gdp's Comments

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : In Support of a Scientific Morality

Fri, 7 May 2010 21:36:42 +0000

I agree with your statement "our moral instincts are shorthand about what our minds have analyzed to be the best methods for human flourishing". In this, I see a need to restore and keep the minds of humanity to a state of physical and emotional health. When you have sick minds, including malnourished, fearful, drug/alcohol abused, religion-indoctrinated minds, the assumptions about what is best for human flourishing is skewed. But in saying that, it's also in the state of fear that we've evolved our brains responses in survival, and hence flourishing. If we can help the world survive easier, the best methods for human flourishing can emerge easier. Thanks for your article and references.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Solipsism, Again

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 19:57:01 +0000

http://www.ted.com/talks/sam_harris_science_can_s... Science can help us to validate what is harmful; I recommend this talk by Sam Harris as he presents an argument in support of science as being the basis for a moral society.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : The Petulant Ignorance of the New Age

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:02:51 +0000

"Who did that and what shall we call it?!" Evolutionarily we are wired to look for a "who" cause, so that we can fend ourselves from threat of danger. Not everything has a "who did it" cause. Science has been taking the "who" out of these questions and will continue to do so.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : The Big Bad Airport Bogeyman Wants To See You Naked!

Sat, 9 Jan 2010 03:51:26 +0000

How we all compromise ourselves to death behind a veneer of cosy acquiescence.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Conspiracies: Tawdry Subset of Generalized Delusion

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 10:50:59 +0000

I agree LEP. People associate this change in where we get our energy from, with pain. People are motivated to avoid pain and seek pleasurable feelings and situations. We need a "feel good" campaign to encourage change.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Media Cowardice to Blame for Attack on Westergaard

Mon, 4 Jan 2010 01:17:27 +0000

Brilliant article, thank you for speaking out about this frightening nonsense.There's too much namby-pambying around to this insanity.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : It's Not Nice To Criticize People's Myths

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:28:34 +0000

LEP, yeh, they would also make nice museums one day, and venues for parties. I know of a Church, "St Pauls" that was converted in to nightclub. Not sure it made as much $$$ as it did when it was a Holy Place of Worship and Tit$$thing though.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Capitalism: A Love Story

Sat, 3 Oct 2009 23:14:14 +0000

I know I'll get a laugh every time I see LEP in the mix!! hahah.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Capitalism: A Love Story

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:28:08 +0000

As far as accepting "easy credit", yes I agree about the evolutionary basis of this. Early humans were often rewarded by impulsive behavior.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Sean Prophet - 26 Big Ideas

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 22:44:40 +0000

Should I pay back the cost of my education to former share holders of "Telecom", which is where my Dad worked when I was being educated? What about my friend, whose parents worked at BP when their education was paid for? Then there's Hung Sa restaurant, which my other friend's parents owned. Should they pay back the patrons for their education? Diabolical illogic ...........

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : The Pitch: Eternal Life Insurance

Sat, 5 Sep 2009 11:28:48 +0000

As social networking sites proliferate our lives, we are less susceptible to the lure of a religious group for company. We are less needy of a one pointed view in order to feel like we belong. Paper drops from the church lose their potency, replaced my a community of readers galvanized to enlightenment by the next they can read, and share, from the internet. It is a wonderful thing. Variety rocks. It aids the individual to self reflect about their OWN opinion in the face of ideas they might never have been exposed to before. Reflection. A privelige of the comparitively $$rich$$, the well endowed DNA and the good environment.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Glurge: "If You Are Not Ashamed, Pass this On..."

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:04:15 +0000

Enough to make you purge; that's glurge alright! Right on the mark Blacksun.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Late-Term Abortion Can Never Justify Murder

Sun, 7 Jun 2009 13:43:40 +0000

Karen: "A baby chopped up inside of her" - hmm, expert medical terminology here; maybe you are a script writer for a Hell House. And reference to Hitler, that's always a sign of a desperado without an arguement. Oh, and people are too dumb when unmarried to avoid STD's, pregnancies, and abortions. Hello? I know married people who have had abortions and who have spread STDs. So sex is ONLY fun, pure, wonderful and safe between a married couple huh? Depends if you like the type of threesome you've got going on, you, hubby and Big Daddy God in your bed, all together, all 3 of ya getting sweaty. GROAN.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : The Pseudo Science of the Spoken Word: Part 3

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 11:08:23 +0000

Some relevant comments gleaned and inspired from commentary on prayer, found in facebook: 100% success rate, often confused with coincidence; ~ 100% fail rate... often confused with "God is testing me" or "It's not God's will" or "God works in mysterious ways." ~ Good stuff happens: Thanks be to God; Bad stuff happens: It's your fault, stupid! ~ "Prayer is the last refuge of the scoundrel." -Lisa Simpson.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Taking Stock at Age 45

Sun, 10 May 2009 20:35:03 +0000

Well, it's hopeful for everyone that you are a high note in a chorus of voices of sound reason. After all, we as humans have always evolved - ourselves, our tools, methods and societies toward that which is more effectual to our well being. There are methods of energy production - oil, coal for example, that need to be pulled like bad teeth off the face of this beautiful planet. Planet earth is the only planet in the solar system (and beyond - who knows how much further beyond) where conditions allow liquid water to exist at the surface. I see evidence of that water drying up. Lake by lake, river by river, ice berg etc. You've posted articles about this. This article above also prompted me to consider the IMF. Fraught with drama whenever they meet in member countries to discuss policies with government and banks, they are beset by (sometimes rabid) protests. IMF is a benevolent organization that was set up at the end of the second world war in 1944 to prevent a reoccurrence of the Great Depression. After the great depression nations raised barriers to foreign trade and all this did was plummet employment and living standards in many countries. The IMF began as a framework for international economic cooperation. I guess what the protester's hate is the word "surveillance". But how can you make any suggestion to improve the economy, if it's not observed? To ban poor countries from obtaining cheap goods and keeping them in a rut of poverty and all the ills that come with it, is crazy. People need to be enabled toward self sufficiency, and that's also what the IMF does by providing technical assistance to low and lower-middle income countries. Helping them to manage their resources and economies. Thanks for opening up discussion with your article and all the BEST for the future!

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Gwen Shamblin's 'Weigh Down' gets a wet kiss from CNN

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:24:08 +0000

I will ask any volunteer who actually does exist to reveal the back door to you and purge you through it. Utterly mad. Don't you know this is a site for sane discussion and not the purveyance of pet dogmas and religious insanity? It's disgusting!

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Gwen Shamblin's 'Weigh Down' gets a wet kiss from CNN

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:42:48 +0000

What evidence is there that there ever was a Jesus anyway? Major error - "Bible is a True Story" Rubbish.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Never Expect Good Advice From A Believer

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:24:46 +0000

I agree, it's a great article. Of interest is how Cary equates the enquirer with a dog. An ill disguised desire to establish a pecking order? I see it as a need to "win" the argument. An argument which was not presented by the advice seeker in the first place. The AA enquirer did not ask if grace existed or if it would give him a flea bath. Although I am easy going by nature, it pleases me to see this sickly condescension, the holier than thou, you-must-have-had-a-bad-experience-at-another-church- type language identified and dismembered.

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Answering Ian Boyne on Atheism

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:01:43 +0000

Worst.Lunatic.Impersonation.Ever. Actually, make that the best lunatic impersonation ever!

Black Sun Journal - Atheism, Climate Change, Drug War, Atheist, Religion : Indonesian executed for killing 42 women

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:54:42 +0000

Hey - I saw this article and would like to put a link in somewhere somewhat appropriate, so that readers can check out this wacky Easter madness! http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,... "From correpondents in Manila April 10, 2009 07:25pm AN Australian and 29 Filipinos were crucified in different parts of the Philippines in gory annual Good Friday rituals imitating the suffering and death of Jesus Christ...."