Comments on The Pensive Quill: Theology for Losers.

Fionnchú, thought inducing as always. It is not a ...

2009-10-13T20:54:23.374+01:00

Fionnchú, thought inducing as always. It is not a question of my being particularly doughty. I just see no evidence whatsoever for the existence of god. It is all speculative.

I suspect many of us (if not doughty AM) are more ...

2009-10-12T22:54:25.276+01:00

I suspect many of us (if not doughty AM) are more agnostic than atheist deep down if only as Seán Mór limns it well as "reluctant" to wish there might be another life, another realm beyond this vale of tears. In my reading of "God Delusion," even Dawkins averred as much, however childish or atavistic he regarded this regression.

AM, your reading of Sheed's

I love that comment about moving from militant ath...

2009-10-12T02:49:22.302+01:00

I love that comment about moving from militant atheism to relaxed agnosticism - I myself have moved from that militant atheism to a complete lack of interest in even discussing religion because I am too busy to waste time on it or perhaps I have just reached an even more comfortable "don'tcareism"

One thought persists; What if the hokey cokey IS w...

2009-10-11T17:23:53.073+01:00

One thought persists; What if the hokey cokey IS what it's all about. mmm...Perplexing.

You say it clearly,Doc. I am working on learning...

2009-10-10T12:55:15.476+01:00

You say it clearly,Doc. I am working on learning about your conflict,not defining it. I look for definitions from the participants-history. You're a priceless teacher for your point of view-it's what most PhDs wish they did as well. Mick, I'm near 70 and it's good to hear your POV on age etc. My Native American friends share my view that every day is a good day to die,nothing

"At the end of it all Frank Sheed dismissed t...

2009-10-10T07:40:32.425+01:00

"At the end of it all Frank Sheed dismissed those who didn’t believe what he did as not living in the real world."

We are all a little guilty of that.

It seems to me the religious folk are a lot like the Leninists, it started well, but has been down hill ever since, broken eggs shells all the way and not a sight of an omelet let alone a taste.

Once the

uilodomhnaill, political science whatevers are of ...

2009-10-10T07:04:33.425+01:00

uilodomhnaill, political science whatevers are of no consequence here whatsoever. Up to you how you define our conflict.

People usually hold irrational beliefs of some kin...

2009-10-10T01:04:23.575+01:00

People usually hold irrational beliefs of some kind. They may abandon the christianity of their upbringing for eastern mysticism. Or they may abandon belief in a deity and take up a political philosophy. They may give up their religious indoctrination intellectually but hold on to it emotionally and transfer it elsewhere. Realistically their rejection of religious indoctrination has created a

I forgot you are a political science major. I didn...

2009-10-09T23:44:47.394+01:00

I forgot you are a political science major. I didn't intend to define your country's conflict,just reflecting a personal view of politics as a form of secular religion--an old anarchist proposition

Anthony, I've lived a life of religious weird...

2009-10-09T22:04:09.182+01:00

Anthony,

I've lived a life of religious weirdness, including my father being involved in 'evangelising' to prisoners on both sides in the blocks.

I have no love for any religion, while respecting many deeply involved in all kinds of them. Many people that get drawn in end up doing decency they would never have considered. Though,I do not 'believe' - not

uilodomhnaill, there is plenty of religious nonsen...

2009-10-09T20:33:35.175+01:00

uilodomhnaill, there is plenty of religious nonsense here but that is not behind the conflict.

Seán Mór, there is no one size fits all so it figures that some will face death better with religion and others would not benefit from it. I don't care how the religious go out. If they want last rites or clerical comfort, that's their choice. So long as I don't have

As an old born again blasphemer I concur with much...

2009-10-09T16:36:26.104+01:00

As an old born again blasphemer I concur with much you have written regards religion. However, my thinking has been really challenged by the writings of the late John Moriarty - http://www.johnmoriarty.info/

I hesitate to describe John as religious, Catholic or spiritual.I find the word "spiritual" to be such a cop out. It reminds me of friends who describe themselves as &

I'm a 'reluctant atheist' myself. I kn...

2009-10-09T13:39:37.961+01:00

I'm a 'reluctant atheist' myself. I know there's no heaven, but I still wish there was.

Mind you, being an atheist doesn't automatically mean you're going to live a fuller life... or face death with any more courage than a religious person (the opposite in my case I'd say).

As Woody Allen once said (I think)... I'm not afraid to die, I just

No cultural gulf here, Doc! The saddest thing tha...

2009-10-08T23:07:20.831+01:00

No cultural gulf here, Doc! The saddest thing that I have read on the situation in the beautiful land that you live in is the religious nonsense which has promoted such evil for so many years. Wonder what the culture that existed for about 9,000 years before the Celts arrived was like--do you?