346. Ok, for all of you out there who continue to question God's love or power to stop tragedies and major catastrophies from happening. We were created with our own will to chose our actions and beliefs, so God won't stop anyone from making a bad choice even if it hurts someone unless that person asks him to intervene and stop it, which would never happen. Once a killer has decided to murder, he won't ask God to step over his will and stop it. If God did prevent evil from happening we'd be his toys, making us do whatever HE wanted, we would'nt even have the need to believe in HIM or be saved, because God decides for you. We would have no will of our own, can't you see that. I guess if you stopped to ask God to reveal himself to you, you would understand. He never turns away from ANYONE that seeks him. I hope you will do this. You have so much to gain and nothing to lose if you discover the truth. It's worth your time and you can't really say there is no God if you have not seeked him with all your heart being open to the possibility. God Bless.

Adriana at 3:47PM on Oct 27th 2007

347. I would respect atheists who are self-convinced atheists, based on extensive studies of the subject of faith. In other words, they know very well both sides of the issue. Unfortunately most atheists only have a perfunctory knowledge of religion in general, and little or no understanding of the Christian faith.Futhermore, they accept darwinism as a fait accompli when it isn't.They know little or nothing of Quantum Physics theories, so they have reverence for "science" only.
If you wnat ot be an atheist, I suggest educate yourself in biology, bio-chemistry, physics, history, religions, arts, music,astronomy and then decide for yourself where the truth lies.
I used to an atheist when I was 13! By the time I was 30, I firmly believed that this world was designed by a higher entity than I, and can never fully comprehend, but seek to understand; an entitity that is not limited by space and time as I am, and who is infinitely wiser than I could ever be in my physical existence. I am an open minded spiritual person, who got herself convinced of the truth of the why of our being here, being created for a purpose known only to our Creator.
If you read the holy scriptures of any faith you will be able to understand the reality of evil as part of physical existence, as a tool to perfect each and every thinking homo sapiens.

Ann Szafko at 1:49AM on Nov 1st 2007

348. I would respect Religious people who are self-convinced religious people. Not because your parents or guardians or anyone made you go to church, but because you one day had an epiphany and your religion just "came" to you (like that would ever happen).

If you are going to be religious, you should educate yourself in Biology, History (as the earth is not 10,000 years old and was NOT made in 7 days hahahaha - that alone is sooo ridiculous... furthermore, the idea of a woman coming from a man's rib is laughable to say the least, if not utterly insane).

Maybe learn about other religions, so they can laugh at the crazy ideas muslims, mormons, jews have ... because everybody's religion is wrong except mine (after all, it can't possibly be any other way - says your religion).

Lastly, religious people should question why their creator would allow innocent people to die, children to be mutilated, burned alive, tortured, and why prayer doesn't grow back limbs ... question what exactly is this plan he/she/it has ... and if there is a plan ... it sounds a little bit crazy, it doesn't make any sense.

I used to believe in god, when I was small ... then as I've grown and my intellect has developed, I stopped believing in the tooth fairy, Santa .... and of course ... these ideas that religious scriptures term "god"

Jesus Christ at 2:03PM on Nov 7th 2007

349. to 347, speciation is a fait accompli for the past 100 years or so and the literature is so abundant it's unremarkable.

How does creation science account for it?

Dinesh is doing battle with the same old straw man he projects and names 'atheist' and wonders why it doesn't show up somewhere.

Dinesh's battle as always is with science and information.

Wow, looky here!

"If you wnat ot be an atheist, I suggest educate yourself in biology, bio-chemistry, physics, history, religions, arts, music,astronomy and then decide for yourself where the truth lies."

Well, I've done my best. Ill have to leave a lot out, but.....

I have an undergrad degree in biology (itertidal invertebrate physiology), I was a doctoral fellow in biochem, my physics reeks beyond standard classical mech but I follow cosmology, especially m-theory and try to muddle along, I've been offered a position in a college teaching music but had a busy road schedule at the time.

I lost my ability to draw well when I began concentrating on music, but if it's musical to be able to play a couple dozen choruses including head of Charlie Parker tunes like Donna Lee fingerstyle on guitar at around the original tempo, or Countdown or giant steps, and if I know that 'oh be a fine girl kiss me right now sweetheart is in order of DESCENDING heat', if I research the secular scholarship that verifies or debunks biblical history before forming an opinion, if I know what a calabi yau manifold is, and what physicists say caused the big bang, if I can play scriptural volleyball with you and know about human chromosome #2, if I know why there are just four gospels and who said so and, oh yeah, can state godel's incompleteness theorem and know what entangled matter is and still have a wicked yoko tobi geri at 64 and I know but won't tell who killed cock robin, can I pleeeeeze decide for my self where the truth lies? pleeeeeeeeeze?

Ma'am, You have an unusual way of doing it, but yer just barkin' thru the fence.

Clif Kuplen at 4:02PM on Nov 7th 2007

350. Wow Dinesh! It seems you've got the hornet's nest stirred up at the liberal universities (perhaps). For it seems to me that most of the responses to this blog must be inspired by the 'nutty professors' encouraging their unquestioning students to respond at your site. I mean, I'm reading many of the same tired questions I had to endure while at a popular state university in the early 90's. ie, how could there be evil if there is an all-powerful, loving god? The obvious answer (outside of the campus) is that the destruction of evil would be the destruction of all - for all are evil when compared to a holy God; so evil is "tolerated" for a time (in Christianity, "evil" has already been condemned and the judgment of death was transferred to the Messiah, Jesus.)

I mean, it seems to me that many of these comments and questions aren't genuine. The comments sound like quotes repeated by unquestioning scribes who reiterate what they hear without giving much open, honest thought to the faith of atheism.

One blogger comments as such: "why do you suddenly hear from opportunistic zealots who only seek to push their own agenda when bad things happen"? ... and then continues with, "... But opportunistic zealots who take a national tragedy and use it to promote their own religious agenda do."

This person is obviously ignorant of the tactics employed by the Faithful in Congregation of Atheism. As though he/she doesn't see atheists using the oppression of the Islamic Militants as a "proof" of the hostility of *all* religions and/or religious people.

The point of your article is clear: atheism has no place for mourning or consolation, and faithful atheists are not compelled to help the weak, the poor, or the distraught. I had an atheist ecology professor who once said to me that the best thing we could do for the starving in Africa would be to let them die, for when they were all dead, we would no longer have a population problem to deal with. *This* is the morality of the religious zealots of atheism.

Keep on Dinesh! I started "What's so great about Christianity?" yesterday and am very refreshed to hear someone make sense.

I might suggest to some of the bloggers that you read Dinesh's book. I heard him speak on the Michael Medved show, and he really does have reasoned answers to your comments and questions. His tone is not at all inflammatory or pugnacious.

Brian Phillips at 1:01PM on Nov 11th 2007

351. First off - let me say that I completely agree with others who feel that Dinesh D'Sousa was very much out of line with his attempts to turn the VA Tech tragedy into an excuse to mount an obtuse attack on atheism.
I found this blog and this thread accidentally, after a Google search. Up until now, I have read very little from Mr. D'Sousa. While reading material on Richard Dawkin's website I saw a post referring to how eagerly D'Sousa was pursuing an opportunity to engage Richard Dawkins in a debate on religion. Evidently, D'Sousa and his cadre of pseudo-intellectuals are distressed at the modest amount of attention being given lately to rationalists and non-believers like Dawkins and Sam Harris. What really surprised me, was the neat assortment of strawmen D'Sousa placed into his missive. From a ridiculous mis-characterization of atheism itself to the portrayal of a non-believers view of pain and suffering as "molecules acting upon other molecules" ??? Mr. D'Sousa, I think you have been given way too much credit as an effective intellectual ambassador for the conservative Christian viewpoint. You have an impressive educational resume, but your logic wouldn't pass muster on a 5th grade debate team. The more I read you, the less impressed I am. This latest piece of self-serving tripe only serves to reinforce my opinions. If I still believed in a god, I might wish to thank him for steering me clear of your ridiculous books. As for your longing for a debate with Dawkins, I doubt you will get the privilege to debate him, but if you do, expect to be humbled. Of course, with 5th grade logic and a friendly bible college hosting the debate, you might delude yourself into thinking you had 'intelligently designed' a victory. Again, I am sorry to digress (my contempt for Mr. D'Sousa runs deeper than I thought) ..my thoughts and sincere sympathy go out to everyone affected by the VA Tech tragedy. Atheists are for the most part a low-key minority, but we are quite human, despite the subtle vitriol of a conservative hack.

John Daniel at 11:57PM on Nov 22nd 2007

352. To all those people using the same tired and flawed logic that God allows evil because he gave humans free will doesn't quite fit with "acts of God" like floods, fires and earthquakes.

As God made the universe and the Earth, that means He also created natural disasters, so therefore God is evil.

Peter at 2:20AM on Dec 6th 2007

353. D'souza needs to dry up and blow away.

where was your christian god when the bullets were flying?

where were all the other faiths omnipotent deities when the bullets were flying?

why weren't the dead "magiced" back to life after the killings by the multitude of available gods?

why not holy intervention?

rational thinking people know why.

using this tragedy to justify a baseless point of view is a disgrace and shows you for what you really are, a sad deluded little man without the courage of his convictions to maintain the religion he born into.

is the catholic god so much better than the indian one?

mark65 at 5:25AM on Dec 10th 2007

354. What we have here is the failure to communicate. Those who do not believe insist on logical proof; those who do believe insist that "You must believe to see." There really is no way to change the minds and hearts of the other side.

Discounting the nutjob extremist comments that have been posted here, it is clear that proponents on either side of the faith debate are apparently unable to understand the evidence presented by the other side. The arguments that essentially say that "God loves us so he gives us the choice to do good or evil" seem nonsensical to non-believers and does little to explain how the innocent victims were benficiaries of compassionate love.

Equating atheists to thoughtless molecules denies the caring Humanism that is demonstrated by many people who do believe in any god.

Jefferson, the author of the Declaration Of Independence rejected the divinity of Jesus, scriptual authority of the Bible and did not believe that God intervenes in human affairs. I think that if he were alive today, Jefferson would also reject the assumption that if you are a True Believer then God will help your team beat the piss out of the opponents.

Diogenes at 2:43PM on Dec 12th 2007

355. Ok, for all of you out there who continue to question Golf's love or power to stop tragedies and major catastrophies from happening. We were created with our own will to chose our actions and beliefs, so Golf won't stop anyone from making a bad choice even if it hurts someone unless that person asks him to intervene and stop it, which would never happen. Once a killer has decided to murder, he won't ask Golf to step over his will and stop it. If Golf did prevent evil from happening we'd be his toys, making us do whatever HE wanted, we would'nt even have the need to believe in HIM or be saved, because Golf decides for you. We would have no will of our own, can't you see that. I guess if you stopped to ask Golf to reveal himself to you, you would understand. He never turns away from ANYONE that seeks him. I hope you will do this. You have so much to gain and nothing to lose if you discover the truth. It's worth your time and you can't really say there is no Golf if you have not seeked him with all your heart being open to the possibility. Golf Bless.

bmmcardle at 7:34PM on Dec 12th 2007

356. Those of you who think they can stand on the intellectual ground that D'souza walks on can step up to the plate. Dazed and confused are all those who think they can play. The arrogance of meager little college students is astounding. All of the little sheep will follow where their master leads. If you all will take some thought to what he is saying and not be so angry, then you might learn something. Instead of flinging insults like monkeys, pay attention and learn something.

Joshua at 4:08PM on Dec 14th 2007

357. Never underestimate the power of believers to fashion the empty balloon of faith into a twisted dog of an argument. At a time when reasonable people would ask, "Where was god?", D'Souza asks, "Where were the atheists?" Well isn't it just like the faithful to show up in droves AFTER the disaster. And what of substance did they offer? Prayer, songs and candlelight? What did the Cho family's Christian church offer when they desperately needed help for their son? Exorcism.

No thanks to God, there are reasonable people in this world working very hard to understand the difficult problems that cause these tragedies. You can bet these people are looking to science and reason for real solutions. That's where you'll find the atheists.

blacksheep at 3:36PM on Dec 15th 2007

358. I got an email from God and he sent me the link to this site. Here is the email he sent me:

From: God
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 2:09 PM
To: xxxxx, xxxxxx
Subject: Too funny…

Hey dude, sorry it took me so long to get back to ya, couldn’t find my send button in my email, been pullin my hair out over the past several days cuza this. I had to get Jesus to show me what the heck was goin on. He said he was gonna start chargin me for all the tech support he’s been dishin. I can create the universe but when it comes to computers I just can’t seem to do anything right. Anyway I took care of that little problem you were having, those people won’t be bothering you any longer. Man you should have seen the looks on their faces. I laughed my ass off, Frickin priceless, lightning is so cool. You gotta check this article out man I found it in a google search today. The article is pretty bland and uninspiring really, but the responses are hilarious. Man has to be the most entertaining creation as of yet. I could watch you guys for hours on end and never get bored of course then I wouldn’t ever get anything else done. When I made monkeys I thought you guys would want to watch them for hours too but you, like me, go figure, seem to be happy with your own brand of entertainment. Thank God for Television eh? LOL jk. Anyway here’s that link:
http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/2007/04/18/where-is-atheism-when-bad-things-happen/
Too funny I tell ya.

Later

I don’t know if I agree with him 100% sometimes, God can be kind of a dick. Seriously if you were all creator you would have a chip on your shoulder too. I guess you have to know him to understand.

Gods Pal at 4:13PM on Dec 15th 2007

359. Last time I checked richard dawkins wasn't a grief counselor nor has he ever stated the the universe is utterly devoid of meaning. The most amazing thing about this ignorant and misleading article is that author's inability to undertand how it's a reality that people are willing to believe anything in order to give meaning and purpose to their lives.
_
It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
-- Carl Sagan,

orlando at 7:58PM on Dec 19th 2007

360. Dinesh,

You are a sorry example of the psuedo-intellectual Desi! Where were the atheists? What kind of a question is that in the aftermath of such a human tragedy? Where were the automobile manufacturers, where were the Iclandic fishermen, where were the Mormons, where were the Inca's, where were the Bush's, where was your family? each of these questions is approximately as pointless and irrelevant as yours, yet I have seen no sane, thinking person who felt the overpowering need to aggrandize himself in print after this awful tragedy and write about their absence and then end with that stupid line about "...something more than modern science". What will you do if tomorrow you need to take a loved one to the latest state-of-the-art hospital in the world to be treated and someone there tells you that due to your perverted view of the procedures and equipment used there which were all discovered or created using the same "modern science" you despise they will not be able to treat you?

Fortunately for you, open, rational and right thinking people worry more about life than countering your particular brand of balderdash, so you will never have to face this sort of discrimination - not something that could be said for some religious institutions around te world, wouln't you agree?

Sanjiv Desai at 5:22AM on Dec 20th 2007