Atheists...

[Didymos Thomas]

I watch Bill Maher's show when it airs. And he makes a common, stupid mistake - using negative, and blatantly false, generalizations about faith traditions to criticize faith traditions.

Sorry folks - you can point to the instances where someone has abused a faith tradition all you like, such instances will not tarnish the faith tradition, only the selfish tyrants who misused the faith tradition.

Let's try to grow up a little, hmm? Enough with the crusade against religion. Let's try to approach religion fairly and honestly, instead of demonizing what we do not understand.

[boagie]

Obviously thomas, a good portion of the population falls under your displeasure, lets listen a little more, perhaps Bill Maher has had the benifit of reading your posts.

YouTube - Bill Maher & Guests Discuss Religious Fanaticism

YouTube - Bill Maher Making New Documentary Movie, "Religulous"

[Didymos Thomas]

Obviously thomas, a good portion of the population falls under your displeasure,

Well, sure, I'm an angry, anti-social dissenter. But religion doesn't bother me unless the religion is used to hurt people.

lets listen a little more, perhaps Bill Maher has had the benifit of reading your posts.

No, I'm good on the Maher. Like I said, I watch his show. But, honestly, if I want to listen to a discourse on religion, I rely on individuals educated in the field, not comedians. However, if you prefer comedians, I'd suggest George Carlin.

[boagie]

Excellent choice!

YouTube - George Carlin - Religion is bullshit.

[Didymos Thomas]

That was a great performance. And I agree with what Carlin says in the skit - some boogie man in the sky; bull****. We should send money to televangelists; bull****.

But notice something - his criticisms are not leveled against all religion/spirituality in all cases. Instead, he attacks clear abuses of religion. Good show, George. We miss you.

[boagie]

He was great wasn't he, he will be missed. Mean while his understudy!

YouTube - Bill Maher's New Rules: Article of Faith

YouTube - Richard Dawkins With Bill Maher

The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.
But Richard, why don’t you stop beating about the bush and tell us what you really think of the Biblical god?

[Zetetic11235]

Bertrand Russell is the thinking man's Dawkins.

The Bertrand Russell Society | Writings One of my favorites. More narrative, less preachy.

Why I Am Not A Christian, by Bertrand Russell

And one that Boagie would certainly enjoy as its focus is the religious and self contradiciton:
Am I An Atheist Or An Agnostic?

[Didymos Thomas]

I wouldn't call Maher Carlin's understudy - Carlin was a genius. Still, I'm curious as to why we care what Maher has to say about religion.

As for Dawkins, the man talks about religion as if he was eight years old. His over generalizations are embarrassing.

Russell was a philosopher, not a scientists. But, yes, Russell managed to address religion like an adult, unlike Dawkins.

[boagie]

Blatant honesty has a certain charm, when acommpainied by a large intellect the darkness is often vanquished. It is a wonder the candle is not a symbol of threat. to the security of religion in general.

YouTube - :: Richard Dawkins : How to justify a genocide ::

YouTube - Q&A after Richard Dawkins reads The God Delusion Preface

[Didymos Thomas]

Except that Dawkins isn't blatantly honest - he's blatantly biased and beyond any capacity for reasonable thought. He cannot bring himself to see the good in faith traditions. It's a shame, too.

No one can reasonably deny the abuses and terror wrought in the name of religion. Similarly, no one can reasonably deny the positive influence of religion. We should be aware of both. Mr. Dawkins misses half of the equation.

Russell even misses a great deal. But in his case, it seems to me that Russell carried on just as well without keeping some faith tradition. And that's just fine with me. Dawkins, on the other hand, makes a living spouting off tired, ill-conceived anti-religious rhetoric.