Freethought & Rationalism Archive

christ-on-a-stick · 02-28-2002, 05:04 PM

(Not quite sure what forum to put this in, hope this one is ok.)

Well, today I read about four things that, by afternoon, had caused me to feel saddenned and pretty damn disillusioned with the state of humanity.

1) The Andrea Yates case. (this one has been disturbing me since it happenned but the testimony that is happenning now is making it even worse...)
2) The Daniel Pearl case - newly released details about the brutal and heinous violence shown on tape - decapitation etc.
3) The Danielle Van Dam case - her body identified today, found dumped out in the inland desert.
4) Hindus and Muslims killing each other en masse. Burning people, including children, alive.

NOW, here's the part that is driving me crazy. In three out of these four instances, it seems (to me) that people's delusional beliefs in barbaric myths and superstitions (aka religion) are inextricably at the heart of, or contributing to, their actions.

Andrea Yates case... makes me literally sick to my stomach. Without going into major rant mode since I'm going to reply to the post on this topic, am I the only one who thinks the father SHOULD be charged - with recklessly endangering his children? It might be a stretch legally but I think there's a pretty strong case to be made that he negligently left them in the care of an unfit caregiver. But anyway, my point here is that it seems so OBVIOUS to me that their wacky beliefs influenced her mental illness (having more children against advice, the added stress of home schooling, and the basic fact that belief in the supernatural - Satan, demons, etc. - played prominently in her delusions).

Daniel Pearl case - WHAT KIND OF HUMAN BEING can take someone who has done them no harm, and cut their throat, decapitate them, and hold up their head in front of the camera? What gives someone the ability to be this vicious and violent? I guess the same kind of human being who would be "happy to dash babies against rocks". The kind God/Allah/WFT-ever just loves.

Hindus/Muslims killing each other - no rant required. Basic stuff, same old story, human beings killing each other over differing religious beliefs.

Is there any hope for the human race? Are we ever going to evolve?

JL · 03-01-2002, 02:51 AM

What are you hoping for? A world devoid of suffering and violence?

At least Yates has effectively excused herself from contributing to the gene and meme pool.

I don't agree with or condone any of these behaviours, I'm just saying don't get down about it. Injustice and brutality are a natural consequence, I believe, of the same virtues that have brought us to our current state of refinement.

trunks2k · 03-01-2002, 10:52 AM

Stuff like this has been happening forever. People talk about the "good ole days," but it's such bullshit, they were just ignorant of the world around them.

chekmate · 03-01-2002, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Daniel Pearl case - WHAT KIND OF HUMAN BEING can take someone who has done them no harm, and cut their throat, decapitate them, and hold up their head in front of the camera? What gives someone the ability to be this vicious and violent?

Heard on the radio today that Conni Chung requested, and was granted permission to view that tape, and she watched it in its entirety. Now THAT'S eerie

missus_gumby · 03-01-2002, 12:10 PM

Christ-on-a-stick, you have only just scratched the surface. There's a helluva lot more insanity taking place on this planet in the the name of religion. Sadly, there seems no end in sight.

Kosh · 03-01-2002, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chekmate:
<strong>

Heard on the radio today that Conni Chung requested, and was granted permission to view that tape, and she watched it in its entirety. Now THAT'S eerie</strong>

Maybe she's plotting another run at Dan
Rathers job.....

MajorAtheist · 03-01-2002, 05:39 PM

Chung is trying to revive her career. Ever since she bushwhacked Gingrich's mother no one is interested in her.

Now she can say she's "back in the loop."

butswana · 03-02-2002, 08:42 AM

Hell Connie, just go rent a "Faces of Death" video.

Oresta · 03-03-2002, 04:38 AM

christ-on-a-stick"
Is there any hope for the human race? Are we ever going to evolve?

Possibly, but only if we don't drown in our own shit first from depleting Earth of its natural resources, and poisoning the waters and atmosphere with the toxins of our industrialized "civilization".

Shake · 03-03-2002, 10:36 AM

The whole thing in India (and Israel and Ireland too, for that matter(hey, what is it with those 'I' countries?)) just shows how good we have it here in the States. Sure, there's conflict between the religions here, but nothing on that magnitude.

Well, trying to look on the good side, and not that I'm saying that killing is good, but India is ridiculously overpopulated anyway. Not that a mere few hundred lives is significant to that population. <a href="http://www.zpg.org" target="_blank">Heard of these guys?</a>

02-28-2002, 05:04 PM	#1
christ-on-a-stick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Durango, Colorado Posts: 7,116	*Depressing sht - ranty too** (Not quite sure what forum to put this in, hope this one is ok.) Well, today I read about four things that, by afternoon, had caused me to feel saddenned and pretty damn disillusioned with the state of humanity. 1) The Andrea Yates case. (this one has been disturbing me since it happenned but the testimony that is happenning now is making it even worse...) 2) The Daniel Pearl case - newly released details about the brutal and heinous violence shown on tape - decapitation etc. 3) The Danielle Van Dam case - her body identified today, found dumped out in the inland desert. 4) Hindus and Muslims killing each other en masse. Burning people, including children, alive. NOW, here's the part that is driving me crazy. In three out of these four instances, it seems (to me) that people's delusional beliefs in barbaric myths and superstitions (aka religion) are inextricably at the heart of, or contributing to, their actions. Andrea Yates case... makes me literally sick to my stomach. Without going into major rant mode since I'm going to reply to the post on this topic, am I the only one who thinks the father SHOULD be charged - with recklessly endangering his children? It might be a stretch legally but I think there's a pretty strong case to be made that he negligently left them in the care of an unfit caregiver. But anyway, my point here is that it seems so OBVIOUS to me that their wacky beliefs influenced her mental illness (having more children against advice, the added stress of home schooling, and the basic fact that belief in the supernatural - Satan, demons, etc. - played prominently in her delusions). Daniel Pearl case - WHAT KIND OF HUMAN BEING can take someone who has done them no harm, and cut their throat, decapitate them, and hold up their head in front of the camera? What gives someone the ability to be this vicious and violent? I guess the same kind of human being who would be "happy to dash babies against rocks". The kind God/Allah/WFT-ever just loves. Hindus/Muslims killing each other - no rant required. Basic stuff, same old story, human beings killing each other over differing religious beliefs. Is there any hope for the human race? Are we ever going to evolve?

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03-01-2002, 02:51 AM	#2
JL Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Mawkish Virtue, NC Posts: 151	What are you hoping for? A world devoid of suffering and violence? At least Yates has effectively excused herself from contributing to the gene and meme pool. I don't agree with or condone any of these behaviours, I'm just saying don't get down about it. Injustice and brutality are a natural consequence, I believe, of the same virtues that have brought us to our current state of refinement.

03-01-2002, 10:52 AM	#3
trunks2k Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 6,997	Stuff like this has been happening forever. People talk about the "good ole days," but it's such bullshit, they were just ignorant of the world around them.

03-01-2002, 12:10 PM	#5
missus_gumby Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: UK Posts: 1,898	Christ-on-a-stick, you have only just scratched the surface. There's a helluva lot more insanity taking place on this planet in the the name of religion. Sadly, there seems no end in sight.

03-01-2002, 05:39 PM	#7
MajorAtheist Banned Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: - Posts: 129	Chung is trying to revive her career. Ever since she bushwhacked Gingrich's mother no one is interested in her. Now she can say she's "back in the loop."

03-02-2002, 08:42 AM	#8
butswana Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,804	Hell Connie, just go rent a "Faces of Death" video.

03-03-2002, 04:38 AM	#9
Oresta Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 1,107	christ-on-a-stick" Is there any hope for the human race? Are we ever going to evolve? Possibly, but only if we don't drown in our own shit first from depleting Earth of its natural resources, and poisoning the waters and atmosphere with the toxins of our industrialized "civilization".

03-03-2002, 10:36 AM	#10
Shake Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Folding@Home in upstate NY Posts: 14,394	The whole thing in India (and Israel and Ireland too, for that matter(hey, what is it with those 'I' countries?)) just shows how good we have it here in the States. Sure, there's conflict between the religions here, but nothing on that magnitude. Well, trying to look on the good side, and not that I'm saying that killing is good, but India is ridiculously overpopulated anyway. Not that a mere few hundred lives is significant to that population. <a href="http://www.zpg.org" target="_blank">Heard of these guys?</a>

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