3rd July 2008
“When you look at it rationally there is no reason why [religious] ideas shouldn't be as open to debate as any other, except that we have agreed somehow between us that they shouldn't be.”
Douglas Adams1952 – 2001
“When you look at it rationally there is no reason why [religious] ideas shouldn't be as open to debate as any other, except that we have agreed somehow between us that they shouldn't be.”
Douglas Adams1952 – 2001
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:16
If you want to see where the action is, check out the comments section relating the Newsweak(sic) article on who is better – Lincoln or Darwin. No frickin kidding. Because they happen to have been born on the same day. You will see some beauts posted there. So far, I’ve seen:
Pasqual’s wager
MACRO evolution
Genes never change
God of the Gaps
Jeremiah bible quotes (spoiler alert: God is a prick)
Darwin was a racist
Evolution caused Hitler
Stalin!
Evolution isn’t FACT, it’s a THEORY!
Micheal Behe
Flagellum Motor
The human eye (pinnacle of design perfection)
I promise you you’ve never seen such hysterical unreason in one place. It’s a bible thumping freak fest!
If you’ve ever seen the movie Armageddon (Bruce Willis) there’s a line “Scariest environment imaginable…that all you need to say.”
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:45
“When you look at it rationally there is no reason why [religious] ideas shouldn’t be as open to debate as any other, except that we have agreed somehow between us that they shouldn’t be.” Douglas Adams 1952 – 2001
There have been few periods of time, anywhere in the world, when it was possible to critique, safely, the prevailing religious ethos. This is one of the few periods—at least for us in the West—when it is possible to attack the nonsense of the biblical fables and argue with the indoctrinated simpletons who uphold them.
It is woeful that, because of the huge negative effects of religion, much of human history has been a massive error; and it is ongoing.
Atheists have rationality and open-minded intelligence on their side. They must make their philosophically-flawless case better known in the face of the continuing crazy belief in supernatural and superstitious stupidities.
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:11
And don’t the theologians and bishops howl when we do discuss religion. We are called “militant atheists” or “fundamentalist atheists” and are misrepresented and vilified from all religious quarters.
Still, sometimes any publicity is good publicity.
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:47
Can’t you imaging where our species would be technologically if 1000 years of our progress hadn’t been crushed under the boot of organised religion…
July 3rd, 2008 at 13:36
… that was ‘imagine’ obviously 🙂
July 3rd, 2008 at 14:17
Always a though thing for godbots to do since there reason for existence is based on ir-rationality.
Douglas Adams was truly insightful. I think I like his writing so much because reminds me of my favorite American author: Mark Twain. They both wrote in the context of their time but a majority of Twain’s work still remains pertinent 100+ years later. I hope that Adam’s work will still be read and enjoyed 100 years from now.
July 3rd, 2008 at 14:43
Chris: I just skimmed a few of the comments on the Newsweak[sic] article – absolutely appalling. Your comments are concise and right to the point but I believe you were arguing to the extremely closed minded. Your calm and logical arguments are to be commended – I would have unleashed a vitriolic fury of ad hominem arguments – because if they were ever warranted, it would be against the complete stupidity shown in those comments. A “bible-thumping freak fest” indeed (that’s a good collective ad hominem argument).
After reading those comments I feel so dirty – I think I’ll need to reboot my computer…….
July 3rd, 2008 at 16:32
Thanks Critic – yeah, that’s me. Duuuuude…. 🙁
July 3rd, 2008 at 20:26
Rest in peace Douglas. The words live on.