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____/ Homer on Saturday 02 Jul 2011 00:16 : \____
> Verily I say unto thee, that Roy Schestowitz spake thusly:
>> ____/ Homer on Friday 01 Jul 2011 21:58 : \____
>>> Verily I say unto thee, that Roy Schestowitz spake thusly:
>
>> He is hostile toward people who /preach/
>
> You mean like he preaches atheism?
Preaching absence of something? That would be like me "preaching" against flkjvfdlghghlkxmpa'fsjk.
> So frankly the only difference is an opinion, where one side has
> apparently decided to "debate" their opinion militantly.
>
> Sound familiar?
In an evidence-based debate there are hardly two sides in this case. Arguing about the invisible
elephant under my bed might get the audience laughing, but I would lose the debate.
>> to the gullible
>
> You presume to know they're all gullible.
They are young and impressionable. "Get 'em while they're young," The Microsoft mentality,
not the paedophile mentality.
> OTOH, those who /are/ actually gullible are just as susceptible to
> propaganda from /either/ side of a debate. So again the only difference
> is an opinion as to precisely /which/ side's propaganda is the "right"
> one.
Fair point.
>> about it (about Santa, Tooth Fairy, or whatever other fiction).
>
> It's symbolism representative of one's beliefs, a source of joy for
> people the world over, and the focal point for teaching ethical values,
> regardless of its historical validity. And dismissing it as fictitious
> is presumptuous, unless you claim to have unequivocal proof to the
> contrary. Even characters like Santa Claus (Sinterklaas) has origins in
> historical fact (Saint Nicholas of Myra), and more importantly this
> "fiction" teaches children the value of giving ... something I'd have
> thought you'd find praiseworthy. There's nothing even remotely insidious
> about any of it.
People do not derive ethical values from religion. In fact, very often the opposite can
be argued. Did people go around murdering and stealing before religious deterrents came
about? As for the value inn giving, reciprocity drove it for a very long time. Even
animals know how to share. Those who do not share go extinct, it's a meritable survival skill
and mammals that work in groups ostracise those who haven't those skills in their upbringing or
genetics.
> Would you snatch a toy away from a child on Christmas day, lecture him
> about Santa being nothing but creationist propaganda, accuse his parents
> of being liars, then call social services and the police to have them
> arrested and the child placed in care?
Straw man argument.
> Sounds rather Stalinist to me.
Right. The "S" word. At least the "H" word wasn't used here because we know that Hitler was religiously
motivated too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP_iNCGH9kY (parody)
> I'm not a Christian, but I celebrate Christmas nonetheless, because I
> revere principles that extend beyond mere religion. I certainly don't
> feel the urge to attack Christians ... at Christmas or any other time of
> year.
The holiday celebrating the time days start getting longer has pagan roots, it
is not a religious thing. If anything, it celebrates astronomy. :-)
>>>> Dawkins was an academic for many years (he is almost 70 now) and he
>>>> wrote many technical books. It is the attack on his work and on
>>>> himself too
>>>
>>> The only thing I'm attacking is his militancy. His other activities
>>> mean nothing to me.
>>
>> He is a teacher.
>
> So was the Unabomber.
And we know that only 10 teachers only existed, so that makes
10% of teachers serial killers. :-)
- --
~~ Best of wishes
Dr. Roy S. Schestowitz (Ph.D. Medical Biophysics), Imaging Researcher
http://Schestowitz.com | GNU/Linux administration | PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
Editor @ http://techrights.org & Broadcaster @ http://bytesmedia.co.uk/
GPL-licensed 3-D Othello @ http://othellomaster.com
Non-profit search engine proposal @ http://iuron.com
Contact E-mail address (direct): s at schestowitz dot com
Contact Internet phone (SIP): schestowitz@xxxxxxxxx (24/7)
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