Alright, Orac, I'm trying to get some work done here this morning…so why'd you have to send me this clip of an atheist church to distract me with unseemly giggling?
OK, I get it--it is a joke. And a funny joke. But for anyone who might think that this sketch in any way represents actual atheistic views, there is one book I would recommend highly: "Value and Virtue in a Godless Universe," by Erik J. Wielenberg. You can find a synopsis of it here: http://people.depauw.edu/ewielenberg/VVGU%20synopsis.htm
What I like about this book is that rather than rehearsing some dreary attack on god or god-belief, it simply demonstrates how physicalist values and virtues are plausibly superior to supernatural ones.
PZ, Francis Collins was on Charlie Rose last night, should be freely viewable on Google video, and you can now link to specific portions of Google videos, so, you know, in case you have something to say about his interview. He comes off very smooth and glib, though with plenty of what seemed to me to be logical non-sequiturs. You've already taken shots at him, but you might want to at least have this interview as something to point to on the blog.
I found the comments on the you tube page rathering interesting as well, especially considering so many of the people on that site tend to be gen x and y'ers.
Sadly...I remember church being *just* that nutty. And all of those teen worship services I went to. With the falling to the knees, tears streaming, hands in the air... it was all so unsettleing.
That black kid wasn't Wayne Brady was it? Sure looks like a spitting image, but could be because of the quality of the video. Anyone know how old it is?
In my church's name I tried to insult as many as possible and trying to figure out how to squeeze in a few more.
One thing many people seem to miss is the way "Ladder" is spelled--as in climbing the ladder of evolution and not "Latter" as the Mormons use meaning later. ho, hum.....
That's what going to church always sounded like to me: a bunch of wackos intellectually masturbating until they forget who is putting on whom.
Mike Fox
I remember thinking at a very young age that church seemed like alot of wierdness and nonsense.
I like that they said you should be good to others and treat people how you yourself would like to be treated. But the rest seemed unnecessary.
That's exactly how I felt--some of the morality stuff was nice, but the fluff and nonsense was, well, fluff and nonsense.
"That which is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary." ---Rabbi Hillel the Elder
OK, I get it--it is a joke. And a funny joke. But for anyone who might think that this sketch in any way represents actual atheistic views, there is one book I would recommend highly: "Value and Virtue in a Godless Universe," by Erik J. Wielenberg. You can find a synopsis of it here: http://people.depauw.edu/ewielenberg/VVGU%20synopsis.htm
What I like about this book is that rather than rehearsing some dreary attack on god or god-belief, it simply demonstrates how physicalist values and virtues are plausibly superior to supernatural ones.
Can I get an amen?
Wow!! That's what happens every week at my atheist church--The Assembly of the Ladder Day Evolutionists (Reformed).
We are such party animals!! :-)
Is it just me, or does that guy with the guitar look a little bit... familiar?
Ahh, Debra Wilson, Aries Spears, funny funny.
PZ, Francis Collins was on Charlie Rose last night, should be freely viewable on Google video, and you can now link to specific portions of Google videos, so, you know, in case you have something to say about his interview. He comes off very smooth and glib, though with plenty of what seemed to me to be logical non-sequiturs. You've already taken shots at him, but you might want to at least have this interview as something to point to on the blog.
I found the comments on the you tube page rathering interesting as well, especially considering so many of the people on that site tend to be gen x and y'ers.
Sadly...I remember church being *just* that nutty. And all of those teen worship services I went to. With the falling to the knees, tears streaming, hands in the air... it was all so unsettleing.
That black kid wasn't Wayne Brady was it? Sure looks like a spitting image, but could be because of the quality of the video. Anyone know how old it is?
I have that posted on my myspace page!
Sweettp - I prefer the Churhc of Latter Day Ain'ts.
Love the "Latter Day Aint's".
Living here in Zion-not, I'll need to sport a bumper sticker reading "I'M NOT1, RU NOT1 2?"
Thanks for sharing this gem. I'll add it to my rare collection of atheist humor that is actually funny.
ThePolynomial--Latter Day Aint's--funny.
In my church's name I tried to insult as many as possible and trying to figure out how to squeeze in a few more.
One thing many people seem to miss is the way "Ladder" is spelled--as in climbing the ladder of evolution and not "Latter" as the Mormons use meaning later. ho, hum.....
I thought he looked like Wayne Brady, too! IMDB doesn't have anything like that credited to him, though.
Loved the video. Now I'll be mentally substituting those lines for what the pastor's actually saying when I'm in church.
not really my taste in humour; but they get point's for trying.