Comments on: Theocracy Watch VI: Thoughts in Captivity http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Wed, 7 Jan 2009 07:47:27 +0000 By: Catholic Schools http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-24742 Catholic Schools Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:38:51 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-24742 Mac, I think some people are not given a choice about whelther they believe in God. It's drilled into them from a young age. I think that is why there was so many non practicing catholics in the world. Mac, I think some people are not given a choice about whelther they believe in God. It's drilled into them from a young age. I think that is why there was so many non practicing catholics in the world.

]]> By: Jeromy http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10391 Jeromy Wed, 29 Nov 2006 21:26:51 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10391 Mac: If you are having questions, all the answers are right there in your bible. The easiest way to become an atheist is to be raised catholic. Catholic schools not only urge students to read the bible, they actually force them. Through forced, but very careful study of the bible, I was able to conclude at a fairly young age that the whole thing is ridiculous. This is not a reflection on my education, which was very good, or a reflection of my attitude, which has always been a little crazy. Say what you will, a catholic education is a good education. A bit painful. But very, very good. Read your bible. All the way through. Twice. <!-- Links: 0 Link text: 0 Total: 521 Ratio: 0 --> Mac: If you are having questions, all the answers are right there in your bible. The easiest way to become an atheist is to be raised catholic. Catholic schools not only urge students to read the bible, they actually force them. Through forced, but very careful study of the bible, I was able to conclude at a fairly young age that the whole thing is ridiculous. This is not a reflection on my education, which was very good, or a reflection of my attitude, which has always been a little crazy. Say what you will, a catholic education is a good education. A bit painful. But very, very good. Read your bible. All the way through. Twice.

]]> By: Jeff T. http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10390 Jeff T. Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:41:16 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10390 I just read a couple of news articles concerning the Pope in Turkey and Al Sadr in Iraq. If those 2 are the representatives of a god---I would rather puke than pray. If those 2 told me that the earth revolved around the sun, I would seriously begin to question my telescope. If the ones professing god are made in his image, then we are screwed. Therefore, disbelief is the only logical conclusion---unless you give room for pity and a profound sadness. <!-- Links: 0 Link text: 0 Total: 372 Ratio: 0 --> I just read a couple of news articles concerning the Pope in Turkey and Al Sadr in Iraq. If those 2 are the representatives of a god---I would rather puke than pray. If those 2 told me that the earth revolved around the sun, I would seriously begin to question my telescope. If the ones professing god are made in his image, then we are screwed.
Therefore, disbelief is the only logical conclusion---unless you give room for pity and a profound sadness.

]]> By: andrea http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10384 andrea Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:54:30 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10384 IMO, believing in God requires an abandonment of responsbility which isn't good. You become willing to blindly accept the bad because it's "God's Will" so you don't do anything to change it. Just like the acceptance of evil people in power. The Bible says that God puts every person into power, no exceptions on the evil ones, and you have to obey them to be obedient to God. IMO, believing in God requires an abandonment of responsbility which isn't good. You become willing to blindly accept the bad because it's "God's Will" so you don't do anything to change it. Just like the acceptance of evil people in power. The Bible says that God puts every person into power, no exceptions on the evil ones, and you have to obey them to be obedient to God.

]]> By: Alex Weaver http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10383 Alex Weaver Wed, 29 Nov 2006 11:09:30 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10383 I should add, pending a longer comment, that in philosophy and logic the burden of proof is inherently on the affirmative, and every claim defaults to false until established as true. It's the principle at work when the defense in a trial doesn't have to prove that the defendant didn't commit the crime of which they stand accused; rather, the prosecution must prove that they did commit it. Similarly, we don't have to prove that God's existence is impossible in order for nonbelief to be justified; we merely need to demonstrate that those claiming he does exist have not made a convincing case. So far, they haven't. I should add, pending a longer comment, that in philosophy and logic the burden of proof is inherently on the affirmative, and every claim defaults to false until established as true. It's the principle at work when the defense in a trial doesn't have to prove that the defendant didn't commit the crime of which they stand accused; rather, the prosecution must prove that they did commit it. Similarly, we don't have to prove that God's existence is impossible in order for nonbelief to be justified; we merely need to demonstrate that those claiming he does exist have not made a convincing case. So far, they haven't.

]]> By: Infophile http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10381 Infophile Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:34:47 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10381 <blockquote>Hey, I am a christian but i am starting to have questions. can you explain in plain simple terms what you think is wrong with believing in god?</blockquote> In short, I think it's wrong to believe in a god because there's no evidence for the existence of a god, and in light of this, the absense of gods is a much more plausible explanation. If you want a more detailed explanation of why there's no evidence for a god, Ebonmuse's essay, "One More Burning Bush," linked above, is a good start. And, in anticipated reply to the complaint that absense of evidence isn't evidence of absense: (taken from a post in my blog) <blockquote>That's often true, but there is an important exceptional case: when it can be put into a Modus Tollens form. In this case, here's what the argument looks like: If God exists as you describe him (A), and if we perform experiment B, we would get result C. (If A and B, then C.) We performed experiment B, and didn't get result C. (B and not C) Not C implies not both A and B. Since B is true, A must false. No evidence was found for God's existence, so this serves as evidence against it.</blockquote>

Hey, I am a christian but i am starting to have questions.
can you explain in plain simple terms what you think is wrong with believing in god?

In short, I think it's wrong to believe in a god because there's no evidence for the existence of a god, and in light of this, the absense of gods is a much more plausible explanation. If you want a more detailed explanation of why there's no evidence for a god, Ebonmuse's essay, "One More Burning Bush," linked above, is a good start.

And, in anticipated reply to the complaint that absense of evidence isn't evidence of absense: (taken from a post in my blog)

That's often true, but there is an important exceptional case: when it can be put into a Modus Tollens form. In this case, here's what the argument looks like:

If God exists as you describe him (A), and if we perform experiment B, we would get result C. (If A and B, then C.)

We performed experiment B, and didn't get result C. (B and not C)

Not C implies not both A and B. Since B is true, A must false. No evidence was found for God's existence, so this serves as evidence against it.

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10374 Ebonmuse Wed, 29 Nov 2006 01:46:58 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10374 Hello Mac, Welcome! There's nothing wrong with asking questions. I hope I can help you find some answers you consider satisfactory, whatever those answers may be. I'm afraid I couldn't do justice to the reasons why I'm an atheist in a single comment. However, it just so happens I have another site, <a href="http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/" rel="nofollow">Ebon Musings</a>, devoted to that very topic. I recommend any of the Foundational Essays, especially "<a href="http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/allpossibleworlds.html" rel="nofollow">All Possible Worlds</a>", "<a href="http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/burningbush.html" rel="nofollow">One More Burning Bush</a>", and "<a href="http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/lifeofwonder.html" rel="nofollow">Life of Wonder</a>". If you have any more specific questions, I'd be glad to address them, and I'm sure plenty of the commenters here will chime in as well. Hello Mac,

Welcome! There's nothing wrong with asking questions. I hope I can help you find some answers you consider satisfactory, whatever those answers may be.

I'm afraid I couldn't do justice to the reasons why I'm an atheist in a single comment. However, it just so happens I have another site, Ebon Musings, devoted to that very topic. I recommend any of the Foundational Essays, especially "All Possible Worlds", "One More Burning Bush", and "Life of Wonder". If you have any more specific questions, I'd be glad to address them, and I'm sure plenty of the commenters here will chime in as well.

]]> By: mac http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10373 mac Wed, 29 Nov 2006 01:33:47 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10373 Hey, I am a christian but i am starting to have questions. can you explain in plain simple terms what you think is wrong with believing in god? <!-- Links: 0 Link text: 0 Total: 116 Ratio: 0 --> Hey, I am a christian but i am starting to have questions.
can you explain in plain simple terms what you think is wrong with believing in god?

]]> By: andrea http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10363 andrea Tue, 28 Nov 2006 20:34:37 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10363 I find it amazingly pathetic that Christianity (because I think I'm pretty safe in that no other religion is trying this crap) has to hold people hostage and bribe people to mouth its nonsense, just like the chaplain who forced soldiers in Iraq to "convert" to get a moment in his "baptismal pool" when water was rationed everywhere else. The whole thing that ""Can we resist God-given authority and still have a good conscience?" (no), and "Must we continue to respect an evil ruler as a minister of God?" (yes)." is such a resounding affirmation that at least some Christians evidently think is just peachy to obey people like Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, the instigators of the "Cultural Revolution" in China, etc. Just sick. But hey, it says it in the Bible, so they gotta go with it. Poor fools. I find it amazingly pathetic that Christianity (because I think I'm pretty safe in that no other religion is trying this crap) has to hold people hostage and bribe people to mouth its nonsense, just like the chaplain who forced soldiers in Iraq to "convert" to get a moment in his "baptismal pool" when water was rationed everywhere else.

The whole thing that ""Can we resist God-given authority and still have a good conscience?" (no), and "Must we continue to respect an evil ruler as a minister of God?" (yes)." is such a resounding affirmation that at least some Christians evidently think is just peachy to obey people like Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, the instigators of the "Cultural Revolution" in China, etc. Just sick. But hey, it says it in the Bible, so they gotta go with it. Poor fools.

]]> By: Jeromy http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10361 Jeromy Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:05:58 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/11/theocracy-watch-vi.html#comment-10361 Very nice post. Good graphics, too! While I normally prefer the woman on top, the depiction in your graphic will serve just as well as a change. That perverted little diatribe done.... There are other people doing good in the name of atheism. In this video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4427973382931109727&q=door+to+door+atheists&hl=en ...the nice man makes the evangelical atheist proud. Sorry, no real comment, I just wanted to share the video. Promise I'll be more serious in the future ; ) <!-- Links: 0 Link text: 0 Total: 431 Ratio: 0 --> Very nice post. Good graphics, too! While I normally prefer the woman on top, the depiction in your graphic will serve just as well as a change. That perverted little diatribe done....

There are other people doing good in the name of atheism. In this video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4427973382931109727&q=door+to+door+atheists&hl=en

...the nice man makes the evangelical atheist proud. Sorry, no real comment, I just wanted to share the video. Promise I'll be more serious in the future ; )

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