Happy Blasphemy Day!!!!.....

[madmom]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_Day

[HopeHoops]

1. Jesus was a snot-nosed brat, Mary was a whore, and Joseph had sex with camels.

How's that? Should I be nastier? It is always so hard to tell.

[Malikshah]

2. h/t to Mr. Izzard: Blashphemy, blashpheyou..... :)

Enjoy!

[Hubert Flottz]

3. Well fer Heaven's Snakes.

YhhUio Tyrentube PopopopopoPOUTYR poiytrty shhhhhakeeeyobootie hicktib fonose!(follow the snake)

EDIT(the snake is a river)

[ThomThom]

4. God is dead

[david_vincent]

5. That virgin birth story is a load of crap

Mary had sex with a Roman soldier. Finding herself pregnant and fearing that she'd be killed by her father or other male family members, she made up a ludicrous story, and they bought it.

[uppityperson]

6. Damn it, not already again. nt

[Kurovski]

56. The decorations have been on sale for three months now.

[hobbit709]

7. All gods are bastards!

[Nuclear Unicorn]

8. Unnecessary

I'm an atheist but I don't run around mocking my Buddhist or Muslim friends. They're my friends and that's all that matters. I even have Christian friends and, guess what, they post here at DU.

Please stop.

[madmom]

14. .....

"Ronald Lindsay, president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry said regarding Blasphemy Day, "We think religious beliefs should be subject to examination and criticism just as political beliefs are, but we have a taboo on religion," in an interview with CNN.<2>

According to USA Today's interview with Justin Trottier, Executive Director of the Centre for Inquiry Canada and a Toronto coordinator of Blasphemy Day, "We're not seeking to offend, but if in the course of dialogue and debate, people become offended, that's not an issue for us. There is no human right not to be offended."<3>"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_Day

[Nuclear Unicorn]

24. OK, fine. Just remember that the next time a sincere call for social justice

and economic equality is dismissed out of hand with calls of "dirty commies!" Political discourse does invite examination but there's a diference between examining and insulting.

Blasphemy is, be definition, an insult.

blas·phe·my noun \ˈblas-fə-mē\
plural blas·phe·mies

Definition of BLASPHEMY
1a : the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God b : the act of claiming the attributes of deity
2: irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blasphemy <-- not a religious text

Maybe the object of the insult does not exist but those who have deeply-held beliefs do and their feelings are real.

[Iggo]

37. "...or lack of reverence for God...."

Well then I'm already blasphemous all the live-long day.

Anything in the special book on how to deal with people like me?

I bet there is. And I bet it doesn't take into account that my feelings are real.

[Deep13]

62. I think openly insulting gods...

...lends credence to the idea that they are not all powerful and encourages people on the fence to abandon them. And it discourages very religious people from thinking they can control what others think and say.

[Sal316]

94. How is that different than openly insulting atheism? EOM

[darkstar3]

97. You mean aside from the fact that atheism

-has no gods.
-is not a religion.
-has never claimed power and control.

?

[Sal316]

105. Being openly insulting is openly insulting....

whatever conditions you're putting on it is immaterial.

[darkstar3]

107. "Fuck your God" =/= "Fuck you"

[Sal316]

110. Then by that logic.. "atheism is stupid" =/= "atheists are stupid"

Wow, this game is fun.

[darkstar3]

112. False analogy.

Your statement is analogous to "Christianity is stupid."

Wow, you're bad at this game.

[Sal316]

114. Nope, you added "your" which is a specifying modifier.

Now, if you had said "fuck God", then you'd be right.

But..ya didn't, so ya don't.

Try again.

[darkstar3]

115. There are thousands, possibly more, gods that people have believed in.

Being specific is not at issue here. I repeat: If I can insult you personally be blaspheming against your god, then you have zealotry issues.

And your analogy is still false.

[Deep13]

116. Three different concepts at work here.

gods--personalities the religion is supposedly built around

religion--the belief system itself

believers/adherents/worshipers--those who practice said religion and believe in said gods

Yes, insulting the god for some aspect of its personality is not the same as insulting the belief system or the adherents. Suppose the God of the Bible were real. Now suppose that I accept his reality and the practical reason by believers feel it necessary to worship him. But I am still disgusted by that god's behavior. (How? Read the Bible.) An insult to that god (while suicidal) would have no bearing on the belief system or the believers. Now, as a practical matter, I take the fact that despite my continuous insults toward the Abrahamic god (gods in the case of Christianity) and that he does nothing about it as evidence that he either does not exist or else his believers are entirely wrong about him. (In which case he's not the Abrahamic god.)

Atheism is a lack of belief in either a god or, by necessity, its belief system. So logically, insulting the concept of atheism does not necessarily insult those who do not believe in god.
Or course, if you are in fact asserting that atheism is stupid, I should like to know the factual basis of that assertion.

[Deep13]

101. People are free to do so and many excercise that right...

...however inaccurate and misleading their arguments usually are. The practical difference is that atheism is not part of the hegemonic culture in "the West" (however you choose to define that). Going after atheism or atheists is like picking on the smallest kid in the schoolyard. Going after religion is going after the power structure.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

141. Go ahead, insult it.

See how many atheists will say it should be OUTLAWED.

[Sal316]

93. "...if in the course of dialogue and debate, people become offended, that's not an issue for us"

Wow, that's the tag line in just about every RW spam email I've ever seen. "If you're offended, it's your fault, not mine."

One wonders if this intellectual giant actually knows the difference between debate/dialogue and blasphemy. My guess is no. Judging by some of the posts in this thread, I'd say that's a pretty common knowledge vacuum.

What's also missing in this thread are the anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, etc., "discussions", which takes this thread away from 'celebrating' Blasphemy Day, which is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to openly express their criticism of, or even disdain for, religion and towards just simply piling on Christianity.

Hey, that's your right, if you think it makes you one of the cool kids then go for it. Just remember, the next time anything religious is mentioned, please hold your offense, especially if you're going out of your way to offend. You wouldn't want to be a hypocrite, now would you?

You see, it's only a principle if it's applied in/to situations/people that you both agree and disagree with.

This 'blasphemy day' nonsense is offensive to me just as when Fundies say hateful things toward atheists or Muslims or the poor or whoever. That's the true measure of intellectual honesty, the ability to avoid rationalizing things you have distaste for when, all of a sudden, it's "your side" that's doing it.

Like Devil's night used to bring out the delinquents when I lived in Detroit, it appears that Blasphemy Day brings out the intellectually juvenile.

Oh, and if you're offended by my words.... if you're offended because of this dialogue, it's your fault, not mine.

[Name removed]

96. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Warren DeMontague]

121. know what you need?

a better spam filter.

[darkstar3]

125. So your point boils down to "these people are just as bad as fundies"?

[madmom]

147. I saw "blasphemy" against mohamed, buddha, the flying spaghetti monster and

neptune, so I think your point it moot.

If I were offended every time someone said something against atheists or atheism, I would be perpetually offended, because it never lets up.

"intellectually juvenile" like people who believe in 1000 year old myths?:eyes:

[Deep13]

61. I actually talk like that every goddamn day.

I actually don't go out of my way to offend people, but I'm not going to comply with someone else's religious rules either.

[OhioChick]

9. Poor Taste n/t

[madmom]

17. see post #14

[MineralMan]

10. All deities are created by the human mind, and exist only

in that location. They are figments of the imagination, created in man's image of them.

That is all, and represents my opinion on the matter.

[Worship Money]

11. Muhammed was

A bloodthirsty ego-maniac who may have been a schizophrenic or otherwise mentally ill individual. It is also likely that he phoned in most of his "revelations" from God to give him specific authority over his war bands. He was responsible for likely hundreds of thousands deaths during his lifetime and millions directly after it. He was also a sexual predator.

All of this is true. Enjoy.

[a la izquierda]

18. The same can be said...

for most Biblical characters. Just ask native peoples in the New World how good and kind Christians are.

[Worship Money]

19. Where did I say otherwise?

I agree.

In fact, the religions adhered to by the indigenous were very often vile as well. There is a pattern here.

[a la izquierda]

66. The problem is you don't say otherwise.

You single out Islam.

(And I study indigenous people and religion. You want to go there, be my guest.)

[Warren DeMontague]

12. Look, all I said was, "That piece of Halibut was good enough for Jehovah"

[Warren DeMontague]

13. Blasphemy is a victimless crime. Please, keep your invisible imaginary friends to yourself.

If they tell you to do things or seem excessively concerned with your or your neighbors' sex lives, consider anti-psychotic meds.

[hifiguy]

15. +1

"and man created god in his own image..." - Ian Anderson

[Deep13]

77. +1

[tgearfanatic234]

113. +100

[socialshockwave]

16. Atheism Killed 100 Million People and All I got Was this Lousy Forum Post.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_drsACX1RqfU/TTzSvC847LI/AAAAAAAAFgU/cMsUQsUFN88/s1600/Spanish+Communists+Shoot+The+Sacred+Heart+of+Jesus+Statue+in+Madrid.jpg

[Warren DeMontague]

20. Really? It was Atheism that killed those people?

And here, I thought all Atheism was capable of doing was making people fornicate like tree monkeys, while the baby Jesus cries because he was kicked out of public schools. :shrug:

[socialshockwave]

21. State Atheism was the official religion of the Soviet Union, Democratic Kampuchea,

People's Republic of Romania, People's Republic of Korea, and the People's Republic of Poland among others.

Closing of churches, execution of priests, persecution of believers.

[Worship Money]

22. More like State WORSHIP

States that were designed with ALL the trappings of religion but with energy directed towards the Party, the Idea, and the Dear Leader.

Atheism wasn't the killing force.

[socialshockwave]

23. It was through State Atheism that the Communists and others took control.

They punished believers ruthlessly for failing to toe the Party line.

[Warren DeMontague]

25. Nice bullshit meme you've got there. It was totalitarianism that killed those people

not a lack of belief in any specific deity or dieties.

[socialshockwave]

28. Nice try.

"Some actions against Orthodox priests and believers along with execution included torture, being sent to prison camps, labour camps or mental hospitals.<24><25><26><27> Many Orthodox (along with peoples of other faiths) were also subjected to psychological punishment or torture and mind control experimentation in order to force them give up their religious convictions (see Punitive psychiatry in the Soviet Union).<25><26><28>"

" During the first five years of Soviet power, the Bolsheviks executed 28 Russian Orthodox bishops and over 1,200 Russian Orthodox priests. Many others were imprisoned or exiled.<1>"

"In the Soviet Union, in addition to the methodical closing and destruction of churches, the charitable and social work formerly done by ecclesiastical authorities was taken over by the state. As with all private property, Church owned property was confiscated into public use. The few places of worship left to the Church were legally viewed as state property which the government permitted the church to use."

"Protestant Christians in the USSR (Baptists, Pentecostals, Adventists etc.) in the period after the Second world war were compulsively sent to mental hospitals, endured trials and prisons (often for refusal to enter military service). Some were even compulsively deprived of their parent rights.<29>"

" The estimate of 330 clergy and monastics killed by 1921 may have been an underestimate, due to the fact that 579 monasteries/convents had been liquidated during this period and there were widespread mass executions of monks/nuns during these liquidations"

"n 1922, the Solovki Camp of Special Purpose, the first Russian concentration camp and a former Orthodox monastery, was established in the Solovki Islands in the White Sea <1>. Eight metropolitans, twenty archbishops, and forty-seven bishops of the Orthodox Church died there, along with tens of thousands of the laity. Of these, 95,000 were put to death, executed by firing squad."

"In the first five years after the Bolshevik revolution, an English journalist estimated that 28 bishops and 1,215 priests were executed.<59><60> Recently released evidence indicates over 8,000 were killed in 1922 during the conflict over church valuables"

"The Orthodox church suffered terribly in the 1930s, and many of its members were killed or sent to labor camps. In the period between 1927 and 1940, the number of Orthodox Churches in the Russian Republic fell from 29,584 to fewer than 500. 1929 was a watershed year in which Soviet policy brought much new legislation in place that would form the basis for the harsh anti-religious persecution in the following decade."

"During the purges of 1937 and 1938, church documents record that 168,300 Russian Orthodox clergy were arrested. Of these, over 100,000 were shot"

"From 1959-1964, the persecution operated on several key levels:

There was a massive closure of churches <61> (reducing the number from 22,000 to 7,000 by 1965<106>. )

Closures of monasteries and convents as well reinforcement of the 1929 legislation to ban piligrimages

Closure of most of the still existing seminaries and bans on pastoral courses

Banning all services outside of church walls and recording the personal identities of all adults requesting church baptisms, weddings or funerals<107>. Non-fulfillment of these regulations by clergy would lead to disallowance of state registration for them (which meant they could no longer do any pastoral work or liturgy at all, without special state permission).

The deprivation of parental rights for teaching religion to their children, a ban on the presence of children at church services (beginning in 1961 with the Baptists and then extended to the Orthodox in 1963) and the administration of the Eucharist to children over the age of four.

The forced retirement, arrests and prison sentences to clergymen who criticized atheism <108> or the anti-religious campaign, who conducted Christian charity or who in made religion popular by personal example<108>.

It also disallowed the ringing of church bells and services in daytime in some rural settings from May to the end of October under the pretext of field work requirements<108>."

More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians_in_the_Soviet_Union

[Warren DeMontague]

33. I'm not saying that believers weren't persecuted.

Still, Theism's body count wins by many orders of magnitude.

[darkstar3]

43. Communists were responsible for those atrocities, and Communism =/= atheism.

By your logic of blaming atheists for these crimes, the Catholics were responsible for the Holocaust. In fact, if we use your logic and simplify conflicts down to religious motivation and nothing more, the body count for theistic violence skyrockets.

You really don't want to go there. This fallacious (ad hom tu quoque) reasoning turns religion into the most horribly murderous activity one can engage in.

[humblebum]

42. And atheism demands respect? What a joke. Not gonna happen

anytime soon. BTW, A HUGE part of it WAS done in the name of atheism.

[cleanhippie]

48. *yawn*

Get a new act, would ya?

[darkstar3]

49. No.

Not only does "atheism" not constitute some monolithic group, it wouldn't "demand" such a thing even if did. It is the religious who engage in special pleading in order to put their ideas above criticism.

[Warren DeMontague]

54. Yes, the radical idea that there's NOT a giant invisible man in the sky who obsesses about

what you do with your dick... crazy idea, who could possibly 'respect' that?

[LeftishBrit]

122. Atheism, like any belief system does not deserve special 'respect'

One can agree with it, or think it's rubbish.

However, atheist individuals deserve the same respect as religious individuals.

Nobody has got to 'respect atheism' but they should DAMN WELL RESPECT the rights of atheist citizens!

People, as far as I'm concerned, should have the right to hold and discuss any religion they prefer. They can argue with me about the evidence for religion vs atheism, or even try to convert me, all they please. But anyone who treats atheists as less than full citizens of their country (as implied by Bush 1), or as intrinsically enemies of the state, or who seeks to defeat political candidates or parties for being secularist or opposing religiously-imposed moral laws, will thereby have crossed all my lines in the sand.

And those countries that restrict the rights of atheist citizens will almost always also restrict the rights of religious minorities.

[Warren DeMontague]

26. It wasn't "through state Atheism". The Bolsheviks took advantage of post-Czarist Russia's chaos

it was more through a combination of luck and timing that they took control of Russia. Not because they ran with an Atheist Agenda. The Atheism of the Bolsheviks was a side dish, not the main course.

[humblebum]

50. "The Atheism of the Bolsheviks was a side dish" LOL big time

The establishment of state atheism was a major goal of the Bolsheviks.
New Atheism is recycled old atheism - new faces, same tactics.

"The antireligious propaganda was critical in order to demonize active believers and foster a mindset of hostility against them as 'vermin' or 'scum', and it was in some ways similar to the contemporary anti-Semitic propaganda of Nazi Germany. Creating this mindset was critical in order to make the public accept the campaign.<30>

The published anti-religious propaganda was not as conspicuous as it was during the 20s, but this did not bear reflection on the level of actual persecution. The verbal propaganda was increasingly relegated to public organizations, such as party branches, the Komsomol, the Young Pioneers, the League of the Militant Godless, Museums of Scientific Atheism, Workers' Evening Universities of Atheism under the auspices of Trade Unions, and others.<31>

All forms of behavior and policies of the Churches were treated in the official propaganda as insincere and aiming to overthrow Communism (including both believers that were pro-soviet and anti-soviet). Even acts of loyalty by religious leaders to the system were considered to be insincere attempts to curry favor in order to retain their influence over the believers and protect religion from its final liquidation as the sworn enemy of the workers.

Religious behavior was presented in the official propaganda as being linked to psychological disorders and even criminal behavior. Textbooks for schoolchildren tried to evoke contempt for believers; pilgrims were depicted as morons, repulsive-looking alcoholics, syphilitics, plain cheaters and money-grubbing clergy.<32> Believers were treated as harmful parasites that spread ignorance, filth and disease, and which needed to be liquidated.

The press was filled with slogans like "let us deal a crushing blow to religion!" or "we must achieve liquidation of the Church and complete liquidation of religious superstitions!".<29> Religious belief was presented as superstitious and backward.<11> It often printed pictures of former churches that had been demolished or turned into other uses.

The official press instructed people to sacrifice their family ties for the sake of atheism, and that they should not make compromises with family religious tradition for the sake of family unity or loving pity for their relatives.

The antireligious propaganda attempted to show a relationship between religious belief and immoral or criminal behavior. This included a revision of Russian history, in which religious figures were condemned. Fr Gapon, the leader of the Bloody Sunday March in January 1905 who was praised by Lenin, was turned into a Japanese spy, and Patriarch Tikhon was alleged to have been affiliated with British capitalists."<33>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USSR_Anti-Religious_Campaign_(1928%E2%80%931941)#Education

[darkstar3]

51. Wiki? Really?

Oh, and none of that answers the fact that the Communists were interested in crushing religion because they wanted their own Party to be the only recognized power structure. You simply refuse to acknowledge the fact that these actions were far more about power than religion.

[backscatter712]

68. The state was the religion.

Stalin suppressed religion because he wanted everyone worshiping him.

The Soviet Union may have used the term atheism, but it wasn't atheism - it was replacing Chirstianity, Judaism, etc. with Stalinism. All praise to the state and the Dear Leader!

[LeftishBrit]

120. +1

Stalinism was in many ways a version of a very old religion: Emperor Worship.

[Warren DeMontague]

55. Atheism is simply the lack of belief in a God or Gods.

That's what Atheism is. Perhaps English isn't your primary language?

[humblebum]

75. Organized Atheism became a religion then - a religion without a god, and

the same has happened today. Organized atheism is a religion without a god.

LOOK! It even has its own holidays. Did you forget your Blasphemy Day cards?

[Warren DeMontague]

81. People only do things on certain days for religious reasons? What religion is Halloween promoting?

How about the 4th of July? Arbor Day?

Blasphemy day (which this "organized, new" Atheist had never heard of until this thread- THANKS!) functions as a reminder that despite centuries of heretic burnings, widespread infidel-killing, censorship and a never-ending stream of whiny tantrums and special pleading for the goofiest of fucking ideas ("It's bigoted to make fun of the idea that the Earth is only 4,000 years old- STOP PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS!!!")....

...despite all that, and out of no small measure of respect to it on the part of the framers of the Constitution, we have the First Amendment in this country, so Thank Eris I can say that God Is Just Pretend, A figment of your imagination, and if "he" really cares whether people are married before they fuck, he needs to get a life.

He has GREAT taste in headgear, though. Really.

[Deep13]

74. Contradiction in terms. Atheism is a lack of religion...

...which is why atheism didn't do anything. The Stalin card has been discredited often on this board, but I guess religious apologists don't want to give up their seemingly best weapon. Were the mass murders of the 20th century really caused by people being reasonable, rational and demanding evidence before believing something? No, it was acceptance of radical ideology including the communist insistence on atheism as a matter of faith. Besides--writing this for like the 20th time--the only reason Marx was so down on religion was because religion had been used to prop-up tyrants and oppress the legitimate concerns of working people for centuries. You can't say religion is blameless for the damage caused by a reaction to religion.

[humblebum]

80. The stated objective for the inculcation of Scientific Atheism

into schools, and in fact all institutions in society, was to interject a solely material reason and logic, at the exclusion of anything thing related to religion. It was hardly the Stalin card alone. It was the Marx, Lenin, Trotsky, etc. card, too.

[Warren DeMontague]

82. So- you object to the teaching of science in public schools?

Do you object to the principles of logic, basic causality, and proving hypotheses with actual evidence?

Remind me not to let you get the fuck ANYWHERE near the education of my kids. Thanks.

[humblebum]

85. And where exactly did I say that?

Hint: I am in education. Scientific Atheism was anything but your standard science curriculum.

[Warren DeMontague]

86. You object to, and I quote, "material reason and logic"

Given your post above, if you're in PUBLIC education, and your personal views are carrying over into the professional space, you should be fired.

[humblebum]

88. Well at least you admit you quoted me wrong and as far as

"your personal views are carrying over into the professional space" - that includes teaching that diety cannot possibly exist. That was the essence of Scientific Atheism. Huge difference.

[darkstar3]

90. It is incredibly dishonest to edit your post and then claim a misquote.

[humblebum]

95. And where exactly did that occur? nt

[darkstar3]

99. I really hope

that your alleged position in education has nothing to do with language arts...

[Warren DeMontague]

100. No, I didn't. Now, show me the specific curriculum where anyone is "teaching that

diety cannot possibly exist"

I'm using quotes with your own words so you can't possibly play the sorts of goofy games you're obviously trying to pull.

So, okay. This "Scientific Atheism" educational movement that you have just made up- where is the specific place in which it has been introduced into public schools in the US, and furthermore, where is the SPECIFIC point in curriculum where it has been taught that "deity cannot possibly exist".

Please, I know it may not be how you're used to doing things, but BACK UP YOUR ASSERTION WITH EVIDENCE. Okay?

[humblebum]

132. And where did I ever say that Scientific Atheism has ever been

taught in the US educational system?

[Warren DeMontague]

134. Good. So now you acknowledge that whatever the hell they were doing in the USSR

and whatever they were calling it, it had and has nothing to do with the millions of us Americans who don't believe in any God or Gods.

And it has nothing to do with the (fully concordant with the Establishment Clause) lack of religious instruction in US Public schools AND the teaching of scientific facts, such as the evolutionary history of life on Earth.

Glad we're clear.

[humblebum]

137. It's fun just sitting back and watching you have a conversation with yourself.

All I ever implied is that it is just as illegal to push an atheist agenda in a classroom as it is a religious one. You have complicated matters so much that you have confused yourself. I'm not certain, but I think you argued with yourself and lost.

[Warren DeMontague]

138. Okay. Define, with specifics, what would constitute an "Atheist agenda in a classroom"

If teachers were telling kids not to believe in a God or Gods, that would be a violation of the Establishment Clause. Just as if they were preaching to them about Jesus.

However, teaching science- along with "material reason and logic"- is NOT a violation of the Establishment Clause, in fact hampering science in any way shape or form because it might conflict with someone's religious belief (be that, say, that the Earth is 4,000 years old, or man was 'created' in his present form) WOULD be a violation of the Est. Clause.



So. If you're not just blindly blustering around 'implying' shit that isn't at all relevant to public education in the United States in 2011, give me a specific example of this Atheist Agenda you fear might be 'pushed' in a classroom.

[humblebum]

139. Nowhere did I claim that

"material reason and logic"- is a violation of the Establishment Clause. However, if a science teacher said that there could not have possibly been "a first cause" - then you have a problem. The statement is purely subjective, opinionated, and unprovable.

[Warren DeMontague]

146. I agree, but I don't know why a science teacher would make that sort of a statement.

It belongs in the realm of metaphysics or logic, not science. Beyond that, any scientist worth his or her salt would know that it's pretty damn tough to prove a negative like that.

[humblebum]

133. Well. If you think the phrase Scientific Atheism was just made up -

"Scientific Atheism also promoted the idea that bringing up your kids in the Christian tradition was a form of child abuse. Inevitably, many children of militant Christians were taken into care by the State, to be brought up in vast orphanages."

In fact, there was even a museum memorializing Scientific Atheism.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/norfolkodyssey/376765112/

[darkstar3]

91. I second that.

Of course, I think we're dealing with a persona that doesn't exist outside of the computer.

[Warren DeMontague]

111. Reminds me of the argument I had with a "dyslexic" whose "dyslexia" magically disappeared

when "he" needed to write a lengthy diatribe about the evidence for a historical Jesus. This was just a few weeks ago, here. I confronted "him" and asked "him" about it, relevant particularly since "he" had used "his" "dyslexia" as an excuse for some of the logically incoherent stuff "he" had written earlier.

Turns out "he" is apparently a bunch of internet prayer warriors, and when the discussion gets too fact-based or detail oriented, the front line person calls for backup.

I guess some folks have a LOT of free time on their hands. :shrug: Nevertheless, I'm old fashioned when it comes to these bullshit online games or phony personas or sock puppets or whatever. I'm one guy, my opinions are my own. There is no team of foul-mouthed Atheists all collaborating to come up with the stuff I post here. :rofl:

[darkstar3]

117. I think I remember that, though I didn't remember how it turned out.

Thanks for the reminder. :)

[Warren DeMontague]

87. You keep editing your post. So, okay. Tell me the SPECIFIC difference between

"scientific atheism" and "your standard science curriculum".

Also tell me how "anything religious" should be fit INTO, again, "your standard science curriculum".

Please. Specific examples, without the ad hominem bullshit about Trotsky. Let's hear what, precisely, you're talking about.

[humblebum]

89. My posts are edited often, usually because I have a disability with my hands

and I input using a voice recognition app which doesn't always print out correctly. So you will see a lot of that from me. However, that is not always the case, but usually.

[Warren DeMontague]

102. And hence, I responded to the post twice

to make sure you caught the 2nd one.

[cleanhippie]

124. Indeed, you do...

[Warren DeMontague]

129. Oh my God.

If I ever meet you, I'm buying you the drink of your choice. I can't thank you enough for that smiley.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. Atheists pick on Christians every day. Just like the roving gay gangs that beat up straight folks.

It's a REAL problem.

[Deep13]

76. Bullshit.

The weak to not pick on the strong. The problem is that you are uncomfortable with people publicly challenging your basic assumptions. You are responsible for that. Atheists have no duty to shut up.

[Name removed]

78. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

84. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Warren DeMontague]

83. I think you misunderstood my post.

I left out the :sarcasm: smiley b/c I thought it was obvious. Guess not. Sorry.

[LeftishBrit]

119. I think Warren's post was sarcasm.

[hifiguy]

36. You are correct, sir.

And that makes a huge difference.

[madmom]

31. But all those killed in the name of god don't count right?

[Worship Money]

32. There's the key phrase

"In the name of god". People aren't killed in the name of atheism. Atheism is not a rival creed, it is a non-entity. So when people say that atheism kills _____ million people, they're really saying that non-belief in a deity will cause or make you more likely to be a murderer. Lovely.

The real distinction should be between rational and non-rational thinking and discourse.

(Just to make my intent clear, I very much agree with you. Just felt that needed to be added)

[trotsky]

39. Stalin killed atheists too.

His political rivals, etc.

So if he was killing in the name of atheism, why did he kill atheists?

[darkstar3]

44. No one ever answers that question...

[backscatter712]

69. Because they weren't worshiping him!

[humblebum]

92. And whoever said that he ALWAYS killed in the name of atheism,?

but there is plenty of proof that it did indeed happen on a number of occasions.

[LeftishBrit]

108. 'On a number of occasions' - but hardly on the MILLIONS of occasions that are here blamed on atheism

It is true that atheism, just like other belief systems, is not a talisman against evil.

But the existence of Stalin does not mean that all atheism is bad, just as the existence of Hitler or the Inquisition does not mean that all of Christianity is bad, and the existence of Al Quaeda does not mean that all of Islam is bad.

Tyranny, dictatorship and violence are bad, whatever the belief system of the people practicing it.

[Deep13]

73. No, revolutionary communism did that...

...and can you cite some evidence that supports the 100 million? I suspect you are including Russian deaths during W.W.2 which properly belong on Hitler's butcher's bill. I'm skeptical of of the 100M number because Hitler didn't kill that many. He and the rest of the Nazis murdered about 20M unarmed people, plus caused millions of war casualties.

Skeptical, rationalist atheists have no such plans because we do not believe in radical ideology anymore than we believe in god. Besides, saying "atheism" did such and such reifies a pretty generalized concept belonging to a pretty diverse and not well organized group. Besides, we don't have the resources to affect the modest changes we want, let alone mass murder.

[LeftishBrit]

103. No it didn't. Atheist dictators did.

And for the most part in the name of communism not atheism.

You do realize that many of the victims were also atheists?

Dictators and tyrants are very nasty people, whether Christian, Muslim or atheist.

I do not consider that all the victims of Christian dictators were 'killed by Christianity'; neither were most of the victims of the likes of Stalin and Mao 'killed by atheism'.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

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[sakabatou]

30. Fuck god!

[Warren DeMontague]

148. I dunno

what's she wearing?

[Warren DeMontague]

35. ***

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH7I6ibA-SM

[Kurovski]

38. God better get busy blessing america... a total fuck-up in that department.

Loser.

[cleanhippie]

40. Jesus said to Peter, "Come forth and I will give you eternal glory;" but Peter came fifth and won a

toaster.

[Kurovski]

53. So Jesus was up there on the cross, and Peter was down there with ma Mary and the rest...

So The Christ mumbles something, and Peter says "What Lord?"

"Peter...draw near." saith the Lord. Peter does so.

Christ is weary, and with drawn breath again calls, "Peter."

A solemn Peter intones "Yes Jesus I hear you...what is thy wish?"

"Peter...", Christ softly gasps as he motions with his head tilted toward the east.

"Yes, Yes Jesus! Speak unto me!"

"Peter...I can see your house from here!"

[humblebum]

41. Kinda like the old Komsolmol christmases and easters in the

good old USSR. How I miss those blaphemist days. Sigh.

[darkstar3]

45. Do you remember what happened here last week?

Do you remember invoking the Holocaust and insulting a Jew who posts here? You're doing the same thing here with Stalinist Russia. If there were anyone alive here who had survived through that tragic time, they'd be insulted at your incredible use of hyperbole. I personally know someone who would happily punch you in the nose Buzz Aldrin style if you compared the US today with Stalinist Russia in his presenece, because his parents were actually there.

I know you don't care, but I thought you should know: This kind of shit dishonors the dead.

[humblebum]

63. And I know several who very much see the similarities and

are very open about the fact, because they DID live through it. And who "compared the US today with Stalinist Russia?" I cannot seem to find such a statement. So you are right I don't care when the truth is so twisted.

[laconicsax]

64. *cough*

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x306033#306113

Among others

[cleanhippie]

47. There it is, that old broken record.

[LeftishBrit]

143. Yes, because some individuals being flippant about religion...

is EXACTLY the same thing as a government enforcing atheism.

[darkstar3]

46. I deny the existence of the Holy Spirit,

and the God of the Bible is little more than a petulant child.

:evilgrin:

[laconicsax]

52. The ultimate blasphemy!

:rofl:

[Kurovski]

57. It's so sad...that on the one day we could all come together...

and share a blaphemy...any blasphemy--large or small... and all we can do is bicker. :cry:

End the war on blasphemy RIGHT FUCKING NOW!

Neptune is a bedwetter!!!

[laconicsax]

58. Neptune's bed is naturally wet, now you take that back RIGHT NOW!!!!

:grr:

[Kurovski]

59. Not by the standards and natural law of Bikini Bottom!!!

Spongebob hater!! You have a HOLY WAR now, buster!

:nuke:

[Deep13]

60. Jesus Christ, I can't believe I missed it! nt

[Kurovski]

65. When will you get your god-damned shit together?

Honestly.

[Deep13]

67. Buddha be damned, I'm working on it.

Shit, my blaspheme repertoire is pretty limited.

[Kurovski]

71. That biatch Eris is messin' with your day-planner.

[backscatter712]

70. Delicious Zombie Jesus, how could I have missed this?

[Kurovski]

72. The Flying Spaghetti Monster gets sauced.

Stumbling, fall-down drunk. Him and effed up Bacchus need a Dr. Drew episode.

Assholes

[Odin2005]

79. Old Zen saying "if you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him".

:evilgrin:

[humblebum]

98. Just don't try to blaspheme atheism. NT

[darkstar3]

104. And how would you do that?

Seriously, that's ridiculous.

[humblebum]

106. Since it is a "religion" without a god, its quite easily done. nt

[darkstar3]

109. It is not, but that's beside the point, since blasphemy is about gods.

You just proved that your post was ridiculous.

[cleanhippie]

126. You really do just make shit up as you go along, don't you?

How can you be so dishonest and claim to be a follower of jesus' teachings?

[humblebum]

131. Um.

Blasphemy:

Colloquial usage

Blasphemy has been used to mean "irreverence" in a non-religious context. Sir Francis Bacon uses "blasphemy" in this way in Advancement of Learning, where he speaks of "blasphemy against teaching".

"Blasphemy" may be used as a substitute for "profanity" or "cursing" as it is used in this sentence: "With much hammering and blasphemy, the locomotive's replacement spring was finally fitted."

In contemporary language, the notion of blasphemy is often used hyperbolically. This usage has garnered some interest among linguists recently, and the word 'blasphemy' is a common case used for illustrative purposes.<38><39>

[Warren DeMontague]

135. Only the cunning linguists.

[darkstar3]

136. Wikipedia sucks. Try the dictionary.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blasphemy

[cleanhippie]

140. Do you think that by convincing yourself, you convince jesus too?

Or will jesus see right through it?

[Warren DeMontague]

118. BUT GOOD GOD, BOB, WHAT IS UP WITH THE DUCK???????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH7I6ibA-SM

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

144. Or what?

[socialshockwave]

123. Psalm 14:1

"the fool says in his heart ‘There is no God’"

[cleanhippie]

127. P. T. Barnum 1:1

"There's a sucker born every minute"

[Warren DeMontague]

130. Yeah, and you'd really expect THE BIBLE to say different?

Here's a clue-pon- In, for instance, the OxyClean Infomercials, they always say that OxyClean is an amazing cleaning product. They NEVER say "Oxyclean sucks".

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

142. Psalm 14:1 translated into modern language

"Whoever's not in our awesome club is a poopyhead!"

[LeftishBrit]

145. Which at least shows that there have been atheists for thousands of years

And religious believers have always considered atheists as fools, which isn't surprising.

In any case, I don't mind if some people think I'm a fool for what I do or don't believe, so long as they don't think I'm an inferior citizen or worthy of legal punishment or have no right to express my beliefs; or attempt to move my country or the world at large to the political Right in the name of religion; and so long as government does not attempt to impose a religion, or any belief system, by law or force.

[Centrist2011]

128. Sounds familiar…

I think Pat Condell won that contest. I'm agnostic, and I believe in God and the afterlife. But anyone who thinks that God, an all-powerful being, has a literal "son" needs to see a psychologist. Jesus Christ- "son of God" my ass.