On Atheism

The Newton Project ^ | 3-28-06

[Conservative Coulter Fan]

"Opposite to the first is Atheism in profession & Idolatry in practise. Atheism is so senseless & odious to mankind that it never had many professors. Can it be by accident that all birds beasts & men have their right side & left side alike shaped (except in their bowells) & just two eyes & no more on either side the face & just two ears on either side the head & a nose with two holes & no more between the eyes & one mouth under the nose & either two fore leggs or two wings or two arms on the sholders & two leggs on the hipps one on either side & no more? Whence arises this uniformity in all their outward shapes but from the counsel & contrivance of an Author? Whence is it that the eyes of all sorts of living creatures are transparent to the very bottom & the only transparent members in the body, having on the outside an hard transparent skin, & within transparent juyces with a crystalline Lens in the middle & a pupil before the Lens all of them so truly shaped & fitted for vision, that no Artist can mend them? Did blind chance know that there was light & what was its refraction & fit the eys of all creatures after the most curious manner to make use of it? These & such like considerations always have & ever will prevail with man kind to beleive that there is a being who made all things & has all things in his power & who is therfore to be feared." --Sir Issac Newton, 'A short Schem of the true Religion'

[mugs99]

You posted a poll implying you had more to fear from Christians because a greater majority wouldn't say torture was never justified. There were no qualifications.

More to fear from Christians than Atheists. Atheists, the topic of this thread, is the qualification. Let me clarify again, I am refering to torture as policy. I gave you the mail truck example, which you dodged,

You think torture is justified "In some circumstances" but not murder. Why is murder not justified in some circumstances?
.

[Tribune7]

I gave you the mail truck example, which you dodged,

About whether FBI agents should be allowed to torture graffitti vandals? I figured you were just having a bad day and I ignored it out of charity.

OK, let's consider that question. "Should the FBI be allowed to torture graffiti vandals?" Imagine it on a poll. What kind of results would you expect?

My expectation would be well over 90 percent against in all categories, and frankly, I think, the Christian categories would have a higher percent against than the atheists if you phrase the question that way.

Why is murder not justified in some circumstances?

Because murder is always wrong. Do you know what murder is?

[Tribune7]

Let me clarify again, I am refering to torture as policy.

And let me point out that is not the basis of the poll you posted.

[mugs99]

My expectation would be well over 90 percent against in all categories
Mission creep...If torture is the policy in one category, mission creep will guarantee that it will expand into all categories.

Because murder is always wrong.
If you murder my child, why can't I murder you?

Do you know what murder is?
To kill intentionally and with premeditation
.

[Gamecock]