Chuck U. Farlie

There are many many different levels of atheistic philosophies of those that call themselves atheist or agnostic... it is impossible to sum it up with a simple statement. Some examples of beliefs include: No god exists. It is possible but unlikely that a god exists, but we cannot know. It is possible but unlikely that a god exists, and we might be able to know, but we don't know. It is likely that god exists, but we don't know... etc etc etc Here is just two definitions I found on a quick search on wikipedia: I consider myself an agnostic atheist, aka weak atheist. I strongly doubt that there is any god. I suppose it is possible that a god could exist, but I have no way of knowing. I suppose if a god did exist, it could make itself known to us. Personally I find strong atheists almost as arrogant and delusional as strong theists. I think, as mere humans (just another animal on earth), that we have no idea one way or another if a 'higher power' exists. Claiming to know that something exists or doesn't is beyond our scope of intelligence. Since we have no evidence to suggest a higher power exists, then it makes logical sense to presume that there is no higher power... but to claim so definitively is a claim of knowledge we don't have. In this regard I agree with the atheist bus slogan: 'Stop worrying and go live your live'.

Found this on another site... just some possibilities for other messages atheists could post on buses:

Why would anyone take offense to something that is true? Chinese do eat dog, cat, and pretty well anything else that moves... that is fact. While not in China, I have eaten dog in Manado and bat and rat in Vientiane - big deal, they are just animals. As I type this I am sitting beside a Chinese woman... she verifies that many people there eat cat and she takes no offense to that fact.

Yeah Oleg, you've got it all wrong. I am an atheist. I guess technically I am an agnostic atheist. I don't know if there is a god, and to be honest, I don't really care. So I have an absence of belief - I don't believe something like a god exists, nor am I convinced something doesn't exist... all I know is I don't know (Plato). I will disagree with and fight against religion because a lot of religions like to try and push their beliefs on others - either directly or indirectly. I don't appreciate people who don't know what the hell they are talking about trying to convince me of their delusional beliefs, or even worse, forcing me to obey their delusional beliefs through law or custom. In the category of same shit different pile I don't like when guys like Suzuki preach about conservation yet are complete hypocrites in their own lives. The difference between conservation and religion, however, is that conservation may have some merit - but I still don't like hypocrites. That is why I do and will continue to fight against religion. If religion would get out of my face, I would get out of it's.

As Kimmy pointed out already, but you don't seem to want to listen, is that not all of the honour killings are from Muslims. Hindu and Sikhs, for example, also still have arranged marriages and also have honour killings. For example, this 22 year old woman killed on New Year's Day is also suspected to be an honour killing: http://www.nationalpost.com/related/topics...html?id=1149057 Now, while it didn't state what religion in this article, I am guessing by their names that they are likely Punjabi, and so more likely than not are Sikh. I could be wrong about that... just guessing. I completely agree with fighting against violence towards women, especially these so-called honour killings.

What was with the Liberals 'technical difficulties' that delayed this statement by 25 minutes? Can't they afford to hire a couple of proper AV techs? Anyway, I found Iggy's statement weak. He rants about the short-comings of the budget for 5 minutes and then says he will pass it, but puts harper on probation??? So what happens if, in March, Iggy isn't happy and slaps Harper on the wrist? If confidence is lost at that time, then the only thing to do will be to call an election - am I wrong? Won't the Liberals be just as broke in March as they are now? Aren't the Cons still polling higher? I think Iggy will have no choice but to vote with the CPC or abstain from voting until they both have enough public support and enough funding to run a successful campaign against Harper.

Do you have anything to indicate that choosing to be Catholic is the correct choice?

Thats exactly what happened in my family. My parents forced us to go to church, forced us to go to catholic school, etc.. One by one, as each of the eight of us reached an age to make our own decisions we all stopped going to church. Now only 2 of the 8 still occasionally go to church. The other 6 are atheists or just don't care about religion what-so-ever. You don't do yourself or your kids any favours by trying to force any ideal on them. You are setting yourself up for disappointment.

Oleg, what business does the Khadr family have in fighting in Afghanistan? Omar's Dad is Egyptian born. His Mom is Palestine born. He is Canadian born and raised in Pakistan since 1985 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khadr_family).... so what business do they have fighting in Afghanistan except to support their terrorist brothers in Al Qaeda.

So Oleg, how do you feel about Christopher Paul Neil - the Canadian pedophile currently doing time in Thailand? Should Canada stand up to Thailand and demand him back too? Khadr was arrested in Afghanistan - so put him on trial in Afghanistan, let him serve time in Afghanistan.

Not believing in something that may or not exist but has zero evidence to prove its existence is not a matter of faith. It is simply a lack of belief. My personal stance as an agnostic atheist is that there may or may not be a higher power(s) - but I don't know if there is or isn't. Since I have no reason to believe there is a higher power, I tend to think that one doesn't exist - but I could be wrong. I am more confident that no religion that we have now has it right though. So... in saying that I don't know what is out there, but suspecting nothing - how am I using faith in my beliefs? I am interested in knowing what your sense and evidence has shown you that proves there is a god?

By that logic, then statements like "Jesus will save you". or "Jesus will forgive your sins". are both insulting to me as an atheist. I neither need saving nor do I have sins, implying that I do is insulting - just like implying that religious people are worried (about the afterlife, perhaps) is insulting to you. By the way, here is the group who always has ads on the TTC: http://www.busstopbiblestudies.com/ http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Bu...ies-914430.html

Just a couple questions... and please excuse me if they have already been asked - there is far too much already here to read through. Does Khadr have dual citizenship with any other country (like Afghanistan), or is he only Canadian? Regardless of the answer, I can't help but wonder why, when he is removed from gitmo, can't he just be sent back to Afghanistan where he never should have been removed from to begin with? If you take a look around the world, there is probably a Canadian in jail in every country in the world. They committed a crime in that country and were prosecuted there. Our foreign embassies/gov't might say something, but at the end of the day if they break the law in another country, then they serve time there. Granted, the vast majority of these criminals are likely not young offenders. So... if Khadr was arrested in Afghanistan, and the alleged crime was in Afghanistan, then the way I see it he should stand trial (or whatever they do there) in Afghanistan. Let the new gov't there figure out what to do with him. The Americans should not have brought all of these guys out of Afghanistan. They should have built a prison there and then could have held them for as long as the war carried on as prisoners of war...

I didn't read the ads closely enough to see who sponsored them, but I definitely have read ads on both buses and subways that include a bible quote - usually something about how Jesus will save you. As long as religious groups can advertise, then anti-religious groups should be allowed to advertise. The money for these ads, according to www.atheistbus.ca has come entirely from donations. Now I, as an atheist, don't think that atheists should be trying to convert people in any way or treating atheism like a religion - which it is not, but I definitely agree with fighting for equal and free rights. And equal rights means atheists can advertise their non-belief if the religious can advertise their belief.

Is this supposed to insult me or something? Look... I did my 3 years in the army. Sometimes it was tough, and many times I wished I was elsewhere. I even thought for a minute what would happen if I went AWOL - and then I thought I couldn't abandon my buddies, and nor did I want to risk going to military prison or having a warrant out for me by the RCMP. I never even considered running to another country to cry for mercy - mainly because I wanted to remain Canadian and be able to see my family. Even if they had extended my tour or didn't allow me to leave, I would have sucked it up and did my part. I think these deserters are incredibly stupid and cowardly. Even if Canada were to allow them to stay, then what? They would never be able to visit friends or family in the US without being arrested. If they really can't hack another tour in Iraq (if that is the true reason) then they should request to serve in Afghanistan or on the homeland. If that is denied, then they can refuse to go and take their punishment. To Peter - I have no problem that they are applying for refugee status, and I am glad they are all being denied. It would have been better to have them turned away from the border to begin with, but since they weren't I guess this is how we have to deal with them.

I would much rather see 'cute butts in jeans' than 'Jesus loves you' or some other drivel like that as well.

By the way, this ad campaign is being started as a direct reply to all of those religious ads you can see throughout the buses and subways... This is from the FAQ section of www.atheistbus.ca

As long as there are signs out there that say 'Jesus loves you' and all that crap, which offends my non-religious sensibilities, then atheists have every right to advertise their views. Tit-for-tat. If religious people would stop pushing their beliefs on others, then maybe non-believers wouldn't feel the need to push back. Anyway, I am all for freedom of speech and that anything can be said short of promoting hate or violence towards a particular group.

Yes

Who cares what the CAF definition of CO is, these are not Canadian soldiers. I, for one, am glad that our immigration office is deporting these people, and I hope they don't stop doing so.

Why do you keep talking this blockade being the reason for firing off rockets? Is denying free trade a good reason to launch attacks? I suspect Israel didn't want to deal with terrorists (Hamas) so they decided to block trade with them... let someone else do business with terrorists if anybody wants to. Why don't they attack Egypt? Egypt keeps the border closed too...

Thats all fine... purple heart and what have you, but why should this become Canada's problem? If they don't want to fight, then flatly refuse. They can go AWOL in their own country and hide out in the hills in Tennessee for all I care. BTW I am an ex-soldier - 3rd RCR Petewawa, infantry, and did a tour overseas. I still see these guys as cowards.

I am certainly no Zionist - I would support any country's right to defend itself from a neighbour launching rockets into their cities. While I support Israel's right to defend itself against terrorists, I never said anything about more jews moving there or expansion of their borders. Palestinians are animals - as we all are. Rachel Corrie was an idiot - who goes and stands in front of a bulldozer???? Israel should finish the job re: destroying the threat to their people. I never said Palestinians are delighted to see their children killed. I said to HAMAS these dead kids are nearly as good as dead jews - otherwise they wouldn't hide behind them. Are you suggesting that all Palestinians are Hamas and vice versa?

I am a member of CUPW and I am not impressed that they chose to voice an opinion about this, especially since us CUPW members were never asked how we felt, so they are not representing us. CUPW was also an active supporter of the coalition government as promoted by Dion, Layton, and Duceppe - and again, they didn't consider how their membership felt about it. I would rather that my $68 a month went towards maintaining our relationship with Canada Post than them getting political.

I, of course, have no way of knowing conclusively that Hamas is or isn't firing rockets from these places. I have to go with what the media tells me as I have no intention of going there to find out for myself. I have to ask though, what would be the point of Israel bombing such places if there was no threat from that area?