Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
What Atheists Can't Answer..by Michael Gerson
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/12/AR2007071201620.html
Gerson asks, how would atheists answer how we decide between good and evil instincts? He says that although people have a quality that makes them want to be good, separate from religion, they also have an instinct to be cruel, selfish, full of rage, etc. He says that atheists can't reply to the question of how we choose between good and bad by saying, "follow your mental wiring", or "respect your brain chemistry" because it would also be rational for us to reply with, "To hell with my wiring and your socialization, I'm going to do whatever I please." This is where I feel that his argument begins to fail and gets a little lazy. Isn't there a strong possibility that anyone--atheist or theist--could say to hell with it, I'll do as I please? Of course! Most of the "bad" people that I've met have been pious. He says, "Atheists can be good people; they just have no objective way to judge the conduct of those who are not." I don't believe that good and evil are that black and white; they are subjective...even for people who are religious, each religion has its own ideas about what's good and bad. So religious people also have no objective way to truly judge others' conduct. (as opposed to atheists, they just THINK they can) Gerson's last 2 paragraphs make absolutely no sense to me; he must have been on a tight deadline or something...he comments that for theists, a desire for love and purpose and morality and harmony and all that is perfectly understandable because that's what God wanted for us. He then states that for an atheist, this desire is a cruel joke because it's destined for disappointment. It's not just atheists that are going to be disappointed about the cruelty of life; the most religious of the religious will be disappointed too because shit happens...to everyone.
Gerson asks, how would atheists answer how we decide between good and evil instincts? He says that although people have a quality that makes them want to be good, separate from religion, they also have an instinct to be cruel, selfish, full of rage, etc. He says that atheists can't reply to the question of how we choose between good and bad by saying, "follow your mental wiring", or "respect your brain chemistry" because it would also be rational for us to reply with, "To hell with my wiring and your socialization, I'm going to do whatever I please." This is where I feel that his argument begins to fail and gets a little lazy. Isn't there a strong possibility that anyone--atheist or theist--could say to hell with it, I'll do as I please? Of course! Most of the "bad" people that I've met have been pious. He says, "Atheists can be good people; they just have no objective way to judge the conduct of those who are not." I don't believe that good and evil are that black and white; they are subjective...even for people who are religious, each religion has its own ideas about what's good and bad. So religious people also have no objective way to truly judge others' conduct. (as opposed to atheists, they just THINK they can) Gerson's last 2 paragraphs make absolutely no sense to me; he must have been on a tight deadline or something...he comments that for theists, a desire for love and purpose and morality and harmony and all that is perfectly understandable because that's what God wanted for us. He then states that for an atheist, this desire is a cruel joke because it's destined for disappointment. It's not just atheists that are going to be disappointed about the cruelty of life; the most religious of the religious will be disappointed too because shit happens...to everyone.
Friday, August 10, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/10/us/10stemcell.html?th&emc=th
When are people going to get off their self-righteous high horses and THINK? People are getting more and more infuriating with this conservative vs. liberal, pro-life vs. pro-choice, Bushie vs. unemployed, etc. etc...everything does not need a label; things are not that simple! Most issues have gray area, and I believe that if you had a one-on-one conversation with most people, they wouldn't be classifed in such a black-and-white manner as we hear day in and day out. I don't understand why anyone, no matter what your religious beliefs, or PERSONAL beliefs are about birth, abortion, pro-choice, etc (since when did this become so public?) would not be PRO-research to find cures for terrible diseases.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Surgeon General Sees 4-Year Term as Compromised
Another sad report of the corruption of politics, especially under this administration:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/washington/11surgeon.html?hp
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/washington/11surgeon.html?hp
Thursday, June 21, 2007
God told me to post this comment
Why is it that when people "discover religion" they always say "God spoke to me..." Why do religious people think so little of themselves that they can't have a conscience or thoughts of their own that tell them what's right and wrong? Humans are supposed to have that ability. In the June 4, 2007 publication of the New Yorker, Tom DeLay says, "God has spoken to me...I listen to God, and what I've heard is that I'm supposed to devote myself to rebuilding the conservative base of the Republican Party, and I think we shouldn't be underestimated." Are you kidding?! What God, if it COULD actually speak, would give someone political advice? It's absolutely ridiculous!
What Part of 'Separation of Church and State' Do You Not Understand?
http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/437415,CST-NWS-obama21.article
"Obama's liberal church under the microscope..."
I am so sick and tired of hearing about politicians' religious views. That is NONE of our business. It is so irrelevant it just irks me to no end. There was a televised special after the debates interviewing the candidates about their views on god, evolution, etc. It's sickening and the candidates are put in a no-win situation, and that is no fault of their own. Being "spiritual", believing in god, or having the same views as you does not make someone a better person.
"Obama's liberal church under the microscope..."
I am so sick and tired of hearing about politicians' religious views. That is NONE of our business. It is so irrelevant it just irks me to no end. There was a televised special after the debates interviewing the candidates about their views on god, evolution, etc. It's sickening and the candidates are put in a no-win situation, and that is no fault of their own. Being "spiritual", believing in god, or having the same views as you does not make someone a better person.
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