Paul, the first thing I thought about your drawing was that it was leading. The python looking directly at the kitten and the look on the kitten’s face — like thinking “oh chit, please take me back to the Humane Society”. I’m sure that was intentional.
According to research, humans have evolved an innate tendency to detect snakes and to learn to fear them. The researchers think this ability helped humans survive in the wild. So while your drawing might be a exercise of assumption, and I totally get where you are going with that, it would only be natural to suspect what that python was up to. After all, the cake isn’t anywhere near his mouth. 😀
@Nate if you’re still reading, I’d like to make a suggestion. You can assign a number of comments per post page, and that way it won’t take so long to open one page/post when the comment number increases. That’s how forums, with lengthy discussions, work.
Go to your settings, then discussion. Under “other comment settings” check the box that says “Break comments into pages with (add number) top level comments per page.”
This way you don’t have to keep adding Parts I II III etc., when the comment count gets lengthy — and — our computers will thank you. Btw, thanks again for giving us this opportunity to have an open conversation. For the most part, I have very much enjoyed being apart of your community of followers. 🙂
@Nate if you’re still reading, I’d like to make a suggestion. You can assign a number of comments per post page, and that way it won’t take so long to open one page/post when the comment number increases. That’s how forums, with lengthy discussions, work.
I think Nate is taking a well-deserved blog vacation. After being called a dishonest lying liberal for several months who wouldn’t need a break? This is a good suggestion though. Not sure if his theme will support it or not, but it doesn’t hurt to turn it on and see what it looks like.
Rats are a dime-a-dozen. Cats….now there’s a delicasssssy. “Ssssssinfully Delicioussssss”
love that Ruth.
N℮üґ☼N☮☂℮ṧ, as the snake naturally illicits a fear reaction, the cute fluffy kitten with the bow on it’s head with big green innocent eyes will get the “aaaaahhhh, how cute” reaction. I think a rat would just get a sort of “yuck” feel, and as Ruth says, they are a dime a dozen. LOL.
it would be good to break up the comments, it takes a long time to load.
My son sent me this. I don’t know what they’re complaining about – I’d say it lends an air of authenticity, they look more like they did after Moses got through with his temper tantrum.
Just read this on Brandon’s blog — it was part of a comment in response to Brandon’s post: “Letter to atheists”:
I submit to you that much of your obvious inner turmoil is a direct consequence of your addiction to god-belief, which is in turn caused by your desire to believe in a god, which causes you to lower your standards for what counts as “evidence for god”, which in turn causes you to infuse every random coincidence you witness, every incidence of normal human brain-weirdness with cosmic significance, which then hypnotizes you into believing that your own ego is a god.
Since Brandon (anaivethinker) has visited here, I felt some of you might enjoy reading it. But also, I think what this writer says is “right-on.”
He goes by Daniel L. Scholten and his blog is http://greatbandwagon.wordpress.com, which I just found out is a protected blog. Hmmm. I sent a request to join.
I noticed you had commented on this post as well …
BTW — to all those on phones and/or tablets (which I am at night), I just sent an email to Nate and asked him to start a Part 4. Hopefully he’s around to see it!
I’m not familiar with Brandon’s blog. Is he in turmoil? Or is the commenter reading between the lines.
I have to confess that the comment at first was over my head. Maybe it still is . . . got to get the cobwebs out. If I could read it in context maybe that would sweep the cobwebs away.
Cliff Notes, Zoe:
Brandon claims to be a doctor (he’s held human brains in his hand! – everybody need a hobby –), who was raised Christian, then became an atheist, then had a sudden epiphany and believes in god with all the trimmings. He claims his belief cured him of his addiction to porn. Personally, if I had to choose – Church?/Porn? – I’d go with the porn, but that’s just me —
His rhetoric is designed, not to convert, as the usual apologetic would, but realizing that concrete evidence is not on his side, he tries to create doubt that atheism is the way to go, hoping that if he can just plant that seed, it will grow.
He began here with a smarmy, sycophantic debating style: “That’s a great question, BUT….” or, “What a perceptive answer, BUT….” After I criticized that approach, he seems to have toned that affectation down somewhat – once exposed, such manipulative tactics are rarely quite so effective.
NeuroNotes has some very perceptive info on the neuro-chemical causes of hyper-religiosity that seems quite appropriate in Brandon’s case, but that is hers to share, if she has the time.
“I noticed you had commented on this post as well …” – I may have, Nan, I will often do things when sober that I can’t remember later – I think the technical term for that, is “Alcohol Deprivation Blackouts.” I try to avoid those whenever I can.
I question that. The following is dialog he had with Ark in his Letter to Atheist post:
anaivethinker | May 7, 2014 at 5:08 am
“Hey Ark,
Sorry about a late reply. You asked, “What was true?” What I believe to be true about Christianity is the whole narrative about God creating the world and something is wrong with human’s hearts. We find ourselves broken somehow no matter what morality or altruistic achievement we attain by our own power. For example, imagine the most altruistic person, do they not have problems somewhere? Do they have to sacrifice time with family and friends to do altruistic service? Do they have secret or inner struggles? Do they struggle with addiction? Do they have problems forgiving others or having mercy? Are they driven merely to maintain an outside image?
Also, we find ourselves wanting to align ourselves with the “universe” or with gods. Polytheism is no longer held, but we give ourselves to greed machines, to nationalistic fervor, to religions that offer various endpoints like nirvana, to the hypersexualized culture, to achieving something, just anything to make us relevant and noticed. We work harder, we give more, we take more. We want redemption and meaning, but it seems so elusive.
This is the good news about Jesus Christ! Redemption is freely given as a gift out of the charity of God. It’s absurd to think about, it’s mindboggling and unbelievable that it is actually free. What does this mean? If you merely trust the Creator that he can raise Jesus, then you will be transformed. You will find the power to repent, metanoia (Greek for repentance). But, there’s more. Like I said, we want to align ourselves with something about the universe, and cultures have been aiming for this as noted by animal and human sacrifice and various rituals since prehistory.
Even now we desperately seek any kind of spirituality to align with the universe, with God. This is the good news about Jesus! The cross is the sacrifice that can align you with God. The cross is the place that we request forgiveness and mercy for our trespasses, and God’s forgiveness and mercy are infinite here, at the cross. That does not mean the cross is a free pass or a legal deal from heaven. On the contrary, abusing the cross is a terrible wrong. But, there you find mercy and a cleansing of conscience for you in the present time. This kind of good news cannot come from secular humanism.”
“So, Victoria what do you worship? And, is it eating you alive? I implore you to search into yourself and give it serious consideration.”
Brandon appears to project a lot. When he says “we”, it’s apparent he means “me”. Reread the first paragraph to Ark again, with emphasis on his “For example”. Brandon was raised in a strict, fundamentalist environment. He now has his own brand of Christianity.
Update on the story I posted yesterday, about the person who deliberately rammed their car into a statue of the Ten Commandments on a courthouse lawn in Oklahoma. Turns out to have been a young man stupid enough to use his own car, then ran off and left it at the scene.
His excuse? And I am NOT making this up: The Devil made him do it!
Finding Truth 
“I was referring to the Frans de Waal quote. *giggles*”
Oh.
Did anyone ever tell you you have the cutest little giggle when you’re shredding someone’s self-esteem?
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Yes NN, that’s thé one. Sorry for delay. This blog is loading super slow.
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In case anyone is interested, November 9th is Carl Sagan’s birthday.
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Paul asks: I need I good title for this painting. anyone have any thoughts on what i can call this?
I need a really catchy title.
First thing I thought when I looked at your art was: Surprise!
Is that “catchy?”
If not, umm, something like: There once was a cat in a box.
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zoe, lol.
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Ha! Zoe, that was my first thought, too. Then I thought: “Here, kitty, kitty!” Then I thought: “Ssssssinfully Delicioussssss”
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Paul, the first thing I thought about your drawing was that it was leading. The python looking directly at the kitten and the look on the kitten’s face — like thinking “oh chit, please take me back to the Humane Society”. I’m sure that was intentional.
According to research, humans have evolved an innate tendency to detect snakes and to learn to fear them. The researchers think this ability helped humans survive in the wild. So while your drawing might be a exercise of assumption, and I totally get where you are going with that, it would only be natural to suspect what that python was up to. After all, the cake isn’t anywhere near his mouth. 😀
@Nate if you’re still reading, I’d like to make a suggestion. You can assign a number of comments per post page, and that way it won’t take so long to open one page/post when the comment number increases. That’s how forums, with lengthy discussions, work.
Go to your settings, then discussion. Under “other comment settings” check the box that says “Break comments into pages with (add number) top level comments per page.”
This way you don’t have to keep adding Parts I II III etc., when the comment count gets lengthy — and — our computers will thank you. Btw, thanks again for giving us this opportunity to have an open conversation. For the most part, I have very much enjoyed being apart of your community of followers. 🙂
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Okay then, how about: Rats! (As in darn it, golly gee wow I wanted a rat.)
It would be the preferred meat right?
🙄
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lol Zoe. How about “Reverse Ignorance”. That’s a mouthful. He could add a bottle of Tums.
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Rats are a dime-a-dozen. Cats….now there’s a delicasssssy.
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I think Nate is taking a well-deserved blog vacation. After being called a dishonest lying liberal for several months who wouldn’t need a break? This is a good suggestion though. Not sure if his theme will support it or not, but it doesn’t hurt to turn it on and see what it looks like.
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Rats are a dime-a-dozen. Cats….now there’s a delicasssssy.
“Ssssssinfully Delicioussssss”
love that Ruth.
N℮üґ☼N☮☂℮ṧ, as the snake naturally illicits a fear reaction, the cute fluffy kitten with the bow on it’s head with big green innocent eyes will get the “aaaaahhhh, how cute” reaction. I think a rat would just get a sort of “yuck” feel, and as Ruth says, they are a dime a dozen. LOL.
it would be good to break up the comments, it takes a long time to load.
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Car smashes Ten Commandments monument outside Capitol building!
My son sent me this. I don’t know what they’re complaining about – I’d say it lends an air of authenticity, they look more like they did after Moses got through with his temper tantrum.
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Just read this on Brandon’s blog — it was part of a comment in response to Brandon’s post: “Letter to atheists”:
Since Brandon (anaivethinker) has visited here, I felt some of you might enjoy reading it. But also, I think what this writer says is “right-on.”
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I agree, Nan – who’s the author? It sounds like something Neuro might say, but it’s not in “Neuro-speak.”
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It is quite profound. It looks rautakkian to me.
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He goes by Daniel L. Scholten and his blog is http://greatbandwagon.wordpress.com, which I just found out is a protected blog. Hmmm. I sent a request to join.
I noticed you had commented on this post as well …
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BTW — to all those on phones and/or tablets (which I am at night), I just sent an email to Nate and asked him to start a Part 4. Hopefully he’s around to see it!
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I’m not familiar with Brandon’s blog. Is he in turmoil? Or is the commenter reading between the lines.
I have to confess that the comment at first was over my head. Maybe it still is . . . got to get the cobwebs out. If I could read it in context maybe that would sweep the cobwebs away.
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Cliff Notes, Zoe:
Brandon claims to be a doctor (he’s held human brains in his hand! – everybody need a hobby –), who was raised Christian, then became an atheist, then had a sudden epiphany and believes in god with all the trimmings. He claims his belief cured him of his addiction to porn. Personally, if I had to choose – Church?/Porn? – I’d go with the porn, but that’s just me —
His rhetoric is designed, not to convert, as the usual apologetic would, but realizing that concrete evidence is not on his side, he tries to create doubt that atheism is the way to go, hoping that if he can just plant that seed, it will grow.
He began here with a smarmy, sycophantic debating style: “That’s a great question, BUT….” or, “What a perceptive answer, BUT….” After I criticized that approach, he seems to have toned that affectation down somewhat – once exposed, such manipulative tactics are rarely quite so effective.
NeuroNotes has some very perceptive info on the neuro-chemical causes of hyper-religiosity that seems quite appropriate in Brandon’s case, but that is hers to share, if she has the time.
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“I noticed you had commented on this post as well …” – I may have, Nan, I will often do things when sober that I can’t remember later – I think the technical term for that, is “Alcohol Deprivation Blackouts.” I try to avoid those whenever I can.
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Helpful. Thanks arch. Cooking up a storm in the kitchen right now so will comment no further at this time. 🐻
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““His rhetoric is designed, not to convert,”
I question that. The following is dialog he had with Ark in his Letter to Atheist post:
anaivethinker | May 7, 2014 at 5:08 am
I was actively involved for quite a while (Arch too) in that post and a post on Matt’s blog post http://jerichobrisance.com/2014/04/02/snapthought-wrested-from-my-hands-by-god/ . He said this to me:
anaivethinker says:
April 6, 2014 at :
Brandon appears to project a lot. When he says “we”, it’s apparent he means “me”. Reread the first paragraph to Ark again, with emphasis on his “For example”. Brandon was raised in a strict, fundamentalist environment. He now has his own brand of Christianity.
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Update on the story I posted yesterday, about the person who deliberately rammed their car into a statue of the Ten Commandments on a courthouse lawn in Oklahoma. Turns out to have been a young man stupid enough to use his own car, then ran off and left it at the scene.
His excuse? And I am NOT making this up: The Devil made him do it!
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