TED Community » Stephen Torres

More About Me

I'm passionate about

I'm passionate about cooking. My long term goal to become a chef and have a place of my own to make foods that I love for people who enjoy good home cooked meals.

Talk to me about

I'm willing to talk about anything, and I'm happy to learn about the things I don't really know.

Comments

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• A comment on Conversation: Is Atheism just another cult, with their own dogma, like religious cults?

  Sep 27 2012: I have to say I really enjoyed this debate, granted I didn't partake in it a whole lot. But I still liked reading everyones opinion on the matter.

• A reply on Conversation: Is Atheism just another cult, with their own dogma, like religious cults?

  Sep 27 2012: I really like the post by you obey, I've seen more of them in other debates. Kind of a side note to the last bits you said; if there are atheist organizations trying to end religion by any means, isn't that the same for religions causing trouble for atheists or those of a different belief. What I mean is something like the Crusades, Christians traveled across many countries killing all who didn't fallow their belief system. So in other words history is repeating itself on a daily basis. But now it's by other means.

• A reply on Conversation: Is Atheism just another cult, with their own dogma, like religious cults?

  Sep 26 2012: I am just like you in this one response. I don't get into the whole battle of faith and non-faith discussions. But I do like to read others opinion on the matter.
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  A comment on Conversation: Is Atheism just another cult, with their own dogma, like religious cults?

  Sep 26 2012: Not all atheists choose to be on the side of science. As for the ones who do, they do so because it makes more sense in their eyes. Atheists don't have a cult or cults, we do not have gatherings (I am atheist) in which we share our religious ideologies. Science isn't a cult either, its just the study of things. Religion has its views on what is true and what is false and they show these very strongly. With science, it looks for the facts of what occurred and didn't. In some sense science can be viewed as a religion because science is looking for similar answers that religion stories say are plausible. As for me I'm atheist because I feel that believing in a creator or a god isn't needed. That doesn't mean I don't take into consideration what others have to say about what they believe. I'll listen to what people say, just so I know their stand point on things, and I don't judge those who believe and who don't. A person shouldn't be judged by their beliefs, and in some cases I feel that religion changes the mind of people into doing just that. Its a way to make a religion grow. Again this is just my opinion, I'm not one to say what is plausible or not.

• A comment on Conversation: Why is the American public school system so focused on different types of intelligence that outcasts many artists and musicians?

  Sep 25 2012: School systems feel that if everyone has the same set of skills like math or science, then those people can find a good job and make a good life for themselves. They don't see that enhancing ones skill rather than having one develop new skills is more important. I've had teachers that have told me and fellow classmates is that as students we are basically being farmed into something that doesn't better our skills. I feel as though school's should allow students the freedom of choosing what skills they want to enhance whether its playing the guitar or becoming a good mathematician. It should be allowed for us as students to increase the skills we have as a way to better ourselves and make us more ourselves instead of being classified as a norm.
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  A reply on Conversation: Atheism: why do people don't believe in God?

  Sep 13 2012: The class I was at the time i wrote my first comment was my Technologies class, its a class in that it allows to study different branches of jobs and the technologies they use in order to proceed in the everyday tasks they do. As for my stand point on religion it was made up in my 10th grade year, my World History teacher gave us a 13 page report on 2 religions of our choice. I choose to do Norse Paganism and I don't remember the other. But after weeks of reading and learning about these two religions and many others, it dawned on me that religion isn't needed, its more of a way to express a group of beliefs. Even though I'm atheist now, I will still always have that day in my life were I may turn to faith and believe in a god but only at my will.

• A reply on Conversation: Atheism: why do people don't believe in God?

  Sep 13 2012: If you read my statement above my first post, it was directed towards you. Thanks again for time sir. Much appreciated.
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  A comment on Conversation: Atheism: why do people don't believe in God?

  Sep 13 2012: Hello sir, I give you thanks in knowing that we can acknowledge each other as equals. As for that Sam Harris talk you I haven't yet seen it. I had read a lot of your comments on this debate while in class, and I enjoyed your point view and agreed with it. Science is a better way for people to understand whether or not there is an almighty being rather than people saying they feel a mere presence within them. As for those who have faith and religion, I don't dislike them for it because like you and I we have our own beliefs. But when comes to be questioned about it and how so many find us to be wrong, it irratates me.

• A comment on Conversation: Atheism: why do people don't believe in God?

  Sep 12 2012: the way i view is religion and the belief in god is that people choose to believe it because it coinsides in they agree with. I'm atheist, and not believing in an all mighty being is my choice like you as followers have the choice to believe in it. I see a religion as a way to brain wash people with common ideologies. You can say I'm wrong in this all you want but your never gonna change my perspective just like I can't change yours. A lot with me being atheist I choose to stand on the side of science. Granted religion has been looking for answers to there being an almighty being or beings but science is doing the same but at a later start. The facts of science are far greater then that of a religion because with science, people have to prove it wrong so many times in order for to be correct or wrong. Theres no such thing as a Religious Scientist because they go against what both stand, in other words its an oxymoron.