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Monday, April 27, 2009

Hot Topics: Jay leno getting better; Susan Boyle's makeover; Atheism and children

Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, Slim-Fast, South Beach Diet, Zone Diet, Juicing, Green Smoothie
Posted at 4/27/2009 10:06:00 AM
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20 comments:

  1. Anonymous4/27/09, 12:41 PM

    Wow, the US seems so different culturally than over here in the UK. We are a much more secular society - it seems that in this discussion it was presumed that most people are Christian and that aethiests are the strange minority. I really don't like the attitude that some of them (esp. Sherri) seem to have where it is as though to raise your children properly you must have faith - it is perfectly simple to raise children with good values and to become good people without linking it to any religion or God. I'm very glad the UK is much more secular! I, for one, would assume everyone to be agnostic or aethiest unless I knew differently, whereas in The US it seems as though you should presume people to be religious unless they have "come out the closet", as Whoopi puts it!

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  2. Anonymous4/27/09, 12:42 PM

    Joy, atheism doesn't mean we know for certain there is no God. We just know there isn't any more evidence for God than Zeus. Why accept the possibility of one and not the other?

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  3. balmyfelicitations4/27/09, 12:59 PM

    I agree with you (anonymous at 12.41) Canada (where I am) is also much more secular, religion is a much more a personal and private thing. In the US it seems that people are afraid to have their own opinions as if it would be unpatriot or something.

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  4. Nina Faith4/27/09, 1:06 PM

    I also agree with anonymous@12.41 & balmyfelicitations. Here in the Netherlands, where I live, religion is also more personal and private. There probably even more people in the Netherlands who are atheists than religious people.

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  5. Anonymous4/27/09, 1:28 PM

    Here in Western/Northern Europe, most people are either atheist or agnostic. I'm an atheist myself and I don't think I have less good values to teach my future children just because I don't believe in any religion. It's a shame that Barbara Walters was away when they discussed this, because I am pretty sure I read somewhere that she is an atheist and it would bring some more balance to the discussion.

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  6. hettrek4/27/09, 1:55 PM

    The U.S.is a big place so to even try to compare it to the UK just won't work. I'm sure the majority of people could care less if the people they meet are into religion or not, its mainly a media driven thing because it makes for a hot topic. I myself was raised in faith but I chose to let my children decide for themselves. I want them to be happy productive people, the rest is up to them. Actually I feel that all sides should just let it be.

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  7. From Sweden4/27/09, 2:09 PM

    hettrek

    OK. I will give you that it's impossible to compare the UK and US
    But we could compare the US with Europe.

    In almost all of Europe faith have no meaning to elections. The faith of our presidents or primeministers doesn't really matter. In the US it's impossible to win an election if you don't belive in God.

    And it really goes further. Because americans will not elect a president (governor, mayor or other political representatives) that doesn't "live a typical christian life" which means that politicans must be married and live a life that is true to christian values. In Sweden our previous primeminister was divorced and no one really bother.

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  8. Kevin4/27/09, 2:16 PM

    Attention Non-Americans:

    Don't let Sherri and Elisabeth fool you, many people, especially people younger than 30, couldn't care less about religion. Let's not forget that Sherri thinks that the world is flat. She doesn't represent all of America.

    A lot of educated Americans share similar secular views that many Europeans share.


    I dislike how Sherri defends her right to indoctrinate her child with religion. Why can't we all raise our children like Whoopi said: by teaching many different perspectives?

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  9. From Sweden4/27/09, 2:20 PM

    I understand that not ALL americans are like Sherri. I have spent a lot of time in the US and been all over (I love USA by the so way don't get me wrong) and people are very religious - that is just a fact. I have also studied american politics and there are differences.

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  10. Anonymous4/27/09, 2:22 PM

    Same here hettrek I did the same thing with my children and as they grew up decided for themselves. Against my family's wishes I choose not to baptise my children because who is to say they will follow in that particular religion because I said so??... Once they asked why I didnt baptise them and some kids told them they would go to hell cuz thats what their parents said yadda yadda.... is because I want them to live free to choose for themselves and I was a mother not a dictator I teach values morals not jam what I think they should think. My daughter went with a friend on a retreat and didnt ask what religion it was (christian) she was horrified in their tactics to convert my child they asked her to burn her nighmare befor christmas pillow and shirt because it was of the devil and showed her a cow heart....yeaaahhhh...told her if my father was not baptised a christian (he was catholic) he was probably in hell as they spoke... later when I spoke to the mother she told me well its our belief and when the church saw me infuriated I spoke my mind and in a loud voice as to disrupt the whole place asked my child did they baptise you she said... I told them no they said I would go to hell mom if I didnt, she said she had asked "why" they had stupid answers and crap they made up. She said that were not logical and that though I (her mother) was raised catholic and follow it with a dash of buddhism and science as my foundations I had influenced her to not be a sheep in this society. She said in a polite manner you are not the dictators of wether I go to hell or not let alone if there is such a place but I doubt a dip in you pool will somehow majicaly nullify if I would deserve it or not when I get old... I was very proud of her at that moment. See my point is this my child is choosing for herself whats right and whats wrong not like some mindless mental midget who has information imput into them and never ask why or listens to another point of view with no judgment but rather a decision if this is right for her. I just hope more people as time goes on input that a specific religion doesnt make or break you as a good/bad person the only person that can do that is oneself and the life path one takes. I know a many athiest with great hearts and I know many other religist people that makes you wanna say "what the hell?" oh and sherri and elizabitch are tards. :) had to add that!!

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  11. Kevin4/27/09, 2:31 PM

    @From Sweden

    I'm glad you like our country, I didn't doubt you were familiar with the USA.

    Anyway, I also think it has to do with geography. America is a very sprawled out country, about 3,000 miles wide. Many of the very deeply religious people are found in the mid-west or the deep south. For many people in rural areas they make their fellow church-goers their major social circle.

    It's probably a little cynical, but the way I see it, if you're living in a rural place, making friends and finding lovers can be kind of difficult. So I think over time in rural places, people have found their houses of worship to be a good place to meet people, which further reinforces their dedication to their religion.

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  12. Anonymous4/27/09, 2:31 PM

    I'm from the US, and I agree fully with the comment from Sweden. I know alot more people sadly that care alot about other people's religion and think less of people who are Atheist than people who do not. I'm not atheist and I don't believe that the people that are (some of whom I am friends with) lack good values.

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  13. Anonymous4/27/09, 2:42 PM

    Agreed, I am also from the U.S., live in a big metropolitan area and sadly those that are not as religious are looked down upon, and its not just in the south. The US was created based on Puritanical beliefs and continues to be a very Christian country, much more Conservative than most of Europe. Unfortunately, there are people like Sherri and Elisabeth all over the country...

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  14. Kevin4/27/09, 2:43 PM

    Also, I just had to say, the USA was founded on the idea of separation of Church and State. Many of the brilliant men who drafted the Constitution were themselves deists (meaning they didn't believe in a God that intervened with our world.) If the Founding Fathers were alive today, they could call themselves atheists.

    So I think it's kind of sad that we've fallen behind our friends in other countries on the issue of religiosity. The Far Right continues to elect, frankly, idiot politicians who run campaigns claiming things like God speaks to them personally. It's really dangerous.

    I'm glad Obama is using science to influence his decisions and NOT faith. After 8 years of Bush we have seen how people who don't think scientifically govern. Bush followed his faith and his gut and look where it got us.

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  15. Ginger4/27/09, 6:45 PM

    I'm from the Bay Area, California and I believe most people here are surprised when we meet someone who believes in religion. I was recently surprised to learn that one of my good friends from college was religious. She explained, "I'm African (She was born here, but her parents are Nigerian) and it's rare that you'll find an African who doesn't believe in something!"

    Maybe it is true that a higher percentage of US citizens are religious than European (I actually don't know the numbers), but also remember that all Americans (with the exception of Native Americans) are immigrants or descendants of immigrants from all over the world. So, our population is full of people, like my friend whose parents, grandparents, or great-great grandparents were raised religious in other countries.

    And Sweden, who knows if an agnostic or atheist candidate would get elected president here in the US? Two years ago, or even one year ago, I bet most people around the world would have said, "Americans will never elect a Black president!"

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  16. Anonymous4/27/09, 7:53 PM

    I hate when people assume that because a person has religious faith they aren't educated.

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  17. Anonymous4/27/09, 11:42 PM

    this whole makeover is overblown. who the hell cares if she wants to look pretty. now she got the chance, who are we to keep her looking "homely" just so they could be perceived as not 'selling out'

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  18. Navido4/28/09, 12:58 AM

    I believe that religion is a very personal thing, I would have a problem being with an aesthete as long as he wouldn't try to change my believes no matter what they were.

    About Susan Boyle, She needed to take care of herself or maybe even lose some extra pounds, I mean it's good for her health. However I'm afraid that she won't be changed with all the plastic surgeries, silicon or botox injections. And yes looks matters, on the other hand it means nothing if the person is empty. Let's a guy with perfect abs,wonderful teach, great hair et etc ...but he can't hold a decent interesting conversation. I mean what's the point!!!!! The same thing goes for ladies.

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  19. Anonymous4/28/09, 3:46 AM

    i cant stand sherri..get a new girl

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  20. Sarah Benavides4/28/09, 7:16 AM

    I'm from Europe and was raised by very religious parents but after reading much about psychology, philosophy and ethics I decided to live my life free of religion and prejudice. I see all people as equal - no matter what there religion, race, culture or sexual orientation is. I love the U.S. but this narrow-mindedness regarding religion vs. atheism is a no-go!

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