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Alex McCullie Male Melbourne, Vic Australia: Like

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Blog Posts (23)
Discussions (62)
Events (2)
Groups (2)
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Alex McCullie's Friends

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Alex McCullie's Groups

Atheist Morality

395 members
44 Comments 3 Likes
Scriptural Criticism

197 members
15 Comments 1 Like

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Alex McCullie's Discussions

Can we ever talk the same language?

Started this discussion. Last reply by Fred Werther Dec 25, 2009. 8 Replies 0 Likes

Mick Gordon and Chris Wilkinson interviewed religious and non-religious people on the nature of religion (in a recommended book Conversations on Religion, Continuum, 2008). They started each…Continue

Tags: religion

Are self-declared atheists still treated as (social) pariahs?

Started this discussion. Last reply by Alex McCullie Jul 21, 2010. 29 Replies 0 Likes

Here in Australia we are well known for our religious indifference, much to the chagrin of the faithful. However even in this environment many will openly profess disbelief in God, typically…Continue

Tags: acceptance, atheism, society

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Alex McCullie's Events

Public Course: Historical Jesus - Melbourne, Australia

February 22, 2011 at 6pm to March 22, 2011 at 7:30pm – CAE, Melbourne, Australia
0 Comments 0 Likes
Public course - Being Good 3 Views - Melbourne, Australia

February 22, 2011 at 7:30pm to October 3, 2013 at 9pm – Melbourne CBD, Australia
0 Comments 0 Likes

Alex's Heresies

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Alex McCullie's Page

Latest Activity

Wanderer commented on Alex McCullie's blog post 'Are we atheists scientific dogmatists?'

Being dogmatic means that we do not doubt something which is potentially doubtful. We may of course doubt that science is unreliable, but then how would we test this doubt against any alternatives? We may cast our beliefs in different lights, trying…

Jun 2, 2011

Wanderer commented on Alex McCullie's blog post 'Are we atheists scientific dogmatists?'

We atheists are not scientific dogmatists (at least, we do not have to be, nor should we be). I wouldn't say any of the three choices above. People come to justified beliefs by using their experiences of the world and reasoning successfully…

Jun 2, 2011

Alex McCullie replied to Dallas Gaytheist's discussion 'Mob Morality: The Dangers of Repugnance as Moral Authority' in the group Atheist Morality

Haidt's research is interesting as is his Moral Foundations Theory. I use that as part of a morality course I deliver at a local college for adult education. As always, we need to separate descriptive (essentially that of science) and normative…

Mar 15, 2011

Alex McCullie replied to Dr. Terence Meaden's discussion '"Does not the word SUPERNATURAL really mean FICTIONAL?"'

I agree with your sentiments though question the certainties at the limits of our knowledge. What is included in natural, that obviously exists? For example how about imperceptibles like dark matter or the quantum world? Do they exist or are they…

Jan 23, 2011

Alex McCullie replied to Dr. Terence Meaden's discussion '"Does not the word SUPERNATURAL really mean FICTIONAL?"'

But don't those who believe in the supernatural see natural and supernatural as different types of existences. each discernable by different methods? We. as atheists. simply reject one of those. Alex

Jan 23, 2011

Alex McCullie replied to Dr. Terence Meaden's discussion '"Does not the word SUPERNATURAL really mean FICTIONAL?"'

Simple answer is 'no' to your topic question. Most see the word 'supernatural' as representing some sort of 'human-like' (funny about that) intelligence and consciousness that exists outside of our world of time and…

Jan 23, 2011

Alex McCullie replied to Dallas Gaytheist's discussion 'How (and where) does moral judgment work?' in the group Atheist Morality

Much appreciated, as both have some interesting things to say about our moral intuitions. It's worth looking through Haidt's Moral Foundations Theory for one way of understanding how people can have so a diverse range of moral…

Jan 18, 2011

Alex McCullie replied to Dallas Gaytheist's discussion 'The emerging moral psychology' in the group Atheist Morality

check out the videos (and transcripts) of a related Edge conference: http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/morality10/morality10_index.html Alex McCullie

Jan 16, 2011

Public Course: Making Sense of the World
April 19, 2011 at 6pm to May 3, 2011 at 7:30pm
Public Course: Historical Jesus - Melbourne, Australia
February 22, 2011 at 6pm to March 22, 2011 at 7:30pm
Public course - Being Good 3 Views - Melbourne, Australia
February 22, 2011 at 7:30pm to October 3, 2013 at 9pm

Events posted by Alex McCullie Jan 4, 2011

Alex McCullie replied to Sarah Walton's discussion 'The Brights: Reality about Human Morality' in the group Atheist Morality

Hi, what materials are those?

Sep 25, 2010

Alex McCullie replied to Dr. Terence Meaden's discussion '"Does not the word SUPERNATURAL really mean FICTIONAL?"'

I find separations like natural versus supernatural very slippery. Most people see their perspectives as natural. In my courses on atheism/agnosticism I'd talk about naturalists (like me) believing in a natural world and religious people…

Aug 26, 2010

Alex McCullie commented on Eli's group 'Atheist Morality'

I read three huffingtonpost articles by Matt Rossano: Understanding Religion Through the Lens of Relationships, Why Religion Is Not Delusion, and Augustine of Hippo: A Role Model for Intelligent Faith. I like his psychological take on religious…

Aug 26, 2010

Alex McCullie commented on Eli's group 'Atheist Morality'

I'll look at Rossano. I appreciate the lead. Thanks again (I have read Boyer's book and enjoyed. As always, it's all about time or not enough of it.)

Aug 25, 2010

Alex McCullie commented on Eli's group 'Atheist Morality'

Thanks. My reading and study is reasonably wide (though admittedly from a philosphical bent). Definitely check out edge.org for the recent morality seminar, if you haven't done so already. Hauser's moral grammar (a la Chomsky) is very…

Aug 25, 2010

Alex McCullie commented on Eli's group 'Atheist Morality'

I probably don't tie 'embraced' atheism to a specific world-view as you do, even though I'm quite comfortable with the one you advocate. I agree, though, that by rejecting the god of society, atheists need to look elsewhere for…

Aug 24, 2010

Alex McCullie commented on Eli's group 'Atheist Morality'

When anyone discusses ethics or morality, I'm reminded of the caveat nicely expressed by WIERDs. We are from Western, Industrialized, Educated, Rich, and Democratic countries and carry moral sensibilities of that background. The vast majority…

Aug 24, 2010

Profile Information

My URL: http://alexblog.com

About Me: I write a blog that promotes the physical world as the only reality. Articles, commentaries and links from a naturalistic viewpoint. Science and other empirically-based research activities with the reasoning of philosophy assists with human-related issues like happiness and purpose without self-delusion and blind faith.

I regularly conduct adult learning courses in Atheism/Agnosticism, Secular Morality, and others at Council of Adult Education (Melbourne). Next year I am planning courses in naturalism, historical Jesus, and atheism (again)

School/College/University: Post Grad

Profession: Computer/Philosophy

Age Group: 51-60

City and State (For Member Searching): Melbourne, Vic

Country (For Member Searching): Australia

Alex McCullie's Blog

Are we atheists scientific dogmatists?

Posted on March 2, 2010 at 3:14pm 6 Comments 0 Likes

Robert Winston, renowned British scientist, BBC doco presenter, and occasional Christian apologist, was defending the efficacy of science on BBC interview show, Hardtalk. In a throw-away line he suggested that atheists take the unreasonable position of automatically accepting the factuality of scientific claims without question (attacking Richard Dawkins et al. ?). By implication non-atheists are able to take a more nuanced view of science's strengths and…

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What would we talk about, if no one had invented god?

Posted on January 23, 2010 at 4:13pm 16 Comments 0 Likes

A famous old seminary story went along the lines of an old, gentle priest bitterly complaining about atheists to a younger, somewhat shocked priest. "The thing I can't stand about atheists is that they always want to talk about God."

Well for one thing I'd be working in the garden, as my partner wants, instead of typing on this keyboard. Thank god for God!

Alex
Alex's Heresies

Challenging the new blasphemy laws in Ireland.

Posted on January 3, 2010 at 5:18am 1 Comment 0 Likes

There are a number of newspaper reports on an Irish website deliberately posting 25 statements that contravene the new blasphemy laws to protect religions from criticisms - they obviously need it to protect their faith! Here are a few (oh so dangerous)... Alex

1. Jesus Christ, when asked if he was the son of God, in Matthew 26:64: “Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of… Continue

Jews, Crucifixion, and Blame

Posted on December 31, 2009 at 9:13pm 1 Comment 0 Likes

It's good to visit fantastic worlds of Christian web-sites. A recent one said that blaming the Jews for the death of Jesus was unChristian and with no biblical support. Blaming all Jews, or any people for that matter, for the death of any real or imagined person some 2000 years ago is nonsensical and is usually for dangerous purposes. However the "no biblical support" - you have got to be joking.

So I revisited the Gospel passion narratives as well as one of Paul's letters in… Continue

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At 6:40pm on October 7, 2009, Alex McCullie said…: Thank you, Kristy. And, yes, I am promoting the convention and we be there as well.

Alex

At 4:32pm on October 7, 2009, Chrys Stevenson said…: Hi Alex! Great to see you here on Nexus. I'm Kris, co-host of the Aussie, Kiwi and South Pacific Atheists group here. Please join us. Your blog is already listed on our group page.

I'm sure you already know about the Rise of Atheism Global Atheist Convention to be held in Melbourne in March - I hope you'll be there and anything you can do to help us promote it would be much appreciated.

Hope you enjoy the site!

At 8:25am on October 7, 2009, Dr. Terence Meaden said…: Welcome to Atheist Nexus where atheists recognise that gods are nothing but fictions and exist only inside the heads of the gullible.

Terry Meaden (archaeologist; physicist; Oxford; 60+)
founder of the busy discussion group
"ORIGINS: Universe, Life, Earth, Humankind, Religion, Evolution, Darwin..." with its 200 discussion topics and 60+ videos.
The group seeks to understand and explain the world’s great mysteries including how life and humans, religion and faith, and everything else began.
Come and enjoy the discussions.