Hi from the UK
Offline Just saying hi really. Discovered you guys on Youtube. Here in the UK we are a pretty irreligious country, I think less than 4% are regular church goers. A person espousing the kind of views held by Sarah Palin for example would simply not be elected to any form of public office, least of all one of the most important government positions in the world. Still the US is a different place and country to say the least.
As to creationism, the question is always if we should dignify these people - largely uneducated (I mean technically they may be educated but if they don't understand the way science works then they can hardly be considered "educated" in the broadest sense of the word) types - by entering into a "debate" where there is no debate. Here creationists are seen as cranks, bonkers people who subscribe to a primitive and archaic belief system. There is no creationist debate here in the same way there is no debate about gravity or about the shape of the earth.
So the whole thing looks rather fun from this distance ("only in America" etc ) but it is of course a serious issue, especially as such beliefs are so deeply ingrained in the US. I work in the attractions industry (see www.blooloop.com for a great news site for the industry) and there is a creationist museum in the US, teaching kids about how the earth is 6,000 years old etc. Dangerous stuff, so you guys are doing an important job.
The simple fact is I do not believe in any gods, or indeed any kind of such supernatural nonsense: homeopathy, crystal dowsing and the like. The burden of proof should lie on those that do believe as it does in any other walk of life.
Anyways, just passing through, great site, great idea, love the videos! Bye from rainy ol' England.
Personally I believe in Zeus and Apollo...
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Welcome to the boards!
I've just studied for and passed the "Life in the UK" test for people seeking indefinite leave to remain, and according to my study book, slightly over 70% claim to be affilliated with Christianity, slightly over 15% no religion about 5% random answers like jedi or "don't know wut yoo iz talkin bout, geez" About 10% of the population attends church regularly.
I see what you mean in regards to the creationists, but the other thing is that complete bullshit proclaimed by people in positions of influence shouldn't go unchallenged.
If anything I'd say my home country of New Zealand is even more 'irreligious' than the UK, and I hope it stays that way. We still produced a weirdo like Ray the banana man Comfort though.
Welcome to the hizzle.
Welcome aboard!
Welcome to the RRS forums. Don't be a stranger! Come back to see us
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GabrielOak do not just "Pass through..."has you threatened, we can threaten also, stay around and don't be a stranger, no one can be stranger then MATTSHIZZLE in full rant, but you can try. I look forward to reading more of you posts (or pre-s) or what ever you write ( or left). Welcome from Toronto GTA.
"Very funny Scotty; now beam down our clothes."
VEGETARIAN: Ancient Hindu word for "lousy hunter"
If man was formed from dirt, why is there still dirt?
Quite a few Brits here on these forums
I'm from London and there is quite a rationalist/brights/atheist/humanist/skeptc scene in the city, lots of events etc.
Really looking forward to some guy from answers in genesis turning up at 'Skeptics in the Pub' next month http://skeptic.org.uk/pub/
I despise religious nuts but I can still admire someone who is prepared to explain pure bullshit to 200 or so atheists who are often quite tanked up down the pub
Welcome to the forums from the great white north of Canada
Welcome from a currently-but-not-usually-except-of-course-on-summer's-eve-quite-rainy Sweden!
Stick around and don't be afraid to post. (Because if you don't, or you are, then I may have to do it instead, and none of us want that to happen. Trust me.)
"Nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes. There's too much fraternizing with the enemy."
And another welcome from the other side of the small pond, where we are not religious in theory, but the Prime Minister stated his opinion that atheists are not able to properly function in society and blathers on and on about the need for a "Moral Revival"; where the Vice-Prime-Minister panders to American Evangelicals, and where we will soon once more be the place where "you should go to when the world ends, because in the Netherlands everyhing happens fifty years later"
As messed up as the zeitguist(sp) is in America today, I am not leaving. Our constitution is worth defending and allows so much more freedom of speech than any other country.
It is what allows both the atheist and theist to tell the other they are full of shit. It is what allows the atheist to compete with their own voices. If our country turns into a theocracy, I would rather use my voice knowing I tried to save it, than to leave it to carnivorious self centered fundies.
"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers."Obama
Check out my poetry here on Rational Responders Like my poetry thread on Facebook under Brian James Rational Poet, @Brianrrs37 on Twitter and my blog at www.brianjamesrationalpoet.blog
Welcome, from a slightly rainier Scotland
M
And I'm from the even rainier Manchester. Welcome! There's quite a few of us Brits here.
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