Before I begin.



Now, I came across rather interesting articles today. I did start off with the Pastafarianism of the Flying Spaghetti Monster but yes, every track has one useful stop. Here is Russell's Teapot, by the philosopher Bertrand Russell.


" If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is an intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time. "


And by Carl Sagan and the fire-breathing dragon in his garage. As can be seen in the link below:

http://richarddawkins.net/social/index.php?mode=article&id=35

And a particular analogy I found particularly relevant to us non-theists, posted by Matthew.


" With apologies to Carl Sagan, I enjoy telling this little adaptation of the Garage Dragon from the theist's point of view. The only difference is that I put a car into the garage, something much more likely to be found.

The athiest car parable.

Let me tell you a little secret: I parked a fresh-from the-factory sports car in your garage.

No, really. I did. It's there, I swear.

You can't see it? Well, of course you can't: it's invisible. Where's the new car smell? It doesn't smell like anything. It's totally silent- it makes zero sound whatsoever. That's how good the muffler is. Oh, don't worry about walking into it- the car is etheral. What? You're getting infared goggles to take a look at it? Well, I'm afraid by "invisible" I meant that the paint doesn't relect any spectrum of light or other energy that exists. But never mind about the details- let's talk about how awesome this car is!

What? What do you mean there's no car? Of course there's a car.

I don't know what the problem is- I know that there's a car there because the car salesman told me that there was. What's that? Prove it? What do you mean "prove it"? Here's the owner's manual- and here's a record of all the payments I've faithfully been making on it. Why would the man give me an owner's manual and tell me to study it closely if there was no car? He was so friendly and easygoing. The owner's manual says that there's a car- it's described in detail right in it!

Besides, knowing that I have a really great car in the garage is, well- comforting. If my regular car ever breaks down, I can just go to my car anytime, and it will be there for me. The owner's manual promises that.

Ok, ok. I can see you're getting upset. You won't come off of this whole "prove the car exists" fixation. The owner's manual isn't good enough for you? Well, fine: prove the car *doesn't* exist, smartypants! See? You can't! Oh, that again: you keep insisting that there's no difference between this car, and no car at all!

I need to leave. I'm about to say something I'll regret.

Look: we're friends, and we've got enough in the bank to get past this, ok? But I'm definitely leaving the owner's manual here for you to read- and I hope you do! I think you'll feel a lot better after you've read it over a few times. One more thing: let me be the first to invite you to join the invisible car club! Oh, stop it now, of course you want to go! I think that once you stop this "show me evidence" nonsense, you'll be happy that I, your good friend, bought you this car. Ok, ok, put down the phone! Consider it, please? Just in case you're interested:

Sunday morning. 10 AM. At the dealership. "


Now, I don't usually take up such an anti-theist stand, but I have to refer to Joel's blatant slandering of Dante's Inferno as "fiction". Now, I know I may perhaps, indirectly insult any Christian reader here on this blog when I say this, but the existence of the basis of Christianity is no more credible than Dante's Inferno, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster, for that matter.

If I may quote bash.org:


" Personally its not God I dislike, its his fan club I cant stand "

Azazyl

Stench of humanity,
The rot of those fair.
Despair!
Of lost sanity and
Dreams never there.