Apologetics Group to Examine Evidence for Jesus' Resurrection

Hampsteadpete1 »

Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:11 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 4

It would be interesting to see exactly what "evidence" they are referring to. There are only four conflicting accounts written several decades after the alleged events. Several of the accounts conflict so much, they are mutually exclusive, and one of the world's major religions is based on this?

If more people would actually sit down and read the four gospel accounts side-by-side, I'll bet there would be a lot fewer Christians running around.

Court Asked to Reconsider Homeschool Ruling

Hampsteadpete1 »

Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:15 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 2

Again, it's not the court, but the law that should be changed. As long as certain minimum proficiencies are met, parents should have the right to school their own children, if they wish to.

Lawmaker Threatened for Comparing Gay Lifestyle to Terrorism

Hampsteadpete1 »

Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:46 am Agree: 10   Disagree: 9

"people involved in the homosexual lifestyle have more suicides, discouragement, illness and shorter life spans."

This is an interesting statement considering that the primary reason for the first two are organized religions who keep pounding the absurd idea that the lifestyle is a "choice" and a "sin." Even the ridiculous sounds believable if you repeat it often and loudly enough.

There is no doubt in my mind that if people like this legislator ran things in this country, we would be lynching gays (along with non-theists) on the grounds that we are the "biggest threat to this country."

No religion in history is as intolerant of dissent as Christianity, and none have been as cruel over the last 2000 years.

Obama Denounces Pastor's Controversial Comments

Hampsteadpete1 »

Sat Mar 15, 2008 11:36 am Agree: 2   Disagree: 4

"Obama is a cutie, but I'm with kpercy here. These are HUGE red flags!"

They may indeed be red flags to you, and I can understand why they are. What's it matter, though, 'cause you most likely would not have voted for him anyway.

This election is about one issue, as far as I'm concerned, and that's federal judges at all levels. McCain has promised to nominate Scalia clones for the federal bench, and that's just unacceptable to many of us. Most of Clinton's appointments never made it, and Bush has had seven years to appoint whoever he felt like. The tide must be turned, or there will be rioting in the streets. We are as close to a theocracy as we have ever been, and one more jerk like Scalia on the court will turn our republic into one, to all our detriments.

It doesn't matter who the Dems nominate, as anybody could do a better job then the moron we have had for the last seven years. Perhaps with a Democrat in office, we might get some of our rights back and restore some of our standing in the world so damaged by this administration.

These "revelations" concerning OBama are just as meaningless as those about Bush and his "service" in Vietnam.

Christian Right Not Dead, But Maturing, Say Authors

Hampsteadpete1 »

Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:27 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 8

"Non-Christians chaffe when we try to impose righteousness on them. Rather, we need to love them, model right living and full life for them, and get them saved."

Why you pompous arrogant know-nothing! You are so wrong! Non-theists "chaffe" (sic) when you act like you really know what righteousness is, whether you try to impose it on anyone or not, and the only thing you "need" to do with us is LEAVE US THE HECK ALONE!

Keep your silly delusions to yourselves, and everything will be fine.

Vatican Releases New List of Sinful Acts

Hampsteadpete1 »

Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:42 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 3

"He said Church authorities had reacted with rigorous measures to child abuse scandals within the clergy, but he also claimed that the issue had been excessively emphasized by the media."

This is incredible nonsense on both counts! For decades the church swept the problem under the rug by reassigning predatory priests, then they did everything they could to make light of the problem. If anything, the press was their unwitting accomplice for years by refusing to print the stories of the few victims that were willing to talk. It wasn't until the public outcry was overwhelming that the media started reporting the story.

They won't release the "new" list of sins 'till papanazi has a chance to announce them during his trip to the US.

Got a question, though, I thought sins were god's province to declare. If religious dogma isn't supposed to change to accommodate scientific discoveries that negate it, how can "sins" change to recognize the "ethical pitfalls" of new technology? Sorry, folks, but you can't have it both ways.

Evangelicals Challenged to Present Christ Credibly

Hampsteadpete1 »

Sun Mar 09, 2008 6:22 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

Oh, of course abstinence works, IF PRACTICED, and I don't have any problem with a program that includes abstinence training along with providing the truth about other methods of birth and disease control.

What I do have a big problem with is an orchestrated campaign of mis-information about condom use, especially in the developing world where people are even more naive about science and health then we are here.

What you tell your children is your own business, but one would hope that you would not discourage condom use in the event they chose to become sexually active, as it only makes good sense - and it could save their life.

Morals have nothing to do with what we are discussing anyway. Morals and ethics should be about the alleviation of human suffering, and how we treat one another, not about what some god or other might find "sinful."

Evangelicals Challenged to Present Christ Credibly

Hampsteadpete1 »

Sat Mar 08, 2008 7:18 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

"The Consitution does say LIFE, liberty and the pursuit. "

Sorry, but it does not. I believe you have the constitution mixed up with the declaration of independence.

BTW, if you were THAT concerned about people dying of AIDS, you would be pushing condoms, which work, rather then abstinence, which does not. Yes, the Christian churches are doing a great deal to combat AIDS, I just wish they would spend a little more wisely.

Dobson: Homeschool Ruling Strikes at Heart, Soul of Families

Hampsteadpete1 »

Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:22 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

Wait a moment! Whether the ruling is "good" or "bad" the duty of the California court is to interpret California law! California law presently states that whether they are in public or private schools, children must be taught by certified teachers.

Don't blame the court, they didn't pass the law! Blame the state legislature, and get the stupid law changed. I don't understand the animosity towards the court by Dobson, the Governor and others who should know better.

Hagee Endorsement of McCain Has Risks

Hampsteadpete1 »

Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:14 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 2

"Why do we continue to let Satan play us with these petty arguments while there are plenty of real Satanic forces out there attacking Christians?"

Oh boy, I was read the riot act for pointing this tendency out in another thread. Aren't Christians just one big happy family? Can't you all just get along?

Student Club Aims to Proselytize Atheism

Hampsteadpete1 »

Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:36 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 2

"IF absolute morals exist, then God must exist. IF Atheism is true, then absolute morals must not exist."

That's your argument? That's it? Post hoc, ergo propter hoc? I would invite you to consider another possible explanation, of course it means you must consider the possibility that the earth is older then 10,000 years.

We have been conditioned over three-million-plus years of human evolution to except certain behavior norms and reject others. If you don't steal from other members of the tribe, or kill them, etc. you get to stay with the tribe and get a shot at reproduction. If not, well..... Even apes, and to some extent dolphins, show signs of altruism, due to the same reasons.

We don't need god to be "good," our natural evolved instincts are usually enough in most cases. Of course, this process has also led to some of our problems, as well, such as a strong sense of "self" and "other." This mostly proves to be a negative in today's world, so why is it, do you think, that organized religion is one of the biggest proponents of self and other?

That, in my mind, is one of religions biggest failings. You would think that people who preach tolerance and love would truly accept the "shortcomings" of their fellow-traveler, but this is most often not the case at all. This site is a perfect example. Most of the intolerance is not between theist and non-theist, but between different types of theists.

You're going to hell! No, you are! No you are! Over and over, and most of the time over nits in your dogma. Of course, I realize, you don't see them as nits, but they are. How do you expect to change the world if you can't get along yourselves. Thank goodness for James Madison!

Iowa Prison to End Religious Program that Prompted Legal Fight

Hampsteadpete1 »

Sat Mar 01, 2008 7:42 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 2

"ATHEISM IS A RELIGION THAT IS DOOMED TO DEFEND FAILURE AND MISERY. "

No, atheism is simply the lack of belief in the supernatural, how do you get a religion from that? Failure and misery? You see you have atheism confused with religion. From fear and ignorance you naturally get failure and misery.

Why don't you try reality for a while? You might enjoy it.

Obama Under Fire for Terri Schiavo Remark

Hampsteadpete1 »

Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:10 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 5

Sorry, squeaky, but "worldview" has nothing to do with it. Released with the autopsy results were some CT scans from three years prior to death that showed "massive" loss of cerebral cortex tissue. Terry was a collection of cells with no chance of ever recovering.

Facts are facts, why can't you except them even when they are incontrovertible? I hate to keep banging away, I feel like I'm dealing with a child.

Of course, if you concede that Terry was not an example of human life, then you also concede that blastocysts aren't either. Pretty soon it all becomes a house-of-cards, doesn't it?

U.K. Poll: Jesus Third Most Popular Role Model for Children

Hampsteadpete1 »

Fri Feb 29, 2008 8:55 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 2

Gee, I'm surprised that the junior member of the trinity scored even that high. Would you want a role model for your children someone who shunned his mother, told his followers they had to hate their whole families in order to follow him, got everyone drunk at weddings, tore up the temple and was executed for posing as king?

Bush named Jesus as his favorite philosopher, which was kind of strange as Jesus never advanced any philosophy that was either new or unique, with the single exception of hell. Well, Bush has certainly put us through hell in the last seven years, that's for sure, so I can see the reasoning behind his choice.

Obama Under Fire for Terri Schiavo Remark

Hampsteadpete1 »

Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:05 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 2

"I feel very bad that both of you have been given misinformation about the Terri Schiavo case. Have either of you researched reasons for her brain being shrunk,"

Hampsteadpete wanted to answer, but he has been barred from this site for expressing opposing views, I guess, like most of the other non-theists, so I will answer for him.

Misinformation? Every doctor who examined the poor girl gave the same diagnosis, and it was absolutely confirmed by the autopsy. There was no "life" there as we know it, she was being kept alive by machines with no hope of any sort of recovery.

In 2003, I had to make a similar call on my own Mother, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but it is a part of life. I hope none of you ever have to do anything like that with a loved one.

I really don't know what the disagreement is here. Is it with the diagnosis? The autopsy results? Do any of you really believe that Terry had any chance of recovery? The conflicts of interest one of you mentioned, even if they existed, were irrelevant given the overwhelming weight of medical evidence that Terry was dead, for all intents and purposes. Do you think we should keep people alive forever even without hope of recovery?

CP2008: Terry was not "disabled," she was in a persistent vegetative state. That is not my diagnosis, but the diagnosis of every competent physician who actually bothered to examine her. As I said above, I hope you never have to make this call.

Sadly, the response I received from my earlier post was just about what I expected. Scientific evidence, as usual, is of no consequence to those of you who would prefer to believe hysterical talk-radio hosts. I was going to ask how anyone could look at the autopsy results and draw any other conclusion, then I thought about the mountains of evidence of evolution, and decided not to bother.