David1955's Profile

Sometimes when I think there’s a lull, I try to post questions that promote critical thought, ...

David1955 comments on Apr 24, 2018:

I find what people don't comment on is as interesting as what they do comment on and what they say. I follow this closely. Ask questions about favourite movies, what they're having for dinner tonight or what they should wear on a first date, and alike, and an inundation of comments will appear. On more serious subjects the response is more patchy, and often from a smaller group of members. I think there are a lot of Facebook refugees here for whom the more serious issues don't really apply as much. I'm not trying to be judgemental, I'm just drawing my observations of the post and response patterns I see here. Like those of you here I think about how we can shape and focus the momentum here.

Sometimes when I think there’s a lull, I try to post questions that promote critical thought, ...

David1955 comments on Apr 24, 2018:

A lull? I haven't seen too many lulls here. I find this site to be quite lull-less, with a low degree of lulling compared to most forums I've seen. Should the propensity of the site lend towards greater lull-ability then I certainly think we should shake the tree to shake the lullers out of their lullingness. Haven't seen it yet though. ;-)

Confrontational?

David1955 comments on Apr 24, 2018:

No, but I would like to have a badge that says, "I'm an Atheist. If you're a religious proselytiser don't even think about it girlfriend." :-)

How often, or when do you feel like you need to exercise the old "suspension of disbelief"?

David1955 comments on Apr 23, 2018:

Any pure fantasy and entertainment, yes no problem. Religion propagated through bad history and fraudulent story lines dressed up as 'a true story', like just about all religious fiction for the masses, no, never. Same holds true of cinema/tv purporting to be true stories when in fact I know the history and know they are peddling crap. Nothing suspended there, except the remote control in the off position.

While I think having a space for higher level members could be good, there are more than a few ...

David1955 comments on Apr 23, 2018:

I concur with your point. I'm watching some of these site changes, higher level groups, etc, with a little detachment at this stage, always positive about this site, but wary of the stratifying of the community. It's my cautious nature, despite my left wing politics. :-) Longevity and points can but does not always result from quality contribution, your point I believe. It is good that members, and site management, are reviewing these developments constructively.

So you join a dating site and you need a user name that represents who you feel you are.

David1955 comments on Apr 23, 2018:

I stopped reading this thread half way through, deciding I was too young to read it :-) Maybe some posts should have an R or X rating, so youngsters like me can avert our naive eyes. ;-)

Atheist principles - would atheists be interested in listing basic atheist principles?

David1955 comments on Apr 23, 2018:

Look it depends what we mean by principles. I voted yes because I would like to see the broad nonreligious community focus on things we do agree on rather than the endless debates between atheists and agnostics and all the other groups and identifiers that are used. I know this is a pipe dream, because people in any movement always break up into groups and subgroups and splinters of subgroups, like the scene in monty Python and the people's front of Judea, and that's probably why I've never been a movement joiner. However, I like to think there are principles and values and people who have clearly defined themselves as nonreligious can agree on. As so often happens, however, it gets down to words and definitions. I do think this is an interesting subject to pursue and it has been on my mind too.

This may seem trivial to some but I'm really into this point system.

David1955 comments on Apr 22, 2018:

I have at say that I don't even know what my current points are. I don't think I've ever looked. I have never allowed it to govern my contribution here. It goes up as it does. I contribute as I wish, to varying degrees. I see the value of the points system, and I'm not passing judgement on others, but that's really how it is with me, and I suspect I'm far from alone. Just wanted to say that.

I watched the Barbara Bush ceremonies today.

David1955 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

Yay, not to mention that the Bush family business history is questionable to say the least. But hey, it's mainstream media. Manufactured consent, like the MIC (military, industrial corporate) Complex like it.

What are you binge watching this weekend?

David1955 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

I watch no TV during the week due to my schedule, so weekend I binge watch all my carefully chosen shows accumulated. Currently, Gotham, Designated Survivor, The Americans, Blindspot, Lost in Space, Agents of Shield, Krypton, Last Man on Earth (only cause I have a crush on January Jones) Arrow, Jessica Jones, and a couple of others. Eclectic range, no?

Can One be religious and Skeptically agnostic?

David1955 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

No, this is just word play. Rationalised cognitive dissonance.

Welcome to this new group for experienced members!

David1955 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

Should we not refer to each other as 'Honourable Senators"?

Just wanted to let you know that I started the g:246 specifically for high-level discussions about ...

David1955 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

Excellent

I'm a newbie

David1955 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

It's always good to see more Australians join this site. The levels are explained in the website FAQ so check that out.

I’ve often wondered how the term “'New Atheism”' gained such currency.

David1955 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

I think we should rejoice in the growing trend towards non religious belief, as shown by research data on the subject, whatever we call it.

Am I the only atheist that doesn’t smoke pot?

David1955 comments on Apr 21, 2018:

Definitely not. I hope a myth will not arise here that "all" atheists are users of this drug. I doubt there is a higher statistical correlation between atheists and pot use than with any other group.

Here is my first 420 post of the day and an observation... atheists love their weed!!!

David1955 comments on Apr 20, 2018:

Not this atheist.

I’ve often wondered how the term “'New Atheism”' gained such currency.

David1955 comments on Apr 20, 2018:

Since the advent of this term and the activists you mention, as I call them respectfully, my view has been that while atheism is not new, obviously, going back to ancient times, what is *new* is the *attitude* of many modern atheists, and I include myself. New atheists, if you like, have a new attitude; a more assertive, open and confident and critical attitude towards religion and religious claims and practices. This is in contrast with the 20th century where the attitude was more along the lines that progression to secular societies and science and reason was kind of inevitable so we'll show respect to religions and religious belief. Islamic fascism, Christian fundamentalism, evangelical politicisation and reactionary attitudes from Abrahamic religions in the latter 20th end early 21st centuries forced many of us to fundamentally review the atheist attitude and approach. Dawkins et.al gave expression to that, thanks to them. So, the atheism isn't new, but the attitude is, and I share it.

Royals: They are born; they urinate; they defecate; they copulate; they flatulate.

David1955 comments on Apr 20, 2018:

It's all a lot of archaic anachronistic nonsense that should have been relegated to history in the 20th century. At least those of you on the US threw off the British and went forward. Here in Australia we still can't decide to be a Republic with many hanging on to all that Royal nonsense. But actually, there's a more fundamental point and contradiction with the continuation of monarchies. While the notion of equality is espoused, we continue with this idea that some people are born royal and somehow deserving of respect simply by virtue of their 'noble' birth. What!? So we have princesses and princes and so on, reinforcing the idea by birth some are better born, a higher class, deserving of respect for no other reason. Ridiculous. It reinforces the idea of class by birth. Here in Australia I have nothing to do with it. When someone says, "Prince so and so is coming" I say, "what a waste of money". When someone says, "Oh another Royal baby..gush gush.." I say, "well there's another parasite for the tax payer to support... Poor suckers." So I'm real popular with monarchists, as you can imagine.

What is your impression of Unitarian Universalist?

David1955 comments on Apr 20, 2018:

Well I had look it up. Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion characterized by a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning".Unitarian Universalists assert no creed, but instead are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth. As such, their congregations include many atheists, agnostics, and theists within their membership. The roots of Unitarian Universalism lie in liberal Christianity, specifically Unitarianism and Universalism. Unitarian Universalists state that from these traditions comes a deep regard for intellectual freedom and inclusive love. Congregations and members seek inspiration and derive insight from all major world religions. Wikipedia Pseudo religion sounds about right. Another new age invention. Not for me, thanks. I'll do a bit more reading, but well, you know me. I'm 100% atheist, and I hear spiritual and I'm gone.

Hey guys I just hit level 7 where's the money?

David1955 comments on Apr 20, 2018:

No, you have to pay us. Whatever you can spare. :-)

All in all this app is pretty dope, although it often feels more like social media platform than a ...

David1955 comments on Apr 20, 2018:

The use of the word "dope" here as an adjective threw me. I'd never heard of it used as anything other than a noun or verb. I checked to discover than in colloquial English it means "very good" which I find odd since the word applied to a person is a negative. It seems in language these days, as Cole Porter might say, anything goes. But I am still not sure if the poster meant "dope" here as good or bad. I think he meant bad or poor or unimpressive. Am I right?

Another death question: why is it ok to speak lll of the living, thing not the dead?

David1955 comments on Apr 19, 2018:

It is amazing how all the questionable stuff about the Bush family, business dealings and the rest, are ignored by the mainstream media. All the focus on Mrs Bush being a 'nice lady'. That's why the establishment have mainstream media, for manufactured consent. There're a lot like Illusionists, making sure you look exactly where they want you to.

What do you think of getting Adm.

David1955 comments on Apr 19, 2018:

I join others here in not approving of it. I will only use the like button.

Some site updates 1.

David1955 comments on Apr 19, 2018:

The resource centre sounds interesting. I'm wondering what "donate" here means from a copyright point of view. Could we share texts and titles for the community to read? I have a huge library of ePub and PDFs on the subjects discussed here. Others overtime have shared with me and I would very happy to share on. Also secondly, how is the *Google log on with the mobile app* coming along? If it would be easier I'd be happy to have a separate or new log on with password without the Google email address. Just wondering. Thanks for all. Ps. When are going to get an airing on CNN or NBC? A growing community of nonbelievers. :-)

Do you Google?

David1955 comments on Apr 18, 2018:

I use DuckDuckGo more and more these days. Google is a technology monster, like Facebook, and is an information vacuum cleaner. Unlike FB, which wild horses could not drag me to use, I do use Google, and even have a Google Home. But, I check my account regularly, check all the settings, delete activity, all of it (they still hide and keep some) and I use DuckDuckGo for as many searches as possible.

How often do you update your profile picture? I update mine every month.

David1955 comments on Apr 18, 2018:

Obviously this is more important for those looking to make personal relationships, dating if you will, than it is for those here for community, for the reason that the picture would factor into whether to make contact or not.

Hello everyone, I'm Lisa and consider myself to be both atheist and agnostic.

David1955 comments on Apr 18, 2018:

Welcome too. Can we avoid a phrase like 'faith in atheism' and any notion that it means to know 'the absolute truth' . Atheism does not mean these things of course. Cheers.

We could rename this the Mature Agnostic Group.

David1955 comments on Apr 18, 2018:

I'm sorry mate but while I see some of the points you are making, I'm not sure exactly what your proposal is and why. Rename the group to mature agnostics? Why agnostic? Can you elaborate a bit. Thanks.

Atheism and socialization

David1955 comments on Apr 17, 2018:

No. I just think people who believe in supernatural stories from the Bronze Age are a bit strange. Should it come up I tell them. Let the cards fall when they may. Interestingly, I always keep and eye out for people I meet who say they are nonreligious. I'm always very genuinely friendly and welcoming to such people to let them know we're brother and sister nonbelievers. Also I don't find in the real world nonbelievers are so fussed about whether they are agnostic or atheist or whatever. It seems to be a recurring tribal thing here in this community. It's the only disappointment I have about this community. Not a big one, but one nevertheless.

Who's going to clean up the blood in this group? Admin? :-)

David1955 comments on Apr 17, 2018:

Yes, well I've got a post coming that I'm working on about agnostics endlessly here claiming that atheists have to prove that God does not exist. I am seriously p--sed off about this repeated claim, so keep your powder dry and look out for that one. Bring your mops. Later dudes, as the young people say.

Allow me to introduce @SiteSupport! This lovely volunteer member has admin access and handles ...

David1955 comments on Apr 16, 2018:

A kind of consigliere, eh? :-) Make us an offer we can't refuse. ;-)

Ever had pets that both you and others treated as equals?

David1955 comments on Apr 16, 2018:

It is said that pigs make the best pets. Dogs look up to you. Cats look down on you. But pigs treat you as equals. :-). I dare say.

Anyone watch the James Comey interview?

David1955 comments on Apr 16, 2018:

Comey's got a bit of school principal complex, thinks he's above it all with a touch of a Christian moral superiority complex thrown in. I don't think he's a bad guy, in fact he seems pretty straight, but he's got terrible judgement, first that Hillary thing during the election which was appalling, and now he admits that maybe he took into account that she was going to get elected. Any bloody fool knows a public servant doesn't announce stuff like that during an election. I think he really wanted to remain the head of the FBI, knew that Hillary would replace him, so he wedged her thinking Trump might keep him on. In the end he shot himself in both feet and helped to get the worst sociopath ever elected to the White House. I just read his wife and daughters all voted for Hillary and were surely pissed when she lost. I wonder how many cuddles he has had at home since 2016. He'd better make a fortune on this book, because I think he's too radioactive to employ now.

Has anyone read Richard Carrier's book about the Historicity of Jesus and the weakness of the ...

David1955 comments on Apr 16, 2018:

Yes I have all his books. I like his work a lot. If you haven't done so I recommend that you watch his presentations and debates on YouTube. There are many. He's very entertaining, and makes the subject interesting to watchers.

Just got rejected because I'm an atheist.

David1955 comments on Apr 15, 2018:

Better you find out sooner rather than later, I say.

Why to call yourself "Atheist" instead of "Agnostic."

David1955 comments on Apr 15, 2018:

I'm an atheist. There is no evidence for any God, not a scrap. (Same is true of unicorns, fairies etc etc). Show me some evidence, and by that I don't mean stories from the Bronze Age, and I'll reconsider it. Were I an agnostic, I would have to be equally agnostic about all Gods, past and present, including Apollo and the ancient Gods. I would have to hold the Christian God and the God Apollo, for example, in the same light and be equally agnostic about both. I would feel foolish to say that. I agree with the great Bertrand Russell when he wrote that in reality agnostics don't either. They're are agnostic about the *god they grew up with* and functionally atheist about the rest. That's not a consistent position for me. Moreover, agnostics often say God is unknowable, thus we should be agnostic. This assumption is based on what? A God, as a concept of omnipotence and omniscience, is only as knowable as it chose it be. A thundering from the heavens, a cosmic voice and face in the sky, and, oh hell, let's move a mountain 10 feet to the left, and God would be pretty bloody knowable in my view. So, unknowability isn't a sound argument either. For these reasons, in short, I am an atheist and not an agnostic.

Hi, I am a new member and have already been welcomed by a couple of people, which is really nice.

David1955 comments on Apr 14, 2018:

Welcome from Adelaide. The number of Australians here is growing. Great to see. Yours is an interesting story. Look forward to your contributions. I am unambiguously an atheist myself.

Should there even be the concept of a "billionaire"?

David1955 comments on Apr 14, 2018:

I completely agree. It is monstrous that any individual can be a billionaire. Soon, if things don't change, there will be trillionaires with even greater poverty in the world. If I had my way no human being would be able to have a personal wealth of more than 500 million. I would make it illegal. Surplus wealth to be taxed or returned to public spending. Anyone who cannot live on 500 million is simply not trying.

What is your conspiracy fear that seems like nobody else thinks about?

David1955 comments on Apr 14, 2018:

Mine. That the Manson Cult, specifically he and certain core members, had links to the US government's domestic covert programs( eg Operation Chaos) to infiltrate, subvert, inform on, or provide info on anti establishment movements in the late 60s. Anti Vietnam, Black Panther, politicised hippie groups, for example. When they went rogue and killed large number of innocents, including wealthy white innocents, the Government's legal fixers employed a false flag op, cover story and legal pantomime called the Manson trial. A lot of stuff is known already by those looking into it. But it draws little attention by corporate mainstream media. But like the Gulf of Tonkin false flag, this stuff has a way of coming out eventually.

Move to OZ.

David1955 comments on Apr 14, 2018:

Just bring lots of money with you to pay for the electricity bills, and the high cost of everything else. The gun laws will keep you safe while you are being price gouged for everything else. It's the greatest country in the world. We know this because the politicians and corporate media tell us so every day. So it must be true.

I use Google Photos, and today I'm seriously rethinking that option.

David1955 comments on Apr 13, 2018:

I use google photos but not for personal photos as I don't trust them. I keep other photos I have acquired and like, for chromecast slideshow for example. I might get a notice one day that I'm not observing copyright and goodbye photos. I don't care really. I have my own library. I don't trust any of these services, none of them. I will check this service in light of what you have written. Thanks.

Why do so many people on here, especially the self-described atheists, spend so much time discussing...

David1955 comments on Apr 12, 2018:

Perhaps you might consider that for many here it isn't just that we have made up our minds about religion, but that we feel part of a movement that broadly and collectively aims to struggle against and challenge religion, working however we can in our own ways in pursuit of that struggle. So, it is hardly surprising that those of us of that view would want to what you crudely call religion bash, to share experiences, note where we agree and disagree, share information, and discuss what can be done in pursuit of a secular world. There are so few places where this is possible, and this thankfully is one of them. For my part, and in my own small way, being part of that struggle against religion is what drives me. It's a struggle that, as Bertrand Russell wrote, doesn't just go back to the Enlightenment, but all the way to the Greeks. And when I look at the virulence of religion in the modern world it worries me that it's a struggle we still may lose. It happened once before. It was called The Dark Ages. So yes, some of us like to discuss it in detail here.

Children.....I'm Home! ;-)

David1955 comments on Apr 12, 2018:

I only found it myself yesterday. They've been hiding it from us. :-)

I'm interested in what else you do in Oz in support of your non religious views?

David1955 comments on Apr 12, 2018:

Just thinking that just as most Australians don't take their religions to extremes, compared say to the US, secular minded Australians likewise aren't so animated in their secularism to be part of formal organisations or be activists. I guess it cuts both ways.

Being an agnostic site , how far does religious discussion get here?

David1955 comments on Apr 11, 2018:

Being an atheist/agnostic/nonbeliever site mainly, not agnostic only, quite a lot and the more the merrier as far as I concerned.

How would you explain humanity to a visiting alien?

David1955 comments on Apr 11, 2018:

I've got a better one. How would explain Christianity to a visiting alien? "Well you see alien God turned up here a couple of thousand years ago and we tortured and killed him, which we celebrate, but he came back from the dead and now we are waiting for him to come again." My guess they'd be zooming off for coffee and cake at alpha Centauri as soon as possible.

@LoreleiLeigh Nude profile pic, yet a stern warning about blocking sexually explicit messages.

David1955 comments on Apr 11, 2018:

Oh, it's cute actually. Good on her. I wonder what Stormy Daniels might post as a pic if she joined the site? :-)

What is your knowledge of religion?

David1955 comments on Apr 11, 2018:

Religion, what? Religious history, religious doctrine, religious practise, religious diversity..? Well, I like to think that while I defer to others who are specialists in these various aspects, usually people with Phds after their names and recognised published works, my knowledge is certainly better, in my opinion, than the majority of so-called religious believers, many of whom have never read a serious book about the subject of their so-called 'faith' in their lives. I have been impressed by the high number of similarly well-informed people on this site.

I really want to have a safe place to have discussions.

David1955 comments on Apr 11, 2018:

Does the creator of this group, or anyone here, have any thoughts on what factors might apply in posting something here compared to the total community? For example, mainly posts that relate to issues concerning non religious belief? Just wondering.

Where do agnostics go when they die?

David1955 comments on Apr 11, 2018:

To the cemetery, a lot of them, like most other people.

Anyone listen to Zuckerberg today?

David1955 comments on Apr 11, 2018:

I'm enjoying watching Mr 'Suckerberg' under the glass. They are talking about huge fines. Hope so. Despite his billions he looks like a boy doing a man's job. In a suit he looks like a boy wearing a man's suit. I hope this is the beginning of the end of FB and general awareness of social media privacy. What about all the other sites that FB owns now too, photo social media sites? What are they doing with your data?

I am wondering why this site isn't called non-believers.com?

David1955 comments on Apr 11, 2018:

This has been dealt with before, and the name doesn't mean it is primarily an agnostic site. Admin has indicated previously it came down to the availability of the domain name. One or two agnostics have tried to suggest that the site name, agnostic, reflects this site's leanings. It doesn't. I agree with you that nonbeliever.com would have been better, but that's a moot point. I'm an atheist too, without qualification. I'm not an agnostic. So no need to feel excluded. They had to call it something.

I am a former atheist, but after using psychedelics I have come to believe there is some form of ...

David1955 comments on Apr 10, 2018:

My friend, you would have fit right in back in the 1960s. That's the kind of thing many people thought back then. Of course, many of them turned up dead, or brain dead, so not sure what that says about that cosmic energy. I do recall that some followers of the thankfully very late Charles Manson found through hallucinogens an energy that helped them slaughter a whole lot of innocent mostly young people. So, I would have to say I'm not a fan of this sort of thing.

I believe that if I expect people to respect my right to be an atheist, then I have to respect other...

David1955 comments on Apr 8, 2018:

Respect their right of belief, not the belief itself. Very important distinction.

Attn: All Door Knockers

David1955 comments on Apr 8, 2018:

Payable in advance. Receipt upon request.

Scientists discover the universe has much less phosphorus than we thought, potentially meaning there...

David1955 comments on Apr 8, 2018:

So now we're so smart that we can say link phosphorous in the cosmos to the likelihood of aliens out there. I agree with Mr Tyler, on his Secure Team YouTube channel, now sporting 1.5 million followers and being picked up by other media, when he says it sounds like another government sanctioned story to deflect attention away from an awful lot of stuff being observed now and filmed on all those HD cameras that people carry these days all the time. I don't know if any of it aliens or not. We need clear evidence. But a mainstream news story "No phosphorous = No aliens" doesn't do a thing for me.

Do you trust the Mainstream Media?

David1955 comments on Apr 8, 2018:

I'm not an American, but I agree with list given by @sassygirl3869 and I watch these from afar. I do not think lumping CNN and Fox together, as some do, as equally bad, is right. Fox is simply the commercial propaganda wing of the US conservative movement. It is not a news service at all. I agree with left wing criticism of CNN as corporate media. As Noam Chomsky has said, mainstream media in the US is about manufactured consent and dissent, providing so called news within a range that is acceptable to your country's elites. That said, CNNs anchors aren't just brainless mouthpieces; the range of contributors is impressive, and something like a balanced discussion is evident. Trump's half witted apologists are mouthing off on CNN all the time. It's just that nothing too progressive, challenging or critical of the power structure in the US gets a hearing. Also NBC is also interesting and leftish, in an acceptable way to power there. PBS is excellent, but again, nothing too radical folks. If you want to see discussion in the US about crazy ongoing wars, mindless expenditure on defence, rampant inequality and poverty, disgraceful corporate greed, political corporate corruption, crumbling infrastructure in the face of mindless wars and military spending, electoral systems that are antiquated, to put it mildly, and an out of control surveillance state, then you won't find it on US mainstream media. You need to go to new media, and the audiences they reach via alternate means. I certainly do.

What is you favorite Beatles song?

David1955 comments on Apr 6, 2018:

I share Across the Universe with you. I would have it played at my funeral, but I'm not going to have one, so too bad. I'm a huge Beatles fan. They played in my city in 1964. I was 9. Too damn young. Story of my life. Either I'm too young or too old for it. Oh well.

Is atheism linked to depression/anxiety?

David1955 comments on Apr 6, 2018:

You have to take care with a question like that. Are some atheists depressed or anxious? Without doubt. So, there's the link. Doesn't mean anything. All sorts of things are linked. Marriage and childbirth are linked. People get married. A year or two they might have a child. So, marriage causes pregnancy. Nope. There's no causal link. There's no causal link between atheism and depression. Some atheists might be depressed but there are a great many other characteristics about them in addition to being atheists. Many might like Chinese food. Maybe liking Chinese food causes their depression. Nope, no link there. So, is there an implied but unproven causal link suggested here, perhaps that atheists feel life is a bit hopeless (no afterlife) or lacks some big cosmic meaning, so nihilism and depression creeps in. Well, it would be wrong. We live in an age when people are frustrated, angry, feel powerless in the face of powerful elites, often unsatisfied, unfulfilled, under loved, lonely, isolated, and yes, depressed. Personally, I don't think it matters these days if you're religious or not. It's the state of things.

Then & now,...thoughts?

David1955 comments on Apr 6, 2018:

Careful, you'll all be descended upon by a horde of Regressive Left folk accusing you to being prejudiced against culture and religion, which is very, very, very bad, they say. Fortunately, while a far left person myself, I don't concern myself with the Regressive Left, taking my cue from Dawkins and Harris in that sense. How can such practices as above be in the 21st Century?

What are some “classic” movies that you think suck?

David1955 comments on Apr 6, 2018:

This is a question this one could write an essay about. But I'm just going to reply that I completely disagree about Clockwork Orange. I saw C O at age 18 and thought I hope I never live in a Clockwork Orange world. At age 62 I'm now living in a Clockwork Orange world. The film was scarily right about the future, even if the style of the film now looks like retro 60s chic and a bit odd. If you don't see the point of the film of a disconnected purposeless culture and people so desperate for meaning that they commit terrible violence just to feel alive, then I suggest you watch it again. Then turn on and watch the daily news.

Am I alone in having issues with understanding lyrics?

David1955 comments on Apr 6, 2018:

In my opinion lyrics are not meant to be listened to in modern pop/rock music. The songs are constructed so that lyrics, such as they are, blend into a kind of computer-techno sound and word blended noise that sort of surrounds listeners but doesn't pentrate them in any meaningful way. At some point in the past pop, rock and techno Muzak combined to make this kind of modern corporate 'surround me but don't penetrate me' music. It fits the modern Age and corporate culture of seducing, distracting and anaesthetising people while ruling over them in every more subtle ways. The age of singers, songwriters, artists, performers with something to say, such as the music I grew up with, has largely disappeared, a few niche exceptions aside. Music always reflects the Age in which it is produced. So, there's little point trying to understand the lyrics now; they've got nothing to say.

I've been working at home/online as a virtual assistant since dealing with personal setbacks a few ...

David1955 comments on Apr 5, 2018:

Hello. I'm wondering what an online virtual assistant line of work involves? I'm an online English instructor myself.

What is better than sex?

David1955 comments on Apr 4, 2018:

Watching President Donald "Spanky" Trump being hauled off to prison. Or it would be.

Why can't the U.S. have a strong third political Party?

David1955 comments on Apr 4, 2018:

You don't need a new central party, but a new progressive party, like under Bernie Sanders. A central party between the Democratic Party (right wing) and the Republican Party ( bat-shit crazy anti modernist reactionary conservative religious lunatic right wing) would still place it somewhere between right wing and bat-shit crazy right wing, so that's hardly an advance. Try a social democratic Bernie type party, and maybe the trump people, who don't give a damn about left or right or the two parties, as well as progressive folk in America, of whom there are huge huge numbers, might vote for it and you might see some real change. Also try.. Compulsory voting A fair and independently run voting system, and Reform of donations to political parties. Your democracy, as an electoral system, is a joke. You are a role model to no one. You'll get nowhere without serious reform.

Now level 7 yea! Actually don't care, but I am the guy that wears atheist t shirts whenever I go to ...

David1955 comments on Apr 4, 2018:

A word to the wise David. Never look desperate. Like, Ah, who needs that old agnostic Tshirt. 'Don't mean nothin' to me.' Who needs to be at level 8 anyway. It's just a Tshirt. Just ..a ..Tshirt. Just keep telling yourself that. That's what I'm doing. :-) BTW, who is your tailor for those atheists Tshirts you mentioned you wear now? Just interested.

Besides Agnostic.com what other websites do you spend time on?

David1955 comments on Apr 3, 2018:

If you mean social media, then none, other than this. I've just started looking at Atheist Republic to check that out. One Google+ group on my favourite star I contribute to. I use YouTube a lot. Other than that, it's info, news, wiki sites, sites for my teaching work, and some commercial sites I keep an eye on. FB - never in a billion years. Twitter, got better things to do with my time. I'm not that wrapped in humanity that I need a lot of social media contact. This site shows that there's always an exception, even for me.

Yay!! Got my t-shirt today! Woot woot! ????

David1955 comments on Apr 3, 2018:

What's the deal on the Tshirt? Do you order it on the site?

“Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been ...

David1955 comments on Apr 3, 2018:

Christianity in its purest, viral, unrestrained form, is one of the worst memes in human history, a mental disease which has been broadly medicated, tamed, and ameliorated since the age of reason, but now seeks to reassert itself in its more original vile toxic form, and all people of reason and good conscience must do all we can to fight it and prevent its return to strength and full toxicity. Anyone doubt this? Read the history of this religion to the modern age.

Hey, gentlemen, do us both a favor and please add a picture to your profile! It's not so much about...

David1955 comments on Apr 3, 2018:

I agree with your post. Male or female, here for community or for dating/ personal contact, it's just reasonable to match a person and their posting to an image of that person. It is an adult site for information and opinion sharing, and, if desired, meeting others. I worry about privacy on the Internet as much as anyone, but this site is run very honestly from my experience here, and when I exchange views with a graphic or icon and username it just doesn't seem quite the same as with someone with an image.

Even though I have become an agnostic atheist I still feel pulled in by Pantheism, seeing a God just...

David1955 comments on Apr 2, 2018:

I'm not impressed by these new age God as jello definitions, everywhere and nowhere, everything and nothing, it's a 'creative process' (another one) universal energy, everything connected and we're all one big thingamy. Like all versions of God, there's never a scrap of proof. When pressed on this the usual reply is, "it comes from another way of knowing." Well, doesn't it always.

Explain "angry atheists" to me.

David1955 comments on Apr 2, 2018:

Well, I think we live in an age of anger, and that's what has happened to discourse in the world. Atheists are angry. We want to take on religions. Christians are angry. (Watch this crazy Fox News for a while). The western world is changing and becoming more secular, inexorably, and they're angry. Conservatives are angry at progressives. Progressives ( like me ) are angry at reactionary conservatives. Affluent classes are angry at any suggestion that anyone take their wealth. Underclasses are angry at the disparity of wealth now and will follow anything or anyone that seems to connect with their angst. (Hello Trump supporters). We live in an age of incomprehensible change, and that creates fear which translates into anger. Atheist anger is just part of that wider trend of challenging old patterns of thinking. The old ideologies are breaking down, and old patterns of thinking are being challenged. Whether you think this anger is good or bad just depends which side you are on.

Hell?

David1955 comments on Apr 2, 2018:

Don't know whether you've noticed but the papal spin doctors have essentially withdrawn what he supposedly or allegedly said, or implied or suggested, just as they always do when his mouth runs off or he gets his script wrong. So hellfire and damnation is still good to go in Catholic land.

Do you think that Burt Langcaster was an exceptional actor who deserved more recognition by the ...

David1955 comments on Apr 1, 2018:

I read about this actor and, by the way, he was a life long openly non religious person, would not take roles that he thought promoted religious views, and had very specified instructions for his funeral, including a low key affair, no religion to be mentioned. In addition to this, he was a very fine actor with great presence. Also his views on religion were looked upon poorly by religious actors and alike in Hollywood. He didn't care.

I use Google+ a bit, and there are several professed Christians who troll many atheist posts as a ...

David1955 comments on Apr 1, 2018:

My main, well I won't say complaint but issue, is not what are called negative trolls, whom I just ignore, but those I feel are not honest brokers, maybe even to themselves. By that I mean some here who call themselves nonbelievers, often but not always agnostic, but are residually religious. Criticise religion too much, particularly the Roman Catastrophic Church, the Pope, and alike and in they come in a defensive posture. Then I think, oh here we go. People have the right to believe what they like. But you look at my profile and posts and you know exactly where I stand. I like fellow honest brokers, even if we don't always agree. I don't block anyone, or I haven't yet, but once I recognise a residue religious person, whatever their designation here, I mostly ignore them. That's just purely a personal observation here.

I use Google+ a bit, and there are several professed Christians who troll many atheist posts as a ...

David1955 comments on Apr 1, 2018:

I checked out a couple of Google+ atheist communities, only for a few days last year. They didn't seem to be very good. A few hobby horse posters mainly. I left. But, as luck would have it, I saw a reference to this site, and I'm grateful for that. I think you'll find trolling bullying religionists don't get very far here.

Hi all, I am new to this site and look forward to meeting interesting and like-minded individuals.

David1955 comments on Apr 1, 2018:

Sounds like you'll be a worthy addition to the sand pit.

Extended Survey about Atheism - This survey is for atheists/non-believers/agnostics, etc.

David1955 comments on Mar 31, 2018:

It's the longest survey on non believers I have ever filled out. I had some comments about some questions, and the assumption that people came out, as they put it, which in my case never happened. I made the comment that it very common for people to be born into a religion, never believe it, go along with it because you're a kid and that's what kids do in families, and then at an early age just say I don't believe this stuff. That's not giving up a religion, it's just getting old enough to say you never believed it. That's me.

How many people found it hard to "come out" as atheist?

David1955 comments on Mar 31, 2018:

I came out as an atheist the day I was born, so coming out wasn't difficult for me at all, it was just the way I came out, so to speak. I guess religion just doesn't work on some of us, thankfully.

Are Atheist hateful towards spiritual people?

David1955 comments on Mar 31, 2018:

Well this is a straw man post, the kind of thing that gets an airing on Fox News. Answer, no. Dismissive of religious nonsense is the basis of atheism, not hatred of people.

Come check out our booth at the American Atheist convention going on now for the next few days in ...

David1955 comments on Mar 31, 2018:

I'll take a pen, coffee mug, a badge, and a "I'm a pagan heathen bastard" t-shirt thanks.

So tired of being alone on the weekends.

David1955 comments on Mar 31, 2018:

Weekends are the only time I get to stream TV and movies, so I look forward to it. Not only do I not mind being alone but I enjoy it. Anyway, if you don't mind me saying, you appear to be very attractive so maybe time to hit the dating scene over there and do different things at the weekend.

Vatican scrambles after pope appears to deny existence of hell | World news | The Guardian

David1955 comments on Mar 30, 2018:

Again. And as I predicted yesterday. Someone should tell that old wanker to read his prepared scripts and avoid extemporaneous embellishment. Play your part Frank, and do what your handlers tell ya.

Do you consider religious people delusional?

David1955 comments on Mar 30, 2018:

I agree with those here saying yes. It is important to remember that delusional thinking is the product of beliefs not based on reality or evidence. We are all delusional at some time or another, like when we fall madly in love and then look back in a detached way and think, well that was silly of me. A person's religion can be a life long delusion, especially if they really believe it. But a lot of people are religious only notionally; they don't really believe it, but think being religious is good for one reason or another - fitting in with the group, following the family, social and other reasons. I don't think that's delusional as much as social conformity and frankly intellectual laziness. Religions rely on huge numbers of people like this. Personally, I look down on people like that more than the truly religiously delusional.

Just got asked what atheists do on Easter.

David1955 comments on Mar 30, 2018:

I ignore it and I don't like it. I work with students on both Friday and Monday so it's the same as any weekend apart from inconvenient shopping. I avoid the religiosity of Easter like the plague. I watch no live TV to avoid any Easter nonsense, but then I avoid live TV anyway, apart from streaming CNN. I actively dislike Easter so I make it the same as any weekend. Even fabricated family gatherings I avoid.

Is the strength of atheists increasing?

David1955 comments on Mar 30, 2018:

The problem here is the vagueness of the question as posed, if I may say so. Is the strength of global atheism increasing? Yes, in some areas more than others, notably in the Western world, if strength means growing numbers of people indentified in survey and census figures. Are atheists individually becoming stronger in their confidence and outspokenness in promoting atheism and criticising religion? Again yes, though the nonreligious movement is broad, as we see on this site, with atheists, agnostics, anti theists, secular religionists and alike. This fracturedness tends the weaken the overall impact and strength of the movement, I think, from an external perspective, since it's seen as divided and bickering. There are signs of growing strength, but atheism is still largely ignored by media, negative stereotypes of atheists still abound, and public figures still often avoid identifying themselves as nonreligious because it isn't a good look for them. When those things start to change it would reflect a strengthening movement. It's a long road.

You died, I lived, god is good!

David1955 comments on Mar 30, 2018:

In a way it's a clumsy way for people to express gratitude for being spared by fate some terrible events. Sometimes there can be guilt when others are not spared. It's an understandable human reaction, but the religious nonsense is not only silly, but also begs the question "well, why didn't God spare others?". As always, religious explanations lead nowhere but to logical inconsistency and absurdity.

Breaking News: An Italian journalist and athiest, who struck up a friendship with the Pope, has ...

David1955 comments on Mar 30, 2018:

And as usual, the papal apparatchiks will come out soon and say, "what the holy Father meant was..." This is what happens every time he makes these comments. The press report the comment, but ignore the "nuancing" by his handlers in which what he said is qualified to mean very little. It's their strategy to handle progressives and the media.

Are most modern spiritual movements a net positive?

David1955 comments on Mar 30, 2018:

No. It's the same religious guff brandished in a new way, with new age twaddle, pseudo science and feel good nonsense for those who want low-cal religion-light. Cut through it and that's what you find.

I'm a Blade Runner nut.

David1955 comments on Mar 30, 2018:

I'm a Bladerunner fan too. I remember seeing the original in 1982 and nobody quite knew what to make of it. I still prefer the first theatrical release, voiceover and all, despite what they say. I like the noir quality. I saw the 2049 film. I don't think it needed to be made. That Ryan fellow is a boy in a man's role. Didn't cut it. Say what one may about H Ford, he's a man's man. Also, back in 1982 dystopian futures were a shock to think about and unsettling. Now, every second movie is dystopian, the world's stuffed, so just let the elites rule the world and get used to it, the movie industry tells us as the propaganda machine of capitalism. No thanks. I will always have a special affection and regard for the masterpiece of the original Bladerunner. The new film, like most sequels, was an attempt to make money, and it failed. I also hate to say this, but grumpy H Ford should retire. He's lost the moody charm he once had, and, his last Star Wars role an exception, his movies don't work now and aren't successful. Sorry to say.

Jehovah's Witness was canvassing the neighborhood yesterday.