Comments on: "Were You There?" http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:36:26 +0000 By: Samuel Skinner http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34585 Samuel Skinner Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:01:38 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34585 I know. I tried to sign on and change it, but they set it in stone. The site isn't a wiki! They lied! I know. I tried to sign on and change it, but they set it in stone. The site isn't a wiki! They lied!

]]> By: Marey Cohen http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34567 Marey Cohen Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:25:14 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34567 Read part of the conservapedia article. It left a bad taste in my mouth. It doesn't really address the claim of no god but considers atheists as arrogant and having bad relationships with their fathers. also the tactic of these famous persons used to be atheists but they're now theists (ex Anthony Flew converted because of 'intelligent design'). They can't see their own arrogance. How dare we question them! Read part of the conservapedia article. It left a bad taste in my mouth. It doesn't really address the claim of no god but considers atheists as arrogant and having bad relationships with their fathers. also the tactic of these famous persons used to be atheists but they're now theists (ex Anthony Flew converted because of 'intelligent design'). They can't see their own arrogance. How dare we question them!

]]> By: David Beber http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34560 David Beber Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:29:18 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34560 Has anyone read the Conservapedia article on atheism which discusses the issues of atheism/creationism/evolution/science? I am referring to this article: http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism Has anyone read the Conservapedia article on atheism which discusses the issues of atheism/creationism/evolution/science? I am referring to this article: http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism

]]> By: Steve Bowen http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34558 Steve Bowen Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:54:43 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34558 This BBC radio 4 <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/religion/pip/zb1ad/" rel="nofollow">documentary</a> is another sad example of the way fundies will indoctrinate and exploite their kids. Scary! This BBC radio 4 documentary is another sad example of the way fundies will indoctrinate and exploite their kids. Scary!

]]> By: goyo http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34550 goyo Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:52:12 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34550 KShep: You're right. Two years ago, I was teaching high school in a predominately upper-middle class school district. There was, and still is, a high percentage of christian kids attending, (morning prayer breakfast/worship service, rally 'round the pole events, witnessing, etc...), and I was pleasantly surprised to see an anti-christian movement among many of the youth. It was everything from satanists, paganists, and out-right atheists. I was popular, as I had told them I was a free-thinker when they had asked questions about me. Most young people are smart and curious, especially now with the technology they have access to, and they are realizing that science just doesn't match up with the things they are being told in church. KShep: You're right. Two years ago, I was teaching high school in a predominately upper-middle class school district. There was, and still is, a high percentage of christian kids attending, (morning prayer breakfast/worship service, rally 'round the pole events, witnessing, etc...), and I was pleasantly surprised to see an anti-christian movement among many of the youth. It was everything from satanists, paganists, and out-right atheists. I was popular, as I had told them I was a free-thinker when they had asked questions about me.
Most young people are smart and curious, especially now with the technology they have access to, and they are realizing that science just doesn't match up with the things they are being told in church.

]]> By: KShep http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34543 KShep Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:03:19 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34543 It's kind of odd, to say the least, to see a religious nut teach basic critical thinking skills but here it is in all it's glory. Steve: <blockquote>We can only hope any teacher worth the title would answer that question along the lines of "No, but I did'nt have to be because...".</blockquote> You are correct here, and with that in mind, I think there is a strong possibility that this tactic will eventually backfire on Ham and all his thoughtless followers. He's teaching these kids how to think critically, after all, and one day the kids just might decide to use those critical thinking skills. It seems better than just teaching kids to be mindless followers, like their parents already are. It's kind of odd, to say the least, to see a religious nut teach basic critical thinking skills but here it is in all it's glory.

Steve:

We can only hope any teacher worth the title would answer that question along the lines of "No, but I did'nt have to be because...".

You are correct here, and with that in mind, I think there is a strong possibility that this tactic will eventually backfire on Ham and all his thoughtless followers. He's teaching these kids how to think critically, after all, and one day the kids just might decide to use those critical thinking skills.

It seems better than just teaching kids to be mindless followers, like their parents already are.

]]> By: 2-D Man http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34540 2-D Man Sat, 19 Apr 2008 06:08:58 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34540 Again, I am reminded of a song. I should have noticed this earlier. Again it is Streetlight Manifesto, this time with their song "Down, Down, Down to Mephisto's Café". The lyric goes: "Way back when the prophecies began, Do you think they really had a master plan - Or were they merely writing fable stories?" Again, I am reminded of a song. I should have noticed this earlier. Again it is Streetlight Manifesto, this time with their song "Down, Down, Down to Mephisto's Café". The lyric goes:

"Way back when the prophecies began,
Do you think they really had a master plan -
Or were they merely writing fable stories?"

]]> By: Thumpalumpacus http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34412 Thumpalumpacus Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:37:32 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34412 The idealist in me is outraged over the manipulation of these children; the cynic in me cheers this on, for it gives my son a priceless leg-up. The idealist in me is outraged over the manipulation of these children; the cynic in me cheers this on, for it gives my son a priceless leg-up.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34407 Jeremy Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:50:40 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34407 There is a kind of seduction in the pronouncements of prophets. I desire to know the truth about the origins of our galaxy as much as anyone, so the prophets say, "The minds of secular man can only speculate about the truth, but I know the truth because I receive it directly from god(s)." In effect, Ken Ham is manipulating the human desire to know the truth. The appeal of "divinely revealed truth" as opposed to the "tentative" truth of scientists is difficult for people to turn away from. My heart breaks for those children being indoctrinated into this, for I was one of them. On the bright side, however, that makes me living proof that all is not lost for the indoctrinated. There is a kind of seduction in the pronouncements of prophets. I desire to know the truth about the origins of our galaxy as much as anyone, so the prophets say, "The minds of secular man can only speculate about the truth, but I know the truth because I receive it directly from god(s)."

In effect, Ken Ham is manipulating the human desire to know the truth. The appeal of "divinely revealed truth" as opposed to the "tentative" truth of scientists is difficult for people to turn away from. My heart breaks for those children being indoctrinated into this, for I was one of them. On the bright side, however, that makes me living proof that all is not lost for the indoctrinated.

]]> By: LindaJoy http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34390 LindaJoy Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:08:44 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/04/were-you-there.html#comment-34390 Another way to counter Ham's arguments is to point out that many pagan civilizations surrounding the Jews of the Old Testament had creation stories and flood stories exactly like those he touts long before the Jews picked them up. The Egyptians and the Babylonians, etc. etc. So when he is touting these stories as absolute truth, he is evangelizing for pagans! I have been reading Will Durant's History of Civilization, and have been discovering that the all of the major themes of Christianity, from the Garden to the Resurrection have all been borrowed. There is nothing original about Christianity at all! Another way to counter Ham's arguments is to point out that many pagan civilizations surrounding the Jews of the Old Testament had creation stories and flood stories exactly like those he touts long before the Jews picked them up. The Egyptians and the Babylonians, etc. etc. So when he is touting these stories as absolute truth, he is evangelizing for pagans! I have been reading Will Durant's History of Civilization, and have been discovering that the all of the major themes of Christianity, from the Garden to the Resurrection have all been borrowed. There is nothing original about Christianity at all!

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