harrystottle's favorite religion pages, page 1

Last login: 13 hours agoHarrystottle: Harry is a guy from Bristol, England, UK.; Likes 3,770 pages, 126 videos, 20 photos • 95 fans • Received 13 reviews; Member since Oct 03, 2005

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Where all roads lead (1) - Atheist Nexus: Aug 20, 9:17am 19 reviews atheist, religion, social-psychosis
http://atheistnexus.org/profiles/blog/show?id=2182797%3ABlogPost%3A85086; Beautiful story. The only depressing aspect of it is that it is newsworthy. Why? Because families like this are the exception not the rule...

Youve got to have hope: studies show hope therapy fights depression: Aug 18, 2:51am 1 review psychology, religion, science
http://www.physorg.com/news138107736.html; Hope Therapy? Isn't that the only reason Religion "works"?

Pharyngula: The Great Desecration: Aug 15, 6:32pm 18 reviews activism, religion, blasphemy
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/07/the_great_desecration.php; "If I wanted to be an evil hypocrite, I'd drape myself in expensive jeweled robes and live in an ornate palace while telling all my followers that poverty is a virtue. If I wanted to commit world-class evil, I'd undermine efforts at family planning by the poor, especially if I could simultaneously enable the spread of deadly diseases. And if I wanted to be so evil that I would commit a devastating crime against the whole of the human race, twisting the minds of children into ignorance and hatred, I would be promoting the indoctrination of religion in children's upbringing, and fomenting hatred against anyone who dared speak out in defiance."

That asshole (whom I usually applaud) Susan Greenfield is arguing that the Internet prevents us getting involved in deep thought. I find that insulting and ignorant. And I want to rub her face in blogs like this.

Not that this is particularly "deep" but it's certainly cutting right to the heart of the issue, not to mention leading with his chin. And look at the response he's triggered; and how that confirms and feeds upon itself. This is the kind of stuff that is utterly unique to the web. It cannot happen in any other medium and it is far more important than the playacting we watch on the news. These are REAL people demonstrating their REAL beliefs.

As I've made clear in a couple of comments on atheist aggression against the religious, I actually disapprove of this approach. It is entirely counterproductive. Not a single Catholic will be dissuaded from believing in their skyfairy. No wavering catholics will be shepherded away from the snare of religious belief. All that will be achieved is a great wave of anger and hatred which might even result in the martyrdom of the author. It seems that in some more warped than usual Xtian minds, the "success" of militant Islam in getting their religion taken "seriously" is beginning to make them reconsider that "turn the other cheek" nonsense.

None of which will do anyone any damn good at all. But there's no denying the value of watching this reaction taking place and confirming - if you needed it - just how deep the Social Psychosis of religion still is...

US judge says University can ignore Christian course credits | The Register: Aug 14, 8:23am 2 reviews christianity, education, religion
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/14/university_of_california_christain_te...; gotta admire the balls of these Xtian fundy whackos. What they're doing, in academic terms, is not dissimilar to you walking into a bank and expecting them to accept Monopoly money as a deposit...

The Genius of Charles Darwin - FameLab from channel4.com: Aug 6, 8:42am 1 review evolution, religion, science
http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/F/famelab/; I'll watch it all, but I'm skeptical about his chances of preaching to anyone but the choir...

My Abstinence Education & de-conversion: Jul 29, 1:48am 4 reviews ethics, religion, atheism
http://de-conversion.com/2008/04/19/my-abstinence-education/; Key Phrase: "Jesus gave me the perfect excuse to hold onto a juvenile morality"

First, congratulations to the author for breaking the spell. She has done a great service by illuminating the inner reasoning going on in the religious mind. Her words will help convert/de-convert far more believers than the atheist site I was bitching about last night.

I'll have to expand on this elsewhere but in that one sentence you see the root of the self deception required to sustain religious belief.

If that was where it stopped, religion would be pathetic but harmless, but it's what happens next that causes religion to become a social poison. The self deceivers feel obligated to spread the deception. Hence, for example the drive to "public prayer" (coincidentally discussed by the very next story I stumbled) which is a naked and naive attempt at social conditioning.

They also feel disturbed and challenged by the very public activities of those who haven't chosen their narrow path. They feel compelled either to make those challenges invisible (by shutting themselves away from the data) or impossible (by persuading governments to enact laws which support their fears and prejudice).

This is the single most important source of the major ongoing conflicts around the world.

Intelligent people less likely to believe in God - Telegraph: Jun 13, 7:38am 69 reviews atheist, religion, intelligence
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2111174/Intelligent-people-%27less-lik...; not news, but interesting to see the reaction it's sparked...

Wealth and Religiosity | Edward de Leau: May 13, 1:52pm 7 reviews economics, religion, atheism, transhumanism, liberty
http://edward.de.leau.net/wealth-and-religiosity-20080415.html; hmmm... veeerry interesting... specially the second graph which makes a lot of sense even without understanding their terms: secular/rational - traditional values= 1 axis: Survival values - Self expression is the other. Bizarre without reading a justification, which I haven't. Yet. Nevertheless, the groupings jump out at you and seem to be rational. Better go and find out wtf they're talking about I spose...

...well, what he's talking about is definitely on my wavelength but I fear he's indulging in a little wishful thinking. I agree that the religious meme is now well into its dotage and will not survive the singularity. The problem is that they have the power to prevent us surviving it as well. And once they truly understand its implications, they will no doubt quickly develop the intent. This is one of many reasons we need to wrest control from them - with the mechanisms of true democracy and Trusted Surveillance - as soon as is physically possible. If, as I suspect, they will force us to war, we must try to fight it on our terms and territory, not theirs...