[polygraph.

maturin1919 comments on May 15, 2020:

You'd be surprised how many virologists, nurses, and medical doctors my warehouse employs -_-

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

@NotReligious71 Defiant ignorance ... gonna run with that one, thanks!

I am agnostic because I want to have an open mind! Really?

DenoPenno comments on May 15, 2020:

I am also an atheist. In fact I am an agnostic atheist. Many people want to argue that they are a vegetarian meat eater and I find several of them on this site. Some people even claim they are an "agnostic Christian." OK, I get it. Your belief is your way and not my way.

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

I think being a vegetarian meat eater is a bit like being a married bachelor--there's no overlap in that Venn diagram. The term agnostic was of course coined by Huxley (Darwin's Bulldog) in the 1860's, and was meant to describe a way of reasoning, as opposed to a belief. Also, I have met agnostic Christians ... folks who do not believe in Christ's divinity, but accept the majority of his teachings.

I am agnostic because I want to have an open mind! Really?

indirect76 comments on May 14, 2020:

Your use of Definition1, in my experience is only used contextually. For example, software can be platform agnostic. Meaning the software does not know what platform it’s running on. I’ve never heard it used universally that way, as if a person who is agnostic does not know anything. I ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

The word agnostic has come into more common use of late. At work, for example, I have heard colleagues say that when it comes to a choice to be made, such as the colors used in a presentation, whether or not to use contractions in writing or where we should go for lunch, they are 'agnostic' on the idea. Personally, I am not agnostic to the Oxford English Dictionary's following definition: "In extended use: a person who is not persuaded by or committed to a particular point of view; a sceptic. Also: person of indeterminate ideology or conviction; an equivocator." I disagree completely with the OED!

I am agnostic because I want to have an open mind! Really?

Storm1752 comments on May 14, 2020:

It's really very simple:. Atheists-- believe in NO GOD. Theists-----believe in GOD Agnostics--no evidence upon which to base a belief.

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

@Storm1752 Yes! What if the universe 'breathes?' Your ideas resonate and remind me of something I once read by Robert Green Ingersoll, the "Great Agnostic," and brilliant orator of the 19th century. "Every cause must produce an effect, because until it does produce an effect, it is not a cause. Every effect must in its turn become a cause. Therefore, in the nature of things, there cannot be a last cause, for the reason that a so-called last cause would necessarily produce an effect, and that effect must of necessity become a cause. The converse of these propositions must be true. Every effect must have had a cause, and every cause must have been an effect. Therefore, there could have been no first cause. A first cause is just as impossible as a last effect. Beyond the universe there is nothing, and within the universe the supernatural does not and cannot exist." —The Gods, 1872

Armed black citizens escort Michigan lawmaker to capitol after volatile rightwing protest | US news ...

SaucyCheryl comments on May 11, 2020:

I predict there will be violence. They won't rest until it does.

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

@bobwjr And perhaps when more black men are armed with concealed weapons fewer white rednecks in pickup trucks will behave so brazenly as the pair in Georgia.

I am agnostic because I want to have an open mind! Really?

Storm1752 comments on May 14, 2020:

It's really very simple:. Atheists-- believe in NO GOD. Theists-----believe in GOD Agnostics--no evidence upon which to base a belief.

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

@Moravian, @WilliamFleming Agreed, very well said. I find myself in 'violent' agreement. ;-)

I am agnostic because I want to have an open mind! Really?

Storm1752 comments on May 14, 2020:

It's really very simple:. Atheists-- believe in NO GOD. Theists-----believe in GOD Agnostics--no evidence upon which to base a belief.

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

@Moravian The ‘evidence’ offered by theists comes in the form of philosophical arguments, of which there are dozens, but include the cosmological (and its associated derivatives), ontological and the argument from design, to name three. An entertaining overview of the arguments, including a number of tongue-in-cheek examples, may be found in Rebecca Newberger Goldstein’s book, 36 Arguments for the Existence of God—A Work of Fiction. Each of the arguments could occupy many pages of text, but Goldtein's distillation of the cosmological argument, one of William Lane Craig's favorites, is as follows: 1. Everything that exists must have a cause. 2. The universe must have a cause (from 1). 3. Nothing can be the cause of itself. 4. The universe cannot be the cause of itself (from 3). 5. Something outside the universe must have caused the universe (from 2 & 4). 6. God is the only thing that is outside of the universe. 7. God caused the universe (from 5 & 6). 8. God exists. I have read and re-read each of the arguments, from their ancient originators to their contemporary apologists, and have found them unconvincing, or lacking sufficient evidence. Some may object that philosophical arguments shouldn’t even be counted as evidence, but since empirical evidence is in short supply to either prove or disprove the existence of a deity, this is about all we have.

I am agnostic because I want to have an open mind! Really?

p-nullifidian comments on May 14, 2020:

Some self-avowed agnostics may think the term reflects a "could go either way" attitude, as in, certain computer files, like JPEGs or PDFs, are 'platform agnostic.' However, to strident religionists, their apparent unwillingness to commit represents, in and of itself, a choice. To the faithful, not ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Seems ironic when people who espouse free thinking and an open minded attitude take on their own 'doctrinal' thinking. I hope I never become that sure of myself.

Religion isn't the bane of humanity.

jlynn37 comments on May 13, 2020:

What you say is true however, religion facilitates and encourages abuse as much or more than anything else.

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

@skado Eloquently stated, and I agree with much, if not most of it. I espcially resonate with "...religious fundamentalism and fanaticism rightly deserve all the condemnation they get from thinking people." If we can perhaps agree that religion (or as you've stated, the Church) is too broad a brush to be painting with--as Sam Harris has said, religion is a term like sports and the only thing in common betwen a sport like kick boxing and badminton is breathing--we may then begin to identify the most destructive and harmful elements. I'm good with that. It doesn't mean I'm going to become a Quaker like my grandmother, but I can say that they're generally easier to get along with than the fundamentalists and fanatics you speak of.

I am agnostic because I want to have an open mind! Really?

p-nullifidian comments on May 14, 2020:

Some self-avowed agnostics may think the term reflects a "could go either way" attitude, as in, certain computer files, like JPEGs or PDFs, are 'platform agnostic.' However, to strident religionists, their apparent unwillingness to commit represents, in and of itself, a choice. To the faithful, not ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I have yet to meet a non-believer who would, as you've described it, consider a non-commital stance to equate to acceptance, but if I did, I would not agree with him/her.

I am agnostic because I want to have an open mind! Really?

Archeus_Lore comments on May 14, 2020:

It is interesting how Atheists come to a site fittingly named "Agnostic.com" to criticize Agnostics . . . . it is kind of like the christians who show up here or on Atheist sites. If we Agnostics happen to be disagreeable to you, maybe you should create your own Atheist site and leave us the hell ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

@Storm1752 "Just because you bully your way onto OUR site and bellow the loudest and push your weight around doesn't mean we have to opt into your absolutist trash." Whoa! Where's that coming from?

I am agnostic because I want to have an open mind! Really?

Storm1752 comments on May 14, 2020:

It's really very simple:. Atheists-- believe in NO GOD. Theists-----believe in GOD Agnostics--no evidence upon which to base a belief.

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

It's a bit more nuanced, IMO. Agnosticism is the blank slate of insufficient evidence, while atheism is the neutral state we all were born with. But to lack a belief is not the same as believing a negative. It simply means the case has not been made to prove the existence of a deity. In a criminal case, the defendant is either guilty or not guilty, but never found innocent. To the atheist, God is found 'not guilty' of existing. This lack of belief does not mean a closed mind on the subject; as @DavidLaDeau posts, his mind (as is mine) remain open to new evidence. Should compelling new evidence be found, the case of God's existence can be retried.

I am agnostic because I want to have an open mind! Really?

p-nullifidian comments on May 14, 2020:

Some self-avowed agnostics may think the term reflects a "could go either way" attitude, as in, certain computer files, like JPEGs or PDFs, are 'platform agnostic.' However, to strident religionists, their apparent unwillingness to commit represents, in and of itself, a choice. To the faithful, not ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

@Storm1752 I can only cite my own experience, and a few authors, in disagreeing with the premise that lacking a belief of any kind in a deity backs me into a corner of absolutist thinking. I remain open to new evidence, which would pass scientific rigor, in substantiating a supreme being.

Religion isn't the bane of humanity.

jlynn37 comments on May 13, 2020:

What you say is true however, religion facilitates and encourages abuse as much or more than anything else.

p-nullifidian replies on May 15, 2020:

@skado I agree with you on visceral impressions and the lack of scientific data, but all we need do is read historical accounts, and extrapolate. This is a largely a subjective endeavor requiring soft skills to be sure. And while I would also agree that poverty and especially ignorance are at the root of unending misery, religion is another bane of humanity that has, in its various forms, done far more damage than good. Throughout history, the altar has propped up the throne, and vice-versa. As nations rose to great power, so did their religion, and in the case of the Holy Roman Empire and much of the Islamic world, church and state have effectively been one. It requires little guesswork—just some empathy perhaps and a little knowledge of the culture—to contemplate the all-encompassing effect of religion. We know that in Europe and Latin America, many tens of thousands were tortured and garroted or burned at the stake for crimes such as heresy, witchcraft and homosexuality, from the 15th through the 19th century. But as I have previously stated, the greatest lasting damage has come in the form of psychological and pecuniary deprivation. I don’t believe it is very useful to debate which was institution has caused the greatest abuse—both the church and the state have blood on their hands. But unlike the two-dimensional state, the church is able to wash its hands by adding a third party, a supposed divine sponsor for its madness, using psychological warfare to convince the majority that its soldiers of the cloth are acting on behalf of God. All of this is, admittedly, my opinion, nothing more.

I watched or listen to about 90% of Dr.

KKGator comments on May 14, 2020:

The gop has been in a steady decline since Nixon. It picked up speed with Reagan. It went straight into the toilet with McConnell and Graham. The sewage backed up and overflowed with 45. They don't have an ounce of integrity left among them. The democrats are only marginally better. I ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 14, 2020:

@t1nick SCOTUS has already been meeting virtually, toilet flushes and all, so I doubt there would be a 'safety' concern. It seems to me that a second wave, including sheltering in place, would not demand a military response, particularly if the first wave didn't require a heightened alert posture. The question is, if Trump loses the election in November, will he accept the result, and what might he do during his lame duck session?

I watched or listen to about 90% of Dr.

KKGator comments on May 14, 2020:

The gop has been in a steady decline since Nixon. It picked up speed with Reagan. It went straight into the toilet with McConnell and Graham. The sewage backed up and overflowed with 45. They don't have an ounce of integrity left among them. The democrats are only marginally better. I ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 14, 2020:

@t1nick Clearly such a move would of course go to SCOTUS which would need to overturn lower court rulings on proceeding with primary elections in the midst of a pandemic. Even though the court is now majority conservative, it would seem to me to be a long shot that POTUS would win that one.

I am agnostic because I want to have an open mind! Really?

Archeus_Lore comments on May 14, 2020:

It is interesting how Atheists come to a site fittingly named "Agnostic.com" to criticize Agnostics . . . . it is kind of like the christians who show up here or on Atheist sites. If we Agnostics happen to be disagreeable to you, maybe you should create your own Atheist site and leave us the hell ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 14, 2020:

That domain was probably taken a long time ago. It doesn't matter very much, as the two labels are like two sides of the same coin: one lacks knowledge of a deity, the other lacks a belief in a deity. Personally, I lack both.

Religion isn't the bane of humanity.

jlynn37 comments on May 13, 2020:

What you say is true however, religion facilitates and encourages abuse as much or more than anything else.

p-nullifidian replies on May 14, 2020:

@skado Physical abuse is not the only form persecusion and ill-treatment perpetrated by religion. The emotional toll of religion's psychological weaponry such as coercion, thought control, indoctrination of superstition, threats of eternal punishment, the inculcation of concepts like sin and guilt, etc. over the millenia is incalculable. Combine that with religion's greedy practice of making impoverishing demands of alms and tithes from those who are already destitute, and the immoral, if not criminal, abuse of religion is beyond grotesque.

You Gotta Love Former Senator Clare McCaskill

St-Sinner comments on May 13, 2020:

Just rolled her eyes and walked away? How's that for a bold and stand-up leader? How's she fighting for us? by walking away? What are you admiring here exactly?

p-nullifidian replies on May 14, 2020:

She's no longer in politics, working for NBC/MSNBC as a political analyst. Not in the best position to lead.

What are your thoughts about the "God of Gaps"?

of-the-mountain comments on May 13, 2020:

Dog gaps!!!

p-nullifidian replies on May 14, 2020:

https://katmichels.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Gap-tooth-dogs.jpg

Does anything about being in an atheist or agnostic social network provide comfort?

Gareth comments on May 14, 2020:

I'm here because atheists are mostly cool people, and if some of them also turn out to be foxy - tant mieux!

p-nullifidian replies on May 14, 2020:

Foxy ... now there's a term I haven't heard since Hendrix was still with us! ;-)

Why the World is Horrified by the American Idiot.

UpsideDownAgain comments on May 14, 2020:

Seriously, am I the only one here who has a problem with this? It's posts like these that demonstrate how you don't need religion to be ignorant and biased, nor does rejecting religion guarantee that you are reasonable and logical. This article may contain ideas that people here largely agree ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 14, 2020:

@LiterateHiker Indeed. From my read of this essay, I found none of the smugness cited in quotes. As a matter of fact, there's a certain logic to the 'freedom from' / 'freedom to' dichotomy.

Science/Nerd alert: Apparently all the text books and the other sources which we have read over ...

ScienceBill72 comments on May 13, 2020:

The only other question is how do transport the earth sized Golden Nugget back here lol

p-nullifidian replies on May 14, 2020:

@ScienceBill72 Yes, but even at $1,800 (or so) an ounce, it requires more resources (nuclear energy) than it would be worth.

Science/Nerd alert: Apparently all the text books and the other sources which we have read over ...

ScienceBill72 comments on May 13, 2020:

The only other question is how do transport the earth sized Golden Nugget back here lol

p-nullifidian replies on May 14, 2020:

Kinda defeats the purpose, don't you think? I mean, how precious would gold be if we had access to 200 Earth masses' worth?

I would like to recommend the YouTube Channel CosmicSkeptic.

HerbertNewsam comments on May 12, 2020:

Is there a script that goes to this? I would rather read his stuff if its available. Videos are not a good teaching item for me. The only you tubes i do are music and a few that are scripted.

p-nullifidian replies on May 13, 2020:

Read "The Moral Landscape," or, if you want the 15 minute overview, see Sam Harris' TedTalk on the topic, then come back to this discussion. If you still have no interest in the conversation here, admit so without comment.

It never occurred to me that this would be such an issue, but I guess it is.

JackPedigo comments on May 12, 2020:

People have no idea of the effects we have brought to the planet. I once read a report that we have moved so much water around (dams, river alterations, human made lakes, water tanks above and below ground and so on) that we have actually changed the wobble of the earth.

p-nullifidian replies on May 12, 2020:

One wonders how human activity compares with nature. The course of the Mississippi River was changed by the New Madrid earthquake and plate tectonics, punctuated by massive earthquakes, perpetually alter the local sea level in the regions where plates impact. Personally, I would like to see a comparitive study that analyzed human activity vs. natural activity, when it comes to water displacement's impact on the 'wobble' of the Earth's rotation.

Baltimore Black Church Kicks Ben Carson Off Their Property | National | BET

twshield comments on May 12, 2020:

He was one of the reasons i decided to go to Med School because i was so proud of his career. Now i am completely ashamed of him. I dont understand why a brilliant neurosurgeon would allow himself to be a puppet for some New York Gutter Trash. This man is a millionare and didnt need the money or...

p-nullifidian replies on May 12, 2020:

@Lauren Being brilliant doesn't even convey to oneself. It's as though Ben Carson's brilliance as a surgeon is perfectly compartmentalized from the 'idiot' portion(s) of his brain. I mean, here's a guy who is (or was) an avowed Seventh-day Adventist who willingly kisses the ring (or maybe the ass) of Donald Trump, and in a public address, claimed that the pyramids were built by Joseph to store grain!

IS there anything the people really CAN do to reduce or stop the deliberate feeding of hate and ...

Novelty comments on May 10, 2020:

A family member recently got a new cell phone and called to make me endure a five minute rant about the Covid hoax that’s man made by Bill Gates to kill off the excess population a policy endorsed by the Build a burger foundation bla bla bla bla.. somewhere during the part where Hillary was ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 12, 2020:

@twill Yep ... I'm a boomer, born when Ike was president.

IS there anything the people really CAN do to reduce or stop the deliberate feeding of hate and ...

Novelty comments on May 10, 2020:

A family member recently got a new cell phone and called to make me endure a five minute rant about the Covid hoax that’s man made by Bill Gates to kill off the excess population a policy endorsed by the Build a burger foundation bla bla bla bla.. somewhere during the part where Hillary was ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 11, 2020:

@twill Or Sam Rayburn, I guess?

IS there anything the people really CAN do to reduce or stop the deliberate feeding of hate and ...

Novelty comments on May 10, 2020:

A family member recently got a new cell phone and called to make me endure a five minute rant about the Covid hoax that’s man made by Bill Gates to kill off the excess population a policy endorsed by the Build a burger foundation bla bla bla bla.. somewhere during the part where Hillary was ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 10, 2020:

@twill Spent my training days at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, and enjoy Texas immensely ... especially love Texas barbecue! But I'm from California, and to quote a line from Days of Thunder, "If you're from California, you're not a Yankee. You're not really anything."

IS there anything the people really CAN do to reduce or stop the deliberate feeding of hate and ...

Novelty comments on May 10, 2020:

A family member recently got a new cell phone and called to make me endure a five minute rant about the Covid hoax that’s man made by Bill Gates to kill off the excess population a policy endorsed by the Build a burger foundation bla bla bla bla.. somewhere during the part where Hillary was ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 10, 2020:

@twill "YOU Indiana People elected Obama mayor of Chicago"[?]. Seriously? A rational conversation is difficult enough within the confines of the family dynamic, but without the same baseline of understanding and knowledge of historical facts, it becomes nearly impossible. Religion and politics are third rail issues in many families ... sometimes it's just better to talk about the weather <>...

Isn't it cool how no one notices thier own entitlement?

WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2020:

I’m very confused. Who is the “you” that is being addressed? Sounds like a combination of stereotyping and straw man argument.

p-nullifidian replies on May 7, 2020:

@WilliamFleming Fair enough ... I too accept the result of the 2016 election, and even the vote in the Senate not to impeach. Peace.

Isn't it cool how no one notices thier own entitlement?

WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2020:

I’m very confused. Who is the “you” that is being addressed? Sounds like a combination of stereotyping and straw man argument.

p-nullifidian replies on May 7, 2020:

@WilliamFleming I apologize, sir. I allowed your use of the term 'elitists' to cause me to paint with a broader brush than warranted. I will also overlook your censure of 'the national press' (all of them?) and 'Democrats in general.' My criticism (this atheist doesn't believe in demonizing, or sanctifying) is of the actions and speech coming from the man in the White House, and that of his enablers like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, and his ardent supporters, who have never been 50% of the population. I decry actions and attitudes that are anti-science, encourage the copulation of church with state, give succor to the 'othering' of minorities and immigrants (particularly those of color) and attack the media simply for doing their job to get at the facts. Please don't get me wrong. I respect well-considered Conservatism, as was once espoused by people like Barry Goldwater and William F. Buckley. But that is a far cry from Trumpism. Apart from perhaps Mitt Romney, one is hard-pressed to find a legitimate torch bearer for the intellectual Conservative movement. Since the passing of John McCain, the Republicans have, in just one short term, gone from grad school to grade school. I agree with Conservative columnist George Will, who stated, "I believe that what this president has done to our culture, to our civic discourse ... you cannot unring these bells and you cannot unsay what he has said, and you cannot change that he has now in a very short time made it seem normal for schoolboy taunts and obvious lies to be spun out in a constant stream. I think this will do more lasting damage than Richard Nixon's surreptitious burglaries did."

Isn't it cool how no one notices thier own entitlement?

WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2020:

I’m very confused. Who is the “you” that is being addressed? Sounds like a combination of stereotyping and straw man argument.

p-nullifidian replies on May 7, 2020:

@WilliamFleming Your point about individuality seems somewhat ironic when applied to a large group of protestors whose rallies were promoted, if not orchestrated, via conservative talk radio. Mockery, condescension and derision go both ways, whether applied to Trump loyalists or the 'libtards' they so despise. If the shoe fits, right? The use of the term 'elitists' is a tell, as it is often used by supporters of Trump as a pejorative, particularly when referring to academia. And yet, as we all witnessed in the 2016 election--and continue to see today--the two greatest predictors of support for Trump are educational level and race, with white non-college grads backing him by a more than 2:1 margin. Race has long been an issue in this country, but the widespread political difference on education level is a relatively new phenomenon. And this becomes a major problem because, unlike the past where uneducated persons relied firmly on the expertise and body of knowledge held by recognized, lettered authorities in a given field of study, these same experts are now often ignored, if not vilified as ‘elitists.’ When enough uneducated persons, who think they know more than those who have spent an entire career studying a given subject, find a leader who reflects their willful ignorance, we get what we have today with Trump and his loyal fan club. It is the Dunning-Kruger effect on a mass scale.

This is the worst possible moment to try to kill Obamacare

Silver1wun comments on May 6, 2020:

It was practically DOA from the start.

p-nullifidian replies on May 6, 2020:

DOA? It's been 10 years! As this could be Trump's last chance, it's more like DOD (dead on departure)!

Isn't it cool how no one notices thier own entitlement?

WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2020:

I’m very confused. Who is the “you” that is being addressed? Sounds like a combination of stereotyping and straw man argument.

p-nullifidian replies on May 6, 2020:

@WilliamFleming The most angry and outspoken protesters against the lockdown, even in my state, are very often seen wearing MAGA caps and holding signs and placards proclaiming their support of Trump; and it is this Man of Orange, their hero, who has villified Kapernick, embraced the pro-lifers, coddled the Confederate flag wavers and goaded his zombie followers with memes like the Democrats are going to take your guns away.

My religious wife watches Christian movies and I hate it.

motrubl4u comments on May 5, 2020:

I wouldn't be in that position.

p-nullifidian replies on May 5, 2020:

Exactly! Why do Canadians do it doggy style? So they can both watch the hockey game!

Ok so I'm not sure how many parts of the country are getting it but the My Pillow guy is hawking ...

greyeyed123 comments on May 5, 2020:

I thought it would be 1+1+1=1=God.

p-nullifidian replies on May 5, 2020:

Indeed! I was wondering if someone would take a shot at the ultimate math problem Trinitarians (i.e., most Christians) have. 1 god in 3 persons, or 3 = 1.

Ok so I'm not sure how many parts of the country are getting it but the My Pillow guy is hawking ...

19dacar52 comments on May 5, 2020:

I believe in one god.

p-nullifidian replies on May 5, 2020:

Praise be his noodly appendage!

Atheistic Chaplain-is their denial an example of religious discrimination? [navytimes.com]

PBuck0145 comments on May 3, 2020:

Speaking as a (non-radical, non-vindictive) atheist, I see the Navy's action to be reasonable. Perhaps the solution would be to end any remaining compulsory attendance of religious events in the military. A "Secular Counselor" position is also warranted.

p-nullifidian replies on May 3, 2020:

@Gatovicolo Exactly! I served in the Air Force, and know for certain that there is a need for humanist chaplains who, as you note, do so much more than prayer could possibly answer. As more men and women in uniform choose to have "agnostic" or "atheist" stamped onto their dog tags, there will come a time when sheer numbers demand secular chaplains.

Why the broad disparity in death rates from COVID-19?

soquel comments on May 3, 2020:

Chart is now quite old; deaths in the USA are now in the 60 thousand range; Belgium, as a medically advanced country claims it counts undiagnosed Corona virus like cases which did not have medical testing, in order to be as complete as possible. In developing countries, the majority of virus deaths ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 3, 2020:

Stale data, to be sure ... and so much more to learn about this disease. In just the past few weeks we've learned how the Coronavirus can attack heart tissue as well as contribute to strokes in relatively healthy, younger persons, even as it appears from antibody tests to have infected many more people than previously known.

The test of a false god; Why I am an atheist.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 30, 2020:

The Christian faith in which I was raised doesn't even acknowledge the existence of other deities, which meant that there were no false gods. In fact, no false vs. real God argument was ever even considered. However, it was my own experience as a parent that doomed my faith in this 'one and only' ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 1, 2020:

@anglophone Tis the path that many, if not most monotheists must travel. To even consider the possibility that other gods ever, for one moment, existed is to open a pandora's box of the inexplicable. Most Christians never even consider the possibility of a 'competing' deity. As has been frequently observed, Christians are 'atheists' regarding all deities but the 'one.'

The test of a false god; Why I am an atheist.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 30, 2020:

The Christian faith in which I was raised doesn't even acknowledge the existence of other deities, which meant that there were no false gods. In fact, no false vs. real God argument was ever even considered. However, it was my own experience as a parent that doomed my faith in this 'one and only' ...

p-nullifidian replies on May 1, 2020:

@anglophone Agreed. Seems fairly cut and dried, doesn't it? But the explanation given by the faith in which I was raised is that the 'false gods' were never gods at all, but rather caricatures or idols of beings that never existed. In other words, from Baal to the present, the idolaters only thought they were worshiping another god. However, since no other gods exist, they were only worshiping something that was never there--an inaminate object or idol.

Well, well, well.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 30, 2020:

"...the performers saunter into the audience to giggle their breasts..." Clearly something was lost in translation.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 30, 2020:

@Petter Clearly, but the imagery of giggling breasts is quite amusing, just the same.

The test of a false god; Why I am an atheist.

rainmanjr comments on Apr 30, 2020:

Congratulations, you found Deism and took a left. The Deity, in Deism, doesn't care whether you, I, or anything else thinks it's there. Gives the Deity no interest whatsoever. THAT Deity cares only about watching the art unfold and we were a bi-product of other chemical interactions so merely ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 30, 2020:

Yes, my avatar was a Deist, as were a good number of his contemporaries, but now that we can account for 13.7 billion years of physics, one might as well accept "Big Bangism," as opposed to Deism, from a practical matter at least.

Why the broad disparity in death rates from COVID-19?

AnTwanSr comments on Apr 30, 2020:

The niumbers are skewed from the uncertainty of people actually dying from the virus. Plus it was allowed to spread to make that possible. Anything else is just a waste of time, unless youre in position to change something.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 30, 2020:

All deaths reported were from positive COVID-19 victims. So the cause of death is pretty certain. Have there been additional deaths, such as at one's own home, that were undiagnosed and unreported? Most likely, but that would only increase the percentages. I'm not looking to change anything, other than my understanding, which is why I was hoping to hear from folks with an in-depth understanding of the factors that contribute to the disparities.

more 30th anniversary images from hubble

dalefvictor comments on Apr 29, 2020:

If the James Web does not work as predicted we are going to have a great problem in that images are going to stop being taken. I wish they would keep the Hubble going, but then we would have had to keep the shuttle program going and we all know it is far more important to make the rich richer than ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 29, 2020:

We are slated to resume manned space flight missions, later this year. It may be possible to return to the Hubble before its end of mission, if NASA chose to do so.

Did God know that sin would still exist and continue on Earth after he drowned everyone on Earth ...

Fred_Snerd comments on Apr 28, 2020:

That's funny. Atheists get tired of dissecting religion. It's like a puzzle game with harmful effects in the real world. GTA's got nothin on religion.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 29, 2020:

Perhaps I'm a masochist, but I don't get tired of dissecting religions. Each one is like a new game of Jenga ... how many pieces can you remove before it all collapses? ;-)

Did God know that sin would still exist and continue on Earth after he drowned everyone on Earth ...

David1955 comments on Apr 28, 2020:

If theists were ever remotely thoughtful about what an omnipotent and omniscient God really is, they might understand that their god would know, even before the universe was created, everything that was going to happen, up until the end of the universe, including every thought, action, good and bad ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 28, 2020:

@DavidLaDeau Gotta love that 'free will' argument. A supposedly ominiscient being, who knows everyone's choices prior to them having been made, sets about to create a universe, which includes beings who, while they are alleged to be in its/his/her image, are in reality, as far beneath their creator as a bug is beneath these beings! The concept of an omniscient creator removes, in reality, free will, because to the omniscient being, the future is just as indelible as the past. In other words, what the omniscient being sees to be the future, thus makes it so--the future is as factual as the past--and removes the free will decisions of its/his/her subjects. Sure, it might seem like we're making freewill choices, but we're really only actors in a play, with a script that has already been written.

Did God know that sin would still exist and continue on Earth after he drowned everyone on Earth ...

Seminarian comments on Apr 28, 2020:

Sin is a by-product of free will. With out it virtue would be meaningless. By the way sin is a product of the mind and is exclusive to humans, as far as we know. Can a horny dolphin commit adultery? So, if you believe both sin and virtue exist and that they are both products of the human mind, ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 28, 2020:

"Sin" is an artificial construct, devised by the entirely human authors of religion. Eliminating this word from the lexicon would greatly advance the race.

Ignoring COVID Order, Massachusetts Church Takes “A Stand for the Lord” | Terry Firma | Friendly...

evergreen comments on Apr 28, 2020:

I just came back from picking up supplies, and noticed new signs cropping up in people's yards that say : "Faith over Fear". Yeah ! Scare that devil Covid right outta here ! Sure. Right.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 28, 2020:

They clearly aren't familiar with their Bibles! Love is the only substitute for fear. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18 (KJV)

I think the definition of religion should be expanded.

TheMiddleWay comments on Apr 26, 2020:

I view the opposite. I think religion has been taken way outside it's context relating to gods and any further expansion will render the word meaningless for philosophical and theological discussion. Consider Buddhism. It has a clear lack of gods but still preserves some supernatural elements. ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 27, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Sorry, mate, just using the dictionary definition. Religion [ri-lij-uh n] noun A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

I think the definition of religion should be expanded.

TheMiddleWay comments on Apr 26, 2020:

I view the opposite. I think religion has been taken way outside it's context relating to gods and any further expansion will render the word meaningless for philosophical and theological discussion. Consider Buddhism. It has a clear lack of gods but still preserves some supernatural elements. ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 27, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I completely agree that science cannot be accurately defined as a religion, however Buddhism has all the necessary elements. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck... well. Avert your focus on the term "god" for a moment and substitute the term, "superhuman." Many adherents subscribe to the story of Buddha who, upon his birth, is said to have stood up and taken 7 steps and spoken "I alone am the world-honored one." Such a display would be nothing short of 'miraculous,' which is why Buddhism must take its place with all the rest. As Robert Green Ingersoll noted, "[E]very religion has for its foundation a miracle -- that is to say, a violation of nature -- that is to say, a falsehood."

A different perspective; Is the fight against COVID19 worse than the disease?

david75090 comments on Apr 27, 2020:

When I was a kid, way back when, I caught chicken pox. Everybody in my class at school got it as did my two brothers. The whole school was exposed to it. It's just the way it was. As an adult we know more about it. It's a virus. A herpes virus. It can reoccur as shingles, a herpes virus. The ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 27, 2020:

Seriously? Have you ever discussed the topic of disease spread with a Native American? Dozens of illnesses that were easily overcome by all but the most infirm European nearly wiped out the Indians. Herd immunity requires many generations of exposure. If you hit a group of people with a disease when they have no antibodies and no history, you are essentially signing a large number of death warrants. Maybe this was the way in ancient times, but in a more enlightened period, why? We must limit exposure and shelter in place, while developing countermeasures.

A different perspective; Is the fight against COVID19 worse than the disease?

UrsiMajor comments on Apr 27, 2020:

If you think taking on the 5.6% death rate with possible permanent damage to vital organs while probably killing your elderly loved ones is a good plan, have at it. I just can't even listen to this.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 27, 2020:

Agreed! Herd immunity is developed over generations, with significant losses in the meantime. Considering how well they did against common European disases, one wonders what Native Americans feel regarding such pearls of wisdom espoused in this interview! Let's all become utilitarians and take our seniors up to the mountains and abandon them (i.e., ubasute). The dog whistle for 'the cure being worse than the disease' and 'let's re-open America' is loud and clear--those who don't make it are expendable!

I think the definition of religion should be expanded.

TheMiddleWay comments on Apr 26, 2020:

I view the opposite. I think religion has been taken way outside it's context relating to gods and any further expansion will render the word meaningless for philosophical and theological discussion. Consider Buddhism. It has a clear lack of gods but still preserves some supernatural elements. ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 27, 2020:

Buddhism is recognized by most experts as the world's fourth largest religion. It has a founder, whose superhuman deeds are well documented, it has a body of philosophy / doctrine / beliefs and practices / disciplines, and Buddhism even has a clergy which recognizes "his holiness" the Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader. Like many religions, Buddhism has a number of schools or sub-disciplines, but one only need look to the case of the Rohingya to realize that even Buddhists may become religously motivated zealots, capable of great attrocity.

I think the definition of religion should be expanded.

augimmun comments on Apr 27, 2020:

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who commented on my post. I find it fascinating to get a little glimpse into what other people think. Most people disagreed with my posting. I'm OK with that. I learned a long time ago the reality is not a majority vote. A few points of clarification. ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 27, 2020:

Apart from the indifferent or ambivalent among us, you've highlighted what appears to be two distinct camps regarding the use of the term spiritual: a) those who eschew its use entirely, and b) those who embrace the secular, nonreligious and perhaps even scientific application of the word. I count myself as part of the latter group, and am quite at ease, depending on the circumstances, exchanging the term 'spiritual' with descriptors such as inspiring, emotional, moving, breathtaking, stirring, mind-blowing, poignant and even Abraham Maslow's famous Peak Experience. Who would have predicted that using the word 'spiritual' (the Latin root of which is "spiro" i.e., "breathe") would become a third rail? Certainly not one of my favorite nonbelievers, Carl Sagan, who famously said: "Science is not only compatible with spirituality it is a profound source of spirituality."

What is more damaging in Western societies religion or conspiratorial thinking?

RoboGraham comments on Apr 24, 2020:

Religion. Sometimes conspiracy theories are correct. Religion is always bullshit.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 24, 2020:

@RoboGraham You are mixing apples and oranges, sir. The behavior of the Third Reich parallels most totalitarian systems, where propaganda, a powerful ruling elite (such as the SS) and hidden agendas are the norm. However, such systems do not fall into the category of 'conspiracy theory.' Apart from Hitler's Germany, perhaps you could provide more contemporary examples of conspiracy theories that were proven true?

What is more damaging in Western societies religion or conspiratorial thinking?

RoboGraham comments on Apr 24, 2020:

Religion. Sometimes conspiracy theories are correct. Religion is always bullshit.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 24, 2020:

@RoboGraham The term 'conspiracy theory' is a relatively contemporary one, often involving government cover-ups, secret societies and the manipulation of world events. What you've described is a simple case of 'rumors' regarding the existence of Nazi death camps having later been verified. I will grant you that rumors, which have been with us since the dawn of our race, may sometimes be true. But rumors are not the same as a conspiracy theory.

What is more damaging in Western societies religion or conspiratorial thinking?

RoboGraham comments on Apr 24, 2020:

Religion. Sometimes conspiracy theories are correct. Religion is always bullshit.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 24, 2020:

The term 'conspiracy theory' is invariably used as a pejorative and generally connotes unfalsifiable circular reasoning in the absence of evidence. What conspiracy theories are you aware of that have been proven correct?

What is more damaging in Western societies religion or conspiratorial thinking?

wordywalt comments on Apr 24, 2020:

The most damaging are total system ideologies (those which purport to include and explain everything), be they religious or political' and/or the culture of greed.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 24, 2020:

Agreed! However these systems are not typically fasioned from whole cloth. They often take years to construct their latticework onto a superstructure. Which is to say, time is needed to come up with more lies and alibis to slap onto the original untruth. Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, most religions and conspiracy theories have, over the years, added new baloney into their sandwiches. "[E]very religion has for its foundation a miracle -- that is to say, a violation of nature -- that is to say, a falsehood." "A fact never went into partnership with a miracle. Truth scorns the assistance of wonders. A fact will fit every other fact in the universe, and that is how you can tell whether it is or is not a fact. A lie will not fit anything except another lie." Robert Green Ingersoll

What is more damaging in Western societies religion or conspiratorial thinking?

snytiger6 comments on Apr 24, 2020:

Both threats seem to come mostly form the same people. Both are caused by a general lack of applied "critical thinking skills".

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 24, 2020:

Ever have what you think might be an original comment, and then you scroll down and find someone who's already said exactly what you were thinking? Well, you're that guy! ;-) Couldn't agree more!

I’m an atheist but I want to ask a serious question.

Novelty comments on Apr 23, 2020:

Sure, why not? You don’t think Oppenheimer was a Hindu do you? 💋

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 23, 2020:

I am become death, destroyer of worlds.

"Science is better than religion.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 21, 2020:

"For ages, a deadly conflict has been waged between a few brave men and women of thought and genius upon the one side, and the great ignorant religious mass on the other. This is the war between Science and Faith. The few have appealed to reason, to honor, to law, to freedom, to the known, and to ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 23, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay We may have to agree to disagree on this topic. The conflict is there, trust me. I was brought up in a faith that taught us that the age of the Earth is roughly 6,000 years, the flood was the reason for the fossil record, and this religion flat out rejects Darwin as an article of faith. To teach evolution would get a person fired from the church’s school system, if not disfellowshipped entirely. Stephen Jay Gould’s NOMA is not something I can accept, as I have firsthand experience to the contrary. The war between science and faith is philosophical and intellectual. It needn’t report casualties to be deemed a conflict. The victims here are the countless minds and intellects indelibly damaged by superstition, condemnation and threats of damnation for entertaining ideas that are not in accord with a particular interpretation of a so-called holy book. That people of faith have been and continue to be the majority of scientists is hardly surprising, since most people have been churched. And that the religious would utilize the very technology that science has provided is also no surprise—consider how many flat earthers use GPS navigation or telecommunications that rely on satellites!

"Science is better than religion.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 21, 2020:

"For ages, a deadly conflict has been waged between a few brave men and women of thought and genius upon the one side, and the great ignorant religious mass on the other. This is the war between Science and Faith. The few have appealed to reason, to honor, to law, to freedom, to the known, and to ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 22, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay The term 'fake news' is a tired meme. There's nothing 'fake' about the efforts by people of faith to influence, if not de-secularize science. From the persecution of Galileo, to bans on the teaching of Darwinism (still in effect in much of the Muslim world), to the gatecrashing of public school science textbooks, the faithful won't be satisfied until science presents the story they want to hear--a story of God's handiwork in forging his 'perfect' creation. In other words, Paley's Watch all over again, but in our public schools! Give these people of faith the power they seek to regain, and science will take further hits, beginning with funding and ending with tests of faith on the part of any scientist who accepts public funding.

"Science is better than religion.

Pompey comments on Apr 21, 2020:

It's all about belief and faith. What do you choose to believe in and what story do you have faith in. After all, is it true thay blondes have more fun, if so do they have to be 'natural'? :)

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 21, 2020:

@Coffeo Command theory for belief is like command theory for love. Demands are made without any consideration of the individual. One can no more be told what to believe than who to love--even by a god.

"Science is better than religion.

Pompey comments on Apr 21, 2020:

It's all about belief and faith. What do you choose to believe in and what story do you have faith in. After all, is it true thay blondes have more fun, if so do they have to be 'natural'? :)

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 21, 2020:

I have found that I cannot "choose to believe." Rather, my beliefs choose me. Once the veil has been lifted, and I can see the sham for what it is, I could never again, in my wildest dreams 'choose to believe' in religion, any more than I could 'choose to believe' in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. There are some things one cannot believe in, no matter how hard we try. Religion and faith are two of those things that I cannot convince myself of--once again, we cannot choose to believe something that our reason and intellect scorns.

Hypothetical question

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 21, 2020:

Passing knowledge to the next up-and-coming species would confer an unfair advantage. Let them struggle as we have; let them figure it out on their own--no short cuts! Giving a boost only weakens them, in the long run. What makes a species strong are the challenges, questions and paradoxes in life. ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 21, 2020:

@AJimboShep82 This is an interesting discussion. Consider that the human species is gone, and that a new species evolves to the top of the food chain. At what point would we "interfere" with their evolution? If we were to ignore the "Prime Directive" how would we choose to alter the development of this new species? Do we allow the hundreds of thousands of years of disease, war and pestilence? Do we prevent ignorant superstition and religion from taking hold? Do we give them reason and science and the keys to technology at an early period in their history? Or, do we remain 'hidden' until they approach the point at which we were lost to history? In other words, if we had the choice, would we reveal ourselves as gods or bury the evidence only to be discovered by an advanced society who would view as as primitives?

Hypothetical question

Paracosm comments on Apr 20, 2020:

I'm not sure we should fast track their knowledge? Is the goal to make sure they're on our level? We're assholes.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 21, 2020:

@Paracosm Totally agree. Let them learn it on their own. No cheats, no short-cuts. Let them learn from scratch as we have. Let them develop their own Shakespeares, Newtons and Einsteins. They don't get to see our answers before they take the test!

Hypothetical question

bingst comments on Apr 20, 2020:

Reminds me of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Inner Light."

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 21, 2020:

You and I share this episode as our favorite. So beautifully told, and superbly acted, and winner of a Hugo award. Even the cast considers this episode as one of the best. I love how Picard's ability to play the flute is reprised years later in the episode, "Lessons." Peace.

This is me 💯

Geoffrey51 comments on Apr 20, 2020:

So who out there is going to complain about Mr deGrasse Tyson’s use of the term ‘spiritual experience’

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 20, 2020:

NDGT is philosophically aligned with Carl Sagan, who famously said: “Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light‐years and in the passage of ages, when we grasp the intricacy, beauty, and subtlety of life, then that soaring feeling, that sense of elation and humility combined, is surely spiritual. So are our emotions in the presence of great art or music or literature, or acts of exemplary selfless courage such as those of Mohandas Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. The notion that science and spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both.”

This is me 💯

Geoffrey51 comments on Apr 20, 2020:

So who out there is going to complain about Mr deGrasse Tyson’s use of the term ‘spiritual experience’

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 20, 2020:

@LenHazell53 And don't forget banana man's favorite sidekick, Kirk Cameron!

The great Thomas Paine said this in his book Age of Reason "Whenever we read the obscene stories,...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 19, 2020:

You're speaking 'my language' in quoting my avatar ... thank you! Did you know that Paine wrote the Age of Reason while in a French prison for refusing to agree to the execution of Louis XVI? Paine had come to France in support of the revolution and was welcomed with a seat in the National ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 20, 2020:

@The-Krzyz Yup, I have several biographies on this great progressive. It wasn't just the Age of Reason that engendered the public's wrath, but his open letter of criticism--indeed condemnation--to George Washington for behaving (as Paine saw it) cowardly by turning his back on his old Revolutionary friend, leaving him (Paine) to die in French prison.

Trump can not longer be considered president of this country!!! trump is pushing and pandering ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 18, 2020:

All but his most faithful mind-numbed followers have long known that it's always about Trump and his spawn. The American people don't matter to this narcissist, and even his bootlickers are frequently thrown under the bus. A crisis has a way of highlighting one's virtues, or lack thereof, and people...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 19, 2020:

@Fred_Snerd In order to be rescued, one must first recognize their need for rescuing, and then one must be open to being rescued. Ignorance can only be cured by the realization that one lacks knowledge or understanding, and an open mindedness, curiosity even, to receive new information. But what if a person is too stupid to realize how stupid they are? What if they suffer from the Dunning-Kruger effect? Not only are they unlikely to recoginze their own ignorance, but they're unlikely to be open or even curious enough to receive new facts. What we have in Trumplandia is the Dunning-Kruger effect en masse!

Does anyone have any recommendations on good books on non belief I'm new to this community and I ...

SolarWind comments on Apr 17, 2020:

Just about any bible.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 18, 2020:

Excellent point. A careful re-reading of the Bible was instrumental in my journey toward faithlessness. I found this statement by Robet Green Ingersoll to be spot on. "All that is necessary, as it seems to me, to convince any reasonable person that the Bible is simply and purely of human invention -- of barbarian invention -- is to read it. Read it as you would any other book; think of it as you would of any other; get the bandage of reverence from your eyes; drive from your heart the phantom of fear; push from the throne of your brain the coiled form of superstition -- then read the Holy Bible, and you will be amazed that you ever, for one moment, supposed a being of infinite wisdom, goodness and purity, to be the author of such ignorance and of such atrocity." 'The Gods' 1872

Darwin Awards- Conservative idiots protest Michigan stay-at-home order.

gigihein comments on Apr 16, 2020:

It's a mad, mad world

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 16, 2020:

@gigihein Oooh, sad Disney ... hadn't seen that one. This remix video seems to fit the song as well, if not the times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DU1B_XkyIk

Darwin Awards- Conservative idiots protest Michigan stay-at-home order.

gigihein comments on Apr 16, 2020:

It's a mad, mad world

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 16, 2020:

"All around me are familiar faces Worn out places, worn out faces"

Darwin Awards- Conservative idiots protest Michigan stay-at-home order.

Mitch07102 comments on Apr 16, 2020:

When they fall ill let them treat themselves, without any sort of evil government help. Like, you know, trained doctors, or medicine produced in a federally regulated facility.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 16, 2020:

When they fall ill, let them not breathe on others!

Darwin Awards- Conservative idiots protest Michigan stay-at-home order.

BudFrank comments on Apr 16, 2020:

Darwin awards for sure!

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 16, 2020:

Problem is, in addition to voting and breeding, they exhale. There may always be a segment of society that will remain willingly ignorant ingrates and social Neanderthals, and think that they may do whatever they wish, irrespective of their actions upon the lives of others. "No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main" John Donne

Kurt Vonnegut, Christ-Loving Atheist - Image Journal

gearl comments on Apr 13, 2020:

1. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 2. “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” 3. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.” 4. “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 15, 2020:

@WilliamCharles That's my favorite beatitude!

Trump is copying Hitler's early rhetoric... [commondreams.org]

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 15, 2020:

There isn't an original thought or idea in the incomparably puny and narcissistic mind of the 45th president, a man who fancies himself as a populist, when in reality he came up 3 million votes short of a majority. That he was even elected is not the worst of it, however. What has made matters worse...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 15, 2020:

@bklynite53 Trump's nominated two lapdogs for sure, but the other three are more like cats who may, from time to time, rub up against his legs.

Trump is copying Hitler's early rhetoric... [commondreams.org]

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 15, 2020:

There isn't an original thought or idea in the incomparably puny and narcissistic mind of the 45th president, a man who fancies himself as a populist, when in reality he came up 3 million votes short of a majority. That he was even elected is not the worst of it, however. What has made matters worse...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 15, 2020:

@itsmedammit Indeed, I haven't forgotten them. Peel away the swing voters, and we're left with a large portion of the country who would support Trump, no matter his behavior.

There is a word I hate beyond all others and that is Apostasy It is a word expectorated like ...

Azatheist comments on Apr 14, 2020:

Apostasy, heresy, blasphemy, sin...these are words which are merely cultural constructs which Theists use to convince themselves of the reality of their deity. But, since their deity exists solely in their own imaginations, their words have meaning only to themselves. It’s not possible to ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 14, 2020:

And while we're at it, let's just throw out all the worthless religious terminology and clap-trap like holy, prayer, miracle, sacred, redemption, martyr, repentence, sacrilege, prophecy, righteousness, salvation, etc., etc.

Esquire has an article by Charles P.

Larry-new comments on Apr 12, 2020:

It's not a democracy if the people aren't in control.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 12, 2020:

@RussRAB Indeed! In a post-Citizens United landscape, the dollar, more than ever, determines the choice of candidate.

Why the broad disparity in death rates from COVID-19?

wordywalt comments on Apr 11, 2020:

Odds are that the disparities are due to cultural differences.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 11, 2020:

Perhaps. But having lived in Europe for a number of years, I just don't see the differences as being a matter of life and death, as they would appear to be in the case of COVID-19. Why should it be that Portugal and Germany have a relatively low death rate, compared with their six neighbors (Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy and the UK)? Something is amiss here, and I want to know why!

Why the broad disparity in death rates from COVID-19?

t1nick comments on Apr 11, 2020:

POVERTY, POVERTY. POVERTY, POVERTY. Most of us do not see poverty on a regular basis. We do not travel into the neighborhoods that are impoverished on purpose. They are not part of our experience. We do not think about them. America is so rich with material goods that most of us automatically ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 11, 2020:

It would be helpful if we had access socioeconomic data for the COVID-19 deaths in the countries in question, but I have yet to see such. When looking at the European countries on this list, poverty levels do not appear to be a factor. In Germany and Portugal, 15% and 25% of their respective citizens live below the poverty level, whereas The Netherlands and Italy are each hovering at about 8%. The poverty rate in the US is (or was) about 14%. https://borgenproject.org/about-us/

Why the broad disparity in death rates from COVID-19?

snytiger6 comments on Apr 11, 2020:

One problem, at least in the U.S., is that if a person dies before they have been diagnosed, they are NOT counted in the tallies. In the U.S. we are still short on test kits and medical supplies needed to make a proper diagnosis (even if the Trump administration is doing their best to hide that)....

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 11, 2020:

"I suspect the countries with the highest death counts are keeping the best and most accurate records." Perhaps, but that would imply that those with lower death counts are undercounting their dead by a factor of 3-4x. Germany and the US couldn't miss the mark by that much if they tried. There's got to be another explanation for this disparity.

Why the broad disparity in death rates from COVID-19?

DenoPenno comments on Apr 11, 2020:

What I see is the USA as having the most infections because we listen the least. This is also why we have the highest number of deaths. As for percent of deaths most of the rest of the world has a lower healthcare technology. We do not lead in healthcare but we have better technologies generally ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 11, 2020:

This epidemic tends to expose the weaknesses in a federated public health system. We have 50 independent decisionmakers who must act on behalf of their state first and foremost. And within each state we have county and city health commissioners and mayors who, while considering the big picture, are focused on their local issues. Fighting an epidemic begins with consistent practices, policies and data collection, without which we will, as a nation, remain in reaction mode. I have lived in Europe and benefitted from health care there, and am surprised by the death rate disparity, particularly between Germany and the other 6 double digit countries, all of which have modernized health care.

Perhaps this is a bad joke under the circumstances, but I would like to practice social-distancing ...

fishline79 comments on Apr 9, 2020:

I don't think closing ones mind to alternate philosophies is very productive. The problem is not religion, or religious people, but the type of theology or religious practitioners that close their minds all other beliefs and insist that all others are wrong. Much good has been done, even ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 10, 2020:

@fishline79 Fair enough ... I stand (sitting actually) corrected regarding the existence of good art. But I don't think one can argue that Christ wasn't trying to start a religion, or at the very least, spread the gospel through his apostles, per Mark 16 or Matthew 10. Peace.

Today was Reap the Rewards of Eight years' Worth of Drinking.

Larry-new comments on Apr 9, 2020:

A perfect time...Prosit!

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 9, 2020:

@Spinliesel Prost! Ich liebe Deutschland! Tschüss!

Today was Reap the Rewards of Eight years' Worth of Drinking.

Jolanta comments on Apr 9, 2020:

Maybe, just maybe AA is for you 😂

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 9, 2020:

Don't AA meetings violate most shelter in place directives?

Far too many have abandon intelligence for false hope!!!!!!! Anybody agree?

WilliamFleming comments on Apr 9, 2020:

There is every reason for hope. Hope and intelligence are not mutually exclusive.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 9, 2020:

@Fred_Snerd Replace the word 'meaning' with 'significance,' and tell me if that makes a difference. "I am not wasting my time with ego and am fulfilling life long goals." Brilliant! A personal philosophy in a nutshell. Kudos!

Bill O’Reilly: Dead Coronavirus Victims ‘Were On Their Last Legs Anyway’ | HuffPost

itsmedammit comments on Apr 9, 2020:

Interesting that so many comments on this thread point out Bill is inaccurate in that the young die too. WTF, like it is ok if he is just talking old people?

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 9, 2020:

It's worse than that. Not just the old, but the disabled and infirm, those who have any 'compromising' condition such as diabetes, asthma and hypertension, and any person, young or old, whose immune system was insufficient to overcome the infection. O'Reilly is channeling a fascist interpretation of Spencer's 'survival of the fittest' flaunting his Nazi credentials.

Far too many have abandon intelligence for false hope!!!!!!! Anybody agree?

WilliamFleming comments on Apr 9, 2020:

There is every reason for hope. Hope and intelligence are not mutually exclusive.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 9, 2020:

@Fred_Snerd I don't look for meaning, I attribute my own meaning. At the risk of inappropriate humor, I truly hope that your nihilism doesn't lead you to despair. Peace.

Far too many have abandon intelligence for false hope!!!!!!! Anybody agree?

WilliamFleming comments on Apr 9, 2020:

There is every reason for hope. Hope and intelligence are not mutually exclusive.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 9, 2020:

@Fred_Snerd When one becomes a parent one had better hope. Hope for one's own improvement as a parent. Hope for the good health of your child. Hope for building a meaningful and loving relationship. Hope for strengthening the bonds between one's life partner, through the parenting process. Hope for the child's happiness, and for the future, and to live to see and enjoy your grandchildren. Without hope I would be a nihilist.

Coming to Grips with the Implications of Quantum Mechanics by Scientific American, Bernardo ...

skado comments on Apr 8, 2020:

I don't expect I'll ever understand this. No one I've known personally has ever been able to explain it to me. I suspect no one could unless they had a degree in physics, and, so far, prominent physicists have disagreed. The authors here sound very confident, but I'm guessing there are others who...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 9, 2020:

@WilliamFleming Mind boggling indeed! As Haldane said, "Now, my own suspicion is that the universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose."

Louisiana Pastor: 'True Christians Do Not Mind Dying' Of Coronavirus If Infected At Church | ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 9, 2020:

Are people willing to die for ideas? You bet they are, and whether it's a self-immolating Buddhist monk, an Islamic extremist suicide murderer, or a fundie Christian attending church in the middle of a pandemic, martyrdom is, in their minds (and those of their supporters), the highest form of ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 9, 2020:

@DeCryingShame You're probably right. There's a difference between playing Russian roulette with a single shot derringer and a revolver with many empty chambers. More than 900 people drank the cyanide-laced punch at Jonestown--the single shot derringer, but only a fraction of the Life Tabernacle Church are likely to become ill, much less die from the virus. The moral issue in both cases, however, concerns decisions made for others who have little choice in the matter--what about the children?

Perhaps this is a bad joke under the circumstances, but I would like to practice social-distancing ...

fishline79 comments on Apr 9, 2020:

I don't think closing ones mind to alternate philosophies is very productive. The problem is not religion, or religious people, but the type of theology or religious practitioners that close their minds all other beliefs and insist that all others are wrong. Much good has been done, even ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 9, 2020:

Religion, particularly of the orthodox variety, is a cesspool of bad ideas. It is the problem. So-called 'alternate' philosphies must be reality-based, otherwise we get what we have in the White House today--alternative facts. It is no victory for religion to say that someone who held irrational beliefs overcame them and actually did something positive for humanity. And to assert that it took religion to sponsor or inspire great art is shortsighted. In the absence of religion, the artist turns to another patron and is inspired by subjects within the natural world.

April 6, 2020: Vaccination Ruminations.

AmyTheBruce comments on Apr 7, 2020:

I'm sorry, but I fail to see how an insular group with a history of non-vaccination could possibly have an advantage, even in the event of societal collapse. Even supposing that they do evolve natural immunity to what they are exposed to, that falls apart the minute an outsider enters. In the ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 8, 2020:

@JacobMeyers Whether it is genetics or environment that is behind their susceptibility to disease, Native Americans were disproportionately affected by the Spanish flu pandemic 100 years ago, and are at greater risk than other populations this time around. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/04/04/native-american-coronavirus/

Since dating is no longer really possible in the traditional sense because of all the isolation ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 20, 2020:

I sometimes wonder if our being forced to stay at home with nowhere to go, no sports to watch, and not a whole lot left to do will lead to a spike in the number of babies born about nine months from now. I mean, who wants to go out and buy condoms during an epidemic, right? Maybe we're living in a ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 8, 2020:

@joeandbarb Absolutely! We are now learning that, as early as last November, briefings on the contagion and its potential spread were prepared by the National Center for Medical Intelligence (NCMI) and were provided to the government, including DIA and the White House. Did you know that Trump played the fiddle?