could "prove" everything using logic from the scholastic era without actually looking through the window to check their conclusions with the world outside.
1852. Huckabee Wants A 'Faith-based' Constitution
Comment #111924 by epeeist on January 16, 2008 at 2:52 am
Comment #111922 by Fanusi Khiyal
Just shoot me now
1853. Huckabee Wants A 'Faith-based' Constitution
Comment #111911 by epeeist on January 16, 2008 at 1:59 am
Michael Chertoff was on R4 this morning saying that Europe could be the source of the biggest threat to US security. He wants more checks on people traveling to the States (the implication was that they want European money, but would prefer not to have the people).
Given this and the possible election of a theocrat does any one actually want to travel to the States. The Mexicans and the Canadians might be advised to consider building big walls to stop immigration.
1854. The Group Delusion
Comment #111588 by epeeist on January 15, 2008 at 4:26 am
Comment #111581 by Steve Zara
Mind you, for all we know, there could be billions of Europans swimming happily around in the underground seas of their moon
1855. The Group Delusion
Comment #111566 by epeeist on January 15, 2008 at 2:43 am
Comment #111544 by wooter
To: epeeist
You got some issues about people's background just because you have nothing logical to argue against me so you are picking on. I would advise you to have got a bone to pick with ET. I dealt with you many times but you are still stirring in the pond of first language, insulting, spreading, and slandering. Way to go. You are proving something. That means you are saying 'I have no counter argument against Reason.'
1856. Blind Faiths
Comment #111290 by epeeist on January 14, 2008 at 8:33 am
Comment #111282 by al-rawandi
Same here, with the scare tactics. I just write it off here.
But I got the distinct feeling that there was some grumbling in the UK over the assimilation issue of Muslims?
1857. Blind Faiths
Comment #111256 by epeeist on January 14, 2008 at 6:58 am
Comment #111252 by al-rawandi
If we wanted to go around assigning states based on historical residence, we would have a massive shit storm.
1858. The Group Delusion
Comment #111214 by epeeist on January 14, 2008 at 3:50 am
Comment #111210 by wooter
Hi Mr DawkinsFirstly, don't be so rude, it isn't Mr. Dawkins, but Professor Dawkins.
1859. The Moral Instinct
Comment #111207 by epeeist on January 14, 2008 at 3:27 am
Comment #111204 by Artful_Dodger
Numbers may be abstractions, and perhaps they are not substances. But they are, at least, non-physical properties. They may not have a tangible existence or "form" as you put it. But you cannot deny their existence independent of the physical medium via which they appear to our senses.Are you confusing two things?
1860. The Moral Instinct
Comment #111021 by epeeist on January 13, 2008 at 10:51 am
Comment #111016 by Henri Bergson
So most of you have acceded to accept that there can be no scientific fact
1861. The Moral Instinct
Comment #111014 by epeeist on January 13, 2008 at 10:48 am
Comment #111006 by Cartomancer
It seems that Henri Bergson repeatedly takes umbrage at use of the word "true" or "correct" to define a moral position and describes such truth or correctness as illusory and without basis in metaphysical fact.
1862. The Moral Instinct
Comment #111008 by epeeist on January 13, 2008 at 10:44 am
Comment #111003 by Henri Bergson
Do you really believe that a scientific theory can't be proved correct?It isn't a matter of belief.
1863. The Moral Instinct
Comment #111005 by epeeist on January 13, 2008 at 10:43 am
Comment #110992 by Henri Bergson
And your point is?
The point is simple: A moral cannot be proved correct, like a religion.
1864. The Moral Instinct
Comment #110920 by epeeist on January 13, 2008 at 8:13 am
Comment #110916 by Radesq
An atheist version of jihad you mean ;-)
Will to power sounds of megalomania to me.
1865. The Moral Instinct
Comment #110863 by epeeist on January 13, 2008 at 4:56 am
Comment #110859 by Henri Bergson
There is no such thing as 'human morality'. 'Morality' constantly changes, like religion.
1866. The Moral Instinct
Comment #110846 by epeeist on January 13, 2008 at 2:03 am
Comment #110842 by donn
1. Whatever money is 'given' away has a purpose: to indoctrinate more young minds into using MS only software.
1867. Six Reasons to be an Atheist
Comment #110766 by epeeist on January 12, 2008 at 10:47 am
Have to agree about the Atheist Sucks site. To use a domain specific metaphor, they talk a good fight. But they need to drop their balls (in a Galilean sense) to actually see which hits the ground first rather than using Zeno type arguments.
There philosophy, theology, logic and science seem to be step-locked to the scholastics. I am waiting for answers as to why they are using a particularly schoolboy level piece of logic in a complex discussion on morals and trying to get them to tell me what they mean by truth.
And while they claim to be polite and well-mannered there are some distinctly unpleasant individuals there.
1868. The Moral Instinct
Comment #110762 by epeeist on January 12, 2008 at 10:34 am
Comment #110730 by Steve Zara
And wouldn't reach beta quality until version 3.0
If Bill Gates invented a religion, it would have horrendous licence fees, be based on way-out-of-date ideas, it would look vaguely attractive but would be full of inconsistencies and would fail people all the time.
1869. The Group Delusion
Comment #110701 by epeeist on January 12, 2008 at 2:31 am
Comment #110697 by AllanW
Just a quick point about wooter though.
1870. Could there be a Darwinian Account of Human Creativity?
Comment #110688 by epeeist on January 12, 2008 at 12:45 am
Comment #110648 by wooter
Hello everyone. Since our arguments cannot evolve from being funny and offensive level (that is ironic, there is no evolution then) I quit.
1871. Two Ex-Jehovah Witnesses to Tell Why They Became Atheists
Comment #110687 by epeeist on January 12, 2008 at 12:40 am
Comment #110449 by fireface
Much better that we can do it without worrying what the big invisible surveillance camera in the sky is thinking.
1872. Six Reasons to be an Atheist
Comment #110480 by epeeist on January 11, 2008 at 10:02 am
Comment #110475 by al-rawandi
But if people do anything that isn't morally right then they aren't Christians. It's true a priori don'cha know?
I just get sick of the Christ crowd and their "morality". It is morality until it fucks with my bottom line.
1873. Six Reasons to be an Atheist
Comment #110470 by epeeist on January 11, 2008 at 9:10 am
Comment #110402 by ADH
The RIGHT thing is informed by Jesus straightforward injunction: "Love God with your whole being and your neighbour as yourself".So, what would you do? All you given us is a politicians answer? What is the timeless, unambiguous, right thing to do in this situation?
1874. Six Reasons to be an Atheist
Comment #110439 by epeeist on January 11, 2008 at 6:55 am
Comment #110409 by ADH
Irate_atheist, my assertions are not wanton. I would say that the burden o proof lies on your shoulders. You have to prove to me that naturalism CAN provide sufficient grounding for right action.
1875. Six Reasons to be an Atheist
Comment #110397 by epeeist on January 11, 2008 at 5:41 am
Comment #110393 by ADH
I mentioned the film Matchpoint some time ago....So given that there is a completely objective morality in the world that you are privy to, then what would you do?
But time passes and the case is closed. "Evidence" has been found which supposedly incriminates another person - with a criminal record. Chris settls into his life of luxury with his rich family. He acted in accordance with his subjective feeling that comfort was better than discomfort, whatever the price. Did Chris do the right thing? On a purely subjectivist criterion, is there such a thing as "justice" in the world?
1876. Could there be a Darwinian Account of Human Creativity?
Comment #110384 by epeeist on January 11, 2008 at 4:58 am
Comment #110377 by Steve Zara
I spent some time on it, but still, I am afraid, did not figure out the meaning....
1877. Could there be a Darwinian Account of Human Creativity?
Comment #110361 by epeeist on January 11, 2008 at 3:46 am
Err, isn't it getting to that time of day. You know, the wootering hour?
Just as a matter of interest, did anybody raise the effort to trace the origin of my quote. He may have been a monk, but anyone who could write the following okay by me:
"God keep from hurt, said he, the good fellow whose long codpiece or braguet hath saved his life! God keep from hurt him whose long braguet hath been worth to him in one day one hundred threescore thousand and nine crowns! God keep from hurt him who by his long braguet hath saved a whole city from dying by famine! And, by G-, I will make a book of the commodity of long braguets when I shall have more leisure. And indeed he composed a fair great book with figures, but it is
not printed as yet that I know of.
1878. Six Reasons to be an Atheist
Comment #110340 by epeeist on January 11, 2008 at 2:38 am
Comment #110328 by AllanW
This idea that Christianity knows the ideal state for human beings to be in and it is equally applicable to all people seems implausible to me.
There is just too much variation/complexity in behaviours and minds to be coped with. Expanding complexity as we grow and develop as a species that an iron-age myth structure cannot hope to explain and control.
1879. Blind Faiths
Comment #110327 by epeeist on January 11, 2008 at 1:55 am
Comment #110311 by Fanusi Khiyal
I wasn't complaining, just trying to point you to the context from where I was starting my questions.
Forgive me if I don't always quote everything you write, but no neutral observer can believe that I do not try and answer in full.
Question: Where have immigrant Muslim populations assimilated?
As I have said before, we need to end Muslim immigration, expel Shariah supporters, economically isolate the Muslim world, prosecute preachers of Shariah and Jihad, tear down Mosques in which this has happend, and, above all, conduct a relentless campaign to expose Islam for what it is.
1880. Six Reasons to be an Atheist
Comment #110319 by epeeist on January 11, 2008 at 1:36 am
Comment #110309 by ADH
that is pretty close to what I would say.To paraphrase Marianne Moore - A theory "which explains everything explains nothing, and we are still in doubt."
1881. Six Reasons to be an Atheist
Comment #110297 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Comment #110152 by Vinelectric
I posted a list of quotations, some from theist sources and some not, of where the Golden Rule was in place before Jesus was supposedly born.
Would you oblige us with the link? I can sift through your posts but that would take ages!
1882. Six Reasons to be an Atheist
Comment #110145 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Comment #110117 by AllanW
But if you mention that people need to be saved or healed one more time I for one will react very badly.
1883. Six Reasons to be an Atheist
Comment #110142 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Comment #110127 by Steve Zara
It is certainly proven. This has been discussed before. Golden Rule behaviour has been shown in Great Apes, Cetaceans, Elephants. They show far more than herd instinct. There is plenty of hard science to show this if you are interested.
1884. Blind Faiths
Comment #110016 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 9:52 am
Comment #110002 by Fanusi Khiyal
It is if you knew that the weapons you supplied were going to be used for this purpose. And chemical and biological weapons were hardly going to be used on buildings were they?
Newsflash: Supplying the weapons - which is contemptible, and one more instance where the West should have told the Muslim world to go screw itself - is not the moral equivalent of actually taking those weapons and aiming them at innocent civilians, and shooting women and children in the head.
1885. Could there be a Darwinian Account of Human Creativity?
Comment #109993 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 8:59 am
Comment #109990 by Roger Stanyard
"Can chimeras bombinating in a vacuum nourish second intentions?"
Now, now, Epeeist. You know perfectly well that he will use the question to prove your science wrong by downloading a load of Answers in Genesis crapola that he doesn't understand.
1886. Could there be a Darwinian Account of Human Creativity?
Comment #109976 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 7:53 am
Wooter - you are a master of logic, why haven't you answered my question? If you can't find it then here it is again:
"Utrum chimera in vacuo bombinans possit comedere secundas intentiones?"
1887. Blind Faiths
Comment #109974 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 7:51 am
Comment #109963 by al-rawandi
Absolutely right, they were only wogs after all.
And yes, I don't think the Brits cared too much about the locals.
1888. Blind Faiths
Comment #109958 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 7:06 am
Comment #109957 by al-rawandi
avatar
You missed one out, we didn't give a toss.
The Brits were either too stupid or too arrogant to understand that they were heaping people together from different ethinc, religious, and linguistic groups.
1889. Could there be a Darwinian Account of Human Creativity?
Comment #109940 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 5:39 am
Comment #109939 by Roger Stanyard
It's all dimwitted standard fundie boilerplate based on their belief that there are only two types of people in this world...
1890. Could there be a Darwinian Account of Human Creativity?
Comment #109931 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 4:41 am
I was just making my self a cup of tea when I thought to myself "Isn't about the time that wooter usually deluges the site", and low and behold there he is.
But have a look at http://atheismsucks.blogspot.com/2007/12/common-objections-to-intelligent-design.html
and tell me what the difference is between wooter and these guys. It would appear to be one thing, better grammar.
1891. Could there be a Darwinian Account of Human Creativity?
Comment #109910 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 3:26 am
Comment #109906 by Roland_F
See the link I posted - http://www.fstdt.com. A few of them even make wooter look credible.
We should collect all her quotes like this and publish this into a small booklet: 'Insights of a creationist'.
1892. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up
Comment #109904 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 2:47 am
Comment #109898 by Steve Zara
I am finding myself drifting slowly towards Peter Atkin's position that philosophy is redundant and science is the only sensible approach to truth, although there is a long way to go yet.
1893. Could there be a Darwinian Account of Human Creativity?
Comment #109899 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 2:37 am
Comment #109892 by wooter
Evolution flies directly in the face of entropy, the second law of thermodynamics. This law of physics states that all systems, whether open or closed, have a tendency to disorder (or "the least energetic state"). There are some special cases where local order can increase, but this is at the expense of greater disorder elsewhere. Raw energy cannot generate the complex systems in living things, or the information required to build them. Undirected energy just speeds up destruction. Yet, evolution is a building-up process, suggesting that things tend to become more complex and advanced over time. This is directly opposed to the law of entropy.
1894. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up
Comment #109888 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 2:15 am
Comment #109734 by Cartomancer
When I finally finish my doctorate (if the world hasn't fallen into dangerous theocratic oblivion by then, and given how slowly the damned thing is going that is highly likely) I might try my hand at such a work, pointing out how ninety-nine per cent of theists' arguments rest on premises drawn straight from ancient or medieval world views that they themselves do not lend credence in any other sphere of life but religion.
1895. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up
Comment #109886 by epeeist on January 10, 2008 at 2:06 am
Comment #109845 by prettygoodformonkeys
Or possibly use the wrong type of logic - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_logic
I love this also! But I think we overuse logic at the quantum level.
1896. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up
Comment #109852 by epeeist on January 9, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Comment #109840 by raptur
Both posts have been a little off. Do people mind if I take a break from lurking for a bit? ;)
given a finite set of axiomsThe other part of this that you don't make explicit is that you can't make the system complete by adding more axioms.
1897. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up
Comment #109724 by epeeist on January 9, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Addendum: If the theists come back and say that god causes virtual particles to be created then I think the counter argument is that if you have a god that controls the cosmos to this granular a level then human free will must go out of the window.
Dualism doesn't get you out of this, since god is micro-controlling the physical environment your mind will be incapable of making your body do anything that subverts this control.
1898. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up
Comment #109717 by epeeist on January 9, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Comment #109705 by BAEOZ
P1. Everything has a cause
P2. To avoid an infinite regress there must be a first cause.
C That first cause we call god.
1899. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up
Comment #109702 by epeeist on January 9, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Comment #109691 by Big City
I don't really understand how the author being a mathematician figures into the argument.
1900. The Mind of the Market
Comment #109633 by epeeist on January 9, 2008 at 10:24 am
Comment #109631 by Big City
Atheismsucks just ruined my day.