Hanging of Saddam Hussein Caps Year of Strife, Death, Torture
What price has the U.S. and the world paid for the death of Saddam Hussein?
The crimes against humanity continue.
December has been the deadliest month of the year for U.S. troops in Iraq.
Where are we going? Bush still doesn't seem to have any answers.
These are a few new magazine ads from Amnesty International which make an ingenious and chilling use of staples. Let's pray we don't have to see these ads again at the end of 2007.
Posted Dec. 30,2006 at 2:24 PM EST by Andy Towle in George W. Bush, Iraq, News | Permalink
Dex
I have to agree with David.
"show respect" Uhm....sorry nope. delusions are delusions. Schizophrenia is schizophrenia. Don't have to respect either. I would say that one should try to kindly point out said delusions and possible cases of schizophrenia though I myself need to work on being kind.
It is cruel to not point out when people are relying on crutches, delusions, or listening to the "god" voices in their heads. Cruel and inhuman to not point out that there are no gods.
Check out the "God That Wasn't There" documentary on DVD and Richard Dawkin's book "The God Delusion"
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Jan 1, 2007 9:52:24 AM
Look, I know some of you have this *thing* with religion, and that's fine. I understand it and where it comes from. But can you see how calling the whole my belief system "delusional" and analogous to schizophrenia while comparing me to a mental patient might be a wee bit offensive?
Being openly and proudly gay and being openly and proudly religious--whatever your religion--do not have to be mutually exclusive.
I'm here. I'm religious. And I'm likely not alone. Get used to it ;)
Posted by: Dex | Jan 1, 2007 10:39:06 AM
Re: There is no God.
I respect my atheist friends in their opinions. I do not share their view.
I am a believer in God with agnostic leanings, which means that for me, belief is a matter of faith. But my scientific upbringing allows plenty of room for doubt. I simply choose to believe there is a higher intelligence.
That choice is in no way delusional or (far worse) a sign of mental illness.
David, and Jimmyboyo, my suggested reading for you are the numerous books on quantum mechanics, string theory and M Theory.
These new frontiers in physics suggest that the Universe is far more bizarre and glorious than anyone previously imagined. In fact, the mathematical formulas that explain String Theory also show how it accounts for the Big Bang and the possibility - however fantastic - that we humans can create a big bang in an alternate universe in our laboratories.
Hmmmm, maybe someone has already done that with OUR universe.
The position that there is no God is as arrogant as the position that we know God and have IT all figured out.
Posted by: mark m | Jan 1, 2007 10:50:40 AM
Pompous? Arrogant? For a one-liner on Andy's blog? I didn't say anything about not respecting people's religious beliefs, I just threw my own disconsolate voice out there about the miserable, murderous happenings in the world we've referred to today (yesterday) on this blog posting comments section.
The inspiration:
"'Are we just talking to ourselves in an empty universe? The silence is often so emphatic, and we've prayed so much already.'"
--Annie Dillard, quoting someone else in her book For the Time Being.
Posted by: david | Jan 1, 2007 11:10:06 AM
Those Amnesty International ads are centerfolds -- B&D porn for authoritarians. I can hear Alberto Gonzales fapping away right now.
Posted by: John T | Jan 1, 2007 1:17:22 PM
Dave,
"If you're joking, that's very funny."
See, I thought your one-liner was funny. Didn't mean to offend you, buddy.
Posted by: Dex | Jan 1, 2007 1:18:10 PM
Mark M
Hi and happy new year
:-)
Dax
As I said, I myself do need to work on presenting such things in a nicer way
But to simply sit back and say nothing is like sitting back and allowing an adult to continue to believe in the easter bunny.
Anyway...back to Mark M
Hi again.
I am a strange sort of atheist in that I do wax poetic when referring to Universe. I even refer to Universe, the all in all as Divine. Now when I refer to the Infinite and Infinitely multidimensional Universe as divine I do not in any way subscribe a form of volition to such. In zen Buddhism the ultimate state is without volition...just eternal existence in the ever present now without thought, need, desire, want, volition...Just Being. Does the entirety of universe exist in such a state? I would be a fool to say that I know the answer to such, but the ultimate state of consciousness = non-consciousness would make for a divine Universe that does not care for nor even hear or is made aware of prayers of "cells" within it.
The synergy in nature...where the sum of the parts working and flowing together is greater than the parts is miraculous.....but am I to abase myself to such? No, never.....I am to blend and flow as a part of the greater whole.
There are no gods, but Universe is infinite, infinitely multidimensional, divinely beautiful, greater than the sum of its parts, a great dance......chaotic order / ordered chaos, magical YES (quantum physics does show results that appear poetically magical), where all things are possible just not probable......WE are small, oh so very small parts of a beautiful whole....though in the end if there is a spark of some sort of consciousness it would wish if it was aware of us little "cells" at all (are we aware of each of our cells?) to just exist/ be with no care for our personal problems or prayers maybe only care for our being unbalanced and not blending and flowing with the rest and then things in nature react like our own white blood cells and remove the offending/ non-balanced thing.
I do not discount humanity eventually evolving into god like beings, if we survive. Any advanced sort of technology will appear as magic to less sophisticated societies per Arthur C Clark's "Clark's law". I do not discount the possibility of higher dimensional beings like a 4th dimensional hyperbieng being mistaken for a god by us 3 dimensional beings, but the majority of religious experiences throughout human history were/ are the results of chemical imbalances in the brain and or hallucinogenic substances. Heck, John the Beloved apostle who wrote The Apocolypse/ Revelations wrote it while imprisoned on the island of Patmos where a specific hallucinogenic mushroom is abundant and native to that rocky prison island where little else grew/grows or could be/can be eaten. Jewish writings recommend the use of pot as medicine hundreds upon hundreds of years pre jesus myth. Spoiled bread in the time of no refrigeration.....spoiled breads have a fungus grow on them called Ergot which is very hallucinogenic. The holy grail which is a myth native only to northern Europe just happens to occur in the same areas where a native mushroom that is highly hallucinogenic with a red cap grows and when mature its cap curls up on the sides and makes what looks like a cup filled with blood......when taken one will see god....it is that strong of a hallucinogen while also deadly if not prepared properly. We all know of the use of peyote and other substances in native american rituals, we know that pot has been grown for thousands and thousands and thousands of years in the fertile crescent Iraq, iran, syria, stretching into Israel and Arabia where all 3 monotheistic religions were born. Ironically the same religions that preach against the use of hallucinogens were 99.99999999999999999% created by their use.
Anyway; prayer wastes time. just be. Just blend and flow in the great dance that is universe. Have problems? Then you are not blending and flowing and are in need of getting back into balance.
;-)
Happy new year
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Jan 1, 2007 1:40:39 PM
The Easter Bunny? Oi, Jimmy, there you go again! You can think what you want about my faith, but don't belittle it that way. You might want to start correcting your 'kindness' deficiency instead of just talking about it.
If all that chic New Age stuff is what you believe in, awesome. Whatever I think of it, I don't have the knowledge to discredit it or the right to tell you you're wrong. But the same rule applies to you and everyone else. You're no more right than I am. When you push your own beliefs as Truth while denouncing the beliefs of others, what makes you any different from the montheistic fundamentalists you despise?
Posted by: Dex | Jan 1, 2007 2:28:12 PM
It's David - not Dave, I wasn't joking and I wasn't offended. I don't believe in god, and I don't think making declarative statements to that end any more pompous or arrogant than going to church or what have you.
I have officially spent too much time here.
Happy New Year, y'all.
Posted by: David | Jan 1, 2007 4:54:40 PM
Dax
the halucinogen induced history of all religions is in any history + biology book. Look for yourself....nothinbg new age about it. Revelation written on Patmnos native halucinogenic mushroom. The jews who wrote the ot and nt.....Pot is historicaly known to have been used by them as evidenced by their own writings detailing the use of pot as medicine. We know that spoiled bread produces ergot which is highly halucinogenic and common sense says without refrigeration to keep bread fresh or modern chemical preservatives your religous ancestors were high as kites most of the time.
The other POETIC schtick...like I said.....I wax poetic not that it is some kind of religous nonsense. There is NO god/ gods what so ever anywehre anytime anyplace. You hear god? Then your schizophrenic. You think prayer acomplishes something....then you are simply delusional and waisitng time and should just get up off your ass and do whatever it takes to solve the problem.
There are NO GODS. Tough, you don't like it, get over it. Your toothfairy in the clouds to suplement a daddy figure in your life due to bad father role model just does not exist. Get over it. No god no gods no supernatural bs. The infinite multi-dimensional Universe (read a physics book) works along rational scientific principals.
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Jan 1, 2007 6:42:29 PM
PS DEX
my truth can be read in a biology book, physics book, chemistry book, history book, and basic psych 101. My "truth" also can be demonstrated in alaboratory.
Faith is just delusional wishing in the toothfairy.
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Jan 1, 2007 6:44:26 PM
sorry for my typos
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Jan 1, 2007 6:47:23 PM
Woodroad34: Apparently Bushie is too worn out from his three hours of work the other day trying to come up with a new strategy for Iraq -- or else he was passed out on the floor -- that he had to miss the Ford funeral.
President Ford's funeral hasn't happened yet. The Funeral Service is set for Tuesday at the National Cathedral and the burial will be Wednesday in Grand Rapids at Ford's Presidential Library.
Also, President Bush will be speaking at the funeral and he and the First Lady visited the Capitol Rotunda on Monday, where Ford's body has Lain in State over the weekend.
Google is your friend Woodie.
Posted by: KevinS | Jan 2, 2007 2:37:43 AM
Give it up Dex. Atheists like JimmyBoyd put all other fundamentalists to shame with their strident orthodoxy.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson said: "There lives more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the creeds."
I have always thought there was great truth in that saying. Unfortunately I believe there are some who don't have "honest" doubt. I've always gotten the distinct impression they were going to outstanding lengths to deliberately not believe, or to avoid believing. This leads them to try and disabuse anyone of their faith. It isn't enough that they themselves don't believe, they feel threatened by anyone else having faith. You can't have any kind of discussion with that sort of intransigence.
Posted by: KevinS | Jan 2, 2007 3:00:55 AM
Jimmyboyo,
Actually, the 4th dimension is time. The 11th dimension appears to be the location of the numerous membranes that represent an infinite assortment of different universes, and the location from which "one" can view all of the universe's laws of physics in a way that they make sense. (Currently in our universe they break down at the singularity).
I have, for myself, accepted the possibility that God is unaware of us, at least on an individual level. I, however, still believe in the power of prayer, most likely a testament to the power of the human mind -- but no less powerful to the individual.
And here is an even more spectacular way of thinking of it: Remember when I said before that we are not living in nature, but we ARE nature? It is possible in the crazy world of string theory that we not only create our own independent universe in a laboratory but that universe may turn out to be our own.
How about that chicken and egg analogy?
Posted by: mark m | Jan 2, 2007 11:17:52 AM
So my last couple of posts are so obscure, I thought I'd add a simple viewpoint that's easy to read LOL.
I am in no way offended or threatened by atheists, much in the same way that as a lover of science, I do not fear the opinions of family and friends who are devout Christians and believe in a 7-day creation.
My spiritual journey is my own. It's no better or worse than anyone else's and its deeply personal but not in a way that can be threatened. It's protected by my own belief system which is critic proof.
That's what faith is and should be - an internal belief system that needs no proof. And it cannot be torn down by arguments of logic.
I just find it ironic that all the atheists I know are as devout and pious as any born again Christian. One old friend who recently passed away used to have weekly meetings of his atheist friends to talk about their atheism and its influence in their lives...
Like Bible school. Funny.
Posted by: mark m | Jan 2, 2007 11:23:51 AM
Mark M
True the 4th and technicaly 4th 5th and 6th dimensions are time dimensions
BUT for the purposes of laymen discussions many writers and scientists will refer to 4th dimension to differentiate a 4th spatial dimension from us 3 spacial dimensial beings.
:-) I am actualy re-reading "Flatland" at the moment, a classic sci-fi book detailing an encounter between a 2d being and a 3 d being as metaphor for us 3d beings interacting possibly with 4d spatialy beings. I highly recomend it.
Good point on prayer. European scientists have shown in the lab that YES 1 quanta can indeed affect another quanta despite spatial and TIME distance. The result was actualy recorded on tape prior to the action. I would say that prayer can hold a benefit as far as being a primitive form of self hypnosis....I will concede that
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Jan 2, 2007 1:16:33 PM