Synaptic Plasticity

In every theological discussion I hear or become a part of I seem to find myself inexorably mired in the same swampy mess. This usually consists of myself or others, in the atheistic minority, slagging slowly through the same tired misconceptions and arguments in an attempt to communicate rationally. I can not tell you how disheartening it all becomes. Why, it happens with such regularity I can catch a whiff of it coming from a mile off, usually before I have finished reading the second posting of yet another Christian apologist professing to appreciate the chance to openly discuss their differences in perspective. Let me attempt to sum this up, at least from my point of view.

Atheism is not a religion!


1)  I attend no weekly service.

2)  I practice no dogmatic rituals.

3)  I do not presume to foist my personal opinions off on every person I meet regardless of what they think or feel.

4)  I do not take offense when my beliefs are challenged.

5)  I do not live in fear of hell-fire or damnation.

6)  I do not presume to know everything nor be an authority on any subject.

7)  I am perfectly capable of maintaining a high-moral standard without a God.

8)  I was not coerced into not believing in God.

9)  I did not suffered any dire circumstances that turned me against God, as I do not see any evidence that there even is one.

10)  I do not worship Satan, a Christian based mythological being of which there is also no evidence.

11)  I have faith without religion or God.

12)  I experience love, awe, and wonder…all without God.

13)  I do not care if you do believe in God.

14)  I do not hate Christians or any other believers that aren’t committing atrocities against others in the name of their God.

15)  I do care if you try to rule over me using your God as an excuse.

16)  I do find some value in the Bible.

17)  I do not believe creationism or intelligent design are, in any way, scientific.

18)  I don’t feel a need to fill gaps in my understanding or knowledge with an excuse like, “God did it!”

19)  I do believe we have a choice.

20)  I am happy.

21)  My children are happy.

22)  I do support a secular government.

23)  I do care about what the future holds for everyone.

24)  I am not in need of your prayers nor your intervention.

25)  My life is full of purpose and meaning.

26)  Lastly, not knowing what will happen after I die does not upset me, I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, and Hitchens aren’t exactly the picture of the bringers of the apocalypse I was brought up with. Though I have no doubt many believers out there most certainly view them as such.

This is a conversation I’ve been hoping to hear for a very long time. Although these individuals agree that religion is an absolute farce and utterly incompatible with logic and reason, their core drives surface in their reactions and responses to one another. Dennett, is undoubtedly moved by his philosophical nature, while Dawkins, is the ever ardent scientist through and through. Harris, with regards to the topic at hand, reveals a firm humanist stand point, and Hitchens, it seems, is a rationalist with a true love for elevating human understanding through endless debate. Frankly I can appreciate Hitchens passion but realize that by definition an elevation of knowledge and understanding should eventually bring about a point at which everyone can comfortably abandon these old and hurtful superstitions and move forward. That being said this was quite an interesting talk, and I found myself, on a number of occasions, on the edge of blurting out some conversational input of my own.

Thanks to Josh Timonen for filming this and to the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science for posting it on their web-site.

Hour One:

In an e-mail from my Dad I found this little treasure.


Don’t you just love the holidays and old family recipes? Here’s one of my favorites, passed down from generation to generation since who knows when.


Tequila Christmas Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
1 teaspoon salt
1 bottle tequila
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups dried fruit

Sample the tequila to check quality. Take a large bowl, check tequila again. To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. Make sure the tequila is still OK. Pick the frigging fruit up off the floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the tequila to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Check the tequila. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink; whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don’t forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the tequila and wipe the counter with the cat.

Cherry Mistmas!!!

Being someone with a personal history steeped in musical performance, I am always thrilled to find what I like to consider my kindred. People with such passion and talent for expression that it sends waves of tingles up and down your spine. Terry Fator, Season 2’s million dollar winner of the American reality television series, America’s Got Talent, is most certainly a kindred spirit in every sense of the word. Just see for yourself.

What a Wonderful World