ok... I'll play: I'm an atheist - ask me anything.

[Dookus]

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Oh Jesus!

[FM Arouet666]

2. Do you belive in God?

oops, or that Dog? I always get that confused.

[Dookus]

4. yes

I believe in Dog. His name is Tucker.





He has no divine powers, other than an unusual ability to shit 3 times more than he eats. Not quite a fish and loaves miracle, but nonetheless impressive.

[FM Arouet666]

48. Check for the Deity

May not be a fish and loaves miracle, but check the holy poop. If you see the face of a long since dead saint, invite the whole DU lounge over to pray before the Divine turd.

[Dookus]

50. hrmm...

the other day he DID make a poop that looked vaguely like Buster Keaton if you turned your head and squinted.

[FM Arouet666]

74. Ok

we can now genuflect before the sainted turd and sing a chorus. Check again, if its not Buster Keaton, and looks like Dubya, you better but it back in the hole. :puke:

[Dookus]

77. er...

which hole?

I'd probably need a pastry bag and a dog-tranquilizer.

[FM Arouet666]

83. The winking hole.

Throw in an enema and a muzzle and your set.;)

[Itascapark]

3. Is there a Rod? n/t

[Dookus]

106. yes

I hear he plays for the Yankees.

[Birthmark]

5. Why are you an atheist?

[Dookus]

11. Well

there are long answers and short ones. The short one is that I've seen no evidence to indicate any gods exist.

In fact, most people are MOSTLY atheist - they reject 99.99% of gods. I just reject the last one or two.

[Birthmark]

Ok.

It was simply a credential check. You may pass.

[flyingfysh]

6. I'm a dyslexic atheist

I don't believe in dog.

[Fenris]

7. Do you laugh at believers?

Because I do.

[flyingfysh]

10. it depends on how funny their jokes are

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

24. Hey

what did the buddhist say to the hot dog vendor?

Make me one with everything.

[Fenris]

25. See, I can laugh at that!

:D

[BootinUp]

8. Got anything against agnostics?

:)

[truthpusher]

19. The Aetheists could kick the Agnostics ass...anyday!!

[BootinUp]

22. I'm ambivalent about that statement.

[truthpusher]

35. In that case you must be a buddhist...

...Nirvana = no attraction, no repulsion. Positive ambivalence.

[BigMcLargehuge]

45. that's how I felt about "Nevermind"

:)

[truthpusher]

47. Kurt felt the same way...

...wow that's heavy man :cry:

[Squeegee]

9. Can I be your new god?

Will you convert and be my slave?

[Dookus]

14. oh you...

talk to me tomorrow night and we'll see. I'll get the cuffs ready.

[truthpusher]

12. If you can call yourself an aethiest...and God, God...

...then why can you exist and not God.

If you are able to declare whether or not God actually exists...then doesn't that make you God, thus you (God) exists.

[Dookus]

17. nonsense

It is a silly notion that people who don't believe in Gods believe themselves to be gods.

You reject Zeus, I presume. Does that make you Zeus?

You're a fine example of why I find atheism so attractive.

[truthpusher]

26. What I find unattractive about atheists is they would actually think

I would take what I just said seriously.

[Dookus]

29. lol

have you argued much with believers? Your argument is entirely in line with the quality of theirs.

[truthpusher]

42. who is a believer?

[Dookus]

44. umm...

those who believe.

[truthpusher]

49. I believe in the power of a fried peanut butter and bannana...

...sandwich to fill me up...does that make me a believer?

[Dookus]

51. well

it makes you a believer in SOMETHING. But obviously, that is not what we're discussing here.

[truthpusher]

55. yes it is...aetheists hold a sandwich in higher regard than God...

...and that is what we are discussing?

[Dookus]

58. why not just ask

a direct question instead of playing this game?

Yes, I hold a sandwich in higher regard than God, because I KNOW sandwiches exist.

[truthpusher]

63. Now this is where I think buddhism trumps aetheism...

...a Buddhist mindset is to hold neither in higher regard. Both God and the sandwich can help to limit suffering. On the other hand they can also cause more suffering, example: a stomach ache or global annihilation.

[Dookus]

64. true buddhism

*IS* atheistic.

[truthpusher]

69. where did you get that?

[Dookus]

70. from years of studying Buddhism

Ya know, it would be helpful if you could make your case in full paragraphs instead of sound bytes. We'd move along much faster.

[truthpusher]

73. wouldn't you say that Buddhism neither rejects or accepts...

the idea of a God? Isn't a Buddhist mention of God always either metaphorical or allegorical?

[Dookus]

76. hard to say

I'm not an expert on Buddhism.

It seems the Mayahana branch believes in spiritual entities, if not gods per se, but Theravada seems less so-inclined.

But even the Dalai Lama doesn't seem to believe in a supreme creator-god.

[truthpusher]

81. I think a lot of the god (notice my switch to little G) stuff in...

...Mahayana comes from older religions long forgotten, that have more of a cultural connection; like the Tibetans and the old Bon religion.

Here is something I found on the Mahayana and their belief in deity:

• Belief in Deity

Mahayana Buddhism (like Theravada Buddhism) posits no Creator or ruler God. However, deity belief is present in the Mahayana doctrine of The Three Bodies (forms) of Buddha: (1) Body of Essence--the indescribable, impersonal Absolute Reality, or Ultimate Truth that is Nirvana (Infinite Bliss); (2) Body of Bliss or Enjoyment--Buddha as divine, deity, formless, celestial spirit with saving power of grace, omnipotence, omniscience; and (3) Body of Transformation or Emanation--an illusion or emanation in human form provided by the divine Buddha to guide humans to Enlightenment. Any person can potentially achieve Buddhahood, transcending personality and becoming one with the impersonal Ultimate Reality, which is Infinite Bliss (Nirvana). There are countless Buddhas presiding over countless universes. Bodhisattvas--humans and celestial spirits who sacrifice their imminent liberation (Buddhahood) to help all others to become liberated--are revered or worshiped as gods or saints by some.

Probably not meaty enough for you, but I thought it might clear up a few things.

Thanks for the enlightening conversation.

[ProgressiveDave]

65. global annihilation...?

what the hell is in that sandwich?

[Dookus]

67. prolly

bell peppers. I have a friend who gets digestively nuclear when exposed to 'em.

[truthpusher]

71. Ask Elvis, they annihilated him (along with the other stuff).

[religiousleft]

13. Have you voted?

We can wait until after we've saved pluralist democratic society to discuss your eternal soul.

[Dookus]

21. I will vote tomorrow

like god intended.

[truthpusher]

46. Who needs to vote when there's no God anyway?

[onebigbadwulf]

57. You HAVE to vote because there's no God.

If there WAS a God who used divine intervention, then voting would be pointless.

[Dookus]

60. we all do

you see, that's what happens when you realize there's no god - we're on our own. We are obligated to do our best - no magic sky-being is gonna save our sorry asses.

[truthpusher]

66. You are the magic sky. That is God.

[Dookus]

68. step away from the bong

I am not the magic sky, despite the beauty and power of my online persona.

[truthpusher]

75. Thank you, I thought that was inspired!

[Kire]

15. What's your favorite color?

[Dookus]

18. I like Orange.

[short bus president]

16. Did you know that,

at least according to a bunch of the local snake-handling weirdos, Jesus loves you anyway? Fuckin' bizarre, man. I think Jesus must've got his ass kicked a lot in high school.

[Dookus]

20. yes

Jesus loves me. He stalks me. I've had to get a court order.

[short bus president]

33. Creepy!

I once had one of the Heaven's Gate guys stop me on the street and offer a free estimate on bilateral orchiectomy. Weird stuff...

;-)

[LeftCoast]

96. Just have to ask. Do you know what a bilateral orchiectomy is?

BTW, I can't even get my head around why they would ask a question like that. Do they think that type of procedure would be a great recruitment tool? :wtf:

[Dookus]

98. I think he was joking

and misspelled "orchidectomy", which is the removal of a testis. A "bilateral orchidectomy" is total castration.

[LeftCoast]

102. Whew! I'm glad you cleared that up!

I live in SF so I'm used to seeing/hearing absolutely crazy stuff being spouted by people at times. I could totally picture the scene he'd described taking place on Market and 6th St. :)

[short bus president]

109. Actually, sorry to be partic-a-lur, but

an "ochidectomy" would be the removal of hothouse flowers. An orchiectomy is removal of a male gonad.

And yes, it would be a great recruitment tool for the Heaven's Gate crowd. Don't you guys remember anything? They're the ones who cut themselves off before they killed themselves off to ride the magic spaceship? Anyone?

Anyone?

Bueller?

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

23. I respect atheists

I have a good friend who is one and I have asked her just about everything.

But here: do you believe inanimate objects have feelings?

(Pantheism?)

[Dookus]

27. No

I do not.

Although I suspect my coffee table harbors a deep resentment against my shins.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

36. I have an atheist friend

who is quite hilarious. She believes the tea pot will get its feelings hurt if she puts it in the garage sale. Moves the pillows around so they all get used and feel happy.

But she's Canadian, that could explain it, eh?

[Dookus]

41. well

Canadians are extraordinarily odd.

But I've never met a real atheist who believed teapots have emotions. I suspect her problem has less to do with religious beliefs and more to do with schizophrenia.

[truthpusher]

59. and I thought they had better access to medication in Canada?

[Dookus]

61. I expect they do

if only there were a pill for the humor-impaired.

[truthpusher]

52. that would be anthropomorphism.

[St. Jarvitude]

28. Why do you continue to maintain that Radiohead sucks?

Sorry, I really like you a lot except for this little nagging bit :)

[Dookus]

31. they don't suck

I like some of their stuff. I said they were whiney.

Now Sting sucks.

[St. Jarvitude]

37. Hey, there we go

We agree on Sting's suckiness I guess :shrug:

I still maintain that Radiohead is not whiney! :o

[KittyWampus]

30. Who Do You Call To When You're Climaxing?

:)

[Dookus]

32. Jesus

my mexican gardener.

[KittyWampus]

38. Muy Bueno!

[Biased Liberal Media]

34. Are you often told you're a heathen?

I know I am (another Atheist here).

[Dookus]

39. not in the real world

but I live in Santa Cruz, CA. The fundies got bigger fish to fry here than a run-of-the-mill atheist.

[Biased Liberal Media]

53. Ooh Santa Cruz

I got into UCSC but decided against going there. Nice liberal town. Too bad Monterey is really conservative (I grew up there). Now I live in freeper heaven. LOL.

[Dookus]

54. ah

I adore Monterey, but yeah, it's too conservative and too remote.

Santa Cruz is awesome, though. I love living here.

[Biased Liberal Media]

56. I didn't think it really was

that conservative until I realized all my family (including my folks) were just a bunch of repubs- or when they started allowing those freakin Cruise liners into our bay. So much for the Monterey Bay Sanctuary!!! Plus they are a huge eyesore. They just do NOT belong in our bay...our sea otters are dying, no thanks to the toxins those damn ships are releasing into the bay.

[Dookus]

62. agreed...

I scuba dive in Monterey Bay and it's really a special place. The sanctuary needs to be protected.

[realisticphish]

99. hell man

im a christian and i STILL get called a heathen, since im a baby-killin', murka-hatin, LIEbrul

:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[Mizmoon]

40. Have you ever been in a foxhole? n/t

[Dookus]

43. yes

but she said was 18. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[arwalden]

72. How Old Were You When You Realized That Religion Was Bunk?

[Dookus]

78. rather old, actually

probably my mid-to-late 30's.

[arwalden]

79. Who Was The First Person You Told You Were Gay?

And how did she react?

[Dookus]

80. my brother

he was very cool about it. He suspected it because I was screwing around with his best friend :)

[FreedomFry]

82. Since you offered ...

It's been argued that to be atheistic is as illogical as believing in God, because it is as illogical to affirm that there is no God as it is to insist that there is one. In the absence of proof, how do does one decisively argue for atheism? I'm a non-believer, too, but have always had trouble with this point, and could use the help.

[Dookus]

84. My take on that

is it's the same as saying it's "as illogical to believe in leprechauns as is it is to believe in cats".

The fact is, there are infinite invisible beings that we COULD believe in, but why do so? Should I maintain that unicorns are just as likely to exist as zebras?

The argument you posit is, inherently, predicated on the idea that gods exist.

[FreedomFry]

85. My leprechaun and unicorn are in tears.

I don't think the argument has a basis either in belief or disbelief, but won't belabor the point. Thanks for not flaming me for asking.

[Dookus]

86. I disagree

I think it's based in belief, specifically the belief that gods exist - or at least MAY exist - and therefore we should at least take the notion seriously.

But my point is that I could posit the existence of a galaxy-wide invisible snake-dog that controls everything we do. It is undetectable.

Do you think you should take that idea seriously? Should you give it a 50% chance of being true?

There are literally an infinite number of such entities - must we be open to ALL of them?

[FreedomFry]

92. Point taken.

The Buddhist idea of "god" being a part of everything, and vice versa, is intriguing. That leaves the definition up to the individual and ultimately renders argument moot.

Come to think of it, there's something rather comforting about a galaxy-wide invisible snake-dog. You could probably get tax-exempt status with that one. At the very least, it would explain why neocons walk the Earth.

[Dookus]

94. oh

I plan, some day to start a cult. I may need the $$.

And more importantly, it will be a suicide cult, cuz gullible people get on my nerves.

[GreenPartyVoter]

87. Have you ever prayed in a moment of crisis?

You know, you're in a jam and let out a "Please, let this work out ok" to the universe at large? And if so, did you feel odd about it later on? :)

[Dookus]

88. well

yes, but I was a believer most of my life.

I think it's natural to express our wishes and hopes, at least internally. I simply don't direct them toward a being, and I don't expect results.

It's hard to explain well - yes, I think about my wishes and internally articulate them, but I don't direct them anywhere in particular.

[GreenPartyVoter]

89. I think most people articulate their desires at one time or another

whether or not someone is at the receiving end of those wishes is still up for debate.

[Dookus]

90. my question

is WHY is it still up for debate?

To me, there is no debate. A reasonable study of history and the human mind indicates that a belief in supernatural beings is a superstitious relic. There is NO evidence that gods exist. There are only anecdotes.

And when we examine those anecdotes, we find that belief in such supernatural beings is based on ignorance, fear, and a propensity of the human mind to find pattern and meaning where there is none.

If the existence of God is up for debate, why isn't the existence of leprechauns?

[GreenPartyVoter]

91. I believe in them too. ;^)

[Ron Green]

97. It will always be up for debate, because that is what we're here for, to

figure this stuff out. Belief in "supernatural beings" is based partly on ignorance and fear, as you say, and partly upon study and wisdom. It's not a black-or-white deal. I called myself an atheist when I was in my 40s, some years ago, and now I don't consider myself that. We all move through time, and if we're open and thoughtful, we learn things and change. So dig the debate.

[Dookus]

100. obviously I dig the debate

I started it, didn't I?

I don't believe we're here for the purpose of figuring out whether gods exist or not.

[Ron Green]

108. I hear you. I have believed something like that, too. My belief now

has become something more like, "We're here to understand the big Truths, the more important of which seem more unknowable. Part of this search for meaning is what unseen world is operating and how. Philosophy and religion are involved, as are our direct experiences. These are all worth examining in an open-minded way."

[Wols]

93. Is atheism a religion?

Do you subscribe to a mechanistic view of nature, a la Descarte? Are you anti-vivisection? Inquiring agnostics want to know.

[Dookus]

95. umm...

no, it's not a religion.

Yes, I think nature is mechanistic.

As to what you call vivisection - if you're asking do I believe we should cut up animals for no good reason, No. But if it's about animal testing, I believe we should take every reasonable step to minimize pain and discomfort when dealing with animals for our own needs, but I don't believe that it is morally wrong to use animals in such a way.

[Champ]

101. Where is the fan club?

[Dookus]

103. well

I try to keep it low-key, but check out godhatesfagsanddookus.com

[mcerise]

104. What do you think is the relationship among space, time, and energy?

n/t

[Dookus]

105. I have no idea

I'm not a physicist. But I don't see how the answer has anything to do with Zeus.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

107. SO do you just say OM!?