Comments on: A War on Science

By: Hua

Hua — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:22:48 +0000

I can’t believe that in this day and age that something like intelligent design would even be considered part of any learning curriculum.
With all the available information, to grasp onto bronze age myths and legends is just bizarre.

By: Julian

Julian — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:04:11 +0000

I’ve read all the posts above, and I would have something to say…
First, I don’t think that religion is about control of the masses and manipulation. The vast majority of religious people have no connection with authority, and they have no reason to impose religion based on that. Also, a great deal of clergymen really believe what they teach. It’s not that they want to manipulate the public. No one is as indoctrinated as the one who indoctrinates…
Then, the Bible DID suffer changes along the history, contrary to what the Church claims. Even the fact that languages to which is translated are so different yelds many different interpretations. I often find myself laughing at the minister when he preaches intimate meanings of what Jesus said here and there, because I know those meanings are absolutely nonsense in English for example.
To what Charles B said, “god of the gaps” means that less and less things are explained by the existence of God. Thousands of years ago the occurence of pregnacies were explained as miracles, the lightnings, the rain, the floods, plants growing, the Sun setting and then rising again in the morning, everything was explained by “the works of God”. Nowadays we understand many of these things as natural fenomena.
As for the metaphores in the Bible, who decides what is metaphore and what is literally true? Along the history, less and less things were held as biblical FACTS. One can only wonder, is ANY of the things described in the Bible true? A thing to remember, the Bible was written in the Bronze Age. By people with limited knowledge. An all knowing God would have given a more interesting and more understandable message, that could reach ALL the humans. And by the way, God showing in the clouds, waving to people and shouting here and there would make, I think, a more compelling evidence that he exists.

By: lallu

lallu — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:21:14 +0000

Most people look at what they want to see, subconsciously they are always thinking of what they want to see. There is much that happens in our environment which we fail to notice, although minute, but significant. Now in order to be better en lighted we need good observational skills which will help us look at thinks that we fail to see. Science provides us with such a skill, not the bible,qoran, torah, geeta….etc. So please get rid of all these books and lets embark on a journey of enlightenment.

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:03:25 +0000

Just an observation… with these types of documentaries, it’s always hard to find an actual review of the documentary and not just personal opinions on the matter or heated debate. I love the site though, I haven’t watched one I didn’t enjoy yet.

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:43:22 +0000

The scientist was right in the documentary, science is objective and religion is subjective. Therefore, in the public spheres we will go with what we know to be true and observable; for example that the earth is very old as exemplified by the grand canyon, and in the private sphere you can guide your life by your own personal subjective beliefs, aka your chosen religion or unchosen religion. Everyone, can admit that some things are left to be explained, for example on the Global Calgary News recently they showed footage of a tranparent entity crossing a room that was captured by the security cameras. Something that is not supposed to happen by Christian views or by the views of atheists. The search for truth is slowed down by people holding on to the status quo like a child holds on to their blanky when mom figures it is time for them to give it up and grow up. Whether there is a creator or not people can still choose to be kind, good, and moral. And by the way, the bible has no answers for the presence of Dinosaurs on the earth but I think we have proven without a shadow of a doubt that they existed and anthropologists have still to find the missing link if there is one.

By: Yavanna

Yavanna — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:13:48 +0000

Thanks God, but now we know all know you are real! So what is the right religion? Is it like you said on South Park – The Mormons?

By: Eric Howe

Eric Howe — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:12:00 +0000

@God, you forgot to include this clarification of your rules:

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28151

By: God

God — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:54:37 +0000

Please stop believing in Me! That was useful when you were all savages – you don’t need it anymore! You can now start thinking by yourselves!

By: Charles B

Charles B — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:49:46 +0000

Thanks Kelly K. and Mr. Razor. Sorta.

I do get passionate, don’t I?

I don’t know what “new thing” would qualify for an effective argument, to be honest. I really do believe that there is a God and He inspired the Bible and therefore it litterally has an anwer for everything if you look for it.

At least the Bible or Torah or the Quran can be referred to by all as a “standard”. Something “new” like Mr. Razor wants just doesn’t seem possible as an “athoritative” text unless he’s thinking of a new scientific discovery, say a big rock uncovered in New Jersey that says, “God was here and you were not! Ha! Ha! P.S. I, God, wrote this 4.5359305020 billion years in advance before the day it will be discovered New what you will call “New Jersey” on October 8th 2011! Do you like my big rock that I just made? Check for Plotonium halos, please!”

I’m totally joking, by the way, but wouldn’t that be a nice big rock to find? I could see the New York Times headlines now: “God’s Graffitti Found in NJ Farmer’s Field! Hoax Suspected.”

By: Achems Razor

Achems Razor — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:44:02 +0000

Kelly K:

Yes Charles B. is persistent, which is good. All us Atheist’s and other Religions got to him once. But I told him not to throw in the towel.
because he, one man alone was holding his own, against all of us. So yes, I do have respect for Charles.

By: Kelly K.

Kelly K. — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:33:09 +0000

Achems Razor: Ok. Understood. You always seem to be consistently logical but not “unemotional” which mirrors how I like to view myself.

Charles B. and others like him are trying to “play ball” outside of their main experience in life. You can’t blame them for using the old “stand by” as they don’t feel it is old or outdated, but cherrished. Something new is not “new,” but a threat.

Like anyone, take the truth where you find it, but not the rest if it doesn’t help you. I heard a philosopher say, “In some way, every man is my teacher”. He’s trying very hard to give life questions outside the “box” of his religion I think while still being consistent in his own right. He is persistent, isn’t he?

By: Achems Razor

Achems Razor — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:08:39 +0000

Kelly K:

Thank you for pointing that out to me. Yes you are right, I do use Science as my logic. So then I am consistent in my viewpoints also.
But you did scare me, I thought you were going to say I used circular logic until I read further.

What I meant by circular logic, for religion, there is no new avenues for them to discuss, they have no recourse except what is written in the Bible which is static, unchanging. so they go around and around. They cannot offer anything new that people have not heard before.

Regards.

By: Kelly K.

Kelly K. — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:39:45 +0000

Eric Howe: Religious people oppose evolution because without a god they have to admit their hopes and dreams and heaven and hell are all mythology.

Evolutionists passionately oppose religion becuase if if religion is correct and evolution not correct, they there is a god and therefore accountability to that god for our actions. There is no mystery here to either groups actions.

Achems Razor: Charles B. is a Christian. Chrisitans use the Bible for their life questions. He is consistent, not circular in his logic. Buddhist, Hindu, Muslims, and even atheists us thier own theories and concepts to address life problems. Charles B. was trying to answer Eric Howe’s quesiton from his base of understanding.

Should we say your logic is “circular” when you use quatum theory consistently, as you have done several times to address issues and questions? No. You are consistent also.

By: Achems Razor

Achems Razor — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:03:41 +0000

I agree with, Eric Howe:

Circular Logic, and more circular logic.

It is so redundant! Any thing you ask of religious people, they refer to the Bible. With due respect, but this is all they have. Al least if there was something “new” they could offer, people might sit up and take notice!
Instead, parables from thousands of years ago. That they can not change to keep up with the times. All they can due is to interpret them in different ways, to mean different things. And add more fancyfull tales.

By: Charles B

Charles B — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:42:54 +0000

Tim: I meant to trust the Christian God first and understand His reasons for doing things later. I wouldn’t advocate trusting everything or every religious philosophy first before testing its merits, as that would be impossible and not prudent.

Eric Howe: Well said. You have some really excellent thoughts and valid criticisms of religious people. However, I don’t know what you think is the “dishonesty” of the “godly”. Can you give it to me in a nutshell? I don’t want to guess at your meaning there.

In response, the Bible is indeed composed of things to be taken litterally and other things to be understood metaphorically. When Jesus said “I am the Good Shepherd” He was talking about people, not sheep, as not a single sheep is mentioned in the Bible being tended by Jesus anywhere. There’s nothing wrong with that. Every religion does that and I dare say all atheists do too. Metaphore is widely used in everyday language, why not in Scripture also? That is a blanket criticism that is unfounded.

What do you mean by a “god of the gaps”? What “truth” are you talking about that is diminishing God? Evolution? That’s a very shakey “truth” to stand on indeed, and one that has not diminished God in the smallest amount.

I would agree with you, however, that religion is about “conrol and authority” but true Christianity is about life itself; it’s about a relationship with God who is indeed the creator who loves us and wants us to be part of who He is as God.

Eric, I would like to appologize to you on behalf of the “Christian” community, as you’ve obviously been hurt by someone who called themselves a “Christian.” I’m sorry. Some of us are overly zealous, and others are just plain evil-hearted and a rotten-to-the-bone hypocrite which is exactly what Jesus hated most too. I just read today in my Bible that Jesus had his harshest rebukes for the “religious” of His day; against the Pharisees, the Sadusees and the Scribes.

I also had a brand new insight into an old parable I just re-read today. Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a “dragnet” that is cast into the sea and brings up all kinds—some good and some bad; the good was kept and the bad was cast into eternal damnation. Wow! I had a brand new insight today and it was the fact that religion and even Christianity (the Kingdom of God) has both good and evil inside it together and always will until the end of time. It’s no surprise to God. It will only be in the end that the good will be blessed of God and the evil exposed by God and fully punished. It’s just a fact of life; where there is money and power, there is evil, but not everyone is evil. A few of us are the “real deal” and for the rest, I do sincerely apologize. Perhaps that is also why Jesus said that “braod is the way that leads to death, and many will follow that way, but narrow is the way that leads to life, and only a few will find it.”

Keep asking questions, Eric, until you get an answer you know comes from God Himself and then believe rather than doubt. Let me know if I can answer any more of your questions as briefly as I can.