A new religion [friendlyatheist.patheos.com]

p-nullifidian comments on May 12, 2020:

Terry Firma? Great pseudonym ... much more creative than mine!

Which religion has the most influence on the spread of covid19?

p-nullifidian comments on May 9, 2020:

The effect of prayer, or lack thereof, on patients has actually been studied, and as Dan Barker has so famously quipped, 'Nothing fails like prayer.' https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/longawaited-medical-study-questions-the-power-of-prayer.html

Are you in favor of UBI ? Why/not ?

p-nullifidian comments on May 8, 2020:

Before addressing UBI, a concept my avatar strongly advocated, perhaps we should address two basic rights (which many view as privileges) that have been underscored in the aftermath of COVID-19: universal health care and universal housing.

Michael Moore's Planet of the Humans is a film all atheists should see.

p-nullifidian comments on May 7, 2020:

Please explain your 'intersection' between the Green Movement and a lack of belief in a deity.

"In a certain sense, postmodernism seems to be the last step of secularization.

p-nullifidian comments on May 7, 2020:

With respect, Eagleton, it seems to me, sounds almost Chopraesque in his initial deepities, although I do resonate with this statement: "Only by breaking with the whole notion of 'deep' meaning can we break free."

Best yelled in a Princess Bride kind of spirit! And it is so, so true.

p-nullifidian comments on May 6, 2020:

Makes a great coffee mug meme too!

A renowned researcher who was on the brink of “very significant findings” in his coronavirus ...

p-nullifidian comments on May 6, 2020:

It happens. A property manager in my town was murdered in his office by an enraged tenant who had been evicted from his rental property. After shooting the property manager, the tenant drove his car several miles to a parking lot by the San Francisco Bay, where he swallowed the same handgun, an hour or two later.

This group is suspiciously quiet for a major metro region in a time of pandemic.

p-nullifidian comments on May 3, 2020:

"High" to you, as well. My wife and I operate a residential care facility for the elderly in the Outer Sunset. After what happened to the facility in the Seattle area, my wife went all 'mama bear' and began instituting strict practices in early March, prior to the County and State directives, which came weeks later. We have not let our guards down, and are concerned that complacency could lead to an outbreak. And until we have an effective vaccine, we fear we may be facing COVID again, later this year.

I was watching a Nature show and I thought you would all like to know that Jesus Christ lives and ...

p-nullifidian comments on May 2, 2020:

Jesus Christ, look at that lizard go! I hear that it would be much harder for Jesus to walk on water than it was the first time around, due to those holes in his feet.

For the grammarians: The atheist might say, “If there WERE a God there would be no unjustified ...

p-nullifidian comments on May 1, 2020:

What be "is?"

It appears that Jesus is not the only one that might try to be a man and a god at the same time.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 30, 2020:

An old rehash of ancient fables. There are, in fact, many themes such as a half-breed human god, virgin birth, execution & resurrection, raising the dead, healing and other miracles, etc. that were ripped off from previous mythologies by Christian plagiarists, otherwise known as authors of the New Testament.

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.

A few years back I was working at a factory.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 30, 2020:

This story is troubling on so many levels, whether directly stated or implied. First, that one's faith is supposed to blind one to a fact. Second, that recognition of a fact, in this case weight loss, dooms one to violating the 10th commandment. Third, that weight loss for women is only to make them more attractive to men. Fourth, the admission that if the woman who lost weight were more attractive to you, she'd garner a closer look, perhaps tempting you to violate the 7th commandment, if only in your heart [Matthew 5:28.] Please reread your post, while putting yourself in your co-worker's shoes--the one whom you've simply called, Joe's wife--and perhaps I won't be the only man to sense a tone of sexism in this story.

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' deity, as I could no longer tolerate the 'bad parenting' going on. If you're a halfway honest person, you pretty much have to conclude that this God, as described in the Bible (and even as he supposedly exists today), is a fucking loser as a Dad. In fact, this "God" is one helluva vile and twisted monster who deserves nothing more than our loathing and contempt, and to be brought up on child abandonment, endangerment, abuse and infanticide by some form of celestial child protective services! So, once I renounced my faith in this God, and walked away from my church, there was (thankfully) no other deity to turn to. Game over, man ... game over!

I just saw this post in an otter group I’m part of on Facebook.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 28, 2020:

Clearly, Steve is asking his heavenly father for some fish!

Religion was destroyed! By whom?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 28, 2020:

"Trust me!" Two words that should alert any sound mind that what preceded or follows is unlikely to be true.

Is the concept of a personal God needed in some individuals?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 28, 2020:

Not merely a personal God, but one who will watch over us and take care of us. This need, it seems to me, is prompted by our desire to feel safe and secure, perhaps as we once did when we were young, and were protected by grown ups. By and large, humans seem to have a 'big person' fetish, which we satisfy with fanciful legends and myths.

Christian Nationalists Call For Secession, Formation Of White Ethnostate | Michael Stone

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 28, 2020:

So they want to leave, but where to? Come to think of it, Antarctica is probably the 'whitest' continent.

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

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 28, 2020:

God is fickle, frequently changing his mind. Instead of omniscience this god, whom many worship today, is infinitely capricious!

What would you create in collaboration with a machine that dreams?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 28, 2020:

Clearly the dream begins with *Starry Night* by Vincent van Gogh! https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-starry-night/bgEuwDxel93-Pg?hl=en&ms=%7B%22x%22%3A0.5%2C%22y%22%3A0.5%2C%22B%22%3A8.827905306987915%2C%22z%22%3A8.827905306987915%2C%22size%22%3A%7B%22width%22%3A2.1380326250364616%2C%22height%22%3A1.2375%7D%7D

Looking for a place to share/discuss some photography inspired by scientific effects/phenomenae.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 28, 2020:

For astrophotography, few sites can top Astrobin. https://welcome.astrobin.com

I've been a huge aviation nerd since I was a little kid.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 28, 2020:

Thank you for this post! Growing up in northern California, not far from Beale AFB, the strategic reconnaissance base where the SR-71s (and U-2s) were headquartered, I frequently saw (and heard) these planes, often connected with a KC-135 tanker during aerial refueling. Kelly Johnson, the Lockheed engineer who designed the SR-71 (as well as the P-38, Constellation, U-2 and F-104), was a genius, and it is hard to overstate how far ahead of its time this aircraft was. The last unit is at the Udvar-Hazy annex of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum by Dulles airport--I highly recommend visiting. On its final flight in 1990, this *Blackbird* set several speed records including an incredible cross-country time (from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C.) of just over 64 minutes! https://airandspace.si.edu/udvar-hazy-center

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

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 27, 2020:

Oh boy! Let's all become utilitarians. Put your grandma on that iceberg and push her off to sea! Those who don't make it become 'collateral damage' or 'acceptable losses' in the great cause of our economy. Let's just ignore, for a moment, that COVID-19 has killed healthy people, including young adults and even children. Forget about the fact that COVID-19 attacks the heart tissues and may trigger strokes in younger persons. Let's just chalk up the victims of COVID-19 as casualties in the battle for America's economy! In fact, let's make it 'un-American' to shelter in place during a pandemic. If you ever hear someone say that the 'cure is worse than the disease' or that 'we need to re-open the country' consider the utilitarian logic behind this argument: the economy is more valuable than the lives lost to the Coronavirus--lives that might have been spared to a different set of priorities.

Towards radical skepticism: Philosophically, I am a radical skeptic.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 27, 2020:

What we perceive through the medium of our senses is subjective, how could it be otherwise? Are we all brains in a vat experiencing a "Matrix" existence? Who knows? Perhaps we're just living in a shared definition of reality. Or, we should, at least, share this reality if we want to survive. Just as our ancestors agreed, for the most part, that the saber-toothed tiger was a threat to be avoided, so should we as a species recognize the threats we face, such as pandemics and climate change. All knowledge, including what we know today as scientific facts, is provisional, subject to future revision. To assume otherwise is to fossilize our understanding of the universe--a process frequently practiced by religion.

“On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 27, 2020:

This quote became exceedingly popular on Wednesday, November 9, 2016. Give the man a microphone and the evidence of his intellectual prowess becomes self-evident.

What could happen if we open the economy too soon?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 27, 2020:

Take a look at what happened to Hokkaido. https://time.com/5826918/hokkaido-coronavirus-lockdown/

At least the oil companies will benefit from the fly overs by the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 24, 2020:

Sorry, but as a veteran and enthusiast of flight, from the Wright Bros. to the present, you won't get me to join this fray. Not sure what it has to do with agnosticism, in any case.

Texas wanted to secede

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 24, 2020:

Secession, or efforts to do so, seems at times to be as American as apple pie. The mining town of Rough and Ready, California, in the gold-rich Sierra Nevada foothills, voted to secede from the Union in 1850. One wonders just how many regions, counties and towns have, over the years, voted to 'break away.'

Doing my first shift testing people for covid tomorrow wish me luck .

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 24, 2020:

We are in your debt sir, and I personally honor your commitment to applying your skills and knowledge to this important cause. Best wishes and stay well! PN

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

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 23, 2020:

Perhaps, but only when moving beyond their traditional context, in the same frame of mind as that of my avatar: “I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church. All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.” Thomas Paine, *The Age of Reason*

"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 happiness here in this world. The many have appealed to prejudice, to fear, to miracle, to slavery, to the unknown, and to misery hereafter. The few have said, "Think!" The many have said, "Believe!" Robert Green Ingersoll, 'The Gods' 1872

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. No one is ever improved by being handed the answers to a test, prior to taking it.

Moral Compass

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 21, 2020:

Morality, it seems to me, is an evolutionary development resulting from the survival benefit conferred to in-group cooperation vs. individualistic, selfish behavior. Morals may be reduced to two primary behavioral principles: fairness (or reciprocity) and empathy (or sympathy). These primitive, yet unmistakable behaviors are seen in many other species, including our closest relative, the chimpanzee. If we can agree that morality was a natural outgrowth of primitive codes that enabled the survival and flourishing of hominids that practiced such behaviors, why then is it necessary to credit an external authority many thousands of years after the fact? Did humanity really need Mt. Sinai for 'moral instruction?' Are not our morals a natural outgrowth of a clan-tribe-nation progression? Religion (much as it has everything else) co-opted existing practices and dressed them up in a false narrative of authoritative plagiarism. Taking credit for something that already exists is a lietmotif of religion.

[antisemitism.co.il] Anti-Semitic fliers blaming Jews for Covid-19 near Washington, DC. WTF!!!!!

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 20, 2020:

Sadly, these anti-Semitic beliefs have never left us, and have only surged in recent years, thanks in large part to the top cover given by the current resident of the White House, who prefers to allow these cockroaches to roam freely, rather than shine a focused light of truth and force them back into the wood work.

Homeopathy.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 20, 2020:

Alternative Medicine = Alternative Facts

This is one of the good ones I post where I know Christians are reading .

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 20, 2020:

In the story, Mary's father remains hidden, but were I he, I would want to wring Joseph's neck! Impregnated by the Holy Spirit? Immaculate Conception my ass! It's little wonder then that the expectant couple hightailed it to Bethlehem rather than face the wrath of the family back home in Nazareth. If, that is, you believe any of this ever actually occurred!

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 Convention. But he soon fell out of favor with the Jacobins (led by Robespierre) when he voted against the king being guillotined--a fate that Paine himself narrowly missed!

I had a group of friends in high school that I hung out with.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 19, 2020:

We each grow at our own pace and in our own direction. The friendships we had during high school, amplified as they were by adolescent hormones, were about as 'true' as they could have been. It's a rare gift to retain a lifelong friendship from our youth. I count myself lucky to have found my lifetime companion, friend and spouse during high school, and together we have maintained a select few mutual friendships from those days; people we went to school with who share somewhat parallel philosophical journeys to our own.

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 of substance can clearly see what this president is really made of. Alas it is only April, and November cannot come soon enough.

My explanation of Atheism NOTE This is my personal view, it is shared by many but I don't wish to...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 17, 2020:

I identify as a **nullifidian**, first and foremost--i.e., one who has no faith or religious belief. My first step was to reject all religions and their varied constructs of gods as being wholly man-made, while at the same time rejecting the notion of *faith*, which is an unreasonable intellectual posture synonymous with credulity and the dismissal of facts. I reasoned that, if there were a god, it would not be necessary to believe in it/her/him without evidence. Having rejected all religions in general, and faith in particular, I continued for a period of time to search for evidence of a deity. But finding insufficient evidence to prove its existence, I found God 'Not guilty of existing.' In this absence of evidence, a nullifidian may also be an agnostic--without *knowledge* of a deity. Additionally, with no such knowledge, and lacking the cognitive posture of faith (claiming to know things one cannot possibly know), what then remains to believe in? This nullifidian agnostic is also without theistic *belief*--i.e., I'm an atheist. But in the final analysis, what does all this categorization and philosophical taxonomy really accomplish? How many others on this site might likewise self-identify?

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

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 17, 2020:

Congratulations on coming to your senses about your religion and courageously declaring your new status, decades earlier in your life than I! As a doubting Thomas, prior to leaving my faith completely, my first introduction to agnosticism was by Michael Earl on his website, http://reasonworks.com. Don't ask me how I stumbled across Reason Works, but I found Mike Earl's readings of his own ideas and, in particular, the speeches of Robert Green Ingersoll, that "Great Agnostic" of the 19th Century, most enlightening. Listen to Ingersoll's "About the Holy Bible," "Individuality" and "The Gods," and you will be amazed that such insightful ideas were so eloquently expressed, more than a century ago. To help reinforce my decision to leave faith, I found the books by former Christians such as Dan Barker's "Godless," Seth Andrews' "De-Converted," and Charles Templeton's "Farewell to God" very affirming.

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

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 16, 2020:

My son lives in Michigan and is working on the "front line" as a produce stocker at Target. He's a little nervous these days when an unmasked patron with a MAGA hat ignores protocol and taps him on the shoulder to ask when the next shipment of toilet paper is due in.

[friendlyatheist.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 15, 2020:

How refreshingly honest, secular and science based. Then again, consider his electorate. There's a lot of states where a remark like this would get him unelected!

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 is that this neo-fascist blow hard has been aided and abetted by about 53 lap dogs in the Senate who have, in effect, switched political parties from Republican to Trumpian.

Pat Robertson: God May Have Created the Earth in Six “Universal” Days | Hemant Mehta | Friendly ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 15, 2020:

For centuries now science--which is to say, our understanding of the universe--has had this effect on religion: it forces all but the ultra-orthodox, anti-science, scriptural-literalist fundies to reinterpret their holy books, and arrive at new conclusions, or so-called 'truths,' based on allegory, metaphor and personifications. Little by little, science has tugged at the thread of religion, and little by little the cloak of ignorance has unraveled until all that remains is an exposed body of lies, fables and atrocities. Religion must continuously reinvent itself in order to remain marketable, or it dies.

"What influence in fact have Christian ecclesiastical establishments had on civil society?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 10, 2020:

Indeed! Madison, Jefferson and Paine were like-minded in their opinions on this matter. Prior to the founding of the United States of America, the altar and throne were in league with one another. But the Framers knew better than to put God in the Constitution. The problem has been a steady erosion of church-state separation, promulgated by that profligate beggar, religion. Never satisfied with merely being left alone, religion with outstretched hands seeks greater recognition, including legal and financial support from the government. Religion can never be happy until it can reclaim the power it once held, prior to the age of enlightenment.

I suppose that by now, just about everyone on the planet is aware of the COVID 19 Novel Coronavirus ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 10, 2020:

Well stated! Worship of any kind is intolerable. Do I as a father want my children to worship me? Perish the thought! It has been said that God is as far above us as we are above a common bug. Of what possible use would worship by a lowly bug be to a deity? It's high time the world raise their collective heads, stand erect and wipe the dust from their knees, never again to degrade themselves in worship of any kind, whether a god or another human being. Worship is a word that belongs in the graveyard of passé verbiage.

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

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 9, 2020:

Unless of course you anticipate this bottle of gin to be your last, Bombay Sapphire is way too good for a pandemic. I prefer Seagrams or even Gordons when drinking alone in the bubble. As they say, half of us will emerge from this quarantine as much-improved cooks, and the other half with a drinking problem. ;-)

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

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 9, 2020:

That this flaming asshole still has a platform speaks volumes to the assholery of Hannity and Fox.

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 devotion. Beliefs have consequences.

I often enjoy UU ideas, but this one has me struggling .

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 8, 2020:

I think @Geoffrey51 nailed it. As the subject 'Resiliance' would imply, fire is being used as a metaphor for life's difficulties, nothing more. Burning Man, on the other hand ... well, anything can happen at a desert bonfire party filled with enthusiastically stoned individuals.

Here a few reasons I believe it is likely that Jesus did exist as a historical figure: 1) It is ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 8, 2020:

Using a religious text to validate historical facts and characters is a fool’s errand, whether it be the Vedas, Tanakh, Bible, Quaran or the Book of Mormon.

When did you first see who your child is as a person?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 8, 2020:

When, as a toddler between the age of 2 and 3, she admitted to doing something she shouldn't have done knowing full well she would be in time out. If memory serves, it was digging in the dirt of a houseplant and making a mess on the carpet. Honesty and integrity must always overcome the impulse to cover up or lie, and our daughter was rewarded for telling the truth by avoiding time out--but she got to help pick up the mess! ;-)

A Landlord of a Church Locks Doors to Save Lives LockWNvbnRpbnVlLXRvLWhvbGQtc2VydmljZXMiLCJwbHVn

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 7, 2020:

Churches often sublet. In this case, one Christian church (Bethel Open Bible Church, aka, the landlord) did another (Cross Culture Christian Center, aka, the tenant) a favor, even though they didn't appreciate it.

Bible stories may not be factual - but they are nonetheless true

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 7, 2020:

**true **| tro͞o | adjective 1 in accordance with fact or reality: *a true story* | *of course it's true* | *that is not true of the people I am talking about.* How do any Bible stories accord with fact or reality?

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 6, 2020:

Still a reasonable question, but if an electron passes through a slit and no one observes it, does the wavefunction ever collapse? ;-)

We shouldn’t hate Christ as a person in spite of what his philosophy has done to humanity over the...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 3, 2020:

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the character known as Jesus (as depicted in the writings later cobbled together to form the canonical New Testament) was an historical person, there is plenty to dislike, beginning with the supremely egotistical statement. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s foes will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:34-39 (RSV) Better had he never come at all!

What do you all think of the Illuminati?

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 3, 2020:

Secret societies are as old as societies themselves, but the question always comes down to conspiratorial power and control. Freemasons, the Knights Templar, the Priory of Sion, etc., such groups provide inspiration for writers like Dan Brown, but that's about all they do.

The Bible Belt . . . . Not Survival of the Fittest by an means

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 2, 2020:

This map would seem to tell a story about gubernatorial leadership more than the citizenry. California was the first state to issue a statewide shelter in place order on March 19, followed shortly thereafter by many others, but a larger number of states delayed, and some have yet to follow suit. Within our state capitals the decision making processes vary, however Americans freely travel across state lines daily, even during an epidemic. Spring break afforded a unique opportunity to spread the virus, as this study of just *one* beach in Florida shows. https://twitter.com/MikaelThalen/status/1243281598037913600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1243281598037913600=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailydot.com%2Fdebug%2Fcellphone-heat-map-coronavirus%2F

Religious gatherings: Here's a look at what states exempt them from stay at home orders - CNN

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 2, 2020:

The bully pulpit is now the church pulpit--a very powerful lobby. Too many statehouses are now controlled by the Republican party, which has been taken over by the Christian right, just as Barry Goldwater, that Arizona Republican senator of a different era, feared back in the 60's: “Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.”

Rumors or lies? They are on in the same.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 2, 2020:

Rumors would seem to occupy the same rung of the ladder as idle gossip, often done in whispers, behind the scenes. "Rumor has it..." is often an indirect reference, sometimes accurate, sometimes not, but never fully forthright. Lies, on the other hand, are willful untruths. Lies are either premeditated deception, or spontaneous responses to attempts to get at the truth. To be sure, rumor mongers are a problem, but liars are a scourge that should be eliminated from society. In fact, liars may be the ones who fabricate the content spread by rumor mongers.

Knowing all the science behind what makes a piano work will not make you a pianist.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 2, 2020:

In my opinion, understanding, and then personalizing science is even more spiritual than any religious practice. Once I accepted the fact of evolution, I made the intellectual and emotional journey of figuratively going back in time in my imagination to visualize my ancient ancestors who looked and behaved nothing like me. I journeyed further and found a common ancestor with my cat. Each one of my ancestors lived and somehow succeeded in reproducing, going back millions of years. Understanding evolution was something of a spiritual experience. But then I learned from Carl Sagan that the elements necessary for life as we know it were formed through the explosions of stars. Fascinating! A star went supernova so that I might exist. The more I learn of the natural world the more I am moved to awe and wonder. The scales of the universe, both macro and micro are beyond comprehension. We take too much for granted and we look for meaning when all along we simply need to make the effort to observe, study and learn. Knowledge and understanding of the natural world is the key to what has been called 'spiritual understanding.'

A Silver lining is that MEGA churches won't be able to rob old folks ten thousand at a time now and ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 2, 2020:

Indeed! Hardcore Christians are steeped in the 'word,' which they conveniently apply, post hoc, to almost anything that happens on the planet. Earthquakes, conflicts, the acquisition of knowledge and even a pandemic (i.e., plague) are foretold in their holy books, perhaps signs of the end, but most certainly part of God's plan. If mega churches and orthodox religion in general are to tumble, it will only be when believers wake up, rub the sleep from their eyes, and realize they've been willingly duped and deluded, then proceed to the nearest exit. When science is finally recognized as having greater validity than the scribblings of ignorant nomads and shepherds, progress may finally be made.

Not into political correctness, but dislike groups being disparaged simply because they belong to a ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 2, 2020:

People who get off on 'othering' are the most insecure and unprincipled members of a society.

I had a fun, online discussion with a guy I knew from very young years.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 2, 2020:

Christians sometimes forget their origins. Early Christians were largely a covert faith. No mega churches, no religious rallies, and yet somehow their numbers grew. Maybe your friend would prefer a return to his Christian roots--an underground faith, hiding in the catacombs with members who philosophically separated church from state, rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesar's!

Can I get a T-shirt that says, "I don't believe in god because I don't want people to know how much ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 2, 2020:

I have found that T-shirts, like bumper stickers, work best when the message is brief.

A "How did we get here question".

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 1, 2020:

Senicide has been with us for thousands of years and, sadly, is still practiced in some cultures. It is often framed in terms of resources. Granny becomes a burden, so she's carried up the mountain or put on a floating chunk of ice and left to die. As payouts in wrongful death cases show, our lives have long been monetized.

E.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 1, 2020:

What some fail to grasp is that we are in a war here--one in which selfish behavior risks getting people killed.

Two maladies both working in harmony with one another! [friendlyatheist.patheos.com]

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 1, 2020:

While the instinct of the nonbeliever may be to scoff at the leaders of religious zealots who insist on gathering during the pandemic, and chalk them up as Darwinism in action, think of the innocents who may be affected by this disregard. Children who are unfortunate enough to have been born into an orthodox family have little choice in the matter, not to mention the unsuspecting nonbeliever who for weeks practiced social distancing only to be infected by a member of a religious community. Beliefs have consequences.

Akbar the great, one of the Mughal Emperors of India, asked his Minister Beerbal to write a sentence...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 1, 2020:

Yes, and so will the jalepeños I binged on tonight, but I'm not looking forward to the morning. ;-)

spread agnosticism

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 1, 2020:

"Everyone has their unique ideas" Perhaps, but not their unique facts.

After Trent Horn of Catholic Answers tried to argue that an Accuweather article I cited refutes my ...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 1, 2020:

Catholic Answers? Is that like, Islamic physics? Or Protestant mathematics? I suppose there are answers (facts) and then there are Catholic Answers (alternative facts).

I always break out in laughter when I see a news reporter saying "Coronavirus Task Force" with a ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 31, 2020:

In a republic with 50 individual and relatively autonomous states, a federal entity with sufficient powers should be there during a national crisis. Their role should be to orchestrate, prioritize and organize, and to act as a referee or arbiter between states and manufacturers, ensuring that resources are appropriately distributed and that they don't just go to the highest bidder, i.e., the richest states. Is the Task Force ostensibly led by the faceless (if not feckless) Mike Pence little more than a publicity stunt? Perhaps. But I'm grateful for people like Dr. Fauci who are somehow able to thread the needle between Trump's chopping block and the need to educate and reinforce to the public how to deal with this virus.

Will common sense prevail after this crisis is over especially given the climate crisis?

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 30, 2020:

Another corporate bail out is on its way. Fortune 1000 companies can afford to hire an army of lawyers and lobbyists while small business owners and mom & pops are begging for help in navigating the CARES Act and related SBA assistance just to get the ball rolling on payroll support for employees.

Ok we've already got the pestilence, and now the midwest is expecting some very severe weather.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 29, 2020:

Come to think of it, we here in the Bay Area are due for a really good earthquake. As Neil Peart said, "Roll the Bones."

I find it surprising that so many are now discovering or reminding themselves our common humanity ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 27, 2020:

Too many good points here to respond to, except to say that anyone who can weave a coherent post of 600+ words has my respect.

Pastor defies coronavirus order, draws over 1K people to services

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 26, 2020:

"It's not a concern," Spell told the outlet. "The virus, we believe, is politically motivated." Yes, the virus is a clearly a blue bug! Sometimes the names people have are amusingly coincidental, as this pastor clearly has a "spell" on his congregants. Another Jim Jones in the making.

athiest and agnostic?

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 26, 2020:

I identify primarily as a nullifidian: one with no faith or religious belief. Philosophically, I don't start with the question of a deity, but start from the ground floor. Have I been provided evidence supporting the existence of miracles--an interruption in nature's steady chain of causes and effects by a supernatural intervener? No, I don't accept the existence of a miracle. Do I accept that faith--assuming to believe things about which one cannot possibly know--is an attitude one should have? No, I don't accept the validity of faith. Having said that, I've seen no evidence which would constitute knowledge or upon which to base a belief that there is any power superior to nature. So if I lack any knowledge of, or belief in, a deity, I happen to be a nullifidian who's both an agnostic and an atheist.

An interesting article about previous epidemics/ pandemics: [mphonline.org]

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 26, 2020:

A good overview, thanks. Sometimes visuals help explain things too. Though the info is dated, I found this infographic very useful. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/history-of-pandemics-deadliest/

The headline should have read: Delusional Old Man in a Dress Wanders Streets of Rome During ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 26, 2020:

Don't forget the funny hat! ;-)

Modern Neoliberal Capitalism.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 26, 2020:

When you use the term, "Modern Neoliberal Capitalism," what precisely is your definition of this economic philosophy?

Handheld 1/320 sec. f/6.3 400mm ISO 800

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 26, 2020:

Not bad! Never seen a 'handheld' image of the moon that was worth anything! Imagine what this would've looked like on a tripod!

This is a photograph of a space shuttle leaving our atmosphere taken by NASA.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 24, 2020:

I recall this image from 2011 very well. Thank you for bringing it to our attention! NASA calls it 'Through the Clouds.' This shot was captured by a shuttle simulator aircraft, at very high altitude. At this point, shuttle Endeavour has broken through the cloud cover, and is nearing the same altitude as the aircraft from which this photograph was captured. Not leaving the atmosphere quite yet, but she's on her way! https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/flyout/multimedia/endeavour/11-05-16-2.html

Does the term "agnostic atheist" imply that those who self identify as such should accept that it is...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 24, 2020:

I identify, first and foremost, as a nullifidian--a person who has no faith or religious belief. Faith is an unreliable reasoning process which acts as a virus. To quote Peter Boghossian, 'faith is pretending to know things you do not know.' All should be inoculated against the virus of faith. As far as religious belief goes, religions and their clergy, scriptures, doctrines and creeds are, in my opinion, without value and even harmful, and should be jettisoned from societies. From that premise, if there were a god, it/she/he is irrelevant and I have no knowledge of it/her/him, and I most certainly have no belief in it/her/him. Lacking knowledge of a deity defines me as an agnostic, while lacking a belief in such defines me as an atheist. I don't really care either way ... I'm just a nullifidian.

I'm no scientist but it seems to me we sure are giving the climate a breather with much of the world...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 24, 2020:

The effects appear to be localized. During the quarantine in Wuhan, a marked decrease in air pollution (what we used to call smog) was observed there. I don't know where Wuhan is today, but in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I live, the air quality is measured daily, and a significant decrease in hydrocarbons has been measured since the stay-at-home order. That said, it would likely take many years of this apparent reversal in emissions to make a dent in the ongoing atmospheric carbon accumulation.

"Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for the coronavirus, report says"...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 23, 2020:

Those with resources have privilege. Disparities will continue until our health care system, indeed our entire political system, is reformed. How is it that US Senators and NBA athletes may be tested while so many wait? Under our current system, the fox guards the hen house. Our elected representatives have the constitutional authority to make laws and rules that effectively isolate them from the rest of society. Why do we allow this? Congress determines their own salaries, their health plans, their exorbitant privileges and retirements, without any oversight by the people (other than their election). How is this even possible in a democracy? How can those who are elected determine, without referendum, and on their own, what their constituents should pay them?

this...........

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 23, 2020:

Brilliant! Just for a moment, I wish for a fantasy in which all racist bigots required a blood transfusion, and their donors just happened to be from a 'race' they despise. We must overcome this tendency to "otherize." On our Pale Blue Dot, with so many problems that can only be solved collectively, this Balkanization instinct which leads people to break away into smaller and yet smaller groups, is simply unsustainable. A return to tribalism in opposition to globalism might just kill us all.

I'm looking for advice.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 23, 2020:

I agree with my cohorts who've cautioned you to wait for the results. Assuming your family, as you've described, would be an unlikely source of comfort, and your coworkers (and only you could answer this) might just be like a bunch of characters from The Office, you seem to be without a lifeline. Not necessarily true. Either one family member you never really knew, or one with whom you work might surprise you. People who aren't total jerks to others are sometimes shocked by the reaction to what you've described as "sucking it up" and asking for help. You seem to already know how your family will likely react, so unless there's a family member who's ready, able and willing to jettison Jesus (or at the very least, help without proselytizing), I recommend you give your colleagues a chance.

I took this picture handheld- wish I'd had time to change my camera settings but that would've meant...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 22, 2020:

I tried taking photos, but quickly turned to a high-powered pair of binos. I too saw Mercury, and was amazed to see a prominence of reddish orange at the base of the corona, which extended many more degrees than I had anticipated. Looking at the shadow of the moon was like peering into a black hole. We all were awestruck when we removed our protective eye wear at the beginning of totality. Next time I'll have an automated imaging set up so I don't have to fiddle with the camera.

While everything is taken place in the world right now, how many of you have starting talking to ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

When one thinks they're talking to God, they're really just talking to themselves. There's a meme that believers hold on to--one that gives them reassurance--that nonbelievers eventually abandon their doubts and seek God in times great stress or at the end of their lives. This is pure fantasy. In any case, if there really were a creator, she-he-it wouldn't need us to dirty our knees or beg for a favor.

Prehistoric girl had parents belonging to different human species | New Scientist

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

Now I admit, biology was never my strong suit, but I thought that in the rare instance when two different species successfully breed, a sterile hybrid is produced?

In the Bible where Jesus says "He who is without sin the first stone" Two questions come to ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

Dude, seriously? Perhaps a focus group dedicated to the inexplicable and contradictory Bible is where this discussion belongs.

Mike Pence has the right idea. [newsweek.com]

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

This from a man who wears kneepads for his president!

Using Apple CarPlay impairs driver reaction more than alcohol, study shows [appleinsider.com]

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

Distracted driving is distracted driving. We don't need to create a new bogeyman to identify what has been a problem from the very beginning of the automobile. Drivers who turn their head to converse with their passengers, who fiddle with the temperature settings, can't seem to find the radio station they want, who are easily distracted, who look in their visor mirror to check their appearance, who basically can't keep their eyes off the f'ing road ahead--they're a problem no matter what the technology. Cell phones and touch screens are merely the latest distractions in a long history of shitty driving. I can't tell you how many times I've cringed watching a movie or TV show where the driver takes his / her eyes off the road for an uncomfortably lengthy time to engage with a passenger. When I was a kid we heard a horrific crash in front of our house one morning and came out to find that a woman who was applying mascara while driving had plowed into our neighbor's parked car. Seriously? Apple CarPlay is an issue? Get real! People eat, read, shave and engage in sexual activity while driving. The sooner we get self driving vehicles, the fewer accidents, not to mention deaths, will result.

Does God Have A Grudge Against Online Streaming?

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

I can envision a future where religions utilize VR to create an immersive saccharide substitute for in-person participation. Streaming sermons in a virtual church with streamlined donation prompts could replace mass meetings. And a VR version of the Hajj is just around the corner, endorsed by a tech-oriented Imam.

The first "Spider Man" movie I saw when I was 11 sparked my interest in Ethics; the ending scene ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

These moral dilemmas, while interesting, don't usually have a "right" answer, as we don't generally penalize individuals for choosing to save loved ones first.

Anyone else find pantheism (sexed up atheism) interesting?

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

Pantheism, a belief that god, whatever it / she / he represents, permeates everything, is not scientifically demonstrable, nor is it 'sexed up atheism.' One may as well refer to it as 'the Force.' And what is the 'essence' or 'particle' that we can observe and measure in everything that is god? If the pantheistic version of god is not beyond nature, but in nature, why call it god? Why not call it nature itself, or the universe?

These are my "Comparisons of Religion and Fascism" Both have one supreme leader.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

Religion is worse than fascism. As Robert Ingersoll observed, 'religion is slavery.' Religion seeks to enslave the mind, almost from birth. Ignatius of Loyola famously observed, "Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you a man." This brainwashing of young minds is far beyond fascism. Religion implants ideas and concepts on the unformed mind that use guilt and fear to manipulate the captive child. Yes, there are similarities between fascism and religion, but due to the early childhood indoctrination, religion is much more difficult to walk away from.

"God don't like ugly!" So my coworker told me a story about how she was laid off from her previous ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

I agree completely with @Mofo1953, No and Yes to your questions are the appropriate answers. And finally, a key to understanding irrational beliefs (and those who adopt them) is to anticipate almost anything so that you won't be stunned, but simply revolted. Cheers!

I was looking up information on Dan Barker and his reasons he left Christianity.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

Three suggestions, if I may: 1) read Dan Barker's book Godless--it's a very good read; 2) try using a word processor or grammarly on your posts; and 3) don't use Christian apologetics--Wintery Knight? Are you f'ing kidding me?--as your point of reference.