People are panic buying all anti-bacterial gels rather than those with at least 60% alcohol in ...

IrishTxJudy comments on Mar 15, 2020:

And bleach as well. If commerce shuts down, not having enough toilet paper and hand sanitizer will be the least of their worries. Shit flows downhill ( no pun intended). As more and more shut downs occur, it will impact factories, food processing, transportation. If workers can’t show up to work,...

anglophone replies on Mar 15, 2020:

Thank you for sharing that, and I thank you for your concern for me. So far, so good here. We have a large pantry (we designed our own house with this sort of thing in mind) and can last two months quite easily.

Paula White Featured Speaker At Event Promising ‘Supernatural Protection’ From Coronavirus | ...

Stilltrying1964 comments on Mar 15, 2020:

Now I guess no conference! Jebus must be pissed off about that! No offering plates passed around! Goddamit!

anglophone replies on Mar 15, 2020:

Hmm. The church going into bankruptcy? Somehow, I think the Orange Peril in the White House would forbid it.

Paula White Featured Speaker At Event Promising ‘Supernatural Protection’ From Coronavirus | ...

AnneWimsey comments on Mar 15, 2020:

I for one cannot Wait to see how this works out for her & her ilk!

anglophone replies on Mar 15, 2020:

I think a strong dose of Covid-19 would be an appropriate outcome for her and her ilk.

Is it irresponsible to travel now for non critical uses? Isn't that spreading the virus?

anglophone comments on Mar 15, 2020:

It depends on how that travel is done. Travel of itself covers all journeys ranging from visiting a neighbour next door to visiting friends on the other side of the world. I would be far more concerned about the number of people contacted in any Covid-19 hot spot than anything else. I am at the ...

anglophone replies on Mar 15, 2020:

@PondartIncbendog Yikes! I live on a rural block. I would expect to survive without any real issues for two months. I hope it does not come to that for you.

What's really important...

SpikeTalon comments on Mar 15, 2020:

Careful, these kinds of truths are known to trigger emotional meltdowns on this site...

anglophone replies on Mar 15, 2020:

Hmm. I just giggled!

Is it irresponsible to travel now for non critical uses? Isn't that spreading the virus?

anglophone comments on Mar 15, 2020:

It depends on how that travel is done. Travel of itself covers all journeys ranging from visiting a neighbour next door to visiting friends on the other side of the world. I would be far more concerned about the number of people contacted in any Covid-19 hot spot than anything else. I am at the ...

anglophone replies on Mar 15, 2020:

@PondartIncbendog I see what you mean. This part of the Land of the Convict has yet to be put under such restrictions.

People are panic buying all anti-bacterial gels rather than those with at least 60% alcohol in ...

Fernapple comments on Mar 15, 2020:

Very silly. Firstly the virus is nowhere near its peak yet, when you may need to stock up with things if you are to self isolate. And secondly, with regard to hand gels especially, common soap is actually more deadly to the virus anyway.

anglophone replies on Mar 15, 2020:

Yes, the addiction to the belief that because it is high tech, it must be better. On a personal note, I use a pencil-and-paper diary rather any electronic equivalent.

Why didn't anyone just say coronavirus is SARS.

AmmaRE007 comments on Mar 14, 2020:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30557-2/fulltext SARS-CoV-2 is an appropriate name for the new coronavirus Yuntao Wu Wenzhe Ho Yaowei Huang Dong-Yan Jin Shiyue Li Shan-Lu Liu et al. Show all authors Published:March 06, ...

anglophone replies on Mar 15, 2020:

I sigh when people use the following terms incorrectly: coronaviruses, influenza viruses, SARS, MERS and Covid-19.

Greek Orthodox church says 'holy cup cannot carry disease', allows congregations to share spoon: ...

Paul4747 comments on Mar 14, 2020:

The stupid, it burns.... the goggles do nothing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkaBT-u7qn8

anglophone replies on Mar 14, 2020:

Yep!

Imagine that this was hundreds of years ago with bubonic plague and we didn't know the cause.

anglophone comments on Mar 14, 2020:

Yes, that would have been very scary. But most people now have a very much better understanding than hundreds of years ago. We are now in a position to manage the Covid-19 pandemic.

anglophone replies on Mar 14, 2020:

@MizJ It may overwhelm the healthcare system in the USA, but lockdowns in other countries seem to be effecting a good degree of management. I have a personal interest in how Australia in general, and Western Australia in particular, are managing the situation.

As coronavirus spreads, the futility of religion becomes obvious | Andrew Seidel

Petter comments on Mar 13, 2020:

I'm surprised they haven't started putting in holy H2O2 instead of H2O, especially when liberally laced with CH3-CH2-OH

anglophone replies on Mar 14, 2020:

@Petter Funny you should say that. I once accidentally burned myself with a weak solution of H2O2.

As coronavirus spreads, the futility of religion becomes obvious | Andrew Seidel

Petter comments on Mar 13, 2020:

I'm surprised they haven't started putting in holy H2O2 instead of H2O, especially when liberally laced with CH3-CH2-OH

anglophone replies on Mar 14, 2020:

I'll drink to that.

Paula White Featured Speaker At Event Promising ‘Supernatural Protection’ From Coronavirus | ...

SeaGreenEyez comments on Mar 14, 2020:

😂😂😂 Jesus. You know there's people out there right now, believing they're protected. *smh*

anglophone replies on Mar 14, 2020:

And when those people become infected, they will tell themselevs and be told by others that their faith was not strong enough.

Paula White Featured Speaker At Event Promising ‘Supernatural Protection’ From Coronavirus | ...

Sgt_Spanky comments on Mar 14, 2020:

I'd really like to see a numeric measurement of just how much bullshit is too much even for a Xian to believe.

anglophone replies on Mar 14, 2020:

Bullshit is the only thing that such people are capable of comprehending.

Greek Orthodox church says 'holy cup cannot carry disease', allows congregations to share spoon: ...

Davesnothere comments on Mar 14, 2020:

A Christian sect in S Korea is largely responsible for the bloom there.

anglophone replies on Mar 14, 2020:

Welcome to the dangerous stupidity of the God Mob.

I just made a reply to the post by Word about Jesus and got a message that I was not allowed to ...

skado comments on Mar 13, 2020:

Come to think of it... he told me he never intended to make that post public. Apparently did it accidentally when attempting to post privately to his profile only or some such. So I guess he deleted it from the public forum?

anglophone replies on Mar 14, 2020:

That sounds about right.

Perhaps some enterprising signwriter should make up a banner reading "Get your FREE Covid-19 HERE".

Omnedon comments on Mar 14, 2020:

I'm not going to give away covid-19 for free...

anglophone replies on Mar 14, 2020:

You ***MEANIE!*** ;) ;) ;)

Greek Orthodox church says 'holy cup cannot carry disease', allows congregations to share spoon: ...

RichCC comments on Mar 13, 2020:

From the link: *** A spokesperson for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Steven Scoutas, said anyone showing signs of illness should stay away from church gatherings. "But once we decide to go to church, we believe there is absolutely no possibility of contracting disease from the ...

anglophone replies on Mar 13, 2020:

@dalefvictor Ah yes, the genocidal maniac of a god with catastrophic anger management issues. I undeerstand it to be that particular god.

Greek Orthodox church says 'holy cup cannot carry disease', allows congregations to share spoon: ...

RichCC comments on Mar 13, 2020:

From the link: *** A spokesperson for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Steven Scoutas, said anyone showing signs of illness should stay away from church gatherings. "But once we decide to go to church, we believe there is absolutely no possibility of contracting disease from the ...

anglophone replies on Mar 13, 2020:

@dalefvictor It's God's judgement delivered to you by his minions, the priesthood.

Greek Orthodox church says 'holy cup cannot carry disease', allows congregations to share spoon: ...

RichCC comments on Mar 13, 2020:

From the link: *** A spokesperson for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Steven Scoutas, said anyone showing signs of illness should stay away from church gatherings. "But once we decide to go to church, we believe there is absolutely no possibility of contracting disease from the ...

anglophone replies on Mar 13, 2020:

That such people think they can pontificate on medical matters when they patently have neither medical qualifications nor medical knowledge strikes me as obscene.

Why do the faithful fear coronavirus?

PadraicM comments on Mar 13, 2020:

I asked a religious friend of mine and got a well thought out and insightful answer... just messing with you, I got a steaming pantload. They said that they were worried that they didn't have enough faith to fend off the sickness. Remember, its not their god's fault, they are the problem, the dirty,...

anglophone replies on Mar 13, 2020:

"Not enough faith" seems to a constant refrain from such brain-dead people.

Why do the faithful fear coronavirus?

RussRAB comments on Mar 13, 2020:

The other side of this story are those who are trusting God to protect them. I've repeated the situation in South Korea several times here. Over half the cases in this country are among one religious cult which told its followers they would be protected from disease and to continue proselytizing for...

anglophone replies on Mar 13, 2020:

Good grief!

Why do the faithful fear coronavirus?

BudFrank comments on Mar 13, 2020:

I have religious friends who were declaring that Jesus has forgiven them for everything which includes coronavirus apparently. I can’t see any sort of logic to that. Does that means they don’t need to wash their hands???

anglophone replies on Mar 13, 2020:

Such people are immune to facts.

New Jersey Catholic church lambasted for denying autistic boy, 8, First Communion 'because his ...

AmyTheBruce comments on Mar 12, 2020:

I'm afraid that I don't see the problem here. I mean, if he can't know right from wrong, doesn't that mean that he can't sin? Presumably he was baptized at birth, and everything afterward is of no consequence due to disability, right? So what would communion even be for? My knowledge of ...

anglophone replies on Mar 13, 2020:

You are missing the fact that "men of the cloth" are often incapable of rational thought.

There are times when I feel like saying something here negative about religion, but then I decide ...

Bierbasstard comments on Mar 12, 2020:

Fuck the people that pretend to be righteous and destroy others under the guise of religion. How's that?

anglophone replies on Mar 12, 2020:

That your comment still indicates that people are not too bothered by it to date. I felt that my unposted comment goes beyond that.

CFI has it right.

Sgt_Spanky comments on Mar 12, 2020:

But it's so much more fun feeling reassured that I will live forever after I die and be the special pet and worship at the feet of an all-powerful magical superbeing in a golden kingdom in the sky. All that reality offers is...reality.

anglophone replies on Mar 12, 2020:

But, but, but ... I'm *addicted* to reality. (LOL!)

Dont worry about the virus anymore! : the catholic church says that they will develop a corona virus...

CarolinaGirl60 comments on Mar 11, 2020:

As my daughter says: people be crazy. Panic is more dangerous than disease. So is stupidity.

anglophone replies on Mar 12, 2020:

Invent and patent a cure for stupidity, and you will make yourself a very large fortune!

If any non-falsifiable evidence of a god's existing came to light, I would be persuaded to change my...

dalefvictor comments on Mar 11, 2020:

Answer to the original question, NO! first one has to define and discuss what dog is and how one could tell. This will never be done as someone would have to be in control of this event and this would skew the results. For a test, define God!

anglophone replies on Mar 11, 2020:

I have no time for anybody who regards non-falsifiable evidence to be of any use to anybody. Also, this "god" thing must first be defined in observable terms.

Okay, I was talking with a friend yesterday.

david75090 comments on Mar 10, 2020:

There are a lot of anti-ancient alien people on this site. There's something to it. Not sure what. Make up your own mind.

anglophone replies on Mar 10, 2020:

It's called "the demanding of falsifiable evidence".

I don't know about you...

JohnnyQB comments on Mar 10, 2020:

Exactly why I spend so much time pointing out how immoral their beliefs are.

anglophone replies on Mar 10, 2020:

Exactly. I would question the morality of anybody who worships the genocidal maniac known as God.

Is it just me, or are other people seeing posts disappearing from the "Recent Member Posts" page?

TimeOutForMe comments on Mar 10, 2020:

..and I kept on replying to personal messages which disappeared as if I had not responded. This happened plenty times since the recent change. I almost deleted myself off from here.

anglophone replies on Mar 10, 2020:

Thanks for sharing that.

Orthodox Israeli Rabbi Claims Coronavirus is God’s Revenge for Gay Pride Parades | Beth ...

BirdMan1 comments on Mar 9, 2020:

Just another of the many jackasses who happen to have platforms from which to spew bull shit!

anglophone replies on Mar 9, 2020:

I would not call it bull shit. I would call it hate speech.

How are these god pumping people dealing with the current virus?

Cast1es comments on Mar 9, 2020:

What alternative can you offer them ?

anglophone replies on Mar 9, 2020:

The time spent praying could instead be devoted towards medical research. (But that would require them to first educate themselves.)

Right-Wing Pastor: God Sent Us Coronavirus Because of Homosexuality | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly ...

Freedompath comments on Mar 8, 2020:

...I guess there is ‘one’ born every day! Let’s face it...it will be a continual struggle, to educate the masses to accept science and logic, it must be hard on some brains to digest!

anglophone replies on Mar 8, 2020:

It makes me wonder if such people even have brains. (Yes, I am feeling extremely bitchy this morning.)

Right-Wing Pastor: God Sent Us Coronavirus Because of Homosexuality | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly ...

MissKathleen comments on Mar 8, 2020:

And people believe this crap. smh

anglophone replies on Mar 8, 2020:

I shake my head at the gross irresponsibility of such "men of the cloth".

Right-Wing Pastor: God Sent Us Coronavirus Because of Homosexuality | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly ...

NoPlanetB comments on Mar 8, 2020:

Then why did gawd not just give it to homosexuals. Such ignorance just needs calling out.

anglophone replies on Mar 8, 2020:

Answer: the pastor's brain was given to him by his non-existent god.

Christian Film “20 Minutes” Falsely Suggests Atheists Find God When Facing Death | Hemant ...

t1nick comments on Mar 7, 2020:

There is an old axiom, "There are no atheists in a foxhole". I do not believe it for many, but I could imagine a lot of people losing their professed ideals when faced with death.

anglophone replies on Mar 8, 2020:

I will go calmly into my death. I cannot fear any god.

It is all very obvious.

happyhiker1 comments on Mar 7, 2020:

When I think of casinos, I think of addiction. Gambling, drinking, smoking, over eating. An interesting lens to view religion. Addiction.

anglophone replies on Mar 7, 2020:

I *like* that, your idea. :)

Christian Film “20 Minutes” Falsely Suggests Atheists Find God When Facing Death | Hemant ...

SeaGreenEyez comments on Mar 7, 2020:

Like others, in the midst of death due to septic shock, a few years ago, there wasn't one split second that I thought about an afterlife or the lack of one. It was so peaceful, even with all the trauma people, I really just felt calm. Didn't care one way or another if I survived or not. That ...

anglophone replies on Mar 7, 2020:

Might it be the case that people with limited intellect cannot imagine any viewpoint other than their own?

Christian Film “20 Minutes” Falsely Suggests Atheists Find God When Facing Death | Hemant ...

JohnnyQB comments on Mar 7, 2020:

Find god..... Ha ha that has always cracked me up. That line should be the end all to this nonsense.

anglophone replies on Mar 7, 2020:

LOL! You can find God in the damage that exists in the prefrontal cortex of the brain of every committed believer. (And yes, I use the word "committed" ambiguously.)

School removes Bible verse after complaint

Beowulfsfriend comments on Mar 6, 2020:

Pretty sure there will be xtion backlash of religious persecution. That dumbass mantra of "we. were. founded. as. a. christian. nation." History and the Constitution say otherwise.

anglophone replies on Mar 6, 2020:

I have not yet found any way that deals effectively with such self-satisfied and wilfully ignorant people.

I am on Facebook for professional reasons, this under another identity.

IrishTxJudy comments on Mar 6, 2020:

Is it in reference to your profession? I’m unclear why the harassment is happening since you didn’t elaborate. I would suggest blocking them but it seems that you may not be able to do that. Hope you’re able to get it sorted out.

anglophone replies on Mar 6, 2020:

Thank you for your kind thoughts. Your conjecture is quite correct: it is inappropriate for any elected member in any democracy to block anybody who is a (public) member of the electorate which the elected represents regardless of whether or that (public) member is an elector or a legal minor. My partner is working very hard on my behalf on resolving this issue, and she has already partially succeeded with one of the two (public) members.

Their God is a jerk

DavidLaDeau comments on Mar 6, 2020:

Just exactly how do they know this?

anglophone replies on Mar 6, 2020:

Answer: they ("they" being the dangerous delinquents that organise and run the Westboro Baptist Church) cannot know it. Moreover, they will use any excuse in their absurd attempts to terrorise other people into accepting their own vile beliefs.

Someone recently argued that greater educational attainment in first nations is the driver behind a ...

anglophone comments on Mar 5, 2020:

I am not sure that I can agree with your "*instinctual* attribution of the unknown to supernatural forces" (emphasis added), though I agree with everything else you say.

anglophone replies on Mar 6, 2020:

@Rossy92 Your point is well made. The kirk in Scotland is losing people very fast.

I am on Facebook for professional reasons, this under another identity.

MarkiusMahamius comments on Mar 5, 2020:

I can ignore the dimwits but the really smart ones are hard on the ego

anglophone replies on Mar 6, 2020:

I like the way you put it.

I am on Facebook for professional reasons, this under another identity.

MsAl comments on Mar 5, 2020:

Block and move on. Not worth wasting mental energy unless it happens to be a real person you know that you cant do that to because of work or whatever. I find real acquaintances rarely do that, even if we dont see eye to eye. Report to Facebook if it is out of line or admin if it's a group. ...

anglophone replies on Mar 5, 2020:

Thanks. The admins are keeping a close eye on the two dimwits who happen to be trying to goad me at the moment. One of the dimwits might get booted off shortly. The other dimwit is herself an admin, but her fellow admins might also soon boot her off.

Some Atheists can be just as self righteous and judgmental as Christians/religious people.

demifeministgal comments on Mar 5, 2020:

So what? I am not one to take the BS christian approach of if someone slaps me to turn the other cheek. I won't go out of my way slapping people either. But if someone attacks me you are damn right I am going to attack back in self-defense. Perhaps you have internalized your ex-religious teachings ...

anglophone replies on Mar 5, 2020:

Whenever any damn fool tries to ram his fictional god down my throat I go into full attack mode, and my weapons of choice are logic and reason. The last pair (Jehovah's Witnesses, of course) lasted less than two minutes.

Some Atheists can be just as self righteous and judgmental as Christians/religious people.

DavidDuhon comments on Mar 4, 2020:

I suspect the more relevant variable may be abuse and the resulting trauma, and for many atheists, this was at the hands of the religious.

anglophone replies on Mar 4, 2020:

@skado Quite. One of my dearest friends is a believer, though she is beginning to lose her faith of her own accord.

Some Atheists can be just as self righteous and judgmental as Christians/religious people.

DavidDuhon comments on Mar 4, 2020:

I suspect the more relevant variable may be abuse and the resulting trauma, and for many atheists, this was at the hands of the religious.

anglophone replies on Mar 4, 2020:

The abuse that I received at the hands of a religious fundamentalist at age 10 resulted in trauma. That is why I am now so vicious against such people.

Brothers and sisters, where has gone your faith?

raymetcalfe comments on Mar 4, 2020:

The healing pool at Lourdes as been shut

anglophone replies on Mar 4, 2020:

I wonder why.

The residents of the Land of the Convict are going nuts over toilet paper because of a possible ...

Geoffrey51 comments on Mar 4, 2020:

I know and just the other day I was saying Aussie’s are too pragmatic for that nonsense. Why toilet rolls for fucks sake and not baked beans or soup? I thought it was because of the logistic problems of supply but food would be more sensible than toilet rolls. What am I missing?🤪

anglophone replies on Mar 4, 2020:

To answer your last question: Australia is also known as "The Land of the Drongo"! ;)

The residents of the Land of the Convict are going nuts over toilet paper because of a possible ...

Marionville comments on Mar 4, 2020:

I love the acronym FOMO! This is all complete nuts of course and pretty “shitty” for those who haven’t got caught up in this collective madness, and just want to get their normal 4 or 6 pack, but find it’s going to have to be yesterday’s newspaper instead! This FOMO mentality isn’t ...

anglophone replies on Mar 4, 2020:

Would I be right in thinking that Morrisons Sainsburys Tesco Aldi and M&S are all doing a roaring trade in ass wipes?

A Catholic apologist attempted to defend the story of the Exodus... And failed. [youtu.be]

anglophone comments on Mar 2, 2020:

Why would any sane person want Catholic answers or even Protestant answers when evidence-based answers are available?

anglophone replies on Mar 3, 2020:

@Remowill Which is hilarious in itself: the knowledge that knowledge is bad is itself knowledge - which is itself bad, and so we have an infinite regress of badness!

I just saw this on a meme: Imagine if you will: An atheist in their car at a green light, stuck ...

DenoPenno comments on Feb 29, 2020:

How about "Honk If You Love Ceasar."

anglophone replies on Mar 2, 2020:

@Kenoaks Or if you are into necrophilia, "Bonk Jesus".

What do you suppose gives rise to and supports belief in God?

Seminarian comments on Mar 1, 2020:

I believe the truth about God (However you define it) is that it rested once creation was finished. Biblically the 7th day. Every thing we need is now here and always has been. The rest is up to us to understand as much about life, physical matter, etc. as we can through philosophy, science, self...

anglophone replies on Mar 2, 2020:

@Seminarian Whatever.

One of the most problematic concepts I have found is the idea of permanence.

anglophone comments on Feb 29, 2020:

My identity is real for the simple reason that it exists. The assertion that identity is an illusion is thereby invalidated. Please check both your assumptions and your reasoning. Thank you very much.

anglophone replies on Mar 2, 2020:

@towkneed "The physical reality of objects" is nothing but a concept in your mind. Each object of which you are aware is also nothing but a concept in your mind. You are correct in taking it that what you meant by "permanent identity" is far from clear to me. Thanks for engaging.

What do you suppose gives rise to and supports belief in God?

Seminarian comments on Mar 1, 2020:

I believe the truth about God (However you define it) is that it rested once creation was finished. Biblically the 7th day. Every thing we need is now here and always has been. The rest is up to us to understand as much about life, physical matter, etc. as we can through philosophy, science, self...

anglophone replies on Mar 2, 2020:

@Seminarian You have failed to identify any universal principles. Your claim falls. (Edited for typo)

What do you suppose gives rise to and supports belief in God?

Seminarian comments on Mar 1, 2020:

I believe the truth about God (However you define it) is that it rested once creation was finished. Biblically the 7th day. Every thing we need is now here and always has been. The rest is up to us to understand as much about life, physical matter, etc. as we can through philosophy, science, self...

anglophone replies on Mar 2, 2020:

@Seminarian Of what universal principles do you speak?

I just saw this on a meme: Imagine if you will: An atheist in their car at a green light, stuck ...

DenoPenno comments on Feb 29, 2020:

How about "Honk If You Love Ceasar."

anglophone replies on Mar 1, 2020:

How about "Honk if you Bonk?" ;)

Speaker on Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP) argues that therapists should not feel ...

DavidLaDeau comments on Mar 1, 2020:

TRS is not officially recongized as a psycological condition. With delusions there is an exception reguarding religions. So no matter how delusional one is concerning religion they can not get a diagonosis for hyper religiousosity. Here is how it affected me as a child and how this over site ...

anglophone replies on Mar 1, 2020:

You put it most well when you say "a chronic dependence on an imaginary friend".

What do you suppose gives rise to and supports belief in God?

Seminarian comments on Mar 1, 2020:

I believe the truth about God (However you define it) is that it rested once creation was finished. Biblically the 7th day. Every thing we need is now here and always has been. The rest is up to us to understand as much about life, physical matter, etc. as we can through philosophy, science, self...

anglophone replies on Mar 1, 2020:

@Seminarian How did the universe create itself?

What do you suppose gives rise to and supports belief in God?

Seminarian comments on Mar 1, 2020:

I believe the truth about God (However you define it) is that it rested once creation was finished. Biblically the 7th day. Every thing we need is now here and always has been. The rest is up to us to understand as much about life, physical matter, etc. as we can through philosophy, science, self...

anglophone replies on Mar 1, 2020:

Erm, the universe was created?

Here’s a Picture of Mike Pence’s Team Attempting to Pray Away Coronavirus | Hemant Mehta | ...

rogueflyer comments on Mar 1, 2020:

Perhaps trump's use of pence as the coronavirus czar will expose his incompetence and flawed judgement. It is unfortunate that many people will have to suffer and die due to pence's superstition.

anglophone replies on Mar 1, 2020:

Pence's incompetence has already been exposed, but that has not changed the minds of his supporters because in their minds he is doing God's work.

Here’s a Picture of Mike Pence’s Team Attempting to Pray Away Coronavirus | Hemant Mehta | ...

LuvLayne comments on Mar 1, 2020:

Pence is imbecilic!!!

anglophone replies on Mar 1, 2020:

Not only is Pence an imbecile, he is also a *dangerous* imbecile.

Here’s a Picture of Mike Pence’s Team Attempting to Pray Away Coronavirus | Hemant Mehta | ...

RichCC comments on Mar 1, 2020:

They're trying to subvert Dog's divine plan. They have to know that he/she/it put the virus here for a reason. (Everything happens for a reason.) As Carlin put it: '*What's the use of being God if a schmuck with a two dollar prayer book can come along and fuck up your plan?* ' I don't know ...

anglophone replies on Mar 1, 2020:

People get the government that they deserve. It concerns me that the collective numbskulls of the United States of America are still trying to impose their vile theism upon the rest of the world in exactly the same way as Islamic State.

What do you suppose gives rise to and supports belief in God?

skado comments on Mar 1, 2020:

There’s a biological component, which makes it very persistent. https://www.amazon.com/Illusion-Gods-Presence-Biological-Spiritual-ebook/dp/B00WCY514C

anglophone replies on Mar 1, 2020:

@skado Your point is well made. I had unconsciously limited my usage of spiritual to the theistic sense - silly me!

What do you suppose gives rise to and supports belief in God?

skado comments on Mar 1, 2020:

There’s a biological component, which makes it very persistent. https://www.amazon.com/Illusion-Gods-Presence-Biological-Spiritual-ebook/dp/B00WCY514C

anglophone replies on Mar 1, 2020:

I have never understood the concept of "spiritual longing". When I tried to understand what the word "spiritual" means, I had to give up because all the definitions and descriptions that I encountered were ultimately all forms of woo.

What do you suppose gives rise to and supports belief in God?

Omnedon comments on Mar 1, 2020:

"But it seems lame to me to attribute god belief to a primitive attempt to explain the natural world." Why does that seem "lame"?

anglophone replies on Mar 1, 2020:

Your question is well asked.

What do you suppose gives rise to and supports belief in God?

anglophone comments on Mar 1, 2020:

Deities seem to have been the best explanation that early Man was able to come up with to explain the world around him. Examples include ancient Egypt, with its subsequent translations into the Greek and then the Roman gods, the Mayans, and the First Australians. As far as I know, the first ...

anglophone replies on Mar 1, 2020:

@MarkWD Where might Scientology fit into your observations? (I am not trrying to be confrontational, I am just giving free reign to my own sense of curiosity.)

Christian Writer Claims Her PMS is One of the “Effects of Sin” | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly ...

AnneWimsey comments on Feb 28, 2020:

Huh...orgasms would help her symptoms & her attitude, I bet.

anglophone replies on Feb 29, 2020:

@CarolinaGirl60 I get it now: "Cunning Linguist!" ;)

WHY does the AHA questionnaire keep asking "do you believe---" As a Scientist one doesn't BELIEVE ...

UltraTerrestre comments on Feb 28, 2020:

"Everything is probabilistic" Isn't it what you believe? Scientists believe in things, we can't function without beliefs. The real question is about how we justify our beliefs. Scientists believe the earth is spherical because they observed it to be so. Of course, they know it also because they ...

anglophone replies on Feb 29, 2020:

@JustAskMe No, I do not believe that I will wake up in the morning. I accept that there is a very high probability that I will wake up in the morning. Having said that, the word "belief" (and its derivatives) have at least three separate meanings. Ping @UltraTerrestre

Christian Writer Claims Her PMS is One of the “Effects of Sin” | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly ...

Beowulfsfriend comments on Feb 28, 2020:

The only sin there is the sin of stupidity.

anglophone replies on Feb 29, 2020:

"The sin of stupidity" - I *like* that idea.

We all believe in evidence-based science, and that's why we're agnostic/atheist, right?

JeffMesser comments on Feb 28, 2020:

and this is the question I keep asking people on this site about their ignorant demands for "scientific evidence" et al for proof. when you cannot subject an experience to meter deflection for measurement then you have to go to an entirely separate set of standards to validate subjective reports in ...

anglophone replies on Feb 28, 2020:

I hear you.

We all believe in evidence-based science, and that's why we're agnostic/atheist, right?

Allamanda comments on Feb 28, 2020:

I seem to have created a small furore... The reason for my phrasing was I think it bears remembering that the 'evidence' of one age is not always good in another.

anglophone replies on Feb 28, 2020:

@RichCC Nothing wrong with cognitive diversity!

We all believe in evidence-based science, and that's why we're agnostic/atheist, right?

Allamanda comments on Feb 28, 2020:

I seem to have created a small furore... The reason for my phrasing was I think it bears remembering that the 'evidence' of one age is not always good in another.

anglophone replies on Feb 28, 2020:

@RichCC Dictionaries change of time. Different dictionaries often give different definitions. Lexicographers are fully aware of the limitations inherent in dictionaries, but that knowledge seems to be poorly understood in the wider public.

We all believe in evidence-based science, and that's why we're agnostic/atheist, right?

Allamanda comments on Feb 28, 2020:

I seem to have created a small furore... The reason for my phrasing was I think it bears remembering that the 'evidence' of one age is not always good in another.

anglophone replies on Feb 28, 2020:

I would not call it a furore. I would call it robust discussion. Go you! :)

WHY does the AHA questionnaire keep asking "do you believe---" As a Scientist one doesn't BELIEVE ...

UltraTerrestre comments on Feb 28, 2020:

"Everything is probabilistic" Isn't it what you believe? Scientists believe in things, we can't function without beliefs. The real question is about how we justify our beliefs. Scientists believe the earth is spherical because they observed it to be so. Of course, they know it also because they ...

anglophone replies on Feb 28, 2020:

Why do I need beliefs to function? Why can't I have an evidence-based world view instead?

Christian Writer Claims Her PMS is One of the “Effects of Sin” | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly ...

KingofHarts comments on Feb 28, 2020:

Now that's what you call a "stupid bitch".

anglophone replies on Feb 28, 2020:

It is said of a lot of men that they think with their balls. Might she be thinking with her vagina?

Christian Writer Claims Her PMS is One of the “Effects of Sin” | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly ...

AnneWimsey comments on Feb 28, 2020:

Huh...orgasms would help her symptoms & her attitude, I bet.

anglophone replies on Feb 28, 2020:

Would her church allow her to have orgasms?

Am I alone in this, or do you also sometimes feel the urge to call a particular group of people "a ...

Matias comments on Feb 28, 2020:

What particular group do you have in mind?

anglophone replies on Feb 28, 2020:

Any group which cites their god as a reason (excuse?) to subject their fellow citizens to discrimination. Examples include South Africa (apartheid) and the Bible Belt of the USA (freedom *of* religion is allowed, but freedom *from* religion is not).

I have just done something stupid.

Matias comments on Feb 28, 2020:

Well, from time to time, I like to read book written by Christian apologists. Some apologists are stupid, but some are quite intelligent and educated. I think every atheist should deal with their arguments, just to better understand their own position. And who knows: Maybe I will be confronted...

anglophone replies on Feb 28, 2020:

Thank you for sharing that idea. I dealt for some years on Twitter with arguments from apologists, and in the end Twitter booted me off. In every case their arguments all rested on one or more logical fallacies, and it was my pointing out their logical fallacies that caused them to complain to Twitter admins.

AG William Barr: “Men Are Far Likelier to Obey Rules That Come from God” | Hemant Mehta | ...

Jolanta comments on Feb 28, 2020:

Which god?

anglophone replies on Feb 28, 2020:

Zeus, of course!

Be ye Aware of - that which U R - as a - Being of Life - Know - that which is thine - Essence & ...

KWAPELL7 comments on Feb 27, 2020:

To ALL who reply or respond - I AM in fact & indeed looking for a "capable" challenger - that is - Logically - Rationally - and using solid Reasoning able refute - dispute or deny - ANY aspect of what I have articulated - If U think U have the mental / intellectual acuity to refute - dispute ...

anglophone replies on Feb 28, 2020:

You articulate "GOD". Said god is either fictional or non-existent, depending on which god you are talking about. You write "GOD is LOVE" which it manifestly is not. I thank you for the amusement that you have afforded to me. :)

All the way back in 1917 a famous "miracle" supposedly took place in Fatima, Portugal where three ...

Boomtarat03 comments on Feb 27, 2020:

I believed that once, in my past.

anglophone replies on Feb 27, 2020:

And then you started using your brain. :)

AG William Barr: “Men Are Far Likelier to Obey Rules That Come from God” | Hemant Mehta | ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 27, 2020:

Oh, really?

anglophone replies on Feb 27, 2020:

I wonder if he is a plant from Islamic State.

AG William Barr: “Men Are Far Likelier to Obey Rules That Come from God” | Hemant Mehta | ...

DavidLaDeau comments on Feb 27, 2020:

The statistics that come from prisons are not understood properly. They do not represent what those in prison believe. Prisoners usually choose their religion in proson according to gang affiliation or special privileges it has nothing to do with religion. I was in corrections for 15 years.

anglophone replies on Feb 27, 2020:

I thank you for sharing yourself like that.

WHY does the AHA questionnaire keep asking "do you believe---" As a Scientist one doesn't BELIEVE ...

Novelty comments on Feb 27, 2020:

Not all of us are scientist and when I’m associating with normal hominids I can say that I believe in evolution and they know exactly what I mean. With theist I’d have to spend the rest of the time we were together explaining that it wasn’t a faith statement. I have so little faith in faith ...

anglophone replies on Feb 27, 2020:

"Faithfully faithless" - I *love* it!

WHY does the AHA questionnaire keep asking "do you believe---" As a Scientist one doesn't BELIEVE ...

Jamespuck comments on Feb 27, 2020:

Yes. A question we worked on during a few philosophy of science classes I took years ago had to deal with the self referebcing problems inherent in the scientific method. Is the method itself falseifiable? I cane to think of it as a heristic not an algoritium. A procedure that allows one to find ...

anglophone replies on Feb 27, 2020:

Why does the Scientific Method need to be falsifiable? I am content with the observation that it produces more useful models of the natural world than any other method I have so far encountered.

Faith Healing Kills: Conservative Christian parents in Michigan who refused to get their dying ...

Cutiebeauty comments on Feb 26, 2020:

That's despicable... Why endanger the children?

anglophone replies on Feb 26, 2020:

Because "God"! :(

So, how many of youse out there in 'agnosticland' have actually considered whether your position is ...

anglophone comments on Feb 22, 2020:

Please define which statistic you are using in this context.

anglophone replies on Feb 26, 2020:

@Atheist3 Any probability relies on an underlying statistic, hence my question. Unless, and until, you state which statistic you are using I will be unable to answer your question.

Faith Healing Kills: Conservative Christian parents in Michigan who refused to get their dying ...

Novelty comments on Feb 26, 2020:

Religious rights, believe anything you want, keep it to yourself. If your church participates in any attempt to sway members politically, then they permanently loose tax exempt status. If someone ask to hear about it, go nuts, if not STFU or face consequences. That would be ideal to me.

anglophone replies on Feb 26, 2020:

Religious rights should be called for what they are: religious wrongs.

From There to Here

anglophone comments on Feb 25, 2020:

The models of the natural world that come out of science are far more useful than the models that come out of religion. Putting it simply, "It [science] works, bitches!". There is also the issue that different religions and different sects within each religion often contradict each other. Again ...

anglophone replies on Feb 25, 2020:

@Concolor44 You can read his "The Logic of Scientific Discovery" at http://strangebeautiful.com/other-texts/popper-logic-scientific-discovery.pdf . He goes into falsifiability in that piece.

What do Atheist think about reincarnation?

MichaelSpinler comments on Feb 25, 2020:

we have plenty of evidence that when the brain dies you no longer exist. its pure woo. we see this through brain damaged people. if you could not survive brain damage and keep all of who you are. why the hell would it work with brain death?

anglophone replies on Feb 25, 2020:

Your point is well made.

From There to Here

gearl comments on Feb 25, 2020:

There were undoubtedly many issues but the one that stood out was when I went to a leadership meeting and was told that we could not question anything we were being told by the higher-ups . I had always questioned but thought the good outweighed the bad. At that moment I decided to step down from my...

anglophone replies on Feb 25, 2020:

I regard anybody who tells me that I cannot question anything that I am being told as a dangerous wretch.

What do Atheist think about reincarnation?

RileyStevens comments on Feb 25, 2020:

Hopefully no one here thinks they speak for all of us.

anglophone replies on Feb 25, 2020:

Agreed. The only person I can speak for is myself.

‘Belief’ definition I surmise that one cannot think about beliefs in the singular as if they...

anglophone comments on Feb 24, 2020:

Belief: a position accepted as being true, but in the absence any supporting evidence. Belief system: a set of beliefs on a set of related matters. A belief system need not have a core concept as it can be built around an approach to explaining the natural world. Think of the Greek and Roman ...

anglophone replies on Feb 24, 2020:

@maturin1919 I acknowledge your position.

‘Belief’ definition I surmise that one cannot think about beliefs in the singular as if they...

anglophone comments on Feb 24, 2020:

Belief: a position accepted as being true, but in the absence any supporting evidence. Belief system: a set of beliefs on a set of related matters. A belief system need not have a core concept as it can be built around an approach to explaining the natural world. Think of the Greek and Roman ...

anglophone replies on Feb 24, 2020:

@maturin1919 I find such differences to be highly significant.

‘Belief’ definition I surmise that one cannot think about beliefs in the singular as if they...

anglophone comments on Feb 24, 2020:

Belief: a position accepted as being true, but in the absence any supporting evidence. Belief system: a set of beliefs on a set of related matters. A belief system need not have a core concept as it can be built around an approach to explaining the natural world. Think of the Greek and Roman ...

anglophone replies on Feb 24, 2020:

@maturin1919 The differ sufficiently for this pedant to notice.

‘Belief’ definition I surmise that one cannot think about beliefs in the singular as if they...

anglophone comments on Feb 24, 2020:

Belief: a position accepted as being true, but in the absence any supporting evidence. Belief system: a set of beliefs on a set of related matters. A belief system need not have a core concept as it can be built around an approach to explaining the natural world. Think of the Greek and Roman ...

anglophone replies on Feb 24, 2020:

@maturin1919 And dictionaries often differ in what the offer for any given word.

‘Belief’ definition I surmise that one cannot think about beliefs in the singular as if they...

anglophone comments on Feb 24, 2020:

Belief: a position accepted as being true, but in the absence any supporting evidence. Belief system: a set of beliefs on a set of related matters. A belief system need not have a core concept as it can be built around an approach to explaining the natural world. Think of the Greek and Roman ...

anglophone replies on Feb 24, 2020:

@Mcflewster Are you referring to @maturin1919's comment about a dictionary?