tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post6442435661719309026..comments2024-03-28T03:10:51.807-05:00Comments on Julia Sweeney: Julia Sweeneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459682985438227986noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-34871740471950360372007-01-24T12:43:00.000-06:002007-01-24T12:43:00.000-06:00Julia,I'm sorry to say, I have never heard of u. I...Julia,I'm sorry to say, I have never heard of u. I'm a little out of touch.lol My personal belief is that we are a "bundle" of many "religions" put together. I like to study ALL religions, and take away a little bit from each one. I do not consider myself a "Christian", but I do believe that there was a Rabbi Jesus, and that,IMHO, not very many organized "christian" religions really know what this man was trying to teach. My most comfortable beliefs, so far are Kabbalah, and Buddhism. The Dali Lhama is a very wise man. Wouldn't u consider yourself more of an AGNOSTIC than an ATHEIST? I LIKE someone who isn't afraid to voice their beliefs, it's the one's who seem to harp on other people's beliefs that aren't the same as theirs that bug me. Why do we all HAVE to believe the same? Why, who says we do? Why would their be SO many different beliefs then if we all were supposed to believe the same? The world would be a pretty boring place if we all believed the same. I believe that we are here to learn. To learn from each other, to learn from Mother Earth and to share those learning's with each other. Thank you for your time.<br />"We must be the change we wish to see in the world" Mahatma Gandhi<br />Seek peace and love and we won't know hate and disrespect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-86896548413523779322006-12-17T02:33:00.000-06:002006-12-17T02:33:00.000-06:00Hi Julia:
I stumbled onto this looking at a Richa...Hi Julia:<br /><br />I stumbled onto this looking at a Richard Dawkins video on YouTube. I understand your reluctance to say you're an atheist. Saying you're an atheist to your religious neighbours is basically like telling them they are all wrong about their lifestyles. It's easier not to say anything definitive at all. But I'm very glad, and proud you are out there talking about this. I believe like Dawkins that religion is an ultimately destructive meme. I probably believe it more than he does. I find so many religious people that I know hold so many other contrary beliefs and practices that ultimately undo much of the good they'd like to accomplish.<br /><br />Anyway: It was a tough interview, to be sure. Craig is a "nice guy" but he really went after you pretty hard. Nonetheless, you're attracting other atheists with this work, and that interview. <br />Keep up the great work. I look forward to reading more of your blog in the future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-81279003360298120472006-12-15T11:17:00.000-06:002006-12-15T11:17:00.000-06:00Julia,
You did spectacularly well. I'm proud of ...Julia, <br /><br />You did spectacularly well. I'm proud of you, so you don't have to be. You were extremely eloquent about atheism. You humanized it. And you made several points that ought to make people think. In particular: the point about how atheism's conflation with communism has made Americans fearful of it. Excellent point. <br /><br />And while I tend to like Craig Ferguson and think he's funny, I was very disappointed in his apparent emotional investment in theism. The way he slammed your CD around the desk spoke volumes about how well he respected the ideas in it. He seemed agitated by the subject. But I do give him credit for permitting you to talk about your views and ending on a neutral note. He apparently gives his viewers credit for being able to handle complex argument.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-78770543416740225532006-12-14T09:22:00.000-06:002006-12-14T09:22:00.000-06:00Julia, I'm coming to this blog post as a huge Crai...Julia, I'm coming to this blog post as a huge Craig Ferguson fan (I have a google alert on the guy that linked me to your blog this AM) and just saw your LLS segment last night from Tivo. <br /><br />You were great. I actually saved the show to rewatch your interview. You see, my parents are atheists. Well, mom says there may be something out there, to which I argue then that she's agnostic, which she denies. Then I ask her if she could be a little bit pregnant. Grrr. I really admire those who take a stand on their beliefs, even if it can feel uncomfortable at times. <br /><br />As a shameless Craig plug, you may want to pick up his book, "Between the Bridge and the River." It's actually a damning of organized religion and an exploration of personal belief. (If you had only known going into the interview!)<br /><br />Anyway, well done, Julia, I will try to track down the CD -- I think it would make a perfect Xmas gift for the folks this year! :) Cool blog, btw, even if I am a believer in a HP, 12-step kind of a way. ;-)Christine H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10032731400737819249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-86613605116625988632006-12-14T09:17:00.000-06:002006-12-14T09:17:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Christine H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10032731400737819249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-45485267878559710172006-12-14T09:01:00.000-06:002006-12-14T09:01:00.000-06:00Good job. You're very brave.
Ferguson is a recove...Good job. You're very brave.<br /><br />Ferguson is a recovering alchoholic and seems to have returned to god through some program as the way many addicts do.<br /><br />I saw the clip o toomanytribbless' blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-56227967467104436722006-12-13T10:33:00.000-06:002006-12-13T10:33:00.000-06:00live link to above thing<a href=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6610025>live link to above thing</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-2681579549090930852006-12-13T09:39:00.000-06:002006-12-13T09:39:00.000-06:00Saw you on CF. Never thought he was funny, just a ...Saw you on CF. Never thought he was funny, just a lot of budding in and trying to get a laugh (Robin Williams). And that thing about the dog isn’t that funny ha ha. I’ve seen dogs sit at the dinner table or lounge on a couch, what the hell is he talking about. That’s why he believes in god? Christ he’s dumber then I thought. It was good to see you; I wish they could get over the Pat thing. But you knew what you were getting into. I know the book business. And how you have to compromise yourself at times. To get your product out in front of the public. You looked great-bright eyed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-67762821751787844432006-12-13T09:15:00.000-06:002006-12-13T09:15:00.000-06:00Julia,
Hi! I´m from Brazil and I am loving your w...Julia,<br /><br />Hi! I´m from Brazil and I am loving your work on talking about atheism. It´s excellent to have people like you with your sense of humor and inteligence. I heard your "Letting Go of God" audio and I watched your "Age of Reason" video on youtube. Very funny and interesting! Good jod!!! Keep going!!!<br /><br />I would like to comment about something and exchange some ideas with you. Can I have your e-mail?<br /><br />Anyway, one of the topics is about creationism. I read your letter to Michael where he says that he doens´t accept "macroevolution". Well, some days ago I thought about something I never had thought before. <br /><br />If a person claims to have a life and continuous experience with God, the owner of the truth, and claims that this God guides him, answers his questions, clarify thing about the world, etc, etc, ... if a person says this, how can this person be a creationist??? Undertand what I mean? I had never thougth about this in this way, but it´s very significative and important. You know, since evolution is a fact proven by several fields of humam knowledge and suported by milions of independente evidences from all around the world, ... how can a person guided by the owner of the truth be so wrong about it and be a creationist?<br /><br />It´s very strange, don´t you think? It suports even more the hipothesis of the non existence of God, in a very important way. Or, at least, the non-comunication of the supposed God.<br /><br />I wrote a text about it, and a called it "Highly Commited Credibility". How can a person expect that we atheists believe that there is a God, if this person´s credibility is soo commited because of this stupidity of creationism?<br /><br />Thanks for the attention! <br /><br />Hugs!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-25159510455301886612006-12-13T07:41:00.000-06:002006-12-13T07:41:00.000-06:00Hi Julia. I've just caught the show, you are total...Hi Julia. I've just caught the show, you are totally gorgeous. Here is my take on the question: "how we can be sure there is no God?" We can't, like you said, but it's not a particularly useful question. A far more pertinent question to ask is: "how can we be sure there is no God who makes the slightest difference to the way we should lead our lives?" This surely is the question that matters, and I think we can be certain that there is no such God.<br /><br />Religious people love to cite the evidence, such as it is, provided by physicists to the effect that the universe appears to be fine tuned and so on. Then the next minute they're telling us what we can and can't do in bed - surely the mother of all non-sequiturs. We mustn't play into their hands by getting overly bogged down with the first question. We now know enough science, philosophy, and history to state with confidence that our decision making must be determined purely by the natural domain.<br /><br />Is there a God? Who cares?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-9985225277065879452006-12-13T05:43:00.000-06:002006-12-13T05:43:00.000-06:00is this ok to add?
julia on the late show with cr...is this ok to add?<br /><br />julia on the late show with craig ferguson on youtube:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwehkmEXLGshelensotiriadishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07740816003291428890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-53965427467216680312006-12-13T01:07:00.000-06:002006-12-13T01:07:00.000-06:00Julia,
I just watched the show on Tivo. I thought...Julia,<br /><br />I just watched the show on Tivo. I thought you did fine. Your laughter didn't strike me as nervous laughter at all. <br /><br />I wouldn't worry too much about the "how I could know for absolute certainty that there was not a God" question. That isn't the <A HREF="http://lowder.blogspot.com/2006/01/disagreement-among-self-described.html">definition of what it means to be an atheist</A>, any more than someone has to believe that they "know for absolute certainty" that there is a God in order to be a theist. Atheism is merely the belief that God does not exist. There is no contradiction between saying "I believe there is a 90% probability that God does not exist" and "I am an atheist," just as there is no contradiction between saying "I believe there is a 90% probability that God does exist" and "I am a theist."<br /><br />Keep up the great work!<br /><br />Jeff LowderSecular Outposthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10289884295542007401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-83936147693305246072006-12-13T00:15:00.000-06:002006-12-13T00:15:00.000-06:00Julia, I just finished seeing Ozu's "Late Spring",...Julia, I just finished seeing Ozu's "Late Spring", thanks so much for mentioning it a few posts ago. I'll take that 1949 film any day instead of "Star Wars".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-52116409403330239132006-12-13T00:06:00.000-06:002006-12-13T00:06:00.000-06:00Dear Julia,
You are an incredible person and enter...Dear Julia,<br />You are an incredible person and entertainer and I'm sure you did a fabulous job on Craig. I admire you enormously. I see Craig nearly every night (NY feed in CA, so I can see at 9:35pm or wouldn't have a prayer (religious cliche!) of staying awake otherwise) ;-), but damn, I missed the show you were on! Hopefully I'll see the re-run.<br />Some quick notes, since it's bedtime. If I were to be totally honest (which most people aren't ready for despite professing to be "open-minded" and honoring religious freedom) I would say my atheism would be summed up this way: If there is a "God", "God" is an asshole. As I say, that's if I was being totally honest. Sad to say, the public seems not at all ready to hear all viewpoints, including mine. Tragically, religion seems to often be a way to rationalize NOT taking responsibility for making the world a better place, and taking responsibility for our actions, what's right and wrong. Lastly, I'm so proud of you, as a cancer survivor. My sister (52 yrs.) was diagnosed in Aug. '05 with something we'd never even heard of: Multiple Myeloma, a rare blood cancer of the bone marrow. Her first/only symptom was her kidneys failing (and still are, requiring dialysis). Three weeks after diagnosis she lost everything in Hurricane Katrina (Gulfport, Miss.). Why don't religious folks blame "God" for all this, vs. "Mother Nature?" In fact, I think we humans can take a large portion of the blame for both those "events" (Bay St. Louis, Miss. contamination by Dupont, lawsuit won by a fisherman Aug. '05) and global warming and destruction of a football field-worth of wetlands EACH DAY in the Gulf, exacerbating the severity of storms, etc. We CAN make the world a much, much, much better place, but it starts with promoting personal, group, national, international responsibility and involvement. My very best to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-14392257228709302992006-12-12T23:11:00.000-06:002006-12-12T23:11:00.000-06:00I followed the clip from thranil, and thought you ...I followed the clip from thranil, and thought you came across extremely open-minded, warm, and funny--three traits not usually associated with the word "atheist". <br /><br />Thank you for your honesty... and bravery. You inspire me to read and think further about atheism. I found your essay "Letting Go of God" in an anthology my eighteen year old brother was reading. I flipped to the essay immediately, and was astounded at how your experiences resonated with my own. My brother then read the essay, and we went on to have a long, thoughtful conversation about our beliefs. He continues to be an active member in the church we were raised in, but after reading your essay, admitted to many of his doubts. I can't help but feel sad for his uncertainty. I thought his faith was strong, and was actually envious of his firm convictions. My brother is now on the same path that I am. In many ways, it is a lonely path. <br /><br />I have often wished for a community of like-minded people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-11235998498983250942006-12-12T23:05:00.000-06:002006-12-12T23:05:00.000-06:00Julia,
Hi. I think it's great that an Atheist got...Julia,<br />Hi. I think it's great that an Atheist got to go on a national talk show and actually talk about their atheism. We need more people like you Julia to be public about their atheism. I also think Craig Ferguson is cool to let you on his show to talk about it. Actually this was the first time I watched The Craig Ferguson Show. Thanks. BTW, I loved you on SNL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-52488781862243993822006-12-12T22:50:00.000-06:002006-12-12T22:50:00.000-06:00as a "faithful" viewer of craig's show i just want...as a "faithful" viewer of craig's show i just want to say i thought it was a lovely and thoughtful interview and i hope craig will have you back again soon for a longer go round. i have already emailed the show to suggest that. i think the serious interviews he does are often the most interesting and yours was too short.<br /><br />much of craig's novel, "between the bridge and the river," explores the absurdities of our wildly divergent "organized" religions. i think you might be surprised by his perspective. craig too seems to be a work in progress.<br /><br />it was lovely to see you looking well and happy. and thanks so much for not being madelyn murray ohare.<br /><br />cathyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-51948156365659510662006-12-12T19:48:00.000-06:002006-12-12T19:48:00.000-06:00Ms. Sweeney,
I was up late (dur) last night watchi...Ms. Sweeney,<br />I was up late (dur) last night watching Craig Ferguson (bad idea during finals week), and your appearance was brilliant. With all the stuff that goes on that show (oh, such hilarity..but eneough about that), it was an oddly sobering moment (amid the funny..no worries)watching your discussion.<br /><br />I, for one, enjoyed your appearance. I'm here (and bookmarking..eeeh :D) on account of it. <br /><br />I'm sure you've heard it a thousand times, but it's really nice to sometimes see someone go through a similar journey to your own. <br /><br />Rock on. Definately looking forward to getting your CD and hanging 'round the old bloggy blog blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-71309249164584570042006-12-12T18:54:00.000-06:002006-12-12T18:54:00.000-06:00Julia, you were wonderful. After CF, I googled yo...Julia, you were wonderful. After CF, I googled your name and watched the TED clip from "Letting Go." I'm buying two copies of the CD (but not until Thursday, so I don't have to pay for them until February, a necessity thanks to Christmas, irony of ironies!).<br /><br />I would suggest that you're not an atheist, you're an agnostic (maybe there is a god, maybe there isn't) with just one degree of separation from atheist. Julia, it's so refreshing to listen to someone talk SENSE! Air America programming can be described as political skepticism. You are my Air America of religious skepticism.<br /><br />I think we should start a new religion with you as our goddess, to be worshipped and adored and sacrificed to. (Excuse me for ending that proposition on a preposition.) Juliaism would be infinitely more attractive than scientology, and just think of the perks, not the least of which would be tax-free revenue, but also golden statues with you posed as Virgo (your astronomically true sign), bobble-head Julias, and The Book of Julaism bound in calve's leather and gold embossing and that skinny scarlet ribbon between to filmy gilt-edged pages, and the Hymns of Julia sung on October 10th every year, and presents at Juliamas, and eventually a Mel Gibson movie starring Dakota Fanning as You. Yeah, and pronouns referring to You always capitalized! Hey, if You can't beat 'em, compete with 'em!Manquéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17856997448107917532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-58734734887167721222006-12-12T18:39:00.000-06:002006-12-12T18:39:00.000-06:00Julia,
I think you did great and you came off as h...Julia,<br />I think you did great and you came off as human, which is good because everyone can identify with that. I did laugh out loud several times so I think it was also funny. <br /><br />I liked the discussion about calling yourself an atheist because my husband and I discuss this all the time. I think I finally got to the point where I fell over the edge of atheism and just didn't give a crap if people thought I was the devil for being one. My husband says "oh no, don't tell anyone you are an atheist" So the "coming out of the closet idea was really quite descriptive for me. <br /><br />I think you did really well. <br /><br />peace<br />BeckyBecky Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11791713226363503030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-50818089655077523442006-12-12T17:41:00.000-06:002006-12-12T17:41:00.000-06:00gI have enjoyed your shows and your blog, being a ...gI have enjoyed your shows and your blog, being a middle-aged, middle-class, lapsed catholic and mother- of-a-cancer-survivor with artfully arched eyebrows. I am just a little bit ahead of you in the motherhood game and have the following unsolicited advice.<br /><br />10 Good Reasons Mulan Should Go to a Christian School<br /><br />1. I am pretty sure that in LA you can find a good one that educates and respects Jews, Muslims, Christians and athiests. I found one in Texas for christsakes!<br /><br />2. A religious education is a cultural education. When I was a young, rebellious Catholic who didn't see the value of religious education, my mother told me that I would never finish the Sunday Times crossword without a good grounding in religion. She had a point.<br /><br />3. A religious education is vaccination against religious extremism and cults. With a solid education behind her, no one will be able to tell Mulan what God wants or what the Bible tells us to do. Even more importantly, I think it would make her hold out for wine rather than kool-aid.<br /><br />4. FABULOUS christmas pageants! My first grade son with the big red bow under in neck in the choir? Priceless. My half Jewish daughter getting to be Mary? A triumph for jews and first grade doll-lovers everywhere.<br /><br />5. I agree that it IS kind of creepy the way that religion is just whispered about in public schools. It is way to easy for these young, pliable minds to pick up the wrong message when something is hidden from them. I think it is better to get it out in the open. And whenever the school tries to tell the kids something I don't agree with I say "well, yes, that IS true from a protestant perspective. . ."<br /><br />6. Latin.<br /><br />7. Music! Singing every day. Learning all those hymns. It is a joy, even for the most untalented. <br /><br />8. More likely to have PE every day.<br /><br />9. If Mulan does not have a Christian education there will be a big gap between your world and hers. My mom's most moving plea was that she wanted me to be Catholic because she was, and she wanted us to share that. Didn't work, but I can at least understand what the hell she is talking about.<br /><br />10. Let's face it. With an out-of-the-closet athiest mom, she is going to need all the factual ammo she can get. She can't grow up not knowing who John the Baptist was--the jesusfreaks will make mincemeat of her!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-83528678722788341862006-12-12T16:14:00.000-06:002006-12-12T16:14:00.000-06:00I read that Newsweek piece and it is astonishing t...I read that Newsweek piece and it is astonishing to me that someone as smart as Davies can try to pass off that codswallop about scientists proceeding "on the assumption that there is a coherent scheme to the universe to be uncovered" is an act of faith.<br /><br />NOOO- it most certainly is not..it is based on prior experience just like assuming the sun will rise is NOT an act of faith but a reasonable assumption based on prior observations...This is all different shades of the science-is-just-a-faith ploy. That it could come from such an erudite and usually reasoned writer and scientist should be frightening...with friends like him who needs fundies?fun2bfreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02538776119340058120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-44167588144727904122006-12-12T16:01:00.000-06:002006-12-12T16:01:00.000-06:00Wonderful job on this show. I know how it is when ...Wonderful job on this show. I know how it is when you have everything all worked out so perfectly in your mind, you think you have it all down, and then when you try to explain it, it just sounds so inadequate to represent the thoughts you have. But you did great! You actually come across as very thoughtful and charming and things did NOT come out as jumbled as you fear!Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02953567736353949948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-11968916267234488752006-12-12T15:58:00.000-06:002006-12-12T15:58:00.000-06:00Phil! Doing some more star watching, are you? (heh...Phil! Doing some more star watching, are you? (hehe, get it? heeheehee).<br /><br />When Craig said that you'd better not let the priests know that some of their parishioners didn't believe, I was hoping you'd say that some of the unbelievers <i>are</i> the priests.<br /><br />--JamesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16654170.post-13012661854692089292006-12-12T15:37:00.000-06:002006-12-12T15:37:00.000-06:00I'll add my voice to the chorus (hahaha! Get it! H...I'll add my voice to the chorus (hahaha! Get it! Haha!) and say you did fine. You were charming, and I suspect a few people will be surprised at how nice an evil atheist can be. I also think you were clearly intelligent and had given this some thought. <br /><br />You did good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com