The God Delusion

[signupjustforthis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR_z85O0P2M


Richard Dawkins is such a smart and well articulated atheist. I am impressed, and it really affirmed my belief that organized religions do not describe the true reality of existence.


Believing that God has created everything is a very complicated hypothesis that has not been proved by scientific evidence. There is no reason to believe that God exists, oh well, thats just me talking.

What makes someone a Christian?

I think if someone were born in the middle east, they would be a Muslim. In America, the same person would be a Christian.

Reminds me of some peoples FAITH in Global Warming.

No proof, just consensus


Great link!

[desu]

when you die you probably wake up in another universe and think wow that was a fucked up dream

when you die you probably wake up in another universe and think wow that was a fucked up dream


The world is a beautiful place brother. You have to believe it.

Get busy living or get busy dieing.

[zaxtrax]

Isn't there a politics/religion board for this discussion?

Isn't there a politics/religion board for this discussion?

That's what I've been saying.

Goodness, I dont know why the religiion of Global Warmness is allowed to preach to this board, especially to the atheists. Atheists don't want to hear about the liberal god.

[Coroner]

The world is everything but not a beautiful place to live. Those who have all opportunities partly think "the beauty of life" is a gift from God to them. Only the few enjoy and I wonder how many people can´t wait to die. But it mostly poor people who believe in God because there´s nothing else left for them. That´s all what the rich had given to them to live in illusions. Like J said, if God really created the world then he´s done a really bad job.

I wouldn´t steal somebody´s illusions but this is simply ridiculous for me. Religion is the oldest instrument of manipulation followed by states/nations/patriotism. Economical interests are behind it all and nothing changed with disbanding the kingdoms. In most states you got no more kings and lords but cancelors, prime ministers and ministers and it´s the same, only with differents terms. People ignore the scientific facts that beat the stupidity started with the Thora followed by the Bible and the Coran. It´s always that poor people who pay such a high price in the name of their faith and patriotism. Bush declares a war against Iraq because he wants "to bring democracy" into this state although it´s obvious what he really wants and Americans really believe this is true. They really believe America´s is in danger of terrorists, they really believe they´re fighting for America and "freedom" by becoming terrorists and stealing freedom and material goods. Bush and his monopoly-pals earn billions of dollars thanks to your corpses.

Religion is a bank.

[chefmike]

If there were a God, Allah, or <insert superstition of choice here>, do you think that it would forgive those who still do terrible things in it's name to this very day?

[Vicki Richter]

I believe in a very complicated God... In other words, God would know that He couldn't simply appear to every nationality the same way. Overall, most of the religions have similar guiding principles. However, there are extremist interpretations of every religion. Those are the people who go over the top.

Anyway, I think my Christian God, Allah, Budda, etc are all one in the same. It obviously doesn't make sense that God would condemn someone growing up in a repressed area of inner China because they weren't even exposed to Christian beliefs and furthermore wouldn't necessarily be able to understand or relate to the teachings. He would need to appear to each nationality in a manner more acceptable to their culture.

God isn't something people can feel or touch, but He is presence that I have felt with me my entire life. I realized the other day why I don't get terminally lonely even being alone a lot... I really don't feel that I am alone. People can knock religion all they want, but you can't put a price on feeling this way.

Am I a good Christian? Not always. I try to be, but I can be brought over the edge as much as the next person.

Life to me is almost surreal. The world we live in and our universe is just too perfect in some ways. I don't mean perfect in terms of no violence or death or bad things happening. I mean perfect in terms of science and senses. I don't really believe intelligent, sensient life could be a mistake. Do I think it happened like Adam and Eve? Not really. But God couldn't really sit down with early man and explain life to them in scientific terms either. I think science and God can mix really well if people are open minded.

[Coroner]

He would need to appear to each nationality in a manner more acceptable to their culture

That´s going to another level. Everybody believes his traditional culture is given by God and that this is the only true way that must expand. Everyone thinks he´s the chosen one and he needs faith to feel like something special in this world. Do you believe God appeared like a Spanish when South America was discovered by them? The Spanish and Portuguese have destroyed the complete culture and identity of the native population. Or, all muslims pray in Arabic but not all muslims are Arabs. Muslim Slavs in Bosnia and Herzegovina were once Christians who converted to Islam in the 15th and 16th century. They are Europeans, Slavs and white but those who believe and pray, they pray in Arabic although they don´t understand what all their prayers mean.

[dreamer]

we MAY have a creator ---something started something ---and damnit ---something started the something that started the something ----and on and on ----like a mirror facing a mirror -----

it's easy for people to claim that religion answers questions ---it the easy way out ----I dunno


but the truth is ---we do not "KNOW" anything


"if you use faith --you'll be a Christian

if you use logic --

you'll be Agnostic"

[Mugai_hentaisha]

I believe in a very complicated God... In other words, God would know that He couldn't simply appear to every nationality the same way. Overall, most of the religions have similar guiding principles. However, there are extremist interpretations of every religion. Those are the people who go over the top.

Anyway, I think my Christian God, Allah, Budda, etc are all one in the same. It obviously doesn't make sense that God would condemn someone growing up in a repressed area of inner China because they weren't even exposed to Christian beliefs and furthermore wouldn't necessarily be able to understand or relate to the teachings. He would need to appear to each nationality in a manner more acceptable to their culture.

God isn't something people can feel or touch, but He is presence that I have felt with me my entire life. I realized the other day why I don't get terminally lonely even being alone a lot... I really don't feel that I am alone. People can knock religion all they want, but you can't put a price on feeling this way.

Am I a good Christian? Not always. I try to be, but I can be brought over the edge as much as the next person.

Life to me is almost surreal. The world we live in and our universe is just too perfect in some ways. I don't mean perfect in terms of no violence or death or bad things happening. I mean perfect in terms of science and senses. I don't really believe intelligent, sensient life could be a mistake. Do I think it happened like Adam and Eve? Not really. But God couldn't really sit down with early man and explain life to them in scientific terms either. I think science and God can mix really well if people are open minded.

Starting to sound like me Vicki and I ended up being a Deist.

[eggbert]

For those who haven't seen it, George Carlin does a bit on religion that is incredible. Here's the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uBAPbOWLxc

Carlin's a lush. Another angry old man popping pills, and drinking "too much wine", then, checking himself into rehab because his self-hatred is turning his world into a living hell.

Wait, that reminds me of sheepmike.

[chefmike]

Carlin's a lush. Another angry old man popping pills, and drinking "too much wine", then, checking himself into rehab because his self-hatred is turning his world into a living hell.

Wait, that reminds me of sheepmike.

I was thinking Rush Limbaugh.

:lol:

8)

:P

I was thinking, "angry old man"? Yep, "Sheepmike".

[trish]

but the truth is ---we do not "KNOW" anything

you don't KNOW that :)

just a friendly joke, dreamer...but the self-reference did always bother me. i think to be consistent socrates should've said, "Except for this one assertion, I know nothing."

knowing with complete certitude is something that only spiritualists achieve. but often what thay know with certitude is almost certainly false.

the truth is there's a lot knowledge (with small letters) about which there is no reasonable doubt... things like:

i put gas in my car yesterday, no it was the day before...yeah that's right.

or like
yes...i put on my mormon underwear this morning, i know that cause i feel it bunching up my crotch like it always does.

or like
i must've gotten that chocolate moose on my nose, 'cause why is everyone at the table staring at it.

now i know some will complain that there's no knowledge if there's no ABSOLUTE proof terminating with CERTITUDE. As TFan complains above

No proof, just consensus
Of course he also encourages

You have to believe it.

[BigTime]

For those who haven't seen it, George Carlin does a bit on religion that is incredible. Here's the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uBAPbOWLxc

That was funny...

[North_of_60]

Sarah Silverman in carnal relation with Almighty...

Way to go, Sarah ! :lol:

God: I had a really good time last night. A really, really good time.
Silverman: Thaaaanks (in a disdainful tone). Me too.
God: Come to heaven with me today.
Silverman: Today.
God: You'll see the past and the future. You can fly, and I will introduce you to Thomas Jefferson.
Silverman: Oh, awesome. I told my friend, Natalie, I'd help her move, though.
God: I can stop time!
Silverman: That is so sweet. Oh, your pants are over there. I mean, not like I'm asking you to leave. I just mean, like if you can't see it from this angle of still being in my bed.
God: Right, I should go.
Silverman: OK, um, all right, so, I guess I'll see you around some time.
God: Do you mean it?! Or are you just saying that?
Silverman: I don't just say things. I'm a lot of things. I'm not dishonest.
God: Can I get your cell number?
Silverman: I don't have a cell phone.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/staticarticles/article54607.html
http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_sarah_silverman_program/index.jhtml

:lol:

[olite71]

There certainly is a god...I had a pina colada with him at trader vics...and "his hair was perfect."

God told me a beautiful thing that night. He said:

"Animals make love--people fuck."

[fueljunky0]

Theres more than one god. I choose to worship Zeus cause hes the boss but I offer Poseidon and Aries tributes to keep me safe on my journeys

[trish]

Good choice; solid western gods through and through. The only surviving western values began in Athens, the birthplace of Democracy, Rationality and Individualism. Western values have always been at war with the finite minded desert god of the Middle East. The corruption of the European culture began before they were ever introduced to western values. European values were corrupted when the celebration of winter solstice was displaced by Christmas, and when Easter was substituted by priests and missionaries for the celebration of spring equinox. Ironically, while the dark religions of the desert god spread over Europe, the light of classical Greek western values blazed in Persia. During this all too brief period the Middle East invented algebra and advanced the understanding of astronomy and other sciences. But alas, the dark religions of the desert have reasserted their power over the Middle East. We would do well to fight them here, before we too are overwhelmed. Fight Christianity here, and not civil war over there.

[North_of_60]

These statements are from the evangelical atheist blog.

http://evangelicalatheist.com/
Helping mankind overcome religion

You will find lots of interresting ressources for the non believer : sites, blogs, etc...

Statement of (dis)Beliefs
The following 10 statements are central to my view of the world. All posts to this blog are predicated upon the following:
1. There are no gods, demigods, angels, devils, fairies, ghosts, gnomes, imps, elves, demons, sprites, goblins, leprechauns, trolls, incubi, succubi, genies, mermaids, banshees or the like.
2. The concept of “supernatural” is absurd and meaningless. Anything that exists is completely and totally natural.
3. There is nothing that cannot be fully understood given enough study, sufficient brainpower and a firm grasp of logic.
4. Omnipotence is impossible. Don’t make me get into the heavy rock paradox. It’s old and tired.
5. If you say something exists, and I say it doesn’t, the burden of proof is on you. For you to prove that it does exist, you just have to demonstrate it to me. For me to prove that it doesn’t exist, I have to demonstrate to you every single thing that exists, and then you’ll just say that it’s invisible or that I must have missed it.
6. When there is sufficient evidence for something, I believe it. When there isn’t, I don’t. I’m funny that way.
7. Just because you call something proof, doesn’t mean it’s proof. Proof is at my discretion. My criteria rely heavily on the scientific method and my senses. That’s all I have. My heart does nothing but move blood around my body.
8. Religion, while not always destructive, has a long history of starting wars, inciting persecution and hindering the pursuit of truth and knowledge. Even a seemingly harmless faith will, given enough time, mutate into something obstructionist, dangerous or both.
9. While religion played an instrumental role in helping civilization past its infancy, it has done more harm than good for the last several thousand years. It is in the best interest of mankind that religion be completely eliminated.
10. The two most dangerous religious movements in the world today are Muslim Fundamentalism and Christian Reconstructionism. The destruction of these philosophies is the highest priority.

[guyone]

I feel sorry for you.

[trish]

It makes sense that you should, neo. Cowards take refuge from their insecurities by clinging to beliefs that allow them feelings of superiority. Have you enlisted yet, you chickenhawk?

[guyone]

I feel sorry for you too.

[trish]

as i said.

[North_of_60]

I feel sorry for you.

And I feel sorry for those who rely upon faith to get by ; living a lie.
Get out of the cave, these are only flickering shadows you are looking at.

[guyone]

Me? I couldn't care less about religion. I just think people have the right to think or believe anything they want...even to embrace bolshevism.

[trish]

I just think people have the right to think or believe anything they want...even to embrace bolshevism.




i agree wholeheartedly. so let's stop the indoctrination of children into religion before they're mature enough to judge for themselves. let's stop teaching them prayers and pledges of allegience before they even know what an allegience is.

[qeuqheeg222]

i miss zeus.glad he got brought up in this thread.did you read about a month ago some greeks at the acropolis wanted to hold a ceremony for zeus!the first in like 2000 yrs...

[TJT]

Zeus wasn't bad,but Baal rocked.