Originally posted by Pianoman1my theory is that we take pleasure in showing others how enlightened we are compared to the dull and unenlightened.
Sometimes I think what is the point of the Spirituality Forum. Why do we allow ourselves to be drawn into these endlessly tedious exchange of views? Debates are just a game - no one ever changes their opinions because of views expressed. Too often they descend into playground I'm-right-you're-wrong tittle-tattle. You are right. Just be happy!
A great Ze ...[text shortened]... nd of the day it's just great that we are all different. Why try to make people all the same????
nobody would dream of changing the mind of someone like rj or get a challenging and interesting debate, but we enjoy making them look foolish.
i came to believe this behavior is exactly the same as someone without handicap competing in the paralympics, behaviour of which i am myself guilty.
Originally posted by ZahlanziNot very edifying then! But you're probably right.
my theory is that we take pleasure in showing others how enlightened we are compared to the dull and unenlightened.
nobody would dream of changing the mind of someone like rj or get a challenging and interesting debate, but we enjoy making them look foolish.
i came to believe this behavior is exactly the same as someone without handicap competing in the paralympics, behaviour of which i am myself guilty.
In the meantime I'll continue to rant at stupidity while deftly parrying accusations of my own stupidity.
Originally posted by Pianoman1Debates are just a game - no one ever changes their opinions because of views expressed.
Sometimes I think what is the point of the Spirituality Forum. Why do we allow ourselves to be drawn into these endlessly tedious exchange of views? Debates are just a game - no one ever changes their opinions because of views expressed. Too often they descend into playground I'm-right-you're-wrong tittle-tattle. You are right. Just be happy!
A great Ze ...[text shortened]... nd of the day it's just great that we are all different. Why try to make people all the same????
some do, but the point of a good debate is to enjoy having it. to see your opponent present intelligently constructed arguments, to struggle to find counter arguments. to present your position in an intelligent manner. in debate exercises, often the pro and con positions are randomly assigned, and debaters often must argue for a position they don't adhere to.
Originally posted by Pianoman1it is kind of a petty enjoyment. i have done it a while now, and i give up. i will try to avoid the "club" more from now on.
Not very edifying then! But you're probably right.
In the meantime I'll continue to rant at stupidity while deftly parrying accusations of my own stupidity.
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Originally posted by Pianoman1Read "Genesis and the Big Bang" by Dr. Gerald Schroeder. It will be an introduction to something you apparently are not familiar with, which is old earth creationists.
Sorry? How do you reject that notion?
1) Science has proved the universe to be 4.7 billion years old
2) Science has proved evolution by natural selection
3) You're not a Last Thursdayist by any chance?
Essentially he points to ancient rabbinical writers who studied Genesis in it's original Hebrew who came to the conclusion that the Genesis "days" should not be interpreted as literal days. For example, the root words for day and night can be translated as "chaos" and then "order". They used their expertise in the language as well as passed down information to conclude that the earth is much older. Other startling conclusions were that Adam and Eve only became human when God breathed a spirit into them and that there were probably other humanoid beings around at the time.
If nothing else, it is an interesting read. He is not just pulling it out of his arse, rather, he uses the musings of ancient writers who had no notion of modern day science.
Being a physicist, he then came up with a theory about the age of the universe. As we all know, time is relative. Time can be manipulated in a myriad of ways. Why then do we all assume it is a constant, even when reading the scriptures? A day to me could mean a 100 years for someone going at the speed of light. Schroeder came up with the theory that with each "day" time halved. That means that day one was 8 billion years. Day 2 was 4 billion years. Day 3 was 2 billion years etc. This meant that events such as day 5 when creatures were created in the oceans match up to the period of the Cambrian Explosion.
I'm sure he is wrong about some things, if not everything, but it is an interesting read. If nothing else, it may help open your mind to other possibilities that you never dreamed possible.
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-Removed-I'll try.
I have been in the world of education for some 35 years now, and one thing that I have learned is that a good teacher does not simply fill an empty vessel with facts. A good teacher opens up a child's imagination to the wonder of the universe, to the joy of discovery and above all a good teacher enables a child to think independently and freely.it is self evident to me that stuffing children's heads with Christian dogma, or Islamic, Hindu, whatever, at an early age is tantamount to brainwashing. This is bad enough, but to further teach them the lie that the universe is only 10,000 years old is just wrong, and therefore it is an abuse of their right to a good education. Science has proved that the universe is 4.7 billion years old, and that evolution works through natural selection. These are hard empirical proven facts. Period. To try to bend them to corroborate a fable written by a desert tribesman some 4,000 years ago is insulting to children and therefore abusive.
Originally posted by Pianoman1What about a British court that found 9 untruths in Al Gores movie "Inconvenient Truth"?
Excuse me, I'm not the extremist here.
I am the moderating voice of reason.
In the UK it is religious extremism of the worst kind to propagate a lie that the world is oly 10,000 yeas old. I am appalled that in the USA a staggering 40% of the population believe the lie.
Are you as appalled about that?
Originally posted by whodeyif by creationism you mean the yec kind, then you do not understand science.
I reject the notion that Creationism and science are mutually exclusive.
if you only mean that a supreme being created all of this, then yes, they are not mutually exclusive, only they have nothing in common and should never ever be mixed.
Originally posted by Pianoman1In the US, kids have been shown the movie "Inconvenient Truth" regarding global warming.
I'll try.
I have been in the world of education for some 35 years now, and one thing that I have learned is that a good teacher does not simply fill an empty vessel with facts. A good teacher opens up a child's imagination to the wonder of the universe, to the joy of discovery and above all a good teacher enables a child to think independently and freely. ...[text shortened]... itten by a desert tribesman some 4,000 years ago is insulting to children and therefore abusive.
Is this brainwashing also?
Originally posted by ZahlanziThe notion that God exists but what we see around us was not created by him seems bizarre to me.
if by creationism you mean the yec kind, then you do not understand science.
if you only mean that a supreme being created all of this, then yes, they are not mutually exclusive, only they have nothing in common and should never ever be mixed.
Can you explain this to me?