"Atheist Life Vs. Religious Life" [video]

you really can't be for sure unless you were actually there for the beginning.

Good job guys, almost to page 20 where we can start posting pics!

It made me laugh uncontrollably.

Good job guys, almost to page 20 where we can start posting pics!

I forgot if that was the percentage for just the US or internationally. Either way, I had a nice hearty laugh too!

Id take a course on Alchemy.

Moderator: We're here today to debate the hot new topic, evolution versus Intelligent Des---

(Scientist pulls out baseball bat.)

Moderator: Hey, what are you doing?

(Scientist breaks Intelligent Design advocate's kneecap.)

Intelligent Design advocate: YEAAARRRRGGGHHHH! YOU BROKE MY KNEECAP!

Scientist: Perhaps it only appears that I broke your kneecap. Certainly, all the evidence points to the hypothesis I broke your kneecap. For example, your kneecap is broken; it appears to be a fresh wound; and I am holding a baseball bat, which is spattered with your blood. However, a mere preponderance of evidence doesn't mean anything. Perhaps your kneecap was designed that way. Certainly, there are some features of the current situation that are inexplicable according to the "naturalistic" explanation you have just advanced, such as the exact contours of the excruciating pain that you are experiencing right now.

Intelligent Design advocate: AAAAH! THE PAIN!

Scientist: Frankly, I personally find it completely implausible that the random actions of a scientist such as myself could cause pain of this particular kind. I have no precise explanation for why I find this hypothesis implausible --- it just is. Your knee must have been designed that way!

Intelligent Design advocate: YOU ***! YOU KNOW YOU DID IT!

Scientist: I surely do not. How can we know anything for certain? Frankly, I think we should expose people to all points of view. Furthermore, you should really re-examine whether your hypothesis is scientific at all: the breaking of your kneecap happened in the past, so we can't rewind and run it over again, like a laboratory experiment. Even if we could, it wouldn't prove that I broke your kneecap the previous time. Plus, let's not even get into the fact that the entire universe might have just popped into existence right before I said this sentence, with all the evidence of my alleged kneecap-breaking already pre-formed.

Intelligent Design advocate: That's a load of *** sophistry! Get me a doctor and a lawyer, not necessarily in that order, and we'll see how that plays in court!

Scientist (turning to audience): And so we see, ladies and gentlemen, when push comes to shove, advocates of Intelligent Design do not actually believe any of the arguments that they profess to believe. When it comes to matters that hit home, they prefer evidence, the scientific method, testable hypotheses, and naturalistic explanations. In fact, they strongly privilege naturalistic explanations over supernatural hocus-pocus or metaphysical wankery. It is only within the reality-distortion field of their ideological crusade that they give credence to the flimsy, ridiculous arguments which we so commonly see on display. I must confess, it kind of felt good, for once, to be the one spouting free-form ***; it's so terribly easy and relaxing, compared to marshaling rigorous arguments backed up by empirical evidence. But I fear that if I were to continue, then it would be habit-forming, and bad for my soul. Therefore, I bid you adieu.

Ugh...Palin...I think we can all agree on that.

NO, U!!!!

Ok, just wanted to contribute, since that is all these threads turn into by page 20.

what are you referring to?

The circular discussions that these always turn into.

Basically each side says the other is wrong, tries to make the other side prove something, when all either side proves is both sides can say the same tiring ***over and over in thread after thread after thread.

Was the reply "Oh I didn't know that, I'm sorry for using the argument from ignorance so much" Daemun?

If so, I don't think it would take 5 min to type that :p

Happy? :)

EDIT: Hold on I need to find something else...Profanity filter!!!

/cringe

DOUBLE EDIT: Okay. I found something without a curse.

I was a christian missionary in India and Youth Pastor before I became an atheist. I've been to seminary.

So ya, I've read the bible a few times, and studied it a few different languages.

It's a major reason why I'm an atheist. Getting educated in physics/biology and working in the science field over the last decade just solidified that premise.

Mostly the history of the Hebrew faith and the origins of most of the old testament (most of the Hebrew faith is derived from the Hittites). Once you take away the actual origin of the Jewish theology and learn a bit of the actual history on Jesus, it's clear that the current narrative of this solid Hebrew faith (chosen people) that later birthed the messiah is COMPLETELY false and is just a conglomerate of other culture's faiths, with a mix of hebrew history and some good allegorical lessons (and bad ones).

Having my understanding of the Hebrew history shaken up, I began researching the topic HEAVILY and determined that christianity was false (especially current versions of it, which have no relation to early versions of it).

I then began my studies into physics/evolution, since I had naively spent so much of my life arguing with people that those concepts were fake (because I was so faithful).

So basically: Study of religion and history made me question theism (turned me into an agnostic, part atheist). Study of science turned me into a hard atheist.

ONE MORE!

/debate on

[sarcasm]yes, you watch your magic you witch[/sarcasm]