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AllP0werToSlaves 
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 29 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 249
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 Posted: February 05 2011 at 13:43 |
 Anthony H. wrote:
AllP0werToSlaves wrote:
The world is rife with many a false dichotomy; science v.s. religion is probably the oldest one in the book (no pun intended  ). |
You have to be careful with the dichotomy of "Science or Religion." On the surface, it is a false one; one can obviously believe in both religion and science. However, there are instances when it is a true dichotomy. For example: Belief in evolution and belief in a literal Adam & Eve. One can't have both.
In short: You have to do some tap-dancing if you want to accept both religion and science.
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Exactly my point; it requires discernment of the individual. The world likes to offer black and white choices (seemingly), but the truth is often found in the grey area more so than either extreme.
Edited by AllP0werToSlaves - February 05 2011 at 13:44
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The T
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 16 2006
Location: FL, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 17493
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Posted: February 05 2011 at 17:42 |
Equality 7-2521 wrote:
I hate how the crowd claps at every stupid half-wit comment he makes, ensuring that any possible semi-intelligent conversation is quickly interrupted by their inane laughter. |
yes even when I liked him I didn't like that. I feel bad for the conservatives and right wingers that go to that show...
Maher used to be a libertarian. Then he got all swedish. What the hell happened is usually the other way around.
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JJLehto
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Status: Offline
Points: 34550
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Posted: February 05 2011 at 18:15 |
The T wrote:
JJLehto wrote:
Not sure how Bill Maher got involved but I hate that guy with a passion. That is all.
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I used to like him but now I can't stand him (except his new rules are rather dunny though sometimes stupid like the one where he compared the nfl to the US).
Brian that avatar is too great... |
oh thank you. Winter Cat has gone to Jersey Shore for a break... And I guess that makes sense given your political shift...but I always hated him. Even as a hardcore leftist. A moronic blowhard is one regardless! Oh and uh...yeah you can worship Satan just keep it outta my face please?
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Atavachron
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 66005
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Posted: February 05 2011 at 19:04 |
AllP0werToSlaves wrote:
The world likes to offer black and white choices (seemingly), but the truth is often found in the grey area more so than either extreme.
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True that.
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Slartibartfast
Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam
Joined: April 29 2006
Location: Atlantais
Status: Offline
Points: 29630
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Posted: February 05 2011 at 19:11 |
JJLehto wrote:
Not sure how Bill Maher got involved but I hate that guy with a passion.
That is all.
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If you hate that guy with a passion why to you watch that guy enough to hate that guy with a passion? He's not exactly forced on you. Now guys on the right I dislike, I dislike because of what people that I trust on the left expose their opinions to me. You probably won't appreciate the difference between knee jerk demonization from the right and basic criticism from the the left.
Edited by Slartibartfast - February 05 2011 at 19:14
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Mr ProgFreak
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 08 2008
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
Points: 5195
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Posted: February 07 2011 at 01:37 |
The T wrote:
JJLehto wrote:
Not sure how Bill Maher got involved but I hate that guy with a passion. That is all.
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I used to like him but now I can't stand him (except his new rules are rather dunny though sometimes stupid like the one where he compared the nfl to the US).
Brian that avatar is too great... |
Well, it should please you that he isn't an Atheist then. 
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Lark the Starless
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 15 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 1902
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Posted: February 07 2011 at 12:07 |
^ Correct.
I believe Chris Hitchens and Sam Harris are going to double team in a debate with a couple of members from a Jewish University in L.A. Does anybody have more news concerning this?
I'd like to attend but I'm a bit busy with school and such  |
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The T
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 16 2006
Location: FL, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 17493
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Posted: February 07 2011 at 12:10 |
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I don't have much problem with his religious beliefs... which he says he lacks, though immediately he flips and says he's just "not sure", hence agnostic.
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Padraic
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: February 16 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Status: Offline
Points: 31169
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Posted: February 07 2011 at 12:14 |
Slartibartfast wrote:
JJLehto wrote:
Not sure how Bill Maher got involved but I hate that guy with a passion.
That is all.
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If you hate that guy with a passion why to you watch that guy enough to hate that guy with a passion? He's not exactly forced on you. Now guys on the right I dislike, I dislike because of what people that I trust on the left expose their opinions to me. You probably won't appreciate the difference between knee jerk demonization from the right and basic criticism from the the left.
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Yes, if there's a die-hard neo-con Republican on the forum, it's JJ.
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The T
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 16 2006
Location: FL, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 17493
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Posted: February 07 2011 at 12:16 |
Padraic wrote:
Slartibartfast wrote:
JJLehto wrote:
Not sure how Bill Maher got involved but I hate that guy with a passion.
That is all.
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If you hate that guy with a passion why to you watch that guy enough to hate that guy with a passion? He's not exactly forced on you. Now guys on the right I dislike, I dislike because of what people that I trust on the left expose their opinions to me. You probably won't appreciate the difference between knee jerk demonization from the right and basic criticism from the the left.
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Yes, if there's a die-hard neo-con Republican on the forum, it's JJ. |
That Reaganite-Cheneysian b*****d that JJ...
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Slartibartfast
Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam
Joined: April 29 2006
Location: Atlantais
Status: Offline
Points: 29630
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Posted: February 18 2011 at 14:44 |
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Mr ProgFreak
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 08 2008
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
Points: 5195
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Posted: February 19 2011 at 10:51 |
The T wrote:
I don't have much problem with his religious beliefs... which he says he lacks, though immediately he flips and says he's just "not sure", hence agnostic. |
AFAIK he's an agnostic Theist though ... he's sure that (a) God exists, but he thinks that we can't know what he wants us to do - so all religions are flawed.
There are quite a few Non Prophets episodes where they complain about Maher being lumped together with Atheists. The greatest faux pas was that he received the Richard Dawkins awards from the Atheists Alliance International (AAI) in 2009 ... 
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Guests
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Posted: February 24 2011 at 14:02 |
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I like Bill Maher, although he is an incredibly polarizing figure, and I can see why others might not enjoy his style. He uses sarcastic and off-beat humor, which may be upsetting to people who consider themselves devoted to certain religious or philosophical ideals that he criticizes. In some ways he has taken up the mantle of George Carlin, yet is more ingratiated with the media and the powers-that-be on television than Carlin ever was. Despite this, he has an original style that I personally find hilarious, and insightful. One can debate the extent of his religious beliefs (or lack thereof), but his political views seem very clear.
Maher's comedy reflects a lot of my own views, although he can go to some extremes with his indifference towards mentally disabled people. Also, I think he excessively borrows a lot of stand-up material from Bill Hicks and/or George Carlin, repeating the same jokes/themes that originated with Bill Hicks.
We need more people like Bill Maher, and fewer like Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly. America needs more balanced dialogue, and inclusive commentary. The negative gut reactions to so-called "socialist ideals" are based on fear and misunderstanding perpetuated by power-brokers like the Koch Brothers industries and Rupert Murdoch; instead, we should have more dialogue, more educated discussions, and less propaganda.
I thought "Religulous" was a great movie, but I cannot accept all of Maher's claims at face value. I have to research some of those claims (such as the "multiple-Jesus" theory) to see if they are valid before I am won over by all of Maher's arguments in that film, even though I consider myself to be a non-religious individual. In middle and high school, I was a hard-line atheist. My views on religion are more complex now (and still evolving), but I still strive to avoid religion, and I do not take the Bible or any other so-called "holy text" as literal truth.
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The T
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 16 2006
Location: FL, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 17493
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Posted: February 24 2011 at 14:08 |
Barking Weasel wrote:
I like Bill Maher, although he is an incredibly polarizing figure, He really isn't. He preaches to the converted ones. and I can see why others might not enjoy his style. He uses sarcastic and off-beat humor, which may be upsetting to people who consider themselves devoted to certain religious or philosophical ideals that he criticizes. In some ways he has taken up the mantle of George Carlin, yet is more ingratiated with the media and the powers-that-be on television than Carlin ever was. Despite this, he has an original style that I personally find hilarious, and insightful. One can debate the extent of his religious beliefs (or lack thereof), but his political views seem very clear.Actually they aren't. He seems to be a welfare-Swedish-style fan but then he wants less regulation of personal freedoms and wants to smoke pot everywhere. He's a walking contradiction.
Maher's comedy reflects a lot of my own views, although he can go to some extremes with his indifference towards mentally disabled people. Also, I think he excessively borrows a lot of stand-up material from Bill Hicks and/or George Carlin, repeating the same jokes/themes that originated with Bill Hicks.
We need more people like Bill Maher, and fewer like Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly. No. Either we don't need any of them (which is quite true) or we need BOTH. Why do you want a world where only one side gest to tell their view of things? America needs more balanced dialogue, and inclusive commentary. Maher doesn't promote balanced dialogue. He invites a conservative to be booed and stopped at every word and all his left guests and he himself get applauses every two interventions. The negative gut reactions to so-called "socialist ideals" are based on fear and misunderstanding perpetuated by power-brokers like the Koch Brothers industries and Rupert Murdoch; Have you ever even CONSIDERED the possibility that negative reactions to socialism might be based on reason, empirical evidence and history? Maybe the immediate love for anything that cries "equality" is an actual gut reaction. Of course there's plenty of "I hate socialism" people who have no clue but you're quite quick to generalize, not seeing that maybe in your side things are the same. instead, we should have more dialogue, more educated discussions, and less propaganda.
I thought "Religulous" was a great movie, but I cannot accept all of Maher's claims at face value. I have to research some of those claims (such as the "multiple-Jesus" theory) to see if they are valid before I am won over by all of Maher's arguments in that film, even though I consider myself to be a non-religious individual. In middle and high school, I was a hard-line atheist. My views on religion are more complex now (and still evolving), but I still strive to avoid religion, and I do not take the Bible or any other so-called "holy text" as literal truth.
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Religulous is fun and enjoyable and sometimes makes sense.
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Zargus
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 08 2005
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
Points: 3491
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Posted: March 22 2011 at 10:13 |
“I’m sorry if my atheism offends you. But guess what – your religious wars, jihads, crusades, inquisitions, censoring of free speech, brainwashing of children, murdering of albinos, forcing girls into underage marriages, female genital mutilation, stoning, pederasty, homophobia, and rejection of science and reason offends me. So I guess we’re even.” - Mike Treder
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Equality 7-2521
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 11 2005
Location: Philly
Status: Offline
Points: 15784
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Posted: March 22 2011 at 10:22 |
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Generalizations offend me.
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"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "
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Dean
Special Collaborator
Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout
Joined: May 13 2007
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 37575
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Posted: March 22 2011 at 10:29 |
People who are easily offended offend... nah, I'm not that at bothered
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What?
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Padraic
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: February 16 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Status: Offline
Points: 31169
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Posted: March 22 2011 at 10:33 |
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People who offend the easily offended don't offend me.
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Equality 7-2521
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 11 2005
Location: Philly
Status: Offline
Points: 15784
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Posted: March 22 2011 at 10:50 |
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People who are offended by others offenses or non-offenses are offending.
Edited by Equality 7-2521 - March 22 2011 at 10:50
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"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "
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The Dark Elf
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: February 01 2011
Location: Michigan
Status: Offline
Points: 13437
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Posted: March 22 2011 at 10:54 |
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Defending the offending is often offensive to the defensive.
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...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
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The Atheist - Agnostic - Non religious thread
