Atheism

@spendius,

Humanism started out as a Catholic project. Erasmus, Petrarch, Thomas More, etc were all Catholic, and supported by the popes of the times. It lead to other forms, including secular forms that are the basis for most modern societies. The human rights, for instance, derive from humanism.

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@Olivier5,

Just off the top of my 'head.'
We in the US say that our "democracy is working," but what I personally observe is the breakdown of our form of governance that works to overthrow the 'other' party with their actions and words.

I'm truly mystified how Americans of every background, culture, and education, can do so much to oppose legislation that would benefit Americans and the world at large.

Speaker Boehner just criticized Obama for extending the enrollment to ACA (ObamaCare), because he claims Obama can't follow his own laws.

The GOP didn't complain when GW Bush extended signup to enroll for seniors and the handicapped for Medicare drug coverage.

Quote:

In May of 2006, just days before the end of open enrollment, President Bush took administrative action to waive “penalty fees for very low-income seniors and people with disabilities who sign up late” and allowed “the same impoverished beneficiaries to sign up for Medicare drug coverage until Dec. 31.”

This is only the most recent example, but it tells the story about our republic and democracy - and how it isn't working.

Children at play with too much power to control people's lives.

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@hingehead,

I was being a little silly there, although i was serious about there being idiots of all stripes in any belief set, and in the absence of belief. I was not familiar with Fry.

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@edgarblythe,

Not if you guys are gonna root for them Yankees.
Seriously? . .
A fair proportion of atheists are able to reason without emotion.

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@Olivier5,

Suck it and see eh?

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Richard Dawkins' letter to his 10 year old daughter on evidence in science, life and love

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/12/28/richard-dawkins-letter-to-daughter/

Warning: May be pitched over the heads of some posters to this thread Razz

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@neologist,

What's that got to do with the price of saki in berlin?

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@edgarblythe,

edgarblythe wrote:

What's that got to do with the price of saki in berlin?

Dunno.
Just gimme my Torpedo.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Bdm42Fi2XMQ/TGKsmImjuzI/AAAAAAAAACM/Ru768TJUjpg/s1600/Sierra+Nevada+Torpedo+Extra+IPA.JPG

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@Setanta,

Setanta wrote:

So howzabout them Yankees, eh?

"Eh"? He's secret agent from Canada who just blew his cover?

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@Thomas,

You'd better watch yer back from now on, Buddy.

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@spendius,

That's the gist of it, I guess. Popper can be summarized because he is actually coherent.

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@Setanta,

Setanta wrote:

I've commented many times that the "issue" of atheism only comes up online. It doesn't come up in my day-t0-day life.

Exactly the same. I see people, (mainly from the US), comment on the loss of community when "becoming an atheist". I think it's something to do with religion having a stronger influence on society overall in the US compared to Australia.
For me, that's not an issue because any church attendance, which occured infrequently, ended when I was young. I can't say that I suddenly woke up one day and thought "I'm an atheist now". It was a simple case of maturing, growing an independent brain, and thinking at some point, "what a ridiculous crock of ****".
Trolls like spendi constantly want to put forward some overriding philosophy of atheism, when the fact is, there isn't any. I often notice that sex seems to come up in his "arguments". My experience with people who complain about sexual morals is it mainly comes from people who aren't getting any.

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@Wilso,

Wilso wrote:

Trolls like spendi constantly want to put forward some overriding philosophy of atheism, when the fact is, there isn't any.

That bore repeating, and can't be said too often. I've noticed that it's the fanatical god-botherers who are always ranting about what they claim atheist think and believe.

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@Setanta,

Personally, I think it's about time they ranted about the hobby of non-stamp-collecting.

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@Thomas,

That's a good point. I've never collected stamps. That is undoubtedly evidence of my moral bankruptcy.

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@Olivier5,

Olivier5 wrote:

Quote:
Traditional religions have failed to bring about lasting peace, freedom from crime, etc. In fact, many have been complicit in mankind's misery.

The same could be said about atheism, no? How many innocent people did Mao and Stalin kill? Many more than any pope... And they also failed to bring about peace and freedom.

You know the problem with the regular (and quite boring) references to Mao and Stalin. Not once has anyone, ever, shown that their actions were motivated by atheism. Hitler was a Catholic. So I could equally say that his Catholicism motivated his murder of millions. Would I be correct? Probably not. They worshipped power. Any reference to their religious beliefs, or lack thereof, is simply dribbling ****.

Conversely, times such as "the Crusades", were clearly motivated by religion, and the countless deaths that resulted can unequivocally be placed at the feet of religion.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

I agree that the US democracy is dysfunctional, and that excessive polarization and importance of ideologues in the republican party is part of the problem (the dems aren't ideologic anymore), leading to a divided nation. The French system isn't any better but suffers from other problems.

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@Setanta,

Quote:

I've noticed that it's the fanatical god-botherers who are always ranting about what they claim atheist think and believe.

I believe Ill have another pork chop.

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@Wilso,

Quote:

I often notice that sex seems to come up in his "arguments

So does he communicate a fondness to put on womens clothing and hang around in bars

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@Wilso,

Wilso wrote:

Exactly the same. I see people, (mainly from the US), comment on the loss of community when "becoming an atheist".

Really?
I'm not arguing with you, but I've never heard anyone say that.

Then again, as Set mentioned, the subject of religion, or G(g)ods rarely come up in my personal life.

I guess this would be surprising to some as I live in Texas, but really it's only once in a while anyone even brings up the subject.

Re loss of community, I was raised a Roman Catholic in the NE U.S., but at some point in teenage years stopped going to church, except as required at the Catholic high school and grade school I went to. We all went together to Mass at certain times, I forget how often.
I never found any comfort of any kind going to church. It was just an hour wasted of my time.

I don't recall ever feeling any community in church activities. The friends I had in the Catholic grade school and high school I went to was never based on religious beliefs. Church just always felt really unnecessary, and worse was keeping me from sleeping in on Sundays.

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