Thursday, March 31, 2011

Interesting Today 3/31/11

tell me again how being religious makes you a better person  it's not true, they've actually done studies





"Tell a devout Christian that his wife is cheating on him, or that frozen yogurt can make a man invisible, and he is likely to require as much evidence as anyone else, and to be persuaded only to the extent that you give it. Tell him that the book he keeps by his bed was written by an invisible deity who will punish him with fire for... eternity if he fails to accept its every incredible claim about the universe, and he seems to require no evidence what so ever." - Sam Harris
old one, but good one. dawkins nails it... again! i heart him, too.
death anxiety powerful motivator to believe
"It's natural to think that living things must be the handiwork of a designer. But it was also natural to think that the sun went around the earth. Overcoming naive impressions to figure out how things really work is one of humanity's highest callings." — Steven Pinker
"Progress is born of doubt and inquiry. The Church never doubts, never inquires. To doubt is heresy, to inquire is to admit that you do not know—the Church does neither. "
— Robert G. Ingersoll
say bye bye mike huckabee! 
christian conservatives  - they don't act very christ-like
uterus is a dirty word?? oh grow the fuck up!!! 
 


Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Interesting Today 3/30/11



‎"For religious people, atheism is spiritual suicide. For atheists, religion is intellectual suicide."
married couple actually twins separated at birth! & siblings dating by accident! can you imagine?
 sam harris said...
"Imagine a world in which generations of human beings come to believe that certain films were made by God or that specific software was coded by him. Imagine a future in which millions of our descendants murder each other over rival interpretations of Star Wars or Windows 98. Could anything--anything--be more ridiculous? And yet, this would be no more ridiculous than the world we are living in."— The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason
"I know of no society in human history that ever suffered because its people became too desirous of evidence in support of their core beliefs."- Letter to a Christian 
very well said!!!!
logic is just a fallible human construct, but taking things on faith is too - ha, ha, ha
quiz show - bible contradictions
i heart bernie sanders - one great elected representative!! we need more like him 
republicans say they want limited government.. but.... 

 


Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Interesting Today 3/29/11

god is sort of a dick  no comment necessary


ge paid a corporate tax rate of -60% and believe me they aren't taking their profits to help grow the economy like they always say they do to justify "buying" their tax cuts from politicians, otherwise our economy would be thriving.

fox news lies  well, duh!

the great greta christina!!   ‎"Of course atheists need visibility -- lots of people are bigoted about us. Of course we need to spread information about who we are -- lots of people are ignorant about us... The very hostility that the atheist ad campaigns generate proves why we need them so badly."



texas rape victim and it's sickening details  yeah, that evil scum needs some serious jail time








Interesting Today 3/28/11 oops again! lol! yesterday's!

bible author's lied?  well, duh!!


wow, just wow... love this woman!


ge pays no taxes, but asks for concessions from the workers   is this what they mean by everyone has to do their share? how about ge does theirs first!


the world's 16 crucified saviors   original copyright 1875, they knew even back then the bible was poppycock! this debate needs to end.





Sunday, March 27, 2011

Friday, March 25, 2011

Interesting Today Begins TODAY!! 3/25/2011

Being a full-time homebody has left me with lots of time on my hands and given me the opportunity to thoroughly read to my hearts content. That has also created an incessant need to share, with all my Facebook friends, some of the interesting things I've run across. Some of you have enjoyed this endless stream of information, while others have cringed and wrestled with the thought of hiding my notifications. And some of you actually did! 

I have rethought the whole idea of my Facebook page and decided that my blog might be a better place for the social commentary, news and interesting happenings around the world. Not to say that I will not continue to contribute to my page, but it will have a decidedly different flavor to it. Keeping in touch with my friends and their lives, as well as, sharing of mine, is the goal now.
At the end of each day, I will post my blog "Interesting Today" to my Facebook page. If you feel so inclined, please consider reading it and all the cool, controversial, disturbing, funny, etc. things I happen to run into during the day. The decision is now in your hands!

If you absolutely can't live without my finds, become a follower. That way you won't miss a single edition and you'll be the first to know whenever I go on a rant.  :)

Enjoy today's installment.......

Vermont house passes single payer healthcare bill  Wow! didn't think that would happen!



Using a New Language

"A talent for speaking differently, rather than arguing well, is the chief instrument of cultural change." Richard Rorty

I posted this quote on my FB page recently because it spoke to me about what is important when you are having verbal exchanges with opposing viewpoints. I've been in so many discussions that have just deteriorated into shouting matches about who was right and who was wrong, rather than respectful, thoughtful discussions. Hell, I've been the one, at times, that led the charge! After reading the quote above and getting to a point in my life where meaningfulness becomes a more sought after state of mind, I've decided that I would rather be in the discussion with a quality of speaking differently. I will continue to get on my soapbox and be loud and proud when voicing my opinion, but if the opportunity presents itself to debate differences of opinion, I will try to take the stance of being that instrument of cultural change.

In the past few months, I've seen a lot of speakers online and in person, who have shown the ability to have good civil and thoughtful discourse. I want to be like them when I grow up! Much too often, many discussions that I've been a part of or witnessed are really only arguing our point of view and expecting a conversion in their thinking or ideal. How wonderful it would be if we first truly understood the others perspective. I'm not saying to believe the other persons perspective, but put aside your own intention in the debate and only truly look at things from their perspective.

I believe the quote asks that we who want to make changes in this world must do this first and then articulate an opposition to that perspective that would include the other person's understanding of that opposition. In simpler terms, being able to use the person's reasoning in a way that would enlighten their understanding of the opposing viewpoint.

Taking the time to understand someones intention and their comprehension of the situation that is being debated will help to foster good-will between the two parties and increase the likelihood of having a good debate and it not just end in a shouting match. Not only do those tend to never end well, but the likelihood is usually that both parties will remain mired in their own viewpoints and more likely be even further apart in their opinions of that particular debate.

If conversations can begin with mutual respect for the subject matter then those will be, by far, the most pleasant ones you'll have. Respect for the person's differing opinion can help that conversation, but in my opinion, is not necessary. Keeping the emotions in check will be a necessity and will most likely feel like an impossible and daunting task, especially if the subject matter is a personal truth for you. If that is not possible and those emotions can't be reigned in, then hope for an amicable discussion is fruitless.

I'm hoping for the kind of dialogue that both parties can be proud of and a fostering of  kindness for humanity. One that allows each other the space to be who they want, think what they want to think and feel free to live their lives in a way that gives them the most happiness. Imagine what the world would be like if we could do that.    :)