"Actually, I'd rather play golf - which reminds me of one of PJ Wodehouse's hilarious short stories about golf, in which the religion of a heathen tribe is replaced by an obsession with golf..."
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Sigmund
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- Bristol
- United Kingdom
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Next time someone tries to convert you, return the favour: http://atheistprinciples.tripod.com
Latest Activity
Sigmund replied to Dr. Terence Meaden's discussion Humans are predisposed to believe in gods and life after death, according to a new study. in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
Joseph P replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"You're missing the point. He's saying that it's irrelevant in a theism/atheism debate. Obviously it's had a slight impact on our world."
Jack Manger replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"Evolution is not irrelevant. Did not man evove from a primordial goo to the sentient creature he is today.
Dare I say that without evolution there would be no progress since the dawn of time. The invention of the wheel is a direct evolutionairy…"
Alice replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"Joseph - OK I get what you are saying - that arguing about moral values is emotional rather than logical - although like Sam Harris says, science can determine moral values - as it's something we can observe and learn about"
Joseph P replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"Those aren't really logical arguments; they're emotional ones. He argues against the morality in the Bible. He's going for emotional impact, not speaking to their reason.
He doesn't really make an argument in…"
Alice replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"I didn't see the emotional connection as such - I saw that he started a conversation with them and then gave them evidence why what he said wasn't logical - and gave good argument. Which is very good, and I obviously knows his stuff.…"
Joseph P replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"Basic logic, yes. Null hypothesis."
Alice replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"no god must be the default position -"
rounder421 replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"I think what can be argued is that although I see your point, it really only makes sense in the confines of a debate or discussion on the question 'does god exist'. In the real world, learning the theory of evolution is far more important…"
Joseph P replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"Doesn't matter if they're being so or not. That's the impression given by the name they've chosen. This is an image issue.
We already have positive labels: skeptic, rationalist, secular humanist, and…"
Alice replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"Joseph - fair enough - do you think they are arrogant or elitist? I'm cool with the term atheist - it is more self explanatory. I suppose the Brights wanted to have an identity away from not…"
Joseph P replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"Crafting a label that sound elitist isn't the way to make the public like us. I'm well aware that the label 'Bright' replaces the label 'Atheist'.
I like being an atheist. It says what I don't…"
Joseph P replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"One of these days, we'll figure out where Tupac and Biggie are hiding."
Joseph P replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"
Stuff like one of my favorite Matt Dillahunty rants:
Similarly, Dan Barker makes a lot of the immorality sort of arguments, in his latest book. You need to attack a theist emotionally, before they'll listen to…"
Alice replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"Well that's very prejudice isn't it... Go and have a look - I think they were trying to change the image such as the use of Gay for homosexual - Bright replaces Atheist. The oppose of Gay is Straight, the opposite of Bright is Super -…"
Joseph P replied to Sigmund's discussion Why evolution is irrelevant ;) in the group ORIGINS: UNIVERSE, LIFE, HUMANKIND, AND DARWIN
"No idea. I heard the name and walked the other way."
Profile Information
- About Me
- Luckily my parents are agnostics of the most liberal type, and I was allowed to have an open mind and figure things out for myself. I was fascinated by religion from an early age, and arrived at my current philosophy largely unaided, although I have found the ideas of Russell and Freud occasionally illuminating.
I maintain a website, http://atheistprinciples.tripod.com, to which I am gradually adding content. I aim to provide a useful introduction to atheist thought as well as some more detailed discussion of relevant topics such as morality, the human urge to believe nonsense, the formation and development of religious beliefs, etc.
- Age Group
- 31-40
- City and State (For Member Searching)
- Bristol
- Country (For Member Searching)
- UK
Thoughts
'If one wishes to form a true estimate of the full grandeur of religion, one must keep in mind what it undertakes to do for men. It gives them information about the source and origin of the universe, it assures them of protection and final happiness amid the changing vicissitudes of life, and it guides their thoughts and motions by means of precepts which are backed by the whole force of its authority.'
'Religion is an attempt to get control over the sensory world, in which we are placed, by means of the wish-world, which we have developed inside us as a result of biological and psychological necessities.'
Sigmund Freud
Religion is based, I think, primarily and mainly upon fear. It is partly the terror of the unknown and partly, as I have said, the wish to feel that you have a kind of elder brother who will stand by you in all your troubles and disputes... A good world needs knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering after the past or a fettering of the free intelligence by the words uttered long ago by ignorant men.
Bertrand Russell
'Atheism is not a philosophy; it is not even a view of the world; it is simply an admission of the obvious. In fact, ‘atheist’ is a term that should not ever exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a ‘non astrologer’ or a ‘non-alchemist’. We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make in the presence of unjustified religious beliefs. An atheist is simply a person who believes that the 260 million Americans (87 percent of the population) claiming to ‘never doubt the existence of God’ should be obliged to present evidence for his existence-and, indeed, for his BENEVOLENCE, given the relentless destruction of innocent human beings we witness in the world each day.'
Sam Harris
'Religion is an attempt to get control over the sensory world, in which we are placed, by means of the wish-world, which we have developed inside us as a result of biological and psychological necessities.'
Sigmund Freud
Religion is based, I think, primarily and mainly upon fear. It is partly the terror of the unknown and partly, as I have said, the wish to feel that you have a kind of elder brother who will stand by you in all your troubles and disputes... A good world needs knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering after the past or a fettering of the free intelligence by the words uttered long ago by ignorant men.
Bertrand Russell
'Atheism is not a philosophy; it is not even a view of the world; it is simply an admission of the obvious. In fact, ‘atheist’ is a term that should not ever exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a ‘non astrologer’ or a ‘non-alchemist’. We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make in the presence of unjustified religious beliefs. An atheist is simply a person who believes that the 260 million Americans (87 percent of the population) claiming to ‘never doubt the existence of God’ should be obliged to present evidence for his existence-and, indeed, for his BENEVOLENCE, given the relentless destruction of innocent human beings we witness in the world each day.'
Sam Harris
Comment Wall (113 comments)
- At 9:29am on May 24, 2011,
Ruth Anthony-Gardner said… Greetings, Sigmund! I'd like to invite you to a group where we talk about anything on our minds, Hang With Friends. :D
- At 9:25am on September 27, 2010,
Natacha Girardot said… - Thank you for welcoming me, Sigmund. Actually, do you know if there is a nonvirtual group of Athests in or around Leiden, the Netherlands?
- At 2:53am on June 22, 2010,
Joelle DeMunno said… - Thanks so much. Can you provide any advice to a newbie to this ideology?
- At 6:41pm on June 20, 2010,
Tony G.III said… - Thank you for the welcome Sigmund and thanks for the link.
Peace,
T3
- At 2:15pm on June 20, 2010,
Hartmut Friedrichs said… - Also du bist auch hier richtig zu Hause. Tübingen und den Südwesten kenne ich allerdings kaum.
- At 4:59pm on June 19, 2010, Hartmut Friedrichs said…
- Hallo Sigmund! Ich bin in Frankfurt am Main geboren und habe den größten Teil meines Lebens dort zugebracht. Hast du auch hier länger gelebt?
- At 4:36pm on June 19, 2010,
Tabitha Christin Boswell said… - :) thank you for greeting me!
- At 2:34pm on June 19, 2010,
Geraldo Cienmarcos said… - Hi,
Good to know the "Friend me's" are not automated.
Facebook is terrible in that regard.
thanks,
Gary the Grouch
- At 12:01pm on June 19, 2010,
Domestipithecus said… - Thanks for the welcome, Sigmund!
- At 11:44am on June 19, 2010,
Jim B said… - Thank you Sigmund for the nice welcome, it's good to be here with like minded free thinkers .... very refreshing ....
Sigmund's Blog
'Did Jesus exist?' vs. 'Did God exist?'
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 11:29am 62 Comments 0 Likes
In the beginning was the word, and the word was, like all words, a human invention, to label something that humans want to label. This gave shape to a concept that eventually led to an ontological fallacy (God-the-greatest-thing-I-can-imagine does indeed exist as a concept - that's the whole point - but that doesn't mean that God-the-greatest-thing-I-can-imagine also exists) ...
Whether a word represents 'the truth' is beside the point -… Continue
Whether a word represents 'the truth' is beside the point -… Continue
The Invention of Religion
Posted on March 13, 2010 at 3:04pm 2 Comments 0 Likes
Humans create religions in an attempt to make sense of the world and encourage social stability. They base their ideas on current scientific/intellectual and moral standards, combining current ideas about the world with what they consider plausible speculation about the unknown (and it is precisely 'the unknown' that they desire to explain or have explained).
In the case of constructing an explanation for the origin of the universe and human life, and what happens after death, in the… Continue
In the case of constructing an explanation for the origin of the universe and human life, and what happens after death, in the… Continue
Ignorance is Enlightened Bliss?
Posted on March 8, 2010 at 3:17pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Time and again theists present atheism as a ‘belief’ – reflecting the necessary ‘faith’ of their own standpoint. Aside from Sam Harris’s excellent point (‘Atheism is not a philosophy; it is not even a view of the world; it is simply an admission of the obvious. In fact, ‘atheist’ is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a ‘non astrologer’ or a ‘non-alchemist’.’), this raises a number of very important points.
1. Knowledge and ignorance. Atheists… Continue
1. Knowledge and ignorance. Atheists… Continue
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