The UK is the most spiritually empty place I have ever lived. And it is also the most scary. You can't trust anyone and people are prone to random acts of violence purely because they are full of rage. It is like Kubrick's Clockwork Orange.

If that is the triumph of atheism then it isn't much of a triumph. We need hope in life and we need to believe in something good otherwise all there is matter and emptiness.

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It's very sad to hear people talking about God as if they knew something. That goes for the fundamentalists as well as those who claim certain knowledge of a blind, mechanical, uncaring universe.

I'm not an agnostic in the sense of "probably an atheist", in fact I'm a practicing Christian. And I read the Bible, and I pray, and I take communion, and I believe the Holy Spirit exists and moves.

But it seems that both (all) sets of ranters are looking for deterministic answers, either from science or from doctrinaire theology, and sometimes from convoluted ethical theory. But none of these paths have helped us improve our behavior as humans. All of these are prone to elitism and power plays. History does not support the idea that science or political philosophy or religion can be impartial forces for good free from the baggage of human power structures.

I ask no special consideration for my world view, because I don't believe God needs my help or my protection. But let's not spout fake history when we're not historians, or try and parse Spinoza when we can't even get through Hobbes, or talk about the virtues of science when we're not scientists, or fake theology when we haven't even read the Bible or whichever scripture you care to name. And please don't tell me what a Christian IS, and I'll return the favor and not try to tell you what an atheist IS, or what a socialist IS, or what a humanist philsopher IS. There's one thing that all of the above are, unquestionably, however: human and fallible. A little grace and acceptance of diversity would go a long way in our social climate right now. We're all here, there are not going to be re-education camps, nor a theocracy, nor a clinical society run by scientists. None of these things are going to happen.

We MIGHT be able to make things a teensy bit better by agreeing to allow each other the space promised by our political system, by upholding the rule of law, and working to make those laws more equitable. but that will take cooperation, not victory by one faction or another.

Peace

Ken Hymes

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...that whenever the gene for "arrogant snot" is finally identified, we will be able to empirically establish that Mr. Dawkins suffers from an over-production of the haughty, mucous substance. It must be a chemical imbalance; how else could someone be that crabby?

Recommended reading: The Selfish Gene, a three-part comedy.

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You can lob ad hominem attacks at the guy all day, but it does not provide a shred of objective evidence for a deity's existence.

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-of cartoon messages. I think they are evil
tools of nose-retching and chaos.
Science is a promising instrument of observation and measurement which has been developing for... quite a few seasons now, I think.
Maybe scientists, like Dawkins, could learn from South Park, or Bill Moyers how to be less...ass-like when confronting opposing views.
However, I also think religion under names like- The Christian Coalition ARE an insidious conspiracy. Those movements will be back again and again under various names (like Family Research Council or some-such). So, let's be clear.
Richard Dawkins is a Hominid.
Cartman is a DICK.

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Silence.

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And I liked better when Cartman says "This is the future and you can't hook up the Wii?" And the technician says, "It may be the future to you, but I can't hook this up without the right connector."

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As I reflect on Dawkins being tarred and feathered for his willingness to take on religion, I can't help but see how this proves the point he and Sam Harris and others are making that of all the subjects in the world, why is religion so off limits? Why can't we call religious supernaturalists on their B. S.? It is debatable whether or not moderate religious people are part of the problem or can be part of the solution, but most of what Dawkins and others say is aimed at literal interpretations of religion.

I haven't watched a lot of Southpark, but I understand it likes to take on fundamentalists of all stripes, even atheistic ones, and Dawkins is a big boy. To the extent he is an atheist fundamentalists, I send kudos to Southpark. I simply believe a heathy willingness to take on religion is a good thing, and maybe it takes atheistic fundamentlists to do so effectively. I still struggle about how to take on goofy ideas such as heaven, hell, available virgins for martyrs in the afterlife, etc. I am not an atheistic fundamentlist. I consider myself religious in that I am an active member of a liberal religious fellowship, Unitarian Universalism. But I do get a kick out of books wriitten by people like Dawkins and Harris that take on the crazy, luny stuff that some people believe and that leads some people to do some pretty heinous things (suicide bombers, abortion clinic bombers, etc.).

I just finished reading Dawkins book and it is a hell of a good work. I am still finding my sea legs as to how to calmly bring to people's attention the insanity of fundamentalist beliefs. I personally believe we will have religions for the foreseeable future so the best we can hope for is to encourage moderates in that sphere to restrain their more simpleminded, er., literalistic brethren.

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Dear God,

It’s me again. I hope you don’t mind my annual letter to you- a tradition I began two years ago in 2004.

Well it seems that yet another major debate is going on down here on planet Earth, Milky-way Galaxy among some of our most eminent scientists, educators, philosophers and theologians about biological evolution of the human species and so called creationism or intelligent design.

To me God this argument again misses the mark. Science and Spirituality, to me, are not incompatible at all? Personally I actually believe they are inextricably bound to each other? I personally believe my rational thinking or investigatory scientific skills are sharpened, stimulated and leveraged by my sense of wonder and awe of the sheer beauty of the universe which is ultimately, for me, is unfathomable. The essence of Science, in my mind, is indeed mystery. Science tries- you smile lovingly.

I am left with who to thank? So my gratitude goes to you and the many scientists who have labored to advance our quality of life here on this planet. But the scientists need to demonstrate some humility and not deify their disciplines.

God- whether man was created in 6 days or 3 billion years doesn’t really matter. Time, as we earthlings measure it, doesn’t really exist in your universe.

What matters, God, is that we need down here on this planet in deep trouble, to be kind more than we need to be right. I feel that stronger than ever this year. Help us, dear God, in achieving that.

As usual I close with hoping to meet you in future but please- no rush

Love Always,

Rick Lippin
December 2006

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The Buddha said that talking and arguing about "God" is complete waste of time. The past Pope said that Buddhism is athiestic because Buddhists don't 'believe' in a creator god. Buddhism is concerned with relieving suffering here and now.
Seems like a better way to spend ones time and energy than all this blab...

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