Ep 28 teaser

"Do you think that thoughtful individuals who carefully reason out evidence and come to provisional, tentative conclusions, the only kind science allows, would ever be found howling for the blood of homosexuals?" - Robert Price
Man, that's a damn good quote. That's from chapter 28 of the Reason Driven Life. Forget the labels and mud slinging. I'm an atheist, a skeptic and a humanist. But throw away those labels for a moment and forget what any other atheist, skeptic or humanist has ever done or said. If you are thoughtful and you carefully reason out evidence and come to provisional, tentative conclusions, then you embody every positive quality that can be summed up in those labels. That is the true spirit of skepticism and it's pretty goddamn beautiful.

We're recording episode 28 tomorrow and we have a very, very special guest for this episode. His name is Ravi Zacharias and he's a world famous evangelical, Christian apologist and author. He's a real bright chap and even I enjoy his talks, because he talks respectfully and rationally. So, it should be a great show, I'll post it up a.s.a.p.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

New to your blog: TheFlowerLady
Hard to have an exchange of ideas, Danny, when you can't write one paragraph with out using 'damn' twice? who is dammed and why do you call on 'god' (God) to do it?
Wouldn't respect of other's ideas call you to leave off degrading words, or is your blog all about respect of only those who talk like you?
Consider this idea: Haven't more human beings, herteo and homo-sexual been healed and ministered to in the the name of Christ and people who gather to honor him than by any hospital or mercy orgianization founded on athiestic principals?
TFL

Danny Schade said...

TFL,
It is a bit of poor style to overuse any word, so I agree, I probably should have been more creative about my choice of swear words.

Do you want to talk about respect? Talk is cheap, and one might think that respect is paid by speaking with perfect political correctness but I don't buy that. I show respect to people in my actions and through the way I talk to them personally. I said "that is goddamn beautiful". I wasn't cursing anyone. I was not directing hate towards anyone or any groups of people. I think people often miss the point. For some reason saying to someone "you're a stupid dumb-butt" is more acceptable than saying "man, this is good fucking chicken". Was it because of that magic little "F" word? What does it really have to do with it? One was a curse, a sign of disrespect towards another person, the other was an enthusiastic praise of some great dinner. Which is the most disrespectful?

About your second comment: "Haven't more human beings, herteo and homo-sexual been healed and ministered to in the the name of Christ and people who gather to honor him than by any hospital or mercy organization founded on atheistic principals?"
Heterosexuals? Who knows, but I wouldn't necessarily deny it. Homosexuals? HA HA HA HA! Yes, they've been greatly helped. That's fucking rich.

But, who cares? I'm not saying Christians are bad people, I've never said that. The question is, does that make Christianity true? Or do you follow Christianity just for purely pragmatic reasons?

Danny Schade said...

one more thing, Flower Lady: really, how do you get off saying this: "... or is your blog all about respect of only those who talk like you?"

Did you even read the next thing I said about our Christian friend, Ravi Zacharias? I have great respect for the man. The fact that you read a bad word on my blog and assume that I'm some sort of bigoted jerk is really quite telling of YOUR proclivity to prejudice. Please learn who I am before you attack me.

I'd at least like to earn any insults I get and "respecting only those who talk like me" is NOT one of them.

juliehay said...

Hi,my name is Julie,I am an Australian resident,an old one,well,59,not real old,I am very young at heart and just love young people,I really enjoy your podcast,you are really delightful to listen to,I love your wacky bible stories,would love to hear more..with regard to the interview with Ravi,I thought that were very well behaved!!a little too much perhaps!!would have liked to hear you challenge him more,he evaded some of your questions very cleverly with political double speak,which is very indicative of the brainwashed,inculcated & indoctrinated mind,don't forget he has had 30yrs of it,and despite what he might truly think he would be in a constant state of cognitive dissonance..I spent 12yrs in an independent fundamental baptist group(cult) and came out of it 10yrs ago,whilst in it I thought totally irrationally,was totally brainwashed,indoctrinated & controlled,in fact I didn't think,just followed & obeyed blindly,the whole experience all but destroyed myself and my children & I have spent the last 10yrs recovering & healing,now, I think rationally,critically,openly..there is much more that I could say but must stop there..there are some recent lectures I have just listened to with Richard Dawkins,Steven Pinker & others at Harvard Uni,which are excellent..the belief in a god (& which god might that be!!) is what is incoherent, the lack of belief, a-theism (atheism)is what is coherent,the word cohere means,be well knit or consistent..when one dissects the doctrines of christianity as one of you began to do after your guest left, this dissection(tirade)was great by the way,it would have been precisely what I would have said,anyway, when one does take it all apart and challenge it one can only say it is incoherent,amongst other more apt descriptive adjectives..anyway guys, I am just so glad I have found your podcast as I just love it and cannot wait to hear more of you, regards Julie

Danny Schade said...

Julie,
Thanks so much for the feedback. I really appreciate new listeners! :) Keep in touch!
Danny