_Robert_

Hail Satan !  The genius here is that the Satanic Temple as an official  religion has advantages enjoyed as such, plus the added shock value not enjoyed by the noodly one, peace be upon his tomato sauces cooked for hours with lots of garlic.

Thanks Kara. I think today is the 300th edition of Sunday School with only one day missed due to being in the wilds of northern Calif. This might (or might not) help explain the kind of farmer I am 🙂

Another informative Sunday School article. Thank you, Reg. And I have to ask what a Fronkey is 😀

This distinction is one that de Waal has run into from philosophers who say that any of his observations of empathy or morality in animals can’t possibly tell him about whether or not they have norms. De Waal disagrees, pointing out that animals do recognise norms:

The simplest example is a spider web or nest. If you disturb it, the animal’s goi…

[Read more]

Thanks Reg!  We have a children’s egg hunt going on today so I’m expecting to tear my hair out at least once 🙂

I heard on some show one of the characters say that “Easter was originally a celebration of a woman’s most fertile time of the year”. I guess cause all the animals do it in spring the pagans in the crowd co-opted it.

I’ll be celebrating today by doing the lawn, clearing out brush from my property, and trying to convince my wife that today is the…[Read more]

Have a great week everyone!!

I think it’s interesting in a profession where we all take an oath, that they would look at people who have strong faith as somehow not good people, when, if you’re an atheist, what does an oath mean?

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, April 2019.

Unseen wrote:

[…] so if one of these Turing-humans gave you art and it was good enough to be bought and sold on the fine art market, would that necessarily imply a consciousness generating it? And why (whatever your answer is)?

Remember, my concern is whether this being is having experiences, because I think that is what consciousness is…

[Read more]

If I created a very smart machine that turned out paintings, and it had a very human interface (Japanese automatons are becoming creepily believable in terms of their “social stimulus value,” so if one of these Turing-humans gave you art and it was good enough to be bought and sold on the fine art market, would that necessarily imply a…[Read more]

BIKINI PHOTOS!? DUMP THE TRUMP!!
Just kidding, no link there. But while you’re here, if you haven’t seen it in the general Small Talk forum, @Unseen started an interesting discussion about Tulsi Gabbard running in 2020.

Unseen wrote:

We already know that decisions happen before we are aware that we made them […]

It still feels like I made the decision, whether or not it feels like it took time to happen. No definition of “experience” or “I” or “consciousness” or “sub-consciousness” can…[Read more]

Cheers Strega. You might get to the point where you consider it a treat or a luxury to have more days like that 🙂 I make a point of it whenever I can.

Thanks, Reg!  We had a no-screen weekend with the iPads and phones off, no social media, no texts etc.  I’m amazed at how incredibly relaxing it was – Monday morning was a breeze 🙂

The “No Religion” thing has to be regional. I am wondering if this year my town will yet again have a jesus actor dragging his heavy cross along public roads that are closed for the parade.

It IS encouraging that lack of an official religion seems to have reached critical mas. I think this is because atheists, once isolated are now connected. New…[Read more]

Have a great week everyone!!

Agreed Robert. If most theists were actually aware of the horrors committed in the name of their God they would probably start to question their own faith. But they are not aware. They are generally clueless or in denial. I am here to help them if they ever are brave enough to want to hear about it.  I have hundreds of examples all ready for them…[Read more]

Simon Paynton wrote:

I prefer Open Office, it’s nice and simple.

and free

The academic study of religion does not make one naïve or credulous, and much as I love God, I’m extremely aware of the horrors committed, historically and in our own age, in the deity’s name.

You notice when the author says “I love God” you get the capital ‘G’ but when horrors are mentioned it is “the deity”. What an arsehole.