Theoretical physics is the field that develops theories about how nature operates.

p-nullifidian comments on May 10, 2021:

And the Theory of Relativity was not scientific then?

My fundie brother sent to me a book entitled "The End of Reason".

p-nullifidian comments on May 9, 2021:

I recommend the essay, "The Age of Reason" by my avatar. Written in 1794, it holds up incredibly well!

Does this bother you?

p-nullifidian comments on May 9, 2021:

Well put ... kudos! Some years ago, I adopted the philosophy of my avatar that all religions are based on hearsay. Find me a religion that only espouses first person communication! “Revelation, when applied to religion, means something communicated immediately from God to man. No one will deny or dispute the power of the Almighty to make such a communication, if he pleases. But admitting, for the sake of a case, that something has been revealed to a certain person, and not revealed to any other person, it is revelation to that person only. When he tells it to a second person, a second to a third, a third to a fourth, and so on, it ceases to be a revelation to all those persons. It is revelation to the first person only, and hearsay to every other, and consequently they are not obliged to believe it. It is a contradiction in terms and ideas, to call anything a revelation that comes to us at second-hand, either verbally or in writing. Revelation is necessarily limited to the first communication—after this, it is only an account of something which that person says was a revelation made to him; and though he may find himself obliged to believe it, it cannot be incumbent on me to believe it in the same manner; for it was not a revelation made to me, and I have only his word for it that it was made to him.” Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason, 1794

Someone again asked if agnostics are scared to say they are atheists.

p-nullifidian comments on May 4, 2021:

As a nullifidian, it doesn't matter to me that much if one believes or claims to have knowledge of a supreme being. What matters is what they do with that belief--do they support, or even condone religion? If so, that is where we part company. As my avatar said, centuries ago: "I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church. All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit." Thomas Paine, *The Age of Reason*, 1794

Something to think about when having coffee.

p-nullifidian comments on May 4, 2021:

Well fuck! Where'd I put my fucking French press?! ;-)

Abraham Lincoln was a liberal.

p-nullifidian comments on May 3, 2021:

Good point! And decades later, another Republican (whose likeness is adjacent to Lincoln's on Mount Rushmore) dared utter these sentiments: "I believe in a graduated income tax on big fortunes, and in another tax which is far more easily collected and far more effective-a graduated inheritance tax on big fortunes, properly safeguarded against evasion, and increasing rapidly in amount with the size of the estate.” "There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short nor an easy task, but it can be done…Corporate expenditures for political purposes, and especially such expenditures by public-service corporations, have supplied one of the principal sources of corruption in our political affairs.” "One of the chief factors in progress is the destruction of special privilege. The essence of any struggle for healthy liberty has always been, and must always be, to take from some one man or class of men the right to enjoy power, or wealth, or position, or immunity, which has not been earned by service to his or their fellows.” Theodore Roosevelt True, TR was an imperialist in his foreign policy, but in the area of socio-economic policies, as well as his views on preserving natural resources, he was pretty damned progressive for his time!

" i dont know " -data star trek the next generation

p-nullifidian comments on May 3, 2021:

I do not know.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan calls for Muslim countries to force Western governments to criminalise ...

p-nullifidian comments on May 3, 2021:

Sadly, your last sentence could, if 'regressives' have their way, be prophetic. There are those who, while happily encouraging any criticism of Christianity in general, and the behavior of Christians specifically, disingenuously defend Muslims and the Islamic faith from the scrutiny of western aspersions. Unable, or unwilling, to decouple the absurdities of a religious doctrine from the ethnicity of the majority of its adherents, these irrational actors deplatform critics of Islam, including former Muslims themselves! If these apologists succeed, a western government will pass laws limiting the criticism of Islam, and the cartoons of Charlie Hebdo will be outlawed!

Here is the power of prayer at work, I won't set this up as you need the surprise.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 27, 2021:

More like the power of manipulative people over the weak and gullible.

"cleanliness is next to godliness" very peculiar phrase isnt it?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 27, 2021:

There are a lot of "proverbs" that many assume are found in the Bible, but came much later.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Quarantinewhile.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 27, 2021:

Very happy for John Batiste ... a great talent and Soul was an incredible film and score!

Let's play a thought game.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 27, 2021:

Simple. Give me the winning numbers on the next big lottery.

I have been trying to do a crossword puzzle and am totally stuck on "What Moses parted.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 23, 2021:

company

Science fact! (How else can you calibrate it?) 🤣

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 23, 2021:

Hey, I have one just like that ... never worked on me, though! :-(

Why would Joe Manchin, the Democrat from WV keep his party from raising the minimum wage to $15.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 22, 2021:

The definition of an inherent conflict of interest!

Yellow tree dicks

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 21, 2021:

I always suspected that Ray Comfort (aka, the Banana Man) was oversexed! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4yBvvGi_2A

Elton John Calls Out The Blatant Hypocrisy Of The Catholic Church

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 21, 2021:

Hypocrites indeed! Walk around Rome for a few days, not just Vatican City, but the entire town, and you will be amazed at how much gilded treasure there is in those 900 churches--the decadence is nothing short of astounding! And then consider that this is just one city! Think of all the offerings and indulgences collected from the guilt-ridden impoverished people over the ages--people who were taught from childhood that their souls depended on their sacrifices to the church! This is the crime of Catholic church, this profligate beggar that turned the devious swindle of soul-exchange into an art form!

I believe nothing these days, not even this post.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 21, 2021:

Reminds me of the liar paradox ... "I am lying," says the one who is incapable of telling the truth. Like Harry Mudd ;-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqCiw0wD44U

Ockham’s razor, Russell’s teapot, and the lottery paradox.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 20, 2021:

And as a nullifidian (one who is without faith or religious belief), I am amazed at how some find it important to make a strident distinction between the 'agnostic' and 'atheist' labels. If our beliefs are informed by our understanding of the facts (i.e., knowledge), then I see no reason why one cannot be both an atheist (one who lacks a belief in a deity) and an agnostic (one who attests that nothing is known or factually demonstrable regarding the existence or nature of a deity). Agnosticism and atheism are, in this nullifidian's way of looking at it, more alike than they are distinct, and I'm comfortable with both. I have no belief in a god or gods, therefore I'm an atheist. Why? Because I have seen no evidence or facts and am therefore without any knowledge upon which to inform such a belief. In other words, I'm an atheist because I'm an agnostic. In any case, arguing over these two "A" labels runs the risk of ignoring the elephant in the room: religion, which is the real source of so much of humanity's woes.

Remembering Walter Mondale’s Stirring Defense of Church/State Separation | Hemant Mehta | Friendly...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 20, 2021:

Mondale was a true statesman. Awesome share! In the 60's, a political generation before Reagan's infamous love fest with the so-called Moral Majority, another statesman who happened to be a Republican espoused the following prescient viewpoint: "Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them." Senator Barry Goldwater, Jr. 1964 And then even after his retirement, when the Republican party had decided to hop into bed with the evangelical Christians, ol' Barry said this: "I think every good Christian ought to kick Falwell right in the nuts." Barry Goldwater, Jr. 1981

Love pointing this one out

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 19, 2021:

Oh, and let’s not forget that murdering adulterer, King David, who got Bathsheba, the wife of one of his top generals, pregnant, then ordered the officer to a battle where he would surely be killed, and then made her his own wife to make it all ‘official.’ David was, after all, a man after God’s own heart!

Excellent philosophy video for atheists and agnostics

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 19, 2021:

I have no issue with Spinoza’s amorphous definition of God. However I do take issue with his notion that religion is necessary to explain fictions and to enforce obedience. We already have the state for that. Religion attempts to enforce the conformity of thought through threats and intimidation. And whether or not the mind is convinced, religion demands the outward display of ritual and practice. Religion is a nesting ground for hypocrites! We are indeed fortunate that it is unnatural for human beings to be obedient, to anyone! The attitude of disobedience and non-conformity is at the heart of our greatest advancements and achievements. Religion is an impediment, a roadblock to progress and individual freedoms, and belongs in the graveyard of history.

Going back in time

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 18, 2021:

My Reflex is that this is no Ordinary World. ;-)

Amazing actor and history

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 18, 2021:

Loved him as Saruman and Count Dooku, had no idea about his incredible history. Awesome share!

A Creationist Laughably Said He Was “Deplatformed” After Speaking at a Church | Hemant Mehta | ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 18, 2021:

Believe it not, there are numerous Christians who view the Old Testament story of Genesis as myth, while accepting as literal the story of a half-god / half-man who performed some clever parlor tricks, died for everybody's supposed sins, was resurrected after a couple of days and then flew up to heaven to sit on the right hand of his old man! Go figure!

For all the theists out there posing as agnostics and calling me a Gnostic Atheist.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 16, 2021:

I've never completely understood the distinction between agnosticism and atheism. For example, everything I've ever read by Robert Green Ingersoll (the 'Great Agnostic' of the 19th century) resonates, and I'm just as comfortable with the label atheist as I am with the label of agnostic. I identify, first and foremost, as a nullifidian (one who is without faith or a religion).

Just when You MIGHT Have thought It Was Safe to go Into The Water, Again?: [alternet.org]

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 16, 2021:

IMHO, unabashedly brazen bigotry and racism is preferable to the two-faced hypocrisy previously employed by these narrow-minded cretins. They're showing their true colors, and Lady Liberty weeps. We are witnessing the last desperate grasps of these America first (synonymous with White first) fear mongers whose cowardice in the face of that inevitable reality of minority status are laid bare for all to see!

But which one is the real Millennial Falcon?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 15, 2021:

Flying Solo?

The struggle is real and has been going on for centuries

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 14, 2021:

Indeed! Protecting the status quo vs. steps toward equity.

waitinggggggggggggggggg

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 14, 2021:

And just like Godot, God never shows up! ;-)

Always respect your imaginary deities. They have feelings too, right?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 14, 2021:

Since it is, by definition, impossible for a human to injure a supreme being, irreligiousness is nonconformity, with the punishment for such inflicted solely by people.

Not sure, is this a porn ad?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 13, 2021:

Number 7 refers to Colin Kapernick.

This post came through my social feed by a friend who is deeply religious.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 13, 2021:

Having been raised in a churched family whose Christian faith could not, and would not, promote Santa Claus, and were taught to recognize the mythical fairy tale character, ol' Saint Nicholas, as the furthest thing from a saint, long before grade school, I understand this sentiment fully. As little kids, we all knew where our gifts came from, as well as who actually put the money under our pillows when we would lose a tooth. And our poor Mom had better not forget, or we'd give her hell the next morning! Having been raised in a faith that was narrow and exclusive in its doctrines, as opposed to being inclusive, made it all the more easier for me to eventually reject the last god standing.

Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 13, 2021:

This might actually be funny if it weren't for the unsubtle reference to the horrific criminal pedophilia committed by Catholic priests!

My new definition of stupidity is individuals who find extraordinarily Simple Solutions to ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 13, 2021:

And sometimes solutions to problems are Occam's Razor-like, while the problems themselves are either nonexistent or are made to appear inordinately complex by those who would benefit from the status quo.

A what kind of pitcher?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 13, 2021:

A submarine pitcher perhaps?

We're all surfers man!

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 10, 2021:

Cowabunga, Dude!

Have you seen this before?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 10, 2021:

I have seen / read something even better, written more than a century ago. "About the Holy Bible," by Robert Green Ingersoll. If reading this lecture is too tedious, you may listen to it, as read by Michael Scott Earl. Enjoy! http://reasonworks.com/robert-g-ingersoll/about-the-holy-bible/

So I just watched the commercial where they're trying to convert people and you had to say a prayer ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 10, 2021:

According to Christian doctrine, all are sinners (with the exception of Christ), and only through the acceptance of Jesus Christ may one's sins be cleansed. The immorality of Christianity is laid bare in this doctrine. All a mass murderer must do is confess, even at their deathbed, and all may be forgiven.

The British novelist and poet Thomas Hardy in his verse called "God's Funeral" And, tricked by ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 9, 2021:

An excellent verse, and awesome share! And this imagining of belief is the ultimate vanity. What we are capable of doing in the name of bad ideas defies evolution. Our species must rid itself of this corrupted code--our firmware must be overwritten. Hardy's verse reminds me of the lines of a somewhat lesser poet: God said: You are not serving me, you're serving something else 'Cause I don't need to be pleased, just get over yourself You can't suck up, up to me, I know you all too well But I don't dwell upon you, so get over yourself 'Cause you're not praying to me, you're praying to yourself And you're not worshiping me, you're worshiping yourself And you will kill in my name and heaven knows what else When you can't prove I exist, so get over yourself Todd Rundgren, "God Said"

Gaetz Paid Accused Sex Trafficker, Who Then Venmo’d Teen

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 8, 2021:

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: where is the moral outrage on the right? Somebody starts an internet meme that senior Democrats and Hollywood stars are sex traffickers and you wind up with Pizzagate, but when a Republican politician may actually be a perp, nobody seems willing to go after him, while the "good" folks at Fox like Sean Hannity fly top cover.

[youtube.com] Dr. Robert Sapolsky on Faith . This guy is always enlightening to listen to.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 8, 2021:

The reductio ad absurdum of Sister Helen Prejean's world view results in an arms race between the deepest, darkest and most immoral actor and the willingness of devotion and piety to offer forgiveness. A pax on both their houses!

If vaccine passports become a thing, needed to enter certain venues/ businesses, who would be ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 7, 2021:

Having been vaccinated in February I would have no issues attending such an event, but I would remain masked at this point, as the virus (in all its various forms) is still in the community and I would not want to contribute to its transmission.

For those interested:

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 7, 2021:

But it's still the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius! ;-)

This is why I'm anti-theist or really anti-religion. It's never been about equality.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 4, 2021:

Like you, as my pseudonym indicates, I am a nullifidian (one who is without faith or religious belief). Religion is, in my opinion, a cancer on humanity. Peace.

This is why, religion and superstition is dangerous Neelam Gupta, killed her neighbor's ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 4, 2021:

Religion is indeed very dangerous! Faith-based beliefs (i.e., superstitions), whether Eastern or Western, ancient or contemporary, are synonymous with insanity (i.e., a departure from reality), and are all-too-often lethal.

WASHINGTON – Rep.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 3, 2021:

Where is the outcry, and where are the armed idiots who believed in pizza gate now? Will this evolve into Gaetz gate, or is the outrage against such behavior limited to only one party?

In honor of Easter.....[youtu.be]

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 3, 2021:

My favorite Easter movie! Blessed are the cheese makers!

Today they moved the mummies through Egypt. [bbc.com] And I was reminded of this. [youtube.com]

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 3, 2021:

Now there’s one wild and crazy guy ... great share!

I'm fascinated by the question: Is reincarnation possible?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 3, 2021:

As the universe is physical, the mechanism or process by which reincarnation were to occur would also be physical.

Goes to show what can happen when you leave the bedroom door open.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 3, 2021:

"Naked like donkeys"[?] As opposed to 'clothed like elephants?'

Thanks for the lift....

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 3, 2021:

Looks Photoshopped ... look at the shadows of the cat.

One more Bernie meme

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 2, 2021:

Ahoy Bernie Ever Given! ;-)

When we were kids, there where no phones or tablets we read cereal 🥣 boxes at breakfast

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 2, 2021:

When we were kids we played an anagram game at breakfast: how many words could we get out of the name of the cereal we were eating. As a result, we would always try new cereals, and look for ones with long names, just to keep the game more interesting!

A recent international report has come to the startling and baffling conclusion that Christians and ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 29, 2021:

Excellent points! The through line of faith (i.e., belief without evidence) has always connected religion to those massive conspiracy theories, along with a truckload of other unsubstantiated views. Critical thinking is hardly an asset to a community that regards faith as a virtue, rather than the credulity it actually is.

Meep meep

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 29, 2021:

Something tells me the coyote shouldn't have had that 'one for the road.'

Pope Francis: The Devil is to Blame for COVID-Related Distrust and Desperation | Hemant Mehta | ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 29, 2021:

Trump's not that good ... he's just a little imp! ;-)

I can just hear the phone call complaining about a Star of David in their pizza. lol

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 27, 2021:

Star confusion, perhaps? A pentagram and the Star of David are not the same.

Does religion work without magical beings at its center?

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 25, 2021:

"You can't build a religion around a guy named Henry from Ohio unless Henry can resurrect the dead or walk on water." Maybe not a guy named Henry from Ohio, but a guy named Joe Smith from upstate New York succeeded in starting a religion that now numbers over 16 million members, just by saying an angel gave him gold tablets that only he could interpret!

EISENHOWER - ON SOCIALISM - RHETORIC

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 22, 2021:

Eisenhower?

Itty Bitty Half Pint

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 17, 2021:

"Bashful Short Legs" ... ironic name for a 6'4" Type "A" individual. ;-)

Hope Springs eternal.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 17, 2021:

Indeed! As one of my favorite thinkers, the "Great Agnostic" of the 19th Century, stated: "Nations, like individuals, have their periods of youth, of manhood and decay. Religions are the same. The same inexorable destiny awaits them all. The gods created by the nations must perish with their creators. They were created by men, and like men, they must pass away. The deities of one age are the by-words of the next. The religion of our day, and country, is no more exempt from the sneer of the future than the others have been. When India was supreme, Brahma sat upon the world's throne. When the sceptre passed to Egypt, Isis and Osiris received the homage of mankind. Greece, with her fierce valor, swept to empire, and Zeus put on the purple of authority. The earth trembled with the tread of Rome's intrepid sons, and Jove grasped with mailed hand the thunderbolts of heaven. Rome fell, and Christians from her territory, with the red sword of war, carved out the ruling nations of the world, and now Christ sits upon the old throne. Who will be his successor?" Robert Green Ingersoll, *The Gods*, 1872

The Secular Communities Survey

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 17, 2021:

Completed ... interesting questions. I find it quite odd that this survey / research is funded, in part, by the notorious John Templeton Foundation which awards seven-figure monetary prizes in order to "help people see the infinity of the Universal Spirit still creating the galaxies and all living things and the variety of ways in which the Creator is revealing himself to different people. We hope all religions may become more dynamic and inspirational." What the fuck?!

Don Lemon knows the mind of God. [youtu.be]

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 17, 2021:

Take from the faithful their god-given right to condemn and vilify others for their particular practices or beliefs? Heaven forbid, Mr. Lemon! ;-)

If I ever decide to get religious, this is the one I am choosing.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 17, 2021:

And may your 'meat' be cured ... pork be among you.

Christian Apologist Sye Ten Bruggencate Took Advantage of a “Vulnerable Woman” | Hemant Mehta | ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 13, 2021:

This arrogant presuppositionalist jerk who asserts that atheists don't exist, willingly admits that the purpose of presuppostionalism is not so much to change minds as it is to close mouths. All but his and Eric Hovind's, evidently! Bruggencate is fond of asking his debate opponents questions like, "Could you be wrong about everything you know?" and "How do you know you're not just a brain in a vat?" Well Sye, how do you know your not just a hypocritical dick who can't keep his zipper up?

What more proof you want, infidels? hehehehehehehehehehehehehehe!!!!!

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 13, 2021:

When it comes to defying gravity, I much prefer Hillary! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P22gPwGuLa0

It is interesting to note a few people are killed by the police and all of a sudden there are large ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 12, 2021:

A few people compared to a pandemic maybe, but over 1,000 people have been killed by police in the past 12 months, with the rate at which black people are killed being more than twice as high as the rate for white people (35 deaths per 1,000,000 black residents vs. 14 deaths per 1,000,000 for whites). When it comes to 'defunding the police,' most critics of law enforcement, as it is currently performed in this country, seek a less militaristic force and a reallocation of resources toward root issues such as mental health, poverty and educational inequities. Finally, the theory that COVID-19 originated in a bioweapons lab has never been substantiated. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/investigations/police-shootings-database/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/defund-the-police-meaning/

When the royals complain about stuff, this is what I see.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 11, 2021:

Well at least Oprah earned her wealth and didn't have it handed to her by birth or matrimony!

Returning Jesus Christ Downed By U.S. Missile Defense 30,000 Feet Before Making Landfall

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 11, 2021:

That there is one helluva cloud of glory! Hallelujah! ;-)

Saying your "religion" is the only true religion is like saying your language is the only true ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 11, 2021:

If every religion reflects the understanding of the world that people had at the time of the religion's founding, what about religions founded in more recent times? Shouldn't it be more difficult to sell Joseph Smith's 'gold plates' and the planet Kolob, Ellen G. White's 'visions' of the 'Great Controversy,' Charles Taze Russell's 'miracle wheat,' or L. Ron Hubbard's Thetans? And yet there are millions of Mormons, Adventists, JWs and Scientologists. I believe you are correct in saying that the majority of our species is ignorant and delusional, but the problem is that they're comfortable and accepting of this state of mind. The faithful must have their miracles and wonders--they need their fantasy. Their religion is as genuine to them as their favorite WWE wrestler. They don't want anyone to break the spell and remove their veil of superstition. The old saying is true, 'there's a sucker born every minute,' but in the case of the faithful, they are willing suckers. Willful ignorance is just plain stupidity, and as Ron White said, 'you can't fix stupid.'

Milo Y.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 10, 2021:

So I suppose he's ready to 'jump into bed' with Michele Bachmann?

I don't do fishing. Does anyone here know?

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 10, 2021:

Reminds me of something ...

This hits a little too close to home for me.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 10, 2021:

The first time I saw the poop emoji I thought it was supposed to be soft-serve chocolate ice cream!

The speech where Harris demolishes both William Lane Craig and Christ-Insanity during the debate and...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 10, 2021:

Thank you for this share! Sam's reframing of the age-old Epicurean problem of evil is laser focused on apologists and believers who would thank their god for his goodness in sparing them from the suffering visited on others. He's right to say that "This kind of faith is really the perfection of narcissism," and "to think in this way is to fail to reason honestly or to care sufficiently about the suffering of other human beings." My favorite clip from this debate, which I've heard many times, is at 8:08. "This, to me, is the true horror of religion: It allows perfectly decent and sane people to believe by the billions what only lunatics could believe on their own. If you wake up tomorrow morning thinking that saying a few Latin words over your pancakes is gonna turn them into the body of Elvis Presley, you have lost your mind. But if you think more or less the same thing about a cracker and the body of Jesus, you're just a Catholic."

American candy bars are mostly sugar.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 9, 2021:

Sorry mate, I've never been fond of milk chocolate of any kind. To me, bitter is better, as I much prefer Ritter Sport's halbbitter and other dark and semi-sweet chocolates. Perhaps I'm not a 'typical' American, but I grew up next to a chocolate factory.

FROM LECTURES ON DOSTOEVSKY BY JOSEPH FRANK What exactly does "faith" mean?

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 9, 2021:

Preface: To those who would conflate religious faith with the common use of the term, synonymous with words like 'trust' or 'confidence,' please save your ammo. In the New Testament book of Hebrews, Paul defines faith as follows: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) If ever there were a bewildering definition of 'nothing' this is certainly it. In my experience, things one might hope for are entirely without substance, and unseen things are inadmissible as evidence. But there you have it! As a nullifidian (one who is without faith), I much prefer the definition offered by Peter Boghossian, who views faith as "a virus" and "an unreliable reasoning process that will not take you to reality." In short, Boghossian defines faith as "pretending to know things you don't know." Need we continue to argue?

Quran or Bible?? What book is worse?

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 9, 2021:

This appears like a not-so-subtle attempt to ask which religion is worse, Christianity or Islam. As a nullifidian I despise all religions, but rank them based on the amount of violence, oppression and discrimination committed by adherents in the name of their self-identified religions.

There are many types of capital.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 9, 2021:

I'm inclined to agree with your observations, and would further assert that when it comes to self-identified liberals or conservatives, neither side appears to have a monopoly on presenting themselves as victims.

If we want to stop publishing books because they are deemed hurtful for some as has happened with 6 ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 6, 2021:

If it weren't for the fact that the Dr. Seuss books were written specifically for early readers, I doubt they'd have been discontinued.

Klingenschmitt: I Lost My Navy Chaplain Gig 15 Years Ago Due to “Cancel Culture” | Hemant Mehta ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 6, 2021:

The difference between this imbecile and the Westboro Baptist Church is only a matter of degree.

This is where we find ourselves in American politics these days

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 4, 2021:

To accuse them of Neanderthal thinking is an insult to Neanderthals.

Be real, do shit.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 4, 2021:

Once we emancipate ourselves from the notion that an all-powerful being controls our destiny, that change in our thinking will mark the commencement of our minds. Then we will be free do all sorts of shit and even take credit for it! 😉

I try to never stop learning

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 4, 2021:

“Fuck You, Please” seems polite enough. 😉

American Isis? [rawstory.com]

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 4, 2021:

There is a philosophical nexus between a good number of evangelical Christians, Trumpists, white supremacists, Q anon conspiracy theorists and gun rights activists, and they’ve found a home in the Republican Party.

"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 2, 2021:

I really never understood the whole covet shtick ... never wanted "Jessie's girl" (sorry, Rick!), or somebody else's shit.

As i read about Paula White, et al, "knowing Gawd's mind" and so on, it seems to me that she & her ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 1, 2021:

Paula's a 'grift from God,' yet another in a long line of whacko Christ'er shysters who somehow attract a following. She's barking mad, or as I used to say in front of the kids, until they eventually figured it out, nucking futs!

If money is the root of all evil, why do churches ask for it?

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 1, 2021:

Money is not the problem ... even the Bible recognizes that it's the love of it (i.e., greed) which is at the root of all evils. Money is just an object and can't be held responsible. "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV) Churches are little more than beggars who've resorted to soul extortion to extract their tithes and offerings.

So what's the problem evangelicals

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 1, 2021:

Evangelical gay bashers don't really care if Jesus said anything on the issue or not, as they use Jesus' first missionary, Paul, whose writings were key in forming Christian doctrine. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NET) "But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately, realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers—in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching." 1 Timothy 1:8-10 (NET) "For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error." Romans 1:26-27 (NET)

I met up with a Catholic friend a few days ago.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 1, 2021:

Your friend appears to be making two separate points, neither of which you're willing to concede: God can 'manage your life,' and you 'need a man to make you happy.' Bravo!

Fools rush in? :-D

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 1, 2021:

I am forever reminded of this skit, when hearing or reading the Wales-whales juxtaposition! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbXYnisZP9c

I have now received two letters from the Veterans Administration informing me me that I qualify for ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 1, 2021:

When it comes to most major decisions, there's logic and emotions. More often than not, it seems, people use logic and reason to justify decisions already made using their 'gut feelings.' How often do folks examine the pros and cons, study the data, listen to qualified experts and use what they've learned to educate those 'gut feelings?' When making our decision to be vaccinated, the following questions come to mind: * Do I have enough knowledge and background in the subject of infectious diseases to differ with the overwhelming majority of specialists in this field, from Dr. Anthony Fauci to front line health care professionals, such as Mayo Clinic physician, Dr. Casey Clements (see article, below), who went from vaccine skeptic to vaccine proponent? * After a year of use, including the Phase 3 clinical trials involving tens of thousands of participants, completed last fall, along with the number of Americans who have received at least the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine approaching 50 million, am I justified in calling myself a 'guinea pig' or the product itself 'untested?' * How certain am I that I can avoid contracting the virus and becoming sick or worse, jeopardizing those around me and adding to the strain on the health care system, for as long as the virus is in the community? https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/from-vaccine-hesitant-to-vaccine-proponent/ https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/12/moderna-covid-19-vaccine-design.html

Dang we really live in a world where the majority believes in fairy tale bull bull.

p-nullifidian comments on Feb 28, 2021:

Dang, indeed! But as comedian Ron White so famously observed, "You can't fix stupid."

Timing is everything...

p-nullifidian comments on Feb 27, 2021:

Good one! "Not for another 65 million years, Littlefoot." Ah, The Land Before Time. My kids cried every time they watched the video, when Littlefoot's mom died ... I used to play the soundtrack just to get them to settle down and quit rough housing. ;-) The James Horner score was terrific!

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p-nullifidian comments on Feb 27, 2021:

I feel very blessed to have this fine ensemble here in our City by the Bay. Leaders Hanneke van Proosdij and David Tayler are brilliant, both as scholars and musicians. And while seeing them live has not been possible during the pandemic, their superb digital, hi-definition YouTube videos, filmed in concert, almost makes one feel present in the room. Speaking of the room, they frequently perfrom at St. Mark's Lutheran, which has wonderful acoustics. Thank you for this share!

Imagine if humans had been interested and focused on science ever since

p-nullifidian comments on Feb 23, 2021:

Einstein couldn't go anywhere in pubic without being recognized, and the world was once in awe of Isaac Newton. There have been times in our history when science and scientists were extolled, just not now it seems.

Tiger Woods injured in car accident near Los Angeles - CNN

p-nullifidian comments on Feb 23, 2021:

Probably should've used his driver ... okay, somebody had to be the first with that line! ;-)

Nashville Pastor Criticized After Admitting the Bible Isn’t the “Word of God” | Hemant Mehta |...

p-nullifidian comments on Feb 23, 2021:

This "Word of God" image is ridiculous, when any intelligent person gives it some serious thought. It's as though the faithful believe that the authors were taking dictation from the almighty ... something he apparently is no longer interested in doing, by the way. To those who claim to have heard the 'Voice of God,' I would like to know what it is they actually heard. The voice of a baritone? A soprano? Did this voice use a formal dialect, or did it resort to a more common form of speech? Is the Voice of God, like Data, unable to use contractions? Or perhaps there was no voice, just an assertion that the authors were 'inspired' by God. If that were the case, the Bible would surpass all writings of its time, and even the future. It would be superior in all that it comments upon, from its biology to its astronomy to its history to its morality. Can any honest and objective person claim that the Bible clearly attests to its 'inspiration' when comparing it to all of the other so-called uninspired books? Does its morality surpass that of the Buddha? Are its dictates an improvement on the ancient Hindu Vedas? Does its commentary on the sciences show an advancement beyond the common wisdom of its day and region? Could the authors of the Bible claim an awareness of Newtonian physics? And when reading it as literature, could we truly say the Bible is of greater quality than Shakespeare?

Philosophy...

p-nullifidian comments on Feb 23, 2021:

Might one's failure to take the necessary step of paying the fee be a 'pre-existing condition?' ;-)

Morality comes from humanism and is stolen by religion for its own purposes.

p-nullifidian comments on Feb 22, 2021:

I'd have to disagree with Hitch on this one. Morality comes from evolution, as it's based on two primary impulses, seen in other species: Reciprocity & Empathy. Religion appropriated common social conventions and mores, used to bind groups (including behaviors practiced by our nearest genetic relatives) for millennia--not humanism.