18 comments:

• Darrell Baumbach posted at 6:45 am on Fri, Aug 17, 2012.

  Posts: 9403

  Mr Crowder(the troll under the bridge)) stated....To broaden my previous post for the individual unable to generalize, atheists also do not believe in Tooth Fairy

  Of course not... Mr Crowder deals in realism which is why when he mocks, makes fun of, ridicules others for having a different reality than his own, one can trust that he sincerely enjoys it.

  
  Kick any puppies lately Mr Crowder?

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• Andy Crowder posted at 6:58 am on Thu, Aug 16, 2012.

  Posts: 244

  To broaden my previous post for the individual unable to generalize, atheists also do not believe in Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, Chupacabra, Yeti, Big Foot, Abominable Snowman, forest sprites, leprechauns, the Loch Ness monster, or vampires.
  

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• Darrell Baumbach posted at 9:15 pm on Wed, Aug 15, 2012.

  Posts: 9403

  Kevin typed, ". . . if someone made fun of YOUR beliefs

  Then Mr Crowder mocked... Kevin, we don't have any religious beliefs

  Notice that Crowder, the mocker in chief, changed the subject that Kevin posted which was "your belief" to "any religious belief".

  Obviously Mr Crowder is an insulting man who takes great joy and satisfaction in tearing down and demeaning someone's heart and soul simply because he does not believe what they believe.. Not much of a man in my opinion.

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• Andy Crowder posted at 7:13 pm on Wed, Aug 15, 2012.

  Posts: 244

  Kevin typed, ". . . if someone made fun of YOUR beliefs the way you did yesterday you would call them intolerant."

  Kevin, we don't have any religious beliefs. Beliefs are opinions devoid of evidence. It seems silly to mock people for not being gullible, but give it a shot. My feelings would not be hurt in the least.

  Also, by their very definition, your Christian "beliefs" are in fact superstition and myth. Superstitions are widely held beliefs in supernatural beings and causations. You believe in supernatural beings (God, Jesus, angels, demons, etc). You believe these beings intervene in Earthly activities. Myths are traditional stories involving supernatural beings that explain natural or social phenomenon. Even the Pope has declared some Bible stories to be myth (creation, for example).

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• Darrell Baumbach posted at 5:06 pm on Wed, Aug 15, 2012.

  Posts: 9403

  Kevin, you always amaze me how well you treat others who mock, ridicule and displays animus to people like yourself. You treat them with respect yet are treated with scorn and disdain. In my experience, your behavior is common place for Christians like you. In contrast, their intolerant behavior is typical of secular people that unfortunately are on this thread.

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• Rick Houdack posted at 8:38 pm on Tue, Aug 14, 2012.

  Posts: 123

  Paglia looked around at the comments and didn't see what he needed to justify his tantrum, so he created it. The only option he left himself was to storm off under the pretense of outrage. Fake.

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• David Diskin posted at 4:23 pm on Tue, Aug 14, 2012.

  Posts: 121

  I'm sorry you misunderstood me, Kevin.

  When I mocked the importants of the 3:00 PM prayer, it was because of the statement "bishops have asked us to pray daily, especially at 3 p.m., the hour Jesus died for our sins".

  Then the statement prior to it, "Prayer and repentance have saved so many countries from evil takeovers." is clearly unsubstantiated.

  It is statements like these that make us mock. Silly notions deserve silly responses. I don't think mockery leads to intolerance. Intolerance is when you create laws or kill people to support your worldview. Intolerance is when you force people to listen to a prayer before they can attend a city council meeting.

  As much as my ego would like to have groupies, I have to admit I have no clue who these other people are on this thread. If they are a part of the Stockton Area Atheists and Freethinkers, they are using fake names as I do not recognize any of them. (Note to my 'groupies': Come join us sometime!)

  This thread forces me to ask questions like:
  - When IS it okay to point out silly notions?
  - What is the difference between fact and faith?
  - Why do you hold "faith" to be a virtue?
  - What evidence do we have that God has "left" our country?
  - Can prayer change God's mind?
  - Can we justify being intolerant to one who bears false witness?
  - Should we tolerate religious beliefs if they cause harm to others?

  It's a shame you're leaving the thread because these are questions that I think are truly worth talking about. I don't suspect there is a right answer, and I doubt that we can even agree on many of them. But it would be interesting nonetheless.

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• Kevin Paglia posted at 6:47 am on Tue, Aug 14, 2012.

  Posts: 1729

  Sorry David but you have reveled your real feelings. In the post I responded to you said NOTHING about the issues of preditor priests, tax exepmtions or anything else. What you did do was mock a spiritual expression of rememberance. And you KNOW that if someone made fun of YOUR beliefs the way you did yesterday you would call them intolerant.

  And then your groupies jump in and even more clearly how UNWELCOME Christians are in your group by continuing the attack by calling Christian beliefs "susperstions" and "myths".

  I'm done with this thread. Too much INTOLERANCE form those demanding tolerance
  

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• David Diskin posted at 2:55 am on Tue, Aug 14, 2012.

  Posts: 121

  It's one thing to be tolerant of others' beliefs. And I'm confident that atheists are far more tolerant and inclusive than those of other worldviews.

  But it's an entirely different thing to suggest that tolerance equates to apaty when children are being harmed, or religious institutions are getting unfair tax excemptions.

  Since when does tolerance means that I have to sit tight and shut up while the religious use prayer to heal our nations' problems? Or when they use a few select verses from the Holy Bible to justify the unfair treatment of women and homosexuals?

  Anyone is welcome to join the Stockton Area Atheists and Freethinkers, and our website and events are publically accessible. We will not eject anyone for having ideas different than ours -- but you can bet we will make every attempt to correct errors of logic, reason, and science. Especially when the outcome is something as important as life or death.

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• Andy Crowder posted at 10:12 pm on Mon, Aug 13, 2012.

  Posts: 244

  Mr. Paglia, you, Mrs. Hadden, and anyone else can worship a rock, and it is fine with me. The problem starts when you pick it up and throw it at people.

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• Kevin Paglia posted at 9:31 pm on Mon, Aug 13, 2012.

  Posts: 1729

  It is interesting how people screaming that everyone's life choices must be accepted and respected have NO problem putting down a life choice they disagree with. I guess they think acceptance is only suppose to go one way.
  

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• Andy Crowder posted at 8:26 pm on Mon, Aug 13, 2012.

  Posts: 244

  Mr. Paglia, I think you are confused about the term "open minded." Much like scientists, atheists are open to any idea that can be supported with evidence. We are skeptical of superstition and mythology. I imagine you feel the same about 99% of the time; that is, until the conversation turns to your superstitious beliefs.

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• Rick Houdack posted at 7:00 pm on Mon, Aug 13, 2012.

  Posts: 123

  If Paglia doesn't like his beliefs mocked and laughed at, he shouldn't believe such ridiculous and funny things.

  Carolyn Hadden has a long history of writing letters based on myth and nonsense and Diskin illuminated what reasonable people were thinking.

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• Kevin Paglia posted at 4:14 pm on Mon, Aug 13, 2012.

  Posts: 1729

  Considering David CLAIMS to be part of an open-minded organization that welcomes EVERYONE, he certainly in mocking of Christian behavior. Guess his group isn't as welcoming as he claims. Probably as welcoming as a spider web looking for unsuspecting Christians to wander in.

  To answer your mocking question, David. The 3 o'clock encouragement is the 3 O'clock from the time frame the person's operating on late afternoon/post lunch works as well. It is meant merely as an encouragement for Catholics to remember daily the sacrifice Jesus made, whenever during the day it works for that individual.

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• David Diskin posted at 9:26 am on Mon, Aug 13, 2012.

  Posts: 121

  Oh, and we've only been "one Nation, under God" for about 60 years.

  How about we remain "one Nation, indivisible" instead? That version was so much better until God came and divided us.

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• David Diskin posted at 9:25 am on Mon, Aug 13, 2012.

  Posts: 121

  Carolyn, I'm curious as to which 3:00 PM it is that Catholics are encouraged to pray? Is it 3:00 PM in their own time zone, GMT, or that of the Vatican?

  If it is to be their own time zone, what of those who are travelling? If they are overseas should they stay up extra late to pray when it reaches 3:00 PM in their home state?

  What of our fine astronauts currently in the International Space Station? At their rate of speed, they orbit the earth 15 times a day. Should they be praying once for each orbit, at approximately 3 PM, or should they do it every 24 hours at the exact moment they are passing by their home?

  It's a good thing we're not on Mars yet, or this would get even more confusing.

  As others have said, prayer is futile but if it makes you feel better then go for it. But let's not push it down others' throats who have other, far more important things to do.

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• Andy Crowder posted at 5:15 pm on Sat, Aug 11, 2012.

  Posts: 244

  Carolyn said : " . . . along with millions of others, I believe prayer is all that will save our wonderful, beautiful USA."

  
  You go ahead and pray, Carolyn. If you and millions of others believe that's all that's needed, it's just as well you keep yourself occupied with something harmless and comforting. Instead, I will be voting, advocating for those with no voice, and supporting common sense policies that will move our country forward.

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• Rick Houdack posted at 6:10 am on Sat, Aug 11, 2012.

  Posts: 123

  Our "Beloved Constitution" is secular and has nothing to do with the bible.

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