151. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage
Comment #201489 by qomak on June 29, 2008 at 6:22 pm
@Robert O'Brien
Regarding existence of God:
Consider a multi-universe with many dimensions in which many big-bangs take place, each with its own values for essential parameters of physics. In one of them, these values together with total mass contained in the universe turn out to be just right for formation of many galaxies, planets and solar systems and so on (I assume you are familiar with the rest of the story).
Now, I am not claiming this is reality. What is obvious is that this world can be described with mathematics (and thus hopefully proved to be completely consistent) but the most important property is that there is not a single observation which we can violate the assumption that we live in such a universe.
This universe does not contain any notion of God or creator. Mathematically speaking it means you cannot prove the existence of God via philosophical games (because here is one example of a consistent universe which does not contain a God; and furthermore, physically speaking it is indistinguishable from our universe).
152. Aliens need Christ's redemption, too
Comment #201460 by qomak on June 29, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I gave up after this:
"Of the great public figures the only one speaking in favour of the role of reason in modern life turns out to be the Pope. "
153. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage
Comment #201379 by qomak on June 29, 2008 at 3:55 pm
So, Robert O'Brien, why do you believe?
154. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage
Comment #201296 by qomak on June 29, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Robert O'Brien said:
Apparently, there was a flood in the general area of the fertile crescent thousands of years ago. That was the world for the Ancient Hebrews, so in that sense, it was a "worldwide" flood.
155. I believe that there is no God.
Comment #200992 by qomak on June 28, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Gosh, I hate it when a troll with severe psychological problems hijacks a thread.
I know sometimes it gets boring arguing among ourselves because it is very difficult to find points of disagreement but that doesn't mean it would be worthwhile to debate anyone who is a random argument/swear word generator.
Finally, we all agree that there is no serious evidence for God, soul, ghosts, higher powers, angels and the rest and we all know why the existing claims are non-sense; what I am saying is that these discussions with trolls with mental problems hardly adds anything new to the discussion and rarely (if ever) has any positive effect on the troll.
156. Texas Supreme Court rules church can't be sued in exorcism
Comment #200974 by qomak on June 28, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I can understand if they claim the emotional damage was caused in Africa. I can convince myself that maybe they did not mean harm. But I'll have to join the people above me who express their shock on this:
For the court to impose any legal liability for engaging in a religious activity "to which the church members adhere would have an unconstitutional 'chilling effect' by compelling the church to abandon core principles of its religious beliefs," Medina wrote.
157. 'I despise Islamism': Ian McEwan faces backlash over press interview
Comment #200810 by qomak on June 28, 2008 at 9:02 am
And even more so once he said Holocaust denial is not anti-semitis,
Comment #200750 by qomak on June 28, 2008 at 7:41 am
What amazes me is people like Ken Miller who know these facts about our imperfect memory and also know that our minds is a perfect illusion factory, they all know about false positives and our tendency to seek patterns. Yet, they believe that thousands of years ago when people were much more ignorant and superstitious miracles happened and got narrated perfectly after generations. That really really really puzzles me.
159. 'I despise Islamism': Ian McEwan faces backlash over press interview
Comment #200252 by qomak on June 27, 2008 at 7:12 am
... the solution is integration. (The "lead containers" would be educated secular communities.)
Except this ugly thing called 'reality' rears its head. There is no evidence whatsoever that this works. However, if Muslims are confined to the dar al-Islam, their ability to cause trouble is drastically diminished.
160. Stop distorting young minds!
Comment #200231 by qomak on June 27, 2008 at 6:06 am
As for a healthy sex life, ask a sex expert. Don't ask a priest..
161. Saudi Marriage Officiant : 'It Is Allowed To Marry A Girl At The Age Of One'.
Comment #199968 by qomak on June 26, 2008 at 2:57 pm
You guys are seriously fighting over a misunderstanding. I'm pretty sure you both hate these Wahhabi fucktards as much as anyone else.
162. Creationist critics get their comeuppance
Comment #199910 by qomak on June 26, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Okay I'm really confused. So Objective ministries is a joke, right? Damn poe's law.
163. Creationist critics get their comeuppance
Comment #199827 by qomak on June 26, 2008 at 11:48 am
You can read Lenski's entire response on Pharyngula. A veritable masterpiece.
The real data that we need are not in the paper. Rather they are in the bacteria used in the experiments themselves. Prof. Lenski claims that these bacteria 'evolved' novel traits and that these were preceded by the evolution of 'potentiated genotypes', from which the traits could be 'reevolved' using preserved colonies from those generations. But how are we to know if these traits weren't 'potentiated' by the Creator when He designed the bacteria thousands of years ago, such that they would eventually reveal themselves when the time was right?
164. The End of Theory: The Data Deluge Makes the Scientific Method Obsolete
Comment #199794 by qomak on June 26, 2008 at 11:10 am
We can throw the numbers into the biggest computing clusters the world has ever seen and let statistical algorithms find patterns where science cannot.
165. The End of Theory: The Data Deluge Makes the Scientific Method Obsolete
Comment #199781 by qomak on June 26, 2008 at 10:58 am
What a ridiculous article. Google's founding innovative idea was that internet users can decide more efficiently than some code written in AI; this idea was not really revolutionary. It was simply a cheap and code-wise efficient way to get around the semantic analysis of the documents.
Now, how the hell the author can generalize this to the above article and at the same time claim it is logically sound is a mystery.
The simplest objection than data cannot give you any prediction and without prediction, whatever you're doing is useless.
166. A War On Science
Comment #199713 by qomak on June 26, 2008 at 8:28 am
you know anyone can do an experiment with two different outcomes and argue their findings to the grave
167. Saudi Marriage Officiant : 'It Is Allowed To Marry A Girl At The Age Of One'.
Comment #199677 by qomak on June 26, 2008 at 7:20 am
First off, I find this news not totally surprisingly. For once, if you try to examine Mohammand's character, you don't find him any different than any other person at that time. He seems the norm for the time; I think I know all the brutality that he caused, killings, assassinations, double crossing the Jewish tribe, executions on petty reasons, treating women as stupid subhuman species (e.g., he boasted among his followers that whenever he ponders a difficult matter he consults his wives and then does the opposite), all the womanizing that he did but despite that I don't think he really stood out among the people of his time.
The problem is Saudi Arabia's culture has not moved much since that time. This means you shouldn't be surprised to see Muftis in that country declare him the perfect role-model; he is still the perfect role-model for them.
On the other hand, that doesn't really generalize to all muslims. We all agree that religion fervor and indoctrination go hand in hand. Thus, if we are able to "indoctrinate" the model day morality in the young children, they will not grow up to be sick fucks like their prophet. They might engage in lengthy logical fallacies to apologize for his behavior but hopefully they won't be like him. We have seen this happen to all the other religions, to other ideologies and it can happen to Islam as well.
168. Galaxy map hints at fractal universe
Comment #199354 by qomak on June 25, 2008 at 2:57 pm
What is the motivation/purpose of attaining the first post, hastily composing a short comment, and then stating that you have the first post in the first post?
169. Saudi Marriage Officiant : 'It Is Allowed To Marry A Girl At The Age Of One'.
Comment #199119 by qomak on June 25, 2008 at 7:55 am
Al, my favorite is devil gets horny when he sees a man's schlong.
170. Saudi Marriage Officiant : 'It Is Allowed To Marry A Girl At The Age Of One'.
Comment #199100 by qomak on June 25, 2008 at 7:25 am
Embarrassing things to mention to a liberal Muslim
1. Muhammad took 'Aisha to be his wife when she was six, but he had sex with her only when she was nine.
171. Saudi Marriage Officiant : 'It Is Allowed To Marry A Girl At The Age Of One'.
Comment #198927 by qomak on June 24, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Regarding the notion of Mohammad being a pedophile I don't think he really fits into the description. He does not show a preference for children. Actually, I have not made up my mind about his character completely. There are very good reasons to believe he was a complete fraud (i.e., sometimes faking epilepsy during revelations to impress more people) but there is also a good source of evidence that he actually believed the superstition of the day and perhaps his connection to divine.
172. World Youth Day condom protest against Pope
Comment #198585 by qomak on June 24, 2008 at 9:20 am
Raelian members Eden Bates and Gerry Texeira said it was unfair that their leader, Claude Vorilhon, known as Rael, was denied a visa upon application while the Pope was being feted by Australian governments.
173. 'I despise Islamism': Ian McEwan faces backlash over press interview
Comment #198573 by qomak on June 24, 2008 at 9:09 am
Unless you have studied Judaism very carefully for YEARS, you have no understanding of it.
174. The Flea Delusion
Comment #198491 by qomak on June 24, 2008 at 6:22 am
Barry Pearson
I enjoyed reading through your conversion website and I liked it. You can polish a few things here and there but in general I enjoyed the confident and sober style of argument displayed there.
I find it very unlikely that you've received any high quality conversion material (probably we've seen them all) but I wonder whether you have received any serious attempt to conversion which is not an attempt to preach.
175. Divine Impulses: Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Comment #194631 by qomak on June 17, 2008 at 5:44 am
Is there anyone serious who wouldn't heave a huge sigh of relief?
176. Divine Impulses: Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Comment #193876 by qomak on June 16, 2008 at 7:26 am
one needs to be quite careful when looks at reports like the one you point to. It is important to determine if this is a true news report, or a fictional story, embellished for affect?
177. Scientists confirm that parts of earliest genetic material may have come from the stars
Comment #192941 by qomak on June 14, 2008 at 9:52 am
One question, ruling out the "Goddidit idea", this organize material must have been made somewhere. Does anyone know why it is hard for uracil and xanthine to have been formed in the primordial sea?
178. Loyal to Its Roots
Comment #191151 by qomak on June 10, 2008 at 9:46 am
Is the action made purely by chemical reactions between similar or dissimilar chemical associations?
179. Court Claim: Chimps Are People, Too
Comment #191042 by qomak on June 10, 2008 at 6:36 am
We and chimpanzees can not mate (at least not successfully) so we're a different species and thus they are not human. Am I missing something? The question of whether they should be declared a person is of course up for debate.
I guess even a reasonable case can be made that chimps are "smarter" (with whatever happens to be the definition of "smart") than humans with very severe mental retardation so intelligence cannot be the deciding factor.
This is really fascinating though. It's good to see that years and years and scientific research is starting to have some legal implications. I bet 50 years ago there would be no place for a case like this.
180. Logical Proof of the Existence of a Divine Creator, Why Atheism is Not Logically Sound
Comment #190694 by qomak on June 9, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I can't understand why so many people are shocked by the stupidity of this. My expectation went below zero just by looking at the title.
Seriously, I only check these articles to learn just one thing: whether the write is a complete douche-bag believer of "evolution is blind chance" non-sense or the slightly more sophisticated and scientifically deluded and spreader of "hand of God through evolution/quantum mechanics" pseudoscience.
181. Holiday in Hellmouth
Comment #189902 by qomak on June 7, 2008 at 1:44 pm
...What DO you say to that?
182. Male circumcision is a weapon in the sperm wars
Comment #189640 by qomak on June 6, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Completely agree with Mango.
Yet another evolutionary biology nonsense. This is mostly interesting though, but I just can't get the evolutionary connection, unless they want to prove circumcision has been practiced for hundreds of thousands of years and has created selection pressure.
183. Darwin still causing waves after 150 years
Comment #188829 by qomak on June 4, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Ancestor's tale is also pretty good, I prefer that to blind watchmaker; I find blind watchmaker a bit dumbed down for creationists so ancestor's tale has more material.
184. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce
Comment #188611 by qomak on June 4, 2008 at 8:57 am
The man could almost be a bishop. He seems well qualified for the job, theism aside.
185. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce
Comment #188569 by qomak on June 4, 2008 at 7:58 am
hungarianelephant:
Any ethical system based on the notion that humans are autonomous individuals who are entitled to pursue their own interests so long as it doesn't harm anyone else must, ultimately, conclude that it should not prohibit homosexuality, unless "harm" is established. Which it isn't. That last bit is a scientific question. The rest is an ethical one.
186. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce
Comment #188490 by qomak on June 4, 2008 at 6:41 am
Who says horse racing isn't exploitative? Do you know how many horses suffer injuries during those horse races? I've no idea about greyhound races though.
I don't like the use of animals in circus events either. Cirque du Soleil type entertainment is the way to go for the future.
187. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce
Comment #188476 by qomak on June 4, 2008 at 6:22 am
Appleby
It's good to see that you're finally making some arguments rather than asking "questions" or provoking useless "thought experiments".
But regarding your argument, I vaguely remember people have already covered your points.
To summarize:
1) Science has nothing to do with most gay rights for example the right to marriage. That is a fundamental human right and applies to all humans. The science part which says homosexuality is natural is just there to convince homophobic scumbags to lay off their backs.
2) Bestiality:
P1) You need to prove you don't harm or torture the animal.
Your rebuttal: We kill animals to eat them ...
Our rebuttal: True, but nonetheless torturing animals is consistently forbidden and so is harming them for "entertainment" purposes (you know, cockfighting, fucking and bullfighting must be outlawed).
Your rebuttal: That doesn't make sense, blah blah...
Our rebuttal: It makes perfect sense. Torturing is bad, eating them is the unfortunate status quo which doesn't justify adding more harm to animals anymore than what is already done.
So, any other questions?
188. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce
Comment #188175 by qomak on June 3, 2008 at 9:53 am
Appleby:
I just might. I'm not getting any real answers to my questions anyway.
189. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce
Comment #188084 by qomak on June 3, 2008 at 7:59 am
Gosh, what a boring discussion. So this moron Appleby has managed to stir more shit than other moron Clearmind?
I really commend the rest of the posters on their patience to deal with an extremely obtuse person whose best argument (for lack of a better word) has been something along the lines "If science proves that the best way to save the society is to fuck goats and to hallucinate that earth is a giant tortoise riding on back of a dumb lizard, what would you do?"
190. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce
Comment #186763 by qomak on May 31, 2008 at 9:27 am
Really? So you are saying that being an atheist makes you (mostly) more stupid, narrow-minded and dogmatic than religionists. What do you base this claim on?
191. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce
Comment #186739 by qomak on May 31, 2008 at 8:36 am
Where do get such ideas? Do you really want to claim that atheists as a group are more politically dogmatic than religious groups?
192. 'Uncontacted tribe' sighted in Amazon
Comment #186619 by qomak on May 30, 2008 at 9:17 pm
You guys are aware of the fact that they might die of simple diseases like common cold if contacted with outside world, right?
193. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce
Comment #186583 by qomak on May 30, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Vinelectric
However, such is the inconsistency of Islam that what applies to Muhammad does not necessarily apply to anyone else. He is "special".
194. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce
Comment #186350 by qomak on May 30, 2008 at 7:47 am
Relax, they're very peaceful people. They just want to see blood at the first night of the wedding that's all.
195. That's it. Texas really is doomed.
Comment #186073 by qomak on May 29, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Al
As I said, I guess I'm really optimistic. I think there would be always people like Steyn or like you who would push against these restrictions. Even if muzzies win, that win might alert more people to the fact that such "protective" laws can really shut down free speech which will give more fuel to people who fight against them. You might call me naive and very optimistic (I confess it might be true) but hey I at least acknowledge that these muzzies have really made a great leap from burning, beheading and stoning people to death when their fluffy feelings get offended.
196. That's it. Texas really is doomed.
Comment #186069 by qomak on May 29, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Fighting Falcon
I think Al covers it all but there's another point that I want to touch on.
As humans we generally tend to optimize matters for our own needs, in other words we take decisions that effect us locally: we take local decisions. In some situations (let's say game theoretic situations) if you leave everybody to optimize for their own local benefit you might get to a situation where everybody is worst off. This is very abstract and very difficult to explain (although I can give some concrete examples*) and it doesn't really prove anything; it just disproves the notion that letting everyone take local decisions for themselves is the best strategy at all times. And this is my whole point.
* Many unintuitive situations happen if you model things in game theory. For example, you can construct instances where adding an extra highway in a city will worsen the traffic jam for everybody.
197. That's it. Texas really is doomed.
Comment #186066 by qomak on May 29, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Al
That is exactly how I feel with this softiness that is going to spell extinction for liberal and enlightenment values. It wouldn't take many whiny appeasers to undo hundreds of years of hard earned freedoms.
198. That's it. Texas really is doomed.
Comment #186062 by qomak on May 29, 2008 at 12:43 pm
FightingFalcon
Well then dude, by all means feel free to take YOUR money and donate it to a charity of YOUR choice that YOU feel helps out people who need health care coverage. I know for a fact that there are charities out there in America that cater toward Americans who can't afford health care on their own.
You might think you have a moral compulsion but I don't. Why should your morals reach into MY wallet and steal MY money?
199. That's it. Texas really is doomed.
Comment #186053 by qomak on May 29, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Al
I am nervous to even let this liberal tint to the conversation continue. This is because it seems to me there is a liberal agenda to silence speech of numerous variety... see this fiasco in Canada where the "Human Rights" council seeks to shut people up, claiming Islamophobia ... Why should hate be illegal?
200. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'
Comment #185759 by qomak on May 28, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Accusers" because the real complainant is Mohammed Elmasry...