tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.comments2023-03-26T13:13:36.661-07:00One Without FaithPhiliphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021346110340833907noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-62521050471544596522009-07-11T09:24:05.108-07:002009-07-11T09:24:05.108-07:00Ha! A better question to him would be whether a go...Ha! A better question to him would be whether a good life is possible without vices.Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06021346110340833907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-78665612490936547232009-07-11T07:10:17.819-07:002009-07-11T07:10:17.819-07:00Sounds like fun. I like Lafayette, but I do miss b...Sounds like fun. I like Lafayette, but I do miss being in a place where I can see talks like this. The only live talk of Hitchens I've seen was when he attended a seminar at SMU about vice and morality. It was called "Can we keep our bad habits and still live the good life?" Three guesses what Hitchens answer to that was.Derekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02776917750757825408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-16207218342227675872009-02-17T13:33:00.000-08:002009-02-17T13:33:00.000-08:00> Love God and treat other people as you would ...> Love God and treat other people as you would like to be treated.<BR/><BR/>The first is vague and I don't see how it bears on slavery. The second is a strong argument against slavery, but it's not specific to Christianity, or even theism.<BR/><BR/>> Slavery was in certain economic conditions a better choice than other possible choices.<BR/><BR/>In desperate situations, yes, it can be the lesser of two evils for the slave. But most would argue it is never a moral choice for slave owners or traders. Was Jesus only addressing the poor?Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06021346110340833907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-68993097733360627552009-02-16T12:42:00.000-08:002009-02-16T12:42:00.000-08:00hmmm.. Lets look at the big rules. Love God and tr...hmmm.. Lets look at the big rules. Love God and treat other people as you would like to be treated.<BR/><BR/>So I would say that would eliminate all the slavery that we saw in the US. But today, which one would you want:<BR/><BR/>1. slowly starve to death in a hovel.<BR/>2. be given to some people that would feed you so that you would do work for them.<BR/><BR/>Slavery is an economic condition that can be an improvement over what you have. <BR/><BR/>If you are a father and you are watching your 3 children starve and you get a 4th child. You can watch them starve faster. Or you can sell one to feed the others and have hope that the one sold would be fed and get a chance to keep living. Certain death or slavery. I would hope the choice is clear.<BR/><BR/>Slavery was in certain economic conditions a better choice than other possible choices.<BR/><BR/>I think telling people to treat others as you would want to be treated is a better rule than no slavery ever.markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12099567082603118304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-18760949663681694012009-02-09T19:05:00.000-08:002009-02-09T19:05:00.000-08:00I'm not sure what that has to do with whether Chri...I'm not sure what that has to do with whether Christianity is good for the world, but it's certainly an interesting stat. I don't know how many modern slave traders are Christians, but somewhere between 40 and 50% of Africa is (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa#Religion).Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06021346110340833907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-65178711434981394472009-02-03T16:41:00.000-08:002009-02-03T16:41:00.000-08:00Christianity certainly has a mixed history on slav...Christianity certainly has a mixed history on slavery, and I don't think Hitchens aver blamed slaver on Christianity. The bible has been used both to support and defend it. But, to me at least, that's damning enough. If Christianity really is the perfect moral compass, how could we ever have period in our history where most Christians supported something what today is so obviously morally reprehensible. Why couldn't Jesus have just come out and said "look guys, there are a lot of grey areas in the world, but slavery is just flat out wrong"?Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06021346110340833907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-6893143733865703442009-02-03T08:53:00.000-08:002009-02-03T08:53:00.000-08:00I'll give you the crusades and the inquisition. bu...I'll give you the crusades and the inquisition. but slavery. I don't see how you blame slavery on christians. Slavery existed before christians and christians did a lot during the Civil war to end slavery. many of our founding fathers argued against slavery on the grounds of christian theology. In fact, freedom is a fundamental theme in christian literature.markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12099567082603118304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-377081884411760432009-01-26T14:00:00.000-08:002009-01-26T14:00:00.000-08:00Argh! Yes, both were typos, both fixed now. Thanks...Argh! Yes, both were typos, both fixed now. Thanks. Good thing nobody else reads this blog.Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06021346110340833907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-20403554872850026572009-01-26T05:57:00.000-08:002009-01-26T05:57:00.000-08:00First off, are these typos?It's quite possible for...First off, are these typos?<BR/><BR/><I>It's quite possible for the Christian god to exist, yet for Christian belief to be healthy for individuals or society.</I> <BR/><BR/><I>Do we need to believe in the supernatural to be moral? I think the answer is clearly "yes", but it is the point that most needs arguing to the Christian world, and Hitchens barely makes it.</I><BR/><BR/>You mean the opposite in both cases, right? <BR/><BR/>Anyway, yeah...it sounds disappointing. I have been frustrated with Hitchens in debates for not addressing glaringly and easily-refuted points and wandering off into whatever subject seemed to please him at that time.<BR/><BR/>As far as the question goes, I think the answer is that on the whole Christianity and religion in general are a net force for good, but that a well-thought-out scientific, secular belief system on the whole would be superior. But you're right, that case needs to be made, especially when it comes to morality.Derekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02776917750757825408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-51170613106438029752009-01-22T07:17:00.000-08:002009-01-22T07:17:00.000-08:00Uh oh...you're getting into Lost. That's cool. I'v...Uh oh...you're getting into Lost. That's cool. I've really enjoyed it, even though, as you point out, it's pretty silly and a lot of things don't make sense. By the end of the 2nd season I just quit trying to piece things together and figure out whether there was any kind of internal consistency (I'm pretty sure there's not a whole lot). I also don't take any deep messages away from it. <BR/><BR/>I basically just enjoy it for the WTF frame of mind it puts you in. New mysteries spawn faster than answers, and it puts you in a Zen-like state of curiosity and confusion. I expect the end of the whole series to be a giant letdown, either unresolved or really, really silly. But it's a fun ride.Derekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02776917750757825408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-32967319828298042292008-12-31T11:06:00.000-08:002008-12-31T11:06:00.000-08:00Funniest Post Yet!Funniest Post Yet!markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12099567082603118304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-71447855304330525362008-12-31T11:05:00.000-08:002008-12-31T11:05:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12099567082603118304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-2133188316112601832008-12-08T13:25:00.000-08:002008-12-08T13:25:00.000-08:00at one point in the video he says "They're just wo...<I>at one point in the video he says "They're just words," implying that we shouldn't be offended by racist remarks. But that follows several minutes of him discussing how he was offended by racist remarks.</I><BR/><BR/>I don't think that's necessarily inconsistent. It is important to realize that it's not the words themselves that have power, but how we use and interpret them.<BR/><BR/><I>And I've never been impressed by the assertion that "we're all racists." Talk about lumping everyone into a useless category. How is such a statement constructive in any way, shape, or form? </I><BR/><BR/>It can be useful if it forces people not to see "racist" as a binary category. If I admit that both I and the KKK Grand Wizard are both racist, it forces me to distinguish levels and types of racism.Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06021346110340833907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-87062850542558791602008-12-08T07:26:00.000-08:002008-12-08T07:26:00.000-08:00I'm not sure I'd enjoy the show very much, based o...I'm not sure I'd enjoy the show very much, based on your description and the video. Some of his more serious points don't make much sense, e.g., at one point in the video he says "They're just words," implying that we shouldn't be offended by racist remarks. But that follows several minutes of him discussing how he was offended by racist remarks.<BR/><BR/>And I've never been impressed by the assertion that "we're all racists." Talk about lumping everyone into a useless category. How is such a statement constructive in any way, shape, or form? So Barack Obama, myself, and the Grand Wizard of the KKK are all racists. Where do we go from there?Derekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02776917750757825408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-62553687638174341462008-12-04T23:34:00.000-08:002008-12-04T23:34:00.000-08:00Heh, yeah. "Eureka!" I've found it! Whoo, let's ra...Heh, yeah. "Eureka!" I've found it! Whoo, let's rally around that for common values. Bunch of desperate poor people sunk their lives into a gruesome cross-continental trek, and 1% got rich. I guess if we represented the sentiment of the other 99% the motto would be "fuck! I'm still poor!" Wonder what that is in Latin.Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06021346110340833907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-24444466071665999812008-12-04T22:39:00.000-08:002008-12-04T22:39:00.000-08:00Interesting. I didn't know jack about state mottos...Interesting. I didn't know jack about state mottos. You didn't mention California, Louisiana, or Texas, but I saw why after looking them up. And now I have come to the conclusion that state mottos are generally lame.Derekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02776917750757825408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-27966186316903327402008-11-18T14:52:00.000-08:002008-11-18T14:52:00.000-08:00Yeah, "we're an autonomous collective", "help help...Yeah, "we're an autonomous collective", "help help, I'm being repressed" ... all good stuff.Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06021346110340833907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-81493829543976429242008-11-18T11:06:00.000-08:002008-11-18T11:06:00.000-08:00Philip,That entire dialog is so fantastic. They we...Philip,<BR/><BR/>That entire dialog is so fantastic. They were some of the best intellectual comedians of our time. Here's the entire dialog for that scene:<BR/>http://www.spunk.org/texts/humour/sp000621.txt<BR/><BR/><BR/>Jim O'FlahertyJim O'Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06677570063739990322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-47771970965352599352008-11-15T09:17:00.000-08:002008-11-15T09:17:00.000-08:00If it makes you feel any better, I agree with ever...If it makes you feel any better, I agree with everything you said, in both posts. But then, you probably already knew that.<BR/><BR/>I think the problem is a similar issue that comes up with things like putting god's name on money and having prayer in school. Despite the wisdom of religious plurality and the separation of church and state, most religious citizens desperately want to view their government and their leaders as holding and endorsing their religious views. I haven't seen poll numbers on this specifically, but my guess is that most Christians view this country foremost as a Christian nation, and not as a pluralistic society where freedom of religion is paramount. This kind of makes sense due to the inherent top-down authoritarian nature of religion. Religion reinforces hierarchy, and religious followers want that hierarchy realized in their societal structure as well, not just at a local level with their pastor.<BR/><BR/>So for many religious people, the idea of the government no longer rubber stamping their concept of marriage is anathema. It's dumb, but like you say, it's not going to change any time soon.Derekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02776917750757825408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-36833531046750690502008-11-09T21:24:00.000-08:002008-11-09T21:24:00.000-08:00I've started using the mega-feed lately as just a ...I've started using the mega-feed lately as just a digest of what all my friends are doing, but I don't use it much other than that. I wouldn't use it at all if I didn't know so many folks for whom its their main feed. The emails are awful.Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06021346110340833907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-47750327142109541002008-11-09T18:53:00.000-08:002008-11-09T18:53:00.000-08:00To which my inner voice replied, "Why, yes I am. A...<I>To which my inner voice replied, "Why, yes I am. And fuck you for asking."</I><BR/><BR/>Sorry, man. Your response made me smile, though.<BR/><BR/>I think Facebook has a pretty shitty user interface, so I use it as little as possible. Also, I must be good at tuning out ads...I hardly ever notice them.Derekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02776917750757825408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-1147495269311232722008-11-07T07:11:00.000-08:002008-11-07T07:11:00.000-08:00We both know it's hard enough to get to that point...We both know it's hard enough to get to that point without having the government tell you you can't. I hope you do want to get married again someday-she would be the luckiest woman in the world.avenue girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17600908716856174544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-75629844797588043122008-10-30T13:57:00.000-07:002008-10-30T13:57:00.000-07:00I loved that you sent me these!I loved that you sent me these!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-82674553229566059592008-10-16T18:46:00.000-07:002008-10-16T18:46:00.000-07:00Bah dum bum.Bah dum bum.Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06021346110340833907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276055495132260625.post-21927927098521797162008-10-16T18:38:00.000-07:002008-10-16T18:38:00.000-07:00Does this mean my "Clue" theory doesn't work? I st...Does this mean my "Clue" theory doesn't work? I still think Joe the Plumber killed Joe 6-pack with the scalpel on Wall Street, but the rosy lipped pig covered it up on Main Street by getting its friends to bury the hatchet.avenue girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17600908716856174544noreply@blogger.com