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Trump administration is rewriting the official hisorical record in a very Orwellian way
David1955 comments on Jul 27, 2018:
Though we say Orwellian it is of course the way of undemocratic regimes and always has been. I remember as a young history student at university in the 1970s, listening to a visiting Soviet Union professor of history giving a lecture. When asked about his country's history he explained that there was at any one time an official history which was recognized and taught. Just one official history. When challenged he said that when that official history needed to be changed, it was changed. This, he added, made it clear for everyone. Wonderful. Russia hasn't changed, and sadly President Chump in the US would have this too. Look at authoritarian countries around the world and they always control the media and official history.
Expats and former expats usually prefer to date people who have lived abroad.
David1955 comments on Jul 26, 2018:
Absolutely. You know I lived in Thailand for years. Even returning for visits I look for expats. The mindset is permanent. I don't think non expats could ever really understand this.
How convinced are you?
David1955 comments on Jul 26, 2018:
How convinced am I that one of the thousands of gods that millions and billions of people believed in, in the past, and do believe in now, might be true while all the other gods are wrong? Not at all.
Why are there so many people who are lonely?
David1955 comments on Jul 26, 2018:
Yes, it's very evident, including on this site. It's the paradox of the modern world: the more connected we become, the more isolated we start to feel. As capitalism had reduced people more and more to economic units in a dehumanised society, the more alienation people feel. I read Karl Marx on this 40 years ago, but believe it now more than ever.
Husband is Catholic I am me.
David1955 comments on Jul 26, 2018:
Those candlelight dinners over a good bottle of wine must be truly interesting. :-) Good luck to you. They say opposites attract. I guess it's true. No advice on the bike; I'm sure you use your best judgement. Having ridden a bike myself, and in Thailand, no less, one of the most dangerous places to ride, any protection, divine or otherwise, real or imagined, can't hurt. :-)
If you could bring back one atheist who and why me bertrand russell such a nice guy no malice in ...
David1955 comments on Jul 25, 2018:
Carl Sagan, technically an agnostic, but certainly a person who rejected mainstream religion. The reasons why are obvious; a great great man. I agree with you about Bertrand Russell, a great mind and great man.
That was then. This is now. The Law of Unintended Consequences.
David1955 comments on Jul 25, 2018:
Big subject, interesting post. As a student of history I'm also aware of the folly of thinking that past solutions can be applied simply. History doesn't repeat itself but cycles do apply. Your post seems to relate to the current crises in capitalism, specifically US capitalism. We are now in a period where neo-liberal conservative economics have been discredited, or at the very least have been shown to be simplistic - deregulation, so-called free markets, small government and the rest -- though conservatives cling to this secular economics religion. If you are suggesting that Keynesian pump-priming economics can no longer be applied as solutions as in the past, you are right, and I don't think Mr. Sanders simplistically believes that as well. Capitalism has evolved, and also moved geographically with the emergence of developing countries. Still, some broad principles apply: the consensus in economics in the post WW2 period of a mixed economy of public and private interest, government role in protecting the public interest, a real safety net against poverty, and *fair taxation* including on those who can afford to pay it, has been lost, actually attacked and ruthlessly so from the right of politics, a direct assault on the equality gains in the period 1950s - 1970s. Politicians like Sanders are not suggesting that they have all the answers, but practical measures, like public protection regulation, infrastructure investment, social and economic safety net, democratizing of political processes and alike, are a good start. The challenge to the left, not only in the US but also in other western countries like mine, is to translate these issues into a credible political platform. Problem is, left of centre political parties since the 1980s have been hopelessly corrupted by neo-liberal economics and seem unable to transcend them.
I think it's funny when me, the atheist, defends the Pope to people of his own religion.
David1955 comments on Jul 23, 2018:
I advise that you not be fooled by this Pope and his trickery. He is not reforming anything. His public utterances about gay people or atheists etc are carefully worded to mean nothing. They have no legitimacy as church policy, and he knows it. Moreover his apparatchiks walk back what he almost doesn't say when the mainstream media aren't looking. His so-called struggle against the traditionalists in the church is pure papal spin; he is 'playing' the kitchen Catholics and so-called liberal Catholics who are desperate for any excuse to stay in this church, more for reasons of ritual and identity than serious belief. Dig deeper into the church and you will find oppression of those to seek to seriously reform this church, at ground level. No committed atheist should want to defend this pope and church.
A few questions for Atheists out there.
David1955 comments on Jul 22, 2018:
Born a nonbeliever. Have a family of kitchen Catholics. Told them, they don't approve and I couldn't care less. What's it like? Liberating.
Et Tu Bernie? [ghionjournal.com]
David1955 comments on Jul 21, 2018:
Yes, Mr Sanders needs to stay focused on the big picture. The progressive forces that want to reform the Democratic Party to the left, or create a movement transcending the DP have been saying not to be sidelined by the Russia story. It's true that countries do this stuff, the US as much as anyone. Having said that, Trump is a traitor, he is looking to promote Russian interests, to destroy NATO, inpair US governance, to weaken the US and support world dictators, and he must be exposed, removed, charged and not pardoned, and the Republican Party shamed for their acquiescence. Do that and pursue the bigger progressive political campaign as well. Unfortunately your Democratic Party is hopelessly corrupt, due to the likes of the Clintons and their ilk.
If many Christians believe in transubstantiation, (wine & cracker transform into body & blood of ...
David1955 comments on Jul 21, 2018:
Well, let's face it, ya'll, if you can believe that God turned up in the Bronze Age, impregnated himself into woman, got himself born, was illiterate, worked as a labourer, performed miracles, was happy to be tortured and then killed, and then came back from the dead, then, quite frankly, you'll have no problem believing he's happy to be eaten and drunk by those who consider him as their saviour. Simple really.
Forty-nine years ago today (July 20) marks the first manned landing on the Moon.
David1955 comments on Jul 20, 2018:
I was 14, so no celebratory sex, but I remember like it was yesterday. Here in Australia it was July 21st and Monday and during the day. It's wasn't a holiday, but what kid was going to school while dudes walked on the moon? I thought the world was going to be like 2001 A Space Oddessy, instead the world has turned into the shit-fest we live in. And just two weeks later Manson and his cult of morons went a-slaughtering, a portent of the real future ahead of us, as I look back. But, I've never forgotten the thrill of that day, and what we as a species can do when we follow our better natures and science. Of course, what they might have discovered on the moon over Apollos 11 to 17, and never told us, well that's something else again. Sadly, back then as a kid, I thought NASA was the most amazing organization in the world. These days it's Never A Straight Answer NASA and I barely believe a word they say about anything. Loss of youthful idealism indeed.
What is happening to our Community?
David1955 comments on Jul 20, 2018:
I think your comments are interesting and I'm going to reflect on them and about how the site is evolving. But for now, I'm going to say two things which might not be popular: I don't think the groups function has been a great success, with the best of intentions. I think they have fractured the community. I remember back in 2017 when it was just one communal discussion place. I know that omelette can't be unscrambled now, but it's how I feel. The blocking function, which I think was meant as a last resort, has become too much of a focus, when ignoring in most cases would suffice. Some thickening of skins around here wouldn't go astray. Also, it feels less like a truly global non religious community than it seemed back then. These are some initial impressions anyway.
Does anyone ever wish Aliens would come down and just shut up every theist.
David1955 comments on Jul 18, 2018:
We want to avoid a pseudo alien-religion thinking, as Carl Sagan said, but the idea that aliens might arrive and raise our consciousness is a nice fantasy. However it seems to me that if aliens arrive they might - - kill us, eat us. (Thank you Rod Serling) - rule us. - convert us into a new species. - educate and inspire us to improve. Personally I think if they arrived we, or some of us, like reactionary conservatives and religionists, would turn against them when they challenged our stupid ideas, like religion. They probably are smart enough to know this and have wisely decided to steer clear. I don't expect them to arrive any time soon, even if they do exist.
How can we as a nation accuse Russia, China and numerous other countries of being an aggresser?
David1955 comments on Jul 17, 2018:
If the world collapses into the calamity of universal false moral equivalence, as suggested here, then we are indeed truly screwed. And BTW, I live in a country which, had it not been for US support in WW2, would have been invaded by Japan. If we are going to criticize the US, let's look at both sides of the history ledger.
A GOP-Backed Law Would Punish States That Don’t Fund Anti-Gay Adoption Agencies – Friendly ...
David1955 comments on Jul 17, 2018:
I don't believe in Hell, but if there is one, I hope there is a special place in it for your Republican Party.
I know that some of you pioneer users miss the good ol’ heady days, the first months of ...
David1955 comments on Jul 17, 2018:
I'll never think of the humble cow in the same way again. Can I add Never Cow Tow to Donald Trump? (No, it's not funny. Skip it.) :-)
Every time I scroll through comment sections on this site, I feel joy.
David1955 comments on Jul 17, 2018:
Yeah, it's kind of special, isn't it.
Trump Summit Betrays His Country For Russia In Plain Sight
David1955 comments on Jul 16, 2018:
As an Australian it's terrible to watch. As a patriotic American it must be beyond appalling for all of you.
James Comey on Twitter: "This was the day an American president stood on foreign soil next to a ...
David1955 comments on Jul 16, 2018:
Whatever one think about Mr Colmey and his political judgement, he's right. I wrote a post last week humourously predicting the asset trump and handler Putin meeting, and I think I was spot on.
Theists and believers
David1955 comments on Jul 16, 2018:
They can, wish they wouldn't, but that's just me. There's enough of 'em in the real world without having them here. Some think that exposure here might change them. Never going to happen.
Love Letters to Richard Dawkins I laugh every time I watch it. [youtu.be]
David1955 comments on Jul 16, 2018:
My favourite letter, don't know if it's this video or another, is from one nut case lady who writes in detail about how God and Jesus are going to get Dawkins and then signs it Daughter of a loving Christ. Lovely.
New study casts doubt on the existence of alien life in our galaxy.
David1955 comments on Jul 16, 2018:
I read that they even doubt life anywhere in the universe other than earth. I mean really? We've been seriously studying the universe in species time for about 20 seconds and they speculate that we are probably alone. Okay fellas, keep up the good work. The rest of us might assume that any speculation at this point might be highly tentative at best, fancy algorithms not withstanding. Garbage in garbage out. I've got this funny thought that there might be aliens out there in spaceships studying us, reading the report and laughing their asses off (or whatever they have behind them). Perhaps they've got stand up comics back at their home planet doing whole routines based on us. I don't think this kind of stuff does much to enhance the reputation of science.
I was a real Republican. I don't recognize my party now, or what it stands for.
David1955 comments on Jul 16, 2018:
With all due respect to people who claim the Republican Party was somehow wonderful in the past but has lost its way under Trump and now they can't identify with it, might a reality check be in order. This was a party that * didn't help the progressive measures on racial tolerance or social welfare in the past, indeed they thwarted where possible. * was the party of Nixon, and only did the right thing when the writing was on the wall. * maintained an attack on Clinton, whatever his shortcomings, putting party before country, displaying the kind of phoney moral hypocrisy and utter ruthless disregard for the people collateral damage they caused. * rig electoral boundaries wherever possible in their favour, disenfranchising people with scant regard to the meaning of democracy. * used such dirty electoral tricks to bluster there way to the Bush Jr presidency, a biased Supreme Court they created doing their bidding. The Bush Jr presidency responsible for the 9/11 attacks which their incompetence did not prevent, not to mention the cluster-fucks (pardon my French) that STILL are Afghanistan and Iraq, and the almost total collapse of American capitalism in 2008 due to a major degree to republican 'economic' reform, and the colossal national debt which still ails the US. * has allowed the worst kind of rancid reactionary conservative moralistic anti-modernist Christian fundamentalism to infect the national debate in America. Just to name a few. This is party of the core ruling class of America. It cares for nothing but its class. Always has, always will. A party of pirates and crooks, devoid of true patriotism or political philosophy. Anyone who says that this party used to be a great party before.....etc is delusional and doesn't know about its history.
I am curious if anyone ever wonders how can this really smart person believe in God?
David1955 comments on Jul 15, 2018:
Some of the smartest people I've ever met were religious, but as soon as I engaged them on religion they were less smart. So, I've come to believe that belief in religion doesn't come from the rational part of the brain but the emotional child-residue part. I'm sure it's complicated, but essentially that's what it is.
As I am trying let people know about community, I always get the question/comment of how theists ...
David1955 comments on Jul 15, 2018:
Not excluded, as long as they play nice, is the rule. Ok, admin rules apply. My personal view is that should the site descend into a mire of God botherers telling us how sinful we are and how God loves us and his zombie son died, or rather didn't, for our sins, then that would be the end of it. Fortunately I don't think that will happen. The other point in my view is that theists and pseudo theists don't add anything to the site, as far as I can see. In any debate they are outclassed and soon realise it.
Godless conservatives?
David1955 comments on Jul 13, 2018:
It beats me too. They never really explain the link between right wing thinking and a rejection of religion. Conservatism is inextricably linked to religion, and any fool can see that. On the other hand I can easily forge a link between rejection of religion, belief in science and reason, humanism, and progressive social and economic thinking. I don't have to deal with any cognitive dissonance to do that. Worse than that, modern conservatism has mutated into a form of reactionary anti modernism, with "faith" in strong leaders, so-called "free markets" (an illusion) and a rancid form of screw-you individualism. It still has more in common with religion than reason. The answer, as always, is human compartmentalising of beliefs in the brain. Anything can be reconciled with a total lack of serious thinking.
NASA X-Files
David1955 comments on Jul 13, 2018:
You can believe everything Never A Straight Answer tells you, all you have to be is totally gullible. It amazes me that NASA thinks anyone believes anything they say, but then I watch something NASAish on mainstream media, buying it hook, line and cover story, and I realise how it still works in mainstream land.
My gym update ! So I went online last night after coming on here complaining about the annoying ...
David1955 comments on Jul 13, 2018:
Ask them if you can play some Islamic music, or some Hindu chants or some Buddhist songs and when they react in horror ask them why exercisers should then have to listen to their damn Christian death cult tunes.
Do you consider Barack Obama a Super Hero?
David1955 comments on Jul 12, 2018:
A decent man, but in the end a Chicago democrat who gave great speeches but couldn't follow up. As the late Gore Vidal said in 2007 about Obama, yes 2007, Chicago democrats always give great speeches but never stand for anything. He forsaw what we couldn't see then. Nothing will remain of his presidency ultimately other than the memory of lost opportunity to attempt real change, a failure that lead to Trump. Sorry to say.
What kind of Atheist are you?
David1955 comments on Jul 12, 2018:
I prefer atheist activist. Militant atheism was actually invented by theists to attack us. I'm defiantly an assertive atheist, anti theist, not agnostic, anti theist, anti religion, with no buts about it, with values drawn from humanism and progressive politics, economics and social justice.
A/Gnostic A/Theist. (Apologies if re-post)
David1955 comments on Jul 11, 2018:
I'm a simple soul, I'll just take atheist, thanks. :-<
How do you feel about religious music being played in a gym?
David1955 comments on Jul 11, 2018:
Ask for a refund and look for a new one.
"I cannot believe in God when there is no scientific evidence for the existence of a supreme being ...
David1955 comments on Jul 11, 2018:
I just hope Jodie doesn't run into some agnostics who will attempt to drown her with stuff like, "you have to prove a negative, you have to prove that there is no God or you are dogmatic" and "gods can't be proven or disproven so you have to be an agnostic" and "God might be everywhere and nowhere so science doesn't apply, so play safe and be agnostic" and "don't be an arrogant atheist but adopt the "nuanced" position of an agnostic.." and stuff like that. Hope she doesn't.
I'm tired of being punished, ostracised, or mistreated in one way or another because I don't buy ...
David1955 comments on Jul 11, 2018:
Always remember that they are on the wrong side of history, but you are not. Knowledge of that has always sustained me. I sometimes imagine myself walking around ancient Rome and saying "All these gods we have are bullshit, guys" and probably being stoned to death, but I'd be right wouldn't I. Who would stone me to death now for saying that? No one. Right side of history. I'll take it anytime.
‘For the first time since Reagan began stacking the court with originalists like the late justice ...
David1955 comments on Jul 11, 2018:
And in the US this is called an independent judicial system? I laugh when I hear about the "brilliant" legal minds that are placed on your Supreme Court. Apparently being a brilliant legal mind means making legal judgments based on personal politics and party leanings, and then finding arguments to justify the ruling. Doesn't sound that brilliant to me. Even to a non legally trained mind like mine I have this idea that legal judgments should be purely based on independent legal argument, not a person's religion or politics. Of course, the rest of the world does not see this crap going on in the US. No, not at all. Right.
The humbling of the atheists: How religion survived the progress of science "Not so long ago, ...
David1955 comments on Jul 10, 2018:
I saw this. Everyday I come across a new article in the mainstream media and elsewhere putting the boot into atheism. The recurrent themes are: Atheism is waning. The atheist activists, Dawkins et.al. are no longer relevant. Atheists are kicking the shit out each other these days. Atheism is hopelessly divided and dying. Atheism no longer knows what it wants. Atheism no longer knows what it stands for. Atheists eat more babies for breakfast than they ever have. Everyday some new article appears on my iPad magazine with some story about how atheism's time has come and gone. It's unrelenting, and so obvious from religious apologists and their sycophants. Have we got them that worried? I've thought about posting on this but I guess those of you who are genuine nonbelievers already know. I hope they keep it up. It means we are getting somewhere.
How many of you still use the phrases "Oh thank god" or "Dear lord" or something else that ...
David1955 comments on Jul 10, 2018:
Forgot to mention I've recently picked up James Colmey's "Oh Lordy!" Just like it.
Human Ancestors Were Nearly All Vegetarians ...
David1955 comments on Jul 9, 2018:
I've always wondered, if we are meant to eat meat, why do we have to cook it first? Does your cat or dog need a steak cooked medium to well done? Nope.
How many of you still use the phrases "Oh thank god" or "Dear lord" or something else that ...
David1955 comments on Jul 9, 2018:
Not really, but I have picked up Luke Cage's "Sweet Christmas!"
"The American people are a welcoming and generous people.
David1955 comments on Jul 9, 2018:
Some comments have been made here about US intrusions into other countries and the damage caused by US foreign policy. I totally agree. With great respect to the people in America, there is indeed a need for some balance to this ledger. US invasions, interference in other countries and their politics, unimaginable deaths and injuries, propping up always right wing regimes, and on it goes, all carefully crafted by mainstream media and political parties to conform to the "we're the good guys" image. On the big scale of things you are the good guys, but you are betrayed by the ruling military industrial corporate class who rule over the people of America with the same distain that they show the rest of us. The American outrage over Russian meddling into its politics is hypocrisy writ large. You wrote the rule book, now used against you. Intrusions into your sovereignty and borders? The borders of other countries mean little to you when it suits you. Americans need to take Morpheus' pill and wake up and see the matrix being fed to you. You need a reality check more than a border wall.
Would you be interested in a PAID affiliate program for Agnostic.com?
David1955 comments on Jul 8, 2018:
I truly confess I do not understand the economics of this site, and I say that with the greatest respect to the site administration and with appreciation of its existence, and would like a definitive explanation of how it operates, including this issue of advertising that is being discussed here. The site is well established now and many of us have shown our loyalty to it, so surely this is reasonable.
Did anyone else catch the news about the 8 Republicans that went to Russia for the 4th of July?
David1955 comments on Jul 8, 2018:
Seems to be the treason season in the Republican Party these days. Do they still hang traitors in the US?
Star Trek vs.
David1955 comments on Jul 8, 2018:
ST for when I want to feel sanguine about our future, well at least the old ST. SW for when I want some escapism from our miserable present.
Revolution around the corner?
David1955 comments on Jul 8, 2018:
I believe in the dialectic of history, the momentum of change and progression by conflict and resolution by negation of contradictions, producing new states which result in further contradictions and conflict and so on. We focus on the multitude of issues that surround us, but the bigger picture I believe is the decline of the west and western values, partly through the emergence of the next stage in the Industrial Resolution, which is both moving away from and transforming the west negatively, and also the pursuit in the west of anti-progressive politico-economic policies which are fostering inequality, internal conflict and internal decline. I suspect this broad momentum was probably inevitable due to the historical forces at work now in this century. I also think this will result in conflict, as in class and power conflict, revolutions possibly in one form or another, when consciousness evolves to that point. Add to this the inevitable impact that planetary damage will produce in the near future, climate change etc, and the middle and later stages of this century will, I suspect, be every bit as catastrophic as the science fiction writers have prophesied in the past. I for one give thanks for having spent my youth and younger days in the decades 60s-90s which I think will be written up as the high point decades of the west after the defeat of military fascism in the 1940s. Going forward I can only feel negative about the future of liberty and freedom in the world and the strengthening of fascism in the world. Just for the record, I do not think fascism was defeated in the past, just set back. It has just evolved into new and even more dangerous variants. We can no doubt expect religions to be of no help in the struggle against it, in fact quite the opposite as always.
Collective Identity of Non-theists
David1955 comments on Jul 7, 2018:
I think this kind of broad definition does apply to a large group, indeed the largest group within the non believer community including globally. Indeed these characteristics should apply to non believers, in my humble. But we are all aware that the herding cats analogy does apply, with many exceptions, including reactionary conservative non believers who care little for humanistic or social and equity issues, secular religionists who seem to believe in religion in a thinly disguised secular form, new age types who consider themselves non religious but peddle pseudo religious-science mumbo jumbo, and so on. Despite this the existence of a major and global and I think growing group, of which I am one, with the characteristics you have attributed is important to recognize and hopefully build on.
Jim Bakker: God Personally Told Me He Sent Donald Trump to Delay the End Times – Friendly Atheist
David1955 comments on Jul 6, 2018:
This is Jim Bakker the evangelist crook, right? Well, birds of a feather hypocrite together.
Hello everybody.
David1955 comments on Jul 5, 2018:
Welcome fellow Adelaidian. Good to have you.
So how did Noah get the critters from Australia across the ocean to his canoe and then get them back...
David1955 comments on Jul 4, 2018:
When you've got God on your side every animal husbandry problem is just a miracle away from a solution.
I found a new favorite drink.
David1955 comments on Jul 4, 2018:
Isn't that the Devil's Beveridge? Read that somewhere..:-)
Is the Trump presidency a gift in disguise?
David1955 comments on Jul 2, 2018:
Interesting comment. I wonder about that too. The US political system to me is badly structured to foster reform. Whether your 'it's a ill wind" type thinking leads to some serious reflection and reform remains to be seen. I fear the dominant military-industrial-political-corporate ruling class there would ever allow serious change is questionable. Ultimately things change when people rise up, even in protest, enough to frighten the ruling class. That's the true hope in the US. It comes down to a change in consciousness; it always does. Regrettably, the US is terribly divided. The working class anger that Trump has tapped into is justified but currently misdirected in support of him. Obama tapped it, and then squandered it, shamefully, as he was not a genuine reformer, but a silver tongued Chicago Democrat, a decent man, but all gravy and no meat.
What’s the worst or most boring job you’ve ever had?
David1955 comments on Jul 2, 2018:
Picking olives. Trust me boyfriends and girlfriends, you don't want to go there. :-)
How often do you watch movies or read books that express a nuanced opinion about religion?
David1955 comments on Jul 2, 2018:
I can't stand media that is religious propaganda in any form. I stick to history, visual and written, and alike, and have little or no tolerance for religious soft or hard sell. Those old bible movies are now such a laugh, sanitized melodrama, but post Life of Brian Hollywood makes biblical crap that is violent and bloody and intended to 'guilt' us into believing it. I refuse to watch any of it. I am a stickler for real history and facts, and religious crap annoys the hell out of me.
We're happy to roll out an update to our "likes" button.
David1955 comments on Jul 2, 2018:
What is the link now between these various like options and the points system, specifically between the negative ones and points? The "Likes" are counted towards points, right? And the others?
I am an Activist in the Resistance movement, a throwback to my grandparents involvement in social ...
David1955 comments on Jul 1, 2018:
Those of us outside of the US are with you in spirit, more than a little concerned about the future of the US to put it mildly.
I joined this site because of the Title, Agnostic.
David1955 comments on Jun 30, 2018:
I don't understand your first paragraph, suggesting a contrast between what you were expecting and what you have found here, specifically what makes an agnostic or the agnostic position. Regarding definitions, these are yours, and they are basic, but search the post history and you will find many posts and discussions going back to the formation of the site, about these kinds of definitions. Sometimes the debates are quite rigorous, consistent with a community of free thinking people.
Hi Happy to find this group from WA
David1955 comments on Jun 30, 2018:
Greetings from the city of churches, Adelaide. I know, it's a joke since hardly anyone actually goes to them anymore, as far as I can see.
Do you regularly meet up with other atheists/agnostics?
David1955 comments on Jun 30, 2018:
I wish I could. Those of you who do are fortunate. I hope I might find myself one day connected to a like minded group but I am not hopeful. The odd individual I may meet, but that's all.
Why is it easier to believe 150,000,000 Americans are to lazy to raise themselves from poverty than ...
David1955 comments on Jun 29, 2018:
It's called class consciousness. In the 19th century they would force them into poor houses and blame them for being lazy and offending God. Now they have structures like the Republican party and Fox News to convince them that the rich are always 'deserving' and the poorer 'undeserving'. Modern aristocracies and application of power, same thinking of privilege.
Is it okay for an atheist to sing sacred music?
David1955 comments on Jun 29, 2018:
You know, it's funny, I loathe religious music of all kinds, but there's an exception to everything. I am big fan of Hank Williams Sr, though I don't like country music generally, another exception. For me he's a blues singer. But I love his gospel songs and have them all, because he has a voice that cuts right through to your centre, and unlike most gospel singers he believed every word. Even for a hard bitten atheist like me, his Pale Horse and his Rider resonates, I suppose because of the reality of mortality.
Is it possible to 'kill yourself' just by thinking about it?
David1955 comments on Jun 29, 2018:
I'm just glad it's not possible to kill someone else by thoughts alone, like the voodoo types imagine, well in the movies anyway. Otherwise by my thinking alone old Spanky in Washington wouldn't be so healthy.
Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.
David1955 comments on Jun 28, 2018:
Were Carl Sagan still with us and reading your post, he would, in my view, greatly object to your attempt to conflate religious notions of spiritualism with his meaning of a sense of wonder and awe at the cosmos in which we live. I've heard this attempted proposition before, in fact I suspect I have heard every such argument at some time or other trying to justify "Spiritual" or the compatibility of this word with science. He certainly would not have.
Hypothetical question: if antidepressents had existed long before it was ever thought of would we ...
David1955 comments on Jun 28, 2018:
The false modern assumption that happiness is the constant goal of life, that when we're not "happy" there's something wrong with us, and something must be done about it, like a pill. We are meant to be miserable, or neutral to miserable, most of the time, except for occasional moments of happiness, and these we should look out for and enjoy. Personally when I come across someone who is always happy and smiling I start to wonder what's wrong with them. And if they say things like, "we must always be positive" I positively avoid them. Honestly, is it the world or is it me? It's the world, right? :-)
When you think of it, churches are simply political parties, each with their own agenda, each ...
David1955 comments on Jun 27, 2018:
Indeed. I have long referred to the pope as a religious politician, and considered religious figures generally to be players in the power structure. It's a pity more people do not regard religious figures and religions with the same skepticism they regard politicians and political parties.
Question to atheists: Do you attend religious family events or decline on principle?
David1955 comments on Jun 27, 2018:
Very interesting and varied responses to my post. Thank you. It seems it depends on where we place the emphasis - personal conviction or family duty.
Is it possible not to be brainwashed toward the religion you grew up with?
David1955 comments on Jun 27, 2018:
Yes, I'm a perfect example. I never believed it. There's not one Catholic molecule in my body. Not a drop of residue. I thought it was crap when I was just a kid. My opinion has only intensified since then.
What is The root cause of Conspiracy Thinking?
David1955 comments on Jun 27, 2018:
Try a loss of confidence in power, in all its forms, to tell the truth, admit fault or incompetence, or accept responsibility, because, as Col. Nathan R. Jessep (Jack Nicholson) told us, "The truth, you can't handle the truth.." Never forget Watergate, a crazy conspiracy theory. Bay of Tonkin, another one. Pentagon Papers.....
Can you be an Atheist/Agnostic and have a Conservative stance?
David1955 comments on Jun 26, 2018:
Well, you can be an atheist and a Conservative. But to my mind atheism has inherent values. These include an affirmation of logic, reason, and evidence based thinking. These values inevitably lead to view that human beings should be able to live in just, socially and economically equitable societies. Conservatism, or at least in the rancid, regressive, reactionary form into which it has evolved along with regressive economic theory, is the politics of everything that is the opposite of that, despite its disingenuous pretentions. Human beings can compartmentalize anything in their minds. But it would be impossible for me to affirm a belief in atheism and the values of reason while compartmentalizing in my mind politics that seeks to entrench privilege, class, racial superiority, and regressive social attitudes.
What is your favorite song that speaks to unbelief/atheism? Mine is Judith by A Perfect Circle.
David1955 comments on Jun 25, 2018:
John Lennon, "Imagine". "Imagine there's no heaven.." John Lennon, "God". "God is a concept by which we measure our pain".
Can an atheist be a Buddhist?
David1955 comments on Jun 25, 2018:
Only technically. Buddhism is not mono theistic. But it is still a religion despite claims that it is only a philosophy, and there is supernaturalism attached to it. If it is only a philosophy why are there Buddhist temples with people praying in them? How many philosophies do you know with temples and celebrants (monks)? Technically you can be an atheist and a buddhist. But you also have to admit to being a religionist, in my view.
Do you think that one day humans will travel to another galaxy ?
David1955 comments on Jun 24, 2018:
I assume you did mean galaxy and not solar system and planet in our Milky Way. Reaching another planet might happen if we managed to do the light speed or maybe worm hole things. But to another galaxy, crossing the vastness of intergalactic space? Wow, we would have to evolve into some amazing kind of species to do that. The only thing I could imagine is if we found the universe worked in some different way, with intergalactic highways or some such, but that's the realm of pure science fiction.
What do you think about sharks?
David1955 comments on Jun 22, 2018:
Plenty of Noahs Arks in the water about a kilo from where I live, so I don't swim there much, though lots of people do. Statistically the chances of being taken aren't high, but I don't care for them, and it's their home, so I keep out of it. BTW the sharks off the coast my my state aren't nice cuddly types and do kill people from time to time.
So We Do Have A First Lady!
David1955 comments on Jun 22, 2018:
If this chick is the conscience of the White House then you got nothin' in that place except carpetbaggers and tarts. Sad.
Did you grow up atheist or agnostic?
David1955 comments on Jun 22, 2018:
Born into a catholic family but never believed it. So always non religious. In the past, before monotheism became even more rancid and weaponized and political in the later 20th Century, which helped spawn the resurgent non religious movement over recent decades of which this site is a part, I was more relaxed about being an agnostic or atheist. But with agnosticism in some parts attempting to portray itself as a more nuanced position, which I reject, I went through a period of careful consideration a while back and my position is unambiguously atheist now. As for belonging to organizations, I suppose it depends on where one lives, but I have never had the opportunity to do that. Especially in Australia where I live, any organizations are mostly in cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Non religious here are scattered.
I know there have been several messages about blocking.
David1955 comments on Jun 21, 2018:
Well, I don't block, I just ignore. But admin might want to know what change you have in mind. A warning to a member, perhaps? Don't know. The issue doesn't bother me. There are a few here that are concerned about the issue of blocking.
I k we have accumulated a lot of inactive account.
David1955 comments on Jun 20, 2018:
I concur. We don't pay to be a member of this club, thankfully, but our membership "dues" should be paid for in time commitment and some contribution. We know what happens if we don't pay our dues for club membership in the real world, don't we.
Are many alien fantasies just atheistic/agnostic substitutes for religious deities?
David1955 comments on Jun 20, 2018:
Well, Carl Sagan said that UFOism is where science and religion truly meet. You have the universe, science, with aliens with wonders from "above" coming down like heavenly creatures. Of course he didn't mean to be a good thing. I agree, but I sure would like to know the explanation of all those mysterious things that people are filming in HD in droves now with their mobile phones, something that didn't exist in a quality form even a decade ago. Any reasonable terrestrial explanation is welcome. Instead the authorities have given up blaming the planet venus, meteors, and the usual suspects and just ignore the events hoping no one will notice. Never A Straight Answer NASA just edit their feeds and whistle Dixie, again hoping no one looks. When the events are witnessed by whole cities and the big media is deluged, they make a big joke of it, or bring in laughing boy Neil DeGrasse Tyson to do his "it ain't nothin folks" routine. Well, fine, and I don't jump to unfounded conclusions, but I still would like a goddam explanation for the stuff that people see, photograph and film.
What do you say to someone that insists that "God"
David1955 comments on Jun 20, 2018:
"Say goodnight to the folks Gracie"
You know who your real friends are when you decide who gets the honor of driving you too and from ...
David1955 comments on Jun 19, 2018:
Had one of those about 3 months ago. All was good, but they won't be dragging me through that anytime soon. You'd think they would find an easier way, really. It is a great topic for dinner conversation, right? Yeah, right.
I'm a better Christian than most Christians and I'm an atheist.
David1955 comments on Jun 19, 2018:
Lest we forget, Hitler was a Christian. He went to enormous effort to get the spear that Christos believe pierced the side of Christ, believing it had power properties from his blood. Science has now shown that it is from the middle ages. My point: calling oneself a christian means nothing by itself.
Hey @Admin - thought I'd let you know the site went down at 11:10 pm EST.
David1955 comments on Jun 19, 2018:
Yes, me too, got a bad gateway message, no entry. I thought, that's a first. God's had enough and is fighting back. :-)
The Trump Foundation.....
David1955 comments on Jun 18, 2018:
Honestly, I hear the phrase "NAME + FOUNDATION" and I would to send in lawyers and forensic accountants, honest ones, to gut them through. Gates Foundation, Clinton Foundation, Trump Foundation.....you name it. Rich assholes accountancy tricks and schemes, the lot of them, I suspect.
I stepped outside my comfort zone and said "Hi" to an attractive lady at Starbucks today and a bug ...
David1955 comments on Jun 18, 2018:
Probably the basis of a good relationship. You just need to get the bugs out..... Oops, well, you know what I mean. :-)
Ok, here's how the "likes" alerts work.
David1955 comments on Jun 18, 2018:
That's interesting. The dreaded deleted message used to slightly annoy me, but now I take it in my stride with a "whatever" attitude. Guess I'm the same about the whole blocking thing. How does the song go? Oh yes, "you can't please everyone so you have to please yourself."
How many of you find it difficult to contain "displeasure" around people who are overwhelmingly ...
David1955 comments on Jun 18, 2018:
Most difficult. But I won't initiate a dispute unless they try it on with me. I don't feel the need to be aggressive in that way, knowlng from experience that with the very religious it is a pointless exercise, usually. That said, I have a 21st Century atheist attitude and will challenge any assertions that I have to respect people's religion. Like the Star Ship Enterprise I am well armed and defended, but I won't fire first, and if fired upon I won't back down.
Is Atheism a belief system?
David1955 comments on Jun 17, 2018:
Atheism takes some faith? Your wordy post is based on false assumptions, which to me as an atheist, means to damn atheism with faint praise. Atheism is an absence of belief in God or Gods *because of total lack of evidence for such a claim.* No leap of faith required. Come back with evidence and we'll reconsider it. This is an old argument here, restated in different ways: atheism as a kind of faith. You must be joking. This is a site for non believers of religion, not just agnostics. Choose to be here or not, but don't let the name affect your choice. I certainly don't. I find the agnostic position myself to be grossly inconsistent. Agnostic about the God I grew up with, functionally atheist about all other Gods? No thanks. I agree with Bertrand Russell: the position is problematic at best. If you are an atheist as you say, be it proudly here on this site. But spare us an argument that it is based on faith. Thanks
Internet rules and laws: the top 10, from Godwin to Poe Top of the list is Godwin Law which makes...
David1955 comments on Jun 17, 2018:
Do you feel that you do not yourself transgress Danth's Law on this site, Middle?
Does anyone feel better now that Trump claims to have "solved the problem" of North Korea?
David1955 comments on Jun 16, 2018:
Read an article today somewhere that captured it perfectly. The title was something like, Time to say it as it is. Trump is a Traitor. It is time to say that. Russia, North Korea, and even China, despite his trade threats -- he's betrayed the US to all of them. Don't know what the real story about Trump is - compromised asset, spy, sympathizer, crook, grifter -- but I hope we find out one day. Might we hope that Mueller will put it together and lay it all out.
Not sure if this question has been asked previously but what is the site's position on people who ...
David1955 comments on Jun 15, 2018:
In agreement with you. This issue is a recurring one here, has been since last year: Should believers be allowed to join. Site policy is that no one is excluded if good behaviour is practised, including believers. I didn't join to do battle with religionists either, but I respect the site policy. Seems to me there are lots of places they could be where non believers would neither wish to be nor be accepted. Personally, I like the idea of this site as a refuge from the religious world. Others have a different view. Moreover, it is fact that what is meant by "believers" here is open to definition. An obvious definition of someone who believes in religion doesn't cut it. Factor in new age spiritual types who claim not to be religious but sort of are, and so-called secular religionists and alike, as well those who claim to be generally or "currently agnostic" but unfortunately display noticeable residue religious leanings in their posts and comments, and you soon realize that the lines of what it means to be a believer here can be blurry. I can only say I don't waste my time here on overtly religious believers. I could waste my time in the real world doing that if I wished. I don't wish.
Does observation alter an event?
David1955 comments on Jun 14, 2018:
Those quantum mechanics people I think are on to something. I've noticed that the more I look at my humble finances, the more they disappear. Einstein was right: spooky.
"Humanism is the transformation of this Christian doctrine of salvation into a project of universal ...
David1955 comments on Jun 14, 2018:
No, I think humanism led to the transformation of Christian doctrine from fundamentalism to Christian humanism, supposedly and theoretically (though questionably) practised by modern Christians.
Let's pretend we're wrong and a supernatural diety shows up on earth! What three questions would ...
David1955 comments on Jun 14, 2018:
How quickly can you apologise for all your sins of omission and inaction? How quickly can you leave and not come back? Don't forget to forget to write after you've gone. Ok, the last one is not a question but my first two covers it.
Eighty years ago, on September 30th, 1938, an aeroplane landed at Heston Airport in UK.
David1955 comments on Jun 13, 2018:
Thank you oh thank you for making the same connection, as I did. President Chamberlain Trump, being played like Adolf played the then British PM. Fools and dictators, the same old story.
I'm wondering about this Jesus thing, He was born and it was celebrated and they still celebrate it.
David1955 comments on Jun 13, 2018:
Here's the truth about Christian religions: They focus as little as possible on the 'real' life of this person they call Jesus. What do they focus on? Christmas, his birth, and Easter, his death. Look at Hollywood movies, which Monty Python exploded perfectly. The life between they discuss as little as possible, for two reasons. First, they don't want to acknowledge, even to themselves, how little can be known for sure. Secondly, the more they are confronted with their Jesus as a person, like a human being, the more the son of god thing seems ridiculous. For example, some have speculated that the illiterate 18 year old Joshua (later 'Jesus' ) may have worked as an unskilled laborer (not a carpenter) on building sites in cities needing labor. (1) So, the creator of the universe in human form worked as a cement mixer in the first century AD. Imagine if his workmates had known that. Ridiculous. That's why only serious non religious historians only talk honestly about the real life of this person. And that's why Christianity avoids the subject as much as possible. And that is if you believe in a real historical figure at the centre, which I don't. (1) Riza Aslan writes about this in his book about Jesus, Zealot (2013 ?)
I just read that in the USA, Water became the most consumed bottled product in 2017.
David1955 comments on Jun 13, 2018:
Don't know about your water Rugglesby, but ours has the nice of flavour of chemicals in it which I can do without, so for drinking I use the spring stuff. Buying by the bottle is just crazy expensive. Never touch coke, both the illegal white powder type, or the sugary poison sold in bottles. I'm an iced tea guy. Make it myself, real healthy like. Delighted to share these tid bits of information with you (probably to put you to sleep.) :-)
I just want to thank all of you.
David1955 comments on Jun 12, 2018:
To level 8 in a little over 67 days. Good grief! What do some people do here? And you have 31 posts. I don't spend time worrying about the points system, but sometimes I wonder about how it works.
In a recent post, a member suggested that we Doxx another member of this community because of what ...
David1955 comments on Jun 12, 2018:
Really, Middle, you have got to desist from regarding yourself as the social conscience of this community. How many posts have you had recently about blocking, members treating other members and so on. You're like the James Comey of this community, a touch holier than thou. This is a community of adults. We can take care of ourselves. Please rethink it.
I have just received a reply to my "Greeter" message from a new member @loveintheair.
David1955 comments on Jun 12, 2018:
Reading that my "Danger Will Robinson" sign started up.
Faith... is it good?
David1955 comments on Jun 12, 2018:
The problem with 'faith' is that it is used in two different ways. As pointed out in responses, one meaning is belief in something without evidence, or indeed despite the evidence, as in the case of faith in Jesus even though there is a lot of historical study showing the real Jesus, even if he existed, was little like the story, and the story itself was largely made up. Faith as in belief without evidence based on unproven authority. This is bad. However, people also use faith in a different way, as a synonym for "hope". Someone might say they have faith in something happening or someone doing something. In this case it means hope based on some knowledge of the situation. Doesn't mean it's always right, but it is based on something, knowledge or experience, not blind faith based on false authority, a strong hope based on that. It's like you might have faith in your doctor. It's not blind faith in him or her, but a faith based on experience, knowledge, and confidence in their abilities. Religionists sometimes claim non-believers have faith in things too, like science or a secular world. Perhaps we do, but it's faith as in hope, and its based on reality and ultimately on knowledge and reason. Religious faith never is.
Did anyone else ever fantasize about creating a community of non-believers?
David1955 comments on Jun 11, 2018:
Why would you include Vincent Bugliosi? I'm not aware of any secular views of his. I am aware very much of his legal clean up work for the US Establishment, specifically the Robert Kennedy assassination, and his Manson Trial tale of deflection and misdirection that he maintained right up to his death.
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