Good Atheist Episode 17
Posted: February 19th, 2008 | Author: Jacob Fortin | Filed under: Podcast |Where oh where did the good atheist go you wonder? Well, nowhere in particular, but sometimes, when your brain stops functioning properly, you can’t bring yourself to do a radio show.
Well, we’re feeling all better now, and to make it up to you, we’ll be featuring two podcasts this week, just to apologize for the absence. This episode, we talk about the political race going on down south. Things are heating up, and it looks like religion is one of the favored topics!
“Good one. I wasn’t actually paying attention to you at that point.”
Nice.
Canada should have a say in who America’s president should be? Should America get a say in who America Jr’s PM should be?
why not a little? The world is flat my friend
I could hear you turning red during that rant. Reminded me of my ex (she’s American). Good show!
Great show. Great hearing an A-theistic perspective on theistic politics/potential.
I am a New Zealander so it is great to hear non American criticism of the USA’s current political system, both formal and informal, and are frustrated by the USA’s plummet in morality.
Political events/actions in the USA affect the rest of the world is often quite profound and even if something doesn’t directly affect New Zealand (we’re not in the middle east) I still feel for the plight of others, even Americans whom I pity.
I am actually at a loss as to how americans can dig themselves out now. The americans who know better are a very small minority. This I believe is due to the media in the USA. I was watching CNN and fox news, which seems like sarcastic comedy until I realise people believe and are impacted by it. How do you think the american media can be fixed?
I too think that either Obama or Clinton would be in danger due to fanatics, both racists and fundy christians.
Finally, what are everyone’s’ thoughts regarding protesting outside Scientology centres? To me it seems rather futile and an academic approach to representatives would be better?
Thanks.
Great show guys. Just as an FYI, McCain is not meant to represent the fundamentalist religious element of the US…. he’s actually the most moderate of them. (Besides Paul, but he doesn’t stand a chance) In fact, Rush Limbaugh has said he’d rather vote for Hillary than McCain. McCain’s definitely the least scary of the Republicans… and I’m a Conservative…
I was looking to find out what exactly Scientology was. Heres a link to a video about it (until now I was actually looking into the cult) -
http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/
Its going to give me nightmares, I swear.
Paul is far from moderate. His tax polices are fairly loopy, plus he’s very very anti abortion,…etc
I used to Like McCain, that is, until he started selling his soul. When he said he supports using torture, despite the fact he was anti torture for a long time.
The world is flat? You atheists will believe anything
Hey guys, sorry to tack this on to the comments, but I couldn’t find an email address for you. Just saw this article: http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/19/Northpinellas/Scourge_of_Scientolog.shtml about the apparent suicide of someone who led a one-man crusade against Scientology. Worth discussing on one of the shows?
OOH! I’ve got an idea for a show! That is, if you still don’t want to have someone on who has had an abortion for an interview.
How about a show discussing how atheists explain the creation of the universe, and why it’s more or equally reasonable than Christianity (gotta go after the big dog, of course)?
If you’ve already done this show, let me know what episode it’s in, I’d love to listen
Ben
As an American, may I say the rant was great. Many of my friends/family and I sent urgent e-mails to congress and we thought no one else was paying attention. Thank you for bringing up the topic. You might considor doing more political rants. That was the most empassioned speech I’ve heard on the subject.
On the other subject, I really think that Obama is exactly what is needed right now. Although he too pays homage to the sky daddy, he is a beacon of light to the rest of the world. We’re not all crazy! The Democratic party was screwed by the dramatic shift to the right so there is no (vocal) left wing any more. The results have been just as dramatic losing election after election trying to follow the republicans. We need to lead, not follow people! America has a great secular history, Thomas Paine, Jefferson…A lot of Americans, (Atheists in particular) have been silent too long.
>How about a show discussing how atheists explain the creation of the universe, and why it’s >more or equally reasonable than Christianity (gotta go after the big dog, of course)?
Nice idea, in principle, but that would probably have to involve inviting some cosmologists /theoretical physicists, etc. That would probably quickly lead to a show that practically none of the listeners would be able to understand (I know I couldn’t follow them very far). This stuff is based on, and consists of, extremly advanced maths, after all. It’s really not a subject where our uneducated laymen opinions have much of a relevance.
Well, you don’t have to delve into the maths to explain how the universe started to exist (I will not use the term “was created”). The basics are pretty simple and understandable so it could be done.
That’s not saying that Jake either should or shouldn’t do it, I’m just saying that maths isn’t necessary to explain that stuff. There are quite a few prominent atheists (Dawkins, e.g.) who do it regularly and with ease.
Giving a vague explanation may well be possible without maths, to a certain, limited degree. However, as soon as someone asks “How do you know that it’s like that and not totally different?” You’ll need to bring out the maths and physics behind it that lead to the current state of knowledge. Without that, you’ll have to listen to the whole inane “only a theory” drivel again.
well, could you direct me to a webpage that explains it? not having any luck finding anything on this, probably b/c i’m not sure what i’m looking for…
I certainly can’t help you if you’re looking for a solid explanation, along with the mathematical evidence etc. I know where the limit of my mathematical understanding is, and it’s nowhere near what’s required for even a bachelors degree in theoretical physics (guess that’s why I ended up in geophysics instead).
But if you’re looking for a general simplified overview of the current state of the work in that area, I guess wikipedia is as good a starting point as any:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartle-Hawking_state for instance. As far as I understand, that’s one of the main contenders at the moment.
wow, that’s a lot of information…. i think i need the picturebook version of the Hartle-Hawking state
Excellent rant, Jacob. I did want to clear up a few fine points of our system, since non US citizens might not have a grasp of the details.
The biggest things we as Americans can do is speak with our vote, which many did in 2006, bringing in a majority of democrats into congress. However, there still isn’t a veto-proof majority (need 2/3 majority for that) and so the dems in congress can try all they want, but they still get obstructed. IMO the first thing they should have done was work on impeaching this sack of shit president, and I’m PISSED that as soon as she got elected Nancy Pelosi changed her stance on that. Once they’re elected, though, all we can do is write letters and protest, and we can’t FORCE them to vote any certain way. So the whole “TAKE BACK YOUR COUNTRY, GUYS!!!” while heartfelt and damn it sounded good, is rather a silly thing to scream at us.
Also just remember our system is not like Canada’s. We don’t have multiple parties. We’ve got two and then a slew of others that never have a shot because they don’t have the funding and backing of powerplayers that the main two do. It’s fucked, yes, but that’s how it is, and even though I’d rather see a MUCH more liberal party than the democrats, I have to go with them because they’re closest to my views. Much like fundies have to go with Repubs even though they may disagree with their DISASTROUS economic policies and indeed may vote against their own financial self-interests, because the republicans are anti-gay and anti-choice. It’s silly, but it’s how it is.
@Ben
I stumbled on this, and thought it might interest you. It’s not strictly about the origin of the universe, but still pretty amazing: http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2008/03/05/the-universe-is-1373-12-billion-years-old/ Plus, it’s written so that I could understand it, so I assume you can too.
Was is a political joke offering two podcasts in one week but instead giving one in two weeks? (hopefully not three lol) Sorry, but this is addictive as hell.