Sunday, June 03, 2012

It's Sunday so let's start the day with a little discussion about the impact of religion on scientific progress.

Larger image here
Of course this only impacts scientific research which directly addresses topics that endanger religious mythology, like evolution, or anthropology, or cosmology, or archeology, or paleontology, or....well you get the drift.

I mean NO religious organization seems interested in challenging the research of chemists, or entomologists, or microbiologists, or...well again, you get the drift. Even though they follow the exact same guidelines to reach their hypotheses.

12 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:55 AM

    Hey, Gryph, I'm not a fan of the sky god either. And I've wondered where the real followers of Jesus are. Here's one you'll be happy to hear from. Dr. Otis Moss of Chicago has something to say to other black pastors who do not support marriage equality: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Ktjqf9Vi4&feature=youtu.be

    You can read his letter here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/28/otis-moss-iii-challenges-on-marriage-equality_n_1550449.html

    Here are some quotes, but you ahould read the whole letter:
    "The institution of marriage is not under attack as a result of the President’s words. Marriage was under attack years ago by men who viewed women as property and children as trophies of sexual prowess. Marriage is under attack by low wages, high incarceration, unfair tax policy, unemployment, and lack of education. Marriage is under attack by clergy who proclaim monogamy yet think nothing of stepping outside the bonds of marriage to have multiple affairs with “preaching groupies.” Same-gender couples did not cause the high divorce rate, but our adolescent views of relationships and our inability as a community to come to grips with the ethic of love and commitment did. We still confuse sex with love and romance with commitment. ...

    ... Gay and lesbian citizens did not cause the economic crash, foreclosures, and attack upon health care. Poor underfunded schools were not created because people desire equal protection under the law. We have much work to do as a community, and to claim the President of the United States must hold your theological position is absurd. He is President of the United States of America not the President of the Baptist convention or Bishop of the Sanctified or Holiness Church. He is called to protect the rights of Jew and Gentile, male and female, young and old, Gay and straight, black and white, Atheist and Agnostic. It should be noted the President offered no legislation, or executive order, or present an argument before the Supreme Court. He simply stated his personal conviction.

    If we dare steal away from the noise of this debate, we will realize as a church we are called to “Do justice, live mercy and walk humbly with God.” Gay people have never been the enemy; and when we use rhetoric to suggest they are the source of our problems we lie on God and cause tears to flow from the eyes of Christ...."

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  2. Good analysis.
    Science looks forward and religion looks backward.
    In it’s best form, religion can make people more sociable; they get “words to live by.”
    There is also abuse of power, ridiculous dogma, and silly hellfire threats over unimportant issues.
    I still find religion interesting; I just don’t let it scare me into inappropriate action.

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  3. Beldar Bamm-Bamm Conehead6:23 AM

    Gryphen... you and your obsession with science. Give it a rest already. What did science ever do for you? Science is just theories and supposition. Might be right, might be wrong. Like the on-going debate about the 'theory" of evolution and Intelligent Design. Both sides have their arguments.

    But in reality, evilution is just a belief system invented by Man while creationism was invented by Jeebus. Here's 4 simple facts that prove evilution is bunk and creationism is real:

    1) Creation is in the Bible. (It's in the book that teaches us about the universe, the earth and some simple card tricks that are easy to learn and yet will amaze and amuse your family and friends) If it's in the Bible, it has to be true. Or else, they couldnt put it in the Bible. That's the law. Except for that one Bible that accidentally had a chapter in it about Pokemon that no one noticed for about 10 years, the Bible has zero mistakes and zero inconsistencies. Not even the Harry Potter books can claim that achievement!

    2) There's lots of references to dragons in the Bible. But no references to unicorns, cockapoos, or chihuahuas. Now it is often pointed out, there's one curious reference to the old Howard Johnson restaurant chain in the Book of Endometrians, but you have to expect SOME mysteries in a 2000 year old book written by an old man living in the sky.

    3) If man descended from monkeys, where are the monkeys give birth to people today? (Whenever I ask a scientist this question, they almost always stop believing in evolution, fall to their knees and ask Jeebus for forgiveness. And a lot of them go on to become successful televangelists.)

    4) Contrary to what so-called 'scientists' would have us believe, it's a known fact that humans and dinosaurs DID live together in harmony, as accurately and humorously documented in The Flintstones cartoon series. Respected biblical archeologists have even proven that a pterodactyl's beak could actually be used to form a rudimentary record player.

    And that proves evolution is bogus and creationism is true. I hope I've finally put to rest your misguided belief that science is somehow a good thing. If you have any further questions, I'd be happy to make up some shit and answer them for you.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:54 AM

      But no references to unicorns, cockapoos, or chihuahuas.

      I hope this doesn't spoil the joke for anyone, but in fact there are multiple references to unicorns in the King James Version:
      http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=unicorn&qs_version=KJV

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    2. Beldar Concordio Conehead11:00 AM

      Thanks for the correction, Ted. While it doesnt change my underlying thesis, I do like to keep my facts somewhat in order. So, if unicorns are mentioned in the Bible, I must have been thinking of either leprechauns - which are actually NOT tiny lepers as I'd been led to believe - or frozen TV dinners. And don't bother looking; I've read several Bibles cover to cover and none of them mention either one. (Ok, technically I suppose I didnt read what's between the covers, but I did read the actual covers thoroughly and there's no mention there, for sure)

      And anyway, shouldnt it be 'unihorn' and not 'unicorn'? Who cares how many corns the damn thing has? It's the 'horn' and how few of them there are that's really the heart of the matter. Since they're such sticklers for inerrancy, seems like someone over at the Bible should have picked up that typo....

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    3. Anonymous1:32 PM

      And anyway, shouldnt it be 'unihorn' and not 'unicorn'?

      "Cornu" is Latin for horn. Think tricorn hat, cornucopia (horn of plenty).
      In more modern translations, btw, "unicorn" is replaced by "wild ox".

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    4. Beldar Henny Conehead2:07 PM

      hey, Buddy, do I come to your workplace and heckle you? I'm just trying to make a living here as the world's only Tea Party Comedian and I hate the Tea Party, so don't make it more difficult for me, will ya! If you knew what Gryphen pays me (FYI, I have to split my tips with him!) you wouldn't be messing up my act with facts. Tea Party comedy is by definition devoid of facts, logic and reason while based on an alternate reality unsupported by empirical evidence, also, too. You think it's easy to make up this crap? You should try it sometime!

      And if you want to have some fun with your right wing xtian friends, ask them what kind of watch Noah wore whilst piloting the ark fortuitously sharing his name. Answer: a gold Rolex Mariner inscribed "To Noah, Enjoy the cruise. Fondly, JC" It's in the Bible. Look it up.

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  4. Anonymous7:57 AM

    Oh Beldar, you are in fine fettle this morning!
    Just the right kind of Mental Floss not merely for this Sunday, but for any day.

    For those who do not appreciate Satire (written by a Satyr?) please take a deep breath and let your blood pressure, and the bile you were about to spew, go back down!

    As for me, Thanks again fromthediagonal.

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  5. Anonymous9:08 AM

    Off Topic but about religious insanity --

    ‘For Going Against God’s Will’ Catholic Hospital Denies Gay Man HIV Meds

    http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/1-for-going-against-gods-will-catholic-hospital-denies-gay-man-hiv-meds/legal-issues/2012/06/03/40477

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  6. Randall9:32 AM

    Palintology: stubborn resistance to learning

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  7. Andrea1:38 PM

    I work in a public library in Canada, in a somewhat "bible-beltish" area, which has many homeschool families that use our library for their teachings.

    Last week we got a book in for a woman who I THOUGHT was a non-xtian wacko, but now I know better... it's about how the dinosaurs hitched a ride with Noah, right, because of course they were here with the humans! This is a link to the sickening book:

    http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Design-Duane-T-Gish/dp/0890511659/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338759110&sr=8-1

    I will never look at this lady the same again, for plowing this shit into her kids' minds.

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  8. lwtjb8:47 PM

    "Of course this only impacts scientific research which directly addresses topics that endanger religious mythology, like evolution, or anthropology, or cosmology, or archeology, or paleontology, or....well you get the drift."

    Gryphen, you are so WRONG. Have you never heard of the Jesus Seminar? This is exactly what they do. You don't need to answer my question. I know you have heard of them and not only from me. You have blinders on. You just don't receive anything that deviates from your stereotype. When I first came here I thought you wanted a real discussion on religion. Now I know you just want to reinforce your prejudices. I object to the same religious practices you do. They are incredibly destructive. Many believers have been terribly damaged by such practices. I get that. You obviously are one of those persons. I am truly sorry you had those experiences.

    Trying to have an open discussion with you on this subject, discussion that might offer ways to counteract those practices, is impossible. Discussing religion here sounds and feels like trying to talk race to my friend who lives in Florida. She sends me scurrilous, racist emails. When I object or try to have an intelligent conversation on the subject she sends me pretty pictures for months. Eventually she always reverts to some really disgusting racist message. The last one was a rant about how discriminated against whites are.

    I have not read most of your recent religious posts because I can't stand the venom. This one will be my last read on that subject here. Therefore it will be my last post on that subject as well.

    Try just once to read Bishop Spong. He addresses all those items you mention. It is his visible mission in life.

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