David
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What is the one thing in life I was created for?
Well, first the idea of free will is completely up for grabs. Probably always will be. These Christians, when asked is there and how do you know will quickly respond," well yes there is and I know because we've been given it by God". ??? Really...given it, and sure don't refuse it as then you will be going to hell. Is this *free* will? I think not. These "Sheep and Goats" columns are always the same, aren't they. Each interviewee says the same things over and over, yet always without any *reason* applied, and absolutely no evidence. Here it is for you all so that you don't find yourselves reading the nonsense over and over every two weeks... Each of these priests, imams, pastors, rabbis, gurus and yogis wants you to believe their respective gods and goddess's love you and they are full of grace and they forgive you (? For what we ask) and their god/goddess's desire a personal relationship with you and if you follow their god you will go to heaven and if you don't you will go to hell. Each different, they all say this without any explanation, without any evidence nor proof, only these persons human minds, words, zany ideas each just a little bit different... so you are being asked to listen to and believe that these used-car dealers ARE the mind and voice and intention of their god/goddess. And by the way, come to their church and not another's where they will for sure ask you to give them money. It's the same stupid human tricks twice a week.— May 30, 2014 9:19 p.m.
Believers and unbelievers
Dr. Miano... please read my most recent comment. Your comments make little sense. Lack of beliefs can be based upon many things. Atheists repeatedly prove their positions based in reality...not in supernatural bullshit that anyone can say and that anyone can make any claim at all such as all the religious resort to...— May 17, 2014 4:57 a.m.
Believers and unbelievers
Thank you William R. Dickson. We must be watchful of the delusioned religious likes of ther Dorothy Casey's, the Bob Hudson's and the Saul Harmon Gritz's for their unending attempts to erroneously redefine atheists, agnostics and freethinkers to fit their religion's make-belief. I hope we can move on quickly to more interesting subjects ...such as why doesn't the SDReader do a story about the brilliant Carl Sagan? Or an interview with San Diego frequent visitor Lawrence Krauss? Atheism from early Greek comes from "a"...not; and "theos"... god. The view that there are no gods. Commonly, not believing in god; or more strictly, there is no god. (Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy). A rejection of religious belief and the existence of a god or many gods.(Webster's new world dictionary). All of the above based in the ontological arguments, reason, factual evidence, paleontological and archeological evidence, scientific advanced knowledge of the world, universe and cosmos...rationality and logic. As for myself, I do not believe in the Abrahamic gods ...and prophets... also because of the absolute ridiculous and ludicrous nonsense of their respective stories, and the bigger picture; where people are born and raised and the tribe that raises them tells them their god is the only god, believe in this god...and not the others. Everyone of a religion says this, and they are all in contradiction of each other. We atheists belief in just one less gad than these Abrahamic religions (Actually, you see, xtians, muslims and jews are all atheists...they don't believe in the other's god/gods/prophets...strongly. So silly). There are a few thousand religions alive on this planet today, and everyone says theirs is the only one. the one true one. As Dorothy Casey says, "Come on Mr. Child". As Carl "Sagan says, "any preexisting predisposition to religious belief can be powerfully in fluenced by the indigenous culture, wherever you happen to grow up". And still these religious people continue to fight over who's religion is better than the other's. Ridiculous. So easy to see that it is all nonsense.— May 17, 2014 4:46 a.m.
Voicemails, emails, and snail mail
Yes, there is a message in that long sentence, and it appears that you Bob Hudson got it! (I've found that often, what our grade-school teachers told us about writing is not always appropriate and can stifle one's creativity) Now, atheism IS spelt, "atheism"... not "aethism", no creative license allowed here. Also, you make a worn-out self-serving modern day fundamentalist mistake; please allow me to correct you: By definition, atheism is not a religion and never will be... across the board, in any language, in any country, in any era. We have no gods, "gurus", "Sunday services", and no "etc." in this regard. You may have learned that atheism is (yuk-yuk) a-theistic. We do not believe in any goddesses, gods, or gurus, and/or whatever of this nature... nor do we believe in any such attendant religions or "spiritualities", By the way, there are and have been hundreds of gods in the human world (it appears no other living creatures on this planet suffer said self-torment) and apparently you do not believe in most of them. We atheists believe in only one god less than you... so who's the atheist?— May 17, 2014 3:20 a.m.
Letters — now with audio!
I would agree with Saul Harmon Gritz and Elizabeth Schwartz on one point... it *is* obnoxious to be approached by these christian nut-jobs and their childish delusional lunacy at the Park...or anywhere for that matter. On a campus, at a festival, etc.. I rather enjoy the way Amazon tribes deal with these whacko intruders (they shut them up permanently). How offensive can the self-righteous religious be? And what do they expect when intruding upon another and telling them they are living their lives wrong (according to xtian nonsense) for generations? However, Saul confounds me with his contradictions and unreasonable thinking. Disappearing though it is, we still have a semblance of freedom of speech in our public places. Saul awaits a day when even this will be taken from us all? I don't, though with the Republican hell-bent ruination of all that the U.S. used to stand for; it will be taken from all U.S. citizens soon. There *is* a religious assault going on in this country Saul. Go outside and see it for yourself. Stand and fight it or move out of the way. I wonder also if Saul (atheist he claims to be) approves the way the Republican foot-soldiers (the born -again, evangelical, protestant christians) are forcing their religion down the throats of our school children, our government, our health-care, indeed our health, and our real science? We are a nation of freedom of religion and freedom from religion, and a nation based upon and governed rationally from the separation of church and state. I wonder if nebulous persons, atheists such as Saul, approve of so many right-wing christians attempting to usurp our constitution and our nation's laws by their unending attempts at forcing their shit upon all of the rest of us, and making this nation a nation of religious fascists, complete with all of that hate and tyranny ruling all of our lives? You can't hide forever Saul; there is an insideous war going on. We atheists didn't start it, but we atheists are going to protect the freedom of our nation and our lives from it.— May 10, 2014 11:51 p.m.
There is a role that each person is uniquely designed by God to fulfill
"A tremendous amount of energy and effort goes into investing in the congregation to perpetuate the congregation." A common or should I say repetitious impression in all of these "Sheep and Goats" columns is that all of these interviewees are trying hard to keep people giving them money..."To perpetuate the congregation" ... to keep their "profession" of nonsense if you will, alive. Of course, they can only do this so long as they continue espousing the fantasy favorite to each one of them, and hope that some gullible person will even listen to them and go to their church and not their competitor's church. They say all sorts of bizarre things to entice. However, they never, never offer up any evidence nor proof of their supernatural ideas. It's the same old story every two weeks, just a few imagined details different. But hey, this is the first time I ever learned that some of these bizarre people think that god drives around in a bus to pick humans up and drive them to 'heaven' or to 'hell'... and I have heard some real whoppers from fundamentalist christians... like going to heaven means we will go to live in a big white mansion (for real ...they believe a real physical structure floats around far up in the atmosphere) that is beautifully furnished and you'll have everything you ever wanted and need there... which by the way could begin the sinning all over again, yes? Religious and 'Spiritual' churches... oh my god. Fairy tales and Santa Claus and the fools who claim they are true to get the gullible and the uneducated's money and attention. Oh my god, can anyone truly believe this childish and idiot nonsense?— May 9, 2014 7:23 p.m.
No teachers’ union, no political agendas…
Charter schools, bad idea all the way around. Discriminatory against school students in so many ways. A few making easy money off of us taxpayers. A right-wing attempt to circumvent the value of fully-trained and educated teachers of the Teacher's Union and to separate the working class and poor communities from the rich. Bravo our public education system and it's teachers! Say no to charter schools!— May 3, 2014 3:13 p.m.
Jackass Journalism
My dear brothers and sisters of the San Diego Reader... we are gathered here today in response to the Letter from Saul Harmon Gritz of Hillcrest, "Simply a Nonbelief". My initial response was...what in the world is this guy talking about in regards to my letter, "Equal Time" (April 24 issue)? There is no mention at all of "competition" in my letter... a recurring theme of Saul's letter. Dear Saul is off the mark, clearly, alas, totally. As I wrote,"...where is the *equal time* here?". E-Q-U-A-L T-I-M-E. I proposed absolutely no competition, but alternating weeks of different subject matter. End of conversation? Wait just a minute please. I hope that Saul will give us some reliable and current statistics of which belief systems are more prevalent and how prevalent non-belief is and compares throughout the world. "Religious" beliefs of Deism, Pantheism, Polytheism, Animism, etc. are prevalent all over the world; not only Theism as Saul seems to think. I believe Saul denigrates, gives short-shrift to atheism with this, his isolated point of view ... does he get common world information regarding atheism? I was of the impression that this guy has very limited info (btw, *Is this guy really an atheist?* hmm..). Is Saul really working by candle-light? And here is Saul's dead-end "clencher. "Atheism is not something on which to comment". Try telling this to world renown scientists, professors, philosophers and other atheists. Saul will be buried. Trounced. Can you cite the law, more, social etiquette and authority to back up this strange statement Saul? Wait a minute... here's another of Saul's bewildering statements from another world, "There is no reason for a general circulation media to have a section on nonbelief." What the f...? For the many who disbelieve you Saul, please expound, Ok? Someone please get Saul an internet machine, a library card, a few nights out on the University lecture circuit. This could be the day you get knocked off your horse Saul... or is that Paul ???— May 1, 2014 9:12 p.m.