Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Shannon on March 23, 2011 at 9:34am

Biblical Personal Ad:

My name is Judith my turns offs are pride, cowards, tyranny.  Just too much like my old bf H.  My turn on are tents, nice meals, fancy beds and swords.  I put a whole new meaning to 'giving head.' Call me!

Permalink Reply by Jim DePaulo on March 23, 2011 at 9:37am

Permalink Reply by Richard H. McCargar on February 16, 2011 at 1:31am

Please consider The Darwin Initiative: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRq2WZqPvy8

Which will guide you to this detailed page on the initiative:

http://www.doctorofdisbelief.com/blog/the-darwin-initiative.html

Submit your video before midnight August 12th, 2011 if you want it to be considered for inclusion in the documentary.

The mission of The Darwin Initiative is to raise the scientific literacy of the followers of the world's religions in the hope they see the scientific method, reason and logic as superior methods to understand our world rather than superstion, myth and religious dogma.

As a first step, we will start by requesting that you, and millions of other non-believing, scientifically astute activists in the world interview your friends, family, acquaintances and people you meet on the street regarding Charles Darwin, the Theory of Evolution, god and creationism/Intelligent Design.

We will supply a list of questions (also shown below) to lead the interview to a point where you can provide a small printout of current science related books and websites to enhance their understanding of the world, and therefore, their understanding of our lack of belief in the need for a creator, or intelligent designer.

A secondary goal is to produce a documentary fashioned from the thousands of two to three minute interviews captured by you and uploaded to this channel. The documentary will be distributed on YouTube, and embedding will be allowed without restraint, and the documentary will be submitted for nomination to film-festivals in the documentary category.

Although the documentary will be free to view on YouTube, we hope to release it on DVD and for download at a nominal fee.

We agree to commit seventy-five percent of net profits made from the sale of the documentary, to be distributed between five organizations selected in a poll of those who participated.

We hope to have the documentary edited for release by or on Charles Darwin's birthday in 2012.

In the next few months, we will produce a website specifically for The Darwin Initiative.

To this end, Logidea has procured two websites (not yet functional nor pointing this site):

www.TheDarwinInitiative.com

www.TheDarwinInitiative.org

Feel free to add videos for as long as you wish, but if you hope to have a segment of your video included in the documentary, please submit it no later than August 12th, 2011 - midnight.

Questions - please follow this list to make the accumulation of data and editing the videos a bit easier, and to keep the videos under three minutes including your introduction of names and permission to video.

Please consider this an opportunity to gain the insight as to their beliefs and understanding and to present the list of suggested websites and books, rather than an opportunity to debate them. We aren't looking for confrontation, we are hoping to learn what they believe, and make them feel comfortable accepting information from you.

1) Do you know who Charles Darwin is, and for what is he famous?

2) Do you accept the Theory of Evolution as true?

2.a) If the accept the theory of evolution; "do you know the two critical components of the theory of evolution?"

3) If they do not accept the theory of evolution, what about it do you reject? The entire theory, or only parts?

3.a) If not, do you believe the earth is thousands of years old, or billions of years old?

4) Do you believe in a god?

4.a) If so, can you provide a brief explanation or description of what you think your god is?

4.b) If yes; do you believe in creationism or intelligent design?

4.c) If yes; do you believe the creator or intelligent designer caused evolution?

4.d) If yes; do you believe the creator started the universe, then allowed nature to take the course proscribed by the creator?

5) What is the most recent book you've read on evolution, and when did you read it?

6) What is the most recent book you've read on any science related topic, and when did you read it?

Let's change the world!

Richard McCargar

Permalink Reply by Shannon on February 16, 2011 at 2:12pm

Leveni-  I'd send my kids to a Catholic school for the educational value. The local catholic school teaches evolution.  It's not as bad as some of the public schools.  In the US the vitriol and abuse of power is unbelievable.  There are a lot of state wide positions concerning curriculum that are being dictated by Creationist.

 

Philip-  I sure hope you are right!  Im worried because so many people in power are constricting the flow of money to research and bolstering studies that fit their world view.  Im not so comfortable as you are about theocracy not taking hold.  We already have a military that pushes Evangelism and punishes the non- Evangelist.  I hope you are right.  Please see the following link to understand where Im coming from.

http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/

 

Richard- Wow!  This sounds absolutely amazing!  I will certainly look into this.  Sounds like an approach that may work.  A lot of respect and discussion would be a nice change.  I personally don't have a lot of problems with 'intelligent design' folks who acknoledge evolution.  We can't expect everyone to be Atheist or become one overnight.  It's a bit of a process.  Believing in science is a force for good and the most important part of all this. 

 

Keep the ideas Rolling!  

Permalink Reply by Richard H. McCargar on February 16, 2011 at 4:30pm

Thank you Shannon.

On my site (http://www.doctorofdisbelief.com ) I've several announced activities that will change the dynamics, one, which may interest you, is taking an inordinate amount of planning:

http://www.doctorofdisbelief.com/blog/atheists-are-going-public-in-...

Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful consideration. - Richard

Permalink Reply by John Jubinsky on February 16, 2011 at 5:48pm

If Atheism is to supersede theism on a long term basis it must subscribe to more than Science and Reason. It must also subscribe to Dignity. If Atheism carries a stigma of amorality or immorality it will not permanently if at all supersede theism. Secular Humanism must be espoused as much as Science and Reason if Atheism is to meaningfully become favored because Science and Reason for a purpose other than the promotion of Dignity will not be effectively received. This is evidenced by people having been ready to overthrow their governments for lack of being afforded what they considered to be legitimate democracies. History has demonstrated that what is perceived as amoral or immoral does not long endure.

Permalink Reply by Richard H. McCargar on February 16, 2011 at 6:19pm

People won't leave religion until they understand the world as it is.

There is a book to be released by A.C. Grayling next month which addresses the religious in a format that will be comforting and familiar to them, while also explaining how to live a moral and ethical life without religion.

No one thing is going to change the faithful into non-believing ethical people, but certainly online flamewars, debates and arguments aren't working. 

edit: http://www.amazon.com/Good-Book-Humanist-Bible/dp/0802717373

Permalink Reply by Philip Wesner on February 16, 2011 at 8:24pm

I do agree that Science and reason are very important for people to understand the world as it is, but to be pragmatic you do have to admit some people simply don't care about how the world works and there is nothing to make them care. However, the harm those people are doing is letting themselves opt for a simple explanation, so where science and reason might not convince that person possibly secular humanism is a better option.

I hate to use this example because its such a terrible one in the context, but I will anyways. If you have ever played the game Dead Space, the main religion in the game is a dogmatic faith called Unitology(I am pretty sure it is poking fun at Scientology) and of course this dogmatic religion ends up releasing horrible things through its "marker" which is a religious idol basically. However, the premise behind the religion I like very much, "unitology." Basically bringing the human race together as one species and erasing religious lines while preserving cultural heritage.

I hate to set up this double standard, but until the scales are balanced a little more I feel that atheists have to be extra polite, courteous, and helpful and don't come across as arrogant because we will catch more flies with honey. For those interested in the truth and the way the world works, give em science and reason and let them know all the arguments against religion, but if they don't seem to care at all about the truth about the world just show them your good "moral barometer"(thanks to Steve Harvey for that one) and tell them about secular humanism. These are the only things we can do as citizens to ensure theocracy doesn't take root in America.

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on February 16, 2011 at 9:33pm

I dunno, man.  The flies with honey thing works on some, and mockery works on others.  Leo Behe came over to our side because of actions that resulted from that sort of poking.  Essentially, he read 'The God Delusion' with a sense of bravado, scoffing at those silly atheists.  He credits the book with starting his path to skepticism.

Permalink Reply by Richard H. McCargar on February 16, 2011 at 9:42pm

Hello Phil,

Being pragmatic, I realize that I'm not going to reach that many people, and the people that are changed are the low-hanging fruit.

That's why I started my site, to get as many others as possible doing the same thing. Multiply my efforts.

My website has already motivated close to 100K atheists into street conversations using my first idea.

I receive a crazy amount of email from people who use the idea, and from people who have been affected.

I still go out daily myself, and have over one hundred people who remain in contact with me.

Forgive me if I seem abrupt, but when my site went live in late September, there were plenty of naysayers, none of whom have accomplished anything of the sort.

I'll keep trying and adapting while others tell me what can and can't be done.

Permalink Reply by Richard H. McCargar on February 16, 2011 at 9:43pm

Hello Phil,

Being pragmatic, I realize that I'm not going to reach that many people, and the people that are changed are the low-hanging fruit.

That's why I started my site, to get as many others as possible doing the same thing. Multiply my efforts.

My website has already motivated close to 100K atheists into street conversations using my first idea.

I receive a crazy amount of email from people who use the idea, and from people who have been affected.

I still go out daily myself, and have over one hundred people who remain in contact with me.

Forgive me if I seem abrupt, but when my site went live in late September, there were plenty of naysayers, none of whom have accomplished anything of the sort.

I'll keep trying and adapting while others tell me what can and can't be done.

Permalink Reply by Shannon on February 17, 2011 at 1:33pm

John J

 

I agree with your statement. Often Dignity is not afforded to under-educated folk on this website.  We have to model the values we believe in.  Ethics aren't just for the religious. 

 

Perhaps some folks could write articles condeming certain things and why they condemn them from an atheist point of view.  Christians do this all the time.  It also goes back to the idea of an Atheist NGO aid group.

 

Philip W

I've wanted to play that game myself.  I think Scientology is a scourge and I can't wait util the current FBI probe gets them on human trafficking! 

 

Uniting everyone is harder than it seems.  People still need to feel 'special' and part of a group- not the whole.  Sunday morning is still the most segregated time of the week in amerca.  People want to tribe up- otherwise this site wouldn't exist.  It's not all bad but you'd think we would have gotten over some of it by now.  Mass media should have helped in this regard- but it seems to have hindered more than helped

 

Joseph P

I vote for honey most of the time.  Like a good political campaign Athiest will also need attack dogs so the main figureheads will not get labled as azzholz.

 

Richard-  Still what a great effort you are putting forward.

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