tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post3634542474259334721..comments2023-09-24T07:53:50.826-05:00Comments on The Atheist Experience™: Open thread on show #705Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-68558105793315005642011-05-14T04:30:09.201-05:002011-05-14T04:30:09.201-05:00I'm late to post about this, but man, the end ...I'm late to post about this, but man, the end of this episode (rather, the after episode bit) was the best thing I have seen on the show ever. Great job guys!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-72377836965601736822011-04-24T16:41:35.077-05:002011-04-24T16:41:35.077-05:00My 2 cents is that I'm not convinced Mark is f...My 2 cents is that I'm not convinced Mark is for real. In addition to his pronunciation of "about"--which I also didn't hear when he called me the week prior (but it is different listening to the caller on the air than as a viewer. As host I focus less on speech patterns because I'm focused on what they're saying.<br /><br />With Mark the biggest problem I saw was that the same guy insisting on literal hell in a few prior calls was suddenly arguing a highly liberal Christian viewpoint of "non literal Bible interpretation."<br /><br />In my experience the first doctrine to fall when a person takes a liberal view of the text is "hell" because it's so indefensible. The idea that Mark would assert it's not the literal word of god--and then argue so vehemently for a literal hell...just doesn't make sense.<br /><br />On the other side of that coin, people don't always make sense.<br /><br />Ultimately if Mark is a Poe, he's really ramping up the calls--seemingly desiring to make it the "Mark from Austin Stone Show." If he's sincere, then he's just trying. But if not, his time has come, I think as well, to cut him off. Even Caesar doesn't call EVERY week. But if Mark is a Poe, he won't stop calling. The more attention he generates, the more fun he'll have, and the more he'll get out of cranking the show--unfortunately.<br /><br />We used to have a prank caller named James. And it was similar. Ultimately Matt got really good at identifying him. But often he'd still dialog because James still raised good points, even though he was only doing it to generate attention.<br /><br />Anyway, my thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-65700628546586910412011-04-22T11:59:46.148-05:002011-04-22T11:59:46.148-05:00I completely agree. That is why I also find the ph...I completely agree. That is why I also find the phrase to be abominable.<br /><br />If I am willing to die for my faith and I love my neighbour as myself then that means it is okay for me to let other people die for *my* faith.<br /><br />Heck, is it much of a surprise that this abomination is written in leviticus 19 which is between leviticus 18 and 20 and all the orders to go around killing people?<br /><br />But either way, my main point was that people seem to think that it is an invention of christianity, which clearly it is not...thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05935636309408689259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-45871384026936093532011-04-22T11:24:42.105-05:002011-04-22T11:24:42.105-05:00I think that the problem with the whole love your ...I think that the problem with the whole love your neighbor thing is that people assume that "neighbor" means everyone who isn't you. This is not true. As you can see from Leviticus: 19:18 above, the neighbor referenced here is limited to those "among your own people."<br /><br />Also, even if you love your neighbor as yourself, that doesn't mean you wont stone him to death for sinning. After all, you would expect to be stoned to death, yourself, for the same sins. It is an act of "love."JAFisher44https://www.blogger.com/profile/09894511085072464057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-79127330915209016452011-04-21T18:13:01.631-05:002011-04-21T18:13:01.631-05:00Hey guys, long time listner long time lurker first...Hey guys, long time listner long time lurker first time poster :)<br /><br />I just wanted to comment on an issue with the talk between Matt and Mark. You missed a major issue.<br /><br />Mark kept comming back to issues of Jesus saying "love your neighbour" at some point he even flat out said "comparing love your neighbour to stuff like leviticus"<br /><br />But the thing that most christians miss out, is that love your neighbour actually comes *FROM* leviticus: (19:18)<br /> “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."<br /><br />So many christians take this simple phrase as a wavering excuse to anything in the OT and they really should be called on it.thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05935636309408689259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-59636943984800730242011-04-21T17:34:29.801-05:002011-04-21T17:34:29.801-05:00I find it very sad listening to this fellow, Mark....I find it very sad listening to this fellow, Mark.<br />He sounds very young. How sad that the religious indoctrinate there kids into a mind set where they are literary waisting the best years of there lives pointlessly worrying about all the crap in the Bible, and attending church when they should be having fun.tonyDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11473370383814794320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-59263873166653801112011-04-21T02:16:47.171-05:002011-04-21T02:16:47.171-05:00Not to add to the conspiracy theory here, but bein...Not to add to the conspiracy theory here, but being of a suspicious nature, I did a google of: Austin church.<br />Would anyone like to guess which church came up first...<br /><br />http://www.google.com/search?q=austin+church&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a<br /><br />After the ads of course.VVArlockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086870165812087379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-43959963233609531392011-04-20T16:15:56.088-05:002011-04-20T16:15:56.088-05:00New atheist billboards in Texas!
https://epicstep...New atheist billboards in Texas!<br /><br />https://epicstep.com/campaign/166/atheism-wont-hurt-you/<br /><br />Support the cause.estevan carlos bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03938651195986928529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-75698704320636108672011-04-20T08:53:55.620-05:002011-04-20T08:53:55.620-05:00>Is Friday the day no one is supposed to eat me...>Is Friday the day no one is supposed to eat meat >- The three days before Easter?<br />><br />>I'm trying to figure out when to have a BBQ.<br /><br />*casts way back in his memory to Catholic catechism* Friday is a day of 'fast and abstinence' -- no meat, no sweets, etc. <br /><br />However, a 'day of fast and abstinence' cannot coincide with a 'day of holy obligation' (when you must attend mass). Therefore, Good Friday is NOT a 'day of fast and abstinence'. <br /><br />Reality: these are a collection of arbitrary rules that some priests made up, and about which tied themselves into tiny theological knots. Who gives a rat's ass :D Don't eat meat unless you know the animal was raised well and treated humanely.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07254956843786307611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-91771439192422370082011-04-19T22:17:03.219-05:002011-04-19T22:17:03.219-05:00Oh, my name is Mark and I am a Canadian, but I am ...Oh, my name is Mark and I am a Canadian, but I am not the Mark on the show. I am a different Mark.<br /><br />In my opinion, I did not think that there was anything unusual about the caller Mark. I have been in the call center business for over 12 years and have spoken to hundreds of thousands of people from both the US and Canada over the years and have encountered all manner of personalities. That Mark seems like a regular person. Were his answers repetitive? Yes. Did he seem to have trouble grasping simple concepts? Yes. Just like most of the people that call Tech Support and/or Customer Service numbers.<br /><br />On an unrelated note: To the developer of this website: Thank you for having an easy to read Word Verification security when making posts. I hate websites that feature Word Verification where the graphics are SO distorted that you have to recycle through 8-10 "words" before you get one that you can read.markgnoinskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11681397321520797605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-16944214233786094892011-04-19T22:06:41.517-05:002011-04-19T22:06:41.517-05:00I just finished watching show #705, all the way to...I just finished watching show #705, all the way to the off-air end, and I must say, Wow! That was a great show! The talk between Matt and Mark was great. Matt, I think that you need to start up your own motivational speaker business. Heh ;) mI only wish that I had something contrary to say so that I could get a "Matt Talk".markgnoinskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11681397321520797605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-41745746961692353752011-04-19T19:39:07.127-05:002011-04-19T19:39:07.127-05:00I'm the one who originally brought up the fact...I'm the one who originally brought up the fact that "mark123123" in the chat room was on Rogers, a Canadian IP. Considering that people have been wanting to hear more from Mark lately, it wouldn't surprise me in the <b>least</b> if someone posing as Mark from the Austin Stone came into the chat and started claiming to be him. There's absolutely no way to know whether or not mark123123 and Mark the caller were the same guy.<br /><br />Besides, doesn't the studio have caller ID?FreePlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13211650671189898841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-71195018501038880892011-04-19T19:27:27.387-05:002011-04-19T19:27:27.387-05:00On the topic of local Austin churches...
I live on...On the topic of local Austin churches...<br />I live on the north side of Austin, and a local church was recently brought to my attention by a sign they posted in front of their building. It's a REALLY corny sign that says "We made this sweet sign to get you to come to church! See you Sunday!" Who knew it was so easy?! ;)<br /><br />I looked up their website to see if they had a photo of the sign, and I found that they had presented a sermon entitled "Why Are So Many Smart People Atheists?" back in February. It is posted online but I have not taken the time to listen<br />http://www.cccaustin.com/archived-messages<br /><br /> (and I'm only just watching #705 on TiVo now...Tracie is awesome so far!)Melizerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08724343282950179740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-42374602728585000772011-04-19T19:17:00.384-05:002011-04-19T19:17:00.384-05:00Some people were wondering how we know that Mark&#...Some people were wondering how we know that Mark's IP was Canadian; the reason is, in the last 10-15 minutes before the show ended, some guy named Mark[some numerical string] entered the u-stream chat, and demanded that they open some lines, because he was Mark of the Austin Stone.<br /><br />The guy in the control room figured he was fake, because his IP address was Canadian, but then when he actually called in and sounded like the Mark we all know and love, we were convinced that it was the same guy. Of course, now it calls the sincerity of Mark himself into question...<br /><br />~Ianianmathwiz7https://www.blogger.com/profile/10861609029093929357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-33970534046742072902011-04-19T15:31:25.749-05:002011-04-19T15:31:25.749-05:00Has anyone heard about this supposed new finding t...Has anyone heard about this supposed new finding that the last supper took place on a Wednesday and not Thursday? (Even though there is no evidence that a "last supper" described in the bible even took place)Mamba24https://www.blogger.com/profile/05946274556360577420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-45458009162222554862011-04-19T15:00:11.287-05:002011-04-19T15:00:11.287-05:00So... what was the *actual* color of Jen's T-S...So... what was the *actual* color of Jen's T-Shirt?betlamedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14859006136534657422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-14901177520290980122011-04-19T12:47:03.794-05:002011-04-19T12:47:03.794-05:00I just posted this on the previous entry on Mark.
...I just posted this on the previous entry on Mark.<br /><br />"New poster here, different than the Andrew above. I have to agree that either this guy is a complete poe, or that he's a kid from the church. At the end of the most recent call you can hear that the tone of his voice changes as he's hanging up the phone.<br /><br />Also, and I don't know if anyone has pointed this out yet, the callers Andrew(12/5/10-show#686), and Mike(1/23/11-show#693), sound very much like the same poerson (misspelling intended) with a bit of Southern accent added.<br /><br />I really only just started watching the show after Matt shellacked Mark on that episode in February (saw the clips on Jerry's, PZ's and RDF sites) and started watching previous episodes. As I had watched the aforementioned clip several time I had the voice fresh in my head. I started a list after a couple of times and then went back to check the previous instances, I think there maybe one or two more before he started using the moniker "Mark", but I need to check.<br /><br />On the other hand I may just be crazy."<br /><br />The instance RQ is talking about is the one from 693. I still think that Andrew from 686 is him too.Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08868255307020122518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-34253267878141417232011-04-19T12:39:14.116-05:002011-04-19T12:39:14.116-05:00I've thought Mark was a fake caller since he c...I've thought Mark was a fake caller since he called and had a long conversation with Jen and Tracie. It was just to easy how he just spouted out the stereotyped Christian talking points, and even asked Tracie if she hated God after Tracie had just given a talk about how dumb that is to say. He's called a number of times, once trying to talk with a southern accent, but he does have a Canadian accent. Things he says contradict things he has said in earlier shows. He probably just looked up churches online and found the Austin Stone. So he says he goes to this church. He gets a friend to call (Luke) to say he is a youth in the church. Mark happens to call the same episode? In the past he asked why they don't debate William Lane Craig. Unless you have been watching atheist debates on YouTube, your average church going fundamentalist who acts as dumb as Mark isn't going to know who he is. Even the pastors of the church don't know who the guy is. If there really has been a discussion in his church about the show, is isn't mentioned in any of the recent online sermons. Mark is a Poe who likes to hear himself talk.Brent Soderberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11701400656698232224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-87819091812984798562011-04-19T12:24:50.446-05:002011-04-19T12:24:50.446-05:00@JT:
"my mother would tell me to avoid eating...@JT:<br />"<i>my mother would tell me to avoid eating meat at the school cafeteria, and I'd end up having a hotdog or something, and nothing bad would happen.</i>"<br /><br />Why would it? The rule is "don't eat meat", not "don't eat processed textured homogenized protein-ish food substance".<br /><br />And besides, if you can turn a wafer into flesh by saying a few words over it, then you can turn a steak into something kosher. (I believe the magic words are "Yee-hah! Now that's what I call a nice juicy matzoh!")arensbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951157397351199056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-72025268267536817812011-04-19T12:18:36.468-05:002011-04-19T12:18:36.468-05:00Hmm. I'm Canadian and I strongly doubt someone...Hmm. I'm Canadian and I strongly doubt someone would be able to identify me as such by my voice alone. That being said, someone people do sound "Canadian", not sure if Mark fits that neatly. The info about his ISP is very interesting though.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006422771234684657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-82276117294744686942011-04-19T12:18:17.889-05:002011-04-19T12:18:17.889-05:00Is Friday the day no one is supposed to eat meat -...Is Friday the day no one is supposed to eat meat - The three days before Easter?<br /><br />I'm trying to figure out when to have a BBQ.<br /><br />I remember from my distant past that my mother would tell me to avoid eating meat at the school cafeteria, and I'd end up having a hotdog or something, and nothing bad would happen. <br /><br />Is it that if I eat a hotdog on this day, I burn? I never got that.JThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08881036419280903737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-17015548919007322092011-04-19T12:05:50.958-05:002011-04-19T12:05:50.958-05:00@thalamay -- That's true, but people were poin...@thalamay -- That's true, but people were pointing out that Mark's IP is Canadian. Lots of people move country, but not many manage to take their internet provider with them. It's too much to fit on the truck. ;)<br /><br />....Though I suppose it's possible Mark really is from Austin, is resident in Canada, and learned to say "about" differently. :)Lone Primatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15746801663695992138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-15098648962074685322011-04-19T09:31:52.733-05:002011-04-19T09:31:52.733-05:00As long as Mark'S calls are interesting, it...As long as Mark'S calls are interesting, it's okay to have him on. In the past, crank calls often provided good conversation starters.sans_Dieuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11437040905394792018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-87666709584529537432011-04-19T09:09:08.599-05:002011-04-19T09:09:08.599-05:00I don't think "Mark" is a Poe or a t...I don't think "Mark" is a Poe or a troll. I also don't think Mark is his real name. He called as "Andrew" and "Mike" earlier. I think he just doesn't/didn't want anyone in his church to recognize him. I think he had doubts at least about his church if not about his religion and didn’t want his church to start harassing him about them. He always sounded like he was hoping that the host would say to him that it’s okay for him to believe. I think he was scared that he might be turning into an atheist and he had learned that atheists have no moral, no purpose, no hope etc. and that scared him (and hell of course).ruinwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15340056766038134039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-16641792646065661442011-04-19T06:11:13.279-05:002011-04-19T06:11:13.279-05:00@memoryhero:
As you can see in the earlier thread...@memoryhero:<br /><br />As you can see in the earlier thread here (http://atheistexperience.blogspot.com/2011/04/austin-stone-pastor-writes-in-dismisses.html), the AE crew are in contact with a pastor from the Austin Stone Church.<br /><br />Personally, I'm hoping we can get him to call in. That would be awesome.Lukashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844177654412625852noreply@blogger.com