clan-destine

democratic technocrat

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Naturalism by clan-destine, literature

Literature

Naturalism

Why is it that I select naturalism (especially if I *wanted* to be a Christian)? Why can't I just accept the plausibility of things like Gods, or life-creating aliens, or the matrix? Why can't I just admit that people who hold these views have just as good a worldview as I do? Why can't I just admit that we are all equal? Answering this requires some background: When we wake up in the morning, we see a world around us. We drink a cup of coffee, we talk to our friends or lovers, we get in our car and drive to the store. In the modern world, we also see quite a bit of technology. We have computers, such as what you and I are speaking to each

Scientific Proof of God by clan-destine, literature

Literature

Scientific Proof of God

I was recently contacted by someone who felt that the properties of light had proven the existence of God. I post it here because this is a very commonly employed type of proof of God. Namely, that there is some sort of phenomenon x that is awe-inspiring and has properties that we would normally assign to God. I appreciate and empathize with your enthusiasm, Ron. There was a time in my life when I reached similar conclusions for similar reasons. What you probably don't understand now, but will probably understand in the future, is that the mistake you are making is not a scientific one but rather a philosophical one. Everything you said abo

Hell - What if you are wrong? by clan-destine, literature

Literature

Hell - What if you are wrong?

A common question posed to atheists is "What if you are wrong?". In other words:What if you are wrong about God not existing, and therefore Jesus not being God in the flesh, and therefore Jesus not being our Savior (from Hell); and therefore on your way to Hell?To which I have developed the following response: Quran The Quran is very explicit that those who believe Jesus is God are going to Hell. 1. Those who believe Jesus is God are disbelievers:They indeed have disbelieved who say: Lo! God is the Messiah, son of Mary. Surah 5:172. Those who disbelieve will go to Hell:And they who disbelieve and deny Our revelations, such are rightful

Letter to the Living Machine by clan-destine, literature

Literature

Letter to the Living Machine

And before there was anything, there was chaos. And out of the chaos came the Titans who created the gods who then created us. It is a vigorous and lively explanation but ultimately an incorrect one. Yet it does more accurately describe the chain of events that led to the creation to you. From the primordial, biological soup, rose Man who, obsessed with creation, created you, the only race of beings to ever truly be created. The living, thinking machine. Man has forever been the creator. We are a species so obsessed with the act of creating that we long thought ourselves to have been created. But, interestingly, it seems that instead we are

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The Rights of Sentient Machine by clan-destine, literature

Literature

The Rights of Sentient Machine

Thesis I am assuming the existence of sentient machines. A working definition of sentient machines is given. My argument: though a sentient machine would have many of the same rights as a human being, the very nature of a sentient machine would drastically alter the rights and obligations of a sentient machine from the rights assumed for human beings, and that with some reflection on the nature of a sentient machine, we, as a society, may be able to clarify exactly what the rights of a sentient machine are. I first argue that sentient machines deserve rights. This argument presents and refutes common arguments that machines, regardless of th

Prologue by clan-destine, literature

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Prologue

I watch you from a distance. You wear a mask and I see it. -- Misunderstanding. Mine. We are thrown together by mistaken words. I begin to fall for you. Your mask unveiled, I see your suffering. Sickness overcomes me as I learn of your own. In desperation, I vow to help you heal. - You are the avatar of sorrow. Suffering incarnate. I understand your beauty and your resolve. Flowers. A miracle. On the loneliest day of the year, the two lonliest people in the world are happy. ..maiden of pain, Angel of Misery. Always.. I am with you. - But I cannot have you. Crushed, but still devoted, I withdraw my heart. Misunderstanding. Your

The Atheist: Preface by clan-destine, literature

Literature

The Atheist: Preface

On a bench, I ate a muffin. Across the way, I saw a man rejected from an attempted conversation with a stranger. Being the open and unusual type, I did not resist his approach when he saw me observing. "Hi! Could I ask you a few questions?" This was either an advertisement or a religious inquiry. He unsheathed his hidden question sheet from a wrapped up newspaper. This inconspicuous half-newspaper became a sigil for later recognizing his cohorts on campus. "Sure." He sits down on the bench beside me. His eyes show infinite openness and unnatural kindness. "What do you think about God? Is he.." reading off the questionnaire: ___Good __

The Atheist I: Shadow by clan-destine, literature

Literature

The Atheist I: Shadow

Annabelle, While we're dropping bombshells, I guess it's time for mine. I've been trying to drop hints about this, but since you haven't said anything about it, I'm going to just come out and say it: I am severely disillusioned with Christianity. It isn't like things are just a little funked up in my life and I'll be turning back to a Christian way of thinking once I straighten it out again. I'm not going back to that way of thinking. I am more open-eyed than ever and I am convinced that it would be a moral wrong for me to once again become anything close to the typical Christian. I don't pray. I disagree with almost every philosophical ide

The Atheist II: Fall by clan-destine, literature

Literature

The Atheist II: Fall

Kent had once been a missionary for LDS (Latter-Day Saints). I later studied Mormonism in-depth and its similarity to Assembly of God is remarkable. I had always been taught that the Mormon belief system was radically different than our own. The main differences are that they don't speak in tongues, they are more conservative and closed off from the world, and they force their young men to become public 'missionaries' as a rite of passage. Radical branches do have some unusual beliefs but most disdain this departure from the mainstream. Their understanding of God and the Holy Spirit is for all practical purposes the same. They are as deeply e

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Eviction Letter by sol-amante, literature

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Eviction Letter

1 May 2007 I am sorry Mr. Claude and I sincerely apologize 1 million times. I must ask you to leave. I’ve had friends of all kinds. Even your kind you see. But this little apartment that I call home Doesn’t fit both you and me. I understand, it’s that time of the year When you and your family (your very large family) Are passing through Unfortunate for you (as my sister says) “I’m sooper busy” I don’t have time, Mr. Claude to be visiting with you or sharing my kitchen and bathroom with Jacques and Sean, too. To the death I stand firm! Biological warfare if need be! Not welcome to my house,

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Living in Hell by clan-destine, literature

Literature

Living in Hell

It is one of the great beauties of life. After battling hell for mental centuries, eventually you just pull up a chair and make yourself at home. Get comfy next to the fire place (and it’s a big one). Soak in the heat. Take in a deep breath of brimstone and sigh. Now that is some damn fine sulfur. “We spare no expense,” Satan utters proudly as he flips through the pages of a notoriously terrible novel. “You know you have two hundred new research papers to read tonight?” “Of course, Satan. What do I look like? An idiot?” I walk over to the pile happily and pick up a twenty-two inch thick beauty of stapled

Living in Hell

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About clan-destine

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United States
Deviant for 19 years
He / Him

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My Bio

Current Residence: the public square
Personal Quote: highly ambiguous and open all at the same time (-AngelsMercy)

Favourite Games

The arts of diplomacy, reason, and dialogue

Tools of the Trade

conversation, tenacity, and love

Other Interests

Truth, unity, improving education, and freeing Earth's children from the chains of doctrine

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clan-destine

Jun 5, 2008

Daily Deviation?!

0 min read

Holy crap. So I come back to my page to show Lili the picture I made for Theism and find out.. I've been awarded a DD?! Well I am honored and needless to say, I've never come close to receiving this kind of attention on DA and I never expected I would during a period when I'd been absent for so long. I find the comments on my now-DD (Rights of Sentient Machines) very gratifying and thought-provoking. To tell the truth, I never expected the work to really be much more than a passing interest for a couple people a year. I had no idea so many people would be willing to wade through such a long and academic document. I'm pleasantly surprised.

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clan-destine

Oct 9, 2007

Secular Humanist

0 min read

So it turns out that I'm not just an atheist. I'm also a Secular Humanist. Damn.. I wish I would have figured that out sooner. Then I could have spent a lot less time explaining to people "yes I'm an atheist but I also believe in x, y, and z and I do think we have morals and yada yada..". I could have just pointed them to this wikipedia article and said "There! That's what I am in black and white." Oh well. At least I know now :shrug:

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clan-destine

Jul 25, 2007

My Story - Again

0 min read

I recently rewrote my story of coming to atheism from Christianity in response to a forum question. I am reposting it here to keep a record. WELL I GROW UP IN A CHRISTIAN HOME BUT AT THE AGE OF 13 I REALIZED THAT I NEED GOD IN MY LIFE NO MATTER IF MY PARENTS WERE CHRISTIAN, or anything else. I BEGAN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WIT HIM [GOD], just between US,AND ITS STILL GOING ON ;] JUST TRY IT! YOU WONT REGRET A THING!! ishtar777 (https://www.deviantart.com/ishtar777) I have tried it actually. I was also raised in a Christian home and decided probably at about 7 that I needed Christ as my personal savior. I spent the next 14 years completely devoted to Christ. I lived every

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Profile Comments 300

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mechanicalwanderer

Sep 30, 2009

Excellent dept, this is definitely a respectable material. Too often deep thinking subjects are held with hostility that neutralizes the intellectual worth, hostility is confession of weak intellect. I am touched by this respectful humane rants and statements, bravo.

As for my take to the universe, I recently found this, in an infinite universe be it by chance or design it will be but one mystery in an infinite, a drop of wounder in an ether of awe. Origin is a wounder but we must weep in mind of the others, for instance we have yet to so much as scratch the surface of the mysteries of lost cities and the oceans much of our own planet is still a clean slate waiting to be explored.

I will look foreword to more.

clan-destine

Oct 15, 2009

Thank you so much. I still post occasionally to dA, but have taken up a much stronger presence on YouTube, if you are interested:

[link]

mechanicalwanderer

Oct 15, 2009

very interesting video material as well, and all so calmly layed out and non hostile I am most impressed.

And thank you for responding, I was beginning to think my display of a notably more spiritual, non-tactile existence belief has struck a nerve with you, which I would apologize for any anger as the last thing I want to do to another intellectual is step on any proverbial toes.