# News flash: Ex Machina doesn't care for Christianity **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 12, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102 "2005-07-12T01:25:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/21 "2005-07-12T10:52:36Z")
I baptize you in the name of the Proton, the Neutron, and the Holy Electron. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/22 "2005-07-12T11:17:59Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > Think I could get him to read _Mere Christianity_ by Lewis? 🙂 No, _Mere Christianity_ has whole paragraphs in it. Concepts are introduced and then expanded upon. Philosophical arguments are fully examined instead of reduced to one-line variants of “I’m right and you’re wrong.” Acting as if he were dropping pithy theological bombshells instead of clumsy attempts to be poetic which make the reader say, “huh?” and then “but your argument fails because… wait… huh?” It has impact because it actually says something. And it’s not lazy. The concept would be lost on **Ex Machina**. **Ex Machina** is a crimson babboon’s ass in the body of an angry, simple-minded militant atheist. The eagle flies at midnight. Phosphorescent life springs forth at the bottom of a cold, blackened sea. Its purpose? None can say. There may yet be brothers of man. Far away, amongst the stars. What’s the frequency, Kenneth? ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/23 "2005-07-12T11:31:23Z")
I’m not religious, and I still thought **Ex Machina** was being a dick. It’s one thing to disagree with someone, and it’s another to be a condescending jackass. The latter just makes all the rest of us non-religious types look bad. Examples of condescending jackassitude: “Religion is nothing but a mind game played on **desperate victims.** ” “‘intelligent designers’ **can’t grasp** evolution” “They look at life around them in **the small context of their existence.** ” (bolding mine in all cases) I get the distinct impression that **Ex Machina** thinks that the reason religion exists is that _not everyone is as smart as he is._ ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/24 "2005-07-12T11:59:24Z")
I thought it was interesting that he used such an insulting, condescending and misinformed title for [thread=325041]this thread[/thread]. I know lots of Christians, Creationists and IDers who fully understand the concepts and evidence for natural selection and evolution better than Ex Machina apparently does. He does not seem to try to understand the points of his fellow (opposing) debaters. He seems to think he’s presenting novel ideas when he starts threads, when his pet topic is one that is pretty much constantly debated in GD. There may be new debates to be started, but he hasn’t found one. Having lurked here for a year or so before joining recently, I came in having reached the conclusion that there are intelligent people here who have reached different conclusions than I have about many topics, using the same evidence. That doesn’t make me think that those who don’t agree with me are stupid (not all of them, anyway). 🙂 I thought the thread I cited above was started and titled with the intention of inciting a rancorous thread rather than a debate. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/25 "2005-07-12T13:01:04Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > I’m not religious, and I still thought **Ex Machina** was being a dick. It’s one thing to disagree with someone, and it’s another to be a condescending jackass. The latter just makes all the rest of us non-religious types look bad. > > Examples of condescending jackassitude: > “Religion is nothing but a mind game played on **desperate victims.** ” > “‘intelligent designers’ **can’t grasp** evolution” > “They look at life around them in **the small context of their existence.** ” > (bolding mine in all cases) > > I get the distinct impression that **Ex Machina** thinks that the reason religion exists is that _not everyone is as smart as he is._ I like that last statement. It’s the smug obviously superior attitude that irks me. You see it all too often in folks who choose not to believe. I suppose it’s not without cause if you want to focus on the masses that accept obvious mythology as truth. The fact is there are many thinking intelligent believers. Add the fact that his arguements for the most part aren’t logical, as your examples show, and the annoying factor goes up. Maybe having his arguements shredded and dismissed will be just the serving of humility he needs. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/26 "2005-07-12T13:14:34Z")
**cosmosdan** , if you look at the “my best argument thread”, you’ll see some examples of him failing to notice or ignoring instances of his arguments being shredded. A bit Plaidlike in that respect. Don’t get your hopes up regarding humility on his part. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/27 "2005-07-12T13:15:36Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Maybe having his arguements shredded and dismissed will be just the serving of humility he needs. Rebutting is futile. He just makes more one-liners. A beetle attacked me. Therefore, you’re stupid and God doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/28 "2005-07-12T13:16:44Z")
Preaching to the choir, that’s all. \*\*Ex Machina \*\* is obviously passionate about his beliefs. Now when he starts proselytizing, then I’ll help pit him. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/29 "2005-07-12T13:33:10Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > Preaching to the choir, that’s all. \*\*Ex Machina \*\* is obviously passionate about his beliefs. Now when he starts proselytizing, then I’ll help pit him. Passion isn’t an excuse for arrogance and stupidity. Seems to me that he’s more concerned about the sound of his own voice than about logic or reason. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/30 "2005-07-12T13:37:31Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Because harping on religion is gauche, but harping on a dangerous cult is a public service. How can you tell the difference? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/31 "2005-07-12T13:37:35Z")
> [@Tim Staab](#): > > **cosmosdan** , if you look at the “my best argument thread”, you’ll see some examples of him failing to notice or ignoring instances of his arguments being shredded. A bit Plaidlike in that respect. Don’t get your hopes up regarding humility on his part. But it worked so well for **Mockingbird** 😃 These things take time to sink in. Having other atheists say “Hey I’m an atheist too, and your stupid arguements make us look bad” might need to rattle around inside him for a bit before he figures it out. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/32 "2005-07-12T13:38:00Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Oh, no no, I think he lost “The Challenge” actully. I was refering to the fact that **Scott** , in general, claims victory in all the debates he’s been in. Cite? In the one about Santorum reading the bible, I posted a factual answer to a question that Bricker had about Judaism. I answered it. He refused to believe what I was saying, and after a while, I posted a little victory speech. Besides that, and one or two other times, I do not believe that I “claim victory”. True, I believe I am right, and the opposing side is wrong, but that hardly means I have “won.” You can expect to see this post everytime someone claims that I constantly declare victory. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/33 "2005-07-12T13:38:38Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > How can you tell the difference? Ask a Mormon, they know all about that stuff. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/34 "2005-07-12T13:44:01Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > True, I believe I am right, and the opposing side is wrong, but that hardly means I have “won.” [Argument Clinic] Yes, it does. [/Argument Clinic] ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/35 "2005-07-12T14:44:19Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > Examples of condescending jackassitude: You missed [this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6355923&postcount=146) ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/36 "2005-07-12T16:18:25Z")
I think I see the problem here. Ex Machina does care for Christianity. Apparently, he thinks that while there a more cases against the existence of god then for, he still admires christianity. However, he still believe that much of christianity is philosophically workable, and even admirable. The way it is interpreted by many chrisitans however, is simply wrong. He is pitting the christians who mess up this “philosophically workable” concept. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/37 "2005-07-12T16:34:07Z")
**Scott Plaid** , are you being facetious? I see plenty of scorn and disdain, but nothing that could be described as admiration, or even respect. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/38 "2005-07-12T16:44:13Z")
> [@Ex Machina](#): > > Because I have respect for a man who sacrificed Himself for His principles. > > I believe He solved the problem of the cycle of violence. By not resisting evil, and trusting that this world is a mere passage to something better, true believers are freed from the fear of death and the fear of murder and degradation by evil persons. > > But the whole concept is destroyed by the hypocrites who demand salvation but refuse to commit to the principles of Christ. Christians are supposed to follow His example, forsake their lives, not resist evil, trust in the next world. > > When the false Christians use their hypocritical ideas to influence politics and law it affects atheists like me. The only way to keep their cheap ideas of mind control out of public life is to expose their blatant hypocrisy. > > My point of view serves two purposes. It reaffirms the facts of a doctrine I truly respect, and it rejects the selfish political motives of the moral police. > > Jesus said that His followers are blessed when they are persecuted in His name. So how does that square with the militant Christians who insist on their view being dominant in public life? [Did Martin Luther screw up Christianity?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6357961) Ex Machina sounds more like a christian who can not reconcile what christians do with their religion, to me. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/39 "2005-07-12T16:48:08Z")
Well, he’s wobbling like a weeble. He’s all over the place. He’s saying now that he admires Christ for sacrificing Himself for His principles. When I mentioned that the 9/11 hijackers did the same thing, he left that out of his response. He moaned about oppressive laws sought by false Christians, but changed that shortly thereafter to moaning about the SDMB community. It is clear to me by now that his intention is to slide away from all rebuttal, change his argument, and start his game anew. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102/40 "2005-07-12T16:53:57Z")
You read it as wobbling. Personally, I read it as revealing many facets of an illogical world view. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-ex-machina-doesnt-care-for-christianity/312102.md?page=3)