worldwatcher,

"Just want to assure you that I'm not affiliated with David or his group - just a loner"

Yes, make sure you are not associated with me because........

Maybe you can fill in the because with some facts and not loose accusations. I'm sure that way we will be able to get along fine.

David

Sorry David, I have no interest in 'going round and round the mulberry bush' with you. Pointless confrontation and point scoring is just not my style.

David,

It is telling that you have to make me one of your hated Christians to criticise and insult me. That is your political correctness coming to the fore isn't it?

Any query or criticism is automatically labelled as coming from the opposing and maligned side.

Political correctness, where all opinions are wrong except yours, the prevailing political correctness. Catch 22.

Then as an additional tactic to sidestep questions you feign impatience with the questioner's 'dullness' saying that you have answered everything on some previous occasion.

You have yet to answer the question why you sledge the Christians exclusively. It is easy to surmise that your offense has a cultural basis too. There are cultural traditions and religious beliefs you are obviously at pains not to offend. There must be some 'good' religions in your head space, right? That must be that 'Progressive' mind-set coming to the fore as part of your political correctness.

No, it is not convincing that you set out to offend Christians exclusively because they are more of them. But even of you do, what do you hope to gain except some personal jollies out of offending ordinary members of the public enjoying their beliefs or traditions?

Lexi,

You are correct. I was raised in a Catholic culture. It was certainly an experience but the very sad thing is that many of those I knew as youngsters are still trapped by its reward and punishment doctrine. It’s very effective if promoted in a ubiquitous manner and why shouldn't it be, it’s been honed to near perfection over the centuries. Nowadays the essential ubiquity part is missing and knowledge of the real world not so restricted. I guess that’s why the percentage of ex-Catholics is so strong on the Atheist Census website. http://www.atheistcensus.com/

“Christmas carols can still bring a tear to my eyes. Especially recently, while attending a Christmas lunch in a Nursing Home - where the elderly residents sang with such feeling - the very moving, "Silent Night."

I agree that the emotional side of religious music can be very enticing. A member of the AFA Committee who recently retired just loved Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus’. He even bought me a copy which I play every now and then but not often. :)

David

worldwatcher,

I have no intention of going around the mulberry bush either, as that is not my style. I just asked of you to explain your comment. I'm not overly disappointed that you haven’t. Have a Merry Christmyth. Seriously.

David

onthebeach,

I don’t hate Christians. Your paranoia is showing. I dislike the effects of religion on people and planet. What inflexible opinions do I hold? Point out where I sledge Christians? Not sure how to say this (again and again) but Christianity is the dominant religion in Australia and the Atheist Foundation of Australia reacts accordingly.

Are you intimating the AFA doesn't pick up Islam when it needs it? Maybe read this thread. http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=14209&page=0#245943

I don’t consider any religion good but that doesn't imply a hatred of those who believe in them. I would love to help anyone who doesn't need religion to escape it.

Getting ones jollies has nothing whatsoever to do with this. You need to do more reading and work out why many atheists are not happy with religion.

David

sonof>> >>Agnostic is the descriptive the thinking man goes with I believe.<<

Pericles>> Nah. <<

Love it, I can imagine the utterance coming from your cerebral cortex with incredulity.....lol P.

David >>. Could it be the ‘thinking man’ that doesn't understand the difference between philosophy and practicality or is it the ‘thinking man’ who is unable to make a choice with the idea of gods but has no trouble with fairies.

Dave, a fair point.
Consider the prime reason that we can contemplate a god…..our consciousness.
Fairly early in the piece, at about the time that our ancestors started to bury their dead, humans knew that they were different. As opposed to the animals we understood that there was a tomorrow and we understood that we might not get there. At some stage we gazed at the night sky and considered what big is and how small we are…that is when our consciousness sought a benefactor. One we could beseech in times of trial, fact or fiction.

We still have that consciousness but we have given up believing in fairies and goblins…..but we can’t let go of a creator for some reason as this discussion examples some 100,000 years after the first concept of a creator was sparked. The thinking man adopts the consideration that physics is not all there is.

WW>> I stand by my statement that I am an atheist as defined in the dictionary<<

Stand or lay WW you have formed an opinion and turned it into a belief, as has the theists.
But to my mind it is rational to look at what we don’t understand….which is everything…. and leave all options open. The Big Bang produced matter from nothing, we aint seen that trick again, that is something to contemplate.

It's a great pity that David Nicholls is so anti-Christmas, as he would make a highly convincing Santa Claus...

http://www.atheistconvention.org.au/david-nicholls/

Happy Christmas everyone. It's a great time to surround yourself with people whose company delights you.

Oh, and because it is the season of goodwill, try to include some relatives as well...

Enjoy.