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____/ Snit on Saturday 02 Jul 2011 00:15 : \____
> Roy Schestowitz stated in post 1351200.0PkbqXVLH7@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on 7/1/11
> 4:01 PM:
>
>>>>>> I'd hope we've moved on from ignorant peasants subjugated by the church
>>>>>> in the middle-ages. AFAICT the only remaining threats from religion are
>>>>>> middle-eastern fundamentalists and militant atheists (and some residual
>>>>>> "troubles" in Northern Ireland, which is mostly a political pretext). I
>>>>>> don't feel especially threatened by the average, civilised Christian.
>>>>>>
>>>>> Just don't depend on one for certain scientific teaching.
>>>>>
>>>> What is "scientific teaching"? Teaching of the sciences or a delegation of
>>>> teaching class? As in, today we learn mythology, tomorrow we learn truth,
>>>> let the kids decide (don't forget the Earth on turtleback theory!). :-)
>>>>
>>> It is absurd when people consider the rejection of teaching mythology as
>>> science to be "militant". Sure: science can come to incorrect conclusions
>>> and theories are modified and even rejected. No doubt. That is not an
>>> excuse to avoid teaching kids the best information we have at the time (on
>>> an age-appropriate level - there is a reason we simplify things for younger
>>> kids!)
>>
>> I know what he meant by "militant", but few people whom I know actually are.
>> I am not an atheist, in fact that I do not define myself by something I am
>> not (is there a word for Santa deniers and Thor sceptics? How about Non-Stamp
>> Collectors?), I just judge things by evidence and correct people if they make
>> claims they cannot back, be these Bilk's claims about 9/11, some people's
>> claims about climate 'fraud', or hypothetically, even the "miracle" that --
>> let is say for the matter of example -- saved their kids' life when in fact
>> these were highly trained doctors and medication that did the job, based on
>> the measurable evidence.
>
> My take on similar ideas about belief in a deity is that everyone is an
> atheist - we *all* disbelieve in at least some gods. I just happen to not
> believe in one more god than many of my neighbors.
This is a good video on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0A4_bwCaX0
>> I had a long argument with a relative in Florida yesterday. She still wishes
>> to insult those whose opinions are not comfortable for her to embrace, even
>> if these are hinged on evidence. What I generally find is, in a theistic
>> country with a biased education system, people are becoming resistant to
>> facts and adherent to faith. This is not good. People are actually commended
>> for embracing belief without evidence. Tony Blair did a lot of damage in some
>> aspects relating to this.
>
> I think there are some things worth taking on faith: including some of the
> tenants of the scientific method. But we should minimize such things and,
> when we do, base those things on what most people would see as common sense.
> Yes, it is faith to believe that what has been will continue to be in terms
> of natural laws (or will mot change in easy to perceive ways) and the like,
> but it is pretty hard to function without such "faith". :)
>
> Such "faith" is also very far from believing that there not only is some
> intelligent being who created the universe but then to place all sorts of
> beliefs on this being: all knowing, all understanding, all seeing, etc.
> That is clearly myth and should not be taught in a science class. The fact
> there are those who debate against this in a "modern" society is pretty
> absurd - it is akin to teaching kids man never made it to the moon and that
> man cannot and is not changing the climate.
It's profitable for some rich people to teach this.
- --
~~ 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/
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Contact E-mail address (direct): s at schestowitz dot com
Contact Internet phone (SIP): schestowitz@xxxxxxxxx (24/7)
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