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Comments by newskin


1. We happy hooligans

Comment #185757 by newskin on May 28, 2008 at 12:49 pm

It's pretty much a given that people of a religious persuasion apply double standards in terms of evidence. They are happy to go down to the most minute of minutia to critique evolution (coagulation cascade vs. irreducible complexity) but completely suspend such reason when it comes to god. In gods case, a mere assertion is sufficient.

Thus they are content to believe that a murderous, misogynistic deity (now reformed, having previously been bizarrely both all knowing yet capable of mistakes) somehow created everything on the proviso that it could maintain an unhealthy interest in our sex lives and that we all grovel on a regular basis. That's logic!

2. What is science for?

Comment #185319 by newskin on May 27, 2008 at 12:41 pm

many of my messages on the "Holocaust" irrational cult have now disappeared from the comments threads...I must assume they have been censored by the administrators of the RichardDawkins.net site.....one of the most vile, cowardly, ways of ending any debate that is in fact being censored


That's because you derail pretty much every thread that has the faintest mention of Jews, nazis or Hitler. You never contribute anything, merely rant on with your incessant holocaust denial.

3. Evolution's Critics Shift Tactics With Schools

Comment #174977 by newskin on May 4, 2008 at 2:46 am

If a bill of this sort was passed it would set a precendant and would have to apply to all scientific teachings. Science lessons would simply become unworkable as every opposing hypothesis, even those with little to no evidence go up against the paradigms.

And calling it the 'academic freedom' bill? Ludicrous! The fixation on evolution (and no doubt focusing on the non existant sub section of 'macro evolution') betrays their true intentions as always.

To the poster that said the US has some of the best university's/colleges in the world, they do, but you can kiss goodbye to them should they have to give equal weight to IDiots and say hello to international ridicule!!

4. Bill Good Interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #174377 by newskin on May 2, 2008 at 10:35 am

I've notice quite a lot of people expressing a desire to hear new and original (and heaven forbid, cutting) arguments for god. The thing is that there are none. These are them. When all you have to base your argument on is the same book as everyone else, from where do you derive new content?

I agree with those posters who say we should be patient and educate. It is my experience that most people of faith only read literature that confirms and supports their views. This is why we hear the same old arguments. Those that actually step up and ask questions outside of their comfort zone should be treated with the patience and respect they deserve.

Finally, it may also be said that these people are 'straw men'. However these views seem typical and widespread among the lay. It is not fair to call them strawmen simply because their arguments are so poor. Essentially all arguments for religion are poor because sooner or later someone is going to (rightly) ask for falsifiable theory or testable evidence that will never be provided.

5. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #174022 by newskin on May 1, 2008 at 12:41 pm

It's funny that no fossils of 'modern' species, have been found in the same strata as prehistoric ones. If we were all created at the same time, i would be expecting this to occur at least once. A good example being JBS Haldane's iconic 'Rabbits in the pre cambrian...'

Don_Quix

I'm just trying to minimize their damage to those whose logical faculties haven't been completely overtaken by the mind virus yet.


Talking of mind-virus', your avatar is planting one in mine! Most underhand!

6. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #174012 by newskin on May 1, 2008 at 12:28 pm

seeker_of_truth -

So everything science has 'done' is a closed case now? Do you think it a good thing that we didn't take that position a hundred years ago?


Well it seems you have us pinned seeker. You have single handedly seen the error in the methodology of thousands of scientists over a couple of hundred years. Man are they going to be pissed when they find out that they all misinterpreted their research and you, having done no research at all, have the insight to find the flaws that no-one else in a couple of hundred years had possibly considered.

I salute you!

7. Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

Comment #169866 by newskin on April 27, 2008 at 2:24 am

Diacanu -

What you could have said was "nothing gets a soldier to throw one's life away for it's own sake than religion".


Yes, that is essentially what my original (and admittedly ill phrased) comment was getting at.

MaxD -

I would be willing to bet that if you don't have a lot of time, say by pushing some child out of the way of a bus that is about to splatter her (thereby putting you in harms way) you will probably just act.


I would like to think so to. I have never been in combat so i cannot speak definitively, but i should think that in the heat of a firefight, instict takes over.

8. Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

Comment #169695 by newskin on April 26, 2008 at 3:22 pm

Diacanu-

Yes, but only as a last resort and if it was unavoidable. I would definitley be hesitant to 'catch a slug' for someone elses kids though, if only for thinking of my own.

Surely you get that?

EDIT: Diacanu, by the sounds of that question, you hadn't read my previous post either!

9. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #169693 by newskin on April 26, 2008 at 3:17 pm

melissajoy1234

Oh dear, where to begin... Firstly, Expelled is a gross distortion of the truth and its producers are documented liars. If your only experience of Richard Dawkins is through this film, then you should read The God Delusion before forming any opinions as this book represents his true thoughts and not the distortions of Ben Stein.

If you are in the business of 'eye opening' (and this is commendable) then you have nothing to lose by doing some reading into what atheists are really saying. You are clearly not as ignorant as you profess, and i think it would be of tremendous benefit to you if you balance your argument and did not allow yourself to be overly swayed by blatant propaganda such as Expelled.

10. Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

Comment #169690 by newskin on April 26, 2008 at 3:04 pm

swordsbane-

You forget of course that suicide bombers stand to loose the ultimate commodity - their lives.

Whilst i do not disagree that atheists would be prepared to fight on justifiable grounds (as much if not more so, as you argue, than a religious person) the point i was making is that surely they are going to be inherantly more careful with their lives?
I would like to think i would be prepared to give my life if there was no alternative and it would save many others. However that is not the most efficient state of mind for a combat trooper! If i believed my death would be rewarded by god, i would be far more daring and willing to lay it down for just about anything to gain that precious spot in heaven! Even taking a more moderate relgious view, i would be less fearful of risking my life as i would be safe in the knowledge that upon surviving my own death, i would eventually be reunited with my loved ones.

11. Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

Comment #169681 by newskin on April 26, 2008 at 2:38 pm

Diacanu-

Whilst those may be valid reasons for me going to war, i'm not sure that they would make me any more inclined to hasten my own demise!

12. Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

Comment #169671 by newskin on April 26, 2008 at 2:11 pm

All this talk of what the "founding fathers" wanted. Makes for stirring rhetoric, but not really relevant. What should matter is what the Americans who are alive today want.


Dont knock the Founding Fathers! They had the foresight to separate church and state, a line that is being eroded by the current incumbents. It is not often in history that a group of people living several hundred years previous hold more progressive ideals than a significant majority of the current population.
For the record, I am English, but i do view the US constitution as one of the most important documents ever drafted.

13. Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

Comment #169664 by newskin on April 26, 2008 at 1:52 pm

As wrong as this is, you simply cannot deny the power of god as a motivator for combat. The best modern example is probably suicide bombers.
I have spoken to a few friends that have served in Afghanistan and i believe the thing that makes the taliban hardest to fight is that they have little to no fear of death.
Who really wants to die? What better than to comfort yourself (or read: 'indoctrinate your subordinates') with the fact that after a bullet eviscerates your cerebral cortex you will awaken, glowing in white, next to a bearded old bloke and his pearly gates?

14. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169660 by newskin on April 26, 2008 at 1:37 pm

-Sargeist

Were it not for all the carnage the faithful would most probably cause, i would like to see how that would pan out!

You know we shouldn't take the piss, they may be onto something. I found some mould around one of my windows the other day; apparently the cure is to smash the whole house down and dump it outside the city walls. Now where is my sledgehammer...

15. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169651 by newskin on April 26, 2008 at 1:29 pm

I'm no biblical scholar, but Leviticus seems pretty clear on gods view of 'men that lie with other men'. It bothers me more when christian apologists try to skirt around this issue and appear liberal.
From a freedom of speech point of view I have no problem with this (barring of course any incitement issues). If all christians were as open and honest with this repressed but inherent dogma, it would make the argument against them so much stronger!

16. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #169643 by newskin on April 26, 2008 at 1:07 pm

Wadsworth #169487-

Here is how you can ridicule Pascal's wager.....



Or simply say: I will take my chances that even if some deity exists I am prepared to live a life tolerant of my fellow animals with no need for holy wars, homophobia, misogyny, or soothsaying; allowing for scientifically developed drugs, genetic therapies and personal freedom for all etc. etc. etc.

If allowing those things means I have to burn in hell, then so be it.

17. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #167953 by newskin on April 24, 2008 at 12:43 pm

Diacanu-

...he still said "THEORY, THEORY, THEORY", like an incantation


Brilliant!

I have already hit the troll button.

18. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #167933 by newskin on April 24, 2008 at 12:32 pm

No, I did not realize that a cell had to be at a basic level in order to divide. Thanks for the info.


Well apparently you are too simple to understand basic english as well. Seriously, I was giving you some useful advice. Your ignorance of the science is glaring!

EDIT: I am done feeding this troll.

19. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #167913 by newskin on April 24, 2008 at 12:20 pm

I can't understand or will not understand the perpetuation of false statements you consider factual proven science.


You have shown yourself to be utterly clueless when it comes to even basic biological concepts. You don't even know how a cell divides at a basic level. (See post 1059)

How you can claim evolution to be impossible when you don't know the fundamental scientific principles is beyond me. If you want credibility you will have to learn this or i am afraid you will forever be dismissed as a proponent of the argument from personal incredulity.

20. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #167873 by newskin on April 24, 2008 at 11:50 am

Diacanu

Got any proof of ID for us yet?


You mean 'because he says so' isn't proof?? Damn, he had me fooled!

Apologies, i feel the time for serious debate with this troll is over and that the satire should ensue...

21. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #167871 by newskin on April 24, 2008 at 11:48 am

TylerDurden -

I will now pray to my God, Qwertyaszx the Almighty, that you return safely to this forum.


Blasphemy! You know that the one true deity is his noodlyness the FSM. I shall pray that Remnant is thoroughly touched by his noodly appendage. Pasta be upon him.

Ramen!

22. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #167864 by newskin on April 24, 2008 at 11:42 am

TheTruthID -

No need to tell me, I'm already aware you have no thoughts.


Please leave, troll.

23. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #167860 by newskin on April 24, 2008 at 11:38 am

Why is it that, each time you refer me to a site to explain your reasoning, almost every sentence has a "might be", "may be", "thought", "could be", "if", "might have" ...and so on and so on?


Because something that explains everything, explains nothing at all.

Our minds are open to new evidence; we are not arrogant enough to assume we know definitive truths without proof.

24. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #167855 by newskin on April 24, 2008 at 11:33 am

TheTruthID-

You guys are remarkable. Quine directs me to a site in rebuttal to one of my statements and smack dab in the middle of the paper it states "Never mind what the Intelligent Design creationists tell you the cell is really, really stupid, and it will more or less DECIDE by eeny-meeny-miny-moe how to divvy up those chromosomes.


No thought - see centromeres and spindles. Biology 101.

Really showing your ignorance here.

25. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #166890 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 1:28 pm

"If living matter is not, then, caused by the interplay of atoms, natural forces and radiation, how has it come into being?... I think, however, that we must...admit that the only acceptable explanation is creation. I know that this is anathema to physicists, as indeed it is to me, but we must not reject a theory that we do not like if the experimental evidence supports it."



Well first of all your appeal to authority will not wash. Secondly, so what? Even if there was a creator, it doesn't preclude evolution and it doesn't mean we have any clue who or what that creator is. Thus it may as well not exist and is most certainly not science. See the last 200 posts.

26. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #166871 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 1:19 pm

That's the problem. Everything to you has to be explained by science, no matter how obsurd it is, strictly because it is your only choice. Well, everyday, more and more scientists are coming to the conclusion that life was created. You can deny and fight it all you want.


Oh boy I am getting weary!

You clearly do not understand what science is. The environment defines science, not the other way around. Therefore science DOES explain everything that is known.

Everything else that does not conform to this is purely personal conjecture or assertion. This is the tea pot argument again and we are going in circles.

27. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #166840 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 1:00 pm

I never once mentioned the bible or Jesus. My spiritual beliefs have nothing to do with scientific fact. Science has proven that life is too organized and complex to have been started by chance and evolved to this complexity. It's so simple.


Absurd.It hasn't in the slightest. I love the way that all of a sudden science is capable of absolute proofs!
I'm afraid that unlike goddidit, science is complex and you will have to learn it before you can dismiss it.

28. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #166835 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 12:56 pm

I think that MaxD has pretty much covered all the points in #166814. Very well put arguments I must say.

Remnant is clearly going to believe in god whatever. Someone Richard, I believe, would term a dyed-in-the-wool faithhead.

29. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #166809 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 12:42 pm

the fact that how it all began is so relevant that evolutionists need to ignore it to remain sane and try to sound intelligent.


This is no different than the reciprocal asking where your god came from? Barring, of course, the weight of testable evidence that exists in support of science. If this is such a mental stumbling block for you i pity you, as you now literally have no idea! (all your THEORIES are debunked, yet here we are)

30. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #166795 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 12:35 pm

Mphil

Then someone comes near you and starts telling you that the world actually rests on the back of four giant elephants who stand on a turtle.


Off topic, but Terry Pratchett = genius!

31. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #166789 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Boy are you misguided.


He may not be the only one! Have you seriously considered the burden of proof you apply to evolution in comparison to ID/creationism etc? You are willing to beleive dogma, derived from 2000 year old scripture but get all sceptical if science cannot give you every single last detail? At least science is honest enough to say it doesn't yet have all the answers.

32. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #166762 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 12:17 pm

TheTruthID

I find it amazing that you have so much confidence in evolution THEORY but can't even explain the most important question, how life began. Without this, any theory you can come up with is irrelevant. It's ludicrous.



That response betrays your lack of understanding of evolution theory. Firstly, the word theory does not mean it is just something all we scientists got together and dreamt up. Evolution explains the origin of species; it does not posit a mechanism for the formation of organic molecules. There are other scientific theories for that. You could insert your favourite god at that point, but know that god would only have created simple molecules e.g. amino acids at which point evolution took over.
Once you start the evolutionary process there are no guarantees and our existence could not have been forseen so bang goes your 'chosen species' argument and all the organised religion that goes with it. Thus your god is a mute point which has no baring (or interest) in your life.

33. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #166731 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 11:57 am

Diacanu-

I beleive he/she has gone. Probably to that warm, snug, cotton wool like place that says you will survive your own death.

34. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #166718 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 11:50 am

Censorship of opposing thought is your only hope.


Not at all. If you want to convince us, go and find some evidence; it's what we like here!

As a starter for ten, I echo the great JBS Haldane when I suggest you start by looking for some rabbits in the precambrian.

Get digging. Come back and let us know how you got on.

35. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #166712 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 11:47 am

Hmm wrong thread. My apologies!

36. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #166676 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 11:27 am

How is evolution plausible and proven in mathamatical modeling?


Well the fact you asked that question is positive, but shows you have a lot more reading to do! Even if it is a case of know your enemy...

I'm certainly not the best person to explain the maths, as that was never my strong point, but essentially setting up a computer simulation of dna with given values of: the rate of reproduction, isolation and mutation, scientists have shown evolution is likely. More likely than some initial conservative estimates.

Incase you are wondering, the values used to program the system are derived from observations of life today, and not simply plucked out of someone's mind or tweaked for ideal results!!

37. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #166656 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 11:17 am

Back to personal attacks. You are showing your lack of confidence in true glory. Does not the immpossible odds of evolution bother you? No, because you have no other choice. Believe the immpossible rather then the unthinkable. Pretty sad.


Yawn. The odds of evolution are far from impossible. It is highly plausible and proven in mathematical modelling. The evidence for evolution at the molecular level is compelling.

Unfortunately, it is not that easy to understand (far from impossible though). Before you dismiss evolution, you should have a thorough grounding in the science. That would take time and effort on your part.

38. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #166640 by newskin on April 23, 2008 at 11:04 am

You may not know this, but every single ID/Theist?Christian who comes here does the exact same thing. You are as common as a sea gull at the beach. So you will have to excuse us for getting annoyed at your anti-logic.


Too true. Some even publish whole books in this manner!

As for the tail bone etc... It is interesting that God's mysterious ways always seem to turn out looking like a lack of design. And precisely like what evolution by natural selection would look like.


You know, as an ex molecular biology student, the one that always fascinated me was the mitochondria. Ferrying DNA to and fro, seems like awfully bad design to me!

39. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #151952 by newskin on March 29, 2008 at 6:18 pm

Bonzai:

But the original accusation you made was the little girl died "because the parents believe in God",


It may not be clear from the article (and those without biological/mecial backgrounds could be excused from knowing) but ketoacidosis is caused by a build up of things called ketone bodies which are made when your body starts to consume its own protein to generate sugar for the brain. This doesn't happen overnight and the little girl would have been in an obvious state of distress for some time.

Her parents knew she was ill, as they were praying for her recovery. You may have skipped what the parents said in the article:

apparently they didn't have enough faith


Now if they didn't beleive in god i feel pretty safe in saying that they would have dispensed with the prayer and consulted a doctor immediately, what else would they do? As i said, even an idiot knows what a hospital is. It's a real stretch to assert that a non-religious person would have acted in the same way, more so than to say that they wouldn't and so Ockham's razor swings...

40. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #151951 by newskin on March 29, 2008 at 6:02 pm

I don't think that is in anyway simple minded to suggest that this girls parents faith was culpable for her death. I also think my point on evidence stands even if you have come out of the closet.

You may want to review what people have been posting, as no-one is suggesting that all christians would act this way. Enough would. The point i feel that was being made was that even one though,is too many.

You should make your point of view clearer in future so i dont waste my keystrokes and the real issue (ie your problem with the logic) could have been addressed. You're not the only one who is a stickler for it...

41. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #151944 by newskin on March 29, 2008 at 5:34 pm

Bonzai, Im afraid i cannot help but raise a smile whenever the religious get so up tight about evidence. It seems you are happy to base your whole philosophy, and life, on something that you take on faith but require detailed evidence for anything else!

I am reminded of Michael Behe during the Kansas trial when the judge pointed out that if a missing link was found, he would simply require two more to fill the new gaps!

As you asked:

You claim there is a Christian reason to not see doctor, give me one. The onus is on you


The doctrine of prayer. As already stated but I am beggining to understand you are have selective vision.

The contributors here don't make much a point


The fact that you said that leads me to beleive you have read different posts to me. Are there now different versions of RD.net as there are The God Delusion?

Finally, as again you have not grasped it, I am saying that modern christians go to the doctor (as you have), so why bother with prayer? I am also saying that god made them ill in the first place.

42. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #151931 by newskin on March 29, 2008 at 5:13 pm

Bonsai:

As I argued, there is no "Christian" reason that prevents them from seeing a doctors


Oh dear oh dear, you are a classic slippery christian customer!

You did not argue, you merely asserted that with some weak anecdote. You have adressed no points from any of the contributers and have meerly seemed to suggest that modern christians accept that prayer is a load of boloney and seek help from doctors.

43. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #151911 by newskin on March 29, 2008 at 4:43 pm

No, believing in God doesn't mean they have to deny her medication


Here you and i agree, but they clearly thought it did. However even an idiot knows what a hospital is and what it is for; it seems the only reason they did not take her to one is because they truly believed prayer alone would work. At this point we are in agreement again, that is truly an idiotic notion!

Whether or not god provided the doctor to cure the disease he presumably created is a mute point. They clearly hadn't got his message, so voracious was their praying and a girl died.

Way to dodge the wider question by the way.

And im afraid your point was pre-empted, with thanks to Steve Z:

"That's not MY Christianity"....

44. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #151897 by newskin on March 29, 2008 at 4:24 pm

Ta da!

I am not sure why so many here seem to think that all Christians should somehow apologize for or excuse for such behaviour. The assumption is that somehow these crazy parents are doing what good Christians are supposed to do


Can you not see how ridiculous a notion it is that god would set up this girls illness as some kind of test for her parents? A particularly perverse test if the solution is not to pray as the bible says but to seek help from modern medicine!

There are no cheap points being scored here, this girl died because her parents believed in god. Misguided or otherwise

45. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #151869 by newskin on March 29, 2008 at 3:27 pm

How can one defend the indefensible?


Can't be done, but you might at least expect them to show up and play with language as is typical...

46. In His Name We Pray, Ramen

Comment #151859 by newskin on March 29, 2008 at 3:15 pm

That's why we should show creationism for what it is. It's funny enough without having to lie about it.


No further arguement here!

47. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #151856 by newskin on March 29, 2008 at 3:09 pm

It is sad to live in a family where you can't bring up the topic of religion at all because they all take offense from your position rather than being able to discuss things objectively.
RAmen to that!

My grandparents are the same. Ive seen them genuinely upset as they consider that their atheist children/grandchildren are going to hell. I was always favourite grandchild, and i dont think my chosen degree in molecular cell biology went down well at all!

48. Beware the Believers

Comment #151854 by newskin on March 29, 2008 at 3:04 pm

As a biologist Richard you of all people should know that age is merely a state of mind (or possibly your telomeres!).

I dont find overt/slapstick humour amusing and im a spritely 24! It's just plain poor i'm afraid.

49. In His Name We Pray, Ramen

Comment #151846 by newskin on March 29, 2008 at 2:53 pm

These Pastafarians must learn of the true God, John Frum.


Blasphemy!! Although His Noodleyness explicitly forbids harming (let alone killing) other humans, talk of The Frum is a convenient exception!

Best beware, or you may receive powdered pasta in the post....

50. In His Name We Pray, Ramen

Comment #151843 by newskin on March 29, 2008 at 2:47 pm

Aiden 86 - the article severely mischaracterises the creationist position.

I agree to an extent, but creationists hardly do a good job of explaining the existance of dinosaurs which is what i think the author was getting at.

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