The western liberals feel ashamed of their ancestors who enslaved the Africans and killed the native...

markdevenish comments on Nov 18, 2017:

we have slaves. they just don't live here. they live in mexico . brazil, indonesia, taiwan, china , india to name a few. You try living on a dollar a day. as for the middle east every time you fill up with gas think of the carnage we have wreaked on their societies. I'd be f---ing mad too.

What would you prefer? 'Extremely Groveling' levels at Agnostic dot com or...?

markdevenish comments on Nov 18, 2017:

just keep talking and maybe we'll all learn a thing or two

As I said in a reply to somebody on here.

markdevenish comments on Nov 18, 2017:

1 coz we are insignificant even to the planet. 2 when my favorite relatives died

Do you think that the atomic bomb was our worst invention?

markdevenish comments on Nov 18, 2017:

the research that went into the bomb brought us nuclear power and most importantly the end of world wars. . there is no way the little boys with big toys can go down the road of ww1 or 2. too much to lose. my candidate for worst invention; the written word ,coz that's wot handed the balance of power to the males. apparently the advent of the computor will hand it back to the females eventually !

Define sexual harassment.

markdevenish comments on Nov 16, 2017:

the unwanted touching of a sexual part of the body or the unwanted sexual advances of a hereto unknown, or antagonistic, person

The Clitoris is the Devil's Doorbell

markdevenish comments on Nov 16, 2017:

ding ding ding ding

Does anyone else know the meaning and purpose of life?

markdevenish comments on Nov 16, 2017:

the meaning of life doesn't exist . the purpose of life is to help those around you enjoy a good or better life !

Secular charities

markdevenish comments on Nov 16, 2017:

medecins sans frontiers

saying no is actually really healthy.

markdevenish comments on Nov 16, 2017:

its kinda fun too as it takes alot of people aback. They're just too used to people rolling over

[youtu.be] Fox News thinks getting shot in church is the best place to get shot !?

markdevenish comments on Nov 15, 2017:

in a morgue

Are you Pro-Choice? are your beliefs (or lack of) a determining factor?

markdevenish comments on Nov 15, 2017:

yes we all get to choose how we wish to proceed in life [ in a good society]

What Is The Point In Calvinism?

markdevenish comments on Nov 15, 2017:

punish the wicked. the wicked are wicked because they .......................... Fu..ing stupid doctrine . probably put the west back over 100 years

What caused you to reject religion?

markdevenish comments on Nov 15, 2017:

common sense

Is forcing religion on your children as bad as child abuse?

markdevenish comments on Nov 15, 2017:

been severely restricted by iceland and denmark. But that would make the tooth fairy the same . SO BE IT. although I do remember running under my kids' bedroom windows with a sleigh bell. guilty as charged

Hi, my name is Scott Helgeson and I am a retired professor of Biology.

markdevenish comments on Nov 15, 2017:

7 trillion galaxies is a head spinner but coming back again is not. Forget it . You've got one chance ,,,,enjoy it !

Should I attend a wedding at church as an atheist?

markdevenish comments on Nov 15, 2017:

I made the idiot mistake of " not turning up to the baptism " and paid a heavy price . folded like a pack of cards on the second grandkid. Neither of mine were annointed !

Should I attend a wedding at church as an atheist?

markdevenish comments on Nov 15, 2017:

if it leads to a great party ....why not ??

Need to relate to someone that is an atheist.

markdevenish comments on Nov 15, 2017:

we don't have many ." money is real " is one of them , so are limited companies and stocks !!

No Kidding: Sexist Jokes Aren't Funny, They're Hostile.

markdevenish comments on Nov 15, 2017:

jokes are meant to allow yourself to imagine freedom of thought. Enjoy the good ones and cringe at the bad ones like the rest of us !

Are you a feminist?

markdevenish comments on Nov 15, 2017:

I've always maintained that women are more valuable than men. So yes is the answer

There is only one creator, TIME.

markdevenish comments on Nov 14, 2017:

time in quaaludes and red wine

Should employers be allowed to give pre-employment tests?

markdevenish comments on Nov 14, 2017:

these tests won't necessarily make the prospective employee any more effective and those having a bad day, or not good at tests as a whole, will suffer. Any good HR person would want to talk to the person first.

Are we predisposed to believe?

markdevenish comments on Nov 14, 2017:

apparently our imagination is what puts us apart from the rest of the animals so yes is the answer. Until we can collectively imagine a peaceful,equitable, fair , just society religion will triumph

Andrew Anglin: The Making of an American Nazi - The Atlantic

markdevenish comments on Nov 14, 2017:

the definition of a fascist is the marriage of corporation and state [ ie the corporation has control over the army.] I think you're already there , just in denial.Your army now has jurisdiction over your homeland for the first time ever. You have 4 million people in jail for over 30 years each [ mostly black and aborigine] . and 32 million in jail at one time or another, your police kill an average of 1200 people a year [ that are proven]. What other parameters do you need. Your big data has files on EVERYBODY [ see gestapo / stasi ] .you are now building a wall around your ghetto [mexico] You just deported 2 million people under the Obama admin. Too late mate, enjoy the ride.

Why was freedom of religion put in the constitution?

markdevenish comments on Nov 14, 2017:

catholics versus protestants

Wow!! Is this a first for America?

markdevenish comments on Nov 14, 2017:

when Obama was invested he began his speach with unbelievers as an option. That's gotta be a step in the right direction

What would happen if we did unto them as they do unto us?

markdevenish comments on Nov 14, 2017:

you already know the secret is SCHOOL! good school taught by learned people, people like us [ that can handle 30 inquiring minds at once]

ENJOY RIGHT NOW!! Because it's gone.....

markdevenish comments on Nov 14, 2017:

right here right now

I'am an ex muslim, and now i'am an atheist, i live in morocco where the whole population are ...

markdevenish comments on Nov 11, 2017:

I went to chefchuan and loved it . while in a hash bar I met some young people who were not happy. They said that in order to get a job you had to have family either in the army or connected to the royal family. So religion is not your only problem. none the less I really enjoyed the 1000 year old medina . Way cool ! You should head to spain or france . they are almost secular [especially after what spain has been through with 40 years of fascism. ]

Should any religious organization that enters the political arena lose their tax exempt status?

markdevenish comments on Nov 11, 2017:

they should all have to show where the donations go. PERIOD

What's the point of celebrating Christmas or Easter if you're an atheist??

markdevenish comments on Nov 11, 2017:

a day off coz the corporations sure wouldn't give you one if they didn't have to

China vows to eliminate poverty by 2020.

markdevenish comments on Nov 9, 2017:

definition of poverty anyone?

Capitalism is a Religion! Banks are Churches,Bankers are Priests Wealth is Heaven.

markdevenish comments on Nov 9, 2017:

yet another social construct. This one we almost all believe in

What are your thoughts on fanatics?

markdevenish comments on Nov 9, 2017:

apparently 7% of the population

Where do you fall on the Dawkin's Scale of Theistic Probability?

markdevenish comments on Nov 9, 2017:

shit i should have looked at that a little closer. all i saw was "do not believe" and wound up voting god fearing twit

Just when I think humanity is shedding the shackles of religious belief, a great mass of religious ...

markdevenish comments on Nov 9, 2017:

sounds like you live in a crappy country. probably xians disguised as corporate dogs of war.

How do you teach biology without including evolution?

markdevenish comments on Nov 9, 2017:

same way they print newspapers : lies and omissions

Any one here a punk rocker? If so what bands do you like?

markdevenish comments on Nov 9, 2017:

echo and the bunnymen, clash, talking heads, ramones,

For the people who have children, did you raise them not to believe?

markdevenish comments on Nov 8, 2017:

they both hold my views in high regard but still are curious about religion. My oldest baptized his kids and i refused to go to the ceremony. Boy did i get in some shit for that !

If religion never existed... (finish the line)

markdevenish comments on Nov 8, 2017:

humanity would never have made any advances, as before science, the men in silly hats helped focus our collective energies for the greater good. Now science has taken over hopefully it will operate for the greater good rather than stone cold logic [in which it could see the lack of use for homo sapiens on earth]

Humans are animals. Is there a code of behaviour?

markdevenish comments on Nov 8, 2017:

ethics are there for the propagation of the species. morals are there to further someone's own goals , nothing to do with propagation

what is the proof that there is no god in our life?

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

what god ?

How do you react when a friend or relative dies from a disease or accident and someone says ...

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

I refute the idea there and then

Do human beings have the same 'worth' or are some groups expendable?

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

completely the same to me although women are better for the community's well being. with sperm banks our days may be numbered !!!

Does anything at all require the word god?

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

goddam god forsaken fundamentalist

It would be good if atheists were instantly recognisable, both by fellow-atheists and by.

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

I have a red A on the back of my van from Dawkins web site.

Why do you think the USA is more religious than other developed nations?

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

many religious cults came to america to escape religious persecution in europe. They have clung to their beliefs and rituals while the folks back home moved on[ and went through 2 catastrophic wars]. The insular nature of north america makes it easy to ignore the rest of the world. When you" have it all" why look to other culture to improve your lot

Through These Godless Eyes -- What Are We Supposed To Do?

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

help other people and creatures enjoy a good or better life

Scientists Are Trying To Clone Jesus Christ From DNA – Mysterious Earth

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

roman tax rolls show no big j or jo or mary. good luck with that

Are We Born Atheist??

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

yes but we all have an imagination that can be hijacked quite easily

Do you think that the Evangelical Christian faction of the right was empowered by Ronald Reagan or ...

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

the gop certainly used them to keep hold of power. Their moral crusade of the drug war has been jailing non whites [32 million] ever since. Bush senior did more damage though when he caused 911 and brought big bro in our living rooms

Dating/hookup whats the differance?

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

my friend went on tinder and had some really stupid experiences. the most idiotic was when the guy showed up and didn't even take his pants off for sex. Now that's a loser. I felt sorry for her as all she really wanted was a nice person to make her feel good

Are America's problems too big for government to effectively solve?

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

the govt. is your only friend . The corporations are a total hindrance with no conscience. The people can't organize a piss up in a brewery so get some compassionate representatives quickly before its too late

Do you know any good christian/theist jokes?

markdevenish comments on Nov 5, 2017:

a lawyer ,a preist and a social worker get on a plane with 10 children. The plane experiences engine failure and the captain tells them there are only 3 spare parachutes. The social worker cries " what about the kids " the lawyer says" f--- the kids" and the priest says" but do we have time?"

Pastor Greg Laurie: “There’s No Such Thing” as an Atheist Relief Organization We've ...

markdevenish comments on Nov 4, 2017:

medecins sans frontier . That's as bs free as I can discern

You know that question that you ask your history teacher in high school.

markdevenish comments on Nov 4, 2017:

we study it yet still it repeats itself. collectively we're a bit thick

If you knew tomorrow was the end of the world. How would you spend your last day?

markdevenish comments on Nov 4, 2017:

with my wife and kids and ending up in bed !!

Roberta Mancino Wingsuits Through 2 Highrises

markdevenish comments on Nov 4, 2017:

have you seen the one where they come down the side of a mountain and soar about 20 ft. off a roadway on the way down. One of the locals just died doing that. He definitely pushed the envelope

What are some must reads you would suggest as an atheist, former believer, secularist etc?

markdevenish comments on Nov 4, 2017:

sapiens

Why do you think majority of people still believe in God?

markdevenish comments on Nov 4, 2017:

world wide that may no longer be the case. Don't forget the chinese have had religion removed by force and they represent 1/5th the population

Is competition what drives humans to excel?

markdevenish comments on Nov 4, 2017:

men at least. women seem to be happy so long as their loved ones are fed and sheltered. I think of cuba where the women , old people and children are all quite happy whereas the men [ not being able to compete] are not so enamoured with a sharing society

Why do you think Atheism is becoming more attractive to millennials?

markdevenish comments on Nov 4, 2017:

the western youth are better educated and less indoctrinated. The hubble telescope plus the particle accelerator have done wonders for rationality. Even a muppet knows nothing can control 7 trillion galxies

Favorite Movie Quotes Jack Nicholson as The Joker: “Wait till they get a load of me.

markdevenish comments on Nov 2, 2017:

the joker - where did he get that ......thing ?! [batplane], peter sellers - birdy num num

Which Movies, Tv series and/or Books about religion do you suggest?

markdevenish comments on Nov 2, 2017:

sapiens [ book] read it . explains everything

The black community loves jesus and its problematic

markdevenish comments on Nov 2, 2017:

they have to cling to something after the way we treat them. 60% of inmates in prison are black when they only represent 10% of the population. The average35 year old black male has a 50 % chance of having been in prison. I'd want an imaginary friend too !!

Where is the most beautiful place you have ever visited?

markdevenish comments on Nov 2, 2017:

vila do bispo algarve portugal. My friend's been living there for 20 odd years and has his own private beach on the atlantic . he lives in a shack in the national park doing the subsistence market garden . What a life. Next would be the king's palace in Bangkok. Kicks the vatican right where it hurts.and finally clovelly in devon england

How many of you find it is difficult being a non believer in a judeo christian nation?

markdevenish comments on Nov 2, 2017:

the majority around here at least question the holy men if not down right disown them [toronto]

Trudeau applauds Payette for standing up for science in convention speech.

markdevenish comments on Nov 2, 2017:

in chris hadfields [ another canadian astronaut] book he describes fellow astronauts who are religious even after they've been in space and learnt about the universe and its 7 trillion galaxies !

what can we do to stop this stigma about the word atheist?

markdevenish comments on Nov 2, 2017:

enjoy the power it has to free one of all past constraints of temple led morals

Bible, Creation of the World and Story of First Man Not True, Claims Israeli Newspaper

markdevenish comments on Nov 2, 2017:

shame they treat the palestinians the way the germans [ and some poles] treated them in Warsaw in '44

What religion scares you the most, and why?

markdevenish comments on Nov 2, 2017:

christianity as it has killed the most people in the name of religion ; usually while invading other tribe's lands. See south america australia africa and most recently the middle east

Can someone be religious and scientific at the same time?

markdevenish comments on Nov 1, 2017:

my friend's an astro physicist and he says in his office there are a few devout people plus reading chris Hadfield's book he shows a few astronauts, including some who've been in space, are devout

Did The Fear Of Death Create Religion Or Did Religion Create The Fear Of Death?

markdevenish comments on Nov 1, 2017:

death is scary. we all know its the end. religion just used that fear of the end to gain more power over us

Do the terms Democrat and Republican mean anything anymore.

markdevenish comments on Nov 1, 2017:

"dumb and dummer" or maybe" mean and nasty" . polarization has won the day

What do you think about our advancing technology?

markdevenish comments on Nov 1, 2017:

have you seen what the chinese are implimenting as we speak? If you watched black mirror you'll recognize the episode where all ones life is decided by the likes/ dislikes of ones peers. well the chinese have developed an algorithm that is giving people social scores. The lower the score, things such as plane rides even train rides are not permitted . Jobs are denied and housing. right now it is voluntary . in 2020 their program becomes mandatory. we all know the chinese govt. have been terrible to their people but could you imagine if our govt likes the idea !!??

Honoring the dead & cremate or bury?

markdevenish comments on Nov 1, 2017:

unless you have your ducks in a row burying may leave formaldahyde leaching into the earth. I think the hindis have it right. ashes to ashes

I would like to know what position atheists take on the prolife movement.

markdevenish comments on Oct 30, 2017:

men mind your own business. women care for your own

Should panhandling be prohibited?

markdevenish comments on Oct 30, 2017:

I'll give street people money before charities as they always have 6 comparatively rich people sitting round a table collecting a wage or i'll tip the fast food servers as they really need it. I go round all the walmarts telling the workers of the store in quebec that unionized and then was shut down by walmart but reopened nearby unionized !

What religions have you studied other than Christianity?

markdevenish comments on Oct 30, 2017:

why would anyone study religion. Try rudyard kipling , he's much more fun

If you received enough money to never need to work again, what would you spend your time doing?

markdevenish comments on Oct 30, 2017:

partying, travelling , dancing , generally up to no good. Luckily for me money does not favour me with its presence often enough

Got Podcast?

markdevenish comments on Oct 30, 2017:

'democracy now' if you really want to be depressed

What is the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard that people actually believe?

markdevenish comments on Oct 28, 2017:

that one is able to reincarnate into an animal . Riiiighht

I'm an atheist but I still say bless you after someone sneezes.

markdevenish comments on Oct 28, 2017:

I learnt somewhere that during the years of the plague in england the first sign of sickness was a cold so if you sneezed you were given your last rites as you were gonna die. Bless you .

I am struggling with life right now and it makes me doubt my spirituality all together.

markdevenish comments on Oct 28, 2017:

good call. spirituality is not gonna change your lot. Only physical action will [along with a little good fortune]

If you could change only ONE thing about the world, what would it be?

markdevenish comments on Oct 28, 2017:

I would take away the greed gene and replace it with the charity one

The Atheist Pig

markdevenish comments on Oct 28, 2017:

pigs have the same iq as a 6 year old child. I stopped eating pork when I found that out !

The JFK Files: The Conspiracy Theorists are right after al?

markdevenish comments on Oct 28, 2017:

what do jfk, robert kennedy, martin luther king and john lennon have in common? They were all shot by marines [ jimi hendrix was a marine too]

Does anyone believe that theists are generally honest and sincere in their claims?

markdevenish comments on Oct 27, 2017:

devout theists may try harder to uphold their creed

Can agnostics and atheists be the new conservatives?

markdevenish comments on Oct 27, 2017:

It's like any social construct . It can be hijacked by a lesser more [ see Mao. Stalin ]

So I think there are atheist and agnostics everywhere but they are in too deep on their social ...

markdevenish comments on Oct 27, 2017:

it's a confidence in one's self and it's impossible to join that. Let's hope people become confident

What do you think about the idea of 'determinism?

markdevenish comments on Oct 27, 2017:

it appears that the difference between us and the animal kingdom is imagination so I guess we like to imagine stuff

Are there any other alcoholics in this group?

markdevenish comments on Oct 26, 2017:

I love to party and it can annoy the people around you but being happy helps

I believe that we Agnostics/Atheists need to stop justifying our positions and just be.

markdevenish comments on Oct 26, 2017:

a good ethical compass helps . there are other religions such as money that can be equally misused

Does this seem like an agnostic or atheist site?

markdevenish comments on Oct 25, 2017:

many more atheists making opinions anyway. the site itself does not seem to make opinions

Should religious organizations remain tax exempt?

markdevenish comments on Oct 25, 2017:

currently they are not required to notify the govt. where their sheltered money is going. NOT GOOD. Too many crooks in the business who siphon the money to their own grand life styles. Right off true charitable deeds by all means.

Why can't Americans disagree respectfully?

markdevenish comments on Oct 24, 2017:

for the most part they do . stop watching tv

Do you have a 'Pet theory' about what you think is the most likely explanation for Christianity ...

markdevenish comments on Oct 24, 2017:

many indoctrinated people ! plus islam is more prevalent now due to demographics

Where are the reliable sources where you get your news from?

markdevenish comments on Oct 24, 2017:

"democracy now" can be good as is "the taylor report" on CIUT radio [ university toronto radio] The beeb has been a propoganda outlet for the british govt. since inception. NPR has some good seminars

What is more oppressive for women: the hijab or American beauty standards?

markdevenish comments on Oct 24, 2017:

they both are tough on women . I think being hoodwinked into thinking you are free is worse plus the chemicals used are probably a major contributor to many cancers girl specific

Are humans that weak minded that they had to invent things to explain our existence.

markdevenish comments on Oct 24, 2017:

apparently imagination is what truly makes us different from the apes. We can and want to believe in things that don't exist just to belong to a larger group and be controlled by a very small section of the population [ like money ,banks , stocks and corporations, all things built on a social construct alone ]