Posts by darthfader

"While parents have the constitutional right to raise their children by reference to their own religious and philosophical views, that right is not absolute. The State has a vital interest in ensuring that children are protected “so that a new cohort of well-rounded, healthy and educated citizens can come to maturity and are thus given every opportunity to develop in life”.

However, the right of the State to intervene and thus to override the constitutional right of the parents is expressly circumscribed by the Constitution. The circumstances must be “exceptional” and the intervention proportionate to the circumstances."

10

Model Says Religiosity Gene Will Dominate Society

by darthfader in

(physorg.com) -- in the past 20 years, the amish population in the us has doubled, increasing from 123,000 in 1991 to 249,000 in 2010. the huge growth stems almost entirely from the religious cultures high fertility rate, which is about 6 children per woman, on average.

at this rate, the amish population will reach 7 million by 2100 and 44 million by 2150. on the other hand, the growth may not continue if future generations of amish choose to defect from the religion and if secular influences reduce the birth rate.

in a new study, robert rowthorn, emeritus professor of economics at cambridge university, has looked at the broader picture underlying this particular example: how will the high fertility rates of religious people throughout the world affect the future of human genetic evolution, and therefore the biological makeup of society.. http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-religiosity-gene-dominate-society.html.

darthfader

Bohm,

I dont necessarily beleive that there are a "gene for religousness", but I think that the same genes promoted conformity and altruism, and to signal the level of commitment to cooperate and reciprocate among members of a community (Michael Shermer) are the same ones that are active in the "religious mind". As the "God of the gaps" slowly disappeared over the past milleniums we have moved off the need for religion to explain things and resort to logic. This creates a dichotomy in the modern human brain that ones must choose sides. The more orthodox/devout are by far more prolific and thereby carrying those genetic enhancements on to their children.

As far as the Amish people becoming a "mighty nation" I think they will butt up against resource and communication problems which will limit their growth.

I just thought it was an interesting article -- thanks for your feedback!

cheers

1

Valedictorian speaks out against schooling!

by Iamallcool in

http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=e5171755f32d6f574a753a296c965507.

darthfader

I think the focal point of her speech is using the mind for "innovation over memorization". It really isn't against education specifically, but more about the "quality" of public education.

I think this video has some pretty similar concepts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

10

Model Says Religiosity Gene Will Dominate Society

by darthfader in

(physorg.com) -- in the past 20 years, the amish population in the us has doubled, increasing from 123,000 in 1991 to 249,000 in 2010. the huge growth stems almost entirely from the religious cultures high fertility rate, which is about 6 children per woman, on average.

at this rate, the amish population will reach 7 million by 2100 and 44 million by 2150. on the other hand, the growth may not continue if future generations of amish choose to defect from the religion and if secular influences reduce the birth rate.

in a new study, robert rowthorn, emeritus professor of economics at cambridge university, has looked at the broader picture underlying this particular example: how will the high fertility rates of religious people throughout the world affect the future of human genetic evolution, and therefore the biological makeup of society.. http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-religiosity-gene-dominate-society.html.

darthfader

(PhysOrg.com) -- In the past 20 years, the Amish population in the US has doubled, increasing from 123,000 in 1991 to 249,000 in 2010. The huge growth stems almost entirely from the religious culture’s high fertility rate, which is about 6 children per woman, on average. At this rate, the Amish population will reach 7 million by 2100 and 44 million by 2150. On the other hand, the growth may not continue if future generations of Amish choose to defect from the religion and if secular influences reduce the birth rate. In a new study, Robert Rowthorn, emeritus professor of economics at Cambridge University, has looked at the broader picture underlying this particular example: how will the high fertility rates of religious people throughout the world affect the future of human genetic evolution, and therefore the biological makeup of society.

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-religiosity-gene-dominate-society.html

Start of Article:

Rowthorn has developed a model that shows that the genetic components that predispose a person toward religion are currently “hitchhiking” on the back of the religious cultural practice of high fertility rates. Even if some of the people who are born to religious parents defect from religion and become secular, the religious genes they carry (which encompass other personality traits, such as obedience and conservativism) will still spread throughout society, according to the model’s numerical simulations.

60

What were you doing 25 years ago today....

by Magwitch in

jw
friends

when the challenger exploded?.

i was dutifully going door to door to door, when a lady came to the door crying about the cahllenger.

she invited me in and i placed a set of magazines.

darthfader

Its quite interesting the moments in our life that appear to be written into our memories with indellible ink. The Challenger accident was one of the major ones for me along with the Columbia crash. Both times I was a working when a friend called me and said the shuttle blew up -- I thought they were joking... I only wish they were.

It's a risky business made even more so by dangerous bureaucratic and political pressures and processes. With the final shuttle flights coming up in the next couple months, it seems like a sad ending to what could have been an amazing journey into space. I only hope the next phases of space exploration are as successful at touching the minds and hearts as the initial Apollo and Shuttle missions were. Those who lost their lives in persuit of that dream deserve more than a fizzled space program.

43

Do you have a Facebook Page? and if so

by DeeDubs in

what do you have on the info page for religion?.

darthfader

Pastafarian ... really!

18

Anyone here truly understand Quantum Physics and M-Theory?

by AK - Jeff in

just beginning to read steven hawking's book the grand design.. will i understand these concepts better by the time i complete the book, likely?

or do i need a primer to 'get it'?.

jeff .

darthfader

Not one to want to feed any tolls but, Foodalls..... you really should write a book or something....

18

Anyone here truly understand Quantum Physics and M-Theory?

by AK - Jeff in

just beginning to read steven hawking's book the grand design.. will i understand these concepts better by the time i complete the book, likely?

or do i need a primer to 'get it'?.

jeff .

darthfader

I found this book to be quite helpful -- basic in it's explainations yet doesnt dumb it down too much.

http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Perplexed-Dr-Jim-Al-Khalili/dp/1841882380