That's...that Simon Jones. Wow. He's got such a theatrical voice. The fact that this man became the ever-so-average Arthur Dent so easily and convincingly is, quite frankly, amazing.
Thank you I will see if I can watch the film. With regards to your first point for me it is more important for me to find some truth because when I die I die. So it matters that I find something out now. I believe that this is best done through debate. For the second point everyone I know has been taught to care for and help others. Not just Christians but atheists et. al. the fact that we are only mammals enhances the mystery of life for me and causes me to care deeply about humanity as a whole
Sadly he is not alive anymore since 2001, at least not on earth. It was a shock to many he left so suddenly. Perhaps needed elsewhere in a hurry. Who can tell.. who can tell.. D.N.A is a hero of life. My hero.
although I find the term spirit-that-moves-through-all-things more elegant and accurate. Just because there is no old man in heaven watching over us does not mean there is no spirit or psychic connection between all the elements of life.
I don't fully understand your comment (notice english is not my native language), are you sure this reply is for me? my reply was for the user mjZstargirl who said: "where do you think he got his talent from?"... that sounds pretty close to "divine invisible being coming soon to your screen to explay that"...
troyontime, I notice that you mention the film 'Expelled', May I urge you to consider looking into the controversy surrounding the movie from the other side too. The person involved was a cheat who failed to submit his work for review and used his position to publish an article which he knew would not have passed. it was opinion and belonged in letters or in discussion papers, not a scientific journal. If cheating is how someone makes claims, then it is not something you should support.
On the topic below and all like it: why is it so hard to harmonize religion and atheism, to see each as defining the other? Suppose science continues to advance, perhaps we can engineer ("create") whole galaxies, and develop little thought chips in our brains so infinitesimal that we become almost a singular collective consciousness and look over such a universe of life. If we could, then suppose there exists such a force guiding us now. Wouldn't that be god by definition? Aren't both true?
something to support it, and it is also respected more in schools than Christianity. On the other had religion should not be oppressed on anyone no matter which one it is. Religion like Atheism is a choice we choice to believe it or not.
@nate4021 But then the garden dies with the coming of the Autumn. The leaves die in their greatest beauty. The fairies live on till the next Spring and if people labor again the beauty is again. But in my case the nutrients of the soil where exhausted and the garden kept getting less beautiful. Now it is just a lawn which my pets trample at will. As I drink my ale I wonder if the fairies ever really existed! So the next step would be a scientific one if I choose to have the garden back. Thanks
stuff like talent also stems from exposure. If he's exposed to comedy and quality writing for a young age he'll be good or at least attracted to it. (And he was a fan of the Pythons, I believe)
I have not seen the film, but I have followed this closely in publications which I read, they present a fair discussions of the issues raised. I urge you to look at the rather lengthy list of lectures from Stanford University on my channel. You will see there a very through discussion of evolution and hear the voice of detractors in context, within an academic environment. Expelled asserts that a conspiracy exists against ID, it does not It is fringe ideas, there is no controversy learn biology
@fredatled Actually many religious people do think about this thoroughly but sadly are not taken seriously. It is not sad because they aren't taken seriously but because those religious people that easily hold the title RELIGIOUS NUTCASE are the ones that are taken seriously. Many prejudice scientists chose to make the NUTCASES the primary example of all whom are religious in any shape or form. In the end every man is entitled to his beliefs. I believe in God, you see otherwise that's ure right.
In addition, this is an argument of infinite regress. If hyper-evolved aliens behave like gods it still doesn't solve the problem of who (if anyone) created the aliens, and all the matter/energy in the universe, in the first place. Accordingly a resolution between atheism and theism is impossible as the 'a' rather suggests.
Christianity simply does not make sense until you have faced the sort of facts I have been describing. Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore has nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who do not know they have done anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need forgiveness. -C.S. LEWIS
It was Simon Jones and that is a massive wow... But come on... how much more of a wow would it have been if it had been PETER Jones? Wouldn't that be ace? The BOOK reading the author? (And yes, I know Peter's dead....!)
@Mr88playmaker I can play that game too. There are three models of Government competing for world domination: (1) Secularism: Where politics and philosophers debate laws and the right of people. (2) Sharia Law: where the Qu'ron governs
Chaffinch4, check out the GOD DELUSION by Dawkins as it demonstrates an interpretation of Einstein's God as non-religious and misconstrued and falsely used as religious. But it's one of only several opinions on the issue. You bring up a good point nonetheless.
Well just look at it this way: I would rather die believing there is a God, and find out there is no God. Rather then; die not believing there is a God and find out there is a God. I, my friend have NOTHING to lose, you on the other hand have EVERYTHING to lose.
troyontime, I reread my comment, It is indeed very strongly worded, this no doubt, prompted your response. Let me explain less clumsily; Consider how you would feel if Islam, or some other faith which you strongly disagreed with was taught to your kids, or if it was the basis for laws and your rights as a human being. Secularism is freedom of expression for everybody on the basis of democratically agreed law. challenge that and you inspire religious rage. Keep religion out of ed and politics
@Mr88playmaker "In America, there exists not one single legal document that states or suggests that your rights and liberties are granted by men" I quote your own historical documents.. "we hold these truths to be self evident " I'm pretty sure that those "truths" are at least the beginnings of your own country's right to governance without religious interference The "we" referred to in the quote were MEN, some of them Atheists Your constitution guarantees every citizen freedom FROM religion
These are all excellent arguments against the modern concept of god that Christians, Jews and Islams. However there are understandings of spirit and the interconnectedness of all the energies of the universe that these arguments have nothing to do with. The sum total of all the experiences of all the energy of the universe can be summed up as god.
Consider also that 70% of scientists profess some kind of religious faith. Even those who have a sense of a personal God are not suggesting that evolution is false. ID is a cultural phenomena inspired by 2 small groups, American and Islamic fundamentalists. The basis for their ideas is biblical text and not experiment or testing. ID was ruled to be religion in the Dover trial, No scientists were forthcoming to defend it. Expelled makes wrong assertions.
He´s got his talent from: - a VERY good Education - a broadminded View of Things - the Ability to look behind the Views that were introducted to you by your Parents etc. - a very good sense of Proportion !!! ...and NOT (at all) from some sort of GOD !
God wouldn't care if you chose to have faith in him or not so it doesn't matter what people think of the immeasurable or unthinkable.. just be cool to others and expect others to be cool to you.. basic self evident common sense.
Philosophically I guess you could say that I am an agnostic or agnostic atheist. I can't be 100% sure that there is no god or gods and it's pretty much impossible to disprove a fairy tale (or a fairy). I'm 99,999999etc% sure that there is not a magic pink elephant named Lenny in the room next door. So I would say that in life I'm an atheist when it comes to "Lenny" . Of course I can never be 100% sure, but I don't think that would make me an "Lenny" agnostic.
True. Athiesm can do nothing to assuage your guilt or allivate your fears of death, sorry. You did what you did and you die when you die, no matter how you feel about it, how inconvinient it may be. Just because your worldview NEEDS something to be true does not make it so.
@TheRobotarchie Humanity would greatly benefit if the concept of a perpetual tribal tyrant who controlled all matter and mind was erased from our collective memory.
Gods are good entertaining fun, but there's no proof they exist, right? The true religion is the ability to laugh. That is a gift from "god". Everytime you laugh, it's a prayer. uh, the good selfless kind, that will help people. some how. whatevs. sorry, i know this is 5 months ago, but still. gotta love douglas adams. he was a genious.
i love how every one thinks ever Christian is a complete dunderhead. "You believe in god therefor you CAN'T believe in ANYTHING other god". i am a christian, i believe in evolution, in science, gay rights, and so on. can we just except peoples believes and move on instead of being assholes to everyone? oh, no, thats to easy, to rational, we need to hate someone, right?
Absolutely you, I, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Yes religion has power over society and in some cases I do believe religion does not belong such as the government ruling a church and the religion it represents. With oppression I agree and disagree with that. This is because in most of the public schools i have seen have only oppressed Christianity while Judaism and Muslim where respected as legitimate beliefs. I believe Atheism is a belief because like anything you need to believe
@Mr88playmaker Ask those American citizens with Japanese ancestry how those unalienable, god given rights and liberties worked out for them in the 40's when their property was seized by the government including businesses and farmland, and they were shoved into internment camps. A right is not a right if it can be taken away. You have no rights.
well first Atheist is NOT BELIEVING IN FAIRY TALES!, Atheist rule their life with Reason, Science and logic, when a scientist takes away believes then they can really work on their stuff, by taking away crazy thinking I think you need to read more on what BELIEVES are, ATHEISM is not a branch of theology Atheist don't have faith, we apply RATIONAL THINKING! let me tell you that thanks to religion science hasn't got far enough and it is retarding our advancement in science
What argument? You didn't present an argument you simply rather ignorantly stated that Catholics aren't Christians and being an atheist is akin to being a founder of communist Russia. You stated two things which are empirically incorrect. You cannot divert this by trying to pass off our refutations of your argument as political correctness. You are bowing out of this discussion because you cannot possibly come back from what we have said. You are wrong. I hope this makes U review ur beliefs.
...what does science say about there being a God? well NOTHING! hey there is no evdence for god, people have try to demostrate the evidence of god, but simpley it is a fairy tale!! I dont know your point, and I brough this up becasue you are the first one who thinks Scientist and Atheist should not go toughether... read more about science and Atheism BTW here is a proof you dont know what you are taking about: Def. of Atheism: Disbelief in, or denial of, the existence of a god.
unfortunately he CANT prove that there is a god, because he CANT prove a negative, he has to live with his imaginary friend until he dies, waist his life on this genocidal, blood thirsty, who like virgins sex, the guy who suppose created the universe and we simple humans haver to worship this ass god just because he exist and never has the fucking nerve to come to the earth to prove himself! to bad people still believe fairy tales and because of this ass we have so many wars
First off: It's embryonic not embyonic. Second: You are obviously a person who needs a scientific explanation and reason for everything, which i don't. You don't believe you have a soul, sucks for you. (:
"isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?"
great quote.
Hitch-hiker's guide is an awsum book.
He's a great man.
Hello, I'm Arthur Dent and I approve of this message...
douglas was such a intelligant man. and a talanted writer. a loss to all of us. and I agree to every word he says here
I completely agree with everything he says.
Douglas Adams is the man.
Douglas Adams is great!
great stuff
john
That's...that Simon Jones.
Wow.
He's got such a theatrical voice. The fact that this man became the ever-so-average Arthur Dent so easily and convincingly is, quite frankly, amazing.
That's correct - and 'American Atheist', the publication in which this interview appeared is, not too surprisingly, American.
Shame it just cuts off. Anyone have a link to a full version?
Why does it have to get cut short? :( I wish I could listen to the rest.
Love the Django Reinhardt and Stephen Grappelli in the background.
glad to hear it tcflo9, keep it to yourself and rejoice on your own
Thank you I will see if I can watch the film. With regards to your first point for me it is more important for me to find some truth because when I die I die. So it matters that I find something out now. I believe that this is best done through debate. For the second point everyone I know has been taught to care for and help others. Not just Christians but atheists et. al. the fact that we are only mammals enhances the mystery of life for me and causes me to care deeply about humanity as a whole
@leopacman11 Yeah, this is taken directly from the Audiobook.
this guy is one of the smartest men alive
Sadly he is not alive anymore since 2001, at least not on earth. It was a shock to many he left so suddenly. Perhaps needed elsewhere in a hurry. Who can tell.. who can tell..
D.N.A is a hero of life. My hero.
This is mindblowing
I wouldn't call myself an atheist, though I'm convinced that Douglas Adams was a genious.
And yes, Doug was Brit
Beautiful music choice, Minor Swing.
A better question is, Did I do well by those whom I left behind?
I think the answer is the same in either case.
although I find the term spirit-that-moves-through-all-things more elegant and accurate. Just because there is no old man in heaven watching over us does not mean there is no spirit or psychic connection between all the elements of life.
Douglas wasn't so sure as he may sound in this interview.
Brilliant :)
What is the evidence for intelligent design?
I don't fully understand your comment (notice english is not my native language), are you sure this reply is for me? my reply was for the user mjZstargirl who said: "where do you think he got his talent from?"... that sounds pretty close to "divine invisible being coming soon to your screen to explay that"...
troyontime, I notice that you mention the film 'Expelled', May I urge you to consider looking into the controversy surrounding the movie from the other side too.
The person involved was a cheat who failed to submit his work for review and used his position to publish an article which he knew would not have passed. it was opinion and belonged in letters or in discussion papers, not a scientific journal.
If cheating is how someone makes claims, then it is not something you should support.
On the topic below and all like it: why is it so hard to harmonize religion and atheism, to see each as defining the other? Suppose science continues to advance, perhaps we can engineer ("create") whole galaxies, and develop little thought chips in our brains so infinitesimal that we become almost a singular collective consciousness and look over such a universe of life. If we could, then suppose there exists such a force guiding us now. Wouldn't that be god by definition? Aren't both true?
something to support it, and it is also respected more in schools than Christianity. On the other had religion should not be oppressed on anyone no matter which one it is. Religion like Atheism is a choice we choice to believe it or not.
@MazeleyFanClub
Your Point?
@nate4021 But then the garden dies with the coming of the Autumn. The leaves die in their greatest beauty. The fairies live on till the next Spring and if people labor again the beauty is again. But in my case the nutrients of the soil where exhausted and the garden kept getting less beautiful. Now it is just a lawn which my pets trample at will. As I drink my ale I wonder if the fairies ever really existed! So the next step would be a scientific one if I choose to have the garden back. Thanks
@themeaningoflif Most if not all of this is in the book "the salmon of doubt" by douglas adams. Read it :)
stuff like talent also stems from exposure. If he's exposed to comedy and quality writing for a young age he'll be good or at least attracted to it. (And he was a fan of the Pythons, I believe)
I have not seen the film, but I have followed this closely in publications which I read, they present a fair discussions of the issues raised.
I urge you to look at the rather lengthy list of lectures from Stanford University on my channel. You will see there a very through discussion of evolution and hear the voice of detractors in context, within an academic environment.
Expelled asserts that a conspiracy exists against ID, it does not
It is fringe ideas, there is no controversy
learn biology
@fredatled Actually many religious people do think about this thoroughly but sadly are not taken seriously. It is not sad because they aren't taken seriously but because those religious people that easily hold the title RELIGIOUS NUTCASE are the ones that are taken seriously. Many prejudice scientists chose to make the NUTCASES the primary example of all whom are religious in any shape or form. In the end every man is entitled to his beliefs. I believe in God, you see otherwise that's ure right.
The fairies at the bottom are called earthworms.
I think you didn't get it.
In addition, this is an argument of infinite regress. If hyper-evolved aliens behave like gods it still doesn't solve the problem of who (if anyone) created the aliens, and all the matter/energy in the universe, in the first place. Accordingly a resolution between atheism and theism is impossible as the 'a' rather suggests.
Christianity simply does not make sense until you have faced the sort of facts I have been describing. Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore has nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who do not know they have done anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need forgiveness.
-C.S. LEWIS
@Darkaero199 :FOURTY TWO !!!??
It was Simon Jones and that is a massive wow...
But come on... how much more of a wow would it have been if it had been PETER Jones? Wouldn't that be ace? The BOOK reading the author?
(And yes, I know Peter's dead....!)
@Mr88playmaker I can play that game too.
There are three models of Government competing for world domination:
(1) Secularism: Where politics and philosophers debate laws and the right of people.
(2) Sharia Law: where the Qu'ron governs
Chaffinch4, check out the GOD DELUSION by Dawkins as it demonstrates an interpretation of Einstein's God as non-religious and misconstrued and falsely used as religious. But it's one of only several opinions on the issue. You bring up a good point nonetheless.
Well just look at it this way:
I would rather die believing there is a God, and find out there is no God.
Rather then; die not believing there is a God and find out there is a God.
I, my friend have NOTHING to lose, you on the other hand have EVERYTHING to lose.
troyontime, I reread my comment, It is indeed very strongly worded, this no doubt, prompted your response.
Let me explain less clumsily;
Consider how you would feel if Islam, or some other faith which you strongly disagreed with was taught to your kids, or if it was the basis for laws and your rights as a human being.
Secularism is freedom of expression for everybody on the basis of democratically agreed law.
challenge that and you inspire religious rage.
Keep religion out of ed and politics
I dont understand what you mean? are you Athesit? I would love to see religion out of the window and Science & Reason in through the door...
@Mr88playmaker
"In America, there exists not one single legal document that states or suggests that your rights and liberties are granted by men"
I quote your own historical documents..
"we hold these truths to be self evident "
I'm pretty sure that those "truths" are at least the beginnings of your own country's right to governance without religious interference
The "we" referred to in the quote were MEN, some of them Atheists
Your constitution guarantees every citizen freedom FROM religion
These are all excellent arguments against the modern concept of god that Christians, Jews and Islams. However there are understandings of spirit and the interconnectedness of all the energies of the universe that these arguments have nothing to do with. The sum total of all the experiences of all the energy of the universe can be summed up as god.
oh snap! didn't even notice the address hahaha clever.
Consider also that 70% of scientists profess some kind of religious faith.
Even those who have a sense of a personal God are not suggesting that evolution is false.
ID is a cultural phenomena inspired by 2 small groups, American and Islamic fundamentalists. The basis for their ideas is biblical text and not experiment or testing.
ID was ruled to be religion in the Dover trial, No scientists were forthcoming to defend it.
Expelled makes wrong assertions.
we can't create matter.
Calling atheism a faith is like calling not taking drugs an addiction…
He´s got his talent from:
- a VERY good Education
- a broadminded View of Things
- the Ability to look behind the Views that were introducted to you by your Parents etc.
- a very good sense of Proportion !!!
...and NOT (at all) from some sort of GOD !
God wouldn't care if you chose to have faith in him or not so it doesn't matter what people think of the immeasurable or unthinkable.. just be cool to others and expect others to be cool to you.. basic self evident common sense.
Philosophically I guess you could say that I am an agnostic or agnostic atheist.
I can't be 100% sure that there is no god or gods and it's pretty much impossible to disprove a fairy tale (or a fairy).
I'm 99,999999etc% sure that there is not a magic pink elephant named Lenny in the room next door.
So I would say that in life I'm an atheist when it comes to "Lenny" .
Of course I can never be 100% sure, but I don't think that would make me an "Lenny" agnostic.
Peace, may you have a sense of the indivisible whole of which every religion and philosophy is only an aspect.
Which he admitted could happen.
I almost never use the term god.
In a safe place.
@Mr88playmaker did you know thomas jefferson wrote that ....a man, does that make him your god!
2:15 your gut feeling was wrong buddy.
Your soul.
True. Athiesm can do nothing to assuage your guilt or allivate your fears of death, sorry. You did what you did and you die when you die, no matter how you feel about it, how inconvinient it may be. Just because your worldview NEEDS something to be true does not make it so.
@TheRobotarchie Humanity would greatly benefit if the concept of a perpetual tribal tyrant who controlled all matter and mind was erased from our collective memory.
omg hes not!, excuse my ignorance but i just got really really sad......ok im over it now but he was very smart
The burden of proof isn't on atheists to prove non-existence, but theists to prove god since they make the claim there is one.
@opulase1 never it has been confirm
You will waste your only life living in ignorance of the magnificence of reality.
MICE!?....
LOL 42!
That is god-of-the-gaps theology. Ultimately, it is a dead end.
Gods are good entertaining fun, but there's no proof they exist, right?
The true religion is the ability to laugh. That is a gift from "god". Everytime you laugh, it's a prayer.
uh, the good selfless kind, that will help people. some how.
whatevs. sorry, i know this is 5 months ago, but still.
gotta love douglas adams. he was a genious.
i love how every one thinks ever Christian is a complete dunderhead. "You believe in god therefor you CAN'T believe in ANYTHING other god". i am a christian, i believe in evolution, in science, gay rights, and so on. can we just except peoples believes and move on instead of being assholes to everyone? oh, no, thats to easy, to rational, we need to hate someone, right?
Absolutely you, I, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Yes religion has power over society and in some cases I do believe religion does not belong such as the government ruling a church and the religion it represents. With oppression I agree and disagree with that. This is because in most of the public schools i have seen have only oppressed Christianity while Judaism and Muslim where respected as legitimate beliefs. I believe Atheism is a belief because like anything you need to believe
No, it is not a belief, it is the absence of a belief. It is your typical christian projection that makes you think that way.
Where he got his talent from?... well... from God, Allah, Shiva, Brahma, The Great Ju-Ju Up The Mountain....blahblah... shall I continue?
DNA itself proves there is a god. It can’t be created at random. Oh the irony....
@Mr88playmaker Ask those American citizens with Japanese ancestry how those unalienable, god given rights and liberties worked out for them in the 40's when their property was seized by the government including businesses and farmland, and they were shoved into internment camps. A right is not a right if it can be taken away. You have no rights.
lol!
lol you got it wroung, no college i guess
well first Atheist is NOT BELIEVING IN FAIRY TALES!, Atheist rule their life with Reason, Science and logic, when a scientist takes away believes then they can really work on their stuff, by taking away crazy thinking I think you need to read more on what BELIEVES are, ATHEISM is not a branch of theology Atheist don't have faith, we apply RATIONAL THINKING! let me tell you that thanks to religion science hasn't got far enough and it is retarding our advancement in science
@xEXABYTEx
Atheism is a LACK of belief.
Douglas wasn't american!
lulz sorry no offence but three words whales marvin and marigolds
What argument? You didn't present an argument you simply rather ignorantly stated that Catholics aren't Christians and being an atheist is akin to being a founder of communist Russia. You stated two things which are empirically incorrect. You cannot divert this by trying to pass off our refutations of your argument as political correctness. You are bowing out of this discussion because you cannot possibly come back from what we have said. You are wrong. I hope this makes U review ur beliefs.
...what does science say about there being a God?
well NOTHING! hey there is no evdence for god, people have try to demostrate the evidence of god, but simpley it is a fairy tale!! I dont know your point, and I brough this up becasue you are the first one who thinks Scientist and Atheist should not go toughether... read more about science and Atheism
BTW here is a proof you dont know what you are taking about:
Def. of Atheism: Disbelief in, or denial of, the existence of a god.
@fredatled Clearly they have lost their towels.
unfortunately he CANT prove that there is a god, because he CANT prove a negative, he has to live with his imaginary friend until he dies, waist his life on this genocidal, blood thirsty, who like virgins sex, the guy who suppose created the universe and we simple humans haver to worship this ass god just because he exist and never has the fucking nerve to come to the earth to prove himself!
to bad people still believe fairy tales and because of this ass we have so many wars
First off: It's embryonic not embyonic.
Second: You are obviously a person who needs a scientific explanation and reason for everything, which i don't.
You don't believe you have a soul, sucks for you. (: