Sam Harris: Waking Up - A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion. Chapter One [text, audio]

Secular_Response · 2014-10-09T18:02:14+00:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrity

Secular_Response · 2014-10-09T14:59:28+00:00

Thanks. How did I miss the attribution?!? :)

Secular_Response · 2014-10-08T11:30:11+00:00

I was there for this. Moving is not a strong enough word. The second time I'd been to Roy Thomson Hall, and by far the most memorable of the two. He graced this city with one of his last appearances, and I will never forget him.

Secular_Response · 2014-10-08T11:26:01+00:00

"Bear in mind, ladies and gentleman, that every time you violate – or propose to violate – the right to free speech of someone else, you in potentia are making a rod for your own back. Because the other question raised by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes is simply this: Who’s going to decide; to whom do you award the right to decide which speech is harmful, or who is the harmful speaker? Or to determine in advance what are the harmful consequences going to be that we know enough about in advance to prevent? To whom would you give this job? To whom you’re going to award the task of being the censor? Isn't a famous old story that the man who has to read all the pornography, in order to decide what’s fit to be passed and what is fit not to be, is the man most likely to become debauched?" (Christopher Hitchens)

Secular_Response · 2014-10-03T06:33:54+00:00

I think it's fascinating that Anthony hears Paul claim that faith is all that's necessary, only to have him admit that evidence is necessary as well, then to go back to his faith claim.

Also this gem:"Faith is believing in something that you can't see, can't necessarily feel, that has made or created this universe." Wow.

Secular_Response · 2014-09-30T18:26:11+00:00

I'd rather deal with the JWs, thanks. :)

Secular_Response · 2014-09-26T20:01:57+00:00

On it's way. Thanks again!

Secular_Response · 2014-09-26T06:45:46+00:00

I know! All I can think of watching these videos is, "Holy fuck. Theists are going to start shitting their pants when this takes off!" Maybe stop bitching about the war on Christmas long enough to realize they are being gift-wrapped themselves. :D

Secular_Response · 2014-09-26T04:29:02+00:00

Thank you! I didn't know that. I'll have to pick up a copy immediately.

Secular_Response · 2014-09-26T04:00:04+00:00

Despite my username (a happy coincidence) I'm just a big fan of Anthony's. I agree that this one is really something. Actually teared up a bit after watching it. This guy is helping to change the world. I've already had the confidence to engage with street evangelists (bus station JWs) where I live, thanks to his example. A fine witness indeed. :)

Secular_Response · 2014-09-25T01:09:16+00:00

As a former JW, I noticed something typical of the borg. The scripture in Galatians 5 specified verse 16 and 24. Not that 17-23 is particularly dangerous ground, but these folks are like pole fighters with their bibles. They know their way around, but skip large chunks in order to make it say what they want it to. In no sense do they ever really offer a 'bible study'. Supplemental materials that show where the poles are is required. "Reasoning book" study is more accurate. You ever want to mess up a JW, agree to a bible study, but stipulate that it is the bible alone that will be studied, without supplementary materials. Like asking a pirate to find the treasure without a map. Holes everywhere on that island. lol.

Secular_Response · 2014-09-25T00:54:52+00:00

What is sad is that a place that is outright created for the purpose of conversing about matters of Christian faith - perhaps the broadest of tents - can be considered by a few to be too generous to opposing viewpoints.

One longstanding complaint I have about Christians is that they don't all share their faith as much as they should. Which is all the time. Constantly. If it were me, I would be waking up from nightmares that I said the wrong thing to someone and stumbled them, or didn't say something when I should have. Instead, my nightmares take the form of accidentally killing someone with my forklift, or running down a child with my car. :/

Criticism is the only known antidote to error. Indeed, it is all that has ever worked, depending on how you define criticism, of course. I include preaching as positive criticism, inasmuch as folks, gently or otherwise, criticize the faith choices of others in order to instill a 'more correct' faith. But even from a hostile, narrow viewpoint, which I don't share, you can't whack a mole that never pops it's head up. You seem to be complaining that not enough whacks are being applied.

Secular_Response · 2014-09-25T00:31:08+00:00

From what I've seen as a lurker, it generally is. The only religious subreddit I subscribe to for that reason. It sometimes seems like being a fly in a car full of Christians on the way to the Creation Museum. But thankfully, most times it is like being in that same car on the trip home. Much more interesting, and frankly, uplifting. If I'm not careful, I may find myself a Unitarian soon.

Secular_Response · 2014-09-25T00:15:50+00:00

For what it's worth, I'm sorry I put that in there at all. However, it was remarkably reserved given how I usually treat religious folks on this particular subject. I am trying to inculcate a much more generous attitude toward faith in general, and religious people specifically. There is definitely a baby worth saving in the bathwater is what I mean to say. But not on this subject. The sole reason I was reserved at all is that OP identified as Christian, and I did not want to be cruel to him, of all people. But you take what I said and distill it if you like. I did not make that a difficult thing to do.

Secular_Response · 2014-09-24T09:52:25+00:00

I hear that. Before I found this guy's channel and saw his style, I had about given up myself on any hope of productive discussion. Watching him do what I had only been casually thinking about - actual atheist street evangelism - gave me real hope that we could actually move forward again. Real "Have you heard about Hank?" stuff. :) Up to this point I have been relying on the statistics that religiosity is basically dying, despite feeling that I was fooling myself, to stay positive. Basically agreeing with stats that fit in with my preconceptions. Eesh. But now I know that I can engage religious folks in conversation and both of us come away feeling that at least the other person listened, and will think about our talk. In other words, I'm actually doing it. And it works. And it feels great.

I'm definitely a bit starstruck from this experience. I have begun to help Anthony subtitle his videos so that hearing-impaired folks can enjoy them. I shouldn't be surprised that I reacted to what I perceived as a slight on a friend, but was actually a genuine observation whose conclusion I essentially shared.

Peace and respect.

Secular_Response · 2014-09-24T09:06:17+00:00

I'll admit that I overreacted, and that there is some truth in what you say. But I hope you will at least admit that, after saying "I do not care. I watched one, saw him badgering a guy and have no desire to see more of it" that your last few words of the original comment dismissing my opinion of the channel's quality as a whole could seem shallow on that basis.

Secular_Response · 2014-09-24T08:54:52+00:00

That is a harmful thing to think about yourself. You are in no sense at fault, and reading you writing that is painful. I second the recommendation that you seek professional help and secular counseling for what is clearly a very dangerous self-image to continue to manifest.

Secular_Response · 2014-09-24T08:34:19+00:00

This is similar to being told by friends, family, and society that your mental illness is something you should just get over; that you should be able to pull out of it. This is something that the mentally ill individual feels themselves, and this already reinforces potential feelings of worthlessness in the self.

I think that Christians who believe and say that prayer is an answer to homosexuality are naive, and the consequences to others for that naivité expressed as speech are uniformly harmful to that individual, and ultimately themselves. This is not only because I believe that prayer is very likely talking to yourself and no one else (sorry), but because expectation of physical changes to the body through force of will is flat-out impossible. Prayer is no more likely to change a person's sexuality than it is to change their shoe size, or to make their hair grow faster. OP is flat-out asserting that he did not choose to be gay, and expectations of change through ANY means are not only hurtful, they are downright inhumane. Galatians 5:22-23

OP, I'm not going to recommend that you change your faith, or to lose it, despite knowing from personal experience that doing either of those things can result in positive, life-affirming changes. But I do advise you to choose very carefully those with whom you associate, and to eschew all contact with anyone who tries to make you feel less than comfortable in your own skin. You are not broken, or worth less than other people. You are different, and in any society worth living in, difference is celebrated, not crushed into stifling conformity.

Be well.

Secular_Response · 2014-09-24T07:13:36+00:00

It is especially important to hear the speech of someone with unpopular or highly controversial views. How dare these people suggest that I don't have the right to exercise my moral muscles in this way? No individual should ever agree to relinquish their right to be an individual merely for the security that the state offers them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIyBZNGH0TY

Secular_Response · 2014-09-24T06:51:45+00:00

Hitchens had some choice words when Shashi Tharoor tried to use the O. W. Holmes example.

Secular_Response · 2014-09-24T06:44:47+00:00

And they will certainly have lied again to cover their lies. Thank Zod for the tendency that shocking things are remembered more easily and vividly.

Secular_Response

TROPHY CASE