When I listed the 11 Most Overrated Things about the Decade, I should have remembered the old rule: don't argue about sex, politics or religion (or classic rock albums... but that was fine).
In particular, many people took great offense to what I wrote about The New Atheism, which was very cool in the past decade, and (in passing) the gay movement, which was cool the decade before. Believe it or not, no offense was meant. But may I ask that, if you want to comment (especially with rage), that you please read what I wrote? Properly.
It was only a paragraph. Still, it seems that many people didn't read it properly -- just as they claim I didn't read Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion" properly. (What does it mean to read that book "properly"? To be convinced unwaveringly by the arguments? What is it -- The New Testament or something?)
I'm sorry, but many born-again atheists I know did seem to have done it simply because it was "cool." Not all of them, of course. Sure, a few people have decided to become Atheists through their own accord. As one person says, "Atheists think for themselves." (Am I wrong, or does that person presume to speak for all Atheists?) I'm sure that's true in many cases (though others suggest that we should unquestionably agree with Richard Dawkins).
Still don't get it? OK, here's the gist of what I believe:
1. God, real or not, is a huge concept. Like, really huge.
2. The human mind (even Dawkins' mind) is limited in what it can comprehend. (This is not just my opinion. If you truly think you can understand everything, well, you're obviously much smarter than Einstein, Darwin or Stephen Hawking ever thought they were.)
3. Whether or not God exists, a list of science-based analyses (like Dawkins') can't prove anything, as it stems from a human mind. Perfectly valid criticism of religion (like Christopher Hitchens) also can't prove anything, except that some religious practice sucks.
4. That's all.
As I don't really have the time or the energy, I'll refrain from replying to each angry argument. (Well, I say "argument." The person who wrote "Wrong... Wrong... Wrong... Wrong... Wrong. Next" didn't actually argue anything. Why waste so much time?) Oh, but special mention to the person who suggested that I can't criticize atheists because I'm a "churcher"? Presuming that a churcher is someone who actually goes to Church, then I am not a churcher. (That's another thing that I mention in that obviously confusing entry.) But what are you saying? Nobody should argue with you if they clearly disagree with you? (No, really, that's what it sounds like. Seriously. Read it to yourself.)
As for the "cool" aspect of being gay... OK, perhaps I should elaborate on that. Yes, most gay people in my acquaintance were born with that preference. However, the 1990s was a time for sexual experimentation. Once again, I knew a lot of people who seemed to try homosexuality because it was "cool". Many of them have since returned to opposite-sex partners. I have no problem with homosexuality (though if anyone wants to take offense, well, who can stop you?), and I'm not especially proud of being straight. (It's the way I was born, so I have no choice.)
If you're gay, that's fine. If you're proud of it, good for you. If you're Atheist, for whatever reason, that's wonderful (whatever religious people might say). If you're religious, that's wonderful too (whatever Atheists might tell you). If you don't like being challenged (except by Richard Dawkins), and you want to yell at anyone who disagrees with you... well, that's why we have the internet.
But I still say that there is no technical proof that God exists, nor any proof that he doesn't exist. As we know from various religious people: just because you feel passionately about something, it doesn't mean you're right.
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1) Dawkins doesn't claim to know everything. That kind of arrogance is usually displayed by religious types. All he says is that based on what we know about the universe chances are there is no god. An occurrence breaking all laws of physics would make him change his mind.
2) Nobody can disprove the existence of god? "Bollocks," would say Bertrand Russell, whose cosmic china teapot challange put a dent on that type of questioning years ago.
3) Yes, the god concept is overrated. Also childish and sinister, especially the god of the desert.
what it is to be coolly gay or atheist. You may not be a "churcher"...but you amazingly cover
two topics that just so happen to be a big priority for the Westbro Baptist Church and their ilk.
You seem so shocked that people would have something to say about your ignorant examples
of gay friends and atheists. Also...Dawkins has never stated with certainty that there is no god
. In fact...he goes to great lengths in an entire chapter of The God Delusion to explain that on a
scale of 1 to 6 (believing/not believing) he is a 5. Every lecture by Dawkins/Hitchins/Harris and
company that I have seen or read has been spoken with the humility that all scientists have
regarding what we do and do not know. Turns out after all is said and done, it is scientists that are
comfortable with not knowing. They are excited about knowledge, that's their passion, not
disproving every fantasy that has taken root in the superstitious mind. What's new about the
New Atheism? There is liberation in the expression of disbelief that for hundreds of years
terrified nonbelievers, and for good reason. We are not afraid anymore to call you out on your
hypocrisy. You may call this rage or militancy, but I call it freedom. That is what's NEW.
There are these two strange people Enoch and Melchizedek. Enoch disappeared supposedly without dying and Melchizedek came out of nowhere with NO MOTHER. Well what if they were the same person and God moved him through time. Epistle to the Hebrews does say Enoch was TRANSLATED. Could that be translated THROUGH TIME?
Shouldn't theologians have noticed this in 100 years? LOL
http://www.quantumcritics.com/20080302438/miscellaneous/general/star-trek-meets-the-bible.html.
As for the gay topic. I really don't know why you went there, other than you don't understand gay people. First off, I've always hated the term "gay pride", since it seemed silly. What it really means though is being comfortable with who you are and not living a hidden, often depressed and dangerous, other life. That's why we celebrate...it's a celebration of the fact that we will not bow down to other's ideas of how we should live but instead live the way we born and want to. As for the experimentation thing...whatever. I was a kid/teenager at the time so all I remember is that while it made gay rights seem a sure thing, it never made things easier coming out since people thought I was faking it to get girls (despite getting harrased and bashed).
To me, faith is speculation masquerading as truth. It is a strongly held belief in something for which there is no proof and no amount of wishing it will bring you any closer to knowing.
That pattern seeking part of our mind also can be a great deceiver in the real world, trying to find logic where there is none, always seeking for patterns based on notions of the mind. This is why people see faces on things like tree stumps and see Jesus burned into a grilled cheese sandwich or the Virgin Mary in a sprinkler pattern on the side of a glass building.
Our mind looks for things that it expects to find and you have conditioned your mind to expect to find God, Jesus, a relationship with these things. When you feel good, you interpret it as God moving your emotions, when you need strength you ask God for peace, strength and conviction. The very act of believing that there is something out there beyond you that is helping you out gives your mind the strength that it needs to persevere. The credit for this strength is then falsely attributed to God, when you had it in you all along.
The mind is a truly incredible thing.
2. Dr. Krauss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFMmzKDonRY