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Atheism

Indeed, quoting Monty Python is the last resort of the humourless. Or first?
 
I know, I know, I admit I've done it myself.
It's hard to avoid random quoting from Python.
Aaargh!
 
It's hard to avoid it your entire life if you're English and in the right age bracket, but there are limits.

Edit: and the same applies here to a lesser extent (clip relevant to atheism)

 
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Analis said:
the gain of the mitochondria is not the most dramatic problem when it comes to it. It is well understood as the result of an endosymbiosis. Which appears as an extraordinary feat, but not unique, the chloroplasts evolved in the same way : as a whole, the evolution of a whole complex nucleus with its numerous realizations appears even much more astounding
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It is all astounding Analis, surely, the absorption of organelles - bacteria - into a cell which together, produced something greater than the two parts, which then led on to something as mind blowing as you or I.


In my mind, you can teach me the mechanics of it all, but it will still stand alone as an amazing singularity that, if it relied on chance, must be the greatest coincidence of them all.
 
As Analis has pointed out, it has happened at least twice, since chloroplasts are also endosymbiotes - so this sort of event is not singular at all. In fact endosymbiosis may have occurred several times in the past, but only these two examples have survived to the present day.
 
ramonmercado said:
#NSFW

MAL Antithéiste ‏@bara_mal 8m8 minutes ago
French authorities want to ban our #ANTITHEIST movie. So download it quickly! https://vimeo.com/139073884 #FuckReligion
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Just in case anyone's tempted, it's definitely NSFW. Really. And it probably won't be easy to explain if your other half happens to glance over to see what you're watching.

"Honest darling, I'm not watching some weird scatalogical art porn, it's just a visual representation of how fucked up religions are."

Plus, what's with all the armpit licking?
 
It's in French.

I'm not sure why sex and shit feature so highly in an antitheist film.

But...oh dear, I suspect the Muslim world will get all angry about this film now...
 
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Mythopoeika said:
It's in French.

I'm not sure why sex and shit feature so highly in an antitheist film.

But...oh dear, I suspect the Muslim world will get all angry about this film now...
Click to expand...

But it also attacks Christianity and Judaism. Some of those will be offended but won't form angry mobs.

Yes, these are extreme Anti-Theists.
 
Stephen Fry interview where actor branded God 'evil' nominated for religious broadcasting award
Fry gave a vehement response to being asked what he would say to God
Heather Saul

An interview during which Stephen Fry denounced God as “evil”, “capricious”, “mean-minded” and "utterly monstrous" has been shortlisted for an award for religious broadcasting.

The atheist actor and author was asked what he would say if, upon his death, he was confronted by God during an interview with Gay Byrne for RTÉ One’s The Meaning of Life in February 2015.
Fry, who had recently married his partner Elliot Spencer, stunned Byrne by replying: “I’d say, bone cancer in children? What’s that about? How dare you? How dare you create a world to which there is such misery that is not our fault. It’s not right, it’s utterly, utterly evil.
“Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world that is so full of injustice and pain. That’s what I would say.”

[Video]
Their exchange has been nominated for the Sandford St Martin Trust Awards Interview of the Year category alongside six others.

His comments were watched millions of times and Fry later clarified that his remarks were not directed at one particular religion, saying he was “astonished by the response”. He told BBC Radio 4 at the time: “I’m most pleased I think that it’s got people talking. I’d never wish to offend anybody who is individually devout or pious and goes about their religious ways.”

Fry, who has quit social media, has not yet responded to the nomination.
The Trust says the Awards are the most prestigious for radio, TV and online content that explore religious, spiritual or ethical themes. The ‘Interview of the Year’ category was launched this year to celebrate interviews that explore religion, spirituality or ethics from a personal perspective.

The winners will be announced during a ceremony at Lambeth Palace in London on 8 June.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/p...nstrous-nominated-for-religious-a6945706.html
 
Majority of Norwegians 'do not believe in God' for first time in country's history
Asked 'Do you believe in God?', those responding 'no' outweighed those who said 'yes' for first time ever
Jess Staufenberg
Monday 21 March 2016

The number of Norwegians who say they do not believe in God has reached an all-time record and eclipsed those who do believe for the first time ever, according to reports.
An annual survey answered by 4,000 Norwegians revealed that those replying "no" or "don't know" to the question "Do you believe in God?" now comfortably outweighed those who said "yes".

According to The Local, 39 per cent said "no" when asked whether they believed, compared to 37 per cent who said "yes", while the remaining 23 per cent said they did not know.
When the question was first asked in 1985, a full 50 per cent said they believed in God while only one-fifth said they did not.

And Jan-Paul Brekke of Ipsos Norway, who led the survey, said that since they started asking 30 years ago "the percentage of those who said they aren't sure has been about the same".
The figures mark a clear change from just two years ago, when the number of believers versus non-believers was still equal.

In the country's capital, Oslo, only 29 per cent said they were believers, while the sparsely-populated county of Vest-Agder in the north-west had the most believers at 44 per cent.

Mr Brekke noted that not all religious groups were strongly represented in the country-wide assessment, and that "God" was not defined in the question.
"It could be the Christian god, an independent god or one from other faiths," he said.

etc...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...rity-do-not-for-first-time-ever-a6943706.html
 
It's Mental!!

What believing in God does to your brain

Humans suppress areas of the brain used for analytical thinking and engage the parts responsible for empathy in order to believe in god, research suggests.

They do the opposite when thinking about the physical world, according to the study.

"When there's a question of faith, from the analytic point of view, it may seem absurd," said Professor Tony Jack, who led the research.

"But, from what we understand about the brain, the leap of faith to belief in the supernatural amounts to pushing aside the critical/analytical way of thinking to help us achieve greater social and emotional insight."
Click to expand...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/what-believing-in-god-does-to-your-brain-a6950956.html
 
He makes a good point at the end - that religious people are living their lives for the next life, rather than enjoying the life they have now.
 
Mythopoeika said:
are living their lives for the next life
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Dawkins has made this point a number of times. In particular, RD also alerts the world to the dangers of infinitely-misplaced religious optimism:
  • The crops have failed: don't worry, God will provide. Has He not always done so in the past?
  • Our tribe is dying from disease: don't worry, God will provide. And it is God's will, of course
  • This method of mining/building/fishing/hunting is too dangerous. We should change: No, do not worry, God will provide.
  • The car's going to crash: have you no faith? God will save you, all you need is faith. Seatbelts, airbags, roadsigns, driver training are all observances of the untrusting faithless. Simply show your love for God by worshipping him with your offering. Visa, Mastercard, Bank draft are all acceptable, should you not have cash. God's servants on Earth will accept your payment, and help ensure your place in the afterlife by driving Mercedes-Benz cars, parked outside their mansion houses, and eat a hearty meal that you bought for them. These people have a true sense of mission- to smile sweetly at you, with open hands, and be a dependant sucking leech upon the body of humanity forever. Praise be to the Lord (have you considered making a bequest in your will?)
 
It’s often said that the world is becoming an increasingly secular place. Just last week David Cameron sparked backlash when he used his Easter message to describe the UK as “a Christian country”. Critics pointed out that just 30 per cent of people in the UK describe themselves as religious, making Britain one of the least religious countries in the world. 53 per cent of people say they have no faith, while 13 per cent claim they are committed atheists.

However, despite the prevalance of atheism and humanism in the UK, many may be surprised to know that having no faith can be a life or death matter around the world. In thirteen countries, you can be sentenced to death for not having a faith:

1. Afghanistan

2. Iran

3. Malaysia

4. Maldives

5. Mauritania

6. Nigeria

7. Pakistan

8. Qatar

9. Saudi Arabia

10. Somalia

11. Sudan

12. United Arab Emirates

13. Yemen ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...-atheist-is-punishable-by-death-a6960561.html
 
If only 30% identify as Christian, why do so many of the others still want to get married in church? However, that's by the by.

That is a very interesting list. Especially considering that about a third of the countries are apparently our bosom friends.

Are there any countries that you can be sentenced to death for having a faith? I presume there are several where having the wrong faith is a problem.
 
ramonmercado said:
In thirteen countries, you can be sentenced to death for not having a faith:

1. Afghanistan

2. Iran

3. Malaysia

4. Maldives

5. Mauritania

6. Nigeria

7. Pakistan

8. Qatar

9. Saudi Arabia

10. Somalia

11. Sudan

12. United Arab Emirates

13. Yemen ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...-atheist-is-punishable-by-death-a6960561.html
Click to expand...

Compare with the list of countries by IQ posted elsewhere by Mythopoeika just yesterday, I think.
https://iq-research.org/en/page/average-iq-by-country
 
Cochise: Because getting married at city hall is just boring.
 
I've posted a few links previously here to Youtube content that's been produced by the edgy genius that is Stefan Molyneux. An Irish-Canadian jobbing philosopher, one of the world's most-erudite spokespersons for sanity...if you don't know him, meet him now.

I strongly commend to you this extremely thought-provoking piece of societal analysis.

It will be approx 20mins of your time, well-invested. But you will listen to him, right through, once he starts.

Please do pay particular attention, if you are a vaguely (or avowedly) centre-left/left-wing aging supporter of stateism. Especially if you're having protected (or no) sex, and think tax-funded healthcare is a Good Thing.

Note that he, as a social-democratic athiest, effectively eviscerates atheism and socialism, with suicidal logic. His mastery of the autodielectic monologue is unsurpassed (cite me anyone else who even comes close)

 
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Reactions: Jim
Ha! What a coincidence. I saw that last night.
 
Ermintrude said:
His mastery of the autodielectic monologue is unsurpassed (cite me anyone else who even comes close)
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There's a guy called The Amazing Atheist who comes close, but he's less polite, very sweary and is downright shouty at times.
 
Re: Why want to get married in a church?
I feel a cultural kinship with sane trad Christians (in the U.S that's Methodists, Presbyterians, United Church of Christ, some Lutherans. . . oh so many sane and trad denominations around here). For one thing, they are SANE--nice devout folk who reject hate and support equality for all, succor the homeless, generally rally 'round the Beatitudes. For myself, I find a lot to admire with the sane denoms. Beside their kindly social action good works, I just love the architecture of a lovely church, and the music programs at some churches are so beautiful that they'll transport you, if not into faith, into a bliss. (The big old churches sometimes have magnificent organs. :twisted:)
I have been an atheist since the 80's, but recently I have strongly identified as a Cultural Presbyterian.
 
GerdaWordyer said:
recently I have strongly identified as a Cultural Presbyterian.
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Whilst I fully understand that what you're referring to is not a formal sub-church (and is an attitudinal affiliation) it's also a kind of protesting Protestantism, or revised reformation.

I see a parallel with (certainly, in the UK) so-called "social members" of golf clubs. This category of member is paying a reduced membership fee, and (as a non-golfing golfer) they attend evening bar events, dinner nights and prize-givings. But their membership payment formally does not include the right or requirement to play golf (however, they must obey dress codes, and look as if they do).

Stretching this analogy a little further, there are also many full members of golf clubs, gyms, political parties, protest movements (by which I mean eg Greenpeace/NatGeo/Oxfam etc) that in practice, also, are really just social members of these organisations. They'll wear the brand, talk the talk, perhaps even do the do a tiny little bit, but, will always in reality be a sociomotivated affilliate rather than a sociopathic acolyte.

Which brings us down to the touchy matter of percentages in church memberships. It is both odd and yet a no-brainer that the number of truly-true believers is only a tiny sub-fraction of the declared number of adherents.

Is it really too much of a jump to say that there could be many churches (of any stripe/colour/variety) that consist 100% of non-believers?
 
Ermintrude said:
Which brings us down to the touchy matter of percentages in church memberships. It is both odd and yet a no-brainer that the number of truly-true believers is only a tiny sub-fraction of the declared number of adherents.

Is it really too much of a jump to say that there could be many churches (of any stripe/colour/variety) that consist 100% of non-believers?
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Yeah, good point.
I have a pair of atheistic friends who have become a little socially isolated (the wife has MS, so she doesn't get out much these days), and they are talking about joining a church - just for the social side.
I was a bit taken aback.
Myself, I couldn't take the hypocrisy - I'd rather be alone and lonely than join a church!
 
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