are you a *real* atheist?!

"Are you a *real* nun?" This is just one of the many conversations with Catholics that took place during world youth day. A group of us Sydney Atheists were wandering around the city, when I saw that this nun (wearing the full nunny entourage) was staring at my t-shirt, which read 'Sydney Atheists'. She stopped me and said "are you a real atheist? Oh you're not are you?", as if atheists are some weird mythological race of hu-mons that only exist in sci fi movies. This lead to quite a pleasant conversation about beliefs, values and morals, and it turns out that she has all the same moral values as us, we just don't believe in a god to be good. This was rather hard for her to understand, because atheists are evil by definition... right? Well, hopefully we opened her mind a little, and showed that we are good people, and don't do good things just because we are scared of god. She mentioned something like "oh, when you grow up, you will see the truth of the bible". Geez, I really hope not.

I am *really* enjoying reading Ray Comfort's blog at the moment. It always gives me a good laugh, while at the same time is a stark reminder that there are serious crazies in this world. I particularly enjoyed this genius piece of literary work, obviously inspired by god himself. Quote:

"If God can make an eye, an Ark is a piece of cake."

And that's it! Nice. In order to post a comment on Ray's blog, you must "respectfully capitalise the name "Jesus" and/or "God,"... well on this blog, no such rules apply, and we don't care how blasphemous you want to be, because it *doesn't mean anything*. I also wonder why Ray chooses to call his blog 'atheist central'... It is quite difficult sometimes to comprehend that this guy is actually serious, and not just a parody. The majority of his most vocal commenters are atheists who constantly have to keep correcting him on the ridiculous arguments he makes time and time again.

Anyway, I totally love this song, and just have to post it. So corny, yet so catchy and hilarious. Check it out.

Ray Takes Comfort in Credulous Ideas

The creationists are at it again. Oh sorry, I mean, "Intelligent Designers". But we all know that Intelligent Design is just creationism in a really cheap tuxedo. Intelligent Design proponent Ray Comfort recently did a radio interview, which was originally intended as a debate with biologist PZ Myers.

The format was changed to two separate interviews, which allowed people to call in and challenge and ask questions. Ray does nothing more than come out with the same old tired arguments that he just cannot let go of - "a painting must have a painter", "if there is no god, we would all be sinning all over the place", "we are god's special creation and do not have common ancestors", and, one of my personal favourites, "you never see a puppy hatch from a chicken egg do you?" No Ray, we don't see puppies hatch from chicken eggs, nor do we see "crocoduck". He clearly does not understand the mechanisms of evolution, and arguments such as this demonstrate his complete ignorance to the way science and evolution work.

He also takes many opportunities to preach on with bible babble, claims he has undeniable evidence for intelligent design (we are still waiting for it) and claims the "atheists" took his banana argument out of context, which is a lie. Here is the full video:



PZ discusses the elegance and beauty of the theory of evolution, and how it explains the diversity of life on this planet. Though this does not automatically lead to atheism, it negates any need for the idea of an intelligent being creating the universe. PZ also comments on the recent "wafergate" situation, where he has received many death threats for throwing a piece of bread in the bin. It is such a shame that people care so deeply about bread products.

The biggest challenge to evolution we face? Ignorance. Nice one, PZ.

Listen to both interviews here.


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