351. 'My daughter deserved to die for falling in love'

Comment #178633 by MaxD on May 11, 2008 at 7:27 pm

Mordicacious,
What about more international pressure to conform to Western norms?

Logicel. I think the content (comment #178609)of your comment has to be the other prong in any civilizing change. It cannot just be education, education, education at least in the third world. Maximizing vibrant economies has always seemed like a no brainer to me, because it would seem to pay long term dividends for my own counrty while also doing the same for others. I do think this is probably the strategy we ought to be adopting with regard to Iran for instance. (We seem to be using this approach with China, why not others?)

DingoDave,
The order along with everthing else that twittering blob said was deeply disturbing. I hear this Allah is all kind of sentiment too too much. Even among moderates. Prayer?! Five times a day? Isn't that a bit obsessive?

352. Evolution: What is 'Natural'?

Comment #178582 by MaxD on May 11, 2008 at 4:13 pm

Arty,
You are simply not up the latest and greatest in psychology and neuropathology. Our moral intuitions seem rooted in our brains and their activity. Indeed much that we know supports Hauser's hypothesis of universal grammar of morality. Though you rightly say picture isn't yet fleshed out.

However, even if we were no where near a physical understanding of morality it would not justify the unsubstantiated theistic claims to explanation.
Would it?

353. Evolution: What is 'Natural'?

Comment #178576 by MaxD on May 11, 2008 at 4:06 pm

Artful Dodger,
Simply having some adaptation that would increase some quantity you call survival advantage isn't important to selective concerns unless that survival advantage also confers a reproductive advantage.

Consciousness, morals or any other thing you may want to bring up may be unnecessary to survival per se(though treating contemporaries well might arguably lengthen a life seems in little doubt) this simple fact alone may not increase one's differential reproductive success. I could be utterly ruthless in my apey dealings and this might indeed give me a longer a life, but if I alienate myself from the group I may have hurt my reproductive success (this has to be counted as children who reach child bearing age and also reproduce successfully).

354. 'My daughter deserved to die for falling in love'

Comment #178563 by MaxD on May 11, 2008 at 3:38 pm

Mordicacious,
I am unsure about education being the answer either. I think it must certainly be part of the answer, but when this honour killing thing happened in Britian a few years ago a friend of mine asked a Muslim doctor friend of hers what possesses people to do such terrible acts she was met with a shocking response.
The recent med school graduate said the father had done the right thing. If his sisters were doing the same bad things, or his any daughters he had, he'd have no choice but to kill them too.

I am not sure how you foment a radical shift in the metaphyiscal horizon's on communities of believing Muslims.

I know womens groups in these countries are always under threat but probably very good for educating and empowering women. However US committment to protecting these groups and women in general is more than mildly pitiful.

355. Anti-Evolution Film Misappropriates the Holocaust

Comment #178522 by MaxD on May 11, 2008 at 2:34 pm

Al,
I am jumping into this debate a wee bit late, but I think Hitchen's defense of Irving was of the same character as that of Chomsky and the that other strange historian. Hitch is offended by the fact that, nasty man or not, he was arrested for potentially uttering an unpleasant thought.

356. My Response to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #177815 by MaxD on May 9, 2008 at 6:52 pm

Phil excellent point.

357. Atheists are nice people who will roast in hell, says Cardinal

Comment #177814 by MaxD on May 9, 2008 at 6:49 pm

Guys I have an excellent design for the beer bong if we are going to be there for awhile, we might as well do our benders in style, or failing that, with maximum efficiency.

358. Richard Dawkins and Alister McGrath

Comment #177781 by MaxD on May 9, 2008 at 5:15 pm

Who is John Galt?
Oops I made a funny.

359. My Response to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #177778 by MaxD on May 9, 2008 at 5:13 pm

I think Dawkins sees connections of style to certain kinds of minds. He likened Ted Haggard's church services to the swagger, and sweep of the Nuremberg Rallies in Root of All Evil. It was almost lost on Haggard I think.
It can be loaded certainly. But I suppose if you see a connection you ought to make it.

360. My Response to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #177777 by MaxD on May 9, 2008 at 5:08 pm

Windweaver,
Do you think it is appropriate to use a mass of quotes that seem to have been uttered more than twenty years ago? Only about 22% of the quotes you have are likely to have been made in the last twenty years. I see Ehud Barack makes several appearences, as does Sharon, and Olmert. Were these made in the same setting? The same day?

Why are you not concerned with the equally heinous things uttered on the Palestinian side. Is it right to deny someone a Ph. D. position simply because they were in Israeli Defense Force? Seems like a bit of a leap from this post alone.

I'm not saying you are wrong necessarily, I am noting that you are making a lot of assumptions, and that a list of mined quotes isn't an argument.

361. A New Jack Chick Tract: Moving On Up!

Comment #177207 by MaxD on May 8, 2008 at 6:49 pm

Chick Tracts are the strangest preaching tool I've ever come across. The strange obsession with the King James Version of the bible, its disgruntled annoyance and disgust with catholics, the strange way any professor of biology teaching evolution looks like a stereotypical jew, and every god-boy hero the whitest, white bread ever. That is all just the funny part. Its tendency to use fear though is what makes the whole enterprise deeply disturbing, and not just mildly sickening. I can see these things haveing their most potent effects on children, and of course idiots of the kind Jack Rawlinson had the misfortune of encountering.

362. Trouble ahead for science

Comment #177019 by MaxD on May 8, 2008 at 1:16 pm

I do find it funny that Stein has done out did Michael Moore concerning this film of his.

363. Life after Jehovah's Witnesses: website offers help to followers who lose their faith

Comment #176435 by MaxD on May 7, 2008 at 10:18 am

I just got a Watchtower track on my porch last weekend. It is precisely the opposite of good reading.

364. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #176415 by MaxD on May 7, 2008 at 9:24 am

I do believe that SeekerofTruthiness did get a bit nasty there toward the end O'clearminded one. Perhaps you should go review the thread again.

365. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #176411 by MaxD on May 7, 2008 at 9:16 am

Hey, if Reverend Dark can enjoy Dean Koontz's silly Odd Thomas books (and they are enjoyable), one can check one's brain at the door and enjoy some well acted trash like armeggedon!
Futhermore, you cannot blame Affleck for what happened to Daredevil, that was the director, the director, the director, and the big studios.
And you gotta like Michael Clarke Duncan as the Kingpin.

Also just to take a swipe at Bonzai, I think non-gay folk can enjoy that activity as well. Or so I've been told by people in the know, and if trends in adult film are anything to go by.

366. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #176409 by MaxD on May 7, 2008 at 9:10 am

Gigli is a film I haven't seen. But I will take your word for it.

367. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #176396 by MaxD on May 7, 2008 at 8:31 am

Reverend Dark,
You slammed Ben Affleck movies and I have to say you did this for no good reason. I submit,
Gone, baby gone, Chasing Amy, Jersey Girl (a formulaic, but well executed romantic comedy), Good Will Hunting.
I accept that sometimes people must be maligned in order to disabuse them of creationism. But there are much more deserving targets. I think most of the Elton John canon could be employed (Candle in the Wind?) to this same effect. Dean Koontz?
Just a thought.
However do continue to give seeker the business end of reason.
-Max

368. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175820 by MaxD on May 6, 2008 at 5:35 am

Teratornis,
Do you think you could just direct us to other comments you've madeabout peak oil? I know you think that oil is a big problem and I do agree with that for the most part, but...most of us here have read your posts and there is no need to continue to regurgitate it over and over again. If you worry that some newbie may have missed one of your peak oil rants, then direct them to an older comment or pm them maybe.
Just a thought.

369. Neanderthals were separate species, new study finds

Comment #175655 by MaxD on May 5, 2008 at 7:39 pm

This evidence of more or less isolated lineages has been building for some time. I'm not sure the acrimony that often surrounds this debate (thankfully not in evidence in the review presented here) is justified.

However this is another piece of the puzzle, it will be interesting to see how this falls out in the next few years.
If it ever really does.

370. Anti-Evolution Film Misappropriates the Holocaust

Comment #175631 by MaxD on May 5, 2008 at 6:29 pm

_riverrun_,
Is the Dershowitz thing a red herring? Your post seems to avoid the meat of Harris is argument. I have read Harris extensively and I have yet to see any of this we own the world in evidence.

371. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175411 by MaxD on May 5, 2008 at 11:06 am

MarcCountry,
You said:

Of course, just because it MAY obfuscate this issue, doesn't mean it isn't true.

While I agree entirely with the point and spirit of Sam's article, it is nonetheless true that the problem of fundamentalism exists in all religions.

372. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175406 by MaxD on May 5, 2008 at 10:59 am

I think the thing that is most interestin about the way all the religious folk meet the strong critique, it the continual retreat into obscurantism (when the critique is about one's own personal religion anyway).
There is the continual redefinition, or the religious metaphor, or the well somethings we will just never ever know, blah, blah. That is at least the tack of the so-called moderate.
Its very bizarre, and I cannot imagine a more unfulfiling way to live.

373. Anti-Evolution Film Misappropriates the Holocaust

Comment #175129 by MaxD on May 4, 2008 at 2:03 pm

Christorpher Davis about your comment 130,
You are of course right.

374. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #174503 by MaxD on May 2, 2008 at 2:10 pm

SeekerofTruth,
You still have yet to address the issue of your original science quote. You know the one, that had you read on (or was it not present on the site you lifted it from?) explained the problems with your style of interpretation.
Why is that? I mean this would be a simple matter for you to address.
Simple.
Why continue to ignore it?

375. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #174493 by MaxD on May 2, 2008 at 1:57 pm

Mesmomodel, Tha tis a lot of damn super novae. A lot of damn supernovae

376. Anti-Evolution Film Misappropriates the Holocaust

Comment #174248 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 11:41 pm

I agree with Keith.
ID is an exploded hypothesis.
That is all.

377. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #174244 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 11:36 pm

Tom-foolery=Ben Steinery...hmmmmm
This is very special equation Benway

378. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #174157 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 7:17 pm

Mphil,
Did anyone do that? I didn't see any.

379. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #174145 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 6:35 pm

Th1nk3r,
Have you not read much of this post?

380. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #174144 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 6:29 pm

Elli,
"Intellectual vandalism"
This, I like.

381. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #174134 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 6:06 pm

SeekerofTruth,
i don't think I was trying to be a smart ass when I asked who was there to write out an account of the universe. I was just noting there were no witnesses to the account keeping track of the goings on.

So, sneaker, when you say:

I love it when at attempt as smart-ass proves my point.

The reason I know the earth is at least 4500 years old is because not only were there people on earth at this time, they were writing accounts of their history.

Now can we move on from this tom-foolery?

I know the world is at least

382. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173993 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 12:13 pm

Seeker,

Now suppose I asked you for hard evidence on when the United States became an independent nation. Just what would you base your response on?

383. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173983 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 12:06 pm

Seeker,
It isn't the only thing we have, the quote you used wasn't the whole article. It was quotemined as riandouglas noted,

Was the original article you didn't actually read because it explicity says SNR's are no use in dating the universe.

384. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173976 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 12:00 pm

Don_Quix,
I'll get to work on the script now.

385. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173970 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 11:57 am

SeekerofTruth,
I don't think anyone has told you it is shoddy pool to question the age of the universe. No one said that.
You asked some questions they were answered, links were provided to papers, and articles and such. Difficulties were explained and you've chosen to pluck on, without even acknowledging-I don't think-that such arguments provided difficulty to your interpretation, or at least the interpretation of the Creationist sources you use.

386. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173961 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 11:52 am

Seeker,
Is there any reason you ignore the arguements and evidence of other posters here?
I just notice that they have fleshed out the picture you initially painted, but you don't like that at all and pluck on with out addressing it.
That doesn't seem like a good example of intellectual honesty.

387. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173958 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 11:49 am

I take it the discussion of SNRs is over then?

388. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173934 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 11:29 am

Mesmodel, Don_Quix
Or worse they will start saying where is transitional evidence of cuts, and where are the transitional people that make up this inflated 6 billion figure? Hmmmm?

389. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173932 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 11:27 am

Sorry Don_Quix
I hadn't thought that far ahead in my analogy making.
Your avatar is mesmerizing. Is she playing Dawkins in an upcoming bio-pic or something? You know like Cate Blanchett recently played Dylan?

390. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173910 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 10:49 am

Was my analogy useful? Of course I pulled the severe cuts statstic out of thin air but the argument he is making seems somewhat similar to proof there aren't 6 billion people.

391. Religion a figment of human imagination

Comment #173906 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 10:46 am

I think it is born of imagination, the drive to figure things out and our tendency to see agency even where there is none.

392. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173902 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 10:35 am

SeekerOfTruth,
It seems that your questions have been met though. Resoundingly.

You want to keep pounding at it as if it hasn't been. This conversation is pointless. You don't acknowledge the points other posters, some of whom actually seem to work in the field, make, and you keep acting as if you've single handedly refuted current cosmology. I don't know if that is the height of hubris but man it seems like it must be. I a sensible person would say well we will just have to agree to disagree.

You won't even quote your source fully which explains the problem.

I will try to attempt an analogy. There are 6 billion people on the planet, a person recieves a severe cut every 25 minutes. There isn't enough blood around, so therefore there aren't 6 billion people.

I don't know if this is a great analogy, but it shares with your SNRs story the fact that the key evidence disappears over time. Blood washes away, even if no one cleans it up. Evidence disappears, or blends and becomes harder to find.

If you think that is bad, you should read Krauss's new article, which explains how in a few billion years the evidence of big bang will be gone, and our local cluster will become a big super galaxy, and we won't see any galaxies in the space beyond.
SHould any of our descendents be here.

393. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173846 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 9:38 am

Quetz I am beginning to see why you are a god.
Comment #173803

394. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #173821 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 9:17 am

Mesomodel,
He said he works for NASA, or hinted at it. Actually he said something like I work for an agency with four letters the first one being N and the last being A.

I have no idea if he has since said he works at NASA explicitly or not. Or if he is leaving it as a "mystery" so he can continue to say I work for the federal government.

395. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #173793 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 8:49 am

Annabanana,
I did notice that about the post between D.Robertson and RM. It was disturbing and oh so gloaty!

Kaiserkriss. I think you misunderstand the fascination, and the lament. Indeed who does give a shit that he found Jesus?
Again.
I don't. I am fascinated that he is trying to play out his oscillating mental states here, and there and sending us links to his myspace site for his music. I mean as a guy interested in animal behavior, and a passing interest in human psychology this is interesting stuff. I mean it isn't as interesting as the birds I've been watching lately but interesting while I am on the website.

396. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #173778 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 8:33 am

Can't show it to anyone?
Sweet Evil Jesus.

I would encourage him to look up from whatever backwater, basement cubicle he works in, and actually do some more reading on the matter.

397. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #173760 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 8:17 am

DickDawkins I just saw this, I am sure it has been hit already but you were claiming that Richard Dawkins was unqualified to be popping off about Jesus and God and all the other invisible sky daddies because of his credentials as a biologist.

Then you talk about being pro science, pro stem cell research, pro, this pro that. But you mention the catholic church is just against Embryonic stem cell research. The new Pope is probably more against this than the last. (Did you know this lover of science is having the Observatory removed from his palace?) But what gives him a, a-hem, theologian any right to criticize science-by your criteria above- expertise?

398. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #173751 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 8:08 am

DickDawkins,

My, my, was distracted by Mythbusters and look at the posts. I'll respond to the easiest ones first but firt I must respond to Sharon as she seems to be taunting me about UFOs. All I can say is that I work for the federal government and that my official position is that UFO do not exist, but personally I know better.

399. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #173743 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 7:50 am

Al,
I agree, but it will likely be interesting to see the inevitable crash. Didn't he say he had no intention of returning to the site in his lengthy public exchanges with David Robertson.
I wonder if, now having gotten some good mileage out of Richard, David has lost interest in the poor fellow?

400. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #173739 by MaxD on May 1, 2008 at 7:37 am

Annabanana,
I think you can be both.

Al,
Vile is the word. He can have his new persona, why not take it to church with him on sundays, or at church socials?

Richard Morgan,
Why did you delete all of your posts?