From my MySpace Blog:

Theist Argument 1: The Watchmaker Argument
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Samuel Thomas Poling, Blog 127, Theist Argument #1: The Watchmaker Argument

I've done several blogs on theist arguments in the past, but now I'm going to go through them all in another blog series I'll just call "Theist Argument."

You see, theists want to explain reality just like you and me. However mostly they don't want it to be a reality they don't like, they'd rather it be something they would like to be true. And as intellectual liars, cowards, and frauds, or just as morons who can't think of a better explanation, they use "God" for the answer to several of the universe's biggest questions.

I grew up in a christian home, church, bible readings, family bible studies in the morning. It was commonplace, I grew up around it and I loved it. Jesus loved me. I loved Jesus and God. I was going to be a good girl for Jesus and do what I was told because I didn't want to go to hell, even though I knew I deserved it...I thought I deserved everything I got dished out to me.... I mean I did kill Jesus, and was a sinner because my father and mother sinned even before I was born, so I was bad even before I was born. I prayed and prayed to tell Jesus I was sorry that I killed him. It was all so wonderful and confusing and hellish and painful.

I originally wrote this back in March of 2005, in response to a letter to the editor written to a local newspaper. A recent post regarding the war on drugs and religion by another forumite reminded me of it, and it's importance. So I went and dug it up. Here it is.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most Americans and those of nations other than Canada may not be aware of the incident. But earlier this month, 4 RCMP(Royal Canadian Mounted Police) officers were gunned down by James Roszko, before he took his own life. Roszko was a known cop hater, and convicted child molestor. He also happened to be growing marijuana. And in a day where my country is polarized on one or the other side of the argument, some moron wrote the following to a local paper:

A little entry.. seeing as I am new here,I thought I'd put something in here so as to not waste this wonderful space. This isn't really finished but who cares.

-The Weaving Hands of…

The power of Christ compels you,
The power of Christ dispels you,
The power of Christ expels you…

You, who are of the herd mentality,
You, who needs eventuality,
Ye, who heeds the call of blind duality,
He, who feeds on false morality,

We, who fight the chains of the mythical weaving hands
Take a firm stand
On the alter
Of the outer fringes of society
Morality does exist beyond his hands

I wrote this a little while ago on MySpace in response to one of those "Proclaim Yer Luv Fer JAYSUS!!!" bulletins, and since I just joined RRS (and I'm Lazy), I thought reposting it might make a decent intro to me and how I think on the topic of religion.

I should be ashamed?

So, I'm sure everyone has seen 'em by now: bulletins posted proclaiming someone-or-other's love fer God or Jesus or what have you. Now, I have absolutely no problem with 'em. If you're a religious type and Jesus is yer man, cool, shout it from the rooftops if'n ya want. It's yer right. However, I couldn't help but notice, on the latest one that I saw, how many people put their names on the list and added that anyone who doesn't put their name on "the Jesus list" should be ashamed. Ashamed? Really? I should be ashamed because I don't hold the same personal beliefs as you? Huh. So, does that include me if I'm Jewish? Or Hindu? Or Muslim? Or (Gasp!) atheist?

I dont have a web cam, so.

I DENY THE HOLY SPIRT, AND I DONT BELIEVE IN ANY GOD BUT ME.

Are there things we should not know? There are many responses to the impulse toward experience, therefore, we pass through the essential stage of experience on the way to wisdom. But it remains a stage, not an end in itself. Beauty leaves a physical imprint of its passage through the brain, and new research has shown that certain brains may be more receptive to it than others. Artistic geniuses may be more than cultural phenomena; they may be genetic abnormalities whose sensory faculties are in tune to the essences of form and color, and they possess a sensitivity others can only imagine. Psychopathological interhemispheric dynamics are altered, dissipating old behavioral attitudes and patterns.

It is bad enough when someone takes the position that he(or she) has made up his(or her) mind and doesn't want to be confused by facts. It is worse when someone else makes up his(or her) mind for him(or her) and then he(or she) and then he(or she) dismisses any facts to the contrary by attributing bad motives to those who present those facts.

"The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others."
- Bertrand Russell