Ray's Award-Winning Stupidity

Yeah, I know I seem to have no other sources for my entertainment at times, but once again, I find myself commenting on Ray Comfort's bloggings again. I know there is a cure in sight for my addiction. Ray trully is too easy a target, and I really should look for bigger fish to fry. So I'll try... I promise!

Looks like Ray Comfort is using a legitimate criticism by an atheist to simply sell his video. It's really funny how Ray keeps trying to say that he's not a money-grubbing evangelist, then goes on to use legitimate questions from people as a shameless vehicle to sell, sell, sell. He doesn't even bother to address the question at all. Get this, Ray makes a big deal out of the fact that his video "The Science Of Evolution", won an NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) People's CHoice Award.

The National Religious Broadcaster's People's Choice award is hardly a prestigious award at all. They like to compare themselves to the Emmy awards, but there simply is no comparison at all. Essentially, you would likely NEVER see any of the programs awarded by the NRB get a Peabody award, an Emmy, or even a J. Fred Muggs award (bonus points if you get that!). The award he won carries the weight of the Adult Video News Best Actor Award (Yes, that's best actor in a porno video, and we all know how great the acting is in your average porno).

Religious television, in general, is just plain lame to begin with. The TV shows that CBN, TBN, Daystar and other religious networks run are notorious for being of such poor quality that they simply don't even rate when compared to even the lamest secular/commercial programs. This is because the Evangelicals who run those networks have such low standards to begin with, and have created their own little world where the normal standards of quality that the rest of the world uses simply don't apply. The average episode of the Simpsons or South Park has more depth, better writing and production values than that of the best Christian Programming. Having been a long-time watcher and monitor of religious television, I can say with confidence that the acting in most Christian Dramas are easily far below even the worst junk programming on regular TV. Occaisionally, real hollywood actors are cast in Christian programs, but overall, it seems that good acting is rarely valued in the world of religious broadcasting.

The problem with most religious TV is that is preaches dogma, and more often than not, quoting the Bible and preaching the Evangelical Fundamentalist dominionist message take precidence over quality acting, good writing, direction and production. An intelligent director, for example, would at least try to get actors to not act like they were in a grammar school play.

I mean, just watch Ray and Kirk's video and see how lame it is, and how downright retarded the writing is. It may be funny for Ray and Kirk to try to get an Orangutan on an airplane, and make fun of the ape because it doesn't speak, but they waste all that effort making an ignorant argument. The orangutan likely has a higher IQ than them. There is an excellent critical analysis of this video on Youtube, which I can't really add anything to. Ray and Kirk could easily surpass Captain Hook's Christian Pirate Puppets in terms of their mindless entertainment value.

Ray Comfort continues to just not get it.

Well, Ray Comfort continues to just not get it, despite what we've told him over and over.

Ray comfort wrote

(Presumably an atheist from his blog wrote):

Atheists, don't hate any god, fairy, leprechaun, unicorn or other fictional being. It's impossible to hate something that does not exist. Try to get this burned in your mind this time. Repeat it a few thousand times if that helps."

That’s right. Atheists don’t hate fairies, leprechauns or unicorns, because they don’t exist. It is impossible to hate something that doesn’t exist. And that makes the point. You hate God because He does exist. You spend your time thinking about Him, then arguing about Him, then blaspheming His name (what greater hatred can you have for a person than to use their name as a cuss word?), and showing contempt for, and ridicule of, those that love Him.

Ray still just doesn't get it. I can't believe he's ranting about this again. Ray doesn't seem to understand that the argument we atheists tend to have is not that God exists or doesn't exist, but that the people who promote God have a strong tendency to be IDIOTS. God says nothing. He does nothing to incur the wrath of atheists any more than the wicked witch of the west. Again and again, I have emphasized the point that it's not God that we have a beef with. It's some of his followers -- those few extremists, who are priggish, ill-mannered, unable to deal with criticism, unable to self-examine, ignorant, shouting, spitting weasel-like people living in their own esoteric universes -- these people have very ill-mannered, impolite, and outright RUDE ways of communicating their message. God is harmless and inoffensive. It's the people promoting him that incur our ire.

Ray wrote:

You have the axiomatic evidence of creation and of your conscience, and you are therefore without excuse. By professing the blindness of atheism you are denying the God-given light that He has given each of us.

Well, so what? Is Ray trying to say that he can't deal with criticism? Is he trying to say that if we call HIM an idiot, or a moron, it's an insult to God? Ultimately, Ray is playing this game where it's okay for him to deny and denigrate our beliefs, but if we touch his, it's persecution. In other words, this is a two-way street. If Ray can't take it, he shouldn't dish it out.

There are some cultures that will show so much contempt for a family member that has wronged them, they actually deny his existence. They refuse to acknowledge that he existed as a son. They don’t want to see him, hear from him, or talk to him. That’s what the professing atheist does with God, and his or her reason for doing so is moral. It’s not intellectual.

So let me get this straight. If I think that God does not exist, and my reasons for not believing him are that (a) his followers are logically inconsistant in their promotion of him, (b) the concepts from the Bible do not logically mesh with known scientific realities, and (c) most of the arguments used to support the existence of God are fallacies, then my reasons are moral, and not intellectual?

Well, that's the kind of reasoning you get from people like Ray. He has a dozen atheists write to him each day, and tell him the same thing, so he ignores them, and tells them that they really don't believe in God because they just want an excuse to have care-free sex (he didn't say that here, but on his blog, he tends to follow the "moral issue" comment with an explanation about atheists and Darwininsts using science or atheism as an excuse for wild sex). He's definitely got a one-track mind.

Ray continues:

If it was an intellectual issue there wouldn’t be any argument.

Yes, because we all know that no true intellectual can disagree with Ray Comfort's powerful reasoning. After all, Ray is the epitome of the word "intellectual", isn't he?

Ray finishes with:

But because you love your sins and you know that God requires an account for every action and every word (including your thought-life), you can’t stand that thought, and so you deny His existence.

See what I mean -- we "love our sins" (that's a buzzword for "wild, adulterous sex" in Ray's vocabulary). Despite the fact that we've given him plenty of rational, logical, and scientific reasons to doubt Christianity, and usually mention that one of the biggest turn-offs are the utter twits like Ray who promote a bizarre version of it, none of that means anything. Ray won't listen to anything we have to say, because he has made up his mind what goes on in our minds, for he has his Bible to tell him what we think. Is it even possible for Ray to simply accept what we have to say for us, or is he going to continue to play the "I know what you really think" game?

Ray's "Empty Threat Of Hell"

Once again, Ray just doesn't get it, and rather than use actual statements that actual atheists make on a subject, he decides to just make up what he imagines atheists are thinking, because it's much easier for him to talk to himself than have an actual 2-way conversation.

In Ray's Bizarro-world, atheists couldn't possibly make their decisions based on logic and rational thinking, because if they did, they would have to agree with Ray on everything, because Ray is allegedly a logical, rational-thinking person.

Yeah, in a pig's eye!

Ray thinks that atheists deny Hell merely because we don't like the idea of it. Of course, he gets this notion not from reading what atheists have to say for themselves, but from what other dogmatic Christians have said about atheists.

No Ray, We don't simply deny Hell because we just don't like the thought of all that eternal torment going on. We deny it because nobody can offer any rational, logical proof that such a thing is real.

Yeah, I know it's hard for you to conceive of people who don't accept the Bible as 100% God's only truth, but we don't. We actually have read it, were not impressed with it, and have a standard of proof that is more sophisticated and accurate than yours. I mean -- I don't believe whatever is in an ancient book just because it's ancient, and just because a bunch of people are obsessively compulsive about promoting it.

Now I know it's hard for you to conceive that people can read the Bible, and NOT be immediately compelled to drop to their knees and start asking God to please not burn or kill them, but well, we exist.

It's must be terribly, terribly difficult for you to conceive that there are people who don't accept what you claim is "obvious" to you. Well, not everyone sees what you do the same way.

You cannot conceive that your are irrational.

You cannot conceive that you are illogical.

You cannot conceive that you are not very intelligent.

These flaws in you will continue to make you a sort of laughing stock, and continue to hinder the prospect of convincing anyone other than people who are already beleivers.

It's not hard at all, by the way, for me to conceive of the opposites of theses things -- that there are people who can read the Bible and come away from it totally believing it, and being totally obsessed with pushing it on everyone else -- Gullible, obsessive-compulsive, feeble-minded people have been a historical reality, as they are today.

Michael Medved Shoots Discovery Institute in the foot!

Remember that old saying about giving someone enough rope to hang themselves with? Well, recently Michael Medved did just that!

Michael Medved, a Movie critic, outspoken lunatic conservative, and senior fellow at the discovery institute said everything we need to know about Intelligent Design, when he said:

The important thing about Intelligent Design is that it is not a theory - which is something I think they need to make more clear. Nor is Intelligent Design an explanation. Intelligent Design is a challenge. It’s a challenge to evolution. It does not replace evolution with something else.

Source: The Jerusalem Post, Aug 6th, 2008

There you have it.

Intelligent Design is NOT A THEORY; Therefore it has no business in biology class, since it's not even a theory.

Intelligent Design is not an explanation; Therefore it is not science, since the whole purpose of science is explaining how things work in the natural world.

Intelligent Design does not replace evolution with something else; therefore, it's place in a science class is superfluous and trivial at best.

Intelligent Design is a challenge to evolution; therefore, given the rest of what Medved has admitted, it is a largely UNSCIENTIFIC challenge, carrying no weight whatsoever in the scientific fields, and is strictly a sociopolitical challenge, if anything.

So do we need to waste any more time arguing the subject of Intelligent Design, and whether or not it belongs in science classes?

Ray Comfort's Starter Kit

The following is my take on Ray Comfort's latest blog, Atheist Starter Kit. I am continuously amused by how ironic Ray and his Peanut Gallery are.

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Evangelical Christian Starter Kit

If you are a newly converted Christian, there are many things you need to know in order to stay on track with your salvation. Here are ten suggestions for the newly converted:

1. Whenever your poorly-conceived representations of "what science is" and "what atheists believe" is referred to as a "straw man argument," or "circular reasoning", or you mis-quote a scientist, and someone calls it "quote mining", just accuse your opponents of repeating a mantra, like they are a robot. Play dumb and try to make them think you don't actually know what those terms mean.

2. When an unbeliever says that science or evolution calls a literal interpretation of Genesis into question, dismiss such common sense by saying that the Bible has been around for 2000 years, and that millions of people believe it, because it's God's truth, and that's good enough reason to keep the faith.

3. When you tell an unbeliever that they have everything to gain and nothing to lose (Pascal's Wager) by obeying the Gospels, and they reject it, claiming that Buddhists and Muslims can say the same thing about their faiths, just mindlessly quote passages from the Bible, especially passages that emphasize that unbelievers are fools.

4. If an unbeliever tells you that "there is no evidence that Jesus existed", mindlessly quote from the Bible, and tell them that if Jesus didn't exist, how come all the Gospel writers talk about his life in detail? Also bring up how people have believed that Jesus was real for 2000 years, and how that must mean he is.

5. Do not read and interpret the Bible for yourself. That is a big mistake. Always obey what your Pastor tells you is the correct interpretation.

6. When unbelievers use big words, like "Megalo-maniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully" to describe God, or they make a big deal about education and your lack thereof, attack them for being prideful of their education (Pride is a sin), or ramble on mindlessly about how colleges are "just mills for pumping out gay communist liberal atheists".

7. Say that you were once a genuine atheist, and that you found it to be false. (The cool thing about being an Christian is that you can lie through your teeth, because you believe that there is nothing wrong with lying to God's enemies). Additionally, if an atheist claims that he was once a Christian, and found that it was false, point out that this is impossible, simply due to the very definition of Christianity as "one who knows the Lord". PLEASE NOTE: It cannot be overly emphasized how learning and using these little phrases can help you feel secure in dismissing common sense.

8. Believe that nothing is 100% certain, except the truth of the Bible. Do not question it. Believe with all of your heart that there is credible scientific evidence for Biblical inerrancy. When you make any argument, pat yourself on the back by concluding with "I know I'm going to Heaven, what about you?" That will make you feel good about yourself.

9. If unbelievers respond to the threat of eternal punishment by saying that they don't believe in the existence of Hell, Tell them that if they don't believe in something, it doesn't make it NOT exist. Don't follow their logic about there needing to be reasonable proof that Hell exists as a prerequisite (Another big word!) for believing in it, or that other line about the tooth fairy and leprochauns. Just repeat that only fools deny that God and Hell exist.

10. Blame Atheism and Evolution for the atrocities of the Nazis, even though Martin Luther's influence on historical antisemitism was far greater, and the Nazis emphasized their conservative Christian heritage. You may want to emphasize that people believe in evolution because it lets them be adulterers without guilt.

11. Finally, keep in fellowship with other like-minded Christians who believe as you believe, and encourage each other in your beliefs. Build up your faith. Never doubt for a moment. Remember, the key to Christianity is to be unreasonable and willfully ignorant. Fall back on that when you feel threatened. Think shallow, and keep telling yourself that you are going to Heaven. Remember, an Christian is someone who pretends that they know what's best for everyone else.

Questions about Uncommon Descent's Mission Statement

The following is Uncommon Descent's purpose statement on their blog. It raises a few questions which I am daring to ask them. I doubt there will ever be answers to these questions, but if there are any ID Proponents who wish to provide answers, I'll gladly discuss them with you. When providing answers, I would appreciate specific links to specific sources which back up what you're claiming, especially where you think it has the best impact.

Here goes:

"Materialistic ideology has subverted the study of biological and cosmological origins so that the actual content of these sciences has become corrupted."

Okay, so answer me this:

(1) What content of science has been corrupted by "materialistic ideology"?

(2) When did this corruption start?

(3) What parts of which sciences have, traditionally used non-materialistic elements? (remember, "traditionally" means that it was done that way for generations)

(4) Can you give specific examples of a science discepline that successfully used non-materialistic elements in the past, which was "subverted", becoming less successful, and provide a historical context under which it happened, as well as list the actual negative effects of the corruption?

"The problem, therefore, is not merely that science is being used illegitimately to promote a materialistic worldview, but that this worldview is actively undermining scientific inquiry, leading to incorrect and unsupported conclusions about biological and cosmological origins."

(1) Saying that the conclusions are incorrect and unsupported suggests that you know what the correct conclusions are, and you have plenty of support for them. PLease explain.

(2) PLease give examples of scientific research that has been undermined by materialistic worldview, and what specific scientific progress has been hampered, and how it was hampered. Please give specific examples.

"At the same time, intelligent design (ID) offers a promising scientific alternative to materialistic theories of biological and cosmological evolution -- an alternative that is finding increasing theoretical and empirical support. Hence, ID needs to be vigorously developed as a scientific, intellectual, and cultural project."

(1) Can you give examples of the progress of the support of ID? Specifically, which scientific advancements has science benefitted from that are the result of ID research?

(2) Please list some specific research that ID proponents have done which have resulted in positive empirical support for ID.

Thanks in advance if you attempt to answer!

I couldn't resist this post!

Ray Comfort wrote, in his Soap-box Blog:

"Do Christians make you nervous?"

That all depends on the individuals. Most Christians are just regular people, but then there are nutters whose behavior is aberrant, and who make normal people, even other Christians, feel nervous, in the same way that insane people make us nervous.

Ray continues:

"Are you afraid of our political aspirations?"

Only when those aspirations involve getting the death penalty for blasphemy, homosexuality, and other exclusively Christian offenses. Any Christians who ascribe to the doctrine of dominionism or Christian Reconstructionism are not to be trusted, because they are literally against democracy and the bill of rights.

Ray continues:

"Do you want to keep us out of the education system?"

Hell, no! If anything, you need more schooling to get over your ignorance.

Ray continues:

"Do you think we are narrow-minded and dangerous? I know that many of you do."

Again, this depends ont he individual. I've known many Christians who are open-minded and intelligent, as well as others who are narrow-minded and crazy. Can you guess which group I count you in?

Ray wrote:

"You think that we have an evil agenda, and you are concerned because we are everywhere, and that gives us political power. We are doctors, nurses, mechanics, scientists, pilots, authors, and some of us are even politicians."

I don't think that "Christians" have an evil agenda. I think that a minority group of Christians who are nutters, have ridiculous ideas and confuse reality with their delusions, and that's it. Sometimes, the delusions of these nutters are used by politicians, but for the most part, they don't do much harm, except for the tiny minority of nutters who bomb abortion clinics and assassinate doctors.

Ray wrote:

"Genuine Christians are really quite harmless. We are likened to sheep (see John 10), and sheep don’t normally attack people. I did a quick search on the Internet, using the search-words "Sheep attacks man," and only came up with two clips. One was a sheep following a boy rather than attacking him, and the other was funny more than anything."

The vast majority of Christians are average people, and they are harmless. Only a tiny minority of the nutters who call themselves Christians are any threat.

Sheep are really dumb, Ray. They're dumb as doorknobs (You should know that about sheep having lived in New Zealand, the sheep-farming capital of the world). Sometimes, the nutters resemble sheep too well. Baaaah. Baaaaaah...

Ray wrote:

"Dog’s are called "man’s best friend," yet they attack and sometimes kill people. It is estimated that two percent of the U.S. population, an amazing 4.7 million people, are bitten by dogs each year. Chimpanzees, elephants, bears, lions, tigers, and other animals attack and kill people. But sheep don’t."

Sheep don't bomb abortion clinics, assainate doctors, or call for the execution of heretics and homosexuals. So what's your point?

Ray wrote:

"So, Christophobians, lighten up. You may think that we are wolves in sheep’s clothing, but we’re not. We are not out to kill you, or bite you, or hurt you in the slightest."

What makes you think that we thought that? Are you projecting?

Ray wrote:

"We love you, and our deepest desire is for you to find the gift of everlasting life, and you will only find that by following the Good Shepherd."

Translation: We really wish you were just like us, because we think we're just the best people on earth! Baaaaaaaaaaaaah! Baaaah!