Comments on: Paragraph Of The Day http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:59:03 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: khaki http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-414391 khaki Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:10:14 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/#comment-414391 Like all things closeted, the truth must be revealed. How many atheists have been condemned in one way or another by churches who themselves are chock full of closeted atheists. Theresa is proof that one does not need superstitious religion to be moral. One can just be good. May God damn superstition. Like all things closeted, the truth must be revealed. How many atheists have been condemned in one way or another by churches who themselves are chock full of closeted atheists. Theresa is proof that one does not need superstitious religion to be moral. One can just be good. May God damn superstition.

]]> By: unity mutual life insurance http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-414368 unity mutual life insurance Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:44:26 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/#comment-414368 <strong>unity mutual life insurance...</strong> tunics?Bilbo?talented?photocopiers snowy Zeus ... unity mutual life insurance…

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]]> By: Coacher http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-381992 Coacher Sat, 08 Sep 2007 19:23:34 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/#comment-381992 While I do not know just what it takes to make rational choice and not live a life of duplicity, one of my stepping stones to the life of freedom from superstition was, having prayed "Help thou my unbelief", nothing changed. The 3 or 4 "Musketeers" of atheism are no more strident than those who brought this nation to its superstitious knees (there is an intended pun, there). To walk as free people again, the more rational of us must use whatever means are necessary to publicize that there exists an alternative to superstition. The "movement" to reality needs every voice and varying approach. While I do not know just what it takes to make rational choice and not live a life of duplicity, one of my stepping stones to the life of freedom from superstition was, having prayed “Help thou my unbelief”, nothing changed. The 3 or 4 “Musketeers” of atheism are no more strident than those who brought this nation to its superstitious knees (there is an intended pun, there). To walk as free people again, the more rational of us must use whatever means are necessary to publicize that there exists an alternative to superstition. The “movement” to reality needs every voice and varying approach.

]]> By: FreeThoughtGuy http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-381950 FreeThoughtGuy Sat, 08 Sep 2007 00:50:25 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/#comment-381950 I'm an "out" atheist, and the last thing I expected was the number of "religious" folk who confide in me that they really don't believe, either! Sadly, they must stay "closeted" or risk upheaval by their friends/families/communities. I’m an “out” atheist, and the last thing I expected was the number of “religious” folk who confide in me that they really don’t believe, either! Sadly, they must stay “closeted” or risk upheaval by their friends/families/communities.

]]> By: Jerry Wesner http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-381936 Jerry Wesner Fri, 07 Sep 2007 22:56:48 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/#comment-381936 I once considered a career in the ministry. I was told then -- I wish I could document this, but I can't -- that a large percentage of practicing ministers didn't believe in the literal existence of God, but had to keep going to be true to their vows -- or to keep the money rolling in. This was in the 1950s. I wonder what the figures are now. I once considered a career in the ministry. I was told then — I wish I could document this, but I can’t — that a large percentage of practicing ministers didn’t believe in the literal existence of God, but had to keep going to be true to their vows — or to keep the money rolling in.
This was in the 1950s. I wonder what the figures are now.

]]> By: probligo http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-381729 probligo Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:53:47 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/#comment-381729 Personally, the fact that Theresa doubted her own faith adds to the humanity (human-ness?) of her as a person. How should that affect the idea of the Catholic Church beatifying her? Not at all as far as I am concerned. Going against her express wish? I can think of a few who might be standing just behind St Peter, tapping foot on the floor and pursed lips waiting to welcome the transgressor... Hey!! Do you think that they have "aunties" in heaven? No one would need a hell if they were in charge. Dennet has a point; but he does not need to be an atheist to make it. And yes, there are "failed" Chrisitans. But he does not need to "claim qualification" to make that point either. All rather tiresome really. Personally, the fact that Theresa doubted her own faith adds to the humanity (human-ness?) of her as a person.

How should that affect the idea of the Catholic Church beatifying her? Not at all as far as I am concerned.

Going against her express wish? I can think of a few who might be standing just behind St Peter, tapping foot on the floor and pursed lips waiting to welcome the transgressor… Hey!! Do you think that they have “aunties” in heaven? No one would need a hell if they were in charge.

Dennet has a point; but he does not need to be an atheist to make it. And yes, there are “failed” Chrisitans. But he does not need to “claim qualification” to make that point either.

All rather tiresome really.

]]> By: Tom http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-381718 Tom Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:45:48 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/#comment-381718 I'm not sure it's accurate to call it "duplicity"; that implies that religious belief is static, that you either have it or you don't. It's well known that religious belief waxes and wanes even among the clergy and members of religious communities. Many even go through a near-absence of belief, the "dark night of the soul", on their spiritual journey. Some come through unscathed, some lose their faith, some have their faith deepened, some take their faith in new directions. This is common. It doesn't imply, as Dennett seems to, that there is some conspiracy to conceal the fact that the clergy consists of huge numbers of closet atheists. I’m not sure it’s accurate to call it “duplicity”; that implies that religious belief is static, that you either have it or you don’t. It’s well known that religious belief waxes and wanes even among the clergy and members of religious communities. Many even go through a near-absence of belief, the “dark night of the soul”, on their spiritual journey.

Some come through unscathed, some lose their faith, some have their faith deepened, some take their faith in new directions. This is common. It doesn’t imply, as Dennett seems to, that there is some conspiracy to conceal the fact that the clergy consists of huge numbers of closet atheists.

]]> By: david http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-381715 david Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:04:18 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/09/03/paragraph-of-the-day/#comment-381715 That is indeed quite a paragraph. And though I generally dislike the stridency of men like Dennett, I have to say that I think there's probably some significant truth in what he's saying. That is indeed quite a paragraph. And though I generally dislike the stridency of men like Dennett, I have to say that I think there’s probably some significant truth in what he’s saying.

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