Christian Group Celebrates End of Pete Buttigieg’s Campaign Because He’s Gay | Hemant Mehta | ...

racocn8 comments on Mar 3, 2020:

Hypocrisy so thick you can't cut it with a knife.

The language is VERY rough, but the shock factor sure gets your attention quick.

racocn8 comments on Mar 3, 2020:

As long as society has an iron-clad muzzle clamped over how women regard men, no progress is in sight.

Progressives plan to BernTheDNC with mass nonviolent civil disobedience if democratic establishment...

racocn8 comments on Mar 2, 2020:

4. Bernie at the top of the ticket would keep the Senate in Republican hands, and likely lose the House as well. He's been asked about that repeatedly and he always ducks the question. You can't get progressive issues passed if you don't have Congress. And, Bernie's legislative record is pathetic for the amount of time he's been there. 60 Minutes trotted out a couple of Bernie's skeletons, but he's got a lot, lot more. His showing in North Carolina proved that his hope of creating a whole bunch of new voters was only that: Hope. The young people stayed home, forgot, or whatever. Young people are singularly unreliable voters in an actual election. The Blacks had no particular interest, and that's a bloc that Bernie must have to get elected. And the turnout was less than in 2016. An utter failure there. I love Robert Reich and Bernie. Wonderful ideas, but only if you can get elected, and then into law. I suspect we'll see more of the same on Super Tuesday and thereafter.

So I made a strong cup of chamomile tea & suffered the consequences.

racocn8 comments on Feb 29, 2020:

Yeah, much thanks for the warning. I've doubled up on tea bags occasionally and I'll avoid this with chamomile. I once had a very scary time after sucking on propolis. My tongue and throat started to swell closed.

It seems like I fell foul of something I'm allergic too.

racocn8 comments on Feb 29, 2020:

1. Do you have other allergies? If not, review what new chemically reactive materials might be in your environment (new soap? change in cleaning agents? squashed bug? pet contact? new alcoholic drink? new dishware? mail? exposure to something dusty). Do you think it was contact dermatitis? 2. Did you figure what caused this outbreak?

Here is a very informative video about the latest threat to our existence as a species, the Corona ...

racocn8 comments on Feb 29, 2020:

Bzzzt. Wrong. In no way is this corona virus a threat to the species.

For those who watched the debate last night, talk about a smackdown 🤣🤣🤣

racocn8 comments on Feb 21, 2020:

Why are they ALL, both hold-your-nose and unelectable? If a viable opponent to Trump can't be found, maybe we should go extinct. For instance, Bloomberg is really just Trump-lite, but he may be the only one who could fund the level of indoctrination propaganda that could compete with the Russians. Hell, as a New Yorker, he's probably on their payroll too. I swear it is all freaking fixed. (Thank you real Deep State)

Anyone else hear the phrase, "I'm better than I deserve"?

racocn8 comments on Feb 20, 2020:

I'd guess that it is a teaser used by evilangelicals. If anyone should question it, they can segue into a discussion of your beliefs. They can then invite you into their church, or see if you are 'other'. Presumably it is based on the Christian notion of humans being sinful from the Fall of Adam. Coming from the evilangelicals, it then translated into colloquial parlance.

If you want to add an extra $71 billion to the economy, start taxing churches : atheism

racocn8 comments on Feb 19, 2020:

If it has a chance to be passed, by all means yes. Not gonna happen anytime soon, unfortunately. It is still paltry punishment for them giving us Trump.

Is it time to start talking TACTICS ? [pewforum.org]

racocn8 comments on Feb 19, 2020:

The MAGgots and the Evangelicals are a completely overlapping demographic. Even being exposed as Putin's puppet, the Evangelicals REMAIN wholly supportive of a psychopathic criminal would-be dictator. Thus, the erosion of Christian affiliation cannot happen fast enough, and remains too slow not to pose an existential threat to everyone else. These supposedly pro-life nut-jobs want Armageddon and Trump will give it to them. Yeah, tactics should be discussed and implemented.

I think you guys have the wrong idea about what you call "Hinduism"

racocn8 comments on Feb 18, 2020:

As long as people use one or more of the unsubstantiated beliefs to engage in superstitious behavior, it's religion. Whatever beliefs cause people to disregard truth in favor of useless ritual behavior is harmful. That especially goes for absurd beliefs, which Hinduism has plenty (ie Reverence for cattle). The cruelty of the Caste System speaks for itself. Just as with the Abrahamic religions, the endorsement of slavery proves the Bible has no valid moral authority. And as with the Bible, I'm sure all the take-home wisdom of Hinduism could be conveyed in a single page of single-space. And probably less. Loyalty to any one brand of religious poetry is simply obsession.

I decided that I won't even vote in the presidential primary because I don't care which Democrat ...

racocn8 comments on Feb 16, 2020:

@athena Bernie is not any kind of shoe-in against Trump, especially as long as the voting processes are undermined. He does not have significant minority support, and that is a requisite. Trump will trot out all Bernie's Communist associations from his early years (as absurd as that is given Trump's loyalty to Putin). His MAGgots will still eat it up. Look at how his support in NH whithered 20% compared to 2016. Bernie simply cannot gather wide support nationally in the face of what Trump is planning. Only those in cult-like thrall believe otherwise. The view: I'll Only Vote for Bernie was a big part of how Trump won in 2016. Putin targeted Bernie supporters and they stayed home in droves (fell for it). Bernie supporters are being primed by Putin to do the same again. And the rest of the party does not like being extorted, again. Any Dem candidate is better than Trump, and if Biden comes back, or Bloomberg or Steyer buy their way in, it is still : Any Dem candidate is better than Trump (If they can beat Trump). Bernie has been, and will be, way back down on the list of those best able to stop Trump. Spending on Senate candidates is an excellent decision.

I discover more and more that in any group of people, there's a tendency for it to fragment.

racocn8 comments on Feb 13, 2020:

Putin and his GRU spy organizations have been working overtime to create chaos in the West. With this unrestrained and even abetted subversion, social media have been weaponized to weaken everyone else. It is mass psychological warfare, and the US is now in full-fledged civil war as a result. I strongly recommend The Great Hack on Netflix as a primer to understand the process.

Not even a citizen but still USA relentless in pursuit of Assange the whistle-blower who dared to ...

racocn8 comments on Feb 9, 2020:

Isn't Assange the willing stooge for Putin? Is helping push the US into dictatorship itself comparable to a war crime?

Wondering if anyone else accepts the Absurd (pursuing meaning in a meaningless world)?

racocn8 comments on Feb 4, 2020:

The mistake is to assume the world is meaningless in the first place. The absence of a deity does not make the universe purposeless. 'Purpose' is a linguistic and semantic label that you give it. You are a subjective personality that assigns meaning. And different people assign to 'purpose' a religions or non-religious meaning accordingly. Agnostics might designate important meanings in their life because they live a subjective existence, even if it is in an indifferent universe. Yes, the notion that purpose and purposelessness overlap is absurd. But, what is absurd? 'Absurd' may be thought of as paradox, something intrinsically conflicted or illogical. That's where physics comes in. Physics provides any number of instances of perceptual impossibility - - intrinsic conflicts that cannot be resolved in the realm of human perception. And yet, these phenomena are there and are studied. There's wave-particle duality, gravity-waves, Higgs Field vs Higgs Boson, etc.. Ultimately, the paradoxes are appreciated as juicy and experientially optimal (ie mind-blowing). Absurdity is just another paradox to be enjoyed.

I can't say I'm very shocked by these comments, but it does make me wonder how these people could ...

racocn8 comments on Feb 3, 2020:

The practice of religions results in a behavior modification process. The process generates several styles of personality disorders. One example is pathological narcissism. These people love to provoke and create drama. Everyone around them becomes a victim of their cruel behavior. Another pattern is passive-aggressive behavior. They delight in frustrating their peers by being lazy or even incompetent. The anxiety they see is a punishment of their peers not being like them. The posters in the excerpt above relates to those who have had empathy drained from their personality. They are, in effect, closet Nazis. As seen in Germany, vast swaths of the population were indifferent to the suffering inflicted by the regime, and were easily recruited to take part. Sadly, personality disorders are rarely helped by medication. However, if we study this issue, someday we may make progress.

Thought I’d share this video to discuss.

racocn8 comments on Feb 3, 2020:

Lying for Jesus on steroids...

How Democracy Died in America. There's hope.

racocn8 comments on Feb 2, 2020:

US Senate: Self-Impeaching and found guilty on both counts of gross abuse of power and obstruction of justice.

How Democracy Died in America. There's hope.

racocn8 comments on Feb 1, 2020:

The Senate GOP are taking their cues from the GRU. The red states are Russian Red. The US is gone; nobody is really ready to admit it yet. It actually disappeared in 1947 with Truman's National Security Act that replaced the US with the Deep State. When this gets sorted out, we're going to have to figure out how to certify citizens for their psychological fitness to participate in voting. Hey, it was never democratic in the first place. It was an OK dream while it lasted.

Iran MP offers reward for killing Trump, U.S. calls it 'ridiculous'

racocn8 comments on Jan 30, 2020:

This reminds me of the Twilight Zone "It's a Good Day", where the one adult became drunk enough to ask the others to lay something heavy across the head of the 6 year old monster. The wife began to reach for the fireplace poker, but lost her nerve. Brilliant. So, do we have any real patriots left? How ironic for Iran to actually do something right. Broken clock I guess...

Manufactured Perception

racocn8 comments on Jan 30, 2020:

The picture should include Hitler, probably between Moscow Mitch and Trump. I've always thought the media was just shy of ultra-right, so I mainly agree with the 'Reality'.

Why Religion Is Not Going Away and Science Will Not Destroy It

racocn8 comments on Jan 26, 2020:

I remain hopeful that science with discover cure. Unfortunately, that cure may have to be imposed against their will, as they are unlikely to seek positive change on their own. Specifically, an otherwise harmless virus is edited to include a sequence of RNA that matches what is produced and stored in the brains of believers. Finding the matching pattern, the virus is triggered to destroy the RNA that stores the memory of the belief, or simple kills the neuron as it then reproduces another thousand viruses. Thus, the believer acquires amnesia about those beliefs. Perhaps alternative belief memories can be inserted in other neurons at the same time...

Thoughts on extraterrestrial life?

racocn8 comments on Jan 22, 2020:

Just as stars are separated by vast distance, we are also isolated in time, occupying the scarcest sliver following colossal epochs of time. If we are being visited by aliens as the evidence suggests, this means that their cultures are stable enough to permit exploration of the cosmos. It seems amazing that they occupy the same time frame as ourselves. A strong argument against alien life ever visiting Earth is that all lifeforms on Earth are related in time because they all use the same biochemistry. I have never heard of any organism that had a separate origin (I could be ignorant). One feature of life is its tendency to spread, and the history of humanity includes many instances of unintentionally spreading invasive species. If planet-to-planet travel is possible, it's hard to imagine that the travel could occur frequently and not result in contamination. If we see zero contamination, that argues against alien visitors. I like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6WoUup-q0Y

45 Brags fact checked. [bbc.com]

racocn8 comments on Jan 22, 2020:

The willingness to brag, exaggerate or outright lie is ultimately the issue. That issue is the trustworthiness of the leader. That trustworthiness or lack thereof is admired by GOP supporters who revel in how the dishonesty frustrates his critics. His supporters live in a Liar's Club bubble, just as Lying for Jesus snowballs in bible study sessions, evilangelicals embrace dishonesty to survive the cognitive dissonance, and GOP love the obviously bogus narrative as Trump lies like a fire hose.

Thoughts on the Bernie/Warren kerfuffle?

racocn8 comments on Jan 18, 2020:

What Bernie may have said may well have been true. Trump is president because women didn't vote for Hillary, and surely many men too. It is unfortunate that sexual bias is an issue to be reckoned with, even more crucially when trying to unseat Trump. No shame should accrue to Sanders for stating a perceived truth. Shame on Warren for bringing it up in that manner, as that debate was not an appropriate forum to discuss a nuanced topic that could not be resolved with sound bites. Basically, it was a cheap shot. Warren's behavior thereafter strongly suggests a fondness for interpersonal drama that is inappropriate for a president. I love most of Warren's ideas, but her behavior on this and her health care proposals has cast a dark shadow over her suitability. Bernie's health care proposals are equally absurd, and shame on him for that.

Strange particles found in Antarctica cannot be explained by physics | New Scientist

racocn8 comments on Jan 16, 2020:

That these particles have never been picked up by other detectors is problematic, if not simply pointing strongly in the direction of experimental error. I hardly think the Standard Model is going to be upset by a set of unidentified events that are indirect in any case. It took the LHC to find the Higg's boson. Perhaps other kinds of fields are present that can give rise to these mystery particles. A lot more events need to be recorded to make this phenomena certain enough to mount a more concerted realm of research, but physicists may well have to build a case with bravado and PR to get more funding.

I find this kind of concerning for the future of male existence.

racocn8 comments on Jan 15, 2020:

I'm pretty sure we'll all be dead before they could arrange this. However, within the US culture of Puritanism and Disney, a sizable percentage of women are self-saturated with envy and hatred of men. These ladies would go for the plan you describe. What is so interesting is how thoroughly this issue is censored from various media. However, if you want to talk about men envying or hating women, that is totally OK. The contrast is tellingly stark. Some comments below are perfect examples.

The Proof: That God Exists There is a hierarchy in Animalia, not only as quantified by the DNA ...

racocn8 comments on Jan 15, 2020:

Please take your meds. They really do help. Otherwise, it's back to the padded room and straight-jacket.

Is there any truth in this TED talk?

racocn8 comments on Jan 14, 2020:

Perhaps those who are most vulnerable in a society are also more easily manipulated into voting against their own interests. The White women and minorities who put Trump in office could easily be denigrated for their behavior, but that would leave out the vast swath of GOP robots who are renown for their sexism and bigotry. The bigger problem is that with demographics moving against them, the GOP have opted for getting help from Russia, and not doing anything to prevent it. And full bore democrat voter suppression. Note how the Sunni minority kept control of the Iraqi government for so many decades. Half the elections since 2000 (2000, 2004, 2016) have been rigged and the Russians are already in full campaign mode to help Trump and the GOP, who have far more loyalty to power and party than to the country. Remember that every time you see Trump kiss the flag.

Why atheist get it wrong when addressing apologetics.

racocn8 comments on Jan 13, 2020:

...but you never explain your claim that 'atheists get it wrong when addressing Apologetics'. Was that a teaser? The few atheists who care see Apologetics as bad propaganda based on illogical arguments. It is tedious and useless to classify the various fallacies since the originators do NOT care about truth. Your argument that Apologetics is self-defeating has some merit, but the immorality of Christian behavior is more effective for those that will listen.

Every American should be required to watch this. [msnbc.com] Poll question: Is Sen Kerry right?

racocn8 comments on Jan 12, 2020:

The real (and intended) beneficiaries of Trump's strike were Russia and Saudi Arabia. -Russia benefits because Iran gets to restart its nuclear program which was largely purchased from Russia. -Saudi Arabia would have had the benefit of Soleimani's support for Yemeni rebels being interrupted, if only for a moment. SA also would have benefitted from the second target that was missed, Abdul Rezi Shahlai, who set up the strike on the Saudi refineries. -Shahlai was probably the initial target, but Soleimani was added at Putin's request for the reason noted. Recall that Trump had extended meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov this last December. Or, like Ukraine, both names came from Putin's Intelligence Services, the SVR/FSB. Seeking to do both actors at the same time required a quality of consideration that neither Trump nor our Pentagon are known for. As Pelosi said, 'All roads lead to Putin.'

Trump Claims “Every Democrat Candidate” Wants To "Punish" Religious Americans

racocn8 comments on Jan 12, 2020:

Another lie. However, religious Americans that supported Trump do deserve to be punished for voting for a candidate that couldn't be vetted and certainly needed to be. Or for voting for a candidate who was known to be not qualified on a myriad of aspects, but only sought to get a GOP candidate who would work to overturn Roe V Wade. Punishment doesn't really cover that kind of sedition.

My atheist family was appalled when I converted to Catholicism – but it’s given me great peace |...

racocn8 comments on Jan 9, 2020:

"Bobby" was the third son of the family across the street. They were observant Jews and many of their relatives had been murdered in the Holocaust. Bobby was both Bar Mitzvah'd and Confirmed before going off to college. After several years in college, Bobby met a Catholic gal. After a year, they got married. They decided to hold two ceremonies, one in the Catholic Church, and later, a Jewish ceremony at the reception (in the basement). When I saw him kneeling with his Fiancee in front of the priest, I felt that he had betrayed his family. But then, I did my best to convey my lack of beliefs to Bobby. Life is complex. But Catholicism is utter bullshit.

Do you think there's a posibility of extraterrestrial life and why?

racocn8 comments on Jan 8, 2020:

I recall the Urey-Miller experiments strongly argue for hydrocarbon life developing, but I'd love to know if polymer systems other than DNA/RNA are used. Two major issues relate to Earth's lifeforms, insofar as all Earth lifeforms are related to each other (related by virtue of using the DNA/RNA scheme). No biochemistries unrelated to Earth biochemistries have been seen, so life forms coming to Earth from space don't survive. 1. Either: The Earth's atmosphere keeps the planet sterile, killing incoming alien lifeforms, or... 2. Life cannot survive in open space and thus cannot seed planets like Earth. Most of the history of life on Earth was stromatolites which don't seem too exciting. It's fascinating to see how assorted flora and fauna developed and then died out in more recent epochs. It would be good to understand why intelligent species of reptiles didn't develop. It seems like they had a chance. Maybe they couldn't achieve a big braincase inside an egg?

Should creationism be taught in schools?

racocn8 comments on Jan 7, 2020:

Creationism should be taught in several ways: Creationism should be taught within the context that numerous religions have individual and different creation accounts that are viewed as allegorical or literal. Historically, Christian Creationism is one of the topics that religious organizations have used in seeking to influence government policy and thus to subvert the separation of church and state /1st Amendment. The actual instruction of evolution in science classes has been discouraged and degraded by campaigns waged by religionists abusing political mechanisms. Also, to the extent that teachers are drawn from the general population, a significant portion of those teachers have a religion-based bias against teaching the science of evolution as validated fact. Students should be informed that the state instructional materials and personnel may be compromised in regard to their quality of understanding evolution, and that, given the importance of the subject, students should learn about evolution through their own unbiased research. As extra credit, students should research the origins of Creationism, how the notions actually originated and got passed along, this being in the context of the interaction of religious organizations with politics.

Name one good thing that comes from the Christian beliefs.

racocn8 comments on Jan 4, 2020:

I like the notion of emphasizing forgiveness, which is a hard change to put into effect. Even with that caveat, Christians seem completely oblivious to the notion of forgiveness. It's in one ear and out the other. The failure of Christian love is everywhere to be seen. Humility is a similar honorable attribute given lip service by Christians. As with forgiveness, it is another singular failure of Christians; they are unable to adopt genuine humility and avoid hubris. The expression of humility seems almost entirely unknown, and full-bore arrogance is more the norm. Indeed, Christians are fond of parading their (supposedly exclusive) claims on morality even as morality is wholly feigned and workarounds are universally practiced. The hypocrisy reeks. Happily, many young people actually seem to be repelled by this hypocrisy and are looking elsewhere.

Robert Rathswohl Just a note to all trump supporters in the greatest country in the world.

racocn8 comments on Jan 4, 2020:

Any of the Democrat candidates are better than Trump. That being said... My objection to Yang is that he wants a national sales tax. That is a severely regressive proposal and shows he doesn't understand basic economics. All the candidates are absurdly flawed... Warren took months to come off her universal health care proposal. Hubris anyone? Sanders and Biden are too old. Steyer wants term limits. Does anyone remember that being an issue? Klobuchar is by many accounts an abusive psychopath, but all these folks are arrogant assholes... Buttigieg is unelectable because of his orientation, which, while not a legitimate problem, wouldn't get double-digits from the Blacks. Tulsi Gabbard is another FSB puppet. Bloomberg too, but he has so many other problems. Yeesh. I have to wash my hands; they feel soiled...

Does god exist?

racocn8 comments on Jan 2, 2020:

What do you hope to gain by supposing there is a god? Prayer is not reliably answered above background happenstance. It is wishing by another name. Belief in a god has never been seen to provide true explanations nor actionable intelligence. God-belief does not confer a better life as measured by looking at those who do believe. Believing or not, you're still going to die, and believing in an afterlife is also just lying to yourself.

Conservative Christians Claim Democrats Impeached ‘God-Fearing Americans’ | Michael Stone

racocn8 comments on Jan 2, 2020:

The trouble is, we can never know if this crap is coming from the Trump-base evangelicals or from the Russian FSB.

“I’m not perfect, I’m just forgiven” is the most enabling statement ever made! Christians...

racocn8 comments on Jan 2, 2020:

Evil and insane don't even cover it. These people are dangerous. We must find a cure or at least a treatment. And impose it against their will. Not that they have a discernible self anymore; they have become a numbered drone in the Christian colllective.

Poll: White evangelicals distinct on abortion, LGBT policy

racocn8 comments on Jan 2, 2020:

While some of these kooks decried the separation of children from their parents, you can be sure they were still wholly opposed to immigration by non-Whites. Trump's base has consistently shown support for his White nationalist and racist comments. They certainly never object. Trump may mouth platitudes against bigotry, but it's clear he only say those things to disguise his admiration for Hitler. White trash have shown they are unfit to live in a pluralistic society and constitute an existential threat. The GOP should be permanently dismembered the first chance we get.

Biden would consider Republican for VP 'but I can't think of one right now' | TheHill

racocn8 comments on Jan 1, 2020:

My suggestion: Colin Powell or Condi Rice ...

Elizabeth Warren has a powerful vision of true representative democracy, the intelligence and drive ...

racocn8 comments on Jan 1, 2020:

I want a candidate who will have enough appeal across the spectrum that they will be certain to beat Trump. I want a candidate who puts forth ambitious plans, but will admit that they need to accommodate the legislative process to get passed. I liked Warren up until she proposed universal health care but then wouldn't back down when it was clear that it couldn't pass. It took her a month or more to admit she was wrong. That level of hubris is NOT what we need.

Who has noticed in the last day or so there has been a resurgence of Islam bashing.

racocn8 comments on Jan 1, 2020:

Russia has been mounting a wholesale campaign to generate hate and suspicion in the Western states. Trump has shown he has major White nationalist sympathies and counts on the White Evangelicals who share this view. In Australia, White nationalism appears to be thriving, in part from Rupert Murdoch, just as with Fox in the US. Not to say that Islam doesn't deserve most of the criticism it gets. Practically speaking, Islam is on par with White nationalism in terms of fomenting violence and terrorism. What you're seeing may be part of the Russian campaign running up to the 2020 elections in the U.S.

Harvard Law Professor: Atheists “Can’t Be Trusted” to Hold Public Office | Hemant Mehta | ...

racocn8 comments on Jan 1, 2020:

The Catholics don't have a slippery slope; They fall directly from "You're not like me" to "How many of you will fit in a gas chamber." (Lutherans too)

Matt Shea is also a leader in the Abortion Abolitionist movement.

racocn8 comments on Jan 1, 2020:

The Pro-Life Movement has largely taken over the Christian religion in the red states much the same as Trump has taken over the GOP. Christians are all about hate and outlawing abortion, even though there is nothing in the Bible or Christian dogma about it. Christians have abandoned virtually all the principles of Christianity and rationalized these changes, or lied about it as it typical. The GOP have completely fallen into lock-step in supporting a seditious and treasonous Soviet puppet, and this is after decades of detesting Russia. Whether it's hypocrisy or feckless obsession, describe it or deride it. The point is that our safety is compromised and our survival is threated. We don't have a working system of government if half the electorate and their representatives have abdicated responsibility and rationality.

Why do Christians get threatened and terrified by Atheists?

racocn8 comments on Dec 28, 2019:

Lying for Jesus is an integral part of witnessing, and knowing that the entire flock are hypocrites presents a special cognitive dissonance. Part of this is the admission that their belief could be wrong and that they've wasted their life believing a fat lie. That science disposes of Christianity as a corollary of evolution remains a powerful argument by authority; an argument that has never been scratched by Christian Creationism. So, it is deep insecurity from living a lie. For them, bumping up against real truth is like tasting a foul poison and it triggers instant depression. As evolution disproves Genesis, the whole need for a sacrificial human to atone for Adam's Original Sin becomes idiocy. Not that anyone performs animal or human sacrifices anymore... which again validates the absurdity of the lamb-of-god crucifixion.

KremlinKevin Trends After People Point Out Top House Republican Kevin McCarthy Took Donations From ...

racocn8 comments on Dec 26, 2019:

You can count them on your fingers. The rest are blackmailed in other ways. We need a tell for this.

Many people believe that the federal government needs to tax or borrow to spend.

racocn8 comments on Dec 22, 2019:

You may note that even while Trump has been touting the economy as being so wonderful, he has also cowed the Fed into reducing rates. First, the tax breaks Trump gave to the wealthy were like a shot of heroin, stimulating the economy momentarily, but boosting the deficit bigly. Second, the reduced Fed rates are also hugely stimulatory, but undercut the Fed's ability to fight the recession when it comes. The Fed rate is what nibbles away at the deficit, but can only be applied when the economy can sustain it. Forcing the Fed to lower the rate is more Trump manipulation for his own personal benefit, at the expense of the country. The Fed rate is what controls the amount of money supply for the world, including Australia. When the Fed is manipulated politically, the rest of the world suffers along with the US. The other reality is the unbelievable stupidity of pretty much everyone in believing Trump and the GOP haven't lied about the economy as they have about everything else.

Dear Nancy; You need to win this....

racocn8 comments on Dec 22, 2019:

One scenario: Pelosi holds onto the articles until 2021 when the new Congress is sworn in. The new Democratic majority then convicts and unseats Trump, even though reelected (again, illegitimately),... or directs the various State prosecutors to proceed with their legal actions to convict Trump for his many felonies. As a flight risk, he needs to be confined with an ankle bracelet and armed guards. Another scenario is that he is sent to the appropriate CIA facility to try to figure out what Putin did to him. Preferably, he is sent to Guantanamo for the same reason, but using extreme interrogation techniques.

A person asked the question, "Why are people so hostile towards President Donald Trump?

racocn8 comments on Dec 18, 2019:

How is it that O'Leary doesn't say a word about Trump's loyalty to Putin? An equally long list of treasonous actions and positions can be easily written (, and that omission makes me really suspicious of O'Leary). The context of fealty to Putin explains most of the other malfeasance. In particular, you can see that both Trump and Giuliani have been messed with and altered or damaged. It's no coincidence they both suffer from the same speech and reasoning defects. The more amazing truth is that Trump wouldn't be where he is without the sanction from the real Deep State. I resent the Deep State for putting us through this. (I describe the Deep State as a network of cabals, where the cabals consist of various mafias and powerful families or other organizations. The primary control comes from intelligence agency agents (NSA/CIA/NavInt, etc). Particularly those persons who have understanding and control of disseminating reverse engineered technology to industry. This process, a la the Military Industrial Complex, is as profitable and power-conferring as it gets. Check the black budget. One of those silos has scripted everything that's happening; the Deep State Majic is the ultimate puppeteer, even over Putin. Subordinate cabals include the Mormons, Vatican, Seven Sisters, Israelis/Rothschilds, Russian Mafia, China, and you tell me???).

Mitch McConnell admits that he is coordinating with the white house on the impeachment trial ...

racocn8 comments on Dec 18, 2019:

The GOP has been severely compromised to favor Putin/Russia. The GOP only care about who will line their pockets, and Putin has either bought them off or developed blackmailing information. The same is true for quite a few Democrats too. Our intelligence services have failed us, yet again. A lot of days, it is just too ugly to look at. Corruption has become our No. 1 problem; failing to address that means we can never work on climate change, education or the economy.

Bernie deserves the Democratic nomination.

racocn8 comments on Dec 18, 2019:

I'm not sure anyone can beat Trump, but only because the GOP has become so proficient at brainwashing and voter suppression. Buttigieg's sexual orientation would be attacked insufferably by the media. Bernie's Judaism, age, and socialism would be attacked insufferably by the media. If the election were fair, I'm doubtful they could win, but certainly wouldn't mind if they did.

(LINK) "I understand why it’s hard for normal people to believe that white evangelical Christians ...

racocn8 comments on Dec 16, 2019:

It is more than sadism, and worse than sadism. While they may profess guilt in some form (especially Catholics), guilt and shame are either non-existent or extremely shallow. True belief causes people to be defective in a host of ways that 'normal' people take for-granted. They often become paranoid, hate-ridden, secretive, bullying (if they can get away with it), obsessive, thin-skinned, irrational, and overly-trusting of those within the cult. What is really going on is the transition from a single self organism into a colonial life-form. The us-versus-them becomes exaggerated to the point of obsessive psychosis. Each person may show this dementia in their own way, but the ways do follow patterns. Mainly, they become cognitively handicapped. Not only do they not understand reality, they don't want to understand it. They carefully block information that is damaging and thus painful to their perspective. They have abandoned aspects of their individuality to support the cult-colony.

I pray that my first post on this website is a success and that it helps me level up to eventually ...

racocn8 comments on Dec 14, 2019:

Prayer is the same as wishing. Prayer is a pure expression of selfishness. (and not a good look as people prostrate themselves in service to their ego). Those egomaniacs that pray claim that they have a *special* relationship with a deity over and above their fellows, and have the hubris to change *God's Plan* via their supernatural connection.

This week brought us some interesting new reporting on the whole "people be stupid" front.

racocn8 comments on Dec 14, 2019:

On the Voyager plaque: Why did they depict the man with short hair and no beard? And the woman is almost anorexic. Women in most cultures are significantly thicker. Apparently a consensus of cultural bias prevailed.

I pray that my first post on this website is a success and that it helps me level up to eventually ...

racocn8 comments on Dec 14, 2019:

'If the power of prayer was real,' all Christians would be lottery winners.

Greenland's ice sheet melting seven times faster than in 1990s Scale and speed of loss much ...

racocn8 comments on Dec 12, 2019:

I found that the following video provided an improved perspective of where we are in terms of Earth's climate. Earth has been much warmer, but when it was, North America had a huge in-land sea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQWJbLTyDlc We might be able to survive a major sea-level rise. The real issue is that as millions are displaced, resources stretched thin, and pollution knee-caps ecological diversity, will we be able to resist WW III?

I know people love their animals, but I wonder what would happen if you were required to sponsor a ...

racocn8 comments on Dec 11, 2019:

Do you seriously believe we should work toward sustaining this level of human population? I contend it is a recipe for extinction.

Is hope realistic?

racocn8 comments on Dec 9, 2019:

Hope is a description of a perceived feeling, so it is as real as our feelings. It is a word we use to describe this common feeling, or its absence, and in objectifying a feeling, we can address the feeling to our cohorts. Most importantly, referencing 'hope' is a means to identify a desired condition or unwanted problem. This identification process is important because describing an issue is the first critical step in addressing and, hopefully, solving that issue. For instance, one can have hope in the face of existential angst. Identifying existential angst defines the problem as the frustration of angst caused by framing one's personae in a context of the philosophy of existentialism. However, existentialism is merely one of many philosophical views and one can easily choose some other philosophical, or scientific perspective. Our intellectual plasticity gives us the freedom of what notion to think about. Got a bad feeling from existentialism? Think about something else. It's not that hard. Unless your obsessive. Then you might want to try some entheogens.

What are your objections to the fine tuning argument for the existence of god

racocn8 comments on Dec 9, 2019:

Claim Number 1 is false because it posits design and thus a designer. Said designer is undefined outside the notions of primitive mythology. Nothing within the realm of Cosmology suggests or even outlines the concept of a designer. As noted elsewhere, this is more religion-inspired and Intelligent Design, debunked by science. Design arguments come from a well-known Fallacy. The Fallacy is the Argument by Incredulity. It goes like this: "I can't believe it works this way, therefore .. (insert baseless assertion). As from Wikipedia: "Arguments from incredulity can sometimes arise from inappropriate emotional involvement, the conflation of fantasy and reality, a lack of understanding,... This form of reasoning is fallacious because one's inability to imagine how a statement can be true or false gives no information about whether the statement is true or false in reality." The claim Number 2, "The Fine Tuning is not due to Physical Necessity or Chance." is entirely false. No evidence is put forth or even available to disprove that Physical Necessity or chance could result in the supposed Fine Tuning. Thus, the claim is false. Hence, per reducto ad absurdum, Claim 3 is disproved. Ignoring logic and science, suppose Claim 3 is valid. Suppose a creator god existed and exists. What additional information does that provide? What can one doe with that information? Does that information provide a reasonable basis that then tell one to undertake a life of superstitious fealty? Answers: The Claim that god did it provides no reliable or useful information. The proposed model is utterly useless with zero predictive value, zero scientific value, and zero human life experience value. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and Claims 1-3 don't qualify.

A South African xtian school allows one of its students to express himself through work of art.

racocn8 comments on Dec 4, 2019:

Outstanding art. The student is singularly talented. This shows how Christianity degrades it's believers into confusion and baseless hatred. The video shows how Christianity stokes hatred such as was expressed by the critic. Quite a few Christians are like that, they only need a trigger to become unbalanced, even though it is from their own misapprehension of a situation. Indeed, The veneer of civilization is more easily scratched off on account of their belief. This also shows how Christians can be just as idiotically intolerant of criticism; usually it's Muslims who go nuts if the prophet Muhammad is even depicted at all.

A history lesson : : the consequences of immigration and the self destruction of culture : : : and ...

racocn8 comments on Dec 3, 2019:

Damn! I really thought the US had the monopoly on white trash...

Trump announces resuming peace talks with Taliban during surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan ...

racocn8 comments on Dec 2, 2019:

Trump wants to pull out of Afghanistan only to fulfill his campaign promise, which is to say, he seeks his own benefit at the expense of foreign policy. The problem is that it's not just the Taliban, it's Islam. The Taliban are simply taking Islam to an extreme, and there are similar Islamic extremists throughout the world. I don't approve of giving up Afghanistan, but we really don't have a defined mission there, especially if we're simply favoring a less extreme form of Islam. We need an effective medical means to deprogram people from religion, and Afghanistan could be a good test bed. Maybe we could give them psilocibin. Such efforts would not be approved by the other religionists. We probably are wasting our time. Trump may be right on this one, but only by accident. Hopefully he can be vilified for a policy of 'cut and run' if he betrays Afghanistan as he did the Kurds.

Judge's Ruling Shows Religious Freedom Isn’t Just For The Christian Right

racocn8 comments on Nov 28, 2019:

I have long equated the evangelicals with the Germans that supported Nazism, but also chided myself for being as biased as they are. However, with their wholehearted and unwavering support of Trump and his scarcely disguised white nationalism, I feel vindicated. I recall seeing a video of an ICE officer picking up plastic jugs of water left in the desert and dumping them out. He had a smirking smile on his face that showed pride in his actions. He could just as easily be a concentration camp guard pouring Zyklon B into a gas chamber. That is where Christian Morality is today, and has been for centuries. We need to start fighting this culture war in earnest before they kill us all. These people are toxic psychopaths who need to be stopped (1st Amendment be damned). You can be sure that they have no real respect for the Constitution and happily endorse a president that disregards it.

Pictionary fun anyone?

racocn8 comments on Nov 26, 2019:

Don't worry... It's just a shower head. We're going to delouse you... It's for your own good.

Most common/ridicuous argumento pro religion?

racocn8 comments on Nov 26, 2019:

(Paraphrasing:) "I went away to Bible camp and the others prayed for me. When I went to my cabin, I met Jesus... He's real... We talked together... He's really real... " That was the most rediculous argument, which I viewed as part lying for Jesus, part delusion. The most common? "That's what my family believes." (peer pressure/argument by authority).

With the recent death of my dog I've been thinking about death more than usual and something ...

racocn8 comments on Nov 26, 2019:

Different philosophies cleave reality to reveal a picture. That picture can be insensible death, cosmic consciousness, reincarnation, heaven, valhalla, and so many others. You can visit these different worlds in your mind as you choose to seek them. Each conveys beauty and a chance to glimpse wisdom. But, we should always be humbled by the ignominious picture as projected by a universe of incomprehensible numbers and dimensions, of which we are the tiniest slivers. Perhaps the uniqueness of our existence is its own dimension. With the hundreds of billions of galaxies and hundreds of billions of stars and planets, are we unique? Do we have doppelgangers in the multiverse? You have the freedom to choose your reality, and to change that choice. In a very real way, you can imagine the world you live in. To be sure, your consciousness is an imaginary construct, albeit a dynamic one. We do well to contemplate the endearment we achieve with our pets. What is love? Interspecies relationships speaks to the heart of what we are, and who we are.

What made you change from believer to non-believer?

racocn8 comments on Nov 25, 2019:

My Mother was a slightly observant Jew, and I was packed off to temple on weekend mornings. I resented having my valuable weekend time wasted on weird/dopey holidays and Bar Mitzvahs (I did like the wine in paper cups...) Also, my classmates seemed far from being the bright kids their parents believed them to be. I just didn't like their company; I couldn't form friendships with people I only saw on weekends. The instructional material felt bogus. If it were valid, it would be taught in real school. A small part of it might have been the disenfranchisement of both Judaism and Christianity from the Holocaust. Neither religion could be valid, given it was Christians who enacted the Holocaust and the Jews who were murdered by it. Some Chosen People! Bull shit! After protesting, I was released from this torture. I did respect how the Jewish community seemed to be progressive. Only later did I find out that only the Reform Jews aligned with Humanist values, all the rest were closer to the Republican mind-set. Later, I rejected Judaism for a couple of reasons: One was how it disrespected women. The other was the dishonest claim to seek truth. As one devoted to learning science, I couldn't understand how scientific discoveries (especially the very profound ones) received no recognition within the religion. While Judaism was at odds with Christianity, Christianity was also actively attacking science. I was shocked at some of the vitriol I heard on the radio as I crossed the US. While Judaism endorsed the academic side of studying science, Judaism had no comment on Creationism. Maybe that's because some Jewish sects believe their own form of Creationism. So, I rejected Judaism out of a desire to gain control of my free time. Then, acquired knowledge and reason revealed the contrast between reality and religious PR.

Why do conservatives refuse to acknowledge Trumps Crimes?

racocn8 comments on Nov 19, 2019:

It's a personality cult. Read Eric Hoffer's True Believer. One major finding is that its easier to switch from one true belief to another, than to lose that belief. The Christians have switched from Jesus personality cult to Trump personality cult. Both characters are liars, charlatans, and essentially fictitious compared to their public persona. It keeps their gullibility intact and there's no expectation of actual thinking; Perfect.

Impeachment republican style!!!

racocn8 comments on Nov 19, 2019:

Can you imagine what the GOP would do if a Democrat president tried that shit?

Chris Hedges: Why the Deep State Is Trying To Take Trump Out + Why School Shootings Are No Longer ...

racocn8 comments on Nov 19, 2019:

Figures. A Russian Television commentator. Ingrate. The Deep State is what put Putin in the White House.

Just goes to show that the democratic leadership doesn't care about it's constituents.

racocn8 comments on Nov 19, 2019:

40M is cheap, cheap, cheap if it reveals what an MFer the GOP worship. Impeachment will be priceless if it gives Trump a heart attack. Dying that way would be his last Obstruction of Justice. (If you think that's mean, just remember all the dead or orphaned children and the dead Kurds, and how, except for impeachment, Trump will skate).

Feel alone?

racocn8 comments on Nov 17, 2019:

We are one-eyed kings in the land of the blind. And they are SO blind. For your situation, you could, with a tone of curiosity, ask them to explain what they mean, and look for an opportunity to put them in their place. But chances are, they cannot be educated (because they have chosen to block such truth. That keeps them safely ignorant). Religion is like a sexual disease where they know they're sick, but talking about it just isn't done in polite company. I think they become comfortable with their cognitive dissonance and think of it as suffering that is done 'in service to Christ." Alternately, you can mention how foolish religious people are for thinking the Earth is one millionth as old as it is, or any in the long list of other idiocies.

Americans ‘convinced’ God exists are fastest-fading faith group | Rick Snedeker

racocn8 comments on Nov 17, 2019:

We don't have any evidence for God, much less a way to say which one... However, science reveals the certainty of our extinction, and utter meaninglessness of our existence. Whatever lies we tell each other to try to feel better are easily seen as dishonest. God is a human construct, but we don't do any better in coming up with a purpose of life or a reason anything matters. We can have no real goals or aspirations. Death makes everything absurd. The Truth is that, even if God did exist, God's existence cannot claim to give us purpose, or anything else. The dispelling of delusion still feels like eating sand.

I am trying very hard to resist knee-jerk reactions to categorizing people, but I am failing.

racocn8 comments on Nov 17, 2019:

It's almost the same question as asking how a rational (etc) person can believe in Christianity. Actual Truth? It goes all the way to our biology and evolution. It has to do with how organisms identify as self and not-self. Not-self is recognized as 'other' which is either indifferent or a threat. Humans are borderline colonial organisms and as such, willingly give hypnotic allegiance to a leader. This occurs to people who are indoctrinated to identify with a particular group. See how GOP disregard Putin's control if it means not giving in to Democrats. Trump wants to be the King Bee. The problem is, for those not hypnotized into his personality cult, his faults are many and varied. Those who gladly swear fealty turn a blind eye to all of it. Democrats have always been the target of their hatred; Communism was only an evil with which to tar those Democrats. There is also some major psychopathic schizophrenia where loyalty erects a wall between ordinary practice of ethical behavior versus applying those values to the King-Bee (or Church leader). There is significant fear of rejection by ones cohort if even the slightest question is raised against republican (or Christian) dogma. True Believers play the Liar's Club game: who can tell the biggest fib. It's the Emperor's New Clothes writ large, and we are all forced to watch Donald's junk bounce and sway. Even now we see on a daily basis GOP politicians spitting out the most idiotic excuses for Ukraine. The moderators can only stifle their cringe and change the subject. Few people have the courage to question or object to the values held by their friends and family, even when those values are easily seen to be corrupt. Thus, to object to the leader means a rejection of ones own identity. The singular ant is on it own, and woe to it if it ever runs into its former fellow ants. Humans pride themselves on having free will and consciousness, but that is sheer hubris. People readily abandon their lives to shallow programmed behaviors, and are far from having the horsepower to meaningfully contemplate themselves, others, or anything at all. The real problem is the same one created by the election. We have a certifiable psychopath with his finger on the button.

HOW CAN WE PUT A MORE POSITIVE SPIN ON OUR BRANDING??

racocn8 comments on Nov 13, 2019:

Sounds speciesist.

This study makes me think I've been a bit too hard on people afflicted with religion.

racocn8 comments on Nov 7, 2019:

Nah, just be yourself. It is my experience that people are fully capable of listening to and being instructed in mental discipline. However, 99% of the time, they just slip back into their lazy coma. People are weak and they like being weak. Thinking requires actual effort and that effort is NOT a practice they're willing to practice regularly. It's sad, but true. Encountering or hearing a genuinely high performing person is a startling and all too rare experience, but genuinely refreshing and humbling. Perhaps we will discover some nootropics that perform on the comfortably lazy among us.

The universe may be conscious, say prominent scientists - Big Think

racocn8 comments on Nov 7, 2019:

I remain highly skeptical of any and all psychic phenomena. None of these can be reproducibly demonstrated under controlled conditions. That being said, many stories of non-reproducible events have been recorded, the best example being remote viewing. The CIA and Army have engaged in developing training to perform remote viewing and some people seem to be better at it than others. However, again, it's non-reproducible. At best, it is an intriguing riddle, but more likely, if it exists, practical application is probably beyond our current physical state. Strong arguments against the reality is that psychic savants do not present themselves with abilities good enough to test positive. The sorts of electromagnetic fields generated by our brains appear to be far, far too weak to be picked up at any distance. One appears to be obliged to imagine a whole different realm of reality to account for psychic phenomena. Perhaps consciousness is another dimension of reality like time, spin, or the Higgs Field. Until we have a testable phenomenon, we're just BS'ing each other.

The question of the so-called "fine-tuning" of the universe and its basic constants is one of the ...

racocn8 comments on Nov 6, 2019:

No. 1 defers the question to an extremely improbable god, so that isn't an explanation No. 2 begs the question of the universe being extremely improbable, so it isn't an explanation. No. 3 is possible, but really defers the question by inventing a multiverse that is otherwise lacking any evidence. No. 4 gets my vote. Why is the speed of light constant at it's value? The finely tuned constants are derived from a level of physics that is still severely defective in not being able to account for a slew of phenomena. Many, many measurements are seen to be precisely off from otherwise precise predictions based on theory. That means the theory is incomplete and missing one or more terms. These elusive missing terms may well dictate the supposedly fine-tuned constants to be what they are. We are still profoundly handicapped in our understanding of physics. And some of it may well be suppressed because of the implications.

Why is it that if you argue or defend a topic/issue passionately, you must be directly effected by ...

racocn8 comments on Nov 5, 2019:

I believe you have spotted an interesting generalization. The generalization might be rephrased to say: Conservatives seeking to denounce a rhetorical opponent will accuse that opponent of being vested in the issue, and thus the opponent is either biased or self-serving. However, the claim of bias or being self-serving does not address the issue at hand. This can be construed as a type of Red Herring Fallacy, which is defined as using irrelevant issues for distraction. The use of a fallacy may well reflect the lack of a comparable or valid counter-argument. As for apathy and lack of empathy, both are related to laziness, and signify someone who is undisciplined and possibly emotionally handicapped. That could be a result of trauma or from psycho-biochemical imbalance.

Criticizing the doctrine of Islam does not mean the person doing so is a xenophobe,Islamophobe, or ...

racocn8 comments on Nov 5, 2019:

You are challenging the CLAIM that criticizing Islam is racist, or comparably immoral. I suspect that this claim is being marketed by Saudi Arabia and by similar Islamic entities. Religions do act on their own behalf. Distributing a false claim like this seeks to disarm opponents of the religion. Two examples of successful silencing of critics were the dis-inviting of Dawkins and Maher to lecture at Berkeley. Indeed, other atheist and scientific speakers have often received their sharpest criticism when they criticized Islam. The shouting down of critics of Islam has effective reduced the volume of outrage over Islam-inspired atrocities as they have occurred around the world. Indeed, certain Christian-inspired critics have used false testimony and innuendo of scandals to bring down atheists, as I believe is the case for both Lawrence Krauss and Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Fortunately, Tyson has been mostly unscathed so far. Christopher Hitchens recorded a number of YouTube videos discussing the demerits of Islam. Hitchens attacks are interesting, clear and unambiguous, and he often makes the distinction defining precisely why criticizing Islam isn't racist, but rather that Islam deserves all the criticism it gets.

I always love how ultra religious people will quote Leviticus and claim that the bible is gods word.

racocn8 comments on Nov 2, 2019:

The Bible Jesus mentions Adam, Eve and Noah in Matthew. Matthew 19:4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ ...... Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. The Bible also has this: Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. The passages demonstrate that the Bible Jesus believed both the Adam and Eve myth and the Noah myth. By mentioning Adam and Moses, it is clear that all these figures are thought to have been real people, and not allegories or symbolic stories. Thus, the Bible authors did not know that all these characters were stories plagiarized from other myths. The problem is that Christian dogma is utterly dependent on the Creation story being a real event, and NOT allegorical (That is a modern-day dodge). By disproving that an Adam was the progenitor of humanity, evolution proves Christianity is a lie, a big fucking lie. Evolution proves Christianity is a lie, not out of malice, nor of envy. The disproof of Christianity is an accidental corollary, an incidental conclusion!

Ilhan Omar refuses to vote yay on bill condemning Armenian genocide Rep.

racocn8 comments on Oct 30, 2019:

A religious bigot showing characteristically bad judgment? What a surprise! I'm supposed to give her a pass because of her diversity? No way. Seriously, if any of her supporters can show me quotes from her that show some wisdom, I'm all ears.

Desperate For Liberal Support, Democratic Nominee Tulsi Gabbard Meets With Wall Street Money Men At ...

racocn8 comments on Oct 30, 2019:

I was mostly impressed with Tulsi Gabbard's performance in the debates. That said, if she is a Putin asset as Hillary infers, she would only be one of many. Seeing Trump's behavior regarding Russia, and the numerous connections revealed in the Mueller Report, it's pretty clear that government politicians have been severely infiltrated or fully co-opted by Putin. The real question is whether the GOP has the spine to care about the traitors in their ranks, and same for the Dems. If no, basically, Putin has won without firing a shot. What shall we do when we have an authentic Red Scare? In the meantime, if Gabbard has a Kremlin connection, it should be exposed, made clear and probably investigated further.

Suppose you were to try to convince someone of your non-belief in the existence of God, what (in ...

racocn8 comments on Oct 29, 2019:

"There is nothing you or anyone else can say about God with certainty. There is no proof, nor a shred of evidence. In this case, the absence of evidence IS evidence of absence; claiming God hides for the sake of faith is absurd or worse. Close examination of the devout demonstrates that they are either hopelessly ignorant and/or delusional and otherwise psychotic. Good and true values exist (searching for Truth and understanding the derived wisdom). However, you do not find truly good/humane values, nor the reverence for Truth among the religious. You can readily observe the absence of good values in religious people, and will usually find the embrace of ignorance and hatred there instead.

No gods/no kings?

racocn8 comments on Oct 29, 2019:

The problem is that a major share of the population are eager for a God/King and will gladly create their own delusions to support that goal. Look at the dynamic of Trump. He would love to be a king for life and probably a God too; he craves adulation and will do anything to get it. And, his fans are genuine fanatics who will kill to keep him on his throne. Truly, in a society of fools (which the US surely qualifies), the dangers of lunatics gaining power remains poorly addressed. Look what a great job the Electoral College did with its singular mandate to keep a known psychotic from ascending.

How do you deal with unwanted advances?

racocn8 comments on Oct 29, 2019:

Tell them you're an ardent NRA member and you'd love an excuse to try out your newest derringer. or, "Fuck off or I'll start screaming." then take your chair somewhere else, and report the pervert. It's the YMCA and you shouldn't have to put up with that if you are paying their excessive dues. Having a robe may be better than jogging shorts. You shouldn't have to, but it's that or a sidearm if you really need to improve your safety. A YMCA is likely to have a higher share of sexually deprived/depraved men; Christian attitudes foster sexual extremes (aggressiveness on account of hating and devaluing women, excessive female submissiveness and its corollary, misandry, and a really long list of other perversions). Think where you are: YMCA is a corporate embodiment of a wacko cult. I remember how they used to require members to sign cards swearing allegiance to Jesus Christ, regardless of their actual faith. And I'm sure it was even worse it earlier times, simply excluding non-Whites and Jews.

Thieves, despicable thieves and murderers.

racocn8 comments on Oct 26, 2019:

Which just goes to show that Judaism is just as much bullshit as Islam is if it means getting assholes like these to mind their own business. Shame on them, Shame, Shame, Shame! MFers.

White Christian Nationalism — Not Secularism — Is Destroying America | Sojourners

racocn8 comments on Oct 26, 2019:

Instead of excoriating the Christians who have ditched Love Thy Neighbor for BUILD THE WALL, it's so much better to junk Christianity altogether. You STILL have to cherry-pick out the positive values from distant parts of the Bible. Overall, the Bible falls far, far, far behind the values that progressive non-believers live by. It's not Good News, it is the origninal FAKE NEWS. Nearly all of it is a lie and it's a waste of time trying to figure out what truth remains. If you think it's inspired by a god, you're an idiot.

if god were a natural part of reality and a spontaneous always, how could there not be multiples.

racocn8 comments on Oct 23, 2019:

How could God be a natural part of reality? If God intervened, he'd be interfering with his own plan. Thus, whatever God did would be UNNATURAL, or supernatural if you prefer. Even if God created the universe, nothing except the universe remains as evidence. The problem is that the universe does not provide evidence of a creating God, or any other kind of God. Evidence for God would be something unnatural or supernatural. The absence of evidence IS evidence of absence, unless one invokes the Loki Hypothesis.

Who is this idiot! I have heard less offensive comments from the religious peanut brains! I ...

racocn8 comments on Oct 22, 2019:

Most of this relates to Cyrus's poor communication skills. The side note that is omitted is Cyrus's misandry. This is supposed to be taken as a given for a young woman.

it seems to me like to be "all-knowing" would require a rather thorough and intimate knowledge of ...

racocn8 comments on Oct 21, 2019:

Universal Consciousness is much less than a spiritual attribute, but, rather, is a mundane dimension of matter, akin to mass or space-time. People can, with training, tap into this dimension, i.e. remote viewing. Maybe... Sin is the application of our brain's logic circuit as it pertains to fairness, equity, and the visceral reaction to disorder, even horror... We react to unfairness and may or may not be aware of the logic we bring to it.

A discussion on another forum tonight got me wondering how Christians might deal with irrefutable ...

racocn8 comments on Oct 17, 2019:

The crucifixion was a HUMAN sacrifice meant to atone for Original Sin which could not be expunged by animal sacrifices. The notion that atonement for sins could be addressed by ritual sacrifice, human or animal, is such a throwback to primitive superstition, no one has the guts to even mention it any more. Add in the absurdity of God incarnate being sacrificed to himself..., hell, temporal paradoxes make more sense.

Should the Supreme Court Be Reformed?

racocn8 comments on Oct 15, 2019:

Start with impeaching Kavenaugh and Thomas. Replace them with ultra progressive 20 year olds.

Ralph Reed: Christians Have a “Moral Obligation” to Support Donald Trump in 2020 | Sarahbeth ...

racocn8 comments on Oct 13, 2019:

The doctrine of supporting Pro-Life politics bests all other moral issues. This is the height of irony!!! First, the Pro-Life view is completely fictitious and unsupported by the Bible. The Pro-Life view comes from the Catholics, who the Evangelicals hate almost as much as the Jews. And, the New Testament denounces political intrigue, while Trump demonstrates the lowest it can go.

Sound familiar another fairytale

racocn8 comments on Oct 13, 2019:

Fairy tales, can come true, it can happen to you...

hello darkness

racocn8 comments on Oct 13, 2019:

You need to work on your cardio...

I was called liberal scum on agnostic.com. Seriously!

racocn8 comments on Oct 13, 2019:

Fake Americans are everywhere.

I think there's a face in my bacon 🙂

racocn8 comments on Oct 13, 2019:

Not buyin' it...