251. Battle of the Chambersburg billboards

Comment #124547 by Radesq on February 9, 2008 at 7:11 pm

Quill - What if the sign said "Why do Liberals hate America?" Free speech is not a debate in America, it is a bar fight. If you don't hit first and hit hard (and preferably below the belt)you lose.

252. The Passion of 'Anonymous'

Comment #124546 by Radesq on February 9, 2008 at 7:07 pm

Cairnarvon - I'm sorry.

Gymnopedie - Shh...I think we are supposed to keep quiet about that so the Theists will think that they thought of it themselves when it dawns on them. That's the only way they would believe it.

253. 10 cc of atheism

Comment #124539 by Radesq on February 9, 2008 at 6:39 pm

Why did they choose Judaism as the vehicle for this episode?

254. Battle of the Chambersburg billboards

Comment #124533 by Radesq on February 9, 2008 at 6:09 pm

...Bitterness corrodes the can it's carried in...

That's why they call me Rusty!

edit~ and for a bit of fun there is a poll on whether or not you believe in evolution on the Southern Baptist for Huckabee Blog. It's running about 95% to 5% against evolution. Feel free to drop in and vote, you don't have to register.

http://www.freewebs.com/baptistforhuckabee/index.htm

255. Battle of the Chambersburg billboards

Comment #124512 by Radesq on February 9, 2008 at 4:35 pm

Why do the Fundies hate everybody?

256. Christopher Hitchens Debates Timothy Jackson

Comment #124501 by Radesq on February 9, 2008 at 4:25 pm

Please let's just drop this valuable/invaluable stuff. I feel like this topic could be an inflammable one.

257. Christopher Hitchens Debates Timothy Jackson

Comment #124497 by Radesq on February 9, 2008 at 4:17 pm

Don't you just love what an offhand remark can generate!

258. Why Darwin matters

Comment #124496 by Radesq on February 9, 2008 at 4:14 pm

Diacanu - you've seen the movie "Idiocracy" too many times. Then again "shit's real bad" these days. Maybe I'll watch it again.

259. The Passion of 'Anonymous'

Comment #124481 by Radesq on February 9, 2008 at 3:37 pm

RE: 26. Comment #124443 by Lucas

Lucas - I'm a little standoffish about reading anything written by somebody whose name is that close to "wooter".

260. Why Darwin matters

Comment #124478 by Radesq on February 9, 2008 at 3:29 pm

I do believe in faeries, I do, I do!

261. Christopher Hitchens Debates Timothy Jackson

Comment #124453 by Radesq on February 9, 2008 at 2:14 pm

I have to disagree with you Dr. Steve; I think Hitchens' contributions are valuable.

262. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123843 by Radesq on February 7, 2008 at 6:09 pm

Rowan Williams as Johnny Rotten

Sharia for the UK
It's coming sometime or may be
We'll get along fine 'till it's stoning time
My future scheme to make Anglican's scream
'cause I wanna seem more PC

263. The Mind of the Market

Comment #121620 by Radesq on February 3, 2008 at 8:31 pm

Investing strategies of evangelical financial advisors: 1) Invest in companies that make extremely large needles; 2) see number one.

264. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #121615 by Radesq on February 3, 2008 at 8:22 pm

More likely Angband Cartomancer; he seems old school to me.

265. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #121611 by Radesq on February 3, 2008 at 8:10 pm

Get real he says. That's rich...start believing the words written down by scribes thousands of years ago (and apparently largely plagiarized from earlier myths) when the sun and stars were thought to revolve around the Earth to be the inerrant words of an all powerful creator who is thought to have appeared at the drop of a hat in olden times but who hasn't said peep for twenty centuries? You first.

266. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #121604 by Radesq on February 3, 2008 at 7:31 pm

Compare 259. Comment #121584 by Cartomancer
With this passage from the Oscar Award winning film Good Will Hunting:

Clark: Well, as a matter of fact, I won't, because Wood drastically underestimates the impact of social -
Will: "Wood drastically underestimates the impact of social distinctions predicated upon wealth, especially inherited wealth"? You got that from Vickers' "Work in Essex County," page 98, right? Yeah, I read that too. Were you gonna plagiarize the whole thing for us? Do you have any thoughts of your own on this matter? Or do you, is that your thing, you come into a bar, read some obscure passage and then pretend - you pawn it off as your own, as your own idea just to impress some girls, embarrass my friend?

267. God vs. Gridiron

Comment #121045 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 10:09 pm

Really ARR? Because all the pro athletes I know speak very highly of you.

268. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #121044 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 10:02 pm

Thanks a lot Ben Jennings, he was my ride home. Of course it wasn't really Kardashovel who was doing the driving though. :)

269. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #121030 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 9:52 pm

You've said a lot of things Kardashovel I can't keep track of them all. For instance I just remembered that you theorized something to the effect that God was a human or some other being from the future who traveled back in time to make the universe more amenable to the ...to the ...what was the rest of that conjecture again?

~ I suppose you would take offense if I asked you if he spoke in Aramaic, English or Gallifraic then?

270. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #121024 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 9:41 pm

OK Kardashovel...those questions probably aren't fair as you presumably have not been to heaven how would you know? But if God has spoken to you what does his voice sound like? George Burns? James Earl Jones? Vox Day? Or does he sound like you...in which case if it sounds like a duck (you know the rest).

271. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #121017 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 9:34 pm

Do you age in heaven, or if you die as a baby do you remain a baby for eternity? Can you pick what age you want to be 22-23 was a good year for me. Most people die old I suppose...do they remain old in heaven? What if you were adopted, which family do you hang with in the ever after?

272. Are Darwin's Theories Fact or Faith Issues?

Comment #120840 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 4:57 pm

LorienRyan are you sure you wanted to post that? Hyperbole is one thing....

273. Are Darwin's Theories Fact or Faith Issues?

Comment #120834 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 4:41 pm

In whose image was Eve made?

274. God vs. Gridiron

Comment #120832 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 4:39 pm

I see no point in attacking football either -- it is a sport...a game...a form of entertainment. Participation and viewing are voluntary.

275. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #120829 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 4:37 pm

Blacknadder Have you read it? Then why don't you just summarize it for us? I'm sure you can explain it well enough for us to follow.

276. Richard Dawkins on The Big Questions

Comment #120827 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 4:33 pm

Deronepugh - I don't have a whole lotta love for American religious fundamentalists. They often can not tell the difference between what is and what should never be...witnessing such a debate would likely only leave them dazed and confused.

edit~ please forgive the silly puns, sometimes I do tend to ramble on.

277. God vs. Gridiron

Comment #120763 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 12:59 pm

Cue the Wagner -- "Kill da wabbit... Kill da wabbit"

278. God vs. Gridiron

Comment #120758 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 12:48 pm

Diacanu

edit ~ I'm not a fan of the way the posting has been rejiggered, sorry for the one word post. I was about to write that I disagree with your and Deepthought's assessment of NFL football.

279. Documents detail church coverup

Comment #120728 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 11:51 am

Perhaps they should get some new management and rename themselves. I have a suggestion:

New Archdiocese of Milwaukee and Bishopric Laity Association.

280. Are Darwin's Theories Fact or Faith Issues?

Comment #120639 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 7:31 am

Dr. Steve - I defer to your knowledge of evolution...however, Montealtosuchus arrudacamposi seems to be a mostly terrestrial animal with long legs that evolved from early crocodiles (now apparently extinct). If it is the forerunner to the crocodiles of today which spend a great deal of their time in water...wouldn't it be analogous to Indohyus in relation to whales?

281. Are Darwin's Theories Fact or Faith Issues?

Comment #120626 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 6:32 am

phasmagigas: I actually agree that it is sensible that theists would not be theists if they would just be rational. It just seems to me that they must be rational about other aspects of their life or they wouldn't live very long. Teratornis (I think) is telling me that theists may have common sense but that is different. Perhaps he's right. It just seems to me like we are very close to stating the argument as - if you all don't agree with me on this it is because you are stupid. This is why I like the title of the book "The God Delusion" over alternates like "The God F*cktardity"

282. Are Darwin's Theories Fact or Faith Issues?

Comment #120621 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 6:23 am

Here is another transitional animal fossil discovery:
RIO DE JANEIRO " Brazilian paleontologists said on Thursday they had found the fossil of a new species of prehistoric predator that represented a "missing link" to modern-day crocodiles.

The well-preserved fossil of Montealtosuchus arrudacamposi, a medium-sized lizard-like predator measuring about 5 1/2 feet (1.7 meters) from head to tail, dates back about 80 million years to the Late Cretaceous period.

283. Are Darwin's Theories Fact or Faith Issues?

Comment #120601 by Radesq on February 2, 2008 at 5:32 am

Teratornis -- @73
"Or maybe you are trying to make a joke?"
That's cold ... excellent delivery though. You do have high expectations for others in the future! In spite of having a rather low opinion of them in the present.
I think it would be a good place to start if people could apply “common senseâ€� if that is all most people have â€" to their religious beliefs. When I say that people are selective in the application of critical thinking â€" I only mean that whatever thought process tells them that there is no tooth fairy, gets ignored when it comes to believing in their deity for whom there is about as much empirical evidence.
Being able to spot a fallacious argument is important â€" and naming/classifying these will certainly sharpen the skill of detecting them. There is more to critical thinking than that, however, and some people are stronger/weaker in these areas than others (we could probably all use a boost in one area or another). Here is what I think is a good list of other critical thinking skills (although some of the terms would need further definition).
Paul, Binker, Jensen, and Kreklau (1990) have developed a list of 35 dimensions of critical thought:
"A. Affective Strategies
S-1 thinking independently
S-2 developing insight into egocentricity or sociocentricity
S-3 exercising fairmindedness
S-4 exploring thoughts underlying feelings and feelings underlying thoughts
S-5 developing intellectual humility and suspending judgment
S-6 developing intellectual courage
S-7 developing intellectual good faith or integrity
S-8 developing intellectual perseverance
S-9 developing confidence in reason
B. Cognitive Strategies--Macro-Abilities
S-10 refining generalizations and avoiding oversimplifications
S-11 comparing analogous situations: transferring insights to new contexts
S-12 developing one's perspective: creating or exploring beliefs, arguments, or theories
S-13 clarifying issues, conclusions, or beliefs
S-14 clarifying and analyzing the meanings of words or phrases
S-15 developing criteria for evaluation: clarifying values and standards
S-16 evaluating the credibility of sources of information
S-17 questioning deeply: raising and pursuing root or significant questions
S-18 analyzing or evaluating arguments, interpretations, beliefs, or theories
S-19 generating or assessing solutions
S-20 analyzing or evaluating actions or policies
S-21 reading critically: clarifying or critiquing texts
S-22 listening critically: the art of silent dialogue
S-23 making interdisciplinary connections
S-24 practicing Socratic discussion: clarifying and questioning beliefs, theories, or perspectives
S-25 reasoning dialogically: comparing perspectives, interpretations, or theories
S-26 reasoning dialectically: evaluating perspectives, interpretations, or theories
C. Cognitive Strategies--Micro-Skills
S-27 comparing and contrasting ideals with actual practice
S-28 thinking precisely about thinking: using critical vocabulary
S-29 noting significant similarities and differences
S-30 examining or evaluating assumptions
S-31 distinguishing relevant from irrelevant facts
S-32 making plausible inferences, predictions, or interpretations
S-33 evaluating evidence and alleged facts
S-34 recognizing contradictions
S-35 exploring implications and consequences"

284. Belief in Belief

Comment #120501 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 8:40 pm

OK Titan, fair enough, I am not asking you to give out personal information of that nature. But what I am looking for is what God's role in all this is? How does he interact with you or if not interact - what effect does he have? So far you keep telling me what you do. You pray (perhaps that is talking to God)and you feel close to God...but what is he doing for you? I know that sounds crass but I don't know how to say it delicately. God doesn't seem to be doing anything in your examples -- I mean how is what you are doing different than talking to yourself and trying to work out your problems in quiet contemplation? It may be very different to you but you haven't said how?

285. Are Darwin's Theories Fact or Faith Issues?

Comment #120493 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 8:01 pm

Teratornis - I'm surprised you brought up the Dunning Kruger effect, that's just terrible science. I don't know how they ever got the Nobel prize. I could do a better study blindfolded in fact I could do it with two blindfolds (call it a double blind study).

On a more serious note...most people in the USA claim to be religious believers and yet they can function well in most aspects of their lives. This leads me to believe that there is more than just a lack of critical thinking skills in the populous (although the level is clearly not what it should be. It seems that people tend to shut off or ignore their critical thinking skills when it comes to this area of thought/discussion. Much like I do when you talk to me about driving a car or following the Red Sox. Can we figure out how to get people to think as critically about religion as they do about...I don't know...what toppings they like on pizza?

286. Belief in Belief

Comment #120455 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 4:53 pm

Comment #120446 by Upgrade01A

I agree with most of what you say, but I think military intervention in Darfur is sufficiently in our national interest in as much as stopping the genocide there will help this country regain some of its international goodwill. Apart from the fact that failing to stop such an awful fight when it is within our power to do so is shameful in my view.

287. Hitchens V. Boteach

Comment #120441 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 4:25 pm

Welcome back Scooternyc, I was preparing to present an accountability/responsibility argument to someone on another thread...but I'll wait until you find him.

288. Belief in Belief

Comment #120435 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 4:21 pm

Titan all kidding aside, can you describe how you experience God in your life? What does that mean?

289. Belief in Belief

Comment #120404 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 3:23 pm

I can't type as fast as Dr. Steve but I'm guessing he might say something to the effect that God may do no damage to our lives because he does not exist but that does not prevent those who preach and follow from doing great harm to us and themselves for no good reason.


edit- oh boy, righton I think I may be owing you an apology

290. Belief in Belief

Comment #120396 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 3:06 pm

Titan I didn't say native Americans hunted them. Of course I was just kidding around, like al rawandi having a pump action 30-06.

291. Belief in Belief

Comment #120378 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 2:38 pm

The Indians used to hunt axis deer, I imagine they used bow and arrows though.

292. Belief in Belief

Comment #120366 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 2:20 pm

The election.

293. Belief in Belief

Comment #120361 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 2:12 pm

I think Titan is different than the others over on the other thread -- righton. But I checked also.

294. Belief in Belief

Comment #120358 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 2:08 pm

The US will put a stop to what's been going on in Darfur, but not until we're substantially out of Iraq -- so at least not until Jan 2009, if nobody else will stop it.

al rawandi perhaps the US government doesn't care what happens to Africans...but that can be changed.

295. Belief in Belief

Comment #120354 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 2:01 pm

Well Titan to begin with I'm very happy that you are happy -- that's great. But what is the part that you think God played in it? As a non-believer my first instinct is to think that all that earnest thought and prayer about your situation and why you were in it (whether it was about being selfish or other things)could be the answer (you had a revelation but why does it need to be external) and that the giving God credit part of this is really just you not wanting to give your old self the credit for being able to change. You may have very specific reasons for adding God to your self-improvement but you haven't really mentioned them yet.

296. Belief in Belief

Comment #120347 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 1:53 pm

al rawandi did you see a couple of months ago those two wild boars shot by kids? The were the size of oxen -- huge! I had no idea things like that were running around in the woods down south!

297. Belief in Belief

Comment #120334 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 1:35 pm

Dr. Steve your avatar is changing/regenerating faster than Dr. Who.

Titan thanks for posting here -- it is always interesting for me to hear stories of how people come to believe in God or come to disbelieve as I have never had either conversion. Whenever, I buy a new car I suddenly see that type of car everywhere...not to trivialize what you are saying, but I think that is just the way the human mind works. Your other comments about God entering your heart and being visible to you -- I really have trouble relating to that...can you give some concrete examples?

298. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #120301 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 11:51 am

No need to apologize...if people did that every time I misfired a joke no one would ever say anything else to me. Still there is that 10% that is nagging me. I am not seeing the context of your comment - but are you not saying that some languages are superior to others in their ability to convey ideas? That would probably be controversial at the very least to every one who doesn't speak French.

299. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #120290 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 11:42 am

MPhil it was 90% joke and 10% political correctness.
ed. ~ and apparently 0% humorous.

300. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #120284 by Radesq on February 1, 2008 at 11:37 am

The trouble with saying something like that MPhil is that someone might read something into it.