How Come I Like Stories About The Supernatural So Much?

I know one thing, I do not accept that any supernatural occurrence has happened anywhere in the universe, anytime. Are supernatural occurrences possible? I guess anything in possible. But anything isn't very likely.

No Gods, no ghosts, no Leprechauns, no invisible man under my bed, no streakers on Venus, etc.

But I have to ask why I so readily accept ghosts in movies, devils in movies, supernatural events in movies? Is it a form of escape into a land of wishful thinking? Or just a form of escape? Or just plain old entertainment and appreciation of creative writers?

When I was a child, I watched a lot of Twilight Zone. After watching one particular episode, I remember asking my grandmother if she would let me phone her if and when she died. In other words, there was a time that I thought the Twilight Zone was a documentary. I'm pretty sure I grew out of it when I was 8 or 9 though, but I can't remember.

For years I slept with the light on as well, scared of the unknown. I think I stopped that nonsense in my early teens. And now I like to sleep in the dark with the TV off.

Again, I went through the regular channels in becoming atheist. From assuming there was a God and supernatural occurrences, to reading existential literature in high school while at the same time realizing that science had an answer for just about everything, I gradually became agnostic, and finally atheist after rationalizing everything out. This probably didn't happen until my early 30's. And then to top it off, around 7 or 8 years ago, in my early forties, I found out that there is absolutely no contemporary evidence for the Exodus or even a historical Jesus.

Not only is there lack of evidence for the supernatural, but there is also nothing to back up the most famous biblical stories that the overwhelming majority of human beings today buy into.

The reason I'm making this post is that I recently watch Ghost Town. I found it laugh out loud funny at times, though I wish I could have been a writer on that movie (I think I could have made it a lot funnier). I've never had that thought before either. I just thought of things that would have made it more hilarious.

But back to the movie, I really got into it. It isn't the first time. The Sixth Sense for example, same thing.

But really, my favorite shows on TV are animated. Family Guy, American Dad, South Park, and supernatural or sci fi stuff happens all the time in those cartoons.

I still believe strongly that we evolved the susceptibility to buy into the supernatural as a way of defense mainly, especially when our ancestors couldn't explain lightning. So maybe there is a disconnect from my atheistic worldview when we watch these types of movies and shows, and probably when we dream too.

I wonder if I were a theist today, if I would view films like Ghost Town and The Sixth Sense the same way. Do theists think, "hey I want to be that type of ghost when I die." Or do they just enjoy the movie, and in the back of their mind, know they are watching something unrealistic, even to them?"

Just a note, for those who don't know, the star of Ghost Town, comic Ricky Gervais, is a non believer, just like me.

More Atheist Nonsense: The Planting Of Transitional Whale Fossils

It is getting more and more painfully obvious that devious atheists continue to plant fossils all over God's good earth in an attempt to get more converts to religion of atheism.

Regular fossils weren't good enough because intelligent creationists started to notice that there were no missing links or transitional fossils. This fact was causing the atheist recruiting movement to lose steam, so what did the pesky atheists do? They started to plant transitional fossils in places where they predicted they would find them. And then a fantasy story is attached to the finding. Take the recent fossil find that "proved" that early whales gave birth on land.

It is amazing that atheists buy these fairy tales but laugh at the idea of a person rising from the dead and ascending to heaven.

Ok, that is enough of my Edward Current impression for today.

Now that I might have the attention of both creationists and realists, here is an excellent video which asks creationists to think and do some 'splaining:

Apparently the above video was flagged by Youtube creationists.

I always liked the argument that if evolution were false, how come a creationist scientist hasn't come up with a way to interpret the fossil data or even come up with any evidence that contradicts evolution. That scientist would be more famous than Jesus. What is holding back the creationist intelligencia?

Still interested in whale evolution? Check out my post from last year; A Whale of a Tale.

See also, Maiacetus, the good mother whale

Isn't It Time For God To Put An End To The Atheist Bus Campaign?

Isn't this the perfect chance for God to finally come out of hiding? I know that if I was all powerful with a bit of a wrathful edge to me, I would do something to prove these atheist buses wrong.

How about making the sun rotate around the earth for a couple of days? Or simply write some messages in clouds? God can always of course make the limb of an amputee miraculously grow back. How about doing it in a couple of seconds on national TV?

CLICK TO ENLARGE


At first, when I heard about the Atheist Bus campaign, I was indifferent. In fact, I was sort of against it. I just looked at it as immature game playing by obnoxious atheists. But now that it has come to Canada, and I see all the press it is getting as well as the discussions and irrational ire it is causing, I'm fully supportive of it.

This is getting people thinking, people who may not thought so hard before. Not putting "There is no God" makes a big difference. By using the word "probably," it lightens the offensiveness of it, and opens up the debate in a much nicer manner. What it really does, is get many theists (the ones who are not too far gone) to look at the evidence for God. And once one really starts looking for evidence in a rational and objective way, many will come to the conclusion that there is probably no God, just as I did.

Kids will also start question their assumption of God at a much earlier age, and parents will need to explain why they believe in God, and that kind of gets tough, considering there really is no evidence to rely on. I'm sure the bible will be used, but children old enough to use the internet will be doing more searches, and bottom line will be questioning more and more.

Now about the Stop Worrying And Enjoy Your Life Part. I know many idiotic theists interpret this as a green light to atheists to rape, steal, and murder, but that argument gets shot down in a hurry because other than sociopaths, humans don't get pleasure from harming others. We are evolved to respect The Golden Rule (reciprocal altruism), though some cultures frown up The Golden Rule at times (see many Muslim countries that focus on a shame culture versus the guilt culture of the West).

Naturally, we are social animals who feel strong senses of empathy and guilt. We are prewired to get a sense of enjoyment (or at least extreme satisfaction) from helping an old lady walk across the street, not throwing an old lady in front of a speeding car.

And the stop worrying part is very important. Stop worrying about what God thinks, stop talking for God, as God is most probably a fictional character. In other words, at least respect the idea of separation of church and state because you are probably wrong, and don't worry about making abortion illegal because you think God doesn't like it, let the woman choose, and don't worry about homosexuals getting married either.

Lets not forget, if you are an anti-evolutionist and if you stop worrying about whether God exists or not, you might just start accepting real science by not letting the bible get in the way when it comes to the overwhelming evidence that supports evolution.

The more scientific minds, the higher the chance that future generations will be on this earth to enjoy a much longer life attached with more quality.

See also, The Atheist Media blog for a clip on the Atheist Buses coming to Toronto.

Oops, I forgot to make my Super Bowl prediction when I first posted this, so here goes. Kurt Warner has Jesus going for him, but Obama is cheering for Pittsburgh. Who has a greater desire to intervene? I'd say Jesus, because he isn't the top banana anymore, so I'm going with the Arizona Cardinals, plus 6 and a half of course.
Oh, and take the over. If the Cardinals cover, the game is definitely going to be high scoring.