If I said I knew all my neighbors on my block, you'd probably believe me. If I said I knew everyone in the town where I live, you'd need more information. Is it a small town or not? If the town had hundreds of thousands of people, you certainly would have doubts about my statement.
If I said I knew everyone in the state of California, you'd immediately say I was crazy. If I said I knew everyone in the world, you know I was crazy. You certainly would not take me seriously.
If I said I knew all the heads of state of all the countries of the world, you think I was probably crazy as well. Even though this is actually possible.
Now if I change the word "people" to "god", a thunder and lighting GOD, there are many people who would now believe me that I know a "god". There would also be many people who would think I was crazy.
Do you see the problem with people claiming they know a, thunder and lighting, celestial god?
Therefore, when someone tells me they know a god, you can be reassured, I do think they are crazy. This is why we have terms like wishful thinking and self-delusion. And this is why people of reason and rationality simply do not have respect for people living in the Scientific Age who believe in invisible friends.
Showing posts with label Belief. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Belief. Show all posts
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Sunday, December 12, 2010
People ask me if I'm an Atheist.
People ask me if I'm an Atheist. What? Am I an Atheist? Let me make sure I understand your question.
Are you asking me if I have dismissed—as you have dismissed—thousands of gods which used to be in good standing with our ancestors?
Is this what you are asking me?
Are you asking me if I've used my brain and thought about the mythology of all religions?
Are you asking me if I still cling to the Bronze Age and Iron Age mythologies which have the disgusting love-life with blood sacrifice?
Are you telling me that since you have dismissed all past religions and all current religions—except for your own—that this does not make you an atheist to all the religions you have rejected?
When will the religious understand that they are atheists to all other religions, current and past, (except for their own) with which they do not subscribe.
Are you asking me that for the same reasons you dismiss all other religions, is exactly why I dismiss yours?
Are you asking me if I have dismissed—as you have dismissed—thousands of gods which used to be in good standing with our ancestors?
Is this what you are asking me?
Are you asking me if I've used my brain and thought about the mythology of all religions?
Are you asking me if I still cling to the Bronze Age and Iron Age mythologies which have the disgusting love-life with blood sacrifice?
Are you telling me that since you have dismissed all past religions and all current religions—except for your own—that this does not make you an atheist to all the religions you have rejected?
When will the religious understand that they are atheists to all other religions, current and past, (except for their own) with which they do not subscribe.
Are you asking me that for the same reasons you dismiss all other religions, is exactly why I dismiss yours?
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Are we obligated to repect someone's religious beliefs?
People always tell me, "Mike, you should respect people's religious beliefs." If I tell you that I believe that Tennessee is on the West Coast, you have no obligation to respect my belief. Which is why I don't respect anyone's belief in Bronze Age or Iron Age pseudoscience (astrology, psychics, ESP, reincarnation, ghosts, etc.) or mythology (religion).
For those who want to know. To answer the question, "Are we obligated to respect someone's religious beliefs? The answer is no.
For those who want to know. To answer the question, "Are we obligated to respect someone's religious beliefs? The answer is no.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The World Will Go To Hell Without Religion! Really?
“What is the alternative to a belief in Santa Claus? The answer really is nothing. Now, it's not that a belief in Santa Claus was doing nothing for a child. You know, a child is entranced and consoled and interested and happy that Santa Claus exists.
You take the belief away, you've taken something away—you haven't replaced it with something but whatever conspired to make the belief untenable, perhaps he saw that it was his parents wrapping the presents. The belief disappears and we all know that no one wants to be the last kid in class who believes in Santa Claus.
And imagine how untenable the position of a child would be, if he claimed not to want to throw the baby out with the bath water, he claimed to have found a moderate position on Santa Claus and he could keep the sleigh and the elves but jettison the guy in the suit.
So the first answer to the question, 'What are the alternatives to faith?' there don't have to be alternatives. If these beliefs are false, if they're untenable, we can relinquish them. As many countries in western Europe have done. Only 10 percent of Swedes, 10 to 15 percent are believers of the sort we recognize in the states.”
“We can relinquish these beliefs without an alternative. Let me remind you about how easy it is to see the wisdom of this when we simply change the word God to Zeus. No one is feeling that we should maybe hold on to Zeus.”
—Sam Harris, talking about his book, The End of Faith at the University Synagogue on January 18, 2005. See the entire video of his lecture here.
You take the belief away, you've taken something away—you haven't replaced it with something but whatever conspired to make the belief untenable, perhaps he saw that it was his parents wrapping the presents. The belief disappears and we all know that no one wants to be the last kid in class who believes in Santa Claus.
And imagine how untenable the position of a child would be, if he claimed not to want to throw the baby out with the bath water, he claimed to have found a moderate position on Santa Claus and he could keep the sleigh and the elves but jettison the guy in the suit.
So the first answer to the question, 'What are the alternatives to faith?' there don't have to be alternatives. If these beliefs are false, if they're untenable, we can relinquish them. As many countries in western Europe have done. Only 10 percent of Swedes, 10 to 15 percent are believers of the sort we recognize in the states.”
“We can relinquish these beliefs without an alternative. Let me remind you about how easy it is to see the wisdom of this when we simply change the word God to Zeus. No one is feeling that we should maybe hold on to Zeus.”
—Sam Harris, talking about his book, The End of Faith at the University Synagogue on January 18, 2005. See the entire video of his lecture here.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Don't question my faith, don't say mean things about religion.
You must respect me for my belief. You'll never get me to stop believing in God. The people who don't ask Christ to be in their hearts don't get it. (They are immoral, sinners, they are lost. Oops, I won't say this to anyone but just think this.) I don't want to hear about you saying my religion is mythology. I don't want to hear it. Don't tell me to think about my faith! La la la la la, I can't hear you.
I want you to shut up. How about burning you at the stake? That will make you shut up. Oops! I'd go to jail for murder. Oh hell, what a bitch. I can't burn you at the stake.
Why bring up past horrors of Christianity? There is nothing similiar about today's (21st Century) Christians and those Christians in the 1500s. In the 1500s Christians wanted nonbelievers to shut the hell up. (Hee hee, they definately got them to shut up by burning them at the stake.)
We, the Christians of today, are not like the Christians of the past in any way, shape or form. Well hell, we don't burn nonbelievers at the stake! We don't do this! We are not like them. (Whispering. We don't want to go to jail.)
What are we like today? We'll vote against them. We'll tell them they are immoral. We'll tell them they must respect our beliefs. We'll try to Christianize them by making Christianity into US Law. Nope. We are not like the Christians in the 1500s.
This time we are going to do it right. We've learned from our past Christian brothers. We will change the law so that we can get them when they are young and indoctrinate them. If you still resist our mythology, we'll change the law and make you believe.
Oh... we Christians don't do that to people today (2010), what are you talking about?? Why would anyone accuse Christians of being mean to other people and trying to force people believe in our mythology?
You need a list?
"In God We Trust", "...one nation under God..." (Both of these phrases were added recently in the 1950's by Christians), trying to teach pseudoscience in school, voting against gays, parents holding financial aid from children who are gay, kicking gays out their house when they are young, making life so unbearable for young gays that they commit suicide, refusing to treat gay relatives the same as they treat their straight relatives, parents ignoring their gay son's or daughter's partners, relatives refusing to talk about their gay son's or daughter's partners, relatives not inviting their son's or daughter's gay partners to family functions, etc.
Do I need to list more? I could write for week after week about the way Christians mistreat others in the name of their religion. The list is endless.
I do declare, we the Christians of today (2010) are NOTHING like the Christians of the 1500s.
I want you to shut up. How about burning you at the stake? That will make you shut up. Oops! I'd go to jail for murder. Oh hell, what a bitch. I can't burn you at the stake.
Why bring up past horrors of Christianity? There is nothing similiar about today's (21st Century) Christians and those Christians in the 1500s. In the 1500s Christians wanted nonbelievers to shut the hell up. (Hee hee, they definately got them to shut up by burning them at the stake.)
We, the Christians of today, are not like the Christians of the past in any way, shape or form. Well hell, we don't burn nonbelievers at the stake! We don't do this! We are not like them. (Whispering. We don't want to go to jail.)
What are we like today? We'll vote against them. We'll tell them they are immoral. We'll tell them they must respect our beliefs. We'll try to Christianize them by making Christianity into US Law. Nope. We are not like the Christians in the 1500s.
This time we are going to do it right. We've learned from our past Christian brothers. We will change the law so that we can get them when they are young and indoctrinate them. If you still resist our mythology, we'll change the law and make you believe.
Oh... we Christians don't do that to people today (2010), what are you talking about?? Why would anyone accuse Christians of being mean to other people and trying to force people believe in our mythology?
You need a list?
"In God We Trust", "...one nation under God..." (Both of these phrases were added recently in the 1950's by Christians), trying to teach pseudoscience in school, voting against gays, parents holding financial aid from children who are gay, kicking gays out their house when they are young, making life so unbearable for young gays that they commit suicide, refusing to treat gay relatives the same as they treat their straight relatives, parents ignoring their gay son's or daughter's partners, relatives refusing to talk about their gay son's or daughter's partners, relatives not inviting their son's or daughter's gay partners to family functions, etc.
Do I need to list more? I could write for week after week about the way Christians mistreat others in the name of their religion. The list is endless.
I do declare, we the Christians of today (2010) are NOTHING like the Christians of the 1500s.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Another Sam Harris quote
“Ever religious person feels the same criticism of other people's faith that we do as atheists. They reject the pseudo miracles and the pseudo claims to certainty of others.
And they see the confidence tricks in other people’s faith and they see it rather readily. Every Christian knows the Koran can’t the perfect word of the creator of the universe and anyone who thinks it is, hasn’t read it closely enough.
And it’s just in this hermetically sealed discourse that isn’t really being self-critical—we make a very strong case when we point that out.
And point out also, that whatever people are experiencing in church or in prayer—no matter how positive—the fact that Buddhists and Hindus and Muslims and Christians are all experiencing it, proves that it can’t be a matter of the divinity of Jesus or the unique sanctity of the Koran.”
–Sam Harris, 30th of September 2007
And they see the confidence tricks in other people’s faith and they see it rather readily. Every Christian knows the Koran can’t the perfect word of the creator of the universe and anyone who thinks it is, hasn’t read it closely enough.
And it’s just in this hermetically sealed discourse that isn’t really being self-critical—we make a very strong case when we point that out.
And point out also, that whatever people are experiencing in church or in prayer—no matter how positive—the fact that Buddhists and Hindus and Muslims and Christians are all experiencing it, proves that it can’t be a matter of the divinity of Jesus or the unique sanctity of the Koran.”
–Sam Harris, 30th of September 2007
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
What is immoral about questioning a religious belief?
Christians are offended when I ask them to question their belief. What is immoral and unethical about asking someone to use their brain?
Which is immoral, A or B?
A) To ask a Christian to question the truth claims their religion makes.
OR
B) To tell Christians to blindly accept religious propositions which can never be proven.
What a perfect proposition! Make a claim that no one can prove because the proposition claims things happen after someone dies.
Which is immoral, A or B?
A) To ask a Christian to question the truth claims their religion makes.
OR
B) To tell Christians to blindly accept religious propositions which can never be proven.
What a perfect proposition! Make a claim that no one can prove because the proposition claims things happen after someone dies.
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Bible. Divine origin or man-made origin?
It would be child's play for an all powerful God who is all wise, all knowing, all knowledgeable, perfect, omnipotent and who knows the past, present and future to write and publish a book with timeless morals and ethics that would apply to any culture in any time period of human history and would never be able to be misinterpreted by anyone who would read the Bible.
Yet, this did not happen. Why would anyone cling to any Bronze Age or Iron Age mythology with it's blatant immorality and then claim it's not only still applicable but it's of divine origin.
Yet, this did not happen. Why would anyone cling to any Bronze Age or Iron Age mythology with it's blatant immorality and then claim it's not only still applicable but it's of divine origin.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
On Belief
If you are a Christians or claim a religious believer or believer is some power, you believe you have the ultimate truth, the only answer.
What the religious do is issue a proclamation, a statement, they are not able to engage in a conversation, debate or even a real discussion. For simply, they already know the truth. They don't have to look elsewhere. As for Christians, they have been told from their scriptures to not even think about any other religion or else!
The real question is, do you seek the ultimate truth, at all costs or do you simply think you don’t have to seek or think any further.
The religious cleverly made it taboo to criticize religion. They want to keep this taboo alive. We as humans, don’t respect religious beliefs. It’s only the religious who demand respect for their beliefs because of the insane teachings their scriptures propose.
The religious are afraid to criticize other religions because this would now allow their own religion to be open to scrutiny.
If I told you I will win the lottery this week, I know this. It is my truth. Would you respect my belief? Nope. Would you respect my belief that the world is ending tomorrow? I hope not. We don't respect beliefs, only the reasons for beliefs.
The immorality the Bible seems endless. Some examples. Christians and non-Christians. What an immoral teaching. There is no "them", non-Christians. We all share the same humanity.Why does the Bible want to divide people?
In fact, religions are a their core, immoral. They want you to join their club. You are either ni the club or out of the club. If you are in the club, you are good, if you are not in their club, you are bad. Why does not Christianity (or any religion) unite the entire world, whether we are believers or non-believers? Religion is immoral.
Doing good things for bad reasons. You better be good or you'll go to hell. How immoral of a teaching. There are many good reasons to do good things.
Love your enemy. An utterly immoral teaching. You defend yourself against your enemy. How many Christian churches are calling for the US Military to be dismantled? None.
Is this the best a god could provide us? I propose the Bible's immoral teachings are more harmful to society than good.
The religious pronounce their religion is the only real religion and all other religions are rejected. The religious know what it is to reject all other religious belief systems, except their own.
Nontheists simply go one religion further and reject all religious beliefs.
What the religious do is issue a proclamation, a statement, they are not able to engage in a conversation, debate or even a real discussion. For simply, they already know the truth. They don't have to look elsewhere. As for Christians, they have been told from their scriptures to not even think about any other religion or else!
The real question is, do you seek the ultimate truth, at all costs or do you simply think you don’t have to seek or think any further.
The religious cleverly made it taboo to criticize religion. They want to keep this taboo alive. We as humans, don’t respect religious beliefs. It’s only the religious who demand respect for their beliefs because of the insane teachings their scriptures propose.
The religious are afraid to criticize other religions because this would now allow their own religion to be open to scrutiny.
If I told you I will win the lottery this week, I know this. It is my truth. Would you respect my belief? Nope. Would you respect my belief that the world is ending tomorrow? I hope not. We don't respect beliefs, only the reasons for beliefs.
The immorality the Bible seems endless. Some examples. Christians and non-Christians. What an immoral teaching. There is no "them", non-Christians. We all share the same humanity.Why does the Bible want to divide people?
In fact, religions are a their core, immoral. They want you to join their club. You are either ni the club or out of the club. If you are in the club, you are good, if you are not in their club, you are bad. Why does not Christianity (or any religion) unite the entire world, whether we are believers or non-believers? Religion is immoral.
Doing good things for bad reasons. You better be good or you'll go to hell. How immoral of a teaching. There are many good reasons to do good things.
Love your enemy. An utterly immoral teaching. You defend yourself against your enemy. How many Christian churches are calling for the US Military to be dismantled? None.
Is this the best a god could provide us? I propose the Bible's immoral teachings are more harmful to society than good.
The religious pronounce their religion is the only real religion and all other religions are rejected. The religious know what it is to reject all other religious belief systems, except their own.
Nontheists simply go one religion further and reject all religious beliefs.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Christian’s last ditch attempts are now claiming abuse by those who break the self-made taboo of not allowing anyone to question their faith.
Recently, I've noticed when Christians (and other religious people) are questioned about the validity of their belief, their hair stands up on the back of their neck and proclaim, you MUST respect my belief. Don't tell me I can't believe. Don't be abusive to me! You are disrespectful to me. You make me feel uncomfortable being around you. You are obviously angry and bitter to talk to me in a negative way about my faith.
Really? First, we don't respect people's beliefs, only the reasons behind their beliefs. Of course, for eons, religious people have wallowed in their own taboo which disallows criticism of their belief or faith. They have to have this taboo because their beliefs are simply mythology of old and for some reason, the masses cling onto these beliefs, like a drowning man, grasping at a razor blade to save his life.
If I tell you I have a diamond, the size of a refrigerator, buried in my backyard. Wouldn't you want some proof?
What if I said, I wouldn't want to live in a universe where I did not believe I have a diamond, the size of a refrigerator, buried in my backyard. Or if I said my life would not be meaningful if I did not believe I have a diamond, the size of a refrigerator, buried in my backyard.
Wouldn't you want some proof as to if I had a diamond, the size of a refrigerator, buried in my backyard? Would you respect my belief?
The reason people say they believe in Christianity is the Bible. Okay. Take a look at the Bible... is this the best an all knowing, all wise, all perfect, all powerful god—who knows the past, present and future—could write or inspire?
So many translations, so many interpretations. Why wouldn't a god simply write and publish his own book? This would be child's play for an omnipotent god to write a book filled with timeless morals and ethics and a book which would never be misinterpreted. After creating the Universe, was god tired?
I know when Christians are called on the carpet about this, their brain will be working on uttering some excuse to defend why their god could not write (and publish) an all perfect, all moral, all ethical book which would apply to any culture in any time period in human history and which would also apply to any alien planet in our galaxy or in the universe.
Why isn't there equal rights and human rights in the Bible? Why does God want you to fear and love him at the same time? Fearing and loving the same person are the words you'd expect to hear from a dictator or totalitarian leader.
Why does God want you to do good things for bad reasons? Be good or go to hell! There are many good reasons to do good things. Is doing good things for bad reasons the best a god could come up with?
Why does God want you to love your enemy? A horrible moral. You defend yourself against your enemies. How many Christian churches are recommending we dismantle the entire US military? Yet, Christians preach love your enemy. Are they nuts?
Also, the Bible says that slavery is moral. The Bible says the repression of women's rights is moral. The Bible says discrimination against gays is moral. The Bible says that genocide is moral. The Bible says that human and animal sacrifice is moral. The Bible says that murder is moral. (Examples, if a child curses his parents, it's okay for the parents to kill their child.) The list seems endless.
One of the most horrible teachings of the bible: Christians are taught that demonizing nonbelievers is moral. What a perfect example of how religion divides people. If Christianity was so fantastic, why would anyone need to believe in it? Why doesn't Christianity unite the entire world whether you believe or not? Religious beliefs divide friends, families, marriages, co-workers, partners, communities and nations. For this reason alone, religion is not only immoral but a clear danger to a productive, free thinking, rational, progressive civilization.
And the one of the biggest problems of all, if not the biggest: Is it ethical to believe another person can take on the responsibility for your actions? Christ as a human sacrifice for your sin is an utterly immoral proposition. (Another problem, sin is a man-made concept.) The Christ sacrifice that eliminates personal responsibility is utterly immoral because personal responsibility is what all ethics and good morals depend.
Really? First, we don't respect people's beliefs, only the reasons behind their beliefs. Of course, for eons, religious people have wallowed in their own taboo which disallows criticism of their belief or faith. They have to have this taboo because their beliefs are simply mythology of old and for some reason, the masses cling onto these beliefs, like a drowning man, grasping at a razor blade to save his life.
If I tell you I have a diamond, the size of a refrigerator, buried in my backyard. Wouldn't you want some proof?
What if I said, I wouldn't want to live in a universe where I did not believe I have a diamond, the size of a refrigerator, buried in my backyard. Or if I said my life would not be meaningful if I did not believe I have a diamond, the size of a refrigerator, buried in my backyard.
Wouldn't you want some proof as to if I had a diamond, the size of a refrigerator, buried in my backyard? Would you respect my belief?
The reason people say they believe in Christianity is the Bible. Okay. Take a look at the Bible... is this the best an all knowing, all wise, all perfect, all powerful god—who knows the past, present and future—could write or inspire?
So many translations, so many interpretations. Why wouldn't a god simply write and publish his own book? This would be child's play for an omnipotent god to write a book filled with timeless morals and ethics and a book which would never be misinterpreted. After creating the Universe, was god tired?
I know when Christians are called on the carpet about this, their brain will be working on uttering some excuse to defend why their god could not write (and publish) an all perfect, all moral, all ethical book which would apply to any culture in any time period in human history and which would also apply to any alien planet in our galaxy or in the universe.
Why isn't there equal rights and human rights in the Bible? Why does God want you to fear and love him at the same time? Fearing and loving the same person are the words you'd expect to hear from a dictator or totalitarian leader.
Why does God want you to do good things for bad reasons? Be good or go to hell! There are many good reasons to do good things. Is doing good things for bad reasons the best a god could come up with?
Why does God want you to love your enemy? A horrible moral. You defend yourself against your enemies. How many Christian churches are recommending we dismantle the entire US military? Yet, Christians preach love your enemy. Are they nuts?
Also, the Bible says that slavery is moral. The Bible says the repression of women's rights is moral. The Bible says discrimination against gays is moral. The Bible says that genocide is moral. The Bible says that human and animal sacrifice is moral. The Bible says that murder is moral. (Examples, if a child curses his parents, it's okay for the parents to kill their child.) The list seems endless.
One of the most horrible teachings of the bible: Christians are taught that demonizing nonbelievers is moral. What a perfect example of how religion divides people. If Christianity was so fantastic, why would anyone need to believe in it? Why doesn't Christianity unite the entire world whether you believe or not? Religious beliefs divide friends, families, marriages, co-workers, partners, communities and nations. For this reason alone, religion is not only immoral but a clear danger to a productive, free thinking, rational, progressive civilization.
And the one of the biggest problems of all, if not the biggest: Is it ethical to believe another person can take on the responsibility for your actions? Christ as a human sacrifice for your sin is an utterly immoral proposition. (Another problem, sin is a man-made concept.) The Christ sacrifice that eliminates personal responsibility is utterly immoral because personal responsibility is what all ethics and good morals depend.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Christianity Celebrates Dividing People Apart.
The mere belief in claiming to know a god divides people. To top if off, Christians demonize those who do not believe.
How incredibly stupid is it that Christians are proud to announce their own religion divides people. I'm a Christian (Psst... they are non-Christians).
Religions are truly sick, sick institutions promoting hatred between people. Is this the best a god could do? To create religious organizations which divide people by their core belief? To have their believers tell non-believers they know their god is the one true god and if you don't believe, you are excluded from their group?
When did perfection need anything?
How incredibly stupid is it that Christians are proud to announce their own religion divides people. I'm a Christian (Psst... they are non-Christians).
Religions are truly sick, sick institutions promoting hatred between people. Is this the best a god could do? To create religious organizations which divide people by their core belief? To have their believers tell non-believers they know their god is the one true god and if you don't believe, you are excluded from their group?
When did perfection need anything?
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Religion is fantastic. God is perfect.
Errr... let me get this straight. Religion is fantastic! Right? Then why do I have to believe in it? And another point... why does religion not bring everyone together, believers and nonbelievers?
Let's see... god is perfect. Okay, got it. A perfect being needs nothing. I got it! Great! I'm getting it. Oh, I have a question. If god is perfect and needs nothing, then why does god need me to believe in him? Errr... put it another way, why would a perfect being be offended if I did not believe in him?
Psst..., here's the answer: There is no god. All religions are man-made.
Let's see... god is perfect. Okay, got it. A perfect being needs nothing. I got it! Great! I'm getting it. Oh, I have a question. If god is perfect and needs nothing, then why does god need me to believe in him? Errr... put it another way, why would a perfect being be offended if I did not believe in him?
Psst..., here's the answer: There is no god. All religions are man-made.
Do you want to know the truth about religion at all costs?
It's actually quite simple to out religion as the fraud that it is.
Item 1:
If a certain religion was such a great thing, why would anyone have to believe in it?
Item 2:
And if a religion was the true religion, why would it not bring humanity together regardless of anyone's belief or non-belief?
Item 3:
Believers think their god is perfect. Believers even tout that a perfect being needs nothing. But the believer can't put two and two together. If a perfect being needs nothing, then a perfect being does not need anyone to believe in him/her/trans/it or his/her/trans/its religion.
Item 1:
If a certain religion was such a great thing, why would anyone have to believe in it?
Item 2:
And if a religion was the true religion, why would it not bring humanity together regardless of anyone's belief or non-belief?
Item 3:
Believers think their god is perfect. Believers even tout that a perfect being needs nothing. But the believer can't put two and two together. If a perfect being needs nothing, then a perfect being does not need anyone to believe in him/her/trans/it or his/her/trans/its religion.
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