Tero's Atheist Ramblings

[Tero]

It's a recent book by Vincent Bugliosi.

I only needed one review to dismiss his "agnostic is right" philosophy.

One thing that disturbs Bugliosi about evolution is the fact that if we truly did evolve from monkeys or apes then why do they still exist? Shouldn't they have all evolved into humans?! I'm not kidding, that is on page 64 of this book.

He seems to have written a Helter Skelter book as well
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Bugliosi

[Tero]

Could we just change the title to Random Atheistic Postings?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cowper_Brann

Brann said he didn't have anything against the Baptist, "they just didn't hold them under long enough."

[Mysturji]

It's a recent book by Vincent Bugliosi.
...
He seems to have written a Helter Skelter book as well
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Bugliosi

Yeah, he was the lead prosecution lawyer in the trial against Charles Manson. I read the book after seeing the TV miniseries (and being a Beatles fan).
Helter Skelter was a good book. His new one sounds .

[Tero]

Here are the reviews
http://www.amazon.com/Divinity-Doubt-Qu ... 602&sr=8-1

[mistermack]

It seems a shame that such a talented guy could make a fool of himself like that.
He's clearly open to reasoned argument, so why on earth did he not research evolution a bit better, or send his arguments to someone who could point out the glaring howlers.

I think he's probably going to have to backtrack an awful lot on what he's written. But I get the feeling that he might be man enough to do that, as he seems to prize logic so much.

There's nothing wrong with advocating agnosticism, but his arguments on evolution are bordering on the childishly ignorant. A little advice and research could have saved this book.
It's a shame, a good opportunity spoiled.
.

[Tero]

MODS: Need new title for this thread, not derail, just make it like Tero's Atheist Ramblings.

Here is a lighthearted look at atheism. I think we all have to explain this to people at times that we are not cold hearted gloomy people after we lose god. I wrote this in 2008 in a blog. Feel free to cut and paste it anywhere you go. Tell them you found it on Rationalia, no need to mention me.

So you decided to become an atheist, what now?

First, if you got here through a traumatic experience, you need a fresh start. Move houses, change jobs, move to Alaska, whatever it takes to break off.

I am not here to tell you how to become an atheist. I also have to explain that I am a Unitarian (or was, my daughter still is one). I do not deny the feelings people have about spiritual things. You have to deal with those on an individual basis. But try to pick friends who can be a bit rational as well, even if they need these spiritual things.

OK, so, now we are atheists, you and me. You still go to work, you eat and sleep. You get sick, go to the doctor. Life is pain and pleasure and sometimes boredom. You have a nice meal and it still tastes as good as before. You enjoy your friends, relatives, the sun shines and you can be happy. You are free! The philosophical concept of free will is unprovable. But you are unique, you are the product of your genes and your personal history. It is nature and nurture. You may be gifted. Be thankful, be happy, you can do more stuff in your life than someone else. Who do we thank? Our genetic heritage and out parents for their love. If you did it all on your own and did not become a selfish person in your struggle, pat yourself on the back. Buy yourself an ice cream cone, I give you permission.

Sin is still a concept, but we atheists need another person, or the vague “world” to sin against. If you sin against a person, you need to apologize. If you have “sinful thoughts”, forget them and forgive yourself. If you have guilt, talk it out with a friend. Donate to a charity if that helps you.

Your religious friends will come around and pity you, because “your life has no meaning”. You just smile back and tell them they are silly. Buy them and ice-cream cone. If they persist in this line of thinking, tell them you love them, and that you will never again discuss religion with them. If they are close to you, give them a little hug.

Some things never change. Love is real, life is real, flowers still come up in the spring. Find someone you can love and not end up with ideological conflicts with. If you need some sort of spiritual interaction, if you need help with life issues, and still need to seek for some sort of meaning, study nature for example. The creatures in nature are perfectly happy in the present, they live fully every minute. They can’t all be wrong.

There may be someone out there who claims I am not atheistic enough (merely an agnostic), I give too much credit to emotion as a valid thing. You have problems, you will spend time reading a lot of books looking for meaning. There is not going to be any solution in books. Philosophy is a bunch of crap. If you need to read something, read Atheism, a short introduction, by Julian Baggini.

Don’t collect money and stuff, money does not bring much happiness. Have a good life!

[Tero]

This was a discussion somewhere, I forget where. Because I have changed the names I can claim I invented the whole thing.

Apologies to Rich Hall who invented the four Tires of Life in his book Self Help for the Bleak.

I am quoting a few people on a message board below. I am T.

T: "You do damage to yourself by ignoring your conscience. Think of it as a car with more and more dents. You could avoid more dents after that first scrape on the door."

AB: I don't really get the car analogy...do scrapes prevent dents? What is a "dent" here, like a bad act?

T: Sure, the point is, you do not want to drive a junker car all your life, keep your "car" free of dents even as miles add up. There is no second car, you only get one.

AB: Oh, I like this one. So when you die, you get points for having a car in good shape?

See, I get it. You shouldn't drive a junker car all your life, but if that car as even one working part on the day you die, you wasted it.

T: Right.

You are in charge of oil changes and spare parts.

JL: Is there, like, a spiritual bodyshop where you can get the dents pulled, or are they really just superficially concealing the dents behind Biblical Bondo?

Zen and the Art of Collision Repair...

EDIT: Maybe the best bet is to keep the car in the garage...

AB: Yes: "Maybe the best bet is to keep the car in the garage..."

This is my point exactly.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Tero, I reported this thread so the Mods would check it. They'll see your request for a subject mod when they see the flag.

[Tero]

Sorry, it was fixed alrady, no need. But thanks.

[hiyymer]

I give too much credit to emotion as a valid thing.

I read Damasio's latest book, "Self Comes to Mind". In it he draws the distinction between emotion and feeling. He defines emotion has the physical process of the body's reaction to external stimuli. He wonderfully communicates the steps that produces the cascading neurotransmitters, chemicals, and glandular responses that are the PHYSICAL EVENT called emotion. Feeling is then defined as the conscious experience of that event. Emotion is not only a "valid thing", but a physical reality as well.

[Tero]

Grabbed from random person:

Speaking of, I just bought this amazing shirt. There is a picture of a dinosaur on it, and the text says 'I went to the Creation Museum and all I got was stupider'.

(You can get one here, in a variety of colors: http://shop.cafepress.com/i-went-to-the-creation-museum)

[Tero]

today

Ada D. sez:
Atheists don't have to go through life looking for a laundry list of reasons why the world is an awful place, steeped in wickedness and sin, indicating that the End is Near and the Last Judgement is at hand.
======

Well, of course not. Religious fundamentalists have already done that for us.

[Tero]

My favorite atheist. I found his 1950s booklets in the Unitarian library. It's all on line too.
http://www.theinfidels.org/zunb-josephmccabe.htm

http://www.infidels.org/library/histori ... ph_mccabe/

[Tero]

Book review. It's not worth reading the book, just read the reviews

Other glaring problems can also be found. D. Marshall leaves out many facts that would harm his case about the historicity of the gospels. He says how people could easily remember events that took place decades later and because of this we can surmise that the biblical authors wrote a truthful account of what they remembered. This argument has a tremendous hole because it's well known that myths and fanciful stories can become fully developed within a very short period of time. David Marshall does virtually nothing to counter this very relevant fact.

http://www.amazon.com/Truth-Behind-New- ... 847&sr=1-1

[Tero]

I copied as little as I could

In any case, those waging the cultural war against God tend not to reproduce, or not very well at least, so ironically in view of Dawkins's selfish gene, it's more a matter of destructive activity. I have always believed that is a losing force, as it always has been in view of God, who always has been, is and always will be.

Mr. Theist is right! Those atheists in a monogamous relationship are obligated to produce at least two copies. Rich single ladies are also asked to contribute.