@Blitx442.... With all due respect, I cannot tell if you misunderstood the comment or not because that would presuppose i can read your mind. Oh and by the way, your assertion that your version of the effects of time dilation is any better than mine is arrogant, immature, and is a poor way to argue your point. I do think your analysis is faulty; and I'll tell you how.

Simply put, it doesn't matter where you are in any space at any time because all space and time is relative. From the perspective of any light speed characteristic, the universe is age zero and infinity all the time and all the space; that is, if you accept the definition of the speed of light characteristic as a truly asymptotic limit. You may care about your conscious perception of the universe; however, I assure you nature does not. So, the light of the big bang is the same light as the light of infinity!

Wow, that was almost poetic!

I don't understand why people, including Mr Hawking, try to perpetuate this way of treating time. I'l say this once folks.... If what we have learned from Einsteins equations are pretty much the word on the dimension of space/time, then the big bang is happening now. Everything including what humans call the past, present and future are all occurring simulataneously. Our consciousness may give us an impression that we can trace these things to different times; however, it's almost disingenuous to view time as intrinsic to the universe simply because it's an effective tool for humans to make sense of what we are conscious of!

The person making this argument probably believes in baptism; therfore, he blames the ancestors of everyone for what his fictional Adam and Eve, their sones, and the women who mysteriously appeared from the land of Nod did! How stupid is that!

This guy obviously knows nothing about religion, and it seems North Korea for that matter. This is just an example of how people say and write garbage pretending that it's somehow common sense. In reality, he only makes a fool of himself with poor logic and gross misunderstanding of what he speaks!

He was a great contrarian, author, and atheist. I will miss his writing and speaking till the day I slip into non-existence!

Excellent, and as always well said.

I was watching the media this last week and the anchors were questioning people about the apocalypse prediction. And, they sit there with a straight face while someone says the guy is nuts and it's not going to happen YET! Yet.... they are just as crazy as the guy who was predicting the rapture. The only difference is that it isn't happening yet? Not one person in the media had the wisdom to say that the only difference between you and them is some unknown period of time? People are STUPID and IGNORANT and religion seals the deal!

I cannot help but think, inspite of where I would agree or disagree with Hitch, every birthday he continues to be among us is a gift for us all. Happy Birthday Christopher Hitchens! Live Long & Prosper!

OK..... I read a good amount of the posts here. I still think that there is some room for some of these ideas in the greater story of evolution.

I'm an engineer, not an evolutionary biologist and I read the interview in Discover. I didn't get the impressiona at all that, even in the slightest, of any supernatural explanations creeping into the discussion, except maybe by the interviewer. Margulis seems an interesting character with some interesting theories. I don't think she dissed evolution at all. She went after a school of thought. This is always something healthy to good science. Frankly, and remember I have not read any of the posts here, I think she is on to something. Schools of thought typically do battle against one another till the ideas merge into a saner and clearer form. Symbiosis is an obvious feature of life and evolution is clearly punctuated by it. Nevertheless, the vast amounts of time for life to reflect the characteristics of natural selection are pretty clear also. I think some of these folks need to find common ground to better integrate the views of all sides. I can't see where Margulis is entirely wrong, nor her opponents; then again, I'm, as admitted, not an expert here.

strong textI just don't get how the church, (or any religion for that matter), could think it's, even remotely, relevent today in society. they jst don't get it and wonder why they are getting pcked on. If they are so convinced their morality is so relevent or useful, it probably isn't.

Interesting and not at odds with a lot of what Dennett gets at in "Understanding Consciousness". It reminds me of the movie "Brainstorm" where we are all really just a collection of experiences that can in some manner be conscious of part of the collections of others. Good Post mmurray!

This is even more reason to eliminate these stupid laws. This is just another example of mob rule. Pakistan is one sick place!

Though an excelent example of logic, I think everyone has to agree after reading this humans sure like to talk about god, his thoughts, his decisions, the types of super powers necessary to achieve one end or arrive at another. Does anybody need any more proof that man invented god? It seems to me this is more irefutable evidence of the fact that man invented god! This goes whether there is a god or not! But don't worrym there is not!

Thanks Richard..... Spot on!

Cheers!

Good Luck Hitch. You have a lot of folks standing-strong behind you!

She is right.

Religion is such a scam.

We will not be intimidated by these cowards who hide behind these cultural artifacts.

Cheers!

What a disgrace these folks are!

TRASH..TRASH....Trash.... Anyone who believes this garbage must lack frontal lobes!

Well said Sam!!!

He should take a seat in an Obama administration!

The democrats will implode on this garbage the same way the repewby boys have. It will lead them, the way all religion does, down a path of corruption and criminality. My wish-thinking amounts to just hoping these so-called "people of faith" would just self-terminate!

Richard should abandon the "anti-darwinist" poppycock. He's answering a false and illogical question predicated on the notion that humans are somehow not natural. Nothing humans do is unnatural; everything, I submit, everything humans do physically or mentally is perfectly and consistently part of nature. Whether we turn the earth into a garden or a wasteland, we are here as part of nature to do just that!
Free will indeed!

This is typical of American politicians. They will go out of their way to comfort the delusional, and delude the comfortable. Voting for this guy is questionable; however once in command, who knows what he'll do. My advice is to add much much more progressive taxing on wealth, not just income. And, start massive stimulus to the middle and lower classes with jobs,direct investment, and research. All decisions must be made based on the best scientific principles. Helping people through religious channels is unconstitutional. And he claims knowledge and training in constituional law. What a laugh!

This man made me laugh, made life enjoyable, and his social commentary was spot on. It would be easy to say he's gone to a better place; but that would be an insult to his memory and to what we all known is true!

By the way....
As far as reformation goes.... these people might try getting a science based education, as well as put their faith in the struggle of their fellow humans to make scientific and logical sense of the world!

Well..... It's about time we received some gospell, I mean good news! It's a bankrupt philosophy that has no basis for support in this world. I use to ask christians for the opinion of Jesus on Nuclear weapons and power, as well as genetic engineering. Hell..... I wonder why the bible doesn't tell us the dangers of cellphone and ipod usage on wednesdays at 9:00am, when the cat falls back asleep, and the sky is cloudy!
By the way... I'll have one of those!!!

Teratornis .....

Sounds like the only thing you are running out of is ideas....
so try this energy future on for size!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1996321846673788606

I suggest everyone here do as I.... go to yahoo finance where Ben Stein posts articles. Then go to the feedback link and demand they stop allowing him space because his financial info is suspect based on his support of this film.

Sorry MPhil.... I'm not buying it. We learn more about animals and their capabilities all the time. Humans are not so special. This is one of the false suppositions of the religious boneheads.... that humans are soooo special.
Again...I'm not buying it!