So how about a "Rationality, Scepticism & Atheism" section?

[UnquietDad]

Where people can actually have sensible discussions about the debunking of the paranormal, and the lack of evidence for any of the crystal-healing-aura-chakra-reiki-throw-your-hands-in the-air-and-say woooooooooo healing rubbish.

Because I'm getting fed up with trying to remind the people in Philosophy, Religion and Woo that we actually live in the 21st Century.

I used to be an atheist.

Now I don't really believe in anything

What would you all talk about though? There used to be a Sceptics magazine and, although it was quite interesting the first time one read it, it was a bit samey after a while.

[throws hands in air and says 'wooo' just to annoy UQD]

Well, doesn't that come under "Philosophy" too though?

nkf - you have a good point. But I suppose it's better than sticking my head into Phil-Reg-Sp and saying "you're all baaaaaaarmy!"!" every month or so

I mean, I disagree with nine-tenths of what's in that section too, but it still belongs in the same section. (Though I have to grit my teeth at times...)

Why do you need to remind them, UQD?

Why not just ignore them and remember that people have a right to their own beliefs and faiths, whether you think it is all made up bumf or not.

(BTW - I am agnostic)

Are we pretending that nobody enjoys sticking their head into Phil-Reg-Sp and saying 'you're all barmy!'?

(Or even just reading the threads, from time to time, just to make sure we can still make a good face.)

UQD - but what else is there? Doesn't atheism and scepticism always need something to bounce off? Otherwise you'd all sit around laughing at people who aren't there to realise they are being ridiculed.

I feel atheist and lib dems never quite do anything, not entirely a bad thing I might had.

but it bother me from the point of view that every single religious grouping seems to have a school but good school founded on humanist principles free from religious bias are sorely lacking

muminscotland, you also have a good point. But I rarely see anything in P-R-S that comes from a sceptical standpoint.

nkf - well, the old alt.atheism talkboard on Usenet used to have huuuuuuge traffic. Partly because of all the religious types who used to stick their heads in there to try and convert us!

Ah UnquietDad

I nearly posted in reply to some of the things you posted on the last 'religion' thread.

I was going to take issue with your 'Athiesm' is not a relgion comment. It may not be a religion as such but it is an expression of faith.

I think atheism is a reply to the question 'Is there is a power greater than ourselves that cannot be measured by science or logic'

Atheism would answer this question with a No

Since this is a question by definition that can't be answered by 'proof' it is a statement of faith.

Other replies to that question might be

• yes and then go on to decribe the greater power by way of a particular relion
• or yes but I'm not sure what it is,
• or I don't know.

All of these are valid answers but they are expressions of faith nonetheless since none of them can be proved.

"I'm getting fed-up with trying"

There was a thread ages ago where some posted asked about some old guff about 12 mystical strands of DNA and other assorted cobblers. She took out faces and comments very well and decided not to throw her money away on the mystical bullshit. I was impressed by the way she took it.

True, I suppose it's a question of what you would post there - there have been a few about humanist baby-namings and weddings, but I guess there's less need to discuss "what I believe and why" when you're taking a purely rational view.

Swedes? I did not hyphenate!

But left alone, there's nothing much to say surely. Unless you draw up rankings of which beliefs annoy you most. Or recite stories of other people's belief. And even that will pall pretty soon. You need believers.

"it was a bit samey after a while" - and religion isn't?

Why... insert question of your choice...?
Because its Gods will.

SFX are you calling me a waste of space? Well are you, are you? [pathetically trying to be aggressive emoticon]

Perhaps it could all be merged into a general section to be called "Assorted Cobblers"?

I so take issue that Atheism is a rational view. I say again it is a statement of faith. Obviously no-one agrees or even feels it is worth diagreeing with so I shall go and sulk.

The James Randi Educational Forum seems to do pretty well.

UD, was it you who introduced me to

this? if so, many,many thanks

oh bugger, that didn't work!