Originally posted by Conrau KYou might need to check your "facts":
Embryonic research is a potential field of research. It provides the hope of alleviating degenerative diseases. Alternatives such as stem- cell reseach have not proved successful and embryonic research looks promising.
I don't think that we should abandon a line of research which could potentially save lives. Or am I being selfish?
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-smith042302.asp
Originally posted by HalitoseThere is this article by Maureen Condic as well:
You might need to check your "facts":
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-smith042302.asp
http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0201/articles/condic.html
"Maureen L. Condic, ..., is an Assistant Professor of Neurobiology and Anatomy at the University of Utah, working on the regeneration of adult and embryonic neurons following spinal cord injury."
http://www.neuro.utah.edu/people/faculty/condic.php
Originally posted by telerionHere's my take on it: Since it has been numerously reiterated in this forum that atheism makes no claim to any form of morality/non-morality, it would be wrong to exclude anybody from the "atheist" community if they meet the given criteria of a disbelief/denial/non-belief of God. Did I miss something?
Yes, I noticed that connection when I was writing and carefully engineered my post not to fall into that trap.
Err . . . I hope.
Originally posted by amannionUm, these are people I'm related to. Actually, it'd be safe to call them sociopaths. One has been in jail so much that he often gets rides to the state border when he gets out of prison. His father and sister are just as bad, if not worse, but have never been arrested (out of sheer luck) as far as I know.
Wow, the atheists you know sound like bastards. And you sound like you've had enough. Why do you have anything to do with them?
(Do you REALLY know people like that? C'mon you can be straight with us.)
Originally posted by telerionUm, no, you can be both a sadistic jerk and an atheist. You can also pretend to have a religion and be a sadistic jerk, but these are more honest in that regard. They loudly proclaim themselves to be atheists, are just as hostile to theists as anyone on this forum saying pretty much the same things, so I'm not sure how you can come to the conclusion that I am mistaken in taking their word for it. Do you suspect they are lying and are really deep down good Christians?
You sound like you don't know any actual atheists, but rather you know a bunch of sadistic jerks that you mistakenly call atheists.
Originally posted by reader1107"Um, no, you can be both a sadistic jerk and an atheist. You can also pretend to have a religion and be a sadistic jerk"
Um, no, you can be both a sadistic jerk and an atheist. You can also pretend to have a religion and be a sadistic jerk, but these are more honest in that regard. They loudly proclaim themselves to be atheists, are just as hostile to theists as anyone on this forum saying pretty much the same things, so I'm not sure how you can come to the conclusion tha ...[text shortened]... ing their word for it. Do you suspect they are lying and are really deep down good Christians?
you missed out that you can really have a religion and be a sadistic jerk....
Originally posted by reader1107I have never said that one couldn't be both an atheist and a sadistic jerk. That's the point. There's no reason to connect anti-social behavior with atheism. This is what I believed you were likely doing.
Um, no, you can be both a sadistic jerk and an atheist. You can also pretend to have a religion and be a sadistic jerk, but these are more honest in that regard. They loudly proclaim themselves to be atheists, are just as hostile to theists as anyone on this forum saying pretty much the same things, so I'm not sure how you can come to the conclusion tha ...[text shortened]... ing their word for it. Do you suspect they are lying and are really deep down good Christians?
Perhaps, you were not though. Maybe you have only encountered self-proclaimed (loudly) atheists that also happen to be sadistic jerks. If you know more than one of these individuals then it's been an unlucky draw for you. Let me assure you that most atheists are not sadistic jerks, just as most xians, though not all, are pretty swell people.
Originally posted by reader1107I'd be concerned about anyone loudly proclaiming anything and being hostile to anyone. To me that's not about being an atheist or a theist - it's about being a prick. And there's many of them around.
Um, no, you can be both a sadistic jerk and an atheist. You can also pretend to have a religion and be a sadistic jerk, but these are more honest in that regard. They loudly proclaim themselves to be atheists, are just as hostile to theists as anyone on this forum saying pretty much the same things, so I'm not sure how you can come to the conclusion tha ...[text shortened]... ing their word for it. Do you suspect they are lying and are really deep down good Christians?
Atheism is a personal position. I don't need to proselytise. (But I love a good argument and debate.)
Originally posted by telerionI'm sorry, what I meant to do was refute the OP which seemed to be a blanket statement of how caring and life-affirming (paraphrase) atheists are. Some may be. I don't see it as a function of being an atheist, as I know cases to the contrary. I think some people are and will be good (or awful or fair-to-middlin' or psychotic or doing-the-best-they-can or any other type of) people regardless of where they are on the religion/theistic spectrum. I'm not bashing the category of atheist -- I've lived with some remarkably nasty nuns as well.
I have never said that one couldn't be both an atheist and a sadistic jerk. That's the point. There's no reason to connect anti-social behavior with atheism. This is what I believed you were likely doing.
Perhaps, you were not though. Maybe you have only encountered self-proclaimed (loudly) atheists that also happen to be sadistic jerks. If you kn ...[text shortened]... theists are not sadistic jerks, just as most xians, though not all, are pretty swell people.
Originally posted by reader1107Nothing is a function of being an atheist, except for not believing in god.
I'm sorry, what I meant to do was refute the OP which seemed to be a blanket statement of how caring and life-affirming (paraphrase) atheists are. Some may be. I don't see it as a function of being an atheist, as I know cases to the contrary. I think some people are and will be good (or awful or fair-to-middlin' or psychotic or doing-the-best-they-can ...[text shortened]... not bashing the category of atheist -- I've lived with some remarkably nasty nuns as well.
Originally posted by reader1107There are always outliers on any data set. There are always idiot atheists and idiot christians and idiot muslims and idiot everyone else. To cut a long story short, there are alot of idiots out there in the world, but there are alot of good people too. Personally, I think belief in the supernatural is simply fooling yourself, but I also think it must be nice to be able to fool yourself in that way - I cannot.
I'm sorry, what I meant to do was refute the OP which seemed to be a blanket statement of how caring and life-affirming (paraphrase) atheists are. Some may be. I don't see it as a function of being an atheist, as I know cases to the contrary. I think some people are and will be good (or awful or fair-to-middlin' or psychotic or doing-the-best-they-can ...[text shortened]... not bashing the category of atheist -- I've lived with some remarkably nasty nuns as well.
Originally posted by scottishinnzScottish that sounds a bit touchy feely for you. What's wrong?
There are always outliers on any data set. There are always idiot atheists and idiot christians and idiot muslims and idiot everyone else. To cut a long story short, there are alot of idiots out there in the world, but there are alot of good people too. Personally, I think belief in the supernatural is simply fooling yourself, but I also think it must be nice to be able to fool yourself in that way - I cannot.