Skip to Main Content (access key 1)
Skip to Search (access key 2)
Skip to Search GO (access key 3)
Skip to comments (access key 4)
Skip to navigation (access key 5)
Skip to top of page (access key 6)

Comments by Ian Bamlett


51. Physicist Neil Turok: Big Bang Wasn't the Beginning

Comment #132217 by Ian Bamlett on February 24, 2008 at 1:29 pm

I see science and religion as being two completely different things. I don't see science as relevant to the question of whether or not there's a God.


Shame on Turok for buying into the terrible idea of non-overlapping magisteria. As RD points out time and time again, a universe in which there is a god as opposed to one in which there is not is very much a scientific question. All evidence points to the latter, Turok knows that, and should have the guts to say so.

Good article otherwise though!

52. Fleabytes

Comment #131967 by Ian Bamlett on February 23, 2008 at 5:35 pm

Comment #131959 by scottishgeologist

The subsequent funeral during which 2 British Army corporals were lynched.


On a pedantic point of accuracy they were shot, after being stripped and beaten. But the main point is well made of course.

53. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #131964 by Ian Bamlett on February 23, 2008 at 5:27 pm

Comment #131960 by Goldy:

Shrommer knows his views are backward and abhorrent


I doubt it. I think you underestimate the power of the religious mind to believe that the prevailing moral zeitgeist of the society it exists in is wrong. He doesn't know his views are backward and abhorrent - that's what he thinks about being gay. In that sense he is to be pitied; but only if he is left marginalised and without power. When people like him start to get power; that's when we have to fight back.

54. Fleabytes

Comment #131948 by Ian Bamlett on February 23, 2008 at 4:56 pm

Comment #131947 by RickM

Which channel?


Fox news channel


(Too easy)

55. Fleabytes

Comment #131942 by Ian Bamlett on February 23, 2008 at 4:44 pm

Bonzai said:

There is a War On Terror (WOT)going on and you don't joke about assassination on public forums.


Whatever you do, don't make a phone call in the USA that combines the following words:

"President"
"Allah"
"Infidel"
"Kill"

Those NSA computer monitoring programs will have a red light flashing on the desks at the secret service before you can say 'Allah be praised'.


.... or so I've heard....

:-)

56. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #131941 by Ian Bamlett on February 23, 2008 at 4:32 pm

Shrommer,

Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable. Here is a good link to start your research on the subject, but don't stop there, as there are many good psychology studies and real world case studies to be found that will also demonstrate the point.

http://agora.stanford.edu/sjls/Issue One/fisher&tversky.htm

Or why not just to speak to any honest cop who will tell you how much 'faith' they put in an eyewitness unless it is corroborated with other evidence.

Now, when you've done all that research, (I know you will), add 2,000 years into the mix and repeated translations of said eyewitness testimony and I suggest what you get is highly questionable.

57. The coming religious peace

Comment #131872 by Ian Bamlett on February 23, 2008 at 1:59 pm

Comment #131814 by Steve Zara

The Spell that Daniel Dennett talks about has indeed been Broken.


Steve, I am sorry I wouldn't normally dare challenge you for fear of making a damn fool of myself but surely that's just wrong. It may be broken in our minds but lets be careful not to project here - it's still holding strong in most of the world. And just to further the point you write later...

They are struggling to maintain their hold.


Not from where I am sitting Steve. Maybe in Britain, or even Europe as whole; but that's a bubble you're living in so be careful. I'm here in the trenches in the USA and religion's hold over millions is as strong as ever. And I am assuming you surely cannot be talking about the middle east/asia/africa?

We desperately need Europeans who might be sensing some kind of impending victory over superstition to not sit back on their laurels and believe all is going well with the world because things are going the right way in Britain or France or Sweden.

Now more than ever we need people like you steve!

58. Whale Evolution

Comment #131214 by Ian Bamlett on February 22, 2008 at 4:09 am

Is the evolution of whales the most 'extreme', (sorry, can't think of a better word), example of adaptation to an environment we have,(which we we can demonstrate)?

By that I mean, we had land animal, and now we have an animal perfectly adapted to a water environment - very different from where it started.

I just can't think of a better example that we know as much about.

59. Fleabytes

Comment #129768 by Ian Bamlett on February 19, 2008 at 2:56 pm

Wow. Paula, you're amazing.

I've toyed with the idea of reading one or two of the flea books but lacked the self discipline to do so.

You've inspired me.

All the best,

Ian

60. Why do we believe in God? 2m study prays for answer

Comment #129571 by Ian Bamlett on February 19, 2008 at 10:23 am

Bonzai,

Agreed. But...

The divide of the internal world of mental representations and the external physical world gives rise to a feeling of other worldliness. It is the source of existential anxiety



... it's harder to make up a little story about that part of it.

:-)

61. Why do we believe in God? 2m study prays for answer

Comment #129559 by Ian Bamlett on February 19, 2008 at 9:59 am

The lightening flashes, the sky booms. The water that has drenched us for days whenever we move from shelter quenches are thirst but not our hunger.

Huddled together for warmth, frightened, hungry and wondering where our next meal will come from, we shudder in the darkness of the cave.

Finally the sky clears. Warmth comes again from the bright light above. We give thanks; sincere, heartfelt and profound thanks - and hurry out to find food for our aching belly's.
__________________________________________________

Not hard to see how this all got started really is it?

62. Why do we believe in God? 2m study prays for answer

Comment #129549 by Ian Bamlett on February 19, 2008 at 9:40 am

Comment #129538 by al-rawandi

I vacillate between Diacanu's pessimism and you optimism


Lol, Oh - don't we all!

But on the wider point yes, it's fairly obvious to anyone bothered enough to spend a little time on the history of religious belief to see how it 'evolved'. From animal worship, (enough pre literate cave paintings can attest to this), to pagan worship of celestial bodies, (sun, moon), and thus to anthropomorphized versions of celestial bodies, (Zeus, Mars, Jupiter), and finally to monotheism: son of god (Sun God).

It's so obvious I personally can't see how the faithful don't see it. Still the progression is in the right direction; after monotheism there's no where else to go - atheism!

63. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #129457 by Ian Bamlett on February 19, 2008 at 6:50 am

Comment #129410 by briancoughlanworldcitizen

Brian you're back! Some of us were discussing your absence... Have you been on a month long vacation?

Nice to have you back here.

Now if we can just figure out what's happened to Doc Benway!

64. Why do we believe in God? 2m study prays for answer

Comment #129448 by Ian Bamlett on February 19, 2008 at 6:35 am

Much less interesting than the brain scans Sam Harris et al are doing.

I also echo Rod-the-Farmers Will Robinson alert.

65. Potentially Habitable Planets Are Common, Study Says

Comment #129444 by Ian Bamlett on February 19, 2008 at 6:28 am

There has been a drip, drip, drip effect of this kind of story for some time now.

Letting it percolate into our consciouness.

Preparing us.

They are coming.

66. Bill Moyers Interviews Susan Jacoby

Comment #129056 by Ian Bamlett on February 18, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Annoying, condescending snob.

Blathering on about 'folks' and 'troops' and wanting Roosevelt to be president again.

'I'm so smart - why won't people listen to me'

That's all I got out of that.

"That's what being an educator means" she said. She's no educator; she just wants to brow beat people for being ignorant and feel superior by doing it.

67. Archbishop's 8 March centennial message: Let Sharia Law govern women's lives, Amen!

Comment #128632 by Ian Bamlett on February 17, 2008 at 1:29 pm

Misogyny is the trade mark of Islam


Of almost all religion in fact. But certainly the big three monotheistic religions. Islam gets first prize for style and application of course.

68. The challenge of finding peace in Lourdes

Comment #128348 by Ian Bamlett on February 16, 2008 at 7:17 pm

Seqenenre,

Just returned to this thread, so yes sorry.....

err... what steveroot said.

69. Ayaan Hirsi Ali asks for protection

Comment #128133 by Ian Bamlett on February 16, 2008 at 9:30 am

....for being a cheapskate and idle bystander


You can assume neither from my comments.

70. Ayaan Hirsi Ali asks for protection

Comment #128123 by Ian Bamlett on February 16, 2008 at 8:54 am

How many guards is enough? I don't know.


Harold Wilson, (former British labour Prime minister), is said to have once introduced one of his special branch bodyguards as 'the guy who shoots the guy who just shot me'

President Nixon confided his view that 'all it takes it one nut who is willing to end his life to end the presidents'. In other words, someone not afraid of consequences.

Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981 by a lone gunman despite being surrounded by secret service body guards. And as we know Benazir Bhutto was just assassinated.

In comparison to these people I suspect Ayann has very little protection. Bottom line; if some nut wants her dead - she's dead.

71. Map reveals extent of human damage to oceans

Comment #127758 by Ian Bamlett on February 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm

Oh, the vatican has done plenty for population control. The crusades for example. Support for the conquistadores. Support for Hitler.

Oh yeah, they are all about that kind of population control.

72. Map reveals extent of human damage to oceans

Comment #127747 by Ian Bamlett on February 15, 2008 at 2:55 pm

...just to mention the problems of too little population growth.



Evolution by natural selection? You need to see the movie 'idiocracy'

:-)

73. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #127722 by Ian Bamlett on February 15, 2008 at 2:36 pm

You guys are all seriously messing with my perusal of the '20 last visitor comments'.

Stop making this look like the shit hot thread when really it's just full of one shit.

74. Map reveals extent of human damage to oceans

Comment #127693 by Ian Bamlett on February 15, 2008 at 2:13 pm

such as a global programme of reducing poverty, education and rights for women, and distribution of birth control


Ok, I'm on board with that.

... Actually I was being an argumentative shit just for the sake of it in the previous post so I apologize. I saw an opening and rather ungraciously took it.

I knew full well you weren't suggesting any kind of enforced population control.

My bad.

75. Map reveals extent of human damage to oceans

Comment #127660 by Ian Bamlett on February 15, 2008 at 1:51 pm

Steve Zara:

almost all matters of polution...could be solved with sensible population controls.


I get nervous when I hear this. Who makes the decisions steve? Me? You? The Global UN government? Who gets culled first? No culls... ok, who gets told they can't have children. Your family or mine?

Very nervous indeed.

76. Map reveals extent of human damage to oceans

Comment #127596 by Ian Bamlett on February 15, 2008 at 12:59 pm

It is a low-probability scenario


Ah ha! I knew it! You global warming alarmist you....
:-)


It may have been one of the reasons for the size of the Permian extinction.


Without the aid of SUV's and coal fired power stations! Surely not!

77. Map reveals extent of human damage to oceans

Comment #127590 by Ian Bamlett on February 15, 2008 at 12:54 pm

some areas of the ocean becoming oxygen free....which would make the atmosphere very unpleasant


Something for me to go away and research. Thanks.

78. US military accused of harboring fundamentalism

Comment #127555 by Ian Bamlett on February 15, 2008 at 11:59 am

al-rawandi

Sorry Al,

I admit I did steal it off you and should have at least had the decency to get it right.

:-)

79. Map reveals extent of human damage to oceans

Comment #127551 by Ian Bamlett on February 15, 2008 at 11:57 am

I know the intentions are good


Sorry Steve, but intentions are never good if they are deceptive.

The ends don't justify the means and all that...

Human damage to oceans... give me a break. Seems to me the oceans don't have to much to worry about with us insignificant apes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake

80. US military accused of harboring fundamentalism

Comment #127548 by Ian Bamlett on February 15, 2008 at 11:50 am

Oh, who cares what a bunch of grunts in the infantry do or believe.

**DO NOT** make the mistake of thinking that these people are indicative of all the US Military. If this was happening on US stategic subs I'd be worried - a bunch of fundies riding around in nuclear powered subs with enough nukes to wipe out half the planets cities; yes that would be a problem. But the navy and airforce attract a higher caliber of candidates. Those with their fingers on the triggers of the really scary stuff simply aren't these people.

The fuck tards seem to join the marines/army infantry.

(Apologies to the minority of marines smart enough to be on this site - semper fi)

81. Map reveals extent of human damage to oceans

Comment #127540 by Ian Bamlett on February 15, 2008 at 11:41 am

We've explored less of the depths of the worlds oceans than we have the dark side of the moon.

Egocentrism and hubris. Just like the AGW BS.

(Awaits slap down)

82. Pleas for condemned Saudi 'witch'

Comment #127218 by Ian Bamlett on February 15, 2008 at 4:06 am

The root cause of this is misogyny, which Islam positively reeks of. Add superstitious beliefs and you can give yourself an excuse to act on that misogyny.

I'd recommend if you can getting a hold of 'Atheist Universe' by David Mills (2003) who discusses the persecution of 'witches' under Christianity in previous centuries. It was little more than an excuse to subjugate, terrorize and abuse women.

All the monotheistic faiths have this heritage of hatred of women, but Islam takes first place for its disgusting application of it.

83. My Saudi Valentine

Comment #126730 by Ian Bamlett on February 14, 2008 at 4:06 am

Here's a photo of Ms. Alsanea: http://www.uic.edu/depts/endo/DrAlsnea.html


Nice Teeth.

84. Why Darwin matters

Comment #126068 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 12:42 pm

krisking,

How long have you been a Muslim?

Just curious.

85. Why Darwin matters

Comment #126054 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 12:24 pm

This is a wonderful time to live for anyone with an interest in science.


Yes, but for me sometimes frustrating. As an interested amateur only I understand the amazing progress being made in areas such as quantum physics, genetics, nanotechnology etc but don't see the 'bold vision' big ticket items like missions to mars that I yearn for.

I know I know, I am just taking the populist view here. But I think we need a bit of that.

86. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #126049 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 12:16 pm

Speaking of Darwin day did this thread de-evolve into a my space chat room?

Ahh.. I suppose we need some light relief from the end of enlightened western society and paedophilia.

:-)

87. Why Darwin matters

Comment #126047 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 12:13 pm

Steve Zara said:

This is because there is a very slight rate of time difference between the surface of the Earth and the orbits of the GPS satellites


Ah... yes. Thanks Steve. Yes I vaguely remember reading somewhere about differences detected in ground based atomic clocks and one Nasa flew around in a jet once. Or something like that.

Incredibly small difference but cumulative over time, is that the idea? Never knew that about the GPS though and wouldn't have made the connection.

Thanks.

88. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #126033 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 11:55 am

Anna,

I like the new picture.

P.S. Sorry about earlier I have calmed down now. I shouldn't have gone there..... I'll put it down to me de-evolving on Darwin day.

89. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #126029 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 11:50 am

Comment #126025 by al-rawandi

You are going to have to fight me in a cage match to call someone else CHAMP


I think Diacanu would want in on that.

[I hope he wouldn't be offended by that because A) it's not meant that way and B) I am scared of his acerbic tounge and don't want to be a victim.]

:-)

90. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #126005 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 11:19 am

Comment #125997 by HughCaldwell

[To Steve Zara]

You're the one who specializes in pointless one-liners


Steve Zara specializes in pointless one-liners?

Holy crap - if that's how you judge Steves contributions then what the hell must you think of the rest of us.

I am probably some kind of Untermenschen. I'd best go kill myself.

91. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125993 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 11:05 am

Anna,

I am very intolerent on this issue. I admit it, and offer myself up to the mercy of the court of RD.net opinion. I claim no moral high ground. You are the better person here - not me.

So, I hope I cannot be clearer when I say; I am not interested in improving their quality of life and from my point of view locking them up will solve everything.

I am sorry they were dealt such a shitty hand in life. But I would not let innocent children suffer for the sake of our moral handwringing.

And sometimes, I think we can judge the correct societal response without knowing the causes of the problem. Who knows why Hitler really hated the jews or believed in expansionist superhumanism. We just had to stop the bastard.

Well, I'm done on this and will concede defeat on the intellectual arguments.

Thanks for trying though Anna; but I am a lost cause on this one.

92. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125979 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 10:48 am

Comment #125966 by annabanana

Anna,

Everything you said is CORRECT I am sure.

I have not claimed to be well read in this area. I am not.

I apologise for not being clear perhaps this will clear things up. You say:

it isn't an option for a pedophile who himself was a victim of abuse to just "break the cycle".


To which I say, we must break the cycle for them.

You have been arguing causes. Frankly I don't care. I am arguing societies response. So we are actually having different conversations.

93. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125960 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 10:29 am

Comment #125957 by al-rawandi

Ian, It's Allahu Akbar


Ahh, Darn it. Who said learning a language from news clips of people in ski masks was easy though?

94. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125947 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 10:02 am

Comment #125939 by al-rawandi

You never gave me details on your Arabic training.


Well, I don't know about Keith's Arabic abilities but mine are terrible.

I have only ever been able to learn one phrase; and that only through constant repetition over many years:

allah uh akbar! allah uh akbar!

Hey, the repetition wasn't mine but it worked because I know it really well!

:-)

95. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125935 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 9:40 am

Comment #125926 by Tyler Durden:

They don't have the mental capacity to "understand"


I find that hard to believe. But I am willing to accept it might be true some of the time. In which case, they are so severely mentally disabled that they should not be permitted their freedom. If they cannot understand such a basic concept they need to be removed from society. Agree or disagree? If you disagree, what level of time/resources/money are you willing to see expended on this minority to make them whole again so they can function in society? I suggest absolutely only the minimum required to keep them institutionalized. With literally billions of other human beings in abject poverty who DON'T have these problems I'd rather help them first. Sorry there it is.

Jeese - you're making me go all Scooter ish and I don't want to do that.

:-)

96. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125924 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 9:13 am

Anna,

There is a chemical imbalance in my brain that makes me want to really, really get friendly with the hot chick I see on the bus every morning on the way to work.

If I ever acted on that and she did not want me to then that makes me a scum bag. I don't act on it so I am only marginally a scum bag for thinking it because I am married, (men eh!)

It's not about what may be going on in their brains that makes them have sexual desires for children. It is about them not understanding the basic concept that you don't force your desires on unwilling participants. So, whether it's a kiddy fiddler or a rapist or a mugger who wants to relieve me of my wallet at gunpoint they have all forfeited their right to my understanding.

I understand the 'cycle of abuse' argument. I reject it. The cycle has to be broken for the sake of wider society and if that means locking them up forever so be it. Sorry, but sometimes the needs of the many really do outweigh the needs of the few IMHO.

All the best to you though!

97. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125913 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 8:49 am

Comment #125911 by Steve Zara

Not just well integrated, but now a vital part of our society. I could not cope without a regular Balti.


Now you have gone and opened up some deep emotional wounds I have tried to suppress. I went to Aston University in Birmingham where a fantastic Balti was just a walk, (more like crawl on a Saturday night actually) away - in any direction.

I just can't get it here in my part of the USA!!!

Thanks alot Steve - you don't know what you just did to me.

Sob.

98. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125910 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 8:44 am

On Paedophilia...

Why is this even a topic for debate? Sex must be consensual. If it isn't the person forcing it on another human being is a scum bag.

Anything else? What am I missing?

Anything else is bullshit.

99. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125905 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 8:38 am

Comment #125893 by al-rawandi

For instance the French are having a problem with North African immigrants. This is a backlash from colonialism, so these kinds of behaviors are not particularly surprising


There is truth in this of course, but here is a question. Why in Britain are immigrants and their decendents from India on the whole extremely well integrated and very successful in British society? Three hundred plus years of being under British imperialism but they don't seem to hate Britains guts all that much.

I can't remember the last time a Hindu or a Sikh demonstated in London with placards calling for my beheading because I might insult their religion.

100. Why Darwin matters

Comment #125892 by Ian Bamlett on February 12, 2008 at 8:25 am

Comment #125113 by Steve Zara:

Now, Steve, will you end the suspense, please?

Patience :)




Come on.. throw us a bone here!

More Pages: Previous | 1 2 3 4 | Next