SonniS

I'm looking for an example of a work of literature that would open up to a classroom discussion with the question: "Who, in one sentence, are YOU?"

I'm plotting out a mystery novel right now which will have a supernatural element as a twist late in the book. If I don't give the hint that such elements are a legal part of the book's universe, it will seem like an unsatisfactory deus ex machina, but if I make it too obvious, then the reader will be able to see the twist a mile off. I have the luxury of a somewhat absurdist humorous style in the book already, so that could be an advantage - but how would you guys "set it up"?

The old problem of evil. Completely irrefutable. All theists can do is impotently move the goalposts.

Evil exists? Why? Why did God create a universe where evil could exist?

Free will? Why did God make it possible for us to will to be evil? Why is it not just as impossible for us to be evil as it is for us to teleport? God is omnipotent - he could have made us this way.

Evil is the absense of good? God is omnipresent, so if he willed, good would never be absent.

Evil is needed or we would not recognize good? Why? Why did God make the universe like that? I thought he was omnipotent. Why did he not make goodness recognizable and enjoyable by default? Because it is illogical? Who made the laws of logic in the first place? And if God is restricted by any laws at all, he is not omnipotent.

Evil was there before God? Well, why didn't he get rid of it (and where did the evil come from in that case, anyway?)

Does he want evil to be in the world? Then he is not benevolent.

If your excitement about the thought of a superbeing like God, you made him too powerful to fit into the world. You need to tone him down because a perfect being does not fit into an imperfect universe.

Deoxyribonucleic acid has been found inside the cells of wild fish and even some varieties of rice. It is known that this acid can cause cancer and birth defects. And yet we may be eating it every day! There is NO regulation concerning dumping this acid in our lakes or forests - indeed, many people release millions of containers of deoxyribonucleic acid A DAY, seemingly for no other reason than simple pleasure! STOP THIS MADNESS FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN!

Mark 3:29 says "Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."

So, who's up for some eternal roasting? I'll go first: I deny the Holy Spirit and I think he is a doody head.

Question 1:

Does God exist?

a) No

b) No

c) All of the above

2: Is the evidence of Jesus better than for any other person in history?

a) Absolutely not; there is basically no evidence at all

b) People who believe this are just regurgitating lies they have read

c) I have absolutely no evidence of this, but I want it to be true, so yeah.

d) A double choco-mocho-no with a no cherry on top.

3: Seriously, does God exist?

a) There is no evidence for his existence so I choose not to believe it.

b) I get to decide what is evidence for God so look at my coffee table! That is proof for God, right?

c) I don't want to live in a universe without a God, and this desire is so strong that the universe must conform to it

d) I feel the presence of Jesus Christ and I don't interpret this as a strong need for medication

4: Describe Christianity.

a) A religion like any other, based on wishful thinking and centuries of misinformation

b) The thing that stops me from wee weeing in my bed at night because I'm scared of monsters

c) A personal relationship with the creator of the Universe that I can't sense in any way but I love the feeling I get from being on the top VIP list ever.

d) An excuse to shoot homosexuals in the face to please the lamb of the Lord.

I am an atheist who would like to have a written debate with a theist. You can choose the topic, as long as it has something to do with religion (so we have something to talk about). I was thinking rules along the lines of the ones here: http://debate.livingdeadman.org/debate-rules/ We can adjust them as needed.

Think you can pwn an atheist in a debate? Care to try? :-) I'm waiting.

I just thought of a cute little problem and the first one to get it right wins 10 instant points plus my eternal adoration.

Imagine two concentric circles with different radii. Call the area of the ring-shape bounded by the two circles A.

Now, construct a cylinder of height equal to the sum of the radii and with diameter chosen so the circular base fits exactly inside the area A (without any part of the cylinder touching anything outside A). Cut this cylinder open with a cut perpendicular to its circular base and measure area. Call this area B.

Prove that A=B.

I'm serious. I am an atheist, but I am now seriously willing to entertain your best shot at opening my eyes and making me see sense.

Here we go. If you are a believer, write why you think atheists don't believe in your reply. If you are an atheist, write why you think believers believe. The challenge is: you may not be derogatory or hateful. Neutral, calm language, or you lose.

then tomorrow, I'll give you $2000 and you give me 2 cents.

The day after that, I'll give you $3000 and you give me 4 cents.

The day after that, I'll give you $4000 and you give me 8 cents.

Every day we do this: I increase what I give you with $1000 and you double the number of cents you give me.

We keep doing this until one of us runs out of money and wants to quit.

Whoever wants to quit must pay the other player $250000 to get out of the game.

Wanna play? :-)

then tomorrow, I'll give you $2000 and you give me 2 cents.

The day after that, I'll give you $3000 and you give me 4 cents.

The day after that, I'll give you $4000 and you give me 8 cents.

Every day we do this: I increase what I give you with $1000 and you double the number of cents you give me.

We keep doing this until one of us runs out of money and wants to quit.

Whoever wants to quit must pay the other player $250000 to get out of the game.

Wanna play? :-)

Which city in Europe could you take high school math students, and what would we do?

I am planning a 5-day trip to a European city for my math students. However, I want the trip to have some relevance to high school maths, and I'm looking for good suggestions. For what in high school math would it be illustrative to visit a certain place, and where is that place?

(I am not afraid to go beyond high school math into elements of undergrad university maths, if it means a better journey)

Inspiring answers are sought! Make this trip a good one :-)

Which city in Europe could you take high school math students, and what would we do?

I am planning a 5-day trip to a European city for my math students. However, I want the trip to have some relevance to high school maths, and I'm looking for good suggestions. For what in high school math would it be illustrative to visit a certain place, and where is that place?

(I am not afraid to go beyond high school math into elements of undergrad university maths, if it means a better journey)

Inspiring answers are sought! Make this trip a good one :-)