tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post5308826825010249862..comments2024-03-14T00:12:21.113-07:00Comments on If I became an atheist: hotdogs, hamburgers and hate speech, be there or be squarefeenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07483769284197614547noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-56745986584874848482010-05-29T20:31:44.907-07:002010-05-29T20:31:44.907-07:00Good lookin' out Gandy!
feenGood lookin' out Gandy!<br /><br />feenfeenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07483769284197614547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-7177300570833654632010-05-28T22:54:09.886-07:002010-05-28T22:54:09.886-07:00Feeno whatever you do, dont do your back in.Ive ha...Feeno whatever you do, dont do your back in.Ive had a back opp for a ruptured disc.Believe me,its not worth it, even if its done through want of making money.They cant ever totally fix it again,they can only stop the sciatica.<br /><br />Just take care!Gandolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02624178234332819107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-87515713052611282552010-05-28T04:47:04.921-07:002010-05-28T04:47:04.921-07:00I had no idea what you do for a living. No wonder...I had no idea what you do for a living. No wonder you're busy.<br /><br />The Asian is Chinese, and the text is generic platitudes. The last one begins, "One can impart knowledge but not wisdom." I wouldn't click the link if you paid me. It's straightforward spam and you should delete it if you can.SmartLXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04447028072345461620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-51833040394913912402010-05-27T19:28:53.475-07:002010-05-27T19:28:53.475-07:00Jeff, Gandy and LX
I have missed you guys very mu...Jeff, Gandy and LX<br /><br />I have missed you guys very much and am thankful somebody actually realized I have been away. I will try really hard to get a new post out this weekend. I've missed all the critiques and your view of things. <br /><br />Although I've been busy at work, I haven't forgot about you all in my prayers. Even if you don't want me to, too bad, cause I already do. <br /><br />My business is picking up a little bit. Plus I am laying most all the tile myself. I have a helper and get occasional help from a few of the guys that used to do a lot of work for me when we were real busy back in the day. Also my body usually aches all over after a long day of work. Plus life in general has been busy... wife, kids, church, friends, parents (uhg) etc.<br />Same with you all except the church part. <br /><br />Not sure about that Asian thing tho? Maybe I'm like the Michael Jackson of the blog world?<br /><br />Look forward to posting something this weekend, thanks again for remembering me. <br /><br />C Woods left a nice response, maybe I can address some of that?<br /><br />Hope everyone is doing well. <br /><br />Peace, feenofeenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07483769284197614547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-67276450942756321362010-05-26T22:49:10.601-07:002010-05-26T22:49:10.601-07:00Jeff said.."For shame...what more important t...Jeff said.."For shame...what more important things could you possibly have to do besides updating your blog?? :)"<br /><br />Remembering to follow the doctors orders, this time around,so he doesnt once again enrage the house boss on the next special weekend awayGandolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02624178234332819107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-41183822817925176042010-05-26T17:59:04.136-07:002010-05-26T17:59:04.136-07:00Never mind any arbitrary expectations of update sc...Never mind any arbitrary expectations of update schedules on the part of your readers, Feeno, you've got spam coming in like the Asian thing above. Gotta prune that crap.SmartLXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04447028072345461620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-16696740893074431272010-05-25T19:26:55.010-07:002010-05-25T19:26:55.010-07:00Hey feeno, where are ya buddy? You haven't bee...Hey feeno, where are ya buddy? You haven't been around for like three weeks now! For shame...what more important things could you possibly have to do besides updating your blog?? :)<br /><br />JeffJeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07878734919633437792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-34473010878911414162010-05-16T23:58:55.023-07:002010-05-16T23:58:55.023-07:00I haven't visited for a while. Then the first ...I haven't visited for a while. Then the first post I see demeans atheists in the same way you think we demean Christians. <br /><br />The atheists I know, myself included, do not sit around and worry about what's going on in the church down the road. We simply don't believe as you do.<br /><br />But I don't believe in a lot of things. And I find it difficult to believe many others. Among those are: alien abductions, astrology, that there are more than a handful of honest politicians, or that anyone could dislike chocolate. <br /><br />If I had to guess what goes on in your church, I would assume that a bunch of like-minded people have gotten together to affirm their beliefs and work toward common goals. It probably isn't a whole lot different than any other group which meets regularly, be it the Elks, the Chamber of Commerce, or the Girls Scouts --- except for the supernatural part. Every group has an agenda. Every group tries to raise money and recruit members. <br /><br />I'm also sure that in any church, on any given day, there are doubters. I was one of them at one time and so were many other agnostics and atheists. The "Washington Post" recently published an article on ministers who no longer believe, but continue to preach because otherwise they are stuck without a profession. One of the co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation had been an evangelical minister for many years before he stopped believing.<br /><br />I sometimes criticize religious people on my blog. I criticize either specific individuals (mostly blatant hypocrites) or specific groups who have behaved badly. But individuals who happen to be religious? It's their right to believe as they wish. I only ask that they respect my right to NOT believe as I respect their right to believe.<br /><br />Yes, I admit that sometimes I wonder how the religious can believe as they do. But you have to admit that Christians must ask themselves how anyone could ever have believed in Isis, Zeus, or Thor. Do you not wonder how Muslims can believe that terrorist martyrs will be rewarded with 72 virgins or what those 72 virgins would want to do with a terrorist? Do you question the sanity of Christians who handle rattle snakes as part of their rituals? Do you dismiss the beliefs of Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses? Don't you ask yourself how an atheist can NOT believe what is so obvious to you? Of course you do. We all do that.<br /><br />Yes, there are some atheists who get off on trying to make religious people look stupid. But you have to admit there are many religious people who demonize atheists and others who don't believe as they do. Pat Robertson claims every natural disaster is caused by gays, feminists, and atheists, among others. How can a "good" Christian believe that an all-loving God would take revenge on those groups of people by killing so many others in New Orleans, Haiti or Chile? <br /><br />How do you think Pat Robertson would imagine a meeting of atheists? I suppose he might write something similar to your post, substituting atheism for Christianity. <br /><br />We don't believe what we see. We see what we believe. Two individuals could attend a religious debate. A Christian would come away even more convinced that the Christian was right. The non-believer would believe the atheist had come out on top. We all tend to see and believe the arguments that affirm our own long-held beliefs. I'm not saying people can't change their minds, but it rarely happens and if it does, it is a long, slow process. <br /><br />You might find this post interesting: <a href="http://tirelesswing.blogspot.com/2009/06/can-christians-and-atheists-learn-to.html" rel="nofollow">Can Christians & Atheists Get Along?</a>C Woodshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13053858627632648020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-67171811007683882632010-05-14T17:41:35.819-07:002010-05-14T17:41:35.819-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.DMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11389651479904502758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-13657394977871571452010-05-11T21:07:03.895-07:002010-05-11T21:07:03.895-07:00His real name's Dennis Markuze. He's prim...His real name's Dennis Markuze. He's primarily a believer in the prophecies of Nostradamus, and an anti-atheist. He goes on any religion-themed blog he can find, no matter which side it's on, with links that supposedly discredit whatever prominent atheists have been talking about lately. This time it's the Boobquake. He's become a running gag.SmartLXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04447028072345461620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-21140997941786733782010-05-11T18:57:33.353-07:002010-05-11T18:57:33.353-07:00Sub Coolio
We'll keep you abreast.
LX,
David...Sub Coolio<br />We'll keep you abreast.<br /><br />LX, <br />David Mabus aka DM? I'm not sure I even know what message he's trying to get across. Is he a Christian?<br /><br />late, feenfeenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07483769284197614547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-90405411539920453302010-05-11T17:29:23.102-07:002010-05-11T17:29:23.102-07:00Man, David Mabus is getting weirder.Man, David Mabus is getting weirder.SmartLXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04447028072345461620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-5455768256482471892010-05-11T07:38:07.131-07:002010-05-11T07:38:07.131-07:00Dude,
I waited by the "River" until 3 A...Dude,<br /><br />I waited by the "River" until 3 A.M. this morning with the Crosses, Holy Water, and other materials you requested in your message and no one else ever showed up.<br /><br />Are you sure you didn't mean we were going to "sing" hymn 96, "On Yonder Hill We Shall Gather In His Name."<br /><br />I await further instruction.<br /><br />Hopefully the Right Ones!<br /><br />Reverend Sub CeeSteve Schulerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17507446648186799208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-3151198912093064132010-05-06T07:44:01.005-07:002010-05-06T07:44:01.005-07:00R. Sherman said... "A propos?
I've perso...R. Sherman said... "A propos?<br /><br />I've personally wondered why some atheists are so evangelical about their position. What's the point? If I'm a deluded fool, then so what? They should be happy, if for no other reason, having so many of us in church in Sunday mornings frees up a boatload of tee times at the golf course."<br /><br />You honestly feel theres no good reason to be a little worried about deluded fools ?.<br /><br />Are you quietly happy Mahmoud Ahmadineijad is into the prolification of nuclear arms ?? .If the deluded old coot enjoys playing with nuclear fireworks,what the hell who cares huh !?? .Why would people ever be having any good reason to get all evangelical about suggesting maybe it might be a great idea if he decides to stop it.<br /><br />Even the first paragraph of that Los Angeles times it says ..."What -- did their Sunday school teachers flog their behinds with a Bible when they were kids?"<br /><br />Shows how how ignorant some folks actually are, and goes some way towards suggesting things that the likes of Dawkins,Hitchen and Harris etc say, could actually possibly be quite correct.<br /><br />Damm sure its very very likely the type of abuse described has taken place a plenty in many faith situations....What with scripture suggesting "He who spareth the rod hateth his son" and whatnot <br /><br />Faithful folks i grew up with were sure pretty keen on dishing the violence out.....That is until i finally had had a guts full of it and decided to start smacking folks real hard back.Guess the golden rule suggested to me,maybe this was what they abusers really expected.<br /><br />And in the next paragraph in that artical they are making fun of folks feeling they need to hide their non belief....Cant understand why?? they consider this so funny because even here in little secular NZ, i know for sure it can be a real problem that can see your faith family totally disown and excommunicate from you just because you dont share the same faith ...Why some theist fool writing in that Los Angeles times would make fun of it beats me??, when its so obvious faith has long been quite a ruling factor in the USA......Were they trying to prove Dawkins right?? when on page2 they quote him as saying..."they are; often rather stupid" <br /><br />I read right through it and im sure it likely it was written by theists hopeing to take a poke at non believers .....But all as i can say as a non believer is i found myself wondering what drugs they are dishing out in church these days ,,,,Talk about allowing folks enough rope they will simply go ahead and hang themselvesGandolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02624178234332819107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-23404554197908074352010-05-06T06:30:01.439-07:002010-05-06T06:30:01.439-07:00Feenobly said...."feeno said...
LX
As usual...Feenobly said...."feeno said... <br />LX<br /><br />As usual you bring fair and sound points to the table. I don't necessarily believe atheism couldn't appeal to you guys. But if you read Gandolph's last comments on our last post, you'll see why I wrote this."<br /><br />Grrrrrrr damm atheist upstarts .....Grrrrrr wheres blogger DM when we need himGandolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02624178234332819107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-91425073163835881572010-05-05T20:01:52.179-07:002010-05-05T20:01:52.179-07:00Mojo
'Sup Holmes. Welcome, and thanks for sto...Mojo<br /><br />'Sup Holmes. Welcome, and thanks for stopping by and commenting. Good thoughts, I don't think anyone around here would disagree with you. <br /><br />I would be curios to know tho, if we (Believers) can try to legislate things as well? And don't you have a morality to project?<br /><br />Read what R Sherman wrote about 2 or 3 comments before yours. I think we all are saying the same thing. I don't blame you for voting your conscience or trying to change legislation to fit your worldview. Everyone should.<br /><br />Peace be wit ya, feenofeenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07483769284197614547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-34884729112646587592010-05-05T19:03:30.290-07:002010-05-05T19:03:30.290-07:00Is that what you really think we care about? We ar...Is that what you really think we care about? We are a collection of individuals with on thing in common. We do not believe in God. Beyond that, all bets are off. I know atheists who want to picket churches and I know atheists who are best friends with pastors. One thing I know for sure, we don't really care what you do in church. We care what you try to legislate. Project your morality on us and we speak up.Mojoeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06541458916641472505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-12611107812777139982010-05-05T08:11:07.083-07:002010-05-05T08:11:07.083-07:00Anthropologist David Eller, author of a college te...Anthropologist David Eller, author of a college textbook entitled: Introducing Anthropology of Religion: Culture to the Ultimate (Routledge, 2007), lists six functions of religion in society:<br /><br /> 1. Filling individual needs, especially psychological or emotional needs. Religion provides comfort, hope, perhaps love, definitely a sense of control, and relief from fear and despair.<br /><br /> 2. Explanation, especially of origins or causes. Humans wonder why things are as they are. How did the world start? How did humans start? . . .<br /><br /> 3. Source of rules and norms. . . . religion can provide the answer to where the traditions and laws of the society came from. . . . This is the charter function of religion: It acts as the "charter" or guideline or authority by which we organize ourselves in particular ways and follow particular standards. Why do we practice monogamy? Because a religious being or precedent says to, or because the first humans did, etc. Why do other societies practice polygamy? Perhaps because their religious being or precedent (say, the ancestor or founder) said it or did it.<br /><br /> 4. Source of "ultimate sanctions." Religion is, among other things, a means of social control. . . . a large part of religion is about what we should do, how we should live. . . . Human agents of social control cannot be everywhere and cannot see everything, and the rewards and punishments they can mete out are finite. . . .<br /><br /> 5. Solution of immediate problems. . . . If we are sick or distressed, are the beings or forces angry with us? What should we do about it? If there is an important social or political decision to make (say, going to war), is there a way to discover the preferences or plans of the beings and forces--to "read their mind"? Can we ask them for favors, give them gifts, or do anything at all to influence their actions and intentions?<br /><br /> 6. Fill "needs of society." . . . Certainly, not everything that a religion teaches or practices is good for every individual: Human sacrifice is not about fulfilling the needs of sacrificial victims. Nor does religion always soothe individual fears and anxieties; for instance, the belief in a punitive afterlife may cause people to fear more, and concerns about proper conduct of rituals can cause anxiety. However, belief in a punitive afterlife can cause people to obey norms, which is good for society. The primary need of society, beyond the needs of individuals, is integration, cohesion, and perpetuation, and religion can provide an important "glue" toward that end.<br /><br />I think much of the reason people go to church is summed up in numbers 1 and 6, but has aspects in all of them. I think the religious psychology is more complex than simple brainwashing. Although there is a lot of that going on too.Tristan Vickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05348780254008374268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-74434581150855133912010-05-05T08:09:44.765-07:002010-05-05T08:09:44.765-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Tristan Vickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05348780254008374268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-42002729689545995872010-05-05T06:43:57.125-07:002010-05-05T06:43:57.125-07:00As to political questions and pursuing an "ag...As to political questions and pursuing an "agenda," let me suggest without snark or vitriol that that's the point of democracy. Everybody gets to play, regardless of what motivates them. Each of us has a moral world view. By definition, every time there's an election, 51% impose that world view on 49%.<br /><br />I have long maintained that the debate in the public arena about issues is best waged when, and only when, both sides agree to play in the same ballpark. Stated differently, Feeno and I might discuss a political issue from a Christian perspective, but I wouldn't dream of doing so with someone who does not accept Judaic-Christian principles as an appropriate way of organizing society. I'm perfectly happy to engage anyone on his/her terms.<br /><br />Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-26068655144563715752010-05-04T19:14:57.566-07:002010-05-04T19:14:57.566-07:00Yeah, we wouldn't want to hurt that pussy'...Yeah, we wouldn't want to hurt that pussy's feelings...<br /><br />And no, I don't understand why people delete comments. Go back to the church group forums if your virgin minds might end up "taint"ed.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504734487692109101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-35759412552417930072010-05-04T17:32:42.903-07:002010-05-04T17:32:42.903-07:00R Sherman, we suffer for the actions of "delu...R Sherman, we suffer for the actions of "deluded fools" (I personally think being wrong doesn't automatically make someone a fool). We lose our freedom from religion, we are painted as evil and foolish ourselves, we become less welcome in the world. You can't tell me there's no harm to atheists when millions of people believe what Pat Robertson <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zv9AgwKAE0" rel="nofollow">says</a> about us.SmartLXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04447028072345461620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-17049707017423772502010-05-04T13:59:16.584-07:002010-05-04T13:59:16.584-07:00Geenks
It wasn't easy for me to delete your l...Geenks<br /><br />It wasn't easy for me to delete your last comment. I'm really sorry I did it. It was a real morale dilemma. But I promise you that if those remarks were directed at me, I would not have deleted it. <br /><br />But I just felt since this is my place, I need to be considerate of others. I was just thinking of them. I hope you understand and don't think I'm a big wuss.<br /><br />Late, feenofeenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07483769284197614547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-41788065301308283912010-05-04T12:27:06.973-07:002010-05-04T12:27:06.973-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504734487692109101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375734216588111141.post-62638638999525207842010-05-04T09:07:23.995-07:002010-05-04T09:07:23.995-07:00@ R Sherman
Stem cell research, which would have ...@ R Sherman<br /><br />Stem cell research, which would have saved millions of lives and progressed medicine at an accelerated rate, had to end because of ignorant religious sensibility. I am hoping that does end up back on the table.tinkbell13https://www.blogger.com/profile/03322413631736929191noreply@blogger.com