Comments on: Atheist Tactics: A Panel Discussion

By: 5ive

5ive — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:45:14 +0000

Oh my goodness anne! I am so sorry… Yes, I was responding to writerdd… sorry about the mix up! Thanks for you nice words, anne
and I just noticed writerdd also said “anger never hurt anyone”, perhaps the entire post was satire? hmmm… sorry if it was and I misunderstood. Maybe I was just angry. hehe….

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:18:27 +0000

5ive-

I’m sorry to hear of what happened to your son and the other child. Perhaps you were responding to writerdd’s comment?

I quoted you because I do think that any efforts from specifically atheist or humanist organizations would be well preceded by an image campaign.

By: Allison

Allison — Fri, 30 May 2008 02:03:50 +0000

DD, most of them are just people, yes, but I hate to say that where I grew up, some of them (not most by any means, but they’re out there) are just people who will actually beat you up because of your difference. I do agree, though, that if they let you in their church to talk, you’re probably okay.

By: 5ive

5ive — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:44:02 +0000

Anne, sorry to disappoint, but I have had personal experience with the anger that ensues when someone’s belief system is questioned, such as when my son was cornered and yelled at for not believing in god or when another child at a different school was kicked and punched when he said he didn’t go to church. Also there are the items of vandalization that are only too common to cars that are adorned with something as benign as a darwin fish. Maybe it is just where I live, but people get really really upset at different views. I would hope that someone who invites an atheist into their church would be kind and open, but there is always some odd nut out there. I am totally not saying christians act like this, I am saying odd nuts do, and some happen to be christian.

By: Awesomesauce

Awesomesauce — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:09:47 +0000

We need to “rational thinking” to reading ‘riting, and ‘rithmatic in school education. The fact is, kids spend much of their educations learning specific trivia without learning how to think critically or HOW to learn trivia as needed. A curriculum based on teaching kids to be critical thinkers and skeptical consumers of information would go a long way to a more rational populace AND make kids far far better essay writers, math literate, and so on.

As someone who has had to read countless terrible essays, I’ve come to believe that the problem isn’t really sloppy writing: it’s sloppy/lack of thinking or knowing how to think about a topic, form a thesis, and defend it.

Amen.

But Bad, if it’s atheists pressing for better education, aren’t they just trying to corrupt the minds of the youth and turn them away from God?

I agree that reputation and image should be our primary concern before tackling any issues of substance.

By: Bad

Bad — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:57:14 +0000

We need to “rational thinking” to reading ‘riting, and ‘rithmatic in school education. The fact is, kids spend much of their educations learning specific trivia without learning how to think critically or HOW to learn trivia as needed. A curriculum based on teaching kids to be critical thinkers and skeptical consumers of information would go a long way to a more rational populace AND make kids far far better essay writers, math literate, and so on.

As someone who has had to read countless terrible essays, I’ve come to believe that the problem isn’t really sloppy writing: it’s sloppy/lack of thinking or knowing how to think about a topic, form a thesis, and defend it.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:40:45 +0000

Kelly O’Connor is the RRS Kelly in the Red Dress?

By: Adrian

Adrian — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:53:57 +0000

I don’t think that Scarlett Johansson has very big, obvious reasons. Perhaps you’re still thinking of Kelly O’Connor.

(Oh come on, I can’t be the only one thinking that, can I?)

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:23:39 +0000

A “Bill Nye, The Science Guy” type show, hosted by Scarlett Johansson. For two big, obvious reasons.

By: writerdd

writerdd — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:44:43 +0000

If they think this is a good idea, how does one ensure one’s safety amongst the possible anger that can be expressed by those “hate-thy-neighbour-if-they-think-differently-than-you” type of christians?

5ive… Oh, puhlease. Christians are not going to beat you up. Especially not if they invited you to come and speak at their church. Anger never hurt anyone. Have you ever actually met a Christian? You might be surprised that they are just people, hmmm, just like atheists are.