December 10, 2010. “Strategic Objectives Workshop” A panel discussion on Christians, Jews, Muslims, & Atheists. Dan Barker, Co-President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation ffrf.org
25 comments on “Dan Barker at Colorado Christian University”
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cashmerde
April 9, 2011 at 5:54 pm
@sulljoh1 You are absolutely right, I have never thought of it that way. Thank you for enlightening me.
sulljoh1
April 9, 2011 at 5:57 pm
@cashmerde This is a biology 101 mistake. You are confusing a purpose with a biological imperative, survive and reproduce. Genes that cause people to survive, will tend to survive. That’s a tautology. In Steven Pinker’s words, “I, Steven Pinker, chose not to have Children. If my genes don’t like it they can go jump in a lake.”
sp00x
April 9, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Nice talk .. but a bit hard to hear what he’s saying (Could have helped with a bit of high-pass filtering or EQing to remove some of the lows.)
EebstertheGreat
April 9, 2011 at 6:39 pm
@DrQuijano
Sometimes I call this “Don’t Give a Shitism.” It’s a form of atheism, but one in which no followers would bother calling themselves atheists because they don’t give a shit.
Since you don’t really have a belief, most people would probably consider you an atheist. I’m assuming that doesn’t bother you.
But I do have to point out that your impression of “most atheists” is completely wrong. I have never known anybody to do what you described; most would oppose that kind of proselytism.
cashmerde
April 9, 2011 at 7:27 pm
there is a purpose in life: survive and reproduce.
ahr8p
April 9, 2011 at 7:59 pm
@DrQuijano
All atheists I know never dicuss faith. If they strike up a conversation with theists, they talk about the genocides and ethnocides committed in the name of gods or that there is no historical evidence for Jesus. Atheists debate facts, not fantasy.
DrQuijano
April 9, 2011 at 8:47 pm
@rg0057 It means I don’t care if there is a god, I don’t care what others believe, and I don’t care about blending in. I just live not caring and if you do then it’s your problem cuz’ you’re the one who’s going to deal with the stress of it. I think it’s called being apathetic.
archapmangcmg
April 9, 2011 at 9:23 pm
@rg0057 I agree, and think this might better have been directed @Lasiainen 🙂
rg0057
April 9, 2011 at 10:07 pm
@archapmangcmg , even so, “God dun it” is not an easy explanation. Look at all the nonsense on youtube, where creationists try to explain things like dinosaurs and the moon. It takes a huge effort. It’s idiotic, but not trivial.
rg0057
April 9, 2011 at 10:27 pm
@DrQuijano , “don’t care enough”. Does this mean you don’t care if gods exist, or does it mean you prefer to blend in with believers even though you don’t believe?
archapmangcmg
April 9, 2011 at 10:32 pm
@Lasiainen Nope, everyone starts at the point of not knowing, atheists can admit it and get on with their lives if they want, without spending any thought on it at all. Most won’t, just curious to know what happened, but it’s not required. The theist is required to think of an explanation, even if it’s the non-answer “God dun’it” it’s still effort.
Lasiainen
April 9, 2011 at 10:47 pm
@archapmangcmg Think about it this way:
Something completely new and unknown happens in the world we live in..
In this situation a religious person can just think “God dun’it”, while an atheist would have to search for the scientific explanation. 🙂
8GR8CATS
April 9, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Can’t wait to read your new book Dan! My husband of 17 years was brought up without religion- and is the most wonderful moral decent human I’ve ever met. I was raised Roman Catholic. We have read extensively- Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris etc… Saw Maher’s Religulous… Anyone who can listen to these arguements and the ones you make here and remain in a religion- is just not dealing with reality and being reasonable. Thanks for all the good work you do with separation of church and state!
hardinmichael1981
April 9, 2011 at 11:56 pm
@DrQuijano I’m an atheist who puts ZERO time/effort in debating people’s beliefs. If REALITY ITSELF has not convinced a person then nothing I SAY about it can convince them. (I’m still happy to answer people’s sincere questions regarding my own beliefs.) But I would fight to the DEATH to defend SECULAR DEMOCRACY and the SEPARATION of Church and STATE. (Even though that’s not what THIS particular forum was about.) I’m glad that atheists like Dan Barker and others participate in these things.
archapmangcmg
April 10, 2011 at 12:44 am
@DrQuijano About the mormons.. not me! And I find telling them “No thanks, we’re satanists” works just as quickly at getting rid of them and the Jehovah’s Witnesses crowds. And you *can* put in the effort to tell people, but there’s no holy commandment saying you gotta, nor do I agree that the majority of atheists would bother with putting in much effort. None of us think less of you if you don’t. Well, have a good life either way.
As an Aussie, I respect your laziness.
DrQuijano
April 10, 2011 at 1:31 am
@archapmangcmg True, but it seems to me like many atheists put a lot of effort in their non-belief. Most atheists, for example, would invite a mormon into their homes and explain to them why being a mormon is wrong and being an atheist is the logical choice. That has them come around every saturday. I just tell them I’ve already checked out the Mormon faith and I’d rather stay catholic and they stop coming. Takes me just a minute too.
KalyaHarmony
April 10, 2011 at 1:34 am
how uncomfortable is the rest of the panel.. how can they leave the conference still feeling good about teaching this stff to other people
archapmangcmg
April 10, 2011 at 2:13 am
@DrQuijano atheism is the position with least energy. belief takes energy, if you don’t put in the effort to believe in gods you’re atheist.
cheetmeister
April 10, 2011 at 2:13 am
that last line was great
bartonstaleter
April 10, 2011 at 2:21 am
Dan Barker, that was awesome!
skepticization
April 10, 2011 at 2:25 am
Even if I spit in his (allah’s) face, loved that part and the look at that mulla’s face. If that mulla had it his way he’d order the stoning of Dan and all ex-muslims like myself right away..
derekxnl
April 10, 2011 at 3:00 am
Beautiful.
MrRedthief
April 10, 2011 at 3:45 am
Theist think that god is proved and you can’t change their minds even though there is not proof.
benaberry
April 10, 2011 at 4:14 am
excellent
DrQuijano
April 10, 2011 at 5:10 am
I’m too lazy to be an atheist. I don’t care enough.