Andrew Ryan

I take it you don't own a TV set and are allergic to newspapers and news outlets of any kind. We ought to have a weekly award for the most obtuse glibness produced on this forum. You have my vote. Virtually all violence perpetuated on our pretty blue dot at this moment is explicitly caused by religion. But cheer up, at least it isn't yours. Andrew

What I'd like you to say is what you think of my reasoning. Languages are dynamic structures. There are many words that have fallen into desuetude because we now think of them as unuseful or derogatory. The word "atheist" has both a pejorative connotation and, as I tried to explain in my post, is a misnomer. Perhaps this will make the proverbial penny drop: mankind has worshiped thousands upon thousands of deities ever since we've being walking this Earth. Presumably, you think all these benighted people were in error. For all intents and purposes you are, as am I, an atheist when it comes to this long list of supernatural entities. So why single people out who aren't convinced by the contents of the Bible or the utterances of its devotees ? It makes no sense to me. Andrew

Well, this isn't a way to carry on an adult discussion. Surely we can rise above the level of a toddler's retort in a playground and instead engage the substance of each others arguments ? Andrew

The fact that you put the phrase "scientific theory" in the title of your post in scare quotes tells me two things: First, you haven't a clue what evolutionary theory states and second, as is par for the course for most unlettered dunces, you are not interested at all in learning something new that goes against the ideas that are already swirling around in your head. At least be honest about it. There is a commandment against bearing false witness. And I bet it is an important one, as it is in the only part of the Bible that God wrote Himself.

I don't like the term atheist. It's an odd and unhelpful way to describe a person. I am not an astrologer, but no one will see much use in describing me as non-astrologer. I can spend all day listing all the things I am not or do not believe in. I am an a-hindu, a non-muslim, a non-window-washer and an a-leprechaunist . I much prefer the term naturalist. This I have in common with all people, since we all live in the natural world and all of us study it from infancy until the day we die. When we are driving our cars on the freeway we are aware of the laws of physics and we try to be alert as not to cause ourselves or others serious injury or death. Hence, we are all naturalists. Now, there are people who proclaim that in addition to the natural world there exists a supernatural realm. That's why I usually refer to religious people as supernaturalists. And it seems to me that anyone who makes a claim like this has quite a bit of explaining to do. Andrew

Hello Tigger, I am sorry that you're going through this. Have you told your doctor about how you are feeling ? Kind regards, Andrew