God doesn’t exist. Why or why not?

dare2dream comments on Sep 19, 2018:

Your question is why or why not does god exist. I'll answer with another question. What does it matter? He does not seem to do anything. Believers look at "signs" (wishes granted, good luck happening to them) that their invisible god exists. They use their biased, subjective interpretations as evidence but they just see what they want to see. “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” – Epicurus, ancient Greek philosopher

GOP Senator Opposes Medicaid Expansion Because It Prevents People From Finding God | Michael Stone

dare2dream comments on Sep 20, 2018:

I wonder if he thinks we should close all the hospitals so we can go back to praying for a cure.

Are you ethical? Do you have a code of ethics?

dare2dream comments on Sep 24, 2018:

I realize there are other people in the world who are very much like me. I therefore empathize and have compassion for others. This is the basis of my moral code.

Mind numbing sex - what's your secret?

dare2dream comments on Sep 24, 2018:

Laying the groundwork of having a great relationship first is a prerequisite for MNS (mind numbing sex). Friends first, mutual respect, physical attraction (of course) and some romance. With a start like that the rest should be good.

Why are we here ?

dare2dream comments on Oct 2, 2018:

We are here to learn, grow, get smarter, stronger, wiser. In other words, to become all we can be or the best that we can be.

Doubt vs gullibilty

dare2dream comments on Oct 3, 2018:

It is faith that is wrong. Faith is believing in something in spite of any evidence to the contrary. Faith is what let us believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. It is folly for adults to use this same thing to believe in gods.

If you want to change someones mind, you probably won’t be able to if you insult or belittle their...

dare2dream comments on Nov 11, 2018:

When most people take a position on an issue, most people "go with their gut" or their feelings instead of analyzing and deliberating. They either don't need facts or don't think of how good the facts are that they do use. Therefore, giving them facts and evidence will not get them to change their mind. You have to tell them a story that reaches their heart.* That* they can relate to.

There is a member on the condo board where I live who is a religious nut.

dare2dream comments on Nov 13, 2018:

Maybe it's time for you to wear your Atheist T-shirt? ;)

Or has a beautiful soul but might not have the perfect body.

dare2dream comments on Dec 2, 2018:

Does anyone still believe in the existence of a soul?

Contemporary atheism is a flight from a godless world.

dare2dream comments on Dec 14, 2018:

Yes, life without gods means the world is a chaotic, dangerous and meaningless place. The universe does not care. But we mortals care. And from that we derive our meaning. We find meaning in our values. Yes, instead of looking toward a god for meaning and order, we atheists look toward reality, as it is, and toward humanity. Caring for humanity is not a continuation of monotheism - which is nothing more than mythology. Saying humanity realizing common goals is a secular version of religious redemption is backward. Redemption of what?

I 100 percent agree! The democrats used to be about freedom and personal liberties.

dare2dream comments on Dec 16, 2018:

What is SJW?

All the more reason to secure the southern border.

dare2dream comments on Dec 29, 2018:

I thought the Sheriff made a good point. We need to reconcile deporting criminal undocumented aliens with the need for community policing. But the Sheriff either doesn't understand or doesn't care about partnering with his community. Deporting is often thought of as a solution but deportees often just come right back over and over.

“There are two forms of courage in this world.

dare2dream comments on Dec 31, 2018:

Yes, they both require courage.

All the more reason to secure the southern border.

dare2dream comments on Dec 31, 2018:

News update: Gov. Jerry Brown has said the law strikes a balance between protecting families and ensuring consequences for serious criminals. His spokesman said Friday that if the suspect was a known gang member, police could have informed federal authorities. “California law fully permits the sharing of information on dangerous gang members,” spokesman Evan Westrup said. Former state Sen. Kevin de Leon, the Democrat who wrote the legislation, said it’s “highly irresponsible” to blame the law for the officer’s death. “The type of tone and attitude that Sheriff Christianson has taken instills fear and panic in all immigrant communities” that could make people afraid to report crimes, de Leon told KNX-AM radio in Los Angeles. So why is there such a wide disagreement as to what the sanctuary law provides and excepts? The Sheriff thinks the law says one thing and and the Governor and the former state senator, who wrote the law, say something else. Is the sheriff willfully ignoring the inconvenient truth?

“We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.” Thích Nhat Hanh

dare2dream comments on Jan 2, 2019:

Scientifically speaking there are at most only six degrees of separation between any two individuals on Earth.

On immigration.

dare2dream comments on Jan 3, 2019:

Well, let's not promote the "immigrants are rapists and thieves" lie being used to divide humanity.

It is understandable that the Xtions believe men are superior to women with thrme,whole god thing ...

dare2dream comments on Jan 6, 2019:

Cognitive dissonance.

Inquiring minds want to know

dare2dream comments on Jan 12, 2019:

Good question. I didn't know either. Thanks for asking. I learned something.

There is no such thing as reality

dare2dream comments on Jan 16, 2019:

Ontological nihilism.

“At the end of the day, what gives our lives meaning is how we are loved.” Do you agree?

dare2dream comments on Feb 12, 2019:

Life has no inherent meaning. It just is. But we humans give our life meaning. We do so through what matters to us. For me, sharing my life with caring people and loving them makes my life matter more to me and gives me purpose.

Singer Katy Perry has pulled shoes that were released last month after some people noted that the ...

dare2dream comments on Feb 12, 2019:

There's a difference between *being Black* and *Blackface*. Aren't the shoes authentically Black?

Why with all the defects we are finding on Facebook why are they taking years to fix and what could ...

dare2dream comments on Feb 12, 2019:

It's all about advertisement money. Facebook keeps track of all your Likes and demographic info. Then you get targeted with advertisements. It's money over privacy.

What's wrong with capitalism?

dare2dream comments on Feb 21, 2019:

What I got out of the lecture: Socialism means bringing democracy into the workplace. Capitalism does not have democracy in the workplace. My thoughts: A Capitalist society is money-focused. A Socialist society is people-focused.

From Integrated Capitalism to Disintegrating Capitalism

dare2dream comments on Feb 23, 2019:

What if they gave a war and nobody went?

Believability

dare2dream comments on Feb 25, 2019:

They claim their beliefs are decreed by the Almighty Creator of the Universe. They ignore or dismiss any other basis of morality.

Do you wonder why the US is going to hell in a hand basket?

dare2dream comments on Feb 28, 2019:

We have a capitalist economic system which has many good points. Unfortunately, our system currently has very few restrains or checks on it anymore. Therefore, it is inherently corrupt. Money corrupts everything.

Somebody scattered some of those ridiculous Chick Tracts in the break room at work.

dare2dream comments on Mar 4, 2019:

FFRF has a bunch of "nontracts" for purchase. I bought the whole set. They are little pamphlets with titles like, "What's wrong with the ten commandments", "Ten common myths about atheists", etc. They are aimed at the religious believer. https://ffrf.org/publications/nontract

I have read too many profiles that states "agnostic and atheist".

dare2dream comments on Mar 6, 2019:

Actually, it is possible to be both at the same time. Agnosticism is the view that whether or not God exists is unknown or unknowable. Atheism is the absence of belief in the existence of deities. Maybe to put it more clearly: "Skepticism is my nature. Free Thought is my methodology. Agnosticism is my conclusion. Atheism is my opinion. Humanitarianism is my motivation." ~ Jerry Dewitt, former pastor of two evangelical churches, American author and public speaker, and a prominent member of the American atheism movement.

Do you want to be right or do you want to win, and no you cannot have both.

dare2dream comments on Mar 9, 2019:

People who do right never win?

Freedom is...

dare2dream comments on Mar 16, 2019:

Like Athena, I disagree too (respectfully). Freedom is having a bridge to fall back on when a dead end is encountered. I can have ties to positive things and negative things. I cut ties to the negative and the drama.

PBS Newshour continues its excellent journalistic efforts.

dare2dream comments on Mar 16, 2019:

S & B are great. PBS is my favorite. Even though the law in the U.S. requiring broadcasters who use public airwaves produce fair and balanced news reporting has been repealed (1987), PBS continues to be fair and balanced - leaving the viewer to decide for his/herself. Honest journalism.

Missouri lawmaker introduces law mandating that every person own an AR-15.

dare2dream comments on Mar 18, 2019:

He's just grandstanding.

We atheists and atheist allies hereby declare that from now on, March 23rd is Atheist Day.

dare2dream comments on Mar 23, 2019:

That's it? A green circle? I think there are far better symbols of atheism than a green circle. Here's the shirt I wear. https://www.cafepress.com/acsj.889869923

Trying hard

dare2dream comments on Mar 26, 2019:

Why is it that the one of the ladies is so acceptable but the one of the men is so gay? I know. What we see is in the eye of the beholder but I also think it is a cultural thing. Interesting.

Being agnostic or any other ideology is alright.

dare2dream comments on Mar 26, 2019:

I see it like this. All people, both the god believer and the atheist, are all seekers of the truth. The difference between them is god believers rely on faith to find their truth. Atheists rely on evidence and logic, reason, to find the truth. Faith fosters a closed mind because they claim they have the answers. Atheists should have a mind open to new evidence and subject to change (improving). Losing one’s religion or faith does not mean they will lose hope. They are only losing their delusions and gaining a better understanding of reality based on evidence. The hope an atheist has is grounded in fact and understanding.

"Mercier and Sperber (in their book Enigma of Reason) proposed a novel theory of human ...

dare2dream comments on Mar 28, 2019:

Interesting. This make sense. Unfortunately, today we now have "alternate facts". I argue with facts and they have their own facts to the contrary. :(

wrong again.

dare2dream comments on Apr 9, 2019:

To have freedom OF religion we must also have freedom FROM religion. They go together.

Does anyone else who's de-converted from religion struggle with logically knowing / accepting ...

dare2dream comments on Apr 26, 2019:

That's a good example of how feelings are deceiving.

People always ask why my ex and I broke up and I always say that it’s because I stopped believing ...

dare2dream comments on May 3, 2019:

I think the best reason to lose your faith is because you found something better: Reason. Being evidence based is more reliable than being faith based. Faith is believing in things without evidence or even if there is more evidence to the contrary you believe anyway. This is illogical! You can tell them that.

What is the worst thing for you about beginning a new relationship?

dare2dream comments on May 11, 2019:

Anxiety. I usually get my hopes up too much. I strain to be fun and entertaining. I strain at "reading" her feelings and receptivity.

There's an Egyptian graduate student visiting to work on his Master's & we've chatted a good bit.

dare2dream comments on Jun 3, 2019:

You can tell him that everyone understands the value of evidence so, when it comes to religion, why would anyone put all that kind of thinking aside in favor of faith? Faith is believing in things without evidence. Even if the evidence is to the contrary they believe it anyway! Faith is illogical!

Our last family picture taken in 2012 what I wouldn't give to go back to it to feel one more hug and...

dare2dream comments on Jun 8, 2019:

Nice family. Your girls need you now more than ever.

LOL. The brain is the most outstanding organ.

dare2dream comments on Jun 8, 2019:

... and religious indoctrination disables it. ;)

Organ donation - Another harm of religion Several weeks ago I was chatting with a few people when...

dare2dream comments on Jun 10, 2019:

Maybe only donors should be recipients?

Well, yeah!

dare2dream comments on Jun 12, 2019:

I'm with you. Small talk is a good conversational opener. But after a while, it gets kind of inane and superficial. I prefer deeper subjects like philosophy and current events. The best subjects are kind of taboo: religion and politics.

How do I meet that blond in shorts on the main page when you sign in?

dare2dream comments on Jun 12, 2019:

Signs are always subject to interpretation. We see what we want to see in them.

Supreme Court Cross Case: Memorial Can Stand On Public Land : NPR

dare2dream comments on Jun 20, 2019:

"Honor them all (not just Christians) because war isn't sacred and valor is a secular virtue." ~ *The Humanist* magazine

No country leaderships are trustful.

dare2dream comments on Jun 22, 2019:

"Workers of the world, unite!"

But you, the one who has always loved deeply and fiercely...

dare2dream comments on Jun 24, 2019:

Although our hearts are easily hurt and broken, they are not meant to be safely tucked away and protected from further harm. They are meant to be given away again.

There is a bug in my car.

dare2dream comments on Jun 26, 2019:

As we critical thinkers like to say, "Mere coincidence does not prove causation." ;)

In an age were we have Active Shooter Apps, active shooter drills in public schools nationwide, and ...

dare2dream comments on Jul 17, 2019:

We are currently hamstrung by the radical pro gun lobby. Maybe things like panic alarms are the best we can do at this moment? It's not a bad thing.

In god we trust... [thehill.com]

dare2dream comments on Jul 26, 2019:

"In Reason We Trust." I'm normally against vandalism but in extreme cases as this....

Listening to the news this morning, I'm starting to wonder if the R party is actively working to ...

dare2dream comments on Jul 27, 2019:

The R party does not care about democracy but has been working to institutionalize the oligarchy their benefactors control.

Why have the Dems dropped their opposition to illegal immigration? [youtube.com]

dare2dream comments on Aug 20, 2019:

That's a Republican talking point. It is false that Democrats *dropped *their opposition to illegal immigration. That's like trying to say the Democrats are now *for* illegal immigration.

Antifa (pronounced 'Anti fa' not 'anteefa') has been the name of anti fasist organisations in EU ...

dare2dream comments on Aug 22, 2019:

Antifa is trying to fight violence with more violence. What would happen if the fascists held a rally in the park looking for a fight and no one else went? (Crickets). Now *that* would send a message. The best way to fight violence is with laws and law enforcement (sworn officers - not another mob).

"Logic, logic, logic.

dare2dream comments on Aug 22, 2019:

I see something my way and you see it another. Who is right? Maybe we both are! I see part of the truth and you see another part of the truth. If I can see it your way too, I'll see the whole truth. I think there is some logic in that. :D

I know how very special I am.

dare2dream comments on Aug 23, 2019:

Is there any cause you believe in, want to be a part of and contribute to?

The truth is...

dare2dream comments on Aug 26, 2019:

Tolerance helps to make developing relationships easier.

Proposal for a global currency to replace the dollar. What is your view? [medium.com]

dare2dream comments on Aug 30, 2019:

It will be a great day for humanity when we can do away with money all together. Sure. We live in a global society anyway. Why not have a global currency.

So, Ive had two family members share their testimony about recieving prophecy.

dare2dream comments on Sep 2, 2019:

Sure. Expose them. Have fun with it.

If Christianity didn’t exist, nor would this site.

dare2dream comments on Sep 2, 2019:

I see it as evidence based thinking versus faith based thinking; logic versus anti-logic.

Got banned from the pro gun rights group. Not sure why. Because I don't support the NRA?

dare2dream comments on Sep 3, 2019:

Two corrections. #1. If we want to be like the UK or Canada it could happen right away with a change in congress. #2. The US has 120 guns per 100 civilians. Switzerland has 27 per 100 citizens. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimated_number_of_civilian_guns_per_capita_by_country

Join the global strike on Sep 20th.

dare2dream comments on Sep 6, 2019:

A day of not shopping only puts off shopping for a day. What we really need are permanent alternatives to contributing to global warming.

Did the Ammoland link post get pulled by Admin?

dare2dream comments on Sep 9, 2019:

Is Ammoland a trusted source? Ha! Those gun nuts will blame anything but guns.

Why is it that otherwise intelligent people who demonstrate rational thought in every subject matter...

dare2dream comments on Sep 12, 2019:

That's a good question and I think Sam Harris answered adequately. There is a big part of religions that make some moral sense, (do unto others... ), that people get pulled into the whole mythology. I do think it is strange that most people are rational, logical and respect evidence but when it comes to religion, push all that rational thinking aside in favor blind faith.

Saying hello, I finally get time to say hi to the people here.

dare2dream comments on Sep 14, 2019:

Welcome!

quick addition

dare2dream comments on Oct 3, 2019:

It's an addition without a permit. ;)

“WWIII of a Different Kind” Here's an off the wall idea; Call it WWIII, if you like.

dare2dream comments on Oct 5, 2019:

After thinking about this for a while I think a coup d'é·tat such as this, although for a good cause, has no moral authority. A cabal should not be the ones to decide this. Only a democracy has the right.