Mcflewster's Profile

Science education sucks in OZ and I was once a teacher and a totally boring one.

Hobartian comments on Apr 30, 2018:

G'day - from another Aussie (Hobart, ex Maleny) - somehow Science and Math needs to be made interesting to school kids. How about Science in Nature? or Math come to that. My smart arse brother keeps talking about Fibunacci (?) - trying to sound learned. As a kid I was so intimidated by Math I ...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 30, 2018:

I do not think science education will take off until we find a way of including science method within a personal search to find a problem you hopefully want to know the solution of. Most science in schools is repeating the science that other people have discovered. Good for techniques but not establishing the great tool that science can be I want to give kids their own personal 'Eureka' moment.

Omnism: The belief that not one religion is the only truth but that truths are found in them all.

AgnosticPh comments on Apr 28, 2018:

"True science and true religion are twin-sisters, and the separation of either from the other is sure to prove the death of both." -- Thomas Henry Huxley Without science there can be no real religion." -- Robert Green Ingersoll All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. --...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 30, 2018:

I would prefer "True science and Humanism are twin-sisters, and the separation of either from the other is sure to prove the death of both." -- both represent ways of thinking and ways of life "Without science there can be no real religion." "All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree."........ And that tree is the Tree of knowledge . Scientific method has a great deal to do with the learning and assimilation of knowledge.

We have had two very famous very sick children lately Charlie Guard and Alfie Evans.

NickNakorn comments on Apr 28, 2018:

By the way, I think both children died so one didn't make it through - sadly.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 30, 2018:

I now think you are right .

Saw this, loved it, thought I'd share it.

Mcflewster comments on Apr 28, 2018:

Surely there would be at least one book in the lefthand shelves !

Mcflewster replies on Apr 28, 2018:

@Fibonacci1618 Not the Quoran ? Some can recite the whole thing?

I no longer deny global warming.

Chad comments on Apr 18, 2018:

Preach it!

Mcflewster replies on Apr 26, 2018:

Ugggghhhh

So, agnostic to me means doubter, and to doubt something is to question it's validity.

Fibonacci1618 comments on Apr 23, 2018:

My issues with the Atheist that I have come across is just that. Or they project a demeanor of self servering Darwainian mindset of the strong eat the weak.I prefer the term Humanist. Which reflects compassion for each other because doing good is good, for no other reason than just to do good. If ...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 24, 2018:

I think the Darwinian mindset is better expressed as " survival of the most adaptable' which seems to me NOT to fit both atheists and evangelicals.

Do we need simple OOPS! and OUCH! signals?

Sarahroo29 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

Nah.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 22, 2018:

OK

Can One be religious and Skeptically agnostic?

David1955 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

No, this is just word play. Rationalised cognitive dissonance.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 22, 2018:

Cognitive dissonance - Wikipedia In the field of psychology, cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort (psychological stress) experienced by a person who simultaneously holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values. But exactly how do they rationalise it?

Can One be religious and Skeptically agnostic?

atheist comments on Apr 21, 2018:

In order to define what religious means you would first have to define what a religion is! A skeptic is a person who needs sufficient proof in order to accept something as valid! An agnostic is a person who believes in an unknown god! See my posts below! :)

Mcflewster replies on Apr 22, 2018:

My definition : A religion is a Set of conclusions or decisions based on the observations, deliberations and delusions of certain 'elders' They protect them from change against many modernising influences, and often put the written word above logic and reason.

Do we need simple OOPS! and OUCH! signals?

ipdg77 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

I wouldn't worry about it. I would hope that most people would just ask for clarification rather than just be offended and posting an answer will probably piss someone off especially if it's a tad controversial. btw They're called emojis, my 11 year old just explained it d'oh!

Mcflewster replies on Apr 22, 2018:

D'oh is also a very useful expression. Care to spell out exactly what it means?

Do we need simple OOPS! and OUCH! signals?

atheist comments on Apr 21, 2018:

Believe me! When someone is offended they let me know! lol :)

Mcflewster replies on Apr 22, 2018:

I will believe you when I see the evidence from those that were offended but did not tell you. No offence to you. I do not see you as a massively offensive person . Why should I. I just asked this to advance a more open society

Can One be religious and Skeptically agnostic?

NoMagicCookie comments on Apr 21, 2018:

As I define “religious” as an attribute of those who value “faith” (belief without evidence asserted as “Truth” (belief in the supernatural)) equally to or over valuing my definition of truth (testable, supported by evidence). As agnostic is widely defined as a person who believes that ...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 22, 2018:

Yes Atheists might "save the world" in a non 'christian salvation' way but In my opinion agnostics are more likely to do it -perhaps more slowly.

Can One be religious and Skeptically agnostic?

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

The Oxford Dictionary defines "religious" as: Relating to or believing in a religion. More example sentencesSynonyms 1.1 (of a belief or practice) forming part of someone's faith in a divine being. ‘she has strong religious convictions’ More example sentencesSynonyms 1.2 Belonging or ...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 22, 2018:

I think we have to look very carefully in to why people commit to religion so unshakingly. It could be that the scrupulous nature is even deeper than religion [ Which I define as a set of CONCLUSIONS made by elders e.g. "there its a god"] and all that we have to do is make these conclusions unsafe -hence agnosticism.

Can One be religious and Skeptically agnostic?

LeighShelton comments on Apr 21, 2018:

I wouldn't go out of my way to antagonise anyone but I sure as shit am not going to try and fit in with religious beliefs.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 21, 2018:

No one is actually asking you to do that.

Can One be religious and Skeptically agnostic?

NotConvinced comments on Apr 21, 2018:

When you allow words too much flexibility, they lose their meaning. This is, in my opinion the number one reason for misunderstandings, which leads to argument.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 21, 2018:

Up to now it is the churches that have done most twisting in this field but of course it is a human failing and history has found no way of making meanings permanent wether twisted or not

Can One be religious and Skeptically agnostic?

Wafflestomp comments on Apr 21, 2018:

No. You used “skeptically” so, no.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 21, 2018:

Don't follow

Can One be religious and Skeptically agnostic?

NoMagicCookie comments on Apr 21, 2018:

As I define “religious” as an attribute of those who value “faith” (belief without evidence asserted as “Truth” (belief in the supernatural)) equally to or over valuing my definition of truth (testable, supported by evidence). As agnostic is widely defined as a person who believes that ...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 21, 2018:

I agree that the churches are in fear of us, but fear baked no cookies. Getting them to use reason and logic can be an aim of ours . Why not?

Do we need simple OOPS! and OUCH! signals?

sassygirl3869 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

Can you just use words?

Mcflewster replies on Apr 21, 2018:

I just did Ooops and Ouch.

Can One be religious and Skeptically agnostic?

Shawno1972 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

One can be anything one chooses, but I would always recommend against rationalizing or using language to murky otherwise clear waters. Context is king.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 21, 2018:

I agree it is crazy to ask whether one can be religious and not be religious but so many things about words are not logical but depend upon history. However we do have to start talking logically to the masses soon - it might clear away some of the confusions around religions.

Feelings about your own Funerals

Mcflewster comments on Apr 20, 2018:

@Gwendolyn2018 @JimmyM @Bloodswolf @ArthurPhillips @EMC2 @BearsNPenn @WileEQuixote @Shelton @Browneyedlady @Holysocks @AMNOTGOD @ThereIsADog @xyz123 @Rugglesby @pthomas59 @Bonfire13 @LeighShelton @jonds56 @Reikodriver1981 @alvinsmom @Silver1wun @Thatguyy @babsy @LenHazell53...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 21, 2018:

Perhaps I should have added that I personally have confirmed a lot from other people on this website about how to conduct my own funeral and that I have no intention of advocating the control the format of anyone else's funeral as the church has done in the past. Freedom on the way out for everyone!

I am particularly interested in letting each child have a Eureka surprise moment of their own in any...

argo comments on Apr 19, 2018:

I always followed Neil postman. I had a very good science teacher who really emphasized the strength of the testing a model continuously. Trusting anything on someone's word is where everything goes very wrong.But if you continuously model and test it, then its obvious soon thereafter. Especially as...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 19, 2018:

Just looked up Neil Postman in wiki "In his 1992 book Technopoly: the Surrender of Culture to Technology, Postman defines "Technopoly" as a society which believes "the primary, if not the only, goal of human labor and thought is efficiency, that technical calculation is in all respects superior to human judgment ... and that the affairs of citizens are best guided and conducted by experts." ... don't agree with this at all . 1 I would have thought that the primary goal should be happiness but I agree that many people do not notice how unhappy rich, technological focussed on improvement, people are. Bill Gates only became happy when he focussed on wider humanity 2. "Technological calculations" surely is a tool that any sort of person (with paid for help) can use to enhance the rest of society. 3. "Best guided by experts" Experts have their uses but their judgements are as faulty as those of anyone else. The affairs of citizens are best handled by the citizens themselves with help from a multitude of empathetic humans.

I want to explore a touchy topic.

Gert comments on Apr 9, 2018:

I agree with the reply of sueincoombs. Yes we should realize that humans are just another animal, created by evolution, a very successful one, that’s clear enough I guess. An animal that needs to breed and spreading there genes as wide as it can, a drive fired by hormones. As the female in ...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 19, 2018:

( from a male) This post shows great understanding!

Feelings about your own Funerals

babsy comments on Apr 17, 2018:

Whatever the people left behind want to do. I don’t think a funeral reflects who I was or how I valued my life.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 19, 2018:

http://thehumanistsociety.org/celebrants/listing/ Sorry there is no celebrant in Chattanooga. Keep asking!

Feelings about your own Funerals

Bloodswolf comments on Apr 19, 2018:

No funeral. I'll have my son cremate me and throw me in the sea. My only request is for him to go to red lobster and enjoy it. It's my favorite place to eat.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 19, 2018:

That is a funeral but it is of your design not the churches!!

I am particularly interested in letting each child have a Eureka surprise moment of their own in any...

argo comments on Apr 19, 2018:

I always followed Neil postman. I had a very good science teacher who really emphasized the strength of the testing a model continuously. Trusting anything on someone's word is where everything goes very wrong.But if you continuously model and test it, then its obvious soon thereafter. Especially as...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 19, 2018:

You certainly seem to have the right idea and obviously somethings go to your science teacher. Now how do we spread this good practice to everyone else? Any links you can post on here would be very useful. The issues with discovery methods I think can be overcome by the particular materials and object including words upon which the science method can be applied . For example do you think a teenager could use scientific method to tidy his/her room?

Feelings about your own Funerals

babsy comments on Apr 17, 2018:

Whatever the people left behind want to do. I don’t think a funeral reflects who I was or how I valued my life.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 18, 2018:

Humanist funerals DO reflect your life and celebrate what YOU have achieved and want to happen. You are in charge NOW. Look them up on Google near you and try with the celebrant's and deceased's family permission to attend one

Feelings about your own Funerals

Silver1wun comments on Apr 17, 2018:

No funeral for me. Who wants a buch of sobbing people telling huge lies about how wonderful you were to people who really think you were an asshole?

Mcflewster replies on Apr 18, 2018:

If you plan it, your funeral can be a commemoration and celebration of whatever good aspects of your life that you want. Who is so in charge of your life that there is no one who would see that such hypocritical people do not attend your funeral? Please do not think that your funeral will be like the bad ones you have seen. Start planning now. Some of your relatives at least will appreciate what you do now.

Feelings about your own Funerals

JimmyM comments on Apr 17, 2018:

I'm not sure what it tells you about the life I have but.... I'd like as many that wanted to, to come and play music, sing, whatever... I'd quite like a reading from one of the Buddhist texts maybe The Kalama Sutta or perhaps a passage from The dhammapadda I'd like there to be good vegetarian ...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 18, 2018:

In my experience it is the people at the funeral who so well sum up the good points of the deceased, and now Humanist celebrants are making sure that the occasion is a celebration of a life. Do try to go to one and don't follow the dictates of the churches

Feelings about your own Funerals

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Apr 17, 2018:

"Funerals," plural? We get more than one? Is that because we die several times or our survivors wheel the body around for a few weeks, visiting different funeral homes?

Mcflewster replies on Apr 18, 2018:

'Your own' is plural so potentially we are talking about the Funerals of everyone who visits this site. I introduced the topic because funeral talk is so taboo and it does not have to be. Having said that it reminds me that some people ARE having more than one 'funeral' of sorts and some charities will organise one of this special type for you. They arrange to meet their friends and relatives just before they know they are going to die. Do you know what will be said about you? Would it not be better to hear the good things about you before you die rather than read about it its a ghost on your tombstone? [Joke] Have you written down the way you want your funeral to go?

Hello all, I just wanted to say that I've really been enjoying this place and appreciate the sense...

beinnature comments on Mar 16, 2018:

This is a lot more refreshing than FB or any other platform I'm currently using. I hope to see it grow, but I also hope the attitude stays the same. Open discussion without rabid disagreement is so nice to see...keep it up, folks.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 17, 2018:

I wonder how this site could get better recognition? Is there an awards ceremony ?

What is chemistry?

MustardSeed comments on Apr 14, 2018:

Dude, if you have to ask, you don't have it

Mcflewster replies on Apr 17, 2018:

Sorry I disagree . Always ask . It is our greatest testing device . Please always use it with compassion

[meetup.

pictomaniac comments on Apr 16, 2018:

@Mcflewster I appreciate the revised attempt to explain the initial post, However I'm still unsure of your own position on belief. This may be an assumption on my part but you seem to present as a 'doubter' (using your own terminology) ? I personally don't feel a need to analyse sites/groups like...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 16, 2018:

@pictomaniac Thank you so much for challenging me in my beliefs. It is something I expected on discovering this site. It is the only way that we can come together and defeat religion. I do moan to myself that a lot of people are trying the wrong way, but I would never predict what path is the best for us skeptical mere humans to take to get us to our mission end. Making mistakes will probably figure quite a bit in this . As I was science teacher for 40 years and only want the best for education, you will understand that I am still trying to improve the impact of science on the ordinary person and make it more useful to everyone than ‘academic’ . Science is why I am agnostic , because no one can know the answer before going to investigate something worth investigating. I am in the process of writing a blog - very slowly at the moment. Science is not the most popular of subjects but read my blog when it comes and it may explain my attitudes.   Let me try to reassure you of my motives a little further by making a few sincere statements. 1. I think Jesus was just a deluded man or a collection of deluded men merged together by Paul so as to alter history - you must admit that he has been rather successful (on earth) in what he tried to do. 2. I enjoyed the ‘amazing atheist’ and agreed with his demolition of Jefferson Bethke. Without your post I would probably never have seen that . I occasionally watch American Atheists phone ins. 3. Yes Ann Lamott has fuzzy thinking. The reason I look at this and other religious sites is to pick out with fine tweezers some of the statements that can be contradicted with human experience, reason and logic.   I happen to think that the process of quietly letting religion die away could be very long and has the potential to be painful. Religion has caused and is causing too much pain already. Small jabs in the right place ( eg. Actually on a religious site ) might make the process smoother. This site helps the chances of that happening. Do continue to pull me up on anything I say above or in my other posts that you think will disturb yourself or other people. Have a nice day The humble Humanist. PS My definition of a religion. A set of erroneous conclusions done and maintained for power grabbing reasons.

[meetup.

Savage comments on Apr 11, 2018:

Your link comes up, Group you're looking for doesn't exist.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 12, 2018:

Sorry about that. I always have trouble posting a link within a post Just go on the meet up site and search for the group in Newbury UK It is called "Christian spirituality faith doubt community love justice" Or perhaps tell us of other religion's sites which help doubters

I want to explore a touchy topic.

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Apr 9, 2018:

Because men are in charge.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 10, 2018:

ONLY if women say so!

There is no agnostic vs. atheist! The peeve I have...

EdwinMcCravy comments on Feb 26, 2018:

Theists are wrong for saying "God exists". Atheists are wrong for saying "God does not exist". Agnostics are wrong for saying "God may or may not exist". Theological noncognitivists are RIGHT for saying "'God' is meaningless".

Mcflewster replies on Apr 8, 2018:

"Thus "God" is meaningless" Only if everyone stops talking about him/her

Is atheism linked to depression/anxiety?

Alimacbean comments on Apr 6, 2018:

Agnostics tend to be realists and in turn can be depressed because we don't view the world through rose colored glasses.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 6, 2018:

One does not need to be depressed after being really real ?

Hi all - we Brits are heavily outnumbered by our colonial cousins on Agnostic.

Sandster comments on Mar 17, 2018:

Any other Coronation Street fans thinking maybe they are using too many adult storylines for early evening viewing?

Mcflewster replies on Apr 3, 2018:

Yes are so many topics for soaps to deal out and the fans do not seem to mind the pace as long as you switch off the connection to real life. Coronation street is all about lack of communication or confusing communication with lies. No one ever asks 'Can I book a holiday for the two of us ? soon? Holidays are always "PackNow! here'e the tickets. This biggest line with Pat F has shown how gullible people can be. That is difficult for children to comprehend and perhaps teaching them to be devious.

Any Christian Humanists, Jewish Humanists, Muslim Humanists , 'X' Humanists here?

sassygirl3869 comments on Mar 31, 2018:

I'm a Humanist or Social Warrior by Definition. I am culturally Jewish. Does that qualifyme as a Jewish Humanist-I don'tknow?

Mcflewster replies on Apr 2, 2018:

I think it does in my opinion, but @sassygirl3869,perhaps you should use this site to find. There will always be grey areas in definitions.

Time to see who stands on which side of the line over Brexit.

MattHardy comments on Apr 1, 2018:

Brexit is certainly not good for me. I voted stay and certainly don't want to see this rushed ill considered Hard Brexit further screw up this country. However I don't consider the referendum to be null and void. It was a close run thing that clearly could have gone either way. The government should...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 2, 2018:

So you are satisfied that it was a democratic vote? Very many had given little thought to the reality. Democracy IMPLIES informed consent and only now are we finding the full facts. Yes we do need more democratic mechanisms education. The cry to 'get on with it' is a childish response . Second referendum or new election in a few months !!

Hello fellow Brits.

Mcflewster comments on Apr 2, 2018:

Welcome! You obviously know about Humanist groups in the UK and perhaps Humanists(UK)website and other non religious organisation. I would be pleased to know how you rate and or rank them as useful in full comparison with this site. Be prepared for other surprises on this site. The films which ...

Mcflewster replies on Apr 2, 2018:

There is a typo in "Make a post about some amethyst authors with good stories." It should have read "Atheist authors" . Can we switch off the auto correct here?

Any Christian Humanists, Jewish Humanists, Muslim Humanists , 'X' Humanists here?

GoldenDoll comments on Mar 31, 2018:

It's an agnostic site, so hopefully not.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 1, 2018:

I am sure they peek if not infiltrate. all are welcome as far as I am concerned.

Now that the pope has declared HELL closed for eternity, which other 'beating stick' of religion ...

Paul4747 comments on Mar 31, 2018:

Wait- he can DO that? So, everyone that was there is now going to Heaven eventually, right? This means Catholics get to sin their little hearts out? Sweet.

Mcflewster replies on Apr 1, 2018:

No apparently You,I and other skeptics don't go to heaven - they just disappear -just like we thought we would anyway. Vatican has denied it and Pope said it in a private reported but not recorded conversation with an intelligent atheist philosopher - but at least they are talking about it.

Sexual proclivities stifled by religion?

arnies comments on Mar 31, 2018:

Well it's not exactly a kink, but a former girlfriend avoided vaginal sex because it went contrary to her religion. But oral was just fine... none of it was due to my belief, just respect for hers. Pretty sure she was just going with "the letter of the law, though"

Mcflewster replies on Mar 31, 2018:

Probably a complete dislike of the birthing process as well? Taking no chances anyway. Lots of things you can do without a vagina to aim at , happily.

I get a little chuckle out of the level system.

Rudy1962 comments on Mar 27, 2018:

Five more points for me for responding to this post!

Mcflewster replies on Mar 27, 2018:

Yes but you have to make 5 points IN the post too. Whose counting?

I am looking for experience of Humanism within the UK .

CeliaVL comments on Mar 26, 2018:

Political parties are non-religious and can be very rewarding to be involved in. Depends on your politics though! And lots of areas have historical/philosophical societies which have interesting meetings.

Mcflewster replies on Mar 27, 2018:

You are very kind. I do those things too but want a sideways view of the work of Humanists in the UK.

Have you ever cheated on an exam? Do you think cheating in a test is moral?

Captnron59 comments on Mar 23, 2018:

Chemistry 2. Crip notes for the 10 different ways to get molecular weights. In my calculator. Still didn't get half of them right. Never figured out how to tell when which is needed.

Mcflewster replies on Mar 24, 2018:

If you concentrate on how each of the methods work, it will help you to remember a bigger proportion.

Religion and Science.

KKGator comments on Mar 7, 2018:

Science and religion are completely incompatible. I don't believe anyone who believes any kind of religious nonsense can separate the two enough to be credible.

Mcflewster replies on Mar 23, 2018:

I agree but it is strange that both religion and science use many of the same processes like observation and making conclusions ( or at least the pastor does - the rest are sheep).This is the reason they appear to overlap, and why religionists feed us pseudo science instead. Many of the conclusions reached by religion are kept rigid by the unfeeling conservatives and have lost the relevances of a thousand years ago

My Sister is probably indifferently agnostic.

NicoleCadmium comments on Mar 23, 2018:

I find myself much in that position. I don't give a damn whether there is or isn't a God. My issues with religion are the power that it puts into the hands of corrupt humans, the unnecessary death and suffering that happens in its name, and the behaviour of zealots towards people who don't ...

Mcflewster replies on Mar 23, 2018:

Surely if YOU decide the code, you get your power back and can un-damn things.

My Sister is probably indifferently agnostic.

Varn comments on Mar 23, 2018:

Wish I were able to ignore religion.. But it has a way of forcing itself into our lives. Some take stands, others avoid conflict; I’ll stand with the stand takers :-)

Mcflewster replies on Mar 23, 2018:

I do not think anyone can ignore religion. The same can be said of politics and science. This is why the secular route - a separation apartheid - is the wrong route

I wonder why so many people like/believe in Angels?

onthefire comments on Mar 16, 2018:

They want to think something is behind everything that they can't explain. Like "dumb luck" isn't a factor. I'm accident prone. I know all about dumb luck and know well that mine will run out someday.

Mcflewster replies on Mar 17, 2018:

I am fascinated by why you say you know it will run out. Clairvoyance?

I wonder why so many people like/believe in Angels?

Sticks48 comments on Mar 10, 2018:

Becuase they want to.

Mcflewster replies on Mar 13, 2018:

That is why most people do most things. Can you try to differentiate them and put some real meaning on the concept?

I wonder why so many people like/believe in Angels?

Jnei comments on Mar 9, 2018:

I can understand why people like them. Beautiful beings that look over us and protect us from harm? Nice idea.*I* like them. As for *believe* in them... well, that's a very different matter.

Mcflewster replies on Mar 13, 2018:

But you are prepared to perpetuate them? Why not stick with the human concept of Heroe and Heroine?

[youtube.

mordant comments on Feb 28, 2018:

Can we keep the gathering without the stories? Technically, no, because the stories provide a shared belief and experience to coalesce around. It seems that "humanity" or "humanism" is too varied to serve that purpose; it doesn't create a tribal connection. There is a human need to belong to a ...

Mcflewster replies on Mar 1, 2018:

I know and accept the variety of Human experience and opinions - unless one accepts how WKD humans can be one is not going. to prepare yourself for life. However there are common threads to each of us and actually studying these and the way to handle the problems with maximum effect in a very positive way should form the basis of cause for celebration which is what church services are about. Meetings called "Sunday Assemblies" in USA and UK attempt to Religions have done some good work obviously and Non believers must match these in so many ways if we are to be listened to and alter society in ways which are so badly needed. Overall religions have suppressed humans into submissive attitudes in line with or regrettable 'adoration' of monarchs (and celebrities). I do not see why Non believers could not run a series of meetings about "The man Jesus" starting with the difficulties of proving his actual existance and how he used the illusions of miracles mostly in good cause to influence society the way,if he existed , he did. Either Jesus or people like Paul were very clever manipulators.

Where do you think our morals come from? what brings about improvements in them?

Donotbelieve comments on Feb 20, 2018:

Can anyone do a better job of explaining how we came to be communal animals via survival and evolution, or should I take a whack at it?

Mcflewster replies on Feb 21, 2018:

Explaining via evolutionary psychology . Darwin Day lecture at Humanists(UK) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6L6WxwRBnM

I thought this group would stir shit up, and it has.

jayneonacobb comments on Feb 17, 2018:

Firearms don't kill people, they are inanimate objects. Furthermore firearms are delivery systems for bullets, bullets are weapons, not guns. People kill people, not weapons. Weapons are tools. There are thousands of types weapons available. Guns just happen to be popular. Jeffery Dahmer killed ...

Mcflewster replies on Feb 17, 2018:

The presence of a gun does take away the need for rational humane thought

Enjoy a good conversation

Eazyduzzit comments on Feb 16, 2018:

Hello, how are you this evening!

Mcflewster replies on Feb 16, 2018:

Still awake at 1am and don't want to be

What, exactly, does it mean to be "spiritual"?

jayneonacobb comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Atheism is the rejection of the claim of god(s). Spirituality isn't a God.

Mcflewster replies on Feb 16, 2018:

It is just an unknown 'thing'.

What, exactly, does it mean to be "spiritual"?

Jack-of-scythes comments on Feb 9, 2018:

"Spiritual" has not a damn thing to do with religion.

Mcflewster replies on Feb 16, 2018:

Only that both have failed to explain themselves in scientific terms and both show reticence to investigate themselves scientifically.

Have you ever been the discoverer of false news.

jlynn37 comments on Feb 7, 2018:

That is a very important question regarding today's society and I can not offer a solution or any counter measures to determine the validity of what one reads.

Mcflewster replies on Feb 8, 2018:

From UK Poster Does Trump offer any real solution?

Have you ever been the discoverer of false news.

diabhal comments on Feb 7, 2018:

Tune in to Fox News. The end

Mcflewster replies on Feb 8, 2018:

@diabhal How much does Fox News use or abuse science processes?

Have you ever been the discoverer of false news.

AnneWimsey comments on Feb 7, 2018:

After Bernie got screwed over, i realized drumpy would be the blight he has shown himself to be. I was on FB probably 14 hours a day trying to fight the tide of falsehoods & fabrications about Hilary...not that she is/was perfect, but, Not Trump....Pizzagate, anyone? Anyway, I must have had some ...

Mcflewster replies on Feb 8, 2018:

Well done !

Have you ever been the discoverer of false news.

farmboy2017 comments on Feb 7, 2018:

False News is as old as news itself.

Mcflewster replies on Feb 8, 2018:

How much does Fox News use or abuse science processes?

Have you ever been the discoverer of false news.

farmboy2017 comments on Feb 7, 2018:

False News is as old as news itself.

Mcflewster replies on Feb 8, 2018:

@farmboy2017 You mean like Garden of Eden News?

How Should Atheism Be Taught? - The Atlantic

shockwaverider comments on Feb 5, 2018:

As Philosophy of belief systems.

Mcflewster replies on Feb 7, 2018:

I really do not think that teaching all the belief systems through philosophy is suitable. Of course we should acknowledge them all - but there are thousands of them there would be no time in the curriculum for anything else. We have to be selective but atheism and Humanism should be high up there.

Get Ready to Cringe: Jehovah’s Witnesses Are Warning People Not to Masturbate – Friendly Atheist

EMC2 comments on Jan 29, 2018:

We are only allowed 150,000 orgasms and with strict dating protocols, we use 76% of our allotment by mid thirties.

Mcflewster replies on Jan 31, 2018:

@EMC2 Please quote your orgasm source

I have recently come across a growing body of negativity towards science and scientists.

Stevil comments on Dec 17, 2017:

Scientitians are the devils tools. They're blasphemous and against God and baby Jesus. Can't wait till all of them fall off the edge of the earth, along with their global warming. that will be a blessed day!!!!

Mcflewster replies on Jan 30, 2018:

@ZebsamanHave a nice day and pass the aspirin.

Best fictional TV show that features Atheism?

David1955 comments on Jan 26, 2018:

I wasn't aware that there were any. Perhaps Star Trek, TOS, 1966-1969. Definitely atheist themes reflecting Roddenberry.

Mcflewster replies on Jan 26, 2018:

Many think Roddenbury was a Humanist. He certainly did a lot more about entertaining glimpses at the human condition than just questioning the existence of THE god.

What Am I?

marmot84 comments on Jan 23, 2018:

Why do we have to call that practice "religion"? Couldn't we simply call it mindfulness?

Mcflewster replies on Jan 25, 2018:

To marmot84 Religion is very different from mindfulness. In particular it makes conclusions which you are expected to follow without real thought to your own special circumstances. Women must be in charge of their own body - having respected the full range of rights that men deserve. Religion is repressive & just tells you what to do. We can achieve a lot more for mankind by NOT telling you what to do or invent sins to scare you away from the fictitious flames. Men and women are capable of working things out for themselves. The sad thing is that some people think they are not capable .

Introducing Humanism: Non-religious Approaches to Life

Admin comments on Jan 23, 2018:

Here's a secret... http://humanist.com ... look familiar?

Mcflewster replies on Jan 24, 2018:

Secret??

I think that agnosticism in the true sense I.

Rudy1962 comments on Jan 9, 2018:

It might just be me but the statement/question seems filled with subtle passive aggressiveness.

Mcflewster replies on Jan 22, 2018:

I am just trying to get members of this forum to give themselves more credit . They deserve it . Where does the agressiveness (from me) come in?

It seems to me that if religious or spiritual people are to give up their faith or belief it will ...

HippieChick58 comments on Jan 21, 2018:

I think we just need education and to get religion out of our schools and legal system, as it was intended to be. It's like growing up and finding out Santa isn't real. We got over it.

Mcflewster replies on Jan 22, 2018:

Education, Education,Education. is one famous answer.

It seems to me that if religious or spiritual people are to give up their faith or belief it will ...

Hominid comments on Jan 21, 2018:

It depends entirely on *how* the person became religious, and *why* the person believes in the first place. I say this because I've run across the whole gamut in my ministry days, and it's mainly for emotional reasons people either converted as adults, or stay in religion because they were born ...

Mcflewster replies on Jan 22, 2018:

I agree about emotions. What you say about yourself to yourself is tremendously important and a program to control emotions through self criticism would be good. I agree about one-size-fits-all , that is why we need a group campaign , not a 'saviour'.

It seems to me that if religious or spiritual people are to give up their faith or belief it will ...

Qryzti comments on Jan 21, 2018:

'Agnosticism: because saying "I don't know" is OK.' Haha that was just the first thing that popped in my head. Or maybe it could be something like 'Enjoy life, do what makes you happy, and cherish those around you. This might be your only chance, so make the most of it.'

Mcflewster replies on Jan 22, 2018:

Good, yours is the first practical suggestion I have read. In the UK Humanists have used "For the one life we have" for some time, but in a campaign you need a never-ending stream of them.

Like many Humanists we major in Human Rights. But what exactly is a right ?

rainmanjr comments on Jan 4, 2018:

The Declaration Of Independence declares them to be natural conditions intrinsic to life, liberty, and happiness. It then lays out what these rights are. I can not improve upon Thomas Jefferson’s writing.

Mcflewster replies on Jan 12, 2018:

He definitely laid down a good foundation, but new 'rights' in detail are arising every day. Can we cope with any more?

I think that agnosticism in the true sense I.

zeliasgrand comments on Jan 9, 2018:

Do you mean that if you have not agonized over and picked apart all the arguments for/against the existence of God(s), you are not a "valid" agnostic? I don't understand what you mean re: lazy or evasive thinking.

Mcflewster replies on Jan 11, 2018:

Lazy or Evasive are the words that I get about "sitting on the fence" or not being able to make up my mind. We need to convert a lot more people to being agnostic.

I think that agnosticism in the true sense I.

sassygirl3869 comments on Jan 9, 2018:

Agnosticism is not a status but a way of thinking.

Mcflewster replies on Jan 11, 2018:

Agreed. It just needs a lift in its appreciation.

Like many Humanists we major in Human Rights. But what exactly is a right ?

ssylvia49 comments on Jan 4, 2018:

I strongly disagree with your comment on animal rights. Animals are non-judgmental and unconditionally loving. They care not for color or religion or no religion or other personal characteristics. Animals have NO voice of their own as people do.

Mcflewster replies on Jan 6, 2018:

I mostly agree with what you say, but I do not want this to interfere with the topic about what fundamentally rights are and how we deal with opposing rights etc. Also 'Can a right actually damage a society?'. We in UK just cannot see an end to gun killing in the USA How we get round the right to bear arms is a topic we in the UK would sincerely like to help US citizens. Is it right to stick to history over rights or can we get to a more logical human answer?

I believe in the power of faith.

DavidLaDeau comments on Jan 2, 2018:

The problem here is the word faith. In this case you are using it as optimism, or confidence. You are not using it in the context of believing without evidence. You have confidence because you have done this many times before. You are not believing without any factual evidence as it has happened ...

Mcflewster replies on Jan 4, 2018:

I would suggest that confidence with evidence is called 'trust'.

I believe in the power of faith.

GoldenMean comments on Jan 2, 2018:

Technically, faith is religion, but we do have faith in things. You don't have to be of a faith to have a good attitude. It's probably more you--or any confident person--that you do well and take it well when you fall short. Being aware of self and having a sober attitude of yourself and everything ...

Mcflewster replies on Jan 3, 2018:

"Faith is religion" is a meme put about by religious people . I see it in religious context as a last line of defence , filling in the gaps of explanations when they have no evidence for something. Faith is actually an evolved human faculty to bridge gaps in arguments and can have wide use outside of religion. It is pity that religion hi-jacked the word.

Which do you think has achieved more for society - Philosophy or Science.?

RobH86 comments on Dec 31, 2017:

Love a good philosphy vs science debate. Science wins every time for me. The problem with philosophy is that you can talk for hours and get nowhere, Science might not be able to tell us everything, but science is the only thing that can tell us anything at all

Mcflewster replies on Jan 1, 2018:

I agree that science is the only way of knowing.

Which do you think has achieved more for society - Philosophy or Science.?

skado comments on Dec 30, 2017:

I think people need a worldview in order to be happy and functional citizens. Science alone is not a worldview; it’s mostly just a collection of facts, and, I would say, an attitude. Philosophy is required to arrange facts, experience, and human impulse into a meaningful worldview. Philosophy ...

Mcflewster replies on Dec 31, 2017:

I would prefer to call science a set of processes.

Which do you think has achieved more for society - Philosophy or Science.?

HarrySlick comments on Dec 30, 2017:

Science is a two edged sword ,besides all the obvious benefits to mankind , it has also led to every problem the human race has faced.Over population ,atomic weapons,pollution,Global warming ,ecological disaster etc

Mcflewster replies on Dec 31, 2017:

But then science is just a set of processes. You cannot blame the problems of the human race on anything but humans and the way they misuse facts

I became an atheist/agnostic in 6th grade when I was sent to religious instruction class because my ...

ErichZannIII comments on Dec 17, 2017:

Religion has, ever since "civilized" societies emerged, been a form of social control. Mesopotamia, Rome, Greece, Sumeria... If you didn't believe what they believed you were cast out. It's less of an issue now with a more open society in that sense, but people will still judge you if you don't ...

Mcflewster replies on Dec 30, 2017:

We humanists have a lot to believe in. 1. Ourselves for a start. 2. Other sensitive human beings. 3. Fairness 4. Justice 5. Democracy 6. Logic and reason Humans can formulate their own moral codes by observation and analysis and without God . So we do not fell the need believe in 1.Higher powers, 2.Hell and 3.judgements dictated by another human being. 4. anything without evidence.

What has the atheist "community" done for anyone lately?

Rammymartin10v3 comments on Dec 27, 2017:

I donated for animal freedom against experiments.

Mcflewster replies on Dec 29, 2017:

I do not like animal experiments either but when you come to try these non-animal-tested products do you not think " I am the first animal to test this, what if it goes wrong for me?" . That is not a selfish though just a practical one.

In order to truly advance humanity (even study religion as an evolutionary need) will it be ...

HeathenFarmer comments on Dec 29, 2017:

You are assuming that humans have long enough for this to happen; unfortunately I believe that most will die in ignorance. The scientific method has been developed for more than 100 years yet the vast majority of civilization has no notion of what it even is, this failure in the spread of this ...

Mcflewster replies on Dec 29, 2017:

Rather a gloomy outlook. Have you never had a good invention, large or small, and felt the thrill of discovery? As a set of processes science can be very uplifting and satisfying.

Why do intelligent people rely on faith?

Skyfacer comments on Dec 8, 2017:

One of my favourite books is 'Telling Lies For God' by Ian Plimer. In his book he 'zeros in ' on a certain person who's actually a qualified scientist (Geophysicist) who actually pushes the nonsense of Creationism. His name is A.A. Snelling. So go figure. Perhaps Zanyfish you're correct in saying ...

Mcflewster replies on Dec 28, 2017:

"two sets of thinking processes" Perhaps two separate areas of the brain, but the processes used can often be very similar.

I believe that anyone who calls themselves a scientist can accept no other label than AGNOSTIC.

snytiger6 comments on Dec 18, 2017:

I wish it were so. However science has become so specialized that scientists can believe a lot strange and sometimes even crazy stuff outside of their field of knowledge. I am also not so keen about allowing people to arbitrarily label themselves as scientists. A person shoudl be vetted by ...

Mcflewster replies on Dec 28, 2017:

A scientist does not take a label of authority except by being right, and can be proved wrong by anyone using these processes and fact checking systems of science, like peer review. I intended to convey that we are all born with the rudimentary processes of science -mankind would never have survived unless this were so - and these processes have to survive being squashed by amongst others religious people . We just have to stop science being squashed by dealing properly with the religious and every human can develop their capabilities to the maximum using he science they were born with.

Hello, Atheists and Agnostics.

wordywalt comments on Dec 28, 2017:

the vast majority of people don't agree with your premise because it is not true. Capitalism run amok is a big problem, but it does not have to be that way. If you are espousing some form of Marxism, you are just as deluded as religious zealots. You are making the huge reasoning error of ...

Mcflewster replies on Dec 28, 2017:

Perhaps the ideas were correct but the people who applied them were flawed.

Hello, Atheists and Agnostics.

DJVJ311 comments on Dec 28, 2017:

The American system is absolute garbage and is a horrible representation of what capitalism is supposed to be, but torn down to ideals it's not a bad thing at all. Neither is socialism. In practice, it all turns to garbage.

Mcflewster replies on Dec 28, 2017:

Is it all about idealism then? What about reality? What is it that makes you so negative in my view? In practice I agree with most of what you say.