Religion is like communism: Wherever true believers get control, repression and stagnation result.

God's Judeo-Christian moralities have failed us. So have those of other religions. We deserve something better. It should be based on the needs of this life, not some imagined one hereafter. Good can only come from the truth.

The facts are that the scientific evidence in support of evolutionary theory is overwhelming and each year grows in strength by research conducted and published by the world's scientists. U.S. National Medal of Science recipient Theodosis Dobzhansky stated, "nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." I could not agree more.

Evolution, like any field of science, is purposely limited to seeking natural explanations for observable phenomena. Evolution does not question or explain theological beliefs, nor does it explain our aesthetic or spiritual experiences. These all fall outside the realm of science.

---

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Sorry... the effects of "Religion" are all around us.  It is as much a part of public life as it is of private.

As for God...  I wouldn't try second guessing Him or His motives.

Epicurus seems to have missed the purpose of life.

ooh how edgy - an anti-religion thread.

vikaryan wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 2:12pm:

Religion is like communism: Wherever true believers get control, repression and stagnation result.

>:(

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Creationists resist evolution because they believe that everyone will lose their morals if evolution is generally accepted. They reject evolution because they have been indoctrinated into believing that morals and ethics have a divine origin. 

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For those of you who do not believe in evolution, I dare you to accept this challenge. Next time you take your kid to the doctor for an infection, accept nothing but good old-fashioned penicillin. That should work just fine because bacteria, like all creatures, exist today just as God created them thousands of years ago. Because there is no such thing as evolution, what killed bacteria in 1950 should still be able to kill them today, right?

Go ahead — take a chance.

It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others.

Linking communism with religion


Oh My God !

Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 2:25pm:

It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others.

How exactly does one "push it onto others?"

If you don't want to believe, no amount of persuading can make you.

Accommodationism is intellectually untenable. To say that it is possible to be both a theist and a scientist is simply a disingenuous way of saying that human beings are capable of maintaining cognitive dissonance, i.e. simultaneously holding two or more mutually contradictory sets of beliefs.

---

vikaryan wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 2:23pm:

For those of you who do not believe in evolution, I dare you to accept this challenge. Next time you take your kid to the doctor for an infection, accept nothing but good old-fashioned penicillin. That should work just fine because bacteria, like all creatures, exist today just as God created them thousands of years ago. Because there is no such thing as evolution, what killed bacteria in 1950 should still be able to kill them today, right? Go ahead — take a chance.

How you going with that missing link?
How you going with the new discoveries re hominids; The Hobbitt, The Red Deer cave people etc?
What makes you think, Evolution the theory, as so far applied to Man by some, is 100% correct? 
What makes you think it contradicts the Bible?
Have you ever watched "Inherit the Wind"?
What do you know about the Scopes "Monkey" Trial?
What do you make of the quote:"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." and "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."?  Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...
What don't you understand about most Christians not seeing Genesis as literal?
What do you actually know about "religion" and "scripture"?
It would seem not too much.  But then, most critics don't.

Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 2:25pm:

It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others.

Just like Atheism...

vikaryan wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 2:36pm:

Accommodationism is intellectually untenable. To say that it is possible to be both a theist and a scientist is simply a disingenuous way of saying that human beings are capable of maintaining cognitive dissonance, i.e. simultaneously holding two or more mutually contradictory sets of beliefs.

Yet many great Scientists were men of Religion or Belief...
who saw no contradictions...

Interesting...the ones defending god in public life are the same ones who deny global warming, reject evolution, and believe Abbotts lies...see the pattern there?   ;)


http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff467/Carshotts/140127014746011.jpg

austranger wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 3:33pm:

Interesting...the ones defending god in public life are the same ones who deny global warming, reject evolution, and believe Abbotts lies...see the pattern there?   ;) http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff467/Carshotts/140127014746011.jpg

Really....  how simplistic and how wrong of you.  Keep cherry picking though, with your myopia as well, you are on a real winner there.  Great argument.  :D
Perhaps you should read what people say before creating your own strawmen there eh?

austranger wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 3:33pm:

Interesting...the ones defending god in public life are the same ones who deny global warming, reject evolution, and believe Abbotts lies...see the pattern there?   ;) http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff467/Carshotts/140127014746011.jpg

Well considering I'm one of 2 people who could conceivably be thought to be "defending god in public life" yet none of your other conditions apply to me, I'd say your theory needs more work.

Grendel wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 2:54pm:

Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:25pm: It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others. Just like Atheism...

Well atheism isn't a belief system. It's a lack of a belief in a god/s. A (without), theism (belief in the existence of a god or gods).

Now there are some movements like new atheism, and some groups of anti-theists that have specific values of course, some of them like the anti-theist do advocate getting rid of religion altogether.   

The poll looks like one devised by Armpit    -   to get the answers he wants.   I wont respond unless there is some reference to: Agnostic, Couldn't give a poo!

Kytro wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 3:54pm:

Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:54pm: Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:25pm: It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others. Just like Atheism... Well atheism isn't a belief system. It's a lack of a belief in a god/s. A (without), theism (belief in the existence of a god or gods). Now there are some movements like new atheism, and some groups of anti-theists that have specific values of course, some of them like the anti-theist do advocate getting rid of religion altogether.

Doesn't stop them from shoving Atheism down the throats of others though does it...

Grendel wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 7:51pm:

Kytro wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 3:54pm: Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:54pm: Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:25pm: It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others. Just like Atheism... Well atheism isn't a belief system. It's a lack of a belief in a god/s. A (without), theism (belief in the existence of a god or gods). Now there are some movements like new atheism, and some groups of anti-theists that have specific values of course, some of them like the anti-theist do advocate getting rid of religion altogether.    Doesn't stop them from shoving Atheism down the throats of others though does it...

Really? Who is them? I have never seen a government trying to shove atheism down the kiddies throats but I have seen them try to shove bible bashing down the kiddies gobs, not to mention the kiddy fiddlers that represent the church. ::)

skippy. wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 8:01pm:

Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 7:51pm: Kytro wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 3:54pm: Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:54pm: Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:25pm: It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others. Just like Atheism... Well atheism isn't a belief system. It's a lack of a belief in a god/s. A (without), theism (belief in the existence of a god or gods). Now there are some movements like new atheism, and some groups of anti-theists that have specific values of course, some of them like the anti-theist do advocate getting rid of religion altogether.    Doesn't stop them from shoving Atheism down the throats of others though does it... Really? Who is them? I have never seen a government trying to shove atheism down the kiddies throats but I have seen them try to shove bible bashing down the kiddies gobs, not to mention the kiddy fiddlers that represent the church. ::)

Atheists Skippy I was talking about Atheists...  lots of them like shoving it down peoples throats just like the God botherers do.

Thats a conspiracy drawn by God botherers

... wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 2:30pm:

Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:25pm: It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others. How exactly does one "push it onto others?" If you don't want to believe, no amount of persuading can make you.

one exam,ple would be by forcing schools to use chaplains rather than councilors

Grendel wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 2:53pm:

What makes you think it contradicts the Bible?

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

it does nothing but !

I notice there is no section for agnostics. We agnostics are a persecuted minority, what with our self confessed lack of explanation for how or why we are here. Because we have the wisdom to know that we don't have the answers for our existence we are cast out as irrelevant by the rest of society.

I demand the state allow us the right to practice our lack of beliefs in a public setting and I demand the state allow us the right to raise funds that will allow us to spread the word of apathy to all the believers.

Join us in not giving a damn about we why are here or where we go when we die.

fractalign wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 10:57pm:

I notice there is no section for agnostics. We agnostics are a persecuted minority, what with our self confessed lack of explanation for how or why we are here. Because we have the wisdom to know that we don't have the answers for our existence we are cast out as irrelevant by the rest of society. I demand the state allow us the right to practice our lack of beliefs in a public setting and I demand the state allow us the right to raise funds that will allow us to spread the word of apathy to all the believers. Join us in not giving a damn about we why are here or where we go when we die.

I demand the same tax perks as given to other religious organisations  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)

Kytro wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 3:54pm:

Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:54pm: Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:25pm: It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others. Just like Atheism... Well atheism isn't a belief system. It's a lack of a belief in a god/s. A (without), theism (belief in the existence of a god or gods). Now there are some movements like new atheism, and some groups of anti-theists that have specific values of course, some of them like the anti-theist do advocate getting rid of religion altogether.

The true non believers are actually Agnostics. Even most atheists have a theory as to how life came about.
Agnostics neither know nor care and by doing so reject all theories of life.

fractalign wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 11:03pm:

Kytro wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 3:54pm: Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:54pm: Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:25pm: It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others. Just like Atheism... Well atheism isn't a belief system. It's a lack of a belief in a god/s. A (without), theism (belief in the existence of a god or gods). Now there are some movements like new atheism, and some groups of anti-theists that have specific values of course, some of them like the anti-theist do advocate getting rid of religion altogether.    The true non believers are actually Agnostics. Even most atheists have a theory as to how life came about. Agnostics neither know nor care and by doing so reject all theories of life.

I suggest you reread the definitions, because thats not what agnostics believe.

Grendel wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 8:53pm:

skippy. wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 8:01pm: Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 7:51pm: Kytro wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 3:54pm: Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:54pm: Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:25pm: It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others. Just like Atheism... Well atheism isn't a belief system. It's a lack of a belief in a god/s. A (without), theism (belief in the existence of a god or gods). Now there are some movements like new atheism, and some groups of anti-theists that have specific values of course, some of them like the anti-theist do advocate getting rid of religion altogether.    Doesn't stop them from shoving Atheism down the throats of others though does it... Really? Who is them? I have never seen a government trying to shove atheism down the kiddies throats but I have seen them try to shove bible bashing down the kiddies gobs, not to mention the kiddy fiddlers that represent the church. ::) Atheists Skippy I was talking about Atheists...  lots of them like shoving it down peoples throats just like the God botherers do.

They come knocking on your door on Sunday mornings, do they?


http://tysonadams.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/atheist-evanglizing-door-knocking.jpg

John Smith wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 9:49pm:

... wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:30pm: Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:25pm: It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others. How exactly does one "push it onto others?" If you don't want to believe, no amount of persuading can make you. one exam,ple would be by forcing schools to use chaplains rather than councilors

It's a very poor example.

How does a chaplain force someone to believe?

fractalign wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 11:03pm:

The true non believers are actually Agnostics. Even most atheists have a theory as to how life came about. Agnostics neither know nor care and by doing so reject all theories of life.

Science has theories of how life came about, and some atheists subscribe to them.

Like I said, lack of belief = atheism.

Agnostics hold that knowledge of a god/s is unknown or unknowable (including that of existence).

Most atheists are agnostic.

... wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 9:42am:

It's a very poor example. How does a chaplain force someone to believe?

They don't, but they do have a vested interest in pushing the religious line much more.

Kytro wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 9:45am:

... wrote on Jun 26th, 2014 at 9:42am: It's a very poor example. How does a chaplain force someone to believe? They don't, but they do have a vested interest in pushing the religious line much more.

Yeah, but who doesn't have a vested interest in something?  I'd rather it be some religion than something destructive like heroin or feminism.

... wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 9:47am:

Kytro wrote on Jun 26th, 2014 at 9:45am: ... wrote on Jun 26th, 2014 at 9:42am: It's a very poor example. How does a chaplain force someone to believe? They don't, but they do have a vested interest in pushing the religious line much more. Yeah, but who doesn't have a vested interest in something?  I'd rather it be some religion than something destructive like heroin or feminism.

Well not everyone is happy with pushing religion in public schools, it's not as though it is a choice between religion and feminism. There are entire institution, and entire schools that cater to religious instruction.

Kytro wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 9:56am:

... wrote on Jun 26th, 2014 at 9:47am: Kytro wrote on Jun 26th, 2014 at 9:45am: ... wrote on Jun 26th, 2014 at 9:42am: It's a very poor example. How does a chaplain force someone to believe? They don't, but they do have a vested interest in pushing the religious line much more. Yeah, but who doesn't have a vested interest in something?  I'd rather it be some religion than something destructive like heroin or feminism. Well not everyone is happy with pushing religion in public schools, it's not as though it is a choice between religion and feminism. There are entire institution, and entire schools that cater to religious instruction.

Oh I know plenty aren't happy about it, but what are they afraid of?  That it might actually strike a chord with their kids? 

It would pretty much be a choice between religion and feminism - think about who does these social work degrees.  Mostly (ugly) women and a handful of effeminate, wimpy blokes - feminisms target audience. 

I'd be pretty secure that the many years I've spent with my kids wouldn't be undone by an hour or 2 with a chaplain, but then, I'm not a paranoid fanatic.  However, an hour or 2 with a counsellor on top of the constant media assault pushing all the "isms" might indoctrinate them a bit more effectively. 

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 9:27pm:

Thats a conspiracy drawn by God botherers

No...  it's called reality....  I've experienced it many time particularly on the NET.  They can't help themselves.

John Smith wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 9:51pm:

Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:53pm: What makes you think it contradicts the Bible? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D it does nothing but !

Really?
Show once again dear troll how illiterate and ignorant you are.
I know many religious people who think it does nothing of the sort.
I happen to agree with them, but then they and I am not fundamentalists.
You fit into the fundamentalist mold.  :D :D :D

Grendel wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 10:06am:

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 9:27pm: Thats a conspiracy drawn by God botherers No...  it's called reality....  I've experienced it many time particularly on the NET.  They can't help themselves.

Yes the God botherers really cant

... wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 10:02am:

Mostly (ugly) women and a handful of effeminate, wimpy blokes - feminisms target audience.

Social work is a brutal profession.  I'm guessing you haven't many people who work in the industry. 

is it ok for a religion to publically behead people ?

... wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 10:02am:

Oh I know plenty aren't happy about it, but what are they afraid of?  That it might actually strike a chord with their kids?  It would pretty much be a choice between religion and feminism - think about who does these social work degrees.  Mostly (ugly) women and a handful of effeminate, wimpy blokes - feminisms target audience.  I'd be pretty secure that the many years I've spent with my kids wouldn't be undone by an hour or 2 with a chaplain, but then, I'm not a paranoid fanatic.  However, an hour or 2 with a counsellor on top of the constant media assault pushing all the "isms" might indoctrinate them a bit more effectively.

I can think of a range of reasons why people wouldn't want their children taught religion.

* They follow a different religion
* They disagree with the specific brand of religion
* They believe religion is personal
* They disagree with religion and don't want the school saying it is true
* Don't want to fund religion

Some people probably are afraid it will influence their children before they can really understand it.

If you are going to make a claim like that, please have some evidence. There are a range of people who go into counselling, many religious themselves.

I happen to agree that chaplains are unlikely to have any long term impact on religious belief. I grew up in a religious family, went to a religious school and out of the 4 of us children, only 1 still follows the religion.

However, I have no desire whatsoever to fund religious teachings (other than academic study), and I don't think it is reasonable to ask others to do so simply because you happen to like that religion.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 10:23am:

is it ok for a religion to publically behead people ?

I'm going to go with no.

Stratos wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 10:15am:

... wrote on Jun 26th, 2014 at 10:02am: Mostly (ugly) women and a handful of effeminate, wimpy blokes - feminisms target audience.  Social work is a brutal profession.  I'm guessing you haven't many people who work in the industry.

I've met a heap of front bottoms who were doing social work degrees.  Whether they ended up working in the field I don't know - they may still be making coffee for a living.

Grendel wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 7:51pm:

Kytro wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 3:54pm: Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:54pm: Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:25pm: It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others. Just like Atheism... Well atheism isn't a belief system. It's a lack of a belief in a god/s. A (without), theism (belief in the existence of a god or gods). Now there are some movements like new atheism, and some groups of anti-theists that have specific values of course, some of them like the anti-theist do advocate getting rid of religion altogether.    Doesn't stop them from shoving Atheism down the throats of others though does it...

Religious proselytising is what makes people compare religious beliefs with having a penis.
The following quote illustrates the point.
"People do not mind you having one, they do not even mind if you are proud of it.
They may object if you show it off in public, and they will certainly never tolerate you trying to shove it down kids throats."

All very interesting?

However, it seems to fail the criteria, for the Politicians Suck section, which are -
Australian politicians, parties, elections and party policies.

It would seem more like a candidate for a few other sections, perhaps the General Board or Thinking Globally?

This Topic was moved here from Politicians Suck by perceptions_now.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 10:23am:

is it ok for a religion to publically behead people ?

I find it about the same moral level as lethal injections

Race, gender, age, religion, political affiliation etc identify us as individuals both privately and publicly.

Perhaps we ought to simply embrace our differences. After all, our differences is what makes us the same.

Lisa Jones wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 5:21pm:

Race, gender, age, religion, political affiliation etc identify us as individuals both privately and publicly. Perhaps we ought to simply embrace our differences. After all, our differences is what makes us the same.

Technically it's the consistency of the differences that make us the same.

... wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 9:42am:

John Smith wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 9:49pm: ... wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:30pm: Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:25pm: It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others. How exactly does one "push it onto others?" If you don't want to believe, no amount of persuading can make you. one exam,ple would be by forcing schools to use chaplains rather than councilors It's a very poor example. How does a chaplain force someone to believe?

it's called brainwashing ;)

Grendel wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 10:08am:

John Smith wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 9:51pm: Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:53pm: What makes you think it contradicts the Bible? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D it does nothing but ! Really? Show once again dear troll how illiterate and ignorant you are. I know many religious people who think it does nothing of the sort. I happen to agree with them, but then they and I am not fundamentalists. You fit into the fundamentalist mold.  :D :D :D

fundamentalist mould?  ;D ;D ;D ;D nice try Gretel

About how long ago would you say god created Adam & Eve, Grendel? According to the bible the most it can be is about 5000 yrs ago ... and yet we have fossils dating back much further than that ... if you don't think thats a contradiction I don't know what is

The bible is a nonsense. Most of the OT was written as a propaganda tract when the Assyrians were besieging Jerusalem having conquered the rest of Israel. The OT was written 2 generations after the events it supposedly chronicles.

And is self contradictory. And full of hate.

Tony wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 10:49pm:

The bible is a nonsense. Most of the OT was written as a propaganda tract when the Assyrians were besieging Jerusalem having conquered the rest of Israel. The OT was written 2 generations after the events it supposedly chronicles. And is self contradictory. And full of hate.

The bibles propaganda and there is plenty of it, as it exists today is just the proganda selected and edited in the 1600s.

I cannot think of any great religious works that are not full of hate, they are written by humans who projected or perceived a humanity in the gods and considered themselves conceived from, so it is only natural that gods as well were jealous and fought for supremacy. 

damn technology!  :-[Abba Father, Where Art Thou?

---

togetherinembers (on Tumblr):

Atheism and Ignorance

A lot of people look at me funny when I say that I’m atheist, I think in part because they assume I’m just trying to be difficult and offend them, but also because they assume I’m just ignorant to religion.

I was brought up in a semi-catholic household, with a sceptical agnostic father and a catholic mother who came from a decently religious family. I attended church on Sundays with my siblings, mother and grandparents and both my primary and secondary educations were achieved in Private Catholic Schools. I studied texts and traditions in my later years of High School, where I learned how to analyse the bible and see its intended messages, good and bad. I went on to study Philosophy in University, where I focused on religious issues. In the past few years, I have experimented with religions in varying degrees, including practicing various branches of Wicca and Paganism along with Buddhism, as well as researching Lutherism, Anglican and Orthodox religions. 

I have always been a creative, literary person. I have never been drawn to the sciences or to logic, it bored me and I didn’t want to believe that there was nothing more. I have experienced many tremendous things in my life including second chances at life and apparently spiritual hallucinations. I have had semi-accurate tarot readings and experienced some interesting things in my own mind. I have never had any clear explanation for these experiences, so I always referred to myself as Agnostic.

After dedicating a lot of my time to research on religions as a whole, including Richard Dawkin’s The God Delusion, I have come to terms with the fact that I am now, and always have been, an Atheist. I do not believe in divine creation, eternal happiness after death or any higher power. I stand by scientific discoveries and evolution. I do not look up and speak words to the sky and pray, I look down and read words from scholars and scientists, inventors and leaders. I will not kill fellow man in the name of God, I will not kill fellow man in the name of faith. Religion gives people purpose in their lives, but it has poisoned the water in every place in this world it has spread.

My point is, please don’t assume my lack of faith to be a show ignorance, and I will not assume your show of faith is a lack of intelligence.

ANTI-THEISM

Because just being an Atheist is not enough!

---

“[…] You probably think the Inquisition was a perversion of the ‘true’ spirit of Christianity. Perhaps it was. The problem, however, is that the teachings of the Bible are so muddled and self-contradictory that it was possible for Christians to happily burn heretics alive for five long centuries. It was even possible for the most venerated patriarchs of the Church, like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, to conclude that heretics should be tortured (Augustine) or killed (Aquinas). Martin Luther and John Calvin advocated the wholesale murder of heretics, apostates, Jews, and witches. You are, of course, free to interpret the Bible differently—though isn’t it amazing that you have succeeded in discerning the true teachings of Christianity, while the most influential thinkers in the history of your faith failed?”

—  Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation (2006)

Tony wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 10:49pm:

The bible is a nonsense. Most of the OT was written as a propaganda tract when the Assyrians were besieging Jerusalem having conquered the rest of Israel. The OT was written 2 generations after the events it supposedly chronicles. And is self contradictory. And full of hate.

Why is it self contradictory?

adults shouldn't have IMAGINARY FRIENDS

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Tony wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 10:49pm:

The bible is a nonsense. Most of the OT was written as a propaganda tract when the Assyrians were besieging Jerusalem having conquered the rest of Israel. The OT was written 2 generations after the events it supposedly chronicles. And is self contradictory. And full of hate.

Maybe so, but I can guarantee that some of your most deepest held beliefs are equally nonsensical. 

greggerypeccary wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 9:32am:

Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 8:53pm: skippy. wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 8:01pm: Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 7:51pm: Kytro wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 3:54pm: Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:54pm: Grappler Racist Filth wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:25pm: It's a matter of personal choice, but it should be kept totally as a personal thing and not pushed on others. Just like Atheism... Well atheism isn't a belief system. It's a lack of a belief in a god/s. A (without), theism (belief in the existence of a god or gods). Now there are some movements like new atheism, and some groups of anti-theists that have specific values of course, some of them like the anti-theist do advocate getting rid of religion altogether.    Doesn't stop them from shoving Atheism down the throats of others though does it... Really? Who is them? I have never seen a government trying to shove atheism down the kiddies throats but I have seen them try to shove bible bashing down the kiddies gobs, not to mention the kiddy fiddlers that represent the church. ::) Atheists Skippy I was talking about Atheists...  lots of them like shoving it down peoples throats just like the God botherers do. They come knocking on your door on Sunday mornings, do they? http://tysonadams.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/atheist-evanglizing-door-knocking.jpg

To be a truly successful pedant you need a good memory some knowledge and be able to read.  You keep failing...  or You don't know what a God Botherer is. :D :D :D

John Smith wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 8:53pm:

Grendel wrote on Jun 26th, 2014 at 10:08am: John Smith wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 9:51pm: Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:53pm: What makes you think it contradicts the Bible? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D it does nothing but ! Really? Show once again dear troll how illiterate and ignorant you are. I know many religious people who think it does nothing of the sort. I happen to agree with them, but then they and I am not fundamentalists. You fit into the fundamentalist mold.  :D :D :D fundamentalist mould?  ;D ;D ;D ;D nice try Gretel About how long ago would you say god created Adam & Eve, Grendel? According to the bible the most it can be is about 5000 yrs ago ... and yet we have fossils dating back much further than that ... if you don't think thats a contradiction I don't know what is

Like I said you have the true Fundie mentality.

Tony wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 10:49pm:

The bible is a nonsense. Most of the OT was written as a propaganda tract when the Assyrians were besieging Jerusalem having conquered the rest of Israel. The OT was written 2 generations after the events it supposedly chronicles. And is self contradictory. And full of hate.

Yes, do unto others as you would have them do unto you and turn the other cheek, etc...  are truly hateful teachings, Tanya.
Back to scripture classes for you  :D :D :D

vikaryan wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 8:18am:

“[…] You probably think the Inquisition was a perversion of the ‘true’ spirit of Christianity. Perhaps it was. The problem, however, is that the teachings of the Bible are so muddled and self-contradictory that it was possible for Christians to happily burn heretics alive for five long centuries. It was even possible for the most venerated patriarchs of the Church, like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, to conclude that heretics should be tortured (Augustine) or killed (Aquinas). Martin Luther and John Calvin advocated the wholesale murder of heretics, apostates, Jews, and witches. You are, of course, free to interpret the Bible differently—though isn’t it amazing that you have succeeded in discerning the true teachings of Christianity, while the most influential thinkers in the history of your faith failed?” —  Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation (2006)

Honestly....  PERHAPS IT WAS???????
I wouldn't bother putting this guy or his thoughts forth if he's not sure about something that is patently true.

vikaryan wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 8:49am:

adults shouldn't have IMAGINARY FRIENDS

I imagine IMAGINARY will take some proving.
A typical atheist saying BTW.
Christians often say they don't know and the real test of Christianity is FAITH.

Grendel wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 10:29am:

vikaryan wrote on Jun 27th, 2014 at 8:49am: adults shouldn't have IMAGINARY FRIENDS I imagine IMAGINARY will take some proving. A typical atheist saying BTW. Christians often say they don't know and the real test of Christianity is FAITH.

rubbish... Christians say they know BECAUSE of their faith ... not the other way around .,.. I've never heard any religious person say they don't know that a god really exists ..

where do you come up with this crap Grendel? Seriously?

Grendel wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 10:21am:

John Smith wrote on Jun 26th, 2014 at 8:53pm: Grendel wrote on Jun 26th, 2014 at 10:08am: John Smith wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 9:51pm: Grendel wrote on Jun 25th, 2014 at 2:53pm: What makes you think it contradicts the Bible? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D it does nothing but ! Really? Show once again dear troll how illiterate and ignorant you are. I know many religious people who think it does nothing of the sort. I happen to agree with them, but then they and I am not fundamentalists. You fit into the fundamentalist mold.  :D :D :D fundamentalist mould?  ;D ;D ;D ;D nice try Gretel About how long ago would you say god created Adam & Eve, Grendel? According to the bible the most it can be is about 5000 yrs ago ... and yet we have fossils dating back much further than that ... if you don't think thats a contradiction I don't know what is Like I said you have the true Fundie mentality.

are you still pretending the bible and science aren't contradictory Grendel?

... wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 9:42am:

Maybe so, but I can guarantee that some of your most deepest held beliefs are equally nonsensical.

A good argument against assessing beliefs on basis of  conviction.

Excremental Religion:

http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo86/maximillion22/1234908895877.jpg

RELIGION
A Tool Invented By The Powerful To Control The Stupid

---

austranger wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 11:45am:

Excremental Religion:

A slightly more expanded version (including some other ideas):

[list bull-blackball]

Taoism: sh!t happens.

Confucianism: Confucius say, "sh!t happens."

Buddhism: If sh!t happens, it isn't really sh!t.

Zen Buddhism: sh!t is, and is not.

Zen Buddhism #2: What is the sound of sh!t happening?

Hinduism: This sh!t has happened before.

Islam: If sh!t happens, it is the will of Allah.

Islam #2: If sh!t happens, kill the person responsible.

Islam #3: If sh!t happens, blame Israel.

Catholicism: If sh!t happens, you deserve it.

Protestantism: Let sh!t happen to someone else.

Presbyterian: This sh!t was bound to happen.

Episcopalian: It's not so bad if sh!t happens, as long as you serve the right wine with it.

Methodist: It's not so bad if sh!t happens, as long as you serve grape juice with it.

Congregationalist: sh!t that happens to one person is just as good as sh!t that happens to another.

Unitarian: sh!t that happens to one person is just as bad as sh!t that happens to another.

Lutheran: If sh!t happens, don't talk about it.

Fundamentalism: If sh!t happens, you will go to hell, unless you are born again. (Amen!)

Fundamentalism #2: If sh!t happens to a televangelist, it's okay.

Fundamentalism #3: sh!t must be born again.

Judaism: Why does this sh!t always happen to us?

Calvinism: sh!t happens because you don't work.

Seventh Day Adventism: No sh!t shall happen on Saturday.

Creationism: God made all sh!t.

Secular Humanism: sh!t evolves.

Christian Science: When sh!t happens, don't call a doctor - pray!

Christian Science #2: sh!t happening is all in your mind.

Unitarianism: Come let us reason together about this sh!t.

Quakers: Let us not fight over this sh!t.

Utopianism: This sh!t does not stink.

Darwinism: This sh!t was once food.

Capitalism: That's MY sh!t.

Communism: It's everybody's sh!t.

Feminism: Men are sh!t.

Chauvinism: We may be sh!t, but you can't live without us...

Commercialism: Let's package this sh!t.

Impressionism: From a distance, sh!t looks like a garden.

Idolism: Let's bronze this sh!t.

Existentialism: sh!t doesn't happen; sh!t IS.

Existentialism #2: What is sh!t, anyway?

Stoicism: This sh!t is good for me.

Hedonism: There is nothing like a good sh!t happening!

Mormonism: God sent us this sh!t.

Mormonism #2: This sh!t is going to happen again.

Wiccan: An it harm none, let sh!t happen.

Scientology: If sh!t happens, see "Dianetics", p.157.

Jehovah's Witnesses: >Knock< >Knock< sh!t happens.

Jehovah's Witnesses #2: May we have a moment of your time to show you some of our sh!t?

Jehovah's Witnesses #3: sh!t has been prophesied and is imminent; only the righteous shall survive its happening.

Moonies: Only really happy sh!t happens.

Hare Krishna: sh!t happens, rama rama.

Rastafarianism: Let's smoke this sh!t!

Zoroastrianism: sh!t happens half on the time.

Church of SubGenius: BoB runs.

Practical: Deal with sh!t one day at a time.

Agnostic: sh!t might have happened; then again, maybe not.

Agnostic #2: Did someone sh!t?

Agnostic #3: What is this sh!t?

Satanism: SNEPPAH TIHS.

Atheism: What sh!t?

Atheism #2: I can't believe this sh!t!

Nihilism: No sh!t.

Narcisism: I am the sh!t!

“With regard to Popper’s insistence on continuing to search, surely enough is enough. My years of mental turmoil before managing to rid myself of childhood theistic indoctrination entailed sufficient search – through thinking, reading, listening and debating – to last me for life. We are not expected to keep a lifelong open mind on such hypotheses as the existence of Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, so why should an exception be made in the case of God? That hypothesis, like those other stories for children, is merely asserted, without due evidence, by dissembling, or deluded, authorities.”

—  Existence | Issue 102 | Philosophy Now

---

Kytro wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 12:36pm:

austranger wrote on Jun 27th, 2014 at 11:45am: Excremental Religion: A slightly more expanded version (including some other ideas): [list bull-blackball] Taoism: sh!t happens. Confucianism: Confucius say, "sh!t happens." Buddhism: If sh!t happens, it isn't really sh!t. Zen Buddhism: sh!t is, and is not. Zen Buddhism #2: What is the sound of sh!t happening? Hinduism: This sh!t has happened before. Islam: If sh!t happens, it is the will of Allah. Islam #2: If sh!t happens, kill the person responsible. Islam #3: If sh!t happens, blame Israel. Catholicism: If sh!t happens, you deserve it. Protestantism: Let sh!t happen to someone else. Presbyterian: This sh!t was bound to happen. Episcopalian: It's not so bad if sh!t happens, as long as you serve the right wine with it. Methodist: It's not so bad if sh!t happens, as long as you serve grape juice with it. Congregationalist: sh!t that happens to one person is just as good as sh!t that happens to another. Unitarian: sh!t that happens to one person is just as bad as sh!t that happens to another. Lutheran: If sh!t happens, don't talk about it. Fundamentalism: If sh!t happens, you will go to hell, unless you are born again. (Amen!) Fundamentalism #2: If sh!t happens to a televangelist, it's okay. Fundamentalism #3: sh!t must be born again. Judaism: Why does this sh!t always happen to us? Calvinism: sh!t happens because you don't work. Seventh Day Adventism: No sh!t shall happen on Saturday. Creationism: God made all sh!t. Secular Humanism: sh!t evolves. Christian Science: When sh!t happens, don't call a doctor - pray! Christian Science #2: sh!t happening is all in your mind. Unitarianism: Come let us reason together about this sh!t. Quakers: Let us not fight over this sh!t. Utopianism: This sh!t does not stink. Darwinism: This sh!t was once food. Capitalism: That's MY sh!t. Communism: It's everybody's sh!t. Feminism: Men are sh!t. Chauvinism: We may be sh!t, but you can't live without us... Commercialism: Let's package this sh!t. Impressionism: From a distance, sh!t looks like a garden. Idolism: Let's bronze this sh!t. Existentialism: sh!t doesn't happen; sh!t IS. Existentialism #2: What is sh!t, anyway? Stoicism: This sh!t is good for me. Hedonism: There is nothing like a good sh!t happening! Mormonism: God sent us this sh!t. Mormonism #2: This sh!t is going to happen again. Wiccan: An it harm none, let sh!t happen. Scientology: If sh!t happens, see "Dianetics", p.157. Jehovah's Witnesses: >Knock< >Knock< sh!t happens. Jehovah's Witnesses #2: May we have a moment of your time to show you some of our sh!t? Jehovah's Witnesses #3: sh!t has been prophesied and is imminent; only the righteous shall survive its happening. Moonies: Only really happy sh!t happens. Hare Krishna: sh!t happens, rama rama. Rastafarianism: Let's smoke this sh!t! Zoroastrianism: sh!t happens half on the time. Church of SubGenius: BoB runs. Practical: Deal with sh!t one day at a time. Agnostic: sh!t might have happened; then again, maybe not. Agnostic #2: Did someone sh!t? Agnostic #3: What is this sh!t? Satanism: SNEPPAH TIHS. Atheism: What sh!t? Atheism #2: I can't believe this sh!t! Nihilism: No sh!t. Narcisism: I am the sh!t!

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff467/Carshotts/thumbsup.gif ;D

All the proof declares very definitively to anyone who really wants to know the truth that the Bible is a veritable maze of nonsense and contradictions.

---

What about the koran, the talmud or the upanishads?

... wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 6:40pm:

What about the koran, the talmud or the upanishads?

Religion has no place in public life

no one specified what religions.

John Smith wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 6:53pm:

... wrote on Jun 27th, 2014 at 6:40pm: What about the koran, the talmud or the upanishads? Religion has no place in public life no one specified what religions.

Vikaryan has made specific reference to the bible and christianity on several occasions.  Why am I not surprised you missed that?

... wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 6:57pm:

John Smith wrote on Jun 27th, 2014 at 6:53pm: ... wrote on Jun 27th, 2014 at 6:40pm: What about the koran, the talmud or the upanishads? Religion has no place in public life no one specified what religions. Vikaryan has made specific reference to the bible and christianity on several occasions.  Why am I not surprised you missed that?

shall he list all of the 4200 globally recognised religions next time just to make sure you don't feel left out?

John Smith wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 7:00pm:

... wrote on Jun 27th, 2014 at 6:57pm: John Smith wrote on Jun 27th, 2014 at 6:53pm: ... wrote on Jun 27th, 2014 at 6:40pm: What about the koran, the talmud or the upanishads? Religion has no place in public life no one specified what religions. Vikaryan has made specific reference to the bible and christianity on several occasions.  Why am I not surprised you missed that? shall he list all of the 4200 globally recognised religions next time just to make sure you don't feel left out?

I'd still feel left out because I don't belong to any of them. 

It's important because it suggests it's not a principled stand against religion in general, but a vendetta against a specific religion.  I don't think vendetta is a good justification for public policy, do you?

... wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 7:06pm:

John Smith wrote on Jun 27th, 2014 at 7:00pm: ... wrote on Jun 27th, 2014 at 6:57pm: John Smith wrote on Jun 27th, 2014 at 6:53pm: ... wrote on Jun 27th, 2014 at 6:40pm: What about the koran, the talmud or the upanishads? Religion has no place in public life no one specified what religions. Vikaryan has made specific reference to the bible and christianity on several occasions.  Why am I not surprised you missed that? shall he list all of the 4200 globally recognised religions next time just to make sure you don't feel left out? I'd still feel left out because I don't belong to any of them.  It's important because it suggests it's not a principled stand against religion in general, but a vendetta against a specific religion.  I don't think vendetta is a good justification for public policy, do you?

only in your mind


vikaryan wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 2:12pm:

God's Judeo-Christian moralities have failed us. So have those of other religions

So I asked about the hold texts of 3 other major religions.  They could be some of these 'other religions' he refers to,couldn't they?

vikaryan wrote on Jun 25^th, 2014 at 2:12pm:

Religion is like communism: Wherever true believers get control, repression and stagnation result. God's Judeo-Christian moralities have failed us. So have those of other religions. We deserve something better. It should be based on the needs of this life, not some imagined one hereafter. Good can only come from the truth. The facts are that the scientific evidence in support of evolutionary theory is overwhelming and each year grows in strength by research conducted and published by the world's scientists. U.S. National Medal of Science recipient Theodosis Dobzhansky stated, "nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." I could not agree more. Evolution, like any field of science, is purposely limited to seeking natural explanations for observable phenomena. Evolution does not question or explain theological beliefs, nor does it explain our aesthetic or spiritual experiences. These all fall outside the realm of science.

Yes of course you found the missing links yawn, all dating systems use best guesses to millions of years and at the end of the day you need a God to kick it all off. Nothing in science has disproved Christianity yet. 

I'd say that Christianity hasn't failed us at all. It said all this nonsense would be around in the last days. I'd say it was on the money. Don't let that stand in the way of a good evolutionist rant BTW.

There is no good objective evidence for God's existence.

---

vikaryan wrote on Jun 27^th, 2014 at 11:07pm:

There is no good objective evidence for God's existence.

My goodness any need for the silly image. Get a grip.

To answer that silly rant it depends on how you look at it. First of all you wouldn't know if a God existed or not in the first place from your perspective. You just have your own belief, anger whatever you call it but no definitive proof he doesn't.

You say objective evidence, so now you are applying a law to evidence made by mankind's knowledge at this point in time of a physical world to prove existence of a deity that manifests his presence in a physical world by his creations. Who himself resides in another spiritual world.

One simple objective piece of evidence would be creation. Intelligent design of human beings, animals nature etc. Of course these things would have been designed by a God if He existed. Therefore it is plausible unless of course you are all bent out of shape over the concept and closed minded. That's just one.

You need to do some more thought on your approach before rolling out that chestnut.

If God wants something from me, he would tell me. He wouldn't leave someone else to do this, as if an infinite being were short on time. And he would certainly not leave fallible, sinful humans to deliver an endless plethora of confused and contradictory messages. God would deliver the message himself, directly, to each and every one of us, and with such clarity as the most brilliant being in the universe could accomplish.

---

vikaryan wrote on Jun 28^th, 2014 at 12:08pm:

If God wants something from me, he would tell me. He wouldn't leave someone else to do this, as if an infinite being were short on time. And he would certainly not leave fallible, sinful humans to deliver an endless plethora of confused and contradictory messages. God would deliver the message himself, directly, to each and every one of us, and with such clarity as the most brilliant being in the universe could accomplish.

LOL  ;D

and I bet you have asked Him sincerely to reveal Himself to you  ;D

many blessings ,

one such as I am observes divinity

with all beings yes , and as such

all have freewill .... however

mind the karmic repercussions

of every thought now dear ones

as these will manifest very quickly now

some may or may not have noticed

as all remains well enough

so be at peace

namaste

- : ) =

The only thing you are is out of the loony bin for a walk to the local internet cafe.

He ("GOD" or "LORD") is the world's biggest moocher.

---

Well clearly the braincells have upped sticks and left this thread.

The logically inevitable fact is, if the Christian God existed, we would all hear from God himself the same message of salvation, and we would all hear, straight from God, all the same answers to all the same questions. The Chinese would have heard it. The Native Americans would have heard it. Everyone today, everywhere on Earth, would be hearing it, and their records would show everyone else in history had heard it, too. Sure, maybe some of us would still balk or reject that message. But we would still have the information. Because the only way to make an informed choice is to have the required information. So a God who wanted us to make an informed choice would give us all the information we needed, and not entrust fallible, sinful, contradictory agents to convey a confused mess of ambiguous, poorly supported claims. Therefore, the fact that God hasn't spoken to us directly, and hasn't given us all the same, clear message, and the same, clear answers, is enough to prove Christianity false.


—Richard Carrier, Why I Am Not a Christian (2006)

---

Grand Duke Imam Mahdi wrote on Jun 28^th, 2014 at 1:55pm:

Well clearly the braincells have upped sticks and left this thread.

many blessings

you portray an air of distinction

.....at least half of it ,

carry on regardless

namaste

- ; ) =

The latest Gallup poll on evolution

National Center for Science Education-3 Jun 2014

There were no surprises in the latest Gallup poll on public opinion about evolution in the United States. Asked in May 2014 "[w]hich of the following statements comes closest to your views on the origin and development of human beings," 31% of the respondents accepted "Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided this process," 19% accepted "Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God had no part in this process," and 42% accepted "God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so."

The same question has been used by Gallup to poll about evolution since 1982. According to Gallup, "The percentage of the U.S. population choosing the creationist perspective as closest to their own view has fluctuated in a narrow range between 40% and 47% since the question's inception. There is little indication of a sustained downward trend in the proportion of the U.S. population who hold a creationist view of human origins. At the same time, the percentage of Americans who adhere to a strict secularist viewpoint — that humans evolved over time, with God having no part in this process — has doubled since 1999." As usual, acceptance of the creationist option was associated with a lower degree of education, a higher rate of church attendance, and age.

UK Government Exalts Evolution, Outlaws Creationism

The Huffington Post  | By Yasmine Hafiz
Posted: 06/25/2014 12:28 pm EDT

The United Kingdom government has banned the teaching of creationism as a scientific theory in free schools and academies, which are the equivalent of a 'public' school in the United States. The move was done in the interests of having a "broad and balanced curriculum," according to UPI.

The remarkable decision was part of a document published on June 9th that laid out new clauses for church academies and stated that creationism is not widely accepted as a scientific theory.

The clauses said that creationism:


Quote:

is rejected by most mainstream churches and religious traditions, including the major providers of state funded schools such as the [Anglican] [Catholic] Churches, as well as the scientific community. It does not accord with the scientific consensus or the very large body of established scientific evidence; nor does it accurately and consistently employ the scientific method, and as such it should not be presented to pupils at the Academy as a scientific theory.

For the purposes of this document, creationism is defined as, "any doctrine or theory which holds that natural biological processes cannot account for the history, diversity, and complexity of life on earth and therefore rejects the scientific theory of evolution."

Pavan Dhaliwal, head of public affairs for the British Humanist Association, told Politics UK, "Coupled with the fact that maintained schools must follow the national curriculum, which from September will include a module on evolution at the primary level, we believe that this means that the objectives of the campaign are largely met."

Thousands of schools in America that received public funding still teach creationism as an "alternative" to evolution, according to Slate. Such practices clearly have an impact on the country, as a recent Gallup poll showed that over 40% of Americans hold the creationist belief that God created humanity as it currently exists a mere 10,000 years ago.

maybe this world is another planet's hell

---

To start with, who else is off the hook, or will be? What other companies can ignore which other laws on what real or dreamed-up religious grounds? That is something the majority decision in Hobby Lobby leaves shockingly undefined. Ginsburg called it “a decision of startling breadth,” one that could allow for-profit corporations to “opt out of any law (saving only tax laws) they judge incompatible with their sincerely held religious beliefs.” Alito, in his opinion, denies this; so does Anthony Kennedy, in a concurrence. But neither does so persuasively: their reassurance about the protections against what Ginsburg calls “the havoc the Court’s judgment can introduce” come down to, in Alito’s case, shrugs about how nothing alarming has shown up on the Court’s docket yet and, in Kennedy’s, the belief that everyone will be sensible about this. But if there hasn’t been a wave of cases there also hasn’t been a precedent like this—and now there is. And good sense has never been much of a reliable restraint. This suggests that the majority is either being disingenuous about how broad its ruling is or is blind to its own logic. As Ginsburg notes, religious objections to, say, vaccines are neither as theoretical nor as easily put aside as the majority pretends.

Can a for-profit corporation even have religious beliefs—can it be a person acting out of sacred conviction, in the sense of either the First Amendment or the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act (a law Hobby Lobby cites)? Alito doesn’t see why not; it doesn’t seem fair to him that the owners of a business should have to forgo either identifying its religious rights with their own “or the benefits, available to their competitors, of operating as corporations.” But corporations create a legal separation between owners and businesses that protects them in many ways; why is the upside a presumptive right and not any downside?

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/closeread/2014/06/a-very-bad-ruling-on-hobby-lobby.html

---

The major legal difference, legally, between a not-for-profit corp and a for-profit corp is that the for-profit corp is subject to income tax and a not-for-profit corp is not subject to income tax. Profit is defined as the residual of revenues and expense. All corporations, whether for-profit or not-for-profit are profit maximizers, in the sense that revenue must exceed expense, over time, in order for the corporation to continue operating. I state this, using the standard economic and accounting and IRS definitions of profit, loss, revenue and expense and "profit maximizer". I haven't ascribed any new meaning. Thus, churches are profit maximizers, charities are profit maximizers, and labor unions are still profit maximizers. What churches and charities and labor unions don't do is pay their taxes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/06/30/hobby-lobby-and-the-legal-rights-of-people-organized-as-corporations/?commentID=washingtonpost.com/ECHO/item/1404158546-793-804

Citizens United, the gift that keeps on giving…  >:(

"A federal law called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act was written to protect individuals’ religious freedoms — and on Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that, under RFRA, corporations count as people: their religious freedoms also get protection."

http://www.vox.com/2014/6/30/5857158/the-supreme-court-ruling-in-three-sentences

http://lineartocircular.tumblr.com/post/90360249173/the-supreme-courts-hobby-lobby-ruling-in-three

---

Like Joyce, Martin is concerned that the ruling will open the door to more nefarious and discriminatory trends.

"For me it's a pretty troubling precedent," he said. "I think about the rights for sexual minorities. It's still an uphill battle when it comes to employment practices. This sets up one more potential obstacle for having employers deny the rights of sexual minorities."

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/06/hobby_lobby_supreme_court_affo_1.html

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What's next? Islamic law?

Anyone who believes that Hobby Lobby should be allowed to control what their employees can cover on their health plan because of “deeply held Christian beliefs” by the CEO should also believe that a company owned by Muslims should be allowed to treat their employees with Sharia law.

http://letterstotheeditorblog.dallasnews.com/2014/03/if-hobby-lobby-wins-whats-next-islamic-law.html/

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vikaryan wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2014 at 2:13pm:

What's next? Islamic law? Anyone who believes that Hobby Lobby should be allowed to control what their employees can cover on their health plan because of “deeply held Christian beliefs” by the CEO should also believe that a company owned by Muslims should be allowed to treat their employees with Sharia law. http://letterstotheeditorblog.dallasnews.com/2014/03/if-hobby-lobby-wins-whats-next-islamic-law.html/

Largely ignored is the fact Hobby Lobby is a significant player in a global economy that has separated markets from morality. Even as it is a Christian-themed brand, it operates in a decisively “secular” economic world. 

Hobby Lobby—like every chain store of its kind—participates in an economy that is no longer “religious” or even “moral.” That is, it participates in an economy that arose based on the rejection of the subordination of markets embedded within, and subject to, social and moral structures. This “Great Transformation” was detailed and described with great acuity by Karl Polanyi in his masterful 1944 book of that title.

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/hobby-lobby-has-won-but-have-we/

A funny thing is that the 'progressives', while stringently anti-religious, adopt a number of Christianity's tenets in their utopian vision.

The arts and crafts retailer Hobby Lobby proudly touts itself as a Christian company that puts people over profits. However, some staunch Christians say there's a gaping hole in that claim -- namely, China.

Products bearing "Made in China" labels are found all over the shelves at Hobby Lobby, evidence that some of its wares come from Chinese factories that have a reputation for labor rights violations and rock-bottom wages. Employees at these facilities often end up working grueling hours in prison-like conditions and never earn enough to escape poverty.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/01/hobby-lobby-christian_n_5545618.html

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Now, of course, a huge number of American companies outsource labor to China, and thus help prop up this shameful status quo. But very few of these American companies simultaneously trumpet themselves as "Christian businesses," arguing in court that providing employees with health insurance covering contraceptives violates their religious beliefs. How can this ObamaCare mandate be so foul to Hobby Lobby executives, while they say very little about Chinese policies forcing women to have abortions against their wills? Is abortion wrong only when the terminated life is American?

The most glaring inconsistency between Hobby Lobby's ethical proclamations and its business decisions concerns the matter of religious liberty. The craft store chain is hailed by conservatives as standing up to Uncle Sam and fighting for religious freedom. Yet Hobby Lobby imports billions of dollars worth of bric-a-brac from a nation that denies 1.35 billion citizens freedom of worship.

If Hobby Lobby was concerned with religious freedoms — not just those of conservative American Christians — it would quit doing business in China.

http://theweek.com/article/index/263225/stop-calling-hobby-lobby-a-christian-business

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Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2014 at 6:42pm:

A funny thing is that the 'progressives', while stringently anti-religious, adopt a number of Christianity's tenets in their utopian vision.

How is that funny?

Selecting when to apply Christian beliefs is often based on what is convenient and not financially devastating to a business. Perhaps Hobby Lobby can afford to apply its strong Christian beliefs to the denial of coverage for the “morning after pill” – but not in the case of severing business relations with China. Theoretically, that seems hypocritical.

Any religious beliefs should be invoked consistently and not just on the occasions that are financially convenient to use for the promotion of religious standards and seemingly make one feel better about oneself.

http://www.wwl.com/Scoot-Is-Hobby-Lobby-guilty-of-Christian-hypocrisy/13069478?pid=412432

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To a great extent, the decision turns on whether a business is a "person." This is the same minefield the court seeded in its infamous Citizens United case in 2010, when it held that campaign finance laws limiting corporate contributions violated corporations' free-speech rights. The detonation of those mines has laid waste to the electoral process, turning it into a playground for corporate interests. (More of a playground, anyway.)

Here the court's majority rules that a privately held company is, in effect, a "person" that can express religious convictions. Alito sugarcoats that finding, acknowledging that corporate personhood is a "fiction," but one designed to "provide protection for human beings."

Ginsburg also picks that assertion clean. "The exercise of religion is characteristic of natural persons, not artificial legal entities," she writes, quoting retired Justice John Paul Stevens as having observed in the Citizens United case that corporations "have no consciences, no beliefs, no feelings, no thoughts, no desires."

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-corporations-can-pray-20140630-column.html

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Know religion, no peace. No religion, know peace.

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Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Jul 4^th, 2014 at 10:30am:

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jul 2nd, 2014 at 6:42pm: A funny thing is that the 'progressives', while stringently anti-religious, adopt a number of Christianity's tenets in their utopian vision. How is that funny?

It's funny in the way they don't realise the irony.

nationalistnotebook reblogged this from whitesupremacymemes and added:

Remember when the two “Boston marathon bombers” stole a car with a Coexist bumper sticker on it? LOL!

http://someofmybestfriendsarewhite.tumblr.com/post/90714885134

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WILL CONVERT FOR EVIDENCE

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Cave-man mentality

The Constitution guarantees freedom of belief for every individual. That guarantee does not extend to one individual using that belief to impinge on the rights of another.

It is ironic that in 1857 the Supreme Court ruled, in the Dred Scott decision, that blacks were not people but property.

Now the Supreme Court has ruled that corporations are not property, but people with health care rights! One wonders what cave some of these Supreme Court justices live in.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20140706/LETTERS/307069997/-1/news?Title=Sunday-s-letters

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Final Thoughts on the Book of Ecclesiastes:

The author of Ecclesiastes is named only as “The Teacher” and as soon as we meet him, we realize that he’s having an existential crisis. After examining the world, the Teacher can’t help but come to the conclusion that everything is ultimately meaningless in this world.  Some of the thoughts or situations that the Teacher said made him start thinking about the meaninglessness of life were the following:

    The meaninglessness of working hard to build or create something, when none of that is going to matter after you die.
    That there is nothing new or original anymore in this world and that pretty much everything has already been done before.
    The meaninglessness of learning and becoming wise, as both the wise man and the fool die in the end.
    And the fact that bad things happen to good people, while bad people sometimes are very successful and live long lives.

The Teacher never changes his mind that life is ultimately meaningless, but he does formulate some conclusions about how we can cope with this meaninglessness in life. He does talk about God a little bit, saying things like, “This…is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” and “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” but this part of his conclusions sort of feel out of place, as if someone later added the text to offset the secular feel of the rest of it.

Repeatedly though, the Teacher says, “There is nothing better than” to be happy, eat and drink, find satisfaction in and perform with all our might the work we do, enjoy our spouse, follow our heart, and to cast off any anxieties or fears. He basically concludes, “Look; if there is no meaning to life, that’s okay. Enjoy life as it is. Create your own meaning.” I appreciate this.

http://askepticsjourneythroughthebible.tumblr.com/day/2014/07/06/

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When Kepler found his long-cherished belief did not agree with the most precise observation, he accepted the uncomfortable fact. He preferred the hard truth to his dearest illusions; that is the heart of science.

Carl Sagan (via whats-out-there)

http://sci-universe.tumblr.com/post/90753340280/when-kepler-found-his-long-cherished-belief-did

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In fact, historical evidence against the Bible, generally speaking, has proved most convincing. The Bible isn’t authoritative. Yahweh is an ancient war god belonging to a polytheist Judaic pantheon. The Christ of the Gospels simply didn’t exist; there was never a demon exorcising, ear pasting, water walking, water-to-wine turning, leper healing, resurrecting Jesus.

If Christianity is true, test its claims. Is the Bible infallible? Are its stories true? Does a god like the monster in the OT really exist? Did Jesus exist? If so, was he anything like the Christ in the Gospels? Did he resurrect? Is orthodoxy correct or is it simply the view that won over others?

http://academicatheism.tumblr.com/day/2014/07/6

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academicatheism:

Here’s the problem: you shouldn’t be sure of Christianity. Thus, you shouldn’t be showing concern. It is incumbent on you to justify your certainty. Why are you sure? You can’t simply assert what you believe to be true without justifying it.

Jesus didn’t come and wipe the slate clean and thus, doesn’t loose chains of addiction, disease, and so on. Jesus is either a mythologized historical person or a historicized mythological person. The Christ of the Gospels didn’t exist and if you’d like, I can justify those assertions. That’s how knowledge works! In fact, there is no evidence for your assertion.

What you said is the common faith-based professions Christians make. Your faith isn’t knowledge; your faith is ignorance pretending to be knowledge. You’re preaching a false Gospel. I don’t care what the Bible says. The Bible isn’t authoritative and unlike you, I can justify my statements.

http://academicatheism.tumblr.com/day/2014/07/6

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All hail the Turritopsis Nutricula!

Visit http://natskep.com - All hail the Turritopsis Nutricula! #atheism #atheist #godisnotreal #goddoesnotexist #godneverexisted #delusion #god #christian #jesus #atheists #prayer #prayingdoesntwork #bible #thebible #gods #gaymarriage #abortion #prochoice #christians #cross #jewishzombie #jebus #atheistposts #faith #religion #godless #science #logic

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/atheism

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I am a creationist. I believe man has created God

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