Here's some inspiration for you...

Start the video and then read what I've written below while it plays...

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This song is about going to war. For me, it is not the kind of war that is fought with fists, knives, guns, or bombs. It is not about killing. It is about standing up for my beliefs and speaking out. Just as I have read that the pen is mightier than the sword, I say that my voice is more powerful than a gun. It can create real change. It can influence people to think in ways they had never considered.

I do not like that my country invaded other countries in the guise of spreading beliefs and ideals. To think that we will ever be successful is foolish. If Iran mobilized, bombed Washington D.C., took power, and left my leaders dead, would I look at events and think this new government to be better because they have the power to kill? I would not.

I am an American.

I was born in Washington D.C.

I love my country.

I do not like that my own government is influenced by money.

I do not like that religious organizations funded the advertising behind Proposition 8 in California. I do not like that people were influenced to vote to remove civil rights to consenting adults for something that is no business of mine or their own. I find it especially horrible that it was marketed as "protecting the sanctity of marriage and family." I think that banning divorce might be a more effective approach.

I do not like that people judge people by sex or skin color or religious belief.

I feel great pain when I hear that someone commits atrocities in the name of God. Or that God is "on their side" and that means they are "right".

I feel small pain when I read that someone has left their day "in God's hands" because they haven't the fortitude to take responsibility for their own actions.

I love that I can post this without fear of physical punishment.

I love that if I am ever cut down for my beliefs that someone will be there to take my place. I do what I am doing right now to make sure it happens.

Agree or disagree. The choice is yours. Make that choice your own. Stand up and say: "I love this!" Stand up and say: "I hate this!" Stand up and say: "I have no opinion!" Just make sure it comes from within and that it is what you actually think.

And if you are ever called on what you say, do not deflect. Take responsibility. If you post a joke that makes fun of women - have the guts to say "Yeah - there's a part of me that just thinks women are stupid just because they are not men." If you post a racial joke - don't cower and say "Oh. I don't REALLY think like that. I just thought it was funny." Stand up and say "Yeah - I kinda think white people are inferior."

The internet is people unfiltered.

Take the consequences.

Be genuine.

Be honest.

And if you don't actually believe what you are about to say…


Don't fucking say it.

 

I believe Jared Leto is an awesome vocalist and is way too blonde.

I also feel bemused when people deny that god ever existed when clearly it/he/she/whatever did at some point.

Strongly agree with these ones.

That's about it for me, i'm not a very opinionated person

 

Give me one shred of evidence to believe that.

No more sarcasm

 

The universe? I don't believe in God in the religion sense but everything ended up here somehow.

 

Closer to a god than any god religion spews out I'll give you that

The universe is not evidence for me though

That's like someone saying Earth is proof there is a god. Only difference is one we know a lot about and the other very little.

The romantic in me would love for me to be proven wrong. All religion is a farce though, at least the ones that push the idea of a god with a back story.

 

My scriptwriting instructor played us this song. It's amazing to hear it again in this context.

 

I also feel bemused when people who don't belive in God can only see God in the sense of religion. Chances are pretty low that there's a divine leader sat on a cloud out there judging our every action, but everything is here no? Whatever it was that started all this off is God imo.

 

For the last few years I've spoken and written about all the things I mentioned in little bits and pieces. I keep learning more and understanding more every day. I also realize I understand less as my awareness of global complexity increases.

I drove to work and played that song. I got fired up and I decided I should write down a compilation of what is really important to me right now. It sounds even more incredible when I read it aloud with the music behind me. Fucking awesome. Try it yourself.

I keep seeing people share things I don't enjoy reading. I see other people enjoy those things. I call them on it from time-to-time. So I thought it a good idea to share what I like and hope other people enjoy it. I want people to take what I think and run with it. To share it themselves. To add their take to it. To speak up and say things that so many people do not say.

End war. End racism. End sexism. End religion. End deception.

Embrace love. Embrace reason. Embrace awareness. Embrace openness. Embrace honesty.

I did not want to hide it away.

 

Amazing post Talis! It truly did inspire me to reflect on certain things. The above quote especially resonated with me - especially the part about religions, god, reason, love, etc.

I just read this today on PZ Myers' (a famous biologist) blog a few minutes ago, and i think it's worth posting in your thread:

But here's the wonderful revelation. If you're a well-adjusted person, once you've discarded the unhealthy fictitious relationship with a phantasm, you can look around and notice all those other people who are likewise alone, and you'll realize that we're all alone together. And that means you aren't alone at all — you're among friends. That's the next step in human progress, is getting away from the notion of minions living under a trail boss, and onwards to working as a cooperative community, with no gods and no masters, only autonomous agents free to think and act.

p.s. I miss you man.

 

I would not say "End Religion". I would put it this way: "End the importance of the religious leaders and the radical followers".

Religion for me is important. I believe in God and I accept the 'main' religions, they co-exist. Today, if someone hears the word Religion, he instantly thinks of Islamic suicide bombers, Jihad, anti-condom rants from the pope et cetera. Religion is the belief in something "higher" than the human being and the existence of heaven.

Stop eating those Agnostic Flakes for breakfast, stick to the good old Cheerios

 

man I'm such a dbag going to dane cook but it is very funny
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I like the post plague and I do agree with you on some of the things you said in this thread. I'm from GA I have seen the dark side of religion. But would do away with it, I say no. If you guys want to have a deeper talk about it pm me.

I'm all about some discussions.

 

I'd say end delusion. End those lies we tell ourselves in order to deal with a life without "meaning," the lies that keep us in ignorant bliss. Reallize that happiness is not the most important thing, but rather the freedom of the mind from pacifying delusions that keep us distracted and powerless. Reallize that the truth will necessarily make you unhappy, as we only believed the lies because we wanted them to be true. Do not advert your eyes from the flaws in all things, for to stop judging others and oneself is to stop improving, to stop growing, to stop living. See that free minds are not afraid of their own conclusions, and will follow whatever path a logical progression will take them, even it takes them to the depths of despair. Let us have the courage to dive in and discover what has been hidden.

 

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If I could do away with one thing in this world it would be bigotry.

Especially the bigotry that spills over into football fandom.

Fucking kills me sometimes.

 

You win this time BLACKLAC on the comedian front! But I will be back.

 

Feck: A lot of believers/spiritual people like to move the goalposts further and further back in time when science starts to begin answering questions about how things work(ed).

Whether or not the scientifically known universe was created or set in motion by a divine consciousness or whatever is still up for dispute. Still, as an atheist I have a hard time buying that because it replaces our questions about the nature of the universe with answers grounded in faith (and not empirical evidence).

 

Yeah I'm not going to be bothered to try and prove a negative, especially when it's the burden on the one making the claim to show compelling evidence. Because at the end of the day the only argument "for" god I'm going to hear is some ICP crap.

If you're going to make a claim that there is a god you better have more than "wow! the universe, man".

Science will continue going forward and continue to answer the big questions that man currently does not have an answer for, as it has done in the past.

 

nice post Plague.
I would like to add that people must respect each others opinions. And by saying so, I mean people should first understand each persons background and experiences. Because an opinion is more like a point of view. For example. If there were two persons looking at a box of toys, and on the front of the box it says MONSTERS while the back says KIDS. One looking at it from the front and the other from the back. the one from the front will say what he is looking (experiencing) at and that is MONSTERS, while the other will say KIDS. But at the end of the day it's a box of toys. And that's what an opinion should always be viewed.

@BLACKLAC,
I would like to ask you who created (made) the computer you are working at right now? Did it just popped up by it self? or is it someone who carefully designed and engineered it to work the way it works right now?