What and or where, is your Utopia?

wordywalt comments on Feb 13, 2018:

Utopias are pipedreams. I do not envision any image of a utopia.

Cremation or burial for your funeral?

wordywalt comments on Feb 13, 2018:

Cremation -- no funeral or service.

Have you used a person's beliefs against them in a debate?

wordywalt comments on Feb 13, 2018:

When someone is obnoxious in style and content while expressing their beliefs, it is such sweet pleasure to get them to admit that they said or believe A, then proceed to rhetorically club them over the head with their remarks.

I've been a member of Agnostic.

wordywalt comments on Feb 13, 2018:

Terribly flawed and misinformed reasoning.

Appalacia: Black Lung Study Finds Biggest Cluster Ever Of Fatal Coal Miners' Disease, WV, VA, KY, ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 13, 2018:

In spite of what the idioty Trump says, it is time for us to get rid of coal-mining in this country. Coal mining destroys people, and the ecosystem in mining and consumption. Only a fool or a greedy self-absorbed moral idiot would back continued coal mining.

Welcome everyone.

wordywalt comments on Feb 13, 2018:

Should any of you travel to the Tampa Bay area, I would be glad to meet you -- not for dating, but simply to get to know you as a person. Personally, I do not travel very much any more.

I am caught between a rock and a hard place! I have to move in less than month, I must go thru an ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 13, 2018:

I empathize with you. At one time, I had at least 2,000 books, Predominantly non-fiction. My wife urged me to deeply prune my collection to make space for other things. That was painful. I threw away all of the insignificant books, gave away several hundred to book organizations, sent boxes full to my daughters. I am down to less than 200 books which mean a great deal to me. I will not prune any further. Due to vision problems, I don't read books anymore, but those books were my friends, my mentors my fellow seekers and conveyors of thought.

Living in the American South has been pretty surreal.

wordywalt comments on Feb 13, 2018:

Well-stated and all too true.

Do you think your birth order has impacted your personality?

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

I am the younger of 2 children. My sister is a year older. Unlike many cases of being the younger child, more was expected of me in terms of educational achievement and career. While easy-going in friendships and relationships, I have almost always been fiercely competitive in sports, card games and in situations in which I am challenged. In general, I chose my own path and pursued it with vigor. In my career, I mainly competed with myself, but when opposed by another person, I fought to win by all legal means, and seldom lost. I am not sure how much of this, if any, comes from birth order.

Bottom lines.

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

These are all questions we should be asking and probingly discussing every day. The problems are that (1) many politicians seem too dense to even get their heads around the questions, much less potential answers, (2) too many people and politicians have fixed themselves and their flaswedanswers to a false ideology, and (3) not enough people seem to even give a damn about the questions.

Imagine MeToo turning the U.S. into a "Bumble" Society ?

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

Dream on! Ain't gonna happen -- nor should it. We men tend to be physically stronger and sexually more aggressive.

Reality is perfect, perception of reality isn't.

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

Reality is not perfect. It simply is. Perception is always flawed to some degree.

I am not liberal, I am not progressive, I am not a Republican, I am not a Democrat, I am someone who...

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

I refuse to adhere to any specific ideology. Rather, I actively gather information from a wide variety of sources and analyze it carefully for accuracy, rationality, relative objectivity, and usefulness. I am not content to just go by what I see and hear in my everyday life, because that can put blinders on oneself. My life experiences -- in this and other cultures, in the intellectual world, and day to day --combine with the information I glean study of outside information lead me in a Progressive direction, and I am proud of it.

GOP leader flunks test on separation of church and state | MSNBC

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

Scalese is typical of too damned many Republican politicians: Glibly roll patriotism, history, religion and political ideology together. It does not matter if it is accurate or true. A lot of uncritical and unreasoning people are going to buy it.

Religious bullies are on a roll. It’s time we all stood up to them - National Secular Society

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

Absolutely right. No attempt to push religious beliefs on us or to stifle disbelief should be tolerated for one minute!

Have you ever been skinny dipping?

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

When I was an early teen, there was a wild creek about a mile and a half from my home. A few of us would go to a wide and deep spot along the creek and swing out over the swimming hole on a big wild grape vine hanging from big live oaks, and drop in.

Should atheism be taught in schools?

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

No, just as religion should not be. What should be taught is the right of each and every person to decide for himself or herself, using sound evidence and solid reasoning, what her or she believes -- providing that he or she is willing to be responsible for the consequences of acting on those beliefs.

Do you believe in NDE (Near Death Experiences)? Ever have one?

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

Near death experiences are nothing more than manifestations of the shutting down of the brain and nervous system.

15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense - Scientific American

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

Anyone who believes in creationism is a damned fool who chooses to be ignorant in the face of overwhelming evidence.

Do you think Northerners and Southerners can see race relations with the same perspective?

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

Oh, yes. Most objective and unbiased people in both the north and south think alike about race relations. Irrational and bigoted people in both the north and south also think similarly. Unfortunately, bigotry is more dominantly imbedded in the southern culture.

Does anyone here believe in post death existence OTHER than religious afterlife?

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

They are all pipedreams.

Do you feel guilty when you kill insects, rats, or any other lower animals in/around your house?

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

Not one bit.

Issues | American Atheists

wordywalt comments on Feb 12, 2018:

I would modify that statement as follows: "...rather than either greed and/or religious dogma."

What matters more? Character vs. Personality

wordywalt comments on Feb 11, 2018:

I do not define character independent of personality. To me, they are intertwined. Reliability is not character, but is a behavior pattern.

Evangelical Pastor Says The ‘Immodesty’ Of US. Gymnasts Caused Sexual Assault Scandal

wordywalt comments on Feb 11, 2018:

Like far too many evangelicals, he guy is afflicted with the love-hate relationship of evangeilcal leaders. I would lay odds that there are cases of sexual exploitation in his background.

Do any of you have the list of achievements by President Trump that serves the interests of the ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 11, 2018:

In terms of real achievements that benefit our people as a whole, your list would be a blank sheet of paper.

Bring it on!! Show me your less than flattering side of the current occupant of the US White House.

wordywalt comments on Feb 11, 2018:

The sorry excuse for a man deserves nothing but contempt.

How Stratification Impacts Relationships and Society

wordywalt comments on Feb 11, 2018:

Sadly true. And, in today's society in our country the political and religious right seem to be becoming more and more retrenched, drawing their wagons around themselves. They are more and more concerned only about themselves and ideological kin, and more and more aggressive and exclusive toward all other social groups and viewpoints. What I see today among that group is worse than what I saw in the days of racial segregation in the deep South during the 1960s.

In view of the burgeoning consciousness that men are not welcome, or free to impose their will upon ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 11, 2018:

Simply use common sense and polite conduct. It is not hard.

The U.S. Drops Out of the Top 10 in Innovation Ranking - Bloomberg

wordywalt comments on Feb 11, 2018:

Certainly not.

Faux News VP believes being white is more important than being right; he slams the U.

wordywalt comments on Feb 11, 2018:

Fox News and all their leaders have little honor, but a blatant disregard for truth and civility.

What is the value of money?

wordywalt comments on Feb 11, 2018:

The value of money is what the culture says it is. It is simply a regulated and agreed upon medium of exchange.

How important is it to the average athiest or agnostic to debunk religious beliefs?

wordywalt comments on Feb 11, 2018:

To me, it is important to debunk false religiously-based beliefs any time they are used in any area of public dialogue, public policy, erosion of constitutional safeguards, intrusion on our civil rights, or misrepresentation of scientific issues. In other words, any time they try to impose their false beliefs on me, I am prepared to fight.

Which do you think should play a bigger role in your life tolerance or compromise

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

There are many good times and places for both.

The Universe is approximately 13.

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

Yes, but it is questionable if the earth will.

In the land of capitalism, capital is power. Why not use this to our advantage?

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

That is what is happening now. The problem is that we do not have the money that greedy big corporations and extremely wealthy people.

Where Do You Go When You Die? The Increasing Signs That Human Consciousness Remains After Death

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

+What the study is really saying is that we don't really fully understand the dying process. It simply takes longer for brain cells to die, even after they have apparently stopped functioning. Our consciousness does not go anywhere. It simply stops, although not as quickly as previously thought.

"In deep-red America, the white Christian god is king, figuratively and literally.

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

Absolutely true. I grew up in a rural area and tiny town in the north Florida bible belt, and was just one of the boys growing up. After I grew up, had gotten both bachelors and graduate degrees, and had been exposed to other cultures, when I went "home" and saw old friends, I was surprised by the response. They didn't quite trust me anymore. I was not one of them anymore. I was an insider turned outsider -- and what was worse I knew them and their real thoughts too well. That made me a threat. That saddened me deeply!

The world is getting better, but...

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

+Things are not getting better! Given (1) the spinelessness and duplicity of the Republican party. (2) the flourishing of the culture of falsification spread by Fox and kin, (2) the debasing of both religion and politics by the evangelical Christian right, and (4)the intellectual, moral, and instrumental bankruptcy of the Trump cabal, both our culture and most of our institutions are being imperiled. We MUST put a stop to this horrendous coarsening of our society and institutions!!

The root of all cruelty

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

Am not a subscriber, so can't get in the site. Could you summarize the gist of the article?

Trying to understand what this site is all about?

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

It is a place to share thoughts -- some solid and deep, some trivial, some weird. It shows that agnostics and atheists are not a homogenous group , but instead a collection from one end of the spectra to the others on others issues. We sort ourselves out by what we choose to respond to and what to ignore.

Kansas Scrambles To Change Rules After 6 Teens Enter Governor's Race : The Two-Way : NPR

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

Kansas politics has been a zoo of backward-facing simpletons for far too many years.

And this is why women live longer than men... - The Meta Picture

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

At least a few of us are not that stupid.

Just had a moment of clarity here.

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

For far too many Americans, the only time they seem to think about ethics is when they are negatively judging others. It seems that is has become far too easy, comfortable, convenient to cut moral corners and shrug it off as no big deal. That needs to change. But, so long as Fox News and the other ight wing propaganda machines -- and politicians like Trump and his supporters -- are around, they are teaching that it is okay to lie, cheat, and take advantage of others.

Hoping that 2018 is as good a year as 2017 was a bad. Thus far it HAS been!!! What about you?

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

It will not be a good year for me and for the American nation un the entire Trump cabal is gone.

Where were you when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated?

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

After teaching a high school chemistry class in St. Cloud, Florida, I had gone down to the teachers' lounge for a short break when I heard the word on TV. It was a real shock.

While I was departing the airport tonight, there were a few people standing between the terminal and...

wordywalt comments on Feb 10, 2018:

They can be as annoying as the 'Moonies" were in the 1970s.

Rituals.

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

I have routines, but no rituals.

Government as a religion--I used to adore the FBI

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

There is no "government religion." I have NEVER adored any government agency. I do believe very much in our Constitution and in the concept of democracy. All of our institutions have sometimes veered off course. But, as a whole, they have served us well. It is OUR job to make sure they provide moral and effective government of, by, and for ALL of our people.

Community

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

I am here for interesting dialogue.

Is it just me or are the terms liberal and conservative being used more now than ever?

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Both terms are used more frequently by the political right in an attempt to divide. They try to use the term conservatives to falsely identify themselves as the good guys. And they throw the term "liberal" around right and left at any opportunity in an attempt to label and vilify anyone who thinks differently from them. These are the propagandistic games they play.

What do you do to keep your brain active?

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

You think. You are constantly seeking new, valid information from any available and reputable source. You keep weaving that new info into the cognitive patterns you have already developed. You discuss issues with curious and open-mined people.

Are the new U.S. AG's rules on Religious litigation making America a theocracy?

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

If he were to get his way, Sessions would do exactly that.

Do you think abortions should be illegal?

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

No.

How can a country that prints it's own money be in debt and have so many homeless poor people?

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Ask conservatives. They really do not give a damn about anyone who is not white, well off, and of the same cultural beliefs as they have.

What are the biggest factors in terms of financial success?

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

I don'te believe that there is a definitive answer. In some cases, vision, ingenuity and persistence are key. In others it is wise use of information. Those do require intelligence and persistence. In the case of others like Trump, the key factors are inherited wealth and advantage, and the hiring of an army of people to think and do work for you. Trump, himself does not have the wisdom, intelligence, work ethic, judgment, or backbone to anything of value.

Has anyone noticed a tendency within the scientific community to defend a paradigm?

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

The scientific community has every right to defend a paradigm until definitive contrary evidence is confirmed.

I just got called a "progtard" on another site.

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Sounds like a south Georgia or north Florida lame attempt to manufacture a feeble attempt at an insult. Those bigots are not bright enough to come up with something better. I know -- I grew up there.

Do you have "Imposter Syndrome?

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Accept the accolades. You have earned them.

I like to think I'm not overly presumptuous.

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Could also be that he or she is trying to deal with the seeds of doubt.

Changing Your Mind

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Oh, yes. I grew up in the bible belt of the deep south. While living in Berlin, Germany-- cut off from contact with Americans -- German friends were frequently asking me questions about the racial problems in the American south. Having grown up in the southern culture, I took many things for granted that I should not have. In answering questions, I simply ran out of rationalizations and excuses and admitted to myself that the racist culture of the south was inherently immoral.

Let’s suppose your son had a terminal illness and his death was imminent.

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

I would choose not to attend, but certainly not out of disrespect or affection for the son. And, I would not offer any explanation-- as I would really own any explanation to anyone.

I never answer the "what if you're wrong?

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

When it comes to refusing to in any religious or political total system ideology, I am not wrong.

If you are a person who was born in faith, did you feel betrayed by your loved ones that fed you ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

No. They thought they were doing the right thing for me. They were simply mistaken.

Does Everything Come at a Price?

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Every decision is an opportunity/cost or benefit/cost matter. There are always costs, no matter how minimal. The question is: Do the benefits outweigh the costs.

Why does it seem that so called Christians and other “peaceful” religions are becoming more ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

This isn't new. "Hell-fire and damnation" Christians have been around for a long, long time.

When I was young, very evangelical, and pretty much the only black person at my school and churches,...

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Glad, for your sake, that you broke away. The fact is that evangelical Christianity -- although it will not admit it -- has deep racist roots that go back over 200 years -- and that those tendencies persist today.

The people on this site are just wonderful.

wordywalt comments on Feb 9, 2018:

It is good. This is the way our entire system of public dialogue should work. Unfortunately, due to demagogues, propagandists, and true believers, it does not.

If someone is dying and a bystander chooses not to help, should they be held responsible?

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

If an intervention could have made a difference between life and death, and if the person knows how to conduct the intervention, yes.

They say, "A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

Providing that the little bit of knowledge leads one to seek to understand more.

Seeing Inside the Sun - YouTube

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

He makes the point beautifully that science does not assume that it has the absolute answer, simply knows that the answers it has are simply approximation which give a partial but incomplete or flawed answer. And those approximations are constantly being improved by dialogue, study, and deep thought. That is the exact opposite of he behavior of the religious and/or political true believer in an inherently flawed total system ideology.

I just found out today that someone I used to be very close to died from cancer.

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

No. I do not cut ties easily -- only when I feel that I have been betrayed, taken advantage of, or seriously lied to.

Psychological Difference Between Liberals and Conservatives February 5, 2018 by Ed Brayton

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

This study is absolutely on target. Conservatives are much more tribal in their concern for people. They tend to care only for those who share their cultural beliefs and/or skin color In other words, they are inherently bigots, but simply cannot admit it. They are people who lack the moral courage to see themselves as they are.

Trickle Down Economics

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

No. Our personal income has not increased at all, but expenses have.

I have said this to my kids - When I get older, I am NOT going into a nursing home.

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

Like you, I will not EVER be placed in a nursing home. If I am ever faced with that I will chose to end my life. A nursing home is not a life, but simply warehousing while awaiting death without dignity.

Does the doctor in the public hospital have the right to refuse life saving treatment due to ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

No! Patents' rights should always rule.

Trump Says America Is A Nation Of Believers : NPR

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

The fact is that Trump is a moral reprobate who cannot stop lying. He has ZERO core commitment to religion and is simply trying to use religion to increase his power.

Last part to my heart story.

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

Try to write with more internally linked sentences and shorter paragraphs. As an old man with vision problems, just seeing a paragraph a whole page long discourages me from trying to wade through it. If you want more people to follow your posts, I encourage you to heed my suggestion.

I Would Love To Know Why Getting A Refund Isn't As Fast As Making A Purchase.

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

The answer is simple. Companies with questionable moral leadership try to discourage people from applying for refunds. It is a part of the culture of greed.

So does anyone care that Britain's Prince Harry is engaged? Does the monarchy matter?

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

Not really to both questions.

In the phrase " If you don't believe in something you'll fall for anything" mean anything in ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

The problem with that statement is that if you believe in a total system ideology-- political or religious -- you have already fallen for something bogus.

Who in your opinion was the greatest American President and why.

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

Certainly FDR And Lincoln both have to be near the top of the list.

I am a believer in Ancient Aliens.

wordywalt comments on Feb 8, 2018:

Not me.

What is a common saying or slang that you really dislike?

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

My pet peeve is the person who is constantly saying "you know."

"Socialism has a lot better chance of working in the US than elsewhere since we're the one country ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

I am not sure about that. We have than enough dysfunctional ideology and ideation to prevent socialism from taking serious root here. And, that is a damned shame!

How can a christian believe in jesus and all the miracles and still understand that Zeus, Thor, and ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

ALL religions are largely mythology.

Have you thought about as to HOW many points are needed as levels are achieved.

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

If points and levels are your motivation, that might become a problem.

Christian author who said atheists ‘exacerbate evil’ was cheating on his wife with two women –...

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

The deliberate hypocrisy of many "Christian" leaders and spokespersons is astounding!

Which emotion is your greatest asset?

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

You overestimate the role of emotions. If we are truly intelligent people, our greatest asset is the ability to derive meaning from experience and learning -- the ability to build and use patterns of meaning which we cab use to interpret and respond effectively to the world we encounter. Emotions can -- but do not need to -- get in the way of that.

Jeff Sessions is installing ‘religious freedom’ czars in every U.

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

Sessuions is a dangerous little (in every sense) man.

Before you were born, you had no consequence on the billions of people alive throughout time.

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

As an educator and as a person, I know that my thoughts and actions have influenced more than a few people over the years. Many of them will, in turn influence others that follow them. And so it goes. Those following will not know who you were, but will have been influenced by you. It is not as meaningless as you depict. So, you will need to be damned careful as to how you influence others.

Trump Outcomes

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

If si, it will be by sheer accident. The man lacks the intelligence, the vision, ability or moral backbone to do anything good.

Are any of you other old-timers out there having trouble keeping up with the youngsters (esp.

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

I do not attend to age, but to the issue in the post and to the quality of thought expressed.

Have you ever had a conversation with a religious person in which you were able to alter their ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

If that is the case, he already had the seeds of doubt when the conversation occurred.

A bit of a thought experiment.

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

Beyond our knowledge or our capability to determine.

Do you think you are well informed?

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

Of course, it does.

Research suggests atheism will defeat religion by 2038 — myscienceacademy.org

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

Let's hope that prediction is correct.

More Americans who consider themselves white are discovering they are part African through DNA tests...

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

Through 23andme I found that I have a trace of black DNA. It is interesting, but not a shock.

Who are your favorite classical artists?

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

Composers or artists? My all-time favorite performance was that of Slomo Minsk, playing the violin in his performance of Max Bruch's Violin Concerto Number 1 in G Minor.

One of My Heroes just Died Ive been on Vacation this week.

wordywalt comments on Feb 7, 2018:

It is sad. But, we have such great memories to replay at will.