Dang Martin

The word “believe” is a problem, because it’s part of a loaded language that Christians use. For example, they might refer to a man as their “brother.” When they do this, they’re referring to him as being a fellow Christian. When I reference my “brother,” it’s that one guy who has the same parents as me.

“Believe” can be an expression of…[Read more]

I’d first need proof that spirits exist, or that anything in the supernatural world exists. All I have to go on at this point is the natural world. Everything else, as they say, just ain’t natural.

What surprised me the most, at first, when I paid close attention to the Christians in my little Midwest town, was that they had a very limited understanding of the contents of the bible. I would later read in a Pew Research study that fewer than 7% of American Christians have bothered to read the bible.

Considering that this knowledge is tied to…[Read more]

Interesting. That kinda goes against the definition of “Atheist.” I’ll keep that in mind.

I’m the Vegan Grill Master who is making some prime rib tonight, so who am I to judge?

@Belle Rose : That actually makes sense.

The “Atheism = Autism” meme was used as an insult for quite a while, as if it were an assertion that Atheists suffer a mental deficiency. In other words, it was used in an attempt to be insulting.

I would be interested in reading the published, peer-reviewed documents. If the study glossed over important…[Read more]

I had someone ask me if I “believed in Evolution.” I said, “No, I do not believe in Evolution, for it does not require my belief. It is scientific fact, regardless of what I might or might not believe. I do accept it as scientific fact. This has no impact on what I will be doing today.”

Simon Paynton wrote:
@strega – God also represents a plan for living.

I might be completely confused here. I thought you said in another thread that you were an Atheist.

I can only speak for myself and note that I do not have a belief. I just see no reason why I should believe the claims that are made.

In a brief recap of my story, I was not taught about gods as a child. No bible, no religion, no indoctrination. Nothing. When I’m approached and asked if I believe in this god, I let them know that I’ve not heard…[Read more]

Ah. When someone suggests that a point is being missed, I assume they’ve got the point and can share it. The suggestion that I can’t see the point is a strange one, for a wide variety of points could be in the process of being made. I am not a mind reader.

I don’t quite see it as a case of “ignoring anything positive.” I can only speak for…[Read more]

I won’t badger for an answer. Just noting that the question was not answered.

Still wondering about “criticise at all costs, while missing the point”.

What costs, and what is the point?

Simon Paynton wrote:
@dansnell dangmartin – “At all costs? What costs would those be?” – I mean “criticise” instead of “analyse”. I don’t understand the rest of your points.

I’m surprised that you do not understand them, since you asserted your intellectual superiority via meme.

EDIT: Interesting that you avoided my question regarding “all co…[Read more]

Simon Paynton wrote:
Usually, when it comes to analysing religion, what that really means is “criticise at all costs, while missing the point”. Anyway, to outsiders, all of that can look pretty autistic in the stereotypical sense.

At all costs?

What costs would those be?

As someone who was never indoctrinated, I am lacking in the fear requ…[Read more]

It’s hard to say, from my perspective.

Autism and Intelligence: I’m over 50 and was diagnosed as having a mild case of Asperger’s recently by a psychiatrist very recently. Long story short, I went to see him after my life got destroyed by someone who was emotionally manipulative. It cost me all of my money, job, reputation, friends, and my…[Read more]