Charity's comments (member since May 04, 2009)

Charity's comments from the Atheists and Skeptics group.

Hilarious, rgb!! And so, so, so true and very, very sad. It really felt like you were inhabited by a BICC right then. Wow! Scary. I wonder, is there a special cognate under linguistics available at the university level dedicated to the BICC population in the U.S.? If so, that has to be a 5-year major at the least...and probably still requires grad work to boot. Deciphering the hieroglyphics is an easier task. sheesh...

I honestly wonder if Bobby Henderson actually reads them all or just tosses them on the heap to be ravaged by the wolves at the first sign of 'what the hell is wrong with you?' or 'you're going to hell!' or 'I'm going to kill you!!!! die! die! die!'

I plucked this from the Hate Mail (and Concerned Criticism) section of the CoFSM website. I thought it deserved a spot here on the 'Worst Religious Arguments' thread, as it really highlights a lot of the Fundie viewpoints on science, logic, life, love, tolerance, and peace. (I tried to keep my guffaws to a minimum, but alas, the last paragraph and the valediction really sent me over the edge.)

You are the biggest hypocrite I have ever been exposed to; throughout your page you repeatedly assert that evolution is the only “scientific” explanation of the origin of species, yet right on your front page you say that such absurd theories as the “Flying Spaghetti Monster” should also be incorporated into public high school science curriculum. So let me explain this to you nice and slow; the Bible is the answer, it is what is to be differed to at all times; the Bible is 100% true- it says so in the Bible. Now, as far as science goes, who the hell do you think your are to call Intelligent Design “illegitimate science,” technically, evolution is the only scientific theory yes; and technically, midgets are people… So we aren’t to concerned with technicalities are we? Plus, part of education is being exposed to every side of the story, because if we cannot give six billion accounts of each event, then not everyone is being fairly represented and we are reduced to defining science as some kind of “standard” outside of human gut-instinct. And besides, as an acquaintance once said (really) “what good has evolution done the world anyway?”

So there we have it, as I noticed some of you other readers correctly pointed out, if you question things your are a tool of Satan. You don’t need to question, God does all the thinking for us; he actually has a degree in Philosophy. Abortion is wrong, it says so in the bible, I dare you to go look it up- you probably won’t find it, but that’s just because your gay, which is also wrong- it says so in the Bible. Now some of us will be wondering the justification for that moral assertion, but remember the Bible is flawless- it says so in the Bible.

Back to evolution- all of the evidence that exists for it is actually false and placed there by Satan, and so that evidence really isn’t inconsistent with the Bible at all, and that makes it void. But the evidence that is the Bible, and its infinite circle of self-validation is completely inconsistent with evolution. I mean come on, if God didn’t really make Adam and Eve, why would He lie to us? And so since ID has more valid evidence than evolution supporting it, it wins and you lose.

As a Christian, I follow Jesus for his teachings of love and tolerance; it is people like you who make me sick, I hope you die in a lake of fire and get your eyes pecked out by crows, so that you may go to hell and exist for eternity in a lake of fire getting your eyes pecked out by crows.

With love,

Charlie

Of course, there are many, many more gems to be found in the Hate Mail section. It was so hard to pick just one.

One more fiction rec...Blindness by José Saramago. Completely harrowing read!

I'm pretty much a SF novice, but two books that I absolutely adore in the genre are The Midwich Cuckoos and The Day of the Triffids, both by John Wyndham. Incredible reads, very literary, and written with a very blurry line between sf and horror.

Jake,

One book that I would recommend is The Cider House Rules by John Irving which is a pretty incredible look at illegal abortion operations in the early 20th century. John Irving's grandfather was actually an OB/GYN (during the time frame that the book is set in) and Irving used his grandfather's published works as a reference for writing the book, so there are several parts that are, shall we say, detailed. Irving's grandfather once observed that "as long as there are unwanted pregnancies, women will attempt to rid themselves of them."

It is a really fascinating glimpse into the past (and potential future, should Roe v. Wade be overturned) of abortions and orphanages. In light of the Tiller tragedy, I thought you might be interested. If not, please disregard.

South Carolina Legislature online (click 'view full text') And yes, it seems that it was proposed by Senator Fair.

Oh brother! Who writes these bills? This is ridiculousness to the extreme.

I have mentioned this before, but this is why I think Santa Claus serves a useful purpose.

When kids finally realize that Santa Claus does not exist, that he makes no sense, violating all known physical laws, and that a much easier explanation for the origin of Christmas presents is available., you point out to them how easy it was to fool them, how they put aside rational thinking at the promise of a reward.

R.C. - Good point...which is why I don't really have any problem with my children "believing" in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, etc. (I treat them as cultural icons, nothing more.) I have no plans to keep the fantasy going once they "stop believing". There will be no threats of punishment/damnation when they abandon the fantasy. In fact, using those examples seems to be a good early teaching tool for applying logic and deductive reasoning skills.

When kids start questioning whether those figures (SC, EB, TF) exist, and perhaps, start looking for evidence (snooping through shopping bags their parents brought home, staying up to "catch" SC or the TF in the act, etc.), they will usually try the 'ultimate test': stop believing in those figures all together to see if they still get presents, candy-filled baskets, or money. Once they find that they DO still get all of those things (only it is the parents who are doing the work, not the mythical figure), the jig is up....but, chances are they will still give the illusion that they believe for another year or two, possibly out of a little fear that their parents might stop supplying the goods.

Of course, the religion myths are harder to shake for some because they are told that the 'ultimate reward' comes after death, so you have to believe and be reverent for your entire life on this earth. How convenient! And, unfortunately, there is no one to ask about receiving this 'ultimate reward' because they are all dead.

I, for one, plan to present my children with information about all religions because: 1)They will be confronted with religion at some point in their lives, so it would be silly to pretend it doesn't exist; 2)Having information seems to be the best defense against proselytizers; 3)If all religions are presented on equal ground, they will all likely seem equally foolish.

You said: you point out to them how easy it was to fool them, how they put aside rational thinking at the promise of a reward

That reminded me of a movie I watched in school called The Wave which is based on this book. It is amazing how easily people can be persuaded to take hold of some idea of reward without even questioning the motives. The whole sheep analogy (with Jesus as Shepherd) in the Bible is a good one. Mindlessly follow...

LOL! Poe's Law strikes again. :-)

Or an institution of learning period.

Ha! I stand corrected. :-)

Where are all the adults anyway? All we do is argue with teen-agers!

One would think that teens would be more open to critical thinking, but alas, no.

I asked them to let me in and they said it was only for people who went to their school.

And it really begs the question: Why kind of school do they attend??


I call upon all those who stand for God and for Jesus to hold firm in their beliefs and join this group. (emphasis mine)

This statement in the description leads me to believe it may not be a secular institution of learning...

Evolution vs. Intelligent Design Group (public)

Has anyone gotten into the Religion vs. Science Group yet?

Now, if only we could find the crocoduck fossil...

Looks like I may get my wish to see it...Memorial Day on the History Channel:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/busine...

The whole "missing link found" stuff is hype, however. It is just another link, one of many, and all demonstrating evolution of species.

Oh, I agree. I just think the fossil is extremely fascinating and each little discovery like this is just more proof. I wish I could go see it!

Big day!!

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-N...


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/a...

LMAO! (Sorry, Nathan...)

R.C.: Wow Charity. You sure get a lot done for a person for whom life holds no meaning. I mean, why go to the library when the universe will end someday, billions of years from now?

*sigh* I know. It's so pointless, isn't it? If only I could have an imaginary friend who is capable of doing anything, but actually does nothing, then, my life would truly have meaning.


Rgb: Sure, but I am an antichrist, and if they want to recruit me or save my soul they're going to have to do so using reason, not by bleating "co-o-o-ome into our flo-o-o-ck, or the wo-o-o-olf will EAT you!"

Hilarious!! And, I agree...the fear factor hypnotizing thing doesn't work on me either.


Lauren: He sounds so adorable. :)

Yeah, my boys are pretty darn cute. Too bad they keep getting older and are dragging me along with them... ;-)

Congrats on the new baby, Chantel! I, too, was wondering if you were looking to become a human baby factory or something. :-)

Of course maybe I need to help populate the homeland with little atheists who want to attend these events.

Believe me, the thought has also crossed my mind from time to time. Ha! I have two kids and I agree, they are more than enough...for now, at least. Do you know/want to know the sex of the new baby?