Simon Paynton

I still think it’s a puzzle why religious norms seem to be so much stricter than secular norms, where one replaces the other.

One explanation I can think of is that religions require proof of commitment, so they enforce more strict behaviour for that reason.

I think the reason why Islam is so strict is that it started life as a militaristic organisation, and has stayed that way.

Another reason has to be the lack of strong institutions in many Muslim countries: without strong institutions, people need religion more, and I think there’s something about this situation that leads to corruption,…[Read more]

I suppose if Church and State are the same thing, then power and religion are the same thing.

I’ve shown this before, it’s an appeal to the peaceful sides of Islam in order to reduce violence in the Muslim world.

I’d like to know the historical reasons as well.  It seems to have started off strict, although fairly relaxed in some surprising ways, but has become ultra-conservative in the past century or two.

“An Egyptian atheist speaks about being imprisoned by the Religion of Peace.”

– I think Sherif Gaber is very brave, and very inspiring.  He’s right on the sharp end of the “debate” between atheism and religion.

It’s a puzzle why Islam is so strict in its rules, in general.  I know it was influenced by Christianity, both at the beginning and in t…[Read more]

I think it’s fascinating to consider that the emotions are a “sense” that detect whether something is an opportunity or a threat.

@popebeanie – I think it’s not so much that what we see is an illusion, but that the information we detect depends on the “equipment” or faculty we use to detect it.

So, a bat “sees” with sound, and therefore, a sheet of clear glass is seen as opaque (and presumably, “white”) because sound bounces off it.

It’s interesting to consider the tree in…[Read more]

“Chimpanzees can’t tell us much about being Human”

– “It is therefore wrong to compare Trump to a chimpanzee. Stating that Trump is like an aggressive alpha male chimp implies that the deep explanation for his behavior stems from evolutionary roots and behavioral patterns he shares with chimpanzees.”

I disagree that it’s wrong to compare Trump t…[Read more]

Adolescent Mental Health:  “Storm and Stress”  BBC radio 4 series.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b7f4m9

I think it would be unfair of you to do it, and it’s not a legitimate form of protest.

I’ll vouch for the fact that Strega is good to drink with.

“I believe that extraordinary altruists have witnessed other people in extreme need or pain, especially those close to them. So, when they see some stranger in need or pain, their experience is awakened and they mentally place the person they value (themselves, a loved one, a friend,…[Read more]

“Are Humans altruistic by nature?”

– Abigail Marsh is supercool, and I’m waiting to read her latest book “Good for Nothing”.

I think that extraordinary altruism – exemplified by giving away a kidney to a stranger – is where empathic concern, or helping in response to need, crosses over with the Golden Rule.

I think that the Golden Rule has its…[Read more]

What’s going on in that beautiful mind?  I’m on your magical mystery ride.  Sang John Legend.