Question to atheists and agnostics: Are you sure no god exists that you believe in?

David1955 comments on Dec 29, 2020:

This is just new age godly kool aid, isn't it? God as energy, God as the universe, and so on. On God, the certainty or otherwise doesn't have to be mine. The onus is on those making the claim to prove it. They never have, never do. They can always come back with some proof, should they ever get some. Not holding my breath.

I just survived watching my cat bring a live mouse in the house, cornering it then going outside.

David1955 comments on Dec 29, 2020:

I'm not sure you understand cat psych. Your cat is 'paying the rent' for your care of him/her, letting you know that he/she is doing their bit (hunting mice) for looking after him or her. That's how they see it.

Food for thought. [youtube.com]

David1955 comments on Dec 29, 2020:

Statement 1: I agree. Not only do I not say this, and I hate to say it but some people are born inclined to religious belief. Psych studies suggest this too. The nature or nurture issue comes into play here to. It's a subject I find interesting but keep an open mind on. Statement 2: Hardly a point worth making. Statement 3 . Broadly agree. Well it is true that religious people are often immune to arguments of reason and evidence. The change has to come from within. Sometimes arguments from atheists can influence the religious, but not in direct debate, from my experience. Statement 4: Who says this statement friend? No serious atheist would make a generalization like this. Is this young man speaking purely about atheists, or about nonreligious people collectively, including agnostics? At least his heart is in the right place.

Thank you so much, God, for keeping us safe from the coronavirus that you caused to exist. : atheism

David1955 comments on Dec 26, 2020:

Remember God believes in free will and doesn't intervene.., well, except when he does, like to save George W Bush, oh, and to drown most people on the planet when he got angry once. Like that.

Religion needs to stop damaging people : atheism

David1955 comments on Dec 25, 2020:

Religion just needs to be stopped. Of course as a atheists we are often criticized for saying this, even by other non religious people, but as an atheist and antithest I don't care.

Trump's potential reasons for submarining the COVID relief bill: 1) To look like a hero to his base...

David1955 comments on Dec 24, 2020:

As you say, too stupid to see.

A SOLEMN OCCASION TONIGHT It is a solemn occasion and please take a moment to remember how a big ...

David1955 comments on Dec 24, 2020:

It is amazing how people fall for nonsense, isn't it? Still do, even now: Qanon, Roswell, free- market economics, economic rationalism, neo--liberalism.... the list goes on. People fall for simplistic stories that make complexity simplistic and easy to understand, something to worship and someone to hate. And it continues.

You celebrate a day that everyone decided that a baby was born.

David1955 comments on Dec 23, 2020:

I don't celebrate it at all. I mostly work through Christmas, grit my teeth and put up with Christmas rushes, have a lunch with what's left of my family, like several other times during the year, and generally get on with it all. If I could change it to science, reason and social justice day, I would.

Anyone else find the concept of Christianity deeply offensive? : atheism

David1955 comments on Dec 23, 2020:

Well it's not for nothing that I tell believers, if they engage me, that their Bronze Age dead and rising God, messianic apocalyptic death cult has vile bloody beginnings, vile bloody history, and a vile present in terms of its practice, and this is directly due to its ugly sacrifice themes and beliefs. Admittedly, this doesn't usually go down well with them, but if the truth hurts, well, that's not my problem.

I hate how people automatically assume that something drastic happened for you to be atheist : ...

David1955 comments on Dec 21, 2020:

I've been doing this for so long I've long since realised that at heart many religious people are full of doubt and fear, though in discussion they will double down, triple down, and project their fear onto the non religious. For the non religious, doubt is the oil that greases our minds always to function to look for new information and to question everything. For the religious, doubt is a fearful thing, that must be suppressed. Since the history, the arguments and the logic works against them, their only recourse is to convince themselves that we just don't get it or we are damaged in some way. But look into their eyes confidently that you just know they are on the wrong side of the argument, but they can't let it go.

if they could ban christmas would it matter.

David1955 comments on Dec 20, 2020:

Truth is it's a kind of global holiday now anyway, even in countries that are not very religious or Christian. In a way it has gone back to its pre Christian roots, and only people who want to link it to religion do that. For myself, it seems to me there are worse things from this Bronze Age dead and rising God messianic apocalyptic death cult called Christianity, like Easter, where the death cult themes are clear. Also, Christmas is now little more than a capitalism con, like many other days.

Go ahead and try that Lucifer's Logic with me and see what happens next. Nothing.

David1955 comments on Dec 17, 2020:

From my experience most religionists will argue that we can't blame God for awful things in this world because he gave us the 'wonderful gift of free will", so don't blame him. Then, in the same breath they will preach their Jesus story, which is godly intervention on a grand scale, and then god's miracles and the saints behind them, and how God came into their lives and saved them, and so on, utterly unaware of these totally incompatible assertions. They believe that God practices free will when it suits him, and intervenes blatantly when it suits him. That's the religious mind.

If you think you’re going to be happy and prosperous by sitting back and letting the government ...

David1955 comments on Dec 16, 2020:

A better example would be Wall Street, and their class. The US Government looks after them really well. Always happy and prosperous, no matter what they do. Huh?

Trump lawyers switch gears, claim fraud is 'undetectable'

David1955 comments on Dec 14, 2020:

So, like God, then. Just a matter of faith I guess.

Trump Calls Supreme Court A 'Disgrace', Says He Got 'Screwed' In Deranged Meltdown

David1955 comments on Dec 12, 2020:

Wait a minute. They were his best buddies last week, or so he inferred. A wannabe dictator's lot is not a happy one, happy one.

Smart move. Biden will have the White House disinfected when Trump leaves. [thehill]

David1955 comments on Dec 11, 2020:

I'd put some rat poison around as well for any rats that haven't jumped the sinking ship.

TIME's 2020 Person of the Year: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

David1955 comments on Dec 11, 2020:

Trump is going to be sooooooo pissed.

Georgia voter: Jesus is my savior and Trump is my President. Can’t make this stuff up.

David1955 comments on Dec 11, 2020:

I have seen news items with Trump people walking around with T-shirts that say this. If you going to believe in one myth, it's easier to believe in another. I have heard experts on conspiracy theory psychology say that once a person believes in one outlandish unproven myth, it is much easier to believe in a second and a third and so on.

Are we headed for a second Civil War?

David1955 comments on Dec 7, 2020:

A second? The first never really ended, it seems to me.

Rudy Giuliani Tests Positive for Covid-19 Trump announces on Twitter

David1955 comments on Dec 6, 2020:

Oh, I wouldn't worry too much. No doubt he'll get several hundred thousand dollars worth of state of the art medical care, like all Trump's buddies, and be back righty-right as rain. Just wait and see.

I'm conducting a survey to look into the possibility of a link between negative childhood ...

David1955 comments on Dec 6, 2020:

I don't see how any of these questions might show a link between negative childhood experiences and atheism. And are you suggesting a causal link between the two? One might also suggest a link between a happy childhood and atheism as well, but again unless the link is causal i don't any point. An example of a causal link between childhood and religion seems more likely. For example, children raised in a particular religion grow up to follow that religion, so the link is between childhood experience and religion. That one is pretty obvious.

"There have been at least 500 veteran suicides in Australia since the start of the Afghanistan war ...

David1955 comments on Dec 5, 2020:

We keep trailing behind America like a lap dog into one disastrous unnecessary war after another, but in the end it's the military people and innocents who pay the price. When Vietnam veterans came back with high psychological problems, they tried to blame it in part on anti Vietnam war people because the veterans, they said, didn't feel their sacrifice was appreciated. Of course, it was our fault, not brain dead America and our ass kissing politicians pursuing a false fabricated war. Well, with this unnecessary Yankee war folly in Afghanistan no one these days dare criticise the military heroes, else all political parties and Murdoch's media will pounce with venom. Yet, the same issues with returning military personnel arise. Whip them up with patriotism and send them off, and bring them back broken and damaged -- the usual contempt of wealth and power for the pawns they throw into their imperialist wars to justify military extravagance and their political agenda.

Should the Australian Governor General (Queen's Representative)be immediately dismissed & made to ...

David1955 comments on Dec 5, 2020:

I see a bigger issue here, and it's time we stop glorifying everything to do the Australian military and our military history, and governments and politicians and the media hiding behind this mythologising. Even when in the past stories emerge about corruption and bad practice in the military it gets buried. I'm tired of it. You can't criticise Australian military actions because that's criticising the troops, and the troops are heroes, so if you criticise them you aren't a 'real Australian.'. In post Vietnam war Australia-- i war i protested against, though I was a teenager, there has been an intentional policy of equating patriotism with a uncritical view on the military and our military ventures. I want that to change. Our involvement in Vietnam was ghastly. All of our involvements in aggressive US wars have been ghastly. We should be seeing the bigger picture. This guy is just one small part of all that.

Compounds in green tea, dark chocolate can inhibit covid

David1955 comments on Dec 4, 2020:

Since I drink green tea with jasmine daily, as well as dark chocolate only, I am pleased to hear this.

Just a proposal/suggestion here but, why don't we make things just a little bit more interesting?

David1955 comments on Dec 4, 2020:

Well, as I expect humanity to have occupied the solar system by the time I reach level 9, I'm, well, agnostic about this. (Did I say agnostic? Wash my mouth!). Might I further suggest that when someone reaches level 10 -- probably about the time our sun dies -- they have a nirvanic symbol attached, thus to show they have reached Nirvana and Enlightenment on this site?

Christians: "You're atheist because you're just angry at / bitter toward / afraid of / hate god.

David1955 comments on Dec 3, 2020:

True. I'm also livid at Santa Klaus, ropeable at the Easter Bunny, apoplectic towards the tooth fairy, and if I get my hands on the flying spaghetti monster he's going to get it good. Funny really, since it's religious believers who are the ones who are scared of their imaginary god. Emotional blackmail and fear are two main ways religions keep control over their gullible flock.

Virtually every agnostic lives like an atheist, living completely irreligious lives Dennis ...

David1955 comments on Dec 2, 2020:

I can't agree. One thing i have learnt in recent years is that the term agnostic covers a very wide group of people, from some who state their agnosticism well and are on a similar irreligious plane as atheists, to those agnostics who hang on to a lot of religious folly and pseudo religion but no longer technically call themselves religious. As an atheist, when someone tells me they are agnostic, I remain wary until I can gauge what they mean by that. A give-away to me is when an agnostic says, 'I'm agnostic but, although, however, etc or some other qualifying conjunction of contrast. The assumption that all agnostics live completely irreligious lives is not one I would make.

Covid-19 Will Deal a Huge Blow to Organized Religion: Many people go to church out of habit.

David1955 comments on Nov 30, 2020:

Yes, some people say this virus will take people back to religion. I don't agree. First, the church habit thing you mentioned it a good point. Second, COVID has been an awful but timely reminder that science and reason solves problems, not imaginary gods and their dickhead sons. Also, religions have not come across well during this crisis, and have looked impotent, in my opinion. Third, the future of religions depends on the young, not the old. Younger cohorts were already secularizing, and I think the virus tragedy will reinforce that. Personally, I'm looking forward to hard data on this subject in the future. We will just have to wait and see.

The poor conservatives are complaining that they are being abused on agnostic!.

David1955 comments on Nov 30, 2020:

Oh that's been going on since the beginning of the site; snowflake right wingers here hating to have their day ruined by the truth or reality. I shall never forget the time, methinks twas a couple of years ago, when the convenor of the Conservative group here told me I was banned from ever joining that group, which was funny since wild horses and the pale horse and his rider could never drag me anywhere near this cess pool of commie hating gun loving government despising freaksters. Mind you, it does worry Admin here that we aren't nice enough to such folk, though can't see why.

I’m an atheist, but I can’t wait to get back to church

David1955 comments on Nov 28, 2020:

I'd like to ask her exactly how she defined herself as an atheist. These kinds of pseudo religionists in sheep clothing annoy me, though they don't usually refer to themselves as atheists. Atheist is a defiant term in our countries, and from my experience it's more usual for someone to call themselves agnostic but still religion leaning. So, I'm suspicious of her.

If Christians insist on going to church during the pandemic they should accept that it's God's plan ...

David1955 comments on Nov 28, 2020:

Stupid religious is as stupid religious does.

Be still my heart.

David1955 comments on Nov 27, 2020:

Ominous words. He's cooking up something. Why do people underestimate the evil of this man?

Apparently today was thanksgiving day in America.

David1955 comments on Nov 26, 2020:

I'm sorry to say this, but watching from abroad it looks to me like thousands of Americans this year are thanksgiving each other COVID 19, and in about 3 weeks the results will be clear.

Are you a strong agnostic, a medium agnostic or a weak agnostic?

David1955 comments on Nov 26, 2020:

I'm a strong atheist. Agnosticism has nothing to do with it. Or did you just mean agnostic? If so, why?

If trump was defeated by the proverbial "deep state", and Biden is putting together a "deep state" ...

David1955 comments on Nov 24, 2020:

Yes I was watching news about Biden's recycled dudes from the previous democratic administrations and thinking that Trump's cult base will cry out that this is a reformation of the hideous deep state that they stupidly think he destroyed. But truth is, it is the same old same old in a kind of continuation of the Obama period. Don't expect anything progressive.

11/23/2020 Optimistic ramblings to the effect Trump is indeed on his way out.

David1955 comments on Nov 24, 2020:

He will be plotting his revenge. People continue to underestimate this evil man, at their cost.

Trump finally let Biden have some money to get started.

David1955 comments on Nov 23, 2020:

Mark my words. He's still planning something. Why would he put all his flunkies in key jobs? He's got something going on.

Analysis: Donald Trump has left the world stage. Few will miss him - CNN

David1955 comments on Nov 23, 2020:

He 'ain't left yet. CNN wishful thinking, longing for the good ole days again, like when Barack and Joe made nice speeches but played along and didn't upset the US ruling class apple cart.

Religion is at its best when....

David1955 comments on Nov 21, 2020:

... it disappears.

I hope friends and members will forgive me if my postings.

David1955 comments on Nov 20, 2020:

Ah shit, a real downer man. Legal stuff is the worst. I fought a defamation case years ago and though I won with compensation, I'm sure the stress took years of my life. Probably best to keep a cool head man, but don't blame you for thinking about vomiting on his quilt. As one who lives next to a convicted criminal, with a passing resemblance to Charlie Manson, and a manner to match, whom I avoid like the plague, it seems to me you can live in a nice neighbourhood but still end up with an asshole next door. Good luck with it Brother.

Covid: Pizza worker's 'lie' forced South Australia lockdown : [bbc.

David1955 comments on Nov 20, 2020:

Apparently, here in the city of empty churches, if you break any lockdown rules, do anything that is not permitted by the government, then you get a big big fine. BUT, if you lie to the authorities about your infection or activities relating to it, resulting in massive lockdown and impact on people's lives, they won't do a thing to you, indeed, no law broken. Is it just me ..? .

Whether or not God exists, Christopher Hitchens is still a scumbag

David1955 comments on Nov 18, 2020:

I read this the other day. It's a hatchet job. I'm not a big admirer of Hitchins, mostly his political views. But he despatched religion right well enough.

Aw, poor wittle Uncle ScumMo wearing a mask, imo, he'd look far better with a green plastic bin ...

David1955 comments on Nov 18, 2020:

Or Maxwell Smart's Dome of Silence on his head, so we wouldn't have to hear the god bothering half wit.

Australia's robodebt scheme has resulted in death and has been ruled illegal: [bbc.

David1955 comments on Nov 18, 2020:

Yes. Typical liberal party philosophy. Snouts in the trough for rich mates; stick it to the 'undeserving' social security people.

Republican U.S. Senator Grassley, 87, tests positive for coronavirus | Reuters

David1955 comments on Nov 18, 2020:

Like Trump and the collective scum around him, he'll get the best medical care, and be just fine. That's the horrible reality of *class* in countries like ours.

Dunny Paper Stampedes have resumed again in Sth.

David1955 comments on Nov 17, 2020:

People!

I find it reassuring that most of the developed/ educated world is embracing atheism or at least ...

David1955 comments on Nov 16, 2020:

Israel is higher than Australia? That's interesting. And I agree with you, and hope this broader trend will be enhanced by the experience of this virus. Too early to tell. Expect more push back from religions who feel more and more threatened. Also, expect comments here from some complaining about the reference to non religious or atheist, probably complaining that this is too narrow a definition. I like it just fine.

Kayleigh McEnany: Trump will attend 'his own' inauguration in January - Business Insider

David1955 comments on Nov 16, 2020:

That girl needs an intervention by people who care about her.

Melania Tells Trump It's Over

David1955 comments on Nov 15, 2020:

And just for the record, I hope she gets her just desserts as well; she is as deserving as he is.

Want to see how other countries view the United States?

David1955 comments on Nov 15, 2020:

It's what stupid people look like. I recall footage of the Manson Cult brain-dead followers from 50 years ago, proudly proclaiming how innocent Manson was and how it was all lies by the media. Never mind all the murders. Stupid is as stupid does. But fascism is based on large numbers of stupid people like this, that's true. Same for religion.

I think its time to move on.

David1955 comments on Nov 14, 2020:

What did you think about Admin's recent carefully worded post suggesting a watering down of the site's mission statement, making it less 'scary' by avoiding scary references like atheism, essentially to broaden the 'appeal' of the site to less cerebral folk, and especially younger cohorts who don't like big words and scary big ideas? Is any of that in your thinking? I've been mulling that over myself. I hate to see a member like yourself withdrawing. Wondering about the future myself. I can barely tolerate the underlining assumption here of agnostics that this is really about them because of the site name, which it isn't, or at least it wasn't, but when I asked Admin to reaffirm this recently he was silent. So, the prospect of dumbing the site down to be a mini-me Facebook certainly raises concern, at least with me. One good thing is I have you subscribed in YouTube so I'll find you there. Finally, without wanting to be presumptuous, I have felt that atheists like you and me actually believe in taking the fight to religion, actively promoting a secular non religious world. So when I see more and more members here touting their apathetic attitude towards religion, I sigh and think to myself, 'really is that what i thought the site would be?'

2 points for today.

David1955 comments on Nov 14, 2020:

Like most God bothers, ScumMo puts his faith in God and brat jesus unless his ass is on the line, then thinks the better of it. In some ways that is the underlining secularism of Australia: put down religion on the census form, and tell everyone what church you belong to (but never attend) but when the shit hits the fan, the rubber hits the road, and push comes to shove, it's modern common sense that prevails. We should be thankful, actually. We didn't have huge numbers of people listening to religious fools opposing masks and saying God will save you from the virus, and then dying, like in America.

Landslide! Joe Biden won 306 Electoral Votes. Hooray!

David1955 comments on Nov 13, 2020:

As a foreigner, I have to say that if the various legal Districts of New York don't legally move on this grifter asap after he leaves the WH, then it will be the final proof that the rich in America truly are above the law. I watched that worthless Mueller report waste 200 million dollars doing nothing, and was not the least bit surprised. Will he walked away again because that's what the wealthy do in America?

G'day there fellow Aussie Sceptics and friends.

David1955 comments on Nov 13, 2020:

Greetings. Honourable Group Leader @Triphid I just make the point that it would be good if there more posts from this group, if it were active from a wider group. I know this depends on members, and you yourself are very attentive to the group, as is @powder, and my own posts wax and wane with my own pissed off level with stuff in Australia, but i just make this general point.

Is the Pope Catholic?

David1955 comments on Nov 12, 2020:

Wealth and privilege often plug religion, not because they believe it but because they think it's good for the 'little people' to believe in something so they don't ask too many questions about our shitty unfair world. Look at Rupert 'Douchbag' Murdoch, peddler of Fox and it's phoney Christian credentials. Anyone think he worships any god but money and power? Regarding the Pope though I'm sure he believes all that catholic crap, and has no desire to do anything substantial to modernise it.

Applicants wishing to join Aussie Sceptics please note.

David1955 comments on Nov 12, 2020:

Sure.

I see our conservative snowflakes are busy posting again.

David1955 comments on Nov 12, 2020:

Oh, what are they saying? I thought they had hunkered off years ago into their alternative reality group to talk about loving Trump, how much they hate lefties, taxes (unless paid by the poor) socialism hatred (unless they get a hand out 'theyselves' ) their 'libertarian' ideals, and hating lefties once more. What have the terrible lefties done now, according to them? Do tell. These folks are fine, you know. They just need a brain scan, 'tis all.

The Moon in front of the Earth . . . .

David1955 comments on Nov 11, 2020:

I've seen this photo before. It's a great shot, but i don't think the perspective is correct. If you look at shots of the earth and moon from space, the earth could not be that size taken behind the moon. I assume the shot shows a zoom lens perspective or something like that taken from the craft.

I find it telling that if you claims God speaks to you, it is literally a sign of schizophrenia : ...

David1955 comments on Nov 11, 2020:

Saul of Tarsus talked to God and Jesus often by a light in the sky. They built a death cult religion based on it. They should have taken to the doctor; probably a witch doctor in those days.

I can't work out why people are upset Trump won't concede.

David1955 comments on Nov 10, 2020:

He uses all the weaknesses of the US system against itself. As it is so weakened he is able to do it. I wouldn't assume he won't succeed. This may be just the next act in the story of the transition to a US Banana Republic. The media, the gutless democratic party, and the bureaucrats huff and puff and he continues on as usual. I wrote here the day Biden was declared the winner that the US should brace brace brace! It amazes me that Americans just don't seem to understand how corrupt and internally weak their country is. One thing is sure: the age of US moral prestige in the world is over. Even if Biden manages to get in, it is clear that a powerful elite in America want the country to be a white autocracy, and they will just move to their next game plan. As an Australian, if Trump suceeds, we should withdraw from the US Australian alliance. We should not be aligned with a rogue state. They can take all their friggen' military bases with them as they close the door.

Deer Republican atheists,if you received an email requesting donations for a defense fund for Donald...

David1955 comments on Nov 9, 2020:

Surely no atheist would be that stupid? (Still an idealist, I guess).

3 years ago I wrote the following: I've recently been commenting about supermarket check out ...

David1955 comments on Nov 9, 2020:

Yes, I always treat supermarket checkout people well, as it worries me that the friggen supermarkets are trying to push us to those self service machines, forcing us to do their work, and depriving employment for the various people to do it, including students. Recently I was bit grumpy with a checkout chick because they had only 2 open, and the 12 or less one closed, and I had just one thing and had to wait a long time. I wasn't taking it out on her, only grumbling about how this shoudn't happen, but later I felt guilty that I hadn't done the right thing and referred it to the manager. She didn't need to hear me grumbling. These supermarkets are vultures, and I fear the auto checkout thing will happen -- as if they don't make enough zillions as it is. Capitalism - it needs regulation or it is just ruthless.

Shall we start a pool bet on how long it's going to take Melania to file for divorce?

David1955 comments on Nov 8, 2020:

Yeah she's going to stick him and fleece him before the prosecutors line up as well as his creditors. I read somewhere that after he won the 2016 election and before becoming president she negotiated a written financial deal to play the First Lady role next to him. I'd bet she's calling that in soon.

The rest of the world is also glad to get rid of Trump.

David1955 comments on Nov 8, 2020:

Including Australia. Hoping you can get rid of him

If humanity could get past religion and politics, what do you think it should focus on instead?

David1955 comments on Nov 7, 2020:

You can't lump them together. Politics is about contest of ideas and philosophy and economics and when performed honestly is about human progress. The only way to get 'past' that would be to live in sterile and probably single ideology state. Religion, by comparison, is the very opposite of that; about mindless faith and belief in non rational things. To get past that would be to leave it behind and focus on creating a better world, which brings us back to politics.

Some thoughts on broadening the appeal of Agnostic.

David1955 comments on Nov 6, 2020:

I would urge you not to change "The social network for atheists, agnostics & skeptics." It sounds like there is a desire to water down the site mission by avoiding big scary words like atheist, especially to attract younger members. Well, I wouldn't like to see the above sentence removed. You know what happens when you water down something too much -- no flavour.

Donald Trump has disappeared into a fantasy of his own devising

David1955 comments on Nov 5, 2020:

I don't know if you have noticed but Trump has a way of making his fantasies the awful reality in America.

20 The calm before the storm?

David1955 comments on Nov 5, 2020:

Predictions: Trump will drag out recounts to mark time and use the courts. Trump will go to the Supreme court to block election results. Trump will declare a 'coup' against him and declare martial law, or similar. Trump is a lawless criminal who will use lawless criminality to stay in power. Are US systems strong enough to withstand this right wing coup of America? I doubt it, based on the past 4 years.

I updated my profile with some background info... thoughts?

David1955 comments on Nov 5, 2020:

Thanks for that. Despite niggles and moans about some things here -- in particular the site name Agnostic.com which i think should have been broader, rather than either intentionally or unintentionally giving a nod to one group here and their false sense of 'ownership' of the site --- the site is much appreciated and one really important way I can interact with non believers. I personally like to think of it (mostly) as a community of unbelievers, and that's one of the original site names that I still very much like.

Are we witnessing the end of "American Exceptionalism?"

David1955 comments on Nov 4, 2020:

Yes.I wrote a couple of days ago here about the election that I was forlorn because I don't trust American political parties, I don't trust American electoral systems, I don't trust American legal systems, and most of all I don't trust Americans, so why would anyone trust their polls? So, the result so far is no shock to me. Biden may sqeak out a victory, but I expect the Republican party's use of corrupt American systems to keep Trump there will prevail. I'll happily admit I was wrong if I am, but see if I'm right. I remember when I wrote here months before the worthless Mueller Report came out that it would be a fizzer and a Republican smother. I was condemned roundly for not respecting what a great institutionalist hero Mueller was. Baloney. I was right. It was a fizzer. I suspect American corruption will keep the Trump Republican autocracy where it is. American systems are too weak now. American exceptionalism, to your question, is now a past echo of a farce; it always was part myth part real, but now it is pure mythology. The whole world knows it. Trumpism is now known to be not an abberation but what America now is: a country where virtually half the population desire autocracy, and they don't care who dies keeping it there.

Last time Trump won I became an athiest.

David1955 comments on Nov 4, 2020:

Consider being an expatriate. The most sensible Americans i have ever known were living abroad. I just can't live in America, they would say, or similar.

Good luck America. I hope that later in the week we are not writing your eulogy. 🤫

David1955 comments on Nov 2, 2020:

I agree with you. Trouble is, I don't trust US political parties; I don't trust US electoral systems; I don't trust US legal systems, and frankly I don't trust Americans and their polls. A sad but true statement about the US today.

What is the Australian viewpoint regarding 4 years of President Trump's office?

David1955 comments on Nov 1, 2020:

We put a line through America's name and say, well, that was that. Whether one believes it was misfortune or bad karma -- for all the wars, interventions against other countries, propping up dictators, destroying all progressive movements either domestic or international, criminal activities by its security agencies and all the other sins of 'truth, justice and the American way' -- is a matter of opinion. I'm a realist about America, not politically anti-American, but that's how it would be. My sympathies are with the millions of Americans who don't deserve this vomit all over their bedspread.

Sean Connery dies, aged 90, in the Bahamas.

David1955 comments on Oct 31, 2020:

The world is going to hell AND the real James Bond is dead. 2020, what a year.

Sad news for all Bond Fans, etc.

David1955 comments on Oct 31, 2020:

Yes indeed. A great Bond, and a great Scotsman. Tonight I'll watch my copy of You Only Live Twice (1967). My favourite Connery Bond.

The socialism debate...

David1955 comments on Oct 29, 2020:

Yes, Right Wing Vogons are impossible to get through to. Their emotional fear of "socialism" is beyond reason. They don't fear huge companies using them up and splitting them out; they don't fear right wing parties screwing them over; they don't fear right wing corporate power stealing their information and taking their liberty, but "socialism!!" -- rattles them with fear. They don't understand political philosophy, and they don't do critical thinking. I've given up on them.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that he saw nothing criminal in Hunter Biden’s ...

David1955 comments on Oct 25, 2020:

Trying to prove that Trump isn't his puppet. Any takers? Anyone?

Ugh. Why are there religious people on this site?

David1955 comments on Oct 23, 2020:

This week I posted in the Senate here that I believed it was time for a question to be added to the profile questions, basically "Are you religious and do you intend to preach here? " If "yes" then you cannot join, and if "no" and you preach then you can be removed. Actually, not many supported the suggestion, which was disappointing but not surprising. We are too Woke here apparently to think that a site for the non religious might actually not want God botherers here. Anyway, I agree with you.

Can we choose a responder or group of responders for religious zealots who try and annoy us by ...

David1955 comments on Oct 21, 2020:

Let's just not allow people who clearly identify as religious sprukers . I haven't been concerned about them before, but now there are more and more of them. This site should be robust about what it stands for.

([)] Brett Kavanaugh lied before confirmation and should be impeached after Trump and the Senate...

David1955 comments on Oct 20, 2020:

He also lied or concealed about his work for the second Bush Admin, and suspicious aspects of his finances, so for all these and I'm sure much more the arc of history should catch up with him. This Amy woman is no more honest as well. Poor RGB, she tried so hard to hang in there.

BERNIE SANDERS.

David1955 comments on Oct 20, 2020:

I really don't know what is worse on this site: religious trolls or right wing political trolls. It's a toss up.

I keep running across people who are strangely under the impression that the Nazis were socialists.

David1955 comments on Oct 19, 2020:

People have been so programed by the Political Right to respond negatively and instinctively like Pavlov's dogs to the word Socialism, they are unable distinguish between socialism, communist socialism, democratic socialism, and social democracy, and national socialism, the latter of course meaning Nazism. It's what the Right do: spread ignorance and benefit from it.

Karl Marx's Anti-Semitism - YouTube

David1955 comments on Oct 19, 2020:

Well that's odd. Marx was Jewish.

Bill Maher Says Amy Coney Barrett Should Be Attacked Over Religion Because ‘Being Nuts Is ...

David1955 comments on Oct 18, 2020:

He is right! If the other party put up a candidate who was a Muslim, even if that person rejected all forms of extremism, does anyone think Republicans wouldn't be all over that person's religious beliefs? Oh, she's a Catholic so that's ok, and a Christian. Baloney.

As Agnostics, we had best stop using that word .

David1955 comments on Oct 18, 2020:

Well speaking an an atheist -- the highest grouping on this site -- since the religious origins of the word goodbye ( which I know as I teach English and usually tell students that) is completely irrelevant now, and is not used in any religious way, I have no problem with it. If we went back and researched all of English for words with a religious origin or some origin not acceptable in the new puritanism of woke political correctness, then our language might be gutted. I live in fear that the woke set might do that anyway, but for language origins that relate not so much with religion but their usual political correctness preoccupations.

Donald Trump says he might leave US if he loses to Joe Biden | The Independent

David1955 comments on Oct 17, 2020:

More like flee the country, to avoid the law. Maybe his buddy Vlad will take him in. Fat chance.

Just to remind there is more to the world of politics than the West and Trump.

David1955 comments on Oct 17, 2020:

Yeah, I'm following it too. You know I'm a former expat in Thailand who wished I'd been able to stay there. Despite its problems i love this country. None of this is a surprise. In the 90s trusting Thais told me that if that dipso dickhead son succeeded his father it would ruin Thailand. They saw it coming. Most wanted the daughter to succeed, but it wasn't possible. King Lunkhead probably thinks the times suit absolute rulars like he wants to be, but Thais are funny people; they are incredibly respectful of authority but can rise up too, like we've seen. Unless the military turn against him -- and he's a creature of the military and their authority-- I don't see good outcomes. Along with economic crisis due to COVID, it's a perfect storm. I worry too.

Al Capone was onto something.

David1955 comments on Oct 16, 2020:

I'm reminded of a quote by gangster Sam Giancana (remember him? He shared a girlfriend with JFK, as one did back then ). He reportedly said: "Organised Crime! Look at the government. They make their own rules. They print their own money, and they kill anyone they want to, and they call *us* organised crime!" He was referring to the American government of course, capturing a similar idea to Big Al's.

I’d like to get members opinions and thoughts and feelings about agnostic theists; of which I am ...

David1955 comments on Oct 16, 2020:

agnostic theists - sounds contradictory to me. These days people come up with all kinds of questionable composite positions. I myself as an atheist prefer to focus on creating a religion free secular world based on science, reason and social and economic justice, even if I won't live to see it.

Rudy Giuliani’s Daughter Caroline on Voting for Joe Biden | Vanity Fair

David1955 comments on Oct 16, 2020:

I watched her on the Maddow show earlier. She's clearly not a political type of person but someone who sees her country in peril and did what she thought she could. Good on her. Tell you one thing, I'd love to be a fly on the wall during the next Giuliani family get together. She'd hold her ground, I'd bet.

Pope Francis assures atheists: You don’t have to believe in God to go to heaven | The Independent ...

David1955 comments on Oct 15, 2020:

This is old. This is typical double speak by this guy. He talks from both sides of his mouth. Part of his pretend reaching out to others, like when he said that "Who am I to judge on being gay?" comment, ignoring that his archaic church and spiteful deity certainly does, according to its archaic theology. I remember some wag saying back in 2015 when this was reported, that it was like being offered membership to a club that you wouldn't join on any day.

I do this all the time.

David1955 comments on Oct 13, 2020:

John Lennon said it best. "God is a concept by which we measure our pain." In the song he repeated the line.

Priest caught having threesome on altar.

David1955 comments on Oct 10, 2020:

Of course. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. All swingers.

The Decline of Religion Continues – Nones Gain 3 Percent in One Year – Religion in Public

David1955 comments on Oct 9, 2020:

I read this a day or two ago, and was pleased. It confirms this trend in other studies.

Apple made ProtonMail add in-app purchases, even though it had been free for years Remember Hey ...

David1955 comments on Oct 9, 2020:

I was an Apple guy for 30 years, but I now have nothing to do with Apple products. The company I was so supportive of back in the 80s and 90s is now dead, and I loathe the thing that is now called Apple. I like to think that had Jobs lived this Apple monster under the Bean Counter who now runs Apple, would not have happened, but who knows.

Can anyone relate?

David1955 comments on Oct 7, 2020:

Religions are just based on these false assumptions, which you seem to give some credence.

Trump's doctor makes it clear he shouldn't be leaving the hospital yet

David1955 comments on Oct 5, 2020:

Wait for day 9. From what I've read, day 9 is the day when this thing turns nasty, even if the patient has been making progress.

Imagine a scenario where Donald Trump and Melania emerge in two weeks time from Walter Reed National...

David1955 comments on Oct 4, 2020:

It's hard too see that even this scenario could negate the reality of the epidemic that Trump ignored, downplayed and made much worse as a result. Also, the reality that the great bulk of the population could never receive these new wonder drugs would also be clearly obvious. The scenario that Trump might have a mild case, and bounce back in two weeks, thus cementing his reputation amongst his cult followers of his Jesus-like miracle powers would be a concern, but given his age and medical state I suspect that's not likely.

Are ScumMo and Co. for real?

David1955 comments on Oct 3, 2020:

You know the old right wing saying: if you should continue to fail, try try the same old discredited policies again and again.

Now they’ve No Platformed Richard Dawkins

David1955 comments on Oct 3, 2020:

Ridiculous. But I'll wager you'll get comments here from some about how awful Dawkins and others in his circle are for atheism because they speak plainly and sometimes say what the politically correct brigade don't approve of. They're not usually atheists, though.