Phil Robertson Hates Atheists

[Alex K]

The penis chopping is a nice touch.

No subtlety there. In other words, he's not the man for dog whistles. (if he ever runs for an office, he should use that joke)

[robvalue]

I'm thinking about the crutch analogy Alex. It's a very good one. It's like they convince you your legs are busted when they really aren't. I also like the analogy that it's a kind of addictive hallucinogenic drug. They get you hooked on it, and you think you keep needing it, where if you'd never been exposed to it in the first place you never would have needed it.

Also... I was thinking of people who lose a limb and are troubled by phantom limbs. It's almost like religion persuades you that you have a third arm which is forever around your neck, squeezing you when you "sin". After being conditioned enough, people really believe it. And all we need to get people to do is accept there is no third arm, it's all in their head.

[Alex K]

On one of the last Skeptic's Guide Episodes, S. Novella talked about the problem that some stroke victims have additional phantom limbs. Has nothing to do with the topic on hand, I just found it fascinating.

[robvalue]

Really? Wow I never knew that.

[Alex K]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernumerary_phantom_limb

[robvalue]

Very interesting, thanks!

Consider the fact that some people can be so convinced they have a limb when they clearly don't, they can see with their own eyes that they don't. The brain can deceive us so easily. You think this would be enough evidence to make people doubt their claims that they cannot be wrong about this invisible floaty weird old man watching them masturbate and keeping score on Microsoft Wanksheet.

I fully admit I could be wrong about absolutely everything, including who or what I think "I" am. I don't understand the theists who think they can beat the system. Maybe it's a way of overcompensating for doubts and utter lack of rationality.

[Homeless Nutter]

I've killed and raped everyone I've ever wanted to.

That means - no one. Never even remotely felt like cutting off a man's penis, either... I don't know - maybe there's something wrong with me.
I'm glad Christians have Jesus to stop them from going on killing sprees and raping their children. Except for the times, when he doesn't... I won't even mention Muhammad, 'cause he doesn't seem to give a s**t about what horrifying acts are committed in his name.

If the only thing, that prevents someone from hurting, murdering and raping people, is fear of punishment - they are a psychopath. Which all too many deeply religious people appear to be, especially when they fantasize about suffering of their fellow human beings both on Earth and in hell.

[robvalue]

Well said, same here.

Out of all the people convinced that they would become murderers the second they lost their faith, I'd be surprised if even 1 in 10 actually did so. I've heard loads of deconversion stories where people thought exactly this, then realized, "Hang on, I don't want to murder people!". I don't know if I've ever heard of people losing their faith and this leading to waves of crime. Of course it could and likely would coincide with the person being a psychopath/sociopath, someone who needs non-standard methods to keep them in check. But even they can learn the indirect benefits of being "moral" even if they aren't guided by an actual compass. For example, not killing people makes it easier to not be in jail your whole life.

Imagine also that you're a fundamentalist, and you actually think gays should be killed. You really would kill them if you could get away with it. Then say you lose your faith. Could it be possible that the reason you want to kill them may fade away along with your religion?

[Alex K]

It's not like Jesus ever came floatified down from the heavens and said: Mr. Henchman, tear down that stake, and suffer the poor witch to live for a change.

[robvalue]

He never even floated down even when he was supposedly doing it the first time, just ask "Mark" :p