Sunday School

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

Ireland has voted by a large majority to allow for abortion services. As we say in Irish, “Ní saoirse go saoirse na mban”.  It is never a good idea to try to ban it.

Maybe “Spirituality” means one’s “philosophy of life” but if so why call it spirituality? I still do not know what the word means.

This is not breaking news to most of us but apparently theists are not that humble about their intellectual prowess.

Greta Christina is still angry on behalf of atheists in these ten States while phrases such as “in my version of Islam” could define whether or not the Religion of Peace murders you.

Why Jordan Peterson is wrong about Atheism.

Is Alcoholics Anonymous a religion?

Would you want to live in a house Dana Rohrabacher lived in?

How secularism cuts the Gordian knot in education.

The Cuddly One has a covfefe moment as his god hastens the downfall of his church in Europe as more priests and nuns are leaving the herd.

This weeks’ Woo: Some parents are more wary of vaccines than the disease they prevent.

Climate Change: The Environmental Protection Agency is fast becoming an oxymoron.

Willy Toledo shits on god and on a Spanish judge. Good for you man!

On finding meaning in a purposeless Universe. Maybe the aliens take a different perspective but would they doubt the role of science in questioning Truth and Reality like some of us do? If they exist in the same Universe as us should they have the same amazing theory of almost everything? I bet they would have a theory about knowing the difference between hard won knowledge and superficial opinion. Would they understand the limits of manipulating nature and just how spooky it is?

Some photographs taken last week.

We pause to remember: Alan Bean. We can only dream of such journeys.

A counter argument to the review of the Steven Pinker book “Enlightenment”. I suggest watching the video below first.

This week I am reading this book: No Time to Spare.

While you are waiting for the kettle to boil…..

Ok, I am going for a run and then I will chill out for the day.

Coffee Break Video:  Is it more important for an economy to thrive rather than seek constant growth? An atheist on the emotional manipulation of religion. Steven Pinker and the world in numbers.

A Munk Debate on political correctness and free speech. (2 hours).

 

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

Have a great week everyone!!

“The wrenching pain of decades of mistreatment of Irish women cannot be unlived. However, today we have ensured that it does not have to be lived again.”

Leo Varadkar, Irish Prime Minister, paraphrasing his favorite poet, Maya Angelou after the abortion referendum result in Ireland.

[StregaModerator]

Thanks, Reg!

[Simon PayntonParticipant]

Intellectual humility –

“Conformity to norms, obedience to leaders, intolerance of deviance, and hostility towards other groups are associated with lack of intellectual humility.”

– I wonder about left-wing authoritarianism too.  These traits are all to be found in full measure on the Regressive Left as well as the Authoritarian Right.

I also wonder why those sociopolitical traits are associated with lack of intellectual humility.  As usual, I blame narcissism.

[.Spectator]

My heart is happy for Ireland today:)

[JadeBlackOliveParticipant]

Terrific news for Ireland! I’ll bet nearly every voting age woman was casting her vote too.

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

The Catholic Church is pissed by the fact that 90% of those aged 18-25 voted “Yes”against their wishes (demands even). The Cuddly One is coming to visit Ireland in August. Should be interesting especially if someone were to attempt to issue an international arrest warrant against the Vatican for its failure to report crimes against children. I guess there must be one of those “militant atheist” types behind such an idea 🙂

Some more stats and reactions.

[JadeBlackOliveParticipant]

I’d love to see that bloody church brought down, as well as the rest of them too, but unlikely within my lifetime.

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

I helped to compile a list of all the known crimes of the Catholic Church in Ireland since 1996. If I can find it I might publish it here. It has over 2,000 incidents. This was about 7 years ago so there are several hundred more to add. I just don’t get why anyone can still follow it. It’s not like its levels of depravity and cruelty can sink any lower.

Having met with several of the people sexually abused by them when they were children I hold each and every one of them, from priest to pope, with sheer contempt. I do not care if any of them are “good people”. If they are then do the right thing and leave it, wiping the dirt from their shoes as they close the door.

If  clowns abused children the way priests did, then no parent would ever bring their child to the circus.

[JadeBlackOliveParticipant]

If you decide to do that, I will help spread it around.

[Daniel W.Participant]

Thanks Reg for the reading list!

Lately I’ve become more and more disillusioned about the news.  I’ve quit reading anything that mentions the current US president.  Some time ago, I added a browser extension that changes any mention of that dotard’s name to “Babbling Idiot” .  At least, the voters in Ireland seem to have developed some sense and freedom from religious oppression.  I need that occasional bit of good news!  I’m not sure about voters, and nonvoters, in most other places.

It feels like there is a human tendency to extremism – right, left, conservative, liberal, christian, hindu, muslim, jewish, I don’t know, quetzalcoatlism?   It’s not specific to one group.  Tribalism is no better with the internet.  I just want to accept people for who they are, religion or no, and have them accept me.  But I need the connection to other atheists, none-the-less.

With the decrease in Catholic priests, maybe it’s time for a confession app?

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

A Catholic Bishop has just said that any Catholics that voted “Yes” (to allow abortion) should go to confession and ask the Creator of the Universe for forgiveness so maybe they could use the app.

Personally I like to use the Thoughts and Prayers app as it helps free up my day. It is also the name of the stray cat that moved in with me. I “christened” it that because it is entirely useless at getting anything done.

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

The numbers joining the priesthood in Ireland have dramatically fallen to the point where only a few dozen sign up while the majority of priest are in the 70’s and even older.

Some of the new recruits are leaving because they were either caught using “grinder” or “tinder” apps, caught using drugs while drunk or actually found in bed together having sex while in the Vatican.

I have no problems with any of that myself as I have engaged in debauched behavior in a few churches over the years but I don’t think apprentice priests should be doing it.

I think the only way the church will survive is to scrap the rules on celibacy which is the worst form of sexual perversion as enforced celibacy is not natural.

In reality though I don’t think it can. Most young people have zero interest in it. Once when I was running an “atheist table” on the high street a young girl of about 12 or 13 said her parents were driving her crazy because she told them she was an atheist and had been since she was 8 years old. I asked her what she meant by “atheist” and I was very happy to hear her say…

I am an atheist because I just don’t believe in god. In any god. It makes no sense. I don’t care what they believe and I think they are only using it as they think it is a good way to raise me. I mean they are great people and I love them but they just won’t give it a rest. Even the teachers said I can leave the religion class. Then almost all the other girls asked if they could leave too. None of us believe any of it. I never really met people who are religious except some Mormons.  And it is all sooooooooo boring!! Will you talk to them for me please!!

 

[JadeBlackOliveParticipant]

About the age when my doubts were showing up. I WAS mor(m)on.

[StregaModerator]

As a small child, I thought that Jesus was Santa for adults, and that angels were fairies for adults.  Then I discovered Santa didn’t exist…

 

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