Posts tagged "Religion"
Relativism, the quaint notion that there are many truths all equally deserving of respect, even if they contradict each other, is rife today. It sounds like a respectful gesture towards multiculturalism. Actually it’s a pretentious cop-out. There really is something special about scientific evidence. Science works. Planes fly, magic carpets and broomsticks don’t. Gravity is not a version of the truth. It is the truth. Anybody who doubts it is invited to jump out of a 10th floor window.
Richard Dawkins
After coming into contact with a religious man I always feel I must wash my hands.
Friedrich Nietzsche, ‘Ecce Homo’ (1888)
Jesus and Socrates
- Dinesh D'Souza: You say in your book, "god Is Not Great," that you think that Jesus Christ did not even exist. You consider seriously the possibility that he was a fictional character. By what standard of scholarship do you do this? For example, for Socrates, I think there's no sane philosopher or historian of philosophy who doubts that Socrates existed. We have only two sources, really, for Socrates, both admiring disciples, Plato and Xenophon, and they give very different portraits of Socrates. So my question is, if Socrates existed, by accepted canons of historical scholarship, uh, on what basis do you deny the historicity--forget the divinity--just the historicity of Christ?
- Christopher Hitchens: Well, you only had to turn another page to see that I say there's no proof of the existence of Socrates either.
Just watched this film again. Still love it.
“The only appropriate attitude for man to have about the big questions is not the arrogant certitude that is the hallmark of religion, but doubt. Doubt is humble, and that’s what man needs to be, considering that human history is just a litany of getting shit dead wrong.” - Bill Maher
But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them - bring them here and kill them in front of me.
Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 19:27)
What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.
Christopher Hitchens, ‘Mommie Dearest’ (2003)
In the Bullshit Department, a businessman can’t hold a candle to a clergyman. ‘Cause I gotta tell you the truth, folks. When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league bullshit, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims: religion. No contest.
George Carlin, ‘You Are All Diseased’
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?
Epicurus
A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything.
Friedrich Nietzsche
