# Ask Maudlin Murray O'Hair (the American Atheists guy) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 9, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876 "2003-02-09T13:07:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/41 "2003-02-09T19:18:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Diogenes wrote: > > [American Atheists](http://www.atheists.org/). One of the many gems from the site: \*\* Um, Lib, the AA have done and said some questionable things, but I hardly think that quote was one of them. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/42 "2003-02-09T20:21:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Slip Mahoney \* > \*\*Perhaps a little over the top, but basically correct. \*\* I agree. While it’s definitely over the top, I’m not sure exactly what part of that quote Lib disagrees with. If that particular quote angers you, Lib, I would point out that I have seen _far_ worse slander against atheists in fundamentalist websites. If that quote is somehow supposed to be the antithesis of Jack Chick, I’m not really seeing it. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/43 "2003-02-09T20:52:48Z")
Okay. I reckon y’all are right. This is probably more of a Pizza Parlor thread. Sorry, everybody. I think we could have had fun with it, but hey… it’s not the hill I want to die on, as they say. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/44 "2003-02-09T21:31:04Z")
in the beginning, Eru Iluvatar created the world, and saw that it was good. The Ainulindale tells me so. because the Ainulindale tells me that Iluvatar exists, I shall define Iluvatar as necessary existence. I-\>I. Therefore, if Iluvatar exists in any possible worlds, he exists in all of them. I can imagine a world in which he exists. Therefore, he exists in this world. to me, Iluvatar is love, because it’s obvious that love is necessary. When Rapture comes, all you smug atheists who don’t believe in my logic will vanish forever in the Void. I do not need to further define Iluvatar, since my psychic abilities have given me insight that all you smug “scientists” lack. After all, they have been trying to prove for years that there are no such thing as psychics, but all the millions that watch John Edwards can’t be wrong! May the Eternal Fire be with you forever. Love, Ludovic ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/45 "2003-02-10T01:16:33Z")
Oh for crissakes, **Lib** , do you honestly think that **Diogenes** ’s JACK CHICK parody is insulting to Christianity? If ANYTHING is insulting to Christianity, it’s Jack Chick himself. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/46 "2003-02-10T01:36:53Z")
Well **Lib** , before this thread goes bye-bye - I really must point out that I _do_ know the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/47 "2003-02-10T02:00:22Z")
**Ludovic**! How can you claim that unbelievers will be cast into the Void? Only Melkor was cast into the void. Since Iluvatar is, as is Eä, the _true_ Iluvatarian-Eruite (such as myself) rejects this scenario! All go before Eru, believers and unbelievers alike! Splitter! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/48 "2003-02-10T10:14:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Oh for [insult deleted], **Lib** , do you honestly think that **Diogenes** ’s JACK CHICK parody is insulting to Christianity? > > If ANYTHING is insulting to Christianity, it’s Jack Chick himself. \*\* No, I do not think that. Why would you think I think that? Is it okay if I state my opinions myself? Or may I presume that people like This Year’s Model speak for you as well as me? Dingbat. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/49 "2003-02-10T10:54:03Z")
**Guinastasia** simply asked a question, **Lib**. It’s okay to simply answer questions, **Lib** , without trying to seek out and deride motives. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/50 "2003-02-10T11:00:13Z")
I intended no offense by that, **Lib**. I mean, this thread is especially difficult. Was I making a simple observation, or was I parodying something? If so, what was it? Was **Guin** playing along with the thread? Who can tell. It’s just too confusing. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/51 "2003-02-10T12:20:57Z")
Desmo, do you honestly think that everyone besides you is that stupid? [sub]winkie[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/52 "2003-02-10T12:25:30Z")
Well, yes, I do. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/53 "2003-02-10T12:34:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Or may I presume that people like This Year’s Model speak for you as well as me? \*\* I made a couple of assumptions based on what I’ve read in your posts in the past, and on what I think I know of your online personality. Later on in the thread, one of those assumptions was corrected. I apologize for stating that your intent was to mock atheism. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/54 "2003-02-10T13:25:50Z")
Your apology is accepted. As I’ve written in the past, atheists are just like theists: some good, some not. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/55 "2003-02-10T13:57:08Z")
Dear Mr. O’Hair, I think it’s high time someone did something about renaming the days of the week. Why should we, who are rational and free-thinking, have to be subjected to the Norse Pagan proselytization inherent in the names like Thursday (Thor’s day) or Wednesday (Oden’s day)? What are your thoughts on this outrage, and what should we change those names to? ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/56 "2003-02-10T14:04:25Z")
**Lib** , your debating style just kills me (in the laughing way, not the literal way). It really does. Not your ideas, not your beliefs, nothing like that. I share a lot of them, and I try to respect those that I don’t share. But it’s like you paint a target on your chest and ask everyone to shoot at you. And you act surprised when people actually shoot at you. Then people start shooting you in the back, and you say “hey that’s not fair - you were supposed to shoot me in the chest.” ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/57 "2003-02-10T14:42:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*Dear Mr. O’Hair, I think it’s high time someone did something about renaming the days of the week. Why should we, who are rational and free-thinking, have to be subjected to the Norse Pagan proselytization inherent in the names like Thursday (Thor’s day) or Wednesday (Oden’s day)? > > What are your thoughts on this outrage, and what should we change those names to? \*\* Patience, my friend. Pagan religions are not as dangerous as the [nonsense reference deleted]ian religion because nobody takes them seriously. We must take things a step at the time. If we can eliminate the [nonsense reference deleted]ians first, then we can begin in earnest to dismantle the rest of our culture. ---
**Author:** ![bong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@bong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bong)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/58 "2003-02-10T15:12:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Too easy. I am an atheist. If [nonsense reference deleted] exists, then I do not. But I do. Therefore, [nonsense reference deleted] does not. \*\* And nonsense reference can’t exist because you do BECAUSE? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/59 "2003-02-10T15:18:17Z")
Because what I say is reasonable. Religion is the enemy of reason. My thoughts are not stained by fantasies about mythical non-corporeal creatures. I believe what I see with my eyes, hear with my ears, and touch with my hands. I am made of stars! ---
**Author:** ![bong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@bong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bong)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/60 "2003-02-10T16:51:15Z")
What if you were a rock? Why couldn’t god exist if you were a rock? If god is omnipotent, a rock existing wouldn’t stop it from being. So then, you don’t believe that evolution exists? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876.md?page=4)