David1955's Profile

The religionists are getting scared.

TheMiddleWay comments on Mar 12, 2018:

I sincerely doubt this guys view of atheists is in the majority in the christian community, especially given the Popes acceptance of atheists within the catholic church and given that according to a pew research poll, acceptance of atheism is up. "While Americans still feel coolest toward Muslims...

David1955 replies on Mar 12, 2018:

Pope's acceptance of atheists? I wouldn't fall for the papal spin. Atheists are out of grace with God and destined for damnation, according to the CC's theology, and no amount of papal PR spin changes that. I think a lot of Christians, OK not all, but a lot, think like this guy, but don't come out with it. The conservative Protestant religions in particular. Most importantly, they see the figures of nonbelievers rising, even in the US, and that brings fear.

I consider the question, "Is there a God?

think-beyond comments on Mar 12, 2018:

I enjoyed reading your comment. I have always felt that we cannont know about "God." We can only know its manifestation (assuming there is some huge intelligence that propogated all of this). To recognize the intricate, vast, interactive systems of the Universe and even our own biological make-up ...

David1955 replies on Mar 12, 2018:

@atheist That's the point. I can't be sure that many things don't exist. I don't have to.

How reliable is the study of history?

misstuffy comments on Mar 11, 2018:

History is always told from the point of view of the victors.

David1955 replies on Mar 12, 2018:

@misstuffy I take your point. But in the broad scheme of things, and I mean globally, wouldn't you agree that the treatment of native Americans and African Americans is very much seen from the perspective of those oppressed groups as wrongs to be recognised and righted, and prejudiced groups spinning biased history have little currency outside their groups?

How reliable is the study of history?

misstuffy comments on Mar 11, 2018:

History is always told from the point of view of the victors.

David1955 replies on Mar 12, 2018:

This is often said. The immediate history certainly is or mostly is. But over time the perspective becomes broader and more detached. Often initial subjective history becomes part of the understanding of later more detached historians.

Sorry, but I've got to say this about Trump and North Korea.

jeffy comments on Mar 9, 2018:

Trump is a fool

David1955 replies on Mar 9, 2018:

A dangerous fool

The parable of the ATM A theist went up to an ATM to check their bank account.

TheMiddleWay comments on Mar 9, 2018:

Further explanation of the parable. The ATM stands for a source of evidence. It being out of service stands for the inaccesability of evidence. Having money stands for evidence that god(s) exist. Having no money stands for evidence they don't. In the absence of a working source for evidence, a ...

David1955 replies on Mar 9, 2018:

@TheMiddleWay :-) 😄

The parable of the ATM A theist went up to an ATM to check their bank account.

TheMiddleWay comments on Mar 9, 2018:

Further explanation of the parable. The ATM stands for a source of evidence. It being out of service stands for the inaccesability of evidence. Having money stands for evidence that god(s) exist. Having no money stands for evidence they don't. In the absence of a working source for evidence, a ...

David1955 replies on Mar 9, 2018:

Congratulations on providing one of most obscure parables I've ever read. And I don't actually think it's a parable but rather a metaphor, but that's as may be.

Who are your people?

Donotbelieve comments on Mar 8, 2018:

Hillbillies, but not rednecks. There's a difference.

David1955 replies on Mar 8, 2018:

Hillbillies make great folk music, but rednecks shoot of a lot of guns. Am I right? (Big admirer here of Hank Williams, the hillbilly Shakespeare)

For those who have tried the app, what do you think??

David1955 comments on Mar 8, 2018:

Still looking forward to using it when Google log on works. All good things come to.....

David1955 replies on Mar 8, 2018:

@FrayedBear I'm going to take @admin at his/her word that the apps will allow Google account and FB account access at some point, unless they advise that a new log on and password specific to this site is required. In the meantime I can access through browser on iPad, android and Mac with my google email address and password.

Atheists, whats the best definition of atheism? Which fits you?

Xenocat comments on Mar 8, 2018:

Atheism is the belief that there is no god. Here, 'belief' does not mean 'faith' as it is often associated with in terms of religion. Hopefully not going too much off track here, but faith is rjust belief without any evidence. Atheists don't believe in a god because there is no evidence to ...

David1955 replies on Mar 8, 2018:

@AustinSkepticus an theist, or at least my kind of atheist, doesn't have to make a claim about god's nonexistence. We don't have to prove a negative. I think your reply above is mixing up agnosticism and atheism. To claim that there is no evidence for any and all Gods is a clearly stated position. Nothing weak about it. The same position can be adopted for any supernatural phenomena others might care to make without evidence. We don't have to consider if we are 100% sure that there is no God; only that we are 100% sure that no evidence exists to support of the claim that there is. Same is true about the Devil, or fairies, for that matter. I'm an A-fairies-ist too, I suppose, but I don't walk around saying I can't quite rule out fairies because I'm not 100% sure that they don't exist, and so my position is somehow equivocal or weak on fairies. It isn't.

For those who have tried the app, what do you think??

David1955 comments on Mar 8, 2018:

Still looking forward to using it when Google log on works. All good things come to.....

David1955 replies on Mar 8, 2018:

@FrayedBear Because I don't have a log on username. When you join you can either create a UN with PW or use your google account email address and PW. At the moment the App won't allow access with Google account. My name David1955 with my google account PW is not accepted. Hopefully, as admin said, it will be, soon.

We just released iPhone and Android apps for Agnostic.

David1955 comments on Mar 6, 2018:

I can install on my android phone running system 5. Guess my older android tablet running 4.1.1 will miss out.( Damn Android tardiness in system updates. )Thanks Admin.

David1955 replies on Mar 6, 2018:

@FrayedBear I have only ever had log on with Google email and password, no separate username. I know admin could supply a username but I haven't needed it. Admin says they are working on Google log on now, so I'll wait for that.

We just released iPhone and Android apps for Agnostic.

David1955 comments on Mar 6, 2018:

I can install on my android phone running system 5. Guess my older android tablet running 4.1.1 will miss out.( Damn Android tardiness in system updates. )Thanks Admin.

David1955 replies on Mar 6, 2018:

@FrayedBear I'll try my galaxy 7.7 when admin fixes the Google log on issue.

We just released iPhone and Android apps for Agnostic.

David1955 comments on Mar 6, 2018:

@admin. Can you connect with a Google email address and password? I cannot. It just says log on, not with google account. Also just tried in install on my iPad 2. Not compatible. So, not having much luck here.

David1955 replies on Mar 6, 2018:

@Admin - sure, that's fine. All browsers on iPad connect to the site. I would like to connect my android phone with my google log on, however. Thanks for working on it.

America was (mostly) founded and populated by religious groups escaping persecution in their home ...

David1955 comments on Mar 5, 2018:

Australia was not mostly populated by criminals through transportation. Yes, there was deportation in a couple of states for a period, but the greatest means of white settlement was carried through free settlers and alike who came to Australia from the early 1800s. A greater number of Australian ...

David1955 replies on Mar 6, 2018:

@Rugglesby I concede the point. A little checking today I found that amongst the first fleeters were some highway robbers and some more serious crims amongst the petty crooks, but you're right that crimes like murder, rape and alike brought the rope.

We just released iPhone and Android apps for Agnostic.

LadyAlyxandrea comments on Mar 5, 2018:

If you only just now announced it....what have I been using for the last week? O.O

David1955 replies on Mar 6, 2018:

@Admin I'm level 7. I didn't get early access. Or is it only attractive level 6+ people? :-)

America was (mostly) founded and populated by religious groups escaping persecution in their home ...

David1955 comments on Mar 5, 2018:

Australia was not mostly populated by criminals through transportation. Yes, there was deportation in a couple of states for a period, but the greatest means of white settlement was carried through free settlers and alike who came to Australia from the early 1800s. A greater number of Australian ...

David1955 replies on Mar 6, 2018:

@Rugglesby there has been some debate about that. Were they Jean val jean types stealing bread, or serious criminals. I think many were serious criminals. Why go to the trouble of transporting petty criminals. I'll check on that.

Please indulge me in one more question about Karma

David1955 comments on Mar 4, 2018:

Despite the eastern religion vibes attached to it, karma is unproven and in practice dangerous, as it too easily succumbs to subjective thinking about just desserts, and retribution, and reward and punishment. In polly waffle thinking it sounds good, but there's not a scrap of evidence for it, save ...

David1955 replies on Mar 5, 2018:

@kauva I believe that what we observe in life are two things: cause and effect, and probability. Effects resulting from causes, and the greater and lesser probability of outcomes. Karma is a nonsense term with a mystical intent to explain these things. Also, I lived in an Buddhist country for many years. I have seen this concept in a cultural context. Poor people? Bad karma. Rich people? Good karma. A lot of nonsense all of it. I began by saying I think it is a dangerous concept. I still say that, and there's not a scrap of evidence for it, like reincarnation.

Anybody here see the parallels between believing in and and obeying an all-powerful god, and ...

David1955 comments on Mar 5, 2018:

What about all powerful media barons, all powerful corporations, rich elites, financial aristocrats, and alike who really exercise the power over the big bad government? Any parallels, or unlike big bad government are they not presented to us as all powerful things to be feared?

David1955 replies on Mar 5, 2018:

@GlyndonD oh, yes they do. You only think they don't. And they've gone to a lot of effort over past decades to direct your angst at government. As illusionists know, it's called misdirection.

Suggestions accepted

Rugglesby comments on Mar 1, 2018:

I'll be the first to admit that most information I see from all over the world is very depressing. I have to wonder how much is simply spin from media companies. Whether things are bad or worse, it doesn't affect how I use my day. I still do the little things I can do to shape the world closer to ...

David1955 replies on Mar 1, 2018:

Yeah. Turnbull believes whatever he thinks the room he's walking into wants to hear. I don't think there was ever a principle he believed in that lasted longer than the time it takes to leave that room. And Trump believes whatever the last person said to him with the most flattery. Good pair.

I cannot call myself a theist, atheist or agnostic.

David1955 comments on Feb 26, 2018:

Okay so theological noncognitivism, or Ignosticism is the idea that the question of the existence of a God is meaningless because the term "god" has no coherent and unambiguous definition. Well that's interesting as a philosophical position, but where does such a position leave the holder with ...

David1955 replies on Feb 27, 2018:

@Danail Yes indeed. @EdwinMcCravy seems like a thoughtful man, but this debate is irrelevant to me. It's like arguing with someone who thinks reality is a cosmic projection or dream and cannot be verified. So what. We still have to deal with it, whether it's real or not. Whether religious belief is real or an illusion of language, religion exists and needs to be dealt with. It's like arguing with someone who says we don't have to fix the world's problems because there are merely the language of problems and don't exist. No, we need to fix them.

So, if you're Agnostic what causes you to "sit on the fence?". Why are you not an Atheist?

David1955 comments on Feb 27, 2018:

As Bertrand Russell in his essays pointed out, in effect agnostics are atheist about the thousands of gods that have been dreamt up by people that they don't know, don't care out, or didn't grow up with, and it's usually the one God that they did grow up with that they remain "on the fence" about. ...

David1955 replies on Feb 27, 2018:

@engineer_in_nj you would be surprised. There are still to this day people who follow ancient religions. There is no difference between the ancient gods and modern gods. There's no proof any of them. How many people follow them is irrelevant.

I cannot call myself a theist, atheist or agnostic.

David1955 comments on Feb 26, 2018:

Okay so theological noncognitivism, or Ignosticism is the idea that the question of the existence of a God is meaningless because the term "god" has no coherent and unambiguous definition. Well that's interesting as a philosophical position, but where does such a position leave the holder with ...

David1955 replies on Feb 27, 2018:

@EdwinMcCravy I wasn't downplaying it. I merely noted it neutrally, and asked what else you were concerned about in the debate over religion. Your defensive reply wasn't illuminating on that question. Whether or not people only think they believe in religion or God, frankly, I don't care. I do care about the appalling religions that DO exist, what we are going to do to confront them. Where do you stand on that? Proclaiming that religions are a trick of language will not make them go away.

So, if you're Agnostic what causes you to "sit on the fence?". Why are you not an Atheist?

David1955 comments on Feb 27, 2018:

As Bertrand Russell in his essays pointed out, in effect agnostics are atheist about the thousands of gods that have been dreamt up by people that they don't know, don't care out, or didn't grow up with, and it's usually the one God that they did grow up with that they remain "on the fence" about. ...

David1955 replies on Feb 27, 2018:

@engineer_in_nj not quite sure of your point here, but it is true that generally, but of course not always, people focus on the gods and culture they were born into, and we have no control over where and when we are born. To an atheist we reject all gods universally as there is no evidence for any of them, and that includes Apollo as well all past and present gods.

How do you feel about buddbism ?

David1955 comments on Feb 20, 2018:

While I agree with some of the philosophical aspects of Buddhism noted here, there are aspects of Buddhism that I do not like. Won't go into detail here, but things like karma and reincarnation are not nice concepts, having lived in a Buddhist country myself at length. But I wanted to say here that ...

David1955 replies on Feb 26, 2018:

@Ungod and this from someone who says "Buddha lived some 80 years and taught many things." Wow, ya think? Did he really? Many things? Shows ya what know right. I thought he just turned up for a weekend. Yes, I'm making fun of you because you deserve it. So I'll say it again, religions, especially large ones, if there was a central figure at the beginning, no matter how long that person lived or what they taught, evolved at the hands of followers and overtime have little connection with that central figure. If you want to nit pick about cargo cults or loopy cult religions you're wasting my time.

How do you feel about buddbism ?

David1955 comments on Feb 20, 2018:

While I agree with some of the philosophical aspects of Buddhism noted here, there are aspects of Buddhism that I do not like. Won't go into detail here, but things like karma and reincarnation are not nice concepts, having lived in a Buddhist country myself at length. But I wanted to say here that ...

David1955 replies on Feb 26, 2018:

@Ungod cargo cults...no, never heard of it... (Jeez)

How do you feel about buddbism ?

David1955 comments on Feb 20, 2018:

While I agree with some of the philosophical aspects of Buddhism noted here, there are aspects of Buddhism that I do not like. Won't go into detail here, but things like karma and reincarnation are not nice concepts, having lived in a Buddhist country myself at length. But I wanted to say here that ...

David1955 replies on Feb 26, 2018:

@Ungod indeed and then his followers built the various streams of Buddhism over the centuries. I am quite aware of the history. What point are you trying to win here? Pointless indignation friend.

Need help defending my lack of faith in Christianity

David1955 comments on Feb 26, 2018:

Which ancient historians do they rely on? Or do they mean the gospel writers? These were not historians Good luck finding respected historians who attest to the Christian mythology, tell them. Don't know why you'd want to try to convince them, but I were you I'd simply say The bible is proof of...

David1955 replies on Feb 26, 2018:

@duodnem yes. You know there are a couple of spears of Longinus that Christians believe in, that supposedly pierced the side of Christ. One in particular, I forget where it is, somewhere in Europe I think. It's famous because Hitler stole it during WW2 and the allies went to a lot of trouble to find it. Hitler believed, as many do, that it has magical properties.Duh! I saw a documentary on it a year or two back. The Christos reluctantly allowed science to test it, using 2 different labs. Guess what, it was dated by both at the 10th century. Another Christian artefact bites the dusk. Like all the rest. Of course the true believers still think it's genuine. How many people died over the centuries for that spear? Good reason to believe a lot.

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Jnei comments on Feb 25, 2018:

Neither. Both boring!

David1955 replies on Feb 26, 2018:

@Jnei @btroje. Heretics! :-)

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Laphicet comments on Feb 25, 2018:

Star Trek. Jean Luc Picard is the greatest ever.

David1955 replies on Feb 26, 2018:

No, Q was the greatest ever. He's my hero. :-)

What do you mean by "Spiritual"?

Gohan comments on Feb 26, 2018:

What do I mean by "Spiritual?" Having a few shots with some friends.

David1955 replies on Feb 26, 2018:

Wouldn't that be "Spiriting" as in the nonexistent verb to consume spirits? :-)

How do you feel about buddbism ?

David1955 comments on Feb 20, 2018:

While I agree with some of the philosophical aspects of Buddhism noted here, there are aspects of Buddhism that I do not like. Won't go into detail here, but things like karma and reincarnation are not nice concepts, having lived in a Buddhist country myself at length. But I wanted to say here that ...

David1955 replies on Feb 26, 2018:

@Ungod Tell you what. If I come across a religion that was not built theologically and organisationally by the followers, either of a founder figure or equivalent, I'll be sure to let you know personally here.

Are we living in a computer simulation?

David1955 comments on Feb 23, 2018:

This is where science meets philosophy. It has long been speculated in philosophy that there is no way to determine what is real, that reality comes down to senses data, and that is subjective. Now this has become part of modern 'science' and science fiction thinking. I think The Matrix movies ...

David1955 replies on Feb 25, 2018:

@AxeElf Don't take this personally but your patronising drivel and jello word play has outworn its welcome with me.

What books are you all reading right now?

David1955 comments on Feb 25, 2018:

A new Star Trek Discovery novel, Drastic Measures by Dayton Ward. Just finished David Baldacci's latest. Also rereading some of Bertrand Russell's essays, partly as a result of some discussions here.

David1955 replies on Feb 25, 2018:

@Ori89 There are two so far. STDiscovery Desperate Hours by David Mack. Goes back several years and you have Bernham, and young Spock and Capt Christopher Pike and Georgiou in a story line before Bernham became first officer. A great read. The second one is as noted above. This is also pre Discovery season 1, and has Lorca and Georgiou before they were captains. They fill in the history prior to the Discovery series. I have them in ePub.

What is your biggest fear?

snytiger6 comments on Feb 19, 2018:

My biggest fer lately is that Trump and Pence will destroy the country economically and destroy those part of the government which were formerly working pretty well, before we can get them out of office.

David1955 replies on Feb 25, 2018:

@snytiger6 I fear you may be right. And how the world order changes if a diminished US continues is very much a concern. I also fear a crumbling of the US from within through social division and economic inequality. The biggest military in the world won't offset that. It's a pity that some Americans who see themselves as patriots fail to see that moral leadership in the world is actually more important than the size of the military. And US moral leadership has declined hugely; it seriously started with Bush Jr and that election, was only partially arrested under the disappointing Obama years, and now is in free fall under Trump. It gives me no pleasure to say these things about the US.

The difference between dogs and cats - all you need to know

David1955 comments on Feb 21, 2018:

Cats are great. Dogs are not. The end. (Hope I didn't go too fast for you. :-). )

David1955 replies on Feb 25, 2018:

@Sticks48 @HippieChick58. Well, I'm not sure about that. I've had to deal with some mean looking fierce dogs in my time that I would call anything but great. There are the bane of runners, joggers and power walkers like me. Now, I've never been attacked by a cat during my jogs. They'll flee and only attack if threatened and cornered. No jogger does that. Dogs, on the other hand, will come at you because you're there.

I still miss Carl Sagan immensely after all these years.

David1955 comments on Feb 25, 2018:

I think that while there are many individuals who are rightly admired in the non religious and pro science communities, Carl Sagan might be the true "Saint". I'm aware of the irony of using the term, but in my view he's just in a class of his own. I never saw him act in a way that was patronising, ...

David1955 replies on Feb 25, 2018:

@NintyNine nothing wrong with angry, when it's deserved and focused on the issue, as I'm sure it was on this occasion.

I find it odd that there aren't a bunch of religious people on here trying to convert us to ...

Hominid comments on Feb 22, 2018:

This site just started last November... give them time. There are a few Xians here, though they seem to leave well enough alone - They're good examples of how cognitive dissonance can withstand even the best logic and reason.

David1955 replies on Feb 25, 2018:

On this occasion Hominid I hope you are mistaken and they, believers, find this kitchen too hot to be in.

I find it odd that there aren't a bunch of religious people on here trying to convert us to ...

marga comments on Feb 22, 2018:

The people on this site are ruthlessly cruel and would quickly run off anyone who thought differently than them. :)

David1955 replies on Feb 25, 2018:

It is true that religious believers when confronted by confident direct nonbelievers retreat mightily quick.

I find it odd that there aren't a bunch of religious people on here trying to convert us to ...

mordant comments on Feb 22, 2018:

I'm a member at TheThingingAtheist.com/forum and believers of all kinds come there, girded for battle. So unless believers are actively denied membership here, I don't really get their absence, either. TTA does, admittedly, tend to get the real nut-cases in greater numbers than, say, the Atheism ...

David1955 replies on Feb 25, 2018:

What you have described there about this TTA forum is exactly what I wouldn't want to see here - as you say, turning up girded for battle. If this site descended into that I'd probably leave. Seriously. Running into religious believers is easy, real world and Internet. Surely it's possible for one place in cyberspace where nonbelievers of various kinds can intersect without dealing with believers peddling the same of crap we've heard hundreds of times.

Conspiracy Theories - Do you believe in any?

MrControversy comments on Feb 23, 2018:

I strongly believe that the 2000 election was stolen by Bush but that isn't really a conspiracy theory now that I think of it. It's practically an accepted fact.

David1955 replies on Feb 25, 2018:

I think that was a combination of an appallingly inefficient voting system, together with a politicised Supreme Court, rather than any kind of conspiracy. The whole world saw that.

Conspiracy Theories - Do you believe in any?

KBJ41 comments on Feb 23, 2018:

Ok, so anyone who has not yet seen the documentary Waco: The Rules of Engagement, or read Dick Reavis's book The Ashes of Waco, then you should as an American citizen. Just a little background, I was 22 years old during the Branch Davidian standoff in 1993. I was working as a pizza delivery guy back...

David1955 replies on Feb 25, 2018:

Interesting. I am not closely familiar with these events so cannot judge, but I remembered it of course. I certainly agree with you about the Clintons. At one time I admired them, but you see the real them that's over. I also agree with you that distrust of cover stories by power and authority is not a matter of personal politics.

If you could have a dinner party with 4 people from history (whom are no longer alive) who would ...

evestrat comments on Feb 24, 2018:

My stepmom Teresa -- she passed away a year ago ... I miss her so so much ... I would love to hear her voice, her laugh, .... *sigh* :( Hypatia -- first female mathematician -- enough said Maya Angelou -- her literary work inspired me back in high school and beyond Bruce Lee -- duh ... ;)

David1955 replies on Feb 25, 2018:

@evestrat @Naeem. We all know about Hypatia and won't forget.

Being respectful

lhcoastal comments on Feb 23, 2018:

I don't have a problem with others beliefs as long as their beliefs do not cause harm to others, impinge on my rights, and they are not going door to door disturbing my day by trying to convert me. Unfortunately, there aren't many religions out there that meet the above criteria for my respect.

David1955 replies on Feb 24, 2018:

@Rodatheist didn't he then kill them all?

Online Employment - Community's Experiences

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Feb 23, 2018:

I teach online, as well, as an adjunct for three schools. One is local and I used to (and could again) teach on campus, but I have been all online for about four years. I have no desire to return to campus. My biggest issue is not the online aspect, but the courses. I prefer to teach literature ...

David1955 replies on Feb 24, 2018:

@Gwendolyn2018 I'll be honest with you on this, it isn't lucrative. I've been able to negotiate around $25 an hour rate, which is not great. But I get to work in my own office, at the hours I choose, though often matching European hours, I work with interesting professional and business people, and mostly I am not interfered with in my work. I've been doing this for quite a long time, so my work is respected. At my age I don't have a lot of alternatives to earn income, and I really have had enough working in offices.

Being respectful

David1955 comments on Feb 23, 2018:

No. It is important to separate respect of people's right of belief from respect of the belief itself. The world is full of people who "believe" in nonsense of every kind, including religious beliefs. We are not obliged to respect all the rubbish they may care to believe in. We are obliged as part ...

David1955 replies on Feb 24, 2018:

@Rodatheist Precisely so.

Are we living in a computer simulation?

David1955 comments on Feb 23, 2018:

This is where science meets philosophy. It has long been speculated in philosophy that there is no way to determine what is real, that reality comes down to senses data, and that is subjective. Now this has become part of modern 'science' and science fiction thinking. I think The Matrix movies ...

David1955 replies on Feb 24, 2018:

@AxeElf you use words like faith and axioms in ways I simply cannot relate to, a kind of new age existentialism or perhaps solipsism, I simply cannot agree with, or barely understand. We live in different universes. We have different brains. And though on occasions I have shared a joke with you here, on this occasion I ask that we not proceed down a path of counter-replying which will do neither of us any good. Thanks.

Online Employment - Community's Experiences

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Feb 23, 2018:

I teach online, as well, as an adjunct for three schools. One is local and I used to (and could again) teach on campus, but I have been all online for about four years. I have no desire to return to campus. My biggest issue is not the online aspect, but the courses. I prefer to teach literature ...