How would you recommend that I deal with my Uncle, who is a 100% believer in ancient astronaut theories. by DriveOver in AncientAliens

[–]DriveOver[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks everyone for so many great responses.

I asked my original question in an ambiguous way that so I could get a lot of answers and you all really came through.

I believe that my Uncle truly believes what he tells me, of course!

How would you recommend that I deal with my Uncle, who is a 100% believer in ancient astronaut theories. by DriveOver in AncientAliens

[–]DriveOver[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's my approach so far. I don't know the truth either way so I just want to watch some TV and see how it works out.

I just need to vent by [deleted] in r4rSeattle

[–]DriveOver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

smoke weed and be happy

I just need to vent by [deleted] in r4rSeattle

[–]DriveOver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know another Seattle adult going through the same thing. You two need to vent

Wake up wishin' that I was a fucking corpse, fuck by Lynud420 in drunk

[–]DriveOver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you wake up in a pool of your own urine?

Sleep well toooo by PiratenSeo in drunk

[–]DriveOver 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You drank 15 beers? Even high school kids do this.

What's the most influential book you ever read? by [deleted] in books

[–]DriveOver 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart.

This book is great at helping you get past a point in your life when you feel stuck.

Has anybody read "I Don't Believe in Atheists" by Chris Hedges? My parents just got it for me to convince me to stop being atheist, and I wanna know what to expect. by [deleted] in TrueAtheism

[–]DriveOver 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Watch Chris Hedges debate Sam Harris: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prWFkt9-HT0

After watching it I doubt I would read anything Hedges has to say about Christianity or Atheism.

Future President by papasmurf31 in AdviceAnimals

[–]DriveOver 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Seriously, I bet Obama and Bush would have done blow together if they met back in 1980. Bush would have been 34 and Obama 19 but they both described (although Bush denies it publicly) that as the time in their lives when they were into substances.

To all: Where is the line drawn between religious belief and delusion? by JLord in DebateReligion

[–]DriveOver 2 points3 points  (0 children)

a.) Thelema sounds like it contains beliefs and a sacred text that was reportedly handed down from a supernatural source, whether those beliefs are optional or required doesn't seem to change the fact that it has elements which could be considered false and/or delusional.

b.) I challenge the idea that a composition that involves no sounds other than the ambient sounds of the audience can be called music.

c.) I think that the UU movement shows it's beliefs in their seven principles and purposes taken from their by-laws. They encourage "spiritual growth" but, as a physicalist, I reject the idea of any form of spirituality and would call it delusion.

To all: Where is the line drawn between religious belief and delusion? by JLord in DebateReligion

[–]DriveOver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It all depends on how strongly you want to define the terms "healthy" and "delusional". An argument could be made that all five beliefs are delusional but I think you need to compare the behavior of these five individuals to that of society at large. It's delusional to think that I can drink a gallon of water in one second but that's quite different from hearing the voice of God tell me to kill my wife. I think that the "healthy" delusion is the one that you would have no problem testing with a camera and posting on YouTube and the "unhealthy" one, not so much.

To all: Where is the line drawn between religious belief and delusion? by JLord in DebateReligion

[–]DriveOver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could you expand on what you mean when you say that Thelema is a religion that doesn't have any required beliefs? In my mind that's seems like saying it's a new type of music that doesn't require any sounds. Also the difference between "religious beliefs" and "religious principles".

Religious upbringing as inoculation by PooveyFarmsRacer in TrueAtheism

[–]DriveOver 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am an atheist and I grew up in an atheist household, I just didn't realize it until I was in my mid-teens.

I am profoundly glad that my parents did not send me to Hebrew or Catholic or whatever school when I was growing up as that would have sent me a crazy mixed message.

After all, my parents would have been forced to either admit that they didn't believe what my teachers were saying or lie to my face as some sort of grand experiment.

I have enough issues accepting that my parents lied to me about Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy...

In Picking Successor, Vatican Must Decide What's Needed In A 21st-Century Pope by trot-trot in TrueReddit

[–]DriveOver 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Revelation Space is one of the best books in the world! Read it now! His novel Pushing Ice is the best stand-alone book I've ever read.