"To mend someone's sorrows is to profit a friend.

brentan comments on Apr 9, 2019:

I think a lot of these quotes are based on the idea that man has an intrinsic value. It's probably rooted in religion, humans thought to be the children of God. As far as I know, philosophy hasn't challenged this view while the dogs on the street know that humanity is overrated.

brentan replies on Apr 9, 2019:

Yes there is. Religion has been vehicle of these thoughts for a very long time. If you want to forget how we got here, go ahead but that's not for me.

Any book lover here? Who likes the Russian writers? If you do, which one do you prefer?

brentan comments on Apr 8, 2019:

I'm a Dostoevsky fan.

brentan replies on Apr 9, 2019:

I think The Idiot really touched my heart.

Feeling this today.

brentan comments on Apr 9, 2019:

And still you find us older people going at it with gusto, some even getting out of bed in the morning with the plan to fight all day.

brentan replies on Apr 9, 2019:

So what was it then and what is it now?

This is a puzzler

brentan comments on Apr 8, 2019:

Maybe a mum with two boys?

brentan replies on Apr 8, 2019:

I apologise, I'll try not to do it again.

Who on here is looking to be in a balanced triad type relationship?

CaroleKay comments on Apr 6, 2019:

Why are there children in your picture when you are on a dating site, where you are basically cruising for three way sex? I take it you don't think that's tacky at all?

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

@CaroleKay Tough! It's a discussion forum.

Who on here is looking to be in a balanced triad type relationship?

CaroleKay comments on Apr 6, 2019:

Why are there children in your picture when you are on a dating site, where you are basically cruising for three way sex? I take it you don't think that's tacky at all?

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

This is a discussion forum more than a dating site and people's sexual lives are not their whole lives.

@bigpawbullets philosophy of surviving age-related incidents in life...

brentan comments on Apr 6, 2019:

Or a Merlot if a Sauvignon isn't available.

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

@MissKathleen Oh, you connoisseurs!

Does irrational fear of something, really imply love/attraction to that thing?

brentan comments on Apr 6, 2019:

We haven't discussed it enough. We need people who want to discuss the problem without agenda. What arguments against homosexuality might be legitimate?

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

@1of5 Well, that's that then. We'll carry on.

Ugh, not a Kardashian!

brentan comments on Apr 6, 2019:

Live and let live.

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

I couldn't agree more.

Don't believe it?..read on..

brentan comments on Apr 6, 2019:

It's boiling down to is it white privilege or is it just being impossible to make a case against these guys?

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

@Beowulfsfriend And yet nothing stuck, even though you admit D.A.s will will try to throw mud and see what will stick. Perhaps they concluded that nothing could come from the evidence they had.

This is a direct result of Trump recognising the occupied Golan heights as Israeli territory and ...

brentan comments on Apr 6, 2019:

I think Trump is guessing that the stalemate has gone on too long and if he approves putting an end to it by encouraging the Israelis to occupy all of Palestine, the result will gradually be accepted by Palestinians and the rest of the world.

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

@Petter Yes, I am careful but I listen to what people say and try to figure out what they mean.

This is a direct result of Trump recognising the occupied Golan heights as Israeli territory and ...

brentan comments on Apr 6, 2019:

I think Trump is guessing that the stalemate has gone on too long and if he approves putting an end to it by encouraging the Israelis to occupy all of Palestine, the result will gradually be accepted by Palestinians and the rest of the world.

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

@Petter Good or bad, it pays us to understand where these people are coming from.

It's like a buffet!...

OldGoat43 comments on Apr 6, 2019:

Yum, a milk bar.

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

It makes me think of 'the Milky Bars are on me"!

What do you do when you are at a table ready to eat with other prople and someone begins saying ...

brentan comments on Apr 6, 2019:

It's so hard to know. It's so downright presumptuous and egotistical. Then again, if you were an atheist with a very understanding nature, you could put it down to ignorance and let it pass. In this situation, I think the atheist is manifesting the Christian fruits of the spirit more than the ...

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

@traceyanarchist Time for cocoa?

This is a direct result of Trump recognising the occupied Golan heights as Israeli territory and ...

brentan comments on Apr 6, 2019:

I think Trump is guessing that the stalemate has gone on too long and if he approves putting an end to it by encouraging the Israelis to occupy all of Palestine, the result will gradually be accepted by Palestinians and the rest of the world.

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

I'm not suggesting they will. I'm trying to guess Trump's thinking.

Don't believe it?..read on..

brentan comments on Apr 6, 2019:

It's boiling down to is it white privilege or is it just being impossible to make a case against these guys?

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

@Charlene Perhaps nothing clear enough to make a case against anyone.

Socialism, so bad.

Novelty comments on Apr 6, 2019:

I'd move there if I spoke the language but I'm still learning English the only language I almost know.

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

Don't go to Malmo whatever you do!

I've been an atheist my whole adult life and I have never been a Catholic but I have to say that she...

Anonbene comments on Apr 6, 2019:

Damn it! I just Kyrie eleisoned all over myself. ?

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

@Anonbene When I was a Catholic, sex was better because it was a sin!

I've been an atheist my whole adult life and I have never been a Catholic but I have to say that she...

Anonbene comments on Apr 6, 2019:

Damn it! I just Kyrie eleisoned all over myself. ?

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

And I'll bet He would have to have mercy on you in this situation.

just something to think about

brentan comments on Apr 6, 2019:

I would like to live long enough to see if the patriarchal hierarchy was an arbitrary tradition or is based on an understanding of social dynamics that we don't understand anymore.

brentan replies on Apr 6, 2019:

@Robecology Time will tell if that's all there is to it!

Identity politics It seems to be the trend now that everyone is group.

brentan comments on Mar 30, 2019:

There's power in numbers. You don't even have to be right. You can be 'democratically' right. All you need to do to justify behaving badly is to pretend you're the victim while you're being an ass. And then your buddies will back you up.

brentan replies on Apr 4, 2019:

@OwlInASack I'm not going down the road with you on your liberal rant. That's not this discussion.

Identity politics It seems to be the trend now that everyone is group.

brentan comments on Mar 30, 2019:

There's power in numbers. You don't even have to be right. You can be 'democratically' right. All you need to do to justify behaving badly is to pretend you're the victim while you're being an ass. And then your buddies will back you up.

brentan replies on Apr 4, 2019:

@OwlInASack I did. So you went off on a tangent and somebody followed you. Now you think you're validated. Sad.

I know several women that I would like to touch inappropriately.

brentan comments on Apr 3, 2019:

I think women want to be touched inappropriately by men they would like to touch them inappropriately. It's not a matter of principle for women. But for men, taking no chances needs to be a principle.

brentan replies on Apr 4, 2019:

@GinaKay Thank you. That's why it's not a matter of principle for women.

Hahaha! I must get some of these!

Ludo comments on Apr 3, 2019:

I need to post this on my front gate. You'd think that living in the jungle, two miles of rutted trail from any road, would keep the Witnesses from showing up and inviting me to their Easter services, but noooo! They're persistent little buggers.

brentan replies on Apr 3, 2019:

When I was a JW, I didn't know you but I would track you down and find you. I had the skills.

I've been looking forever...

brentan comments on Apr 3, 2019:

A far piece from here.

brentan replies on Apr 3, 2019:

You're absolutely right - that's how I heard it.

Yes! Finally a sequel!

altschmerz comments on Apr 3, 2019:

Wait'll Mel Gibson gets a hold of this!

brentan replies on Apr 3, 2019:

Hopefully just murder and mayhem with no bums exposed. That would be immoral.

I challenge any theologian of Islam or any apologetic Muslim to convince me with any interpretation ...

brentan comments on Apr 2, 2019:

I think if we look at it from a 7th century Muslim perspective, the apostate was also returning to the enemy, making himself a traitor. It's a moot point who condemns you. It is a Muslim who will kill you.

brentan replies on Apr 3, 2019:

No, not for apostacy.

Identity politics It seems to be the trend now that everyone is group.

brentan comments on Mar 30, 2019:

There's power in numbers. You don't even have to be right. You can be 'democratically' right. All you need to do to justify behaving badly is to pretend you're the victim while you're being an ass. And then your buddies will back you up.

brentan replies on Apr 1, 2019:

I think you posted in the wrong discussion.

I hope I don't have to worry about any of you guys, but just a reminder.

brentan comments on Mar 31, 2019:

I'm sure that must be a huge loss. Your situation brings home the argument that's raging nowadays about feelings versus free speech. I think free speech trumps feelings every time because even though individuals suffer from the free speech of others, society suffers if free speech is forbidden.

brentan replies on Mar 31, 2019:

@mzbehavin Well, you're reduced to childish nonsense now.

I hope I don't have to worry about any of you guys, but just a reminder.

brentan comments on Mar 31, 2019:

I'm sure that must be a huge loss. Your situation brings home the argument that's raging nowadays about feelings versus free speech. I think free speech trumps feelings every time because even though individuals suffer from the free speech of others, society suffers if free speech is forbidden.

brentan replies on Mar 31, 2019:

Whatever that means. It's either very deep or very trite.

I hope I don't have to worry about any of you guys, but just a reminder.

brentan comments on Mar 31, 2019:

I'm sure that must be a huge loss. Your situation brings home the argument that's raging nowadays about feelings versus free speech. I think free speech trumps feelings every time because even though individuals suffer from the free speech of others, society suffers if free speech is forbidden.

brentan replies on Mar 31, 2019:

I haven't exercised my freedom of speech in response to her request. I questioned whether freedom of speech was more important than individual wishes and also whether people should be judged adversely if they chose to exercise that right. As for the 'necessity' of the post, it was enough in a discussion forum that it was a valid post. Sad to see how many discussions are closed down these days by those claiming their own virtue gives them the right to judge.

I hope I don't have to worry about any of you guys, but just a reminder.

brentan comments on Mar 31, 2019:

I'm sure that must be a huge loss. Your situation brings home the argument that's raging nowadays about feelings versus free speech. I think free speech trumps feelings every time because even though individuals suffer from the free speech of others, society suffers if free speech is forbidden.

brentan replies on Mar 31, 2019:

It certainly ups the ante to judge people who want their freedom of speech as indecent human beings. It will be interestng to see if anyone will exercise that right tomorrow in the face of such harsh judgement.

BBC - Future - Are we close to solving the puzzle of consciousness?

brentan comments on Mar 31, 2019:

I think we won't get close to understanding consciousness so long as we think it actually resides in the brain.

brentan replies on Mar 31, 2019:

I'm sure we did. Probably will again. What did you think of the article?

I hope I don't have to worry about any of you guys, but just a reminder.

brentan comments on Mar 31, 2019:

I'm sure that must be a huge loss. Your situation brings home the argument that's raging nowadays about feelings versus free speech. I think free speech trumps feelings every time because even though individuals suffer from the free speech of others, society suffers if free speech is forbidden.

brentan replies on Mar 31, 2019:

I guess you will decide who is a decent human being or not based on whether they do what you want or not. Fair enough, that's your opinion but I doubt people exercising their right against your wishes won't care much what you think about them.

Can he please come back from the dead then?

brentan comments on Mar 30, 2019:

Now there's a guy who knew white people had rights!

brentan replies on Mar 30, 2019:

@JackPedigo In U.S. history, the relationship between George Washington and slavery was a complex one in that, while he held people as slaves for virtually all of his life, he expressed reservations about the institution during his career. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_and_slavery

Identity politics It seems to be the trend now that everyone is group.

SeaGreenEyez comments on Mar 30, 2019:

Apparently I've not gotten into anything identity politic-y because I have NO clue what a WASP is and I'm not even going to Google it. We're only as disconnected from others as we wish to be. ?

brentan replies on Mar 30, 2019:

@CallMeDave Yep. Jewish Anglo Protestant.

Will someone please help me figure out how to like someone's bio.

glennlab comments on Mar 30, 2019:

If you are liking the profile, you can click on the send smile and 3 options will pop up, if you are trying to like the pictures the only thing that registers is the like button right now. I haven't figured out the emoji thing either.

brentan replies on Mar 30, 2019:

Me neither.

Can he please come back from the dead then?

brentan comments on Mar 30, 2019:

Now there's a guy who knew white people had rights!

brentan replies on Mar 30, 2019:

I leave blocking to other people. Feel free!

So I've been knee deep in learning my new studio software (Sonar Platinum).

brentan comments on Mar 30, 2019:

That looks great fun. Drag and drop sounds, who'd have thunk it?

brentan replies on Mar 30, 2019:

Is that not part of making the music - taking smaller music files from here and there and dropping them into the main music file?

A great awakening.. Who's part of the Revolution with me?

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 30, 2019:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8zc0BI7T1LA

brentan replies on Mar 30, 2019:

OK, that has burst my bubble.

The posts I visited this morning , are not adding points for , "likes ."

Naejidlopalev comments on Mar 30, 2019:

No apparently big glitch or something going on so we've reverted back to verbally liking people's posts...I like this post

brentan replies on Mar 30, 2019:

Oh no, the effort!

Truer words were never spoken.

Diogenes comments on Mar 30, 2019:

Yes, even to get back to Chauser's, The Pilgrim's Progress, gives a person a view of values and religion in his time period.

brentan replies on Mar 30, 2019:

Yes indeed. It's great fun too.

Occupied Northern Ireland

brentan comments on Mar 29, 2019:

I think Britain would love to see NI go back to Ireland. It costs them a fortune. Now that Brexit has fomented talk of unification, the question is does Ireland want it, and also can it afford it?

brentan replies on Mar 30, 2019:

@SidneyWinston I think it boils down to two things: the cost the difference in the people

Okay this is the first time its happened to me but not to others.

bigpawbullets comments on Mar 29, 2019:

Kevin! There are 577 groups (currently) on Agnostic.com. I'd bet you can find a few that will welcome you.

brentan replies on Mar 29, 2019:

@273kelvin I think it has already happened except that the groups don't fight each other (as far as I know). They just stick to their own. So there's no 'real' discussion', just echo-chamber chat.

Homosexuality is unnatural... says a book where...

Beowulfsfriend comments on Mar 28, 2019:

Unnatural? Yeah, right. Take a walk and observe nature. Study giraffes (fun fact, most giraffe sex is male on male). Note there are lizard and snake species that are all female (And in at least one, they stimulate one another to bring on reproduction).

brentan replies on Mar 29, 2019:

@snytiger6 I put it down to nature's scattergun approach to reproduction. Any thing that can happen with the genitals will happen but reproduction is on a bell curve and other sex at the edges so no worries about depopulation.

Agnosticism is not the same as atheism.

brentan comments on Mar 29, 2019:

I'm always interested. I think the atheists often forget what site they are on.

brentan replies on Mar 29, 2019:

@josh_is_exciting I suspect there might be a cosmic consciousness out there that has different priorities, a different agenda, than we think. Whatever it might be, it seems that if it really is there, it has no interest in what happens on earth, or at least not about the things we care about. I guess its the old Buddhist idea.

Agnosticism is not the same as atheism.

brentan comments on Mar 29, 2019:

I'm always interested. I think the atheists often forget what site they are on.

brentan replies on Mar 29, 2019:

@josh_is_exciting That really surprised me. That makes it look like, despite the site's name, that the site is for humanists and atheists.

I sometimes wonder how much more elevated my consciousness might be if I didn’t need to waste a ...

brentan comments on Mar 29, 2019:

I think philosophy is a good replacement for religion.

brentan replies on Mar 29, 2019:

I'm sure you know how I meant it.

Each and everyone of us in the picture is under death threats for speaking our mind.

Surfpirate comments on Mar 29, 2019:

All religions profess to a message of love and acceptance but if you don't accept their particular version of this then you will be met with hatred and rejection. Some members of my family are Xstian and the members that were JW's but left the cult are treated as though they were walking dead. ...

brentan replies on Mar 29, 2019:

I'll never forget the time a JW came back to the faith and one of the sisters remarked sarcasticly: Oh, are you back from the dead, Ian?

Always plenty of Trump bullshit

brentan comments on Mar 29, 2019:

All that will be forgiven when he gets the infrastructure plan going.

brentan replies on Mar 29, 2019:

@Rudy1962 I was being sarcastic. I don't believer the infrastructure idea could work even if he really tried to do it.

Always plenty of Trump bullshit

brentan comments on Mar 29, 2019:

All that will be forgiven when he gets the infrastructure plan going.

brentan replies on Mar 29, 2019:

Remember guys, to err is human....

Damn immigants

brentan comments on Mar 27, 2019:

I still say it's all about controlled immigration.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@Closeted Wo, maybe not that many words! I guess the picture was about white nurses running Middle Eastern hospitals. Are the Muslim women today's nurses? Anyway, I've read enough to know something about the historical crimes committed by the West. I feel the hurt in your comments. I don't know how the situation will improve. I thought the lesson had been learned after Libya to stop getting involved and go back to a kind of Monroe Declaration but sadly no.

"Mercier and Sperber (in their book Enigma of Reason) proposed a novel theory of human ...

brentan comments on Mar 28, 2019:

Nowadays the argument would be you're hurting my feelings if you disagree with me.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

It doesn't augur well for a society polarised with opposite ideologies.

This is just one on a long list of grammatical grievances.

davers comments on Mar 28, 2019:

Here in Aus they use the expression yous, Doesn't matter how many times you tell them "you" is already plural!

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

We do that too in Ireland. I think it's a hangover from Gaelic language syntax. I mean it in this way: tú (too) is you singular sibh (shiv) is you plural So I think it was hard to accept one word for the two cases. Spanish has two words as well, though. I wonder have they any problem with it?

Am I wrong?

brentan comments on Mar 28, 2019:

I wonder what's going on. I mean, the internet is chockerblock full of porn. So I don't understand it in the context of the forum.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

I'll leave you ladies to it!

Am I wrong?

brentan comments on Mar 28, 2019:

I wonder what's going on. I mean, the internet is chockerblock full of porn. So I don't understand it in the context of the forum.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@Amisja That's a whole different kettle of fish. But to answer: no, I had boys. I have to wonder what sort of parents these girls had and what sort of people they themselves are. That situation you decided to involve yourself in was one where understanding what was happening might be better than pontificating. Or just staying out of it, not knowing what's going on.

Am I wrong?

brentan comments on Mar 28, 2019:

I wonder what's going on. I mean, the internet is chockerblock full of porn. So I don't understand it in the context of the forum.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@Gwendolyn2018 I've spent enough time saying why.

Am I wrong?

brentan comments on Mar 28, 2019:

I wonder what's going on. I mean, the internet is chockerblock full of porn. So I don't understand it in the context of the forum.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@Amisja I'm not saying it's right. I'm not suggesting for a moment it shouldn't be discussed. I guess what I'm saying is if you had stayed out of it, there would be nothing to discuss. So I think this is all fabricated drama.

Am I wrong?

brentan comments on Mar 28, 2019:

I wonder what's going on. I mean, the internet is chockerblock full of porn. So I don't understand it in the context of the forum.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@Amisja Discussion is great. I'm talking about getting involved in situations where it might be better to butt out.

Am I wrong?

brentan comments on Mar 28, 2019:

I wonder what's going on. I mean, the internet is chockerblock full of porn. So I don't understand it in the context of the forum.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

If someone gets clobbered, I guess that's a crime, whether they deserve it or not. In a situation where it isn't clear any crime is being committed, I wonder why you always feel the need to get involved.

Am I wrong?

brentan comments on Mar 28, 2019:

I wonder what's going on. I mean, the internet is chockerblock full of porn. So I don't understand it in the context of the forum.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@Amisja Gosh, you really do get involved where you don't have to. I don't put it down to hypersensitivity, just not minding your own business. It must be a need to virtue-signal. If you don't know what is or isn't acceptable to the trans woman, just butt out.

Am I wrong?

brentan comments on Mar 28, 2019:

I wonder what's going on. I mean, the internet is chockerblock full of porn. So I don't understand it in the context of the forum.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@Amisja That's a different context.

Am I wrong?

brentan comments on Mar 28, 2019:

I wonder what's going on. I mean, the internet is chockerblock full of porn. So I don't understand it in the context of the forum.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@Amisja Porn and the objectification of women are the same thing in this context.

Am I wrong?

brentan comments on Mar 28, 2019:

I wonder what's going on. I mean, the internet is chockerblock full of porn. So I don't understand it in the context of the forum.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@Amisja That's one very contradictory statement.

A DRINKING SONG, by W.B. Yeats

brentan comments on Mar 27, 2019:

I wonder was he an older man when he wrote that? It is both simple and profound.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@whispers Yes indeed. It reminds me of a dreadfully sad film called Wit that Emma Thompson starred in as an academic dying of cancer. In the end, the only thing that mattered was kindness. If you haven't seen it, it's a gruelling experience but this synopsis on Wiki has the gist of it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wit_(film)

Damn immigants

brentan comments on Mar 27, 2019:

I still say it's all about controlled immigration.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@Closeted I think I'll need words.

Damn immigants

brentan comments on Mar 27, 2019:

I still say it's all about controlled immigration.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@Closeted I'm disappointed you see it that way. I think that attitude just leads to continued tit-for-tat and if push came to shove, Europe would respond with great violence against its immigrants. So I always go for the middle road of controlled immigration.

Damn immigants

brentan comments on Mar 27, 2019:

I still say it's all about controlled immigration.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

@Closeted Europe opened the gates to large-scale immigration and it has changed the face of nations like Britain, France and Sweden. Many people in Europe fear their countries are being taken over and their culture destroyed. I sympathise with them. Nonetheless, I don't discount you comment that there will always be racists no matter what's going on.

Damn immigants

brentan comments on Mar 27, 2019:

I still say it's all about controlled immigration.

brentan replies on Mar 28, 2019:

I think what I'm trying to say is the sign is too simplistic. It doesn't take any complications into consideration, such as fear and hatred of foreigners being diminished with controlled immigration.

Small Town Merica

brentan comments on Mar 27, 2019:

It takes a particular set of skills to live in a small community.

brentan replies on Mar 27, 2019:

@SiouxcitySue I was doing the words in a Northern Irish accent. I tried to get it on YT but Liam actually said the words in an English accent. So my bad! The Northern Irish accent has probaly come from Scotland so maybe that's what's happening in Georgia. Here's a little bit of the accent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UKSyGosrXE

Gotta love it!

brentan comments on Mar 27, 2019:

Fuck that! I'm going to live forever.

brentan replies on Mar 27, 2019:

Yes it is. If i die, I'm coming back to life like Tim Finnegan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU97TGbp6po

Ordinary things these people have never done. Do you have any? [dailymail.co.uk]

SeaGreenEyez comments on Mar 27, 2019:

I've never had a cup of coffee (not will I) and I've never taken a train (this I will do, however.)

brentan replies on Mar 27, 2019:

I'm just horrified. Never had coffee and not a word of repentance! It's downright unAmerican!

A DRINKING SONG, by W.B. Yeats

brentan comments on Mar 27, 2019:

I wonder was he an older man when he wrote that? It is both simple and profound.

brentan replies on Mar 27, 2019:

It's really good. We waste valuable time that we can't afford. Reading that, I think I appreciate now how special it is to be with somebody we love.

Small Town Merica

brentan comments on Mar 27, 2019:

It takes a particular set of skills to live in a small community.

brentan replies on Mar 27, 2019:

It tayoks a porticalure sate of skalls........

I know this isn't exactly the regular fare around here, but my nephew's wife posted this to me on ...

brentan comments on Mar 27, 2019:

I'm sure she's lovely.

brentan replies on Mar 27, 2019:

That'll teach me to read the captions! Nonetheless, you look lovely in your picture!

A new study suggests that the formation of complex societies came first and that the beliefs in such...

Acree comments on Mar 27, 2019:

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing. The evolution of gods is a great way to understand our past and our minds imo. I think a major contributing factor to moving from spirits to gods and from gods to fewer gods to monotheism can be seen through the lens that societies expanded by assimilating...

brentan replies on Mar 27, 2019:

I never realised how meaningful those Deuteronomy verses are.

How many women have been married and determined that they just don't care for the entire role of ...

Amisja comments on Mar 26, 2019:

Obey has been dropped from the vows for generations

brentan replies on Mar 26, 2019:

@SeaGreenEyez So that's why they carry guns!

Good Morning Fellow Hippies.

brentan comments on Mar 26, 2019:

Don't be late for work, hippies!

brentan replies on Mar 26, 2019:

That explains it!

Todays GOP..

Bungaloebob comments on Mar 26, 2019:

I'm HALF Gay...does THAT make me LOVED??? HM...then again O'BAMA is half Black...and they don't like HIM.

brentan replies on Mar 26, 2019:

@Bungaloebob I was just thinking that fundies would think about bisexual people the same way racists look at half-black people.

Todays GOP..

Bungaloebob comments on Mar 26, 2019:

I'm HALF Gay...does THAT make me LOVED??? HM...then again O'BAMA is half Black...and they don't like HIM.

brentan replies on Mar 26, 2019:

You know how Jesus felt about people sitting on the fence.

Ridiculous parts of the bible

brentan comments on Mar 26, 2019:

I think it's one of those cases where health, which ensures the survival of the tribe, becomes a moral issue.

brentan replies on Mar 26, 2019:

Perhaps that's why the best sewage system in the world was produced within the Judeo-Christian culture.

I shouldn't be laughing, but.

brentan comments on Mar 25, 2019:

Those kids must eat a lot.

brentan replies on Mar 25, 2019:

Oh dear. I hope $25K a month is enough for all those needs.

And 2 missiles fired from northern Gaza toward Tel Aviv.

brentan comments on Mar 25, 2019:

i wonder how many dead, and how many more Palestinians will die because of the attack.

brentan replies on Mar 25, 2019:

I hear it's election time.

Something got me upset a few days ago which i suppose contributed to my uncalled for rant against ...

brentan comments on Mar 24, 2019:

I think teachers should not promote their ideologies in class. But how can they avoid that if the ideologies are built into the curricula? Perhaps, at the very least, the teacher/student relationship should not be allowed to take to the streets.

brentan replies on Mar 25, 2019:

It most certainly is if you take to the streets with it.

A bargain a half this price!

Merseyman1 comments on Mar 25, 2019:

Great, but no thanks, I'll pass!

brentan replies on Mar 25, 2019:

I would too. They've already been passed.

Why wear a cross?

brentan comments on Mar 24, 2019:

Why wear an agnostics t-shirt? People like things that say something about them. Me, I like books.

brentan replies on Mar 25, 2019:

@Aaaaaatheist I think many people wear to express their feelings about religion. I like books about psychology and the classics.

Atheists, what was the hardest thing to accept when you became atheist?

brentan comments on Mar 24, 2019:

For me, it was the loss of eternal life.

brentan replies on Mar 24, 2019:

I was talking about belief in a resurrection.

Brian Cox Lecture in 5 parts.

brentan comments on Mar 24, 2019:

I've enjoyed his programs on British TV. I love his youthful enthusiasm and his ability to articulate difficult concepts.

brentan replies on Mar 24, 2019:

@Amisja OK.

Brian Cox Lecture in 5 parts.

brentan comments on Mar 24, 2019:

I've enjoyed his programs on British TV. I love his youthful enthusiasm and his ability to articulate difficult concepts.

brentan replies on Mar 24, 2019:

Let's hope you have the same youthful enthusiasm he has.

How white Christian nationalists made Trump their savior (this is scary) The last paragraph: "The ...

Looking4-Others comments on Mar 24, 2019:

They have a sky-daddy that tells them they can get away with anything they want so they want to rule others that are not like them.

brentan replies on Mar 24, 2019:

Forgiveness for themselves. Burning fire for others.

Old and young hippies both rule.

Wangobango3 comments on Mar 24, 2019:

I snort salt water from time to time to keep my sinuses happy.

brentan replies on Mar 24, 2019:

Brave man! I use the Neilmed sinus rinse.

Now, this could entice me to join a church.

Merseyman1 comments on Mar 24, 2019:

Of course, bacon and Kate Upton would entice me to join a church. or even a cult!

brentan replies on Mar 24, 2019:

Wow!

The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people, but the silence over that ...

brentan comments on Mar 22, 2019:

The silent people are silent for a reason. There is a price to pay for free speech.

brentan replies on Mar 22, 2019:

Yes indeed.

The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people, but the silence over that ...

brentan comments on Mar 22, 2019:

The silent people are silent for a reason. There is a price to pay for free speech.

brentan replies on Mar 22, 2019:

Yes there have been and so many paid the price all the way to being murdered.

The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people, but the silence over that ...

brentan comments on Mar 22, 2019:

The silent people are silent for a reason. There is a price to pay for free speech.

brentan replies on Mar 22, 2019:

I think all the way from kindergarten to the grave, there is a price for disagreeing with the consensus of your peers.

[yahoo.

brentan comments on Mar 20, 2019:

I hope that this is true. My country has just introduced abortion and it will be interesting to see if the rate shoots up or not. It's not that there was no abortion. Women always traveled to England to get them.

brentan replies on Mar 21, 2019:

@Carin Yes, I'm sure the fundies would give it their best shot. I still think it would be useful to society to know what's happening, analyse it and try to find the best solutions. I think there is more justification for Americans to worry about fundies than our lot at the moment because of their political clout. But things can change in Ireland so we better nor get too complacent!

I don't know if this topic is truly appropriate for this group, but the situation IS driving me ...

altschmerz comments on Mar 21, 2019:

I don’t blame you. That’s very, very, very annoying. It’s like people who thank God for curing their cancer and not acknowledging the nurses and doctors who helped them, or who thank God for sparing their house from a flood/tornado/hurricane, even though their neighbors are screwed. It’s ...

brentan replies on Mar 21, 2019:

Here's something from William Blake you reminded me of: It is an easy thing to triumph in the summer’s sun And in the vintage and to sing on the wagon loaded with corn. It is an easy thing to talk of patience to the afflicted, To speak the laws of prudence to the houseless wanderer, To listen to the hungry ravens cry in wintry season When the red blood is filled with wine and with the marrow of lambs. It is an easy thing to laugh at wrathful elements, To hear the dog howl at the wintry door, the ox in the slaughter house moan, To see a god on every wind and a blessing on every blast, To hear sounds of love in the thunder storm that destroys our enemies house, To rejoice in the blight that covers his field, and the sickness that cuts off his children While our olive and vine sing and laugh round our door and our children bring fruits and flowers Then the groan and the dolour are quite forgotten and the slave grinding at the mill And the captive in chains and the poor in the prison, and the soldier in the field When the shattered bone hath laid him groaning among the happier dead. It is an easy thing to rejoice in the tents of prosperity Thus could I sing and thus rejoice, but it is not so with me!

Taste is subjective. Apparently mine is very subjective.

brentan comments on Mar 20, 2019:

What were those shameful CDs?

brentan replies on Mar 20, 2019:

No. Did the guy make a good judgement call on that one?

What do you think about the question in the article? [theguardian.com]

brentan comments on Mar 20, 2019:

Maybe we need a different, more responsible form of capitalism rather than going completely over to the other side.

brentan replies on Mar 20, 2019:

Does that actually mean something?

Pinoy meme's,if you find it funny jz put ?

brentan comments on Mar 20, 2019:

I got as far as the Philippines and reached a dead end.

brentan replies on Mar 20, 2019:

@Boomtarat03 Fascinating but I'm getting to that stage where things are moving too fast for me.