Voltaire: “Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities,

[elleng]

Can Make You Commit Atrocities”

He wrote those words in his 1765 essay, “Questions sur les miracles.”

[Warren DeMontague]

1. careful, now, you don't want to be accused of bad-mouthing derply herld relergers berlerfs

Nasty old Atheists, being mean to people who sincerely believe their invisible friend in the sky wants them to kill people.

[dorkzilla]

7. Er ner!

[backscatter712]

9. Why, it would be offensive, and trigger people and microaggress...

...if we were to mock a religion that encouraged violence.

We wouldn't want to violate their taboo against drawing their religious figure, would we?

?w=306&h=354

[Warren DeMontague]

12. Yeah, it was wonderful after Charlie Hebdo when a subset here lined up to blame the cartoonists.

"shouting fire in a crowded theater"! "incitement"!

I don't generally care how consenting adults get their jollies, but the obvious censorship fetish of some people here is really unappealing.

[hifiguy]

16. That was one of the all-time low points on DU.

Not surprising, though. There are places right here that are policed with an intensity and fervor that would bring tears of admiration to the eyes of a Stasi operative.

[Arugula Latte]

2. Yep. This applies to religion, and also to nationalistic nonsense like that pushed by

Bush-Cheney, which got the ball rolling on the Iraq invasion which eventually led to ISIS.

[hifiguy]

3. One of the wisest things ever said or written.

And I also like "I'd rather know than believe." Carl Sagan

George Carlin cuts to the crux of the biscuit in an earthier fashion:

[Hortensis]

15. Yes. Too bad it's only understood by those who are not easily fooled.

[MisterP]

4. "Blowback is a bitch" --Machiavelli (I think)

[JanMichael]

6. or revenge like sushi is best served cold...unknown nt.

[backscatter712]

11. It is very cold, in space... n/t

[Cassiopeia]

5. K&R

[zentrum]

8. The climate and science

…deniers allow atrocities to be committed against the earth, daily.

[Skittles]

10. I absolutely agree

and religion proves you can make people believe ANYTHING

[passiveporcupine]

13. But he loves you

Even if God is the cause of your torment and pain...he still loves you.

I just don't understand how so many people can not understand that this doesn't make any sense at all, and maybe they should consider the fact that it's not real. I can only assume many people are just too afraid to let go of religion on the off chance that they might be wrong...maybe there really is a God and if you don't believe and worship him, you go to hell when you die.

But he loves you!

[hifiguy]

14. Carlin riffs on that at length

in the vid I posted upthread.

The patent absurdity of it is rather amazing, isn't it?

[passiveporcupine]

17. Yes, my comment was driven by Carlin's comment "But he loves you" in that clip

I've seen him on this topic and he is just too good. Too bad so many people live by fear.

[hifiguy]

18. He was one of the Great American Truth Tellers

in the manner of Mark Twain - able to point out the tragic absurdities of life while making you laugh so hard you just about cry.

[passiveporcupine]

19. He was an extraordiary man

Thoughtful, witty, and very funny.

[hifiguy]

20. One of his best quotes

"I don't tell jokes. I remind you of things you already know, but forgot to laugh at the first time you saw them."

[passiveporcupine]

21. That is good

He challenged people to use their critical thinking skills.