Sunday School

The findings are that giving or helping makes us happy, but only when we have a personal connection with the people we are helping. imaginary

I agree Simon. A personal connection with Jesus or any god does not really help.

Thanks  Robert.

Coffee Break Video: TED: The new science of generosity.

This is a great video and I really like the way the speaker, Elizabeth Dunn thinks.

The findings are that giving or helping makes us happy, but only when we have a personal connection with the people we are helping.  If the recipients are anonymous then it doesn’t cheer us up.

done and getting close to enuff 😉

If anyone would like to add a signature to this appeal to stop the Irish government from keeping a 75 year seal on the inquiry into child abuse by Christians. It will only take a minute. Thanks.

Nobody ever expects one 😇

One of the cross beams has gone out askew on the treddle

Here is an extract from one of my favorite books  – The Necessity of Atheism.

“Instead of diminishing the number of wars, ecclesiastical influence has actually and very seriously increased it; we may look in vain for any period since Constantine in which the clergy as a body exerted themselves to repress the military spirit, or to prevent or…[Read more]

I have plenty of research on religious violence over the last 1000 years. Enough for a PhD student to complete her thesis.

Basically, not much research has been done at all on the subject, and the article says this.

I think one of the biggest problems is, vengeance, and religion loves vengeance.

…or as Jon Stewart once said…“religion gives hope to people in a world torn apart by religion”.

Does religion really cause violence?

This is an interesting article.  Apparently, the evidence either way is sketchy at best, and so far points to simple in-group bias and out-group hatred.

I can think of one clear example that doesn’t fit this hypothesis: witch-burning.  Another: gay-bashing.  Another: violent exorcisms.  Another: evil nuns in…[Read more]

Aljazeera do some excellent documentaries.

My main sources of “TV news”  are BBC Newsnight ,  Channel 4 News (Britain), CBC, NPR, Aljazeera, the Irish Times and NYT online editions. OK, enough already…

But it isn’t Armageddon and there is no threat of Islamification in the EU

That’s good to know Davis. One of my best friend is an Iranian engineer who immigrated during the coup and he just goes on and on about the evils of Islam. It’s funny how the random things that occur in your life…such as the people that cross your path.. and that forms y…[Read more]

I would actually recommend the CBC news over BBC. CBC has actual commentary and fact checking and isn’t in the slightest afraid to be critical of international or American topics. A few reporters lived in Washington for dozens of years.

cbc.ca/news

Yes. Sweden is going through major cultural transitions. Immigrants cannot get citizenship until…[Read more]

Simon Paynton wrote:

I agree, that stuff is going to send a person crazy. I don’t listen to anyone who is frothing at the mouth. On the other hand, I think it’s good to actually engage with a person with a different point of view – we usually end up learning something.

You are right Simon. My mother was a hippie basically and she raised me. My fa…[Read more]

I find it more illuminating to study the people peddling this kind of extremism.  It turns out that most of them are classic narcissists who just love causing trouble, provoking people, and being the centre of attention.

I agree, that stuff is going to send a person crazy.  I don’t listen to anyone who is frothing at the mouth.

On the other hand, I think it’s good to actually engage with a person with a different point of view – we usually end up learning something.

I gotta stop watching right wing you tube videos since I retired, LOL. You watch one and your side bar loads up on them and they are addictive as hell. The left and the right both have valid points but I think I am taking a vacations from politics for a while, that shit will drive you crazy.

I’ll go back to concentrating on my atheistic religion…[Read more]