Reader Comments
MIJHA on 04-28-2010 wrote:
IT DOSNT TELL ME ANYTHING BOUT THE GEORGIAN COLONIAL
on 03-22-2010 wrote:
Tom on 02-14-2010 wrote:
"The only other option for atheists is some form of hedonism that may be equally unappealing."
That's not true even in the least. Most people are born with a sense of empathy. If you have empathy for others, it drives your actions.
Further, there are three forms of happiness (per Jennifer Michael Hecht, The Happiness Myth), ecstacy (comes from sex, drugs including alchohol, music, meditation, etc.) good-day happiness (I had a good day, I did something fun, I accomplished something), and good-life happiness (I look back on my time and see that I used my life well, I have no/few regrets). Happiness comes from a balance of these three aspects. Focusing on hedonistic pleasures neglects the longer-term happiness types and rarely if ever leads to a sense of well-being that we would find in truly happy people. Most of the people in my inner circle of friendship are atheists. I have never met an atheist who failed to understand this truth about happiness. I defy you to find an atheist who lives only for hedonistic pleasures. You may eventually find a lost individual, but your quest would certainly enlighten your thinking.
I move forward and make a difference because I want my life to be better, longer, healthier, and happier. Because I have empathy, I also want these things for my friends, family, and posterity.
Life is good and worth living. For the atheist, these realizations are enough (Atheism: A Very Short Introduction by Julian Baggini). Atheists do not need an ultimate punisher looking over our shoulders all the time to make sure that we don't commit horrible acts. A well-lived life is its own reward.
This notion that atheists must be hedonistic is myopic and simple-minded, and it is referenced too often in popular writing. Such a silly notion comes from thinking too little, and completely failing to talk with atheists. More efforts should be made to understand atheism before a "problems of atheism" article is written.
Adnihilo on 02-23-2009 wrote:
Cheers to Edmond Ross, PhD. As an MBA myself, do NOT be misled by ignorant economic right NeoLibs here 'dissing' this knowledgeable article identifying the trickle down BS economics of the Reagan era as the root cause of today's economic disaster! Another must read is Chomsky's "Anti-Democratic Nature of US Capitalism is Being Exposed" at
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/10/10-4
robertsgt40 on 02-23-2009 wrote:
The "real" cause is te central privately held FEDERAL RESERVE. In 1913 the cancer was created. Only be abolishing it do we have a chance. All other regulation is meaningless until the cancer is removed. Duh
wakeup on 02-22-2009 wrote:
"This is money that basically disappeared."
Money can only "disappear" if it never exists in the first place. You fail to discuss the true problem, which is ............ a FIAT monetary system controlled by the PRIVATELY owned FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
stopimmagrationnow on 02-22-2009 wrote:
Although the reasons for our economic crisis are many,we must not forget or ingnore the fact that 20 million plus illegals in this country are a BIG part of the problem. Many of our banking instututions ( Wells fargo,Bank of america,citi bank,etc.) gave illegals home loans,credit cards,student loans,etc,etc. Many if not all of these loans are now in default and most were obtained using stolen IDs.
Yes,illegal aliens are a BIG part of the proplem!
mapuser on 02-22-2009 wrote:
"borrowed money was fueling both investment and spending and boosting economic performance" sounds Keynesian to me.