The evils of religion

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Jan 212012
 

Here’s a typical example of the violent and evil behaviours of the religious:

It’s quite simple. The religious are not at all comfortable in their delusions and instinctively lash out at those that expose the irrationality and fragility of the religious mind. So much for turning the other cheek!

Jessica Ahlquist has been exemplary in protecting her rights in the face of the vicious onslaught launched by the religious:

Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2012

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Religion needs stupid people

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Dec 282011
 

Religion needs people to be uneducated, to be unquestioning, to be stupid and credulous. This is how religion exerts itself and how it continues to enslave people into backwards thinking. Jerry Coyne explains this quite clearly in the recent “Be stupid” command from Pope Benedict XVI of the Roman Catholic Church.

Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2011

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Let’s call bullshit “Bullshit”.

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Nov 032011
 

Pharyngula posts a YouTube link of Terence McKenna, about the dangers of “relativism” where equal respect is paid to all ideas. McKenna is right. We need to call “Bullshit” when we see it, and fight the “politically correct” sensitivities of our society so that reason can be taught. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not so keen on McKenna’s other ideas but here he gets it right.

Now, I can see some people being uncomfortable with what they perceive as stridency. Such stridency can appear rude and off-putting to those who are genuinely seeking knowledge. It is not normally my intention to be rude but sometimes, when one is engaged in discussion to explore and consider ideas, the other side abandon reason, abandon knowledge and seek refuge in ignorance. This does not foster an environment conducive to polite discussion. However, I try not to be rude to anyone in particular unless they’ve demonstrated their idiocy. I have no qualms at all in condemning ideas and intuitions which peddle bullshit. And if someone does delight in their own ignorance and refuses to engage in reason then I will be rude.

Kate Smurthwaite was right on the money here; these people are idiots and well done for her to say so:

More at her blog article and the vile response from some people:

And some good stuff here from Pharyngula:

Can I call Deepak Chopra and Bill O’Reilly a couple of idiots?

Carl Sagan was one of the great explainers and he is not known for being rude. His Baloney Detection Kit is a wonderful tool to use in the fight against unreason, superstition and other bullshit. And when I use that kit to analyse what Chopra and O’Reilly are saying then I can come to only one conclusion. Actually, I didn’t have to use Sagan’s Baloney Detection Kit at all…the conclusion is self evident.

Too many idiots in too many places. But that’s why I increasingly use my blogs to highlight idiocy in the hope that people are exposed to reason and understand the bullshit being spread far and why by the idiots. And I hope that not too many reasonable people get put off by the stridency in these posts.

Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2011

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Mushbrained, for sure. But also self-delusional.

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Oct 292011
 

Why Evolution Is True describes the rather ludicrous theological ramblings of two “philosophers”. They are described as “mushbrained”. It is this lack of reasoned thinking that leads people into a state of self-delusion, lack of awareness and the intellectual compromises that they must make. What a waste.

Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2011

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“Why Evolution Is True” by Jerry Coyne at the AAI 2009

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Sep 072011
 

I do have Jerry Coyne’s book “Why Evolution Is True” and it’s a fantastic book. I’ve also read “The Greatest Show on Earth” by Richard Dawkins and this is a natural partner to Coyne’s book with a fair amount of overlap but both complementary to each other. Here’s a talk by Coyne with an introduction from Dawkins:

Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2011

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A review of the Bible. Serious!

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Jul 192011
 

Got this from Jerry Coyne’s “Why Evolution Is True”:

Other books such as the Koran need to be similarly reviewed.

Did someone mention respect? See http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2009/11/armor-of-god.html

Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2011

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The Archbishop of Canterbury is a pompous old gasbag who doesn’t understand evolution

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Apr 292011
 

Why Evolution is True article:

The problem with the Archbishop of Canterbury (Rowan Williams) is that he is steeped fully within religion and, as such, everything must be guided by the hand of god. In his job he cannot have any other position which is why people like him and their religions are an anathema to logic, reason and critical thinking.

Dawkin’s “The God Delusion” and Coyne’s ”Why Evolution Is True” explain clearly why the “hand of god” is not only not needed to explain evolution but that such a “hand of god” is complete and utter nonsense within the context of evolution. I can only conclude that Coyne is absolutely right to say that the Archbishop of Canterbury is a pompous old gasbag who doesn’t understand evolution. I would go further and call the Archbishop of Canterbury a man of unreason who is not needed or wanted in modern society.

Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2011

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Debate – Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Rabbi David Wolpe, Rabbi Shavit Artson

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Mar 092011
 

A video of the recent debate with Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Rabbi David Wolpe, Rabbi Shavit Artson on “Is there an afterlife?” has now been posted at:

Two good articles on this debate are at:

Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2011

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The end of gods

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Feb 232011
 

Why Evolution is True has an interesting article Eric MacDonald on natural selection, purpose, and the problem of evil. That article goes on to link to MacDonald’s article which describes how evolution, through natural selection, indicates that the concept of a god, or gods, is a human conceit, a folly.

Of particular interest to me are Coyne’s and MacDonald’s concerns over the direction that NCSE seems to be taking. NCSE’s goal are to promote evolution but they’re trying not to offend the religious in the process. I can see NCSE’s point of view as that may be the only way that they can get the message through. Conversely, such an “accommodationist” approach may give a mixed message and falsely colour the insights that evolution behooves us to face. I agree with Coyne and MacDonald and, although I recognise and sympathise with NCSE’s approach, I think that NCSE may cause more harm in the long run. But that’s just my view.

Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2011

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Respect for religion?

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Feb 092011
 

Found Greta Christina’s Blog article via Why Evolution is True and then via AlterNet. I’ve linked below to Christina’s blog  “The Armor of God, or, The Top One Reason Religion Is Harmful”.

Powerful stuff and is similar to what I intended to write here in a future blog but it would not have been as coherently or forcefully written as Christina’s article. I think I was going to concentrate on why the religious feel that they are “offended”.

The religious follow dogmatic attitudes and, with their closed minds, should feel secure in their cosy world of make-belief. But along come atheists making their voices heard and the religious are now shrill with rage. It’s almost as if the religious are scared that they’re about to be found out, that they were wrong. No one likes to admit that they’re wrong. And perhaps deep down the religious know that they’re wrong and get angry at someone who can demonstrate that. I posted something similar at http://www.metalvortex.com/blog/2010/05/30/397.html  “Religion’s special privileges”.

Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2011

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