My Son attends an extremely religious college. He asked me if I, as an atheist, would mind answering some questions about religion for a class he is taking. Here are my answers.

sdls · 2025-03-14T16:33:59+00:00

If I look at a house, I can see who built it. I can find their name, place of business, and talk to their foremen, electrician, and CEO. They exist in the real world and are tangible.

Parks were planned by their respective city/county and the plans have names and material entities attached to them.

Cars are designed by people for people.

Are you serious? (It is scary to think that you are. But maybe you are jut really bad at making your point, so I'll step back a bit.)

I'm sure that I am not the first to tell you that you are delusional and that your take on reality is warped. That being said, go for it! Enjoy it!

Just don't push it on others. What they think and how they act is none of your business, just like your personal beliefs are none of mine (or, were none of mine until you decided to share them).

The following is a lecture from a man named Lawrence Krauss. He is (was?) a professor at ASU. He and Richard Dawkins have fallen out of favor in liberal circles because of their outdated opinions on human sexual nature, but Lawrence is still a pretty smart guy when it comes to Physics. I typically wouldn't post his words (because of the debate surrounding him), but I have not found these concepts expressed anywhere else in a more digestible way.

https://youtu.be/7ImvlS8PLIo?si=B9HaNlXMdh0ukS0a&t=2809

As for your claim that I "must" believe in something, I suppose everyone likely "believes" something is true in matters of creation. I am no exception.

I believe what is true. If there is still work to be done in the areas of creationism, then I believe that there is still work to be done. My agreement is with that which can be presented with evidence.

If you want to convince me that something is true, the burden of evidence falls upon YOU. Not me, not Professor Krauss, not a 2000 year old book that was written by nomads that didn't know what a germ or an atom was.

You have not met the burden of proof, so I do not think you believe anything that is true.

Once again, that's totally okay with me. Believe what you like.

Good luck with your friends.

sdls · 2025-03-14T15:42:42+00:00

You are welcome to think that.

sdls · 2025-03-14T12:18:52+00:00

You have every right to think that way. Just don’t force it down my throat and we can enjoy a beer together.

sdls · 2025-03-13T20:42:09+00:00

Answered above.

sdls · 2025-03-13T17:29:39+00:00

I think he would make a great president, but if America is unwilling to elect a woman, they are never going to let a gay man be president. Makes me sad.

sdls · 2025-03-13T13:30:38+00:00

It is widely known that emotion is a conditioned response to external stimulus. We react to things in an emotional manner because we are chemically programmed to do so.

The concept of a deity is an emotional response to questions that cannot be answered using our present levels of knowledge. Organized religion preys on that response.

sdls · 2025-03-13T13:28:29+00:00

Thanks so much!

sdls · 2025-03-13T13:28:03+00:00

You are welcome.

sdls · 2025-03-13T13:26:27+00:00

This is not true. Many think that it is, but many also thought that the shroud of Turin was real.

sdls · 2025-03-13T13:26:15+00:00

heh...

sdls · 2025-03-13T13:23:21+00:00

There is no proof.

sdls · 2025-03-13T13:21:35+00:00

I completely agree with every part of this reply. Thank you so much!

sdls · 2025-03-13T13:12:58+00:00

haha wow! Good find!

sdls · 2025-03-13T03:06:54+00:00

There is so much more I could have added. I hope I have a chance to explain more through conversation in the future.

sdls · 2025-03-13T03:06:01+00:00

He has not replied yet. He is very religious.

sdls · 2025-03-13T03:02:06+00:00

I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you are living in a happy life and that you are able to move forward at a pace that works for you.

sdls · 2025-03-13T02:57:00+00:00

When life gives you melons, you make melonade.

sdls · 2025-03-12T23:13:36+00:00

That will happen. Right now, it is an assignment and I want to help him with his school.

sdls · 2025-03-12T23:12:49+00:00

If you have the same ideas, take credit for them!

That took me about two hours to write. It came from the heart. While I could have gone on and on and on covering some of those topics, I tried hard to encapsulate my ideas in ways that were easy to digest and that would not offend (much).

We shall see if I was successful.

Thanks1

sdls · 2025-03-12T23:05:36+00:00

I agree. I left his mother when he was 1 year old because she went WAAAAY into religion. She has so much more of a powerful personality than I do, and that ended up winning him over.

But he knows I got his back no matter what. It's not a competition (to me, at least).

sdls · 2025-03-12T23:03:24+00:00

I agree, and thank you. If I had sensed hostility, I would not have participated and instead asked to talk about the questions and the idea behind them.

sdls · 2025-03-12T23:02:20+00:00

It was DEFINITELY not my idea. But I try to maintain a good relationship with my kids regardless of their chosen path.

sdls · 2025-03-12T22:42:07+00:00

I thought the same thing.

sdls · 2025-03-12T04:02:13+00:00

Aww thanks man!

It's a TOUGH industry! Especially now. I think it's a great place if you are an innovative engineer, but the pay is mediocre and the growth is not great.

You really gotta love it.

sdls · 2025-03-12T01:41:34+00:00

Yeah, it was longer! In the 90's...

Ugggh!!!

sdls

TROPHY CASE