# Der Trihs **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 3, 2009, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150 "2009-11-03T08:22:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/241 "2009-11-05T20:45:21Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Atheists are one of America’s least trusted minorities according to surveys. According to surveys, most people don’t think we should be elected to anything, don’t think their children should marry us, and regard us as immoral. You are having more of an effect than I thought. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/242 "2009-11-05T20:47:38Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > You are having more of an effect than I thought. > > Regards, > Shodan You should see what you’re doing to the _simpering irrational asshole_ numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/243 "2009-11-05T21:29:17Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Naturally enough, I don’t agree. I’m no Catholic, and I don’t at all believe in the dogma of Catholicism, but if I was introduced to a priest I’d not tell him ‘I think your position is the result of a system of fraud, delusion, and stupidity, so I won’t do you the courtesy of addressing you by your traditional epithet’. That strikes me as intolerably rude and confrontational. I wouldn’t either. I address them as Sir, Mr., or Ms. If they ask why I’ll tell them the truth. I won’t be an ass about it, but I’ll let them know my opinion. If they don’t like it. Tough. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/244 "2009-11-05T21:52:47Z")
**On anger:** Anger is a natural emotion and can have positive effects, namely driving someone to take action. The problems only arise when you can’t control your anger when relating to other people, because when confronted by anger, people’s defenses go up and typically regard angry-person as a wingnut. So my suggestion would be to **Get angry, engage calmly.** **On Der Trihs:** You could base a drinking game on how often he/she begins his/her post with\*\*\*“No,…”\*\*\* 😃 ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/245 "2009-11-05T22:04:11Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, I’m not. Atheists are one of America’s least trusted minorities according to surveys. According to surveys, most people don’t think we should be elected to anything, don’t think their children should marry us, and regard us as immoral. > [@Shodan](#): > > You are having more of an effect than I thought. > > Regards, > Shodan **Shodan** rarely makes me laugh but 🙂 I do actually remember another thread where I remarkably found myself agreeing with him. I came away thinking that however and permanently warped his wannabe mind has become, he means well. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/246 "2009-11-05T22:09:25Z")
> [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](#): > > Agreed completely, here in the UK we tiptoe around so as not to offend anyone of faith… > Mohammed is always referred to on the BBC as “The Prophet Mohammed”, once again, not my prophet. And they call Silvia of Sweden “Queen” even though she’s not your (or my) Queen. So? > [@Orbifold](#): > > [Go read this.](http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2007/10/atheists-and-an.html) That’s really good. Thank you. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Do _you_ really think that belief is hardwired into your brain and has nothing to do with there actually being a god to believe in? I’m not quite sure what you are asking here **Czarcasm** , but for me the theorizing about a HADD “Hyperactive Agency Detection Device” in the brain is something that I find interesting. I’ve tended towards a stance of empirical agnosticism for one major reason: every historical human culture has had religion, which suggests strongly to me that there is either an external or internal reason for this. HADD provides a possible internal mechanism for explaining the origins of religion and its hardy persistence. The proof of HADD wouldn’t (technically) prove the lack of an external reason, that is it wouldn’t technically disprove the existence of god(s) – but for me it would move the likelihood further towards the “not exist” position that atheists assert should be the default premise. > [@Uzi](#): > > That’s because Australia and New Zealand aren’t as religious as the US. You don’t see the dark side of the thing as much… Someone here on the 'Dope explained to me once that the reason the US needs such a high wall between Church and State is because of this; that made a lof of sense to me. > [@rivulus](#): > > I agree. Sometimes **Der Trihs** jumps in more forcefully than appeals to my sensibilities. On the other hand, he has the patience to explain his position over and over again, in the face of some astonishingly willful ignorance. \ Me too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/247 "2009-11-05T22:12:02Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > We know who ultimately owns the media and most of the politicians, so that makes the “Meek and Mild” approach even that much more worthless, doesn’t it? > I ask again of all those who say that **Der Trihs’s** approach is too much for his message: Which softer-spoken atheist do you think would be a good choice to do some major influencing on the Christian community as a whole? What network would let this person have a semi-regular spot to air his views? Julia Sweeney. Mind you, the Mahers and the Hitchens are certainly the people who can effectively make headlines as talking heads with outrageous soundbytes. By doing so, they can force the subject into the national debate. But that’s completely different undertaking than winning people over, and the methods need to be just as distinct. Conversion is not going to happen en masse by force, but rather on a personal level far under the radar of the talking points news cycle. By an atheist evangelist engaging people whom we’re asking to take what will be for them **the scariest thing they will ever do**. And when they so begin that journey, it’s a delusion that they will compete it in a single bound. It is more likely to happen by degrees. And for those first trepidatious steps, I will ALWAYS point to a “Letting Go of God” before a “Religulous.” ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/248 "2009-11-05T22:35:12Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > And they call Silvia of Sweden “Queen” even though she’s not your (or my) Queen. So? Did you read post #230? If you don’t understand the difference, maybe when it’s explained more bluntly you’ll get it. Hint: I’ll bet everyone that calls Silvia of Sweden “Queen” agrees that she’s actually a queen. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/249 "2009-11-05T23:42:48Z")
> [@Fantome](#): > > Did you read post #230? If you don’t understand the difference, maybe when it’s explained more bluntly you’ll get it. Hint: I’ll bet everyone that calls Silvia of Sweden “Queen” agrees that she’s actually a queen. Even rabid anti-Monarchists? 🙂 Well, then I hope you are equally opposed to using all religious based titles, (the Deacon’s not a messenger, the Pope’s not _my_ father), or as **Michael Ellis** put it: > [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > Or are you just annoyed that it’s a religious title. In which case I hope you also complain about the term Jesus Christ. Christ is a descriptive, not a surname. I hope you refer to him as Yeshua bar-Joseph, which is his secular name. Calling **Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullāh** the _Prophet Muhammad_ is no different to calling Silvia _Queen of Sweden_. It is a useful descriptor that identifies that Muhammad from any other Muhammad. And it is true in-so-far as public acclaim (whether by Muslims or Swedes) states that it is true. I can’t see that calling Muhammad a Prophet endorses Islamic beliefs… any more than me referring to that Judeo-Christian mythological figure with the wings and flaming sword as the \*Archangel Michael \* implies that I believe in Angels. It does however serve to differentiate “him” from my nephew Michael. ---
**Author:** ![ManiacMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@ManiacMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ManiacMan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/250 "2009-11-06T00:06:24Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > It makes me feel better than depression, which is my other reaction to living in a world dominated by religion. We live in a world where evil and madness triumphed ages ago, and has inflcted immense suffering and evil upon billions of people. A world where religion has spent millennia grinding all that is good or sane out of humanity. Hate causes depression…anger turned inward also causes depression. You are trapped in a never ending cycle. The more you hate religion the more you will become depressed. Surely, there are some aspects of organized religion (no matter how small) that are positive. Perhaps, you should focus on such and just let go of all that hate. You will feel better I think… ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/251 "2009-11-06T00:20:00Z")
> [@ManiacMan](#): > > Hate causes depression…anger turned inward also causes depression. You are trapped in a never ending cycle. The more you hate religion the more you will become depressed. Surely, there are some aspects of organized religion (no matter how small) that are positive. Perhaps, you should focus on such and just let go of all that hate. You will feel better I think… Yes, **DT** , give in…join us…you will be happier this way… _One of us! One of us!_ ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/252 "2009-11-06T00:28:15Z")
I thought **Der Trihs** didn’t participate in BBQ threads about himself. Huh. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/253 "2009-11-06T00:36:46Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I thought **Der Trihs** didn’t participate in BBQ threads about himself. Huh. Because generally they consist of a bunch of people who hate me piling on with insults and implied violence or wishes for violence against me. Even when I don’t show up. Quite different than the OP. And I generally try to remember to stay out of Pit threads against any member of the forum; fair’s fair. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/254 "2009-11-06T00:58:02Z")
(( **Der** )) Oh you! Fair’s fair. I can behind that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ManiacMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@ManiacMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ManiacMan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/255 "2009-11-06T01:57:55Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Yes, **DT** , give in…join us…you will be happier this way… > > _One of us! One of us!_ Nah I didn’t mean it like that… ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/256 "2009-11-06T01:59:27Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > After a long drawn out fight that is still not over. It “adapted” because it _ **lost** _. Because science and practicality beat it down. Religion does not claim to answer questions like say “How does physics work?” and even when religion seems to contradict science it’s quite likely it’s metaphor or parable. Science has yet to however give certain prove that God or the afterlife doesn’t exist. And before you say there is no evidence it exists I will say this: Back in 200 AD no Roman had any idea that the American continent existed and no way to get prove, but does that mean that the American continent didn’t exist? > [@](#): > > “Let those dirty, disease-infested, sinning queers die!” – John Ashcroft. Unlike you, I was around when the AIDS virus first became known, and I watched as millions of good Christians like you cheered it on. Cite? > [@](#): > > What does THAT have to do with stem cells? > > And it’s not like being religious make someone less willing to use WMD; especially not Christians, who think the end of the world is a great idea. I was saying how religion may have moral objections to certain uses of science. Also please do not equate all Christians with Jack Chick type fundamentalists or Jim Jones type cultists. > [@](#): > > It’s founded on faith, ignores contrary evidence, is a dogma based world view, and is hostile to all competition. It looks like a religion; it acts like a religion. Not really. Marx used facts and evidence in his theories, it refutes contrary evidence, and if you’ve talked to an actual communist he will be not be fanatical about it. BTW, what would be your political views? > [@](#): > > Dawkins is a biologist who wrote about atheism as well as some interesting books on evolution; I don’t know the other two offhand, and know little about O’Hair but the name and her role in ending forced school prayer. So if you are going the \*\*ITR Champion \*\*route and trying to discredit atheism by bashing its supposed prophets, I don’t care. I’m not a follower of anyone. I am not bashing anyone I am just asking your opinion on them ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/257 "2009-11-06T02:08:31Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Religion does not claim to answer questions like say “How does physics work?” and even when religion seems to contradict science it’s quite likely it’s metaphor or parable. Science has yet to however give certain prove that God or the afterlife doesn’t exist. And before you say there is no evidence it exists I will say this: Back in 200 AD no Roman had any idea that the American continent existed and no way to get prove, but does that mean that the American continent didn’t exist? False comparison. Continents were things known to exist, that didn’t violate any known rules of nature. So speculating about them was far more reasonable than speculating about gods. It would have been closer to speculating about an undetected planet orbiting Alpha Centauri. > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Cite? Hello. I _ **quoted** _ him. > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Marx used facts and evidence in his theories, it refutes contrary evidence, and if you’ve talked to an actual communist he will be not be fanatical about it. I really suggest you go read something about the actual history of Communism. > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > I am not bashing anyone I am just asking your opinion on them I already gave you what little opinion I have. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/258 "2009-11-06T03:21:16Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > **Continents were things known to exist, that didn’t violate any known rules of nature. So speculating about them was far more reasonable than speculating about gods.** I find that particular comment…specious. Not attempting to pile on here, at all. The world used to be flat, remember? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/259 "2009-11-06T03:46:07Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > False comparison. Continents were things known to exist, that didn’t violate any known rules of nature. So speculating about them was far more reasonable than speculating about gods. It would have been closer to speculating about an undetected planet orbiting Alpha Centauri. People thought that according to the rules of nature the earth was flat, and the Sun revolved around it. > [@](#): > > Hello. I _ **quoted** _ him. You quoted him yes but you didn’t prove whether he actually said it. For instance I could say you said “I think murder is fine.” and I’d be “quoting” you but it wouldn’t be true. > [@](#): > > I really suggest you go read something about the actual history of Communism. Yes and I think communism has been a terrible philosophy that killed millions of people directly and indirectly and unworkable in reality however it is not a religion unless Nazism, conservatism, liberalism, socialism all are religions. > [@](#): > > I already gave you what little opinion I have. Ok. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/260 "2009-11-06T04:03:40Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Science has yet to however give certain prove that God or the afterlife doesn’t exist. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. The burden of proof of existence is on religion, not science. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150.md?page=14)