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Quotations – Momentous, Memorable, Meaningful

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A place to share the words of others (or your own!) which have been impactful in your life, whether they're serious, poignant, humorous, or just something worth noting.

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I have been a quote collector and quote monger for at least as long as I've been an atheist and probably a good deal longer. My admiration for those who enjoy reputations as wordsmiths extends even further back, whether we're talking about John F. Kennedy's assertion: "We choose to go to the moon," George Santayana's warning: "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it," or James T. Kirk's deft observation when faced with the dauntingly huge First Federation ship: "Not chess, Mr. Spock ... poker!"

The realm of atheist activism has had its own share of verbal craftsmen and women, from Madalyn Murray O'Hair's: "An atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church." to Aron Ra's succinct: "If you can't show it, you don't know it."

Regardless of the topic, these are words which are capable of fomenting inspiration, reflection, and sometimes even action. They can educate and illuminate the human condition and allow us to better know ourselves. That said, here is an open invitation to share those words which have been particularly meaningful or impactful or timely or just special to you for one reason or another.

Let's share those words and have fun!

One bit of clerical business: please hold your quotes in the comment area below to 20 lines or 200 words. One comment should not so dominate the Home page of this group that no other comment is visible. That way, the briefer comments and quotes of all participants are more likely to be seen, read, and appreciated. If you have a long quote or commentary, create a post, please.

Discussion Forum

The Founding Myth: A Striking Quote

Started by Loren Miller. Last reply by Grinning Cat Nov 4. 4 Replies 4 Likes

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been reading Andrew L. Seidel’s excellent book, The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is UN-AMERICAN. Barely four chapters in, Seidel has already…Continue

Tags: rights, The Founding Myth, Seidel, Andrew

"Mr. President ... I Don't Work For You"

Started by Loren Miller. Last reply by Loren Miller Aug 31. 13 Replies 4 Likes

There has been a major shot across President Donald Trump's bow and it came, believe it or not, from Fox News. Specifically, it came from Fox reporter and commentator Neil Cavuto, in response to a…Continue

Tags: Neil Cavuto, Fox News, Donald Trump

On authority, obedience, and "liberal" vs. "conservative" values

Started by Grinning Cat. Last reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner Jul 1. 1 Reply 1 Like

Last week Loren shared this quotation in the group comments:But here steps in Satan, the eternal rebel, the first freethinker and the emancipator of worlds. He makes man ashamed of his bestial…Continue

Tags: politics, purity, loyalty, liberal, conservative

On Emotion, Vulnerability, and a Flawed God

Started by Loren Miller. Last reply by Craigart14 Jun 1. 6 Replies 5 Likes

On 31 May, 2018, Joan Denoo posted a most excellent quote from David Hume: That quote was well deserving of a response, which is the following:The most preposterous notion that H. sapiens has ever…Continue

Tags: flawed, vulnerable, emotion, god

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Comment by Loren Miller on November 11, 2019 at 5:41am: The problem with that, Joan, is that to my mind, the more virulent and fundamentalist the believer, the less open to micro-inoculations they are liable to be. Ruth's article on GOP Information Warfare is downright terrifying in its concept, regarding that.

Comment by Joan Denoo on November 10, 2019 at 9:59pm: Loren, if Ellison is correct, then we need to learn Street Epistemology, and fast, and start doing it. Even Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings make excellent practicing opportunities.

Comment by Joan Denoo on November 10, 2019 at 9:54pm: Therefore, Grinning Cat, my choice is Warren!

Comment by Loren Miller on November 10, 2019 at 3:34pm: I've read the books. God is not a moderate. There's no place in the books where God says, "You know, when you get to the New World and you develop your three branches of government and you have a civil society, you can just jettison all the barbarism I recommended in the first books."
-- Sam Harris

I've said this multiple times: WHERE in the bible is democracy practiced? NOWHERE.

Comment by Joan Denoo on November 10, 2019 at 2:10am: Oh! Andy does it again, he hits the nail on the head with, "We need to show compassion for the mentally ill without letting them run for President.
- Andy Borowitz

Comment by Loren Miller on November 9, 2019 at 10:52am: Problem is, too many people ARE ignorant and can't be bothered to realize that.

Comment by Patricia on November 8, 2019 at 1:04pm: Really good.

Comment by Loren Miller on November 8, 2019 at 7:01am: Thanks to our old buddy Bertold for this one:

[click on image to enlarge]

Comment by Grinning Cat on November 7, 2019 at 12:51pm: About that Leviticus clobber passage, "Do not lie with a man as with a woman...", it's in the context of not emulating the practices of the neighbors' other, false religions, where having sex with a priestess or priest was considered a way to get close to their gods.

But besides that, my favorite interpretation is "Do not lie with a man as with a woman: if you're a man having sex with another man, appreciate him for who and what he is!"

(Don't remember who that's from; possibly a liberal rabbi or minister.)

Comment by Loren Miller on November 7, 2019 at 5:32am: Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
-- Ezekiel 16:49

I can't help the feeling that the above is yet another of those little bible passages which has somehow escaped the notice of the average evangelical Christian. My suspicion is that they're too obsessed with Leviticus 20:13 or something like that...