Theists and Deists Alliance for TAMIII?

Sidhedevil

Student
S
Joined
Jul 3, 2002
Messages
39
In the spirit of the "marketplace of ideas", I think we should think about creating a Theists/Deists Alliance for TAMIII.

Perhaps we can have a little badge or even...er...The-De glasses?

T-shirts that say "Dim"? Posters with pictures of Great Theists and Deists Through The Ages?

Seriously, it was actually refreshing to be in the minority, religion-wise, at TAMII. Like most sane religionists, I am appalled that so much of what should be secular discourse in the US has somehow been flooded with religious claptrap, and it was somehow pleasant to be part of a group that wasn't playing that game.
 
I've often thought that, religion-wise, we all are in the minority.
 
SkepticScott said:
I don't think you want to call yourself a Dim.
Click to expand...

Well, I would, but I have a rather...unusual sense of humor.

Also, I should point out that I am in real life married to someone so anti-religious that he makes Penn seem like Billy freakin' Graham.

Please think up something respectful. Saying "I am a Bright" is like saying "I am an American". It's a noun; there is no antonym.
Click to expand...

I thought that "French" was the opposite of "American"!
 
Sidhedevil --

I think it would be a hoot to have such an alliance, we could even have "church" on Sunday (I was bantering about the idea this past TAM, and I started working on bawdy hymn lyrics for the thing, too!).

Hopefully it would be a way to show athiests that we can laugh at ourselves and not take the whole issue too seriously. Call me a Dim, an insane retard, whatever, I'll still be proud and laughing. :D

---,--'--{@
 
Finella said:
Sidhedevil --

I think it would be a hoot to have such an alliance, we could even have "church" on Sunday (I was bantering about the idea this past TAM, and I started working on bawdy hymn lyrics for the thing, too!).
Click to expand...

I could donate my version of the nativity story sung to the Beverly Hillbillies theme. . . Or several other tv shows, come to think of it.

N/A
 
An interesting idea but is it a good idea? I do not know if it is important to point out the differences in the sceptic movement. Of course it is also a bad idea if the atheist are the only ones that get heard. So far as the Theists/Deists Alliance would show that many different kinds of people can be sceptics I am for it but if it works more to show the differences than what bring us together I think it would be bad.
 
DeBergerac,
I disagree. The fact that Hal, as a member of the Inner Circle, has identified himself as a deist should serve to make us more tolerant of all who take certain religious beliefs on faith. And not assume they are f+++++g r+++++s.
 
Jeff Corey
I am not sure I understand what it is you disagree about.
That atheist should not be the only ones that get heard? The fact that Hal is heard is only an example of that this is not the case.
That a Theists/Deists Alliance that shows how sceptics can have different ideas is good, and one that emphasise the differences is bad?
What is it you do not agree with?
 
I think if there's any danger in forming such an "alliance" is that it could potentially lead to subgroups within the JREF that pick on each other. Soon we'd have people sniggering that "oh, man, there he is, he's a deist."

Again, I don't think it'll be a problem if we can all joke about it and not take the god question too seriously with each other. But what I do hope for is that we can have more speakers and presenters at the next TAM who can discuss issues of faith and skepticism, showing that they aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. And if people still disagree with that, fine. It's all a "marketplace of ideas," and we haven't heard much from that section of the store these past 2 TAMs.

---,---'--{@
 
Think of the big stink that would occur if a theist/deist presenter were to call atheists f*cking retarded or whatever.

LOL.
 
I'm a Deist, but I don't think I could participate. It seems too much like a cut at certain people, rather than an attempt at recognition and acceptance. Penn sincerely apologized for his remark; and it seems it was made clear even at the meeting that his views didn't reflect that of the JREF necessarily. The Amazing Meetings are already divided into Forumites and Non-Forumites, why seek more division? Who cares whether anybody's an atheist or not? If I attend TAM3, I would much rather see a discussion absent of religion, except when dealing with fakes, frauds, and forgeries.
 
Finella said:
But what I do hope for is that we can have more speakers and presenters at the next TAM who can discuss issues of faith and skepticism, showing that they aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. And if people still disagree with that, fine. It's all a "marketplace of ideas," and we haven't heard much from that section of the store these past 2 TAMs.
Click to expand...

I would personally prefer if we could keep those religious ideas that are not testable out of TAM/JREF. It's a waste of our time to try to argue something that is basically unarguable: How can X argue his religious belief? That is something deep in that person, and there is very little hope that anyone can really understand another person's religious beliefs fully.

There are plenty of testable claims out there. Health care fraud is important, and the various superstitious claims pose a real danger of taking us back to the Middle Ages.

Whether people want to believe in something untestable is none of my concern.
 
CFLarsen said:


I would personally prefer if we could keep those religious ideas that are not testable out of TAM/JREF. It's a waste of our time to try to argue something that is basically unarguable: How can X argue his religious belief? That is something deep in that person, and there is very little hope that anyone can really understand another person's religious beliefs fully.

There are plenty of testable claims out there. Health care fraud is important, and the various superstitious claims pose a real danger of taking us back to the Middle Ages.

Whether people want to believe in something untestable is none of my concern.
Click to expand...

Oh, I totally agree, Claus. I meant that there are in fact religious groups out there who debunk fraudulent televangelists, faith healers, and the like. Such a presentation would focus only on testable claims, of course, and it would definitely not get into the arena about whether God exists, just whether or not your $100 contribution to Benny Hinn will guarantee that your diabetes will go away. I think it would certainly set the record straight that religious groups are indeed using skeptical thinking processes to help other religious people from being "fleeced." :)
---,---'--{@
 
oohhhh, I'd like to hear the song too!

well, I think a button saying something silly would be interesting. I'm a believer in an untestable claim, but I don't allow it to interfere with my other skeptic work.

As it is, I was afraid the total public persona of the TAM2 was going to be "atheists at work and play". When we were being interviewed by the NYTimes reporter I had to step in and tell him "well, I'm a deist" and I think he was kind of taken aback. Then he said his line about being a fellow deist and how we needed the skeptic movement more than the ateists. I couldn't have agreed with him more.
 
[The Calgary Hillbillies] (c) 1995, 2004

Let me tell a story 'bout a man named Joe.
Married to a woman that he didn't even 'know'
Then one day, they were stayin' near an Inn,
When into a manger slid the savior of men (SAFE!)

Jesus that is . . . . Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords

Well the first thing ya know old Herod starts to swear,
An Angel came to Joe and said 'Move away from there!'
He said 'Judea's an unhealthy place to be
So they loaded up the ass and they moved to Calgary

Hills, that is. . . . Jesus Christ, Super Star.

[banjo]

Well, we'd like to thank the Savior now fer kindly stoppin' in
And while he was about it, fer savin' us from sin

And we know when he comes back to this locality
He'll thank us for those Roman soldiers' hosp-italiteeee

. . .

He'll be back now -- ya hear?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom