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Long before Hitchens/Dawkins/Harris......
#1
Long before Hitchens/Dawkins/Harris......
There was this guy. 

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Baron_d%27Holbach
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#2
RE: Long before Hitchens/Dawkins/Harris......
A hero of the revolution.  Things were a lot more dangerous back then.
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#3
RE: Long before Hitchens/Dawkins/Harris......
(March 25, 2016 at 11:54 am)Minimalist Wrote: A hero of the revolution.  Things were a lot more dangerous back then.

Lets put this in proper perspective. ANYONE challenging social norms worldwide now or in the past is going to be seen as a threat to the majority social norms. So while we do share his skepticism, Muslims living in America are minorities, and Christians and gays living in the Middle East are minorities.

Not sure I'd agree however, with his views on economics. My take on him would be that if alive today he'd be more likely to be a Libertarian, and that to me is simply a Republican willing to fuck over minorities too.

But, he certainly took a much bigger risk to his wealth and even safety considering how much more religious society was back then. The church hated him so much they buried him under a church so nobody could eventually build a monument to him. But, the good thing about the survival of his words, is that they didn't destroy them, and not even hiding his body stopped the spread of skepticism.
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#4
RE: Long before Hitchens/Dawkins/Harris......
Long before that, there was Cavarka.  Here's a gem from Hindu tradition.

Quote:There is no other world other than this;
There is no heaven and no hell;
The realm of Shiva and like regions,

are invented by stupid imposters.

another favorite-

Quote:The Sacrifices, the three Vedas, the ascetic's three staves, 

              and smearing oneself with ashes—

          Brhaspati says these are but means of livelihood 
              for those who have no manliness nor sense.

-the scam has long been known. This particular tradition comes to us from 600bc or so.


I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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