Religion. The evolution, creation and everything in between megathread

[cobra]

This was sent around by an Iranian student we have here:

Sorry everyone for interrupting you. Its lunch time so lets have a
break. I would like to introduce you the new science which was
originated by one of the Iranian clerics. Please have a look at the
following website.
 http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/middle-east/3600856/Scanty-clothing-causes-earthquakes-cleric
I am glad we have introduce a new scientist in Natural Hazards area to
the world :-) Please don't take it from all Iranian. These government
and its clerics are stupid. I hope we will get rid of them sometimes soon.

So, we have a testable hypothesis here: "If women wear revealing clothing in public it will trigger earthquakes" Now before we write him off we should conduct a proper experimental test of his hypothesis.

Yes, unfortunately it is 'tested' in that all summer long there have been scantily-clad women on our beaches and we haven't had an earthquake worth worrying about.


How far they've sunk, from being the beacons of intellectual thought while Europe was mired in the 'dark' and superstitious world of religion to nowadays where superstitious appropriated religions hold sway.

Islam is popular to beat on, but to be fair a quick google search can find similar examples from other religions, i used homosexuality for this search cause it seems to be a popular group for christians to hate on:

rabbis:
Gays caused 9/11
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/9630112926.html

52% christians surveyed think homosexuals cause natural disasters
http://christiannews.christianet.com/1215711636.htm

if you are predisposed to have a superstitious world view you are predisposed to believe any irrational non-sense

[Tiwaking!]

"What is God?"
I will tell you when he submits himself for scientific study.

Tee hee! Thats a good way to get the hackles up on the theists. Other ways are:

Flying Spaghetti Monster, Sun Wukong (my personal favourite since he is indeed a god), and quoting comic book character lines prefixed by the words "Jesus said" e.g "Jesus said: ITS CLOBBERIN TIME!"

"What is the universe?"
More to the point, what isn't the universe.

This is the crux of the argument really. At what point does the universe 'need' a creator, and how much allegiance should/do you acquiesce?

"What is science?"
The process of understanding the universe

Yep.

The moment theists try to categorise science as a religion then it is obvious they have failed the first fundamental step of critical thinking, or even word association:

e.g Science is to understanding as....

My answer: "Shovelling is to shit".

[Ngati_Grim]

True cobra, they are ALL weird.

[Dr Woomanchu]

If we're designed and made by god I want a fuckin refund on my back. I got the same defective model he gave Genie by the looks. Pretty crappy workmanship for someone who is supposed to be omnipotent That is all kthx.

[Bell]

Producers of "South Park" said Thursday that Comedy Central removed a speech about intimidation and fear from their show after a radical Muslim group warned that they could be killed for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/04/22/entertainment-us-tv-south-park-muslims_7541632.html?boxes=financechannelAP

[UppityDuck]

In the inimitable words of Julian Cope: "You got a friend in Jesus? Stay the hell away from me".

[liquidpain]

These fuckwits all need to be kicked out of uni. Closed minded shit heads. Soon these faggots in europe are going to be the majority.
[video]4oLvwMxwHFs[/video]

[Ngati_Grim]

Closed minded shit heads. Soon these faggots in europe are going to be the majority.

While I agree that what they did was despicable, using language like that after calling them closed-minded is ...um....well...closed-minded as well.

[Tiwaking!]

While I agree that what they did was despicable, using language like that after calling them closed-minded is ...um....well...closed-minded as well.

I found that video to be absolutely shocking!

I could definitely see those muslim girls faces! And what were they doing at a higher educational facility?!

Someone should throw acid on them

[BeNZene]

Closed minded shit heads. Soon these faggots in europe are going to be the majority.

While I agree that what they did was despicable, using language like that after calling them closed-minded is ...um....well...closed-minded as well.

+1. Best irony I saw all day.

[Farcity!]

Although, there's double irony given grim's post in the weekend...

As for the video, just awful.

[Stephens]

lol'd at religion

[Ngati_Grim]

Although, there's double irony given grim's post in the weekend...

As for the video, just awful.

Learn2 irony.

I wasn't commenting on other people's use of swear words in the weekend.

In other news, keep it on topic or gtfo.

Can you say "new leaf" or are you just trolling...especially as you're a moderator?

[Farcity!]

Settle down Grim was just a little joke didn't mean anything by it, and I was also commenting on the video.

In separate news, read this extremely good piece yesterday by Christopher Hitchens (excellent writer, I try to follow his stuff) http://www.slate.com/id/2253493/.

I think it sums up burqas quite nicely, especially in the final paragraph that can be extended to many things in religion.

[ninjaweedman]

If you know any legit psychics, this guy's foundation will pay them 1 million dollars if they can perform under proper observing conditions, so far nobody has been game enough.

[SteddieEddie]

Settle down Grim was just a little joke didn't mean anything by it, and I was also commenting on the video.

In separate news, read this extremely good piece yesterday by Christopher Hitchens (excellent writer, I try to follow his stuff) http://www.slate.com/id/2253493/.

I think it sums up burqas quite nicely, especially in the final paragraph that can be extended to many things in religion.

Taking away their right to wear a traditional outfit is wrong. They are in France, they know that they don't have to wear it if they don't want to.

Why do the west have such a hard time getting their heads around then fact that most of these women actually choose to wear the burka, it is not dictated by the men, they choose to as an expression of their cultural background.

In countries where it is not mandatory, lots of women still choose to wear it.

France is full of shit saying they are passing this law to protect the Muslim women, they are doing it because it scares them, as it does lots of other countries.

As for not being able to wear them in a bank, well that is common sense, you can't wear your motorcycle helmet in there, so it should apply to any garment covering your face. Same with driving a car, or more to the point if you are pulled over the police should have the right to ask you to remove your head gear to confirm your identity. You do not need to place a blanket ( hehe) ban on the wearing of them

What is the difference to wearing a woolly hat and a scarf covering your nose and mouth when it is snowing.

Is it illegal to wear an balaclava?

Next they will banning my avatar.

What happened to not persecuting people because of their religious beliefs?  

[Farcity!]

Do they really wear it because they want to or are they doing it because they're under duress? Or is it a product of indoctrination?

In court, the right to see another person's face when they accuse you or are a witness against you is part of common law as well. I think this can be expanded to life in general much like Hitchens is saying in that article.

[SteddieEddie]

Do they really wear it because they want to or are they doing it because they're under duress? Or is it a product of indoctrination? Do Jews wear skull caps because of duress or indoctrination

In court, the right to see another person's face when they accuse you or are a witness against you is part of common law as well. I think this can be expanded to life in general much like Hitchens is saying in that article.

Why? As you have pointed out there are laws in place already, why expand them to what they do on their own time

[Bell]

As a general store owner should I be allowed to force people to take off their balaclava's before entering my store?

[Dr Woomanchu]

You already are allowed to AFAIK, and rightly so. cf banks.

[SteddieEddie]

Of course you should, it is private property and as the Doc has pointed out banks already do it.

I am talking about Muslims wearing it in public places

[Ngati_Grim]

We have been trained into intolerance and mistrust of those who are different than us, to 'fear' the filthy Muslims who are all terrorists and wish us dead.

[Arnifix]

Next they will banning my avatar.

Your avatar looks like a desert rapist, so imo that would be fine.

[Zarkov]

Behind every woman wearing a burqa is a man with a whip in his hand.

[SteddieEddie]

Next they will banning my avatar.

Your avatar looks like a desert rapist, so imo that would be fine.

More fear and loathing :winkiss