Comments on: Dawkins’ Ten Commandments

By: Dunham Lockhart

Dunham Lockhart — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:01:12 +0000

Where do you think us atheists come from? We are a growing population because more and more members of other faiths are doubting what they have been told since child hood.

By: Ash

Ash — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 16:47:43 +0000

Morris,

It matters NOT what you believe as it does not altar “THE TRUTH” in any amount. May GOD open your eyes to “THE TRUTH”

This comment is incoherent. The truth, if by that we mean the actual state of affairs of reality, has only opened to us via the scientific method. Empiricism has been the only reliable, if imperfect, guide to the nature of things, as evidenced by every advance in medicine, engineering, psychology, and so on. That same reliable method provides absolutely no support for a god of any kind and certainly not for any particular religion. The more of the truth we actually uncover, the more we realize that religion is entirely man made. There is no need for a god to open my eyes…they are already as wide as they can get at the marvel of the natural universe.

Also, I would say it very much DOES matter what one believes, because what we think to be true guides our actions. Religions provide dubious and often demonstratively false assertions about reality. The more one accepts those assertions, the worse people behave, because their assumptions are not in line with reality.

By: Morris Sherlin

Morris Sherlin — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 07:56:05 +0000

Interesting posts? It matters NOT what you believe as it does not altar “THE TRUTH” in any amount. May GOD open your eyes to “THE TRUTH”

By: Ash

Ash — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 03:47:31 +0000

Amanda,

I too think it’s important to differentiate between our feelings about beliefs and the people who hold those beliefs. That said, the beliefs that people hold often do reflect on and affect their personal character. Mainstream Christianity promotes many views that I find backwards and bigoted, and I do hold believers responsible for accepting those views, especially when they do so uncritically.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 01:09:57 +0000

Christie

I was a devout Christian and I was baptized. I turned athiest after I saw how blind I was but above all I respect Christians as do many athiests. What we don’t respect us all of the bad things done in His name.

By: PJ the minor

PJ the minor — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 06:56:43 +0000

I’ve been reading these post for some time now. I would like to say thanks to Ash for the excellent replies and thoughtful responses. Being an atheist myself, I know how frustrating it is to read the postings of “Believers” that seem to demean and belittle our belief systems, or lack of belief in a god. It is frustrating because of the sheer lack of knowledge most try to use while making their points. Let me explain.
Firstly, most will argue that I will burn in hell because of “Insert misc. bible quote here”. These people fail to realise I do not believe the bible, therefore, their rules do not apply. I could make up an arbitrary rule and that rule would be just as valid. They did, why not me?
Second, I find it amazing that a so called Christians can spout off about Atheist being “Evil” or “Sub-Human” and incapable of leading moral lives, and yet, these same posters will seemingly take pleasure in our burning in hell or we should be smote by god or at least killed off.
Lastly, would it be too much to ask that christians be explained, maybe as a prerequisite before posting, that most Atheist are more knowledgeable about the bible than most christians? There is a reason we do not believe in a god. We actually read the book.
One more observation, if god is so powerful, Why can’t he kill off Satan? God does not appear to have the power to rid the world of, what can only be described as, the single worst thing for man.
I feel deep down inside that it is time to start treating people who do things that are insane, like one should. Because we are worried about coming off as arrogant or pushy, we don’t act like we would with different subject matter. Because of that we allow insane people to belittle and irritate us. It’s time to point and laugh. We need to do it now before they stop teaching our grand-kids Evolution.

By: Ash

Ash — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 21:54:41 +0000

Samuel, if you had read the post, you would have seen the note that explained that Dawkins did not write this list, he only reprinted it as an example of a superior list of moral principles.

“Yes the book is filled with violence, lies, misogyny, incest, genocide, rape, and every other wrongdoing one came imagine because it is not a fairytale but real people with real faults. It in no way advocates them but shows us why they are wrong and teaches us to forgive.”

The awful events in the Bible are often committed by God or commanded by him. The myths expose the fictional character of YHVH as a bloodthirsty, cruel tyrant completely uninterested in forgiveness.

“these are things we should strive to do but if you follow the ten commandments and live a real Christian life instead of the life of a legalistic religious fanatic who has misinterpreted the bible, all these things will come naturally.”

Ah, the “No True Scotsman” argument. I’m sorry, but that fallacy doesn’t salvage your flawed argument. The Decalogue is a lousy moral guide, period. The example given in the post illustrates how simple it is to write a far more compassionate, robust, and rational moral guide without any need for divine inspiration.

By: Samuel A

Samuel A — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 21:25:27 +0000

Yes the book is filled with violence, lies, misogyny, incest, genocide, rape, and every other wrongdoing one came imagine because it is not a fairytale but real people with real faults. It in no way advocates them but shows us why they are wrong and teaches us to forgive. I do not believe Mr. Dawkins is a fool however it is a bit arrogant to “rewrite” the ten commandments. these are things we should strive to do but if you follow the ten commandments and live a real Christian life instead of the life of a legalistic religious fanatic who has misinterpreted the bible, all these things will come naturally.

By: Ash

Ash — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:38:56 +0000

Ganapati, the original point was to show that it was relatively easy to write a set of moral guidelines that was more rational, compassionate, and beneficial than the Decalogue. As such, I believe the attempt was a complete success.

By: Ganapati

Ganapati — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:16:44 +0000

Why ten? Why not fewer or more? Why the word ‘commandments’ when there is obviously no one who is issuing the ‘commandments’?

If the attempt is to describe some universally acceptable guidelines for morality without a need to rely on a book or God, the attempt seems to fail right at the start by trying to emulate the bible.