A series of conferences are being set up by the Catholic Church to discuss Darwin and Galileo. Seems like they are trying to remove the stigma of being "anti-science", or something like that.
Of course it's hard to forget that this is the same entity that jailed Galileo for spreading the word that the Earth revolves around the Sun. I don't expect much progress to come from this.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
A Smart Creationist?
This is a recent video of a discussion between Michael Shermer of the Skeptics Society and Georgia Purdom. Purdom has a Ph.D. in molecular genetics, is the director of the Creation Museum, and truly honestly believes in creationism. I can understand uneducated people being duped into believing something as far fetched as the world is only 4,000 years old or evolution doesn't exist, but when a Ph.D. steadfastly defends these claims, we have a problem. But of course she seems very foolish, to me at least, in this conversation. It's hard to fathom that she doesn't understand how absurd many of her claims are, especially in the face of science.
Somewhat of a long video, cut to 14:00 for the really good stuff. Purdom says that there "would be no point" to testing certain things because we already "know God did that". Wow.
Somewhat of a long video, cut to 14:00 for the really good stuff. Purdom says that there "would be no point" to testing certain things because we already "know God did that". Wow.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Neil deGrasse Tyson on Science and Religion
Some excellent points here by Neil deGrasse Tyson. He is a fascinating person to listen to.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A Problem with Religions and Respect
There is a problem in regards to the level of respect a person of one particular faith may have to a person of a different faith.
If it is true that Christians believe that those of us who do not take Jesus Christ to be their savior are going to hell (and it is true), then mustn’t the Christians of the world (appx. 2.1 billion in ranks), think that the rest of us, (appx. 5.5 billion), are doomed to an eternity in hell?
Doesn't that make you think dearly of your Christian neighbors?
Take note of some of these quotes from the bible:
"He that has the Son has this life; he that does not have the Son of God does not have this life."(John 5:12)
"He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; he that disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him." (John 3:36)
Those two quotes are threats, nothing more. Take god in your life and you will be okay, dare to disbelieve and you will be punished. Does that really sound like a guy you want to follow?
This seems to me to be a big problem in the discussion among religions, or even in the tolerance of those outside a certain religion.
If it is true that Christians believe that those of us who do not take Jesus Christ to be their savior are going to hell (and it is true), then mustn’t the Christians of the world (appx. 2.1 billion in ranks), think that the rest of us, (appx. 5.5 billion), are doomed to an eternity in hell?
Doesn't that make you think dearly of your Christian neighbors?
Take note of some of these quotes from the bible:
"He that has the Son has this life; he that does not have the Son of God does not have this life."(John 5:12)
"He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; he that disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him." (John 3:36)
Those two quotes are threats, nothing more. Take god in your life and you will be okay, dare to disbelieve and you will be punished. Does that really sound like a guy you want to follow?
This seems to me to be a big problem in the discussion among religions, or even in the tolerance of those outside a certain religion.
On Snobbiness
I disagree with Corey and his initial point in the entry below. I do not think one has to be intellectually snobby to convey their point, and in many cases I think that hinders their ability to change minds. If someone sees you as snobby, they will immediately take you less seriously.
In order to change minds, you have to speak clearly and with strong points. I certainly believe Hitchens has strong points and he also speaks very clearly, but snobbiness to me is not the way to go.
These are sensetive people we are dealing with, their feelings are very easily hurt in respect to their religion, so a person making an argument must be level-headed and calm in their discussion.
In order to change minds, you have to speak clearly and with strong points. I certainly believe Hitchens has strong points and he also speaks very clearly, but snobbiness to me is not the way to go.
These are sensetive people we are dealing with, their feelings are very easily hurt in respect to their religion, so a person making an argument must be level-headed and calm in their discussion.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Response to "Hitchens Debate"
Thank you Christopher Hitchens. Hitchens knows that in order to convey his point he has to be hostile and use "intellectual snobbiness" according to Hannity. I am now completely convinced that people who believe in religion are misinformed and brain-washed. I am going to use the Santa Clause blog to convey my point. Religion is a much greater Santa. Religious people are hardcore Santa believers, and they still believe in Santa because by the time they were introduced to the idea of god not existing, they could not accept the statement. Their minds are completely closed to the idea. Ergo, everyone who does not believe in god has not been brain washed, and can understand the truth.
Hitchens Debates Hannity (Video)
I particularly like the part about the collapsing stars, imploding galaxies, and death of 99% of all species who have lived on Earth. Some designer, eh?
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