Discussion: Parental Permission For Abortion

This is mostly for people who believe someone under 18 should need parental permission in order to get an abortion… but anyone can weigh in.

If we can force girls to require parental consent before having an abortion, can parents consent to an abortion when a girl under 18 wants to keep her baby? What I am essentially asking is, do people who support consent requirements actually want parents to have control, or are they just trying to put up another arbitrary roadblock to prevent abortions?

Discussion: Ugly Relatives

Every time I see pictures of my or someone else’s family that were taken before I was born, everyone in the picture is ugly as hell, even people who look normal now. What is the deal with old cameras?

Discussion: Kill Yourself

Is telling someone they should kill themselves legally protected free speech?

Discussion: Ideas vs. Words

Which of the following statements is less offensive or disagreeable to you?

“Sluts should be provided free reproductive healthcare, so that every whore can live a safer and more responsible life of morally empty promiscuity.”

“The government and religious organizations should stop paying for women’s reproductive services.”

You have to pick one which you agree with more. Yes, both are offensive, that is not the question.

Discussion: The One True Religion

You have the power to make any religion true and followed by all people (as closely as they can follow it, anyway). Which do you choose? The more specific your answer, the better. You can also choose to make all religions untrue, in which case all people will abandon their religion. However, if you make this choice, you die immediately and no one knows of your sacrifice.

Discussion: Drugs & Religion

Should the freedom to legally use drugs be part of a person’s freedom to practice their religion? I only ask because I’ve seen religious people claim that atheism leads to drug use and that atheism is a religion… so doesn’t that mean a ban on drugs is discrimination based on atheist religious views?

Discussion: The Quran

If Muslims are so opposed to destruction of the Quran, why don’t we line our embassies, military bases, personal transports, and body armor with Qurans?

Discussion: Women and Atheism

Most women are not atheists, which doesn’t surprise me, but most atheists are not women. Considering how religion treats women, how is this possible?

Discussion: “Fighting For Our Freedom”

Why do people say the military is fighting for our freedom when we lose more of our freedom the longer they’re fighting?

Discussion: Pizza

We’re ordering a pizza. Where are we ordering from and what do you want on your half?

Discussion: Republican Racism

Are Republican politicians as racist as they appear to be, or are they just courting the bigot vote out of desperation?

Discussion: Pray For Me?

If someone tells you they’ll “pray for you,” when they know you’re an atheist, does it bother you, make no difference, or make you feel good?

Discussion: Jesus 2012

If Jesus Christ, as depicted in the New Testament, were running for president in 2012, would you vote for him?

Discussion: Lies and Errors

Which is worse, a lie or an error?

Discussion: Racism

The new racism is not active hatred for people who are different, but is instead the passive denial that there is still inequality.

Discussion: Abortion is Murder

It has been a while since I did a discussion, so I thought I would try one, though I want to explain first how I like to conduct them. I will make a claim I believe to be true (but which I know will be questioned or simply balked at as wrong), and I will refrain from making any replies in the comments, unless specifically asked to clarify. My goal is to urge people to consider things they otherwise might not have thought about, while keeping the comments free of my over-bearing presence. Usually nothing gets posted, but I have a good feeling today...

Statement: Abortion is murder, but it is morally acceptable murder.

Discussion: Murder for Money

Would you kill someone for money? What if you were assured they were a bad person, or if that person lived in another country (you know, because only Americans are people)?

Discussion: Meaning of Atheism

What does atheism mean to you? I encourage you to go beyond a dictionary-like definition, and I will be grading on a curve...

Discussion: Designer Babies

Should it be legal for people to choose characteristics for their child through genetic therapy, such as race, gender, eye color, hair color, etc.?

Discussion: Is Religion Obsolete?

Is religion still necessary? I know it will be hard to divorce this question from the idea of whether religion will disappear, but what I’m asking essentially amounts to: if religion did disappear, would it reappear or be replaced?