










51. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #198281 by Frankus1122 on June 23, 2008 at 1:37 pm
decius,
I am all for personal anecdotes about female asses.
Speaking of personal anecdotes, here is a link to a not scientific, but interesting none-the-less article on the topic of animal emotion:
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?3702
52. Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies
Comment #198270 by Frankus1122 on June 23, 2008 at 1:11 pm
ksskidude
I will introduce George to my newborn daughter in about 18 years
53. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #198261 by Frankus1122 on June 23, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I could throw in a lot of anecdotal (and worthless) evidence, but let's just say that some people are better inter-specie communicators and the almost unanimous impression which they derive from experience is one of wonder as to how much science appears to lag behind in this field, failing to provide adequate explanations.
54. Sarcasm Seen as Evolutionary Survival Skill
Comment #198242 by Frankus1122 on June 23, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Comment #198128 by mordacious1
This is the BEST article I have ever read. The research is brilliant. The money was well spent. These guys should get the Nobel Prize.
55. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #198205 by Frankus1122 on June 23, 2008 at 11:24 am
Quine,
I appreciate your posts. I do learn so much from you and others.
(BTW- I got depressed over your jesus camp link the other day. I had seen many clips of the movie but not ones where there were so many children crying and 'speaking in tongues').
I actually get excited when the likes of tIMExpiper posts because I know there will be a Rev. Dark response.
There seems to be nothing to be learned from tIMEx-p but we can't let drivel stand. We have to be the Anti-Jesus Camp Camp.
56. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #198195 by Frankus1122 on June 23, 2008 at 10:52 am
Let's make him answer some of ours for a change :)
Do you have any ideas about how to confront this creationist attitude?
57. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #198142 by Frankus1122 on June 23, 2008 at 9:21 am
tIMExpiper,
You are still permanently stuck with the ridiculous idea that mutations produced this sensitivity.
58. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #198117 by Frankus1122 on June 23, 2008 at 8:38 am
tIMExpiper,
No, actually you guys are very encouraging with the things you say and the pulp you quote from your apologists.
But what you are saying here is that you have to believe in something untenable if that is the only thing available.
59. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #198081 by Frankus1122 on June 23, 2008 at 7:02 am
As I was reading through the last few pages of posts regarding natural/unnatural selection the free-will/determinism dualism popped into my head.
Is that relevant in this discussion?
Then BE said:
Free will means the will is free, it doesn't mean that the will is free to will without a cause. :D
60. Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies
Comment #198052 by Frankus1122 on June 23, 2008 at 5:43 am
I heard on the radio this morning a snippet of an interview with Carlin. He was asked how he would like to be remembered.
His reply: "He's dead? He was here just a minute ago."
With all respect:
Shit.
Fuck.
Piss.
Cunt.
Cocksucker.
Motherfucker.
Tits.
Tits? That last one shouldn't even be on there. Sounds like a snack. Tater-tits.
One of my students gave me a box of tissues this morning as a year end present (I cried during a movie we watched in class). They may come in handy.
:( and :)
61. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #197792 by Frankus1122 on June 22, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Steve,
I was thinking of exactly this TED talk but I could not remember the name of the man who gave it.
Thank you.
EDIT: Interesting how the great and not-so-great minds can arrive at the same place. :)
62. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #197780 by Frankus1122 on June 22, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Goldy and Quine,
Was it you guys that talked about 'transcending' our natural selves a while back?
I think that generally speaking we cannot get out of the fact that we are a part of the evolutionary process. Our self-awareness of that process however, is unique as far as we can tell. We can indeed direct the path of our species to a certain extent. Is that part of the process itself? Are we able to intelligently design ourselves?
Does the genetic manipulation of other species -something we have been doing for millennia- count as rising above Natural Selection? What difference does it make if we do it to other species or ourselves?
I was at a kids' party all afternoon so my brain is a bit frazzled. I hope I am making sense.
Comment #197773 by Frankus1122 on June 22, 2008 at 4:38 pm
And perhaps we could have the broadway show of Cartomancer's book done up by Diacanu.
Comment #197772 by Frankus1122 on June 22, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Richard Dawkins wrote:
There are no testimonials from Oprah and Deepak. The testimonials are from Woprah Onfray, Chopak Deeprah, Onchel Milfray, Frolic Crancis and Archbishop Osmond Tupu.
65. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #197596 by Frankus1122 on June 22, 2008 at 11:08 am
is it a condition that the interface between my faith and science is a no go area that I'm not allowed to talk to you about?
66. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #197568 by Frankus1122 on June 22, 2008 at 10:35 am
So, my question is, how do I and the people on this thread share the same community, or are we destined to be forever enemies?
Comment #197565 by Frankus1122 on June 22, 2008 at 10:30 am
From what I was able to read from the back cover (testimonials from Oprah and Deepak) it does not look like a serious book. There are many references to it being extremely funny.
It looks like a true flea; exploiting the title of Dawkins' book to make a quick buck.
68. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #197561 by Frankus1122 on June 22, 2008 at 10:23 am
Jethro,
As I said here: 8381. Comment #196644 by Frankus1122,
There is no problem with you believing in God as long as your God stays outside the universe.
He can create it and sit back and watch.
If you think He starts tinkering after that you need to show how you know this and how He goes about doing this.
If you think God wants you to behave decently (and what is decent is generally agreed upon by civilized society - slavery is bad; stoning people for adultery is bad, etc.), then okay.
If you think God wrote down rules for behaviour (slavery is okay; stoning people for adultery is good, etc.) then we have problems.
For the most part we do share in community and share the planet. We only run into problems when you claim supernatural knowledge and then try to impose the consequences of that knowledge on the rest of us.
I think this last point is crucial.
Science tries to discover the nature of things. The results of scientific inquiry is generally open to refutation. Anyone can come along and say, "No, this is not so." But they need to provide an alternative theory. They need to show where the methodology was incorrect and provide a better alternative.
You can't really say the same thing about religion.
So, as long as your God remains outside the universe we are okay.
Do you have objections to this?
69. Christianity 'could die out within a century'
Comment #197483 by Frankus1122 on June 22, 2008 at 8:30 am
Comment #197372 by Stacey
Yeah, maybe. But how many people will look at this film and say, "WTF? These people are crazy!" as opposed to those who will say, "It's about time we had this type of educational camp for our children."?
On the other hand I do agree thee is a danger that stupids will win out. Maybe I just don't want to believe it is so. :)
70. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #197463 by Frankus1122 on June 22, 2008 at 6:36 am
Irate,
Does this mean Bishop Nazir-Ali won't be attending the Pride Parade in Toronto either?
And bugaboo, I like it.
71. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #197360 by Frankus1122 on June 21, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Comment #197353 by Quine
Ouch!
It must really start to sting. Getting spanked by real science again and again and again.
But txp is our TIMEX watch.
I just had a bunch of popcorn myself. I took my kids to see 'Get Smart". Hence the "Sorry about that chief" remark earlier.
72. Who Owns the Argument from Improbability?
Comment #197356 by Frankus1122 on June 21, 2008 at 8:43 pm
It's obvious: as more scientific information comes to light, the more people like Richard panic
73. Christianity 'could die out within a century'
Comment #197351 by Frankus1122 on June 21, 2008 at 8:22 pm
I was just thinking that the current wave of creationist/ID nonsense is the death rattle of the particular brand of religion from which it comes.
Creationism and ID is nonsense. Neither proposes anything worthwhile in terms of the advancement of science or knowledge. I believe truth will win out.
What happens to all those who so vehemently believe that the Bible is the literal word of God when it is proven not to be? I mean if we survive for another hundred years we will have progressed so much further scientifically (hopefully). Those that claim the Earth is 6000 years old and that God created all life as it is now will be seen as flat-earthers even more than they are now. Won't that crumble their faith even further? How could you believe any of what the Bible says if it is demonstrably so false?
74. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #197350 by Frankus1122 on June 21, 2008 at 8:07 pm
txp,
At the theory level, mutations and selection are supposed to work hand in hand. But when you really try to apply that idea, it looks stupid. Doesn't it?
What happened were some major mutations
75. Louisiana's Latest Assault on Darwin
Comment #197121 by Frankus1122 on June 21, 2008 at 6:49 am
As a rising star on the conservative right, mentioned as a possible running mate for John McCain, Mr. Jindal may have more than science on his mind.
76. We Urgently Need Your Help Now!!
Comment #197119 by Frankus1122 on June 21, 2008 at 6:40 am
Comment #197108 by Steve Zara
It may be, however, that such subtleties would be lost on a politician!
77. PZ Myers - Science and Atheism in the Blogosphere
Comment #197115 by Frankus1122 on June 21, 2008 at 6:25 am
Goldy:
This site is a drug. I'm hooked.
78. PZ Myers - Science and Atheism in the Blogosphere
Comment #197111 by Frankus1122 on June 21, 2008 at 6:09 am
Steve Zara said:
I am nowhere near the volume of others, such as Al-rawandi in full flow.
79. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #196763 by Frankus1122 on June 20, 2008 at 12:18 pm
txpiper,
You have presented evidence that some areas were flooded in the past.
And...
And someone needs to close a /strong> thingy.
80. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #196644 by Frankus1122 on June 20, 2008 at 9:25 am
Jethro,
I understand what you are trying to say.
We can't know everything, or we don't know everything, and you would like to fill in what we don't know with faith in Something. We don't or can't know what that Something is.
You believe It is something benevolent.(I'm guessing).
Do you also believe It intervenes in the functioning of the universe?
If you do, you have no evidence for this and no real justification for assuming this is so.
If God is something that set everything in motion and now sits back and watches, you are free to believe this. It really does no harm.
It is as if He is not there at all. You can believe that He is and we can believe He isn't. It in no way alters how we go about investigating the universe.
Once people believe god is such and such a way and wants people to behave in such and such a way we run into problems.
If God is unknowable then we can't know what S/he thinks or wants. You can believe that S/he wants us to be good and nice to each other but once you start acting on beliefs that are unfounded you open the door to all sorts of unfounded beliefs.
I think it is better act as though there is nothing judging or desiring us to behave in particular ways. It is tougher, but we are ultimately responsible for how we act during our life.
81. Teen's death blamed on faith healing
Comment #196505 by Frankus1122 on June 20, 2008 at 4:12 am
Barry Pearson,
I just skimmed through your 'religions are hobbies' writings.
High five for Barry Pearson.
I am going to think on this further. It sounds like a promising idea.
I have one not-fully-thought-out thought: hobbies are generally seen as secondary to your main work whereas religion plays a central all-consuming role in the life of some practitioners.
But I know a guy who is consumed by his passion for model trains. It is what he lives for. And many people are only nominally religious.
I like your hobby idea.
Most hobbiest do not believe that everyone in the world should share in their passion. If you are a stamp collector and decide to take up photography the stamp collectors do not label you as an apostate and try to kill you.
82. Teen's death blamed on faith healing
Comment #196500 by Frankus1122 on June 20, 2008 at 3:56 am
The law should be applied equally to all.
The law ought to be based on reality, not made-up beliefs. Generally, the law tries to be reasonable. This precludes a lot of religious belief and practice.
In Canada there was some controversy a while back about Sihks carrying kirpans (ceremonial daggers) in school. The Supreme Court said students were allowed to wear kirpans in school because it was reasonable to accommodate this religious practice.
In Denmark they said the opposite.
I don't think a student should be allowed to carry a knife to school.
I don't care what his made-up beliefs are. They are made-up.
The law should apply equally to all.
Or Rastafarians should be allowed to smoke pot wherever and whenever they want and I start growing dreads tomorrow :)
83. Teen's death blamed on faith healing
Comment #196368 by Frankus1122 on June 19, 2008 at 8:03 pm
their defense attorneys have indicated that they will use a religious freedom defense.
After earlier deaths involving children of Followers of Christ believers, a 1999 Oregon law struck down religious shields for parents who treat their children solely with prayer.
84. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #196363 by Frankus1122 on June 19, 2008 at 7:41 pm
fizhburn,
Another example is the ways in which we can be aware of what parts of our brains influence decision-making.
Damásio's most recent book, Looking for Spinoza: Joy, Sorrow, and the Feeling Brain, was published in 2003. In it, Damásio explores philosophy and its relations to neurobiology, suggesting that it might provide guidelines for human ethics.
85. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #196095 by Frankus1122 on June 19, 2008 at 9:38 am
mixmastergaz,
I also have a few minutes before class starts.
A friend gave me a CD she made called 'Pure Evil'.
I'll PM you the song list later.
It's in my car right now.
86. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #196085 by Frankus1122 on June 19, 2008 at 9:25 am
Jethro,
Type morals and evolution into Google.
Here is an interesting article by Steven Pinker:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/magazine/13Psychology-t.html?ref=magazine
Replace the {} with <> and your blockquotes will work.
I understand where you are coming from. In some sense there is no harm to believe that there is an intelligence that binds the universe together. Everything was squished together at some point and perhaps there is some mysterious trace of a connection between all things.
If you want to believe this, fine. It could be an area to investigate scientifically. To speculate on the ultimate nature of the universe is cool.
If believing this causes you to behave in a decent manner then, again, I say it's okay. (You now have my official approval :) )
However, if you have no way of knowing what you believe is true there could be serious problems. If your unsubstantiated belief trumps empirical knowledge, you again run into potential serious problems. Sharon's "good religion' question relates to this.
Sorry, I gotta go.
87. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #196062 by Frankus1122 on June 19, 2008 at 9:05 am
Podaar,
My friends and I used to use Bible and Book of Mormon pages for rolling paper.
Tobacco of course ;)
88. Oystein Elgaroy - the Christian defender who became an Atheist
Comment #195935 by Frankus1122 on June 19, 2008 at 4:19 am
Irate,
That will be £50 please, Used fivers with non-sequential serial numbers for preference.
89. Oystein Elgaroy - the Christian defender who became an Atheist
Comment #195930 by Frankus1122 on June 19, 2008 at 4:00 am
Irate, Styrer, and Brian,
Thanks for giving me a good laugh. A nice way to wake up. Because of you my whole family is up now. Well, my loud laughter because of you is the reason.
Anyhow, Irate, I wish I could have a bout of insomnia and produce such a fine post. (The self-congratulatory praise of atheists is an irksome thing to DR so I like to indulge).
If DR responds at all you can be sure it will be with the shallow picayune nature of all his posts.
90. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #195784 by Frankus1122 on June 18, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Fizhburn
probably Sobel's is better technically and more nuanced since it treats many arguments in specific, but more difficult, since it's "addressed to philosophers and theologians"
91. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #195765 by Frankus1122 on June 18, 2008 at 7:04 pm
fizhburn,
I teach philosophy, so I see this mistake a lot.
92. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #195749 by Frankus1122 on June 18, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Brian,
Don't worry aboot it. (Canadian phonetical spelling).
PM for you.
Fizhburn:
Dunning-Kruger.
Not quite the in your face flame of Diacanu or Rev. Dark but: Ouch!
93. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #195744 by Frankus1122 on June 18, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Podaar:
I've taken Brian's advice.
PM for you.
94. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #195735 by Frankus1122 on June 18, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Before I leave, do any of you have any prayer requests?
95. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #195729 by Frankus1122 on June 18, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Podaar, what the hell are you doing to 'our' face?
96. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #195680 by Frankus1122 on June 18, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Frankus1122
Proved my point.
It seems apparent that this discussion is way over your head.
97. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #195667 by Frankus1122 on June 18, 2008 at 4:50 pm
RtG
"What does it imply, when in a discussion, people resort to critiquing someone on their spelling and grammer."
98. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #195665 by Frankus1122 on June 18, 2008 at 4:49 pm
RtG
You accept an unproven inference to the Evolution of life but refuse to use logical reasoning that a designer exists.
99. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #195655 by Frankus1122 on June 18, 2008 at 4:37 pm
RtG,
I am on the fence here.
These atheist don't have a leg to stand on but there seems to be a reticence on your part to directly answer the challenge from Brian English.
It makes you look unsure.
Could you make a case for a designer?
As you say there are a lot of people watching here and it would be so good to get a clear answer.
100. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #195495 by Frankus1122 on June 18, 2008 at 10:50 am
Comment #195486 by severalspeciesof
My posts haven't been getting through, anyone else with that problem?