tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post3634853894275946315..comments2023-11-03T11:32:01.540+00:00Comments on Thought Experiments : The Blog: William Lobdell's Loss of FaithBryan Appleyardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08276787058430388582noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-78850312778929429162007-07-31T09:18:00.000+00:002007-07-31T09:18:00.000+00:00http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lostfaith2...http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lostfaith21jul21,0,3530015,full.story?coll=la-home-centerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-6959639634473418182007-07-25T20:02:00.000+00:002007-07-25T20:02:00.000+00:00For those not keen on registering, www.bugmenot.co...For those not keen on registering, www.bugmenot.com is usually helpful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-83927267669862018262007-07-24T15:02:00.000+00:002007-07-24T15:02:00.000+00:00Mark:You know, whenever I used to think about the ...Mark:<BR/><BR/>You know, whenever I used to think about the Old Testament patriarchs trying to work out the details of that new-fangled monotheism, I always imagined them faced with constant, determined opposition from those Baal-lovers arguing non-stop, or worse. Now I see their real challenge was coping with neighbours who said: "Hey, Abe, you worry too much. One god, three gods, lotsa gods,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-50841806473617428292007-07-24T14:53:00.000+00:002007-07-24T14:53:00.000+00:00Thanks to johntyh for the tip; lies work too but r...Thanks to johntyh for the tip; lies work too but remember to give a false email address as well as income details. Excellent article, worth lying for.monixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16631194815411019266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-59769002301324876332007-07-24T14:38:00.000+00:002007-07-24T14:38:00.000+00:00Peter Burnett wrote: "Well, Mark, we can all agree...<I>Peter Burnett wrote: "Well, Mark, we can all agree humanity and compassion are wonderful things worth cherishing and encouraging. But, at the risk of slipping into a seriousness unbecoming to this blog, that begs the question of where they come from."</I><BR/><BR/>Worrying about where they come is a great way to worry yourself to an early grave. Stop worrying, I would suggest. It doesn't Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06074816573442173758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-69426335746194917412007-07-24T13:32:00.000+00:002007-07-24T13:32:00.000+00:00Bryan, as I grew up with the Los Angeles Times in ...Bryan, as I grew up with the <I>Los Angeles Times</I> in its heyday, when delivery men were said to have accidentally killed more than one small dog while pitching the ten-pound Sunday edition out the window of their cars, I find it a shadow of its former self. I'm not all that sure that even free registration is worth it. Be that as it may, that was a good story.<BR/><BR/>To those who don't wantRandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03071928294799081845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-42173506649919161572007-07-24T13:26:00.000+00:002007-07-24T13:26:00.000+00:00careful with those passive-aggressive commandments...careful with those passive-aggressive commandments!Ian russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11106519805045337505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-81591680895555438212007-07-24T13:13:00.000+00:002007-07-24T13:13:00.000+00:00Don't you know the first commandment for blogmeist...Don't you know the first commandment for blogmeisters: <I>Thou shalt not be hurt!</I>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-63016256587343060222007-07-24T13:04:00.000+00:002007-07-24T13:04:00.000+00:00'Unbecoming to this blog'! I am hurt.'Unbecoming to this blog'! I am hurt.Bryan Appleyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08276787058430388582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-37860913128680094442007-07-24T12:57:00.000+00:002007-07-24T12:57:00.000+00:00Well, Mark, we can all agree humanity and compassi...Well, Mark, we can all agree humanity and compassion are wonderful things worth cherishing and encouraging. But, at the risk of slipping into a seriousness unbecoming to this blog, that begs the question of where they come from. Many today seem to be convinced they started accidently long ago with a freakish genetic mutation in some icky little creature. Could be, but you will appreciate some Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-41545566604158319962007-07-24T11:23:00.000+00:002007-07-24T11:23:00.000+00:00Either you have the gift of faith or you don't. It...<I>Either you have the gift of faith or you don't. It's not a choice. It can't be willed into existence. And there's no faking it if you're honest about the state of your soul.</I><BR/><BR/>This strikes me as the crux, and perhaps the beginning of true wisdom, that simple humanity and compassion will trump faith any day. And what a tough journey Lobdell has had to get to this point, not least theMarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06074816573442173758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-81081141237510467802007-07-24T11:13:00.000+00:002007-07-24T11:13:00.000+00:00Monix, I had the same concerns about giving detail...Monix, I had the same concerns about giving details of annual income and stopped the registration process at that point. However, I was able to view the article by typing 'William Lobdell' into the LAT's search box. It immediately threw up the article.John Halliwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12901514854360709519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-77534280395685894422007-07-24T11:12:00.000+00:002007-07-24T11:12:00.000+00:00Very true, Bryan. There are lots of Christian cou...Very true, Bryan. There are lots of Christian countries and Christianity is apprently expanding rapidly around the world, but only one country has creationist theme parks, Microsoft-sized televangelism and a propensity for asking lower court judges to rule on the origins of life in packed courtrooms. As a veteran of many debates with bright, secular Americans on religion, I've been struck by Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-70515472572395510522007-07-24T11:05:00.000+00:002007-07-24T11:05:00.000+00:00Lie, Monix, it is the royal road to truth.Lie, Monix, it is the royal road to truth.Bryan Appleyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08276787058430388582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-71388689414369939182007-07-24T10:54:00.000+00:002007-07-24T10:54:00.000+00:00I went to look at the article but in order to regi...I went to look at the article but in order to register had to give details of annual income. Would I have been denied access if I earned too much or too little? I decided not to put that to the test. Perhaps some more of your readers will add to Peter's quotation and the article will appear in installments on your blog.monixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16631194815411019266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-36472916179825700302007-07-24T10:37:00.000+00:002007-07-24T10:37:00.000+00:00Shrewd point, Peter. But it is Lobdell's extremity...Shrewd point, Peter. But it is Lobdell's extremity that is so fascinating and, when it comes to faith, american.Bryan Appleyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08276787058430388582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-35696276861226764052007-07-24T10:29:00.000+00:002007-07-24T10:29:00.000+00:00From the article:Shouldn't religious organizations...From the article:<BR/><BR/><I>Shouldn't religious organizations, if they were God-inspired and -driven, reflect higher standards than government, corporations and other groups in society?</I><BR/><BR/>Obviously not, although not many folks argue that the response to corruption in government and corporations should be to abolish them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com