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Re: "Spreading the Good News About Atheism": Why We Need Atheist Ad Campaigns | Belief | AlterNet

GodlessOldMan — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:57:15 -0000

I think Hank R is right on target. I am a CFI member and I think it is unnecessary to try to convert staunch believers in any faith. My hope is that we can keep the USA secular and move more towards the European level of secularism. I think we atheists and secular humanists must speak up and let the country know we are here and that we are unwilling to sacrifice our freedom to evangelical fundamentalists.

Re: 6 Things You Should Know About Arizona's Worse-Than-Wisconsin's Attack on Public Workers | | AlterNet

GodlessOldMan — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:04:48 -0000

Just what one would expect from GED Jan with the spray on tan.

Re: Chris Hayes Is Right About Heroes

GodlessOldMan — Thu, 31 May 2012 16:51:06 -0000

Scabby, you are right on target and so was Chris Hayes. I wish Chris hadn't backed down but I'm sure NBC gave him only one other choice.. the doorway. Chris is probably the most intelligent and honest voice on TV but Rachel is close behind.

Re: Chris Hayes on Elite Failure

GodlessOldMan — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 17:32:30 -0000

I share Neo Conned's concern. Chris Hayes' UP is absolutely MSNBC's very best program.
Sorry ED, Lawrence and Rachel; you are great but Chris is phenominal.
And then MSNBC follows Chris with all over the map Melissa Harris-Perry who should be replaced by a critical thinking female.
What a disgusting defense of Mormon's and their sordid history and miogyny. A freebie plug for Mutt Romney in spite of her disclaimer at the end.
Chris was the best MSNBC could pluck from The Nation and Melissa the worst, what a contrast.

Re: Melissa Harris-Perry Explores Misconceptions About Mormon Religion With Mormon Panelists

GodlessOldMan — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 19:13:02 -0000

Don't start with lds.org, that is just lds propagaanda.
Start with the cult leaders that founded the Mormon church and follow the history of child brides and wife stealing, etc..
They were really obnoxious psychopathic perverts. And like all religions it is based on faith (that which can not be proved.)

Re: Melissa Harris-Perry Explores Misconceptions About Mormon Religion With Mormon Panelists

GodlessOldMan — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 19:25:29 -0000

ManDuckly is correct. According to the Constitution there should be no test of faith for public office. Instead of putting on a pitch for the Mutt and the Mormon's Melissa missed a real opportunity to discuss why there was any discussion of religion in political races!
Personally wouldI prefer a person with no faith but rather a critical thinker who uses science, reason and logic in office.
A secular humanist epistimologist would be a gould fit for a leader.
Maybe we can get Chris Hayes to field this one. He is much better qualified on this subject than Melissa.

Re: Feisty Host Dylan Ratigan Will Exit MSNBC

GodlessOldMan — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:32:56 -0000

I definitely agree with willymack. Chris Matthews hasn't let a guest finish a statement in years. Plus he is an all over the map flip flopper Blue Dog.

Re: Feisty Host Dylan Ratigan Will Exit MSNBC

GodlessOldMan — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:34:24 -0000

Melissa Harris-Perry? Give me a break! Dylan used logic and reason, Melissa is into mysticism and fantasy. I'll certainly miss Dylan. I hope MSNBC doesn't drop Ed next.
Yes Martin, Rachel and Bill are all really great but the best of all is probably Chris Hayes.

Re: Biggest Threat to Religion? Clergy People Coming Out as Atheists

GodlessOldMan — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:47:04 -0000

Excellent summary hypatiabab7. Pelican Beak sounds pretty naive about the difficulties clergy have when "the light turns on." They still have families to support and wives, children and parishioners who are "astonished" when they come out.
They usually lose their social support structure.

Re: Biggest Threat to Religion? Clergy People Coming Out as Atheists

GodlessOldMan — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:56:41 -0000

Thanks terrily....FFRF is an extremely important Freethought organization and yes Dan Barker's book GODLESS is excellent. I also urge all atheists, agnostics, skeptics and freethinkers to consider supporting FFRF. And if you live in Southern Arizona join Free Thought Arizona http://www.freethoughtarizo... which actively supports the Clergy Project locally.

Re: 7 States That Ban Atheists From Holding Public Office

GodlessOldMan — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:49:01 -0000

If you don't like these laws check out http://www.ffrf.org (Freedom From From Religion Foundation) and if you live in SE Arizona check out Tucson based http://www.freethoughtarizo... (Free Thought Arizona.) It's time that ALL freethinkers, atheists, agnostics and skeptics got active.

Re: Why Are Believers Willfully Ignorant About Atheists?

GodlessOldMan — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:07:47 -0000

As usual Greata is right on target. There is no difference in the love, grief etc. I feel as a reborn atheist than what I felt years ago as a born again Baptist. If anything I am freer to have honest feelings now.

And another thought for Rev? Dunbar, homo sapiens are not the only mammals to feel emotion. I don't want to anthropomorphise other forms of life but does anyone doubt that elephants grieve?
I have yet to meet a christian elephant but I suspect they all are atheists because they don't appear to have relationships with a personal god.

Re: Red, White, and Blue No Longer: Religion and A Non-White American Future

GodlessOldMan — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:17:59 -0000

The real problem is religion.Period! Without any religions this issue would not exist.

Re: Climate Disasters' Toll Worsened by Sustained Attacks on Public Sector, Science and Regulation

GodlessOldMan — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:24:25 -0000

How about laying some blame on the Mormons and Christians who want Armageddon to arrive ASAP. I think religious fundamentalists and their allies the oil companies (sometimes one and the same (think the Koch's and Betsy DeVos.) are opposed to all science and especially climate change science.

Re: Are Mormon Underwear Magic Between the Sheets?

GodlessOldMan — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:57:19 -0000

Jesus didn't rise from the dead and there is no heaven to go to.
I wonder if the Mormonas ever thought about what trillions of trillions of years in heaven would be like running around with other wierdos in funny underwear!?
Lucky for them there is no forever place in the universe for a "heaven" to exist.

Re: Melissa Harris-Perry Talks Porn's Impact on Society

GodlessOldMan — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 22:46:59 -0000

I usually like Melissa but in no way can she compare to Chris Hayes for insight and balance.
Just think back a couple weeks when she had the horrible collection of Mormons trying to justify Mormonism.

Re: Loretta Preska's Judicial Crusade to Establish Churches in Schools

GodlessOldMan — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:43:47 -0000

This is bad news. I'm sure that Freedom From Religion Foundation http://www.ffrf.org and the
Secular Coalition will jump on this http://secular.org will jump on this. Let's all of us separation of church/state types chip in a few $$$ to help if we can.

Re: Loretta Preska's Judicial Crusade to Establish Churches in Schools

GodlessOldMan — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:48:32 -0000

This is bad news!I'm sure the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the Secular Coalition will jump on this. And I hope some of you can help them with some $$$ to fight it.
http://www.ffrf.org and http://secular.org

Re: What Happens When Atheists Confront Mortality

GodlessOldMan — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 12:23:26 -0000

The above posts are good. I have been to the precipice and had no fear of dying.
I was resuscitated 3 times and remember the dying experience twice. Very comfortable and the incredible pain I had been in flushed out, very peaceful.
5 days of near death followed of which I was conscious part of the time but well aware of the probability of mortality. I thought about the great life I had but thought I would try to survive. If not I was comfortable with dying. I had been raised a fundamentalist Baptist but had been atheist for at least a decade. Age 51 when this happened, now 73 and very comfortable with death whenever Grim comes for me now.

Re: What Happens When Atheists Confront Mortality

GodlessOldMan — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 16:40:35 -0000

In my limited experience I have to disagree with this comparison with religious believers. When I was a "believer" although I always had doubts I realized many of the fundamentalists I was raised with did fear death. I suspect fear is what drove them to religion.
I worked as an inhalation therapist at a hospital when I was in college and saw at least 100 deaths during that time. I observed that type A business people and deeply religious people were the ones who feared death the most.
I didn't mention this in my first post since it is a separate observation/experience.

Re: What Happens When Atheists Confront Mortality

GodlessOldMan — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 16:52:21 -0000

You raise a good question Jessica. Both of my fundamentalist Baptist parents had not planned to die. They thought the end of the world and rapture was near and they were going straight to heaven when their El Cristo returned. I think especially my deacon Dad was having some doubts when he lay in pain in a nursing home at 87 and the Rapture hadn't happened yet.

Re: What Happens When Atheists Confront Mortality

GodlessOldMan — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 19:25:32 -0000

I didn't see anything that resembled pearly gates, everything looked milky cream with hundreds of "floaters", then I was gone until revived. I suspect your Mom was hallucinating (not meant to be derogatory.) Possibly from trauma. Neurologists might have a better explanation.

Re: What Happens When Atheists Confront Mortality

GodlessOldMan — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 23:12:37 -0000

I referred to Type A businessmen not all bussiness men. I actually had a couple of middle age guys tell me "they can't die yet because they hadn't lived yet." Both died. Pretty sad when they have been 24/7 business hoping to enjoy life after they have "made it."
And no we are not all religious. Atheism is the absence of religion.
I am atheist and a secular humanist, neither of which involve religion.I know numerous businessmen who are atheist (not religious.) Religious and businessman are separate descriptions.

Re: Are Progressives Harming Their Cause by Attacking Organized Religion and People of Faith?

GodlessOldMan — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 13:20:44 -0000

They were (atheists) because religious leaders might have diluted their power (and probably committed their own atrocities.) Remember Hitler was a Catholic and he was leading a holy war.

Re: Are Progressives Harming Their Cause by Attacking Organized Religion and People of Faith?

GodlessOldMan — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 13:24:53 -0000

I agree if the churches are running a business and all churches are businesses. And their schools and hospitals are taking a lot of public funding.