151. The Great God Debate

Comment #50655 by RickM on June 19, 2007 at 8:44 am

I'm getting to the point that I hate these "debates".

I think Hitchens does a good job under the circumstances.

Here we have the host feeding the theist and also posing theist-side questions to Hitchens; a form of piling on.

I keep seeing the theist argue with outrageous statements that are embedded in such a manner that it is impossible to argue (no time available).

I've never taken a debating class, so maybe this is a technique taught and used. Here's the rough syntax as I see it:

[praise/agree with opponent] [quickly make 2 or more outrageous statements] [make an emotional based statement that makes you look good and the opponent look bad] [make a final statement that sidesteps the original argument]

It seems to me they keep going on and on in this manner and as I listen I can't help but want to say, "stop right there, what you just said was bull shit". So often Hitchens/Harris/others get stuck with the last statement and never get to nail the other bull shit statements.

Here's an example from a Dawkins/Francis Collins debate where Collins starts off with a crazy statement but it gets lost:

"Faith is not the opposite of reason. Faith rests squarely upon reason, but with the added component of revelation."

Dawkins never had a chance to nail him on the first words our of his mouth.

I wish the atheist debater would say, "Wait, lets go back to the first thing you said; it's wrong and I'm not going any further until we straighten it out".

152. Dawkins' Christmas card list

Comment #45929 by RickM on May 29, 2007 at 4:33 pm

Rees is nuts. We should play nice-nice with the moderate theists; holders of the same irrational, schzotypal magical belief in the supernatural as the extremists. As if a moderate god is a little valid.

153. Group Threatens to Sue Pentagon Over Military Role in Evangelical Festival

Comment #45332 by RickM on May 27, 2007 at 7:51 am

"....this didn't seem like that big a deal".

Like hell, this is a very serious problem.

154. Another Christian Science Fair embarrasses itself

Comment #45009 by RickM on May 25, 2007 at 7:18 pm

Just goes to show; the species "nit-wit" continues to bear children.

155. Christian sports workers degree ridiculed

Comment #45003 by RickM on May 25, 2007 at 7:01 pm

"For many centuries churches have played a central role in community life…".

Right, like persecuting, terrorizing and burning people at the stake.

156. Exorcism exercise for fired-up faithful

Comment #44652 by RickM on May 25, 2007 at 6:30 am

People are fucking nuts. There's just no hope. We've got candidates for President that believe in creationism; one even believes in Golden Plates.

WTF! All because priests convience willing people that they don't really die.

157. Heliocentrism is an Atheist Doctrine

Comment #44646 by RickM on May 25, 2007 at 6:18 am

I'm speechless. It's a joke, right? Or is it?

158. A galactic fossil - Star is found to be 13.2 billion years old

Comment #44140 by RickM on May 23, 2007 at 12:22 pm

I have real problems with this article. They seem to be implying that this star is 13.2 byo. Also that the Milky Way is 13.2 byo. I'm not buying that.

The heavy elements they are using to determine age do not form in stars. Fusion burning stops at Iron. Heavier elements form in Super Nova (the death of stars). Therefore, these elements where accreted as this star began to form. Which does not say it was a star when it began to accrete the heavier elements; it was part of a hot cloud of gas and material that eventually became a star. There is no telling what generation this star is, as it may have accreted material from 2nd, 3rd generation stars that went Super Nova.

It also seems to imply that the Milky Way is 13.2 byo.

If the article had said the star "contains" material that is 13.2 byo, that makes sense. Also, the Milky Way "contains" material that old as well. Nothing new there.

I think I read elsewhere that this star is super-massive, and, as mentioned earlier, these big guys don't last long.

159. Hubble Finds Ring of Dark Matter

Comment #43057 by RickM on May 20, 2007 at 11:38 am

Humble Pie,

It's the "collision" that they're estimating occurred 1-2 bya, not what we are seeing now. What we are seeing now is the result of the ongoing "tossing about" of the colliding galaxies.

Let's say the collision occurred, say 2 bya. Starting with the image we have now, imagine rolling the tape back 2 b years. What we would see is the two galaxies on the brink of collision and they would be 3 b light years distant.

If I'm wrong, someone please correct me.

160. Hubble Finds Ring of Dark Matter

Comment #42998 by RickM on May 20, 2007 at 9:00 am

Amazing image. I hope they figure out what that stuff is before my days are up.

161. Freethinking Ruins All Things

Comment #42290 by RickM on May 18, 2007 at 3:17 am

"The atheists and freethinkers say they want openmindedness, but their minds are plainly shut off to the fountains of wisdom of thousands of years because the wisdom contained in scriptures and hymns........"

Once again, no sense in going any further.

162. Dobson, Armageddon, and Foreign Policy

Comment #42030 by RickM on May 17, 2007 at 1:30 pm

Insane; I can't think of anything more to say.

lostpoet said:

"I think it's time for "broad-reach" media outlets to showcase these nutheads..."

Well, LOST, they'll never touch it.

163. Navy vet: Chaplains tried converting me

Comment #41999 by RickM on May 17, 2007 at 12:28 pm

I hope the law suit goes through.

And I'm sick of paying tax dollars for chaplains!

164. Antarctic 'treasure trove' found

Comment #41990 by RickM on May 17, 2007 at 12:14 pm

"no more sponges mommy, no more sponges!"

ROTF

165. Hitchens on Falwell

Comment #41855 by RickM on May 17, 2007 at 7:56 am

Here's Hitchens' exchange with Sean "The Village Idiot of Fox News" Hannity (Hannity & Colmes, May 16th):

Note the look on Hannity's face when Hitchens responds to Hannity's interrupt with "..your long unlettered question.".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLdnwH7s5qs

Ralph Reed is also present. Naughty boy Hitchens heckles Reed with "tell it to Jack Abramoff".

166. Educated, Inspired Conservative Christians

Comment #41395 by RickM on May 16, 2007 at 4:37 am

And no mention of his racist sermons of the 50's and 60's.

167. Atheism in America

Comment #40385 by RickM on May 14, 2007 at 8:16 am

What can you say. Insane.

168. Unintelligent Design

Comment #40062 by RickM on May 13, 2007 at 12:10 am

"Religion endures and thrives because it addresses ... society's foundational moral needs."

Horseshit. [EndOfRead]

169. Kirk Cameron Proves That God Exists

Comment #39969 by RickM on May 12, 2007 at 12:22 pm

On television, in front of the world (ok, a limited subset), Cameron, smiling broadly, holds up an illustration of a "Crockaduck" and claims evolution is a lie. Isn't such evidence clear to everyone? See how easy it is to prove evolution wrong?

I have never seen a more profound display of ignorance and stupidity. And Cameron was so obviously proud of his brilliance. I almost blushed.

But, how sad. There exists people that actually swallow this crap.

I have to agree with Mark that the subject matter must be brought to the front burner as often as possible, but how in the world can a debate be called a debate when it is edited. We have no real idea how the debate actually went; ABC made a complete sham of the whole thing.

170. The Debate: Can We Live by Reason Alone?

Comment #39779 by RickM on May 11, 2007 at 11:01 pm

On the second part of the vid - Once again, over and over again; you're not talking about my god. I'm so sick of this.

==

I couldn't listen to the whole thing; too much bull shit.

171. Christopher Hitchens on Religion

Comment #39755 by RickM on May 11, 2007 at 9:25 pm

Thor,

Yes, I thought it was interesting how Sharpton disassociated himself from the Abrahamic scriptures in favor of his own Sharpton-God. Also, it appears that there were some rules in that debate such that Hitchens wouldn't crush Sharpton's skull with his own ignorance.

==

Yes, yes, yes. More books, more debates, more exposure of the insanity of theism.

172. Is Christianity Good for the World?

Comment #39405 by RickM on May 10, 2007 at 2:22 pm

I don't know how anyone can debate Wilson when his arguments are so profoundly nonsensical.

It seems those that chose to enter a debate on the side of theism invariable are required to learn the art of sidestepping the issue, clouding the issue and in some form scribing so many paragraphs of unintelligible babble.

It's pointless.

173. Supporters of abortion have no future in Church, Pope tells faithful

Comment #39363 by RickM on May 10, 2007 at 12:19 pm

Priests. The most despicable, disgusting creatures to ever walk the planet. Centuries of blood, death and terror rests squarely on their shoulders.

Fear of death (basic human weakness)? Have we got a deal (drug) for you. Oh, and once we have you hooked, if you break our rules we can assure hell-fire for eternity.

174. Massive explosion is brightest-ever supernova

Comment #38752 by RickM on May 9, 2007 at 5:38 am

Yorker,

"Sadly, our demise won't be witnessed by any non- locals because our sun isn't massive enough to become a supernova."

Yes, but some non-locals may get to watch the Sun burn out in about 5,000,000 y, become a red giant and burn the Earth to a crispy cinder.

175. Sam Harris in conversation with Oliver McTernan

Comment #38748 by RickM on May 9, 2007 at 5:28 am

Once again a debater resorts to the argument that Sam shouldn't be making such rash statements about religion/God since it is not the debaters version. Very much like Sharptons denial of all the scriptures in favor of his Sharpton-God.

So, have slaves but don't knock out their teeth. Wait, hold on, don't take that literally, you need a priest to tell you what that really means; well bull shit.

I thought McTernan's views were so much religobabble. Harris never got on his six for the kill.

176. Christopher Hitchens and Al Sharpton: A Debate God Is Not Great

Comment #38654 by RickM on May 8, 2007 at 10:30 pm

I'm disappointed.

Hitchens puts forward his script of excellent arguments against religion but never really addresses the "God concept".

I am at a loss as to why Sharpton calls himself a "Reverend". Reverend of what? He proceeds to denie any attachment to the Quaran, Hebrew Bible, Christen Bible. What God is he talking about? The Sharpton God? Are we expected to believe in a "great" Sharpton God inspired by his bout with heart burn.

When Sharpton insists the Sharpton God instills in us moral values and goes on with that old argument; as if an atheist should, by default, go around killing people, Hitchens should have jumped on him like stink on poop.

Let me add, I'm up the here with this bull shit about the Bible and morals. It seems to me that that lie should be a major point of attack in any debate about the Sky Superhero superstition.

177. A Bunch of Monkeys

Comment #38326 by RickM on May 7, 2007 at 4:05 pm

Monkeys? And all this time I thought we were apes.

178. Richard Dawkins on Canada AM

Comment #38324 by RickM on May 7, 2007 at 3:53 pm

Doesn't work for me; Foxfire or IE

179. Unholy row at clergy soccer game

Comment #38305 by RickM on May 7, 2007 at 1:08 pm

ROFLMAO!

"Both sides have learned to better understand our cultures and we have had an open discussion."

What a bunch of complete fucking idiots.

180. Atheists go on the political offensive in God-fearing US

Comment #38250 by RickM on May 7, 2007 at 10:22 am

Bizarro,

There exists an infrastructure whereby a hierarchy of instructors (priests) re-indoctrinate a group of followers (irrational faith believers) into a system of superstitious rules and rituals on a regular schedule (generally, Sunday mornings). Followers are assured comfort in an imaginary after-life by means of blackmail (hell fire).

The instructors use a fictious sacred text (bible) for which a claim to moral behaviors (thou shall not kill, do unto others…) are made and assured by an imaginary, loving rule giver (imaginary sky superhero/creator). Mandatory compliance with the sacred text is required in spite of the fact that the text also requires the immoral killing of adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals, misbehaving children, nonbelievers, Sabbath workers, etc.

What would you call this? Dogmatic? Fanatic? An answer is, clearly, not required.

181. Atheists go on the political offensive in God-fearing US

Comment #37995 by RickM on May 6, 2007 at 3:38 pm

Bizarro,

I must admit that reading your pathetic post makes my stomach turn.

182. The moment a teenage girl was stoned to death for loving the wrong boy

Comment #37824 by RickM on May 5, 2007 at 10:21 pm

I found the videos. Incredible. Insane.

Someone said Christians would not do this. I disagree.

Given sufficient political power, homosexuals would be put to death. Then adulterers, then those that worked on the Sabbath, etc.

183. Lou Dobbs Interviews Christopher Hitchens

Comment #37513 by RickM on May 4, 2007 at 5:21 pm

MelM #37494

"...you call for a new enlightenment...". I'm sure that's what he's saying.

184. Lou Dobbs Interviews Christopher Hitchens

Comment #37487 by RickM on May 4, 2007 at 3:37 pm

kkant,

LOL. Hitchens would beat Hannity to a pulp. I don't think Bill "I'm Catholic" O'Reilly has to balls to interview Hitchens.

185. Lou Dobbs Interviews Christopher Hitchens

Comment #37484 by RickM on May 4, 2007 at 3:32 pm

I sent Dobbs a note of encouragement at:

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?76

186. Your favorite book in the last 25 years?

Comment #37266 by RickM on May 3, 2007 at 11:32 pm

^ Movie '65, book '61.

187. Your favorite book in the last 25 years?

Comment #37260 by RickM on May 3, 2007 at 11:08 pm

The best book I've ever read (about 30 yo). If you are a reader, you absolutely must read this book.

The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone

Another must read is;

Poland by James A. Michener

188. New Noah's Ark ready to sail

Comment #35814 by RickM on April 29, 2007 at 12:32 am

There is no hope.

There is absolutely no hope for humanity. It's doomed.

The incessant stupid gene marches on.

"… a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats."

JUST FUCKING SHOOT ME!

189. Vote for the Time 100 - Are They Worthy?

Comment #34819 by RickM on April 25, 2007 at 11:16 am

I agree it's a silly thing to sell magazines, but I'm voting to get the Prof and the subject matter more exposure.

He's gone up since yesterday; he's #10 on the list right now.

As for the picture. Note it's from the Getty pic service, so someone made a conscience decision to select a crappy photo.

I doubt they are keeping an SQL DB on IPS addresses; eats up server time.

190. Kadra attacked in public

Comment #32049 by RickM on April 15, 2007 at 10:45 am

"The Islamic Council Norway (IRN) condemned the attack...". Doublespeak!

A some point, people are going to start killing these bastards.

191. T. rex tissue shows they are related to chickens

Comment #31468 by RickM on April 12, 2007 at 8:34 pm

This T. Rex was female and pregnant:

http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/node/8083

192. Pope says science too narrow to explain creation

Comment #31399 by RickM on April 12, 2007 at 10:24 am

"The issue is reclaiming a dimension of reason we have lost," he said..."

Theologist continue to propagate the falsehood that faith (a belief without reason or contrary to reason) is a path to reason and truth. I hate it when the bastards do that.

193. The Human Body as an Evolutionary Patchwork

Comment #31394 by RickM on April 12, 2007 at 10:05 am

Rtambree,

Thanks, that's quite a list.

194. The Human Body as an Evolutionary Patchwork

Comment #31226 by RickM on April 11, 2007 at 4:03 pm

I went to the Princeton site; there are lots of interesting lectures.

Just finished watching "The Undesigned Universe: Part 1: Designs on Life" by Peter Ward. Well worth watching (1:30). See:

http://www.princeton.edu/WebMedia/lectures/

195. On Desire

Comment #31015 by RickM on April 10, 2007 at 3:54 pm

Yorker,

I'm 62, male, hetero.

No, I did not find the good doctor pretty, sexy or "hot". However, I found her charming and attractive.

Now, Gwen Stefani! She's HOT.

196. Hey Mom, I'm an Atheist

Comment #31010 by RickM on April 10, 2007 at 3:35 pm

God; the great invisible blackmailer in the sky.

Mom; the great blackmailer (agent) in the kitchen.

197. Time in the Animal Mind

Comment #29586 by RickM on April 3, 2007 at 1:48 pm

Okay, so where are my car keys?

198. Richard Dawkins Explains 'The God Delusion'

Comment #28665 by RickM on March 30, 2007 at 10:19 am

I see no sense in getting into a piss fight with Helian. I read the first few paragraphs and it seems to me to be an excessively verbose and narrow reading of Dawkins; mostly noise.

199. Richard Dawkins Explains 'The God Delusion'

Comment #28660 by RickM on March 30, 2007 at 9:38 am

I get the sense that Terry Gross is a theist. I can't wait to hear her interview with Collins. I predict she will gush over his "reasoning".

I think Collins is a sadly empty human.

From my forum signature; a quote from his debate with Prof. D. If this doesn't demonstrate delusion, I don't know what does:

"Delusion: Faith is not the opposite of reason. Faith rests squarely upon reason, but with the added component of revelation. – Francis Collins"

200. John Paul Sainthood Nun 'Gentle, Simple'

Comment #28648 by RickM on March 30, 2007 at 8:38 am

I say unto you; whomsoever believeith this bull shit, haveth a screw loose.