BS: The Atheist Delusion

Subject: RE: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 11:43 AM

explaining YET AGAIN how to click on the number by the title or the little "(d)".

I'm willing to be that anyone interested in continuing these discussions know that already.

I don't know how much effort is involved but how does it compare to policing two cat fights instead of just one?

Subject: RE: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 11:40 AM

Jeri,

I object to the word "delusion" as loaded, inaccurate, insulting and chosen to pick a fight.

Subject: RE: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: Ed T
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 11:39 AM

Good points, Jeri

Subject: RE: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: Ed T
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 11:38 AM

"I long ago gave up arguing for or against.... a supreme being".

Oh,Rapaire?

Have you not, at least once or possibly more times, suggested that you were such on Mudcat's biggest (size) thread?

:)

Subject: RE: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 11:34 AM

The posts could all be put into the last thread, but I don't think it's worth the effort of 1)transferring them, and/or 2) explaining YET AGAIN how to click on the number by the title or the little "(d)".

I don't think it's religion or the lack of it that makes people in power jerks. I think it's the power. I think religion is only an excuse, and anyone who thinks the whole world should be like them is only look for an excuse.

I also think these arguments are just excuses to beat up on willing participants. At least that's better than wars and killing innocents because they may not agree with you about whatever.

Subject: RE: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 11:27 AM

I long ago gave up arguing for or against an afterlife or a supreme being.

We'll all know soon enough who's right and who's wrong -- if anyone is.

Subject: RE: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 11:11 AM

Joe, I think that this is obviously a continuation of the an argument on another thread.

I object to the loaded word "delusion" on both this one and that one.

I would suggest that you Mudadmins combine the two and change the title to something accurate and neutral such as "Atheist and Non-atheists debate." Or "Is there a God?" or "Is there NO God?" Or "The Existence of God?"

---

Since the other thread has almost 2000 posts, it seems to be a good time for another thread. Yes, you can (and should) view long threads in segments; but even so, a 2000-message thread is cumbersome. You're right that there's a question about the thread title - it took me a while to realize this was a different thread. "God Delusion"-"Atheist Delusion" — what's the difference? Still, why not? I've cracked down on thread titles that were pure political propaganda that didn't tell much about the contents of the thread, but this one surely makes it clear that it's another one of those religion/anti-religion threads. So, I see no reason to disallow this thread, although I've lost interest in participating in such discussions because it doesn't seem possible for Mudcatters on either side to get past their prejudices. -Joe Offer, Forum Moderator-

Subject: RE: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: GUEST,999
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 10:54 AM

`I'm still, by the way, waiting for--anybody--to cite an atheist regime which has been successful and treated its own people well.`

Dang. That was written by one of my favourite all-time folks on Mudcat. Trust you`re well. Ron.

To answer your question, I would posit that Cuba answers your statement (or request). I won`t argue the level of poverty because that was basically caused by a US embargo. They have free health care which is a boon. I know something about the troubles encountered by Raoul, Fidel and Ernesto. The country isn`t rich by North American standards, but looking at the stock market lately, we ain`t doin`much better.

Peace :-) to you.

Subject: RE: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: Ed T
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 10:37 AM

"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone". Gran Torino

Subject: RE: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 10:31 AM

I've stopped believing in atheism, I've become a nihilist now, but I stll can't be bothered attacking anyone else's beliefs.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 09:52 AM

Seen any good badgers lately?

Subject: RE: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 09:31 AM

im sure the mudcat atheists must have read a lot at some time,but i wonder if they can find time between all these threads nowadays!

Subject: BS: The Atheist Delusion
From: Ron Davies
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 08:52 AM

This thread, despite appearances, is not a copycat thread.   The "God Delusion" thread is just getting too hard to access--it's too long.

And I'm sure, since Mudcat atheists have had no problem with over 1900 posts of the "God Delusion", they'll have no problem with ""The Atheist Delusion".   After all, we've been assured by them that "delusion" is not in itself an attack--perish the thought.

It's also amazing how much of what can only be called historical tripe is written on Mudcat, especially, it seems, by atheists.

1) More people died as a result of religion than as the result of the Hitler, Stalin and Mao regimes.

Patently absurd.

There weren't enough people alive on the earth before the 20th century long enough to make this possible.




2)   Hitler "sucked up" to the Catholic Church.   

More drivel--this time endorsed by a non-atheist as well as the usual suspects.


It's baffling how many Mudcatters think they establish something as a fact by just stating it--or just by linking to a website.   Don't they ever read books about history?


From Hitler's Pope, by John Cornwell, a book which obviously theorizes that Pius XII was in fact "Hitler's Pope".

German Catholics opposed Hitler both before and after the Machtergreifung.   

p 108:   "By the turn of the decade" (end of 1920's) " in fact, Catholic criticism of the National Socialists was vehement and sustained in the press and from the pulpits"

What changed?   The Concordat, an spectacularly disastrous attempt by Pacelli, later Pope Pius XII, to negotiate a treaty with Hitler favorable to the Holy See.   

Even after the Concordat, not all German Catholics fell into line.

There's a lot more to say--but no more time.

However, it's about time Mudcatters start seeing things in shades of gray instead of jumping on the first cardboard villain that shows itself--especially when that approach conveniently supports the poster (usually an atheist") 's own prejudices.

I'm still, by the way, waiting for--anybody--to cite an atheist regime which has been successful and treated its own people well.