When I hear of a society that has survived even a tenth as long without any spiritual investment, I may take that seriously.
Do you like how Dawkins, Hitchens et al. represent atheists?
- Thread starter francois
- Start date
When I hear of a society that has survived even a tenth as long without any spiritual investment, I may take that seriously.
Whoa - nothing said about spiritual investment. It's a long way from spiritual investment to religion, even, let alone deity.SAM said:
Hunter gatherers, in general, tend to lack deities properly so called - and such people as the traditional Navajos ( an example that's well documented) often deny that they have a religion in the Western sense of the term. They lasted a few thousand years, apparently.
Is it a religion in the Eastern sense of the term? Eastern ideas of religion are much more expansive.
Besides they did have the Yei, so its not like there was anything areligious about them.
But not what Dawkins is talking about ( a flaw in his approach?), and nothing much like the Abrahamic theistic religions.SAM said:
If the definition of religion is expanded to include all varieties of spiritual investment, then we have a much different argument - one not from Dawkins, I think.
For the purposes of the...uh, test...I'm thinking of, that really isn't important.
Glossy shots best. I also understand oil shows up really well in electronic photography, besides its obvious application in protection from sunburn.
Isn't he against all Gods? Or does he choose the "fantasies" he opposes?
Regardless, the argument of one size fits all (not) works for/against atheists as well as theists. Whatever the case, fusing science and belief is a bad route to take, one that will work to the detriment of both.
Didn't you say you read EVERYTHING of Dawkins?
<< quite a few atheistic societies seem to have tooled along OK. >>
Don't you mean secular?
He ruins his case simply by going over the top. I think we can all agree there..just the title of his Documentary tells the story..."The Root Of All Evil"!
It a laughable and silly title and its even more rabid to to suggest that belief in God is the cause of all the evil in the world. Even more weak is his decision to disown himself from the title (only after it was scoffed at by reviewers needless to add).
Don't you mean secular?
He ruins his case simply by going over the top. I think we can all agree there..just the title of his Documentary tells the story..."The Root Of All Evil"!
It a laughable and silly title and its even more rabid to to suggest that belief in God is the cause of all the evil in the world. Even more weak is his decision to disown himself from the title (only after it was scoffed at by reviewers needless to add).
Now as for Religion being the 'root' of all evil...the facts somewhat contradict this OTT evengelism. It seems that scientists can only make thie case - and sell books! - by making outrageous claims.
I repeat the unanswerable fact again..
<< Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin was responsible for killing over 40 million people. Joseph Stalin closed down over 48 000 churches, and attempted the liquidation of the entire Christian Church.
Similarly, communist dictator of China Mao Tse Tung launched the Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution, ”History’s most systematic attempt ever, by a single nation, to eradicate and destroy Christianity…” Mao was responsible for killing about 72 million people. >>
One might point to Stephen Hawking and ask 'whither his Theory of Everything'...again the title gives it away. Arrant arrogance and a desperate attempt to catch the eye with OTT ideas that have the neat side effect of filling the wallet.
And don't think that scientists aren't immune from the greed for easy money!
I repeat the unanswerable fact again..
<< Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin was responsible for killing over 40 million people. Joseph Stalin closed down over 48 000 churches, and attempted the liquidation of the entire Christian Church.
Similarly, communist dictator of China Mao Tse Tung launched the Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution, ”History’s most systematic attempt ever, by a single nation, to eradicate and destroy Christianity…” Mao was responsible for killing about 72 million people. >>
One might point to Stephen Hawking and ask 'whither his Theory of Everything'...again the title gives it away. Arrant arrogance and a desperate attempt to catch the eye with OTT ideas that have the neat side effect of filling the wallet.
And don't think that scientists aren't immune from the greed for easy money!
Willingness to allow being curbed. Contrary to popular belief in the West, not everyone wants to take off their shirt.
Sure. But there's a difference between socially accepted exhibitionism and socially mandated prudery.
Nobody will throw acid at me for not showing cleavage.
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/mhviran.htm
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/afghanistan0703/15.htm
Well, that will make for fun times when we start throwing LSD at people. I suggest the addition of blacklights and HDTVs for playing Pink Floyd videos and nature documentaries.
In my opinion governments are very creative in finding excuses for making the competition "disappear". They really don't need atheism to accomplish that.
Obviously, we are all human.
I'm sorry...you mean Stalin closed down 48,000 churches out of sheer whim?