Comments on: What Julia Sweeney Has Learned Since Performing Her Atheist Monologue

By: The International House of Bacon » Blog Archive » Friday Afternoon Link Dump

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:39:51 +0000

[...] * Julia Sweeney does a one-woman show about her atheism, and lists 10 things she’s learned. [...]

By: PrimateIR

PrimateIR — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:40:35 +0000

I loved her thoughtful review of what religion does well. Part of succeeding is regarding your opponents strengths with honest appraisal and for all of the absence of logic, organized religions does some things well.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:02:08 +0000

Okay, she is absolutely the best! Here’s an example of someone that we can all agree with, but we will keep coming back to read her and hear her tell about her life because she is such a funny and fantastic person that she’s like a magnet.

I think she’s right on in her assessment of why religion is so attractive. As secularists begin to get more organized and give people a place to belong and fit in and do good things and feel good about themselves, we’ll see our numbers grow and religion’s influence wane. I don’t think it’s ever going away, but I’m hopeful that it will become much less virulent and pervasive in the U.S. IF we can provide an alternative that fulfills the requirements Julia lays out here.

By: Evolved

Evolved — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:14:05 +0000

Life would very well be meaningless without science.

By: Michael Alan Miller » No pat conclusion

Michael Alan Miller » No pat conclusion — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:38:35 +0000

[...] The entire piece is here. [...]

By: Benton Barnett

Benton Barnett — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:45:36 +0000

What a great speech. I thought the bit about Adam and Eve was really insightful and inspiring.

Thanks for sharing that!

By: limadean

limadean — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:43:46 +0000

Juila Sweeney is really great.
She should write a parenting book!

By: Lorenz Cuno Klopfenstein

Lorenz Cuno Klopfenstein — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:50:36 +0000

Great speech, I loved it.
I think I’m gonna pick up the Bible and re-read Genesis.
I also liked the part on understanding religion, instead of simply bashing it on all fronts.

By: Duncan

Duncan — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:57:21 +0000

What is important is that she’s able to so intelligently and thoughtfully discuss why she has come to her conclusions and what those conclusions have meant to her.

I… I am not an atheist. But I respect atheists and I understand the various lines of reasoning that they use. I wouldn’t attempt to convert any of them for anything. It is necessary, in a world that is filled with the Faithful, to have those who see no need or use for faith. It is important to see that good and loving people can work, live, and explore without a need for any sort of divine influence.

Sadly, so much of the dialog these days is filled with hate. Fundamentalists of all ideologies are tainting our minds, and the Media is all-too-quick to fan the flames.

Reading this blog and reading this article in particular reassure me that — regardless of belief (or lack thereof) — there are good people in this world, who are simply going to do the best they can with what they have. If more people live authentically, civilly, and with humility, then we might just be able to make the leap to a Type I civilization after all.

By: Siamang

Siamang — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:22:48 +0000

Oh man she had me cracking up with that stuff about Mulan and Santa Claus.

I’ll be sharing that with my wife after our daughter goes to bed. That’s hilarious.