January 18, 2010 on ABC News with Brian Ross -
via http://www.AtheistMedia.com
An Interview on Atheist Morality
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Monday, March 8, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Oxford University - Richard Dawkins vs Anglican Bishop Harries
Oxford University hosts a debate between Professor Dawkins and Anglican Bishop Harries, mediated by Jeremy Paxman.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Atheists, You Dont Deserve It, But You Will Be Punished
A lot of Christians say we are going to hell. Jeff holds nothing back and sends this caller to her own hell. You gotta love his "in your face", and brutal honesty. Russell Glasser and Jeff Dee host this clip from "The Atheist Experience #415" - http://www.atheist-experience.com
Jimmy Carr defends Atheism on the Late Late (18 Sept 09)
After Ryan Tubridy's pathetic interview with Richard Dawkins earlier in the program, British Comedian talks about his non belief and interest in Dawkins' work.
Dawkins interview can be found here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQeUkC...
Dawkins interview can be found here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQeUkC...
SunderB00t rambles on - The Atheist Experience #634
John from the UK (?), a.k.a. YouTuber "SunderB00t" calls in again to continue his rambling from November the 15th.
Segment of The Atheist Experience #634 of December 6, 2009, with Matt Dillahunty and Jeff Dee. Topic: Viewer calls.
This entire episode can be watched on Blip.tv:
► http://blip.tv/file/2942500
SunderB00t's first call from November 15, 2009:
► http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUVFSV...
Segment of The Atheist Experience #634 of December 6, 2009, with Matt Dillahunty and Jeff Dee. Topic: Viewer calls.
This entire episode can be watched on Blip.tv:
► http://blip.tv/file/2942500
SunderB00t's first call from November 15, 2009:
► http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUVFSV...
Proof that God exists - The Atheist Experience #643
Antonio from Edison, New Jersey calls in to prove the existence of God, but turns out to be operating from misconception about the term atheism. (This is the first half of a discussion that is posted in two video clips.)
Segment of The Atheist Experience #643 from February 7, 2010, with Russell Glasser and Tracie Harris. Topic: Hymns. (Tracie and Russell look at the twisted lyrics of common hymns.)
Second half of the the discussion with Antonio from Edison, New Jersey. Tagline: "This pencil is my God!"
The webcast is archived in 2 parts on Ustream.tv:
► http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4547347 (Part 1)
► http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4549032 (Part 2)
The TV broadcast is archived on Blip.tv.
WARNING: VERY LOUD AND DISTORTED AUDIO!
► http://blip.tv/file/3200785
Segment of The Atheist Experience #643 from February 7, 2010, with Russell Glasser and Tracie Harris. Topic: Hymns. (Tracie and Russell look at the twisted lyrics of common hymns.)
Second half of the the discussion with Antonio from Edison, New Jersey. Tagline: "This pencil is my God!"
The webcast is archived in 2 parts on Ustream.tv:
► http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4547347 (Part 1)
► http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4549032 (Part 2)
The TV broadcast is archived on Blip.tv.
WARNING: VERY LOUD AND DISTORTED AUDIO!
► http://blip.tv/file/3200785
The Purpose of Purpose - Richard Dawkins
This talk was given in Michigan, Minneapolis, Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Filmed at:
University of Minnesota - Minneapolis, Minnesota
University of Oklahoma - Norman, Oklahoma
Holland Performing Arts Center - Omaha, Nebraska
Introductions by:
PZ Myers - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Barry Weaver - Norman, Oklahoma
Richard Holland - Omaha, Nebraska
Filmed and Edited by Josh Timonen
Shot on Red One #4809
Exploring The High Energy Universe
Science@ESA Vodcast (Episode 5, Part 1): The Untamed, Violent Universe - Exploring The High Energy Universe.
The Science@ESA vodcasts explore the extraordinary Universe in which we live as it is seen through the "eyes" of ESA's fleet of science spacecraft.
In this fifth episode of the Science@ESA vodcast series Rebecca Barnes will give us a glimpse of the hot, energetic and often violent
Universe revealed through X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, look at ESA missions that detect this hidden light and find out how the science that these missions perform is meticulously planned.
• http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Integral/...
What is a gamma-ray? And how does an X-ray in space work?
X-rays and gamma-rays are like the light we can see with our eyes and the radio waves we can detect with radio and TV sets. The only difference is how fast they vibrate.
Radio waves vibrate the most slowly, then microwaves and infra-red (heat) waves, then the colors red to violet, then ultra-violet radiation (which causes sun-burn among other things) then X-rays, and finally (vibrating the most quickly) gamma-rays.
ESA's INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) is detecting some of the most energetic radiation that comes from space. It is the most sensitive gamma-ray observatory ever launched. INTEGRAL is an ESA mission in cooperation with Russia and the United States.
• http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area...
The Science@ESA vodcasts explore the extraordinary Universe in which we live as it is seen through the "eyes" of ESA's fleet of science spacecraft.
In this fifth episode of the Science@ESA vodcast series Rebecca Barnes will give us a glimpse of the hot, energetic and often violent
Universe revealed through X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, look at ESA missions that detect this hidden light and find out how the science that these missions perform is meticulously planned.
• http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Integral/...
What is a gamma-ray? And how does an X-ray in space work?
X-rays and gamma-rays are like the light we can see with our eyes and the radio waves we can detect with radio and TV sets. The only difference is how fast they vibrate.
Radio waves vibrate the most slowly, then microwaves and infra-red (heat) waves, then the colors red to violet, then ultra-violet radiation (which causes sun-burn among other things) then X-rays, and finally (vibrating the most quickly) gamma-rays.
ESA's INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) is detecting some of the most energetic radiation that comes from space. It is the most sensitive gamma-ray observatory ever launched. INTEGRAL is an ESA mission in cooperation with Russia and the United States.
• http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area...
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Why religion tears people down - The Atheist Experience #640
Why religion undermines people's self-esteem.
Clip from The Atheist Experience #640 of January 17, 2010, with Matt Dillahunty and Martin Wagner. (Topic: viewer calls.)
Clip from The Atheist Experience #640 of January 17, 2010, with Matt Dillahunty and Martin Wagner. (Topic: viewer calls.)
Monday, February 15, 2010
Ron Hubbard Jr.: Scientology has always been a Business
Interview with Ron DeWolf, son of L. Ron Hubbard.
Televangelists Exploiting the Gullible
This video, featuring Peter Popoff, is the first of several that illustrates how TV evangelists prey upon the naive and gullible with their foolishness. It is disgraceful that TV stations allow these dangerous hucksters to practice their superstitious nonsense on our airwaves.
CBS Report on Televangelists: Kenneth Copeland
A CBS report on televangelist Kenneth Oopeland and the potential Senate investigation lead by Chuck Grassley into their finances:
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/01/...
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/01/...
Friday, February 12, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Christopher Hitchens VS Dinesh D'souza UCF 2009
http://www.worldalign.blogspot.com
-Coming Soon, WorldAlign Documentary on the Economy!-The Great Faith Debate at UCF in Orlando FL on September 17, 2009. This debate is between Christopher Hitchens and Dinesh D'souza.
-Coming Soon, WorldAlign Documentary on the Economy!-The Great Faith Debate at UCF in Orlando FL on September 17, 2009. This debate is between Christopher Hitchens and Dinesh D'souza.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Hitchens and Fry vs Ann Widdecombe on the Ten Commandments
Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry talks with the horrible Catholic Ann Widdecombe
February 7, 2010 on Channel 4 from the documentary series "The Bible: A History"
February 7, 2010 on Channel 4 from the documentary series "The Bible: A History"
Friday, February 5, 2010
Ted Haggard, Homosexuality And Religious Indoctrination - The Atheist Experience #555
Ted Haggard, Homosexuality, and Religious Indoctrination (The Atheist Experience #555 with Matt Dillahunty and Martin Wagner).
Friday, January 29, 2010
Debunking Christian Apologetics: Josephus
http://www.godvsthebible.com
If I was a Christian, I would be embarrassed to even mention the name "Josephus". However, Christian apologetics is truly a shameless profession and their sleazy snake-oil sales tactics are underscored by their attempts to keep the ancient Jewish Roman historian on the witness stand.
The Testimonium Flavianum is a Christian forgery. Christians, get over it.
The Jamesian Reference refers to Jesus Bar Damneus, though apologists cut the quoted paragraph short before this becomes clear.
If I was a Christian, I would be embarrassed to even mention the name "Josephus". However, Christian apologetics is truly a shameless profession and their sleazy snake-oil sales tactics are underscored by their attempts to keep the ancient Jewish Roman historian on the witness stand.
The Testimonium Flavianum is a Christian forgery. Christians, get over it.
The Jamesian Reference refers to Jesus Bar Damneus, though apologists cut the quoted paragraph short before this becomes clear.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Scientific Thinking And Moral Philosophy
Richard Dawkins @ Big Think: While science is indelibly distinct from the field of ethics, Richard Dawkins believes that there are a number of ways in which its facts and reasoning could greatly benefit our ability to understand and repair the worlds suffering.
Question: Can Science shed light on any moral issues?
Richard Dawkins: Science is not in the business of shedding light on moral debates, but I think it can do sometimes -- the whole subject of moral philosophy, of examining moral questions in a logical way to expose inconsistencies, for example.
When you're looking at moral questions, so-called moral questions, like abortion or euthanasia, you can show that people who take a very strong absolutist line may be being inconsistent with themselves because they are taking a strong line on one thing while at the same time inconsistently not taking a similarly strong line on another.
So that would be a scientific way of thinking; it's not science per se. It's moral philosophy, but it's a kind of scientific way of thinking. But also I think scientific facts can illuminate moral debate. In the case of abortion again, for example, a scientist might contribute to the debate information about at what point during the development of an embryo the nervous system comes into being.
And presumably, before the nervous system comes into existence there is no ability to feel pain or to suffer. And so maybe something important happens at the moment when the nervous system comes into being.
On the other hand, you might say, well, even when a human embryo develops a nervous system and develops the capacity to perhaps suffer, it's still a much smaller nervous system than the nervous system of an adult cow. And so what about balancing the suffering of a human embryo against the suffering of an adult cow when it's being slaughtered for meat.
An absolutist moralist would say, well, humans are just plain special, and cows are not humans, so they don't deserve the same moral consideration. But a scientist might come along and say, well, what do you mean by that? I mean we are, after all, all evolved; we're all cousins.
At what point in the evolution -- since we know evolution is a fact -- at what point in the evolution of humans would you suddenly draw the line and say, all right, from now on they're all human and before that they're not?
In the evolutionary progression from the common ancestors with chimpanzees, who lived about six or seven million years ago, to modern humans, going through creatures which might have looked a bit like Lucy, might have looked a bit like the newly discovered fossil Ardi, would you have given special human moral ethical consideration to Lucy? Or would you count Lucy as though she was a chimpanzee?
Does this perhaps suggest to you that we shouldn't be in the business of drawing lines between species in this kind of way, and maybe these lines should be regarded as more fuzzy and less clear cut. Our absolutist moralities that do draw hard and fast lines between humans and all other species -- even taking a human fetus and calling that human, whereas an adult chimpanzee is not and doesn't deserve the same moral consideration -- is that consistent with science? These are ways that science can at least inform moral discussions.
Question: Is there ever a point where scientific reasoning can harm society?
Richard Dawkins: You can, I suppose, make a utilitarian justification for obnoxious practices. You could make a utilitarian justification for torture. Moral philosophers sometimes pose the hypothetical case where the world is about to be blown up.
Only one person knows the secret password to stop the doomsday bomb going off. This one person is a suicide bomber who refuses to give up the password. Are you right to torture him? And most people, I think, say you are. I mean, it's a horrible thing to torture somebody, but under those extreme conditions, to save the world you would torture somebody. And that would be a utilitarian justification for an otherwise obnoxious practice such as torture.
http://bigthink.com/
Question: Can Science shed light on any moral issues?
Richard Dawkins: Science is not in the business of shedding light on moral debates, but I think it can do sometimes -- the whole subject of moral philosophy, of examining moral questions in a logical way to expose inconsistencies, for example.
When you're looking at moral questions, so-called moral questions, like abortion or euthanasia, you can show that people who take a very strong absolutist line may be being inconsistent with themselves because they are taking a strong line on one thing while at the same time inconsistently not taking a similarly strong line on another.
So that would be a scientific way of thinking; it's not science per se. It's moral philosophy, but it's a kind of scientific way of thinking. But also I think scientific facts can illuminate moral debate. In the case of abortion again, for example, a scientist might contribute to the debate information about at what point during the development of an embryo the nervous system comes into being.
And presumably, before the nervous system comes into existence there is no ability to feel pain or to suffer. And so maybe something important happens at the moment when the nervous system comes into being.
On the other hand, you might say, well, even when a human embryo develops a nervous system and develops the capacity to perhaps suffer, it's still a much smaller nervous system than the nervous system of an adult cow. And so what about balancing the suffering of a human embryo against the suffering of an adult cow when it's being slaughtered for meat.
An absolutist moralist would say, well, humans are just plain special, and cows are not humans, so they don't deserve the same moral consideration. But a scientist might come along and say, well, what do you mean by that? I mean we are, after all, all evolved; we're all cousins.
At what point in the evolution -- since we know evolution is a fact -- at what point in the evolution of humans would you suddenly draw the line and say, all right, from now on they're all human and before that they're not?
In the evolutionary progression from the common ancestors with chimpanzees, who lived about six or seven million years ago, to modern humans, going through creatures which might have looked a bit like Lucy, might have looked a bit like the newly discovered fossil Ardi, would you have given special human moral ethical consideration to Lucy? Or would you count Lucy as though she was a chimpanzee?
Does this perhaps suggest to you that we shouldn't be in the business of drawing lines between species in this kind of way, and maybe these lines should be regarded as more fuzzy and less clear cut. Our absolutist moralities that do draw hard and fast lines between humans and all other species -- even taking a human fetus and calling that human, whereas an adult chimpanzee is not and doesn't deserve the same moral consideration -- is that consistent with science? These are ways that science can at least inform moral discussions.
Question: Is there ever a point where scientific reasoning can harm society?
Richard Dawkins: You can, I suppose, make a utilitarian justification for obnoxious practices. You could make a utilitarian justification for torture. Moral philosophers sometimes pose the hypothetical case where the world is about to be blown up.
Only one person knows the secret password to stop the doomsday bomb going off. This one person is a suicide bomber who refuses to give up the password. Are you right to torture him? And most people, I think, say you are. I mean, it's a horrible thing to torture somebody, but under those extreme conditions, to save the world you would torture somebody. And that would be a utilitarian justification for an otherwise obnoxious practice such as torture.
http://bigthink.com/
Sunday, January 24, 2010
SHARIA LAW: 90 lashes for a 13 year old Muslim girl in Saudi Arabia
90 lashes for a Muslim girl in Saudi Arabia for taking phone to school.
Religious Superstition And False Hope - The Atheist Experience #560
Peter Popoff, Religious Superstition And False Hope (The Atheist Experience #560 with Matt Dillahunty & Martin Wagner).
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
How the Bible Explains Suffering
Bart Ehrman is renowned for his contributions to the field of religious studies, focusing on New Testament interpretation and the history of ancient Christianity in the first three centuries AD. Series: UC Berkeley Graduate Council Lectures [9/2008] [Humanities] [Show ID: 14693]
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Secret Life of Chaos (2010)
"Chaos theory has a bad name, conjuring up images of unpredictable weather, economic crashes and science gone wrong. But there is a fascinating and hidden side to Chaos, one that scientists are only now beginning to understand.
It turns out that chaos theory answers a question that mankind has asked for millennia - how did we get here?
In this documentary, Professor Jim Al-Khalili sets out to uncover one of the great mysteries of science - how does a universe that starts off as dust end up with intelligent life? How does order emerge from disorder?
It's a mindbending, counterintuitive and for many people a deeply troubling idea. But Professor Al-Khalili reveals the science behind much of beauty and structure in the natural world and discovers that far from it being magic or an act of God, it is in fact an intrinsic part of the laws of physics. Amazingly, it turns out that the mathematics of chaos can explain how and why the universe creates exquisite order and pattern.
The natural world is full of awe-inspiring examples of the way nature transforms simplicity into complexity. From trees to clouds to humans - after watching this film you'll never be able to look at the world in the same way again."
It turns out that chaos theory answers a question that mankind has asked for millennia - how did we get here?
In this documentary, Professor Jim Al-Khalili sets out to uncover one of the great mysteries of science - how does a universe that starts off as dust end up with intelligent life? How does order emerge from disorder?
It's a mindbending, counterintuitive and for many people a deeply troubling idea. But Professor Al-Khalili reveals the science behind much of beauty and structure in the natural world and discovers that far from it being magic or an act of God, it is in fact an intrinsic part of the laws of physics. Amazingly, it turns out that the mathematics of chaos can explain how and why the universe creates exquisite order and pattern.
The natural world is full of awe-inspiring examples of the way nature transforms simplicity into complexity. From trees to clouds to humans - after watching this film you'll never be able to look at the world in the same way again."
Friday, January 15, 2010
Disowning Family Members For Religious Dogma - The Atheist Experience #614
"Disowning Family Members For Religious Dogma". This is a clip from The Atheist Experience #614, "TAM Recap. Matt recaps his visit to The Amazing Meeting 7.", with Matt Dillahunty and Martin Wagner: http://blip.tv/file/2380391
Explaining Evolution To A Creationist
Blackadder: "Explaining Evolution To A Creationist"
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/
Blackadder is the generic name that encompasses four series of BBC One historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments.
All episodes star Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and his dogsbody, Baldrick. Each series is set in a different historical period: apart from Blackadder and Baldrick, the main characters are different in each series.
The first series was written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, while subsequent episodes were written by Curtis and Ben Elton. The shows were produced by John Lloyd.
In 2000 the fourth series, Blackadder Goes Forth, ranked at 16 in the "100 Greatest British Television Programmes", a list created by the British Film Institute. Also in the 2004 TV poll to find "Britain's Best Sitcom", Blackadder was voted the second best British sitcom of all time, topped by Only Fools and Horses. It was also ranked as the 20th Best TV Show of All Time by Empire Magazine.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackadder
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/
Blackadder is the generic name that encompasses four series of BBC One historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments.
All episodes star Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and his dogsbody, Baldrick. Each series is set in a different historical period: apart from Blackadder and Baldrick, the main characters are different in each series.
The first series was written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, while subsequent episodes were written by Curtis and Ben Elton. The shows were produced by John Lloyd.
In 2000 the fourth series, Blackadder Goes Forth, ranked at 16 in the "100 Greatest British Television Programmes", a list created by the British Film Institute. Also in the 2004 TV poll to find "Britain's Best Sitcom", Blackadder was voted the second best British sitcom of all time, topped by Only Fools and Horses. It was also ranked as the 20th Best TV Show of All Time by Empire Magazine.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackadder
God Is Smart!
"God is smart: Human sacrifice. Abraham's sacrifice of his son Isaac. Godless comedy from That Mitchell and Webb Look.
Bible story: Abraham's Sacrifice of his son Isaac.
When Isaac became a young boy, God spoke to Abraham and commanded him to take his son to Mount Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice to God. This was Gods test of Abrahams faith. Abraham loved his son very much, but did not hesitate to follow Gods words for he was a man whose faith in God was strong.
As Abraham and his son reached the place where the sacrifice was to be performed, Isaac said to his father, "Father, where is the lamb that is to be sacrificed?" Abraham replied, "My son, God will provide the lamb."
It is not known how eventually Abraham told his son that he was to be the sacrifice, but Isaac laid on the sacrificial place ready to be sacrificed for god.
As Abraham was taking out his knife, his hands were trembling. He was about to sacrifice his son when heard the voice of God saying, "Abraham, Stop! Do not hurt your son. You have proven your faith and shown how much you love Me by willing to sacrifice your son for Me. Therefore, I shall bless you and your family, and through you, I shall bless all the nations on earth."
Bible story: Abraham's Sacrifice of his son Isaac.
When Isaac became a young boy, God spoke to Abraham and commanded him to take his son to Mount Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice to God. This was Gods test of Abrahams faith. Abraham loved his son very much, but did not hesitate to follow Gods words for he was a man whose faith in God was strong.
As Abraham and his son reached the place where the sacrifice was to be performed, Isaac said to his father, "Father, where is the lamb that is to be sacrificed?" Abraham replied, "My son, God will provide the lamb."
It is not known how eventually Abraham told his son that he was to be the sacrifice, but Isaac laid on the sacrificial place ready to be sacrificed for god.
As Abraham was taking out his knife, his hands were trembling. He was about to sacrifice his son when heard the voice of God saying, "Abraham, Stop! Do not hurt your son. You have proven your faith and shown how much you love Me by willing to sacrifice your son for Me. Therefore, I shall bless you and your family, and through you, I shall bless all the nations on earth."
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Jesus, Interrupted by Bart D. Ehrman
The problems with the Bible-that New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman discussed in his New York Times bestseller Misquoting Jesus-are expanded exponentially in his new book JESUS, INTERRUPTED. Here we find not only that Christian scribes altered the texts of their sacred Scripture, but also that the books of Scripture themselves, in their original forms, are often completely at odds with one another on such key issues as:
• Who Jesus was and how salvation works
• Why the New Testament contains books that were forged in the names of the apostles by Christians living decades later
• Did Paul, Matthew, John, and Jesus represent different religions?
• How standard Christian doctrines were the inventions of still later theologians
These are not idiosyncratic perspectives of just one modern scholar: as Ehrman skillfully demonstrates, they have been the standard and widespread views of critical scholars for over a century. Why is it that most people have never heard such things? As Ehrman argues, it is because scholars have failed to communicate their findings with the general public, and because pastors who learn this information when studying for the ministry have chosen not to share it with the people in the pews.
Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (And Why We Don't Know About Them)
Author: Bart D. Ehrman
ISBN: 9780061173936
Produced, Shot, and Edited by Abby Berendt
Physics of The Impossible - How to Travel to a Parallel Universe, with Michio Kaku
How to Travel to a Parallel Universe: Dr. Kaku is on a mission to design a gateway to a parallel universe but which type should he visit? MIT cosmologist Alan Guth explains his recipe for creating your own universe in the lab, and physicist Neil Turok explains how a parallel universe is only an atom's length away from us..
The Link - Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestors
The Link - An incredible 95 percent complete fossil of a 47-million-year-old human ancestor has been discovered and, after two years of secret study, an international team of scientists has revealed it to the world. The fossil's remarkable state of preservation allows an unprecedented glimpse into early human evolution.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Finally top Bible scholar "Professor Bart D. Ehrman" leaves Christianity.
Bart D. Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar and textual critic of early Christianity. He is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has written about how the original New Testament texts were frequently altered by scribes for a variety of reasons, and argues that these alterations affect the interpretation of the texts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_D._...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_D._...
Dr Bart D Ehrman - Bible Scholar - The Truth about The Bible
Don't believe anything starting 3:25. There is also not a rag of truth in the Quran or Judaism. There is no god and you know it. If you don't, go learn Science and study history. LOL
Misquoting Jesus, Stanford Lecture, How the Bible is Tainted
"Misquoting Jesus: Scribes Who Altered Scripture and Readers Who May Never Know," a textual criticism of Biblical manuscript tampering by Bart Ehrman, Professor or Religious Studies of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
God: The Love Born of Terror.
Religion is a love born of terror. Like children, we WILL love what takes our fear away as if it WERE our parent.
But a good parent never fills its child with shame, or an inferiority complex.
If you understand why a person touches wood you understand, to some extent, why people talk to gods. To partially explain the existence of religion you need only explain the existence of superstition. To explain THAT, you need to explain that "spooky" feeling we get. I think I can, though it's just an opinion. I think "spookiness" is an instinct we HAD to evolve in order to survive, to keep us out of the shadows at all costs.
Understanding an instinct often removes much of its power over you.
But a good parent never fills its child with shame, or an inferiority complex.
If you understand why a person touches wood you understand, to some extent, why people talk to gods. To partially explain the existence of religion you need only explain the existence of superstition. To explain THAT, you need to explain that "spooky" feeling we get. I think I can, though it's just an opinion. I think "spookiness" is an instinct we HAD to evolve in order to survive, to keep us out of the shadows at all costs.
Understanding an instinct often removes much of its power over you.
Evidence of the claim in the video that pre-existing traits can be accentuated within 10 generations can be found in the following video (beginning around the 7.30 mark), where wild foxes are selected for passivity and bred, resulting in obvious (and somewhat shocking) affection and trust.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYV9rb...
continued in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4efKgf...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYV9rb...
continued in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4efKgf...
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Nice Guys Finish First - Richard Dawkins
A 1986 documentary from the BBC Horizon series. In this video Richard Dawkins explains how natural selection can favor co-operation in nature, so long as it is of benefit to the selfish gene.
His search for stable co-operate strategies, which remain unaffected by cheating and exploitation involves an extraordinary game known as the Prisoners' Dilemma, normally used by psychologists to study human behavior.
In their attempts to earn real money, players must wrestle with a dilemma - whether to follow their natural instincts of co-operation or the dictates of reason and behave selfishly.
His search for stable co-operate strategies, which remain unaffected by cheating and exploitation involves an extraordinary game known as the Prisoners' Dilemma, normally used by psychologists to study human behavior.
In their attempts to earn real money, players must wrestle with a dilemma - whether to follow their natural instincts of co-operation or the dictates of reason and behave selfishly.
Know God, No Peace; No God, Know Peace
"Peace Is Non-Theistic" by
• http://www.youtube.com/EpochOfReason#...
"Vision of Humanity groups together a number of interrelated initiatives focused on global peace. It brings a strategic approach to raising the worlds attention and awareness around the importance of peacefulness to humanitys survival in the 21st century."
• http://www.visionofhumanity.org
The Vision of Humanity Global Peace Index survey accounts for internal and external conflicts and the subsequent losses incurred, Including that of potential terrorist acts. Relationships with neighbouring countries and overall political stability.
Perceptions of criminality in society, violent and non violent crime rates and intentional homicidal displacement ratios to the overall population. Capital prison population, capital police officer population. Military expenditure, capability, sophistication and number of armed personnel.
Volume transfer of conventional weapons both import and export and ease of access to minor. UN peacekeeping funding, overall UN involvement and capital respect for human rights ...
The overall functionality of government, the Electoral process, Political participation and overall political culture. Civil liberties, corruption perceptions, Women in parliament, Democracy Index, Gender Inequality, freedom of the press, export and import % of GDP and foreign direct investment flow. Number of visitors as % of domestic population, and net migration.
Gender and age ratios, regional & international framework/conditions and framework of regional integration. Education spending, primary, secondary and higher school enrolment ratio, mean years of schooling and adult literacy rate. Hostility to foreigners, importance of religion in national life, willingness to fight. Nominal GDP, per capital, unemployment percentage, life expectancy and infant mortality rate.
With that said, the Global Peace Index is detailed and comprehensive to say the very least. Utilizing the results generated from each of the ten most religiously concentrated Islamic, Christian and Non-theistic Atheist nations I have compared them directly as to express the clear and distinct correlation between religion and conflict.
But more importantly, the apparent correlation between non-theism and peace. As the numbers clearly demonstrate, religion is a negative driving force, pulling us backwards. Non-theism is a positive driving force, pushing us towards the future.
The percentages of both theists and non-theists were taken from sources such as Adherents and Wikipedia, rounded to the largest denomination and then compared to official demographics produced by academic institutions. Its almost impossible to gain a specific percentage in all cases, though you need to factor in those whom have not yet come out of the theistic closet.
Regardless, the message remains the same; non-theism is clearly a positive driving force whilst theism remains a negative influence upon our global society.
They have done so by conducting a very detailed and extremely accurate statistical study in 2008 of 144 major countries and have allocated them a rating based upon many political, economic, social and academic factors in an effort to view a given nations merit of peace.
-EpochOfReason
• http://www.youtube.com/EpochOfReason#...
"Vision of Humanity groups together a number of interrelated initiatives focused on global peace. It brings a strategic approach to raising the worlds attention and awareness around the importance of peacefulness to humanitys survival in the 21st century."
• http://www.visionofhumanity.org
The Vision of Humanity Global Peace Index survey accounts for internal and external conflicts and the subsequent losses incurred, Including that of potential terrorist acts. Relationships with neighbouring countries and overall political stability.
Perceptions of criminality in society, violent and non violent crime rates and intentional homicidal displacement ratios to the overall population. Capital prison population, capital police officer population. Military expenditure, capability, sophistication and number of armed personnel.
Volume transfer of conventional weapons both import and export and ease of access to minor. UN peacekeeping funding, overall UN involvement and capital respect for human rights ...
The overall functionality of government, the Electoral process, Political participation and overall political culture. Civil liberties, corruption perceptions, Women in parliament, Democracy Index, Gender Inequality, freedom of the press, export and import % of GDP and foreign direct investment flow. Number of visitors as % of domestic population, and net migration.
Gender and age ratios, regional & international framework/conditions and framework of regional integration. Education spending, primary, secondary and higher school enrolment ratio, mean years of schooling and adult literacy rate. Hostility to foreigners, importance of religion in national life, willingness to fight. Nominal GDP, per capital, unemployment percentage, life expectancy and infant mortality rate.
With that said, the Global Peace Index is detailed and comprehensive to say the very least. Utilizing the results generated from each of the ten most religiously concentrated Islamic, Christian and Non-theistic Atheist nations I have compared them directly as to express the clear and distinct correlation between religion and conflict.
But more importantly, the apparent correlation between non-theism and peace. As the numbers clearly demonstrate, religion is a negative driving force, pulling us backwards. Non-theism is a positive driving force, pushing us towards the future.
The percentages of both theists and non-theists were taken from sources such as Adherents and Wikipedia, rounded to the largest denomination and then compared to official demographics produced by academic institutions. Its almost impossible to gain a specific percentage in all cases, though you need to factor in those whom have not yet come out of the theistic closet.
Regardless, the message remains the same; non-theism is clearly a positive driving force whilst theism remains a negative influence upon our global society.
They have done so by conducting a very detailed and extremely accurate statistical study in 2008 of 144 major countries and have allocated them a rating based upon many political, economic, social and academic factors in an effort to view a given nations merit of peace.
-EpochOfReason
Richard Dawkins - Science is the poetry of reality
Some selected clips from 'The Root of All Evil?' series.
Hardball: Christopher Hitchens vs Ken Blackwell on the US Being a Christian Nation
From Hardball April 8, 2009.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Jerry Falwell & Pat Robertson in: The 666 Club by O.B.R.
Music by OBR, Video by Kipp McLeod. Lyrics and music by George D'range. All's well that Fallswell! (1933-2007)
For more music by this band look out for http://oogieboogierockers.com, still under construction.
Or go to www.myspace.com/oogieboogierockers
For more music by this band look out for http://oogieboogierockers.com, still under construction.
Or go to www.myspace.com/oogieboogierockers
Pat Robertson calls God a liar
From Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Since 2007 has passed, we can think of reasons why this prediction went sour. Either God does not exists. Or if he does, he does not talks to Pat Robertson anymore. Or he does talk to Pat Robertson, but lies to him, just like this clip suggests.
Since 2007 has passed, we can think of reasons why this prediction went sour. Either God does not exists. Or if he does, he does not talks to Pat Robertson anymore. Or he does talk to Pat Robertson, but lies to him, just like this clip suggests.
Area 51 Revealed
History Channel: AREA 51 REVEALED
AREA 51 REVEALED
AREA 51 REVEALED
The world's most infamous secret base is growing...
On October 26th, 1994, the U.S. government made their first official acknowledgment of Area 51. Six months later, nearly 4,000 acres of previously public land surrounding the base were closed.
Now, over a decade later, satellite photos reveal new buildings, towers, and runways finishing construction.
Secret flights with blacked-out windows bring passengers from Las Vegas. And security surrounding the perimeter of the base is tighter than ever.
The team heads to the epicenter of UFO and military conspiracy theories to visit new vantage points, speak with former base employees, and search the skies above America's most top-secret facility.
On October 26th, 1994, the U.S. government made their first official acknowledgment of Area 51. Six months later, nearly 4,000 acres of previously public land surrounding the base were closed.
Now, over a decade later, satellite photos reveal new buildings, towers, and runways finishing construction.
Secret flights with blacked-out windows bring passengers from Las Vegas. And security surrounding the perimeter of the base is tighter than ever.
The team heads to the epicenter of UFO and military conspiracy theories to visit new vantage points, speak with former base employees, and search the skies above America's most top-secret facility.
RDF TV - "Teach the Controversy" - A.C. Grayling
Philosopher A.C. Grayling explains why "Teaching the Controversy" isn't a good approach to science education, whether it's regarding Evolution, Astronomy or Medicine.
If you enjoy content like this, please consider donating to RDFRS here:
http://richarddawkinsfoundation.org/f...,donations
Visit A.C. Grayling's website at:
http://acgrayling.com/
Get the RDF TV podcast through iTunes!
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZ...
Download Quikctime:
Web: http://c0116791.cdn.cloudfiles.racksp...
720p HD: http://c0116791.cdn.cloudfiles.racksp...
Filmed by
JOSH TIMONEN
Edited by
JOSH TIMONEN
JOEL PASHBY
Presented by
THE RICHARD DAWKINS FOUNDATION
FOR REASON & SCIENCE
If you enjoy content like this, please consider donating to RDFRS here:
http://richarddawkinsfoundation.org/f...,donations
Visit A.C. Grayling's website at:
http://acgrayling.com/
Get the RDF TV podcast through iTunes!
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZ...
Download Quikctime:
Web: http://c0116791.cdn.cloudfiles.racksp...
720p HD: http://c0116791.cdn.cloudfiles.racksp...
Filmed by
JOSH TIMONEN
Edited by
JOSH TIMONEN
JOEL PASHBY
Presented by
THE RICHARD DAWKINS FOUNDATION
FOR REASON & SCIENCE
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Birth of Voodoo
Voodoo was born in the West African nation of Benin. And here it is an official religion.
See All National Geographic Videos http://video.nationalgeogra...
See All National Geographic Videos http://video.nationalgeogra...
Inside Darwin's Mind
The oddity of flightless birds leads Darwin to question the intentions of the Creator.
Matt Dillahunty vs. Ray Comfort - The Banana Battle!
Ray won't debate Matt? Then we'll make it seem as if they are. This is a smashed up video to bring to you the most unlikely of events: Matt vs. Ray!
In this clip of the debate, Ray Comfort argues that the banana was created by his "god" while Matt disagrees (very well).
In this clip of the debate, Ray Comfort argues that the banana was created by his "god" while Matt disagrees (very well).
NASA STS-88 black transforming UFO
The best official NASA UFO Pictures from the STS 88 Mission.
http://alienforces.wordpress.com/2009...
Music
Album: Century CD 14 - L'Allemagne du Baroque
NR. 6: Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen BWV 12 (Kantate)
http://alienforces.wordpress.com/2009...
Music
Album: Century CD 14 - L'Allemagne du Baroque
NR. 6: Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen BWV 12 (Kantate)
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The God Who Wasn't There
This video is FAIR USE, and it's reproduction on this site and others is encouraged by the producers.
Hitchens vs. Hitchens on religion debate
Brothers Christopher and Peter Hitchens debate the Iraq War and religion at an event organized by the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies with the support of the Center for Inquiry and the Interfaith Dialogue Association.
Go to their official page for the full debate.
Go to their official page for the full debate.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Eden is an Illusion
"Eden is an Illusion" by
• http://www.youtube.com/GStolyarovII
Beyond being destructive, the Eden myth is simply false. There never was a "better" state from which human beings have "descended." Mr. Stolyarov explores why the Fall is an illusion that ought to be abandoned.
Gennady Stolyarov II is a science fiction novelist, independent philosophical essayist, poet, amateur mathematician, composer, contributor to Enter Stage Right, Le Quebecois Libre, Rebirth of Reason, and the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Senior Writer for The Liberal Institute, weekly columnist for GrasstopsUSA.com, and Editor-in-Chief of The Rational Argumentator, a magazine championing the principles of reason, rights, and progress.
• http://rationalargumentator.com
• http://www.associatedcontent.com/user...
• http://www.youtube.com/GStolyarovII
Beyond being destructive, the Eden myth is simply false. There never was a "better" state from which human beings have "descended." Mr. Stolyarov explores why the Fall is an illusion that ought to be abandoned.
Gennady Stolyarov II is a science fiction novelist, independent philosophical essayist, poet, amateur mathematician, composer, contributor to Enter Stage Right, Le Quebecois Libre, Rebirth of Reason, and the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Senior Writer for The Liberal Institute, weekly columnist for GrasstopsUSA.com, and Editor-in-Chief of The Rational Argumentator, a magazine championing the principles of reason, rights, and progress.
• http://rationalargumentator.com
• http://www.associatedcontent.com/user...
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