Agnostic.com
1
1 Like Show

Comments

Jim Bakker To Christians: You Must Love Trump To Prove You're 'Saved'
David1955 comments on Jan 8, 2020:
Why do they allow this convicted felon, crook, and sexual abuser a platform on right wing media? Oh, I know why. He's a Republican supporter.
The test of a false god.
David1955 comments on Jan 8, 2020:
From my experience believers will generally say something like, "Yes, but MY God is real." So, being stumped, as you put it, doesn't prevent them from embracing logical absurdity and contradiction. Since religion is always based on bad history/mythology, unproven supernatural claims, and fear, I have not found logic a very effective tool in engaging with believers. But, I admire your determination to try.
Do you think there's a posibility of extraterrestrial life and why?
David1955 comments on Jan 7, 2020:
Recognising the possibility is the only sensible position, since it's a huge universe and we know there are vast numbers of planets now. But we need evidence. On UFOs, some disparage all sightings and accounts and video and photos. What I ask is: ok, will someone with expertise or authority please explain what all the pictures and videos are. What are they, what natural or terrestrial phenomena explains them. I am very interested in knowing. But there is nothing. They've stopped with the usual suspects -- ball lightning, Jupiter, clouds, meteors and alike. Sometimes they wheel out government scientist spokes-spinner dancing bears like Neil Degrasse Tyson to do his laugh a minute routine, "there ain't nothing to see hear, folks," but not very convincingly. Since I have no confidence in the word of Power, in any of its forms, anymore, I take nothing from them at face value, including this subject.
Hi.
David1955 comments on Jan 7, 2020:
Absolutely not, and I hope you don't as well, though in situations like yours there can be a lot of pressure to conform. My view is: they are the ones who believe in nonsense from the Bronze Age, not me. In the end, people only respect you for being what you are. Also, have you ever thought that being open about your views might encourage others to reveal themselves also? Welcome to the Community.
Agnostics doubt whether there is a god, Atheists are adamant that there isn't.
David1955 comments on Jan 7, 2020:
And with what do we contemplate this? If Socrates couldn't decide, in between running after young Greek boys, as Woody Allen once humorously put it, and no one is further advanced on it, despite claims of white lights and so on, I don't see how contemplation helps.
Killing Soleimani reflects U.S. desperation in the Middle East
David1955 comments on Jan 7, 2020:
Killing him represents Trump's desperation to avoid being impeached and removed or losing the 2020 election. Trump is a mortal danger to the US and the world.
I have come to find agnostic/atheists decrying "know it all" atheists to be nearly as wrong and ...
David1955 comments on Jan 7, 2020:
Talk about Straw Manning oneself.
Obviously we will be served the same propaganda as the yanks since they have murdoch as well but are...
David1955 comments on Jan 7, 2020:
As intellectually uncreative as many Australians are, and as much as too many Australians fall for right wing bullshit and right wing fear campaigns and right wing propaganda, nevertheless most Australians still remain skeptical of Yankee war mongering and will be opposed to any involvement. Like Vietnam, after a few years. Like Iraq, from the beginning. But that will not stop the Liberal government felating the US and being the US's bitch in the asia Pacific region and going along with it, no matter public opinion. The useless gutless ALP doubtless will comply, never wanting to be wedged on principles it no longer has.
New evidence shows that the key assumption made in the discovery of dark energy is in error
David1955 comments on Jan 6, 2020:
Interesting. Not my area of knowledge, so would never offer an opinion, but i watch all docs on it. As long as new Agers don't try to tell us that dark energy/matter is god in another form, I'm happy. Let the science go forth.
Any thoughts on Gervais' speech?
David1955 comments on Jan 6, 2020:
The right message from the right atheist. But, really, does anyone really watch those silly award shows anymore? Hollywood and the entertainment industry generally are the very epitome of hypocrisy and illusion, incestuously connected to government agencies, the military and corporate oligarchs, essentially the propaganda arms of the US Ruling Class. I'm totally over all that crap, the phoney stars and their false progressivism. A few rich asshole stars at the top doing "good deeds", a swag of people below in the industry getting by, and a bunch of corporate oligarchs like robber barrons running the set up. In other words, Capitalism, wrapped up with phoney glamour.
Robert Dinero said he would like to see trump get hit by a bag of shit
David1955 comments on Jan 6, 2020:
Can a bag of shit get hit by another bag of shit?
God is that "thing" that, to the best of your knowledge, is at the top of your hierarchy of values.
David1955 comments on Jan 5, 2020:
So, God can mean anything, basically. A bit NewAgy isn't it skado?
As an Australian Prime Minister once said many years ago "life isn't meant to be easy".
David1955 comments on Jan 4, 2020:
Malcolm Frazer was Jewish?
GENERAL SOLEIMANI'S DEATH, THE ARCHDUKE FERDINAND ASSASSINATION OF OUR DAY? [united-cats.com]
David1955 comments on Jan 4, 2020:
Who the hell from the Pentagon suggested such a thing to Trump? Are they out of their minds? I know the US military are self-serving, arrogant and full of their own self- importance and invincibility, despite repeated failures since WW2, but I would have credited them with more intelligence than that. Or are Trump flunkies now running the Pentagon?
The more time I spend on this site, the more I realize that atheists know WAYYYYY more about ...
David1955 comments on Jan 3, 2020:
We know this experientially, and PEW research shows it statistically: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/08/21/among-religious-nones-atheists-and-agnostics-know-the-most-about-religion/ Not all atheists are former religious people, notably Christians. I was born in a Catholic family. Never believed it, though technically a "Christian". Atheist always. That's me. Not agnostic.
I was listening to One of Richard Dawkins books and it surprised me when he said that on his scale ...
David1955 comments on Jan 2, 2020:
I know Dawkins meant well with this scale, and I'm a big admirer of this, but this sort of scaling has contributed to the fragmenting of the non-religious across a spectrum which I find unhelpful and frankly silly to some extent. It has had the effect of atheists and agnostics bikering over what number they are on the scale. Perhaps I have been influenced in my life by Bertrand Russell whose view was that we should think deeply about what we believe about God/s and religion, and affirm that position confidently. Others I know see it differently.
Fantastic! Our DH PM has made international news That woman is early contender for Aussie of the ...
David1955 comments on Jan 2, 2020:
He's a corporate Christian -- that's what I call variants of Christianity like his -- with a heartless attitude towards anything other than elites. He cares no more for average Australians than he did for refugees when he was Minister for Immigration. Australians should hang their heads in shame for voting for him. As unappealing as Shorten was in the election, this government should never have been.
Galloway believes that Sanders is the only Democratic candidate that can defeat DJT.
David1955 comments on Jan 2, 2020:
Do you think a centrist might be as successful as Hillary Clinton was in 2016? I guess the principle is, if at first you fail miserably, try try again the same old way.
Well Peeps, the penultimate day of 2019 has arrived here in Australia, the countdown begins for the...
David1955 comments on Dec 30, 2019:
And what a disappointing decade it was. Began with a disappointing Rudd/Gillard debacle. Then years of misery under Abbott, the retro-virus of Oz politics. Then the disappointment continued with the underwhelming Turnbull, the political light-weight of Oz politics. Now finally we have no disappointment with ScoBlo Morrison, as he only continues to prove his worthlessness every day, as we expected. So much to look forward to in the 2020s. Happy New Decade.
Why are we buried in a box.
David1955 comments on Dec 29, 2019:
We aren't, necessarily. Cremation accounts for many. At its very core, burial is about safe disposal of organic matter, as clearly dead bodies all over the place would be an environmental and health issue. The dead are dead, but the living go on. The affectations to burial sites is something the living observe for the dead. So, whether it be a box or a urn or a dispersal, it's really about the living.
I remember sitting around with friends in elementary school and we all thought that wow the year ...
David1955 comments on Dec 28, 2019:
On Christmas Day I sat next to brother, 10 years older and me, and I said to him I had decided the 21st Century was a huge massive disappointment and sometimes I'm sorry I ever lived to see it. Further I added that every day I give thanks for having experienced the post WW2 20th century decades, a high point in western civilisation, despite many issues, now in palpable daily decline. I do not think this is just age talking. Were things improving I would be positive about it. Sadly, I do not feel sanguine about younger generations having the mindset or consciousness to do anything about it, utterly absorbed they are by their identity group grievances and technological addictions. Exceptions apart, they seem incapable of thinking "up", only around them or right in front of them. Perhaps my youthful 1960s visions about the future were fanciful and unrealistic, but I couldn't have imagined this 21st century and its realities.
My grandma told me that a Christian evangelist told her yoga isn't good.
David1955 comments on Dec 27, 2019:
And yoga is bad because, why, being physically flexible is the pathway to the devil? And I thought I'd heard them all.
White Christian America ended in the 2010s
David1955 comments on Dec 27, 2019:
Enemies are never more dangerous than when cornered, to quote a cliche. They see their salvation in an American variant of 'National Socialism' and it will get worse.
Trump’s Favorite Cable-News Channel is Now One America News President Trump’s current ...
David1955 comments on Dec 27, 2019:
I'm surprised they have called it "Reich TV America" -- the station for those of the master white race of America. They'll get there.
I was having a conversation with a Christian friend about free will.
David1955 comments on Dec 27, 2019:
Christians vacilate between a personal god who practices free will and doesn't when it suits it. If they truly believed in free will, then they would believe in an impersonal non- interventionist god. Such a 'let the cards fall where they may' god might at least be consistent. But of course, they don't believe in such a god. Churches, prayer, commandments and all the rest would be irrelevant. Free will means god doesn't interfere. Instead they believe in a god which allows free will and abrogates free will when it suits. Every time god "saves" someone, or performs a miracle or responds to a prayer, or 'comes into my life", and other such claims, is an intervention, or put another way means interfering with human free will. Their god is hopelessly inconsistent, responding to some prayers, but ignoring most. Why would a god "save" someone like rich boy G W Bush from his excesses, while ignoring the desperate prayers of parents with children with terminal diseases in hospitals? What made Bush more deserving than poor little dying children? (Free will isn't just people's decisions, it's also the interaction between people and their environment, like disease.) Christians never explain these inconsistencies. They want to have their cosmic cake and eat it too on free will. All this is utterly consistent with Gods conjured up in human minds and projected onto their lives and the world. From my experience, religious practitioners ( priests, etc) will not thank you for asking such questions as well.
Definitely.
David1955 comments on Dec 26, 2019:
I assume this is a joke, not a real Time cover. Nice one though. Agent Orange, The Siberian Candidate, The Spy who came in from the hair dye. Vlad's squeeze.
The Importance and Relevance of Endorsements in Presidential Candidates Joe BIden has the most ...
David1955 comments on Dec 26, 2019:
Does the prospect of a real progressive President -- Sanders -- worry you that much? Guess so. Watching the mainstream media's attempts to scuttle and ignore Bernie's campaign is almost as amusing as watching all those corporate Democrats do the same. Bernie's popularity and loyalty amongst his supporters keeps rolling along. Endorsements indeed!
'Civil war' among evangelicals is the last thing Trump needs | MSNBC
David1955 comments on Dec 26, 2019:
Sadly I think most of the hypocritical evangelicals are still with him. A few with some decency have called him out, but most see him as pursuing their right wing moralistic agenda. They're reactionaries wearing religious masks.
If you find mainstream religions troublesome, watch this series about cults.
David1955 comments on Dec 26, 2019:
Religions and cults, all on the same spectrum. All vile. Look at the Trump cult. I've loathed cults for 50 years, since the Manson Cult.
The Inevitable Death of Evangelical Christianity | Keith Giles
David1955 comments on Dec 26, 2019:
Religions don't die but they die out when people stop believing in them. Christianity is a GodMan meme that has antecedents going back thousands of years before the first century AD. New variants like evangelicalism will continue to evolve, sadly. But we should see evangelicalism now more as a reactionary political movement with a religious mask, rather than just a religion. Expect it to get worse.
What I do not understand is the fact that although the Prime Minister is in denial and devoid of ...
David1955 comments on Dec 24, 2019:
The Right are so terrified of being wrong on climate change and the Left being correct. As if it's a political issue not a scientific one. They voted for him. They can have him.
I really despise Christmas, the music, the militant adherence (my "family) to stupid rituals and ...
David1955 comments on Dec 24, 2019:
Personally speaking, I took charge of the Xmas thing long ago. Family knows my views on religions. Enough of the gift giving nonsense. Ignore the phoney Xmas joy, as preached by capitalism. Ignore the carols. Anyone tackles on Jesus, set them straight with some history. Sort of rise above it. That's what I do. At least it's not as ghastly as that Easter torture sacrifice zombie fest they get on with at Easter. I'll have nothing to do with that. Ps. Xmas is such a miserable time for many people. Sick, alone, grieving, financially struggling, just to name some. I never forget that.
Is 'god' an impersonal force of nature, a 'universal consciousness' similar in quality to other ...
David1955 comments on Dec 23, 2019:
Unless you can prove consciousness amongst those physics, then all you've got is another projection by humans onto the universe and calling it god. Not real scientists but pseudo scientists might go on about this stuff.
It's the logical thing to do.
David1955 comments on Dec 23, 2019:
I'm now not sure where in ST mythology Vulcans stand on religion. In the 60s TOS you always got the impression that Vulcans had nothing to do with religion. Very much Roddenbury's views on religion. Then decades later they had Vulcan mystical ceremonies, and even bringing Spock back from the dead, though I think this was not Roddenberry. I see that as part of the corruption of ST principles by later writers, pandering to popular religious drivel. I myself like to think of 60s Spock, rejecting all that is not logical, including silly religions. The more they make new fancy shallow ST, the more I look at the original series and appreciate it.
Afterlife thoughts... Do you believe in an afterlife?
David1955 comments on Dec 22, 2019:
If one follows a religion, then the afterlife reflects that theology. Christian afterlife, Muslim afterlife, Buddhist nirvana afterlife, sort of, ancient Egypt afterlife, Hindu afterlife, etc etc. All ridiculous. They can't be all correct. They're all wrong, is my view. But now we have new age pseudo religious afterlives: alternative universes, higher planes of existence, astro travelling alternate lives, yadayadayada. These get traction these days because they sound a bit like science, but with religious salvation in another form. Too many even smart people get hooked on this nonsense. But, it always comes back to the same question: where is the evidence? If the answer is, 'there is none, but it isn't about evidence" then you're just back in the religious corner but with another name.
This is what you vote in vain for .
David1955 comments on Dec 22, 2019:
One of my areas of interest over recent years has been researching the links, connections and control between the US military-industrial-corporate-security agencies complex (which it now is) and government levels, news organizations, entertainment industry -- tv, Hollywood, all forms -- education, and much more, and how they control, manipulate, stifle, manage messaging, and exercise such power in accordance with the US Ruling Class. This is not the so called deep state, but the ruling class that directs them. It comes as no surprise to me that Presidents are controlled from the get go. In Obama's case, you could see it work immediately after his swearing in. The US is not a democracy, but a Republic run by a ruling elite, whose tentacles reach everywhere. Then the soap opera is peddled through mainstream media and Hollywood and the rest to fool the populace to believing the fantasies that keep the show going. I've long since pulled back the veil to reveal the Wizard of US. The worst part is that they are slowly strangling the US to death.
Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Has Officially Moved (Toward Russia) [forbes.
David1955 comments on Dec 22, 2019:
Trump will be delighted. He'll probably take credit for that too.
Aw, Scummo Shouty Shittypants Happy Clappy Jesus Chappy has 'offered' an apology for taking his ...
David1955 comments on Dec 22, 2019:
I read somewhere that there is some buyers remorse amongst Australians for voting for Scum Mo. Well, that's a bit like someone paying top dollar for a clapped out rust bucket of a car and then having regrets. If you're that stupid then I have no sympathy for you. A fool and his money, or in this case fools and their votes. Shorten and co were the most underwhelming gang ever assembled by the Australian Loser Party, but anything would have been better than Scumbo and his gaggle of half-wits. What a farce Australia has turned into. What would Curtain, Chifley and even Gough say now?
Dissecting Christianity's Mind-Snaring System by Stephen Van Eck While Judaism was never a ...
David1955 comments on Dec 21, 2019:
So now I know: The Truth? I can't handle the Truth. I want Jesus on that wall. I need Jesus on that wall. At least according to Paul. I do wish they would rename that silly religion 'Paulianity". Would be more honest.
I am a syntheist who accepts both theism and atheism.
David1955 comments on Dec 21, 2019:
Further, atheism has never assumed that we judge people negatively simply on the basis of their religious belief, unless other information reflects on them. Atheism is a rejection of a religious view not the person. What synthesizing is required?
I am a syntheist who accepts both theism and atheism.
David1955 comments on Dec 20, 2019:
This is just word play, like saying matter and anti-matter are the same. Don't think science would agree. If one wants to say that they are an atheist who is tolerant of religious believers, then fine. But a silly hybrid word like this is reflective of the fracturing and fragmenting of definitions in the non-religious position which I find annoying.
Data has something on his mind
David1955 comments on Dec 20, 2019:
I guess his emotions chip kicked in.
Billy Graham's evangelical magazine calls for Trump's removal
David1955 comments on Dec 20, 2019:
Better woefully, pathetically, inexcusably and inexplicably late than never, I suppose. I'm not fooled by these Christo hypocrites. They just think Trump has outlived his usefulness pushing their right wing moralistic religious agenda, and now Pence could do that better. There's not a genuine decent molecule in their hypocritical bodies. Shameful.
Actress Julianne Moore was asked during an interview what she'd like to hear God say to her at the ...
David1955 comments on Dec 19, 2019:
And that God might add, "But you were wrong about the god you didn't believe in. I'm not that god, but another one. How do you do! I'm Apollo. Yes, your ancients were right!"
I am a 100 % sure atheist! The Bible is a fairy tale! Try to imagine an omnipotent being (God) who...
David1955 comments on Dec 19, 2019:
Good to have you here amongst the atheists. It does seem to me that since that the old religious claim, "Someone had to create the universe, you can't get something from nothing" has been destroyed by science, there's nothing left for them to hang on to, other than their inner child attachment to a big Boppa in the sky.
"If you don't believe in god, what religion are you?
David1955 comments on Dec 19, 2019:
"If you don't believe in god, what religion are you?" Well, that's a first. Usually it's "If you don't believe in God, what DO you believe in?" Did you think saying agnostic sounded better than atheist? I would have said, "if I am an atheist I go to hell. But as an agnostic I'd get a suspended sentence and counselling." But I'm a sarcastic bastard.
Afterlife
David1955 comments on Dec 18, 2019:
I take comfort from the fact that, despite all their talk, fancy ornate buildings, dudes in silly hats, threats, promises, blackmail, fairy stories, and worthless assurances, religions know nothing more about death than anyone else, indeed probably less, so wherever your thinking goes, leave religion out of the equation. The only thing religion knows is how to make money out of fear of it.
CHRISTMAS why do we celebrate the birth of a bastard child from an unwed mother, now revered.
David1955 comments on Dec 17, 2019:
I don't think you are thinking correctly about the birth of Jesus. In fact God impregnated a woman with himself (her permission and Joseph's approval not confirmed) in order to live to do party tricks and sacrifice himself to himself, in order that we may be forgiven for all the sins that he, God, created in the first place. Christmas is a stolen celebration from the pagans in order that we remember God's convoluted logic, and to be grateful for it. There. That will help the dry turkey go down. :-)
[alternet.
David1955 comments on Dec 17, 2019:
The Republicans call these never Trumpers, but in fact they are going to end up on the Right side of history. Rick Wilson is especially scathing and insightful and funny. I watch him on CNN and NBC.
Captain picard srumped
David1955 comments on Dec 17, 2019:
Just fire a tacheon beam at it. That fixes most things in ST TNG, it seems. :-)
Fox News Today , the guest made the statement “ one of reasons why young people are leaving ...
David1955 comments on Dec 16, 2019:
As a baby boomer I have taken some pleasure in reading that young people, Millennials, are increasingly non religious or apathetic about religion. On the other hand, I despair that many, not all, are apathetic about *everything* except social media, their damn iPhones, and whatever identity group they belong to, and the grievance they have over it. On the other, other, hand, I despair of baby boomers who are becoming increasingly right wing, self-ish, pro-autocratic, anti-modernist, regressive and closed minded. So, all in all its a depressing time.
Ever notice how The Wizard of Oz is basically about religion?
David1955 comments on Dec 16, 2019:
Oh I don't know. Maybe it's just thinly disguised Hollywood Right Wing subliminal propaganda, as so much of Hollywood is, funded and controlled by corporate military industrial complex structures. Don't ask for anything, just do it yourself, or put up with what you have, and don't expect anything, if you are not lucky enough to be rich, like us. The wizard is the government, or the public interest. Can't say I've ever had much time for that movie, even less now that it has been revealed that they drugged poor Judy, and all the men, munchkins included, molested her when they could. Charming. Hollywood, a "dream factory" built on the pretense of glamour, based on pure capitalist exploitation at its worst.
Lucky Australia switched to metric in time .
David1955 comments on Dec 16, 2019:
The Celsius, I don't mind. It's those damned centimetres and millimetres I loath. Give me feet and inches yards and so on; the brain can approximate with those. Think I'm old hat? Well people still walk into shops and by a 24" tv or a 60" one, and they are still advertised as such. Must be a reason.
Back in Summer 2009 at the age of 21, I was baptized after I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal ...
David1955 comments on Dec 15, 2019:
Keep rolling along and at some point you might realize that you are done, completely done, with all the religious crap, that it can't hurt you anymore, and then you might find that you're an atheist.
Trends in Atheism. [pewresearch.org]
David1955 comments on Dec 15, 2019:
Atheist is used here as a catch all phrase for the non-religious. That's questionable. For example it says, "Some people who describe themselves as atheists also say they believe in some kind of higher power or spiritual force." I suspect it is agnostics and new age types and alike who claim they are not religious but say things like that. Atheism is a clear and strong self-statement, and I don't find that atheists say things like that. Who is the author really talking about here - atheists, or a grab bag of non religious people who technically still are religious in my view? Articles like this don't help when they paint in broad brush strokes.
UK Election results Fucking Nightmare It is a like a plague of insanity Never seen 70,000,000 ...
David1955 comments on Dec 13, 2019:
It's a western nightmare, UK, US and here in Australia. Increasingly older populations, poorly informed, limited sources of information, angry, don't know who to blame and don't understand class and power, attracted to 'strong' conservative reactionary autocratic leaders. Looked at from a distance, I see the evolution of capitalism away from the west, the resulting decline in western consensus and systems, and the growth of autocracies. Gods knows what Johnson will do now he has a 'mandate'. I fear Trump will win again too, and his autocratic tendencies will be unstoppable. Our smiling god-bothering PM is no better, no doubt encouraged by the trends in the UK and US. Old populations, reactionary thinking, and autocrats ready to take advantage of it. It will get worse before it gets better, if it ever does.
Considering this is Agnostic.com , why are so many posts dealing with God or religion ?
David1955 comments on Dec 10, 2019:
Yeah, it's like having a site called "Pet Owners.Com" and having a lot of owners posting about their pets. Strange.
Well,at last it may seem we've a decent and REAL Aussie in Parliament.
David1955 comments on Dec 9, 2019:
I have no confidence that Australia will ever rise above being someone's bitch in the world. Britain's bitch, the US's bitch.. We are not the lucky country, but the lacky country. Our self-esteem comes from being a lacky to the big guys. Granted, millions of us hate this, but I'm too old to have any illusions about Australia now. Ask any change question and Australians will vote no.
This was quite the find. James Bond film amphibious car. [apple.news]
David1955 comments on Dec 1, 2019:
One of my favourite Bond movies. Little bit of trivia: Barbara Bach was paid a mere 75,000 dollars for the movie, and she co stared with Roger Moore. They wouldn't pay more, and several actresses turned it down first. Miserable even for the 1970s. Of course all the shots of the car under water and doing tricks were actually models and not this car. So, the car is little more than a prop. Still, nice find. They seem very sloppy with items from movies and tv. Recently I read that Roger Moore's great car from The Saint -- an early 60s Volvo sports -- was found in the 90s a rust bucket wreck on a farm. A Saint and car enthusiast bought it for nothing and restored it to its former glory. Guess these companies don't care.
End of the world: MIT prediction from 1973 is proving true - Big Think
David1955 comments on Dec 1, 2019:
I don't think we need a 1973 computer prediction to see where things are heading.
Harris’ Fall: A Campaign Divided And A Candidate Lost
David1955 comments on Nov 30, 2019:
Funny thing. At one time I thought well of her, then she kind of revealed herself and I lost interest. By comparison, I have had no interest in Tulsi Gabbard, completely ignored her until the last debate, and now I've got a crush on her and find her intriguing . :-) Still, I'm for Bernie, 100%.
Oh what fun it to an Atheist at this time of year.
David1955 comments on Nov 28, 2019:
Usually any cutting remark to the botherers will make them run a mile. It's soft targets they are after, not up front nonbelievers. But, don't beat yourself up too much. Even I have been known to make the occasional quip at the believers. Yes, even me! Recently I was jogging along an esplanade I live near, and two botherers were knocking at some sap's door, and I called out, "Don't waste your time. I'm sure it's a house of the Devil!" They shot around and glared disapprovingly as I jogged by grinning. But anyway, you should know better than to talk to Xians about the real history of their religion. It's not like they are interested or anything. As comic Dave Allen once said, Jesus was born at Christmas and died at Easter. He didn't hang around long, did he?
I for one cannot Wait until Giuliani starts giving testimony.
David1955 comments on Nov 25, 2019:
He won't. One thing that has appalled me about US politics over recent months is how people are subpoenaed by the Congress and then they virtually say, 'Screw You" and nothing happens and no one has the power to do anything. Off they go to court and on it goes. In any system of any worth they would be arrested and charged. So, I don't think he will give evidence. They will find ways to stall and delay. Sorry to say. I'd like to see him get the works.
[cincinnati.
David1955 comments on Nov 25, 2019:
28 years ago.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospitalized
David1955 comments on Nov 23, 2019:
It is repugnant that the Republicans are waiting for her to retire due to ill health or even worse pass away, so they can replace her with another right wing sleeze bag to do their bidding.
The plot to wage war on Christianity and Christmas is a wholehearted conspiracy theory that has no ...
David1955 comments on Nov 23, 2019:
It's transferred anger and fear. Christians sense the growth of secularism, the increasing numbers of openly stated non religious people, the indifference towards religions of Millennials, and this scares them. So they invent imagined wars against their silly festivals and the rest of their Bronze Age beliefs, both to rally their followers and to have an 'enemy' that is 'persecuting' them. It's obvious and pathetic really. What they are having a war against is change and social evolution, and no one wins that war.
Tulsi Gabbard is a centrist, and IMHO the most likely to be able to defeat DJT. [youtube.com]
David1955 comments on Nov 22, 2019:
I'll say this: she's a damn fine looking women! Like to see her take on Vlad Putin, who is a coward anyway. But she seems weak on domestic policies.
Great question from another site, Jesus was a carpenter what did he build ?
David1955 comments on Nov 22, 2019:
He wasn't a carpenter. Historians like Riza Azlan and Richard Carrier state that the preacher Joshua, later turned into Jesus, was an illiterate and unskilled labourer -- that's if he existed, which is doubtful. "Carpenter' sounds cooler, so that's the translation they liked. Razlan speculates that this preacher worked on building sites in some nearby city in teenage years as he had to do something. Funny, imagine he had been Son of God. His workmates on the sites sure would have been surprised. That dude over there mixing the cement created the Universe! Right.
A Mysterious Burst of Energy in Space Has Smashed Records [vice.com]
David1955 comments on Nov 21, 2019:
More trouble in the Q Continuum, I dare say. :-)
Would you sell your (nonexistent) soul?
David1955 comments on Nov 21, 2019:
Yes, and I would like to sell my non-existent Porsche, my non-existent gold bars, my non-existent Van Gogh paintings, and my non-existent Hope Diamond. I would be rich beyond my non-existent dreams. :-)
John de Lancie: Actor, Science Promoter on Freethought Matters (FFRF tv) [youtube.com]
David1955 comments on Nov 17, 2019:
I wish they had followed up exactly what John meant by keeping "faith" with reason. I think I can guess what he was driving at, but I would like to know his reasoning on this. He's a great guy.
John de Lancie: Actor, Science Promoter on Freethought Matters (FFRF tv) [youtube.com]
David1955 comments on Nov 17, 2019:
Anyone who has not watched JDeL's 5 minute video on openly secular.org, I recommend it. One of the best and most watched on the site. It's amongst the celebrities listed. Huge admirer Q. He was the best and most misunderstood of the ST characters: Roddenbury's way of having the cosmos tell us to lift our game.
Cenk Uygur, TYT reporter businessman, announced he is running for Congress in CA district 25.
David1955 comments on Nov 15, 2019:
Good luck to him. I watch TYT and he'll not be another corporate fed flunky sitting there getting rich on rich handouts. He would make a splash and he has guts. The Democrats would hate him to win, but i hope he does.
Hillary Clinton is talking like she might get into the Democratic presidential race.
David1955 comments on Nov 14, 2019:
Will someone PLEASE tell the Clintons to shut up, go away, and enjoy their millions with their rich friends. Jeez, can't they take a hint? Even Bill Maher said so on his show a while back.
What in the name of sanity is wrong these Hardcore Vegans who are now carrying on like headless ...
David1955 comments on Nov 14, 2019:
We do live in the age of social justice and environment warriors, don't we. It's not that I do not support progressive policies on such issues, i do, but the zealotry of the fringe harms rather than helps. It seems to have been like this since the 60s. I recall in the 70s and 80s womens movement for equality, which i have always supported, but still running up against the zealots for whom nothing could placate their anger. But the mainstream womens movement went on to make great changes and still is. As for sausages, yuk, never eat them. Full of crap, environmentally friendly or not.
Philosophy vs. Religion
David1955 comments on Nov 13, 2019:
Religions offer liberation? From what, thinking?
This garbage is but an example of "how tRump got there".
David1955 comments on Nov 9, 2019:
This kind of thing reminds me that Trump isn't just some crazy guy who got lucky and became President. He's at the tip of a broader historical movement, and comprises the reactionary, moralistic, Christian right wing anti- modernist base, combined with a driving fascist inclined elite, the Steve Bannons and his ilk, who do not even want a feigned democratic America, but an oligarchy under the rule of a minority who always knows what is best for the US, and even the world. Even if Trump is removed, this phenomenon will not go away. It will become more dangerous, unless there is a huge mobilization of national sentiment against it. I'm not convinced such a mobilization is possible in a country like the US. PS. Can someone remind me why *anyone* would have *anything* to do with Zuckercreep's Facecrap?
In case you missed it...Bill Maher (and his writers) were spot on last night... [youtube.com]
David1955 comments on Nov 9, 2019:
Tell you what else he was right about: that creepy slimy Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook. I fingered that guy a decade ago. Still the fools line up to join his putrid sites.
"Scott Morrison’s time at Tourism New Zealand, Tourism Australia and his preselection to ...
David1955 comments on Nov 8, 2019:
I saw through him years ago. A right wing Christian hypocrite. Aren't they all?
SPIRITUAL.
David1955 comments on Nov 7, 2019:
The real question, to me, is why are people *so* attracted to this word, even some non-religious? I think it is because it's a way to feel superior. Squabbling over definitions won't change my view on that.
Joe Biden claims Republicans will have an "epiphany" and work with him.
David1955 comments on Nov 6, 2019:
He might be epiphed off if or when he discovers he was wrong. :-)
The universe may be conscious, say prominent scientists - Big Think
David1955 comments on Nov 6, 2019:
Oh Jeez. Every new age mystic pizza eater and nirvanic levitating astro traveling universe hugger will be polishing their crystals and burning the midday incense on reading this. This is the stuff they love. Another god called The Universe.
I rarely pay much attention to American elections but this Kentucky business is priceless! ...
David1955 comments on Nov 6, 2019:
It's going to be very bad for me if this guy loses, Trump said. Don't let it happen, he warned. Well, they did, and it was. Priceless, as you say.
I sincerely have a hard time comprehending what "spiritual" means.
David1955 comments on Nov 4, 2019:
My own cynical view is that when people think they are way too cool to be called boring old religious, but want to impress people at parties that they connect to the "higher level" meanings in life, they say, "I'm very spiritual." Doesn't work on me. They do hate it when I laugh though.
Chomsky sits down with Mehdi Hasan to discuss the impeachment inquiry against President Donald ...
David1955 comments on Nov 3, 2019:
If I'm not mistaken, Mr Hasan is the same guy who told Richard Dawkins that of course he believed Mahommad rose to heaven on gold chariot. To which Dawkins, astonished, replied sarcastically, " Why 'rose' ?" (There's no up or down in the heavens).
I'm becoming atheist because I'm tired of churches I'm getting tired of religions
David1955 comments on Nov 3, 2019:
"Becoming" atheist and "getting" tired of religions uses a verb tense, present progressive, suggesting ongoing but not yet completed action or situation. It will be great when you can say to yourself and everybody else, "I am an atheist" and "I am over religions", period. Present tense fact. Hope so.
I just read that there have been approximately 108 billion people in history.
David1955 comments on Nov 3, 2019:
Yes, and think about the poor suckers, millions and millions of them, who lived and died for thousands of years *before* Christianity . They didn't even have a chance! It was only after the first century AD when god said, 'Ok, I'm gonna knock this chick up, get myself born, preach, do miracles, get myself tortured and killed, come back, briefly, and then anyone who doesn't believe in me will go to Hell.' Christianity, you gotta love it.! (Not)
Hi I have just joined the site and am still finding my way around.
David1955 comments on Nov 3, 2019:
Hi. Curiously, we mostly complain about bad Oz politics in this group. There's mostly a consensus that it is appalling. There's a consensus on religion too. Mostly that it's appalling too. :-)
I have the perception that religious people are coming to be part of nonreligious group to invade ...
David1955 comments on Nov 3, 2019:
I've never understood why the religious would want to be part of a community like this one. I don't buy the 'I enjoy good debates' argument. From my experience the religious rarely think deeply about what and why they believe, don't relish serious questions about that, and prefer to stay in their faith comfort zone. However, I have said before that there are some believers who hang around nonbelievers because of their own doubts, and this is one to maintain a camouflage while engaging on the issues. As for others, well maybe it's that silly converting others fantasy they hang onto.
Quick little "hello".
David1955 comments on Nov 3, 2019:
If only we knew who you are?
Love the irony
David1955 comments on Nov 2, 2019:
Isn't it spelt Troi? Her name I mean.
I'm agnostic & somewhat spiritual but that doesn't necessarily mean I want to talk about it.
David1955 comments on Nov 1, 2019:
Okay. Consider these subjects closed, from your point of view. :-) But, it's a strange definition of agnosticism, and I've heard some doozies around here over the time.
The Latest Democrat Candidates 2020 The struggle is real for Joe Biden This article [cnn.
David1955 comments on Oct 31, 2019:
The more right wing people like you and media disparage Bernie, the more they reveal their fear of the new idealism that he represents, and the support he has amongst huge numbers of people in America who want a new New Deal. More power to him. But keep disparaging him. It puts a smile on my face.
Just reached Level 7.
David1955 comments on Oct 30, 2019:
Well, some do it by posting huge amounts of frivolous posts in order to get points, while others contribute as they wish to, not obsessed by points, allowing nature to take its course. That's what I did.
I always took Spock for an Atheist.
David1955 comments on Oct 27, 2019:
Every day is a blaspheming day for me.
Does this help?[agnostic.com]
David1955 comments on Oct 26, 2019:
These tables that plot a spectrum of agnostic - atheist - theist positions have always amused me. Some seem to really like them. Me, well i did some serious reading and thinking on the subject a long time ago and determined that I am an atheist. Now if anyone comes up with some evidence that is credible on the god question, and not just supernatural banter or waffle, then I'd happily consider it. I'm still waiting...
Anyone ever notice that the crucified Jesus is shown in pictures as being both nailed and also tied ...
David1955 comments on Oct 25, 2019:
Well, those details I'll leave for others, but what I find interesting is the story about how they took him down, wrapped him up and put him in a tomb. Yes, the Romans allowed the crucified to be taken down after death and given nice burials. Rubbish! As historian Bart Erhmann has written, the punishment of crucifixion involved having the bodies rot and disintegrate on the cross; it was a political punishment, designed to impose fear on locals. The rotting remains were then dragged into pits or dragged onto fires and burnt. So, if Jesus came back in a few days he either crawled out a pit of corpses like something in The Zombie Apocalypse or walked out of the fire like a Terminator robot. Don't tell Christians. Jesus was special, they say, and it was different for him, because the Romans knew he was son of God. What!? So, why the frig did they kill him? Hopeless cult followers.
My journey to becoming an Agnostic.
David1955 comments on Oct 25, 2019:
Well great, but i hope you follow your atheist father, eventually. Arguments along the lines of "I can't be sure.." and "science can't show me there isn't a god, so I'll be agnostic" don't cut it for me. Science explores what exists, not to prove what doesn't exist."
‪I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone!‬
David1955 comments on Oct 23, 2019:
There is an episode of TTZ when the late Denis Hopper plays a populist fascist type leader who plays on fears and becomes very powerful. The episode was set in America. It was Serling's way of saying, 'It can happen here too. Be careful of hateful leaders!". Were he still with us, he would look at Trump as say to us, "I warned you!".
Why do some atheists or agnostics still feel so unsecured and not in peace?
David1955 comments on Oct 23, 2019:
You meant "insecure" I presume. A loan can be unsecured, but not a person, I don't think. I don't see the issue. Some agnostics are more tentative in their view, but that a position view. In my experience, when people say "I am an atheist" they are usually pretty secure in themselves and their view.
Atheist, Humanist, Secularist, Skeptic, Freethinker
Here for community
  • Level8 (112,822pts)
  • Posts293
  • Comments
      Replies
    3,075
    2,564
  • Followers 33
  • Fans 0
  • Following 1
  • Fav. Posts 1
  • Joined Dec 19th, 2017
  • Last Visit Very recently
David1955's Groups