NewChapter

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Posts by NewChapter

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  699

  A truce between Atheists and Non-Atheists?

  by palmtree67 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.

  "there are good atheists and bad atheists.

  there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".

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  NewChapter

  The question is . . . does he have a right to say so?

  If it continues in this line, then yes, it is about the topic at hand.

  So I will add to that line. I find it incredibly disturbing when people would martyr themselves for faith in something that can't be proven. We all tend to agree on this when it comes to the blood issue or suicide bombers--and some of us take that all the way and say it is all a bad idea.

  That's not to say that there are not things that a person wouldn't sacrifice life, health and comfort for, but from my perspective, doing so for something i can see no evidence of, it will always be a deep shame and waste to me.
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  699

  A truce between Atheists and Non-Atheists?

  by palmtree67 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.

  "there are good atheists and bad atheists.

  there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".

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  NewChapter

  Sab, the topic of this thread, (and as redefined as we went along) was to find practical ways that we could have these debates in such a way that they didn't deteriorate into mud slinging. If you want to discuss people dying for their beliefs (which is NOT this topic) PLEASE start a thread. I am personally so tired of these threads getting hijacked by unrelated topics. I don't think that is unreasonable of me, since it is very simple to just start a new thread. Palm has worked very hard to keep this thread focused and on track. I am not telling what you can and cannot post. I am simply asking you to be considerate and start a thread. I'm sure many will be willing to engage you there.

  I have no authority over you, I'm not telling you what to do, but I am asking you to be considerate of the OP and topic at hand.

  That's all I can say on the matter. I will put it all on ignore from this point forward.
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  699

  A truce between Atheists and Non-Atheists?

  by palmtree67 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.

  "there are good atheists and bad atheists.

  there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".

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  2. 
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  NewChapter

  Sab, if you start a thread, posters can focus on that very different topic.

  I think that it is possible that the consensus on how we will engage in the future will not be in total agreement with individual expectations. That doesn't mean a lot hasn't been accomplished with this thread. An individual may think they know the best way all should go, but that is not the consensus. I think the important thing is that we have come to some type of consensus, whether each individual feels it went exactly as they would have chosen.

  We (mostly) agree to not bait just for the sake of baiting. We (mostly) agree to try and recognize that some posts have the simple purpose of stirring up emotions that may already feel antagonized. We (mostly) agree to do our best not to be manipulated by these posts, and to ignore them, or address them without taking the bait, but simply pointing out that they are progressing the conversation, but seeking to stall it and start a fight.

  There are individual expectations that won't be met. For instance, if I had my wish, people would accept that attacking an idea is not the same as attacking a person, and ideas should be fair game, especially when thrown into the crucible--so to speak. I don't think that is going to happen, so I am content with the other strategies we have talked about. I won't prophecy doom and gloom because everyone does not agree with my take, but am just glad we may have figured out a way to keep things from deteriorating into locked and deleted threads, and more hostility.
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  699

  A truce between Atheists and Non-Atheists?

  by palmtree67 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.

  "there are good atheists and bad atheists.

  there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".

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  2. 
  3. 
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  NewChapter

  ep try again. spammer problems so i may have accidentally denied it.. i dont remember it. sorry not used to posting from phone.
• 
  699

  A truce between Atheists and Non-Atheists?

  by palmtree67 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.

  "there are good atheists and bad atheists.

  there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".

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  2. 
  3. 
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  NewChapter

  hellpuppy is great. hope he gets an account soon. always the calm voice in the storm.
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  26

  Nativity display lawsuit: Atheists vs. Christians

  by Scott77 in

  1. social
  2. current

  gillian flaccus from the associated press reports on november 19, 2012 in the christian science monitor that 'the atheist's anti-god message alongside a life-sized nativity display in a park overlooking the beach [has] ignited a debate that burned brighter than any christmas candle... http://www.csmonitor.com/usa/latest-news-wires/2012/1119/nativity-display-lawsuit-atheists-vs.-christians-in-santa-monicahttp://www.csmonitor.com/usa/latest-news-wires/2012/1119/nativity-display-lawsuit-atheists-vs.-christians-in-santa-monica.

  what is your reaction to this lawsuit?

  is it fair?

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  NewChapter

  Personally, I don't really freak out at Nativity scenes. I don't mind them---whatever. But I think that there is a deeper issue under this, and possibly a constitutional one.

  A large portion of our politicians don't believe in the separation of Church and State. There is an ever present battle being waged, and certain things become symbolic of that battle. Like Big Bird. Big Bird will live even if govt quits supporting him. It's not Big Bird, but a clash of ideologies.

  This is a clash of ideologies, and frankly, the right thing would be for govt not to support one religion over another. If the Christian right was not painting every Muslim as a terrorist, trying to slip ID into schools, and trying to legislate their morality on the rest of us, perhaps such displays would not rankle as much. But that's what they are doing, so every small battle is elevated.

  I confess, I have not yet read the article, and I will do so, but I just wanted to post on the issue. Some are saying that it is not the Atheists that started the trouble, but the Christians, and the headline was meant to mislead and stir up feelings against angry, petty atheists.

  I have a friend that is a Pagan. Her mayor proposed that their city motto should be The Most Christian City in the USA, or something along those lines. These appear to be small battles, but they are linked to a much larger issue.
• 
  699

  A truce between Atheists and Non-Atheists?

  by palmtree67 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.

  "there are good atheists and bad atheists.

  there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  NewChapter

  Will do, Silence! Tell Pup to try Hadespuppy or something. I don't think they like "hell". It's all quite funny, because what people might envision from that name is the opposite of pup.
• 
  699

  A truce between Atheists and Non-Atheists?

  by palmtree67 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.

  "there are good atheists and bad atheists.

  there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  NewChapter

  So I had my kitchen floor done this weekend by two guys that are friends of mine. One is an atheist/Democrat. One is a non-atheist/Republican.

  An explosive mix, but the floor came out quite nice. Who could have forseen that?
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  699

  A truce between Atheists and Non-Atheists?

  by palmtree67 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.

  "there are good atheists and bad atheists.

  there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".

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  2. 
  3. 
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  NewChapter

  Palm, remember that politician in Maine that expressed shock and suspicion that 'dozens' of black people came to the polls to vote? It just happened last week. He said nobody knew any black people lived in the area! They were going to check into it. He was challenged, and a bit later he said that of course he knew there were some black people in Maine, and you can't accuse him of being racist because he played basketball every weekend with a black man.

  Palm, there are some angry posts that are trying to stir up bad feeling, bait, and really do nothing in the spirit of this thread, which was to ask how we can lead to better debate (not truce, as you were very clear that you chose the wrong word).

  Many people here said some very positive things, and it seems we agree that if we wish to discuss this, it is likely to be pretty tense. If we can ignore the posts that want to be the flash point in the powder keg, it probably won't get out of hand. That's really all we can do, ignore them, because generally when this is festering, there is no convincing them to stop.

  Let's make sure your thread goes out with dignity and not in one of these senseless, silly, petty battles.
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  13

  Religious Genital Mutilation

  by Joe Grundy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i never was a jw.

  i am an atheist.

  (i keep introducing my posts that way, but it's for the avoidance of doubt).. on an entirely different mb, someone just raised the issue of fgm.

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  NewChapter

  Damage done to children---babies----no consent required.