The Root of all Evil : The God Delusion
POSTED BY: Calhoun
UPDATED: Thursday, December 17, 2015 06:12
VIEWED: 49488
PAGE 30 of 32
What I personally think is amazing is the effort that is put into fleshing these 'theories' out when, at the end, they don't prove anything.
For instance, cannot we presume that, if God were any good at this universe creation thing, he could simply 'initiate' a universe with physical properties that the coming of 'semi-intelligent' life (I'm referring to humans here, in case anyone isn't sure) somewhere in that universe was pretty much a 'sure thing.' Why the constant need to say 'then God found the universe not quite to his liking and stuffed people into it'? In the 'God initiated the universe' view, science's only failing regarding the begining of life is to have failed to identify (yet) the means by which God very cleverly designed into the universe so this would happen as a pretty much 'sure fire' thing.
The only reason I can see for this is a need to literally interpret the bible; and for that reason, I tend to sit out the discussions. The folks holding onto the literal interpretation aren't going to be convinced, so I don't bother.
Intelligent Design as a 'wedge' will never work the way the folks with this agenda wish; because many scientists will grant that all they are trying to do is understand the mechanism God has put in place such that 'here we are.' It would be more honest if folks with this agenda simply stated, 'this is contrary to the Bible, the Bible is literally true, ergo, we don't accept this', rather than try to wrap psuedo-science around it; which just confuses things. The first stance I can 'accept', the second stance simply seems dishonest to me. O.. well, we do have the seperation of church and state... so they can't simply teach that the bible is literally true and thus the science is 'wrong' in a public school. Well. They are in a bind, aren't they?
You know, I'm not sure I've thought this through from the this perspective before. To me, it is -so- obvious that science is not 'incompatible with' or 'tries to prove religion is wrong'; but then I've never really pondered it from that perspective. Not that it changes my mind any, but they -really are- in a bind.
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Near 300 posts.. and I dont think anyone here has actually watched the documentary.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Calhoun:
Near 300 posts.. and I dont think anyone here has actually watched the documentary.
You do mean besides the person who opened the thread?
I found the intro to the book on-line; read that but it doesn't get sufficiently into the core of the book. I have put the corresponding book on reserve at the library.
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Quote:
leadb wrote:
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 17:18
Quote:
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Originally posted by Calhoun:
Near 300 posts.. and I dont think anyone here has actually watched the documentary.
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You do mean besides the person who opened the thread?
I thought that point to be obvious since I was the person who opened the thread..
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I've owned the book for quite some time now. Haven't got around to it yet though. Funny story about when I purchased it...I was qued up on the single line to pay and there were several cashiers. I thought to myself please when it's my turn to pay don't let me get the guy with the muslim skull cap because obviously he's religious..please please (ironic a prayer as any). As fate would have it I got his holiness. He took one look at the cover and said, "You know I hope you know God is great and he loves you." Aaaaawkward! I just kept the biggest cheshire cat smile plastered on my face and said, "Well that's great. I'm just interested to hear what this guy has to say." I took my bag like it contained a porno.
Quote:
Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
If melodiously piping flutes sprang from the olive, would you doubt that a knowledge of flute-playing resided in the olive? And what if plane trees bore harps which gave forth rhythmical sounds? Clearly you would think in the same way that the art of music was possessed by plane trees. Why, then, seeing that the universe gives birth to beings that are animate and wise, should it not be considered animate and wise itself?
If A -> B it does not follow B -> A.
Example :
All cats are animals but all animals are not cats.
also
All Red Sox fans are paranoid narcissists but all paranoid narcissists are not...wait a minute, bad example.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Calhoun:
Near 300 posts.. and I dont think anyone here has actually watched the documentary.
Caught.... red handed.
Sorry Calhoun.
Short attention span. If it has a lot of sexy girls dancing around in bikinis in the background it's about the only way somebody is going to get me to sit through a documentary today. (Not being sexist or cheovenistinc... or not trying to be anyways... just sayin it like it is. I know... it's pretty sad. Be gentle ladies... I'm the one that's got to live with me everyday.)IMO, a documentary is like watching a person's opinion for two hours. I know I do more than my fair share of posting my opinions here and that sounds hypocritical, but hey, I don't actually expect anything to read or believe anything I say. And most people don't! It's more for my benefit than anyone elses.
I know other people here addressed some of my earlier posts and questions and I've been MIA for about a week. I'm going to take the time to read this tonight and reply. I'm about to go to sleep. See ya'all later.
"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." http://www.myspace.com/6ixstringjack
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Quote:I guess that’s one way to miss the point.
Originally posted by ethan:
If A -> B it does not follow B -> A.
Quote:I don’t know about that, but I haven’t watched it. And I doubt I will.
Originally posted by Calhoun:
Near 300 posts.. and I dont think anyone here has actually watched the documentary.
Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.
Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.
-- Cicero
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Quote:
Originally posted by Calhoun:Quote:I thought that point to be obvious since I was the person who opened the thread..
You do mean besides the person who opened the thread?
Oh, yeh, it was you! ;-)
Edit: Another o yeh; I did find some debate in .wav that Dawkins participated in; obviously on the topic, but not precisely the referenced documentary. Starting to get a feel for his position; still tending to think he's a bit extreme.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Calhoun:
Near 300 posts.. and I dont think anyone here has actually watched the documentary.
I had to laugh at this comment... You are so right.
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Quote:
Finn mac Cumhal wrote:
Thursday, May 31, 2007 02:59
Quote:
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Originally posted by Calhoun:
Near 300 posts.. and I dont think anyone here has actually watched the documentary.
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I don’t know about that, but I haven’t watched it. And I doubt I will.
That seems to be the general concensus among religiousy types. Rule of faith number 3:If faith is challenged - stick head in the sand. Also referred to as the "ostrich manouvre".
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