Ed on religion

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  • EvilRabbit
    EvilRabbit Posts: 286
    velogator wrote:
    Evil Rabbit, I'm with ya. I'm 43 years old, was a Christian for the first 30 years of my life till one day it dawned on me that I was Christian, not because it sounded logical, but because I was told I was Christian by my parents, grandparents, etc. I never thought to question it. But I always had a nagging doubt and once I decided I could question it, I really looked into it and my eyes were opened. One of the things that started me questioning an Amorphopological God was, The world is 13 billion years old, where was "He" all that time? And, if "He" created something as complex as "the world", who created "Him". I read Dawkins, et al and that cemented my "non-belief".

    Right on. A lot of people in my family (back in the UK) are church goers. My brother-in-law is even a vicar (priest). My mom used to make me go to Sunday School. When I was about 11 or 12, she told me I was old enough to make up my own mind. Seeing the separatism and divisiveness caused worldwide by religion, I smelled something fishy and simply decided I didn't like it. From that day forward, I never cared for religion and today I am proud to call myself an atheist.

    Believers might be shocked to know I'm actually a very nice and moral guy. (unless you consider a little marijuana sinful)

    I find it sad that many religious people detest atheists. They are one of the most feared minorities in the U.S... and for what reason??? Don't get me wrong, I love America but in some ways it's stuck in the dark ages.
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  • EvilRabbit
    EvilRabbit Posts: 286
    velogator wrote:
    Agreed, I read "God is not Great" a couple of months ago. He's a bit more militant in his defense of Atheism then is Dawkins, but I liked his arguments. Just loaned it to my Sis-in-law who is starting to have questions

    Sam Harris is pretty good too.

    I highly recommend a few movies as well:
    For the Bible Tells Me So
    The God Who Wasn't There
    Jesus Camp

    And Dawkins has made some excellent TV shows for the BBC. The Root of All Evil is brilliant.
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  • MattyJoe
    MattyJoe Posts: 1,424
    All I have to say is that religion can always be proven wrong because it's job is not to make logical sense. You can spend your whole life disproving religion and probably succeed very well but where will you be then? What is your life's ultimate purpose? Religion gives people the hope that there's something more beyond this shitty world. Ed of all people should be drawn to that...
    I pledge to you a government that will not only work well, but wisely, its ability to act tempered by prudence, and its willingness to do good, balanced by the knowledge that government is never more dangerous than when our desire to have it help us blinds us to its great power to harm us.
    -Reagan
  • EvilRabbit
    EvilRabbit Posts: 286
    velogator wrote:
    Agreed, I read "God is not Great" a couple of months ago. He's a bit more militant in his defense of Atheism then is Dawkins, but I liked his arguments.

    I read this description of Hitchens yesterday and thought it perfect...

    "I find that a lot of folks just misunderstand what Christopher Hitchens' actually says. They see him as an antagonist to their viewpoint (and often rightly so), and so they hear every word coming out of his mouth as hateful. This interpretation is so far from the truth. Hitchens criticisms are witty, acerbic, accurate, and insightful. That's why they think he hates, because he rains down so much pain and devastating criticism on his targets."

    Anyone who likes his writing should also watch some of his debates with religious folk. The recent one pitting Hitchens against his own conservative brother was awesome. You can view it on Youtube.
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  • potluck
    potluck Posts: 170
    atleast we're not tool fans!!!!!
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    Kill Fascists.... or at least make them realize what they are.
  • EvilRabbit
    EvilRabbit Posts: 286
    MattyJoe wrote:
    What is your life's ultimate purpose?

    There is no purpose beyond procreation to extend the life of ours species. Enjoy your time here and make the most of it.
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  • Vedderlution_Baby
    Vedderlution_Baby Posts: 2,535
    potluck wrote:
    atleast we're not tool fans!!!!!



    Speak for yourself.
  • velogator
    velogator Posts: 174
    I was raised in the Bible Belt here in the US, so was indoctrinated early :-) It's interesting, what took me 30 years to discover, my 15 year old daughter has already figured out. When we first had a religious discussion a couple of months ago (she lived with my ex-wife till recently) I was pleasantly shocked and surprised at her position on religion/God...very mature in her thought process.
    Manchester, TN - 2008
    Washington, D.C. - 2008
    Philadelphia, PA I - 2009
    Bristow, VA - 2010
    Baltimore, MD - 2013
    Milwaukee, WI - 2014
    Hampton, VA - 2016
  • velogator
    velogator Posts: 174
    EvilRabbit wrote:
    Sam Harris is pretty good too.

    I highly recommend a few movies as well:
    For the Bible Tells Me So
    The God Who Wasn't There
    Jesus Camp

    And Dawkins has made some excellent TV shows for the BBC. The Root of All Evil is brilliant.

    I'll keep an eye out for those. Thanks. BTW, I live in the DC area and the Pope is in town, so you can imagine the kind of nonsense I'm having to put up with this week :-)
    Manchester, TN - 2008
    Washington, D.C. - 2008
    Philadelphia, PA I - 2009
    Bristow, VA - 2010
    Baltimore, MD - 2013
    Milwaukee, WI - 2014
    Hampton, VA - 2016
  • potluck
    potluck Posts: 170
    Vedderlution_Baby! wrote:
    Speak for yourself.

    tool fans are the real yuppies. "Maynard, you rock"
    06/24/1998 SD
    10/12/2000 KS
    06/13/2003 IA
    06/15/2003 ND
    06/16/2003 Mn
    06/21/2003 WI
    10/05/2004 MO
    10/08/2004 FL
    09/08/2005 MB
    09/09/2005 ON
    05/17/2006 IL
    05/19/2006 MI
    07/02/2006 CO
    08/05/2007 Lolla
    06/14/2008 B'roo

    Kill Fascists.... or at least make them realize what they are.
  • Vedderlution_Baby
    Vedderlution_Baby Posts: 2,535
    potluck wrote:
    tool fans are the real yuppies. "Maynard, you rock"


    okay....
  • potluck
    potluck Posts: 170
    otis mcfluster wrote:
    So at the LA 1 show, Ed was talking about this commercial he saw for a Christian Rock album, and then went on to criticize through song how they all look the same, act the same, can't think for themselves and are all sheep. Which I thought was somewhat comical.

    But in retrospect it was certainly more ironic than anything.

    The fact that Ed was pontificating this to the obnoxious chick to my right who....

    you are talking about people who paid 60 bucks to see 1/6th of pearl jam. what did you expect.

    and ive always enjoyed the folks i encounter at pj shows. i hope i never meet you.
    06/24/1998 SD
    10/12/2000 KS
    06/13/2003 IA
    06/15/2003 ND
    06/16/2003 Mn
    06/21/2003 WI
    10/05/2004 MO
    10/08/2004 FL
    09/08/2005 MB
    09/09/2005 ON
    05/17/2006 IL
    05/19/2006 MI
    07/02/2006 CO
    08/05/2007 Lolla
    06/14/2008 B'roo

    Kill Fascists.... or at least make them realize what they are.
  • EvilRabbit
    EvilRabbit Posts: 286
    velogator wrote:
    I was raised in the Bible Belt here in the US, so was indoctrinated early :-) It's interesting, what took me 30 years to discover, my 15 year old daughter has already figured out. When we first had a religious discussion a couple of months ago (she lived with my ex-wife till recently) I was pleasantly shocked and surprised at her position on religion/God...very mature in her thought process.

    Good for her!

    Apparently, we are one of the fastest growing minorities so there is hope for modern civilization! I think with today's access to information, organized religion cannot possibly maintain as powerful a grip on the minds of the young.
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  • EvilRabbit
    EvilRabbit Posts: 286
    Man, I spent far too much time battling religious-fueled ignorance today. I haven't been nearly as productive as I should have been.

    One thing's for sure, God sure as shit ain't gonna pay my bills.
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  • velogator
    velogator Posts: 174
    EvilRabbit wrote:
    Good for her!

    Apparently, we are one of the fastest growing minorities so there is hope for modern civilization! I think with today's access to information, organized religion cannot possibly maintain as powerful a grip on the minds of the young.

    I think you are correct. I think that as people start to get the information they need to make a more informed decision, the myth that is monotheism will go the same way as the mythology of the Greeks and Romans.

    Have a good evening. Time to turn the computer over to the wife :-)
    Manchester, TN - 2008
    Washington, D.C. - 2008
    Philadelphia, PA I - 2009
    Bristow, VA - 2010
    Baltimore, MD - 2013
    Milwaukee, WI - 2014
    Hampton, VA - 2016
  • EagleEar
    EagleEar Posts: 31
    Danimal wrote:
    How do you become an aetheist? I think I want to become one.

    Actually, you're born one. Every animal (including humans) is born a aetheist. Unfortunately, most humans are polluted by religion, a product of the human condition.

    If you put 1000 infant humans on an island with absolutely NO contact with the outside world, I would bet my life savings that none would EVER come Christians. None.
    Got an army, fact I got two. That's ok man, cause I love money!
  • rrivers
    rrivers Posts: 3,698
    Drew263 wrote:
    This is why I find it funny that Ed would call others close minded. He's closed minded on many things he disagrees with. Just as all humans are.

    Wait a minute, Ed's human?
    "We're fixed good, lamp-wise."
  • rrivers
    rrivers Posts: 3,698
    Danimal wrote:
    Are you really an aetheist? Man that is hip!

    This made me laugh out loud.
    "We're fixed good, lamp-wise."
  • rrivers
    rrivers Posts: 3,698
    Carlos D wrote:
    I think Ed's reaction on Storytellers to being asked what did he think of people who disagreed with him was the only worthwhile insight on that show.In case you did't see it,he said 'Fuck them'. Having said that though he was kind of a good sport in 2003( I think) in New York(I think) when the fans started chanting USA after they played Bushleaguer but I imagine if it had have happened enough times he would've just got ticked off and stopped playing it.

    Speaking of mindless sheep,I bet Ten wouldn't have gone 12 times platinum without all the mindlessness of the grunge trend.

    He was not a good sport at all about the fans chanting USA in 2003 in Uniondale, but I think it had more to do with people throwing things at the band.
    "We're fixed good, lamp-wise."
  • Rusted-designs
    Rusted-designs Posts: 34
    I just wanted to throw in my two cents just for fun. I think a big problem with Pearl Jam shows is the excitement level. We have all said things that sounded really stupid in a time of pure joy or excitement. Our minds don't function well in those circumstances. Recently at a show I told a guy that I saw Pearl Jam at Bridge School last year. He let me know what an idiot I was, when he told me that Eddie had cancelled. (Which I remembered after he told me and realized I was thinking of the year before.)

    The excitement and stupidity only bothers me when it interferes with people enjoying the show. Like the drunk guy who sings way too loud, off key and the wrong words. He is the one who usually spills his beer on me too. Fucking dick.

    As for the religion thing, I have never told another human that their life was pointless without Pearl Jam. Believe what you want just leave me out of it. Eddie kind of gets to say whatever he wants because he is who we all had come too see. I wouldn't get pissed if I was in a church and the Pope was talking about god. If Eddie wants to spread his liberal ideas so be it, we just pay him to stand in front of the mic, the rest is up to him .

    I admit that I have thought about the kind of wine that Eddie drinks. I am human too. I have been to church, people do crazy things in church just like a shows. What if you saw someone speaking toughs at a restaurant?

    Edit: I just thought about how people got pissed at Jesus for speaking his mind, so they killed him. It's hard to remember these days but Jesus was a liberal radical. He too spoke against the majority.
    There's a lot to be said for nowhere...

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