Posts by Caedes

62

God and Evolution

by BurnTheShips in

during the second half of the nineteenth century, it became common to speak of a war between science and religion.

but over the course of the twentieth century, that hostility gradually subsided.

science should not try to become religion, nor should religion seek to take the place of science.

Caedes

You live in a cramped world HS. I am quite free to believe that there is a considerable amount of settled order and inevitable development in the universe that can be explicated by means of the scientific method. But you are not allowed to admit into your mechanism the slightest speck of spiritualism or mote of miracle lest the cogs seize up.

I noticed JCanon raised a similar point in another thread, I hope you manage to do better than he did.

I find it overwhelmingly arrogant and condescending on the part of (some) theists that believe this. You honestly seem to believe that life is somehow lacking in wonder or joy without a belief in the supernatural. As Douglas Adams said is it not enough to find a garden beautiful without having to look for fairies at the bottom of it? When I look up at the night sky and I think about how far the light has travelled just to get to my eyes don't you think I find that wondrous and mysterious.

When I look at the results of an experiment and I find that things have worked as I predicted don't you think I feel amazed that all those calculations match up with what happens in reality, not just once but every time.

The lack of basic human empathy required to think that an atheist is in any way lacking a sense of the majestic and mysterious is quite contemptable and extremely disturbing. Perhaps you might like to think about what it is that you are saying about a sizeable minority of the population.

62

God and Evolution

by BurnTheShips in

during the second half of the nineteenth century, it became common to speak of a war between science and religion.

but over the course of the twentieth century, that hostility gradually subsided.

science should not try to become religion, nor should religion seek to take the place of science.

Caedes

However, the basic acceptance of whether a God exists or not is one of, if not the basic building block of an individuals philosophy.
BA

BA,

It may be the building block of your philosophy in which case is your lack of belief in Zeus (or the easter bunny) a basic building block of your philosophy too?

Whilst it may be that my philosophy may well be different where I not an atheist, it would be more accurate to say that a scientific understanding that the universe is entirely natural is a basic building block of my philosophy.

It is a ridiculous notion to suggest lack of belief in anything can be classed as a philosophy, to me god is as risible an idea as santa claus and to suggest that I spend any time basing decisions around what I don't believe in, is silly. My philosophy is based around what I do believe in I.e the golden rule.

To think that anybody makes any life decisions based around bronze age myths and legends is somewhat akin to doing the same based on your daily newspaper's horoscope in my view.

22

Science v Creationism

by Mr Ben in

jw
friends

science v creationism.

i keep popping back here every now and then to see whats going on, and i have noticed that the same questions about science and creationism are continually posted and answered now, as they were when i first came here.

for example, the statement that the sun and not the earth is the centre of the solar system is a scientific statement (the heliocentric theory) that is considered valid because it explains a large body of evidence (facts from the real world).

Caedes

Good article,

It seems quite common for people to believe that an idea they have spent five minutes talking about on a public forum should carry as much weight as a scientific theory with a mountain of evidence built up over decades. Whilst science is open to new ideas, some people don't seem to understand that without empirical evidence their opinion on a subject means nothing.

I can only assume that the scientific method and it's implications are not taught sufficiently well at school.

21

Comments on Science v Creationism

by Mr Ben in

jw
friends

this is the place to add your comments and bttt's for my thread at:.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/148600/1.ashx.

thanks..

Caedes

Chappy,

Worldtravellers love for a significant other is not an extraordinary claim, I have no reason to doubt it if someone claims to love their partner.

Claims of a higher intelligence that created us is an extraordinary claim for which I need to see empirical proof. Until that is supplied I shall maintain my disbelief in all things supernatural and maintain my belief in ordinary claims of love.

I did read a study regarding the areas of the brain linked to feelings of love. Scientific understanding of a subject does not make the subject any less amazing.

62

God and Evolution

by BurnTheShips in

during the second half of the nineteenth century, it became common to speak of a war between science and religion.

but over the course of the twentieth century, that hostility gradually subsided.

science should not try to become religion, nor should religion seek to take the place of science.

Caedes

Just posting this so I can find this thread later for a proper reply.

10

DNA testing in biblical days

by nomoreguilt in

jw
friends

suppose for a moment that dna testing was available in bible times.......i know there are a lot of great minds at work here, so give it your best.

Caedes

Mary would have had a lot of answering to do and Joseph wouldn't have to worry about those child support agency letters.

45

purpledoodles strikes again

by purplesofa in

jw
friends

some recent stuff.........kinda like the wt, same old stuff!.

.

the twelve apostles!.

Caedes

Cool, I shall have to make sure Mrs Caedes sees these.

Better than 95% of what's on the walls of my local Art college

40

ATHEISM - Better World When Christian Are Gone?

by writetoknow in

stereotypes and prejudicessynopsis.

genocide is the ultimate expression of hatred and violence against a group of people.

this chapter traces the steps by which a group becomes the target of prejudice, discrimination, persecution and violence.

Caedes

writetoknow just leave the athiests alone. There are 7 Christians for every Athiests. No matter how many Athiests say they want to destroy religion they will almost always fail. This world is still has 95% of its population as religous people. A minority does not beat a majority. There is no point on going on about how Athiests will take over the world and destroy religion because it just won't happen unless through a event brought about by massive changes, but even then there is just as equal a chance that a religion ends up on top too. Really Athiesm is just another belief amoung the hundreds in this wacky world we live in, and just like all these beliefs it seeks to out do all others.

Oh no, I think write to know is a good example of what happens when reason forsakes the debate.

On to your points, so what does the fact that there is a large majority of theists tell us about the veracity of theist claims? Nothing, a majority of people used to believe that blood letting was sound medical practice, does that make it so? No.

How many atheists have you heard stating they would like to destroy religion? Please provide evidence. A conservative christian website is not exactly an unbiased source if you were going to use write to know's c+p job.

Atheists as a group (not that there is any such entity) are not attempting to destroy religion, individual atheists are attemting to hold up theism to the light of reason. Why? Because too many theists think that 'my god told me to' is a valid basis for destructive foriegn policy/ blowing innocent people up/ killing doctors for working in an abortion clinic/ killing people for just being atheist/ I'm not going to give you a job because you don't share my faith... I could go on but I'm sure you get the point by now.

What worries atheists (at least the ones I've talked to) is not theism itself but the fact that fundamentalist theism is on the rise. None of the atheists I've talked to are interested in destroying religion, there is a big difference between that and hoping that religion is replaced by something more rational.

If you think that religion would end up on top in any kind of power struggle (In the UK at least) then you need to read more English history, people have a long history of fighting the power of the church.

No atheism is a lack of belief, it is based on reason and rational thinking and empirical evidence. All of your 'wacky' theistic belief systems can be lumped together as faith in the supernatural.

If you can provide evidence that backs up your belief system then I will quite happily state you are right and I am wrong, I don't need to outdo your belief system because no theistic belief system has done anything yet, no theistic belief system has proven anything about theistic belief.

40

ATHEISM - Better World When Christian Are Gone?

by writetoknow in

stereotypes and prejudicessynopsis.

genocide is the ultimate expression of hatred and violence against a group of people.

this chapter traces the steps by which a group becomes the target of prejudice, discrimination, persecution and violence.

Caedes

Personally I think that Hitler's persecution of the Jews had less to do with his christianity and more to do with him being a rabid anti-semite
Of course their are some that think Hitler was politician appealing to the masses that wanted the Jews gone. Lest it would of happened at all because of popular decent.

5go, He was certainly offering a 'quick fix' for Germany's problems that would appeal to the masses. I doubt Hitler would have objected to appealing to peoples prejudices, but his hatred of Jews was well known and documented so, no, I don't agree that he was just trying to gain popular support.

I'm afraid I'm not sure what you mean in your second statement, did you mean dissent?

Your right then why do Atheist used the tacts stated in this artical? I know Christian use these tacts, but it my understanding Athiest are intellectual superior to Christain. They have evolved beyond the ignorance of sterotyping and such? (sic)

Atheists are not intellectually superior to theists, there is some evidence to suggest that the higher your IQ the more likely you are to be atheist. That does not mean that atheists are intellectually superior and I have seen no evidence that atheists are beyond stereotyping. Why do they do it? because they are human and get frustrated just like theists, most likely.

I'm afraid I'm at a loss as to what tacts are or what evidence you have that atheists are trying to rid the world of theists. If you have any evidence I would be very interested.

40

ATHEISM - Better World When Christian Are Gone?

by writetoknow in

stereotypes and prejudicessynopsis.

genocide is the ultimate expression of hatred and violence against a group of people.

this chapter traces the steps by which a group becomes the target of prejudice, discrimination, persecution and violence.

Caedes

How do you get read of a group? (sic)

What of people? why would you want to do that? what does it have to do with atheism or christianity?

Personally I think that Hitler's persecution of the Jews had less to do with his christianity and more to do with him being a rabid anti-semite.

Does that answer your question?