gearl's Profile

This is my new favorite social media.

gearl comments on Nov 30, 2017:

Thank you Mr. @Admin!

Perhaps I'm the oldest one here.

gearl comments on Nov 30, 2017:

I just turned 74 but see that I got beat for the title. You have me by a year and wordywalt has me by six.

FYI: Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience Pdf free download. Check it out!

gearl comments on Nov 30, 2017:

Highlight the address in your browser Hold control key and tap C Go to your comment Hold control key and tap V http://www.antoniolombatti.it/SkepticEncyclopedia1.pdf

A fellow died and went to heaven.

gearl comments on Nov 29, 2017:

Three friends all died and went to heaven at the same time. Saint Peter meet them at the gates and said to one of them "Welcome to Heaven! here is your reward." after saying that Saint Peter immediately handcuffed him to a extremely unattractive woman. "Saint Peter! why is this my heavenly reward?" the man asked? Saint Peter replied, "When you were five you killed a bird with a stone." Saint Peter then turned to the next guy and did the exact same thing for the exact same reason. He was asked the same question and answered the same. Finally he turned to the third guy and said, "Welcome to Heaven! Here is your reward." the third man was immediately handcuffed to a beautiful girl. Extremely happy the man walked off. The other two men, who had stuck around to see what their friends fate was, were outraged. "How come he gets a beautiful girl and were stuck with these? We can name a few things that he did that were worse than ours!" Saint Peter said, "When she was five she killed a bird with a stone."

Many times I have been asked by religious people if I have morals. Like they do!

gearl comments on Nov 29, 2017:

When people say that they are being judgmental right out of the chute. They deserve pretty much whatever you come up with. Go for it!

"I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.

gearl comments on Nov 29, 2017:

Dawkins' "God Delusion" was the voice of reason that spoke to me finally in accepting the fact that I am atheist. Since I've read many of his books and watched many of his debates. It was his explanations of the importance of science and the scientific method and the awe that we experience that rekindled the enjoyment of the world and the universe, back into my mind.

Pray for me?

gearl comments on Nov 29, 2017:

If they know me well then I may something snarky but otherwise I let it go.

Who are the most dishonest apologists you have heard?

gearl comments on Nov 29, 2017:

Since he was preaching to his supporters today about morals I say Roy Moore, right now.

And the Bible supposed to be moral guidance.

gearl comments on Nov 29, 2017:

The more I consider what the Bible really says the more I believe it is an abysmally immoral book. Now considering the folks who say they live by it's standards, they tend to prove my point. There are exceptions but I think they may be reconsidering.

Will Roy Moore win the Election on Dec???

gearl comments on Nov 28, 2017:

I hope not, but it is Alabama.

About Jesus

gearl comments on Nov 28, 2017:

I’m one of those people who have spent way too much time on the question. I read books and watched debates by Carrier, Ehrman, Fitzgerald, Price and to me the myth theory is going to win out. I wouldn’t argue the point though as I really don’t know.

If you could be a bird for a day, what kind of bird would you be? Why?

gearl comments on Nov 28, 2017:

I'm with Edward Abbey: Let us praise the noble turkey vulture: No one envies him; he harms nobody; and he contemplates our little world from a most serene and noble height.

Do You Beleive In Such a Thing As Objective Morals

gearl comments on Nov 28, 2017:

Yes and no. Different people define objective morals differently. Christians seem to think that objective morality means something out there in the ether. I think that some morals have evolved and become established in society so that nearly everybody accepts them. Each and every individual doesn’t have to find on his own, that something like murder is bad. It is just generally accepted so it is considered objective. Other than that, I think that you are completely correct in that the view of how most Christians define objective morality is wrong.

Would atheist be ok with supporting a 'god doesn't exist' campaign on social media?

gearl comments on Nov 28, 2017:

I think that just being out and trying your best to be good does more than getting in people's faces. I'm here because it's a place to share experiences and stories and thoughts with like-minded people and not to convert people.

Women and atheism

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

A few years ago it seemed there were hardly any women atheists. Now, wow, they are everywhere. It's wonderful. I hope we have passed the tipping point, just as the gays have, where the majority of people accept us.

Should an atheist study world religions or not?

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

One of the first things I did when I got out of religion was take a college course in World Religion. I have never regretted it but if I were to advise someone it would be to take it if you're interested. It wouldn't be at the top of my list as necessary information. An ethics class would be more beneficial.

Do Americans generally understand Islam?

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

I follow Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Maajid Nawaz, and Sarah Haider by reading their books and watching their videos. These people are inspirational to me as they truly try to address problems within Muslim communities and the dangers of leaving those communities. I believe in the rights of Muslims to practice their religion but I also believe that people have to step up and challenge the doctrine and abuse against both others and their own families and community. It seems that a lot of folks will condemn Christians for abuse but give Muslims a free ride.

Do you feel as I do that Americans (primarily men ) place way to much importance on spectator sports...

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

I'm certainly not a fanatic. I like things I was able to do when I was young and things that demonstrate the human spirit and skill. I was a skier so I like the Olympics. I like a bit of motocross. I will go to a school game if I know the kids playing but it has to be personal.

Do you have 21st Century privacy concerns?

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

I don’t really like it but I guess if a guy doesn’t have much to hide it’s just best not to worry about it.

What is unique about your Generation?

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

I didn’t know I was from the silent generation. I was thrown out of restaurants because of friendship with black friends. I remember exactly where I was when JFK was shot. Parenting was not a lot different except people didn’t worry about their young kids going blocks to visit friends. Phones were rotary. Music was Buddy Holly and the Beatles. Culture was bad for minorities. Religion was shitty but at least people didn’t push it in each other’s face at every conversation. Thought processes grow. Communication was sitting on the back porch and talking without everybody having to check their #$$# cell phones every @#$% two minutes.

Facial hair: What do you think of it? Do you have it? Like it?

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

Mine is a statement. I was told I couldn't have one for almost 40 years of my life. I'll probably die with it. Besides I'm too lazy to shave every day.

Trump's executive order

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

I sure hope there is a complete backlash on most everything he does.

Should the government give more tax breaks and entitlements to families with children considering ...

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

I think contraception should be free including tubal ligation and vasectomies. Child deductions could be bracketed with each additional child getting less.

How do you feel about obscene language?

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

There a time and place for everything and sometimes nothing else make an impression. We know pretty much if people don’t swear and I don’t swear around them. On the other hand I hate people that continually make a federal case out of a book or a movie that has a f*** in it. Don’t go to the movie or don’t read the book. My wife is a librarian and there are quite a few folks that come to her demanding that books be removed from the shelves because of language or content. After being raised very religiously and then leaving being able to use a few appropriate swear word was a hell of a lot of fun and a load off my shoulders.

Cat Owners: Inside or outside?

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

I’m not a cat person but a neighbor moved and left her cats. We now have four cats and have managed to get them spayed and neutered. One found his way in through the doggy door so we now have one indoor/outdoor cat and the rest outdoor. We, they and the dogs are one big happy family.

It seems to me that people are making a lot of "political correctness" these days, most in a ...

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

The term is used too much to ridicule the other sides opinions. I believe in common decency and courtesy but when warranted, call a spade a spade. Call lies, lies, false information, false information etc. If the guys a homophobe, raciest, misogynist, pedophile, and it’s evident, call him one.

How many in the Resistance fully understand that we are now in the surreal position of needing to ...

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

Step up and I'll follow. Seriously, I do what I can, where I live, but I'm really outnumbered. I do know that debates are not to convince your opponents but to influence the audience.

Does anybody enjoy watching The Atheist Experience?

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

Big fan!

do you agree with christian conservatives on some things ?

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

I tried. Nope.

Here are some jokes I know.

gearl comments on Nov 27, 2017:

A family was having guests to dinner. At the table, the mother turned to her six-year-old daughter and says, "Dear, would you like to say the blessing?" "I wouldn't know what to say," replies the little girl. "Just say what you hear Mommy say, sweetie." Her daughter takes a deep breath, bows her head, and solemnly says, "Dear Lord, why the hell did I invite all these people to dinner?"

What is evil and what is its orgins?

gearl comments on Nov 26, 2017:

“Nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer; nothing is more difficult than to understand him.” - Fyodor Dostoyevsky “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” - Blaise Pascal

I am a Devout Agnostic.

gearl comments on Nov 26, 2017:

Religion: The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods Atheist: Lack of the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods

Energy Cannot Naturally Be Created or Destroyed! isn't this scientific principle proof of Eternity?!

gearl comments on Nov 26, 2017:

Sorry that sounds like Deepak Chopra to me.

Conservative Agnostics

gearl comments on Nov 26, 2017:

Bleeding heart Liberal!

People who get offended over everything needs to learn that life is not always about them.

gearl comments on Nov 26, 2017:

It may be perfectly reasonable to have someone call you a name or accuse you of something and you become offended. Where I have a problem is if I question something you say or believe and you are offended. Ideas should be fair game but please don’t attack the messenger himself.

It is not that I enjoy watching the news these last several troubling years, it is that I fear not ...

gearl comments on Nov 26, 2017:

I click in on as soon as I get up every morning to find out if I'm still alive.

Sorry, Creationists: Scientists Witness New Species Develop in Two Generations – Friendly Atheist

gearl comments on Nov 26, 2017:

I read this, this morning. I always thought that different species couldn't interbreed but as the article at: https://phys.org/news/2017-11-galapagos-species.html explains they may be able to breed but prefer not to. For the folks interested it goes into a lot more detail than McAfee's short blurb does.

Why are there so many people in the USA ready to condemn an agnostic or atheist in questioning the ...

gearl comments on Nov 26, 2017:

I would say that over the last couple of years in particular people have become emboldened condemning anybody that is not in their tribe. Courtesy went out the window in regards to people of a different color, belief sex, you name it.

Attraction: How much do voices make a difference?

gearl comments on Nov 26, 2017:

Most of us sound different when we speak than what we hear when what we said is played back. I've met folks that don't have good speaking voices but I can listen to them all day. Some voices are irritating but I think the thought is much more important than tone of voice.

I have no need to convert people to the same way of thinking as me.

gearl comments on Nov 26, 2017:

I don't proselytize but I do stand up for what I believe is right. If asked, I do explain what I think is correct and why and I ask why they believe what they do. I normally never start the questioning process. If what they believe doesn't affect others detrimentally, I couldn't give a rat's ass what they believe.

I try to teach my daughter critical thinking.

gearl comments on Nov 26, 2017:

What I did has already been mentioned but I'll go anyway. I had my daughter read the Bible and I told her to question everyone especially me.

I believe the human race is in a deplorable state due to the unnatural and artificial invironment ...

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

I agree.

I don't think we should get all offended when someone challenges our intelligence.

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

Hell, I challenge my own intelligence every day. I'm with silvereyes with the idea that people that don't accept challenge stagnate.

What Do You Think About Spinoza?

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

Although I guess I was a pantheist for a time in between religion and agnosticism I now think it causes a lot more problems than it solves. Einstein's quotes about god caused too much controversy about what he really believed. The religious even now swear that Einstein was a Christian even when he stated clearly that he was not. The same can be said for Stephen Hawkins. It's best to say clearly what you mean, something that even the religious can understand. Spinoza historically has importance but using Spinoza's type of language today is just too confusing. I can actually say that on this one very small point, I disagree with Einstein.,

I feel like Marvin Martian!

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

I had to look up Marvin Martian. I saw that in the WP and couple days ago. I'm for doing what we do for end of the world predictions. Get together for dinner and cheer him on.

Have you ever looked back on a belief and later asked yourself how you could have ever believed ...

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

Every day.

Not trying to generalize, but to you agree, do you think religion is a mental illness?

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

Yes, but I can personally attest that it can be cured.

Hello.

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

As ErichZannIII said, our constitution supposedly grants us a separation of church and state but those squirmy religionists sure do find ways to circumvent the first amendment. Having people like you just standing firm on your thoughts and making friends and neighbors aware of where you stand will, I believe, allow people to see we are thoughtful, law-abiding, moral people and will change the attitude of the majority toward us. We will go through a reformation just like the gays did recently and people will no longer be afraid to come out of the closet.

It is my belief that the USA should bring back the WPA for welfare and those who lack any real ...

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

I don’t see how you could get people into it without getting rid of welfare Folks were hungry back then. Perhaps offering education for those willing to spend time in public service would work. What appears to be happening right now, at least to me, is that a good percentage of people have a disdain for education and they think there will always be menial work that pays well. It doesn’t and it’s going to get worse. Drivers, fast food employees and a whole bunch of occupations are being taken over by technology and without education the non-educated will be on welfare or perhaps on some training program similar to WPA. The time is just not ripe yet.

Does atheism make you more likely to be left or right wing?

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

The left supports: Women’s rights Religious rights Civil rights Equality for all Some limit on guns Belief in evolution Belief in Climate Change Belief in science in general I would say that the majority of atheists also support these things. It’s not cut and dried though.

I’ve never been a believer.

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

I would guess that to most of us here it just means losing our belief in a particular religion and in god in general. I was raised a JW and then at about 38 I began having doubts and losing my faith so I was deconverted from being a JW.

When debating with Christians in regards to evidence, the following is vital to know: They will ...

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

Last Christmas we were invited for dinner with a bunch of other folks among whom was a guy that had really come up in the local Baptist Church as was now assistant Pastor. He started proselyting and me being the @#$ that I am, told him I would be glad to have a Bible study with him as long as we only used the Bible, starting with Gen. 1: 1 and without using any other of his church literature. Other people at the table were all excited about it and he set a date but alas he was a no-show. Don’t let them set the rules.

If you could overthrow your government, or any particular government in general.

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

I’m not ready to give up on what we have now even with its problems. Those founding fathers were pretty smart. I hope we can get back on track.

I see the stories in the Bible as only curios.

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

I see the Bible as a book that contains a lot more immorality than morality and feel that it is my responsibility, in my own small way, point that out.

The silliness of the “War on Christmas.

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

They’re obsessed with using the persecution card while at the same time trying their best to take anyone who thinks different than themselves their rights.

The Supreme Court & the Gay Wedding Cake

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

I’m ambivalent on the issue and for the same reasons as the folks below. It’s similar to a Muslim woman wearing a burka. I’ll fight for her right to wear it while at the same time detesting it. In our town there is a feed store that I used to buy all our animal food at. Then they started putting us Bible verses on their marquee. I started wondering if I still wanted to support them. Then they put up a “No Wolves” sign covering the whole entrance side of the building. I will never enter the store again under any circumstance. This is a very bigoted town but I hope that there are enough folks like me that will also boycott the store and hurt their business somewhat. Wolves are almost as big an issue around here as guns.

Why is it that the most irreverent people tend to cling to Christianity?

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

Being irreverent or showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously while at the same time showing respect for a lying, homophobic, misogynistic douche bag is what about 30% of Americans today do and the majority of that 30% are fundamentalist Christians. They cling because they believe in magic rather than facts.

What are your favorite sacrilegious quotes, lyrics, movie scenes, etc.?

gearl comments on Nov 25, 2017:

When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league bullshit, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims, religion. No contest. No contest. Religion. Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time! But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bullshit story. Holy Shit! ---George Carlin

I see no value in any religious activities other than to improve the power and finances of those who...

gearl comments on Nov 24, 2017:

With all the hypocrisy displayed in the news lately it’s hard to remember that there are good folks out there that are religious. They find community and comfort in religion. I still think that if they had been raised without faith they would be better people and better off.

Which famous athiests other than Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris delivers lectures which are worth ...

gearl comments on Nov 24, 2017:

People have it covered below. For something low-key and funny watch Julia Sweeney’s Letting go of God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiU5ht5W_lk

There could be a higher power maybe we would refer to it as god.

gearl comments on Nov 24, 2017:

It took me a good twenty years to go from hard-core religion to atheist. It took a long time to lose beliefs. First hell, then the devil, then I was somewhat of a pantheist, then agnostic and now I’m comfortable saying I’m atheist because I see so little probability of there being a god. After reading probably ten books pro and con I now think Jesus was merely a myth. Also I don’t think most declared Christians are hypocrites but I think the more they lean to fundamentalism the more hypocritical they become. You seem to be explaining where you are on your journey so in response this is where I am at.

I recently came to this forum considering myself to be an atheist.

gearl comments on Nov 23, 2017:

Personally, I don’t like the term universal truth because it is used by the religious as a god-given but it appears that you are talking about morals rather than truth. Something is true or it is false and the truth of something should be provable by the scientific method. Morals on the other hand are right because they benefit people or wrong because they harm people. Society has set standards from an evolution of progressive thinking that brings the most benefits to the greatest number of people. Over the last year, it seems that both truth and morality are up for grabs but hopefully that gets back on track.

Why do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving when they know full well that after the first 'Thanksgiving'...

gearl comments on Nov 23, 2017:

How many of us think of history when we celebrate holidays? They’re just good excuses to get together with friends and family, eat good food and catch up on goings on. My family all had a very good time today.

CHRISTIANS' IGNORANCE ANNOYS ME TO NO END.

gearl comments on Nov 23, 2017:

That's a pretty sick thing to say to a five-year-old. If you don't have something good to say, it's best to not say anything at all, would have been good advice for that person. Maybe that child will remember what was said, get past the leukemia and grow up to be a strapping atheist. I'm an optimist.

There are three things that “Morality” does to corrupt humanity.

gearl comments on Nov 21, 2017:

You’re talking about religious morality which for a good part of Christians isn’t morality at all. In my opinion there is a whole lot more immorality in the Bible than there is morality. Fundamentalists equate the Bible with morality thus we get what you are talking about. Ethics and morals are real though and the fact that we can point out so many places in the Bible where it is immoral gives us a good starting point for debate. Slavery is a great example because the Bible never condemns it but actually justifies it. Secular nations tend to be more moral than the highly religious.

In your experience, when discussing religion with a believer, what's the most common thing they say ...

gearl comments on Nov 21, 2017:

With older people it’s the old “mysterious ways” thing. Younger people who are cocky try to attack the messenger and the rest usually just go quiet.

Those of you in the US that celebrate Thanksgiving with religious family, do you all have to do the ...

gearl comments on Nov 21, 2017:

Usually at such events my daughter and I are the only non-believers and we do the same as nearly everybody below has said: we just look around to see if there is anybody else not paying attention then grin at them.

Women and Relgion.

gearl comments on Nov 21, 2017:

It seems apparent to me that this is changing. Just look at this site and all the brilliant women on it.

Assuming Jesus Christ existed, I find it unlikely that he died on the cross.

gearl comments on Nov 21, 2017:

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus was hung on a stake rather than a cross. After I got out I did quite a bit of research on this subject and it became apparent that the Romans used crucifixion as a punishment for treason and most scholars believe that he was crucified. I’m however, one of those folks that really doubts that he ever existed. So my opinion is that if he existed and was killed by the Romans it was probably by crucifixion but otherwise it’s all myth.

One bad apple

gearl comments on Nov 21, 2017:

The only thing I can think of would be to come out when the issue is raised. Say something like: "I'm an atheist and I certainly don't support what she's saying." When people know an atheist who is a decent person they are far less likely to judge.

Why do people keep asking about God ?

gearl comments on Nov 20, 2017:

They don't ask me. They don't want to get me started.

What would you give up?

gearl comments on Nov 20, 2017:

My only purpose is to do my best.

Bill Nye & Ken Ham Debate While Touring Ark Encounter (UNCUT) (COMMENTS OPEN) - YouTube

gearl comments on Nov 20, 2017:

Nye should have quit after the first debate.

What is the most disturbing truth of life?

gearl comments on Nov 20, 2017:

There is no purpose outside ourselves.

Why do celebrities get a free (religious) pass?