Comments by Frankus1122

351. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175365 by Frankus1122 on May 5, 2008 at 10:11 am

Sam Harris has such a lucid way of expressing himself. There are some exquisite lines in this article.

Here is a favourite:

Islam, as it is currently understood and practiced by vast numbers of the world's Muslims, is antithetical to civil society.

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

Comment #175334 by Frankus1122 on May 5, 2008 at 8:59 am

fides_et_ratio:

The nonsensical cartoon above enables many athiests to indulge in an orgy of self-righteousness, justified anger, and various other methods of ego inflating exercises. Shame that.

I'll ask again why the less UNintelligent Christians do not speak out against such nonsense.
Is it because at their core your beliefs are just as nonsensical?

I'll agree that the above comic is absurd beyond measure. It is disappointing that this is what we are forced to argue against. It is very rare indeed that anything more worthy comes this way. It seems as though the best the theists have to offer is not too far above the Chick Tracts when the arguments are laid bare.

Prove me wrong.

As for the pronoun debate:
Let me try and care...............
Sorry, can't do it.

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

Comment #175017 by Frankus1122 on May 4, 2008 at 6:53 am

In fact the only sects seeming to be gaining numbers are the evangelicals (http://www.inspiremagazine.org.uk/news.aspx?action=view&id=2306), and these are the ones that are more likely to reject science and specifically evolution. However it should also be noted what demographic these churches serve.

What seems to be happening is that "reasonable" religion is becoming a spent force. What we will have to face is the rump lunatic fringe, supported by people like Peter Vardy and similar exports from the US.

I stole the above quotation from epeeist on another thread.
It sort of adresses the problem I was speaking of above.

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

Comment #175016 by Frankus1122 on May 4, 2008 at 6:45 am

You do know that the doctrine of the word's single largest sect is accepting of evolutionary theory though, right?

Yes. I should have said in the USA, where the majority of people do not believe in evolution and do seem to hold the views as expressed in the Chick tracts.

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

Comment #174889 by Frankus1122 on May 3, 2008 at 6:24 pm

Comment #174740 by fides_et_ratio

Obvious nonsense. Any chance of posting a sensible commentary on the interaction of Christianity and science Josh?

Such simplemindedness seems to be the dominant mode of thought for a very large majority of Christians. It is obvious nonsense. However, it is also rampant and actually believed. Why do the less unintelligent Christians not speak out more loudly against such nonsense and lies?

356. Fleabytes

Comment #173155 by Frankus1122 on April 30, 2008 at 12:54 pm

I just signed up for a myspace page but I am apparently an idiot because I cannot seem to send him a message. I will look for a 13 year old kid to help me and I'll get back to you. :)

357. Fleabytes

Comment #173139 by Frankus1122 on April 30, 2008 at 12:22 pm

MPhil,
His son, Anthony, is one of his friends on his myspace page.
Can you contact him through there?

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=114530568

358. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173116 by Frankus1122 on April 30, 2008 at 11:33 am

clearmind:
read very good summery of all posts. clearmind is ID LOGIC brain.
But wootermind I must call strike one 'cuz I ask where to sign up for ID and clearmind says:

.

359. Fleabytes

Comment #173114 by Frankus1122 on April 30, 2008 at 11:22 am

Comment #173108 by Geoff

Don't you mean: "Jesus spent a weekend dead..."?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzuxyq3ltls

Mr. Deity: "3 days? Well, there is fudge room. We could do it late Friday and raise you up at the crack of dawn on Sunday. So you are looking at 36 hours tops. 35 if we do it the weekend they set the clocks forward."

360. Fleabytes

Comment #173049 by Frankus1122 on April 30, 2008 at 9:13 am

Hi Richard Morgan.

Are you happy now?

361. Museums teach society lacking in science literacy

Comment #173045 by Frankus1122 on April 30, 2008 at 9:09 am

Comment #172674 by dlitt

Thanks for that link.
I printed it out and will use it as soon as it gets a bit warmer here.

362. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #172999 by Frankus1122 on April 30, 2008 at 8:21 am

seeker:

STRIKE ONE!

Thank you Dr Benway.
I have a PM for you.

363. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #172932 by Frankus1122 on April 30, 2008 at 7:23 am

What is this "comparable quality of evidence"?
My thought too.

Me three.

It is all well and good to say you may have some problems with your evidence but to do this while ignoring the absolute shite of evidence on the other side is ... wrong/bad/just not right/disingenuous/dishonest...

Is there not a Bible quote about specks and beams in eyes that could shed some light on the matter?

364. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #172917 by Frankus1122 on April 30, 2008 at 7:04 am

Cartomancer:

Looks like RD.net is fast becoming the hottest dating site on the internet!

I would not be surprised if you got a few nibbles with your current avatar.

As they say, "I'm not gay but..."

365. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #172851 by Frankus1122 on April 30, 2008 at 6:08 am

Annabana and Al,

You are a handsome couple.

So my predictive powers were correct. I thought you may have just been pulling my chain and leading me and everyone else on.

I am glad you were not.

I feel all warm and toasty. :)

366. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #172812 by Frankus1122 on April 30, 2008 at 5:41 am

From Goldy:

After this, I'm going to try a chocolate beer.

We have a coffee porter over here that is a really really good tasting beer.
Now a chocolate coffee porter.... mmmmm.

367. Pat Condell: Anthology DVD available now!

Comment #172518 by Frankus1122 on April 29, 2008 at 4:49 pm

Did you know that if you rearrange the letters in Pat Condell you get the word BOOORING!

368. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #172395 by Frankus1122 on April 29, 2008 at 2:15 pm

Corylus, SharonMcT and Kardashovel (and everyone else):
Have you seen this?:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/229

It is the TED talk by Jill Bolte Taylor, a brain scientist who studies her own stroke as it happens.
She gets a bit 'out there' near the end of her talk. She sounds a lot like Corylus during her thought experiment.

369. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #172275 by Frankus1122 on April 29, 2008 at 12:21 pm

from Steve:

I think this is really a matter of how one generally treats others on an open forum. If Styrer, or anyone else, shouts, it can potentially stop a interaction that others may wish to continue.

I mentioned something along these lines earlier when it was noticed that DickDawkins' behaviour seemed to change as a result of how he was treated. He was savaged to be sure, but it was done in a way that did not entirely shut down dialogue. He became slightly less vile as a result.
I think we can have an ameliorating effect on people who come here. Sometimes it is necessary to leave someone a way out. Immediate name calling does not allow for that.
Persistent willful ignorance is another matter. Those people can be dealt with by Irate, Dark, Diacanu or anyone else who cares to drop the F-Bomb on them.

370. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #172049 by Frankus1122 on April 29, 2008 at 7:24 am

Comment #172035 by riandouglas

unfortunately I'm with Frankus

Thanks for that vote of confidence :(

Right back at ya:
Unfortunately I'm with raindouglas on this one:

What about other religious beliefs and experiences? Was the buddha contacted by this being, you think?

I actually asked this earlier. Does the revelation in the Koran count for anything? I mean there is some good stuff in there about charity and probably some other points that would tend one toward a 'good' life (I'm not really familiar with the Koran).

From Irate:

Zero evidence supplied for any of the assertions you make.

And because of this no one other than Kardashovel will base their life on his assertions.
As I keep saying: It is an interesting story but I am not going to start wearing funny clothes and change my behaviour because of it.

371. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #172030 by Frankus1122 on April 29, 2008 at 6:59 am

Sorry Frankus, but you are out of character.

I'm sorry I failed you, sir.

I tried but it is like asking that I pretend that 2 and 2 is 5. There is too much information against such a notion that keeps cascading in on my wee brian for me to be able to sustain the illusion.

Regarding synchronicity:

Are you sharing, or fishing?

I think it is an area worthy of investigation. I think (based on nothing other than my intuition) that we will find there is a natural explanation for improbable coincidences. I could come up with a theory but it would be based on nothing really. It would be a work of science fiction.
I like science fiction. It can lead to some real science. But we shouldn't mistake the two.

As an aside: I am amazed that cellphones of today are so much more than the communicators that Captain Kirk used. In some ways our science has outstripped our science fiction.

I think Comment #171844 by Quine is on point. You have a good science fiction story. There are way too many obstacles for it to be anything other than that.
I have another question/obstacle about your god: Why would such a being need us? Although not omnipotent, he is quite powerful and yet he is still ruled by emotions similar to those of his primate creations.

A domesticated primate? Frankus, I don't even believe that a monkey is just a monkey, much less a freakasaurus rex like you. We are connected.

Yikes! :)

372. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171748 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 6:54 pm

MPhil,
I had an image that I cannot seem to find at the moment. It was one of several off duty philosophy professors.

This image will substitue:

http://www.henkvink.com/images/motor/baltics/bikers.jpg

373. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171744 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 6:39 pm

did anyone notice the difference between Dick's early posts and his more recent ones?

Yes. I was wondering if the fact that he was seriously engaged and called out to defend himself had the observed ameliorating effects.

Kardashovel,
I am having a hard time. I am getting stuck at God. :)
Seriously I did not know how to define what was being talked about. I saw that you and Steve and MPhil were hashing some definitions about.
If I were to believe in a god it would be along the lines of a sum totality of all that there is.
I don't know if this is Spinozian or Einsteinian or what.
I can't see this as being a personal or interventionist god in any way. My god is too big to intervene in human affairs. My god is everything that is. Why would that care if D. Robertson couldn't cover a cheque? Why would that care about your business dealings? Why would that care? Caring seems to be something we humans do as a result of our biology. In a sense you could say that because we care and we are part of the universe God cares. But only in a limited sense. Only in the sense that we care. The caring is localised to us. There does not seem to be a universal caring that goes on. So how could it be said that god cares?
Some being that plays with space and time and the elemental forces of the universe is an interesting idea but I cannot see any evidence of this.
You say the Bible is His handiwork. It is not perfect but it does the job; just like evolution. My problem with this idea is that it leaves far too much to chance. Chaos theory/the butterfly effect would seem to preclude any idea of this sort.

My wacky theories involve the explanation of repeating patterns and synchronicity. I think coincidences happen far too often to just be coincidences. I think there may be some underlying unifying structure to the universe,(perhaps involving other dimensions) that we are yet to discover.
Will we find Mind?
I dunno.
Will we/ought we to worship It if we do find it? I don't think that is a proper relationship.
These are things which I only speculate on.
I know we have mind and caring here. I talk to you and think about things and I care about my family and other people. That's enough for me. It is enough because that's all there is.
For now.
What would a universal mind add? Universal caring?
Maybe, but I'm just a monkey.

I need to read my daughter a bedtime story now. She has been weeping uncontrolably since her defeat at chess. (I'm joking).

374. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171700 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 5:39 pm

I won!

Heidegger? Interesting, but I can't seem to find a lot of logical arguments. A lot of assumptions and meta-ontological speculation though - intersting for sure.

That's why I like talking to Kardashovel. :)

375. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171680 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 5:10 pm

MPhil,
My daughter just saw then photo of your bike and told me to say, "Cool!"

I must go off and play chess now.
I hope I beat her she is only 8.
She just told me she is really good though and she thinks she will win - no she knows she will win.

As you all will anxiously be awaiting the outcome I promise to let you know.

376. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171673 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 5:02 pm

Most philosophy isn't something where you need 1-3 minutes to read, understand and judge a page

I am looking at a book by Heidigger that has a dark section in it because I had to reread it about a dozen times. I suppose I had dirty hands and a vacvant mind.

377. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171467 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 1:59 pm

Kardashovel,
Thanks I will do this.
I am about to go home so I can think about it on the way.
But I sort of figured this was your theory.
Without trying your thought experiment, I am going to say it is a thought experiment.
I spoke earlier of science fiction and how the best stories are the ones that could be true. Whether or not they are true is the big question.
The 'fiction' part of science fiction would tend one towards the "or not".
But I'll give it a try and let you know the results.

378. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171439 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 1:42 pm

Are you insinuating that Anna and I have something going on.... outside of RD.net?

There are plenty of secrets to go around anyhow.

No kidding

Okay. I'm not saying anything but...

379. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171434 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 1:40 pm

Kardashovel,

I asked earlier about how you came to your knowledge about the Bible and God's plan.
I am curious.

380. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171426 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 1:36 pm

From Steve:

Prejudices pass with time, hopefully.

True, but it often takes just more than time. A bit of in your face uncomfortableness is often a necessary part of the solution.

381. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171411 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 1:28 pm

Al and Anna,
I teach in a middle school. I recognize the behaviour. :)

382. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171393 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 1:20 pm

Anna,
Shut up.

Al,

Thanks, I <3 you, too. ;-)

You guys make a handsome couple.

383. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171362 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 1:01 pm

In Toronto about half the population shows up to the Pride parade. There is not much traffic left to mess up.
Instead of complaining you should show up.
I'm sure an extra Dick would be welcomed.

384. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171301 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 12:20 pm

Why people cannot separate the ideals of the flag from the actions of the government I have no idea.

Why people cannot separate the ideals of the flag from a piece of cloth I have no idea.

385. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171282 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 12:06 pm

The flag should never touch the ground and/or be used as an article of clothing

Why?
No wait.
I don't care.

386. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171250 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 11:49 am

Thank you Cartomancer.

My students keep coming up to my desk to ask me questions.
Questions like: Who is that man on your computer screen, sir?

Because we are painting today I can tell them it is a model I am thinking about doing.
:)

Now they want to know why I am laughing.

387. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171193 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 11:04 am

Kardashovel,
Thank you.
I like that we are getting more of your theory of the Bible and its purposes.
A couple of questions:
1. How do you come to the knowledge you have?
How do you know what you believe is true? Is this written down somewhere or is it speculation on your part?

2. What's the deal with all the other religions? (Especially Islam)How do they fit in with the plan?

388. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171126 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 10:22 am

So phatbat, do you think your grandma is wormfood or in hell?

Wormfood, yes.
That is what happens to you when you die. Your body is eaten by other organisms. I saw this happen on the weekend.

Hell, no.
Hell does not exist.
I have never seen hell nor has anyone. Ever.

There is no evidence whatsoever of hell or an afterlife. None. Nothing.

When you die, you die.
People alive remember you.
You may want to believe otherwise but there is no reason on earth for you to believe this based on everything else you know about the world.

389. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #170917 by Frankus1122 on April 28, 2008 at 6:26 am

From Goldy (a while back - I've been on vaction):

How do you know we athiests are not doing God's work?

God does not exist. :)

I just came back from a fabulous weekend. I spent a lot of time hiking. I discovered a small lake deep in the woods. The new life of Spring is just starting to show. Trout lilies are poking their heads out of the forest floor. I found 4 dead deer. It is interesting to see a similar pattern in the way they are eaten and consumed by other organisms. The legs and hoofs are left for last.
I could go on and on describing the beauty and chaos.

I have a point. I was thinking of God while I was out and about (said with a Canadian accent).
The story from the Bible seems not only improbable but so small and limiting.

When I came across Goldy's statement that atheists are doing god's work it struck me as being true in a sense. Although I am not sure what god's work would be if he existed, I think God is an attempt at an explanation of why/how things are the way they are. As has been pointed out again and again on this site, God really isn't an explanation for anything. Atheists don't believe in god because god doesn't explain anything. God is completely unnecessary.
Figuring out how things really work is not the work of atheists but scientists.
So I will ammend Goldy's statement to: Scientists are doing the work of God by providing a real explanation of how/why things are the way they are.

To the Bible people: step outside your bubble for a moment and discover the universe as it really is. It may be a bit scarey but it is beyond that to which you are currently limited.

390. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168802 by Frankus1122 on April 25, 2008 at 11:13 am

Remnant,
I have a short litle video response to your bible quoting:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6PaHcZUHI00

391. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168788 by Frankus1122 on April 25, 2008 at 10:59 am

SRWB

I know you are, but what am I?

This is called fighting fire with fire.
Or maybe its what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

392. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #168684 by Frankus1122 on April 25, 2008 at 9:33 am

I have a t shirt that has this on it:

http://www.traveladventures.org/continents/europe/images/eastsidegallery01.jpg

I get looks but not much more.

BTW: Can anyone translate this for me? I've asked several German and Russian speakers and I have never been able to get a straight (no pun) answer.

393. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168670 by Frankus1122 on April 25, 2008 at 9:22 am

Good story Max.
You made me feel sad.
And angry.
It does all come down to personal relationships. There is a good quote from Thomas Merton that relates to this that I can't quite remember exactly so I won't try, but essentially he says that what gives meaning to our lives is how we interact with other people; our relationships.
How one could put their relationship with an imagined being, for whom there is no evidence, above their relationship with their family is ... I am not sure what to say. I can't think of anything that expresses how wrong and bad I think this is.

394. Yoko Ono sues over use of John Lennon videos

Comment #168661 by Frankus1122 on April 25, 2008 at 9:13 am

mixmastergaz

I have a PM for you.

395. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168653 by Frankus1122 on April 25, 2008 at 9:04 am

From epeeist and Billy:

After "The Flood" the world supposedly had 8 people left.

8 people who somehow managed to repopulate the world instantly and make it look as though the egytian pharaoh and empire continued as normal - despite being obliterated (apparently)

It is exactly this type of glaring problem that cannot be answered except with the cop-out "With God, all things are possible," that makes arguing with Rem and others like him futile.

396. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168651 by Frankus1122 on April 25, 2008 at 8:58 am

Ooooh!
I forgot the turkey vultures!
There was a storm approaching and about 30 of them were riding the storm front as it moved from west to east. I watched them for about 15 minutes and not once did they flap their wings.

That was really cool.

And nobody was killed capriciously.

397. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168625 by Frankus1122 on April 25, 2008 at 8:39 am

You (sic) lack of reasoning skills never cease to amaze me.

You have no right to speak of "reasoning skills".
Such terms must be applied consistently or they have no meaning.
You have demonstrated again and again that you do not consistently apply the rules of logical to your thought.
If you don't play by the rules of the game you cannot play at all.

398. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168592 by Frankus1122 on April 25, 2008 at 8:19 am

I was going to post about you know who but as mesomodel said earlier:

Our current resident troll seems to accept some science and reject others, but the infallibility of the bible and god's "truth" ultimately leads to "goddidit" even in the face of overwhelming evidence. As soon as there is a clash between religious dogma and evidence (and eventually there always is), dogma wins. That's why discussion is pointless.

We seem to have reached a consensus.

So...
I am about to head up to the wilds of eastern Ontario. I have a friend up there who is a great birder. We go on walks through the woods and can identify up to a hundred birds in an hour. (That's our challenge for ourselves).
He is attempting to teach me how to identify by calls alone.
It is tough for me by seems to come naturally for him. (Well, he actually listens to tapes so that helps).
The wild turkey population has exploded in our area. It is not uncommon to see flocks of 20-30.
I have a brown thrasher that frequents my yard.
A couple of weeks ago there was 'V' after 'V' of Canada geese heading north. There were hundreds and hundreds that flew overhead, honking all the while.
My friend has been trying to get purple martins to nest in the apartment he has built for them. The specific requirments to attract these birds and have them nest is incredible. The purple martin house must be a certain distance from a dwelling, and be facing an open field of a certain size and the holes have to be just right and on and on. I have suggested that he needs to leave little mints on their pillows if he wants them to stay.

There now. Isn't that better than bible quotes threatening hell and eternal damnation?

399. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168434 by Frankus1122 on April 25, 2008 at 6:29 am

epeeist wrote:

Now, you claim a global flood. Let us accept this and look at what your conjecture has to explain

and then SteveN wrote:

But Epeeist, surely 'Goddidit' is a far simpler explanation than those complicated sciency equations. See, the bible trumps your fancy 'book-learning' every time ;-)

I think this outlines very succinctly the problem we have with Remnant. He has stated that the biblical truth will trump man's truth no matter what the evidence shows. He has refused to engage in reflective thought. He will not question the 'truth' that he finds in the Bible.
We can point out that the 'truth' is one of his own construction, but the message does not get through. We are, perhaps to his mind, the devil tempting him.
Logic, reason, rational thought, and science are all constructs of man and inferior to the truth of the word of God. So even if you have an airtight case against certain 'truths' in the Bible,(the Flood, for example) they are rejected out of hand.
The fact that this thought is in itself irrational is not a point to him.
He has taken the 'leap of faith' and there is no turning back for him.
But because he has done this he has no right to argue his case on rational, logical grounds. Either he must take everything on faith(without evidence) or use reason.
Our attempts to get reasonable rational discourse from him are futile because he refuses to use reason consistently.

400. Interview with Dan Dennett

Comment #168264 by Frankus1122 on April 24, 2008 at 8:25 pm