runner,
'Atheism is not totally irrational.'
>then why do they come up with such idiotic unscientific dogmas such as the big bang and evolution.
Firstly they're neither idiotic nor unscientific nor dogmas. They're scientific theories; accepted as such because unlike competing explanations, they fit the facts.

Secondly, what makes you think that those who devised those theories were atheists?

>One certainly needs to stick head in the sand, close your eyes and repeat stupid slogans to embrace such nonsense.
On the contrary, that's the requirement for denial of evolution! The big bang is not quite so well understood, but I've not seen any other good explanation for the cosmic background radiation being polarised.

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mac,

You're shifting the goalposts a very long way there - I presume that now you're denying atheism's a belief system, you now concede it is a belief?

From the life of Jesus to the power of prayer, there's plenty of evidence for the existence of God. You may find the evidence unconvincing, but that doesn't mean there's no evidence.

Dear SteeleRedux,

Heh, I know what you mean. I looked the guy up too. To me, the article smacked of libertarian-millennial naivety. I thought instantly of Charlie Kirk when I read it.

As for the link you provided, yes, I’ve seen that video before. I remember I had to pause the video for a moment to let what Stephen Fry had said sink in.

I’m not sure what to make of the observation, though. There are no studies that investigate the correlation that I am aware of. While it would be a mistake to conclude that there is causation to the correlation, it at least demonstrates that constitutional monarchies are not inherently a hindrance to freedom, societal health, or social welfare.

--

Aidan,

As a mentioned before, and for the reasons I mentioned before, atheism is not a belief system. It is also not a belief, until you are referring specifically to strong atheism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism#/media/File:AtheismImplicitExplicit3.svg

I doesn't sound like you have any idea of what atheism is. I'd recommend starting here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism

I'd be fascinated to hear how you justify claiming that atheism is a belief system.

<< From the life of Jesus to the power of prayer, there's plenty of evidence for the existence of God.>>

That’s not very reliable evidence. Multiple studies have demonstrated that intercessory prayer does not work (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studies_on_intercessory_prayer), and can even have a backfire effect on those who know they are being prayed for (probably due to performance anxiety).

As for Jesus, there is no extra-biblical evidence for the divinity of Jesus (assuming an historical Jesus even existed), and the Gospels are hardly reliable evidence for a divine Jesus, as any literary scholar (and some Biblical scholars) will tell you.

http://naturalistphilosophy.wordpress.com/2016/02/22/the-gospels-are-unreliable-and-the-gospel-jesus-is-not-a-historical-person

Very boring. A quick scan turned me off. I'm surprised that those making comments actually read this. I suspect that they just saw the word "Christian", and charged in with their the stock standard views on the subject.

There is so much wrong with Christian philosophy but you simply have to open your eyes to see it.

The Baby Jesus stuff about the poor is lovely if you ignore the rest.

Jesus didn't ban slavery,

Jesus continually threatened hellfire and damnation on people - Hell doesn't exist.

Jesus allowed believers to think that anyone unlike his nutter believers rot in hell!

Jesus didn't teach about bacteria or viruses he only believed in devils, demons and spirits. Luckily people ignored these backward beliefs and found medical solutions.

Jesus pretended that prayer actually works and yet not one Christian can actually prove this ... http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=8181#256586

Jesus encouraged modern Christianity to lie to, and indoctrinate children with lies and falsehoods.

Jesus didn't criticise the psychopathic crimes committed against other humans by the likes of Moses and King David.

Example King David's Holocaust.

1Chronicles 20:3 And he brought out the people that were in it, and CUT THEM WITH SAWS, AND WITH HARROWS OF IRON, AND WITH AXES. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

In fact that Bible says this lie about David....

1Kings 11:5-6 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: AND HIS HEART WAS NOT PERFECT WITH THE LORD HIS GOD, AS WAS THE HEART OF HIS FATHER.

Most Christians believe that anyone who thinks differently to them will rot in the sulfur lakes of hell, when hell doesn't exist.

Can anyone who accepts and believes such horrid thoughts against their fellow human be considered good?

Sorry but NO! You can't claim this is a good religion with good philosophies when you deliberately ignore the horrid parts in plain site within.

Good people have changed the world...stop giving religion the credit!

Aidan

AJ Philips has anticipated my replies to your comments.
I'd also add that we can't accept that a text written by religious believers is proof of the veracity of any religion.

(1) What is the independent proof, ie external to the Bible, for the existence of any deity.

(2) How do you deal with the problem that theodicy was developed to explain? It would be more logical to assume that the Christian God is actually a malevolent, sadistic bastard.

LOL Libertarians have no soul!