Religion & Morality

[verslibre]

I have no idea how you can quote just sentences

Surely someone as scholarly as yourself can figure it out.

[majik]

Good to see nothing changes in the arguments here. And here we go, round and round.

As for people teaching creationism in schools it does not exist here. Any school of thought to the origin of life was kicked out by Darwinian teachings, and no other theory is allowed to even be mentioned.

As for scientists not finding a shred of evidence, truth be told do they even look? Or do they feel they are so "right" there is no reason to look? Those who even entertain the thought are ridiculed and no funding is given. So much for seeking all truths. I thought science was about open mindedness and the pursuit of ideas? I guess it is only the ones that fit certain theories that merit financial backing and research. That is not true science. That is what makes it so unfair in my eyes. To claim it is the "only" theory, yet they spend so little time seeking out any other prospects or ideas?

I know some of you feel the need to verbally pistol whip anyone who do not agree with you, but till you die you know no more about what happens after we die than we do. You can guess, you can hypothesize, and you can theorize, but you still have no more definitive proof. We cannot see past that realm can we?

I am not too worried about what happens...as I said if I die and I am dead all over like rover I have loved, laughed, and lived my life to do as little harm to others as I can. As do many atheists, whom for the most part I find to be decent folks.

That is all we can ask for life, for the majority of people to do as little harm to others as they can. Atheist and Christian alike. I don't see why we cannot just tolerate and respect each others way of looking at things without vitriol. I don't have to agree with anyone to like them. Rip is a great example of this. We disagree on religious matters most assuredly. But Dan and I always look forward to spending time with him.

Sufism and Buddhism disagree and have a practice known as dying before you die.

[artist4perry]

Good to see nothing changes in the arguments here. And here we go, round and round.

As for people teaching creationism in schools it does not exist here. Any school of thought to the origin of life was kicked out by Darwinian teachings, and no other theory is allowed to even be mentioned.

As for scientists not finding a shred of evidence, truth be told do they even look? Or do they feel they are so "right" there is no reason to look? Those who even entertain the thought are ridiculed and no funding is given. So much for seeking all truths. I thought science was about open mindedness and the pursuit of ideas? I guess it is only the ones that fit certain theories that merit financial backing and research. That is not true science. That is what makes it so unfair in my eyes. To claim it is the "only" theory, yet they spend so little time seeking out any other prospects or ideas?

I know some of you feel the need to verbally pistol whip anyone who do not agree with you, but till you die you know no more about what happens after we die than we do. You can guess, you can hypothesize, and you can theorize, but you still have no more definitive proof. We cannot see past that realm can we?

I am not too worried about what happens...as I said if I die and I am dead all over like rover I have loved, laughed, and lived my life to do as little harm to others as I can. As do many atheists, whom for the most part I find to be decent folks.

That is all we can ask for life, for the majority of people to do as little harm to others as they can. Atheist and Christian alike. I don't see why we cannot just tolerate and respect each others way of looking at things without vitriol. I don't have to agree with anyone to like them. Rip is a great example of this. We disagree on religious matters most assuredly. But Dan and I always look forward to spending time with him.

Sufism and Buddhism disagree and have a practice known as dying before you die.

But that isn't true death is it? Even they cannot see what happens past the point of real physical death. The worlds great mystery. Personally I could sit down and eat dinner with anyone regardless of their beliefs, as long as they believe in living peacefully.

Oh and on the question of how can a person who is against abortion believing in capital punishment?

I have to beg the same question....how can you support murdering millions of innocent children every year, but feel it is inhumane to put a mass murderer to death?

Kind of an odd thing. The bible called for capital punishment in the Old Testament. Now could I put someone to death? Probably not. But I have to say if the government put someone like Ted Bundy to lethal injection I would not lose too much sleep at night. I have to say though at the rate of a million children a year that leaves me a little disconcerted. Have we made abortion so easy that some use it instead of a pill? Food for thought.

Discuss away guys.

[AR]

Oh and on the question of how can a person who is against abortion believing in capital punishment?

\

Easy one. I never had a loved one carjacked and murdered by a fetus.

Personally I would be ok with getting rid of capital punishment if they could still sentence people to life at hard labor.

I'm for keeping abortion laws the status quo, but it's not a woman's body and HER right to choose. Unless she's the virgin Mary and had the Immaculate Conception I do believe the father should have some say as well. If it's the woman's decision and she decides to keep it and the father doesn't want it then he shouldn't have to pay child support. He had no say in the final decision. It's the woman's body and men and women are equals right? Ok. She wants it she pays for it then.

[parfait]

. Fuck faith, it's nothing but a psychological side effect of our highly developed frontal lobe and religion is nothing more than a mere byproduct of evolution and Darwinian adaptation.

So is the atheist more evolved or less evolved ?

From a purely evolutionary standpoint, then I would say atheist are more involved in the sense that the meme that is reason and skepticism above faith is far better for the human race compared to what religion promotes. A meme is a idea or behavior passed through generations through selective pressures, variation, mutation, competition and inheritance. From a psychological standpoint though? Can't really say. Maybe religion is more of a mechanism to cope with angst, despair and death, thus protecting the mind from some of the harsher realities of life.

[artist4perry]

. Fuck faith, it's nothing but a psychological side effect of our highly developed frontal lobe and religion is nothing more than a mere byproduct of evolution and Darwinian adaptation.

So is the atheist more evolved or less evolved ?

From a purely evolutionary standpoint, then I would say atheist are more involved in the sense that the meme that is reason and skepticism above faith is far better for the human race compared to what religion promotes. A meme is a idea or behavior passed through generations through selective pressures, variation, mutation, competition and inheritance. From a psychological standpoint though? Can't really say. Maybe religion is more of a mechanism to cope with angst, despair and death, thus protecting the mind from some of the harsher realities of life.

Involved in what Parfait? LOL! Slip of the keyboard I know, just had to snicker at that one! Oh great and Involved one. LOL!

[AR]

I believe in a higher purpose and reason for existence. I have nothing against religion, unless followed blindly and where it causes wars (Christianity during the Crusades) and the current plague on this planet - Muslim extremists. When maniacs get upset that you draw a picture of their prophet = something's really wrong.

[artist4perry]

I believe in a higher purpose and reason for existence. I have nothing against religion, unless followed blindly and where it causes wars (Christianity during the Crusades) and the current plague on this planet - Muslim extremists. When maniacs get upset that you draw a picture of their prophet = something's really wrong.

Or a chocolate naked Jesus? LOL. I agree. I am more troubled by extremists who use religion or any reason for that matter to do evil things. I am not on board with that.

Funny though how the media has no problem slamming Christianity but would not go there when it comes to Muslims. Difference? Most Christians won't put a price on your head.

[verslibre]

I believe in a higher purpose and reason for existence. I have nothing against religion, unless followed blindly and where it causes wars (Christianity during the Crusades) and the current plague on this planet - Muslim extremists. When maniacs get upset that you draw a picture of their prophet = something's really wrong.

The Crusades were a response to Muslim extremism. I don't see Christians putting a price on anyone's head (so that they have to go into hiding) for dunking a cruficix in a container of piss.

[verslibre]

Funny though how the media has no problem slamming Christianity but would not go there when it comes to Muslims. Difference? Most Christians won't put a price on your head.

Bingo. Plus, it just seems more "fashionable" to take a dump on Christianity. But then you're a cultural simpleton if you can't see "the good" in Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Wicca, paganism, vampirism, satanism (LaVeyists claim it's about individuality, not devil-worshipping, etc.), yadda yadda yadda, blahbeddy blahbeddy blah, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. And then there are the people who think Journey circa '78-'84 is the Best Band Ever.

[AR]

I believe in a higher purpose and reason for existence. I have nothing against religion, unless followed blindly and where it causes wars (Christianity during the Crusades) and the current plague on this planet - Muslim extremists. When maniacs get upset that you draw a picture of their prophet = something's really wrong.

The Crusades were a response to Muslim extremism. I don't see Christians putting a price on anyone's head (so that they have to go into hiding) for dunking a cruficix in a container of piss.

Fair enough and agreed - especially about the last part.

[majik]

Good to see nothing changes in the arguments here. And here we go, round and round.

As for people teaching creationism in schools it does not exist here. Any school of thought to the origin of life was kicked out by Darwinian teachings, and no other theory is allowed to even be mentioned.

As for scientists not finding a shred of evidence, truth be told do they even look? Or do they feel they are so "right" there is no reason to look? Those who even entertain the thought are ridiculed and no funding is given. So much for seeking all truths. I thought science was about open mindedness and the pursuit of ideas? I guess it is only the ones that fit certain theories that merit financial backing and research. That is not true science. That is what makes it so unfair in my eyes. To claim it is the "only" theory, yet they spend so little time seeking out any other prospects or ideas?

I know some of you feel the need to verbally pistol whip anyone who do not agree with you, but till you die you know no more about what happens after we die than we do. You can guess, you can hypothesize, and you can theorize, but you still have no more definitive proof. We cannot see past that realm can we?

I am not too worried about what happens...as I said if I die and I am dead all over like rover I have loved, laughed, and lived my life to do as little harm to others as I can. As do many atheists, whom for the most part I find to be decent folks.

That is all we can ask for life, for the majority of people to do as little harm to others as they can. Atheist and Christian alike. I don't see why we cannot just tolerate and respect each others way of looking at things without vitriol. I don't have to agree with anyone to like them. Rip is a great example of this. We disagree on religious matters most assuredly. But Dan and I always look forward to spending time with him.

Sufism and Buddhism disagree and have a practice known as dying before you die.

But that isn't true death is it? Even they cannot see what happens past the point of real physical death. The worlds great mystery.

Yes, it is the death of the egoic mind, that which gives us the false sense of self. This is all that happens at physical death.
Death is seen as a future event but there are no events happening in the future because all events when they happen occur here in what is known as now, therefore death can be fully experienced and its mystery revealed in the only place it can only ever happen...... here and now.

[majik]

. Fuck faith, it's nothing but a psychological side effect of our highly developed frontal lobe and religion is nothing more than a mere byproduct of evolution and Darwinian adaptation.

So is the atheist more evolved or less evolved ?

From a purely evolutionary standpoint, then I would say atheist are more involved in the sense that the meme that is reason and skepticism above faith is far better for the human race compared to what religion promotes. A meme is a idea or behavior passed through generations through selective pressures, variation, mutation, competition and inheritance. From a psychological standpoint though? Can't really say. Maybe religion is more of a mechanism to cope with angst, despair and death, thus protecting the mind from some of the harsher realities of life.

So the mind itself with all its activity is merely a meme. My beliefs, my reason and skepticism, my identification as a body etc. This me we identify as is in fact a meme with sub functions known as themes (me-me and the-me's). You are correct in saying maybe religion is more of a mechanism to cope with angst, despair and death, thus protecting the mind from some of the harsher realities of life. Or to go one step further its all about the survival of the meme the false idea of self. The fear of death is another meme playing its role.

Edit.
Note: This meme idea is all conceptual

[Duncan]

How sad to see America take another giant stride towards the dark ages.

http://www.examiner.com/humanist-in-nat ... ic-schools

[verslibre]

Don't worry, Duncsy. The whole world's going down the shitter.

[majik]

Don't worry, Duncsy. The whole world's going down the shitter.

What's wrong with right now unless you think about it.