For a little while i have been reading the 'Atheist in a mini van' blog, it seems that due to her blog some unpleasantness befell her children when they went camping. While there are no details the commenters seem to assume that some one took information about the trip to work out where they would be and then attacked them about the mom's blog.
It is things like this that really wreck my faith in humanity, there can never be a good reason for taking out your issues with some one on there kids. PZ Meyers has recently received a number of threats against himself and his family because of his wish to destroy a cracker, surely no-one can think that this is an acceptable way to behave in anyones (good) book.
I don't want to make this about religion, I actually don't care about the motivations of people who are so broken that they feel that this sort of behaviour is not only acceptable but positively laudable. Have these people forgotten the basic rules of citizenship and society, do they not understand that, regardless of peoples beliefs or lack of them, threatening people or there loved ones with violence is no way to convince people of the rightness of their arguments and more to the point should result in punishment.
Unfortunately my writing skills are not up to really saying how I feel so I guess this is about as far as I go.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Mauled by a Christian
I have not been posting for a while, I am sad to admit that I almost gave up on all of this after a rather unpleasant encounter with a poster on a christian blog.
This guy was arrogant, rude and abusive. He was posting stuff that would have got pulled on any site that was not moderated by someone who considered him the second coming. On the one hand he did manage to demonstrate just about all the issues that most people come up when trying to talk to a fundy, he ignored my questions, or refused to answer them, insisted on using personal attacks, did not read my citations and insisted on using a number of logical fallacies (appeals to authority and appeals to popularity). All the verbal garbage I could have dealt with but when he started accusing me of being either uneducated or to young to understand,(I am university educated and rapidly approaching middle age) I rather felt there was little that he could say that would be of any interest to me.
The worst thing of this whole affair was that he said he was a professor, an educator who thinks that belittling the person who has come ask for information seems a very poor teacher indeed, it made me feel briefly sorry for his students, until I realised that he probably lectured in theology (given his stated expertise in the subject) and it was unlikely many of his students would be challenging the fundamental basis of his world view. It was also sad to see the sycophantic hangers on that basically sat on the side lines and cheered him on regardless on how pointless and personal his attacks became.
I suppose I get that people get angry when you start to suggest that their sky fairy may be all made up but if it is going to make them abusive they should probably not be in the public domain.
Perhaps I need to develop a thicker skin? strangely I don't feel that I should extend courtesies to people on the Internet that I would not in real life. If some one insults me to my face the least they should expect is for me to walk away from them.
Well this is turning into a long post
Another point that came up during my little eye opener was he was questioning my ability to argue based on the fact that I say I am an atheist because there is insufficient evidence or argument to believe in any god, rather than because I fundamentally believe that there is no god. This actually really wound him up, which baffled me. As a believer in the scientific method surely I have to allow for the fact that we cannot prove there is no god, otherwise you are not a non believer, you are a devotee to a religion that has core beliefs (that there is no god). Would that not make me as biased and closed minded as the theists?
I know that theists have a real problem with understanding that most atheist do not actively disbelieve, I was reading a post saying that atheists all appear a little dumb because they are using up most of their brainpower denying the creator, as if I walk around all day reciting ' there is no god' to myself? I think it bothers them that I only ever think of god when someone or something brings it up. Why should I spend my time thinking about something that does not exist?
Any way I think I shall bring this ramble to a close, I shall see if anything else is happening in the real world.
This guy was arrogant, rude and abusive. He was posting stuff that would have got pulled on any site that was not moderated by someone who considered him the second coming. On the one hand he did manage to demonstrate just about all the issues that most people come up when trying to talk to a fundy, he ignored my questions, or refused to answer them, insisted on using personal attacks, did not read my citations and insisted on using a number of logical fallacies (appeals to authority and appeals to popularity). All the verbal garbage I could have dealt with but when he started accusing me of being either uneducated or to young to understand,(I am university educated and rapidly approaching middle age) I rather felt there was little that he could say that would be of any interest to me.
The worst thing of this whole affair was that he said he was a professor, an educator who thinks that belittling the person who has come ask for information seems a very poor teacher indeed, it made me feel briefly sorry for his students, until I realised that he probably lectured in theology (given his stated expertise in the subject) and it was unlikely many of his students would be challenging the fundamental basis of his world view. It was also sad to see the sycophantic hangers on that basically sat on the side lines and cheered him on regardless on how pointless and personal his attacks became.
I suppose I get that people get angry when you start to suggest that their sky fairy may be all made up but if it is going to make them abusive they should probably not be in the public domain.
Perhaps I need to develop a thicker skin? strangely I don't feel that I should extend courtesies to people on the Internet that I would not in real life. If some one insults me to my face the least they should expect is for me to walk away from them.
Well this is turning into a long post
Another point that came up during my little eye opener was he was questioning my ability to argue based on the fact that I say I am an atheist because there is insufficient evidence or argument to believe in any god, rather than because I fundamentally believe that there is no god. This actually really wound him up, which baffled me. As a believer in the scientific method surely I have to allow for the fact that we cannot prove there is no god, otherwise you are not a non believer, you are a devotee to a religion that has core beliefs (that there is no god). Would that not make me as biased and closed minded as the theists?
I know that theists have a real problem with understanding that most atheist do not actively disbelieve, I was reading a post saying that atheists all appear a little dumb because they are using up most of their brainpower denying the creator, as if I walk around all day reciting ' there is no god' to myself? I think it bothers them that I only ever think of god when someone or something brings it up. Why should I spend my time thinking about something that does not exist?
Any way I think I shall bring this ramble to a close, I shall see if anything else is happening in the real world.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Religion and Work
So some christian registrar thinks that same sex civil partnerships are sinful and refuses to officiate at them. Now as far as i am aware her job was to fulfil the duties of a registrar not to shove her bigoted christian morality down peoples throats. She is at liberty to believe what she likes however surely it is her responsibility to take a job that does not force her to go against her religion. If her employer cannot discriminate against her because of her religion how come she gets to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation.
This kind of crap makes my blood boil, if you won't do all aspects of a job why should you continue to be paid for it. How far would i get as an atheist siting a moral objection to something i wonder? what if i was a surveyor but refused to enter a church because of what it represents, does anyone really think i would get any more than very short thrift from my boss and a tribunal would laugh at me.
It is strange how she is allowed to discriminate against gay people, replace gay with black and suddenly the whole situation would be very different. Not only would she have been sacked but also vilified by the very people/papers that are citing her bravery for fighting for her beliefs.
I think the worst thing about this case is that it is being heralded as a victory for religious liberty, rather than condemned as another example of religious intolerance
This kind of crap makes my blood boil, if you won't do all aspects of a job why should you continue to be paid for it. How far would i get as an atheist siting a moral objection to something i wonder? what if i was a surveyor but refused to enter a church because of what it represents, does anyone really think i would get any more than very short thrift from my boss and a tribunal would laugh at me.
It is strange how she is allowed to discriminate against gay people, replace gay with black and suddenly the whole situation would be very different. Not only would she have been sacked but also vilified by the very people/papers that are citing her bravery for fighting for her beliefs.
I think the worst thing about this case is that it is being heralded as a victory for religious liberty, rather than condemned as another example of religious intolerance
Friday, May 30, 2008
Arguments from Ignorance
I have been browsing around the web and I still don't get how people can put up statements that amount to -
I don't understand how something happened therefore Goddidit'
Surely this level of mind numbing ignorance should be impossible in a world with so much easy to access information. Unless the subject is very obscure or advanced simple use of a search engine should show you the answer to nearly any question you care to ask, if anything you will get too many theories, to much information.
I wish people would learn to research before venturing dumb ass comments.
Opinion is a fine thing, it promotes discussion and forces people to evaluate their own beliefs. There is no such thing as a stupid question, there are vacuous questions and pointless questions, questions designed to limit rather than expand knowledge, there are loaded questions, but no stupid ones. Stupid answers, however, come by the bucket load
I don't understand how something happened therefore Goddidit'
Surely this level of mind numbing ignorance should be impossible in a world with so much easy to access information. Unless the subject is very obscure or advanced simple use of a search engine should show you the answer to nearly any question you care to ask, if anything you will get too many theories, to much information.
I wish people would learn to research before venturing dumb ass comments.
Opinion is a fine thing, it promotes discussion and forces people to evaluate their own beliefs. There is no such thing as a stupid question, there are vacuous questions and pointless questions, questions designed to limit rather than expand knowledge, there are loaded questions, but no stupid ones. Stupid answers, however, come by the bucket load
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Democracy may actually work
Well it looks like common sense may have prevailed, the bill to limit the research into stem cells has been fairly conclusively kicked to the curb. Hopefully this will open up the flood gates to get this vital research moving along.
As an aside the bill to reduce the time limit on abortion also got a thumping, not quite as bad as the previous bill but nice to see choice is still valued by large sections of the community. It was interesting to read the articles in some of the tabloids about babies born very premature but had been kept alive. While I stand in awe of the skills of the medical professionals involved in delivering a baby 3 months premature the fact that a couple of children got very lucky doesn't seen to be a good basis to change the laws, most babies that premature will either die or suffer serious long term problems.
And the reaction of the bible bashers, find out the people who didn't vote for them and start campaigns to get the ones with the smallest majorities replaced by more considerate (drones) MPs, nice to see democracy in action.
As an aside the bill to reduce the time limit on abortion also got a thumping, not quite as bad as the previous bill but nice to see choice is still valued by large sections of the community. It was interesting to read the articles in some of the tabloids about babies born very premature but had been kept alive. While I stand in awe of the skills of the medical professionals involved in delivering a baby 3 months premature the fact that a couple of children got very lucky doesn't seen to be a good basis to change the laws, most babies that premature will either die or suffer serious long term problems.
And the reaction of the bible bashers, find out the people who didn't vote for them and start campaigns to get the ones with the smallest majorities replaced by more considerate (drones) MPs, nice to see democracy in action.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Who Guards the Guards
This is an interesting piece in the Guardian, it would appear that the use of the word 'cult' is considered insulting and provocative by the City of London police, at least when it is used to describe Scientology.
Given the fact that people are allowed to stand on street corners and yell 'Baby Murderer' at pro-choice advocates, something most people would find highly offensive and abusive, why can a peaceful demonstration not voice it's feelings about a highly questionable organisation? to be honest if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck chances are ........
Given the fact that people are allowed to stand on street corners and yell 'Baby Murderer' at pro-choice advocates, something most people would find highly offensive and abusive, why can a peaceful demonstration not voice it's feelings about a highly questionable organisation? to be honest if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck chances are ........
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Stem cell research
There has been a lot of shouting about the new developments in stem cell research, namely the creation of cybride cytoblasts. Unsurprisingly various religious notables have been spouting off about 'human dignity' and 'playing god'. The particularly amusing shoutiness was about allowing MPs to have a free vote on the bill governing this very useful bit of science, the fact that all the religious MPs where not actually expected to vote their conscience, so much as be good little followers and do what the mother church tells them really shows the startling ability of the religious to honestly believe two mutually exclusive things at the same time.
I have a fairly personal stake in all this, my mother suffers from Alzheimer's, one of the conditions that they believe this sort of research may be able to help with. I try to keep my anger in check but there is only some many times i can hear someone say that a bundle of cells smaller than a pin head has more right to life than my mum before i feel my knuckles start to itch.
The enormous hypocrisy of defending the 'human dignity' of a cytoblast while at the same time failing to recognise the very real needs of the actually ill manages to sadden and sicken me in almost equal measures. I am not a supporter of unregulated scientific experimentation, at all times the gains must out way the losses and that is a very difficult line to follow, but in this case this really should be a no brainer.
I have a fairly personal stake in all this, my mother suffers from Alzheimer's, one of the conditions that they believe this sort of research may be able to help with. I try to keep my anger in check but there is only some many times i can hear someone say that a bundle of cells smaller than a pin head has more right to life than my mum before i feel my knuckles start to itch.
The enormous hypocrisy of defending the 'human dignity' of a cytoblast while at the same time failing to recognise the very real needs of the actually ill manages to sadden and sicken me in almost equal measures. I am not a supporter of unregulated scientific experimentation, at all times the gains must out way the losses and that is a very difficult line to follow, but in this case this really should be a no brainer.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Homeopathy, it makes me mad
It has to be said, after religion, this particular brand of woo is not only the most profitable it is also the most nuts. A simple Google search will throw up more than enough reasons to want to take the whole 'industry' seal it in concrete and drop it in the North Sea. If people want to believe that shaking a sample of distilled water can some how make them better then more fool them, and to some degree I have little sympathy for them if they lose there money to the charlatans flogging the stuff.
However what really ticks me off is that millions of pounds from our taxes goes to fund NHS homeopathy hospitals. That's my money, well not all my money of course mores the pity, going to fund some gibbon who thinks that poring distilled water onto a sugar tablet for some reasons qualifies as medicine. Given that we seem to be short of money for clinically tested drugs and basics like beds to put patients on and cleaning materials to keep on top of the various 'super' bugs, it seems not just foolish but criminally negligent to divert funds to these quacks.
However what really ticks me off is that millions of pounds from our taxes goes to fund NHS homeopathy hospitals. That's my money, well not all my money of course mores the pity, going to fund some gibbon who thinks that poring distilled water onto a sugar tablet for some reasons qualifies as medicine. Given that we seem to be short of money for clinically tested drugs and basics like beds to put patients on and cleaning materials to keep on top of the various 'super' bugs, it seems not just foolish but criminally negligent to divert funds to these quacks.
Interesting times at the Vatican
It looks like it is alright to believe in ETs. Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes claims that an ET would simply be another part of creation, and that we should not limit the 'Creative Power' of god to only creating things on this small ball. Seems funny to me that there is no mention of extraterrestrials in the 'good' book, surely any other intelligent creation would get a mention somewhere?
To be honest I am on the fence as to alien intelligences, the math of probability is compelling but we simply know to little about the origins of life on this planet too really speculate. That being said it would be excellent to see what knots various religions tie themselves in to justify their continued existence when the first little green man appears on the scene and blows some fairly big holes in a number of ancient texts.
To be honest I am on the fence as to alien intelligences, the math of probability is compelling but we simply know to little about the origins of life on this planet too really speculate. That being said it would be excellent to see what knots various religions tie themselves in to justify their continued existence when the first little green man appears on the scene and blows some fairly big holes in a number of ancient texts.
Simple starts, small thoughts
I have been browsing the offerings at Fundies say the darnedest things and while some of quotes are funny, and some down right scary, the theme running through so many of them seems to be fear of the unknown. Why is it that the religious mind seems to be obsessed with being able to answer all the questions? What is so wrong with 'We don't know the answer'?
The irony is that one of the most common complaints levelled at atheists is that they remove the wonder and mystery in the world, when reducing all the unknown to 'God did it' has to be the worst kind of removal of wonder that there is. Where are the questions? The curiosity?
It would be easy to rant about how the want to fill all the knowledge gaps with a god risks ending the development of technology and science, but I think that the saddest thing is when someone losses the will to ask 'Why', such a simple question and yet one that seems to cause the most problems. A lack of belief in a supreme being does not reduce the beauty of the world, it makes you realise how lucky we are to live in universe so amazing and complex.
The irony is that one of the most common complaints levelled at atheists is that they remove the wonder and mystery in the world, when reducing all the unknown to 'God did it' has to be the worst kind of removal of wonder that there is. Where are the questions? The curiosity?
It would be easy to rant about how the want to fill all the knowledge gaps with a god risks ending the development of technology and science, but I think that the saddest thing is when someone losses the will to ask 'Why', such a simple question and yet one that seems to cause the most problems. A lack of belief in a supreme being does not reduce the beauty of the world, it makes you realise how lucky we are to live in universe so amazing and complex.
Hummm Blog
Well this is my first effort at blogging, I have to admit to being inspired by this Blog
http://splendidelles.wordpress.com/
I can't help but feel if someone half may age can write so well and eloquently about subjects i feel are important I should really be doing more than just reading what is out there.
So we shall see where this takes me, i currently read a number of skeptical blogs and the more I read the more I realise how little I know, not a new piece of wisdom but still just as true.
Anyway, now to find something to actually post about, there is a whole universe of possibilities out there, lets give it a poke and find out what falls out
http://splendidelles.wordpress.com/
I can't help but feel if someone half may age can write so well and eloquently about subjects i feel are important I should really be doing more than just reading what is out there.
So we shall see where this takes me, i currently read a number of skeptical blogs and the more I read the more I realise how little I know, not a new piece of wisdom but still just as true.
Anyway, now to find something to actually post about, there is a whole universe of possibilities out there, lets give it a poke and find out what falls out
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