"James - you confirm my principle point. There is no "tree" and therefore a discussion/argument about a leaf is pointless - in my rarely humble opinion of course."
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Jeff Parsons
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Jeff Parsons commented on Jeff Parsons's blog post 'Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"'
James Cox commented on Jeff Parsons's blog post 'Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"'"I quess an only minor critique would that there is 'no tree' from which something can be 'poisen'. Theist assertions sort of become out of air, or out of the deep time of culture(s). Their 'reality' consists of…"
Rob the Ridiculous commented on Jeff Parsons's blog post 'Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"'"By voicing our beliefs as humans we claim our own little piece of society. Whatever your political or philosophical inclinations might be, if you don't express them they will not be represented in the greater society. If you don't let…"
John Kelly commented on Jeff Parsons's blog post 'Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"'"Jeff, I think there is a lot of wisdom to "never teach a pig to sing". Some people are just so stuck in their beliefs and don't have the ability to figure that out. I think you have to go by feel. If you start to…"
Heather Spoonheim commented on Jeff Parsons's blog post 'Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"'"Yes, well I think the core issue in theism is 'why do you believe what you believe'. Of course, most theists will claim that they have taken the time to deeply ponder that issue and 'logically' worked through to exactly the…"
Jeff Parsons commented on Jeff Parsons's blog post 'Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"'""Rhetorical antibiotics" - brilliant! My only strategy is to focus on the core issues. Perhaps if that first logic dominoe falls ...
Honestly I don't generally try to persuade others regarding their values or beliefs - the old saying,…"
Heather Spoonheim commented on Jeff Parsons's blog post 'Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"'"I hear you, Jeff. We don't waste our time with the schizophrenic down the street, trying to prove to him that the Mongolian Thought-Lords aren't really stealing his good ideas. So why do we bother with theists?
Well,…"
John Kelly commented on Jeff Parsons's blog post 'Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"'"Well I can see how you are confused. I made two different points in order to eliminate another potentiality that you may have also been arguing. Okay now that is clear, disputing the validity of false premises is a valuable use of time.…"
Jeff Parsons commented on Jeff Parsons's blog post 'Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"'"Struggling to find your actual point. Are you saying that "arguing the validity of false premises" is a valuable use of time? If then, I must heartily disagree. If you are arguing a minor point that presumes the basic false premise then it…"
John Kelly commented on Jeff Parsons's blog post 'Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"'"Yeah I got your main point. But saying "don't argue against the validity of false premises" won't work. We change minds all the time by arguing the validity of things. Other times we don't. That can…"
Jeff Parsons commented on Jeff Parsons's blog post 'Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"'"My comparison was intended as a figurative concept. The principle point was - a discussion about a minor detail is a waste of time if the origin of the premise is invalid. I don't have the ability (or intent) to modify value decisions of other…"
John Kelly commented on Jeff Parsons's blog post 'Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"'" tend to overcomplicate my explanations. Maybe a simpler way to say that is that no wrong belief is really valid because it is from bad reasoning somewhere along the way, and you seem to be picking up on that. But there is a…"
Jeff Parsons posted a blog postCommon Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"
For those who aren't familiar with the legal concept of the "fruit of the poisonous tree" in regard to evidence; I'll summarize. If information is gathered through any means that is not legal then any conclusions made from that information or additional information, regardless of the validity, is also not legal and can not be used as argument. That is a very quick paraphrase of a much more complex ideal. It does, however, apply to dogma. I regularly read discussions here on points that are…See More
Jeff Parsons replied to Morgan Matthew's discussion 'Red pill makes you fluent in every spoken language. Blue pill makes you a master of every musical instrument in the world. Which do you swallow?'"Hmmmmm? I would have to go with the blue pill. I absorb language relatively quickly and easily but have struggled for decades with music. Admittedly that is the lazy choice (take a pill to conquer the tough challenge) but as others have mentioned…"
Jeff Parsons replied to Adam Weber's discussion 'Why Not Deism?'"Deism presumes a supernatural deity. Atheism does not.
As Galen previously mentioned (and I paraphrase) the theist is saying (or simply believing) that a mythic/magic/supernatural entity of some sort has influence of varying degree over human…"
Profile Information
- Your Religious Status
- Atheist
- About Me:
- In my youth I considered religion as a career but came to realize that it had no actual relevance.
- Age
- 53-58
- Why are you here?
- It is nice to know that many people have been able to toss aside the yoke of fantasy that is religion. Hope to be able to share.
- The religion you left
- Was never a part of one
- http://jparsons9
Jeff Parsons's Blog
Common Misconceptions of "religion name goes here"
Posted on July 9, 2012 at 1:56am 12 Comments 0 Likes
For those who aren't familiar with the legal concept of the "fruit of the poisonous tree" in regard to evidence; I'll summarize. If information is gathered through any means that is not legal then any conclusions made from that information or additional information, regardless of the validity, is also not legal and can not be used as argument. That is a very quick paraphrase of a much more complex ideal.
It does, however, apply to dogma. I regularly read discussions here on points…
Continue SIF-less is not a sexually transmitted disease
Posted on November 11, 2009 at 9:30pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Why religion?
A starting point could be a discussion of what are three principle reasons that lead humans to any superstition:
Selfishness
Ignorance
Fear
or as I call it SIF
Selfishness
This is normal. You are selfish. I am selfish. Everyone is selfish. Ok, more accurately self-centered. The human mind only makes decisions - all decisions - based on a simple rule = toward pleasure and away from pain. You may say that sacrifice in its… Continue
A starting point could be a discussion of what are three principle reasons that lead humans to any superstition:
Selfishness
Ignorance
Fear
or as I call it SIF
Selfishness
This is normal. You are selfish. I am selfish. Everyone is selfish. Ok, more accurately self-centered. The human mind only makes decisions - all decisions - based on a simple rule = toward pleasure and away from pain. You may say that sacrifice in its… Continue
If ever oh ever a wiz there was . . .
Posted on October 10, 2009 at 8:25pm 3 Comments 0 Likes
I am the proud owner of the recently released 70th Anniversary Blu-ray version of "The Wizard of Oz." No doubt those of you that must suffer me in person are tired of hearing about the wonderful work that was done on it, multiple scans of the original film negatives, re-mastering of the music to 5 X 1 surround, etc, blah, blah, blah. However; after watching it and analyzing it (as I do most films) I was dumbfounded by an epiphany. This is not only a classic hero's tale but it is the atheist's… Continue
A Quick One . . . Word Replacement Game
Posted on September 7, 2009 at 5:02pm 2 Comments 0 Likes
This sounds so familiar?
"Being true to Jesus' spirit means knowing that a leader has not only rights, but above all duties. Being true to Jesus' spirit means always being a model. "To be a leader is to be an example," just as Jesus and his work are an example for you. Being true to Jesus' spirit means being modest and unassuming. Being true to Jesus' spirit means remaining a thorough Christian in good times and bad. Being a thorough Christian means to think ever and only on the… Continue
"Being true to Jesus' spirit means knowing that a leader has not only rights, but above all duties. Being true to Jesus' spirit means always being a model. "To be a leader is to be an example," just as Jesus and his work are an example for you. Being true to Jesus' spirit means being modest and unassuming. Being true to Jesus' spirit means remaining a thorough Christian in good times and bad. Being a thorough Christian means to think ever and only on the… Continue
Suffer the children
Posted on August 29, 2009 at 8:13pm 6 Comments 0 Likes
I originally intended to lead with a discussion of the "spanking sticks" that are offered for sale and even for free on various xtian websites. The Idea is that the correct (xtian) way to encourage positive behavior from children is to use corporal punishment. Admittedly, some of the web sites were neo-nazi's or extreme fundamentalist but if they think it is a good idea then it must be. Specifically, without physical punishment children will grow into vicious monsters. Godless heathens that… Continue
Comment Wall (4 comments)
- At 7:58pm on December 27, 2010,
Monica Salcedo (Monicks) said… - Congratulations, you are a winner!
- At 11:54am on December 27, 2010, Morgan Matthew gave Jeff Parsons a gift…
- At 2:00am on April 28, 2010, Wesley gave Jeff Parsons a gift…
- At 1:18pm on July 11, 2009,
Nelson said… - hey Jeff, welcome to TA!
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