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... somewhat irrational at times too Isaac Send a noteboard - 21/12/2011 01:22:54 AM
You'd think a thread about the death of Kim Jong-Il, by any reasonable definition himself a militant atheist, wouldn't be the wisest time and place for heavy handed rhetoric reminding everyone that militant atheism tends to often involve active efforts to attack other people's personal beliefs. Considering the almost jaw-dropping correlation of publicly atheist leadership to brutal and generally inefficient, irrational, and paranoid rule the last thing a rational person would want to do is go around drawing parallels between themselves and the deranged, brutal pygmy madman. But we still have around half a dozen posters in the thread who seem more interested in discussing the perceived downsides of non-atheism then the joyous death of the homicidal dictator. You'd think common sense would dictate a conversion method that relied on calm, polite, and generally respectful language as opposed to language that implied the only reason they don't do conversions by the sword is they don't have enough of them, particularly in a thread talking about a guy who did do just that. You'd also think they'd be a bit leery of basing so much of their arguments on psychology, not exactly viewed as the hardest and most reliable of sciences, particularly mere months after Stapel's fraud was uncovered.

I actually do happen to agree - in part or principle anyway - with a good portions of the arguments raised in this thread. I'm just a bit shocked that so very few militant atheists seem interested in pursuing their own agenda in what one would consider the most effective and thus rational way. I have difficulty thinking of any group that sucks that bad at maintaining a good public image, and seems so willfully blind to how many potential converts they probably lose just by maintaining a paradox of demanding rational thought on everything while acting in an apparently irrational fashion in their every memorable public interaction. Particularly considering the well-known concept of one bad incident needing a dozen good ones to override it. It's hard to get behind a cause as rational and civilized when most of its torchbearer's seem intent not just on setting other people's houses on fire but soaking themselves in kerosene while their at it. "Why don't you trust and respect me you irrational, delusional idiots!" has just never struck me as rational debate tactic.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein

King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
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Kim Jong-il is dead. Would you become a fervent believer? - 19/12/2011 03:37:28 AM 1532 Views
If I was a Christian, I'd pray that he would burn forever in hell. - 19/12/2011 03:47:52 AM 941 Views
See, I can't be an atheist. - 19/12/2011 03:53:55 AM 908 Views
I agree about atheism - 19/12/2011 04:19:02 AM 770 Views
It's an approximation. - 19/12/2011 05:40:05 PM 792 Views
no, I'm not saying that the sheer number of people alone is sufficient - 19/12/2011 10:13:09 PM 674 Views
Re: See, I can't be an atheist. - 19/12/2011 04:25:06 AM 765 Views
No, Pascal's Wager is stupid. - 19/12/2011 03:09:42 PM 773 Views
You obviously misread my comments or ignored them. - 19/12/2011 03:39:59 PM 762 Views
You're answering a different point to the one I was addressing. - 19/12/2011 04:01:54 PM 693 Views
For atheism to be a tenable position, one must assume that millions lie about their experiences. - 20/12/2011 04:11:53 AM 784 Views
Look, doesn't this go against your most sacred principle? - 20/12/2011 06:43:27 AM 746 Views
I'm pretty sure he's not saying it's undeniable proof. - 20/12/2011 09:19:44 AM 708 Views
No, it doesn't. - 20/12/2011 08:30:55 PM 672 Views
Re: No, it doesn't. - 20/12/2011 09:21:22 PM 717 Views
This militant atheism is somewhat amusing. - 20/12/2011 09:48:57 PM 735 Views
... somewhat irrational at times too - 21/12/2011 01:22:54 AM 649 Views
Huh? - 21/12/2011 10:47:06 AM 693 Views
That's somewhat unrelated to the intended point of the post - 21/12/2011 12:41:49 PM 700 Views
My "Huh?" was at your claim that any reasonable definition Kim Jong-il was a millitant athiest - 21/12/2011 12:58:44 PM 695 Views
You're objecting to me calling the Military Dictator militant? - 21/12/2011 03:13:35 PM 733 Views
Is that the long way of saying you can't back up what you said? - 21/12/2011 04:06:06 PM 659 Views
Okay - 21/12/2011 05:03:07 PM 758 Views
Your position isn't rational nor logical - 20/12/2011 12:45:03 PM 721 Views
How about a faith atheist? - 19/12/2011 04:28:59 PM 841 Views
Nevermind. It appears you answered that in your reply to Tim. *NM* - 19/12/2011 04:32:19 PM 409 Views
Re: See, I can't be an atheist. - 19/12/2011 04:57:23 PM 797 Views
Sounds like you must be a modern-day prophet - 19/12/2011 05:24:24 PM 641 Views
Well, it's *possible* that he is. - 19/12/2011 05:49:34 PM 741 Views
Hah, fair enough - 19/12/2011 06:47:07 PM 691 Views
Idiocy. Confirmation bias doesn't explain away external phenomena. - 20/12/2011 04:19:10 AM 771 Views
Well. - 21/12/2011 01:49:36 PM 680 Views
I didn't forget about it. I was getting ready to give up on it. - 21/12/2011 02:27:18 PM 673 Views
That doesn't really make sense. - 21/12/2011 03:04:23 PM 573 Views
No, it does make perfect sense. - 21/12/2011 06:17:02 PM 711 Views
Also, learn to use the subjunctive. It's "if I WERE a Christian..." - 19/12/2011 03:54:20 AM 761 Views
The sad thing about that comment... - 19/12/2011 04:52:57 AM 888 Views
I really am gonna miss Hitchens...a lot *NM* *NM* - 19/12/2011 04:06:50 AM 354 Views
I will miss him, too...a lot. *NM* - 19/12/2011 04:17:05 AM 337 Views
so, hypothetically...if I was to send you a list of people... - 19/12/2011 04:25:47 AM 716 Views
Let's not try that. - 20/12/2011 04:21:35 AM 677 Views
I'm so ronery - 19/12/2011 06:36:38 AM 763 Views
I thought you were asking if I believed in KJ-I, the Eternal Leader - 19/12/2011 06:55:08 AM 663 Views
You know what's really weird? - 19/12/2011 11:32:23 AM 736 Views
It has been there for 6 hours at this stage. - 19/12/2011 12:34:57 PM 806 Views
don't forget Mugabe (sp) - 19/12/2011 01:06:24 PM 640 Views
Zimbabwe basically is dust by now. *NM* - 19/12/2011 02:52:51 PM 336 Views
They took it down, apparently. *NM* - 20/12/2011 04:40:24 AM 318 Views
Turns out Kim Jong really was il? - 19/12/2011 12:10:15 PM 691 Views
all praise Madokami! *NM* - 19/12/2011 01:03:26 PM 405 Views
He's not dead-dead. Neither is his father. Just ask the North Koreans. - 19/12/2011 04:23:48 PM 722 Views
Re: He's not dead-dead. Neither is his father. Just ask the North Koreans. - 19/12/2011 09:15:09 PM 641 Views
That happened to me too. - 19/12/2011 09:45:48 PM 780 Views
Re: That happened to me too. - 19/12/2011 09:48:36 PM 643 Views
Re: Legend - 20/12/2011 04:54:40 PM 654 Views
I wonder if they're going to embalm him? - 20/12/2011 04:39:33 AM 589 Views
The problem with predictions that come true - 19/12/2011 05:28:24 PM 759 Views
I don't make a lot of predictions. *NM* - 19/12/2011 08:18:53 PM 454 Views
Just ones about old, sick guys dying? *NM* - 19/12/2011 09:51:12 PM 304 Views
No, sadly. - 20/12/2011 04:31:44 AM 586 Views
I can attest to the fact that this conversation took place on Facebook Saturday. - 19/12/2011 09:19:06 PM 681 Views
Yeah, I thought that reply seemed in the wrong place - 19/12/2011 09:28:17 PM 679 Views
Re: Yeah, I thought that reply seemed in the wrong place - 19/12/2011 09:31:00 PM 669 Views
Yes, TMJ, you also contributed in this case. *NM* - 20/12/2011 04:38:42 AM 306 Views
I am not a dog to be petted! - 21/12/2011 02:42:55 AM 651 Views
HAHAHAHA!!!! *NM* - 21/12/2011 05:31:06 AM 392 Views
Coincidentally, I found this site today - 19/12/2011 10:57:36 PM 701 Views
Oh, I liked that site. I found it a few years ago. *NM* - 20/12/2011 04:37:04 AM 306 Views
Jeez, I hope I never get on your bad side - 20/12/2011 12:06:54 AM 607 Views
Things did change for the better with Stalin's death. - 20/12/2011 02:51:12 AM 717 Views
Not for Stalin *NM* - 20/12/2011 09:49:39 PM 368 Views
eh, you can't have everything - 20/12/2011 11:08:36 PM 604 Views
Not to downplay your awesomely uncanny coincidence... - 20/12/2011 01:19:33 PM 673 Views

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