Sunday School

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

On breaking the matrix as an Atheist without becoming a serial killer.

A Catholic Archbishop says he will never report the sexual abuse of children to the police.

Abstinence education is ineffective and unethical.

OMG!! The Gospels are allegories and not literal history!!

A warning from historians of Christian Nationalism as white Christians face so much discrimination!

This weeks’ Woo: Why people believe in conspiracy theories and how to change their minds.

Climate Change: Should we eat or reject the food sacrificed to idols?

Humans have no monopoly on moral behavior.

Digging down to the roots of the Tree of Knowledge helps us to interrogate reality.

On discovering your dad’s record collection of golden oldies.

I need to get a new tattoo soon.

When the Rapture happens there will be no hiding place.

The Earth’s final total solar eclipse will happen in about 650 million years.

A look at Gay Marriage laws around the world.

The story of the Selfish Gene (pdf).

Scientist begin to untangle some of Quantum Physics strangest ideas.

Ten things we did not know last week. Some photographs taken last week.

While you are waiting for the kettle to boil…..

Coffee Break Video:  A Ted Talk on Weapons of Math Destruction. The Trump rally in Phoenix.

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

Have a great week everyone!!

The laws of evolution can also determine the initial state. The universe can spontaneously create itself out of nothing… we think we have solved the mystery of creation.

–   Stephen Hawking.

 

[Gary BergeronParticipant]

Thanks a bunch, Reg! Enjoy your weekend! 🙂

 

[StregaModerator]

Thanks, Reg!

[Simon PayntonParticipant]

“the Tree of Knowledge” – on the one hand, I don’t see why all of science is not derived from physics.  On the other hand, this is just not how people study science – they don’t start with physics and then build up from there.  Instead, each subject area is probably unique in how it is structured.  Mathematics has a number of fundamental theorems, yet it is described as a series of islands with many connections yet to be discovered.  Even physics doesn’t have a single root, but a number, out of which the more complex ideas are constructed.

We could therefore say that science consists of a number of levels of complexity, and it is very profitable to mix up the layers and use more than one at a time – because, of course, things that are true agree with each other; they are compatible and don’t contradict, because that is the nature of reality: it makes sense.

I believe that morality has a number of “roots”, each of which has evolutionary origins: namely, the pressure to thrive (“the Healing Principle”); empathy; and cooperation.  This diagram shows how I think it is structured (interpersonal morality).  It is interesting that it has biology/evolution at the bottom, and abstract principles at the top.  It kind of looks like the “baobab tree” that the article talks about.  (“Perfect Compassion” is equivalent to Jesus’ “love your neighbour as yourself”.)

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

When Aristotle wrote his book “The Physics” which is arguably the foundation of modern Science – as opposed to Natural Philosophy – he was not naming his book after the discipline. That branch of Science we call “Physics” got its name from his book. It dealt primarily with the motion of objects (Natural vs Forced) which remained the standard until Galileo and Newton improved it by standing on his shoulder.

I suppose we could say that “Science” is a collection of various disciplines and mathematics is a shared language to describe and predict much of it, in the same way that a Theory is a collection of facts about a subset of a particular discipline.

Yes, all morality has its roots in our primitive origins. It has evolved along with us. I am not sure if I would equate “perfect compassion” with the commands of Jesus. A neighbor of mine used to beat his wife and children. He was on the local catholic parish council and had Jesus stickers on his car. I had zero love for him.  I consider it to be a rather trite command.

[.Spectator]

@Reg that kind of man is exactly what Jesus condemned.

[StregaModerator]

Thank goodness for Jesus, or we might never have discovered hypocrisy was unpleasant!

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

Yeah, and thank God for Jesus too.

[.Spectator]

It’s amazing to me how quickly you both turn on me when I don’t express to think the same way you do…and yet you want to sit there and try to say that atheists are so much better than christians? That’s the epitome of hypocrisy.

[StregaModerator]

No Belle, because it’s an atheist site, you ought not to be surprised when your theological comments receive negative responses.  Nobody is attacking you.  We respect your right to voice your opinions.  We just don’t necessarily agree with them.

[.Spectator]

Then challenge what I’m saying with intellectual argument, not snub mockery.

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

We have not turned on you Belle. You have rights but your ideas do not. I started by disagreeing with Simon that we do not need the theists’ version of “Perfect Compassion” in order to be compassionate. It is an evolved trait and the introduction of Jesus was not warranted. I gave an example of how trite I found that command to be because I know very few Christians that practise it. It is not possible to “love your neighbor” when they are violent or unethical. Even if they were ideal neighbors I do not need to be commanded to love them. It might be a general ideal of Christians to want to love everyone but it is not possible for me. I would rather take a realistic approach to human nature and ignore or avoid certain people. They are of no concern to me. It is the weakness of this command that makes it imperfect and therefore cannot equate to “perfect compassion”. It does not stand up to scrutiny.

We will challenge any intellectual argument if you make one.  You turned apologist to explain what Jesus would do. I would rather you acknowledge that in the real world “Christians” seldom put those words into practise. Jesus may not have even existed. Another link today discusses the Gospels, which supposedly document some of the life of Jesus, as most likely being allegorical rather can actual accounts of any historical event.

This is an atheist site and we are not bothered about what Jesus meant. We do not believe he is god or the son of any god. His teachings, if he even existed or said those words are of no use to me. I find Biblical morality to be of too poor a standard to consider living by.

I am not saying atheists are better than Christians. I did not imply that.

[.Spectator]

I would rather you acknowledge that in the real world “Christians” seldom put those words into practice.

I agree with that. Regardless of a person’s belief system PEOPLE seldom put that into practice. My comment had nothing to do with Simon’s demonstration. I am simply pointing out that Jesus condemned (harshly) people like the man that you gave an example of. Men who beat their wives behind closed doors but show up on Sunday as a leader of the church and say love thy neighbor. I’m pointing out the fact that the God I believe in doesn’t in any way shape or form agree with that sort of hypocrisy.

I am not saying atheists are better than Christians. I did not imply that.

You don’t have to say it. You know you think it though. And you do imply it the way that you state your argument:

It might be a general ideal of Christians to want to love everyone but it is not possible for me. I would rather take a realistic approach to human nature and ignore or avoid certain people. They are of no concern to me. It is the weakness of this command that makes it imperfect and therefore cannot equate to “perfect compassion”. It does not stand up to scrutiny.

I would argue that avoiding certain people is the best thing for them and the best thing for you. Loving your neighbor doesn’t mean you get along with everyone. It has more to do with what’s in your heart towards a person too. If you hold onto negative feelings it only drags you down. Some times you just have to let go and say good bye.  But it doesn’t mean you have to love everyone in the same way. Some times the most loving thing you can do is to walk away.

[.Spectator]

We will challenge any intellectual argument if you make one.

I made one by pointing out that men like this:

A neighbor of mine used to beat his wife and children. He was on the local catholic parish council and had Jesus stickers on his car. I had zero love for him.

Are not Godly men. They are hypocrites.

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