Capitol Hill Blue Forums Life and Moral Issues Religion and Philosophy More Atheists Shout It From the Rooftops

When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
    But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
    And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
--- Sermon on the Mount

'

Here is a quote from Paul Dirac, one of the giants who founded modern quantum mechanics.


"If we are honest—and scientists have to be—we must admit that religion is a jumble of false assertions, with no basis in reality. The very idea of God is a product of the human imagination. It is quite understandable why primitive people, who were so much more exposed to the overpowering forces of nature than we are today, should have personified these forces in fear and trembling. But nowadays, when we understand so many natural processes, we have no need for such solutions. I can't for the life of me see how the postulate of an Almighty God helps us in any way. What I do see is that this assumption leads to such unproductive questions as why God allows so much misery and injustice, the exploitation of the poor by the rich and all the other horrors He might have prevented. If religion is still being taught, it is by no means because its ideas still convince us, but simply because some of us want to keep the lower classes quiet. Quiet people are much easier to govern than clamorous and dissatisfied ones. They are also much easier to exploit. Religion is a kind of opium that allows a nation to lull itself into wishful dreams and so forget the injustices that are being perpetrated against the people. Hence the close alliance between those two great political forces, the State and the Church. Both need the illusion that a kindly God rewards—in heaven if not on earth—all those who have not risen up against injustice, who have done their duty quietly and uncomplainingly. That is precisely why the honest assertion that God is a mere product of the human imagination is branded as the worst of all mortal sins."
--- Paul Dirac Physics and Beyond: Encounters and Conversations (1971)


If I understand Dirac correctly, his meaning is this: there is no God, and Dirac is his Prophet.
[Es gibt keinen Gott und Dirac ist sein Prophet]
--- Wolfgang Pauli

.

'
Schlack, I liked your cartoon :



It reminded me of something which I was sure I had posted here years ago, but I couldn't find it with search. It seems to have gone into a computer black hole. I thought it might be offensive on the Round Table (you know the American mania for maintaining a "feel good" atmosphere), so I resurrected this thread to post it. Hope you like it. I'll put it in the next entry.

'
It is the Last Judgment. God stands before the Pearly Gates dividing the people into two groups. To the group on His right He says, "Oh, My true and faithful Atheists, well done! I created the world without any evidence of My existence; indeed, all the evidence led in the opposite direction! I gave mankind the god-like power of reason, and you, noble atheists, used that gift properly and courageously! The false promises of religion did not mislead you; you resisted the lure of fables backed by authority; childish hopes of comfort and salvation did not deter you from uncompromisingly following the path of reason, as you saw it, to its final conclusions. Even ridicule, discrimination and persecution did not daunt you; the talents which I gave you, you used and increased; for your intelligence and courage, for your ability to reject folly and seek wisdom---Welcome! Enter into eternal glory!"

Then God turns to the group on His left and says, "You religious fools! You infantile cowards! Through fear you refused to grow up and become adults. You clung to fables and just-so stories. You were unwilling to exercise the intelligence which I gave you as my most priceless gift! No absurdity was too great, no fairy tale too outrageous, provided it gave you childish comfort and the vain hope that no matter what crimes you committed, some Outside Power would reach down and save your unworthy butts! You have wasted and corrupted My gifts! My universe has no place for such as you; I reject you utterly! Into the lake of eternal fire with you, and be consumed!"

Numan, I suspect that you might find the following to be a common scenario among the more enlightened.

I will not get involved in this thread. However, if anyone is interested in Secular Humanist activities, send me an email and I will locate a local group for you.

sp@rightpov.com

I reopen my web site in a couple of weeks and I will be discussing Secular Humanists in Republican Party.

Secular Humanists in the Republican Party???
Sandy, right about now I daresay that most if not all of the Secular Humanists have been ridden out of the GOP on a rail and tarred and feathered for daring to speak up.

I wish you well in your search for Secular Humanist Republicans but methinks you'll sooner find petrified unicorn droppings in amber.

I sent my first article to a resident of this country club and he raved about the idea and the necessity to stop the assault on non-Christians. He admitted to being a Republican and Agnostic. I've met many of them in my involvement in the groups on my list. A little push by an old lady might just bring others into the group.

Not ready to give up being a Republican are you, Sandy?
It will take more than a little push by an old lady to set that party on the right track. I'd suggest you position yourself at the top of a few Church staircases. The results of a small push there would be much more dramatic.

And no one would ever suspect....;)

I want a strong two-party system in the government. It is the base of what used to be a strong oversight system. There is no way I would vote Republican at this time. I haven't since 1988. My plan is to introduce secularism within the federal government and then take a look at how this balance will make progress.

Many members of the Secular Humanist groups all over America still have a belief in God. They also recognize and dislike this introduction of Evangelical Fundamental madness in a nation that was developed under secularism.

Greger, you continue to insult others who want more determination in our government. I am not a Christian therefore would not ever consider violence as action. I have no God inspiring me to push anyone down anything. I know many who plan violence in the name of Jesus Christ. I support our churches as they are built very well to showcase our chamber music musicians. To me music tops the supernatural.