What's more important to you, brains or body?

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

The important things are intelligence and personality (warm, positive, empathetic, caring, not judgmental).

What is different about us Atheists/Agnostics?

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

We are more willing to face reality, more critical thinkers, more risk takers. Partly, yes, our experiences have simply led us there. If we grew up in deeply religious cultures, it is likely that our teens or 20s we were also exposed to a different culture which led to question our beliefs.

Something that you’ve accomplished that was hard.

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

Years ago I started a staff development and school improvement center serving 12 rural school districts -- from scratch. It started on project status from the state department of education. After 3 04 4 years, I felt that the center should move its focus in one direction, and my boss thought it should go in another. I did not believe that the superintendents in the 12 districts would support the center if it became what my boss wanted. My boss was not happy and was prepared to recommend that the center not be continued. I gambled my carrer on my opinion. I asked the state department of education to discontinue its funding at the end of the school year, so that if was going to continue solely with local district support. I also went out and talked with all 12 superintendents and asked them they would want from the center if it was to be continued, and wove together a proposed program of services in line with my own perceptions. At a meeting of all 12 superintendents, my boss recommended that the center be discontinued and that my job be done away with. The superintends voted 11 to 1 to fund the center, continue it, and that the center's focus should be the plan I formulated with them. From that point on, I build the center into a very successful program of staff development services for teachers and administrators, and school improvement services focusing on improved student learning.. A number of the programs I began won state and national recognition. I have always taken chances based on what I thought was right.

Do you think that the Evangelical Christian faction of the right was empowered by Ronald Reagan or ...

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

It was really enabled during the Nixon administration -- before Reagan. It was during the elections of Nixon that the Nixon cabal colluded with Jerry Falwell and the "moral majority." The comingling of religion and politics grew hugely from that development.

Are America's problems too big for government to effectively solve?

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

Yes and no. We will never create a perfect situation, as each new solution creates new, unforeseen problems Still, there is much more and better that we could do, if we have the will and the power.

Being 99% certain that any god does not exist does not make a person's belief that the existence of ...

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

Absolutely correct.

what is the proof that there is no god in our life?

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

You cannot prove a negative. All one can say, is that there is no proof that a god exists.

How do you react when a friend or relative dies from a disease or accident and someone says ...

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

It angers me. There is no god, ergo no plan from god. If there were a loving god, he she, or it would create horrible or disasterous situations for people to be in.

What if after you die, you wake up with a bong in your hand and your alien friend asks, "How was ...

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

What an inane question!

Does anyone else believe in reincarnation?

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

No, not me. To me, it just another form of the false wish of eternal life.

Have humans been socialized to be social animals?

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

Evolution has produced humans as social animals. Prior sub-species that were not social did not survive to pass on their genes.

Do human beings have the same 'worth' or are some groups expendable?

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

All human beings have the same innate worth. But, some negate their own worth by hurting, taking advantage of, or disparaging others.

Hi! I'm just glad to be here - hard being agnostic in the deep south!

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

I understand. I grew up in the southern Bible belt of north Florida. That understanding is why I have not lived there for many years and will never live there again.

Why do you think the USA is more religious than other developed nations?

wordywalt comments on Nov 5, 2017:

all the way back to the founding of the American colonies Most of them were founded as religious communities' and most of those religious colonies were off-shoots of evangelical Calvinism. Religion also played a major role in the America Revolution, as disclosed in Alan Heimert's book, THE AMERICAN MIND FROM THE GREAT AWAKENING TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

JUST IN: 'POLITICO' Announces Weekend Betsy DeVos Resignation/Firing Rumor

wordywalt comments on Nov 4, 2017:

Fabtastic news. This woman was simply a rich , incompetent and unintelligent ideologue.

Why do you think Atheism is becoming more attractive to millennials?

wordywalt comments on Nov 4, 2017:

The movement is not new. In 1972m Jean Jacques Revel wrote a book entitled, WITHOUT MARX OR JESUS. Revel, a French journalist, described how (particularly in Europe) people were becoming intellectually, emotionally, and culturally mature enough to realize that they did not need either political or religious total system ideologies (ideologies which purport to include, explain and control everthing0 to find meaning, purpose and identity in their lives. That realization now dominates in much of Europe. It has been slowly gaining strength here in the US for well over 50 years.

5 reasons people don't like atheists - from Psychology Today 2015 article

wordywalt comments on Nov 4, 2017:

Good article. Confirms my point that even though we reject religion, we still need to treat respectful religious people with like dignity and respect. It also means that we need to hammer (politely) at the point of separation between morality and religion. We need to be living proof that atheists are generally quite moral people and often less hypocritical than purported Christians.

I am accused of having no morals because I am an atheist.

wordywalt comments on Nov 4, 2017:

Real morality has nothing to do with religion, but solely on the consequences of decisions and actions.

My dog says, 'Men get married to have sex, and women have sex to get married'.

wordywalt comments on Nov 4, 2017:

A cliché is a cliché.

Do you think Street Epistemology is helpful?

wordywalt comments on Nov 4, 2017:

I know what epistemology is. What is Street epistemology? Never heard of it.

If you knew tomorrow was the end of the world. How would you spend your last day?

wordywalt comments on Nov 3, 2017:

Go fishing!

What do you think of the term "Born Again Skeptic"?

wordywalt comments on Nov 3, 2017:

"Born again" is a phrase created by evangelical Christians to denote a spiritual rebirth. As I do not believe that I have a spirit, I reject the phrase in any context.

Pakistan bride accidentally poisons 13 family members in failed bid to kill husband

wordywalt comments on Nov 3, 2017:

A tragedy caused by a malevotent tradition.

Pastor Greg Laurie: “There’s No Such Thing” as an Atheist Relief Organization We've ...

wordywalt comments on Nov 3, 2017:

Who cares what demagogues like him say?

Will the U.S. fall as the Roman empire did?

wordywalt comments on Nov 3, 2017:

Ass civilizations eventually collapse, for one both of two reasons" (1) their cultural institutions fail them and. (2) They are overwhelmed by and outside force. If you country falls, it will due to internal moral (but not religious) decay.

What is the non-theist replacement for "I'll pray for you?"

wordywalt comments on Nov 3, 2017:

How about a simple, "I wish you well."

Does absolute truth exist?

wordywalt comments on Nov 3, 2017:

Absolute physical facts, entities, and processes exist. But,. those differ from our perceptions, which, in turn, form the bases for our formulations of "truth." Our perception of full reality is always limited, incomplete, and often incorrect. a good philosophical definition of :truth" intense belief so strong that we are willing to act on it." There is absolute reality, but not absolute truth.

What does it mean when they talk about how we are living in a holographic universe or a SIM?

wordywalt comments on Nov 3, 2017:

It largely means that we do not really exist -- that we are figments of our own imagination. Of course it is not true. Those who say that forget Descartes conclusion, "Cogito ergo sum." (I think, therefore I am.)

Trudeau applauds Payette for standing up for science in convention speech.

wordywalt comments on Nov 2, 2017:

We should have such ethical politicians

I would love to hear your opinions on Mega Churches.

wordywalt comments on Nov 2, 2017:

Megachurches largely reflect the huge egos of the founding pastors. Their pastors tend to be engaging demagogues.

I have a question: With what is going on today and even throughout history does anyone ask why?

wordywalt comments on Nov 2, 2017:

That is your hang-up, not an inherent one. I define evil as harmful to the human being, the human species, and/or the natural environment. The sole basis is effect or consequences.

When you talk to believers about their beliefs, do you try to convert them?

wordywalt comments on Nov 2, 2017:

with "true believers" you would be wasting your time.

What Other Things Can You Think of to Prove Humans are Insane?

wordywalt comments on Nov 2, 2017:

I reject your premise. What compelling evidence do you have for it?

Is belief in a God the ultimate form of narcissism?

wordywalt comments on Nov 2, 2017:

No. It is simply a form of indoctrination offering both a carat -- life after death and heaven -- and a stick -- hell -- to enforce the dogma.

How can I debate anyone regarding god when they always fall back to you must have faith?

wordywalt comments on Nov 2, 2017:

You can't debate with them. You can argue only with a person who will agree to use reason. In falling back to blind faith, they are denouncing the use of reason, logic, and science.

How many of you find it is difficult being a non believer in a judeo christian nation?

wordywalt comments on Nov 2, 2017:

No! I am quite comfortable in my own skin believing what I believe.

What do you think about our advancing technology?

wordywalt comments on Nov 1, 2017:

Which technologies? There are millions of different technologies? Your question is too broad to respond to.

Honoring the dead & cremate or bury?

wordywalt comments on Nov 1, 2017:

When I die, I am to be cremated immediately. There will be no service, funeral or :celebration of life." I am simply asking my wife and daughters to scatter my ashes on a windswept point in a lake where I often fished. If they want anything else, I have suggested the playing of "Ashoken Farewell" -- a sadly beautiful piece of music.

I've been noticing the American Taliban now has a felon working against our country.

wordywalt comments on Nov 1, 2017:

Bakker is just a minor figure in the televangelism racket, and only the most gullible follow him. The more dangerous include Pat Robertson, Falwell, and their ilk and their institutions of indoctrination like Bob Jones U., Liberty U. etc. The irony and tragedy is that, in their hypocrisy and total moral lapse, they all support Trump.

How has atheism improved your relationships?

wordywalt comments on Nov 1, 2017:

To me, that question is irrelevant. U am an atheist solely because , to me, it is embracing reality. I simply accept the consequences of my decision, no matter what.

This is my first post here.

wordywalt comments on Nov 1, 2017:

Agreed. It is time to face reality and try to do something about it.

Racism is a misnomer, what term should replace it?

wordywalt comments on Nov 1, 2017:

More often than not, the more appropriate term is ethnocentrism.

How is your faith in humanity?

wordywalt comments on Nov 1, 2017:

Human beings are human beings. We are capable of much good, and much evil. We are also capable of rationalizing greed or destructive action. To deter inappropriate action, we must always have public scrutiny and deterrents for destructive actions.

"There are no forbidden questions in science, no matters too sensitive or delicate to be probed, no ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 31, 2017:

This superb statement is the opposite of Trump administration policy on science -- a policy of chosen ignorance and deliberate distortion.

Genetic History

wordywalt comments on Oct 31, 2017:

Yes, I've had it done and find it both interesting and informative.. The matches with haplogroups and the percentages of the match give a pretty clear picture of when and where crossing of groups occurred. Both for that information and for inherited disease tendencies, it is definitely worh it.

What do you think of heathens? How would you describe a modern-day heathen.

wordywalt comments on Oct 29, 2017:

Heathen is not a descriptive term. Instead, it is a derogatory term invented by whit ethnocentric Christians to disparage people from other cultures. It falls in the same class of hate words like kyke and nigger.

Do you believe we could have a creator?

wordywalt comments on Oct 29, 2017:

No. A creator is essentially the same as a god.

what is your news source , when all the major news stations have a clear agenda and spin?

wordywalt comments on Oct 29, 2017:

My sources are NPR and PBS.

what can we do to stop this stigma about the word atheist?

wordywalt comments on Oct 29, 2017:

So long as there are "true believer" evangelicals, they will cast aspersions on atheists and atheism. It is a equivalent of primitive punishing people who question their religion for fear that the gods will wreak havoc on them for tolerating a non-believer.

Is there a difference b/t activist atheism & militant atheism?

wordywalt comments on Oct 29, 2017:

Militant, by definition, means willing to go to violent extremes. Activist means willing to take action or to stand one's ground. I applaud your attempt to clarify. It serves us well when we use language with clarity and precision.

After 'Choosing Donald Trump,' Is The Evangelical Church In Crisis? : NPR

wordywalt comments on Oct 29, 2017:

It is causing reasoning Christians and truly moral Christians to distance themselves from the evangelical "trash". How much it will hurt them? A lot, I hope.

does sanders have a chance in 2020?

wordywalt comments on Oct 29, 2017:

I don't know. Elizabeth Warren is my candidate!

Why the oppressed buy into the oppressive narrative?

wordywalt comments on Oct 29, 2017:

Which oppressed and which narrative? Your statement is too vague to respond to.

Why are minorities in the U.S. so religious?

wordywalt comments on Oct 29, 2017:

The major reason is that for most of our history those minorities had such little opportunity for a good life that they bought into the dream of better afterlife. Once religion becomes a dominant part of a culture, it persists. I also agree with the lack of education.

why are agnostics afraid of using the word atheist?

wordywalt comments on Oct 28, 2017:

Simply because they are not emotionally "there" yet.

Is the "self" something real?

wordywalt comments on Oct 28, 2017:

As Piaget points out, we, as living biological organisms, interact with our environment will all our senses, as well as chemically. We all build schema (patterns of thought and action) which enable us to make sense of and cope with aspects of our environment. We also form thoughts and data into cognitive structures or patterns of meaning. At the core of these patterns of meaning are strongly held beliefs and values which we use to define ourselves. That is the "self."

If corporations are people, how has big pharma NOT been charged with genocide/mass negligent ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 28, 2017:

Corporations are NOT people. That is a lie manufactured and constantly repeated by Mitch McConnell. He discovered the Nazi tactic of the "big Lie": Manufacture any lie you want and keep repeating it in many contexts. Eventually more and more people with believe you and lthe lie will be accepted as fact. Big pharma is being a free pass to take advantage of us by the culture of greed.

I am sick to death of being told by family members {who are practicing Catholics} that I am ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 27, 2017:

You are being treated in the way that your family treats you for two reasons: (Your family is judgmental and fails to treat people who are different or who think differently with dignity and respecrt; and (2) the idea that their religious beliefs could be wrong scares the hell out of them. Your independence of thought frightens them.

What do you think about the idea of 'determinism?

wordywalt comments on Oct 27, 2017:

Determinism assumes some guiding force or deity behind the flow of events and history. It is therefore, religious and not to be believed.

If you have searched for the meaning of life outside of religion, who is your favorite philosopher ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 26, 2017:

I have 3 figures who help me to find and understand my reality. First is the existentialist, Jean Paul Sartre. Second is philosopher - psychologist Erich Fromm and his works on human freedom and the tendency of some to try to escape their real freedom. Third is psychologist Jean Piaget, who points out that creating meaning is a biological activity of the human mind.

A legend at his best: George Carlin on religion & god

wordywalt comments on Oct 26, 2017:

Carlin was a living and brilliant iconoclast!!

Why can't there be more meeting places in communities where atheist and agnostics can go and do good...

wordywalt comments on Oct 26, 2017:

I personally do not feel the need to congregate with other agnostics and atheists. I simply enjoy being around people with intelligence who treat me and others with dignity and respect. Religious belief or non-beliefs is only one part of who they are.

What type of animals do you prefer as a pet?

wordywalt comments on Oct 26, 2017:

I love their affectionate independence!

Can someone be religious and scientific at the same time?

wordywalt comments on Oct 26, 2017:

Only if one adopts the coping mechanism of compartmentalizing one's existence.

Hello to all I am looking to make friends in arkansas that are atheist.

wordywalt comments on Oct 26, 2017:

You are right. In the southern bible belt there is huge pressure to be a "true believer" in religion.. I grew up in that culture, but you could not pay me enough to live there again.

"By 2030, say projections, a third of Americans will have no religious preference" ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 26, 2017:

+Let's hope that the percentage is even higher. When it reaches 35 - 40 percent, the point of view can compete with equal footing on the political scene with the evangelicals.

What do you think of religious charities?

wordywalt comments on Oct 25, 2017:

Should be allowed only to the extent that they devote ALL of their resources to helping people, with no allowances fore promoting religion or trying to win converts.

Should religious organizations remain tax exempt?

wordywalt comments on Oct 25, 2017:

In addition, any religious group which devotes money to any political cause should be fined severely.

Nature is my Religion, The earth is my Temple

wordywalt comments on Oct 25, 2017:

I neither want nor need a religion of any kind, and do not need a temple.

Do you believe that Atlantis was a real place?

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

It is likely that Atlantis did exist and was destroyed by the Santorini super volcano eruption, It was an advanced civilization for its time. It was not the place of hyper-exaggerated myth many depict.

What's your sensitivity projection while reading posts

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

We have to rely on the writer to express himself or herself with conceptual and emotional clarity.

Do you actively represent Atheists (in person or on the web)?

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

Just as a do not want religious people trying to push their beliefs on me, I do not feel the need to push my beliefs on others. If someone If someone issearching for answers, I will ask him or her questions which are pertinent or provide relevant information.

Should a candidate's ability to keep his/her religious beliefs to him/herself be a litmus test for ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

Won't happen. Unfortunately, humans being humans, some political candidates will try to appeal to groups' beliefs in order to get elected.

After we are gone who will inherit the earth?

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

Who cares? The earth, itself, will eventually be destroyed in some astrophysical event -- the sun dying, being hit by an asteroid, the core losing its electromagnetism, another big bang, etc.

Some Donald Trump Supporters Are Now Calling Him 'God Emperor' | HuffPost

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

This is what happens when we have a comingling of politics and religion. Is demeans and contaminates both.

Half of New Testament forged, Bible scholar says – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

Likely true. Most of the New Testament is simply cultural mythology.

Not sure if this has been posted or not but I am curious about what denomination/religion people ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

Both of my parents were Methodists and I was raised in the Methodist church.

Does anyone believe that theists are generally honest and sincere in their claims?

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

Some are, but many are not.

Considering that religion has gone to war with us should we go to war against religion?

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

The goal is to rid ourselves of harmful practices imposed on us, not to harm, humiliate, or dominate others. The goal should be to grease the skids as that religion will become obsolete and do itself in.

Why does a large core component of the Black community still cling to the religion of their former ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

It is "the curse of culture" -- once beliefs, practices, and behaviors become a part of a culture, they channel and limit that which follows. If you can find it, read a brilliant opinion piece by Paul Bohannon, anthropologist.

What are your thoughts on “foul” language?

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

I don't believe in insulting people or in gratuitous use of sexual emphases. Otherwise, it all has its purpose.

What is something that most people don't know about you?

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

As I don't know you, if I don't tell people I know, then I ain't gonna tell you either.

I'm sure there are many of you that, like me, live in areas overflowing with churches, and ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

The simple answer is that most businesses that use such advertising ploys do so to try to increase sales. It is their judgment that more people are likely religious, so they appeal to religion as a sales gimmick.

As a photographer I get asked many times what photos I'd never take, my answer is very few, the odd ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

Deliberately offending others, even if their beliefs are not correct, is hurtful, therefore immoral.

What is the point of living?

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

There is no point, in and of itself. Live simply exists. We create meaning by our own thoughts and actions, compounded over time and lives to create culture.

What's your phobia?

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

What does that have to do with agnosticism!

Thoughts on Satanism?

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

I will never commit myself to membership in an organization which believes in a non-existing being.Gree yourself from all of that crap -- including Satanism.

I am going through a very rough patch in my life right now.

wordywalt comments on Oct 22, 2017:

Be sure to reach out to trusted friends if you need aid.

did you loose faith, or gain a sense of reality?

wordywalt comments on Oct 22, 2017:

I gradually gained a sense of reality grounded in fact, science, and experience.

Do you think there is only one human race?

wordywalt comments on Oct 22, 2017:

There is one human species. Race is an artificial concept.

Has the Earth ever been visited by extraterrestrials?

wordywalt comments on Oct 22, 2017:

Who knows. I havbe better things to do than wonder about things that are impossible to know.

What other things do you look for in a mate, besides being an atheist?

wordywalt comments on Oct 21, 2017:

If I were looking for a mate, the things I would be looking for are personality (warmth, caring, empathy, open to experience, win-win philosophy to life, non judgmental), intelligence, values focused on treating others with dignity and respect.

was ignorance bliss , or are you happier as a non believer ?

wordywalt comments on Oct 21, 2017:

I am much happier as a non-believer. I feel much more free, much more in control of my choices, much less guilt-ridden and doubt-ridden, much happier.

Can science and religion realistically be reconciled?

wordywalt comments on Oct 20, 2017:

No, the two can never be completely reconciled. Some scientists who consider themselves Christians simply choose to act as though there are areas of thought and belief to which scientific evidence and proven facts do not apply.

Do you believe that experience leads to beliefs?

wordywalt comments on Oct 20, 2017:

We all build our own patterns of meaning and patterns of action based on our interpretation of events and experience. That is what enables us to deal with the world we interact with. In general, the vast body of psychological evidence shows that we act our way into believing, not vice versa. We act, see what the results are and build our patterns of behavior accordingly.

If you research you will find out that cannons/bible was written 311 A.

wordywalt comments on Oct 20, 2017:

You underestimate religions. Most are self=perpetuating mind control organizations that prey on emotionally vulnerable people and coerce people into believing.

If you could nominate an Atheist to lead our nation, who would that be and why.

wordywalt comments on Oct 20, 2017:

Gender, color, or presence or absence of religious beliefs are all minor considerations. The "biggies" are belief in and action to support a vigorous democracy, full support of civil rights, true concern about ALL of our people, ability analyze facts and issues and make wise decisions, and ability to negotiate with others to reach productive consensus, and personal honesty , integrity and empathy..

Evangelicals in Government

wordywalt comments on Oct 20, 2017:

All members of the religious right who seek to impose their views on us have feet of clay We must find and expose their hypocrisies. At the same time, we must oppose also fight the comingling of politics and religion in court.

I want a path to follow though I don't believe how to find meaning w out a god?

wordywalt comments on Oct 19, 2017:

I don't understand your question. Do you mean that you would like for someone to point out a path to finding personal meaning in life?

In your opinion, why did Christianity not 'stick' with you?

wordywalt comments on Oct 19, 2017:

My movement away from religion started in my teen years. I was active in my church and a youth fellowship leader, and had read the Bible from cover to cover 3 times by the age of 15. Still I did not like being made to feel "a sinner"l for have normal thoughts and teenage urges. The more I read the Bible, the more I noted discrepancies, obvious fictions, and simply weird stuff (as in Revelations). I also began to see the hypocrisy in the behavior of more than a few adult "Christians." All together, these things drove me away from religion and into the realm of agnosticism. As I grew older gained the knowledge and courage to reject all aspects of religion At the age of 80, I do not fear death. I reject all of the theology -- belief in any god, existence of Satan, belief in life after death, even having a "soul" I am simply a biological being who has lived a full life and will die. When I die, there will be no funeral and no burial. I will live on only in the minds of friends and family and in the beliefs and actions of those I have influenced. The more