Matthew Chapman at AAI 07: pt 2 of 2 (Q&A)

[falconiqx]

Near the end, what did she say? "...the women could have 72 Matthew Chapmans if they...", I couldn't hear the rest.

[freethot]

I loved the film Contact, but it clearly fell short of endorsing an Atheist point of view. It allowed for more of a 'seperate majesteria' between faith and science that seems like a surrender to me.

[johnclavis]

I agree. The hearing scene where Jodi Foster's character is told to consider that her lack of physical evidence for her experience is identical to religious evidence-free experiences was such BS... especially given the little twist at the end that, if taken seriously, would have undermined the whole pro-faith argument.

[humanist7117]

Until atheism, humanists learn to combine emotion with reason, it will not have appeal to orfinary people. NC

[johnclavis]

What is this "emotions"? Being an atheist, I am a robot, free of what you hyoo-mans call "emotion".

Also, what is an "orfinary"?

[Antichrist4Life]

This guy's great!  I look very forward to his movie.

[Turandot29]

Did he mention the name of the film he is making?

[BRIGSTOCK]

The UK is very atheistic partly because of the national character- empirical, very ironic and very cynical. I guess the fact that Newton and Darwin were British must have had an effect too. Plus, like Italy, Spain, France and Germany we are spoilt for history and culture to bury ourselves in.

[edensaunt]

The film "Contact" as well

[klexamixa]

SteveW: because secular one is not omnipotent

[ridelo]

Atheism... Athiesm... Atheism... Athiesm... Atheism... Athiesm... Atheism... Athiesm... Atheism... Athiesm... Atheism... Athiesm... Atheism... Athiesm... ?

[Turandot29]

Do you have a stutter ?

[SteveWrathall]

"Basic human rights....to heath care...???"

Provided by whom?

[Mjhavok]

Going by his speech I think Matthew thinks a civilised progressive government should provide decent healthcare.

[SteveWrathall]

Why swap the celestial dictatorship, for the secular bureaucratic one?

[Mjhavok]

Poor dying sick people don't really care about that.

[aversion2k]

Because the secular one is real?

[JDRedstone]

Loaded question.

[johnclavis]

How is it a dictatorship if national policy is determined by national consensus enacted through trustworthy representatives?

[SteveWrathall]

That assumes the rationality and morality of your fellow man.

[johnclavis]

It does not. Properly executed, transparent democracy exposes irrationality and immorality and corruption.

Unfortunately, our national discourse has been degraded through years of inferior public education, religious indoctrination and manipulation of the media... so now, you have these polls where more people believe in ESP than in evolution.

A stupid, ignorant, easily led electorate will vote for undemocratic leaders.

[SteveWrathall]

Even a highly educated, secular electorate can believe that the world owes them a living, and that western civilisation is no better than cultures steeped in superstition and ignorance. Look at Scandinavia.

[johnclavis]

Oh, please. Now you're just lapsing into stereotypes. "The world owes them a living"? Who thinks that way? What if I portrayed right-wingers as greedy, self-serving bigots & Jesus freaks? Would that be fair? "Look at Scandanavia?" Look at the USA! Our bridges are collapsing, corporations run the government, veterans are being screwed and gay people can't hitch up!

I love my country and so do most 'moonbats' I know... and we want to save it from the right-wing assholes and crooks, dammit!

[johnclavis]

I'd rather have a dictatorship I have some control over than a dictatorship based upon corporate power that amounts to little more than a more efficient form of feudalism.

Do I think, say, my local Representative gives two shits about me? Probably not. But she probably gives slightly more of a shit than any particular CEO does about me. Don't you think? Why trust corporations to behave? Haven't you been watching the news for the past 30 years?

[tskaface]

Expand.

[stratvic]

There are many films made that are sympathetic to athiesm. For chapman though I would recommend The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged.

[stratvic]

The reason that Europeans are more sceptical of the church is that, in England in particular, the church is part of the state, the queen being the head of the state and the Church of England. The fallibility of the state in all things government does is obvious to all and it is natural that that fallibility washes off onto the state religion as well.

[danny123xvz]

how naive the church kept us down for centuries

[photografr7]

"The Contender" (2000) written and directed by Rod Lurie... I have to rent it soon

[worldlystone]

Great stuff guys!

[gunapie]

thanks for posting - good stuff

[Matt7895]

Lazymornings said 'Britain is a great atheist country.'

In recent polls around half of the population are either agnostic or atheist. It is not the majority, and it is VITAL to remember that the United Kingdom is NOT a secular state. Our head of state is also head of the Church of England and our government has set up and is continuing to fund faith schools. This would be unconstitutional in the United States, but here in the UK the state is at least de facto religious.

[mattroberts66]

Actually the EU Eurobarometer poll of 2005 shows that only 38% of people in the UK believe in a god. But yeh the faith schools thing is pretty unforgiveable

[MCHAWKING123]

Did anyone get the name of the movie the old guy named?

[mattroberts66]

The Contender, i think

[photografr7]

"The Contender" (2000) written and directed by Rod Lurie... I have to rent it soon

[Chuloloc]

Interesting.

[EntinludeX]

"BRITAIN IS A GREAT ATHEIST COUNTRY."

They should be. The entire conflict between Protestants and Catholics in Ireland and Great Britain was probably enough. I believe it is the longest held military occupation in history. It just ended a few months ago. And to whomever said Christians don't use IED's to kill civilian targets, 3 letters for ya: I.R.A. so Suck it.

[ZetaField]

What ended a few months ago? The british occupation of the north of Ireland?

Not really...

[hotdoc007]

IRA is a political organization with a political goal.

[Mjhavok]

Irish Republican Army. Political organisations usually call themselves an army do they?

[lazymornings]

BRITAIN IS A GREAT ATHEIST COUNTRY.

[colleen3217]

More vids, cool.

[Evanmileus]

~RRS~