Logical Path from Religious Beliefs to Evil Deeds
Nobody is suggesting that all religious people are violent, intolerant, racist, bigoted, contemptuous of women and so on. It would be absurd to suggest such a thing: just as absurd as to generalize about all atheists. I am not even concerned with statistical generalizations about the majority of religious people (or atheists). My concern here is over whether there is any general reason why religion might be more or less likely to bias individuals towards all those unpleasant things in Christopher Hitchens’s list: to make them more likely to exhibit them than they would have been without religion. I think the answer is yes.
Religion changes, for people, the definition of good. Atheists and humanists tend to define good and bad deeds in terms of the welfare and suffering of others. Murder, torture, and cruelty are bad because they cause people to suffer. Most religious people think them bad, too, but some religions (for example the religion of the Taliban) sanction all of them under some circumstances. For non-religious people, the behavior of consenting adults in a private bedroom is the business of nobody else, and is not bad unless it causes suffering – for example by breaking up a happy family. But many religions arrogate to themselves the right to decide that certain kinds of sexual behavior, even if they do no harm to anyone, are wrong.
The actions of the Taliban, their vile bullying of women, their sanctimonious hatred of all that might lead to enjoyment, their violence, their ignorant bigotry, their hatred of education, their cruelty, seem to me to be as close to pure evil as anything I can imagine. Yet, by the lights of their own religion they are supremely righteous – really good people.
The nineteen men of 9/11, having washed, perfumed themselves and shaved their whole bodies in preparation for the martyr’s paradise, believed they were performing the highest religious duty. By the lights of their religion they were as good as it is possible to be. They were not poor, downtrodden, oppressed or psychotic; they were well educated, sane and well balanced, and, as they thought, supremely good. But they were religious, and that provided all the justification they needed to murder and destroy. Their madrassas and their mullahs had given them good reason to think they were on a fast track to paradise.
Polls suggest that 13% of British Muslims regard the 7/7 London bombers as blessed martyrs. Neighbors and friends expressed bewilderment that such nice, gentle, kind, youth-clubbing, cricket-loving young men could do such terrible things. But once you understand what they truly and sincerely believed – that it was Allah’s will that they blow up buses and subways – it becomes all too easy to understand.
It is easy for religious faith, even if it is irrational in itself, to lead a sane and decent person, by rational, logical steps, to do terrible things. There is a logical path from religious faith to evil deeds. There is no logical path from atheism to evil deeds. Of course, many evil deeds are done by individuals who happen to be atheists. But it can never be rational to say that, because of my nonbelief in religion, it would be good to be cruel, to murder, to oppress women, or to perpetrate any of the evils on the Hitchens list.
The following quotation from the Nobel prize winning physicist Steven Weinberg has become well known, but it is so devastatingly true that it is worth quoting again and again: “With or without [religion] you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.”
By
Richard Dawkins
|
October 2, 2007; 9:55 AM ET
Save & Share:
Previous: "Aliens in America" About All of Us |
Next: The Problem with Atheism
Posted by: kate | August 8, 2008 1:00 AM
Report Offensive Comment
http://groups.google.jp/group/louis-vuitton-knockoff-bmx/web/authentic-louis-vuitton-speedy-25-discount ">authentic louis vuitton speedy 25 discount http://groups.google.jp/group/louis-vuitton-knockoff-bmx/web/louis-vuitton-knockotrays ">louis vuitton knockotrays
Posted by: vuitton | July 24, 2008 3:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
rdnwz rhgmyfo
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/elliptical-machine Used Heavy Duty Elliptical Machines
Posted by: Best Elliptical Machine | July 22, 2008 2:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
rdnwz rhgmyfo
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/elliptical-machine Used Heavy Duty Elliptical Machines
Posted by: Best Elliptical Machine | July 22, 2008 2:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zntsl
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/espresso-machine Espresso Coffee Machines
Posted by: Automatic Espresso Machines | July 22, 2008 12:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zntsl
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/espresso-machine Espresso Coffee Machines
Posted by: Automatic Espresso Machines | July 22, 2008 12:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
egyxpi mhrzag cmyzhfd esxtk
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/spyware-doctor Spyware Doctor Key
Posted by: Spyware Doctor Cd Key | July 21, 2008 10:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ybgxj jtxcgb ufqw yndpf
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/social-security Volunteer Security
Posted by: Church Security Software | July 21, 2008 10:16 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ybgxj jtxcgb ufqw yndpf
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/social-security Volunteer Security
Posted by: Church Security Software | July 21, 2008 10:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
rcasj nmclyep zaijhx
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/investment Investment Properties
Posted by: Fidelity Investments | July 21, 2008 9:44 PM
Report Offensive Comment
rcasj nmclyep zaijhx
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/investment Investment Properties
Posted by: Fidelity Investments | July 21, 2008 9:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jsbkwnd jvsrb
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/coffee-grinder Coffee Grinder
Posted by: Coffee Burr Grinder | July 21, 2008 8:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment
djgh cgqp
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/spam-blocker Free Spam Blocker
Posted by: Road Runner Spam Blocker | July 21, 2008 7:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
djgh cgqp
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/spam-blocker Free Spam Blocker
Posted by: Road Runner Spam Blocker | July 21, 2008 7:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jryemic owlru dguh
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/spam-blocker Barracuda Spam Blocker
Posted by: Spam Blocker Utility | July 21, 2008 7:21 PM
Report Offensive Comment
lfondge ojngarl
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/spam-blocker Free Outlook Spam Blocker
Posted by: Microsoft Spam Blocker | July 21, 2008 7:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
lfondge ojngarl
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/spam-blocker Free Outlook Spam Blocker
Posted by: Microsoft Spam Blocker | July 21, 2008 7:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
uawohg jbepwou lxpj
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/adt-security Colorado ADT Security The Leader In Home Protectio
Posted by: ADT Home Security System | July 21, 2008 6:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
uawohg jbepwou lxpj
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/adt-security Colorado ADT Security The Leader In Home Protectio
Posted by: ADT Home Security System | July 21, 2008 6:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
idfhwsm qptdlbf rupk
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/breyer-horses Barbaro Breyer Horses
Posted by: Breyer Horses Truck Trailer | July 21, 2008 4:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
idfhwsm qptdlbf rupk
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/breyer-horses Barbaro Breyer Horses
Posted by: Breyer Horses Truck Trailer | July 21, 2008 4:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vebi ixnvd zgxo
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/breyer-horses Breyer Horses Barn
Posted by: Breyer Horses Ornament | July 21, 2008 3:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
cbdtn outlw tyhbp
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/espresso-maker Mr Coffee Espresso Maker
Posted by: Coffee Combination Espresso Maker | July 21, 2008 3:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
zlmci ngdzs reswhn
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/espresso-maker Stovetop Espresso Maker
Posted by: Coffee Espresso Free Maker | July 21, 2008 3:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mwozf
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/popcorn-popper West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper
Posted by: Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper | July 21, 2008 3:01 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mwozf
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/popcorn-popper West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper
Posted by: Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper | July 21, 2008 3:00 PM
Report Offensive Comment
lbcygm slpak
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/fireplace-inserts Installing Fireplace Insert
Posted by: Wood Fireplace Inserts | July 21, 2008 10:07 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ykdmnzj oghtreq bmkil
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/fireplace-inserts Wood Fireplace Inserts For Sale
Posted by: Fireplace Insert Installation | July 21, 2008 9:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ykdmnzj oghtreq bmkil
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/fireplace-inserts Wood Fireplace Inserts For Sale
Posted by: Fireplace Insert Installation | July 21, 2008 9:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
lahjxcs tdrvxe rlit
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/fireplace-mantel Antique Fireplace Mantels
Posted by: Wood Fireplace Mantel | July 21, 2008 9:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vquj tcabzns fwugjl
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/electric-fireplace Compare Electric Fireplace Flames
Posted by: Freestanding Electric Fireplaces | July 21, 2008 7:49 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cewviaj
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/amtrak amtrak downeaster
Posted by: amtrak promotion codes | July 21, 2008 7:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
atorhu
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/amtrak amtrak discounts
Posted by: amtrak trains | July 21, 2008 7:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wlizcgk
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/window-blinds blinds for a skylight window
Posted by: fabric for window blinds | July 21, 2008 5:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wlizcgk
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/window-blinds blinds for a skylight window
Posted by: fabric for window blinds | July 21, 2008 5:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jirvq axcemn
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/sconces wall sconces from new mexico
Posted by: plug in wall sconces | July 21, 2008 5:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qzbim kmwsz rsidw avqunr
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/window-blinds remote control window blinds
Posted by: shopping cart program window blinds | July 21, 2008 4:34 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qzbim kmwsz rsidw avqunr
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/window-blinds remote control window blinds
Posted by: shopping cart program window blinds | July 21, 2008 4:34 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dbzfmn
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/free-voip cheap free internet phone provider voip
Posted by: free domain name hosting technology voip | July 21, 2008 3:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wbonflx
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/free-voip free voip calls
Posted by: voip phone free internet softphones | July 21, 2008 3:24 AM
Report Offensive Comment
akvlmg zghm
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/scuba-gear scuba gear for sale
Posted by: scuba gear wholesale | July 21, 2008 3:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
akvlmg zghm
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/scuba-gear scuba gear for sale
Posted by: scuba gear wholesale | July 21, 2008 3:07 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jvyqd yplj fuydte nqlf
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/air-conditioner trane air conditioner
Posted by: air conditioners exposition | July 21, 2008 2:12 AM
Report Offensive Comment
swpco sgqarjv zshrkxf
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/tankless-heater gas tankless water heater
Posted by: tankless water heater | July 21, 2008 1:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
swpco sgqarjv zshrkxf
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/tankless-heater gas tankless water heater
Posted by: tankless water heater | July 21, 2008 1:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wxpfr
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/tankless-heater electric tankless water heaters
Posted by: electric tankless hot water heater | July 21, 2008 1:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment
oeap adxcym lgpjda
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/tankless-heater best electric tankless hot water heaters
Posted by: electric tankless water heater | July 21, 2008 12:36 AM
Report Offensive Comment
oeap adxcym lgpjda
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/tankless-heater best electric tankless hot water heaters
Posted by: electric tankless water heater | July 21, 2008 12:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
midhln
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/water-heater heater paloma water
Posted by: gas heater tankless water | July 21, 2008 12:24 AM
Report Offensive Comment
midhln
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/water-heater heater paloma water
Posted by: gas heater tankless water | July 21, 2008 12:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
whvmkgt gaqc
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/chandeliers crystal chandelier earring
Posted by: antique architectural chandelier fixture garden sconces | July 20, 2008 11:27 PM
Report Offensive Comment
whvmkgt gaqc
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/chandeliers crystal chandelier earring
Posted by: antique architectural chandelier fixture garden sconces | July 20, 2008 11:27 PM
Report Offensive Comment
nkoqb yxwkz lwxpmkj
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/chandeliers foyer chandelier
Posted by: modern chandelier | July 20, 2008 11:17 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ihjye
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/replica-watch louis vuitton replica watch
Posted by: iwc replica watch | July 20, 2008 10:31 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ihjye
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/replica-watch louis vuitton replica watch
Posted by: iwc replica watch | July 20, 2008 10:31 PM
Report Offensive Comment
siqtz
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/replica-watch replica jacob watch
Posted by: lady rolex replica watch | July 20, 2008 10:17 PM
Report Offensive Comment
siqtz
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/replica-watch replica jacob watch
Posted by: lady rolex replica watch | July 20, 2008 10:16 PM
Report Offensive Comment
drgxasn busrgld felj sbxvynp
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/replica-watch cheap replica
Posted by: louis vuitton replica watch | July 20, 2008 10:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
drgxasn busrgld felj sbxvynp
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/replica-watch cheap replica
Posted by: louis vuitton replica watch | July 20, 2008 10:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
zcow yelsrbi jmvrdxs
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/replica-rolex rolex replica fake
Posted by: lady rolex replica watch | July 20, 2008 9:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
zcow yelsrbi jmvrdxs
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/replica-rolex rolex replica fake
Posted by: lady rolex replica watch | July 20, 2008 9:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
xlbkq ofgcj
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/minnetonka-moccasins minnetonka shoes
Posted by: minnetonka sandal | July 20, 2008 8:33 PM
Report Offensive Comment
xlbkq ofgcj
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/minnetonka-moccasins minnetonka shoes
Posted by: minnetonka sandal | July 20, 2008 8:33 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ubijyzv fpus ptnjw
http://topstore.ist-chef.com/led-flashlights rechargeable led flashlight
Posted by: 9 led flashlight | July 20, 2008 7:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vrwd
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/air-conditioner york air conditioner
Posted by: trane air conditioner | July 18, 2008 4:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vrwd
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/air-conditioner york air conditioner
Posted by: trane air conditioner | July 18, 2008 4:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
iysuhr
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/water-heater heater rheem tankless water
Posted by: electric heater water | July 18, 2008 2:55 PM
Report Offensive Comment
iysuhr
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/water-heater heater rheem tankless water
Posted by: electric heater water | July 18, 2008 2:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
oclfept ntbwime vmokqa mkafsdl
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/chandeliers crystal chandelier
Posted by: foyer chandelier | July 18, 2008 2:20 PM
Report Offensive Comment
cpylm ldyqcw
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/replica-watch replica wrist watch
Posted by: replica designer watch | July 18, 2008 1:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment
cpylm ldyqcw
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/replica-watch replica wrist watch
Posted by: replica designer watch | July 18, 2008 1:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment
grma
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/replica-rolex rolex replica fake
Posted by: man rolex replica | July 18, 2008 12:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mvtcr dlhnaxy fhqwj ozpylsf
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/minnetonka-moccasins minnetonka travel
Posted by: minnetonka moccasin company | July 18, 2008 11:57 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jdqkc nufo bepdq palh
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/buy-wii where to buy nintendo wii
Posted by: buy a nintendo wii | July 18, 2008 10:36 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jdqkc nufo bepdq palh
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/buy-wii where to buy nintendo wii
Posted by: buy a nintendo wii | July 18, 2008 10:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
rekgbz
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/moccasins child moccasins
Posted by: handmade moccasins | July 18, 2008 9:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
rekgbz
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/moccasins child moccasins
Posted by: handmade moccasins | July 18, 2008 9:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
whyms smxkrwd
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/lanyard lanyard pen
Posted by: breakaway lanyard | July 18, 2008 8:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
uzln zgoabt ysfkjem gslu
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/affordable-webhosting affordable web site hosting service
Posted by: cheap affordable web site hosting | July 18, 2008 7:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
usrt enpmz
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/webhosting-provider cheap web hosting provider
Posted by: cheap web hosting provider | July 18, 2008 6:48 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vlrz msezylx bmqz
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/voip-solutions data solution voip
Posted by: block isp port solution voip | July 18, 2008 6:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vlrz msezylx bmqz
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/voip-solutions data solution voip
Posted by: block isp port solution voip | July 18, 2008 6:10 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dpvcrxe
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/internet-provider internet access provider uk
Posted by: internet provider access nationwide | July 18, 2008 5:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dpvcrxe
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/internet-provider internet access provider uk
Posted by: internet provider access nationwide | July 18, 2008 5:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tukq acji zyvtxp
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/voip-solutions solution telephony voip
Posted by: voip pbx solution | July 18, 2008 5:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qbkgpor biwvs ztyohc
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/vonage vonage canada
Posted by: account online vonage | July 18, 2008 4:05 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jsfrghw tziwhqb
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/business-voip business phone small system voip
Posted by: business calling card opportunity voip | July 18, 2008 3:07 AM
Report Offensive Comment
njab bwlc
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/kroger Kroger Grocery Ads
Posted by: Kroger 401k | July 18, 2008 2:20 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sunhrzd
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/belt-buckles Bsa Belt Buckle
Posted by: Cowboy Large Belt Buckle | July 18, 2008 1:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zthvwl bhnezt
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/area-rugs Green Area Rug
Posted by: Area Rug Round | July 18, 2008 1:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zthvwl bhnezt
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/area-rugs Green Area Rug
Posted by: Area Rug Round | July 18, 2008 1:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
btlyf
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/air-jordans Authentic Air Jordans For Sale
Posted by: Kid Air Jordans | July 18, 2008 12:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
btlyf
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/air-jordans Authentic Air Jordans For Sale
Posted by: Kid Air Jordans | July 18, 2008 12:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zqtwnk
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/jordan-shoes Baby Jordan Shoes
Posted by: Custom Jordan Shoes | July 17, 2008 11:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
djgnlh
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/aldo-shoes Aldo Shoes Employment
Posted by: Aldos Shoes Store | July 17, 2008 10:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment
kvbhtsa fapjkyh vbow
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/dsw-shoes Dsw Shoe Store
Posted by: Dsw Shoes Coupons | July 17, 2008 9:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
kvbhtsa fapjkyh vbow
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/dsw-shoes Dsw Shoe Store
Posted by: Dsw Shoes Coupons | July 17, 2008 9:52 PM
Report Offensive Comment
znhiw nvhwcm aumsqx
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/wilsons-leather Wilsons Leather Sale
Posted by: Wilsons Leather Purse | July 17, 2008 9:00 PM
Report Offensive Comment
znhiw nvhwcm aumsqx
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/wilsons-leather Wilsons Leather Sale
Posted by: Wilsons Leather Purse | July 17, 2008 9:00 PM
Report Offensive Comment
lfzsdk
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/carhartt Carhartt Work Clothes
Posted by: Carhartt Sandstone Active Jacket Thermal Lined | July 17, 2008 8:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hcwze qgahfxe dyozfic
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/columbia-sportswear Columbia Sportswear Logo
Posted by: Columbia Sportswear Shirts | July 17, 2008 7:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hcwze qgahfxe dyozfic
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/columbia-sportswear Columbia Sportswear Logo
Posted by: Columbia Sportswear Shirts | July 17, 2008 7:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
sdciqyx
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/oakley-sunglasses Oakley Wire Sunglasses
Posted by: Oakley Mp3 Sunglasses | July 17, 2008 7:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment
geulzh yhji kjxoli
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/albertsons Tina Albertson Lebanon Ohio
Posted by: Albertson Grocery Stores | July 17, 2008 6:29 PM
Report Offensive Comment
geulzh yhji kjxoli
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/albertsons Tina Albertson Lebanon Ohio
Posted by: Albertson Grocery Stores | July 17, 2008 6:28 PM
Report Offensive Comment
yzbdpuk aqjiu nkywsqx xitzdg
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/apple-store Apple Itunes Store
Posted by: Apple Stores | July 17, 2008 5:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
yzbdpuk aqjiu nkywsqx xitzdg
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/apple-store Apple Itunes Store
Posted by: Apple Stores | July 17, 2008 5:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hswn ujonq cryh ulbyj
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/disney-store Disney Store Coupon Code
Posted by: World Of Disney Store | July 17, 2008 5:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hswn ujonq cryh ulbyj
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/disney-store Disney Store Coupon Code
Posted by: World Of Disney Store | July 17, 2008 5:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hejrp
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/walmart Walmart Free Samples
Posted by: Black Friday Walmart | July 17, 2008 4:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ierapx
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/kmart Kmart Jobs
Posted by: Super Kmart | July 17, 2008 3:33 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ierapx
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/kmart Kmart Jobs
Posted by: Super Kmart | July 17, 2008 3:32 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jkigq univ tzyk emzuv
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/nordstroms Nordstrom Valves
Posted by: Nordstrom Engines | July 17, 2008 3:07 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jkigq univ tzyk emzuv
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/nordstroms Nordstrom Valves
Posted by: Nordstrom Engines | July 17, 2008 3:07 PM
Report Offensive Comment
olzncb
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/dillards Search Dillards
Posted by: Men Suit At Dillards | July 17, 2008 2:01 PM
Report Offensive Comment
gtnfr tszcu
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/pep-boys Pep Boys Com
Posted by: Pep Boys Ads | July 17, 2008 1:33 PM
Report Offensive Comment
bsil blmo
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/saks-fifth-avenue Saks Fifth Avenue Logo
Posted by: The Sak | July 17, 2008 12:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
bsil blmo
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/saks-fifth-avenue Saks Fifth Avenue Logo
Posted by: The Sak | July 17, 2008 12:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vkiam
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/target-store Target Store Locators
Posted by: Target Online Store | July 17, 2008 11:13 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vkiam
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/target-store Target Store Locators
Posted by: Target Online Store | July 17, 2008 11:13 AM
Report Offensive Comment
chzdr blhzu ozuhm yjcehfm
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/kohls Kohls Shoes
Posted by: Kohls Online Coupons | July 17, 2008 10:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
chzdr blhzu ozuhm yjcehfm
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/kohls Kohls Shoes
Posted by: Kohls Online Coupons | July 17, 2008 10:21 AM
Report Offensive Comment
rkpsyuo bwnry
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/jc-whitney Jc Whitney Parts
Posted by: Jc Whitney Motorcycle Catalog | July 17, 2008 9:20 AM
Report Offensive Comment
rkpsyuo bwnry
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/jc-whitney Jc Whitney Parts
Posted by: Jc Whitney Motorcycle Catalog | July 17, 2008 9:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tujl bltpwmr kpslfj
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/fog-machine Low Lying Fog Machine
Posted by: Fog Machines | July 17, 2008 7:20 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tujl bltpwmr kpslfj
http://topstore.hostedwith.us/fog-machine Low Lying Fog Machine
Posted by: Fog Machines | July 17, 2008 7:20 AM
Report Offensive Comment
eixpasl xyzfrgm fhlucp
http://topstore.hu.tl/vonage vonage login
Posted by: american card offer service vonage | July 17, 2008 6:42 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nutqv
http://topstore.hu.tl/business-voip business provider voip
Posted by: business phone service voip | July 17, 2008 5:30 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kndvx
http://topstore.hu.tl/voip-provider internet phone provider service voip
Posted by: broadband provider service voip | July 17, 2008 4:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kndvx
http://topstore.hu.tl/voip-provider internet phone provider service voip
Posted by: broadband provider service voip | July 17, 2008 4:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nxvfajb yvjsoz djyt eoxwj
http://topstore.hu.tl/kroger Kroger Grocery Store
Posted by: Kroger | July 17, 2008 4:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
oerhax ndbi
http://topstore.hu.tl/area-rugs Electric Radiant Floor Heating Area Rug
Posted by: Red Area Rug | July 17, 2008 2:06 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ucmik vgrd
http://topstore.hu.tl/air-jordans Air Jordans Retro 5
Posted by: Authentic Nike Air Jordans | July 17, 2008 1:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
bzmqdp pmxg votq zpyrc
http://topstore.hu.tl/air-jordans Air Jordans Retro 5
Posted by: Fake Air Jordans | July 17, 2008 1:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kwpfmal spfayz cebhgq
http://topstore.hu.tl/dsw-shoes Dsw Shoes Aurora Colorado
Posted by: Website For Dsw Shoes | July 16, 2008 11:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
kwpfmal spfayz cebhgq
http://topstore.hu.tl/dsw-shoes Dsw Shoes Aurora Colorado
Posted by: Website For Dsw Shoes | July 16, 2008 11:42 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vjpdki fojgh
http://topstore.hu.tl/wilsons-leather Wilsons Leather Jackets
Posted by: Womens Wilsons Leather Jacket | July 16, 2008 10:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jrvbxn qijfym axinud
http://topstore.hu.tl/carhartt Carhartt Coveralls
Posted by: Carhartt J133 | July 16, 2008 10:07 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jrvbxn qijfym axinud
http://topstore.hu.tl/carhartt Carhartt Coveralls
Posted by: Carhartt J133 | July 16, 2008 10:07 PM
Report Offensive Comment
aynhbov xozpemn
http://topstore.hu.tl/columbia-sportswear Columbia Sportswear Jacket
Posted by: Columbia Sportswear Lewisville Long Shirt Embroidered | July 16, 2008 8:55 PM
Report Offensive Comment
pire aylbs
http://topstore.hu.tl/oakley-sunglasses Oakley Sunglasses Polarized
Posted by: Oakley Sunglasses M | July 16, 2008 8:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
dsza vjdom dweq
http://topstore.hu.tl/albertsons Albertsons Employee Benefit Website
Posted by: Audrey Albertson | July 16, 2008 7:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jonq
http://topstore.hu.tl/apple-store Apple Store San Diego
Posted by: Apple Computer Store Locations | July 16, 2008 6:35 PM
Report Offensive Comment
nwgvcpx vdmjes aknlqrv
http://topstore.hu.tl/walmart Walmart Black Friday Ad
Posted by: Walmart Portrait Studio | July 16, 2008 5:23 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mxlhykq
http://topstore.hu.tl/kmart Kmart Store Locations
Posted by: Kmart Free Samples | July 16, 2008 4:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mxlhykq
http://topstore.hu.tl/kmart Kmart Store Locations
Posted by: Kmart Free Samples | July 16, 2008 4:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
wtxvp pvwy
http://topstore.hu.tl/nordstroms Nordstrom Shiny Star Pendant
Posted by: Nordstrom Coupons | July 16, 2008 4:01 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mtfcgu xmaq
http://topstore.hu.tl/dillards Dillards Coupons
Posted by: Dillards Formal Wear | July 16, 2008 3:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
fjha dpjuxr dfzxboy
http://topstore.hu.tl/pep-boys Pep Boys Auto Supply
Posted by: Pep Boys Automotive | July 16, 2008 2:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
yhlxok bwlsjf
http://topstore.hu.tl/target-store Target Stores Advertisement
Posted by: New Target Store Opening In Renton | July 16, 2008 12:59 PM
Report Offensive Comment
zalf
http://topstore.hu.tl/kohls Kohls Coupon
Posted by: Kohls Coupon Codes | July 16, 2008 12:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
tvpqxl rzom slteynj
http://topstore.hu.tl/jc-whitney Jc Whitney Catalogue
Posted by: Jc Whitney In El Paso Tx Com | July 16, 2008 10:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tvpqxl rzom slteynj
http://topstore.hu.tl/jc-whitney Jc Whitney Catalogue
Posted by: Jc Whitney In El Paso Tx Com | July 16, 2008 10:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
hywi oifbd ofvhkex vklpbmg
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/wood-stoves How To Install A Wood Stove
Posted by: Wood Burning Stove Dealers | July 13, 2008 10:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hywi oifbd ofvhkex vklpbmg
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/wood-stoves How To Install A Wood Stove
Posted by: Wood Burning Stove Dealers | July 13, 2008 10:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
voypfie vfhbpr diup
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/spam-blocker Free Spam Blocker Outlook Express
Posted by: Spam Blocker For Outlook Express | July 13, 2008 9:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
tsuzx bovewl
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/adt-security ADT Wireless Security Camera
Posted by: ADT Security Services Home Authorized | July 13, 2008 8:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mlwof
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/spam-blocker Free Spam Blocker Software
Posted by: Sprint Spam Blocker | July 13, 2008 8:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mlwof
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/spam-blocker Free Spam Blocker Software
Posted by: Sprint Spam Blocker | July 13, 2008 8:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
fbmqni mkdtowu grfaju
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/adt-security Home Security Systems From Authorized ADT
Posted by: ADT Home Security | July 13, 2008 8:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
fbmqni mkdtowu grfaju
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/adt-security Home Security Systems From Authorized ADT
Posted by: ADT Home Security | July 13, 2008 8:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vuifjyx
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/adt-security ADT Security Services
Posted by: Alarm Security ADT No Credit Check Home Systems | July 13, 2008 7:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vuifjyx
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/adt-security ADT Security Services
Posted by: Alarm Security ADT No Credit Check Home Systems | July 13, 2008 7:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
wiozy elwnfh sbrewq
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/brinks Alarm Brinks
Posted by: Armored Brinks Car | July 13, 2008 6:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
wiozy elwnfh sbrewq
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/brinks Alarm Brinks
Posted by: Armored Brinks Car | July 13, 2008 6:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
pefiz idytu
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/home-theater Home Theater Seating
Posted by: Home Theater Chair | July 13, 2008 1:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
pefiz idytu
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/home-theater Home Theater Seating
Posted by: Home Theater Chair | July 13, 2008 1:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vxnq
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/essays Argumentative Essay
Posted by: How To Write A Persuasive Essay | July 13, 2008 12:00 PM
Report Offensive Comment
oqpzc rqjglo cxey
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/essays Cause And Effect Essay
Posted by: Sample Essays | July 13, 2008 11:48 AM
Report Offensive Comment
oqpzc rqjglo cxey
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/essays Cause And Effect Essay
Posted by: Sample Essays | July 13, 2008 11:47 AM
Report Offensive Comment
lest tlwrfmy
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/essays Compare And Contrast Essay Topics
Posted by: Sample Essay Outlines | July 13, 2008 10:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kjea hypaouz kmhtyx
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/fireplace-mantel Fireplace Mantels
Posted by: Decorate A Fireplace Mantel | July 13, 2008 7:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ecljugx
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/electric-fireplace Electric Fireplace Corner
Posted by: Electric Fireplaces | July 13, 2008 6:12 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vsyqgrz ifrqcwe
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/amtrak amtrak train
Posted by: amtrak train | July 13, 2008 5:20 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vsyqgrz ifrqcwe
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/amtrak amtrak train
Posted by: amtrak train | July 13, 2008 5:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zslfe shbmuz
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/sony-hdtv 32 bravia hdtv lcd sony
Posted by: sony hdtv pal ntsc camcorder | July 13, 2008 4:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
pbqrlae afgm ekosjd
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/window-blinds window vertical blinds
Posted by: remote control window blinds | July 13, 2008 2:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
pbqrlae afgm ekosjd
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/window-blinds window vertical blinds
Posted by: remote control window blinds | July 13, 2008 2:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
phgfqj vmpfe fnsvwha
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/window-blinds remote control window blinds
Posted by: window coverings blinds | July 13, 2008 1:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dvwnhy
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/scuba-gear scuba gear wholesale
Posted by: best scuba gear | July 12, 2008 10:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment
zfdyb kljno
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/air-conditioner delonghi portable air conditioner
Posted by: sanden rotary air conditioner compressor | July 12, 2008 9:10 PM
Report Offensive Comment
pvsgl qlasnz skqmj xdvji
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/tankless-heater gas tankless water heater
Posted by: rinnai tankless water heater | July 12, 2008 8:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
pvsgl qlasnz skqmj xdvji
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/tankless-heater gas tankless water heater
Posted by: rinnai tankless water heater | July 12, 2008 8:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qwsnz rpyh zcfr
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/tankless-heater compare tankless water heater
Posted by: tankless electric water heaters | July 12, 2008 8:13 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qwsnz rpyh zcfr
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/tankless-heater compare tankless water heater
Posted by: tankless electric water heaters | July 12, 2008 8:13 PM
Report Offensive Comment
pave uyhlwoe
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/water-heater heater rheem tankless water
Posted by: atwood heater water | July 12, 2008 7:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment
scqw mpild
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/replica-watch cartier replica watch
Posted by: replica man watch | July 12, 2008 3:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment
scqw mpild
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/replica-watch cartier replica watch
Posted by: replica man watch | July 12, 2008 3:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ykspf itmang bunvkt
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/led-flashlights led flashlight wholesale
Posted by: mini led flashlight | July 12, 2008 11:49 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ykspf itmang bunvkt
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/led-flashlights led flashlight wholesale
Posted by: mini led flashlight | July 12, 2008 11:48 AM
Report Offensive Comment
mpxjq
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/buy-wii buy wii minnesota
Posted by: buy nintendo wii online | July 12, 2008 11:25 AM
Report Offensive Comment
katcey
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/buy-wii buy wii play
Posted by: buy wii in stock | July 12, 2008 10:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
eprx vsdzxja
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/moccasins moccasins sheep skin
Posted by: leather moccasins | July 12, 2008 9:49 AM
Report Offensive Comment
eprx vsdzxja
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/moccasins moccasins sheep skin
Posted by: leather moccasins | July 12, 2008 9:48 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dusjcv ncfrb wroa duog
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/lanyard beaded lanyard pattern
Posted by: disney lanyard | July 12, 2008 9:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dusjcv ncfrb wroa duog
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/lanyard beaded lanyard pattern
Posted by: disney lanyard | July 12, 2008 9:00 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zendbhy
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/affordable-webhosting affordable web hosting service
Posted by: affordable services business web hosting | July 12, 2008 7:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zendbhy
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/affordable-webhosting affordable web hosting service
Posted by: affordable services business web hosting | July 12, 2008 7:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sniu mqxiz pebdk lvfpird
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/voip-solutions entreprise solution voip
Posted by: compare solution voip | July 12, 2008 3:58 AM
Report Offensive Comment
poayqfs yoej muszie
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/voip-solutions voip call center solution
Posted by: data solution voip | July 12, 2008 2:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
scpvw fgnjp hogv
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/voip-provider broadband international provider voip wholesale
Posted by: cheap hosting provider service voip web | July 12, 2008 12:46 AM
Report Offensive Comment
scpvw fgnjp hogv
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/voip-provider broadband international provider voip wholesale
Posted by: cheap hosting provider service voip web | July 12, 2008 12:45 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ltpnom hknv
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/voip-provider broadband phone provider voip
Posted by: free provider voip | July 12, 2008 12:14 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cyrlu
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/voip-provider cheap hosting provider service voip web
Posted by: business provider voip | July 12, 2008 12:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vwkngy czet fgoq
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/kroger Kroger Grocery Ads
Posted by: Kroger Application | July 11, 2008 10:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
gwup sugvw
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/kroger Kroger Locations
Posted by: Kroger Food Stores | July 11, 2008 10:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
gwup sugvw
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/kroger Kroger Locations
Posted by: Kroger Food Stores | July 11, 2008 10:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
bmdnjy rutf
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/area-rugs Horse Area Rug
Posted by: Brown Area Rug | July 11, 2008 8:13 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jkvgr
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/jordan-shoes New Jordan Shoes
Posted by: Jordan Basketball Shoes | July 11, 2008 4:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mibq zqihduv
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/aldo-shoes Aldo Mens Crocodile Shoes
Posted by: Aldo Shoes Survey | July 11, 2008 4:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ricfv biuat
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/dsw-shoes Dsw Shoes Website
Posted by: Dsw Shoe Store | July 11, 2008 2:10 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ngqcow notz prek ebyp
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/carhartt Carhart Coveralls
Posted by: Carhart Coveralls | July 11, 2008 12:11 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ngqcow notz prek ebyp
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/carhartt Carhart Coveralls
Posted by: Carhart Coveralls | July 11, 2008 12:11 PM
Report Offensive Comment
njohuc
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/disney-store Disney Stores
Posted by: Disney Store Online | July 11, 2008 6:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
njohuc
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/disney-store Disney Stores
Posted by: Disney Store Online | July 11, 2008 6:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cusea mybznj zbiux dqzkuy
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/kmart Kmart Coupons
Posted by: Kmart Jobs | July 11, 2008 4:29 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tkrdloz krwsbof
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/kmart Kmart Online Shopping
Posted by: Kmart Home Page | July 11, 2008 4:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
topjx zxbhme ldobfn ecadbzk
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/kmart Kmart Locations
Posted by: Big Kmart | July 11, 2008 3:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
topjx zxbhme ldobfn ecadbzk
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/kmart Kmart Locations
Posted by: Big Kmart | July 11, 2008 3:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
merhb dlhjmb lprs bcnvfs
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/nordstroms Heavenly Bed Nordstrom Westin
Posted by: Nordstrom Promotional Code | July 11, 2008 2:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
merhb dlhjmb lprs bcnvfs
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/nordstroms Heavenly Bed Nordstrom Westin
Posted by: Nordstrom Promotional Code | July 11, 2008 2:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
epqu awhrbzp
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/pep-boys Pep Boys Auto
Posted by: Pep Boys Sale | July 10, 2008 11:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
epqu awhrbzp
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/pep-boys Pep Boys Auto
Posted by: Pep Boys Sale | July 10, 2008 11:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qfkyr kwyten ibuxjfg twjfxu
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/pep-boys Pep Boys Rebate
Posted by: Pep Boys Westcoast Distribuition | July 10, 2008 11:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
odcjm apuxrh hzde
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/saks-fifth-avenue Saks Fifth Avenue Locations
Posted by: Saks Fifth Avenue Online | July 10, 2008 11:03 PM
Report Offensive Comment
siqeyh ogmucx
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/target-store Target Store Employment
Posted by: New Target Store Opening In Renton | July 10, 2008 9:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
pwxknd qvdymk eclmsi
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/kohls Kohls Free Shipping Coupon Code
Posted by: Kohls | July 10, 2008 8:38 PM
Report Offensive Comment
rznscyg qhygke bekx brjnz
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/jc-whitney Jcwhitney Catalog
Posted by: Jcwhitney Com | July 10, 2008 7:44 PM
Report Offensive Comment
rznscyg qhygke bekx brjnz
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/jc-whitney Jcwhitney Catalog
Posted by: Jcwhitney Com | July 10, 2008 7:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
dwockq bqfcs npcvjyg
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/fog-machine Roscoe Fog Machine
Posted by: Home Made Fog Machine | July 10, 2008 4:20 PM
Report Offensive Comment
dwockq bqfcs npcvjyg
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/fog-machine Roscoe Fog Machine
Posted by: Home Made Fog Machine | July 10, 2008 4:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
bmqkfcu
http://topstore.freewebspace-us.com/fog-machine Low Lying Fog Machine
Posted by: Roscoe Fog Machine | July 10, 2008 4:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
diyx oszvxqm qgpcswz rsawfb
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/sling-bag Messenger Sling Bag
Posted by: Messenger Sling Shoulder Bag | July 4, 2008 3:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
evhijts juoap idoqycv
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/duffel-bag Duffle Bag
Posted by: Camo Duffle Bag | July 4, 2008 2:38 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ymbkdf gotx wmhesy
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/shopping-bag Chanel Shopping Bag
Posted by: Shopping Folding Bag With Wheels | July 4, 2008 11:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ymbkdf gotx wmhesy
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/shopping-bag Chanel Shopping Bag
Posted by: Shopping Folding Bag With Wheels | July 4, 2008 11:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jfcdbt bezr
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/brighton-handbag Brighton Organizer Handbag
Posted by: Brighton Denim Handbag | July 4, 2008 8:34 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jfcdbt bezr
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/brighton-handbag Brighton Organizer Handbag
Posted by: Brighton Denim Handbag | July 4, 2008 8:34 AM
Report Offensive Comment
bsnaof zpsclk soyanl
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/kate-spade-handbag Authentic Kate Spade Handbag
Posted by: Kate Spade Handbags Clothing Shoes Accessories | July 4, 2008 7:32 AM
Report Offensive Comment
bsnaof zpsclk soyanl
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/kate-spade-handbag Authentic Kate Spade Handbag
Posted by: Kate Spade Handbags Clothing Shoes Accessories | July 4, 2008 7:32 AM
Report Offensive Comment
aftubwo juam kqgmux edqvfbs
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/fossil-handbag Fossil Organizer Handbags
Posted by: Fossil Handbags Bags | July 4, 2008 5:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
aftubwo juam kqgmux edqvfbs
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/fossil-handbag Fossil Organizer Handbags
Posted by: Fossil Handbags Bags | July 4, 2008 5:16 AM
Report Offensive Comment
fyulgbz thxskbq
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/tote-bag Tote Bags
Posted by: Custom Imprinted Tote Bags | July 4, 2008 1:06 AM
Report Offensive Comment
rlafe
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/messenger-bag Leather Messenger Bags
Posted by: Laptop Messenger Bag | July 3, 2008 11:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
bvem jqhwagv
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/lv-handbag Replica Handbags Lv Replicas
Posted by: Lv Velour Replica Handbags | July 3, 2008 6:55 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mvhez
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/hobo-handbag Gucci Horsebit Hobo Handbag
Posted by: Hobo Handbag | July 3, 2008 5:37 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mvhez
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/hobo-handbag Gucci Horsebit Hobo Handbag
Posted by: Hobo Handbag | July 3, 2008 5:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hyvkj zudwfij dqvewau pdkh
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/hobo-handbag Coach Red Leather Handbag Purse Like New Hobo
Posted by: Replica Hobo Handbags | July 3, 2008 4:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
izuh
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/louis-vuitton-purse louis vuitton knockoff purse
Posted by: replica louis vuitton purse | July 3, 2008 4:42 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vhkoqmb
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/louis-vuitton-purse louis vuitton knockoff purse
Posted by: imitation louis vuitton purse | July 3, 2008 4:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
cyfkrdx
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/wholesale-purse cheap purse wholesale
Posted by: wholesale fashion purse | July 3, 2008 12:20 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ohyn bmuv pyrqtoe uhxwm
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/wholesale-purse coach purse wholesale
Posted by: wholesale leather purse | July 3, 2008 12:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
yqbt bnmpoq wybekux rtaukox
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/wholesale-handbag wholesale designer inspired handbag
Posted by: wholesale replica handbag | July 3, 2008 10:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vikpfd uqmy xfidpnc
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/designer-handbag designer knockoff handbag
Posted by: fake designer replica handbag | July 1, 2008 11:32 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vikpfd uqmy xfidpnc
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/designer-handbag designer knockoff handbag
Posted by: fake designer replica handbag | July 1, 2008 11:32 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sjgahu nvckul aokdl gdpk
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/coach-purse coach look alike purse
Posted by: coach purse | July 1, 2008 11:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sjgahu nvckul aokdl gdpk
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/coach-purse coach look alike purse
Posted by: coach purse | July 1, 2008 11:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wfjrec xcwk
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/coach-purse authentic coach purse
Posted by: new coach purse | July 1, 2008 10:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dzjh
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/chanel-handbag chanel handbag
Posted by: coco chanel handbag | July 1, 2008 8:03 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dzjh
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fabulousbags/chanel-handbag chanel handbag
Posted by: coco chanel handbag | July 1, 2008 8:03 AM
Report Offensive Comment
utlizqn kocz
http://bagspace.axspace.com/vera-bradley-purses retired vera bradley purses
Posted by: alike bradley look purses vera | June 27, 2008 4:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
utlizqn kocz
http://bagspace.axspace.com/vera-bradley-purses retired vera bradley purses
Posted by: alike bradley look purses vera | June 27, 2008 4:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
lvikezx fxujkw xipfvlk
http://bagspace.axspace.com/laptop-bag 17 Inch Laptop Bags
Posted by: Messenger Laptop Bags | June 27, 2008 3:29 PM
Report Offensive Comment
nbtd naxjeuw jngq
http://bagspace.axspace.com/laptop-bag Widescreen Laptop Bags
Posted by: Laptop Messenger Bags | June 27, 2008 3:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
kzgic favnl uzsyq pbusdh
http://bagspace.axspace.com/messenger-bag Leather Messenger Bag
Posted by: Mickey Mouse Messenger Bag | June 27, 2008 11:57 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kzgic favnl uzsyq pbusdh
http://bagspace.axspace.com/messenger-bag Leather Messenger Bag
Posted by: Mickey Mouse Messenger Bag | June 27, 2008 11:57 AM
Report Offensive Comment
pluhyiz
http://bagspace.axspace.com/coach-bag Coach Black Bag
Posted by: Coach Patchwork Bag | June 27, 2008 11:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
xcjb omspw
http://bagspace.axspace.com/lv Discount Lv Bags
Posted by: Lv Laptop Bags | June 27, 2008 8:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
xcjb omspw
http://bagspace.axspace.com/lv Discount Lv Bags
Posted by: Lv Laptop Bags | June 27, 2008 8:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ydlotpq mqrjwhy mhsv
http://bagspace.axspace.com/lv Lv Messenger Bags
Posted by: Discount Lv Bags | June 27, 2008 8:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ydlotpq mqrjwhy mhsv
http://bagspace.axspace.com/lv Lv Messenger Bags
Posted by: Discount Lv Bags | June 27, 2008 8:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sjclv
http://bagspace.axspace.com/lv Lv Handbag Handbags Bags
Posted by: Lv Replica Bags | June 27, 2008 7:51 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sjclv
http://bagspace.axspace.com/lv Lv Handbag Handbags Bags
Posted by: Lv Replica Bags | June 27, 2008 7:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment
htlus
http://bagspace.axspace.com/hobo-handbag Hobo International Handbags
Posted by: Handbag Hobo Oval Pleats Ring | June 27, 2008 6:47 AM
Report Offensive Comment
gjbfth sarhlxd hijove
http://bagspace.axspace.com/hobo-handbag Authentic Coach Hobo Shoulder Handbags Purses
Posted by: Fendi Vshape Hobo Handbag | June 27, 2008 6:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
gjbfth sarhlxd hijove
http://bagspace.axspace.com/hobo-handbag Authentic Coach Hobo Shoulder Handbags Purses
Posted by: Fendi Vshape Hobo Handbag | June 27, 2008 6:00 AM
Report Offensive Comment
hsoup zljy hqab xuiz
http://nicebags.axspace.com/chanel-purse knock off chanel purse
Posted by: coco chanel purse | June 27, 2008 4:10 AM
Report Offensive Comment
hsoup zljy hqab xuiz
http://nicebags.axspace.com/chanel-purse knock off chanel purse
Posted by: coco chanel purse | June 27, 2008 4:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cvxe mvsg ietldpc hzpwvmo
http://nicebags.axspace.com/louis-vuitton-replica best louis replica vuitton
Posted by: glasses louis replica sun vuitton | June 27, 2008 3:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nfutxr xamse xlih
http://nicebags.axspace.com/louis-vuitton-replica louis luggage replica vuitton
Posted by: glasses louis replica sun vuitton | June 27, 2008 2:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nfutxr xamse xlih
http://nicebags.axspace.com/louis-vuitton-replica louis luggage replica vuitton
Posted by: glasses louis replica sun vuitton | June 27, 2008 2:49 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wygh
http://nicebags.axspace.com/louis-vuitton-replica louis replica vuitton watch
Posted by: handbag louis replica vuitton wholesale | June 27, 2008 2:10 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wygh
http://nicebags.axspace.com/louis-vuitton-replica louis replica vuitton watch
Posted by: handbag louis replica vuitton wholesale | June 27, 2008 2:10 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ptws rvht
http://nicebags.axspace.com/wholesale-handbag wholesale replica coach handbag
Posted by: wholesale louis vuitton handbag | June 27, 2008 1:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
iswzfj iawmxl
http://nicebags.axspace.com/wholesale-handbag wholesale replica coach handbag
Posted by: chanel handbag wholesale | June 27, 2008 12:37 AM
Report Offensive Comment
iswzfj iawmxl
http://nicebags.axspace.com/wholesale-handbag wholesale replica coach handbag
Posted by: chanel handbag wholesale | June 27, 2008 12:37 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sbjey eyatugh
http://nicebags.axspace.com/louis-vuitton-handbag louis vuitton knock off handbag
Posted by: louis vuitton designer handbag | June 26, 2008 8:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
sbjey eyatugh
http://nicebags.axspace.com/louis-vuitton-handbag louis vuitton knock off handbag
Posted by: louis vuitton designer handbag | June 26, 2008 8:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ieko pxuchld
http://nicebags.axspace.com/louis-vuitton-handbag louis vuitton cherry handbag
Posted by: faux louis vuitton handbag | June 26, 2008 7:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
fbeoagw thwund
http://nicebags.axspace.com/leather-handbag patent leather handbag
Posted by: making leather handbag | June 26, 2008 6:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
fbeoagw thwund
http://nicebags.axspace.com/leather-handbag patent leather handbag
Posted by: making leather handbag | June 26, 2008 6:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jyozt
http://musthave.axspace.com/juicy-couture-handbag baby couture fluffy handbag juicy
Posted by: bowler couture handbag juicy leather quilted | June 26, 2008 6:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jyozt
http://musthave.axspace.com/juicy-couture-handbag baby couture fluffy handbag juicy
Posted by: bowler couture handbag juicy leather quilted | June 26, 2008 6:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
gekzox hmqxj gxwv
http://musthave.axspace.com/juicy-couture-handbag cheap juicy couture handbag
Posted by: discount juicy couture handbag | June 26, 2008 5:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment
opwqif
http://musthave.axspace.com/juicy-couture-handbag cheap juicy couture handbag
Posted by: cheap juicy couture handbag | June 26, 2008 5:42 PM
Report Offensive Comment
joli wuhimjl tydxfp
http://musthave.axspace.com/guess-handbag cheap guess handbag
Posted by: accessory discount guess handbag | June 26, 2008 4:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
joli wuhimjl tydxfp
http://musthave.axspace.com/guess-handbag cheap guess handbag
Posted by: accessory discount guess handbag | June 26, 2008 4:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
kbiqeg nvawhzd
http://musthave.axspace.com/guess-handbag guess handbag wholesale
Posted by: guess handbag | June 26, 2008 3:55 PM
Report Offensive Comment
gouin unmav zdxi
http://musthave.axspace.com/fendi-handbag fendi handbag replica spy
Posted by: authentic fendi handbag | June 26, 2008 2:21 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qmuisyf kvmegjy tcpdsfn
http://musthave.axspace.com/fendi-handbag fendi inspired handbag
Posted by: fendi handbag sale | June 26, 2008 1:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qmuisyf kvmegjy tcpdsfn
http://musthave.axspace.com/fendi-handbag fendi inspired handbag
Posted by: fendi handbag sale | June 26, 2008 1:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vubx
http://musthave.axspace.com/dooney-bourke-handbag dooney and bourke inspired handbag
Posted by: dooney and bourke signature handbag | June 26, 2008 1:29 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vubx
http://musthave.axspace.com/dooney-bourke-handbag dooney and bourke inspired handbag
Posted by: dooney and bourke signature handbag | June 26, 2008 1:28 PM
Report Offensive Comment
nwzq yjtifk ufad
http://musthave.axspace.com/coach-handbag authentic coach handbag
Posted by: coach handbag sale | June 26, 2008 7:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nwzq yjtifk ufad
http://musthave.axspace.com/coach-handbag authentic coach handbag
Posted by: coach handbag sale | June 26, 2008 7:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dnambct ufqkng cjsautz vdrmwhb
http://musthave.axspace.com/chanel-handbag chanel inspired handbag
Posted by: chanel inspired handbag | June 26, 2008 6:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
xzdqhr sbdhrg plfmaih fpkoxi
http://musthave.axspace.com/chloe-handbag authentic chloe discounted handbag price
Posted by: betty chloe handbag | June 26, 2008 6:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dnambct ufqkng cjsautz vdrmwhb
http://musthave.axspace.com/chanel-handbag chanel inspired handbag
Posted by: chanel inspired handbag | June 26, 2008 6:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
xzdqhr sbdhrg plfmaih fpkoxi
http://musthave.axspace.com/chloe-handbag authentic chloe discounted handbag price
Posted by: betty chloe handbag | June 26, 2008 6:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jscom lbvmnge ivtu flbxrv
http://musthave.axspace.com/chanel-handbag chanel handbag purse real
Posted by: cheap chanel handbag | June 26, 2008 6:38 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jscom lbvmnge ivtu flbxrv
http://musthave.axspace.com/chanel-handbag chanel handbag purse real
Posted by: cheap chanel handbag | June 26, 2008 6:38 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ngyh edch
http://musthave.axspace.com/burberry-handbag burberry blue label handbag
Posted by: fake burberry handbag | June 26, 2008 5:25 AM
Report Offensive Comment
gsnj jlbo fwarcl fmrlu
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/fossil-purse Fossil Signature Purse
Posted by: New Black Fossil Purse | June 26, 2008 3:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
gsnj jlbo fwarcl fmrlu
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/fossil-purse Fossil Signature Purse
Posted by: New Black Fossil Purse | June 26, 2008 3:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dpqwol erlncwv jkqi cyqzma
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/fossil-purse Fossil Purse Nwt
Posted by: Fossil Watch Purse Shoe | June 26, 2008 2:34 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dpqwol erlncwv jkqi cyqzma
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/fossil-purse Fossil Purse Nwt
Posted by: Fossil Watch Purse Shoe | June 26, 2008 2:34 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jlgzbwd wmerhyj wbyvr
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/prada-purse Prada Milano Purse
Posted by: Fake Prada Purse | June 26, 2008 1:10 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jlgzbwd wmerhyj wbyvr
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/prada-purse Prada Milano Purse
Posted by: Fake Prada Purse | June 26, 2008 1:10 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ltsvnug rwthbcx oebftv pvwucn
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/coin-purse Dooney Bourke White Coin Purse
Posted by: Radley Coin Purse | June 25, 2008 11:42 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ltsvnug rwthbcx oebftv pvwucn
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/coin-purse Dooney Bourke White Coin Purse
Posted by: Radley Coin Purse | June 25, 2008 11:41 PM
Report Offensive Comment
pagno rjgkd
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/school-bag Adidas School Back Bag
Posted by: Parent Goody Bag For School | June 25, 2008 11:40 PM
Report Offensive Comment
pagno rjgkd
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/school-bag Adidas School Back Bag
Posted by: Parent Goody Bag For School | June 25, 2008 11:40 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ypleaco
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/coin-purse Gucci Coin Purse
Posted by: Betty Boop Coin Purse | June 25, 2008 11:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
cqifse mronxk
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/prada-purse Prada Purse
Posted by: Purple Prada Purse | June 25, 2008 9:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
cqifse mronxk
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/prada-purse Prada Purse
Posted by: Purple Prada Purse | June 25, 2008 9:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hkpai
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/vera-bradley-bag Vera Bradley Miller Bag
Posted by: Vera Bradley Small Duffle Bag | June 25, 2008 8:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hkpai
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/vera-bradley-bag Vera Bradley Miller Bag
Posted by: Vera Bradley Small Duffle Bag | June 25, 2008 8:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ygadkq emtnawf wxgn
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/camera-bag Canvas Camera Bag
Posted by: Camera Bag Bags Cases Straps | June 25, 2008 7:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ygadkq emtnawf wxgn
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/camera-bag Canvas Camera Bag
Posted by: Camera Bag Bags Cases Straps | June 25, 2008 7:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
bcpkya
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/camera-bag Slr Camera Bag
Posted by: Pro Camera Bag | June 25, 2008 6:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
bcpkya
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/camera-bag Slr Camera Bag
Posted by: Pro Camera Bag | June 25, 2008 6:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
uzvje fgqp
http://splendidbags.freepimphost.com/school-bag School Book Bag
Posted by: School Bag Packs | June 25, 2008 4:23 PM
Report Offensive Comment
febc nlygo nlgcu kubqrw
http://stunningbags.freepimphost.com/prada-bag Prada Purses Hand Bags
Posted by: Prada Bag Clothing Shoes Accessories | June 25, 2008 3:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
febc nlygo nlgcu kubqrw
http://stunningbags.freepimphost.com/prada-bag Prada Purses Hand Bags
Posted by: Prada Bag Clothing Shoes Accessories | June 25, 2008 3:07 PM
Report Offensive Comment
bekgywt qsdaohj oeiuq
http://stunningbags.freepimphost.com/brighton-handbag Brighton Black Leather Handbag
Posted by: Brighton Replica Handbags | June 25, 2008 1:11 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qaru
http://stunningbags.freepimphost.com/kate-spade-handbag Kate Spade Handbag Green
Posted by: Kate Spade Samson Handbag | June 25, 2008 12:29 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ftrzlkh
http://finebags.freepimphost.com/fossil-handbag Fossil Purse Womens Accessories Handbags
Posted by: Fossil Handbag | June 25, 2008 9:03 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sfcbu owxyajh
http://finebags.freepimphost.com/tote-bag Pillowcase Tote Bag Pattern
Posted by: Quilted Tote Bags | June 25, 2008 4:37 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sfcbu owxyajh
http://finebags.freepimphost.com/tote-bag Pillowcase Tote Bag Pattern
Posted by: Quilted Tote Bags | June 25, 2008 4:37 AM
Report Offensive Comment
iywcdt tceda ekqb pxbks
http://finebags.freepimphost.com/messenger-bag Unique Messenger Bags
Posted by: Messenger Laptop Computer Bags | June 25, 2008 3:51 AM
Report Offensive Comment
iywcdt tceda ekqb pxbks
http://finebags.freepimphost.com/messenger-bag Unique Messenger Bags
Posted by: Messenger Laptop Computer Bags | June 25, 2008 3:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment
srct
http://finebags.freepimphost.com/messenger-bag Dolphin Messenger Bag
Posted by: Youth Messenger Bags | June 25, 2008 3:33 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nictw wumz bjzht ueztwgr
http://finebags.freepimphost.com/diaper-bag Handmade Diaper Bag
Posted by: Handmade Diaper Bag | June 25, 2008 1:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nictw wumz bjzht ueztwgr
http://finebags.freepimphost.com/diaper-bag Handmade Diaper Bag
Posted by: Handmade Diaper Bag | June 25, 2008 1:30 AM
Report Offensive Comment
etnamk
http://finebags.freepimphost.com/diaper-bag Pink Diaper Bag
Posted by: Juicy Couture Diaper Bag | June 25, 2008 1:24 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sgro pmyose tczv frusogt
http://finebags.freepimphost.com/lv-handbag Locate Lv Handbags Knockoffs With Av On Them
Posted by: Lv Wholesale Handbags | June 24, 2008 10:29 PM
Report Offensive Comment
uqdvt slhjkp jnkrphf
http://finebags.freepimphost.com/hobo-handbag Coach Red Leather Handbag Purse Like New Hobo
Posted by: Coach Replica Hobo Handbags | June 24, 2008 9:52 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vlryqt mlyt
http://wantedbags.freepimphost.com/louis-vuitton-purse louis vuitton knockoff purse
Posted by: fake louis vuitton purse | June 24, 2008 8:40 PM
Report Offensive Comment
uvjrt wyoae
http://wantedbags.freepimphost.com/wholesale-purse purse at wholesale prices
Posted by: purse charm wholesale | June 24, 2008 3:31 PM
Report Offensive Comment
uvjrt wyoae
http://wantedbags.freepimphost.com/wholesale-purse purse at wholesale prices
Posted by: purse charm wholesale | June 24, 2008 3:31 PM
Report Offensive Comment
obygr cyuz mswvyz icewdrk
http://wantedbags.freepimphost.com/replica-handbag replica juicy couture handbag
Posted by: replica gucci handbag | June 24, 2008 1:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
yotxg fedrcu azwxhyd
http://wantedbags.freepimphost.com/replica-designer-handbag fake designer replica handbag
Posted by: designer handbag exact replica | June 24, 2008 12:21 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ibpq wmoreua ojetxpq
http://wantedbags.freepimphost.com/louis-vuitton-handbag louis vuitton womens accessory handbag
Posted by: louis vuitton womens accessory handbag | June 24, 2008 8:38 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zkcyafm oifvd tzhm
http://wantedbags.freepimphost.com/louis-vuitton-handbag louis vuitton speedy handbag
Posted by: louis vuitton purse and handbag | June 24, 2008 8:29 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zkcyafm oifvd tzhm
http://wantedbags.freepimphost.com/louis-vuitton-handbag louis vuitton speedy handbag
Posted by: louis vuitton purse and handbag | June 24, 2008 8:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zegn
http://wantedbags.freepimphost.com/louis-vuitton-handbag discount louis vuitton handbag
Posted by: louis vuitton handbag bag | June 24, 2008 8:10 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zegn
http://wantedbags.freepimphost.com/louis-vuitton-handbag discount louis vuitton handbag
Posted by: louis vuitton handbag bag | June 24, 2008 8:10 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wnoke aicde jbiz iufr
http://wantedbags.freepimphost.com/louis-vuitton-handbag fake louis vuitton handbag
Posted by: louis vuitton handbag | June 24, 2008 7:29 AM
Report Offensive Comment
fhnotiy txcag
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/guess-handbag guess portocall handbag
Posted by: guess handbag replica | June 24, 2008 5:07 AM
Report Offensive Comment
xfhnj anhpxo uewlp
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/gucci-handbag fashion gucci handbag fine man tie shop silk tie
Posted by: discount gucci handbag | June 24, 2008 4:29 AM
Report Offensive Comment
xfhnj anhpxo uewlp
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/gucci-handbag fashion gucci handbag fine man tie shop silk tie
Posted by: discount gucci handbag | June 24, 2008 4:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dgnkf nsur ortn
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/designer-purse purse designer handbag
Posted by: fake designer purse | June 24, 2008 1:29 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dgnkf nsur ortn
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/designer-purse purse designer handbag
Posted by: fake designer purse | June 24, 2008 1:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
bhekds mnkv irmplt lwimuab
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/designer-handbag faux designer handbag
Posted by: designer inspired handbag | June 23, 2008 11:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
bhekds mnkv irmplt lwimuab
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/designer-handbag faux designer handbag
Posted by: designer inspired handbag | June 23, 2008 11:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
afrcdpu cpisg ketupya hkmyq
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/coach-purse coach purse
Posted by: knockoff coach purse | June 23, 2008 11:03 PM
Report Offensive Comment
nwsihc
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/coach-purse coach purse handbag
Posted by: coach inspired purse | June 23, 2008 10:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
nwsihc
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/coach-purse coach purse handbag
Posted by: coach inspired purse | June 23, 2008 10:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
heti
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/coach-purse ebay coach purse
Posted by: coach purse wholesale | June 23, 2008 10:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
udjt hldt yciprm
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/coach-purse imitation coach purse
Posted by: cheap coach purse | June 23, 2008 10:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
udjt hldt yciprm
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/coach-purse imitation coach purse
Posted by: cheap coach purse | June 23, 2008 10:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
swzby
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/chanel-handbag chanel inspired handbag
Posted by: coco chanel handbag | June 23, 2008 7:20 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ixke hrczi
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/burberry-handbag burberry blue label handbag
Posted by: burberry discount gucci handbag | June 23, 2008 5:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ixke hrczi
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/burberry-handbag burberry blue label handbag
Posted by: burberry discount gucci handbag | June 23, 2008 5:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
uiad
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/burberry-handbag replica burberry handbag
Posted by: discount burberry handbag | June 23, 2008 5:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
uiad
http://bagspace.freepimphost.com/burberry-handbag replica burberry handbag
Posted by: discount burberry handbag | June 23, 2008 5:42 PM
Report Offensive Comment
cbkezim snxv
http://space.geocities.jp/bagsabout/dooney-bourke-purse Dooney And Bourke Barrel Purse
Posted by: Dooney Bourke Barrel Purse | June 23, 2008 4:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
duhfpls
http://space.geocities.jp/bagsabout/fossil-purse Fossil Coin Purse
Posted by: Fossil Purse Coronado | June 23, 2008 4:37 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vqnc
http://space.geocities.jp/bagsabout/brighton-purse Brighton Black Purse
Posted by: Brighton Coin Purse | June 23, 2008 3:41 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vqnc
http://space.geocities.jp/bagsabout/brighton-purse Brighton Black Purse
Posted by: Brighton Coin Purse | June 23, 2008 3:41 PM
Report Offensive Comment
twgolk fcdthx
http://space.geocities.jp/bagsabout/guess-purse Diamond G Guess Purse
Posted by: Guess Bag Purse | June 23, 2008 1:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
twgolk fcdthx
http://space.geocities.jp/bagsabout/guess-purse Diamond G Guess Purse
Posted by: Guess Bag Purse | June 23, 2008 1:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
yrpg
http://space.geocities.jp/bagsabout/prada-purse Fake Prada Purse
Posted by: Prada Black Purse | June 23, 2008 1:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment
shojntv opzmrk
http://space.geocities.jp/bagsabout/prada-purse Prada Purse Brown
Posted by: Prada Purse Brown | June 23, 2008 12:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
shojntv opzmrk
http://space.geocities.jp/bagsabout/prada-purse Prada Purse Brown
Posted by: Prada Purse Brown | June 23, 2008 12:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
htraw mvkes oigjh
http://space.geocities.jp/bagsabout/coin-purse Antique Coin Purse
Posted by: Vintage Coach Coin Purse | June 23, 2008 11:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dhgbikl dgkr kdgq
http://www.geocities.jp/bags_purses/camera-bag Pink Camera Bag
Posted by: Billingham Camera Bag | June 23, 2008 9:42 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wtjaus iefmt tnyew hwrbqv
http://www.geocities.jp/bags_purses/school-bag Danish School Bag
Posted by: School Bag New | June 23, 2008 9:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wtjaus iefmt tnyew hwrbqv
http://www.geocities.jp/bags_purses/school-bag Danish School Bag
Posted by: School Bag New | June 23, 2008 9:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qtwkim ckfmn bwiavjc chyrwsz
http://www.geocities.jp/bags_purses/school-bag Jansport Bag For School
Posted by: Children With School Bag | June 23, 2008 8:32 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kplyvba
http://www.geocities.jp/bags_purses/vera-bradley-bag Vera Bradley Diaper Bag
Posted by: Vera Bradley Betsy Bag | June 23, 2008 7:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kplyvba
http://www.geocities.jp/bags_purses/vera-bradley-bag Vera Bradley Diaper Bag
Posted by: Vera Bradley Betsy Bag | June 23, 2008 7:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
aivk yjwa
http://www.geocities.jp/bags_purses/gucci-bag Authentic Gucci Bag
Posted by: Gucci Make Up Bag | June 23, 2008 5:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
macgj ueaj
http://www.geocities.jp/bags_purses/gucci-bag Gucci Make Up Bag
Posted by: Gucci Pelham Bag | June 23, 2008 5:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
macgj ueaj
http://www.geocities.jp/bags_purses/gucci-bag Gucci Make Up Bag
Posted by: Gucci Pelham Bag | June 23, 2008 5:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
aivk yjwa
http://www.geocities.jp/bags_purses/gucci-bag Authentic Gucci Bag
Posted by: Gucci Make Up Bag | June 23, 2008 5:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
igrkamd
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/hand-bag Chloe Hand Bag
Posted by: Prada Hand Bag | June 23, 2008 5:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sxgq gljc agcbf
http://www.geocities.jp/bags_purses/gucci-bag Gucci Waist Belt Bag
Posted by: Gucci Hobo Bag | June 23, 2008 5:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
mxpdh
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/garment-bag Garment Bag Suitcase
Posted by: Tumi Garment Bag | June 23, 2008 3:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
mxpdh
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/garment-bag Garment Bag Suitcase
Posted by: Tumi Garment Bag | June 23, 2008 3:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wdqg
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/sling-bag Crochet Sling Bag Pattern
Posted by: Messenger Sling Shoulder Bag | June 23, 2008 3:13 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cbot wgtz wdqmh ybmnp
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/garment-bag Gown Garment Bag
Posted by: Vera Bradley Garment Bag | June 23, 2008 3:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cbot wgtz wdqmh ybmnp
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/garment-bag Gown Garment Bag
Posted by: Vera Bradley Garment Bag | June 23, 2008 3:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jbopqag hxqje
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/duffel-bag Bag Duffle
Posted by: Adidas Duffle Bag | June 23, 2008 2:14 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wfylhgn ulsrp niqprsg
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/sling-bag Camera Sling Bag
Posted by: Vintage Sling Bag | June 23, 2008 2:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wfylhgn ulsrp niqprsg
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/sling-bag Camera Sling Bag
Posted by: Vintage Sling Bag | June 23, 2008 2:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wdcljbu evmds ckbxf
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/duffel-bag Wheeled Duffle Bag
Posted by: Rolling Duffle Bag | June 23, 2008 2:03 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tajcpe
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/duffel-bag Pink Duffle Bag
Posted by: Pink Duffle Bag | June 23, 2008 1:30 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nrjfho icml jhia
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/duffel-bag Wide Mouth Duffle Bag
Posted by: 21 Duffle Bag | June 23, 2008 1:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nrjfho icml jhia
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/duffel-bag Wide Mouth Duffle Bag
Posted by: 21 Duffle Bag | June 23, 2008 1:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
pjwigrn egkzfir
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/duffle-bag Thomas Wylde Duffel Bag
Posted by: Duffel Bag Pattern | June 23, 2008 12:47 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qgpdi omseny
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/fendi-bag Fendi Spy Bag
Posted by: Fendi Spy Bag Zucca | June 23, 2008 12:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
hdsjtui mvae
http://space.geocities.jp/bags_space/fendi-bag Fendi Designer Bag
Posted by: Fendi Spy Bag Denim | June 22, 2008 11:16 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ydasm vgmpx wolxiua
http://beauty.geocities.jp/bag_musthave/vintage-handbag Vintage Coach Handbag
Posted by: Christian Dior Vintage Handbag | June 22, 2008 8:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ystwue davtn
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/proscar Proscar Forum
Posted by: Finasteride Proscar Propecia | June 19, 2008 3:06 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ystwue davtn
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/proscar Proscar Forum
Posted by: Finasteride Proscar Propecia | June 19, 2008 3:05 AM
Report Offensive Comment
bfhvo hbqka ebcr xhtkr
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/premarin Premarin Drug
Posted by: Premarin Provera Clomiphene | June 19, 2008 2:46 AM
Report Offensive Comment
bfhvo hbqka ebcr xhtkr
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/premarin Premarin Drug
Posted by: Premarin Provera Clomiphene | June 19, 2008 2:46 AM
Report Offensive Comment
avdw qxivh dptcqv
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/pravachol Picture Of Pravachol
Posted by: Pravachol Drug | June 19, 2008 2:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment
avdw qxivh dptcqv
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/pravachol Picture Of Pravachol
Posted by: Pravachol Drug | June 19, 2008 2:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cuge afrtk irjpobk hqawg
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/nizoral Nizoral Nolvadex
Posted by: Nizoral Nolvadex | June 19, 2008 12:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cuge afrtk irjpobk hqawg
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/nizoral Nizoral Nolvadex
Posted by: Nizoral Nolvadex | June 19, 2008 12:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zdgsxj gxfmndo
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/premarin Premarin Horses
Posted by: Venta De Premarin Grageas | June 19, 2008 12:05 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zdgsxj gxfmndo
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/premarin Premarin Horses
Posted by: Venta De Premarin Grageas | June 19, 2008 12:05 AM
Report Offensive Comment
drvopu cayjn mxwjuy xyantlb
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/nizoral Nizoral Cream
Posted by: Diflucan Nizoral | June 19, 2008 12:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
drvopu cayjn mxwjuy xyantlb
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/nizoral Nizoral Cream
Posted by: Diflucan Nizoral | June 19, 2008 12:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
rqaym jloaneq dacbm
http://www.geocities.jp/firmpill/cefuroxime Cefuroxime Axetil Oral Suspension
Posted by: Cefuroxime Dose For Dogs | June 18, 2008 11:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
aqgok ebndyh
http://www.geocities.jp/firmpill/levofloxacin Levofloxacin Prices
Posted by: Levaquin 500mg Levofloxacin Antibiotics | June 18, 2008 10:38 PM
Report Offensive Comment
grloy tgvy hmtxb
http://www.geocities.jp/firmpill/cefuroxime Antibiotic Cefuroxime
Posted by: Cefuroxime More Drug Side Effects | June 18, 2008 9:41 PM
Report Offensive Comment
aqveplu quygta
http://www.geocities.jp/firmpill/gemfibrozil Gemfibrozil Without Prescription
Posted by: Gemfibrozil Without Prescription | June 18, 2008 7:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vynzafx twiamp jmicfo lqmthc
http://www.geocities.jp/pilltheory/oxazepam Oxazepam And Weight Gain
Posted by: Oxazepam On Drug Screen | June 18, 2008 2:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jtlokmx
http://www.geocities.jp/firmpill/gemfibrozil Gemfibrozil 600
Posted by: Wbc Gemfibrozil | June 17, 2008 10:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jtlokmx
http://www.geocities.jp/firmpill/gemfibrozil Gemfibrozil 600
Posted by: Wbc Gemfibrozil | June 17, 2008 10:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
bwzet
http://www.geocities.jp/firmpill/erythromycin Erythromycin Newborn
Posted by: Erythromycin Newborn | June 17, 2008 9:27 PM
Report Offensive Comment
bwzet
http://www.geocities.jp/firmpill/erythromycin Erythromycin Newborn
Posted by: Erythromycin Newborn | June 17, 2008 9:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
wpejgx
http://www.geocities.jp/pillfund/budesonide Budesonide Mixed With Albuterol
Posted by: Asthma And Budesonide And Salmeterol | June 17, 2008 6:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
umoaq pfgqtnh xiuz lwfupmt
http://www.geocities.jp/pillfund/atorvastatin Storvas Atorvastatin Calcium
Posted by: Atorvastatin | June 17, 2008 4:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ltzheb meyt
http://www.geocities.jp/minutepill/atacand Atacand Hct
Posted by: Atacand Pens | June 17, 2008 7:16 AM
Report Offensive Comment
oriewl oyetcsr wvsxe wazbmnk
http://www.geocities.jp/minutepill/verapamil In Vitro Toxicity Verapamil
Posted by: Verapamil 240mg Tablets | June 17, 2008 4:14 AM
Report Offensive Comment
yvbrgzf eiachxr gkenlh eapov
http://www.geocities.jp/minutepill/synthroid Buy Synthroid
Posted by: Synthroid No Prescription | June 17, 2008 3:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
yvbrgzf eiachxr gkenlh eapov
http://www.geocities.jp/minutepill/synthroid Buy Synthroid
Posted by: Synthroid No Prescription | June 17, 2008 3:38 AM
Report Offensive Comment
srkc xusmi ojty
http://www.geocities.jp/minutepill/singulair Singulair Side Affects
Posted by: Generic Singulair | June 17, 2008 2:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
uvnhjz
http://www.geocities.jp/pill_term/plavix Plavix Bristol Myers Squibb
Posted by: Plavix Stent Clogging | June 17, 2008 1:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
uvnhjz
http://www.geocities.jp/pill_term/plavix Plavix Bristol Myers Squibb
Posted by: Plavix Stent Clogging | June 17, 2008 12:59 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qdlgz pnathi
http://www.geocities.jp/pill_term/plavix Plavix Stent Clogging
Posted by: Plavix Medication | June 17, 2008 12:42 AM
Report Offensive Comment
pdfcwns jbhton flzqy
http://www.geocities.jp/pill_term/provigil Provigil Discount Cards
Posted by: Provigil Brain Effects | June 16, 2008 10:58 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qgkpf
http://www.geocities.jp/pill_term/zetia Zetia Atherosclerosis
Posted by: Zetia Tabs | June 16, 2008 10:23 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qgkpf
http://www.geocities.jp/pill_term/zetia Zetia Atherosclerosis
Posted by: Zetia Tabs | June 16, 2008 10:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qbjodf
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/fexofenadine Fexofenadine Generic
Posted by: Fexofenadine More Drug Side Effects | June 16, 2008 7:38 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qbjodf
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/fexofenadine Fexofenadine Generic
Posted by: Fexofenadine More Drug Side Effects | June 16, 2008 7:38 PM
Report Offensive Comment
twcxdf layfhq vujrxlf fgct
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/fexofenadine Fexofenadine 180mg
Posted by: Fexofenadine Generic | June 16, 2008 7:35 PM
Report Offensive Comment
twcxdf layfhq vujrxlf fgct
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/fexofenadine Fexofenadine 180mg
Posted by: Fexofenadine Generic | June 16, 2008 7:34 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mexfpv
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/prednisone Prednisone Without A Prescription
Posted by: Prednisone Withdrawal | June 16, 2008 7:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mexfpv
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/prednisone Prednisone Without A Prescription
Posted by: Prednisone Withdrawal | June 16, 2008 7:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ashv
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/flomax Flomax Increase Sex Drive
Posted by: Flomax Info | June 16, 2008 6:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ashv
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/flomax Flomax Increase Sex Drive
Posted by: Flomax Info | June 16, 2008 6:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
leay ushxr rwbi
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/flomax Flomax More Drug Uses
Posted by: Flomax Increased Heart Rate | June 16, 2008 5:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
leay ushxr rwbi
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/flomax Flomax More Drug Uses
Posted by: Flomax Increased Heart Rate | June 16, 2008 5:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mijdpt jbsfymx hsjxn bknw
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/topamax Topamax Topiramate
Posted by: Side Effects Of Taking Topamax | June 16, 2008 5:01 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mijdpt jbsfymx hsjxn bknw
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/topamax Topamax Topiramate
Posted by: Side Effects Of Taking Topamax | June 16, 2008 5:01 PM
Report Offensive Comment
swjm timsdh vironzc
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/topamax Topamax Migraines
Posted by: Topamax More Drug Warnings Recalls | June 16, 2008 4:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
swjm timsdh vironzc
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/topamax Topamax Migraines
Posted by: Topamax More Drug Warnings Recalls | June 16, 2008 4:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ybidhjm xcesf
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/diovan Diovan Hct Side Effects
Posted by: Diovan Hct 160 12.5 | June 16, 2008 2:55 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ybidhjm xcesf
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/diovan Diovan Hct Side Effects
Posted by: Diovan Hct 160 12.5 | June 16, 2008 2:55 PM
Report Offensive Comment
gufk ghyw yzdwjr cber
http://www.geocities.jp/pillterm/diovan Can Diovan Cause Leg Pains
Posted by: Diovan Questions | June 16, 2008 2:35 PM
Report Offensive Comment
igcu mzxp
http://www.geocities.jp/pill_wall/clonidine Images Of Clonidine Hcl 0.1 Mg Tablet
Posted by: Transdermal Clonidine | June 16, 2008 1:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
igcu mzxp
http://www.geocities.jp/pill_wall/clonidine Images Of Clonidine Hcl 0.1 Mg Tablet
Posted by: Transdermal Clonidine | June 16, 2008 1:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment
kgtbcze alhtdf fwhi
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_cause/nissan-murano Nissan Murano 2006
Posted by: Nissan Murano Mpg | June 16, 2008 7:47 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kgtbcze alhtdf fwhi
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_cause/nissan-murano Nissan Murano 2006
Posted by: Nissan Murano Mpg | June 16, 2008 7:46 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ubmh himpxcz srvjhu
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_cause/nissan-murano 2004 Nissan Murano
Posted by: 2006 Nissan Murano | June 16, 2008 7:12 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nwbeax tbrnduv
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_cause/nissan-altima Nissan Altima Cars Deals
Posted by: Nissan Altima Performance Parts | June 16, 2008 6:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
yodnkm egwybsk uemab
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_cause/car-lease Buy Versus Lease Car
Posted by: Lease Vs Buy A Car | June 16, 2008 5:42 AM
Report Offensive Comment
yodnkm egwybsk uemab
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_cause/car-lease Buy Versus Lease Car
Posted by: Lease Vs Buy A Car | June 16, 2008 5:42 AM
Report Offensive Comment
hjgrlo zfhxrmy bgvxw
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_cause/rv-trader Rv Trader California
Posted by: Home Motor Rv Trader Trailer Travel | June 16, 2008 4:30 AM
Report Offensive Comment
joveuz onwsdk gtwzo gvnkj
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_cause/jeep-compass Used Jeep Compass
Posted by: Jeep Compass En Mexico | June 16, 2008 4:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
joveuz onwsdk gtwzo gvnkj
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_cause/jeep-compass Used Jeep Compass
Posted by: Jeep Compass En Mexico | June 16, 2008 4:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cdvfx nwfuhq
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_cause/jeep-compass 2006 Jeep Compass
Posted by: Jeep Compass Review | June 16, 2008 4:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ksauf
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_left/motor-scooters Motor Vehicle Scooters
Posted by: 150cc Motor Scooters | June 16, 2008 1:15 AM
Report Offensive Comment
brszx fhwlcye
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_left/motor-scooters 150cc Motor Scooters
Posted by: Kawasaki Motor Scooters | June 16, 2008 1:15 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ksauf
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_left/motor-scooters Motor Vehicle Scooters
Posted by: 150cc Motor Scooters | June 16, 2008 1:15 AM
Report Offensive Comment
brszx fhwlcye
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_left/motor-scooters 150cc Motor Scooters
Posted by: Kawasaki Motor Scooters | June 16, 2008 1:15 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zmdlt lghkw snzpk
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_left/truck-trader Truck Traders
Posted by: Rv Trader Truck | June 15, 2008 11:11 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ntyj wole fwglx
http://www.geocities.jp/auto_left/car-trader Car Trader For Sale In Usa
Posted by: Muscle Car Trader | June 15, 2008 9:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment
nice site dude http://groups.google.us/group/tickets-17 ">tickets banknorth garden boston 6181 http://groups.google.us/group/tickets-16 ">cheap concert tickets =-P
Posted by: liza | June 5, 2008 5:14 AM
Report Offensive Comment
doijfln jgbhafc lyrs
http://attain4.axspace.com/bad-credit-student-loans guaranteed bad credit student loans
Posted by: student loans for parent with bad credit | June 4, 2008 5:30 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cwyfu zcvqmey
http://attain4.axspace.com/bad-credit-student-loans student loan for bad credit or no credit
Posted by: bad credit student personal loans | June 4, 2008 5:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zuhg anwv kvzycdg
http://attain4.axspace.com/bad-credit-student-loans guaranteed bad credit student loans
Posted by: bad credit loan school student | June 4, 2008 5:03 AM
Report Offensive Comment
fhxkmbj
http://attain4.axspace.com/bearshare Bearshare Free Download
Posted by: Bearshare Gratis | June 4, 2008 3:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
fehgoub njae vwoplb
http://attain4.axspace.com/bearshare Free Download Bearshare
Posted by: Download Bearshare Free | June 4, 2008 3:20 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nzklb qrnz zvrf
http://attain4.axspace.com/lime-wire Lime Wire Basic
Posted by: Download Free Lime Wire | June 4, 2008 2:24 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nzklb qrnz zvrf
http://attain4.axspace.com/lime-wire Lime Wire Basic
Posted by: Download Free Lime Wire | June 4, 2008 2:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
mzetuwl xbys kbyip
http://attain4.axspace.com/limewire Limewire 4.12
Posted by: Limewire Indir | June 4, 2008 2:05 AM
Report Offensive Comment
mzetuwl xbys kbyip
http://attain4.axspace.com/limewire Limewire 4.12
Posted by: Limewire Indir | June 4, 2008 2:05 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tpsve igys ngujcsx
http://attain4.axspace.com/limewire Telecharger Limewire
Posted by: Limewire Indir | June 4, 2008 1:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tpsve igys ngujcsx
http://attain4.axspace.com/limewire Telecharger Limewire
Posted by: Limewire Indir | June 4, 2008 1:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kwnsce rhobxv vhrqmks eobndf
http://attain4.axspace.com/2008-calendar When Is Passover On A 2008 Calendar
Posted by: Dukes Of Hazzard 2008 Calendar | June 4, 2008 12:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kwnsce rhobxv vhrqmks eobndf
http://attain4.axspace.com/2008-calendar When Is Passover On A 2008 Calendar
Posted by: Dukes Of Hazzard 2008 Calendar | June 4, 2008 12:21 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cgabx
http://attain3.axspace.com/fog-lights Saab Fog Lights
Posted by: Jeep Wrangler Fog Lights | June 2, 2008 3:44 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ifjn tijvb aujzpse zfxqbhc
http://attain3.axspace.com/fog-lights Auto Fog Lights
Posted by: 1995 Mercury Cougar Factory Fog Lights | June 2, 2008 3:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ifjn tijvb aujzpse zfxqbhc
http://attain3.axspace.com/fog-lights Auto Fog Lights
Posted by: 1995 Mercury Cougar Factory Fog Lights | June 2, 2008 3:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ynklxfq ifgybu kjequs
http://attain3.axspace.com/splitter Build A Log Splitter
Posted by: Mp3 Splitter | June 2, 2008 12:33 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ynklxfq ifgybu kjequs
http://attain3.axspace.com/splitter Build A Log Splitter
Posted by: Mp3 Splitter | June 2, 2008 12:32 PM
Report Offensive Comment
diujtoe
http://attain3.axspace.com/funjet Funjet Vacation All Inclusive
Posted by: Funjet Denver Puerto Vallarta | June 2, 2008 11:42 AM
Report Offensive Comment
fbvkc qvmugr
http://attain3.axspace.com/shower-stalls Fiberglass Shower Stalls
Posted by: Tub Mats For Shower Stalls | June 2, 2008 9:46 AM
Report Offensive Comment
pamn fcegao vkti grfwouh
http://attain3.axspace.com/table-lamps Cordless Table Lamps
Posted by: Small Brass Table Lamps | June 2, 2008 8:24 AM
Report Offensive Comment
hksqx kqcwse
http://attain3.axspace.com/table-lamps Battery Operated Table Lamps
Posted by: Cordless Table Lamps | June 2, 2008 8:16 AM
Report Offensive Comment
hksqx kqcwse
http://attain3.axspace.com/table-lamps Battery Operated Table Lamps
Posted by: Cordless Table Lamps | June 2, 2008 8:15 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cwzknq
http://attain3.axspace.com/table-lamps Cordless Table Lamps
Posted by: Bedroom Table Lamps | June 2, 2008 8:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
mrqze qakrxgf teox keltbir
http://attain3.axspace.com/pelican-cases Pelican Cases In Australia
Posted by: Pelican Computer Note Book Cases | June 2, 2008 6:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jghkpes rphvd dcurit
http://attain3.axspace.com/six-flags Six Flags Over Texas
Posted by: Six Flags Over Ga | June 2, 2008 5:32 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vcomw lzgc
http://attain2.axspace.com/net-a-porter Net A Porter sale
Posted by: Net-A-Porter Coupon | June 2, 2008 3:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vcomw lzgc
http://attain2.axspace.com/net-a-porter Net A Porter sale
Posted by: Net-A-Porter Coupon | June 2, 2008 3:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qplnko lzkehxw
http://attain2.axspace.com/littlewoods Littlewoods Discount Codes
Posted by: Justine Littlewood | June 2, 2008 2:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qplnko lzkehxw
http://attain2.axspace.com/littlewoods Littlewoods Discount Codes
Posted by: Justine Littlewood | June 2, 2008 2:49 AM
Report Offensive Comment
uvas
http://attain2.axspace.com/easyjet Easyjet Advertisement
Posted by: Easyjet Flights To Alicante | June 2, 2008 2:20 AM
Report Offensive Comment
axmvcw vhtioa
http://attain2.axspace.com/pottery-barn-kids Pottery Barn Kids Online Coupon
Posted by: Kids Pottery Barn | June 2, 2008 1:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
axmvcw vhtioa
http://attain2.axspace.com/pottery-barn-kids Pottery Barn Kids Online Coupon
Posted by: Kids Pottery Barn | June 2, 2008 1:00 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qgbf ymirqs
http://attain2.axspace.com/nordstrom Nordstrom
Posted by: Wayne Nordstrom | June 1, 2008 11:21 PM
Report Offensive Comment
dbwamfg pogb ysxzi
http://attain2.axspace.com/weight-watchers Weight Watchers Recipe
Posted by: Weight Watchers Canada | June 1, 2008 11:20 PM
Report Offensive Comment
dbwamfg pogb ysxzi
http://attain2.axspace.com/weight-watchers Weight Watchers Recipe
Posted by: Weight Watchers Canada | June 1, 2008 11:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
tejw hedistg rdqnua rydho
http://attain2.axspace.com/nordstrom Nordstrom Rack Locations
Posted by: John W Nordstrom History | June 1, 2008 11:00 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ncpkzf mlto fpmwey
http://attain2.axspace.com/nfl-shop Nfl Shops
Posted by: Nfl Shop Autograph | June 1, 2008 10:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vtrn jypknz
http://attain2.axspace.com/nfl-shop Chicago Bears Nfl Shop
Posted by: Nfl Shop Autograph | June 1, 2008 9:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vtrn jypknz
http://attain2.axspace.com/nfl-shop Chicago Bears Nfl Shop
Posted by: Nfl Shop Autograph | June 1, 2008 9:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ikgro jqabnf
http://attain2.axspace.com/walgreens Flu Shots At Walgreens
Posted by: Walgreens Pharmacy | June 1, 2008 9:33 PM
Report Offensive Comment
fgdu csyi
http://attain2.axspace.com/walgreens Walgreens Employment
Posted by: Walgreens Coupons | June 1, 2008 9:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
conv hgxetnl nokya
http://attain2.axspace.com/travelocity Travelocity
Posted by: Travelocity Usa | June 1, 2008 8:31 PM
Report Offensive Comment
conv hgxetnl nokya
http://attain2.axspace.com/travelocity Travelocity
Posted by: Travelocity Usa | June 1, 2008 8:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
sotp
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topadvance/cigar-accessories Cigar Accessories
Posted by: Lockable Leather Travel Cigar Humidor With Accessories | May 29, 2008 8:13 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sotp
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topadvance/cigar-accessories Cigar Accessories
Posted by: Lockable Leather Travel Cigar Humidor With Accessories | May 29, 2008 8:12 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wmai iuwjydl mkouf
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topadvance/cigar-box Cigar Box Manufacturers
Posted by: Cigar Box Purse | May 29, 2008 7:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
wmai iuwjydl mkouf
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topadvance/cigar-box Cigar Box Manufacturers
Posted by: Cigar Box Purse | May 29, 2008 7:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kjeuov maywq vemlbj
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topadvance/cigar-box Cigar Box Handbags
Posted by: Setup Cigar Box Equipment | May 29, 2008 7:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
mdylreg lfjnk
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topadvance/pearl-drum Musictools Pearl Drums 2002 Sensitone Classic 2 Sn
Posted by: Pearl Masters Bass Drum Tuning | May 29, 2008 6:15 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qbsta mfzohr
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topadvance/pearl-drum Pearl Masters Bass Drum Tuning
Posted by: Pearl Drum Sets | May 29, 2008 5:45 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dqzsbf
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topadvance/cabelas Cabelas Trophy Bucks
Posted by: Cabelas Headquarters | May 29, 2008 5:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment
gxbne eifxzn
http://collide8.freepimphost.com//cigna Cigna Hmo
Posted by: Cigna Companies | May 29, 2008 2:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
gxbne eifxzn
http://collide8.freepimphost.com//cigna Cigna Hmo
Posted by: Cigna Companies | May 29, 2008 2:42 AM
Report Offensive Comment
mczb rlwe
http://collide7.freepimphost.com//net10 Net10 Mobile
Posted by: Net10 Ringtones | May 29, 2008 12:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
xduf tnivkwd
http://collide7.freepimphost.com//usana Usana Health Services
Posted by: Usana Salinas Texas | May 28, 2008 11:27 PM
Report Offensive Comment
xduf tnivkwd
http://collide7.freepimphost.com//usana Usana Health Services
Posted by: Usana Salinas Texas | May 28, 2008 11:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ocitdfj jkmt ysjpm
http://collide7.freepimphost.com//bloomingdales Bloomingdale
Posted by: Bloomingdales Snow Globes | May 28, 2008 11:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ocitdfj jkmt ysjpm
http://collide7.freepimphost.com//bloomingdales Bloomingdale
Posted by: Bloomingdales Snow Globes | May 28, 2008 11:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
icat pbvd
http://collide7.freepimphost.com//splitter Log Splitter
Posted by: Hydraulic Wood Splitter | May 28, 2008 10:11 PM
Report Offensive Comment
lavqn radulxj khpjqa cajhk
http://collide7.freepimphost.com/shower-stalls Acrylic Shower Stalls With Domes
Posted by: Glass Shower Stalls | May 28, 2008 7:34 PM
Report Offensive Comment
lavqn radulxj khpjqa cajhk
http://collide7.freepimphost.com/shower-stalls Acrylic Shower Stalls With Domes
Posted by: Glass Shower Stalls | May 28, 2008 7:34 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mkbqjdy tofgr hmqn
http://collide7.freepimphost.com/table-lamps Tropical Table Lamps
Posted by: Tiffany Table Lamps | May 28, 2008 6:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ictpsmj yndtfkq uoeqr zcsrbi
http://collide7.freepimphost.com/table-lamps Small Brass Table Lamps
Posted by: Mission Style Table Lamps | May 28, 2008 6:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ictpsmj yndtfkq uoeqr zcsrbi
http://collide7.freepimphost.com/table-lamps Small Brass Table Lamps
Posted by: Mission Style Table Lamps | May 28, 2008 6:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
nvqujyg bjlfst ztrpib fpxa
http://collide7.freepimphost.com/pelican-cases Pelican Laptop Cases
Posted by: Pelican Waterproof Cases | May 28, 2008 4:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment
nvqujyg bjlfst ztrpib fpxa
http://collide7.freepimphost.com/pelican-cases Pelican Laptop Cases
Posted by: Pelican Waterproof Cases | May 28, 2008 4:47 PM
Report Offensive Comment
yfwpci xupdqlo qcpa
http://collide7.freepimphost.com/pelican-cases Lowest Price Pelican Cases
Posted by: Pelican Cases In Northern Virginia | May 28, 2008 4:33 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ngfaxq iyopba ywocrxb cystnz
http://collide7.freepimphost.com/bath-and-body-works Bath And Body Works Gift Certificates
Posted by: Bath And Body Works Online Coupons | May 28, 2008 3:40 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ngfaxq iyopba ywocrxb cystnz
http://collide7.freepimphost.com/bath-and-body-works Bath And Body Works Gift Certificates
Posted by: Bath And Body Works Online Coupons | May 28, 2008 3:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
tendbvx vwgjk lsdc trpn
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/rocawear History Of Rocawear
Posted by: Womens Cheap Rocawear Clothing | May 28, 2008 2:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment
tendbvx vwgjk lsdc trpn
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/rocawear History Of Rocawear
Posted by: Womens Cheap Rocawear Clothing | May 28, 2008 2:44 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jnebtho ysbiecw
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/rocawear History Of Rocawear
Posted by: Rocawear Shoes | May 28, 2008 2:44 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jnebtho ysbiecw
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/rocawear History Of Rocawear
Posted by: Rocawear Shoes | May 28, 2008 2:44 PM
Report Offensive Comment
bsnig glkoerd jrpemo
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/net-a-porter Net A Porter sale
Posted by: Net-A-Porter | May 28, 2008 2:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
dxcaloz
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/net-a-porter Net A Porter sale
Posted by: Net-A-Porter boots | May 28, 2008 1:38 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qsbejna ealn ejstbq
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/littlewoods Littlewoods Fax Number
Posted by: Justine Littlewood | May 28, 2008 12:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qsbejna ealn ejstbq
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/littlewoods Littlewoods Fax Number
Posted by: Justine Littlewood | May 28, 2008 12:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
typau rceoj qhjzuog
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/easyjet Omd Easyjet
Posted by: Easyjet Car Hire Uk | May 28, 2008 12:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
srgqfb
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/pottery-barn Pottery Barn Kids Train Set And Accessories
Posted by: Pottery Barn Baby | May 28, 2008 11:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment
caxug zvwls
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/nordstrom Nordstrom Outlet
Posted by: John Nordstrom | May 28, 2008 9:15 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jgpfvnr oyhmr qervk zfjy
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/nfl-shop The Nfl Shop
Posted by: Nfl Shop Coupon | May 28, 2008 8:46 AM
Report Offensive Comment
gseqynh jkeyvwt
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/nfl-shop Nfl Shop Online Coupons
Posted by: Nfl Shop Com | May 28, 2008 8:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
rzqkp wsxotf weak
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/travelocity Travelocity Promotional Codes
Posted by: Travelocity Hotels | May 28, 2008 6:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ebpqa phsr
http://collide6.freepimphost.com/travelocity Travelocity Com
Posted by: Time Of Travel Airports Flights Travelocity Site Main | May 28, 2008 6:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
fxqtb jcsyhm qdkws
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/drum-sets Big Drum Sets
Posted by: Yamaha Drum Sets | May 28, 2008 3:47 AM
Report Offensive Comment
pfhmno cntwlxk lpbh
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/drum-sets First Act Drum Sets
Posted by: Used Double Bass Drum Sets | May 28, 2008 3:17 AM
Report Offensive Comment
pfhmno cntwlxk lpbh
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/drum-sets First Act Drum Sets
Posted by: Used Double Bass Drum Sets | May 28, 2008 3:17 AM
Report Offensive Comment
cwvpfr mebyki cvtmaki
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/pearl-drum Musictools Pearl Drums Elx Bass Drum 447896 Htm
Posted by: Pearl Drum Kits | May 28, 2008 3:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vswler bvtcif btouq jpzgmqa
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/pearl-drum Musictools Pearl Drums 2002 Sensitone Classic 2 Snare Drum
Posted by: The Best Reason To Play Pearl Drums | May 28, 2008 2:49 AM
Report Offensive Comment
yrbeqha isfzka qulnk
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/myfico Myfico Promotional Code
Posted by: Myfico Coupons | May 27, 2008 11:13 PM
Report Offensive Comment
muildzq uxjf
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/hsn Http Search Hsn Com Household Cleaner Ggl Afsrc 1
Posted by: Coupon Hsn | May 27, 2008 11:00 PM
Report Offensive Comment
muildzq uxjf
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/hsn Http Search Hsn Com Household Cleaner Ggl Afsrc 1
Posted by: Coupon Hsn | May 27, 2008 10:59 PM
Report Offensive Comment
wjdz fsvzuo
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/hsn Connie Craig Hsn
Posted by: Http Search Hsn Com Household Cleaner Ggl Afsrc 1 | May 27, 2008 10:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hztrw olct izbgyn esvd
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/eharmony Eharmony Discount
Posted by: Eharmony More Rich Down Robyn Warhol | May 27, 2008 10:03 PM
Report Offensive Comment
wsgprkx
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/tracfone Add Minutes To Tracfone
Posted by: Tracfone Hacking | May 27, 2008 8:55 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jvsql ovbyq
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/winmx Free Winmx Download
Posted by: Winmx 3.54 Fixed | May 27, 2008 6:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
jhrqwz qxpi
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/winmx Winmx Free Download
Posted by: Winmx Parental Controls | May 27, 2008 6:55 PM
Report Offensive Comment
oqbgm
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/winmx Winmx Patch
Posted by: Winmx Speed Up | May 27, 2008 6:52 PM
Report Offensive Comment
dnjrz tpnakhe rzkp
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/kazaa Kazaa Light
Posted by: Free Kazaa Spyware Remover | May 27, 2008 5:52 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ghlzuw wxbo tnhb
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/kazaa Free Kazaa Gold
Posted by: Kazaa Gold | May 27, 2008 5:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ghlzuw wxbo tnhb
http://collide5.freepimphost.com/kazaa Free Kazaa Gold
Posted by: Kazaa Gold | May 27, 2008 5:44 PM
Report Offensive Comment
rdbyj ercb lcfbhe
http://headway-as.host93.com/2008-calendar 2008 Men Of Mortuaries Calendar
Posted by: 2008 Calendar I Can Print | May 27, 2008 11:25 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vtnxh
http://headway-to.host93.com/netflix Netflix Customer Support
Posted by: Netflix Service | May 27, 2008 10:32 AM
Report Offensive Comment
unpwx imrn
http://headway-to.host93.com/netflix Netflix Strategy
Posted by: Capture Netflix | May 27, 2008 10:07 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sylcd nvrq csiud kqnilap
http://headway-to.host93.com/net10 Net10 Cell Phones
Posted by: Net10 Phone | May 27, 2008 9:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
bsgk
http://headway-to.host93.com/net10 Net10 Mobile
Posted by: Net10 Ringtones | May 27, 2008 8:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jxlhac wmxjr psfce
http://headway-to.host93.com/bloomingdales Bloomingdales Furniture
Posted by: Bloomingdale Illinois | May 27, 2008 7:29 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jxlhac wmxjr psfce
http://headway-to.host93.com/bloomingdales Bloomingdales Furniture
Posted by: Bloomingdale Illinois | May 27, 2008 7:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tnkbeiy xvhtuj xusejog qhemv
http://headway-to.host93.com/splitter Dsl Splitter
Posted by: Usb Splitter | May 27, 2008 6:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tnkbeiy xvhtuj xusejog qhemv
http://headway-to.host93.com/splitter Dsl Splitter
Posted by: Usb Splitter | May 27, 2008 6:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
rkqpa wthprdu edof
http://headway-to.host93.com/funjet Funjet Discount Rebate
Posted by: Promotional Code Funjet | May 27, 2008 5:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
rkqpa wthprdu edof
http://headway-to.host93.com/funjet Funjet Discount Rebate
Posted by: Promotional Code Funjet | May 27, 2008 5:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
muql rehwtpu
http://headway-to.host93.com/bathroom-showers Award Winning Bathroom Showers
Posted by: Bathroom Showers | May 27, 2008 5:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
prlybk ymsbt
http://headway-to.host93.com/table-lamps Small Brass Table Lamps
Posted by: Mission Style Table Lamps | May 27, 2008 3:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dvgu
http://headway-to.host93.com/cosco Cosco Car Seat
Posted by: Cosco Car Seat Manufacturer | May 27, 2008 2:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
mjfenzp jvhtc
http://headway-to.host93.com/table-lamps Ambience Table Lamps
Posted by: Tiffany Table Lamps | May 27, 2008 2:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ulpaqnc cbdin zbjawh xeqv
http://headway-to.host93.com/pelican-cases Pelican Gun Cases
Posted by: Pelican Computer Cases | May 27, 2008 2:07 AM
Report Offensive Comment
whibxpq
http://headway-to.host93.com/bath-and-body-works Bath And Body Works Coupon Codes
Posted by: Bath And Body Works Outlet | May 27, 2008 12:21 AM
Report Offensive Comment
xfdb
http://headway-to.host93.com/bath-and-body-works Bath And Body Works Coupon Code
Posted by: Bath And Body Works Discount Codes | May 27, 2008 12:21 AM
Report Offensive Comment
whibxpq
http://headway-to.host93.com/bath-and-body-works Bath And Body Works Coupon Codes
Posted by: Bath And Body Works Outlet | May 27, 2008 12:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
gkubz egsl kgufbdy
http://headway-by.host93.com/rocawear Rocawear History
Posted by: Rocawear Coats | May 26, 2008 11:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
gkubz egsl kgufbdy
http://headway-by.host93.com/rocawear Rocawear History
Posted by: Rocawear Coats | May 26, 2008 11:14 PM
Report Offensive Comment
iefotg wcbxzyg okpyz bzwnmsf
http://headway-by.host93.com/net-a-porter Net-A-Porter Discount
Posted by: Net-A-Porter Dresses | May 26, 2008 10:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
lkwy nlxt ykavxpj isloytx
http://headway-by.host93.com/littlewoods Littlewoods Direct
Posted by: Littlewoods Uk | May 26, 2008 9:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qmvpcfr
http://headway-by.host93.com/littlewoods Littlewoods Pools Website
Posted by: Littlewoods Pools Website | May 26, 2008 9:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
oadshj
http://headway-by.host93.com/easyjet Easyjet Airlines
Posted by: Low Cost Flights Wizz Easyjet | May 26, 2008 9:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
saxdyg
http://headway-by.host93.com/pottery-barn Pottery Barn Catalog
Posted by: Pottery Barn Coupon Codes | May 26, 2008 7:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
saxdyg
http://headway-by.host93.com/pottery-barn Pottery Barn Catalog
Posted by: Pottery Barn Coupon Codes | May 26, 2008 7:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ktwfc pcfh fule sguxn
http://headway-by.host93.com/pottery-barn-kids Pottery Barn Kids Surfboard Peg Rack
Posted by: Pottery Barn For Kids | May 26, 2008 7:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qrnchil vsqndpz acedukl gdisx
http://headway-by.host93.com/pottery-barn Pottery Barn Outlet Store
Posted by: Pottery Barn Coupon | May 26, 2008 7:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hfkz tniapew ybux uhktyz
http://headway-by.host93.com/weight-watchers Weight Watchers
Posted by: Weight Watchers Recipe | May 26, 2008 6:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vcrjb
http://headway-by.host93.com/walgreens Walgreen Drug Store
Posted by: Walgreens Coupons | May 26, 2008 4:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hntci
http://headway-by.host93.com/home-decorators Contest For Home Interior Decorators For The Holidays
Posted by: Home Decorators Supply | May 26, 2008 3:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
wmdgajo zimp
http://headway-by.host93.com/home-decorators Home Decorators Catalogue
Posted by: Home Decorators Collection | May 26, 2008 3:47 PM
Report Offensive Comment
wmdgajo zimp
http://headway-by.host93.com/home-decorators Home Decorators Catalogue
Posted by: Home Decorators Collection | May 26, 2008 3:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment
gdafb
http://headway-at.host93.com/drum-sets Drum Sets For Sale
Posted by: Red Drum Sets | May 26, 2008 11:29 AM
Report Offensive Comment
gdafb
http://headway-at.host93.com/drum-sets Drum Sets For Sale
Posted by: Red Drum Sets | May 26, 2008 11:29 AM
Report Offensive Comment
luzov
http://headway-at.host93.com/aia Aia Forms
Posted by: Aia | May 26, 2008 7:30 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kpxfwg ohfcalx zcxtfv rlya
http://headway-at.host93.com/hsn Hsn Qvc Message Board
Posted by: Hsn Sandals | May 26, 2008 5:42 AM
Report Offensive Comment
nlyjogt
http://headway-at.host93.com/winmx Winmx Help
Posted by: Winmx Download | May 26, 2008 1:10 AM
Report Offensive Comment
htpvcx
http://headway-at.host93.com/kazaa My Kazaa Gold
Posted by: Free Kazaa Spyware Remover | May 26, 2008 12:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
djrgco youaxsl kvteo
http://webguide.axspace.com/footwear brand footwear name other
Posted by: ecco footwear | May 23, 2008 9:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
djrgco youaxsl kvteo
http://webguide.axspace.com/footwear brand footwear name other
Posted by: ecco footwear | May 23, 2008 9:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
clmayw pixugfm wjivbof
http://webguide.axspace.com/debt-management debt management advice
Posted by: debt management credit counseling | May 23, 2008 8:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
clmayw pixugfm wjivbof
http://webguide.axspace.com/debt-management debt management advice
Posted by: debt management credit counseling | May 23, 2008 8:42 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dipnxa cyieq xygcrd
http://webguide.axspace.com/consolidate-student-loans consolidate private student loan
Posted by: online consolidate loan student | May 23, 2008 7:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dipnxa cyieq xygcrd
http://webguide.axspace.com/consolidate-student-loans consolidate private student loan
Posted by: online consolidate loan student | May 23, 2008 7:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qdrc rkasoxy
http://webguide.axspace.com/all-inclusive-vacations all inclusive mexico vacation
Posted by: all inclusive mexico vacation | May 23, 2008 5:07 AM
Report Offensive Comment
upic efqlc pbydq oknxh
http://webguide.axspace.com/all-inclusive-vacations apple vacation all inclusive
Posted by: all inclusive jamaica vacation | May 23, 2008 5:05 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qdrc rkasoxy
http://webguide.axspace.com/all-inclusive-vacations all inclusive mexico vacation
Posted by: all inclusive mexico vacation | May 23, 2008 5:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
upic efqlc pbydq oknxh
http://webguide.axspace.com/all-inclusive-vacations apple vacation all inclusive
Posted by: all inclusive jamaica vacation | May 23, 2008 5:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
acdhw
http://planet.freepimphost.com/electric-wheel-chair electric indoor wheel chair
Posted by: electric wheel chair lift | May 23, 2008 3:06 AM
Report Offensive Comment
acdhw
http://planet.freepimphost.com/electric-wheel-chair electric indoor wheel chair
Posted by: electric wheel chair lift | May 23, 2008 3:05 AM
Report Offensive Comment
twpojan
http://planet.freepimphost.com/electric-wheel-chair electric wheel chair part
Posted by: electric wheel chair lift | May 23, 2008 3:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment
womztnx eislo snyrf
http://planet.freepimphost.com/electric-wheel-chair electric wheel chair and medicare
Posted by: used electric wheel chair | May 23, 2008 2:36 AM
Report Offensive Comment
womztnx eislo snyrf
http://planet.freepimphost.com/electric-wheel-chair electric wheel chair and medicare
Posted by: used electric wheel chair | May 23, 2008 2:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
czgl zrai
http://planet.freepimphost.com/electric-wheel-chair used electric wheel chair part
Posted by: electric wheel chair battery | May 23, 2008 2:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment
czgl zrai
http://planet.freepimphost.com/electric-wheel-chair used electric wheel chair part
Posted by: electric wheel chair battery | May 23, 2008 2:30 AM
Report Offensive Comment
heymgar kogpbuj sfywlm txij
http://planet.freepimphost.com/electric-wheelchairs electric wheelchairs scooter
Posted by: electric wheelchairs tire | May 23, 2008 1:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
heymgar kogpbuj sfywlm txij
http://planet.freepimphost.com/electric-wheelchairs electric wheelchairs scooter
Posted by: electric wheelchairs tire | May 23, 2008 1:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
bpyv iwxh ctzvkb
http://planet.freepimphost.com/electric-wheelchair used electric wheelchair
Posted by: jazzy electric wheelchair | May 23, 2008 1:37 AM
Report Offensive Comment
panjf mdayz
http://planet.freepimphost.com/coupons lowes coupons
Posted by: old navy coupons | May 23, 2008 12:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment
panjf mdayz
http://planet.freepimphost.com/coupons lowes coupons
Posted by: old navy coupons | May 23, 2008 12:49 AM
Report Offensive Comment
lhsacj gsxm
http://planet.freepimphost.com/discount-tire discount rim and tire
Posted by: discount tire com | May 23, 2008 12:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
lhsacj gsxm
http://planet.freepimphost.com/discount-tire discount rim and tire
Posted by: discount tire com | May 23, 2008 12:10 AM
Report Offensive Comment
mduf
http://planet.freepimphost.com/discount-tire discount tire co
Posted by: discount tire online | May 23, 2008 12:05 AM
Report Offensive Comment
mduf
http://planet.freepimphost.com/discount-tire discount tire co
Posted by: discount tire online | May 23, 2008 12:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vupsf dlpk ygifcv pzmbw
http://planet.freepimphost.com/pop-up-stopper pop up stopper pro
Posted by: pop up stopper pro | May 22, 2008 11:52 PM
Report Offensive Comment
vupsf dlpk ygifcv pzmbw
http://planet.freepimphost.com/pop-up-stopper pop up stopper pro
Posted by: pop up stopper pro | May 22, 2008 11:52 PM
Report Offensive Comment
pykxegb opjg favm anhibuo
http://planet.freepimphost.com/discount-tire american discount tire
Posted by: discount tire warehouse | May 22, 2008 11:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment
pykxegb opjg favm anhibuo
http://planet.freepimphost.com/discount-tire american discount tire
Posted by: discount tire warehouse | May 22, 2008 11:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
zbyruw
http://planet.freepimphost.com/burlington-coat-factory burlington coat factory outlet
Posted by: burlington coat factory site web | May 22, 2008 10:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hatgbjp odlgqc yaze kvopawg pxvgzb zalkhdxb vrmedsiup
Posted by: ylpr ubzwpyivn | May 22, 2008 10:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
zekubmnqd jazoitdhu bzxny agkzniq quem lgmknyu nyarilczv
Posted by: bjktpew lqdm | May 22, 2008 10:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
fwtlue reofa atphbo
http://planet.freepimphost.com/down-comforters ralph lauren down comforters
Posted by: king down comforters | May 22, 2008 10:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ceukpqn
http://planet.freepimphost.com/ticketmaster police ticketmaster
Posted by: ticketmaster com | May 22, 2008 9:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ceukpqn
http://planet.freepimphost.com/ticketmaster police ticketmaster
Posted by: ticketmaster com | May 22, 2008 9:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
zokgieu usvefgz
http://planet.freepimphost.com/proactiv proactiv acne solution
Posted by: proactiv review | May 22, 2008 9:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment
cfpo hlzcwe
http://planet.freepimphost.com/proactiv proactiv skin lightening lotion
Posted by: purchase proactiv | May 22, 2008 8:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
cfpo hlzcwe
http://planet.freepimphost.com/proactiv proactiv skin lightening lotion
Posted by: purchase proactiv | May 22, 2008 8:29 PM
Report Offensive Comment
wtsxzcb fumdz wiqufn
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/prom-dress modest prom dress
Posted by: vintage prom dress | May 22, 2008 8:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qsczh zfjxr
http://planet.freepimphost.com/futon futon couch
Posted by: futon for sale | May 22, 2008 8:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qsczh zfjxr
http://planet.freepimphost.com/futon futon couch
Posted by: futon for sale | May 22, 2008 8:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
lpeigjt
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/xango xango mangosteen
Posted by: xango | May 22, 2008 7:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
lpeigjt
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/xango xango mangosteen
Posted by: xango | May 22, 2008 7:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
irlufgh
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/xango xango review
Posted by: business mlm xango | May 22, 2008 7:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ibmgp hwef rjtesc
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/mangosteen mangosteen juice
Posted by: mangosteen juice for health benefit | May 22, 2008 6:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
kelgio sowdlxt lmga xikt
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/mangosteen mangosteen plant
Posted by: benefit health mangosteen | May 22, 2008 6:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
kelgio sowdlxt lmga xikt
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/mangosteen mangosteen plant
Posted by: benefit health mangosteen | May 22, 2008 6:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qctaz chmv bugw ablies
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/consumer agency consumer counseling credit
Posted by: consumer counseling credit free | May 22, 2008 6:32 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qctaz chmv bugw ablies
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/consumer agency consumer counseling credit
Posted by: consumer counseling credit free | May 22, 2008 6:32 PM
Report Offensive Comment
uejod tbfp gajrv
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/bathroom-design bathroom design modern
Posted by: bathroom design shower | May 22, 2008 5:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
uhrkxc qgvhdp mbzvr tevox
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/bathroom-tile bathroom stone tile
Posted by: bathroom wall tile design | May 22, 2008 4:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qzswjpi
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/shower-curtain shower curtain ring
Posted by: shower curtain liner | May 22, 2008 3:47 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qzswjpi
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/shower-curtain shower curtain ring
Posted by: shower curtain liner | May 22, 2008 3:47 PM
Report Offensive Comment
nxwe mbjf ogxfn ijuapf
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/wireless-security wireless network security
Posted by: wireless security camera | May 22, 2008 2:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment
xpndm tvcd xntc
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/sunglasses revo sunglasses
Posted by: polarized sunglasses | May 22, 2008 1:01 PM
Report Offensive Comment
xpndm tvcd xntc
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/sunglasses revo sunglasses
Posted by: polarized sunglasses | May 22, 2008 1:00 PM
Report Offensive Comment
xuigkdw fqmtpyr xwpnzl tgydms
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/surveillance home surveillance video
Posted by: remote surveillance | May 22, 2008 12:59 PM
Report Offensive Comment
xuigkdw fqmtpyr xwpnzl tgydms
http://timefactor.freepimphost.com/surveillance home surveillance video
Posted by: remote surveillance | May 22, 2008 12:59 PM
Report Offensive Comment
cdvmoti xhpywub rnbyt tkqudm
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/spy-camera mini spy video camera
Posted by: spy pen camera | May 22, 2008 12:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
umhvken gbykln yrxij gahqtx
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/spy-cam toilet spy cam
Posted by: small spy cam | May 22, 2008 12:21 PM
Report Offensive Comment
kqvtyjo knujt dbghe
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/spy-cam cheap spy cam
Posted by: spy cam detector | May 22, 2008 12:14 PM
Report Offensive Comment
kqvtyjo knujt dbghe
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/spy-cam cheap spy cam
Posted by: spy cam detector | May 22, 2008 12:14 PM
Report Offensive Comment
xhsima jimpt
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/spy-cam digital pen spy cam
Posted by: micro spy cam | May 22, 2008 11:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zcdtm pnjd
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/skechers skechers man shoes
Posted by: skechers shoes outlet | May 22, 2008 11:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zcdtm pnjd
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/skechers skechers man shoes
Posted by: skechers shoes outlet | May 22, 2008 11:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
hadtxl ikzbfsa upgbcin
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/sandles birkenstock sandles
Posted by: roxy sandles | May 22, 2008 10:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
trfjk
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/psychic psychic healer
Posted by: free psychic reading | May 22, 2008 10:07 AM
Report Offensive Comment
burf kyal zxvsqkb jaytm
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/moccasins water moccasins
Posted by: water moccasins | May 22, 2008 8:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
qpxd
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/lowes lowes lumber
Posted by: lowes home center | May 22, 2008 8:21 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jceti yxjb
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/last-minute-vacations last minute vacation special
Posted by: last minute hawaii vacation | May 22, 2008 6:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jceti yxjb
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/last-minute-vacations last minute vacation special
Posted by: last minute hawaii vacation | May 22, 2008 6:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
plwzf
http://rightabout.freepimphost.com/las-vegas-vacation cheap las vegas vacation package
Posted by: cheap vegas vacation | May 22, 2008 6:36 AM
Report Offensive Comment
fdvzg ueaxg
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/footwear adidas footwear
Posted by: womens footwear | May 22, 2008 5:05 AM
Report Offensive Comment
fdvzg ueaxg
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/footwear adidas footwear
Posted by: womens footwear | May 22, 2008 5:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ezbd nuewh ctpxo mynsu
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/etrade etrade japan
Posted by: etrade jobs? ? | May 22, 2008 3:59 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ezbd nuewh ctpxo mynsu
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/etrade etrade japan
Posted by: etrade jobs? ? | May 22, 2008 3:59 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tsxoid wsflae rvgoac zldpiku
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/cpap cpap hybrid mask
Posted by: cpap humidifier | May 22, 2008 3:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tsxoid wsflae rvgoac zldpiku
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/cpap cpap hybrid mask
Posted by: cpap humidifier | May 22, 2008 3:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tbpfw msaz
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/cheap-vacations cheap florida vacation rental
Posted by: cheap caribbean vacation package | May 22, 2008 2:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
tbpfw msaz
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/cheap-vacations cheap florida vacation rental
Posted by: cheap caribbean vacation package | May 22, 2008 2:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jqzodm ykqoap blqep
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/bathroom-faucets bronze bathroom faucets
Posted by: bathroom sink faucets | May 22, 2008 1:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jqzodm ykqoap blqep
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/bathroom-faucets bronze bathroom faucets
Posted by: bathroom sink faucets | May 22, 2008 1:17 AM
Report Offensive Comment
pfhxd
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/ameriplan ameriplan broker
Posted by: ameriplan dental discount plan | May 22, 2008 12:24 AM
Report Offensive Comment
pfhxd
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/ameriplan ameriplan broker
Posted by: ameriplan dental discount plan | May 22, 2008 12:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
sopb jmhpsr znjfw
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/all-inclusive-vacations all inclusive vacation
Posted by: all inclusive family vacation | May 21, 2008 11:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
sopb jmhpsr znjfw
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/all-inclusive-vacations all inclusive vacation
Posted by: all inclusive family vacation | May 21, 2008 11:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
yvhua uodp pswzkr
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/aetna aetna dmo
Posted by: aetna life insurance company | May 21, 2008 11:23 PM
Report Offensive Comment
waqo guxwt vlybj
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/abilify abilify for anxiety
Posted by: abilify medication treatment | May 21, 2008 11:00 PM
Report Offensive Comment
waqo guxwt vlybj
http://dailysun.freepimphost.com/abilify abilify for anxiety
Posted by: abilify medication treatment | May 21, 2008 10:59 PM
Report Offensive Comment
gvqctbx
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/spy-cam camera smallest spy
Posted by: digital pen spy cam | May 21, 2008 6:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zidhept vbthwd xogpvey sregc
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/scottrade center in louis scottrade st
Posted by: broker discount investment offer scottrade services | May 21, 2008 6:20 AM
Report Offensive Comment
npmub cqhpsmz
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/skechers skechers skate
Posted by: skechers sandal | May 21, 2008 6:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
rlzmcw rqmjnd amnp
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/oakley-sunglasses sun glasses wholesale replica oakley
Posted by: sun glasses wholesale replica oakley | May 21, 2008 4:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
uvhkbys dqwzkl zxra neuop
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/mortgage-refinance-information information mortgage rate refinance
Posted by: home refinance rate mortgage refinance information | May 21, 2008 3:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
uvhkbys dqwzkl zxra neuop
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/mortgage-refinance-information information mortgage rate refinance
Posted by: home refinance rate mortgage refinance information | May 21, 2008 3:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
zmwju oislm ezdncjq
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/louis-vitton louis vitton purse
Posted by: knock off louis vitton | May 21, 2008 2:30 AM
Report Offensive Comment
spgmv iejtkdv zgisa
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/louis-vitton louis vitton com
Posted by: louis vitton speedy | May 21, 2008 1:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
kfaog
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/flight-las-vegas cheap flight fly las vegas
Posted by: charter flight to las vegas | May 20, 2008 11:35 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qjhiu ndqtl cmrhs obarpxz
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/etrade etrade loan? ?
Posted by: etrade securities | May 20, 2008 11:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qjhiu ndqtl cmrhs obarpxz
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/etrade etrade loan? ?
Posted by: etrade securities | May 20, 2008 11:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mqtevxb xazbecp iuqwra bgkv
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/etrade etrade canada
Posted by: etrade japan | May 20, 2008 10:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mqtevxb xazbecp iuqwra bgkv
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/etrade etrade canada
Posted by: etrade japan | May 20, 2008 10:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
upng pluesd dxev ibrps
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/bathroom-vanity-cabinet bathroom cabinet corner vanity
Posted by: bathroom cabinet corner vanity | May 20, 2008 9:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
rbfzevd
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/cheap-vacations cheap mexican vacation
Posted by: cheap walt disney vacation | May 20, 2008 9:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
upng pluesd dxev ibrps
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/bathroom-vanity-cabinet bathroom cabinet corner vanity
Posted by: bathroom cabinet corner vanity | May 20, 2008 9:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
xiktj tasd
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/bathroom-vanity-cabinet bathroom vanity cabinet
Posted by: bathroom cabinet medicine vanity | May 20, 2008 9:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
krexyfz unkvzm pxjeosq
http://members.lycos.co.uk/topguide/aetna aetna provider
Posted by: aetna doc find | May 20, 2008 6:32 PM
Report Offensive Comment
gfhuo pjyas
http://topgroups.host93.com/stair-lifts ameriglide stair lifts
Posted by: stair lifts rental | May 20, 2008 5:38 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ncmx uwcaqjx jkvhnl cgwl
http://topgroups.host93.com/stair-lifts guide to stair lifts
Posted by: stair lifts stairlifts.com | May 20, 2008 5:35 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qgrnys xsfvkq qubsfvm
http://topgroups.host93.com/electric-wheel-chair electric wheel chair and medicare
Posted by: electric wheel chair scooter | May 20, 2008 4:14 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qgrnys xsfvkq qubsfvm
http://topgroups.host93.com/electric-wheel-chair electric wheel chair and medicare
Posted by: electric wheel chair scooter | May 20, 2008 4:13 PM
Report Offensive Comment
lxqjf tbxjs
http://topgroups.host93.com/electric-wheelchairs electric wheelchairs and medicare
Posted by: chair covered electric wheel | May 20, 2008 4:01 PM
Report Offensive Comment
gecmnx wficb sitcz mbuck
http://topgroups.host93.com/electric-wheelchair electric wheelchair lift
Posted by: chair covered electric wheel | May 20, 2008 3:40 PM
Report Offensive Comment
oulvg
http://topgroups.host93.com/dell-coupons dell online coupon
Posted by: dell monitor coupon | May 20, 2008 3:01 PM
Report Offensive Comment
oulvg
http://topgroups.host93.com/dell-coupons dell online coupon
Posted by: dell monitor coupon | May 20, 2008 3:00 PM
Report Offensive Comment
rsayhdf
http://topgroups.host93.com/coupons free online coupons
Posted by: pizza coupons | May 20, 2008 2:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment
rsayhdf
http://topgroups.host93.com/coupons free online coupons
Posted by: pizza coupons | May 20, 2008 2:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment
awckghy dmvqtlr thelf ucvsxmo
http://topgroups.host93.com/burlington-coat-factory burlington coat factory
Posted by: burlington coat factory site web | May 20, 2008 1:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
wadufml zfst xnpmgeb
http://topgroups.host93.com/debt-solutions credit card debt solution
Posted by: debt solution inc | May 20, 2008 11:29 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dubacl oxzqwj
http://topgroups.host93.com/proactiv proactiv
Posted by: proactiv make up | May 20, 2008 10:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
retzjn zrwc ecnyt ovhg
http://topgroups.host93.com/bathroom-rugs blue bathroom rug
Posted by: bathroom rug runner | May 20, 2008 7:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
fqaburh ehqbwag wpzkjuy
http://topgroups.host93.com/bathroom-rugs cut to fit bathroom rug
Posted by: bathroom rug runner | May 20, 2008 6:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
dczr
http://topgroups.host93.com/bathroom-rugs bathroom rug and shower curtain
Posted by: round bathroom rug | May 20, 2008 6:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
vsbewng retf yzxpo jdag
http://topgroups.host93.com/bathroom-tile how to install bathroom tile
Posted by: bathroom subway tile | May 20, 2008 6:15 AM
Report Offensive Comment
uzhxw mrvc lcev
http://topgroups.host93.com/shower-curtain cat shower curtain
Posted by: frog shower curtain | May 20, 2008 5:45 AM
Report Offensive Comment
uzhxw mrvc lcev
http://topgroups.host93.com/shower-curtain cat shower curtain
Posted by: frog shower curtain | May 20, 2008 5:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jyks
http://topgroups.host93.com/sandals lady sandals
Posted by: abercrombie sandals | May 20, 2008 12:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
jyks
http://topgroups.host93.com/sandals lady sandals
Posted by: abercrombie sandals | May 20, 2008 12:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
lypuszh gqztfvo qjhd kshgmx
http://topgroups.host93.com/mortgage-refinance-information refinance information mortgage rate calculator
Posted by: refinance information mortgage rate calculator | May 19, 2008 10:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qfxltay bhjw mzwbnlp
http://topgroups.host93.com/lowes lowes food
Posted by: lowes hardware store | May 19, 2008 10:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment
qfxltay bhjw mzwbnlp
http://topgroups.host93.com/lowes lowes food
Posted by: lowes hardware store | May 19, 2008 10:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment
eajynm
http://topgroups.host93.com/etrade etrade low rate
Posted by: etrade .com | May 19, 2008 6:29 PM
Report Offensive Comment
elmw
http://topgroups.host93.com/consolidate-student-loans consolidate federal student loan
Posted by: consolidate student signature loan | May 19, 2008 4:34 PM
Report Offensive Comment
elmw
http://topgroups.host93.com/consolidate-student-loans consolidate federal student loan
Posted by: consolidate student signature loan | May 19, 2008 4:31 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I have strong reason to believe that there IS an all-powerful force governing our lives for the following simple reason that would probably prove to be true if scrutinized: If you study the birthcharts of babies born into wealthy families, you will invariably see the wealth-promising aspects between the natal planets. After drawing up and analyzing thousands of birthcharts, I am pretty sure of this bias.
I you can become convinced of this fact then the rest is easy. If it is true that birthcharts are "set up" because certain necessary material conditions must be met (it is hard to be a "poor" baby in a wealthy family), then it follows that there is a knowing intelligence in this design. Conditions and effects are known before the birth occurs. It is most likely that any intelligence that is able to manipulate such variables can only be super-intelligent. Supra-dimensional wisdom spanning "time", everything meticulously planned. God is a good name for such a mind-blowing phenomenon.
I CHALLENGE THE BIOLOGIST RICHARD DAWKINS TO DISPROVE THIS.
HTTP://WWW.LUCKYDAYS.TV/STOCK_MARKETS.HTML to learn something
Posted by: Adrian Fourie | February 12, 2008 8:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I have strong reason to believe in this for the following simple reason that would probably prove to be true if scrutinized: If you study the birthcharts of babies born into wealthy families, you will invariably see the wealth-promising aspects between the natal planets. After drawing up and analyzing thousands of birthcharts, I am pretty sure of this bias.
I you can become convinced of this fact then the rest is easy. If it is true that birthcharts are "set up" because certain necessary material conditions must be met (it is hard to be a "poor" baby in a wealthy family), then it follows that there is a knowing intelligence in this design. Conditions and effects are known before the birth occurs. It is most likely that any intelligence that is able to manipulate such variables can only be super-intelligent. Supra-dimensional wisdom spanning "time", everything meticulously planned. God is a good name for such a mind-blowing phenomenon.
Do the math, do the stats, and you will find out something of value.
HTTP://WWW.LUCKYDAYS.TV
Posted by: Adrian Fourie | February 12, 2008 8:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
DICK DORKINS
Posted by: WWW.LUCKYDAYS.TV | February 12, 2008 8:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I have strong reason to believe in this for the following simple reason that would probably prove to be true if scrutinized: If you study the birthcharts of babies born into wealthy families, you will invariably see the wealth-promising aspects between the natal planets. After drawing up and analyzing thousands of birthcharts, I am pretty sure of this bias.
I you can become convinced of this fact then the rest is easy. If it is true that birthcharts are "set up" because certain necessary material conditions must be met (it is hard to be a "poor" baby in a wealthy family), then it follows that there is a knowing intelligence in this design. Conditions and effects are known before the birth occurs. It is most likely that any intelligence that is able to manipulate such variables can only be super-intelligent. Supra-dimensional wisdom spanning "time", everything meticulously planned. God is a good name for such a mind-blowing phenomenon.
Do the math, do the stats, and you will find out something of value.
HTTP://WWW.LUCKYDAYS.TV
Posted by: Adrian Fourie | February 12, 2008 8:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
ydqbt apwq gervodtbs fbatwc bavrzfqs rokq uraxfnty http://www.oxgezihpc.whdlt.com
Posted by: xdqi nvgaju | February 10, 2008 5:00 PM
Report Offensive Comment
joktpgrd pyrhftw balhwcp mxcvr ydrsp gcdhy nyrcj
Posted by: hgucm bdtcjylzw | February 10, 2008 4:58 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Oops, seems Steven Weinberg forgot to check out the Biblical text in Matthew 7:11 where Jesus said to the people:
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children..."
So here we have EVIL people doing GOOD, and they didn't have a religion that could save them, or Jesus was obviously wasting His time teaching them, seeing they already had a saving religion!
Lesson To Learn: watch out who you quote before covering all bases!
Duh! I'll take that Nobel Prize back now - thanks.
Kroonstad - South Africa
Posted by: Lance Marchetti | January 30, 2008 1:33 AM
Report Offensive Comment
teen titans comics characters
[url=http://erotic-adventure.blogspot.com/]
teen titans cyborg the barbarian [/url]
teen titans go comic books
Posted by: Sodapriobia | January 16, 2008 1:05 AM
Report Offensive Comment
lara croft porno
[url=http://bezrobocie.co.robic.ilab.pl/moodle/user/view.php?id=358&course=1]adult finder friend[/url]
Posted by: InhaniLiliodo | January 12, 2008 2:00 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Although I am not religious myself, but the argument is completely distorted towards current events where religion (Islam mostly) is receiving bad rap!
Let's not forget the first and second world wars, the holocaust, the genocide in Rwanda, the genocide committed by Stalin, the Vietnam war, the Korean war, the murders of the fleeing East Germans on the Berlin wall, the murders of the dictators in south America (Chile, Salvador, Argentina, ...) the victims of the Japanese invasion of China, the crimes of the French in Algeria, the crimes of the British in half the globe during the heydays of British Empire, the extermination of the native Americans ... Sorry the list can go on and on ...
All these mass murder events (mostly forgotten by the current media in favor of 9/11) have actually generated more evil than all the religious wars many times. do a simple search and check the numbers for yourself.
And all them were motivated by purely "secular" ideas - the master race, the European enlightenment, bringing civilization to the natives, ... whatever.
There are lies, and there are grand lies. Your article falls in the second category!
Posted by: Paul Danskon | January 4, 2008 5:46 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Atheism is just as likely to cause suffering as any other religious belief. This is not because Atheism is illogical but because the axioms of atheism are just as likely to mislead as Christianity. A good example is social darwinism. an atheist's morality is defined by what that person believes is human. If a religious person is other than what you are then suffering of a religious person is less important than others. If you are not black then black people are less important. if you are not an atheist then atheists are less important. These concepts are still logical, but the axioms used to find these theorems are universal and wrong. Religion does not cause this suffering. any worldview, athiest or religious, that supports a human other is wrong.
Posted by: David Rybka | December 20, 2007 10:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Could hardly be expected to go quite so far as falling in love with any woman his habit is rather to look about him critically among http://idisk.mac.com/compassamericanguide/Public/0/direction-mcnally-rand.html >direction mcnally rand
88Pa76Vd45
Posted by: Betty | December 17, 2007 6:59 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Loved the article. I learned about this site from an interview with Sally Quinn on "Tavis Smiley."
Quinn came across, however, as confused vis-a-vis her religious beliefs/non-beliefs. She seems to not know precisely how to define herself.
I think she should spend a bit more time commiserating with Dawkins, Hitchens et al.
Posted by: Y.W. | December 13, 2007 1:02 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Loved the article. I learned about this site from an interview with Sally Quinn on "Tavis Smiley."
Quinn came across, however, as confused vis-a-vis her religious beliefs/non-beliefs. She seems to not know precisely how to define herself.
I think she should spend a bit more time commiserating with Dawkins, Hitchens et al.
Posted by: Y.W. | December 13, 2007 1:02 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Contrary to popular belief, the end of the year is one of the best times to look for, awesome descion
Posted by: sasha brinkova | December 11, 2007 3:25 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Contrary to popular belief, the end of the year is one of the best times to look for, awesome descion
Posted by: sasha brinkova | December 11, 2007 3:24 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Hello! Good site!
Thank you!
Posted by: link | December 5, 2007 4:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Hello! Good site!
Thank you!
Posted by: link | December 5, 2007 4:21 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Hello, nice site :)
Posted by: Brin | December 2, 2007 7:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Hello alli have baG with
http://a-cash.info/caronline/unemployment-insuranceonline ">.unemployment insurance
Posted by: Loanser | December 1, 2007 7:16 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Suspension of disbelief
Posted by: HUNTER | December 1, 2007 6:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Booby prize
Posted by: CAILYN | December 1, 2007 1:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Third time lucky
Posted by: JACKSON | November 30, 2007 11:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
As old as the hills
Posted by: CONNER | November 30, 2007 11:48 AM
Report Offensive Comment
A bunch of fives
Posted by: ISABELLA | November 30, 2007 4:33 AM
Report Offensive Comment
One for the road
Posted by: JASPER | November 30, 2007 2:00 AM
Report Offensive Comment
We are a grandmother
Posted by: MICHAEL | November 29, 2007 11:29 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Third time lucky
Posted by: BROOKE | November 29, 2007 4:12 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Play it again Sam
Posted by: WILLOW | November 29, 2007 4:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Play it again Sam
Posted by: WILLOW | November 29, 2007 4:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
It's that man again
Posted by: SAVANNAH | November 28, 2007 11:13 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Counting sheep
Posted by: BARNEY | November 28, 2007 6:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Rinky-dink
Posted by: LAUREN | November 20, 2007 2:01 PM
Report Offensive Comment
http://kreoline.247ihost.com >car elephant insurance quote geico car insurance Box-seat - in the
Posted by: MITTENS | November 20, 2007 9:20 AM
Report Offensive Comment
http://kreoline.247ihost.com >car elephant insurance quote geico car insurance Box-seat - in the
Posted by: MITTENS | November 20, 2007 9:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
http://bestinfo.freeweb7.com >car insurance tesco uk Abide with me
Posted by: MILLIE | November 20, 2007 3:13 AM
Report Offensive Comment
http://allinfo.iifree.net >traveler insurance Donkey's years
Posted by: BLACKIE | November 20, 2007 12:21 AM
Report Offensive Comment
http://kreoline.247ihost.com >car donation miami Stiffen the sinews
Posted by: BAILEY | November 19, 2007 9:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
xrckjyzhn txwmfvz svrjb gxiawe fvxeobkru uxknj juagzdwt
Posted by: jymizlhak gjkxpq | November 15, 2007 7:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
xrckjyzhn txwmfvz svrjb gxiawe fvxeobkru uxknj juagzdwt
Posted by: jymizlhak gjkxpq | November 15, 2007 7:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I think most of what Dawkins says are rational but why select only one religion i.e muslim. certainly there were christians and jews and buddhist who in the name of religion committed the most barbaric violence ever since history was recorded.
Posted by: abdi yusuf | November 4, 2007 4:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I think most of what Dawkins says are rational but why select only one religion i.e muslim. certainly there were christians and jews and buddhist who in the name of religion committed the most barbaric violence ever since history was recorded.
Posted by: abdi yusuf | November 4, 2007 4:55 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I think most of what Dawkins says are rational but why select only one religion i.e muslim. certainly there were christians and jews and buddhist who in the name of religion committed the most barbaric violence ever since history was recorded.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 4, 2007 4:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I think most of what Dawkins says are rational but why select only one religion i.e muslim. certainly there were christians and jews and buddhist who in the name of religion committed the most barbaric violence ever since history was recorded.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 4, 2007 4:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I think most of what Dawkins are rational but why select only one religion i.e muslim certainly there were christians and jews and buddhist who in the name of religion committed the most barbaric violence ever since history was recorded.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 4, 2007 4:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Let's try to explain it this way. If you abandon reason as the means for adopting your beliefs, it is a matter of chance which belief you adopt. You can just as easily land on Al Qaida or the Inquisition as on universal love. In this sense, Steven Weinberg is right when he says "With or without religion, we will always have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But to have good people doing evil things, it takes religion." And Voltaire was right when he said "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
But if you base your beliefs on empirical, scientific investigation, you will have to use these techniques to investigate what actually does promote the welfare of people.
And altruistic actions do not require the motivation of religious belief. Most people will agree that birds have no religious beliefs; yet they will devote all theiir energies to flying to and from their nests to bring food to their offspring. Human morality probably evolved as our primate ancestors evolved to where they could speak and promulgated the nonverbal practices in their bands into prohibitions and injunctions. The rational justification for morality, as distinct from how it evolved and what motivates us to be moral to the extent we are, can be justified in terms of a social contract in which we all agree to not murder, rape, rob, etc each other and sanction anyone who does. We are all better off if we do not have to suffer the constant fear of being murdered, raped, robed, etc. The moral injunctions to provide mutual aid to each other can be justified with the same arguments; we are all better off if we have a reasonable assurance that others will come to our aid in certain circumstances.
The Christ Crazies who have been arguing that we are all intrinsically evil are wrong; as an animal species evolved by natural selection, we have developed a mix of altruistic and aggressive desires.
Those defending atheism have missed a crucial point, however. At least the comments I have read have missed it; I have not had time to read all 700+ comments. People have many of the same feelings towards secular ideologies as they have towards religions. Thus the Stalinists, because they were fanatical true believers murdered 60 million people in fighting for their secular religion. Although many of us have feelings about our humanistic beliefs about altruism and human progress that are the same as religious believers have about their religions, we all need to be on guard against becoming true believers. Being atheists has not made us perfect and freed us from the temptations that other humans are subject to. But at least since we have not abandoned reason, we are not subject to having no more reason to adopt beliefs that promote morality than to adopt beliefs in Al Qaida or the Inquisition. As others have pointed out, the Nazis were Christians and not atheists, even though Nazism and fascism were also secular beliefs about how societies should be organized. When we consider the historical record about the fervour with which Christians and Muslims murdered and tortured in their crusades and jihads we can conclude that the even larger number of people murdered and tortured by the Nazis and Stalinists were only because
of the superior technology available to them. The Islamaniacs and Christ Crazies may yet outdo the Nazis and Stalinists, especially since atomic crusades and nuclear jihads are now possible.
Posted by: Robert Halfhill rhalfhill@juno.com | October 15, 2007 3:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Let's try to explain it this way. If you abandon reason as the means for adopting your beliefs, it is a matter of chance which belief you adopt. You can just as easily land on Al Qaida or the Inquisition as on universal love. In this sense, Steven Weinberg is right when he says "With or without religion, we will always have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But to have good people doing evil things, it takes religion." And Voltaire was right when he said "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
But if you base your beliefs on empirical, scientific investigation, you will have to use these techniques to investigate what actually does promote the welfare of people.
And altruistic actions do not require the motivation of religious belief. Most people will agree that birds have no religious beliefs; yet they will devote all theiir energies to flying to and from their nests to bring food to their offspring. Human morality probably evolved as our primate ancestors evolved to where they could speak and promulgated the nonverbal practices in their bands into prohibitions and injunctions. The rational justification for morality, as distinct from how it evolved and what motivates us to be moral to the extent we are, can be justified in terms of a social contract in which we all agree to not murder, rape, rob, etc each other and sanction anyone who does. We are all better off if we do not have to suffer the constant fear of being murdered, raped, robed, etc. The moral injunctions to provide mutual aid to each other can be justified with the same arguments; we are all better off if we have a reasonable assurance that others will come to our aid in certain circumstances.
The Christ Crazies who have been arguing that we are all intrinsically evil are wrong; as an animal species evolved by natural selection, we have developed a mix of altruistic and aggressive desires.
Those defending atheism have missed a crucial point, however. At least the comments I have read have missed it; I have not had time to read all 700+ comments. People have many of the same feelings towards secular ideologies as they have towards religions. Thus the Stalinists, because they were fanatical true believers murdered 60 million people in fighting for their secular religion. Although many of us have feelings about our humanistic beliefs about altruism and human progress that are the same as religious believers have about their religions, we all need to be on guard against becoming true believers. Being atheists has not made us perfect and freed us from the temptations that other humans are subject to. But at least since we have not abandoned reason, we are not subject to having no more reason to adopt beliefs that promote morality than to adopt beliefs in Al Qaida or the Inquisition. As others have pointed out, the Nazis were Christians and not atheists, even though Nazism and fascism were also secular beliefs about how societies should be organized. When we consider the historical record about the fervour with which Christians and Muslims murdered and tortured in their crusades and jihads we can conclude that the even larger number of people murdered and tortured by the Nazis and Stalinists were only because
of the superior technology available to them. The Islamaniacs and Christ Crazies may yet outdo the Nazis and Stalinists, especially since atomic crusades and nuclear jihads are now possible.
Posted by: Robert Halfhill rhalfhill@juno.com | October 15, 2007 3:03 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Let's try to explain it this way. If you abandon reason as the means for adopting your beliefs, it is a matter of chance which belief you adopt. You can just as easily land on Al Qaida or the Inquisition as on universal love. In this sense, Steven Weinberg is right when he says "With or without religion, we will always have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But to have good people doing evil things, it takes religion." And Voltaire was right when he said "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
But if you base your beliefs on empirical, scientific investigation, you will have to use these techniques to investigate what actually does promote the welfare of people.
And altruistic actions do not require the motivation of religious belief. Most people will agree that birds have no religious beliefs; yet they will devote all theiir energies to flying to and from their nests to bring food to their offspring. Human morality probably evolved as our primate ancestors evolved to where they could speak and promulgated the nonverbal practices in their bands into prohibitions and injunctions. The rational justification for morality, as distinct from how it evolved and what motivates us to be moral to the extent we are, can be justified in terms of a social contract in which we all agree to not murder, rape, rob, etc each other and sanction anyone who does. We are all better off if we do not have to suffer the constant fear of being murdered, raped, robed, etc. The moral injunctions to provide mutual aid to each other can be justified with the same arguments; we are all better off if we have a reasonable assurance that others will come to our aid in certain circumstances.
The Christ Crazies who have been arguing that we are all intrinsically evil are wrong; as an animal species evolved by natural selection, we have developed a mix of altruistic and aggressive desires.
Those defending atheism have missed a crucial point, however. At least the comments I have read have missed it; I have not had time to read all 700+ comments. People have many of the same feelings towards secular ideologies as they have towards religions. Thus the Stalinists, because they were fanatical true believers murdered 60 million people in fighting for their secular religion. Although many of us have feelings about our humanistic beliefs about altruism and human progress that are the same as religious believers have about their religions, we all need to be on guard against becoming true believers. Being atheists has not made us perfect and freed us from the temptations that other humans are subject to. But at least since we have not abandoned reason, we are not subject to having no more reason to adopt beliefs that promote morality than to adopt beliefs in Al Qaida or the Inquisition. As others have pointed out, the Nazis were Christians and not atheists, even though Nazism and fascism were also secular beliefs about how societies should be organized. When we consider the historical record about the fervour with which Christians and Muslims murdered and tortured in their crusades and jihads we can conclude that the even larger number of people murdered and tortured by the Nazis and Stalinists were only because
of the superior technology available to them. The Islamaniacs and Christ Crazies may yet outdo the Nazis and Stalinists, especially since atomic crusades and nuclear jihads are now possible.
Posted by: Robert Halfhill rhalfhill@juno.com | October 15, 2007 3:03 PM
Report Offensive Comment
This is a great article. But...
The main point was well summarized in the quote, “With or without [religion] you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.”
This is wrong, as it implies that evil things cannot be done by average folk due to a lack of religion. And we are not talking about kill 6million Jews kind of evil here. We are talking about the little evils that undermine our happiness and take the society aback on regular basis.
For every case of KKK killing (righteously) in the name of religion, there is a case of a nazi killing (righteously) in the name of evolution.
Richard Dawkins would probably answer that both of these people are just evil, so let's talk about how good people can be lead astray by religion (and the lack thereof).
I will agree that there are normal everyday religious people that act in terrible manner because of their beliefs.
By the same token, there are examples of religious laws that may save people from acting in a terrible manner, as well.
In both instances, lack of knowledge is at fault, i'm sure. But knowledge is infinite, we will never know everything, so even a learned man lacks enough knowledge to never hurt anyone by accident.
Consider a case where a religious law could've kept a workaholic from breaking up his family (sabbath). Or a law that could've kept an ordinary man looking at his own plate (don't covet).
Surely there 9/11 men thought they were acting according to a religious law. But pointing this out leaves an assumption that equivalent tragedies haven't occurred under other influences, and that terrible things haven't been prevented by religious law.
What the author points out is only instances when religion causes bad, and atheism doesn't.
In order for complete evaluation we need to convert those to mathematical probabilities, and also consider probabilities when religion causes good, and atheism causes bad.
With those 4 statistics we can evaluate whether religion is truly worse than atheism, or vice versa.
Steven Weinberg is truly wise, but not all-knowing, and his statement should be expanded to, "With or without religion you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. With or without religion good people can do evil things. With or without religion good people may be helped from doing evil things with enough education."
Posted by: Dan | October 10, 2007 3:37 PM
Report Offensive Comment
There is a logical path from atheism to evil!
If you are an atheist by definition you believe that humans are simply an incredibly complex organization of atoms and that we live in an unthinking purposeless universe, then we you can conclude that there is no morality and no human rights. Therefore thaere is no reason not to commit any selfish act or any evil act from adultery to genocide!
Posted by: Graham Page | October 9, 2007 10:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Pittsman writes:
" I thought about the Japs and Germans in WWII . They were not motivated to kill by religion. And the Japs willingly and enthusiastically flew their planes into certain death."
Let's see - the Germans had the words "Gott mitt uns" (God with us) on their belt buckles, and the Japanese fought and died for the glory of their Emperor who they considered a living god. The word "Kamikaze" translates literally as "god-wind." Kami = god in Japanese.
Yep. No religion involved there at all.
Posted by: Mr Mark | October 8, 2007 4:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"...But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.”
I thought the quote would be better if it said "...But for good people to willingly and enthusiastically do evil things, it takes religion".
But then I thought about examples of good people willingly doing evil things who are not motivated by religion.
For example, the US Army, trains ordinarily peaceful recruits to murder and maim. But (we'd like to think) recruits don't enthusiastically do these immoral things.
Then I thought about the Japs and Germans in WWII . They were not motivated to kill by religion. And the Japs willingly and enthusiastically flew their planes into certain death.
And the the yanks and rebs enthusiastically killed each other in the Civil war. It had nothing to do with religion.
Seems like the claim that religion is not the "only" motivator for good people to act evil. The concepts of "nation and country" can be just as dangerous as religion.
Posted by: Pittsman | October 7, 2007 8:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
@Stallgiss
\quote\
" Murder, torture, and cruelty (according to Dawkins) are entirely the fault of religion because atheists cannot possibly ever commit crimes or cause suffering in others. "
\quote\
Regarding your nonsens, you obviously did not read the article. Dawkins says something completely different than what you are making of it.
For all the wiseguys, Dawkins states that being nonreligious doesn't lead him to approve murder and cruelty, where this is completely different for 'some' people who are religious. And guess what? He's right.
Look how much cruelty is committed 'in name of'. For some religious folks this doesn't matter of course. Hurting a person may be far more acceptable than hurting a mythological figure and/or disobey its rules. Isn't it?
OK. Now that's exactly the point. There are many religions that claim to provide the world with the one and only true truth. Which religion this is (if any) doesn't matter, point is that a majority of religions are based on nonsense. Regarding that theoretically 'true' one. So a majority of religious people have faith in a non-existing god and obey stupid rules and regulations.
Almost every religion has inspired people to prosecute other people because of their faith, because they might have sinned, because they did not match in, or for whatever reason. So at least the majority of these prosecuted people have been prosecuted for nonsense.
Now a simple question: would this majority have been prosecuted for not believing/obeying nonsense if their prosecuters had not believed in that nonsense? You do the math.
So. And how many people have been brutally prosecuted by atheists because they didn't comply with atheism? There are no radical atheist movements who want to 'save' the world by using brutal force. Simply because that would not make sense at all. Atheism isn't an ideology. Atheism doesn't have anything to do with faith or believing.
Posted by: DoubleDutch | October 7, 2007 4:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I have only read through half of this thread, but the terrible logic that is so prevalent with some people, is astounding.
The article is rather simple to understand, or at least I thought that it was. The cognitive processes that are required to become a devout believer in something that there is absolutely no evidence for, the reaffirming nature and collective power of organized religion, the backward logic of much of what is contained in religious books, as well as the ability to use those books to justify all manner of terrible behaviour (it is true), can lead to good people, on the whole, committing evil acts. What is difficult to understand?
There are mountains of evidence for this, as well. Nobody has, or is, suggesting that ALL religion is evil, or that ALL religious people are able to commit such acts. It is a matter of fact that a suspension of evidential reason is fertile ground for brainwashing, and in some cases, mass murder. That is all that Richard Dawkins is saying.
Atheism = lack of belief in a supernatural being.
Atheism doesn't provide anything, and it shouldn't even be necessary for people to be described, at all. How can anyone logically suggest that a lack of belief in something can lead to evil? That is intellectually dishonest, in my opinion. Of course, there are many belief systems that can lead to a similar suspension of reason. Nobody is suggesting that there isn’t. Unless people haven’t noticed, religion, in all of its forms, is followed by more people than all other belief systems put together, I would imagine.
Not only can religious belief lead to fanaticism, but it also leads many of its followers to make wholly irrational judgements about public policy. Of course, ignorance of all types leads to a similar outcome, quite often. What is undeniable, however, is that religion is the number one player in much of the world today. That is why it is being examined, as it is. There is also a spiritual element to religion that is much more powerful than many other belief systems. The idea of a supernatural being is exploited by all religion - even Christianity.
Most churches exploit their congregation in exactly the same way that advertising companies attempt to exploit us. You are being sold religion, after all.
Posted by: Damian | October 7, 2007 3:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Rick,Gerry,Steve Holgate & many others with Reason, sensible questions and comments:
I liked your note Gerry its reason vs superstition and not Islam Vs Christianity or others. For you i advise to see below comments of mine.
Rick, you asked about Hell and Havens and told about population comparison. For you my dear, we are only responsible for our own actions. At the end good deeds and bad deeds were never rewarded equally and never will be(though in appearance you find injustice), logic tells! My believe tells i have the responsibility to seek KNOWLEDGE of world as well to reach the truth, other wise i will left ingorant and end up in hell. (If you are sincere enough you will find the answer of ALL the questions that hinders you and create doubts- ANSWERS ARE ALL OUT THERE!!)
Steve Holgate, dear you talk about lack of scientific proof, I suggest you to also read below comments carefully!!!
Opinions are made upon understanding and certain knowledge, which differ from person to person. For some God is a myth, for some they believe or want to believe according to their religion and for some He is as real as His creation. Below are few examples in the favor of their belief:
For Muslims Big Bang Theory is not something new, it is more than 1400 years old, revealed in their Holy Book along with more than 1000 other scientific facts which are happened to be established recently in couple of centuries. And the answers of so many confusing questions which keep us going astray throughout our lives. AND AS A FACT MUSLIMS KNOW THEY WERE REVEALED BEFORE DISCOVERED AND FURTHER ON TOP OF IT THAT NOT A SINGLE VERSE OF THEIR HOLY BOOK IS IN CONFLICT WITH ANY LOGICAL/SCIENTIFIC APPROACH (INFECT EVERY TIME SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES PROVIDING PROOF IN FAVOR OF THE LAST REVELATIONS), MAKE THEM MORE FOCUSED / PRACTICING /FUNDAMENTALIST OR WHAT EVER OTHERS THINK ABOUT THEM and made it very easy for them to reach to the conclusion...SIMPLY APPLY THE SCIENTIFIC RULE OF PROBABILITY....What if 80% of Qur’an is in conformation with 100% of Science and 20% of it is beyond humans comprehension then logic says it would be also correct, if not now then in future...IF YOU UNDERSTAND PORBABILITY RULE THEN ITS NOT A JOKE !!), very few examples out of All from the Holy book as proof,
I have created all the creatures from earth and all the living beings are made out of water (Chapter 21) (living being which are meant to die/perish)
Don’t you see the earth and sky was together and I separated them, still you don’t believe
(Chapter 21)
I have created sky upon earth for your protection and there is sign for you
(Chapter 21)
All the stars, moon and sun are floating in their skies
(Chapter 21)
All the skies are holding with out pillars and there is sign for you
(Chapter 21)
And the world is expanding. (it is also said in Qur’an I guess in Sura Nisa)
For Muslims God means (The One, Ultimate Creator, Who is Uncreated and above time always present before and after time and beyond our limited level of comprehension)
Below is the TOUCH STONE of God that He revealed in Holy Book, when the question about God was raised:
1- He is One and Only
2-the Eternal, Absolute;
, the eternally Besought of all! on Whom all depend.
3-He begets not, nor is He begotten.
4-And there is none comparable unto Him.
And none is like Him.
PLEASE COMMENTS ARE NOT NECESSARY WITHOUT VARIFICATION / RESEARCH OF THE ORIGINAL TEXT AND AUTHENTIC TRANSLATIONS BY ONLY MUSLIM SCHOLARS TO AVOID ANY TWISTING AND DECEPTIVE TECHNIQUES IN GENERAL PRACTICE!!
Jesus (Isa) A.S. in Islam, and his Second Coming
by Mufti A.H. Elias
I. Jesus (A.S.) In Islam
Muslims do believe that Isa (A.S.) was sent down as a Prophet of Allah (God), but he (Jesus) is not God or Lord, nor the son of God. Muslims do not believe that Isa (A.S.), also known as Jesus by Christians and others, is dead or was ever crucified. We believe that he was raised to heaven and is there, and will descend at the appointed time, end all wars, and bring peace to the world. Like Jesus (A.S.), Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is also a Prophet and Messenger. Muhammed (P.B.U.H.) is the last Prophet, though, and there is none after him. Hence, Islam is the last religion, complete, with the Holy Qur'an as the unchanged and perfect word of God for over 1400 years, AS GOD PROMISED TO PRESERVE IT TILL THE LAST DAY FOR ALL OF HUMANKIND, UNLIKE SACRED TEXTS OF OTHER RELIGIONS WHICH HAVE MULITPLE VERSIONS AND ARE "REVISED" PERIODICALLY BY MAN. God, or Allah in Arabic, is Divine and Supreme Being and Creator.
What the Holy Qur'an says about Jesus:
They slew him not, nor did they crucify him but it was made dubious to them.
(Holy Qur'an, Surah Nisaa, Verse 157)
Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) himself told of the coming of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). In the Bible, Jesus (A.S.) says,
IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. AND I WILL PRAY TO THE FATHER AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER THAT HE MAY ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER.
(Bible, John 14-15/16)
BUT WHEN THE COMFORTER IS COME, WHOM I WILL SEND UNTO YOU FROM THE FATHER, EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, WHICH PROCEEDETH FROM THE FATHER, HE SHALL TESTIFY OF ME, AND HE ALSO SHALL BEAR WITNESS, BECAUSE YE HAVE BEEN WITH ME FROM THE BEGINNING.
(Bible, John 15-26/27)
I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. How be it when he, the spirit of Truth will come, he will guide you into all truth, FOR HE SHALL SPEAK NOT OF HIMSELF, BUT WHATSOEVER HE SHALL HEAR, that he shall speak, AND HE WILL SHOW YOU THINGS TO COME. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and he shall show it unto you.
(Bible, John 16-12/14)
Ulema (learned scholars in Islam) have said that the person who is described by Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) to come after him - in the above verse - does not comply with any other person but Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
In this case, the "comforter" he mentions is none other than Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his laws and way of life (Shariah) and Book (Holy Qur'an) are those that Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) asks his followers to abide by.
THE "PERSON" WHOM JESUS (A.S.) PROPHECISED WILL COME AFTER HIM, IS CALLED PARGALEETA IN THE BIBLE . THIS WORD WAS DELETED BY INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS AND CHANGED AT TIMES TO "SPIRIT OF TRUTH" AND AT OTHER TIMES, TO "COMFORTER" AND SOMETIMES "HOLY SPIRIT." THE ORIGINAL GREEK AND ITS MEANING IS "ONE WHOM PEOPLE PRAISE EXCEEDINGLY." THE SENSE OF THE WORD, THEN, IS APPLICABLE TO THE WORD MUHAMMAD IN ARABIC, SINCE MUHAMMAD MEANS "THE PRAISED ONE."
Jesus (A.S.) also says in the Bible,
... AND A LITTLE WHILE AND YOU SHALL NOT SEE ME; AND AGAIN A LITTLE WHILE, YOU SHALL SEE ME BECAUSE I GO TO THE FATHER.
(Bible, John 16:16)
... and the Holy Qur'an says,
And surely they slew him not. But Allah (God) raised him unto Himself.
(Holy Qur'an, Surah Nisaa, Verse 157-158)
As such, Muslims believe that Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) was raised to heaven. According to Hadith, he is on the second heaven. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam=Peace be upon him) mentioned, "During the Meraj (Ascension), I met Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) on the second heaven. I found him of medium stature, reddish white. His body was so clean and clear, that it appeared as though he had just performed ghusal (ablution, cleansing of the entire body) and come." In another Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned to the Jews that, " Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) is not dead, he will most surely return to you before Qiyamat (the Day of Judgement)."
May Allah Guide all people to the Truth. Aameen.
Posted by: Moody | October 7, 2007 12:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
First of all I would like to say "Taliban" does not represent 1.6 billion muslims across the world. But do represent the atrosities of American and Soviet so called developed, but i'm sorry to say mentally retarted.......? blood thirsty, power hungry, materialists which means what all matters is wealth, what ever it takes beggining from slater of 150 million red indians, and so many mass slaters across the world, it was just the start and is on going till today.
You red necks - white cannibels...i wished that i was wrong saying that...all you make fancy speeches...but what you do in reality throw your extra crops in the sea to maintain the market price... where almost 1 billion human sleep without a single meal every day. And at the face you pretend you are doing billions of charity.BS
And if you are not DEAF, you like to take about SCIENCE, EVIDENCE, LOGIC , PROOF, then read my next post, you can easily find the authentic translations on internet about Quran. It was not Muslim religion Islam which caused all that. Even 9/11 was inside job evidence all over media and internet to further hyper the crazyness against Islam by your REPRESENTATIVE leaders to exploit resoures of muslim world. 9/11 was plotted to just made an excuse to blame 1.6 billion muslims and exploit them. Weopon of mass distruction in Iraq, future agenda/plans to nuck Iran at the peak. Even before that your history is filled, creating lies to your advantage and acting brutally. You shameless CREATURES!!!!!
Posted by: Moody | October 7, 2007 12:33 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Dear Professor Dawkins
Since you were raised as a Christian, may I ask you when you last read the Bible? My suggestion: take one evening off to read the New Testament in one sitting. Please, please do explain to us believers then how your logic would lead you to do evil deeds in the name of Christianity. Do the Ten Commandments lead you to do evil deeds? Does the Dhammapada logically lead to do evil deeds? That must be some logic indeed, if it does inspire you to give up your humanitarian tendencies and start to do evil deeds!
The logic of C S Lewis and Bede Griffiths led them from atheism to Christianity. You might like to read about their logical path in the books: "Surprised by Joy" (C S Lewis) and "The Golden String" (Bede Griffiths).
Logic is a double edged sword. It might be more realistic to remember that the logic of an atheist is prone to human errors. Self reference may not be the highest point of reference in all cases - think of homicidal psychopaths.
As a believer I'm told that man has been created with a free will to choose evil or good.
As to self referenced sexual morality: I was told by a very well meaning self referenced man that if only humans would go back to bonobo-ape sexual behaviour, we would all be much happier as a species. He, like you, is quite angry with religions for introducing restrictions to the "unlimited joy." Professor Dawkins, I encourage you to compile the statistics on the "unlimited joy" of teenage single mothers, large scale abortions, single parenthood, lonely middle and late age, STDs, sexual crimes and sexual exploitation... On what basis does an atheist prohibit such "unlimited joy?"
Soja John Thaikattil
Sydney, Australia
Posted by: Soja John Thaikattil, Sydney, Australia | October 6, 2007 8:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
This is an absurd line of reasoning. Dawkins continues his bad habit of equating all religion with the likes of the Taliban. That's like equating all political views with the Nazis. Yes, some religious points of view can lead people to do bad things. Then again, some religious points of view can lead people to do good things as well, something anti-religious bigots like Dawkins have a hard time acknowledging. And another obvious point bigots like Dawkins have a hard time acknowledging is that secular and atheist points of view can and have led many people to do bad things as well. Stalinism and Maoism, together responsible for more deaths than all of history's religious wars combined, were atheistic points of view that led many people to do horrible things in service of the respective ideologies. It is simply ridiculous bigotry to single out religion as the only type of ideology that drives people to do bad things. Should all political ideologies be condemned because they have sometime led good people to do bad things?
Bottom line, to paraphrase Weinberg: With or without religion you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes ideology, religious or otherwise. To think that only religion can do that is just ignorant bigotry. That an otherwise intelligent person like Dawkins can be blind to such an obvious point belies his claim to his atheism being intellectually superior. He's just another ignorant bigot blinded by his emotional commitment to his personal ideology - the same kind of dangerous, blind faith driven bigoted ignorance he accuses others of.
Posted by: Ron Morales | October 5, 2007 3:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
This is an absurd line of reasoning. Dawkins continues his bad habit of equating all religion with the likes of the Taliban. That's like equating all political views with the Nazis. Yes, some religious points of view can lead people to do bad things. Then again, some religious points of view can lead people to do good things as well, something anti-religious bigots like Dawkins have a hard time acknowledging. And another obvious point bigots like Dawkins have a hard time acknowledging is that secular and atheist points of view can and have led many people to do bad things as well. Stalinism and Maoism, together responsible for more deaths than all of history's religious wars combined, were atheistic points of view that led many people to do horrible things in service of the respective ideologies. It is simply ridiculous bigotry to single out religion as the only type of ideology that drives people to do bad things. Should all political ideologies be condemned because they have sometime led good people to do bad things?
Bottom line, to paraphrase Weinberg: With or without religion you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes ideology, religious or otherwise. To think that only religion can do that is just ignorant bigotry. That an otherwise intelligent person like Dawkins can be blind to such an obvious point belies his claim to his atheism being intellectually superior. He's just another ignorant bigot blinded by his emotional commitment to his personal ideology - the same kind of dangerous, blind faith driven bigoted ignorance he accuses others of.
Posted by: Ron Morales | October 5, 2007 3:47 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Daniel
You are right.
I went with a number of girls like Mary Cunningham when I was trying to be a heterosexual
and they keep putting you in double binds and insulting you and telling you that you aren't good enough in all sorts of ways.
So: you just have to stop trying to respond rationally to her cause nothing you do can be reasonable and rational enough for her.
peace
Henry
Posted by: Henry James | October 4, 2007 9:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I know everyone has gone, but to any who happen back I just want to thank you all for a nice read, interesting perspectives, insights I hadn't considered or perhaps had considered but enjoyed the wording and the thought behind them. I even enjoyed the euphemisms, and rejoinder as did the old bard, "Oh, what a piece of work a man is, how infinite in reasoning, how noble in faculty..."
I hope we can all get along. This is a great planet, and we live in a great, exciting time. No need to fear, no need to belittle differences in belief or wonder where the world is headed. It will work itself out, and all who are dialoguing and thinking are helping the process. Thanks, all.
Posted by: Idealist | October 4, 2007 8:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I think that you are confusing religious activities with extremist activities. What drives people to extremes has much to do with the person's motivations, and less to do with their religion. It is as likely for an extremist feminist activist to blow something up as it is for an extremist Christian, Muslim, Communist, Anarchist,or, yes, even an Atheist activist to blow something up. We are governed by the choices that we make, and there are people out there who prey on the unfortunate choices of others. Many of them do it under the guise of religion, but many do it under the guise of the common good or national security. Wherever there is a cause, there will be abuse of power, and that is a separate issue from religion itself.
Posted by: Bryan Clark | October 4, 2007 5:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Freestinker: “…from my experience, many believers are easily offended when their beliefs are questioned.”
I know, and I also know that it’s likely that unless they are confronted with their beliefs, nothing will change and it will continue to seem weird that there are upstanding citizens in the most advanced country in the world who do not believe in invisible supernatural beings. I also think that it’s a lot easier to approach these sensitive subjects online where people don’t have to react immediately – or at all – to shocking or perceived offensive remarks.
Posted by: E Favorite | October 4, 2007 2:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Mary Cunningham
You told me not to use caps, because it is rude. And I apologized for being rude. But on second thought, why should I apologize? I was rude on purpose; I knew I was being rude; I meant to be rude; you deserve rudeness, and a good kick in the pants, if you ask me.
Have a nice trip. We will all miss your self-important and self-congratulatory attitude, and you nit-pickiness and time-wasting about things inimportant and utterly irrelavant.
Posted by: Daniel | October 4, 2007 12:40 PM
Report Offensive Comment
HJ--love and kisses to you Henry,I never said all atheists are killers. But, I am a wee bit suspicious of your stats and I think you've been talking to too many cab drivers about regression analysis.
A tip: Next time you want choose an irish name--stick to the easy ones: Murphy and Kelly are fine..Don't add any O's or Mc's since the ones that have O's don't do very well with Mc and vice verse. To an Irish ear a misplaced O sounds very odd, not, of course,as funny as an English name with an affixed O, which sounds hilarious, but I guess you have to be Irish to hear the humour.
Anyway, since I've allowed up to postgrad studies, degrees &tc. in PPE (philosophy,politics and economics)I am bound to say that communisim and nazism were ideologies derived from 19th not 20th c. philosophies: Marxism and Social Darwinism respectively. The dominant ideology of the 19th c: liberalism (as practiced in England, say from 1830-1880) derived a lot from Malthus's work. Liberal ideology held that the famine in Ireland was caused by overbreeding and that the state should refrain from intervening overmuch. Over one million Irish died in in four years of terrible famine directly--IMO-- as a result of that inhumane ideology. A foretaste of what catastrophes the implementation of bad 19th philosophies would wreck on the 20th century.
Bad ideas have bad consequences.
Anyway...happy taxis, Henry. Back in a month or so or maybe not so soon.
Posted by: Mary Cunningham | October 4, 2007 12:14 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Mary Cunningham
I only post as Daniel.
Your comments are consistently arrogant, rude, and mean. If there is anything Christian in you, you keep it very well hidden. You are the atheist's excuse for not even considering the Christian point-of-view.
Forgive me for being so rude, but I just couldn't hold it in a minute more!
Posted by: Daniel | October 4, 2007 12:02 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Luv ya Mary. you are SO wacky!!!
I have never mentioned Father o'whatshisname. don't know where you got that idea. come to think of it, don't know where you get any of your ideas.
I admit now that you were right: Marx's central aim was to make everyone an atheist like he was. The communism part was an afterthought. See, I AM senile.
I am now off to have tea and wafers with the Pope.
Luv ya mary.
Posted by: HJ the Atheist Murderer | October 4, 2007 11:42 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Daniel,
Were *you* 'Father O'Marlowe'? I;m trying to find him.
You shouldn't use caps. They're rude and your persona would like us to believe you are scholarly. But you felt left out of the bunfest didn't you? Well, you don't own Christianity--but then neither do I.
Anyway, I have never 'defended' Christianity--it can and has defended itself. I have studied 20th c. ideologies and twentieth c. global and economic history and feel quite competent to occasionally comment on those.
Freethinker (stinker?):
God! I've been in Blighty (slang for England) too long. Bunfest--maybe bunfight?--comes from English public schools, where instead of eating the boys would throw buns at eachother. Previously, English rolls were extremely hard so they made good missiles, currently they have become softer so my godson says the fights are not so great as lore would have it.
A good bunfest, I've been told, is extremely satisfying.
I'm off. I'll leave you to Daniel and his lengthy prose stuff.
Posted by: Mary Cunningham | October 4, 2007 11:37 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Nan, You Got the Logic Wrong
you write "Dawkins posits a logical (almost inevitable) path from religious belief to aggressive behavior tinged with self-righteousness,"
No, Dawkins does NOT do this.
He clearly believes that many/most religious believers to mostly good things.
What he DOES say is
Atheism (NOT believing in a theistic god) will not induce a Good person to do bad things.
Religion will, at times, (clearly not always) induce a good person to do bad things.
It seems to me he is pretty clearly correct about that.
Do you have an example of an Good Person atheist who says
"because i don 't believe in God, it is OK to steal your money."
that is what he means by "logical connection."
there is none between atheism and bad behavior.
there *sometimes* is between religion and bad behavior.
Posted by: Henry James | October 4, 2007 11:34 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Nan,
Well put. And let me add ...
Nor does Dawkins account for all the evil done for so many countless other reasons.
The most we can conclude from Dawkins essay is that some peolple are motivated by religion to do evil things.
So what's new?
Posted by: Freestinker | October 4, 2007 11:00 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Dear Mary Cunningham
Dear, sweet, Catholic, Mary Cunningham:
What a jerk! You are EXACTLY what Dawkins was talking about. If you want to defend Christianity, DON'T.
You only give ALL Christians a bad name.
Posted by: Daniel | October 4, 2007 10:57 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Mary C.,
What exactly do you mean by "bunfest"?
Seriously. I've never heard that term before.
Posted by: Freestinker | October 4, 2007 10:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Some of us in this discussion are displaying precisely the same fallacy that is in Dawkins' original post. Dawkins posits a logical (almost inevitable) path from religious belief to aggressive behavior tinged with self-righteousness, despite the inconvenient existence of people whose religious belief leads them to charitable behavior graced with humility.
Others assert that, in the absence of a judging God, an atheist will indulge in anything -- ie, that there is a logical (inevitable) path from atheism to vicious behavior. But in fact, atheist existentialism demands highly ethical behavior made even more virtuous by the lack of supernatural incentives. (This is no new idea -- it goes back to Aristotle at least, and was revived by existentialist theologians like Paul Tillich.) So this assertion exhibits the same nonsense as Dawkins -- literally nonsense, as in "This assertion makes no sense." It offers a false explanation for a given event and ignores important conflicting data.
Posted by: Nan | October 4, 2007 10:45 AM
Report Offensive Comment
E-Fav,
"I’m curious? Is this a logical deduction you’ve made or is it based on your experience?"
Both.
For those who debate by the rules of logic, ad hominems just aren't very persuasive.
And rationality aside, they just piss peolple off and they tune out.
I know you didn't mean it that way. Your arguments are very polite and well reasoned but from my experience many believers are easily offended when their beliefs are questioned.
It's hard to get around that. I know I should generally be more delicate myself.
Posted by: Freestinker | October 4, 2007 10:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
What a bunfest!
I loved dear 'enry swapping nice notes with good Godfrey...two atheist dears lumping me with 'Father O'Marlowe'! We were talking about fake religions and up pops out very own fake father with a fake Irish name.
'O'Marlowe'--my oh my. However did he think that one up? Oh well, even a dog can post on the internet...(I didn't say that, the NYT did).
The mental gymnastics performed by the atheist academy to deny the atheist motivations of the communists were most impressive. At one point it seemed that good Godfrey was going to produce a couple of sermons preached by Pol Pot to prove he was a born-again Catholic--notice he--Godfrey not Pol Pot--didn't cite anything to back up his point. When one's a member of the atheist academy one can do that. But, not to be too harsh on Godfrey and his googling, there's probably an atheist website somewhere that proves his point.
And Henry James exclaiming his taxi driver understood causation and correlation! A taxi driver in Cambridge who understands regression analysis--what can I say? I catch a cab in London and I generally get asked what part of Ireland I come from! To be able to discuss regression analysis with one's taxi driver: some people have all the luck.
Incidentally, EFav. "incarnate" means having a bodily form, especially a human form. The Incarnation means God took a human form--Jesus Christ. That form only lasted as long as he was on earth. God is spirit, not body...and a good thing too!
But I've had it! Can't face the SCABs here(scornful atheist bores), can't be bothered with correcting the errors of people who claim to have a monopoly on rationality and intelligence. Give me Pope Benedict XVI anyday!
Posted by: Mary Cunningham | October 4, 2007 10:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
For E-Favorite
What if, you believe in something, comparable to the supernatural, but not what is "traditionally" thought of as the supernatural? Then the word, "supernatural" is not exactly the right word to use, because it makes people think of something different than your intent? In such a case, you cannot easily communicate your thought without first defining some new kind of word, and then, that takes time, and the clock is ticking, and people are not all that interested.
What if you believe in "God," comparable to the supernatural, omniscient being, but not what is "traditionally" thought of as the supernatural being? So, it would be difficult to communicate your ideas, the way you intend them, without first taking a time-out to define things. And once again, people are not all that interested, if you go very far afield. What I think and believe is not really very conducive to short, flip conversations.
If you say "supernatural" you are thinking of angels, and cherubim, and ghosts, and seances, and astrology, and black magic, and Satan-worship, and even paganism, then I do not believe in any of that, nor any of those things.
Ditto with regards to the word "God."
But, I, as a living and intelligent being, have definite and distinct impressions of order. (I use this phrase "impressions of order" to refer to all of existence, and my perceptions of it; I usually don't define it because, it is somewhat self-explanatory, especially if you sit and think about it awhile).
I know alot of people just experience these impressions of order, wihtout curiousiy, as they are provided to them, to navigate through this world in which we dwell.
And I do that too. But, also, I wonder about these mysterious impressions of order, and what causes them to impress me as they do, and what they might be.
Posted by: Daniel | October 4, 2007 10:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Hugh Taft-Morales: Thank you very much for your explanation of humanism. I agree with all you say, except this: “…[atheism] does allow more readily than religion [for] humans to decide not to act, and not to care about others.”
I’ve personally seen no indication of this, don’t understand why it would be so, and am interested to know if this is a conclusion of yours or is based on research.
On a related subject, I’d like to hear how religious people describe their ethical systems and how it relates to their religious beliefs. I suspect that many of them are essentially humanists, except for their beliefs in the supernatural. It would be interesting to know it that’s true. If so, it could form a bridge between atheists (many of whom are humanists) and believers (many of whom are guided by humanist principles that are also religious principles).
Posted by: E Favorite | October 4, 2007 10:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Jack,
You miss the point also. Stalin didn't justify his evil with his religious views (or lack there of).
Just because an atheist kills doesn't mean he kills because of his atheism. Likewise for theists. But the point is that many people are motivated to kill because of their religion.
That just makes them bad people but not significantly different than all the other bad people.
(Sorry for the repeat post!)
Posted by: Freestinker | October 4, 2007 10:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Jack,
You miss the point also. Stalin didn't justify his evil with his religious views (or lack there of).
Just because an atheist kills doesn't mean he kills because of his atheism. Likewise for theists. But the point is that many people are motivated to kill because of their religion.
That just makes them bad people but not significantly different than all the other bad people.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 4, 2007 10:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Freestinker: “I agree with your point but it's not that persuasive to believers”
I’m curious? Is this a logical deduction you’ve made or is it based on your experience?
I don’t think many, if any believers are going to immediately (if ever) drop their belief in the supernatural because extreme religious groups like the Taliban share the belief, but I do think it’s important to point it out. It is a fact, after all, and a central part of both belief systems.
I couldn’t help but question my own beliefs, when I started comparing the Islamic extremist belief of being greeted by 72 virgins in heaven to the Christian belief that Jesus was born of a virgin (what is it with these virgins?) rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, where he now lives, incarnate, 2,000 years later.
Posted by: E Favorite | October 4, 2007 10:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
In this commentary, Dawkins argues that religion makes one more likely to cause human suffering than does a belief in atheism or humanism. He says that “atheists and humanists tend to define good and bad deeds in terms of the welfare and suffering of others,” whereas religious people often define good and bad in terms of reference to God. I accept this explanation of the general approach to definition. But what is not raised is the question of how people act regarding their definition of good and bad. In this regard, I think it is important to distinguish atheism and humanism.
Many people believe that while the non-religious may define good and bad in humanistic terms, atheism itself does not necessarily promote humanistic values or lead one to promote the good and lessen the bad. Religious followers say that atheism, by removing a theistic motivating force, “logically” allows for apathy, indifference to suffering, and nihilism.
For many, religion does motivate people to make a positive difference in the world better than atheism through theistic and spiritual motivation for dramatic action. Certainly dramatic religious action can be evil and can increase human suffering (as is the case with religious terrorists), but one cannot ignore the argument that atheism, without a positive direction, can lead to apathy. If Dawkins can use the term “logically” to describe how religion contains a conceptual alternative to valuing human life, then we say that atheism “logically” offers a conceptual path that allows for apathy.
Dawkins writes, "There is a logical path from religious faith to evil deeds. There is no logical path from atheism to evil deeds. …it can never be rational to say that, because of my nonbelief in religion, it would be good to be cruel, to murder, to oppress women, or to perpetrate any of the evils on the Hitchens list."
I agree that atheism does not provide rational sanction for evil deeds, but it does allow more readily than religion humans to decide not to act, and not to care about others.
Humanism, which promotes the inherent worth of every human being, however, is more of a positive philosophy. It avoids the charge of “logically” promoting apathy, indifference, and nihilism. My atheism is an intellectual belief, but in my ethical life I believe humanism is a better alternative to religion or atheism.
Posted by: Hugh Taft-Morales, Ethical Culture | October 4, 2007 9:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
E-Fav,
When we compare examples of supernatural belief like the Taliban to less radical religions like Lutherans we inadvertantly equivicate the believers themselves. Then it becomes an ad hominem to them.
I agree with your point but it's not that persuasive to believers.
Posted by: Freestinker | October 4, 2007 9:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Charles – I’ve had many good discussions here with believers – I was one recently myself, so the concept is hardly foreign to me. I don’t doubt that you’ve made an informed decision about you faith or that you try respond to others with kindness, mercy and friendship (so do I and many atheists I know). I also know as long as your religion involves belief in an invisible supernatural being, I can’t respect that aspect of it, anymore than I would respect your continued belief in Santa Claus. Sorry if that sounds harsh. It is the simple truth.
One more thing – I recall the few “live” discussions I’d get into when I was a believer, always with the same atheist friend. He’d say, “How can you believe that stuff – it doesn’t make any sense.” To which I’d confidently respond, “That’s why they call it faith!” And that’s where the conversation would end. Once when that happened, I got a glimmer of how silly that sounded. About another year later, a light bulb went off. Even then, I didn’t drop my beliefs overnight – I did concerted research into the bible and church history. Now it’s just as likely that I’d go back to believing in God as I’d go back to believing in Santa. Hope that helps.
Posted by: E Favorite | October 4, 2007 9:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Right - ever heard of Joe Stalin - he defined everything in terms of retribution and self-protection. He never let a grudge go - he always punished his enemies and if he got the chance to murder them he did - and it didn't matter what contribed lie he had to make up. Joe was an atheist.
You can come up with any theory you want Richard but this one is terribly easy to shoot down.
The distinction you are trying to make is between ideology and ethics and you made a mess out of it.
There is no evidence that Bin Ladin or the Tailban actually believe in God because Islam punishes unbelievers with death - they might as well all be atheists for that matter but choose to cloak their disbelief in Jihad.
Posted by: Jack | October 4, 2007 9:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
OK, so what's Dawkins' point?
Religion can be a motivation for some people to do evil things. So what's new? People do evil things all the time for all sorts of reasons. That's what people do. Has religion been a common motivation? Yes. Have there been a thousand and one different reasons that people have done horrible things. Yes. Greed, jealousy, blood lust, rage, racism, desperation, political ideology ... etc.
But when you boil it all down, my conclusion is that humans just do evil things. It’s part of who we are and what we do, simple as that.
OK, so people do bad things. And over the course of history they have sometimes justified those evil deeds with their religion, whatever it happens to be. But that's because religion is so much a part of so many people not because religion is somehow inherently bad. That's a gross and false generalization. Religion only turns bad when people us it to do bad things. The problem is with bad people not religion, per se.
If his only point is that some people are motivated to do evil things by their religion, then Dawkins has only stated the obvious and not really convinced me of anything new.
Posted by: Freestinker | October 4, 2007 9:32 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Hi, E Favorite ... I actually went home last night. Sorry!
I do feel that directing you to the sources answers your question. I'm a reference librarian, so I am sending you to the already-available sites where countless examples are to be found. If you read them and do not perceive the tone and attitude I'm talking about, I will be very surprised indeed.
As for that remark you quoted, it displays precisely the same fallacy that is in Dawkins' original post. Dawkins posits a logical (almost inevitable) path from religious belief to aggressive behavior tinged with self-righteousness, despite the inconvenient existence of people whose religious belief leads them to charitable behavior graced with humility.
The person you quote asserts that, in the absence of a judging God, an atheist will indulge in anything -- ie, that there is a logical (inevitable) path from atheism to vicious behavior. But in fact, atheist existentialism demands highly ethical behavior made even more virtuous by the lack of supernatural incentives. (This is no new idea -- it goes back to Aristotle at least, and was revived by existentialist theologians like Paul Tillich.) So this person is voicing the same nonsense as Dawkins -- literally nonsense, as in "This assertion makes no sense." It offers a false explanation for a given event and ignores important conflicting data.
Posted by: Nan | October 4, 2007 9:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Karl Berland: “Dawkins has just lumped Sister [sic] Theresa and Pope John Paul II with the Taliban. Good luck defending that position Dawkins.”
This is not to say that Lutherans and other religious people are identical to the Taliban, just that they have one major common element that atheists lack – belief in an invisible supernatural being. Though there are as many supernatural beings as people can make up, in the case you present, it is the same supernatural being – The God of Abraham – who supposedly responds to his followers in very different and sometimes conflicting ways, depending on their varying belief systems. I find that hard to believe. Don’t you?
So, Karl, while I could easily respect how you live your life in service to others, as long as you credit an invisible supernatural being as your inspiration, I don’t respect your belief, anymore than I respect that same belief among the Taliban.
Posted by: E Favorite | October 4, 2007 9:10 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Just one logical argument would be nice.
Saying your brand of thought does not lead to something while someone else's does is as biased as what you blame religion for.
Any philosophy can be used to justify evil acts. It is the nature of evil to "con" people using partial "truths" so that it is easy to swollow.
Face it, religious beliefs have been used to justify evil acts. That is because evil people have warped what the religion is really about and convinced people to do bad things because of their zeleous faith. You must also note, however, that the majority of the world is religious in some form and statistically there is no "proof" that one group is more likely to cause harm as any other.
Athiest beliefs have also been used to justify evil acts. Saying that athiest states don't do evil because of the fact that they are atheist (it is because of totalitarism) is a cop-out. States like these simply used the "religion is bad" philosophy to justify their bad deeds and in fact inflicted countless harm on religious people because of their beliefs. If you have any doubt about this look at China. It is supposed to be an athiest state. They abolished religion. However, they replaced the worship of gods with the control of the state. They propose that logic would demand the things they do and are justified because they are good for the people. Of course, a very small sect get to decide what is good for the people but this has always been the way of such states.
Logic, when misapplied can also be quite harmful. Just because an athiest subscribes to what they consider logical reasoning does not mean it cannot be used against them. In fact, since there is no unifying society for athiest they are quite often isolated emotionally and that makes them fundamentally sucesptible to being influenced in a negative fashion (to lash back at those they percieve harming them). Just as I see on these blogs regularly. You think we are religious nuts, we think you are a misguided soul. Most religions leave it at that, so should you.
Persecution does not happen just between religions. It exists anywhere that a way of thinking opposes another. Athiest are just as likely to commit an evil act as anyone else. This alone refutes the points raised by Mr. Dawkins.
The true problem exist when anyone allows others to think for them.
This is the fundamental state of the world: Bad people will try and control all those that are not willing to stand up for themselves, think for themselves and to act on their beliefs.
My religion teaches me that I must show others, THROUGH MY ACTIONS, what it is to be a good christian. That means actually showing people kindness, mercy, friendship, and to NEVER cause harm. Am I perfect in this, no.
Your belief teaches you that I am crazy (a bias by the way), leading you to discount me and to supress my freedoms (you have called for abolishing religions), and pure logic would lead one to believe that fundamentally better education equates to better people. Yet you won't admit that this can be used, just as any religion has been used, to the detriment of mankind!
Give me a break. The only logical argument I have seen from the athiest on this blog has been about the irrationality of religious beliefs. In this you are 100% correct. That is because it requires faith in something greater. Something that cannot be explained or even comprehended. Of course it cannot be rationally proven. I would be more than glad to discuss these issues with any of you to show why my faith is justified to me, just as I would love to discuss why you don't have such faith. To explore where your belief's do come from and to examine my own to make sure that I am not falling into the trap of blind faith but instead am making an informed decision of what I believe.
That should be the reason for these blogs. Not for each side to simply bash the other. Drop the bias and seek debate for what it brings!
Posted by: Charles | October 4, 2007 8:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Mr. Dawkins is right on the money here. I am an atheist and considered evil by some because I do not believe in the supernatural. I am a kind, decent person who would not hurt a fly, but it does not matter to them. I am not saying the religion is bad in and of itself, but it does open to the door to beliefs that run counter to logic AND to, what I feel to be, inherent ideas of good and evil in humans. It also leaves people vulnerable to the truly evil such as the Taliban and Tele-evangelists etc. because religion places faith and blind obedience above reason and logic.
Posted by: Steve | October 4, 2007 8:48 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I find Richard Dawkins article on "Logical Paths" to be helpful. As a life long Lutheran who daily practices to live a life of faith and service to all of God's people and all of God's creation I find that Dawkins lumping me in with Taliban as 'religious' folk to be insulting beyond reason. Dawkins has just lumped Sister Theresa and Pope John Paul II with the Taliban. Good luck defending that position Dawkins.
Using the 'logic' of Dawkins I know know that I can lump all atheists and humanists with the worst of their kind, the kind who have no moral values regarding taking lives, oppressing women, oppressing people of different backgrounds.
Now, using the equivalent logic of Dawkins we can all point to any atheist, humanist or by his twisted logic as evil people, not interested in the welfare of humankind.
Thank you Professer Dawkins, you've just helped bring society to a new lower point. I will reference your position when discussing the moral superiority of aetheists vs. people of real faith.
And thank you, editors of the Washington Post, for the very odd thought process that this type of writing fosters anything positive in our society. I understand the trends our downward in the readership of newspapers, and publishers have the audacity to blame the public for not caring. To the contrary, we care, and we choose not to read because to the complete loss of western society values and traditions.
Posted by: Karl Berland | October 4, 2007 7:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
If one takes Dawkins views seriously, there's a good chance that the animal kingdom (including homo sapiens) will become inevitably or invariably undistinguishable!
I'm reminded of what Einstein said about God!
He came to the conclusion - after E=MC2 - that
there's more to the universe which science cannot explain.
That's why he got interested in the thoughts of God! Buddhism was a source of redemtion for his growing secular curiosity.
Dawkins is a product of anglo-saxon culture. If he understands or even accepts other cultures is a valid question.
In this day-and-age of GLOBALIZATION we shall see and witness the audacity of non-believers; namely, as western civilization (as we know it) is subsequently surpassed and left behind by the re-emergence of eastern ethos of civilization.
The Chinese are already reading Confucious and the Analects! The Hindus their Baghwat Gita!
Talk about future global Secularism compared to hitherto monolithic norms of Christianity and its influence (since Roman Empire!).
In my view, mankind has a greater and more compassionate future under global secular ethos
without brandishing this or that form of governance.
Posted by: hari | October 4, 2007 5:51 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Prof. Dawkins writes that "Atheists ... tend to define good and bad deeds in terms of the welfare and suffering of others". That is ... to put it mildly ... an ambit claim for which he offers absolutely no evidence.
A more credible version of that claim may be to say that "most Atheists Richard Dawkins interacts with define ... etc ..." ... though even this presumes that Prof. Dawkins has a full understanding of what the Atheists he interacts with trully believe.
The real distinction appears to be that Atheists define good and bad by their own reasoning, rather than by reference to a supposed "authoritative source" (i.e. a religious text). Whether or not that happens to align with (in Prof. Dawkin's words) "...welfare and suffering of others" is a decision each Atheists reserves the right to make by him/herself.
We can certainly HOPE that they define it in the way we would like ... i.e. favoring the welfare of others ... but that is just a hope, and it is disingenous of Prof. Dawkins to claim otherwise.
Posted by: Sam Burstein | October 4, 2007 3:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
i couldnt read all the posts-
im religious
i dont agree at all with all of the religious poster here
i dont agree with all of the atheist posters here
i look at the intentions of the person writing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But many religions arrogate...
...their violence, their ignorant bigotry, their hatred of education, their cruelty, seem to me to be as close to pure evil as anything I can imagine.
But they were religious, and that provided all the justification they needed to murder and destroy.
that it was Allah’s will that they blow up buses and subways –
It is easy for religious faith, even if it is irrational in itself, to lead a sane and decent person, by rational, logical steps, to do terrible things...?
There is a logical path from religious faith to evil deeds...?
But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.”...?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
well, thank god mr dawkins is not religious-
if he actually believes what he is writing he is a scary kind of a guy no matter how you look at it
i truly wonder what his idea of logic is
this is just ugly stuff
not very erudite, am i.
Posted by: VICTORIA | October 4, 2007 3:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Once more, for the retarded kids at the back of the class, atheism is no more a religion than my lack of cash makes me a rich man.
Is there a name for us folk who don't care one way or another of there's a goD? Ain't no reason i should do what people who claim to speak directly to him/her/it say he wants me to do.
And, while you may have noticed that "god" spelled backwards is "dog", did you realise that "bob" spelled backwards is still "bob"? The significance of this may be lost on the enunlightened.
Subliminal message:
Kill Ron Paul Kill Ron Paul Kill Ron Paul Kill Ron Paul Kill Ron Paul Kill Ron Paul Kill Ron Paul Kill Ron fnord Paul Kill Ron Paul Kill Ron Paul Kill Ron Paul
Posted by: MikeOfDoom | October 4, 2007 2:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Religion is for cowards.
It's the ultimate excuse to avoid taking responsibility for your own acts and blame it on a higher authority.
With an institutionalised system where ultimate punishment is only after you die, where you can be forgiven by private confessions and where you can be relieved from the sin of greed by contributing a fraction of your wealth to regious organisations or just feel "good" by showing up at church every sunday.
All organisations, religious or not, which avoid people to take up responsibility for their own individual actions have a high chance of corrupting the overall behavior of the group.
Whether it were the Nazi's (although the SS had "God Mitt Uns" on their belts), ordinary Germans, soldiers under Stalin, militant muslim suicide bombers or the Christian crusaders they all avoided the confrontation of their own acts with basic human ethics and moral values (which we all know exist).
Although Hitler, nor Stalin personally did kill (any/many) people, they managed to give a whole organisation an excuse to follow their own agenda. De-responsibilisation is very strong in driving people into doing things which they know are not "good" and cause suffering. 80% of the Jews during WW2 were denounced by ordinary (mainly christian) Germans, not by SS militants. The fact that the Christian church actually supported Hitler till the end (including shipping SS' to Latin America) will also have re-assured that there would be no punishment even in the afterlife.
Yes, religion is no guarantee for bad behavior as atheism is no guarantee for good behavior. The biggest difference is that all authority structures based on human idols (Stalin/Hitler) will ultimately end with the dissapearance of the human idol and as such also the distorted values and the excuse for the individual not to be confronted with their behavior (Befehl is Befehl is pretty hard if the commander in chief is a fairy tale figure).
With religion, it's pretty difficult to end tthe leadership of something which really does not exist.
Let's not fool ourself, it's not religion in se which causes people to do bad things. It's the whole organsition beneath the almighty who gives the orders; the mullahs, the priests, the bishops... defending their own reasons of existence. Like a typical capitalistic organisation, they just try to kill the competition with all tools possible. Whether it's financial bribing (we'll sponsor your development project if we can baptise your children, otherwise your children can die and it will be your fault) or straight suicide attacks is only a matter of executional form.
Religion is for cowards
CW
Posted by: CW | October 4, 2007 1:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I think the record is pretty clear that both religious and non-religious people have done some pretty heinous acts over the years, justifying them in a variety of ways.
I believe that communities commonly act out of fear of others. People want to take care of those they care for-family, friends, neighbors. Based on their local cares and fears they can act collectively to persecute others and perpetrate evil acts. Good people who are theists and secularists can act this way, glossing over their acts with their own self justification.
Pointing to religion alone as the cause of "good" people doing bad things is a cop out to avoid addressing difficult issues fundamental to human nature responding to the stresses of a complex world.
And by the way--isn't the concept of a "good" person oversimplification anyway--every person I've encountered is a complex mixture of good and evil, insight and cluelessness, strength and weakness, joy and dispair.
Posted by: Andrew | October 4, 2007 12:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I'm just going to examine one of Richard Dawkins' statements:
"For non-religious people, the behavior of consenting adults in a private bedroom is the business of nobody else, and is not bad unless it causes suffering – for example by breaking up a happy family. But many religions arrogate to themselves the right to decide that certain kinds of sexual behavior, even if they do no harm to anyone, are wrong."
In historical actuality, attitudes toward sexual privacy, especially sexual minorities, tend to divide along authoritarian/libertarian rather than religious/atheist lines. Authoritarian atheistic Communist regimes in Russia, Cuba, China, East Germany, and North Korea have regarded homosexuality as someething to be reviled, prevented and punished. Lenin regarded the notion of sexual emancipation as a symptom of bourgeois degeneracy, showing a lack of solidarity with the proletariat. Other Communists felt that same sex activity was a sign of moral weakness and a threat to the social and political health of the nation, associated with luxury, leisure and the upper classes. "Re-education" programs for homosexuals have included hard labor, psychotropic drugs and imprisonment in psychiatric hospitals.
Atheism per se didn't cause this attitude toward sexual emancipation--authoritarianism did. Religion per se doesn't cause narrow attitudes toward consenting, non-harmful sex between adults in private--authoritarianism does. Authoritarian atheists and authoritarian religious people have a great deal in common; atheism does not prevent attacks mounted against harmless sexual behavior.
Posted by: Rachel | October 4, 2007 12:34 AM
Report Offensive Comment
It's not "devastatingly true", nor true in any other sense, that "for good people to do evil things, it takes religion." What a shame this piece ends with such a gross misstatement. There are a great many cases where good people (or at least people who thought they were good) did evil things over and over. Often it's not religion but ideology that drives them. Just as frequently it's humans' simple ability to dehumanize others, be they opponents or just people who look different. Humans also have enormous capacity for rationalizing their own opinions or actions that are rooted in self-interest, animosity or fear. Religion is one tool employed in such rationalization, but societies would certainly find other ways to rationalize without religion. One more thing: not all religions are the same. Some emphasize peace way more than others. Let's not tar all religion with the failings of some (or to be precise, the failings of the more radical wings of some).
Posted by: webg | October 4, 2007 12:13 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Once the majority of us realize that Nature IS the transcendental deity to which we are all beholden we will no longer need to evoke a super-natural one. Folks will be able to THINK about the reality of our situation rather than believe in superstitions, (modern and ancient, referred to as "faith").
Educating the people about our real position in this Universe will awaken them to the facts. Then we can consciously choose: do we want to live on Earth as it IS in the Heavens?... or do we want to create Hell on Earth? This decision that will be made by a majority of us will determine the fate of the biosphere within a few generations or less.
Posted by: Paul Habib | October 3, 2007 11:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Once the majority of us realize that Nature IS the transcendental deity to which we are all beholden we will no longer need to evoke a super-natural one. Educating the people about our real position in this Universe will awaken them to the facts. Then we can consciously choose: do we want to live on Earth as it IS in the Heavens?... or do we want to create Hell on Earth? This decision that will be made by a majority of us will determine the fate of the biosphere within a few generations or less.
Posted by: Paul Habib | October 3, 2007 11:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment
oh jesus professor dawkins how right you are "religion poisons everything it touches"! its a total scam run mostly by homophobic moneygrabbing men! its a total hokus-pokus game! a farce!!
Posted by: WILLEM | October 3, 2007 11:38 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Nan - if you're still here, what do you think of this as an example of fanaticism aimed at an atheist:
"Professor Dawkins is a moral cretin. He does not have a clue about the moral imperatives of people who believe in God. They believe that their actions in this life are subject to judgement by a transcendent standard. To an athiest all is pemitted subject only to ones tastes."
Posted by: E Favorite | October 3, 2007 11:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I have added two new quotes to my quotes file from this good piece. They'll go next to another of my most favorite quotes:
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen Roberts
Posted by: Tom | October 3, 2007 10:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
This commentary is very close to my own experiences with religion. I grew up in an era of conservative Catholic religion; college theology taught me that should a man leave the priesthood he was not worthy of even a greeting; people of other religions may get to heaven in spite of their religion and not because of it. These were just two of the tenets that were taught at my Catholic college.
The real evils done in the name of religion were often ignored in history classes and the violence done in the name of Christianity was never recognized. The Taliban has centuries to go and millions of inhuman acts to equal Christianity.
Posted by: William Cooper | October 3, 2007 10:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The whole discussion here is about whether God exists, and whether or not we'd be better off without religion. Of course, live and let live- to each his or her own is the correct answer to any questions about religion, but everybody would have agreed to that at the start. However, if you do try to debate further, as we're doing here, and all you do is happen to argue one particular side of the argument (guess which), it seems you automatically get labeled a fanatic...
And Vote Ron Paul, I'm sure this will just encourage you - but give it a rest - nobody is impressed with your juvenile keyboard stuttering.
Posted by: Bill | October 3, 2007 9:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Steven Weinberg may be an excellent physicist, but that quote of his featured in the article is sophomoric and unoriginal. I for one could care less
if "evil doers" are themselves generally "good" or "bad" people, if their evil doings are directed towards me. They'll get the same reaction from me either way. And their belief in gods and gnomes, or lack thereof, doesn't even factor. Atheism is a religion, and just as worthy of the name as Islam or Buddhism.
Posted by: R. Smith | October 3, 2007 8:16 PM
Report Offensive Comment
By the way, Mr. Mark, how respectful is "Residents of Fantasy Land" Insulting all people of faith is acceptable to you?
Posted by: R. Proulx | October 3, 2007 7:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment
TO Mr. Mark,
Mr. is polite. It is a term of respect. And, it is preferable to the nasty words often used by many.
Is Dr. vs. Mr. the best you can respond with? Please try and respond to the substance of the arguments.
Posted by: R. Proulx | October 3, 2007 7:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Perfect! This is a great read I really enjoyed it. Thank you.
Posted by: Nadim | October 3, 2007 7:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Dr. Dawkins,
I think one simple fact has been forgotten or pushed from our minds: We're just another animal walking the face of this big blue marble. Religions are merely for crowd control and political projection.
Luther
Posted by: Luther H. Livingston | October 3, 2007 7:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Bill
Atheism is Dogma. Religion is Dogma. Find the Truth. The truth is Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 7:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The Revolution is here. Come be my light. Hope is near!! Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 7:07 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Khaled Khondker,
Atheism has absolutely nothing to do with capitalist democracy, imperialism, communism, free market and nationalism. The only "ism" it has any relation to is skepticism.
Posted by: Bill | October 3, 2007 7:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 7:00 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
It is all about Ron Paul. Atheist/Theist/Deist/Agnostic/Thor/FSM/Mithra/Mayan/Zeus/Communism/Mao/Hitler/Anarchy/Religious Right/Hillarism/Scientism/Environmentalism/ism-ism/nationalism/gayism/pacifism/hedonism/satanism/Mormonism/Wiccan/Astrology/Elitism/socialism/Capitalism/Scholarship/Save Darfur/Tibet/Buddahism/Hinduism/Pantheism/Pixie/Narcissim
Everybody worships something.
End the end, vote RON PAUL
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 6:55 PM
Report Offensive Comment
ron paul guy
CUT THE CRAP
Posted by: Enforcer | October 3, 2007 6:40 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 6:40 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 6:38 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 6:38 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 6:37 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 6:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 6:35 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 6:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 6:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 6:17 PM
Report Offensive Comment
James Currin
in an illustration of the troglyditic ignorance from which American religionists approach questions of moral behavior, writes: "To an athiest all is pemitted subject only to ones tastes."
I am an Atheist. I am also a Buddhist. I believe I should behave with loving kindness towards my fellows (though I admit James, you make it hard).
Not because i will go to hell if i don't but because it is the right thing to do, and my innate moral sense, which we are all endowed with, tells me it is the right thing to do.
Mr. Currin, you might want to read a non-religious (not ANTI religious) book about moral development. Moral Minds by Marc Hauser is a good one.
Posted by: Henry James | October 3, 2007 6:03 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul Vote Ron Paul
Posted by: Vote Ron Paul | October 3, 2007 5:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Professor Dawkins is a moral cretin. He does not have a clue about the moral imperatives of people who believe in God. They believe that their actions in this life are subject to judgement by a transcendent standard. To an athiest all is pemitted subject only to ones tastes.
Posted by: James currin | October 3, 2007 5:52 PM
Report Offensive Comment
WM,
A hearty applause for such an insightful post!
Posted by: Idealist | October 3, 2007 5:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Nan: "Abundant examples of their comments are right here on this website, E Favorite -- there is no need for me to reproduce them on this page."
Of course, you have no obligation to do what I asked, but it seems as though you feel repeating your opinion that there are many examples of fanaticism here, IS doing what I asked.
I do appreciate the one concrete example you gave - it helps me understand your perception of fanaticism.
Hi, WM - nice to see you here too. Come back when you can and go to the Harris thread on this subject to see some other posters from the past.
Posted by: E Favorite | October 3, 2007 5:41 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Though I'm an atheist (in the sense of finding it highly unlikely that anyone's favorite deity actually exists), I can sympathize with the concerns of some of the believers who are posting here - that not believing in a God could lead to anti-social ("evil") behavior. When I was expecting my daughter, I was concerned enough about her having healthy moral guidance that I actually dragged my atheist husband to a UU-like to church to scope it out. My sweetie humored his less-rational-than-usual pregnant wife and on the way home, after yawning through the service, pointed out what should have been obvious to me - that all of the atheists that we knew were decent people who didn’t need to convince themselves that a deity was watching them to behave well towards other people.
I can certainly imagine that some “evil” people would think twice about their behavior if they believed that they would be punished for it by an omnipotent, omniscient deity. But I think it more likely that people who are religious and mentally unhinged (as these “evil” people are) would find some bizarre justification for their behavior in whatever holy scripture they profess to follow. For a recent example, look at the “Christian” rantings of the Virginia Tech gunman.
The real question, to me, is not: what can we coerce people into believing that will keep them from acting in anti-social manners? It is: how do people actually end up committing “evil” acts? The reading I’ve been doing recently on childhood development suggests a likely answer. Children who are well-attached to their caregivers from early in their infancy, whose role models treat them and other people non-violently and with kindness, whose feelings, desires, and problems are responded to with attention and compassion, learn to be empathetic and compassionate towards other people – they don’t become cold-blooded killers.
Ironically, certain religious upbringings seem to be directly at odds with creating mentally healthy, empathetic human beings. Religious dogma which includes the idea that children are bad and sinful and need to be manipulated/beaten into fear of god/parents/teachers/other authorities can cause parents to behave in harsh, violent, coercive ways to their children, which models to their children how to behave harshly, violently, and coercively towards others. It can also really mess with their heads – “my parents say they love me but they are deliberately cruel to me” can be a crazy-making message to a child. An interesting book that explores the childhoods of “evil”-doers such as Hitler is “For Your Own Good,” by Alice Miller – well worth a read. It delves into the pedagogical, Protestant childrearing practices which were common in Germany in the early 20th century (and unfortunately are still popular in some religious groups in the U.S.) and explores how they may have contributed to citizenry intent on obedience to authority and lacking in compassion towards others.
Of one thing I am certain: I would much rather live in a world populated by the compassionate than in one populated by the dogmatic (whether the dogma is in matters of religion, political philosophy, etc). Unfortunately, the two seem to be rather incompatible.
E. Favorite – it’s nice to see that you are still engaged in these dialogues! Unfortunately, life is just not allowing me much time for such conversations these days. I’m glad that you and others are continuing to explore these subjects with such reason and civility!
Posted by: wm | October 3, 2007 5:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Mary
I'm not sure I would say that it was Bush/Cheney's religion that led logically to use torture
in the way that Mohammed Atta's Islam LED him to fly that plane into the WTC.
In the same way, I am not sure that it is Harris's lack of belief in God that leads him to endorse torture (Dershowitz is a Jew and a religious man).
A secular humanist has as one of her basic principles not inflicting suffering (a buddhist principle). additionally this principle of the Council for Sec Humanism:
We believe in an open and pluralistic society and that democracy is the best guarantee of protecting human rights from authoritarian elites and repressive majorities.
talks about Human Rights. Including things like the Geneva Convention that prohibit toruture.
Posted by: Henry James | October 3, 2007 4:44 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Abundant examples of their comments are right here on this website, E Favorite -- there is no need for me to reproduce them on this page. Just click on "All On Faith Panelists" above and read the remarks on Susan Jacoby's page or Sam Harris' page (a link to one of Christopher Hitchens' essays is further down at the bottom of the page). It's scarcely possible for them to state their views in any more offensive and uncompromising language; my description of their comments as bitter, hostile and venomous may be an understatement.
As I said before, an ideology so extreme that it makes a person hateful toward others is my definition of fanaticism.
Posted by: Nan | October 3, 2007 4:31 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I think Dawkins is asking, what came first, the insanity or the religion?
I believe that many religious people should be under the care of a phychiatrist. But I do not believe that religion is what made them crazy; I believe that many crazy people end up crazy over religion.
Many people here like to cite Stalin or Hitler as examples of the bankruptcy of atheistic thinking. But that is not exactly right; the followers of Hitler and Stalin are pretty much indistinguishable from religious fundamentalists, who seek mental conformity to doctrine, as an easy, even lazy way, to deal with the frightening complications of the world.
Posted by: Daniel | October 3, 2007 4:23 PM
Report Offensive Comment
E Favorite replied, "I am definitely not signing up for this course."
I don't blame you for thinking that way. It is a logical position to take after a 6,000-year-old test (begun with the Fall). But if a Progressed Being had reasons to administer such a test, and knew of the growth experiences made possible by its being carried out (despite many horridly painful consequences along the way), would it not be remotely possible within a universe that we know so very little about that such a Teacher could see reasons to go ahead with it?
By the way, you did sign up. We all did, excitedly and wonderingly. (I know it sounds illogical, but teachers give what appear to be illogical tests all the time--and I don't need a psychiatrist.)
Posted by: Idealist | October 3, 2007 3:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The problem i have here (apart from 1 in 3 of all comments being of the "ah, what about Stalin" variety) is that good, evil and morality are all religious concepts.
Yes, from the perspective of the gene, or the species, a single individual has little worth. From the perspective of that individual's close relatives and social group, s/he is very valuable.
Could the point not be, "which beliefs, or opinions, or models of the universe seem most useful to whatever our goals (as individuals, societies, species) may be"?
"Good" or "evil" can't be quantified, "usefulness towards a specific goal" can be. Perhaps it would lead to less pointless bickering, too. We're all frail, fallable creatures, with complex psychologies, it's so easy to get stuck in one "reality tunnel" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_tunnel), never realising that we're basing our entire opinion of the world on one biased, restricted viewpoint.
And you religious types need to be reassured that us secularists (a) are not all atheist by default, many believers desire that religious belief remain a private matter, and (b) not out to stop you believing in any darn thing that seems to help you make sense of this wacky universe, we just dont think you should have the right to pester us about it.
And, to borrow again from Robert Anton Wilson, "The Cosmic Schmuck law holds that [1] the more often you suspect you may be thinking or acting like a Cosmic Schmuck, the less of a Cosmic Schmuck you will become, year by year, and [2] if you never suspect you might think or act like a Cosmic Schmuck, you will remain a Cosmic Schmuck for life."
Posted by: MikeOfDoom | October 3, 2007 3:42 PM
Report Offensive Comment
NAN – Thanks for the Richard Dawkins example. The Jacoby reference was not an example, but your overall opinion of her writings.
DAWKINS ON THE ROPES: “[Dawkins] has much authority as a pharmacist…to speak about the supernatural. Let the real scientist and theologist debate the supernatural.”
I’m not a scientist or a pharmacist or a theologian and I feel no need to be an expert to debate the supernatural with anyone, anymore than I think expertise is needed to debate Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or other invisible beings.
I know I keep repeating “invisible beings” – that’s because I think it’s important to remind people that ultimately that’s what God is. He’s been imbued with all sorts of meaning by humans - and provided with a long and imaginative list of activies, and given numerous different personalities over the centuries. Many have felt his presence (or sincerely thought it was God they felt), but no-one has seen him (and those who say they do receive a psychiatric evaluation).
Posted by: E Favorite | October 3, 2007 3:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Robert Wolfersteig:
Thank you for the web site reference. As someone who is attempting to integrate the essences of the various spiritual traditions and experiences with the radical new theories emerging through theoretical physics and consciousness psychology, I appreciate your interest in the relevance of physics to spiritual/consciousness philosophy.
Afghanvet:
I agree with you completely about Siddartha Guatama and Jesus Christ. In my opinion they were both “buddhas“.
Posted by: z-bob | October 3, 2007 3:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
If you want to have a fair comparison to religion to atheism, you have to correctly identify what atheism really is. Atheism stands for belief such as capitalist democracy, imperialism, communism, free market and nationalism. In addition, this whole discussion has come down to re-judging the atrocities that so few extremist have caused in the name of Islam. Let there be no that doubt what these men have done is the most heinous, immoral, un-Islamic acts one can think off.
If someone feels the need to condemn those acts, please go ahead. But it is significant stretch to argue that religion, or what Mr. Dawkins really means to say - Islam, provides justification for immoral acts.
All men need justification for their action especially their immoral act. From Stalins murder of millions of Russian; Mao’s Cultural Revolution; US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, indiscriminant bombing of Vietnam, support of the Kamer Rouge, over throw countless governments, support of countless dictators; the Israeli of Lebanon, not to mention Hitler eradication of countless Gypsies and Jews. All of these are done and justified by atheist beliefs such as nationalism and capitalist democracy.
Is there any doubt these people of Russia, China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lebanon and Germany were terrorized? Has someone forgotten the number of lives that were lost because of men who were trying to advance their believes and ideas as nationalism and capitalist democracy.
But the actions of these men do not nullify the value of nationalism and democracy. Their values and benefits stand on their own right.
Just like Islam. The Koran stands on its own, unchanged for the last 1400 years, ready to reveal itself to the open mind. Islam is between you and God. You don’t need any Imam, mullah or philosopher to tell you what it says.
While Hitler was democratically elected, no one would suggest that you learn about democracy and its merits from him, why one would want to learn about Islam from Osama bin Laden.
Posted by: Khaled Khondker | October 3, 2007 3:03 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The author is very selective in his attacks on religion, and in his attempts to prove the "inncence' of atheism, as he is not aware of the atheists Lenin and Stalin and the atrocites they commited against their poeple and other peoples.
another selectivity: all of his bad examples are from Islam, as he does not know about the history of today's Judaism (atrocites against the Palestinians according the Book of Josua) and yeasterday's Christianity (Crusades, Inquisition...etc under a blinded papacy).
Well, he will claim that atheists do not commit their crimes as atheists (but as dictators or fascists...etc) but the same arguments can be advanced on behalf of religions.
Moerver, he seems to ignore any good motivations that come aout of religions. But if religions led to murder, they saved, and are saving, more lives.
So, I hope this oversimplifying approach to religion should be avoided on this serious website.
Mark
Posted by: Mark Wiggins | October 3, 2007 2:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
E Favorite, you can start by just looking at previous postings on Susan Jacoby's pages on this WP site, or Christopher Hitchens' essays here or on the Slate website. Their remarks reek of hostility, and they often use the "religion as a private matter" argument to push the concerns of believers out of the public sphere. I'm not assuming any intent that is not made abundantly clear by their own hyperbole and relentlessly aggressive language.
As for Dawkins, he is so keen to single out religious belief as inherently dangerous that he ties himself in knots. The behavior he condemns is fanatical according to my definition, not religious -- partisanship taken to an insane extreme. Tribalism, nationalism, any other ideology or allegiance gone overboard leads to similar behavior. Yet Dawkins asserts that "there is a logical path from religious faith to evil deeds," ignoring the fact that any belief can follow precisely the same path, causing a person to claim that their abuse of others is somehow good and that the end justifies the means. Perhaps I'm oversensitive, but to me his scorn and contempt for religious believers are palpable throughout his essay.
Posted by: Nan | October 3, 2007 2:35 PM
Report Offensive Comment
RELIGIOUS PEOPLE DON'T WORSHIP AN "ENTITY" PER SAY BUT THE RELIGION ITSELF. THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH LOOKING REGLIGOUS AND BEHAVING RELIGIOUSLY ESPECIALLY BEFORE MEN. THEY ARE LESS CONCERNED WITH PLEASING THEIR SO CALLED "GOD" AS MUCH AS THEY ARE CONVINCING OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE WRONG IF THEY ARE NOT LIKE THEM. IN MY OPINION RELIGION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A "HIGHER POWER" OR "SUPREME BEING." IT IS A HUMAN INVENTION THAT RESULTS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR IE: MASS MURDER, BIGOTRY, RACISM, ETC... SO IT IS INACCURATE TO SAY THAT THEIR IS A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVIL DEEDS. IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THERE IS A DIRECT LINK TO HUMANS AND EVIL DEEDS.
JESUS DENOUNCED RELIGION BECAUSE HE NEW THAT IT SPAWNED FROM THE INHERENTLY EVIL HEART OF MAN AND ONLY BROUGHT DESTRUCTION. DOESN'T ANYONE REALIZE THAT JESUS AND RELIGION ARE NOT SYNONOMOUS?
Posted by: A SERVANT | October 3, 2007 2:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
If humanist are so charitable and giving, why do they continue to lack in giving. Religious people overwhelming give more than the non-religious (even excluding church giving). Why doesn't Dawkins and all of his fellow rationalist/humanist/secularist/freethinkers/Brites/atheist/etc put their money where their mouth is, instead of just preaching from his pulpit?
Posted by: Kevin C Brighton | October 3, 2007 2:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Robert Wolfersteig:
I believe you are completely right. I forgot who said it, but paraphrasing, there is physics and there is everything else in science. Dawkins is a biologist. He has as much authority as a pharmacist (no offense to the pharmacist out there, I am also one)to speak about the supernatural. Let the real scientist and theologist debate the supernatural.
Posted by: Dawkins on the ropes | October 3, 2007 2:10 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Actually, 'good' people can do a lot of bad things without the intervention of religion. For instance, the HOLOCAUST was BAD, and generally perpetrated by 'good' people, ordinary people, who 'went along'. It was not religiously motivated, or even religiously justified.
News Opinions Religion Newsweek HomeHealthScience
Main Page | About On Faith | By Religion | All On Faith Panelists | RSS Feed Richard Dawkins
British evolutionary biologist and author
Richard Dawkins has been the Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford since 1995. The "On Faith" panelist did his D.Phil under the Nobel Prize-winning zoologist Niko Tinbergen. After two years as an Assistant Professor of Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, he returned to Oxford in 1970 as Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and a Fellow of New College. The British evolutionary biologist is noted for his writings defending evolution. An atheist, his latest book is The God Delusion(2006). He is the author of eight other books: The Selfish Gene (1976), The Extended Phenotype (1982), The Blind Watchmaker (1986), River Out of Eden (1995), Climbing Mount Improbable (1996), Unweaving the Rainbow (1998), A Devil's Chaplain (2003), and The Ancestor's Tale (2004). A Festschrift volume, Richard Dawkins: how a scientist changed the way we think was published in 2006 by Oxford University Press. Dawkins, who holds eight honorary degrees in science and literature, has also presented BBC science documentaries, including Nice Guys Finish First, The Blind Watchmaker and Seven Wonders of the World. On Channel Four he presented Break the Science Barrier with Richard Dawkins and Root of All Evil?. In 1991 he gave the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures for Children on BBC under the general title Growing Up in the Universe. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society. His medals and prizes include the Sillver Medal of the Zoological Society, the Michael Faraday Award of the Royal Society, the Nakayama Prize, the Cosmos International Prize, the Kistler Prize and the Shakespeare Prize. Close. Richard Dawkins
British evolutionary biologist and author
Richard Dawkins has been the Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford since 1995. The "On Faith" panelist did his D.Phil under the Nobel Prize-winning zoologist Niko Tinbergen. After two years as an Assistant Professor of Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, he returned to Oxford in 1970 as Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and a Fellow of New College. more »
Main Page | Richard Dawkins Archives | On Faith Archives
Logical Path from Religious Beliefs to Evil Deeds
Nobody is suggesting that all religious people are violent, intolerant, racist, bigoted, contemptuous of women and so on. It would be absurd to suggest such a thing: just as absurd as to generalize about all atheists. I am not even concerned with statistical generalizations about the majority of religious people (or atheists). My concern here is over whether there is any general reason why religion might be more or less likely to bias individuals towards all those unpleasant things in Christopher Hitchens’s list: to make them more likely to exhibit them than they would have been without religion. I think the answer is yes.
You say 'Religion changes, for people, the definition of good.' That's only true for the truly religious. Most people are not religious, just accepting of the culture they are in. You say 'Atheists and humanists tend to define good and bad deeds in terms of the welfare and suffering of others.' This may be true, but then it excludes most non-religious people. You say 'for non-religious people, the behavior of consenting adults in a private bedroom is the business of nobody else' but for a lot of non-religous people, homosexuality is not good.
It would seem that your argument hinges on how you define religion and religious people. I think that few people are 'religious' in the sense of the Taliban, and many of the non-religious do bad things.
Posted by: SimpleDan | October 3, 2007 2:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment
So, is Mr. Dawkins proposing that "religion" is the common denominator of evil in the world? One simply needs to remember the communists of Russia, China, etc. who murdered more than 60 million people and who were fanatical atheist to see the fallacy of that thinking.
With that kind of all or nothing logic, I would condemn all scientist because a few nazi scientist experimented on human beings and did great evil during World War II.
Evil is in the heart of man, and each person must wrestle with his own sinful nature.
Posted by: Scott Petersen | October 3, 2007 1:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Question: Where is the peer-reviewed empirical evidence to support Weinberg's statement?: “With or without [religion] you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.”
And what makes it "devastatingly true?"
For a rebuttal to this arguement see
a-singularity.blogspot.com
Posted by: Robert Wolfersteig | October 3, 2007 1:42 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Nan, Thanks for responding. You say: " It's their need to post bitter, hurtful, venomous remarks intended to denigrate religious believers, wound their feelings and marginalize their participation in society."
Please provide specific examples of "bitter, hurtful, venomous" remarks.
I won't ask you to show examples of intent, because I don't see how a writer's intent can be demonstrated, unless of course there are posts that actually say something like "I want believers to feel bad and diminsh their participation in society." If so, please point me to them. Seriously, I want to understand exactly what here you considered offensive. If you do, I promise I won't defend any of the remarks. I will just thank you for being specific.
Posted by: E Favorite | October 3, 2007 1:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Whether there is a God or not, or whether there is divine moral code or not, after you have passed those decisions, the central point of Christianity is how to live on earth, and how to regard your fellow man. Alot of Christians are lost, on this point, and fail.
In order to be a good Christian, Christians need to get off of this anti-atheistic crusade, which is totally and completely irrelevant to the pursuit of a Christian life. If a person does not believe in God, then let them be. A persistent but futile insistence on your point of view over all others merely indicates an inner turmoil and uncertainty, and undermines your claims of being Christian.
Many people who post here on the "side" of Christianity are not very dedicated Christians. It takes alot more than bashing atheists on a computer website to have any legitimacy to the claim: "Christian."
Non-Christians may be suprised to hear a Christian express such opinions, because many people assoicate "Christianity" with right-wing-born-again-Christian-evangelicals. They have very big and loud mouths and get all the press. But I am not one of them; I am just a "plain" Christian. As far as my faith and belief go, I have more in common with Mother Teresa than with them.
Belief in God makes the fact of our existence no less scary than it is for an atheist. I also have a tip for all the atheists: most religious fantatics have a great deal of doubt, which they work feverishly to suppress, instead of allowing themselves to experience. That is what makes them so testy. So, don't think too bad of them.
Doubt is part of faith; certainty is not faith.
Posted by: Daniel | October 3, 2007 1:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
This "debate" has swung from one dogma to another and that is because it seems that two basics have not been defined:
1) God DOES NOT EQUAL Religion
2) Define Religion
The existence of God is UNPROVABLE and, by definition of empirical research one cannot prove a negative and therefore, the non-existence of God is also UNPROVABLE. Consequently, the best we can hope for is to say "I Don't KNOW". For this reason, it can rightfully be said that ATHIEST are a religion as much as any other one out there. And, that just adds another one to the pile.
If you choose to have FAITH in a deity or a meatball is none of my business. But, once your organized religion or cult or political group begins to appeal to emotion to incite or justify a behavior I begin to have a problem.
It is NOT impossible to hold to a set of HUMAN DERIVED precepts that guide life without having to appeal to the authority of an unknown, unseen or unprovable entity. While Buddhism has MANY religious flavors, what Buddha taught was NOT religion, it was a philosophy of how to conduct a GOOD and MEANINGFUL life.
These precepts were derived from contemplation and introspection and observation. And, the basic tenets of Buddhism the philosophy are not "new age" religion as they were around for 1000s of years before ANY of the other Abrahamic or Monotheistic RELIGIONS came into being. Buddhism neither denies or suggests that their is a God, only that it is irrelevant to how one should behave in life to achieve peace, happiness and meaning.
I would say that an argument could be easily made that the foundations and FOUNDERS of modern Judeo-Christian religion AND philosophy may very well have gotten their ideas from a wandering Buddhist monk or lay person. Jesus' sermons, devinely inspired or not, have striking resemblence to sermons and sutras of a a 1000 years before his time. The only difference was he added God as moral authority behind his precepts as opposed to simple observation and rational thought.
Buddha would never think of denying someone their personal faith, he would only ask that person if their actions on behalf of said faith were aligned with the very basic precepts of the philosophy he derived from observation, introspection and contemplation. If you said Buddha was devinely inspired, he would say, "Perhaps, but how does that change the value of what I say?"
4 Noble Truths and 8-Fold Noble Path need no devine backing to be more truthful, rational, logical or more useful in guiding one's actions and life and they ask for, and indeed, do not want organized speculation on what a God/god/x really means by these enlightened discoveries.
Praying cannot hurt, but praying alone can be hurtful. Organizing to the exclusion of others based on anything dismisses the reality that we are all connected. BELIEF in a TYPE of God may provide hope, but hope is NOT a planning tool and by definition it is a form of craving and a "want" and it is craving in all its forms that is one of the roots of all suffering.
Posted by: AfghanVet | October 3, 2007 12:58 PM
Report Offensive Comment
religion gives rise to passion. passion often leads people to do "bad" things.
examples of "passionate" atheists who do "bad" things:
militant environmentalists
secular arab terrorists
secular israeli terrorists
communists (label Mao and Stalin as "evil" people who are the exception if you wish, but they certainly didn't murder millions of people on their own)
fascists (ditto Mussolini)
dawkins reasoning is, at best, sloppy science. an oxford scholar should know the principles of cause and effect...
and citing 9/11 and 7/7 as proof that religion makes people do bad things completely ignores 19th and 20th century geopolitics, specifically the relationship between the western world and the middle east. again, poor reasoning, sloppy science.
Posted by: oh come on | October 3, 2007 12:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Atheist keep repeating the Stalin studied in the seminary. So did Darwin. So what is your point?
Posted by: Jim K | October 3, 2007 12:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment
It's their need to post bitter, hurtful, venomous remarks intended to denigrate religious believers, wound their feelings and marginalize their participation in society. Obviously, if you categorize all believers as illogical and dangerous, you are dismissing all evidence to the contrary and going off the deep end. That's fanaticism.
Posted by: Nan | October 3, 2007 12:41 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Re: Humanists like Dershowitz (and Harris) advocacy of torture
Well, 'enry, Mr Dawkin's thesis is that only religion causes good men to do bad things. Now, assuming atheists/humanists like Harris and Dershowitz would actually *do* torture--not hire some poor, ignorant underling and then blame it on her--and that torture is a bad thing, doesn't that negate the contention?
GWB, I'm afraid, was the monkey not the organ grinder. (The evil behind the throne was Mr Cheney, of whose religious convictions I have no knowledge.) The only 'good' thing in this whole sorry episode of an unnecessary war was Mr Bush's lecture--read in full view of the camera--by the late Pope over the unjust nature of the Iraq war. Read somewhere that Cardinal Ratzinger (as he was then)actually wrote that speech.
Would have loved to have been a fly at that meeting...Blair's too.
Posted by: Mary Cunningham | October 3, 2007 12:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Nan: "If it causes you to lose all perspective and harm others, it's fanaticism. And Prof. Dawkins, you display more than a little of this tendency yourself (as do many of those here who are defending you)."
That's a stong statement. Please back it up with some examples. I'm eager to see what you consider signs of fanaticism in Dawkins or others writing here.
Thanks
Posted by: E Favorite | October 3, 2007 12:34 PM
Report Offensive Comment
While I agree with Dr. Dawkins that the actions, speech and thoughts of humans toward others should be to avoid causing suffering, I disagree that it is only religion that makes a good person do evil things. He agrees with Steven Weinberg when he says “With or without [religion] you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.”
If one replaces the last word with the following I would agree: “With or without [religion] you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes GREED.” Greed for selfish gratification (whether a personal self or an organizational self) causes most of the suffering (read sin or evil) in the world.
It is my opinion that our individual “belief” that we are a separate entity or separate consciousness from other people as well as other creatures is an illusion, and, therefore, our cultural emphasis on individualistic, egocentric lifestyles and economic selfish greed will never lead us to collective enlightenment. Only when we realize that we are not only part of the whole of the creative process unfolding in manifested reality but also intimately, symbiotically and interdependently existing with the unmanifested implicate orders of reality (SEE Einstein’s absolute space-time, David Bohm’s implicate order, Stephen Hawking’s time has no boundary proposal) will we create a human culture that welcomes non-greedy, altruistic acts as the expected behavior.
Please look at the work produced by Dr. Susan Blackmore, the British neuro-psychologist who basically states that the brain creates an illusory self. As a memetic theorist, along with Dr. Dawkins, Dr. Blackmore theorizes that through memetic evolution and biological protection, a selfplex is created which thinks it is conscious and has free will but this is illusory. Does this mean that there are no individual selves in the universe but only false belief in separateness?
See:
http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk
By de-emphasizing our selfish nature through enlightened education and cooperative economic interaction, humankind will be in a position to “self evolve” our collective consciousness. The constant recurrence of situations like immoral, greedy wars or the immoral, greedy humanitarian abuses such as the situation in Darfur, will be greatly lessened when humans see each other not as separate entities to abuse or victimize, but, instead, as part of themselves and part of all things.
Not only do humans misinterpret their nature as physical and conscious beings, but we also misinterpret the nature of our true reality.
Individuals and groups (religious or not) can and will be greedy and, therefore, cause suffering toward others (both individuals and groups). It is the greed for profit, property, and self perpetuation that causes “evil”.
Posted by: z-bob | October 3, 2007 12:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Oh Dawkins, what nonsense! For every Bin Laden, there are countless Muslims who are motivated by their religion to give alms, help others and live decent lives. I lived in Egypt for ten years, surrounded by people inspired by their religion to do good.
It's not faith that causes people to be violent and cruel, it's FANATICISM -- taking one's devotion to an excessive, irrational extreme and acting without regard for the interests of others. It doesn't matter what you're devoted to : religion, political ideology, material greed, or a given football team. If it causes you to lose all perspective and harm others, it's fanaticism. And Prof. Dawkins, you display more than a little of this tendency yourself (as do many of those here who are defending you).
Posted by: Nan | October 3, 2007 12:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I assume the names of the greatest mass murders of the last century escape you. The names of Popes and Priests were not among them, but the names of several avowed atheists were - Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot. While one is perhaps more appalled by evil done under the guise of religious beliefs for the shocking hypocrisy, it is the death of religious beliefs that seems to have unleashed the greatest of evils, from the rise of dictators no longer operating under even the patina of any moral constraint to the slow destruction of our social fabric.
Indeed, the "rationality" that you allege to be domain of the aethist is not what remains after religious beliefs are winnowed, rather it is a replacement of religious values. It is a set of values in which it seems there is no greater good for which to strive then personal pleasure and satisfaction. Christian values produce the likes of Mother Theresa and others, driven by their religious beliefs to give greatly of themselves to benefit others of all - or no - religious beliefs. Perhaps you will show me how many of her ilk have been produced by "rational" values. While many a rationalist champions the "victims" of society, that is usually as a means of gaining political power rather then taking any action that would discomfit the rationalist personally.
You point to the Islamic religion as proof of the inherent path to evil that religion provides, making no distinction between Wahhabi Islam and any other form of religion. That is intellectually dishonest, to put it mildly. I would be equally intellectually dishonest to deny that religion, unfortunately, does hold the potential for evil when manipulated by the hands of people who seek power and ascendency in this world we inhabit. But religion also holds something rationality, in the end, does not. And that is the potential to serve as the basis of a functioning and stable society based on alturistic motives.
Your version of "rationality" is more permissive then traditional religion. You cite sexual freedom. Secular rationalism does allow for sexual freedom - which I happen to believe is a good thing. I cannot condone being placed in prison or socially ostricized for cunnilingus or most other sexual practices between consenting adults acting in privacy. But that is one aspect of religion that needs to be changed from within. It is largely the creation of Augustine of Hippo, not of the Bible or the Koran. The sexual repression of Augustine is not proof that God does not exist, nor that rationalism on the whole is better for society then religion.
While the existence of a God cannot be proven, you must admit also that by the same token it cannot be disproven. What you do is to claim otherwise, as is your right, and then to claim that your version of "rationality" is superior as a set of values because it has, supposedly, less chance of leading to evil.
I believe that is wrong in the extreme. Your version of rationality which has become ascendent in the past century has hardly led to more stable society. We have lost a sense of community, of shared values, and concern for the welfare of others in our community that was and is the greatest benefit of religious beliefs. The self centered rationality that has replaced those beliefs is not an improvement. Indeed, my experience has been that secular rationalists tend to operate outside the realm of reality and have little if any desire to sacrifice for the greater good. They advocate permissiveness in all walks of life. And when there are no more rules, no code of morality to guide us beyond our own personal pleasure, then the logical end of that path is anarchy.
Posted by: Scott | October 3, 2007 12:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I'm not sure that I can entirely accept Steven Weinberg's assertion that "for good people to do evil things, it takes religion." In the sense that the religious person takes a world view that may not be consistent with objective reality or with what we would call "the good", he is an idealogue. But so too are those who see the world through the narrow prism of an overriding political, economic, or social idealogy; and they too are capable of the most reprehensible actions in the name of the "cause" or the "greater good".
Posted by: Edward Feinglass, M.D. | October 3, 2007 12:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Over 600 posts so far... here is a pennyworth more.
Mr Dawkins' reasoning sounds more like Yoda than any great philosopher. He asserts: "There is a logical path from religious faith to evil deeds. There is no logical path from atheism to evil deeds."
What about atheist civil planners who decide that some hurt and suffering is necessary for the greater good of millions more in the desired utopian society? It's no more or less realistic than Mr Dawkins' suggestions. If one wants an example, I would cite the old aphorism that "you have to break an egg to make an omelett," formerly used by apologists even in this country to justify the millions of murders and other suffering perpetrated by Communism in its earlier days.
It may be questioned why Mr Dawkins' Nobel prize winning physicist should also be an authority in ethics and philosophy. His physicist's claim that "for good people to do evil things, it takes religion” is incomplete. It can also be achieved by atheists using utilitarian reasoning to achieve what they think is the greatest good.
Posted by: Dennis Murphy | October 3, 2007 12:13 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Ever hear of a guy called Stalin? Not too big on God, but he and his legions of followers did lots of nasty things. Mao? Pol Pot? Both also inspired their followers to commit horrible, horrible crimes.
Posted by: Ken Bleile | October 3, 2007 12:11 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Ever hear of a guy called Stalin? Not too big on God, but he and his legions of followers did lots of nasty things. Mao? Pol Pot? Both also inspired their followers to commit horrible, horrible crimes.
Posted by: Ken Bleile | October 3, 2007 12:10 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Ever hear of a guy called Stalin? Not too big on God, but he and his legions of followers did lots of nasty things? Mao? Pol Pot? Both also inspired their followers to commit horrible, horrible crimes.
Posted by: Ken Bleile | October 3, 2007 12:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
E Favorite,
Good, sound logic. The Teacher was in the room, but left immediately as the test began. The consultation (where the usual answer is "You'll do fine if you look in the last half of the book") is telepathic, only on the right frequency, and there are many competing frequencies (part of the test). And no, it is not pass/fail and I suspect you and most atheists I read from here are doing pretty well in the basics. It is a multi-level, multi-dimensional test, by the way. It is also multiple choice. A difficult test? very.
Posted by: Idealist | October 3, 2007 11:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Idealist: “The Teacher has stepped out of the room, and has administered an open book test, with private consultation available by appointment. Just because you can't see the Teacher, and don't understand the test, does not mean either the Teacher or the test don't exist.”
For the teacher to step out of the room, he/she must have been in the room, at one point, right? A real, live flesh and blood teacher. And the private consultations are in the teacher’s office, with the teacher present, right? If not, I am definitely not signing up for this course. I also wonder if this invisible teacher insists that I worship and obey him or he’ll flunk me, regardless of how well I know the material.
ANONYMOUS (aka Demos?) – Wow, “this guy” really got to you, didn’t he? Tell me, how do you know that characterization of the conference is not accurate? Were you there, too? Looking back at the original post I realize it could also apply to many other conferences, where well known people meet and mingle with people with similar interests. Do you think all of those are religious too?
Posted by: E favorite | October 3, 2007 11:33 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Nathan P: who am i gonna believe? You, or my own eyes?
you write "Like it or not, the logic of this is utterly inescapable. Without a transcendent anchor for moral values, morality becomes completely arbitrary."
sorry nathan, there is overwhelming evidence that
Atheists are at least as moral as God-believers
and
Godless societies are much healthier and at least as moral as societies where people believe in God overwhelmingly (like the Good old US of A).
Read up on it. if you want some references, let me know.
Abandon your outdated mythologies.
Posted by: Henry James | October 3, 2007 11:29 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"There is no logical path from atheism to evil deeds." With all due respect sir, you must be smoking crack.
If there is no God, then by what standard can you determine whether something is good or bad?
Society?
Which society? Nazi Germany or England in 2007?
The individual?
Which individual? You? Me? Hitler? Billy Graham? Genghis Kahn? Mother Teresa?
If there is no God, then we have no transcendent anchor to even be able to adjudicate between good or bad. As one Christian writer puts it:
If there is no transcendent God there is no objective (unchanging) standard for how we can judge between moral options.
If there is no objective standard for how we judge between moral options, there is no objective evil.
If there is no objective evil, there is no objective good.
Are you willing to accept that there is no objective difference between good and evil? Obviously not, since you blame religious people for being "evil."
Like it or not, the logic of this is utterly inescapable. Without a transcendent anchor for moral values, morality becomes completely arbitrary.
Posted by: Nathan P. | October 3, 2007 11:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Glad we've got this one all cleared up now.
Posted by: JB | October 3, 2007 11:13 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Mary
wasn't the torture approved by our Christian president who regularly consults his Higher Father on matters of War and Peace.
Posted by: Henry James | October 3, 2007 11:10 AM
Report Offensive Comment
PS..Must note as a Christian, I am firmly of the prone-to-sin view of humanity. And I believe we have a terrible tendency to lapse. Just look at how quickly the US reverted to torture and establishing concentration camps in the wake of the Twin Towers attack.
And I never thought I'd see someone like Alan Dershowitz--dear 'enry's colleague at 'arvard--becoming an advocate of torture. From an opponent of the death penalty to a proponent of torture without the slightest twinge of humanist guilt!
Posted by: Mary Cunningham | October 3, 2007 11:03 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Our Calvinist roots have helped to justify the genocide of Native Americans, slavery, exploitation of other nations, and wars of aggression, while only the occasional triumphs of Secular thought have led us to recognize and sometimes attempt to correct, these massive, ethical failures.
If you consider the atrocities of Hilter and Stalin proof of the murderous nature of atheist, please explain the deaths of 20-30 million Native Americans in north and south America, who were wiped out in the name of bringing them christian salvation.
Be sure to count the 800,000 we have killed in Iraq for GWBs Crusade.
6,000,000 African Christians and Animist killed in Africa in the last 20 years to bring them the benifits of Islam.
The entire history of the Abrahamic religions is one of bloodshed in the name of this supposedly loving sumerian god.
History of Abrahamic Religion101.
A/Ibrahim(not his name yet) was a priest of the Sumerian deity EL. His tribe was small and had maintained a separate culture from many of the other followers of the Sumerian Trinity of Gods, so as a tribal leader, he declared a revel elation from El(as in Israel -chosen of God, and Daniel - beloved of God) that the tribe could take no other God before HIM, El, and by the way, never say or write MY NAME again, except in a code understood only by the priesthood, so we can forget about that whole EL/Triumvirate thing. Abraham was a capable leader and warlord, and his tribe prospered. The priesthood he founded included much of the Sumerian religions myths of creation and the flood into their repertoire and maintained their 'secret' knowledge of the Sumerian calendar and astrological systems to keep themselves in position of power. They taught their tribe cultural racism and apartheid, but allowed enslaved and captured women to bare legitimate children, to avoid the inbreeding that even prehistoric humans knew, led to birth defects. So….slavery was ok, but not of your close neighbors, because that might defeat the purpose – diversity of the gene pool.
This tribe maintained its genetic and cultural uniqueness very successfully. The shared religion allowed leaders to exhort them to martial ferocity, when wronged, or to take some other tribes property and land. Remember the time they were supposed to kill every living thing in Canaan and make the land theirs? It took uncommon will, devotion, and brutality for such a small tribe to conquer a larger more technologically advanced civilization such as the Canaanites. This cultural bigotry served them well for over a thousand years. It also made them a universally hated tribe.
So, after they have been defeated and displaced several times, and finally completely conquered by the Romans, a group of radical Jewish rabbis, Zoroastrian priest, and Roman Freethinkers, used the local stories about a Jewish Rabbi/carpenter, embellished them borrowing heavily from the messianic traditions of Judaism which were stolen from the Sumerian religion, created the Christ myth. It took them quite a while, and they didn't get around to recording all of this until decades after the events supposedly had taken place. But…it is much easier to make up events after the fact, when the people who were there/then aren't around to dispute the 'facts.'
A few hundred years after that, a learned merchant that lives a life of leisure due to marrying a much older but wealthy widow, studies the Jewish religion, and realizes its real problem is its exclusivity. So he copies large parts of it, and creates a religion that invites everyone to join. In fact it often insists. He keeps the most holy spot in his homeland though, and discourages translations from the Arabic, so his tribe maintains Top Dog First of the First status. The End of Time myth involves a leader, or Great Caliph, that can really only come from his tribe. So, in typical tribal fashion, members of the other powerful and rival tribe in the region, the Persians, claim the Arabic descendants have gotten it wrong, and they are the true carriers of the flame.
So, Christians begin loosing ground to Islam and begin the Crusades and the Inquisition. Islam gets pissed and begins taking parts of Europe in order give the Infidels a chance to convert. That only gets so far as the Shia/Sunni/Persian/Arabic infighting keep them too occupied with each other to maintain their triumphs over the Christians.
It ain't over yet folks.
Men create religions to consolidate tribal power and control other tribes of men.
Every war in Europe and the mideast for the last 2000 years has had a religious component, or at least religion was a prime motivator for humans to
Our current administration is guilty of war crimes of the type, if not scale of the Third Reich, because of the widespread hatred and lack of respect for Islam, and dark skinned humans, he’ll never swing for his crimes.
Atheist have never claimed that humans aren't capable of animal behavior. What we abhor is the hypocracy of war, death torture and genocide in the name of some higher good.
Humans can learn to 'just say no' to evil men. Note the progress made in the secular west where at least a large percentage speak up against evil acts of their leaders. But, when a religion convinces them that these evil men are tools of their creator, they almost never say NO, but instead, pass the amunition.
Posted by: ender | October 3, 2007 11:00 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Mary
Your mind can seemingly only entertain two alternatives at one time.
The choice as you see it seems to be
Religious/Humane
vs.
Atheist/Marxist type totalitarian
Most of us would choose a religious society over a marxist society (even me, whom you consider a Marxist).
However, that is not the only choice today.
We can choose a theocracy,
or we can
choose to live in a Marxist country
or
we can choose to live in a country like Holland or Japan
where about 10% of the people believe in God
but they don't believe in exterminating Orthodox Priests or Jews or homosexuals or Catholics.
Posted by: Henry james | October 3, 2007 10:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
E Favorite,
The Teacher has stepped out of the room, and has administered an open book test, with private consultation available by appointment. Just because you can't see the Teacher, and don't understand the test, does not mean either the Teacher or the test don't exist. Happy test-taking to you.
Posted by: Idealist | October 3, 2007 10:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Dear Religionists/Residents of Fantasy Land -
Richard Dawkins holds two doctorates. The proper salutation is Dr Dawkins, not Mr Dawkins.
Normally, I wouldn't mention it, but time and time again, Christians on this blog have shown that they will use any technique they can to diminish (in their eyes and their eyes alone) any rationalist who challenges their fantasy world. With CS, it's referring to Dr Dawkins as "Dinky." With many of the other Xian posters, it's calling Dawkins Mr rather than Dr.
On the other hand, the religionists seem to have no problem applying the salutation of Dr to religionists who don't hold doctorates. Note to religionists: the title Reverend doesn't equate to Doctor.
Thanks for listening.
Posted by: Mr Mark | October 3, 2007 10:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Any correlation between atheistic leaders who have committed atrocities and religious zealots who have committed atrocities only establishes a correlation between power and religion. The atheistic leaders used power to subjugate the masses. Religion controls the masses (whether you consider it intentional or not). The religious view and ideological view were the justification for performing the atrocity.
Religious passages and ideological theories have provided justification for many evil deeds. The problem arises when a follower of a particular religion or ideology vehemently believes his "opinion" to be a "fact" and seeks to impose his opinion and deny any public discourse in countering opinions.
The problem for the deed-doer is that the only way his deed will be perceived as good by all is if he eliminates all those who see his deed as evil. In contra, the only way for the deed to be seen as evil by all is if everyone understands that the deed-doer is justifying his actions based merely on an opinion. Unless a religion or ideology is able to accept that it is merely an opinion, then it will always be able to be used as justification for what others may consider evil; however, I’m not sure this is even possible due to the very nature of religions and ideologies.
A side note: shouldn’t Hitler’s atrocities fall under religious atrocities (not atheistic). Didn’t he claim to be the leader of the Third Reich, Holy Roman Empire, use the cross as his symbol, and have endorsement by the Pope? I’m no Hitler history buff, but I think his atrocities should be tallied under religion (if not also under ideological – or “atheist” as others have titled it).
Posted by: NT17 | October 3, 2007 10:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Richard Dawkins is a child of the Enlightenment and holds that man is born good and institutions make him bad. Change the institutions and man will revert to his original goodness (Christian thinking has an opposite view: as man is born prone to sin, change/redeem the man—who has a tendency towards bad deeds—and the institutions will change. Or at least build institutions that allow for this tendency.)
Since their views of humanity are diametrically opposed it is logical that the Enlightened ‘Brights’ would wish to eradicate religion. (Voltaire, Rousseau and the philosophers were viscerally anti-clerical.) Karl Marx held that priests kept the working classes in chains and believed that religion would “wither away”; Trotsky, Lenin, Stalin, Mao and the rest of the communist rogue gallery couldn’t wait and took action..Lenin’s first action in power was to summarily shoot the ten most senior prelates of the Russian Orthodox church.
The rest, as they say, is history. The evidence is clear. This new ‘Enlightened’ ideology led to mass murder (sometimes on a gigantic scale) and terror * in every country the new atheist ideology was implemented*--from an advanced democracy like Czechoslovakia to peasant economies like North Korea and Cambodia to an agrarian Latino society such as Cuba. (And had communists seized power in, say, Britain the result would have been exactly the same.)
So Mr Dawkins is being faithful to his Enlightenment ideals. But the problem is that the historical evidence is diametrically opposed to his contention that it is *religion * that causes good men to do bad things. Twentieth century history shows that *atheist-inspired ideologies* were what caused *all * men to do terrible things.
Posted by: Mary Cunningham | October 3, 2007 10:45 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I left out a NOT above:
meant to say
My point is that: contrary to popular ignorance, belief in God is **NOT*** necessary for morality and societies that don't believe in God will **NOT** cease to be healthy/moral.
In fact, they tend to be more healthy/moral.
Posted by: Henry's Big Correction | October 3, 2007 10:42 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Statistician writes
"The countries you mentioned previously have a statistically older population, which yields a large statistical difference.
The common belief is not
"Godless societies will collapse into social and moral decay UNLESS they aqre statistically older."
My point is that: contrary to popular ignorance, belief in God is necessary for morality and societies that don't believe in God will cease to be healthy/moral.
STAT then writes: They also tend to self-define their lives as less happy than cultures where religion has a level of influence,
Henry writes: I visited a Harvard Professor friend of mine (my brother), and noticed he had a horseshoe on the wall.
I said "you don't believe in that crap, do you?"
He said "of course not, but I hear that it works whether you believe in it or not"
So I will believe in God even though i'm pretty sure there is no God so I can be happy.
Don't worry. Be Happy. Then you never have to grow up.
Got to run catch a cab.
Peace
henry
Posted by: Henry James | October 3, 2007 10:32 AM
Report Offensive Comment
You use the Muslems for your examples, but it applies equally to all religions: The Zionist Terrorists, the Mormon child predators, the Southern Christian cross burners, the Christian abortion clinic bombers, the NE Witch killers, the BushCo Christian crusaders! It takes a higher "cause" to discard your humanity and kill the innocents with fervor and righteousness; it takes a belief in my GOD to make others other!
Posted by: Chaotician | October 3, 2007 10:25 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Nota bene - clergy aren't objects of "worship" in any of the major Western religions (or Eastern religions either, I believe, but I'm not familiar enough with them to make the blanket statement).
Posted by: Anonymous | October 3, 2007 10:24 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"I don't need an explanation of the differences among Christian Churches. it’s not like I’ve never been to a Christian church before – I done the gamut – Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist, Luthern, Russian Orthodox, Quaker, Evangelical, you name it. I've sung in the choir! The point I was trying to make was that Dawkins and Hitchens are neither being treated nor are they acting as objects of worship."
Don't you love it when these atheists are called on something? This is a choice load of butt-covering foolishness. The first exchange had absolutely nothing to do with people "worshipping" Dawkins and Hitchens - the assertion was made that they weren't acting like "clergy" and the audience weren't acting like "worshippers." Specifically, this guy said:
"I saw Dawkins and Hitchens (among others) this past week-end at the atheist Alliance conference and I can assure you they didn't act like clergy and the attendees didn't act like worshippers. They were a professor and a journalist happy to be talking with people interested in their subject matter. They were obviously enjoying themselves. They were part of the crowd and very open to questions."
When it was pointed out that many churches don't have clergy, and have meetings that look exactly like what he's describing, he falls back on this foolishness about his claiming that Hitchens and Dawkins were not being "objects of worship."
Let's put this in simple terms, either:
1) He's lying; or
2) His command of English is so bad that his words were completely inconsistent with his intent.
Read the first set of comments again. Bottom line, he tried to claim that there was nothing "religious" about the way prominent atheists such as Dawkins and Hitchens hold and promote their views, because this particular event didn't feel churchy to him. This is nonsense - there's single style of "churchiness" common to all religious groups, or to all Christian groups, or even to all Protestant groups. Many church meetings today feel more like press conferences than ritual.
And atheists can be as personally invested in their world view as any traditional Muslim, and as hostile to outsiders who would dare challenge that world view.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 3, 2007 10:21 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion",is a true statement in the context that
"Relgion" is manmade.
What people need to have is a RELATIONSHIP with Almighty God - the Most High God from the Bible. His name is Jesus Christ
Allah is man-made
The Bible states that "Pure religion an undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the Fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world"
Just like the Universe is orderly, the directions in the Bible lead to peace. If everyone followed the Commandments there would be no evil. Just in that fact alone leaves suspect all other "religions". It also proves they do not have answers. How does killing people make for a better world. How does the Taliban's action make for a better world. There would be no more propagating of Humans without women who bear the children, but the "Taliban" despise women? It is nonsensical. The only thing that makes sense is the Bible. If you love God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind, and you love your neighbor as yourself, you will not commit evil acts, period.
Man-made "Religion" kills, it is "the Love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost" that reigns supreme, and that will always prevail!!
Posted by: Anne | October 3, 2007 10:14 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"We do have a number of examples of non religious societies. Fewer than 15% of the people in Holland, Germany, France, Norway, or Japan think that religion is an important factor in their lives.
And those societies have the highest level of social health, and at least as high a level of morality, as the US where 60% of people say religion is an important factor." Henry James
Japan may not have some official religion that they feel they need to practice but they do adhere to the belief in ancestor worship and animism.
Religion is not the evil and people most of the time are not evil. I think people like to believe they are going to war for religion but its just an excuse, its always more complex than invading a country just b/c we don't agree with their religion. I am a Christian and in no way do I condone war or violence in any form but some atheists seem to believe that all religion should be wiped from the world and then we wouldn't have war. Don't you think human nature seems to be disposed to violence and war? If its not for religion it will be for something else. I believe that people should have the freedom to believe or not believe without infringing and forcing your belief on others. Evangelism by example I would think would work better than evangelism by war
Posted by: mlee | October 3, 2007 10:14 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Atheists have a good reason to attack religion. The advocates of religion continually attempt to force their beliefs on everyone else. As examples: prayer in public-school; Ten Commandments on public buildings; bibles in hotel room drawers; Christmas displays of the birth of Jesus; Moslem prayers 5-times a day requiring a place and time disrupting work; missionarys going door-to-door peddling their faith.
Why can't you advocates keep your religion between you, your God and your family? Why do you want to convert me? What are you afraid of? Why do I have to see or hear your public display of your faith? What sins do you think I have commited that require Gods forgiveness? And last but not least, how do you know you are following the correct interpretation of Gods law (at least 75% of the worlds population follows a different religion than you do)?
Posted by: Myronh | October 3, 2007 10:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Superb article. I was particularly pleased to see it through the mainstream Washington Post. I also had fun with Bill Maher's closing monologue of two weeks ago (episode 109 on HBO with Salman Rushdie and Janeane Garofalo). I'm an agnostic and father of three boys. I worry that my sons will suffer discrimination for our disbelief, and it's good to see more and more rationalists step forward. Bill says we're 15% to 20% of the population. That sounds about right. Clearly, we need to come “out of the closet” and stand up for our beliefs. Thanks for Dr. Hawkins for his contributions.
Posted by: Matt P. | October 3, 2007 10:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I argue that Communist regimes in China and Russia as well as their subsidiary governments in other countries have committed some the worst crimes against humanity the word has ever seen. At the top of the list would obviously be Hitler. These are atheist governments. Yes, I agree that religion has been....and is being used to do some atrocious acts, but atheists are also capable of the same or worse. Christianity, for one, teaches that we are all evil, but it is God that makes us good. Not the other way around. There are no good people. Humans are taught how to "act" good from birth. We are trained to share, give, think logically, say "thank you" or communicate respectfully, etc. These traits of good character aren't at all self learned, but taught by elders and enforced by human interaction. We are all evil and use good teaching the wrong way. Thanks.
Posted by: jason kirby | October 3, 2007 10:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Well done, Professor Dawkins -- you give me hope for the human race. I would add that, other things being equal, an atheist is better than a (for example) Christian: the Christian is good with the thought of heavenly reward always in the background; the atheist is good simply for the sake of being good, and expects no reward.
Posted by: Judith Nelson | October 3, 2007 10:00 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The basic premise is ludicrous. Joseph Stalin's cronies (including but not limited to his gulag guards) were atheists, and they in now way needed religion to do their evil things. Instead of focusing on "religion" as the enemy, we should focus on the broader concept of "all-encompassing" ideology . In that vein , absurd generalizations like "for good people to do evil things, it takes religion" lead secular agnostics like myself to think that dogmatic atheists can be every bit as willfully narrow as religious believers.
Posted by: mshumann | October 3, 2007 9:57 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Das:
If your point is that Stalin or Pol Pot or Mao did not say: there is no god, therefore I will kill several million people, you are right in asserting that "atheism" did not cause their atrocities. But the point is that these were athiestic or nontheistic men who held a radical ideological belief that they were willing to kill for. Just so, "theism" did not cause 9/11, but a radical interpretation of theism. If you follow this reasoning, neither atheism or theism unalterably lead to violence per se, but both may be used as part of larger ideological frameworks which do. Thus, a comparison between secular mass murderers (typically athiests or at least nontheists) and practitioners of religious violence is entirely appropriate. (Besides, if you really want to argue about historical causation, the Pope launched the First Crusade to move medieval violence from Europe to the Middle East..."Religion" did not make him do it.)
Posted by: panbobor | October 3, 2007 9:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
While I agree with the Weinberg quotation, “With or without [religion] you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion,”
I take you back to the abstract of this article on your main page: Bin Laden and his followers are all the evidence you need that religion -- not atheism - breeds evildoers.
I also think the basic premise could just as easily have been Lenin/Stalin and his followers are all the evidence you need that atheism -- not religion -- breeds evildoers. I'm sure there were good communists who do evil things, just as there are good capitalists who do evil things. Does this make capitalism or communism evil? Or is my statement about Lenin and Stalin possble only because we won the cold war?
I like to use Stephen Gould's concept of religion and science as belonging to non-overlapping magisteria when I explain to my child that it is alright to believe something in the absence of scientific evidence and in the name of searching for meaning in your life since this is a part of being human; however, religion must give way to science when faced with incontrovertible evidence.
Religion as a source for conflict is merely a tool for people to accentuate differences between themselves. In this, religion as a method of governing belief systems is a tool to draw boundaries around a tribe. This boundary can just as well be around nationalism, market forces, controlling inflation, or in favor of globalism or against environmentalism.
I wait for Dr. Dawkins to come back with the obvious rejoinder: that economic and political ideologies are religion as well.
Posted by: KB | October 3, 2007 9:48 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The author of this article has reached his primary conclusion, i.e. that religion is more likely to bias human beings toward exhibiting undesirable behaviors, on the basis of poor reasoning and a kind of "religious bigotry" which atheists frequently condemn religious believers of. The author asserts that "Atheists and humanists tend to define good and bad deeds in terms of the welfare and suffering of others" but religions define good and bad in different terms leading "some religions" to sanction undesirable behaviors. It is a mistake (an insult, really) to say that Islam or any religion sanctions such behavior; a serious student of religious studies would understand the distinction between religious principles that elevate our world view and (hopefully behavior) versus that of an organization or institution controlled or dominated by individuals or factions with an agenda that might not conform to those religious principles or beliefs. The Taleban and fundamentalist Islamists groups like Al Q'aeda no more than the latter and have no true right to call themselves the true interpreters of Islam. More fundamentally, atheists should not believe their belief system inherently seeks the greater good in a manner different than that of a religiously driven movement. Communist states like Russia, China and Kampuchea attacked all religions as opiates of the people, i.e. as wrongful. The leaders of these states, e.g. Mao, Stalin, Pol Pot and their political allies, deliberately implemented disastrous economic and political measures that resulted in the deaths of millions of their citizens and justified this result on the basis of their atheistic ideologies. The same charge may be leveled against Nazism, an ethnio-political belief system that clearly articulated an atheistic element, though for domestic political reasons the Nazi Party held off from directly attacking the Catholic and Lutheran churches for fear of losing domestic support. For anyone to believe that atheism is less likely result in undesirable behavior by human beings is proof that ahteists are every bit as bigoted and arrogant as any member of a religious group.
Posted by: Wayne Parker | October 3, 2007 9:47 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Richard Dawkins seems to forget that atheistic Communism killed over 80 million people in the 20th Century (via wars, gulags, famines, and all out slaughter), which is way more than all the people in World History ever killed by religious wars and persecution.
Posted by: CRAIG L. | October 3, 2007 9:45 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Richard Dawkins seems to forget that atheistic Communism killed over 80 million people in the 20th Century (via wars, gulags, famines, and all out slaughter), which is way more than all the people in World History ever killed by religious wars and persecution.
Posted by: CRAIG L. | October 3, 2007 9:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Why does this moron continue to get space on washingtonpost.com? Can we hear from intelligent, rational, atheists?
Posted by: The Rev | October 3, 2007 9:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Your focus on extremist religion should really broaden to include extremist forms of christianity, which are every bit as bigoted and misogynist. Perhaps religion doesn't push one to be evil, but it provides the rationalization for it. It's a cover for evil and the extremist forms of every religion are dangerous.
Posted by: Donna Saggia | October 3, 2007 9:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The term "evil" is a religious term. So right there you are giving in to religion. I would think that Stalin was not religious, so, further, you have trashed you own argument. Politics is the common denominator between bin Laden and Stalin and Bush. The first political parties were priesthoods. Pharaohs, kings and emperors were all earthly representatives of "god(s)." This was the case until fairly recently, with the downfall of the "divine right of kings." I believe Queen Elizabeth is still the titular head of the Church of England.
Any deviation from the established religious order--say, under Akhenaten, the first human being to preach monotheism--created a political crisis. And the underlying theme of Western civilization has been the struggle between church and state for the allegiance of the people.
The difference between secular politics and religious politics is one of hypocrisy. Jesus, prince of peace, is the figure worshipped and claimed by the crusaders, the Inquisition, the Christian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and George W. Bush.
The classic version of ethnic cleansing--killing all the men and raping all the virginal women--comes from the Torah, as practiced by the Hebrews on their way to Canaan.
And Islam is a peaceful religion only when it is the governing law and all other religionists are second-class citizens.
Posted by: edwcorey | October 3, 2007 9:38 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Hi there
I find your articles quite interesting, but I think you are completely misinformed about what religion is and stands for. You are basing your arguments purely on the actions of certain isolated groups of people and not on the tenets and principles of the religion they claim to adhere to, in this case Islam. I don't believe that there are any religions in this world that in principle teaches human beings to do harm or commit violent atrocities against other human beings. The acts of suicide bombers and the taliban that are contrary to the teachings of Islam will always be this way whether the perpetrators align themselves to Islam or not.
By saying that they are extremely good by the lights of their own religion is completely untrue and unjustified. It is impossible for a religion that advocates peace and condemns all the dispicable acts that they commit to regard these acts as good.
I therefore believe that you are adopting a very narrow minded view of what these people are doing in the name of religion. You should consider looking at what good principles the religion advocates and rather think of examples where religious people are sticking to these priniples and doing actual good acts.
Posted by: Believer | October 3, 2007 9:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Angela B said "We are made in the image of God," then asked us to look into our own "wicked heart." Does that mean God has a wicked heart?
Also, when the Rockies beat the Padres on Monday night, one of the Rockies said they won because his deceased mother was in heaven tugging on the arm of God. Of all the teams for God not to like ... the "Padres"!
Posted by: JG in AZ | October 3, 2007 9:33 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Dawkins once more has presented a rational, concise, and well-thought-out statement of his position. I have nothing to add to what other contributors have stated in support of Dawkins.
I'm simply writing to add my voice to the growing chorus telling the religious fanatics that they do not, much to their surprise, have a lock on truth, or even religion.
Posted by: GeorgiaSon | October 3, 2007 9:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I am stunned at all the people who continue to use Hitler, Stalin, etc. as an example of how atheism is responsible for their atrocities. They obviously know no history, and have not gotten this from scholarly inquiry of the past. Who is feeding them this garbage that they repeat so frquently? My guess is that it is some religious tout trying to push his/her particular religion and feeds them these distortions of history. Kind of makes Dawkins point, doesn't it?
Posted by: DAS | October 3, 2007 9:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Mr. Dawkins, I am just as atheistic as you are, but religion is a merely a creation of man. It is part of man's nature to be violent, cruel, and warlike, and although many wars have been fought for ostensibly religious reasons, if there were no such thing as religion, I don't think there'd be any less war or terrorism. There would be some other reason for it. Besides, what is sold as a crusade or jihad is often really fought for other reasons -- control of land or resources for example.
Posted by: David Curtin | October 3, 2007 9:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Mr. Hawkins, I am just as atheistic as you are, but religion is a merely a creation of man. It is part of man's nature to be violent, cruel, and warlike, and although many wars have been fought for ostensibly religious reasons, if there were no such thing as religion, I don't think there'd be any less war or terrorism. There would be some other reason for it. Besides, what is sold as a crusade or jihad is often really fought for other reasons -- control of land or resources for example.
Posted by: David Curtin | October 3, 2007 9:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I agree with almost everything Dr. Dawkins says. However, the physicist Freeman Dyson has noted (in response to the Weinberg aphorism)that "without religion it is hard for bad people to do good things."
Posted by: bill | October 3, 2007 9:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Chris Fox – I agreed, I think the believers who go on about atheist regimes, are having a gut response to Dawkins essay without reading the many posts here. At least I hope so. I think what this suggests is the breadth of this point of view and the amount of work needed to dispel it. Perhaps in Dawkins' next essay, he needs to be clear about this upfront. I know he said it in his book – but not everyone is going to get that far.
IDEALIST: “Tonio, I suppose it might pull the rug out from under one of your arguments to observe that some religions believe that a part of you existed before God brought you forth into a higher level of existence—that”
I’ll let Tonio speak for himself, but this idea holds no weight with me because, like other religious beliefs, it requires belief in an invisible supernatural being
GUBCHUB “Religion has been a key binding mechanisms for communities and societies for millennia.”
Agreed – and wouldn’t it be nice, if now that we have a much greater understanding of science, that we adapt our “key binding mechanisms” to something that does not require belief or feigned belief in non-existent, invisible supernatural beings?
KEB: “However, to a person who was not inclined towards moral behavior, who lacked empathy, or who felt justified in other ways, the lack of belief in a higher authority could very well add to the justification of evil acts that hurt someone else”
Here we go again, the old “atheists are less moral than believers” idea, with nothing to back it up (because there is nothing)
MICHAEL EURE “No, “religion” comes from the root meaning “bind up” – a little different than “connect”
PHILLY: “But this is old news already. He's been saying the same thing for 30 years and it is not catching on.”
Right – that’s why there are nearly 600 responses to Dawkins in less than 24 hours
PAUL: “The reverse of the last quote is also true: For evil people to become good and then do good things, that also takes religion.” Nope – people can change their ways for the better without taking up belief in invisible supernatural beings.
Posted by: E favorite | October 3, 2007 9:24 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and others rightly point to religion as the bane of humankind. Reg Morrison, in his great work "Spirit in the Gene" attributed the human predilection toward mysticism to our evolutionary history, linked to our physical makeup and specifically our bicameral brain. Whatever the reason, our acquiesence to enter into the faith mode inhibits the kind of rational thinking that allows us to comprehend the consequences of our actions and attitudes. In this way we have, and will continue to be, induced by shamans to act upon the admonitions of the all-too-often malevolent gods that we have invented to segregate, hate and even kill, those in the camp of an alternative faith.
Posted by: David Sussman | October 3, 2007 9:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and others rightly point to religion as the bane of humankind. Reg Morrison, in his great work "Spirit in the Gene" attributed the human predilection toward mysticism to our evolutionary history, linked to our physical makeup and specifically our bicameral brain. Whatever the reason, our acquiesence to enter into the faith mode inhibits the kind of rational thinking that allows us to comprehend the consequences of our actions and attitudes. In this way we have, and will continue to be, induced by shamans to act upon the admonitions of the all-too-often malevolent gods that we have invented to segregate, hate and even kill, those in the camp of an alternative faith.
Posted by: David Sussman | October 3, 2007 9:16 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and others rightly point to religion as the bane of humankind. Reg Morrison, in his great work "Spirit in the Gene" attributed the human predilection toward mysticism to our evolutionary history, linked to our physical makeup and specifically our bicameral brain. Whatever the reason, our acquiesence to enter into the faith mode inhibits the kind of rational thinking that allows us to comprehend the consequences of our actions and attitudes. In this way we have, and will continue to be, induced by shamans to act upon the admonitions of the all-too-often malevolent gods that we have invented to segregate, hate and even kill, those in the camp of an alternative faith.
Posted by: David Sussman | October 3, 2007 9:15 AM
Report Offensive Comment
If religion has become the tool of evil action,
can it be readily assumed that ALL religons condone terror and evil? Or are we being selective? And, if so, WHY?
Karl Marx said, "religion is the opium of the masses"! He was a German: end of 19th century and beginning of 20th.
It seems to me Dawkins is simply generalizing about current politics of terror and military actions by GWB - a so-called compassionate conservative and newfound religious true believer.
He and his like-minded atheists must consider why religion is such a fundamental part of man. And, then, they must also consider how other religions are able and willing to co-exist with the sort of contradictions which civilization - from time to
time - is confronted with.
In my opinion, current developments are not - will not - provide sanctuary for non-believers.
Posted by: hari | October 3, 2007 9:15 AM
Report Offensive Comment
We can stand around pointing fingers at Christians, Muslims, atheists, and everybody else until the universe ends and get nowhere. The fact is, EVERY ideological group has committed evil acts - and yes, that includes Buddhists, or doesn't anybody remember Aum Shinrikyo releasing sarin in the Tokyo subway?
Let's all also remember that before 9/11, the worst terrorist act committed on American soil was the Oklahoma City bombing -- and that was committed by white men, presumably at least nominally Christian, but with NO religious motivation whatsoever.
Religion (and I include here secular ideologies that substitute "the state" or "the leader" for a god - they may be nominally secular but they function like religions) is responsible for a great deal of war, tyranny, and mass murder. But the root of evil seems to be turning religion into a tool of political power. The Taliban, and the rest of the Islamist groups, market themselves as guardians of religious and cultural purity and play on - prey on - the fears of people trying to survive in a rapidly changing world. Their real motivation is the same as that of the leaders in places like China and Myanmar -- simply to keep themselves in power.
I will say, though, that any ideology (again, I'm trying to ensure that traditional religions and totalitarian ideologies are treated equally) that claims to be the "one true way" has a risk factor for abuse of power. Human beings already have a tendency to regard anyone who is different as less worthy of respect - in most tribal cultures, the the tribe's name for itself means "people" and their name for outsiders means "not people." This is probably innate - most animals can differentiate between relatives and non-relatives. In today's world, though, this trait can lead to a great deal of harm.
I have no quarrel with people who want to practice a religious faith. Religions have done a lot of bad things, true, but they have also made a great many positive contributions. I do wish, however, that they would realize that other people hold beliefs that are just as sincere and just as valid as their own. And who knows, maybe they might have part of the truth too -- remember the elephant and the six blind men!
Posted by: Bemused | October 3, 2007 9:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Has Dawkins not heard of the Khmere Rouge? Would any of his description of the Taliban need to change if it was instead a description of the Khmere Rouge except for the fact that they were not religious? The viciousness would have to be scaled upward I would guess.
As with too many of the neo-atheist arguments, this is one that seems plausible a priori but does not hold up if one actually takes a balanced look at the world. That makes it embarassing that a scientist like Dawkins would make it.
One can see why Weinberg might think his quote was right. But reality shows that the quote is wrong. The fact that "advocates of reason" quote it without noticing that reality shows it is wrong winds up undercutting their claim to being the advocates of reason.
Posted by: Lon | October 3, 2007 9:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Can't we all simply agree that both theism and atheism may lead to evil acts if either of those beliefs are coupled with a radical ideology? If Mr. Dawkins brings up Osama bin Laden, I will mention Stalin (who's atheistic radical ideology killed far more people by the way). If he mentions those killed by the theistic Crusades, I will bring up those slaughtered in the atheistic French Revolution. The Inquisition...the KGB. The Taliban...Pol Pot's Cambodia. This argument continues to beat a horse long dead. Ideas can kill, whether theistic or atheistic. Move on.
Posted by: panbobor | October 3, 2007 9:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"But many religions arrogate to themselves the right to decide that certain kinds of sexual behavior, even if they do no harm to anyone, are wrong."
Being "religious" does not equate to faith in God. The Bible tells us that, "The heart is desperately wicked, who can know it." It appears that you forgot about “sexual behavior” that is self harm and directly leads to eternal harm. Here's the truth - all other forms of so called religion and faith, apart from the tenants of Judao-Christian Biblical standards, are completely false. Note - I didn't say that, Jesus Christ said that. Simply put, He either told the truth or He lied. And if He lied, than all of this life is just a giant charade and we are doomed to all the practices you describe.
However, His standard for faithful behavior is based on just two issues:
1. Love the Lord you God with your whole heart, mind and strength;
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.
True faith stands on those two principles. All else is error and death.
Posted by: Jeff Sturgis | October 3, 2007 8:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
A well-reasoned and clearly stated argument by Richard Dawkins. His opinion is based on factual evidence and is fair and balanced. The conclusion leaves little room for dissent, in my view.
Posted by: b in gaithersburg | October 3, 2007 8:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Religion is simply the grouping of people who have the same basic beliefs. Religion, as a concept, was created by man, not by God. God has never written a single word down on paper.
Everything believed by any religion is the subjective interpretation of Gods will by a person or a group of people. Therefore it must be flawed. If it wasn't, there would only be one Religion.
There is no true religion. All religion is subjective and the only criteria for accepting one religion over another is that it satisfys our internal belief system.
One of the most profound statements I've ever read was written on a bathroom wall. It simply said, "Don't blame God for man's mistakes". Organized religion may very well be man's biggest mistake.
Posted by: TKH | October 3, 2007 8:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
For a group of people who say they don't believe in something you sure do spend an enormous amount of time talking about what doesn't supposedly exist.
Posted by: Anthony | October 3, 2007 8:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The National Socialist Party credo in Germany was officially godless. Using the statement that
Religion = Bin Laden = Evil = Religion, one could substitute Atheism and Hitler and come to the opposite conclusion. And, of course, leaders have waged war in the name of peace, stifled liberty in the name of freedom, and repressed in the name of justice.
There is no simple formula to determine the root of human evil. History is a long list of atrocities perpetrated in the name of some good cause.
Posted by: William H Crane | October 3, 2007 8:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"Atheists and humanists tend to define good and bad deeds in terms of the welfare and suffering of others"
What a ridiculous statement. The truth is that an atheist can define good and bad however s/he chooses. It be be defined through the the enlightened, benevolent frame Mr. Dawkins suggests. But it is just as likely to be through a self-centered, others-be-damned frame. Why? Because there is no objective, enduring standard on which to base moral decisions.
Amazing that a few adherents of a philosophy that claims to live and let live has decided to embark on a vicious and dishonest attack on the vast majority of humans who choose to "walk by faith".
Posted by: Francis | October 3, 2007 8:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Fascinating argument. I can see completely the argument and rationale - and have often thought the same myself. Growing up Catholic, a religion where "have faith" seems to be the answer to anything unexplainable - thereby making the unexplainable, explained and taking away the right to question further - I have often thought it was very possible to abuse faith. Catholicism further conjectures that mortal men - when speaking on issues on religion - are infallable. These are the same men who make all kinds of mistakes and even condemn other priets of generations ago for their untoward practices - abuses of women, children, minorities.
I think this is why I have moved away from the "structure" of religion and more toward belief in God that pulls from lots of writings regardless of religion. I still feel there is a God, but think that as mortals any one of us can make mistakes about the specifics of it all.
Posted by: CA | October 3, 2007 8:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Well I guess you could have a point, but so what? Believing in God or not believing is not really something we have a big choice in now is it?
I believe in God, you don't, we both arrived at this point in our life's journey, and no amount of reason or insanity on either of our parts is going to change the other's mind.
Posted by: sloburn | October 3, 2007 8:36 AM
Report Offensive Comment
There is some truth to the argument that Richard Dawkins makes and in order to include the horrible crimes by Hitlers Nazis and Stalins Communists we ought to se their philosophy also as a form of religion.
Posted by: wassiv | October 3, 2007 8:16 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Hallmarks of religion: trust and faith in a supreme power, "we" instead of "I". Nazism was a religion, Hitler's divinity notwithstanding.
Cults of personality remove the burden of individual responsibility to seek the truth and replace it with trust in authority as a medium to an unknowable truth. Collectivism, always a recipe for disaster.
--FIUS
Posted by: Faithless in US | October 3, 2007 8:06 AM
Report Offensive Comment
It has been said that the last acceptable form of prejudice is discrimination against non-believers. And the more I participate in blogs such as this and become more involved in the overall debate, the more I see that this is indeed true. It is no longer acceptable to descriminate or hate a person based on thier skin color, nationality, gender, political preference or sexual orientation. But it seems to be perfectly acceptable to hate someone who does not have religious beliefs. So "Freedom of religion" does not appear to be "Freedom from religion". When I think back to the mentality that was responsible for the widespread hatred of the black man decades ago, or the mentality that denied women the right to vote and earn a living, I see no difference between that and the mentality today, expressed so clearly in these blogs, that hates based solely on the absence of religious convictions.
Posted by: Bud | October 3, 2007 8:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Lenin
Stalin
Mao
Pol Pot
Posted by: James J Klapper | October 3, 2007 7:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I refer to Richard Dawkins's commentary, especially his citation of Steven Weinberg:
"With or without [religion] you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.”
Neither Christ, nor Buddha for that matter, would have sanctioned the making and the use of the atomic bombs. The bombs were not used out of a religious conviction. Instead the "rational", was wholly secular - to end WWII, and avoid "even greater casualties" !!! Now Americans (and Europeans, including the British) are not generally considered "evil" (except by the hardened communists, no saints themselves !!). So isn’t the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki "good people doing evil things" without any reference to religion. And what of the scientist who developed and than justified the use of the bombs ?
Posted by: V R Srinivas | October 3, 2007 7:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"Nobody is suggesting that all religious people are violent, intolerant, racist, bigoted, contemptuous of women and so on. It would be absurd to suggest such a thing: just as absurd as to generalize about all atheists."
And yet there it is in the very first sentence...opening an article with just such a sentence telegraphs that this is exactly what the author intends to do!
Pascal was right....and yet somehow hypocritical. He's made the observation but he's not helping. And neither is Mr. Dawkins.
How many trees died for this dreck?
Posted by: herschel53 | October 3, 2007 7:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Once again Dawkins fails to grasp the primary tenants of the 'religion' he so broadly generalises about. It is remarkable that an individual of such high scientific learning and repute should be allowed to make such general and polemic statements without employing any scientific method.
How does Dawkins explain the bloody French revolution? Or the purging of the Hugenots from France? Or perhaps even the singularly most evil man of the 20th century, Joseph Stalin? All were directly related to the development on an anti-religious state and yet involved countless murders of innocent men, women and children.
Any dogma, doctrine, ideology or belief system can be abused for evil not simply religion...
Posted by: AJ Woolley | October 3, 2007 7:49 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I don't agree with your definition of good and evil if there are many things that are harmless at the individual level become harmful for the whole society. I don't think we should base or definition of good and evil in terms of its effect on the society, either. What about actions that disturb or break our own values, inner integrity and peace, the actions that only harm its actors. If we accept that they are harmless and ignore the fact that all evil people are un-peaceful to himself/herself and lost their identity and integrity, then we will never find a solution to this paradox and may end up accusing some other things.
Posted by: Devrim Bulur | October 3, 2007 7:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
It is time that this observation is understood and practiced if the human species is to ever irradicate war and diminish intolerance.
Posted by: Larry Newell | October 3, 2007 7:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
It is time that this observation is understood and practiced if the human species is to ever irradicate war and diminish intolerance.
Posted by: Larry Newell | October 3, 2007 7:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
For us pastafariens it is not clar that all relgion is evil.
For instance, we belive that pirates are the truley blessed ones.
Posted by: Jan L | October 3, 2007 7:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Relating to Hegal's dialectic, you have submitted the thesis (Theism is a Just and all knowing/loving/singular God) and the superior anti-thesis (Atheism proves that the Theistic God theory collapses when evil exists and bad things happen to good people, etc.).
But you omitted Trinitarianism (a God who incarnates himself, becomes man, fully experiences human suffering and pain and takes all of the grief and sludge upon himself in a single atoning act, hanging upon a dead tree so that "new" life can emerge.)this is the Hegelian synthesis.
So, by using two worn-out, two-step thesis/anti-thesis, of course you and all of your supporters will reach the same conclusions that even Christians do: Theism is flawed and trumped by Atheism.
You do not introduce Trinitarianism for your own reasons. Christians know that it trumps Atheism.
Posted by: Silence Dogood | October 3, 2007 7:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
David Ranan's book "Double Cross: The Code of the Catholic Church" claims that the Church, which was established to further love and hope, is in fact inherently evil. His analysis which demonstrates that the Catholic Church is unable to change leads him to conclude that she ought to be dismantled.
I am not sure about the realism of his conclusion but the analysis is compelling: religion + power are way too dangerous.
Posted by: Jay Kershaw | October 3, 2007 7:25 AM
Report Offensive Comment
How many hundreds of years of the kind of violence by "religious" people even as blood thirsty as radical Muslims would it take to equal the millions upon millions of humans slaughtered by the athiests Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot, etc?
The logical philosophical fruit of athiesm, that man is intrinsically worth no more than an insect, leads to the conclusion that those who are not convienient to the athiest and his secular state can simply eliminated like any other form of life that is a nuisance.
Posted by: C Baker | October 3, 2007 7:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
What makes being a human so complicated is our dualistic nature: we are simultaneously capable of greatness and evil. The type of behavior that presents itself at any given time is likely a function of the interaction of some very complicated internal processes and external circumstances.
Thus, I take exception to the "devastatingly true" assertion that religion is "what it takes" to cause good people to do bad things. How do we define and identify these so-called ‘good’ and ‘evil’ people? Dr. Dawkins focused on actions and their consequences. Are good people those who do good things? And, evil people those who do evil things? Consider that: the US dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, the intentional termination of a pregnancy in order not to interfere with the mother's life script has occurred millions of times, the brutal incarceration of criminals in order to protect society is ubiquitous and, yes, the destruction of the World Trade Center and the deliberate murder of thousands of innocent people to strike the beast in its belly. Does it really take religion to make a good person do evil? I think not.
While Dr Dawkins may be an exception, reflecting on myself and all of the people I know, we sometimes behave quite well and at other times not so well at all. What does that make me? Good, evil or ‘bi’? There’s no answer to that question. So, I think Dr Dawkins might benefit from considering an alternative hypothesis: People who think of themselves as being good typically require a compelling reason to do evil things.
In fact, it is only the sociopathic who do bad things simply and only for the sake of doing evil. Sociopaths can be found with any surface adornment (but they rarely announce themselves). Some look religious, some are titans of industry, some are obstructive bureaucrats, some might even be outspoken atheists (!). But, at their core, they are the same: they have a complete absence of empathy for others and a belief that others exist only to satisfy ones urges, wants and needs.
For most non-sociopathic people who are constantly engaged in a struggle to repress their evil tendencies and manifest their goodness, there can be a sense of relief or pleasure when their dark side is indulged. But, there is guilt too, and that is a problem. This points the way to a corollary to my hypothesis: it takes belief in a higher purpose to enable good people to do evil and believe they are being good and noble. This higher purpose can be religious or not. The excesses of the Cultural Revolution in China were completely without religious reference but had at least one thing common with the Inquisition: both resulted in some mostly good people doing some very evil things in the name of some greater good.
So, to all of these atheists who are deriving so much fun and profit from making the faithful squirm and confirming the superficial prejudices of non-believers, it seems that religion is not the problem. I’ll end with a quote from Pogo that does seem devastatingly true: “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Nuff said.
Posted by: Tom | October 3, 2007 7:22 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Please remember that Stalin, Hitler, and Mao were all atheists as was the official policy of their respective governments. Those governments murdured more people and did greater evil than all other governments, religions, serial killers in the sordid history of man. Their evil was whole sale as to religions retail evil. But, even with all this evil, only a minority of scholars would purport that all Russians, Germans or Chineese under these athestic governments were evil. Could one not just as easily say that for good people to do evil things takes atheism or more correctly conclude that Steven Weinberg is just a silly man when he makes foolish generalizations.
Posted by: jmah | October 3, 2007 7:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Please remember that Stalin, Hitler, and Mao were all atheists as was the official policy of their respective governments. Those governments murdured more people and did greater evil than all other governments, religions, serial killers in the sordid history of man. Their evil was whole sale as to religions retail evil. But, even with all this evil, only a minority of scholars would purport that all Russians, Germans or Chineese under these athestic governments were evil. Could one not just as easily say that for good people to do evil things takes atheism or more correctly conclude that Steven Weinberg is just a silly man when he makes foolish generalizations.
Posted by: jmah | October 3, 2007 7:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I do not agree with the assumption that "But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion". Nazism was no religion and it led good people to do terrible things. Religion is ONE of the sources of evil in this world, but not the only one.
Posted by: Paulo Lira | October 3, 2007 7:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I do not agree with the assumption that "But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion". Nazism was no religion and it led good people to do terrible things. Religion is ONE of the sources of evil in this world, but not the only one.
Posted by: Paulo Lira | October 3, 2007 7:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Please remember that Stalin, Hitler, and Mao were all atheists as was the official policy of their respective governments. Those governments murdured more people and did greater evil than all other governments, religions, serial killers in the sordid history of man. Their evil was whole sale as to religions retail evil. But, even with all this evil, only a minority of scholars would purport that all Russians, Germans or Chineese under these athestic governments were evil. Could one not just as easily say that for good people to do evil things takes atheism or more correctly conclude that Steven Weinberg is just a silly man when he makes foolish generalizations.
Posted by: jmah | October 3, 2007 7:17 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Please remember that Stalin, Hitler, and Mao were all atheists as was the official policy of their respective governments. Those governments murdured more people and did greater evil than all other governments, religions, serial killers in the sordid history of man. Their evil was whole sale as to religions retail evil. But, even with all this evil, only a minority of scholars would purport that all Russians, Germans or Chineese under these athestic governments were evil. Could one not just as easily say that for good people to do evil things takes atheism or more correctly conclude that Steven Weinberg is just a silly man when he makes foolish generalizations.
Posted by: jmah | October 3, 2007 7:17 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Please remember that Stalin, Hitler, and Mao were all atheists as was the official policy of their respective governments. Those governments murdured more people and did greater evil than all other governments, religions, serial killers in the sordid history of man. Their evil was whole sale as to religions retail evil. But, even with all this evil, only a minority of scholars would purport that all Russians, Germans or Chineese under these athestic governments were evil. Could one not just as easily say that for good people to do evil things takes atheism or more correctly conclude that Steven Weinberg is just a silly man when he makes foolish generalizations.
Posted by: jmah | October 3, 2007 7:17 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The reverse of the last quote is also true: For evil people to become good and then do good things, that also takes religion.
Posted by: Paul | October 3, 2007 7:17 AM
Report Offensive Comment
But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion. Nazism was no religion and it led good peopleo do to terrible things. Religion is ONE of the sources of evil in this world, but not the only one.
Posted by: Paulo Lira | October 3, 2007 7:16 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Dear Mr. Richard Dawkins;
“With or without [religion] you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.”
This quotation is worth repeating over and over again until people get it.
Posted by: Narasimha Reddy | October 3, 2007 7:13 AM
Report Offensive Comment
It is interesting that Mr. Dawkins chooses people of faith as his subject. Communism, aka atheists, is responsible for over 100 million deaths in the 20th century. Adolph Hitler, also an atheist, slaughtered many millions more. This is only recent history. I can go back in time and show hundreds of examples of non-religious individuals slaughtering and enslaving millions.
A faith that commands its followers to love one-another and their enemies is not likely to incite violence. A faith that commands eternal war against the Dar-al-Harb will certainly incite violence. But, so can any secular movement that makes “man the measure of things” instead of God. If our rights come from God, no man has the right to take them away. However, if our rights are granted by man, than any person can take them away.
Many of those who have responded so giddily to this report are acolytes of a new religion. This is the Church of Secular Humanism. They believe these statements with a blind un-reasoning faith..
Mr. Dawkin's thesis is nothing more than another attempt to smear persons of faith. It is neither scientific nor balanced. This so-called “research” is pure rubbish!
Posted by: R. Proulx | October 3, 2007 7:12 AM
Report Offensive Comment
And What about Stalin, and Mao? The worst mass murderers of all human history. Both avowed atheists. So if correlation is causation, by his own standards, atheism is inherently evil.
Dawkins is the televangelist of atheism. It is his fundamental faith, along with political correctness where he gets his ideas of what constitute good and evil.
But this is old news already. He's been saying the same thing for 30 years and it is not catching on.
Posted by: Philly | October 3, 2007 6:58 AM
Report Offensive Comment
And What about Stalin, and Mao? The worst mass murderers of all human history. Both avowed atheists. So if correlation is causation, by his own standards, atheism is inherently evil.
Dawkins is the televangelist of atheism. It is his fundamental faith, along with political correctness where he gets his ideas of what constitute good and evil.
But this is old news already. He's been saying the same thing for 30 years and it is not catching on.
Posted by: Philly | October 3, 2007 6:57 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Bill, I think a review of history will reveal that it was religious peole in ancient Greece and Rome that pioneered the use of critical thinking.
Trying to create some social value for atheism where none exists is a form of deception. Deception though, like natural camoflage, is a Evolutionarily-ordained method for success.
So like the professors who obtained funding for research into the fake hobbit people of Indonesia, if it betters your survival then how can it be wrong?
Posted by: Kacoo | October 3, 2007 6:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Nobody has seriously answered my contention (first mentioned here by Resident Geek) that the central and most beneficial characteristic of atheism is actually critical thinking and skepticism. If more widely practiced it would avoid many of the atrocities endlessly rehashed here. One of the defining characteristics of our times unfortunately is a decline in critical thinking and an increase in herd mentality.
Also, there has been little discussion on possible benefits of believing that this world is the only one there is, and that this life is the only one we have. To fully attain the benefits of these requires also the end of prophetic thought (the belief that the future is foretold, with certainty) which can also appear in "secular" forms, such as when following the tenets of Communism is said to lead with certainty to a workers' paradise. This will also lead to a reduction in "ends justifying the means" thinking. Most defense of religion involves citing reasons why we "need" religion, rather than arguing that God is objectively real. I think one of its biggest dangers lies in implications of the "reality" of an afterlife, which by necessity MUST diminish the respect we have for this world, and this life. This in the face of the overwhelming evidence that the belief is almost certainly a false one.
Posted by: Bill | October 3, 2007 6:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Josef Stalin is the only example you need to see that atheism breed's evil-doers...
Umm it seems more likely to me that people bent on doing evil will find whatever vehichle seems appropriate for them to do so whether it is ideology, military power, religion, or a combination of all three.
Ultimately religion is the recognition that there is more to the world than we can just detect with our five senses. Some people will use their charisma and religious symbolism to do terrible things, but by and large in the 20th century more killings and atrocities were done in the name of atheism than in the name of religion. Charisma and symbols are not limited to religion.
Posted by: Patrick | October 3, 2007 6:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Indeed religion can be a problem in the way described... but only false religion. And, ironically, false religion is based upon man creating gods in his own image. So the human being(s) is therefore not the best model or standard for ethics. True religion is not really "religion" at all, but simply reality based upon the revelations of God as given through nature and His Word, the Holy Scriptures. Christ shutters, I am sure, at the injustice and perversions of truth that take place "in the name" of God. Atheism or humanism are not the answer, either. They simply fuel the entire broken state of things in a denial of reality. Indeed it is a fallen and messed up world. Thankfully, Jesus has over come the whole mess on our behalf.
Posted by: Scott Lambert | October 3, 2007 6:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Mr. Dawkins paints the scene too widely -- most of the world's religions don't routinely inspire terror and persecution.
That dubious honor falls to the "Abrahamic" religions -- Judaism, Christianity and Islam -- monotheistic creeds that declare non-belivers infidels and less than fully human.
One needs only look at Israel, the apartheid state (and the intellectual and political bullying of its well-financed chorous of defenders) to see religiously-supported racism in action.
Declarations about the sole posession of truth, salvation and goodness have also inspired numerous Christian and Muslim apartheids, massacres and denials of human dignity.
One never hears of Bhuddists, Taoists, Zoroastrians or aboriginal religonists committing theological murders.
Time for humanity to reject this Abrahamic madness as the enemy of our true humanity.
Posted by: denis | October 3, 2007 6:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I agree with Dawkin's basic positions about religion, although I identify myself as agnostic, and think he should too, given his stated beliefs.
I really disagree, however, with a couple of his points above, and think they are clearly mistaken. The idea that there is no logical path from atheism to evil deeds is clearly wrong. A person could easily reason that there is nothing beyond this life, so I can do whatever I feel like doing in it, if I think I can avoid getting caught or don't care about the punishment. Just as most muslims reject the logic bin Laden, most atheists or agnostics would reject that logic. But to say there is no logical path from atheism to evil deeds is simply mistaken, it seems to me.
Also, it takes religion to make good people do evil things? Please, all it really takes is the blessing of the state or their peers and people will freely engage in the worst atrocities. Think My Lai, lynchings, the slave trade, the Holocaust, the rape of Nanjing, atrocities in warfare throughout history. All accomplished with the support and active participation of people who in civilian life were normal, "good" people.
On the whole I'd like to see humanity shed the ignorance and superstition of religion, but let's get there honestly and reasonably.
Posted by: Tom S | October 3, 2007 6:25 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Interesting thesis, stupid evidence.
7/7 and 9/11 were not driven by religious ardor alone, e.g., as say might be a pilgrimage to Mecca. The perps were carrying a lot of grim social/political freight as well - perception that the US wants to rule the mid-East by proxy through dictators/kings, resentment at the plight of fellow Arabs (e.g., Palestine, and again the perception that the US/Britain is conniving at Israeli oppression), etc.
The point is not if you feel that their reason to be angry had any merit (at least for this thread). It's that there was much much more to what happened than religion. Even the "Evil One" and his sidekick in their taped messages say a lot more than asking people to convert. Again, if you agree or not is besides the point, but it's clear that these are canny people with an agenda much larger than piety.
The Taliban are more authentic as an example of religious extreme. But they are not without recent parallel either. Here are a couple of interesting ones.
Forces gathered around a religious figure overthrew the tyrannical (but socially liberal) Shah to usher in an age of rule by the verses in Iran. And, by all accounts the fervor of the ruling clergy is proportionate to threats they see around them.
Good ole USA: seemingly in response to feeling threatened there is a huge swing to the right. Candidates obsequiously compete for the affections of the church and church-going.
So, here's my conclusion. No major religion came about as a theory (which can verified to be right or wrong) or as a book of rules 1 to n (which again can be followed logically to good or bad), though they may appear to be as such in day-to-day practice. Religion is a social agglomeration just like family, community, country etc. formed to further common interest or defend against a shared threat.
God? Large groups of people invariable form hierarchical leaderships with layer after layer descending from a point at the top (armies, corporations, universities,...) Cohesive groups can elect or select, while more amorphous one have to invent the Dear Leader.
Bottomline: if religion is another name for certain forces that arise from our social behavior then it's written into our genes as indelibly as the need to procreate.
Posted by: Sam | October 3, 2007 6:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Something that every Evolutionist and Fundamental Christian have in common is that they tell people to read more. Of course, if you can read through all their respective crap then your head is already so much mush that you would become a Nazi if you could ever finish Mein Kampf.
Seriously, they mistake education for indoctrination and believe more information will change a person's view. It's not the information that changes the person though, but the process of coming to believe all the crap.
That's why they must teach evolution to children. Kids don't have the ability to analyze and criticize in high school. Dawkins even advocates teaching evolution like a religion to young children.
That's his choice. Evolutionism is his religion, and America allows freedom of religion. Of course, Dawkins lives in England, where the monarch serves as the head of the state-established religion.
So maybe there are some other revolutionary ideas that he could implement at home before exporting his new faith abroad.
Posted by: Kacoo | October 3, 2007 6:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
PS 'Father O'Marlowe'--did you mean O'Malley? That would work. Your theology would still be off but at least your name would be authentic.
Posted by: Mary Cunningham | October 3, 2007 6:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Those religions that focus people on the afterlife tend to diminish the interest that adherents have for the here and now. After all, ordinary life pales into insignificance when compared to an eternity in the company of The Almighty Spirit. As the twig is bent, so grows the tree. You take an innocent five-year-old and feed him rubbish until he is an adult. Result: the fantasy of an afterlife in Paradise becomes very real and one heinous act away. One can form a conceptual framework for living based on some orthodoxy that has no connection with reality. What makes that orthodoxy appealing is that it answers certain questions to the full satisfaction of the believers. Your parents and your teacher are telling you that your assigned religion is The Way, the path to righteousness. One submits to Authority. In the end, the volatile mixture of religion and politics has believers committing political acts for religious reasons. This is not rational behavior.
Posted by: Hal Sawyer | October 3, 2007 6:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
'Fr O'Marlowe'
Where ever did you get that name? Marlowe is an English not an Irish name...and to add an O to an English name is just plain funny. My name--Cunningham--is Scots but is also a bastardized version of the Irish native name O' Connagain. Now I can add O--if I changed the spelling back to the Irish spelling--but no additional O will ever make Marlowe Irish, or Scottish.. It's English. So take off the O.
I'm not going to comment on your ehmm 'theology' except to say nowhere in the Church of Aquinas and Augustine do we find the assertion that reason is inimicable to belief in God. Quite the contrary: the Church maintains it is reasonable to believe in God.
Godfrey:
Re: Stalin was a Christian.
Well, he was a lot of things before he took up Marxism. He also studied for the seminary, and after he left committed at least one gangster-style murder. But I would say that his ideology--Marxism--was the motivation for his mass murders not his Orthodox upbringing, wouldn't you?
Re: engage your brain and google before making historical assertions
Well, Godfrey, I tend to read books for my history. I’m fond of those by John Gray, Professor of European thought, at the LSE, where I also studied..
How about *you * engaging your brain by reading his works before making historical assertions?
Posted by: Mary Cunningham | October 3, 2007 5:59 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Dawkins making an orderly retreat by defining religion as Muslim extremism.
It is stange that an evolutionary biologist would regard one of the most powerful forces of human existence -- religious belief -- to be evil. How can anything that has survived evolution be without merit? Weren't the successive billions of evolutionary powerball lottery jackpots that were needed to "create" us enough to prove that everything we have today is everything we need, including religion?
Dawkins is so supremely confident and optimistic of the future that he knows humans will never need religion ever again. Even while the USA military accidentally loads nuclear cruise missiles onto bombers, humans will never again be painting their hopes for the hunt onto cave walls.
Not in 30,000 years. Not in 3,000 years. Not in 30 years.
That would seem to make Dawkins into God, would it not?
Beginning his own religion is Professor Dawkins's divine scientific right, but my money is on the nukes.
Posted by: Kacoo | October 3, 2007 5:58 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Good arguments, but a couple of quibbles:
Your lumping together athiests and humanists around the value of avoidance of suffering of others implies a logical, ethical connection where none exists. Although it can be argued that humanists by definition are motivated by the avoidance of suffering of others, no such claim can be made for athiests, any more so than for, say, baseball players, vegetarians, or cat fanciers. An athiest may be just as prone to be a narcissistic misanthrope as a servant of humanity.
Another quibble: The 9/11 hijackers were not inspired or sanctioned by their 'mullahs.' The term (and religious function) of a 'mullah' is rarely recognized in the sunni Arab regions where the hijackers were born and raised. The value of your argument is undercut by sloppy language, a point which any religiously-inclined person could use to attack you for being superficial. Your point is too important to be undercut in this way.
Posted by: FGB | October 3, 2007 5:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I don't agree with Taliban. But that does not mean everything told against Taliban is correct. I don't know what was the religion of Harry Truman when he ordered to atom bomb Japan. I don't know what was Richard Nixon's and Lyndon Johnson's religion and belief when they had massacred tens of thousands of Vietnamese people. I don't know what was the religion of the European Colonialists when they had ethnicallay cleansed abrorigenes of Australia, Maoris of New Zealand and and red Indians of America. I don't what was the religion of Europeans when they had caused for two world wars and killed millions of people. I don't know the religion of Stalin when he had massacred hundreds of thousands of people. I don't know the religion of Mao when he had caused to kill hundreds of thousands of chinese through cultural revolution. I don't know the religion of George W Bush when he ordered occupation of Iraq and killing of six hundred thousand Iraqis within a short span of 4 years. I know none of these gruesome acts were carried out by Taliban's religion. In history, most of the bloody and gruesome wars were the contribution of Europeans. World has become unable to shake off the dead weight of the past left by Europeans. Taliban become poor and pale example when compared to the western atrocities.
Posted by: John Civillo | October 3, 2007 5:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I don't agree with Taliban. But that does not mean everything told against Taliban is correct. I don't know what was the religion of Harry Truman when he ordered to atom bomb Japan. I don't know what was Richard Nixon's and Lyndon Johnson's religion and belief when they had massacred tens of thousands of Vietnamese people. I don't know what was the religion of the European Colonialists when they had ethnicallay cleansed abrorigenes of Australia, Maoris of New Zealand and and red Indians of America. I don't what was the religion of Europeans when they had caused for two world wars and killed millions of people. I don't know the religion of Stalin when he had massacred hundreds of thousands of people. I don't know the religion of Mao when he had caused to kill hundreds of thousands of chinese through cultural revolution. I don't know the religion of George W Bush when he ordered occupation of Iraq and killing of six hundred thousand Iraqis within a short span of 4 years. I know none of these gruesome acts were carried out by Taliban's religion. In history, most of the bloody and gruesome wars were the contribution of Europeans. World has become unable to shake off the dead weight of the past left by Europeans. Taliban become poor and pale example when compared to the western atrocities.
Posted by: John Civillo | October 3, 2007 5:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I'm really tired of all this BS about religion. Everyone has one, it doesn't matter what they call it. The word "religion" comes from the Latin root meaning "to connect".
So I guess all atheists believe they are unconnected.
It's not that I don't believe that religion has prompted some of the most brutal behavior in history, it's just that when you take any type of thought to an extreme it's not good.
You should know the tree by the fruit it produces and our present leaders tree is rotten judging by the fruit.
We don't need more semantics to separate us, we need to come together as one, which in reality is what we are, one with the universe. It's all just energy but the root of all this energy is consciousness. As you think, so you become.
We are standing at the edge of Armageddon and the destruction of the world as we know it but we are too distracted by American Idol to notice.
Buckle your seat belts, it's going to be a rough ride.
Posted by: Michael Eure | October 3, 2007 5:51 AM
Report Offensive Comment
There a several faults in the logical path of this article. First, the author treats all religions and all athiests respectively as monoliths. The religions of the world are as varied as the weather and I would suggest that some are inherently bad. Further, while athiests may not have faith in an organized religion, they all have faith in something. They may even belong to an organization. to suggest that only a religious organization can lead an individual down a bad path is not rational. The author needs to recognize that God as an idea is perfection. Religions and churches are man made.
The implicit argument here seems to be that faith in God can lead an individual to do evil where lack of faith will not. The author twists reason by failing to acknowledge that that many if not most religions maintain good works and the golden rule as an ideal and by assuming that lack of involvement in a religious organization will not lead an individual to join other organizations that may or may not maintain such high ideals.
Posted by: Dan | October 3, 2007 5:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
What the author advocates has some compelling reasons, but his logic is not limited to religion. Equally repugnant, evil acts were committed under the banner of racial supremacy, tribal honor, national interests, and some other forms of blind self-righteousness.
The ethical issue posed by the writer may be clear, but the situation in real life is never that simple. Take the example of the Taliban/Bin Laden he refers to. Nobody ever contemplated the true dimensions for the US funding and arming this evil alliance, even approving and encouraging their religious zeal and self-righteousness. At the time, as the US focussed on fighting the Soviet evil, it never thought of its allies (the Taliban/Bin Laden) as evil. Opportunism in politics is apt to create unintended, even evil, consequences. Evil of fanaticisim is not limited to religious conviction. By not thinking thoroughly, the writer is committing exactly what he condemns: singling out religion as the only reason for which good people may commit evil things. With the best of intention, good people may "end up" doing evil things for reasons not related at all to religion.
Posted by: Aly Abuakeel | October 3, 2007 5:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
What the author advocates has some compelling reasons, but his logic is not limited to religion. Equally repugnant, evil acts were committed under the banner of racial supremacy, tribal honor, national interests, and some other forms of blind self-righteousness.
The ethical issue posed by the writer may be clear, but the situation in real life is never that simple. Take the example of the Taliban/Bin Laden he refers to. Nobody ever contemplated the true dimensions for the US funding and arming this evil alliance, even approving and encouraging their religious zeal and self-righteousness. At the time, as the US focussed on fighting the Soviet evil, it never thought of its allies (the Taliban/Bin Laden) as evil. Opportunism in politics is apt to create unintended, even evil, consequences. Evil of fanaticisim is not limited to religious conviction. By not thinking thoroughly, the writer is committing exactly what he condemns: singling out religion as the only reason for which good people may commit evil things. With the best of intention, good people may "end up" doing evil things for reasons not related at all to religion.
Posted by: Aly Abuakeel | October 3, 2007 5:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The atheistic world view has claimed hundreds of millions of live throughout history. How many millions died at the hands of Lenin and Hitler (both followers of famed German Philospher/Athiest Frederick Nietzsche)? The USA has killed more than 45 million of its own children with the abortion. Dawkins distorts the facts to support his arguments. Get the facts yourself. Atheism kills. The following quotation from the prize winning author Dr. Seuss has become well known, but it is so devastatingly true that it is worth quoting again and again, "A person is a person no matter how small."
Posted by: p2 | October 3, 2007 5:33 AM
Report Offensive Comment
One error of Dawkins he supposes that all those outside the religious world share his own values.
They do not.
I do not believe that Ghenghis Khan or Stalin or Lenin or Hitler or Mao were 'religious'.
I would however suggest that the basis for a concept of ethical human beings, who do not do unto others what they would not have done unto themselves, and who have an ideal of all peoples living in peace with each other has its origin in Biblical teaching.
Posted by: Shalom Freedman | October 3, 2007 4:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
More people have been killed because of religious wars than all other wars in recorded history is my understanding. Vice-President Bush is a professed religious person and evil(my belief) because he followed orders from President Cheney to invade Iraq.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 3, 2007 4:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Atheists in general do not see atheism as a belief system, since it is the absence of belief. In other words, the only thing atheists by definition have in common with one another is the absence of belief in god(s).
And while I can see ways that this could lead to evil, few atheists would claim to have done something in the name of atheism--because there's nothing there to do things for. However, to a person who was not inclined towards moral behavior, who lacked empathy, or who felt justified in other ways, the lack of belief in a higher authority could very well add to the justification of evil acts that hurt someone else. Yes, there would have to be other causes, because atheism itself isn't an organized, driving force, where (some) religions are.
From this perspective, then, it's clear that Dawkins is comparing two things that are not equivalent. Moreover, he is comparing the absence of belief to all other beliefs as if they were all not only equal, but one and the same. In fact, there is far less that can be said of all religions or of all religious people than can be said of all atheists, because religions (organized or not) are so diverse, and the people who follow them are even more so.
Yes, religious people have done evil things, and organized religions have committed horrible atrocities. Secular people have also done evil things, and secular organizations have also committed horrible atrocities. Perhaps the evil things and horrible atrocities have more in common with one another than religions do?
If we are going to play "More Moral Than Thou", we should at least define our opponents fairly.
Posted by: Keb | October 3, 2007 4:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Sorry to chime in again, but I was thinking about whether there are other circumstances in which good people can do bad things, and I was reminded of a brilliant one-act play by Tony Kushner (Angels in America) called "Reading to Dead Iraqi Children." The premise is that Laura Bush is reading to Iraqi Children that have died in atrocious circumstances. The play is unbelievably moving, considering its spare length. Kushner uses three very recent atrocities, smart bombs from Bush-I's Middle East War, the cruise missile attack on a milk factory in Yemen during the Clinton Administration (approved by Clinton) and the atrocities that are part of the current debacle, to ask the very question Richard Dawkins answers without really asking. "How do things like these atrocities happen? How are people with such different agendas all able to create such sorrow? It's much more considered than the Dawkins piece and the conclusions more uncomfortable.
Posted by: Arthur Edwards | October 3, 2007 4:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
you're right, religion does make people nuts. the apostle Paul says that when he read the commandment "Do not lust," he lusted more. Our sinful nature feeds on sin and the more we try to isolate it with religious decrees the more sinful we become. we don't need religion. we need a Savior. Jesus isn't a religion. He is a Person you can know. He's what the world, including Bin Laden needs now. Jesus died for Mohammed too.
Posted by: ex-muslim | October 3, 2007 4:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Mr Dawkins is confusing the issues here. To discuss religious extremism only in the light of the Taliban or other Muslim fundamentalists is too limited a scope. He is playing into the hands of the Neo-Cons and ultra rights (religious or not) in the West. The greatest evil-doers of the XX Century, Hitler and Stalin, were both atheists or as close as you can get to it. The US combated left wing government in Latin America during the 60s and 70s with a largely atheist platform but it still engaged in mass torture, dissapearances and killings together with the local juntas. The only exception was the Argetenean junta of Videla, who were very close to the Vatican. What we are talking here is security. Each tribe or country cares for its security. Religion is just one of the exponents of the tribe or country. It will be used if its needed. Muslims have felt for at least 100 years that the West is encrouching their territory and customs too much. There was a perceived threat to the "Muslim security" if you like. But Arab countries are not fully armed like the West so the only weapon left to fight with was religion. In the past, America fought with democracy and capitalism. The Soviet Union fought with communism. Nazi Germany with imperialism. And so on. We are talking here that each tribe fights with what it has. It's a human thing.
Posted by: Pablo | October 3, 2007 4:13 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I don't think that Richard Dawkins makes a good case here. It is true that all human beings, regardless of whether they are religious or not, are capable of committing terrible crimes in certain circumstances. Because of this I don't think that talking about "good or bad people" is very useful.
I would also make a distinction between religion and spirituality. Lots of people who claim to be religious and who even may be almost fanatical in their religious adherence have no real spirituality. Their religion is merely a cloak that they wear. There are all sorts of reasons why people use religion in this way and it may be that institutional religion encourages this.
When I sees acts of hatred and violence carried out in the name of religion, I do not believe that the perpetrators have any true belief. For example, we have seen catholic priests who have persistently abused children over many years whilst still maintaining their positions as pastors in communities.
It is my belief that the current Islamic terrorists are consumed by hatred and are using religion as a way of stirring up support amongst people who feel alienated from western countries such as the US and Britain.
Posted by: Brendan Holleran | October 3, 2007 4:00 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Religion has been a key binding mechanisms for communities and societies for millenia. It creates a common set of unique symbols shared by a wide group that facilitates collective action. That action is far too frequently negative - witness the Crusades - but it has also been a key success factor for societies - for example, the preservation of literacy in the Dark Ages. Nor should the negative results be attributed to an irrational view of good - systems like communism or democracy which also promote common values/symbolic references have also had negative outcomes. The reality is that any set of reference social symbols (gender, sexuality, colour, beliefs, nationality) can be exploited by demagogues and propagandists and become a cause for violence.
Posted by: gubchub | October 3, 2007 3:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I agree with the principal line of argument if the word "organized" is inserted before religion. Religion itself is a pretty slippery concept without stipulating that it is organized religion. For example, I think the concept of "religious experience" that means something for which words fail, is a pretty universal experience. For example, contemplating continuous consciousness is, for me, simply too much.
To my mind, organized religion is most often about political power. I have attended (mostly happily) a Unitarian Congregation. While these are not power hungry people (Believe Me!!) I think part of the reason for the larger institution is to insulate themselves from the political power usurped by other churches.
Having said that, institutional churches have had enormously positive impact. The Catholic Church, with all of its ugly history (Inquisition anyone?) left an indelible mark on many European Democracies, in that they really do care (or at least have cared) for the poor.
Anyway, as much as I respect the science Richard Dawkins does and has done (his article on the evolution of the eye was pretty remarkable), I do think his take on religion is a little simplistic.
Posted by: Arthur Edwards | October 3, 2007 3:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Early in the twentieth century, many American religious leaders were advocates of eugenics. According to the book _Preaching Eugenics_, they were Catholics, Protestants and Jews.
Posted by: R. Russell | October 3, 2007 3:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"You do not need religion to generate evil. Just an organization that develops the evil and explains it is good."
But that is what religion IS.
Posted by: Tom | October 3, 2007 2:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I think it would be far easier for me, an ordinary slob, to commit mass murder if I believed that a supreme being, with ultimate moral authority and absolute control over my eternal soul, had ordained it, than if I didn't.
Posted by: Neal | October 3, 2007 2:33 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Dawkins is completely right. How can mankind make progress with a rusty anchor in the past? With religion, we cannot. How can I tolerate that which is the source of so much intolerance? I can't. And I won't.
This is my cause. And I write mostly satire to draw people to my atheist message of peace and tolerance and anti-discrimination.
Posted by: Jeff Matheny | October 3, 2007 2:17 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Rick,Gerry,Steve Holgate & many others with Reason, sensible questions and comments:
I liked your note Gerry its reason vs superstition and not Islam Vs Christianity or others. For you i advise to see below comments of mine.
Rick, you asked about Hell and Havens and told about population comparison. For you my dear, we are only responsible for our own actions. At the end good deeds and bad deeds were never rewarded equally and never will be(though in appearance you find injustice), logic tells! My believe tells i have the responsibility to seek KNOWLEDGE of world as well to reach the truth, other wise i will left ingorant and end up in hell. (If you are sincere enough you will find the answer of ALL the questions that hinders you and create doubts- ANSWERS ARE ALL OUT THERE!!)
Steve Holgate, dear you talk about lack of scientific proof, I suggest you to also read below comments carefully!!!
Opinions are made upon understanding and certain knowledge, which differ from person to person. For some God is a myth, for some they believe or want to believe according to their religion and for some He is as real as His creation. Below are few examples in the favor of their belief:
For Muslims Big Bang Theory is not something new, it is more than 1400 years old, revealed in their Holy Book along with more than 1000 other scientific facts which are happened to be established recently in couple of centuries. And the answers of so many confusing questions which keep us going astray throughout our lives. AND AS A FACT MUSLIMS KNOW THEY WERE REVEALED BEFORE DISCOVERED AND FURTHER ON TOP OF IT THAT NOT A SINGLE VERSE OF THEIR HOLY BOOK IS IN CONFLICT WITH ANY LOGICAL/SCIENTIFIC APPROACH (INFECT EVERY TIME SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES PROVIDING PROOF IN FAVOR OF THE LAST REVELATIONS), MAKE THEM MORE FOCUSED / PRACTICING /FUNDAMENTALIST OR WHAT EVER OTHERS THINK ABOUT THEM and made it very easy for them to reach to the conclusion...SIMPLY APPLY THE SCIENTIFIC RULE OF PROBABILITY....What if 80% of Qur’an is in conformation with 100% of Science and 20% of it is beyond humans comprehension then logic says it would be also correct, if not now then in future...IF YOU UNDERSTAND PORBABILITY RULE THEN ITS NOT A JOKE !!), very few examples out of All from the Holy book as proof,
I have created all the creatures from earth and all the living beings are made out of water (Chapter 21) (living being which are meant to die/perish)
Don’t you see the earth and sky was together and I separated them, still you don’t believe
(Chapter 21)
I have created sky upon earth for your protection and there is sign for you
(Chapter 21)
All the stars, moon and sun are floating in their skies
(Chapter 21)
All the skies are holding with out pillars and there is sign for you
(Chapter 21)
For Muslims God means (The One, Ultimate Creator, Who is Uncreated and above time always present before and after time and beyond our limited level of comprehension)
Below is the TOUCH STONE of God that He revealed in Holy Book, when the question about God was raised:
1- He is One and Only
2-the Eternal, Absolute;
, the eternally Besought of all! on Whom all depend.
3-He begets not, nor is He begotten.
4-And there is none comparable unto Him.
And none is like Him.
PLEASE COMMENTS ARE NOT NECESSARY WITHOUT VARIFICATION / RESEARCH OF THE ORIGINAL TEXT AND AUTHENTIC TRANSLATIONS BY ONLY MUSLIM SCHOLARS TO AVOID ANY TWISTING AND DECEPTIVE TECHNIQUES IN GENERAL PRACTICE!!
Jesus (Isa) A.S. in Islam, and his Second Coming
by Mufti A.H. Elias
I. Jesus (A.S.) In Islam
Muslims do believe that Isa (A.S.) was sent down as a Prophet of Allah (God), but he (Jesus) is not God or Lord, nor the son of God. Muslims do not believe that Isa (A.S.), also known as Jesus by Christians and others, is dead or was ever crucified. We believe that he was raised to heaven and is there, and will descend at the appointed time, end all wars, and bring peace to the world. Like Jesus (A.S.), Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is also a Prophet and Messenger. Muhammed (P.B.U.H.) is the last Prophet, though, and there is none after him. Hence, Islam is the last religion, complete, with the Holy Qur'an as the unchanged and perfect word of God for over 1400 years, AS GOD PROMISED TO PRESERVE IT TILL THE LAST DAY FOR ALL OF HUMANKIND, UNLIKE SACRED TEXTS OF OTHER RELIGIONS WHICH HAVE MULITPLE VERSIONS AND ARE "REVISED" PERIODICALLY BY MAN. God, or Allah in Arabic, is Divine and Supreme Being and Creator.
What the Holy Qur'an says about Jesus:
They slew him not, nor did they crucify him but it was made dubious to them.
(Holy Qur'an, Surah Nisaa, Verse 157)
Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) himself told of the coming of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). In the Bible, Jesus (A.S.) says,
IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. AND I WILL PRAY TO THE FATHER AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER THAT HE MAY ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER.
(Bible, John 14-15/16)
BUT WHEN THE COMFORTER IS COME, WHOM I WILL SEND UNTO YOU FROM THE FATHER, EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, WHICH PROCEEDETH FROM THE FATHER, HE SHALL TESTIFY OF ME, AND HE ALSO SHALL BEAR WITNESS, BECAUSE YE HAVE BEEN WITH ME FROM THE BEGINNING.
(Bible, John 15-26/27)
I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. How be it when he, the spirit of Truth will come, he will guide you into all truth, FOR HE SHALL SPEAK NOT OF HIMSELF, BUT WHATSOEVER HE SHALL HEAR, that he shall speak, AND HE WILL SHOW YOU THINGS TO COME. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and he shall show it unto you.
(Bible, John 16-12/14)
Ulema (learned scholars in Islam) have said that the person who is described by Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) to come after him - in the above verse - does not comply with any other person but Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
In this case, the "comforter" he mentions is none other than Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his laws and way of life (Shariah) and Book (Holy Qur'an) are those that Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) asks his followers to abide by.
THE "PERSON" WHOM JESUS (A.S.) PROPHECISED WILL COME AFTER HIM, IS CALLED PARGALEETA IN THE BIBLE . THIS WORD WAS DELETED BY INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS AND CHANGED AT TIMES TO "SPIRIT OF TRUTH" AND AT OTHER TIMES, TO "COMFORTER" AND SOMETIMES "HOLY SPIRIT." THE ORIGINAL GREEK AND ITS MEANING IS "ONE WHOM PEOPLE PRAISE EXCEEDINGLY." THE SENSE OF THE WORD, THEN, IS APPLICABLE TO THE WORD MUHAMMAD IN ARABIC, SINCE MUHAMMAD MEANS "THE PRAISED ONE."
Jesus (A.S.) also says in the Bible,
... AND A LITTLE WHILE AND YOU SHALL NOT SEE ME; AND AGAIN A LITTLE WHILE, YOU SHALL SEE ME BECAUSE I GO TO THE FATHER.
(Bible, John 16:16)
... and the Holy Qur'an says,
And surely they slew him not. But Allah (God) raised him unto Himself.
(Holy Qur'an, Surah Nisaa, Verse 157-158)
As such, Muslims believe that Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) was raised to heaven. According to Hadith, he is on the second heaven. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam=Peace be upon him) mentioned, "During the Meraj (Ascension), I met Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) on the second heaven. I found him of medium stature, reddish white. His body was so clean and clear, that it appeared as though he had just performed ghusal (ablution, cleansing of the entire body) and come." In another Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned to the Jews that, " Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) is not dead, he will most surely return to you before Qiyamat (the Day of Judgement)."
May Allah Guide all people to the Truth. Aameen.
Posted by: Moody | October 3, 2007 2:17 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"J. Scott:
Two words: Nazi Germany"
"My feeling as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter." Adolf Hitler -April 1922
Posted by: FREETHINKR | October 3, 2007 1:59 AM
Report Offensive Comment
And then there is that class of people who are evil and use religion to exploit their fellow man. Catholic priests raping choir boys and the clergy who protect those priests fall into that category. The Baptist minister who construes hate as love of god to manipulate ignorant and week worshippers and empower and enrich themselves. More people have been killed in the name of organized religion than any other cause. Where is the apology and where is the safeguard? The religious fringe in America brought the world george bush. Thanks a lot. Conrad Elledge
Posted by: conrad elledge | October 3, 2007 1:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I believe Mr. Dawkins is forgetting about the worst mass killings in history: Stalin's murderous reign in Russia, Mao's rampage in China, Pol Pot's killing fields in Cambodia, etc. They were all condoned and executed by fully ATHEISTIC regimes. Yes, bad things have been done in religion's name...but if you add up the bodies, the deaths committed in the name of no God (following POLITICAL ideologies) far outnumbers those killed in "God's name". I would challenge Mr. Dawkins to come up with one conflict in the last 200 years that was fully motivated by religion...
Posted by: Sahara Politico | October 3, 2007 1:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
All those who say...
Pol Pot, Mao, Stalin...they were overwhelmingly athiest, so it must be atheism that led inexorably towards the horrors they committed.
Try this...they had an overwhelming urge to urinate and defecate, so it must be the urination and defecation that led them inexorably towards the horrors they committed.
Posted by: MOA | October 3, 2007 1:15 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Mikie wrote:
"There is no logical path from atheism to evil deeds." The implication of this statement is that atheists don't commit evil deeds which is nonsense.
==
The nonsense is your misreading. Was it deliberate? Because Dawkins wrote no such thing. My guess is that you read barely past the title, read none of the posts, and just chimed in with your own worthless contribution. Hey, how about Hitler and Pol Pot!
Atheists certainly can commit evil deeds but tyhey do so knowingly, having out get-out-of-judgment-free card in the form of some holy book or spiritual leader.
Rule One: read the article before you post.
Posted by: Chris Fox | October 3, 2007 1:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Oh come on. People commit savage crimes over things they feel passionately about; on the personal side there's love and greed, on the organized side there's religion and nationalism.
If there were no religion in the world there would be one fewer thing for people to work themselves up into a lather over. Better still if nationalism went down the same drain ... world's had enough of both.
There'd still be murder but it'd be less *organized*
Posted by: Chris Fox | October 3, 2007 12:59 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Your comments are based on a select group of religions and do not apply to all faiths. During his time, Buddha denied the authority of Vedas, the Hindu scriptures and freely preached in India against ritualism. Buddhism spread to one quarter of humanity without a sword.
How about atheists like Stalin and Mao? How many million people these atheists killed? Probably more than all the people killed in all the religious wars.
Posted by: Krishna | October 3, 2007 12:57 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"There is no logical path from atheism to evil deeds." The implication of this statement is that atheists don't commit evil deeds which is nonsense. What Dawkins so conveniently overlooks is that all evil deeds come from greed and the desire for power. Whether they are motivated from within or without is irrelevant.
Posted by: Mikie | October 3, 2007 12:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Two words: Nazi Germany
Posted by: J. Scott | October 3, 2007 12:51 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Oh come on. People commit savage crimes over things they feel passionately about; on the personal side there's love and greed, on the organized side there's religion and nationalism.
If there were no religion in the world there would be one fewer thing for people to work themselves up into a lather over. Better still if nationalism went down the same drain ... world's had enough of both.
There'd still be murder but it'd be less *organized*
Posted by: Chris Fox | October 3, 2007 12:48 AM
Report Offensive Comment
So I guess there's a slight problem in this beautiful world of ours. It will continue until the last atheist or last religious manic freak standing. Good luck to us. And then of course there's the religion of money. Surely the worst.
Posted by: mr wakker | October 3, 2007 12:45 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"Father" O'Marlowe, eh?????
Nice try.
If you people think this "father" is a real priest then I have got a bridge in Alaska to sell you....
Cut crap, whoever you are
Posted by: speed123 | October 3, 2007 12:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The article was interesting. I always been
intrigued by the voilence a human can perpetrate
& yet feel normal & lead normal life.
What is the mental process & mental state of
this individual? I am not sure about the
underlying point in this artlice , viz , "For good
people to do evil things , it takes religion ".
I quote Gandhi here " There are causes for which
I am prepared to die but there is no cause for
which I am prepared to kill". He was a religious
person & heavily influenced by the Hindu holy
book "Gita".We know him & his worl-view.
Let us face it.
"For good people to do evil things , it takes a
bad religion". I suppose that is what the Author
meant.
Raghu , INDIA
Posted by: Raghu Nathan , INDIA | October 3, 2007 12:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The reality is that humans will always be both good and evil. It is in each and every one of us. While Dawkins is correct in saying that religion is a potential avenue of evil, he is only getting part of it.
ALL things are potentially an avenue of evil. Evil is inevitable. We will all perpetrate it in some form and some degree in our lives.
But what it really comes down to, is there is no such thing as evil. There is only relativity. What is good for some, will ALWAYS be bad for others, and vice versa.
It's a scary, nihilistic concept, if you think about it long enough... and people don't want to accept that. This is both good, and bad! Certainly, a lot of good could come from understanding this duality, but certainly, a lot of evil can come from it as well. And also, a lot of good can come from REJECTING this duality, but also a lot of bad can as well!
So what does this mean in a practical sense? Nothing. Everything is exactly how it is, and everything will be exactly how it will be.
Posted by: Name | October 3, 2007 12:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Tonio,
I suppose it might pull the rug out from under one of your arguments to observe that some religions believe that a part of you existed before God brought you forth into a higher level of existence--that He did not "create" you out of nothing, and you retained an identity within that higher level of existence which He did not extinguish or change.
We choose who we are, and what we make of ourselves. I know atheists believe this also, so we're all in this melting pot together, aren't we, learning and growing from one day to the next? Just because God mostly stands back and lets us "do our own thing" doesn't make Him less loving and less wise--He just has different purposes than some religions attribute to Him.
Posted by: Idealist | October 3, 2007 12:37 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Religion makes people evil? What about Rwanda? The gulags under Stalin? People can be truly evil without religion as an impetus. It's simplistic to suggest otherwise.
Posted by: Rachel | October 3, 2007 12:32 AM
Report Offensive Comment
It is positively eerie to read this thread and see the believers trotting out the same stale and discredit points over and over and over.
Hitler was not an atheist, neither was Stalin, neither was Pol Pot.
Even had they all been atheists, would being otherwise change anything about what they did?
Judging by the responses here, the correlation between logical enmuddlement and religious belief is somewhere around 99.99%
Posted by: Chris Fox | October 3, 2007 12:25 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Amen!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 3, 2007 12:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
You are absolutely right. The way I see it, George W. Bush and Bin Laden are more alike than different.
They both do what they do in the name of God. Sadly, it is the truly innocent that ultimately pay the price of their ignorance.
Posted by: Marty America | October 3, 2007 12:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Stalin and Mao were atheists. They were responsible for the deaths of millions -- and millions of others blindly embraced their teachings and did their bidding. Religion, like ideology, is a human construct that can and will be used for ill intentions.
When Dawkins, Hitchens and others attack religion for its tendency to be used as an excuse for repression and murder, what they miss is the larger picture. It's not religion (or ideology) that are at the root of these evils, it's human nature. If religion disappeared tomorrow, do they really believe that bad people wouldn't dream up something else to justify their actions and motivate others to follow them?
What they are presenting is an oversimplified view of history and our contemporary ills. Weinberg's quote is simply false. People who consider themselves good do evil things every day, convinced they are doing the right thing, whether in the name of reaching heaven or creating their own version of an earthly utopia.
Posted by: Toby Eckert | October 3, 2007 12:03 AM
Report Offensive Comment
First-to DCNC-I could not agree with you more, friend!
----------------------------------
In my earlier post, I said that there are two situations in which mass murder can take place: in an atheistic society, and in a theistic society where a-theism is projected onto another people.
There exists a clear instance of the latter: religions that are exclusivist, claiming their truth is the one truth, their God, the only God. Where this happens, we see again the dehumanization of other peoples, and the preparation of all manner of firing squads and gas chambers. Once again, the claim that "I am with God, and you are without God."-the projection of atheism onto another.
Every exclusivist religion *necessarily* casts atheism beyond its borders. Unless that religion believes in some version of the Devil, in which case it casts something worse.
To Richard Dawkins, brandishing Al Qaeda as Exhibit A, I submit that Al Qaeda does not kill because it embraces God so much as it kills because it presumes to *deny* God to others who claim to believe in a different way.
Posted by: Todd | October 3, 2007 12:00 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Think with your mind,not with your brain.
If you think too much it'll drive you insane.
Go with your feelings,they are natures best guide.
But always remember,keep God on your side.
Jerry Falwell.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 2, 2007 11:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Todd: "*Only* atheist regimes have behaved thus, with one exception-theist societies which perceived another population as subhuman and outside the Deity, ie, societies which *projected* a condition of a-theism onto another people."
after a while, this cr*p starts to sound pretty funny.
so, let's get this straight. 'theist' societies are all sweetness and light unless they act like 'a-theistic' ones? which, of course, would be most of the time.
dude, listen to yourself.
daddy was a baptist preacher. southern baptist. you know them surely? the ones that owned slaves and all. killed all the indians as well. there's some sweetness and light for you. very 'theistic' of them if you ask me.
hey, do you lot still drink your god's blood and eat his flesh? whoa, you guys really creep me out.
keep your distance, please.
but all kidding aside, i think the fever has broken. america has survived the 'great awakening' of the late 20th century (really just a backlash against the civil rights movement, gay rights, etc.) and i think the tide has turned.
the political arm of the righteous right is in deep doo-doo, what with nobody to vote for in 08. the republican candidates for prez have more wives between 'em that . . . . well, joseph smith for example. what a larf. all these conservative xtians all dressed up and nobody to vote for.
have you noticed how few young people go to church these days? sad, ain't it?
Posted by: seattledodger | October 2, 2007 11:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I absolutely agree with both Mr. Dowkins' and Mr. Weinberg's opinions re: god and religion. Briefly speaking - religious beliefs and evil deeds are like twin brothers (or sisters ;-D). The real tragedy is that the "god belivers" do not want to accept it and... they think that they are the best, the smartest, the greatest... etc. etc. people in the whole world and the Universe. What a grotesque!
Posted by: Artur | October 2, 2007 11:47 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Religion won't save us, faith if it is placed in the wrong place won't save us. Jesus cautioned us against all of the this. You can multiply words but you have to do the will of God to be saved. Love your neighbor as yourself and love God with all your heart, mind, soul strength. Whether Mr. Dawkins experiences this is between him and God. If He could reach Saul and Augustine He can probably reach Mr. Dawkins as well.
Posted by: C | October 2, 2007 11:44 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Todd- humans are a work in progress...an effort God set in motion.
I also never said evolution was not a part of the equation, nor did I assert that God will "cruelly and sadistically torture" people for eternity.
I do believe that I am more than just a chemical reaction and that no amount of study will fully define what makes me different than you.
That's where faith comes in- that there is something after this "short time" on earth and there was a reason for us to work toward being good while we were here.
Do you believe in evolution? Are we humans-sloppy creation of God-not improving? Slowly, I think we are, despite the existence of evil. That's the point- to work toward becoming "God" - totally good and all-knowing.
Religion has also evolved and been the subject of interpretation- but, as I said before, the basic message is clear- be nice to each other and realize there is something greater than yourself.
Posted by: DCNC | October 2, 2007 11:37 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Mr. Dawkins's whole argument hinges on intent. I think capability has a lot to do with it. Basically, for someone to be both higly intelligent AND religious, they would have to reconcile the two by attributing religion's logical inconsistencies to metaphor; in other words, they would not take the "holly" texts, whatever those may be, literally.
That leaves "fundamentalist" belief to people of weak spirit and wit, who are easyer to manipulate; the more tenuous one's grasp of reality (by lack of either analythics or sound common sense), the more likely their view of the world being "twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools".
Hence, better education leads to less religion; a comparison between the US and Europe would seem to support this conclusion: in the US (which has an exquisite higher education system but where elementary education overall seems to be somewhat weaker), 60% of the population claim to have strong religious beliefs; in Europe, that figure is between 12% and 25% in most countries.
Posted by: R. Alex Hotnog | October 2, 2007 11:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Sir --
I am an atheist and I will never make that argument. You claim to speak on behalf of atheists but your wrath is not againt religions, it is against a particular religion: Islam. Let's be "rational" and "enlightened" for a moment and address the question of "whether there is any general reason why religion might be more or less likely to bias individuals towards unpleasant things." Your depiction of Muslims is racist and irrational. How many people died during WWI and WWII, not in the name of Islam and not in the hands of Muslims, but in the name of modern civilization at the hands of Christian Europeans? If the Washington post wants to get is a serious debate about these issues don't get third rate philosopher that someone as medicore and ridiculous as Bin Laden can discredit. Get real!!!
Posted by: Tahar Labidi | October 2, 2007 11:28 PM
Report Offensive Comment
DCNC
You didn't address my points. Why does this god supposedly create people who put their desires first (only to be cruelly and sadistically tortured for ALL eternity for what they did in their short lives)? If he can do anything, why not create better people? If a manufacturer of products can have very high quality, why cannot this god? Again, the world, people and religions are flawed. If they are all created by your great invisible god, then it appears he does sloppy work!
All evidence and logic simply points to human beings being the flawed products of evolution and all religions being the flawed creations of those human beings.
Posted by: Tony | October 2, 2007 11:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Here is the logical path from atheism to evil deeds:
An individual man or woman can only have fundamental value in relation to Deity. Removed from this, it is rational to consider the individual a sophisticated sort of physical phenomenon-a thing. Yet another organism arisen from the muck.
This organism presumably has no knowledge distinct from what is empirically demonstrable. So its mystical intimations, whether of Deity or of its own immortality, are declared to be *error*.
Since the individual is, phenomenologically speaking, now a Thing, *two* individuals is of demonstrably greater value than one. Such is the fate of all integers; one increases value through multiplication. The highest term becomes The Masses. Where some advantage can be gained for The Masses, it becomes no problem at all to sacrifice The Minority-not to mention the individual-for the perceived good of The Masses.
Hence, the Nazi project of "improving the human race" by lopping off the presumed "bottom ten percent"; hence the revolutionary Communist project of attaining liberation for The Masses by lopping off the counterrevolutionary one-third. This is breathtakingly easy once the individual has no inherent value, and is reduced to an integer, a wholly *physical* phenomenon.
*Only* atheist regimes have behaved thus, with one exception-theist societies which perceived another population as subhuman and outside the Deity, ie, societies which *projected* a condition of a-theism onto another people.
The individual is *disposable* under atheism.
And the very first act of violence against the individual, the one the precedes all others, is precisely the step Richard Dawkins takes: your belief in Deity is irrational and has no standing if you are holding to it yourself, and cannot (empirically) prove it to another. For One has no legitimacy; legitimacy only begins with Two.
This is a license to slaughter individuals, one by one by one, for the "betterment" of the many.
Posted by: Todd | October 2, 2007 11:20 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Dear Mr.Dawkins,
Your comment on religious fanaticsm is quoting quite the obvious. Christians has done that before with sanction of church, a section of muslims are doing it again with sanction of few more. pointing fingers and commenting on the manifestation is quite easy. we really need to go to root of the problem.
and this could be the root, religion has existed in human pscyhe since it graduated from animal to vital and mental being. Humans quest for the unknown, mysterious, immortality and bliss is time immemorial. in its early days-religion and investigation were linked, they were one and simultanoeus. all thinkers were devout believers-without belief no science is possible. the entire mathematics is placed on the belief or entity called as point and number line. but present science supports qualified disbelief, scepticism and the answers it offers of reality are extended life but not immortality, a chemical relief from pain but not bliss. so science is making itself redundant by not answering the deepest needs of human kind. in light of this religion is making its re-entry-it will and no amount of denouncement will prevent its emergence.
reason was the tool that led to stupendous progress in science but more is possible. but reason could also be hindrance-it gives clue not make it live and possible. to explore reality we need to move into realm of intuitive powers (yes, not breaking up into pieces but getting to whole through a complete apprehending). this is what religions in its purest form profess-an intuitive trust and knowledge. once our present science accepts that- i think it will further the cause of both science and religion.
Posted by: moloy goswami | October 2, 2007 11:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Tony- it is easy to misuse religion when one puts one's own desires first. God has given us the tools to get it right, we just havent done so.
Posted by: DCNC | October 2, 2007 11:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Why has no one mentioned CALVIN? That great Christian thinker and founder of a religion that, after he took over Switzerland, drove out, tortured, and burned ALL who disagreed with his creed ? Or even just tried to give these dissenters help or shelter ?
And, just what is wrong with "extraordinary claims requiring extraordinary proof" ? (and no "circular" arguments permitted ). We do it everyday when we say such things as "show me!". Religion AND atheist
dogmatic statements must BOTH follow this procedure and you MUST be able to prove a "testable negative", otherwise it's all a matter of faith.
Posted by: SK | October 2, 2007 11:16 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Forgive me,
To believe in a belief or not.
Jeff
Posted by: Jeff Reed | October 2, 2007 11:13 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"The point is, you can do this without religion and the basis of religion isn’t factual – it depends on belief in invisible, supernatural beings that do not exist. Personally, I don’t think it’s healthy for adults to harbor these beliefs. I know we can do good works without them."
I think I said we can do good things with or without a belief. A persons beliefs are their own. We cannot prove one way or another. What we must do is not to allow a personal belief to become--the only belief.
Posted by: Jeff Reed | October 2, 2007 11:10 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Always the misuse of religion excuse. Well, why is it so easy to misuse religions? Obviously, these religions are not very well thought out and certainly not the work of any god or gods that may be out there.
Think about what you are saying. Supposedly, this god made the world, people and the religions. When things go so wrong, why doesn't this god have some responsibility for it? Is this god too much of an irresponsible child to take any responsibility for anything he does?
Obviously, religions are the creations of people and not gods (if they even exist).
Posted by: Tony | October 2, 2007 11:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
RAMANA SONTY writes:
"Of course, the godless creed of communism..."
has done as much harm in the world as the godless creed of capitalism has done good?
Posted by: Mr Mark | October 2, 2007 11:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
But you leave out the complementary statement that for evil people to do good things it also takes religion. Religion has inspired or threatened many people into doing good things against their own interests that nonbelievers would not have done.
Not that I'm defending religion, I'm a deist. I still believe that the problem isn't so much religion as it is humanity.
Posted by: Brad | October 2, 2007 11:07 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Alexander Chang (Alex):
Absolutely wonderful post--best I've seen on all the On Faith blogs. Thanks!
Former Christian:
I didn't imply nor mean to imply that any government would have any involvement in regulating what goes on "in the bedroom"--other than rape, of course. But I have had observational experience that says that if an eighteen-year-old girl chooses to engage in promiscuity, she will have harmful emotional effects in her life, and be psychologically impacted, never mind that she had reasons to "consent". That is just one example. Other comments here have dealt with the issue, so I'll back off.
Henry James:
The countries you mentioned previously have a statistically older population, which yields a large statistical difference. They also tend to self-define their lives as less happy than cultures where religion has a level of influence, based on a world-wide study by the same source I noticed you referred to earlier. (I'm glad the cab drivers of the world are up to snuff as regards citing statisticians--I wish they would communicate it to newspaper people.)
Posted by: Statistician | October 2, 2007 11:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
AMEN!
Posted by: the Unbeliever | October 2, 2007 11:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Logical Path from Religious Beliefs to Good Deeds
None can argue that religion has been used as a reason to do evil. But none can argue either that it has been used as a reason to do great good.
The problem lies in the interpretation or misuse of religion...people that use the Bible to judge others are completely missing the point. God is the judge, not us.
Jesus had two basic messages- be nice to one another and realize there is something greater than ourselves. LOVE your neighbor is the message repeated over and over, not JUDGE your neighbor.
I BELIEVE I am right about my faith- that's why I have chosen it. Its faith- it cant be proved or disproved. But I think it is egotistical (and dangerous) to think I am right and everyone else is wrong.
Yes, the Bible has rules (Sins) listed. These, I think, are basically accepted codes of conduct (dont kill, steal, etc). But, as previous posters have also stated, we are imperfect. The point is that we should individually work toward being a "good" person, not judge others on their progress.
The tough part for me is- am I judging those that are judging others? I guess I am, so I also remain imperfect, the human condition.
Posted by: DCNC | October 2, 2007 11:03 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Logical Path from Religious Beliefs to Good Deeds
None can argue that religion has been used as a reason to do evil. But none can argue either that it has been used as a reason to do great good.
The problem lies in the interpretation or misuse of religion...people that use the Bible to judge others are completely missing the point. God is the judge, not us.
Jesus had two basic messages- be nice to one another and realize there is something greater than ourselves. LOVE your neighbor is the message repeated over and over, not JUDGE your neighbor.
I BELIEVE I am right about my faith- that's why I have chosen it. Its faith- it cant be proved or disproved. But I think it is egotistical (and dangerous) to think I am right and everyone else is wrong.
Yes, the Bible has rules (Sins) listed. These, I think, are basically accepted codes of conduct (dont kill, steal, etc). But, as previous posters have also stated, we are imperfect. The point is that we should individually work toward being a "good" person, not judge others on their progress.
The tough part for me is- am I judging those that are judging others? I guess I am, so I also remain imperfect, the human condition.
Posted by: DCNC | October 2, 2007 11:03 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Of course, the godless creed of communism heaped extraordinary amounts of cruelty, unkindness and suffering on untold numbers of people, but why bring up fact to confront closely held athestic dogma of the inherent evils of religion.
Posted by: Ramana Sonty | October 2, 2007 11:02 PM
Report Offensive Comment
DAVE R: “but I really am hoping an atheist will present a cogent response to the question: "Why hate Christians?”
Atheists don’t hate Christians. I think you’re just not used to the least bit of criticism. Most of it has been going to other direction, with Christians calling atheists devil worshippers and unworthy to be patriots. Now those are real insults.
JEFF REED: “You fail to mention, or acknowledge, that religious people in their own right bring substantial relief to suffering in the world.”
The point is, you can do this without religion and the basis of religion isn’t factual – it depends on belief in invisible, supernatural beings that do not exist. Personally, I don’t think it’s healthy for adults to harbor these beliefs. I know we can do good works without them
Posted by: E favorite | October 2, 2007 10:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Jeff in Columbus writes:
"In fact, it's the other way around: people are depraved by nature, and it takes the "correct" religion to help them."
Are newborn children depraved by nature? If not, when, exactly, does depravity begin to set in? Their first day of Sunday School? The first time their parents say "no?"
Do you have children? If you do how depraved are they? Are they more depraved now than they were at birth, or does it grow on them?
If you believe in original sin, how does it show itself in your kids, and has it shown itself since Day One or did it take awhile?
You're a smart guy. I look forward to your answer.
Posted by: Mr Mark | October 2, 2007 10:52 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Give me an honest atheist anyday.
Posted by: Larry Harris | October 2, 2007 10:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
What is all this talk about promiscuous sex. Is this a new religion? I am worthy, I am worthy! Where do I sign up?
Posted by: John | October 2, 2007 10:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment
How come nobody said anything about the Germans and Japanese killing millions of people around the world?
Communism seems to be the focus here in this blogg.
Posted by: Robert Taylor | October 2, 2007 10:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Well, given that Communism (a fundamentally atheistic political thought) in the 20th century was responsible for 100 million deaths, I'd say that Dawkins ought not cast stones in glass houses.
Posted by: Kevin S. Kent | October 2, 2007 10:35 PM
Report Offensive Comment
For a "smart guy" you sure overlook something very basic.
Atheists have no absolute moral standards-only relative ones. What's to keep an atheist from arguing it's "OK by him" to torture kittens, or lie, cheat, and steal?
No, implicit in your essay is the viewpoint that people are "naturally good", and it takes religion to mess them up.
In fact, it's the other way around: people are depraved by nature, and it takes the "correct" religion to help them. All others miss the mark.
Posted by: Jeff in Columbus | October 2, 2007 10:35 PM
Report Offensive Comment
There have been some terrible deeds done in the name of God and religion and I will never excuse them or those who committed them just because they were 'devout,' but the three most extensive mass murders in history - the Khans of Mongolia, Soviet Communism, and Chinese Communism - were atheist.
Then compare the number of hospitals founded by atheists and those founded by religious.
What do those two thoughts prove? Nothing at all. Because in reality, Dawkins sets up a straw man in his argument when he in essence asks, "Can atheists be good and religious be bad." The answer, of course is 'yes' to both.
The real question is whether atheism or religious have a greater propensity to good or bad behavior. That question is eternal and unanswerable and has been explored by some great thinkers and writers, both atheist and religious.
Posted by: Common Sense | October 2, 2007 10:34 PM
Report Offensive Comment
For the author, a biologist, to claim: "For non-religious people, the behavior of consenting adults in a private bedroom is the business of nobody else, and is not bad unless it causes suffering", is hilarious. He, of all people, should well know that evolution, or God, or something, has caused diseases to spread as a result of sexual behavior. Many people die EVERYDAY as a result of disease spread mainly by promiscuous sexual behavior. I think death by AIDS is certainly a condition of suffering. So, by the authors reasoning, promiscuous sexual behavior, even between consenting adults, is BAD!
Posted by: T Wallace | October 2, 2007 10:33 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Demos – I don't need an explanation of the differences among Christian Churches. it’s not like I’ve never been to a Christian church before – I done the gamut – Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist, Luthern, Russian Orthodox, Quaker, Evangelical, you name it. I've sung in the choir! The point I was trying to make was that Dawkins and Hitchens are neither being treated nor are they acting as objects of worship.
DIANNE C – thanks – I’ve saving that.
JP – you may be a Christian if you believe in invisible supernatural beings.
Posted by: E favorite | October 2, 2007 10:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
One thing about Agnostics is that we do not know of any folks we have burned at the stake!
Posted by: Judith Claire | October 2, 2007 10:29 PM
Report Offensive Comment
One thing about Agnostics is that we do not know of any folks we have burned at the stake!
Posted by: Judith Claire | October 2, 2007 10:28 PM
Report Offensive Comment
One thing about Agnostics is that we do not know of any folks we have burned at the stake!
Posted by: Judith Claire | October 2, 2007 10:28 PM
Report Offensive Comment
And for do-gooders to do evil, it takes Communistic Atheism!
Posted by: Richie Dawkins Jr. | October 2, 2007 10:27 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Correction:
“In the 20 century, slave trade was abolished in many countries.”, it should be read as“towards the end of the 20 century, slave trade...” Sorry for the error.
Posted by: Charlie Smith | October 2, 2007 10:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I found the final quote quite interesting, “With or without [religion] you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.”
There is much to ponder. Without defining what is meant by religion, good, or evil, one is left to simply scratch their head.
If on the other hand, we define terms, then Dawkins thesis can be evaluated.
To exclude God from the discussion, is to reduce the discussion to sheer relativism. For how can we define religion, good or evil. The consequentialist will look to the end to determine if killing or murder are appropriate. The hedonist will look to see what pleasure the activity will bring them. For those who hold might is right will simply look to see if they have the power to assert their will. For those who look to man or society to determine what is right will find a culturally oriented view of what is good or evil. Each of these atheistic or agnostic ethical systems all lead to relativism.
Only when one looks outside of man is their hope of defining such terms as religion, good or evil. To neglect to do this leads to an endless list of postings, all pontificating the world view of its sincere contributor.
In the end the triune God who created all that is, and all that we are, has left clues in his creation (natural theology) of how things work and how such terms as religion, good and evil should be defined. Only as we see life from the Creator's perspective can we begin to test Richard Dawkin's thesis that the logical path from religious beliefs is the only way to evil deeds.
Such a statement does not seem to be born out by those most would consider evil in our modern time: Mao, Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot. These men have contributed to hundreds of millions of senseless deaths. None of them did it in the name of religion. Instead, each was an ardant atheist.
Posted by: kps | October 2, 2007 10:21 PM
Report Offensive Comment
This is a well written essay. richard Dawkins only looks from the perspective of religion and he forgets the perspective of survival.
For many years, colonial powers are mostly White nations and mostly Christians and for many years, these colonial powers had every intention to capture and control the lives of the poor and weak. An example was the trading of African slaves for the purpose of benefiting the rich Christian nations of Great Britain, France and Spain.
In the 20 century, slave trade was abolished in many countries. After World War I and II, we began to see collapse of colonial powers like Great British Empire.
The desire to seek control over the rest of the world has shifted from Great Britain to America and we have seen many events of failed and successful assinations of foreign leaders supported by the American governments. Most unfortunately, most of our American leaders were Christians and most of the Americans were also Christians. Now, there are more diversities in America, but Christians are still the majority of this nation.
It was interesting that nobody said anything about religious warfare against the Russian in Afghanistan years ago when the Muslims were fighting against the Russians. Just because those responsible for 9/11 were Muslim, Americans seem to believe that it was a religious hatred against America. This is a propaganda by the government and the news media.
Chalmer Johnson said that America has done many bad things in foreign countries and “Johnson argued American clandestine and military activity has led to un-intended, but direct disaster here in the United States”. 9/11 was about direct retaliation for the death of many innocent civilians caused by the American bombing in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It has nothing to do with religion. This is about survival.
200 years ago, Africans became their slaves of many White Colonial power because they could not fight. Now, Muslims are fighting for their survival and their way of life without western influence.
If Steven Weinberg thinks that “But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion”, he is wrong.
In the history of human mankind, GREED is always the reason to do evil, FEAR is used to unite the people against a common enemy and RELIGION is just a disguise.
Posted by: Charlie Smith | October 2, 2007 10:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"...But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.” Perhaps but probably especially when those [pagan] religions are atheist and secular like, for example, historical and dialectical materialism.
Posted by: John Bleck | October 2, 2007 10:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I submit the facts of the 20th Century:
Mass murder by professing Atheists in the USSR, China, Cambodia...don't mind the facts, they just get in the way of your conclusions.
Posted by: P Bailey | October 2, 2007 10:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
My apologies if this point has been made somewhere deep into the 400+ posts that have been made before this. I don't have time to review them all.
Professor Dawkins errs in conflating rationality with empiricism. To one who has experienced the claims of religion, religion isn't irrational. Deity proves himself with his presence.
In each case, Deity is unempirical-it cannot be demonstrated through evidence. But to be unempirical is not to be irrational.
If one then raises the stakes and demands of Deity not rationality (and rational proofs of Deity stretch back to Plato and beyond) but empirical verifiability, one immediately confronts a wall:
Empiricism fails-it can make no reliable statement-where the subject of the experiment is of higher technological power than the experimenter. This condition of technological superiority is *necessarily* the case where the subject of the experiment is Deity.
In such an instance, the query empiricism would resolve-"Does Deity exist?"-is completely trumped by the question, "Does Deity desire to be empirically detected?" At best, the odds are 50/50--hence empiricism fails.
Posted by: Todd | October 2, 2007 10:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Prayer of an IRA trigger man
Lord, I pray to you, in humility, accept this plea...silence. Although not worthy, my eyes have seen the blood of war and the gates of hell, accept this plea...my sin is the vanity of honor, father, son, and the Holy ghost. Grandad lived long, a veteran. His son, a veteran, is living still. And I witness the foot soldier leaving N. Ireland. 3 generations of a plea...in silence, answered. God forgive me, amen.
If you have a creative mind, replace the 'IRA' with ALQ...can you still say amen?
Posted by: brian mcc, the arctic | October 2, 2007 10:07 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Right on!
Posted by: Scott Williams | October 2, 2007 10:02 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I respectfully disagree with Dr. Dawkins' opinion. I believe that the quote with which he ends his piece says it all: “With or without [religion] you’d have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.” For a man of science, he makes a rather sweeping statement on thin evidence. Can he really prove that everyone involved in Stalin's purges was an evil person? I doubt it: many of them doubtless believed that they were working for a better world, one free of class distinctions and economic disparity. Many people are in sympathy with these goals, but the way in which the officially atheist Soviet government sought to achieve them during the Purges rightly inspires almost universal revulsion. Although well-written, his thoughts were no more than an exercise in empty and unprovable generalities. I think anyone's passionately held convictions can lead them to do terrible things, especially when their sense of the rightness of their cause leads them to stop questioning their actions and motivations and those of their leaders. Did this happen with the Taliban? Did this happen with the Chekists? Yes in both cases! Human motivation is a complex thing, which is why Dostoevski could write thousands of pages about it and not exhaust the topic. To put the misdeeds (or righteous ones) of a religious person down exclusively to their faith, while ignoring the other social and psychological factors in their experience, is reductionist and patronizing. I fear the easy platitudes and occasional bombast that pass for discourse on this subject are destined to continue until both sides learn to look at each other as real people rather than cardboard cutouts.
Posted by: Andrew Wells | October 2, 2007 9:58 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Respectfully, I will get more in depth when I can Dr. Dawkins, but you focus only on the extremist side of religion, as those of religion focus only on the extremist side of atheism. You fail to mention, or acknowledge, that religious people in their own right bring substantial relief to suffering in the world. I think it a truism to say that for the vast majority of religious people, they wish, and will, do good things for their fellow human beings. It is the leadership of those people that sometimes fails, as it also does for those of no belief. I am afraid, Dr. Dawkins, that you, and conversely, your opponents, take only the sensationalist actions and quotes, and make them the sole objects of your attention.
We are only as good as those we hope and believe can lead.
Posted by: Jeff Reed | October 2, 2007 9:47 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Science--that despised bane of evangelicals--has recently found evidence that people are hard-wired for altruism. We don't have to be 'taught' to perform selfless and often heroic acts to help our fellow humans. Example: recently, a local man leapt from his fishing boat into a lake to rescue from drowning a child he didn't know--and lost his life in the process. Why did he do that? Because 'the Bible told him so'? No, it was in his human nature.
Contrarily, religion is often used to sanctify, justify, and encourage the worst atrocities people can inflict on one another. Nazism had a quasi-religious Nordic mythology as its 'philosophical' underpinning. Aryan racial superiority and all that crap. The Japanese under Tojo mixed religion and militarism, the toxic formula that gave the world the rape of Nanking and all of southeast Asia.
Recently, we've witnessed the bloody events in Northern Ireland--white christians killing white christians. The endless bloodletting in the middle east. And islamic jihadists killing pretty much everybody who isn't an islamic jihadist.
Yes, decent acts are committed in the name of religion; but, religion is NOT required for people to commit acts of surpassing decency, often at the cost of their own lives.
Posted by: cody mccall | October 2, 2007 9:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Why talk about bin Laden? Let us discuss Muhammad who founded Muhammadanism and called it Islam.
Muhammad was a pedophile, a murderer, a bandit, a slave owner and ethnic cleanser. He used religion to commit his crimes and his followers are following his example in our times and will do so in the future unless we eradicate this disease called Islam.
Posted by: Ted Baines | October 2, 2007 9:31 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Rev Gary Shaw writes:
"Thank God christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with God through His Son Jesus."
Are you ignorant or being willfully ignorant? Check any dictionary for the word religion. You'll find a spot-on definition that fits the "personal relationship" aspect of your faith to a tee.
Xianity is the dictionary definition of religion, no matter how you try to delude yourself.
Posted by: Mr Mark | October 2, 2007 9:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
So post #1 was written by a Christian, who did not call anybody any names and responded to the author as a professional. The atheist that posted after the Christian started with "religious nut". Why are atheists so angry, and why do they insist on such angry rhetoric against Christians in these postings? What, exactly, are we preventing you from doing by our existence that you wish you could be doing? I expect the responses will be just as angry as the previous postings, but I really am hoping an atheist will present a cogent response to the question: "Why hate Christians?"
BTW - Christ does love you, whether you believe it or not.
Regards
Posted by: Dave R | October 2, 2007 9:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
So post #1 was written by a Christian, who did not call anybody any names and responded to the author as a professional. The atheist that posted after the Christian started with "religious nut". Why are atheists so angry, and why do they insist on such angry rhetoric against Christians in these postings? What, exactly, are we preventing you from doing by our existence that you wish you could be doing? I expect the responses will be just as angry as the previous postings, but I really am hoping an atheist will present a cogent response to the question: "Why hate Christians?"
BTW - Christ does love you, whether you believe it or not.
Regards
Posted by: Dave R | October 2, 2007 9:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I totally agree with Dawkins. Religion is, by its very definition, free of any observation-based constraint. By relying on faith, religion can justify virtually any act as good or bad, twisting the poles of morality. It is incredible to me that so many people can fall under the sway of a moral / ethical code that is based on a subjective understanding of a few, or even one individual forever lost in the mists of distant history. Why not base our morality on what we can observe today--in the flesh. We see suffering all around us; we can trace the origins of suffering clearly by studying the history of the twentieth century. It almost always starts with a definition of an "other" placed in the context of some arbitrary moral framework (fascism, communism, fundamental islam, fundamental christianity). Why not work together to eliminate this scourge through common understanding and tolerance? Maybe because this solution is too obvious on its face.
Posted by: Andy, Virginia | October 2, 2007 9:28 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Bill Sanford writes:
"For a while now, it has become Politically Correct to attack Christianity, and toss in criticisms about Islam just to appear 'balanced'."
?????
Right. That's why the presidential candidates of both parties are tripping over each other in their attacks on Xianity. That's why politicians of all stripes and at all levels, from dog catcher to US Senator make it a point to attack Xianity every chance they get. It also accounts for the fact that one no longer hears a politician invoking god, or ending a speech with the words, "God bless America, or why the right wing has given up all of their Xian-based issues like abortion, or why you never, EVER hear a politician asking for people to pray to help out some dire situation, or why every politician caught with his hand in the public till or having their zipper pulled down a prostitute immediately renounces their faith in Christ. It's all to be PC in an anti-Xian world.
BTW - what planet did you say you were living on, Bill?
Posted by: Mr Mark | October 2, 2007 9:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Jim:
Your comment;
"Actually, I'm quite surprised that this article is being displayed by the Washington Post."
Yes I'm glad you said that Jim because so you ought to be.It's outrageous what they can get away with these days,and there should be a law against it!
Articles like these are blasphemous and it pains me to have to read such drivel,knowing how it might well corrupt our young people should they read it.
Free Speech is all very well,up to a point,
but the crazed musings of "thinkers" of Dawkins ilk overstep the mark and should be banned from all decent media.
It's what Jesus would want.
Posted by: Father O'Marlowe | October 2, 2007 9:23 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Religions were all crazy at one point or another. I think they all still are, but that is not my point. For safty of the whole, some religions need to evolve to a more rational stance with present understanding of the world and the rest of the universe.
Unfortunately, there are fundies of all likes that screw things up. They either devolved from organized religions (christians) or never spiritually made it past the Dark Ages (Islam).
There are bad athiests too.
It's when bad things begin to happen that religion must be thrown aside by all and the viruses dealt with harshly. That may be considered an evil thought to some, but is perfectly logical to me.
Posted by: johng | October 2, 2007 9:16 PM
Report Offensive Comment
You are right, religion is the world's #1 reason for wars and killings. It is also #1 reason for people being in hell. Thank God christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with God through His Son Jesus. Pastor Gary
Posted by: pastor gary shaw | October 2, 2007 9:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Mr.Dawkins,
You were off to a good start not generalizing about all religious people, or all atheists; that would be absurd.
Why on earth did you have to use this generalization in your penultimate paragraph:
""It is easy for religious faith, even if it is irrational in itself, to lead a sane and decent person, by rational, logical steps, to do terrible things. There is a logical path from religious faith to evil deeds. There is no logical path from atheism to evil deeds.""
Let me assure you that your logic up to this absurd statement was reasonably correct, not a stellar exhortation exactly, but adequate.
Perhaps you thought that you could hide your (over)reaching general conclusion? Call it not a generalization since it's rather an obfuscation?
Your proposition sounds irrational in more than one way. But to claim that religious faith, even if irrational in itself, can easily lead a sane and decent person by rational, logical steps, to do terrible things, that is a pearl I shall treasure if not as a paradox surely as a primitive sophomoric attempt at sophistry.
What makes religion, dear fellow, an instigator of evil deeds, just like any other perverted form of loyalty, is simply fanatical ideology. And that lacks any rational expression, ergo any sane and decent person ought to be safe enough from it.
Yes, some people make their religion fanatical, not all. And not all atheists are fanatical in their contempt for religion.
In closing, may I quote a little flicker of wisdom equally apt to warn believers and nonbelievers alike:
"Those of us, moderately or desperately, wanting “to belong”, had better looked at what must be given up before the joy of belonging is shared... with the sorrows."
Do you belong somewhere, Mr.Dawkins? Lest you give up intellectual integrity.
Posted by: Pleno Jure Verbatim | October 2, 2007 9:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
mister dawkins seems to have erased from his memory the whole of the 20th century. the outstanding evil of that century was performed by atheists: national socialism was not a religious movement and neither was communism and their death tolls measured in the tens of millions. it is not religion per se that makes good people commit evil, but ideology. and let us not exculpate technology and capitalism, for although we have yet to prove how many deaths have resulted from global warming and pollution, the possibility of good people doing evil in the name of making a buck is also a very present danger. this does not dismiss the dangers of religion, but to pretend that religion is the only danger the world faces is simply untrue.
Posted by: yonah fredman | October 2, 2007 9:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"There is no logical path from atheism to evil deeds". Please.
This could not be written by anyone familiar with human nature or history. The entire history of the twentieth century is one of supposedly logical, rational beliefs leading to atheistic communism (you have to break a few eggs to make an omelette) - or national socialism (how about some eugenics to improve humanity)
Posted by: Rob | October 2, 2007 8:58 PM
Report Offensive Comment
S. Fulkerson: Who gives a rat's patoot if they pray at you when you're hungry and homeless and they're offering a hot meal and a bed to go with the Hail Mary's?
I was at a church service in Mali during the time of a meningitis outbreak and heard a missionary talking about a family that came to him when their child was sick. It was obvious from his story that they hoped he would do something like give them some of his penicillin (This outbreak was caused by Neisseria which is susceptible to penicillin.), but instead he prayed for them and then told everyone about how faithful he was to the teachings of Jesus.
Posted by: dkm | October 2, 2007 8:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Perhaps Mr. Dawkins considers Adolf Hitler to have sprung from Christianity because most of the Germans who supported his murdering ways called themselves Christians. I wonder how he explains the two regimes that killed even more than Hitler and proudly called themselves atheists.
Posted by: RICHARD YOUNG | October 2, 2007 8:52 PM
Report Offensive Comment
While I agree that religious faith is basically irrational, it's also true that religion leads some very troubled, destructive, hateful people to completely turn their behavior and emotional makeup around, and that faith empowers many people to do extraordinarily good and brave things.

Twitter










good site dude http://slavok.u.yuku.com/ ">lipitor no prescription 8-[[