Golden Platypus Atheist

Would you elect God?

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:47:00 +0000

Via CollegeHumor

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Sorry, That Wasn't Heaven...

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:54:00 +0000

Scientific American - Charles Q. Choi - September 12, 2011

Peace of Mind: Near-Death Experiences Now Found to Have Scientific Explanations

Near-death experiences are often thought of as mystical phenomena, but research is now revealing scientific explanations for virtually all of their common features. The details of what happens in near-death experiences are now known widely—a sense of being dead, a feeling that one's "soul" has left the body, a voyage toward a bright light, and a departure to another reality where love and bliss are all-encompassing.

Approximately 3 percent of the U.S. population says they have had a near-death experience, according to a Gallup poll. Near-death experiences are reported across cultures, with written records of them dating back to ancient Greece. Not all of these experiences actually coincide with brushes with death—one study of 58 patients who recounted near-death experiences found 30 were not actually in danger of dying, although most of them thought they were.

Read more>>

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Adam and Eve pen open letter to Al Mohler

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:01:00 +0000

Associated Baptist Press - 9/8/11 by Zachary Bailes

Dear Albert Mohler:

We hope this finds you well. First, we offer our congratulations for making it on the Colbert Show. That’s a fantastic show, and we tune in often. Second, we offer gratitude for fighting for people to believe in us. It’s an incredibly sweet act -- our thank-you note is in the mail.

While we appreciate your remarkable interest in us, we think you’ve gotten us wrong. For example, you said, “When Adam sinned, he sinned for us, and it’s that very sinfulness that sets up our understanding of our need for a savior…. Without Adam, the work of Christ makes no sense whatsoever.”

While we understand your evangelical piety and unequivocal love for Jesus, we didn’t sin for you. We also didn’t sin in order to make relevant the work of someone born thousands of years after us.

Read more>>

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Bachmann evades the God question...again

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:58:00 +0000

Bachmann Dodges Question On Whether God Uses Weather To Send Messages (VIDEO)

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Hiding their real beliefs - Candidates bob and weave

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:20:00 +0000

It's fun to watch religious evangelical Republican presidential candidates try to downplay their out-of-fashion-yet-biblically-based religious views. If they try to defend them, they look stupid (see Rick Santorum and the paper towel analogy), so they obfuscate, try to hide the truth of their idiotic beliefs.

Rick Perry gets cornered by a kid asking him about evolution. The Bachmanns have to lie about their de-gaying treatment, and Michele is forced to walk back from saying the recent earthquake and hurricane in the northeast was God trying to get the attention of the politicians.

Makes me want to ask them, If your Bible is true, then your biblical beliefs are correct why would you ever apologize for them or deny them in order to get elected to public office?

It's only going to get better, folks.

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Adam and Eve Go Bye-Bye

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:46:00 +0000

Christian theology is being transformed before our eyes due to the inconvenient encroachment of reality...

Urban Christian News - August 9, 2011

Let's go back to the beginning -- all the way to Adam and Eve, and to the question: Did they exist, and did all of humanity descend from that single pair?

According to the Bible (Genesis 2:7), this is how humanity began: "The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." God then called the man Adam, and later created Eve from Adam's rib.

Polls by Gallup and the Pew Research Center find that four out of 10 Americans believe this account. It's a central tenet for much of conservative Christianity, from evangelicals to confessional churches such as the Christian Reformed Church.

But now some conservative scholars are saying publicly that they can no longer believe the Genesis account. Asked how likely it is that we all descended from Adam and Eve, Dennis Venema, a biologist at Trinity Western University, replies: "That would be against all the genomic evidence that we've assembled over the last 20 years, so not likely at all."

Read more>>

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Why don't you believe in God?

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:20:00 +0000

Here can be found some of the most interesting and salient answers to that question:

New Statesman - Faith No More by Andrew Zak Williams (July 25, 2011)

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

What do smart people think about God?

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Science Explains Religion

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:33:00 +0000

Los Angeles Times - By J. Anderson Thomson and Clare Aukofer, July 18, 2011

Before John Lennon imagined "living life in peace," he conjured "no heaven … / no hell below us …/ and no religion too."

No religion: What was Lennon summoning? For starters, a world without "divine" messengers, like Osama bin Laden, sparking violence. A world where mistakes, like the avoidable loss of life in Hurricane Katrina, would be rectified rather than chalked up to "God's will." Where politicians no longer compete to prove who believes more strongly in the irrational and untenable. Where critical thinking is an ideal. In short, a world that makes sense.

In recent years scientists specializing in the mind have begun to unravel religion's "DNA." They have produced robust theories, backed by empirical evidence (including "imaging" studies of the brain at work), that support the conclusion that it was humans who created God, not the other way around. And the better we understand the science, the closer we can come to "no heaven … no hell … and no religion too."

Read more>>

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Are you skeptical or credulous?

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:06:00 +0000

Skeptical inquiry is the best way to approach life. That's my premise. What is skeptical inquiry? Here's one straightforward definition:

Skeptical inquiry is a method of investigation which guides the evaluation of claims of fact. Four words neatly summarize the skeptical credo: Prove what you claim!

Skepticism's core value judgment holds that empirical evidence must support a falsifiable claim to justify acceptance of that claim. A skeptic strives to identify and clearly articulate assumptions and, when they are questioned, rigorously test those assumptions. Science is the best tool yet-invented for producing evidence that skeptics consider valid.

My question to you: Are you skeptical or credulous? Do you tend to believe, without evidence, whatever you read or hear?

Those who believe the fundamental claims of Christianity (Jesus is God, was raised from the dead, born of a virgin, etc.), I submit, are credulous. The funny thing is, most of them would be skeptical about a modern day claim of resurrection or virgin birth, but for some reason accept without question the claims of the Bible. Why? Because they're in the Bible.

What evidence do they have that any of these things ever happened? None whatsoever. For that matter, how do they know that God is good? Because it says so in the Bible. Take the Bible out of the picture and they have nothing.

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Freedom from religion is glorious

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0000

I mean this literally: Not a single day goes by that I don't celebrate and appreciate my freedom from religion. I'm not talking about freedom to do bad things. My morals don't have anything to do with divine edict or fear of supernatural punishment; then never did. I'm talking about mental, intellectual, emotional freedom. This post from unreasonable faith says it better than I can.

Since leaving the church, I have learned to value people for who they are regardless of what they believe, without feeling like I need to “win them to Christ” and save them from their horrible selves. I’ve been able to simply enjoy a drink with a coworker without ridiculously talking religion and pressuring her into Christianity. I am free to sleep in on Sundays and no longer feel obligated to give my time and money to an organization. I can enjoy life, each moment, the simple things without cursing the hell bound world around me and then forcing myself to think heavenly thoughts.

Need a Resurrection?

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:25:00 +0000

People who follow Todd Bently are complete jackasses and deserve to have every penny they own taken from them by this fucking lunatic. First of all, his name is TODD!!! On top of that, he's Canadian! (At least he sounds like he's Canadian, which is just as bad.) Shouldn't that be enough? But no, you need more to keep you away?

The best line from this video: "People that need people raised from the dead are now tuning in to the meeting." It's like he's talking about people who need their drains unclogged. Who in hell wouldn't like to have someone raised from the dead?

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Eddie Long is Guilty as Sin

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Fri, 27 May 2011 22:31:00 +0000

This can be inferred from the fact that, rather than "vigorously" defend himself against the charges that he used his spiritual authority and material enticements to get young men to have sex with him, as he promised he would do, Long has settled out of court with the men in question.

At issue is not his attraction to young men. Nothing wrong with that. It's the stinking hypocrisy, as always, and the gullibility of his adoring fans.

Bishop Eddie Long settles sexual misconduct suit out of court
By Elizabeth Tenety

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Will you be raptured or left behind? Find out now!

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Sun, 22 May 2011 17:24:00 +0000

Is the rapture happening?

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Sat, 21 May 2011 12:41:00 +0000

As you surely know by now, the Rapture was to be accompanied by a giant, rolling earthquake beginning at the International Dateline and proceeding westward so that it would hit every time zone at 6PM local. So all eyes were on New Zealand, the first major country to experience the catastrophe. Here's a sample of some of the answers online to the burning question: It is now 6pm in New Zealand May 21st, 2011, anyone get raptured?

>Damn, im waiting for the same anwser. Grrr. its 2am here and i want to go to bed hahah, but i want to know lol

>Hi nothing has happened here in nz you can all stop worrying, there is no earthquake or rapture.

>Part of me is going upward but I don't think it would sanctioned by rapture people.

>Oh shit! I'm still here, so are all my friends, both of them.

>I can see you are sleeping. I am up in the air looking at you:)

>hi all i'm one of those raptured communicating from an internet cafe in heaven run apparently by john the baptist

>it was absolutely awesome, jesus had a little minibus waiting for us with refreshments and some "light" entertainment. some kiwis got a little travel sick [and home sick] along the way, but after jesus gave us a bit of a prep talk with some soothing background mood music, we were all in high spirits once again.

we were looking back at new zealand as were flying in our jet minibus at the ghastly horrors of destruction; people going silly, pets and tomato plants being ruthlessly unfed and unattended. it was most unbearable.

you all should repent now. it will be terrible for you if you don't. besides there's a lovely cafe up here owned by gabriel you'll love. they make a nice tomato soup.

(Via http://www.godlikeproductions.com/)

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Why people want the world to end

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Sun, 15 May 2011 19:55:00 +0000

If you think about it for a minute or two, you can easily understand why some people are drawn to the belief that the world is going to end soon. There's been a lot said about the proliferation of billboards and other forms of announcement concerning the imminence of judgment day (next Saturday!), and about the gullibility of people, some of whom have spent their life savings to spread the word.

But in all that I've read about them, I haven't seen anything about the attractiveness of the idea.

Life is challenging, especially in a bad economy. There's a lot to worry about. So what could bring more relief of all the stress and anxiety over life's troubles than the belief that it will all be over soon? For these people, there's no more need to be concerned about keeping the job they have, or about finding one if they're unemployed. There's no need to worry about paying the mortgage, or getting the kids through college. All of that and more gets wiped away in their certainty that, in just a few more days, they'll be taken away from all of life's badness, transported to heaven, and taken care of for the rest of eternity.

And when that day comes and they're still here, and the troubles of life are still here, what will they do then? They will keep the faith and hope for the world's end to come another day. Because it's a nice idea.

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Overcoming the Faith of Your Family

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Sun, 15 May 2011 15:29:00 +0000

What happened to the dinosaurs? One more theory...

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Fri, 13 May 2011 21:12:00 +0000

A History of God - Excellent video series!

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Tue, 10 May 2011 19:14:00 +0000

A Great Way to Explain and Illustrate How Evolution Works

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Thu, 05 May 2011 00:46:00 +0000

Click on the image to enlarge, and enjoy.

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Exposing Faith-Healing Nonsense

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 14:44:00 +0000

Derren Brown - Miracles for Sale

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

An Easter Message from Ricky Gervais

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:35:00 +0000

Why I'm a Good Christian

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

More evidence that religion was invented by men

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:42:00 +0000

Washington Post - April 13, 2011 (by Paula Kirby)

“The discrimination against women on a global basis is very often attributable to the declaration by religious leaders in Christianity, Islam, and other religions that women are inferior in the eyes of God,” former President Jimmy Carter said last week. Many traditions teach that while both men and women are equal in value, God has ordained specific roles for men and women. Those distinct duties often keep women out of leadership positions in their religious communities. What is religion’s role in gender discrimination?

“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”

Here, in Ephesians 5, attributed to St Paul, we have in a nutshell the church’s attitude to the respective positions of man and woman. The man’s role is to be the head, the woman’s to submit to him. The meaning is crystal clear, unmistakable; and yet, despite the fundamentalists who firmly believe such Iron Age prejudices still apply today, there are many liberal Christians who have the decency to cringe at the primitiveness of such instructions and who therefore bend over backwards to pretend they’re not as bad as they quite patently are. “Ah yes,” they say, “but Paul goes on to say that husbands must love their wives. And not just love them, but love them as they love themselves. So clearly this is a reciprocal arrangement, equal in value, imposing constraints of equal weight on both man and wife. All is well with the world and we can continue to pretend that Christianity is the friend of women.” But no. All is not well with the world, and only the deluded or the disingenuous could claim to see equality where there is only subservience.

Read more>>

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

Three Abrahamic Faiths - A Rant

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:05:00 +0000

Atheism is Winning: Here's Why

noreply@blogger.com (bmahfood) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:55:00 +0000

Mano Singham's Web Journal - 3/17/11

The last hope of religion is the fear of death. Fear of death is what religion thinks of as its trump card. In any discussion with believers, they will invariably get around to talking about how you (as an atheist) are risking your immortal soul and ask whether you are not fearful of what will happen in the afterlife. I know that this is coming and tell people who raise this that when I die, nothing spectacular will happen and that I will simply cease to be, with my body returning to the basic elements. I am quite comfortable with the idea. This clearly disconcerts the people who raise it since they are so obviously scared of death and see god as some kind of 'get out of death' card. It is important that we develop an acceptance of death as an inevitable fact of life and I am preparing a series of posts on atheist views of death that will appear some time in the future, unless I die first, of course!

Why atheism is winning is because when a belief structure has no empirical basis, it only survives by everyone agreeing to maintain the illusion that it makes sense. It is the emperor's new clothes syndrome. But such beliefs are highly prone to sudden collapse as soon as it begins to be pointed out that there is nothing there. Once a tipping point is reached, changes in unsupported beliefs (whether it be god or racism and homophobia) can occur very rapidly.

Read more>>

Follow me on Twitter. Golden Platypus is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.