little Billy Dembski strikes again
I have a ton of shit to do, like work on my logic take home exam...d-consistent, consistent, denumerable sets, denumerable sets...AHHHHHHHH! I think I might actually fail this one.
BUT...I can't let this pass without a remark: I maintained a username on Billy Dembski's site for several weeks if not months! But, alas, one semi-smart ass remark and I was deleted. BLAST! DAMN YOU DEMBSKI!
There was a post about 'the culture wars' in American. There was a link to a comedian doing a stand up bit about young earth creationists...which is really fucking hilarious and I suggest you watch it.
In the comment section I wrote, innocently enough: "Does Bill Dembski believe that dinoaurs were put on the earth by god to deceive us?"
I didn't think that was really that bad, maybe a little 'snarky' (I hate that word but I can't help myself), but Billy 'I'm a fucking pariah" Dembski thought it was just too much.
Such is life I suppose. But have no fear!! I shall pseudonymously re-register!
19 comments:
Why do you know anything about that guy's Web site? The Bill Hicks thing was funny. If it's war they want, then it's war they get.
John
Mellow out John boy. Christians are simply trying to express a positive ideology. Threatening them with war makes you worse than them. No Christian would ever threaten you like that.
Steve Altman
I agree with Steve here. No Christian would make such "threats". Instead they often make much more devious attempts at forcing their ideology on others. That way they can claim to be peaceful. Brute force without opposition is still brute force though.
Man I haven't gotten this badly bashed on a blog since those two teenage girls turned out to be under cover cops.
But seriously, All I'm suggesting is that Christians are getting pretty aggressive here and there's only one thing that people like that understand, a quick strike to the temple with a bamboo rod. Christians and other people of faith want to be told what to do and what to think. Therefore training them, sometimes even using violence, will ultimately make them happier. Pretty simple.
John, not the Baptist.
You are a facist and dangerously violent. I hope you're kidding because I was actually hit with a cane made of bamboo once and I don't wish that on anybody. It was my Grandfather who hit me with his cane. He didn't believe in Christ, he drank way too much Old Crow Whiskey, and he called me and my mother "weenies" for going to Church on Sundays. I pray that his soul his under the torment of Satan right now for all of his misdeeds. People without spiritual guidance end up as violent alcoholics. John, I will spend the rest of the day quietly praying that you relent.
And d hanks, thanks for sticking up for me. Like you said, Christians don't use violence and only oppose the evil in this world.
In God's name we pray,
Steve Altman
Ok. Unless my and Webster's definitions of devious are wrong. I think Steve might have misunderstood me. I hope my sarcasm is more understood by my students.
Yeah Hanks you're right. Steve is obviously a fool with little understanding of how literary tools like sarcasm are used. His grandfather should have shoved that cane up his ass -- sinners in the hands of an angry God and all that nonsense.
And like Matt suggested the other day, I'm going to anti-pray against your prayer and we'll see who God loves best.
By the way, who are you Steve and how the heck would a Jesus banger like you know Matt?
I bet Hanks gets you kicked off this site. He seems to have some pull with Matt.
John Good Love
I hate to ruin this "philosophical" discussion that only seems to have one rational participant, d hanks, but I am glad that Steve decided to Blog on. Steve I've been looking for your number or address. Your mom said she didn't know where you were. Where are you? Are you cool? You still owe me $750 and I hate to be a dick but...I still have the same e-mail address and cell number so drop me a line.
Collin
Ha! So you're a dead beat Christian are you? Did Jesus tell you it's OK to steal?
John, feeling smug.
I am not a dead beat. Collin, you know that was an investment opportunity that didn't work out. We all took a bath on that one. It's over, let's just move on and accept that we all lost some money. I'm also kind of staying at a few different friends houses and don't have a good number that you can reach me at.
And d hanks, I thought you were sticking up for me? What gives man? It seemed like in your first comment you said you agreed with me and Chrisitans are super cool and claimto be peaceful. What's sarcastic about that?
Steve Altman
Sorry to disapoint you Steve but I feel that all too often "Christians" use their religious convictions to deviously force opposing views completely out of the picture. Fundamentalists tend to accept what the Bible "tells" them without critically thinking about what they're accepting and when someone tries to bring up the faulty logic in their beliefs the religious fanatics turn to calling them evil naysayers. Then they use their political power coupled with their dogmatic religious beliefs to force any opposing views out of the public's view.
I teach biology at a Christian college and I recently had my students watch the PBS Evolution Series video titled "What About God?". I felt that it was appropriate and timely since we are at a Christian school and since I was beginning to teach evolution. Many of the students were very interested and open minded while others were completely closed off to the idea of evolution. I don't mind people rejecting evolution (althought I tend to think they've either lost their mind or never recieved it), so long as they know and understand what it's about (if they do and still reject it, I just think they're obstinate) but people who reject evolution based on their religious convictions without any evolutionary understanding...I have no tollerance for such ignorance. Here are a couple of exammples of some of the student's responses (I think it's pretty obvious their views are completely fogged by religious dogma): "I don't believe in evolution or any other theory scientists have come up with". (I was curious if he would have liked to go up to the roof and test the THEORY of gravity?) and "The only thing holding back creation theory is the lack of evidence and proof". (He was writing in support of creation theory believe it or not.)
I will say that I don't think Christianity can't be used positively, I certainly do. For example: The town where I live and work has an active recycling program (granted not as active as it could be), which was started by a local church group. I'm thinking, "What a great thing for Christians to take care of the Earth that God "gave" them/us". I'm certain other examples abound but I think you see what I mean.
Signing off-
dhanks
d hanks my Christian brother,
It is good to hear that you and I share the same fundemental beliefs even if we disagree on some of the minor details.
You say fundementalists ignore critical thought, but I say what good is critical thought when it comes to religion. The whole point of having life explained through religous doctrine, that is to say having GOD lay out life's rules through a series of stories told to his prophets, is that critical thought is not required. It is GOD's word and you either believe it is GOD's word or the whole thing could be faulty. You believe what's in the bible and what your religious leaders tell you because if part of what both sources say isn't true, then why couldn't the rest not be true?
I do not want to just know that the morals I believe in make sense because they maintain social order or some other empirical nonesense. I want to know that God, the ruler of our world and maybe other worlds out in space, is telling us exactly what to do. I want a community. I like the doctrine. You could find the same moral themes found in the Bible in a number of other religios and secular sources, but none of them have the same story of virgin birth or Jesus being God and God being the Spirit, and all being different. It's very rad and talk about a compelling argument.
And like you said, without Jesus how would your town have a semi fuctional recycling program or other towns have homeless shelters? Without Christian teaching, this country would be in the pit.
As for evolution, well, I did not really follow that whole thing. ( I know it was in the news recently. ) I am sure you and your students will have many interesting conversations about it. The one guy who you quoted sounded pretty zealious, I hope you do encourage that fervent faith, especially as you're at a Christian college. Which one is it?
And don't listen to Collin. It was an investment that simply did not work out.
Thanks for backing me man.
Steve Altman
Praying with God as my squadron commander and Jesus as my wingman.
Steve-
You've got to quit taking what I say out of context and warping it into what you want it to mean. The Bible supports slavery. Do you? The Hebrew word for "creation" is the same for "weather". So, weathermen must be atheist since they try to "interpret" the weather just as evolutionary biologists try to "interpret" creation. My point is, people that are fundamental Christians and take the Bible as the literal word of God don't think critically period. For example: Fundamentalists often are believers in a Biblical creation. My question to them is "Which creation story do you believe? The one in Genesis I or Genesis II?" If they were critical thinkers they'd see that there are some inconsistancies between the two accounts. Instead they're happy with their religious leaders just telling them... ho hum God created the Earth. I'll quote Steven J. Gould on a litteral reading of the Bible: I must say that I simply don't understand what reading the Bible "literally" can mean, since the text, cobbled together from so many sources, contains frequent and inevitable contradictions. Rocks of Ages (1999) p.209-210
And you're indicating that I felt that my town only has a recycling program because of "Christian" values. If you take that a step further, you're indicating that only people with Christian values can do morally good things. That is certainly not what I meant. I was saying that the Christians can use their religion in a fruitful (for all mankind) manner but they can also use their religion as a shield to stand behind when raping the environment (or other atrocities toward humankind). For example: There are some hardcore fundamentalists (and this scares me) that believe it is good to basically destroy the Earth because the destruction of the Earth's resources will bring about armegedon in a more "timely" manner. In other words they want Jesus to come down and take them from Earth during their life time. I think this is extremely selfish and downright evil.
You can check out my blog for more information on me per se.
Steve,
I had no idea you were using the money i LOANED you to invest in some scheme. You TOLD me you needed the money to cover rent and i was happy to help out my friend.
Seriously, we need to talk. In my opinion this is not over and in the Chester County sheriff's department opinion this is also not over. I don't want to be a dick about this man, but I had to consult some experts when it started to seem like you might be avoiding me purposefully. The other money you owe me, about $400, I'm willing to let slide because that car accident wasn't completely your fault, but the $750 is critical.
Please call me.
Collin
Collin,
I told you the money was to invest in a capital improvement project the Church was embarking upon. How was I to know the Church leaders would be duped by unscruplous, and probably not Christian, contractors? The whole idea was that after the Church had the homeless shelter set up, the men, women and children living there would start working at the Church's cleaning service and some of their income would be diverted back to the Church to pay off the loans, with interest, for the shelter construction costs. But everything cost more than the elders were told, so some people, including you and me, have to take one for the team, Christianity.
Steve Altman,
Not being greedy
d hanks my Christian brother,
Ignore that whole thing with Collin, it's really just a convoluted situation.
But I really appreciate your religious discussion and the scincere manner you have used to approach the entire dialogue even when I've misinterpreted what you have said you have been patient. It has really helped take my mind off some...well issues my Church is going through right now. It's a tax thing.
However, I do have a question for you.
If the Bidle does not contain some absolute moral authority, what good is it? Are you telling me it is just a security blanket that provides simple answers to the complex questions of existence? (Preacher Steve, my religous instructor has told me that people without often use this argument against him.)
If everyone is capable of righteous behavior based upon a number guiding philosphies, than does that mean that religions, which claim divine inspiration, are just tools for manipulating people? I can not believe that.
From my own experience, I know that God fearing men would not do that, but I would like to hear your opinion.
Also, I do not know much about all weathermen being atheists, but it seems to make sense considering they are wrong all of the time. I'll look into it.
You've been a rock d hanks.
Steve Altman
A soul saved by Jesus
You have got to be kidding me. Matt how do you know this crazy Christ chode nuzzler?
John.
I retract all of my previous statements and side "holy" with Steve!
Do not call me a Christ chode nuzzler. I do not know why you have to be so antagonistic.
But anyhow d hanks, you did not answer my questions, so I asked my friend Preacher Steve to drop a line at some point so maybe the two of you can hash out some of these thoughts for the betterment of anyone who cares to read, including John.
Take care,
Steve Altman
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