Religious Debate Can Anyone Win?
Religious debate, can anyone win? Personally I think not. Last month, I agreed to an evolution vs. creationism debate at a local church. When it ended, I was angry, and the opposition was too. This experience has led me to outright refuse such debates. I’m not implying that we should not talk about it with friends, write about it or just plain mock religion from time to time.
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But when it comes to a full fledge debate, I say no. Many of my friends disagree.
Here is my recollection of the debate gone wrong.
“Well yeah, evolution is a theory, but so is creationism,” I said.
“No, G-d created everything, and the bible tells us how,” he smiled and seemed satisfied, the audience clapped.
“Well, the bible is not theory, and offers no scientific observation, yet is given as fact. But it is insufficient as proof of the existence of god.”
“We believe the bible is G-d’s, word. It is evidence of his existence, and it is written,” sorry can’t finish, basically it is written, blah, blah, blah.
“Yeah, well that’s not proof. Do you have substantial proof?” I did not expect an answer.
“I do. I know G-d exist, because I exist.”
“Oh, that works for me too, I said. I know evolution is true, because – I – exist.”
The man stood up, then walked off the stage. No kidding, he just walked off.
Up to this point it was a typical debate; with the typical creationist arguments. Essentially it was the same debate – different venue, different debaters.
At some point he said, “Faith trumps science.” This statement angered me. Later, at home I realized that he is 100 % correct. A creationist can offer anything as fact, proof, or evidence. Therefore, faith is all they need. Neither logic nor science can break through.
Because faith is irrational, such debates are illogical. Therefore, I will never agree to another debate.
The Great Flood
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Will Abolishing Religion Solve the World’s Problems?
Many atheists, like Richard Dawkins, believes it would. Unfortunately it’s not that simple. While I support no god in government; I have no delusions when it comes to human nature. We are a tribal, hateful race. We don’t like diversity. It scares us. A little primal I think. Uniformity is one of the goals of religion. To have everyone think and behave in accordance with divine law.
I advocate science over religion; evolution over creationism. If everyone agreed, it would not rid us of the human condition. A condition, marred with violence, and human conflict. Slavery at its origin, even in this country, had no religious biases. Today we continue to struggle with child abuse, human trafficking, and other forms of subjugation, not driven by religious motives.
While I must acknowledge that god is often used as a basis for inhumane behavior; it is not likely that the absence of a belief in god will end it. In some regards it may increase the problem. As a person can easily rationalize that there is no consequence for their actions.
Our society must evolve. I hope that it includes movement away from dependence on religious ideology. Yet I’m still left with questions.
- What is the difference between patriotism and religious zeal?
- How does ideological absolutism differ from religious absolutism?
They don’t. But that is the atheist delusion. To believe that religion is the source of all problems.
With all my doubts, I continue to desire, not a world, but a government free of religion. People who keep their religions in their homes and out of politics. To have laws which are made for us, and not about us.
If we eliminate god as the scapegoat perhaps we could get there faster. I believe the sooner we attribute what’s wrong in the world to our unkindness, poor logic and stupidity we can get on with improving the human condition.
Are we the god’s and devils that create the heavens or hells people live in?
Sometimes Silence IS Golden
In my favorite park, there is a lake surrounded by evergreens. Several times a week, for many years, I went to the park for a morning walk.
As I entered the park, I’d pick up five black stones, put them into my pocket, and begin my first lap. Five laps, equaled five miles. That was always my minimum goal. After the fifth mile, I rested on a bench. During my break, I decided if I wanted to do another lap.
This routine often led to a ten-mile walk, abbreviated by meditative rest periods.
On one such day, a woman joined me. I acknowledged her, and went back to looking at the ducks.
“Do you know God?” her voice interrupted.
“Please don’t burden me with your god,” I replied.
“Oh, you don’t believe in God,” her surprise warned me that there was more to come.
“No, and right now, I’m enjoying myself in the park,” I stood and walked towards the parking lot, about a quarter mile away.
She followed, continuing to talk.
“If you don’t believe in God, then what keeps you from killing people, from stealing, what keeps you from evil,” she asked.
I hate to admit it, but this woman began to ruin my day. I stopped.
“If believing in a god, keeps you from killing, and stealing and all sorts of evil, then by all means, you must never stop believing in god,” I walked back to my bench, and sat down.
I can’t tell you what she said next. I refused to acknowledge her and finally she walked away.
Sometimes, it’s necessary to ignore the negative, toxic evangelicals. They stir the emotions and prevent clear, level headed thinking. Their negative words, work to get reactions; to push your buttons. Don’t let them drain your energy.
I limit my time with negative button pushers, as they have nothing to offer.
Limbaugh: Volcanic ash cloud is God’s punishment for health care
Seems not only is god a jackass but also geographically challenged. What does an Icelandic volcano eruption have to do with health care in America? One would think that if god could punish, us mere humans, it would at least be specific. After all, Obama was going that way, god could have waited a few days.
When will this awesome god stop hurting little people to make its political, social or moral republican statements? Oh, yeah I forgot there is no god, just people pretending there is one. Apparently in America that god is 100% republican, and politically aligned with the rightwing evangelicals.
Too bad god uses people like Rush to reveal his vengeance. It seems a poor choice in light of all the powers attributed to god.
Seriously though, America is filled with vulnerable people, people who cling to his words. Rush, the tea party, Fox news, and the Sarah Palin clan are hate mongers. Unfortunately people are listening.
Is it too much to ask god to target them?
Atheist Seeks Eternal Life
Ten ways an atheist can escape mortality
The other day a friend asked, “Are you afraid that you will miss out on heaven and not have eternal life?” Of course I answered no.
“Then what do you think happens when you die?” he continued.
“Nothing, you just die,” I said.
“Well, I’ll just stick to going to heaven.”
That was it, the end of the conversation.
To assuage those fears I offer atheist some optional answers to the mortality question. Here are my top ten.
- Become a HeLa cell – It’s like being – the God.
- Become a life diamond. (It’s true you can do it)
- Become a conduit for god, write his holy words, it work for Muhammad.
- Become the one to achieve cold fusion; more points if you use psychic energy.
- Become a go auld; they are gods you know.
- Transfer your brain to the Google network, that might be possible sooner than we think
- Become a South Park cartoon.
- Find the fountain of youth.
- Kill that top Highlander dude.
- Just believe that you are immortal; works for my friend.
That’s my list; Help me make it better.
Easier meth recipe creating more garbage
Many of the meth addicts are believers perhaps mostly Christian. It is terrible what is happening to these people. The drugs and the desire to get them at all cost.
Why does their god not help? These people believe in god, pray, and have families who care and pray. Yet they are still lost in the addiction cycle.
Jesus is supposed to make you happy. Right? Why does their god and religion fail?
Neither prayer, Jesus or the 12-step program work. Why do we leave this medical and biological problem to the churches and prayers?
Read full article at The Columbus Dispatch
Why is Sarah Palin Big News?
Sarah Palin, the self proclaimed Maverick is more popular than ever. So much so, that according to The Huffington Post, Palin deserves her own page. Personally I’m sick of hearing about her, even through passive means. Today NPR broadcast an excerpt of a rally speech, where she stated:
“We will stick to our constitution, our guns and our religion, he [Obama] can have the change.”
Now, I’m not going to defend the president; but how is this statement beneficial to anyone?
This woman, as best described by Bill Maher is “a category 5 moron”.
The best testimony to her ignorance is when she mocked fruit-fly research, calling it a “pet project”.
“… some of these pet projects they really don’t make a whole lot of sense and sometimes these dollars, they go to projects that have little or nothing to do with the public good. Things like fruit fly research in Paris France. I kid you not. [Insert mocking here]”
I’ve come to the conclusion that her success is due to the halo effect. She’s pretty, well dressed, christian, republican and on television – therefore she must be – smart, and knows what she is talking about. Wrong, dead wrong; just wish there was a way to break the delusion.
If left to Palin and her puppet masters, America would be full of christian, gun toting, pregnant white women, married to one and only one man, white folks who own at least one slave, god fearing hate mongers who reject science and believe that man lived with the dinosaurs.
Well what can you expect from a woman who reads “all of ‘em”, them there newspapers. Like Charles Gibson, when it comes to Palin, “I get lost in a blizzard of words”.
My recommendation to the Paliners, stop paying , stop attending the rallies/”speeches” and change the channel when her face shows up – better yet turn it off and keep it off; go read something.
Sarah’s special Huffington Post page
Group Challenges Prayer in City Government
The civil liberties group called Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) hopes to make an example of the city of Birmingham. The group wants the invocation, given at the start of city council meetings, removed from the agenda.
Members of the city council feel that prayer is necessary; and say that no one can take away their right to pray. The FFRF, I assume, has no intention of taking away their rights. These people can pray any time they desire; but not as an official government act.
I see additional issues when prayer is forced in government settings. Mixed faiths. At these meetings, officials pray to the christian god, often in the name of Jesus. Certainly these prayers make no reference to Allah, Yahweh, Buddha, or Krishna.
We’ve all heard it said, “it’s the same god.” And I’d bet a million that it’s always a Christian who spouts it. It’s a farce. If not, then let them rotate prayer. Give each faith a spot in the agenda; let each take their turn. That would be fair and fun.
Separation of church and state means all churches, which also implies all religions and all gods.
I wish the FFRF organization much success.
I will arrest the Pope
There is only one sure way to arrest the pope. Catholics must stop attending and supporting the church. No money, no people, no pope. Ooh, if it were just that simple. Or should I say if people would just do it.
