Atheism and cowardice

.....Accordin to the Koran they are supposed to kill Him , So I suppose He keeps his mouth shut till he gets somewhwere it's safe!

Garamba wrote:

What happens when a muslim leaves islam:
http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/3307.htm

chuy wrote:

<quoted text>I think we have evidence of spiritual and demonic activities .I have no "links" , sorry .

Anecdotes ... regardless of their source, quality or quantity is not evidence. EYE WITNESS ACCOUNTS will vary in their details by exactly the number of EYE WITNESSES involved, that is ... everyone theoretically "sees" the same thing ... everyone remembers different aspects of it, the details of it and adds their own embellishments.

Photographs/videos ... way back when, it took a certain amount of skill to fake photographs. The good old days of dark rooms, enlargers, stop baths, dodging and burning ... ahhhhh ... I can still smell the acetic acid. Over. Way over. Any kid with a PC & freeware photo touch-up software can do it. Videos ... a little harder but probably not by much.

Physical evidence ... hair/tissue samples, "ectoplasm", metal or techno gadgets outside of our technology to produce, something like that ... missing. They're not leaving anything. Nada. Ain't got none. Zero.

Excited bible-thumpers are good evidence for "spiritual" activity and the newspapers are full of what happens when "demonic" forces are afoot. Hummmmm ... maybe you're on to something.

chuy wrote:

<quoted text>It's just your point of view . I've seen Lakoda , do their "spirit dance " I would call it caterwauling and stomping around ...But , they ...they go all out , its serious business .

Don't forget the famous "Whirling Dervishes"!!! I've absolutely no doubt human beings can work themselves into a frenetic state that is "other worldly". Who wouldn't be amazed at the mysterious "speaking in tongues" you can see every Sunday if you visit some new-age church. Amazing, mysterious, fake ... er, unbelievable. Not supernatural.

A persons choise of hair styles manner of dress and bodily adornment often give strong indications of thier occupation, nature, social class and Character or the impression They are trying to project to the world at large. Carefull observation is needed here as decievers also rely on this.........

chuy wrote:

<quoted text> Okay , let me simplify ..shirts with swastikas , marijuana leaves , Images of our fearless leader ( Bush or O'bama )with the word " traitor" printed underneath . Low hanging pants ( the cool style , you know what I'm talking about ?) And , you assert ...this has "no" bearing on how we should perceive said individuals . I figure if they had more respect for themselves , it would show in their attire ..but, hey maybe your right .

my observation such emotionalism is usualy accompanied by fanaticism. As is the exact reverse with calm focused Meditation I practice Kuji-kuri meditations and traditional Cherrokee meditations and find they do have positive results within certain parementers.

RHill wrote:

<quoted text>
Don't forget the famous "Whirling Dervishes"!!! I've absolutely no doubt human beings can work themselves into a frenetic state that is "other worldly". Who wouldn't be amazed at the mysterious "speaking in tongues" you can see every Sunday if you visit some new-age church. Amazing, mysterious, fake ... er, unbelievable. Not supernatural.

Cpt Jack Sparrow wrote:

my observation such emotionalism is usualy accompanied by fanaticism. As is the exact reverse with calm focused Meditation I practice Kuji-kuri meditations and traditional Cherrokee meditations and find they do have positive results within certain parementers. <quoted text>

I've no doubt stress "kills" (suppresses immune system, ulcers, etc.) and alleviating stress has positive results. I've no doubt that something akin to a mystical experience can be had by "emptying the mind" of distractions and everyday junk, a sort of self-hypnosis. In such a state, you might perceive yourself doing any number of things, conjure up memories lost, borrowed or stolen ... who knows. Not supernatural.

chuy wrote:

<quoted text>I think we have evidence of spiritual and demonic activities .I have no "links" , sorry .

But you also think we have "evidence" of talking snakes and donkeys.

You'll pardon me if I fail to be convinced these "deamons" and "spirits" are not just some con game.

The aim of Kuji-kuri is to achieve develope and apply one's own heightened potential to matters at hand, being able to intuit the intentions of others as a practical matter of survival. Certain Cherrokee arts are designed to act simularly and draw on even the life force of others have a parralel amoung Chinese Mosuh-nanren (Lin Kuei)another order dedicated to directing paranormal forces toward practical ends, self defence, mayhem, intellegence gathering ect. There is no doubt these things can be achieved, but again the exact principles as in Scientific laws by which they operate have so far eluded Us. The Russians have recently achieved some demonstrable breakthroughs in this line of investigation but are being very close mouthed about it

RHill wrote:

<quoted text>
I've no doubt stress "kills" (suppresses immune system, ulcers, etc.) and alleviating stress has positive results. I've no doubt that something akin to a mystical experience can be had by "emptying the mind" of distractions and everyday junk, a sort of self-hypnosis. In such a state, you might perceive yourself doing any number of things, conjure up memories lost, borrowed or stolen ... who knows. Not supernatural.

chuy wrote:

<quoted text> Okay , let me simplify ..shirts with swastikas , marijuana leaves , Images of our fearless leader ( Bush or O'bama )with the word " traitor" printed underneath . Low hanging pants ( the cool style , you know what I'm talking about ?) And , you assert ...this has "no" bearing on how we should perceive said individuals . I figure if they had more respect for themselves , it would show in their attire ..but, hey maybe your right .

:)

So quick to judge, so quick to assume you know what the message is they are trying to say with their clothing.

That'll get you in trouble.

:D

On the other hand? Bush >>was<< a traitor-- because he >>lied<< thousands of US personnel are now dead because of his lying about Iraq and Afghanistan.

I'd call that traitorous myself: the facts indicate that Bush intended to invade no matter what, and compelled his people to find him an excuse for what he was going to do regardless.

And now, he's living it up in luxury from all the sweet financial deals he arranged while he was Pres'nit.

I'd call >>that<< traitorous too.

RHill wrote:

<quoted text>
Don't forget the famous "Whirling Dervishes"!!! I've absolutely no doubt human beings can work themselves into a frenetic state that is "other worldly". Who wouldn't be amazed at the mysterious "speaking in tongues" you can see every Sunday if you visit some new-age church. Amazing, mysterious, fake ... er, unbelievable. Not supernatural.

Speaking in "tongues" is pretty easy to explain.

Babble.

If you observe the behavior of a young human? Before he becomes verbal, he will babble random nonsensical sounds.

This is both an instinctive behavior, and an imitative one-- very young babies are very imitative of what they see around them.

The see and hear adult humans making sounds, so they babble to imitate these sounds, without needing to understand them at all.

And there is one more important instinct newborns also have: face recognition.

Studies have demonstrated newborns enjoy looking at smiley faces, and are mildly distressed when presented with frowney faces. Likely there are chemical reinforces at work here, a mild pleasure stimulation when he sees a smiling face, and a mild distress stimulation when he sees a frown. This smile/frown "engine" is active from birth.

So, back to babbling-- a baby will babble, making random noises, especially if presented with a nearby human face within his focal range (newborns do not have automatic sight-focus, but have fixed focus visual systems at about the distance from a breast to a face-- this changes as they grow older).

So when baby babbles a random noise that happens by sheer accident, to coincide with an actual word?

If an adult human is near, he/she will reward baby with a smile-- frequently, an effusive smile and other strong positive reinforcement.

Similarly, if baby babbles a "bad" word, he is rewarded with a frown, immediate negative reinforcement. And some horrid parents will likely smack baby upside the head, further reinforcing the "bad" word.

Anyway, we are all born with a babble engine that lets us boot-strap the learning of language.

Fundies have, through self-hypnosis, learned how to re-enable their inborn babble engines--

-- just like a nearly-mindless newborn can do naturally.

Sadly? The new-born has a purpose to his babbling-- learning language.

The fundies? Are only feeding their massive self-gratifying egos.

Cpt Jack Sparrow wrote:

A persons choise of hair styles manner of dress and bodily adornment often give strong indications of thier occupation, nature, social class and Character or the impression They are trying to project to the world at large. Carefull observation is needed here as decievers also rely on this......... <quoted text>

Exactly!

And a smiling salesman is anything but friendly, more times than not.

RHill wrote:

<quoted text>
Anecdotes ... regardless of their source, quality or quantity is not evidence. EYE WITNESS ACCOUNTS will vary in their details by exactly the number of EYE WITNESSES involved, that is ... everyone theoretically "sees" the same thing ... everyone remembers different aspects of it, the details of it and adds their own embellishments.
Photographs/videos ... way back when, it took a certain amount of skill to fake photographs. The good old days of dark rooms, enlargers, stop baths, dodging and burning ... ahhhhh ... I can still smell the acetic acid. Over. Way over. Any kid with a PC & freeware photo touch-up software can do it. Videos ... a little harder but probably not by much.
Physical evidence ... hair/tissue samples, "ectoplasm", metal or techno gadgets outside of our technology to produce, something like that ... missing. They're not leaving anything. Nada. Ain't got none. Zero.
Excited bible-thumpers are good evidence for "spiritual" activity and the newspapers are full of what happens when "demonic" forces are afoot. Hummmmm ... maybe you're on to something.

I'm impressed ..This is a rational atheist.( great post )

Cpt Jack Sparrow wrote:

There exist evidence of paranormal activity both benificent and Malevolent I personaly have wittnessed incidents, however We are not technologicly advanced to measure it. I believe the answers would be quite upsetting to both believers and unBelievers. If these "entities" are intellegent it goes to reason they'd seek to avoid rational investigation.<quoted text>

I also believe the "answer" will be quite unsettling , to both ( theist and not.)

I'm very surprised "Capt Jack Sparrow" I imagined you would find some beauty and grace in "traditional " dances . I won't say nothin' ill of the Lakcoda ...But, powwows aren't as fun as they sound .

Bob of Quantum-Faith wrote:

<quoted text>
:)
So quick to judge, so quick to assume you know what the message is they are trying to say with their clothing.
That'll get you in trouble.
:D
On the other hand? Bush >>was<< a traitor-- because he >>lied<< thousands of US personnel are now dead because of his lying about Iraq and Afghanistan.
I'd call that traitorous myself: the facts indicate that Bush intended to invade no matter what, and compelled his people to find him an excuse for what he was going to do regardless.
And now, he's living it up in luxury from all the sweet financial deals he arranged while he was Pres'nit.
I'd call >>that<< traitorous too.

Bush has balls ..and went with his heart ! whether he >>lied<< or not ..you don't know ! What bout' fearless leader O'bama ..he "can't" stop using our credit card , I'm beginning to wonder why ...

I like Bush , his "bushisms" I found endearing .. His "wife" the best looking first lady ,since the birth of our country (fact).

I don't want to piss you off though , so I'll say no more .

Bob of Quantum-Faith wrote:

<quoted text>
:)
So quick to judge, so quick to assume you know what the message is they are trying to say with their clothing.
That'll get you in trouble.
:D
On the other hand? Bush >>was<< a traitor-- because he >>lied<< thousands of US personnel are now dead because of his lying about Iraq and Afghanistan.
I'd call that traitorous myself: the facts indicate that Bush intended to invade no matter what, and compelled his people to find him an excuse for what he was going to do regardless.
And now, he's living it up in luxury from all the sweet financial deals he arranged while he was Pres'nit.
I'd call >>that<< traitorous too.

So , I got carried away with my fond recollections ,.....what "part" of the War in Afghanistan ..or..Iraq..did President O'Bama ..change course in ??

The War in Iraq ..was "scheduled " to have a (sofa) Status of Force Agreement ..the Iraqis balked ...well..we boned out ...this had zero to do with President O'Bama ..This "was" the Bush administration .

so....."Bob of the Quantum Faith" is our fearless leader a "traitor" too ..the war continues ?

chuy wrote:

<quoted text>starts with the letter "oh" ..four letters .

ohio!

Redoran wrote:

<quoted text>
ohio!

I will not disagree...as ,I've never been there ...I've heard good things though .

chuy wrote:

<quoted text>I will not disagree...as ,I've never been there ...I've heard good things though .

Years ago I heard of a great Ohio town with an amusement park. I think it was Sandusky? I mention it because the folks that visited there said the people were wonderful. Someday I might make it there.

chuy wrote:

<quoted text>Bush has balls ..and went with his heart ! whether he >>lied<< or not ..you don't know ! What bout' fearless leader O'bama ..he "can't" stop using our credit card , I'm beginning to wonder why ...
I like Bush , his "bushisms" I found endearing .. His "wife" the best looking first lady ,since the birth of our country (fact).
I don't want to piss you off though , so I'll say no more .

Examples of Bush's "balls":

"Stop throwing the constitution in my face! It's just a f***ing piece of paper"
-- Bush, in a staff meeting.

"I believe my god told me to invade Iraq"
-- Bush

Bob of Quantum-Faith wrote:

<quoted text>
Examples of Bush's "balls":
"Stop throwing the constitution in my face! It's just a f***ing piece of paper"
-- Bush, in a staff meeting.
"I believe my god told me to invade Iraq"
-- Bush

What do you know about Islam?
http://www.answeringmuslims.com/p/jihad.html