Ask An Atheist

Did I miss something? Crab sticker with FSM that you see on cars? “Finite State Machine”?

I was SURE he was talking about the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

http://www.rof.com/product_p/2290-pq.htm

I kept waiting for the hosts to say something about that, but they went down the “crab / Finite State Machine” path. Is my head just somewhere else entirely?

Loved the show!!! I have been watching since the very first episode and just wanted to say how great you are all doing. Atheists are people just like everyone else in the world and we really need to get out their in this so-called “news media” and show everyone that you can be an atheist and still be a nice, moral individual without having a book telling you what to do. I’ll make a deal with all of you…. Keep posting the videos and I’ll keep watching them.

This idea that we don’t have an infinite number of choices is often used as an argument for the lack of freewill and I whole heartedly disagree. Just because some choices are not open to you does not mean you don’t still have an infinite number of choices; infinity minus one (or more) is still infinity.

Next Chris makes a category error, Windows OS is not a living being and does not have a brain so you can’t compare the two. Our brains are self programming, dynamically adapting computers. Our brains are not some kind of steampunk, gear-driven difference engine. Simply because you are incapable of imagining an infinite number of choices, an argument from personal incredulity, does not mean we don’t have that infinite freedom of choice.

I like to point to the classic attempt to disprove freewill where you are offered a lump of coal or a loaf of bread to eat. Satre said, in defense of freewill, that he would choose the lump of coal eat it but I say it’s a false dichotomy. Those are not the only choices. Instead of accepting either I could call the cops on you for selling food without a license and when the cops are arresting you I could swipe the bread. Or I could take the coal and bash you over the head with it and take your bread. Or I could take out my gun and rob you of your bread and coal. Or I could take the coal and sell it for enough money to buy some bread. Or I could scream fire and in the panic I could steal your bread. Or I could convince you it is the proper thing to do to give me both. Ad infinitum, literally.

I do greatly enjoy the show though so please keep it up! It’s nice to have more than just one active atheist TV show available.

Peace

Finite State Machine?? LOL – Has the caller experienced the power of His Noodley Appendage? I suspect not. You guys should have pointed him to a Google search or the URL http://www.venganza.org.

That first gal was a culture Catholic. Why not ask her the rhetorical “why”? She mentioned we are all energy. I smell woo-woo, and have a sneaking suspicion that she regularly donates to Deepak’s coffers.

The older gentleman was steering the argument toward a Pantheistic or Deistic point of view, which is fine… but he was sure getting damn preachy!

I appreciate you guys shedding some light on your motivations for the show. Regrettably, I only stumbled upon Austin’s AE relatively recently. Then I noticed that the great Pacific NW was also doing a show… frickin’ awesome!

I think it is apparent that AE has had a decade to mature, and that AaA is finding its legs (comparisons are inevitable). I truly commend you guys and wish you tons of success in the weeks/months and hopefully YEARS to come.

(at the time of this writing Phil Plait’s “Don’t be a dick” is circulating the interwebs) Obviously there is a lot of stone-cold logic being used out there… appeal to ridicule, and vitriolic neck-slams. I understand that you guys are aiming toward a kinder, gentler environment of open discussion. I feel BOTH are important, and you guys are trying to add to that balance. I also assume that in these early days you are trying to do all you can to increase viewership. I can’t help but empathize… what you are doing takes a tremendous amount of energy, and can’t be easy. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

That said, I’m slightly concerned that AaA has the potential to become a platform for trolling pseudo-preachers. While you are busy being amicable and approachable, a sizable ratio of these folks are going to come away with a smug sense of victory. The problem is that an appeal to reason with a kind/gentle approach demands a lot of time to be effective.

Oh well… I can’t deny that there is definitely a need for what you are doing, and I hope AaA all the best!