Posts by DJS

82

Religion VS Atheism and the decline of ethics and morals

by EndofMysteries in

being back in college after leaving the borg, one of the required classes for a degree at my college is ethics.

after learning a few things, i am curious where morality and ethics is heading for the future of humanity.

i wish i could find the source again, but several weeks ago i recalled reading a transcript of a very old document that talked about when christianity was being spread in europe, it brought civility and community.

DJS

ApotstateThunder,

Once again a poster has made a definitive statement that isn't and can't be supported by the data. I'm an ex college prof and will red line such comments every time. To state that the treatment, even the existence, of the African and other area slave trade can't be tied back to Christianity and its leaders is completely wrong. Do some research. The conquistadores and other explorers were embolded and placated by the religious leaders on their sojourns that converting, killing or whatever the indigineous populations in the name of Christ was acceptable, as any fate befalling them was better than what they were going to experience without the forced conversion, slavery, etc. Burning forever in a hell fire.

One of my favorite quotes from Desmond Tutu: When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.

And please don't give the any nonsense about how they weren't real Christians, blah blah blah. They were the guys in charge of Christianity and how it was practied for a couple of thousand years.

239

A big shift in the world is about to happen......

by EndofMysteries in

i don't want to deceive anyone and i have to clarify a few things so i'm sorry this is going to be a lot more vague then you want.

infact if you do not already realize or also feel something is about to happen as in the title, then move along, it will be a month or 2 before i update this.

it's not my intention to annoy anybody, i am too uncomfortable to post any details because it's too new and i need to verify things, and i am also feeling responsible to give a subtle warning, that it might be something somebody needs to see.

DJS

Thanks Badfish for bringing this back up. I better understand EOM now and wil try to avoid responding to any of his posts. I've only been on the forum since April of last year, so this knowledge helps me. This OP presented by him borders on irrational hysteria and arrogance (that he has knowledge no one else possesses). Now I know why he doesn't read or think about the facts. They get in the way. His current OP about ethics is a perfect example. He listened to one freaking thing that supported his beliefs and feelings and won't leave it alone even after being presented facts, data and evidence. Geeesssh!

71

Theism Makes Science Impossible

by cofty in

it is not impossible to be a great scientist and a theist - kenneth miller and francis collins are good examples.. however, science depends on methodological naturalism - a working assumption that there are natural causes for observed effects.

please note that methodological naturalism is not the same as ontological naturalism.

in other words scientists may believe in a spirit world or not as long as god is never invoked as an answer.. contrast this with theism which, unlike deism, declares god to be immanent and active in the world.. consider a scientist who is also a theist doing research into the efficacy of a new drug that cures heart disease.

DJS

Kate,

Based on the definition of delusional, it wouldn't fit a theist unless they were exposed to and understood the evidence that refutes the belief. A 4 year old chld who believes in Santa isn't delusional because they haven't been exposed to the truth that Santa doesn't exist or if they were aren't old enough yet to differentiate. A cognizant adult theist who is exposed to the facts about the universe and the irrationality of the existence of a god who then continues to believe would, in most opinions, be delusional. That isn't being mean.

82

Religion VS Atheism and the decline of ethics and morals

by EndofMysteries in

being back in college after leaving the borg, one of the required classes for a degree at my college is ethics.

after learning a few things, i am curious where morality and ethics is heading for the future of humanity.

i wish i could find the source again, but several weeks ago i recalled reading a transcript of a very old document that talked about when christianity was being spread in europe, it brought civility and community.

DJS

EOM,

You continue to make definitive statements about things for which you have no real knowledge. School violence and shootings have been going steaidily downward for the past 15 years according to the real data. Look it up. You are being swayed by the recency effect or the horrific nature of the anomalous events which are covered continuously by big media. And as we have already told you crime of nearly every type is lower than it was decades ago. It seems your peceptions and beliefs are driving your thoughts rather than a serious analysis of the actual facts. Have we lost a bit of grace and manners? Perhaps or probably, but that isn't the same as morals and ethics. Life is much better than it was decades ago or hundreds of years ago. Humans are simply resolving conflict much better than the past. But believe what you want to believe.

I'm bailing on this discussion as of now; you have no real intention of learning anything. You simply want to pontificate.

82

Religion VS Atheism and the decline of ethics and morals

by EndofMysteries in

being back in college after leaving the borg, one of the required classes for a degree at my college is ethics.

after learning a few things, i am curious where morality and ethics is heading for the future of humanity.

i wish i could find the source again, but several weeks ago i recalled reading a transcript of a very old document that talked about when christianity was being spread in europe, it brought civility and community.

DJS

EOM,

The U.S government did some very good things in the early 20th century to help workers, primarily breaking up monopolies and reigning in to some degree the robber barons and industrial tycoons. They also did some good things in the mid-20th Century with wage and hour laws, etc. Give them credit for that. But the rosy picture you paint isn't even close to accurate. Some things have gotten back out of alignment, such as the minimum wage and income disparity, both of which need to be addressed. And they are bit by bit, but the rich will always tend to get richer and the poor poorer. It is inevitable, a mathematical formula. Governments try to level the playing field through a variety of means, but if you think the good ole days were that good you simply don't understand history.

Try watching some of the old movies from the 30s, 40s and 50s. Notice how the boss or the man in charge spoke to people when they screwed up. He spoke AT them. The movies were simply reflecting real life. The foreman/supervisor was typically the heaviest handed double y chromosome alpha male who would drive employees. The 'ethics' of the workplace, as regards employees, has improved tremendously in the past few decades. It isn't even close.

You keep trying to make a point that simply isn't there.

82

Religion VS Atheism and the decline of ethics and morals

by EndofMysteries in

being back in college after leaving the borg, one of the required classes for a degree at my college is ethics.

after learning a few things, i am curious where morality and ethics is heading for the future of humanity.

i wish i could find the source again, but several weeks ago i recalled reading a transcript of a very old document that talked about when christianity was being spread in europe, it brought civility and community.

DJS

How about this EOM? Start with the man in the mirror. Add if needed that it will go better with you in life to be ethical. It will create a better community, a better state, better nation and better planet. But absent ANY of that; go back to the man in the mirror. This isn't complicated. Your enculturation and indoctrination makes it so. It isn't. It's a freaking light switch. Flip it.

82

Religion VS Atheism and the decline of ethics and morals

by EndofMysteries in

being back in college after leaving the borg, one of the required classes for a degree at my college is ethics.

after learning a few things, i am curious where morality and ethics is heading for the future of humanity.

i wish i could find the source again, but several weeks ago i recalled reading a transcript of a very old document that talked about when christianity was being spread in europe, it brought civility and community.

DJS

EOM,

It is difficult for me to understand how intelligent people can ask such un-intelligent questions. Morals and ethics have nothing to do with relgion. I repeat. Morals and ethics have nothing to do with religion. One more time. Morals and ethics have nothing to do with relligion. Look at the data. Think about it. Why would you ask such questions when the topic, and your questions, have been answered so well so many other times on this forum?

82

Religion VS Atheism and the decline of ethics and morals

by EndofMysteries in

being back in college after leaving the borg, one of the required classes for a degree at my college is ethics.

after learning a few things, i am curious where morality and ethics is heading for the future of humanity.

i wish i could find the source again, but several weeks ago i recalled reading a transcript of a very old document that talked about when christianity was being spread in europe, it brought civility and community.

DJS

There is a news article this morning that lists the 10 most religious and least religious states. Not surprising the 10 most religious are in the south (and Utah). The 10 least relligious are in the NE and NW/W. There is a strong correlation between the states' religiosity and its: political persuasion, crime, poverty, illegal drun use, welfare recipients, gun violence, and most importantly education levels, etc. I shouldn't have to explain the correlation to anyone on this board who has been following along. But if you haven't, the most religious states have a correlation to having more: violence, crime, gun violence, divorce, illicit and illegal drug use, lack of educational status/achievement, welfare, food stamps, poverty. ETC>

It has been this way for a long time and it will be this way in the future until we replace religion with ethics and education.

82

Religion VS Atheism and the decline of ethics and morals

by EndofMysteries in

being back in college after leaving the borg, one of the required classes for a degree at my college is ethics.

after learning a few things, i am curious where morality and ethics is heading for the future of humanity.

i wish i could find the source again, but several weeks ago i recalled reading a transcript of a very old document that talked about when christianity was being spread in europe, it brought civility and community.

DJS

There is a news article this morning that lists the 10 most religious and least religious states. Not surprising the 10 most religious are in the south (and Utah). The 10 least relligious are in the NE and NW/W. There is a strong correlation between the states' religiosity and its: political persuasion, crime, poverty, illegal drun use, welfare recipients, gun violence, and most importantly education levels, etc. I shouldn't have to explain the correlation to anyone on this board who has been following along. But if you haven't, the most religious states have a correlation to having more: violence, crime, gun violence, divorce, illicit and illegal drug use, lack of educational status/achievement, welfare, food stamps, poverty. ETC>

It has been this way for a long time and it will be this way in the future until we replace religion with ethics and education.

82

Religion VS Atheism and the decline of ethics and morals

by EndofMysteries in

being back in college after leaving the borg, one of the required classes for a degree at my college is ethics.

after learning a few things, i am curious where morality and ethics is heading for the future of humanity.

i wish i could find the source again, but several weeks ago i recalled reading a transcript of a very old document that talked about when christianity was being spread in europe, it brought civility and community.

DJS

EOM,

Nice topic. Cofty and others have already debunked the 'findings" to which you refer. I'm glad you took the Ethics class. I developed and taught, for several years, an Ethics class at one of our local colleges. I have more statistical empirical data you could possibly want to view that supports what Cofty has said in the two posts above. In order to teach the class, I had to have the bonafides. Everywhere in the western world and likely developing world individuals are resolving conflict in a much more civil manner than they were decades or centuries ago. I would suggest visiting some of the museums around the country/world which present the actual manner in which people resvolved conflicts. It will stun you.

It may be difficult for some to believe at times due to the horrofic anomalies and the 24/7 media coverage, but it is true.