*** Official Atheist Thread ***

[USAviator]

Lol, even though I can understand laughing at some of the ignorant Catholic's that guy went past the line.


Also, Why is it that whenever I see religion being discussed or am having a discussion with someone personally they seem to bring up quotes from the Bible? It's like a safety blanket, if they say this, it will protect them from being wrong or being down in the conversation, even if it makes zero sense whatsoever.

[Queequeg]

Lol, even though I can understand laughing at some of the ignorant Catholic's that guy went past the line.


Also, Why is it that whenever I see religion being discussed or am having a discussion with someone personally they seem to bring up quotes from the Bible? It's like a safety blanket, if they say this, it will protect them from being wrong or being down in the conversation, even if it makes zero sense whatsoever.

I can't debate people in real life about religion, most people simply don't know enough about philosophy and theology, I simply end up crushing them in full view. So much so I feel guilty for smashing the basis for their beliefs apart in a sort conversation.

I am a very tolerant and well balanced poster, but in real life I'm far from it lol.

[Z06]

Can anybody recommend some books on evolution? I have realized that I know less about it than I want. Nothing too dumbed-down or too technical please, something about mid-level if possible.

[neonhypoxia]

Can anybody recommend some books on evolution? I have realized that I know less about it than I want. Nothing too dumbed-down or too technical please, something about mid-level if possible.

For an intro the Blind Watchman and the Selfish Gene are both fairly good. If you're wanting something a step up from that and don't mind a text book Kenneth Miller has a pretty good one on evolution but I can't recall the name of it right now.

[Z06]

For an intro the Blind Watchman and the Selfish Gene are both fairly good. If you're wanting something a step up from that and don't mind a text book Kenneth Miller has a pretty good one on evolution but I can't recall the name of it right now.

Thanks, an intro and the basics is what I need.

[neonhypoxia]

Thanks, an intro and the basics is what I need.

The one I'm thinking of for Miller is generally called the dragonfly book. Should be able to find its real name without much problem, but for some reason I just don't feel like looking for it. Its a high school level bio textbook, give a pretty good intro to evolution. Would be a good start to move up to something more technical after that. Plus just about every public library should have it so very easy to get ahold of. You can just read the evolution sections and skip the rest of it. It covers human evolution as well.

[mug]

The one I'm thinking of for Miller is generally called the dragonfly book. Should be able to find its real name without much problem, but for some reason I just don't feel like looking for it. Its a high school level bio textbook, give a pretty good intro to evolution. Would be a good start to move up to something more technical after that. Plus just about every public library should have it so very easy to get ahold of. You can just read the evolution sections and skip the rest of it. It covers human evolution as well.

Is the origin of species worth getting ?.

[neonhypoxia]

Is the origin of species worth getting ?.

Its interesting for a historical perspective but other than that not so much. Its no where close to the level of detail or evidence presented as a modern text book on the subject would be. Very interesting to look at for the history of it, but for the science I'd absolutely go with a modern one. I have a copy simple because it was on sale at a used book store for like fifty cents.

[mug]

Its interesting for a historical perspective but other than that not so much. Its no where close to the level of detail or evidence presented as a modern text book on the subject would be. Very interesting to look at for the history of it, but for the science I'd absolutely go with a modern one. I have a copy simple because it was on sale at a used book store for like fifty cents.

Check out this one I just found on amazon, pay close attention to the author(s).

http://www.amazon.com/Origin-Species...0880391&sr=1-1

I like the idea of a textbook because It'll be pretty comprehensive and probably be full of color pics rather than just plain text.

[neonhypoxia]

Check out this one I just found on amazon, pay close attention to the author(s).

http://www.amazon.com/Origin-Species...0880391&sr=1-1

I like the idea of a textbook because It'll be pretty comprehensive and probably be full of color pics rather than just plain text.

Ray Comfort? Ray mother f*cking Comfort! *face palms to death*

Some of the reviews are pretty rurzy.

i don't see why this book has gotten such bad reviews. its only a dollar and you get the revolutionary origin of species and 50 free pages of toilet paper, sure the toilet paper has some non-sensical scribbles on it by ray comfort but it will wipe you ass just as good.

I fear things I don't understand and I loathe things that require concentration to read. So it was a grand surprise to see Ray Comfort's introduction to this abridged version of Darwin's book. I didn't really have to think at all. I hope they make a DVD version next, in cartoon format. That would let my spouse enjoy the book too. I'm the first in my family to learn to read. This is pretty good, right? It only took me half an hour.

Anyways... Textbooks usually are the best bet. Most libraries carry them, you don't have to be worried about bias issues with them, and everything in them is backed up by evidence instead of opinion. Win!

[CaptainGorgeous]

I can't debate people in real life about religion, most people simply don't know enough about philosophy and theology, I simply end up crushing them in full view. So much so I feel guilty for smashing the basis for their beliefs apart in a sort conversation.

I am a very tolerant and well balanced poster, but in real life I'm far from it lol.

This.

But to be fair, I could also take a theistic perspective and crush most atheists. Most people simply don't spend a lot of time analyzing their beliefs.

I also spend way more time defending religion on this forum than I would IRL. I'm really not a fan of religion at all--I think a godless world would be better. But I get sick of the relentless, ignorant religion bashing that lots of atheists on these boards seem to partake in. Most of the arguments against religion are extremely childish.

[mug]

Ray Comfort? Ray mother f*cking Comfort! *face palms to death*

Some of the reviews are pretty rurzy.





Anyways... Textbooks usually are the best bet. Most libraries carry them, you don't have to be worried about bias issues with them, and everything in them is backed up by evidence instead of opinion. Win!

Lol that dude is beyond retarded, remember this one ?



I found a Campbell Biology text book for about £2 ($3), apparently there among the best to get for college students and relative beginners.

Also I gonna pickup another textbook about abnormal psychology aka mental disorders etc. Its a subject that's always interested me. Who knows their may be a section about the biggest delusion of them all, religion.

[Infusco]

Check out this one I just found on amazon, pay close attention to the author(s).

http://www.amazon.com/Origin-Species...0880391&sr=1-1

I like the idea of a textbook because It'll be pretty comprehensive and probably be full of color pics rather than just plain text.

Sh*t son, I saw a class of people leaving a lecture theatre with those copies of On the Origin and was thinking 'Oh yay, people are studying Darwin'. How wrong I was. I'll have to try and work out what subject it was, and then crash the lectures when it runs again.

[mug]

Sh*t son, I saw a class of people leaving a lecture theatre with those copies of On the Origin and was thinking 'Oh yay, people are studying Darwin'. How wrong I was. I'll have to try and work out what subject it was, and then crash the lectures when it runs again.

Maybe the subject was Intelligent Design.

Teacher: "Class, please take your seats. Today I will be teaching you the mechanism by which ID is possible. God did it. This concludes the class and you now have a free period for the rest of the semester."

[neonhypoxia]

Maybe the subject was Intelligent Design.

Teacher: "Class, please take your seats. Today I will be teaching you the mechanism by which ID is possible. God did it. This concludes the class and you now have a free period for the rest of the semester."

Rurz. That reminds me of science class in Moral Oral.

[neonhypoxia]

Does anyone agree with me that "agnostic" is a useless term? What do I gain from acknowledging the possibility of a god? Nothing, since I can't claim to know his intentions.

Pragmatically its fairly useless. In philosphical terms it is not because you are claiming to know the answer to the subject absolutely instead of stating you aren't completely sure. Depends upon which way you want to look at it.

[Judge_Joe_Brown]

You know what really annoys me? When theists tell me, "it's ok, we'll see on Judgement Day who'll be laughing". I won't get an opportunity to laugh at them

[Harbinger]

You know what really annoys me? When theists tell me, "it's ok, we'll see on Judgement Day who'll be laughing". I won't get an opportunity to laugh at them

if you loved jeebus you would......



jus sayin

[riptor]

Can anybody recommend some books on evolution? I have realized that I know less about it than I want. Nothing too dumbed-down or too technical please, something about mid-level if possible.

Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters by Donald Prothero is really good. As the name suggests it mostly deals with the fossil evidence but it does touch upon other areas too.

[IceDragon]

You know what really annoys me? When theists tell me, "it's ok, we'll see on Judgement Day who'll be laughing". I won't get an opportunity to laugh at them

Don't you just laugh at them right that instance? I usually do.

[Large_Emu]

Three questions about powerman2000.

1) Why do i seem to know more about the US political system than him?
2) Why does he try and get involved in political discussions when he clearly doesn't know what the fuk he's talking about?
3) How many mod dicks has he sucked to get his reps?

[Judge_Joe_Brown]

Three questions about powerman2000.

1) Why do i seem to know more about the US political system than him?
2) Why does he try and get involved in political discussions when he clearly doesn't know what the fuk he's talking about?
3) How many mod dicks has he sucked to get his reps?

My reps went down cuz of him

[anonymous]

Neon isnt Greatest Show on Earth by richard dawkins the best modern book on evolution?
had 2 friends read it and said it was great

[V1984]

A new video from Nonstampcollector:



I saw he was mentioned on page one, so I figured a few of you might enjoy this.

[GeorgeCarlinJr]

Americans are the most moral people on earth. You'll laugh at that because you have no idea what morality is.

I learn something new everyday in the RandP.

[neonhypoxia]

I learn something new everyday in the RandP.

The f*ck?

Neon isnt Greatest Show on Earth by richard dawkins the best modern book on evolution?
had 2 friends read it and said it was great

Never read it. If you decide to let us know how it is.

Don't you just laugh at them right that instance? I usually do.

I've done this before uncontrolable. Right in the middle of them talking just burst out in laugher, couldn't help it. Usually ends the conversation right there.

Three questions about powerman2000.

1) Why do i seem to know more about the US political system than him?
2) Why does he try and get involved in political discussions when he clearly doesn't know what the fuk he's talking about?
3) How many mod dicks has he sucked to get his reps?

1. Because he's a tard.
2. Because he's a tard. One of the defining characteristic of a tard is that they do not know they are a tard.
3. Bout tree fidy.

[Infusco]

Neon isnt Greatest Show on Earth by richard dawkins the best modern book on evolution?
had 2 friends read it and said it was great

I've been meaning to buy that sometime soon.

Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne is meant to be quite good as well I hear. There's a lecture by him on youtube with the same title which is pretty cool.

http://www.amazon.com/Why-Evolution-...rBy=addOneStar

I always enjoy reading the 1 star reviews of science/religious books.

[GrokTheCube]

I found a Campbell Biology text book for about £2 ($3), apparently there among the best to get for college students and relative beginners.

Also I gonna pickup another textbook about abnormal psychology aka mental disorders etc. Its a subject that's always interested me. Who knows their may be a section about the biggest delusion of them all, religion.

There's a good 101ish general psych text book I can recommend if you like. It's fairly complete, and gives a good overview of "everything".

[Judge_Joe_Brown]

[Goose102]

http://www.ted.com/

In case you guys haven't heard of it.

Awesome site. Lots of talks on evolution.