Comments by BaronOchs

Comment #44498 by BaronOchs on May 25, 2007 at 2:40 am

God is a human concept.

God is the name we give to our belief that life has meaning

God is that mysterious force—and you can give it many names as other religions do—which works upon us and through us to seek and achieve truth, beauty and goodness.

God is perhaps best understood as our ultimate concern

In Exodus God says, by way of identification, "I am that I am."

God is better understood as verb rather than a noun.

God is not an asserted existence but a process accomplishing itself.

God is steak and ale pie and chips.

202. Lightning damages Jesus statue

Comment #44414 by BaronOchs on May 24, 2007 at 3:09 pm

Hey has anyone tried using this to chat?

http://www.gabbly.com/www.richarddawkins.net/home

203. Gay row US Anglicans miss summit

Comment #44309 by BaronOchs on May 24, 2007 at 8:53 am

Daniel Stoker you can "formally defect". I think you write to the Bishop of the diocese where you were baptised expressing your intent, and they should write back saying you are debarred from the sacraments and may the lord have mercy on your soul, or something.

204. Liberty U student plotted to set off explosives, police say

Comment #44268 by BaronOchs on May 24, 2007 at 12:55 am

Bizarro Dawkins say this can't have had anything to do with religion because the bible says to love and pray for your enemies.

How touchingly naive, say that in the bible it might, it doesn't mean that that is readily communicated to a lad like this by his faith.

Bizarro what do you say to the "dominionists" who want to secure political power for christians, despite the fact jesus rejected political power?

I bet you'd have no problem accepting that much of medieval christianity or even many examples today had not much to do with what it actually says in the gospels.

Anyhow, if the reputation of this "university" is tarnished by this, it is something of a happy ending to the whole affair.

205. A meeting of unlike minds

Comment #44200 by BaronOchs on May 23, 2007 at 3:37 pm

I agree with Roknrol, I'd like to see Hitchens debate the Pope perhaps, or a luminary from some other faith. But what would be the point in debating the westboro people? If it isn't already obvious to someone that picketing funerals is a totally crass gesture I don't know how you go about explaining it.

206. Gay row US Anglicans miss summit

Comment #44196 by BaronOchs on May 23, 2007 at 3:25 pm

Shuggy send them to:

design@richarddawkins.net

Nothing seems to happen if you send them to the other address.

207. Ice Age blast 'ravaged America'

Comment #44077 by BaronOchs on May 23, 2007 at 9:25 am

Well, I guess that would work if it weren't for the fact that all this happened much farther north. But hey, what ever floats your boat.

You mean whatever floats my Ark?

...

I'll close the door on my way out.

208. Busted Halo

Comment #44016 by BaronOchs on May 23, 2007 at 7:27 am

Did I hear somewhere that Deepak Chopra is going to debate Chris Hitchens?

or was it a dream?

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

Comment #43956 by BaronOchs on May 23, 2007 at 4:54 am

I guess this star is extremely rare, but how much older might a star get? Or might this just be *drumroll* the oldest star in the universe?!

210. Shark virgin birth mystery is solved

Comment #43928 by BaronOchs on May 23, 2007 at 4:17 am

Philip1978 you might be right . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaguya

211. Shark virgin birth mystery is solved

Comment #43916 by BaronOchs on May 23, 2007 at 4:00 am

MartinSGill I think Dawkins actually mentions some theory like that here!:

http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,452,The-Komodo-Dragons-Tale,Richard-Dawkins

212. Despite what the scholars say, God isn't dead yet

Comment #43897 by BaronOchs on May 23, 2007 at 3:42 am

As for the "poetic dimension of the spiritual life" I think this quote sums the matter up:

"The conditions and the aims of life are both represented in religion poetically, but this poetry tends to arrogate to itself literal truth and moral authority, neither of which it possesses."

George Santayana

213. Despite what the scholars say, God isn't dead yet

Comment #43892 by BaronOchs on May 23, 2007 at 3:35 am

His plan was not the result of a literalist reading of ancient scriptures or the mad blueprint of a religious revelation...

Neither was Nazi ideology either rationally coherent or empirically grounded. It was really just another manifestation of some dangerous myths like the perfection of the Aryan race and the wickedness of the Jews, so bad example really.

In short, academics of all description willingly devoted their rational, scientific and disciplined minds to support the Nazi cause of domination and extermination of undesirables, most notably Jews but also Gypsies and gays.

Is anyone claiming that because someone is educated they will therefore be moral? I don't think so. So this is irrelevant, Science is morally neutral, but plenty of scientists have worked hard to see that scientific knowledge is not put to ill use, Einstein, Hans Bethe, Joseph Rotblat are a few that spring to mind.

If Germany in 1933 had been invaded by people in prayer singing "Praise Jesus" instead of Nazis in jackboots it would not have presided over the worst mass killing in history.

An unverifiable claim, but it would be good to send her back in time to witness the massacre of jews that took place say, during the people's crusade, which was an outpouring of christian piety led by a catholic hermit. Or perhaps she could go to watch the slaughter of cathars in the laungedoc, there is not a shortage of examples. Having done so I'm sure she couldn't write that sentence with sincerity.

214. Liberty U student plotted to set off explosives, police say

Comment #43869 by BaronOchs on May 23, 2007 at 2:57 am

Where's Bizarro?

215. Prayer can improve physical health

Comment #43781 by BaronOchs on May 22, 2007 at 3:25 pm

When I was a believer I was a little horrified at these prayer studies. Because a positive result would seem to suggest God is just a prayer racketeer, and a negative result would suggest there is in fact nothing there. Perhaps it contributed to the whole thing eventually crashing to the ground.

Bizarre to recall I was even perturbed by the claim of one study, that god helps IVF patients. Which if true means the catholic church will have to excommunicate him!

216. Would the World Be Safer Without Religion?

Comment #43759 by BaronOchs on May 22, 2007 at 1:19 pm

Billy, I'm glad things ended happily for your friend. Her church told her "this was a choice and she must change"? Begs the question how did they know! Meddling in the lifes of others with just an ancient and flawed text to go on is not a good idea.

217. The root of all evil?

Comment #43705 by BaronOchs on May 22, 2007 at 10:28 am

Phaeonix you'll have to wait for my upcoming book lol . . .

218. Cult leader sparks Sikh riots with 'guru' stunt

Comment #43645 by BaronOchs on May 22, 2007 at 7:18 am

Logicel, a religion that believes in nice clean trousers, I think I might be going to their hell! or at least their purgatory . . .

219. The root of all evil?

Comment #43637 by BaronOchs on May 22, 2007 at 6:56 am

For Australian television audiences accustomed to comfortable Sunday evenings spent watching genial English dons strolling through ruined castles speculating about the sex life of 16th-century monarchs, Richard Dawkins will have come as one hell of a shock.

If he's reffering to David Starkey that could not be more ironic . . .

220. Would the World Be Safer Without Religion?

Comment #43632 by BaronOchs on May 22, 2007 at 6:42 am

75. BillySands

Billy, yes Falwell did spread some pretty horrible things. But that does not justify the vitriol the bitterness and the irrational hatred expressed on this website. And what makes you say that homosexuals are an abomination? And what is your fixation with locking up swings on a Sunday? No one in my church would do such a thing. Have you seen a therapist?

I agree with BillySands, just think what it must be like for someone growing up gay within an orthodox christian community? And I'm sure there is enough social pressure there to protect reverend from any awkward challenges.

But there isn't here. So perhaps David Robertson will explain and justify the teachings of his church concerning homosexuality?

It is not unreasonable to ask that you do.

221. Hitchens on Falwell, Part 2

Comment #43617 by BaronOchs on May 22, 2007 at 5:55 am

The world needs more people like Hitchens who aren't afraid to be outspoken when the truth is at stake.

quaqua I now intend to read all his books. I've already made a start but I'm not setting myself a timescale for it.

222. Would the World Be Safer Without Religion?

Comment #43600 by BaronOchs on May 22, 2007 at 5:07 am

did you mean this?

http://www.freechurch.org/issues/2006/dec06.htm

Well I'll give it a proper look when I can. A quick skim shows you really do always spell "McGrath" as "McGarth" for some reason?!

223. Cult leader sparks Sikh riots with 'guru' stunt

Comment #43580 by BaronOchs on May 22, 2007 at 4:16 am

They are getting preferential treatment in the UK - I cannot carry a knife, but they can. That is discrimination, plain and simple.

They can also ride motorcycles without helmets because of their turbans. Essentially here the laws of britain are saying wear a helmet or bow to the teachings of some oriental guru. ridiculous. Either no one or everyone should have to wear a helmet. anything else is unacceptable.

224. Scientists Draw Link Between Morality And Brain's Wiring

Comment #43543 by BaronOchs on May 22, 2007 at 1:05 am

Logicel, I see France is, as ever, giving the snotty native english user a rough ride!

:-)

225. Would the World Be Safer Without Religion?

Comment #43535 by BaronOchs on May 22, 2007 at 12:01 am

I believe because there are many reasonable reasons to do so. How do you deal with that?

Well asking what your reasonable reasons are may be a start?

226. Hitchens on Falwell, Part 2

Comment #43525 by BaronOchs on May 21, 2007 at 10:52 pm

That Hannity is a coarse little overgrown schoolboy, how the b****cks does someone like that get on tv?

This thread could re-titled Orwell Scholar in Orwellian Nightmare. Just because falwell was a reverend respect for that lump of faeces is demanded from everyone, but we're very lucky to have someone as outspoken and articulate as Hitchens and I hope at least some people watch that and think actually he has a point.

227. The Paradoxical Hatred of Christopher Hitchens

Comment #43459 by BaronOchs on May 21, 2007 at 2:16 pm

V well I guess it's who I am and I have to accept that. . .the thing is I'm a chnaged man now, I've been on a diet and everything you know!

Best regards,
The Baron.

:-)

228. Freethinking Ruins All Things

Comment #43451 by BaronOchs on May 21, 2007 at 1:44 pm

Some interesting points there epeeist. Religious belief has been important to the work of a fair few composers. Interestingly Thomas Tallis composed some very grand polyphonic works, but when Cranmer said church music could have only one beat per syllable (or something like that) he also produced some equally beautiful works in a much simpler style. As for Messiaen he was totally individual in the way he bent all kinds of influences to his own ends. But Messiaen translated his religious spirituality into something entirely secular, music. So despite his being a very devout catholic I see him as a kind of seculariser.

Like you say inferring anything from the beliefs of various artists is certainly a misstep. Vaughan Williams was a militant atheist as a young man. His biographer Michael Kennedy in fact cites a letter from Bertrand Russell, who knew him at Cambridge, remembering him thus. Although he was an agnostic in later years. I would definitely say his work can convey all the depth of feeling often attributed to religion. Faure also was an agnostic, which is perhaps why he omitted the last judgement bits from his requiem.

Well apologies, that's a subject I enjoy pontificating on :-)

229. Scientists Draw Link Between Morality And Brain's Wiring

Comment #43349 by BaronOchs on May 21, 2007 at 6:44 am

Contact Us

RichardDawkins.net

The Official Richard Dawkins Website

Please DO NOT send any attachments to our email addresses, they will be deleted. Thank you.

General Email: contact@richarddawkins.net

Media Contact Email (This email is only for interviews, lectures or other media related requests): mediacontact@richarddawkins.net

Website Technical Issues (Josh):design@richarddawkins.net

Mailing Address:
RichardDawkins.net
P.O. Box 13604
Savannah, GA 31416
USA

elfinabout when you click on Contact Us at the top, it lists those three email addresses, but yeah it's not very explicit and other people have had the same problem.

230. Christopher Hitchens Is a Treasure

Comment #43341 by BaronOchs on May 21, 2007 at 6:29 am

Cheers Russell I'll take a look at that.

Hopefully it'll go better than my attempt to read Jacques Derrida :-)

231. Scientists Draw Link Between Morality And Brain's Wiring

Comment #43339 by BaronOchs on May 21, 2007 at 6:27 am

elfinabout you need to send the email to:

design@richarddawkins.net

232. Christopher Hitchens Is a Treasure

Comment #43310 by BaronOchs on May 21, 2007 at 5:07 am

18. Comment #43294 by Russell Blackford on May 21, 2007 at 4:30 am

As for Habermas, don't even start me. He's the ultimate traitor to the cause of reason.

Russell Blackford I don't know anything about him so I would be grateful if you'd explain a little. Not least since michael novak keeps going on about him.

233. Jerry Falwell's Hit Parade

Comment #43182 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 4:52 pm

Billy I'm watching that "God of the Bible is no Delusion" thread with interest. could it be that after 2600 years we'll finally know for sure if Ezekiel was a real prophet or not?! That's if you can all conclude lets say somewhere within the next 100 pages!?

234. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #43169 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 3:22 pm

peter633 that is ridiculous.

You cannot get an ought from an is, and the fact that life evolved through darwinian natural selection doesn't mean social darwinism either should be used, or that it would have any beneficial effect if it was.

Your example is ridiculous, you're saying this selected for people who are good at escaping gunmen. It doesn't follow they are necessarily better at other things and wouldn't it be better to just strive for a world without mad gunmen?

I assume you have an anti-atheism agenda but using this atrocity to further it is foul play.

235. Jerry Falwell's Hit Parade

Comment #43164 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 3:05 pm

I missed this gem from Billy earlier, "...surely you should just bow to my authority." Even if he's wrong or thinks he's God?

devolved you should change your name to defficient. BillySands wasn't suggesting we accept things on his authority but ridiculing your idea we'd accept creationism on the authority of a physics professor.

Okay somewhere you told us to read a book that argues for a young earth. Surely you understand why most of us wouldn't even bother opening such a book. The counter-examples to a young earth are everywhere. I can visit such a multitude of places that are obviously formed by glaciers for instance, the corries, the hanging valleys, the left over moraine, everythings shows this to be the case, but for them all to have formed this way requires longer than the timespan you allow.

If you want to be taken seriously could you at least post an argument of enough strength to make it even worth bothering to open a book arguing for a young earth?

236. Evolution Opponent Is in Line for Schools Post

Comment #43156 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 2:50 pm

Cool BAEOZ

uhh what species of what is that dude?

237. Evolution Opponent Is in Line for Schools Post

Comment #43090 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 1:54 pm

To upload an avatar:

1)Click on Forum
2)From the forum page log in.
3)Click Profile
4)Just scroll down to the bit where it says change display picture or whatever.

238. The Paradoxical Hatred of Christopher Hitchens

Comment #43089 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 1:51 pm

Logicel cheers. I agree with everything you said there.

239. The Paradoxical Hatred of Christopher Hitchens

Comment #43081 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 1:23 pm

Brian oh dear, I thought I was an enlightened pro-feminist kinda guy, until I looked myself up on wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_Ochs

240. The Paradoxical Hatred of Christopher Hitchens

Comment #43075 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 12:55 pm

Allright lads it seems a woman has found the thread and begun expressing her opinions.

I'd like to find whichever man helped her turn the computer on and give him a few sharp words.

241. Jerry Falwell's Hit Parade

Comment #43070 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 12:33 pm

The whole world's turning into bold type!!

. . .

is that better?

242. The Paradoxical Hatred of Christopher Hitchens

Comment #43069 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 12:29 pm

I agree, calling him a misogynist is excessive.

I think women should have a right to abortion, and that states don't have legitimate authority to ban it.

But I find it horrific though, I'd much rather it was avoided wherever possible.

243. The Paradoxical Hatred of Christopher Hitchens

Comment #43063 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 12:08 pm

Swaggering Hitch's misogyny is probably another thing many of the posters above share. You do know he doesn't believe in the right of a woman to control her own reproductive processes, right?

I didn't know that. what did he say?

244. Goodness without Godliness

Comment #43048 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 10:55 am

Cool, let me know how you get on.

245. Goodness without Godliness

Comment #43045 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 10:33 am

great teapot I totally agree. There are a lot of different types of Buddhism, and a lot of them believe all kinds of crazy crap. Which is sad because I suppose plenty of people attracted by the intelligent bits buy the bollocks as well.

The conclusion I came to when I studied it is that most of the ridiculous beliefs are not only irrelevant to, but actual detract from the real message of Buddhism.

246. Goodness without Godliness

Comment #43029 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 9:58 am

great teapot, buddhism is just a set of writings, practices, and traditions made up by a variety of human beings, some wise, some not so wise. Quite a lot of it is good stuff and I shall gladly apply the cherry-picker of reason and evidence to it.

If someone claims that a writing or tradition is divinely revealed, then they deny themselves the liberty to accept what is good and reject what is bad. I make no such claim for anything, so yes I do have that liberty.

247. Goodness without Godliness

Comment #43024 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 9:43 am

great teapot I agree that the buddhist belief in rebirth (not the same as re-incarnation) is not grounded in evidence. Actually I don't think it boils down to much anyway when you take it apart.

But that doctrine (and certain others) can be removed whilst leaving so much of Buddhism intact. If you have not, I suggest acquiring a critical familiarity with buddhism before attacking it.

248. Goodness without Godliness

Comment #43015 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 9:22 am

huh? Ryan if you want to go to mass just go, you don't need our permission.

249. Goodness without Godliness

Comment #42986 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 8:22 am

Glad that helped rokort. I don't wholeheartedly accept buddhist philosophy, but I am glad to have a little familiarity with it.

I don't know if you've read anything by Stephen Batchelor, who is basically a secular buddhist:

http://www.stephenbatchelor.org/

250. Goodness without Godliness

Comment #42967 by BaronOchs on May 20, 2007 at 6:50 am

rokort I agree Buddhism is very different from the theistic religions. But I think the presence of monasticism and hierarchy within many of its manifestations alone merit its being called a religion. At the extreme end who could not say Pure Land Buddhism is a religion? I would still say Soto Zen and similar branches are effectively religion also.

I'd say i agree with this article by Sam Harris on the subject:

http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2903&Itemid=244