Title: The Atheist Next Door
Post by: SteveS on February 19, 2008, 09:52:41 PM
Post by: SteveS on February 19, 2008, 09:52:41 PM
Hi guys & gals --- just thought I'd post this, CBS ran it on Sunday during their 10 o'clock news. If you missed it (as I did) and forgot to record it (as I did) you can watch it here on the Atheist Media Blog: http://atheistmedia.blogspot.com/2008/02/cbs-atheist-next-door.html
It was sort of interesting. A lot of the typical questions/statements, but I was impressed that this topic got major air time.
Cheers all!
It was sort of interesting. A lot of the typical questions/statements, but I was impressed that this topic got major air time.
Cheers all!
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Post by: McQ on February 19, 2008, 10:32:25 PM
Post by: McQ on February 19, 2008, 10:32:25 PM
Interesting piece, Steve. Thanks. I like the family they profiled, the Low family. Stated their beliefs well. It was interesting to hear the bishop ask what do atheists have to use in times of difficulty, as if it is a given that people must turn to something when bad things happen. Weird and naive. A grown man shouldn't ask such a stupid question.
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Post by: SteveS on February 20, 2008, 01:29:27 AM
Post by: SteveS on February 20, 2008, 01:29:27 AM
Funny - my reaction was almost identical. I liked the family as well and thought they did good, and the bishop's question made me sort of go "YAK! What?!?"
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Post by: tacoma_kyle on February 20, 2008, 02:22:54 AM
Post by: tacoma_kyle on February 20, 2008, 02:22:54 AM
Cool vid. THanks.
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Post by: Edizzle on February 20, 2008, 02:59:26 AM
Post by: Edizzle on February 20, 2008, 02:59:26 AM
Gah, I hate how some believe just because we don't have ten rules written in stone to abide by, we have no morals or sense of right and wrong...It's ridiculous.
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Post by: Kona on February 20, 2008, 03:43:34 AM
Post by: Kona on February 20, 2008, 03:43:34 AM
Look, if I'm in a bad situation I turn to my good friend, Sam Adams. He has all the answers! :cheers:
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Post by: McQ on February 20, 2008, 04:39:26 AM
Post by: McQ on February 20, 2008, 04:39:26 AM
Quote from: "Kona"Look, if I'm in a bad situation I turn to my good friend, Sam Adams. He has all the answers! :cheers:
....always a good choice. :cheers:
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Post by: tacoma_kyle on February 20, 2008, 05:19:10 AM
Post by: tacoma_kyle on February 20, 2008, 05:19:10 AM
Quote from: "Kona"Look, if I'm in a bad situation I turn to my good friend, Sam Adams. He has all the answers! :cheers:
lol
Oh man, I just accidentally ran across this
...(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.joystiq.com%2Fmedia%2F2006%2F02%2Fmastacheifunmaskedjoy.jpg&hash=a5d1ba01aad0efd0cb55355f641c0e46ed488a1c)
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Post by: SteveS on February 20, 2008, 05:53:01 PM
Post by: SteveS on February 20, 2008, 05:53:01 PM
So, big surprise, but ditto on the Sam Adams endorsements..... :wink:
Often times I think the believers play a game with this --- believing is moral, not believing is not moral, so how can a non-believer be moral? That sort of circular definition thing. Seems to me the politicians like to play this one.
The joke, to me, is that the believers interpret scripture anyhow. They are applying their own sense of morality to decide what they should take out of scripture and what they shouldn't, what it means and what it doesn't mean, etc. So - I think many just don't realize that they aren't really getting their morals from their religion afterall.
And what is the attraction to having the rules written in stone anyway? The only appeal that I can see is that it appears to absolve you of actually having to think about things and figure them out for yourself. And yet, this will to be subject to an arbitrary authoritarian rule is also disturbing to me. Its like saying "I don't want to think! Just tell me what to do! I did what you said, so I must be a good person, right?!"
Damn, now I want a Sam Adams, too. But I'm still at work.......stupid alcohol-free workplace rules.... :wink:
Quote from: "Edizzle"Gah, I hate how some believe just because we don't have ten rules written in stone to abide by, we have no morals or sense of right and wrong...It's ridiculous.Yeah - I know what you mean.
Often times I think the believers play a game with this --- believing is moral, not believing is not moral, so how can a non-believer be moral? That sort of circular definition thing. Seems to me the politicians like to play this one.
The joke, to me, is that the believers interpret scripture anyhow. They are applying their own sense of morality to decide what they should take out of scripture and what they shouldn't, what it means and what it doesn't mean, etc. So - I think many just don't realize that they aren't really getting their morals from their religion afterall.
And what is the attraction to having the rules written in stone anyway? The only appeal that I can see is that it appears to absolve you of actually having to think about things and figure them out for yourself. And yet, this will to be subject to an arbitrary authoritarian rule is also disturbing to me. Its like saying "I don't want to think! Just tell me what to do! I did what you said, so I must be a good person, right?!"
Damn, now I want a Sam Adams, too. But I'm still at work.......stupid alcohol-free workplace rules.... :wink:
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Post by: Kona on February 21, 2008, 02:45:33 AM
Post by: Kona on February 21, 2008, 02:45:33 AM
QuoteSo who just so happens to have the same birthday as me? March 10th?
You also share a birthday with my brother....a prison guard.
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Post by: Janga on February 21, 2008, 05:12:37 AM
Post by: Janga on February 21, 2008, 05:12:37 AM
I think that story makes atheism out to be some wierd cult or something. The way he explained there are some famous atheists was as if he was naming off Scientology celebrities.
Also, the comment at the end about the Lows' children not having trouble making friends at school makes it seem like he's implying children who are from atheist families normally have trouble making friends at school, which is not based on fact at all.
Also, the comment at the end about the Lows' children not having trouble making friends at school makes it seem like he's implying children who are from atheist families normally have trouble making friends at school, which is not based on fact at all.
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Post by: tacoma_kyle on February 21, 2008, 05:31:41 AM
Post by: tacoma_kyle on February 21, 2008, 05:31:41 AM
Well Kona, make sure you tell him is is Mr Norris's birthday.
Funny, tile now aside from Norris, I havent heard of anyone else with my birthday. Obviously not the only 3, but just though I'd run into it sooner...
Funny, tile now aside from Norris, I havent heard of anyone else with my birthday. Obviously not the only 3
, but just though I'd run into it sooner...
Title: Choke Norris
Post by: moosegoose on February 21, 2008, 12:03:27 PM
Post by: moosegoose on February 21, 2008, 12:03:27 PM
Quote from: "tacoma_kyle"Quote from: "Kona"Look, if I'm in a bad situation I turn to my good friend, Sam Adams. He has all the answers! :cheers:
lol
Oh man, I just accidentally ran across this
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.joystiq.com%2Fmedia%2F2006%2F02%2Fmastacheifunmaskedjoy.jpg&hash=a5d1ba01aad0efd0cb55355f641c0e46ed488a1c)
What ! it's my birthday too. This is the SIGN! END IS NEAR (or just behind the corner)
Just decided to have an action hero name DEAN WEASEL.
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Post by: tacoma_kyle on February 21, 2008, 04:37:51 PM
Post by: tacoma_kyle on February 21, 2008, 04:37:51 PM
It is? lol.
Tell all the women to wait til next months! Hold...hold....
Tell all the women to wait til next months!
Hold...hold....
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Post by: jaymayo on February 21, 2008, 04:52:58 PM
Post by: jaymayo on February 21, 2008, 04:52:58 PM
I was born on March 17! Top that! Hehehe...
:cheers:
:cheers:
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Post by: MommaSquid on February 21, 2008, 05:20:06 PM
Post by: MommaSquid on February 21, 2008, 05:20:06 PM
Quote from: "jaymayo"I was born on March 17! Top that! Hehehe...
Sept. 11.....
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi89.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk227%2FMommaSquid%2Fsmileys%2Fofftopic8ys.gif&hash=cfc84558331d1d1bb9b8b00bc615b318d62a93ce)Thanks for the vid link, SteveS. I really enjoyed it. I'd like to have those atheists next door!
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Post by: SteveS on February 21, 2008, 07:54:21 PM
Post by: SteveS on February 21, 2008, 07:54:21 PM
Quote from: "Janga"I think that story makes atheism out to be some wierd cult or something. The way he explained there are some famous atheists was as if he was naming off Scientology celebrities.Yup, I'm hearing you. It seems annoying but any time atheism is in the popular media it seems to have this same sort of negative-assumptive quality to it. Oh well - at least the people they put on the program handled themselves well and gave a creditable showing.
Also, the comment at the end about the Lows' children not having trouble making friends at school makes it seem like he's implying children who are from atheist families normally have trouble making friends at school, which is not based on fact at all.
Plus, the whole "Atheist Next Door" title does some credit to the idea - atheists aren't weird and strange, they're living right next to you and you just never knew they were atheists. That sort of thing.
Quote from: "MommaSquid"I'd like to have those atheists next door!They would surely beat the hell out of many of the neighbors I've had in my existence thus far! Although I can't complain about my current ones - they're really decent people and we get along just fine.
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Post by: tacoma_kyle on February 21, 2008, 10:23:36 PM
Post by: tacoma_kyle on February 21, 2008, 10:23:36 PM
I am kinda lucky---I hve decent neighbors. One side just friends of a room mate and we just wave occasionally.
The others, they throw the Friday night parties. No driving anywhere. Open the fridge....walk to the neighbors.
But yeah at the amount of crap my room mates have it looks like a fuckin used furniture warehouse.
The others
, they throw the Friday night parties. No driving anywhere. Open the fridge....walk to the neighbors.But yeah at the amount of crap my room mates have it looks like a fuckin used furniture warehouse.
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Post by: SteveS on February 22, 2008, 05:56:20 PM
Post by: SteveS on February 22, 2008, 05:56:20 PM
Quote from: "tacoma_kyle"One side just friends of a room mate and we just wave occasionally.That's the best kind of neighbor!
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Post by: Bella on February 26, 2008, 06:50:07 AM
Post by: Bella on February 26, 2008, 06:50:07 AM
I found that extremely interesting, thank you! I didn't know that there are finally atheist groups in schools. Maybe there is hope for the future?
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Post by: Ezequiel Medvietzky on March 15, 2008, 06:45:38 PM
Post by: Ezequiel Medvietzky on March 15, 2008, 06:45:38 PM
Well, I liked that article, but it was weird to see how they alienate us atheists even in the media... it was like we are some kind of secret satanic group or something.
About that question the priest asked, the moral values of each and everyone of us are decided by.... well, each and everyone of us apart, who is he to decide what's moral, who am I to do it? just a thought.
That "Kol Hadash" thingy is kinda cool, it's pretty much the thing I'm trying to accomplish here, build a jewish society that respects judaism as their culture and not their religion. BTW "kol Hadash" means "new voice" so it pretty much fits.
About that question the priest asked, the moral values of each and everyone of us are decided by.... well, each and everyone of us apart, who is he to decide what's moral, who am I to do it? just a thought.
That "Kol Hadash" thingy is kinda cool, it's pretty much the thing I'm trying to accomplish here, build a jewish society that respects judaism as their culture and not their religion. BTW "kol Hadash" means "new voice" so it pretty much fits.
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Post by: SteveS on March 17, 2008, 02:44:16 PM
Post by: SteveS on March 17, 2008, 02:44:16 PM
Quote from: "Exequiel Medvietzky"who is he to decide what's moral, who am I to do it? just a thought.And a good thought at that --- I agree entirely.