1. Dawkins: a theologian's perspective

Comment #261397 by entheogensmurf on October 6, 2008 at 7:10 pm

Graham may want to have someone review his work before publishing it...
Ya'll have ripped it up with but the slightest of finger presses.

2. Bill Maher's Religulous Opens Today

Comment #259555 by entheogensmurf on October 3, 2008 at 2:10 pm

Weee.
I should be in the theatre watching this around 5PM Pacific Standard...

3. Does faith have a place in medicine?

Comment #250499 by entheogensmurf on September 19, 2008 at 7:07 pm

"They are proposing a tacitly atheist set of rules," he says."


I find that statement amusing. I thought of it more as the set of rules in which the doctors gave their oath to follow.
One thing that I've noticed is that in theory, one could side with the religious nutters by some of the wording from the oath.

If the oath provides such room -- in my opinion, it should be changed :)


Hippocratic Oath
Yes yes, I'm a lazy bastard... this is from WikiPedia and there probably are variants:

1. To teach medicine to the sons of my teacher. Many medical schools have given and continue to give preferential consideration to the children of physicians.

2. To practice and prescribe to the best of my ability for the good of my patients, and to try to avoid harming them. This beneficial intention is the purpose of the physician. However, this item is still invoked in the modern discussions of euthanasia.

3. Never to do deliberate harm to anyone for anyone else's interest. Physician organizations in most countries have strongly denounced physician participation in legal executions. However, in a small number of cases, most notably Oregon[3] and the Netherlands[4], a doctor can perform euthanasia, by both his and the patient's consent.

4. To avoid violating the morals of my community. Many licensing agencies will revoke a physician's license for offending the morals of the community ("moral turpitude").

5. To avoid attempting to do things that other specialists can do better. The "stones" referred to are kidney stones or bladder stones, removal of which was judged too menial for physicians, and therefore was left for barbers (the forerunners of modern surgeons). Surgery was not recognized as a specialty at that time. This sentence is now interpreted as acknowledging that it is impossible for any single physician to maintain expertise in all areas. It also highlights the different historical origins of the surgeon and the physician.

6. To keep the good of the patient as the highest priority. There may be other conflicting 'good purposes,' such as community welfare, conserving economic resources, supporting the criminal justice system, or simply making money for the physician or his employer that provide recurring challenges to physicians.

4. Autism and Vaccines: Why Bad Logic Trumps Science

Comment #243763 by entheogensmurf on September 7, 2008 at 9:37 am

"But why do many people continue to believe that there is a link despite overwhelming evidence? The answer is something that has more credibility than the best scientific study: personal experience."

While I agree, this next babble is directed in other areas where people cast away research/evidence at times (in my opinion of course) or at least slow to accept the information:
At least here in the USA, we have been lied to enough that it can be difficult for many to trust in the evidence coming from research. The "cooking of stats," half truths, research funded to get specific results regardless of what is actually found, and other niceties.
When I look at an article that provides research results... what do I do? I try and hunt down the actual source and attempt, in my laypersons mind, to see if what is being reported appears accurate. This is more to see if the article reporting the research didn't parse through their own agenda.

Then, I attempt to find other sources that provide at least some validity and credibility to the org/group that conducted the research.

I recall the tobacco companies funding research that later was found to be a tad biased/skewed :)

If you ever read up on a huge foul up by Ricaurte (he blames the company that sent him the supplies), where his research revealed that MDMA caused "dopaminergic depletion and can lead to Parkinson's disease." Later, retracting as a result that it was meth and not MDMA ;)

As I said above though, I agree with the conclusion of "personal experience." It's hard to shake for some if not many.
I imagine exposure and acceptance to the concepts of critical thinking would help immensely.

I shall also present a personal experience of my own, where I saw at first hand how powerful "personal experience" can be to a mind:
Around the age of 12 or so, a buddy of mine, who had almost no exposure to non-white (I refer only to the color of skin, as I'm 1/3 Native American but appear "white") humans.
His first up close experience was... dun dun dun dunnn...
Being chased down by a group of very dark skinned kids who beat the crap out of him for being "a cracker" or something silly.

He started to rant about nigger this and nigger that (previously he wasn't really hateful towards anyone)... That they are animals, etc... and actually carried a near instant hatred of black skinned chaps.

I tried to reason with him (in my 12 year old way) that it's beyond sick and wrong to judge a "race" by the actions of some. Even presenting the times white kids in a group had picked on us...

In fact, over the years, we of course had good and bad experiences with every variance of skin color/race.

We of course (sadly), were exposed to adults who were openly racist (at least around white skinned people) towards blacks -- perhaps reinforcing his bigotry. Odd enough, his parents were the epitome of hippies (free spirited, equality minded, blah blah); yet this didn't sway him either when they attempted to explain that hating a race by the actions of a few or even many is wrong/faulty reasoning.

Yet, it persisted in his mind to be hateful to blacks by default -- simply by that initial experience. I don't know if he's still that way now as we parted ways long ago.

Anyways, it's nice to see the new research. Researchers are sexy, provided they are honest.

5. Richard Dawkins Lecture at UC Berkeley

Comment #231312 by entheogensmurf on August 16, 2008 at 5:51 am

Great lecture as expected.
I'm a tad tired so not much to ramble about currently.

It was nice to see such a warm reception to RD.

6. Bill Maher hates your (fill in the blank) religion

Comment #227381 by entheogensmurf on August 9, 2008 at 7:01 pm

If Bill Maher did in fact use those tactics to get interviews:
I disagree completely -- but if it's not illegal then so be it in respect to Expelled and Religulous.

I wasn't outraged by the tactics, it just seems like bullshit and wrong. Without more research I would aptly note that I would be for some requirement to be friggen honest.

7. An atheist plays God's advocate

Comment #227379 by entheogensmurf on August 9, 2008 at 6:58 pm

Although, of course, you couldn't put Dawkins in a Narnia book or he'd be forever lecturing the Pevensie children about the non-existence of Aslan.

There was a fairly good reason to believe Aslan existed... ;)

8. Richard Dawkins branded 'secularist bigot' by veteran philosopher

Comment #223389 by entheogensmurf on August 2, 2008 at 6:35 am

One Prof Flew Over The Coo-Coo's Nest

9. Council ban on atheist websites

Comment #221315 by entheogensmurf on July 29, 2008 at 1:56 pm

Side note:

Here's a short bit on the evilness of Wiccan:

Wiccan morality is largely based on the Wiccan Rede: An it harm none, do what ye will, which is usually interpreted as a declaration of the freedom to act, along with the necessity of taking responsibility for what follows from one's actions and minimizing harm to oneself and others

10. Science teacher dissed evolution

Comment #196978 by entheogensmurf on June 20, 2008 at 8:01 pm

I can't wait for someone to burn the Flying Spaghetti Monster into a child's arm.

...Imagine how the Christians would flip out

11. We Urgently Need Your Help Now!!

Comment #195796 by entheogensmurf on June 18, 2008 at 8:23 pm

Hail,

Just to add to the sea of people contributing:
I too have sent an email to Bobby.

The Parish thing... heh. Oh boy. I didn't see an option for NONE.

12. Astronomers find batch of 'super-Earths'

Comment #194459 by entheogensmurf on June 16, 2008 at 8:59 pm

RE: Comment #194035 by Steve Zara

I think that is a bit strong. If millions of years of continent-sized lava flows in the Permian could not destroy life, and if an asteroid collision with a force of millions of nuclear weapons at the end of the Cretaceous could not do it, then we can't.

13. Astronomers find batch of 'super-Earths'

Comment #194032 by entheogensmurf on June 16, 2008 at 9:52 am

MarcLindenberg,

Earth is dying, or I should say we are destroying (killing) the planet.

I do agree that it's cool that Earth-like planets are popping up. Now we just need the engines, the ability to survive a trip that lasts over 40 years and the ability to terraform.

14. Divine Impulses: Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #192643 by entheogensmurf on June 13, 2008 at 7:25 pm

It is inspiring to see such a person come from that world.
I have her book but there's still two other books in line before reading hers.

15. Court Claim: Chimps Are People, Too

Comment #191187 by entheogensmurf on June 10, 2008 at 10:46 am

Why don't they just open the range of who (expand past "humans") is able to obtain guardians.
In other words, instead of it just being a human to human legal right, make it human to primate or I suppose in this case to chimps (Matthew).

That way "human" remains h. sap. It seems simple to me but perhaps I'm not aware of all the factors.

16. Logical Proof of the Existence of a Divine Creator, Why Atheism is Not Logically Sound

Comment #190538 by entheogensmurf on June 9, 2008 at 8:41 am

They used every argument which has failed. I may take the time to actually respond fully to this silly article.

I wonder if they even know what atheist/atheism actually means.

Oh well, at least it almost amused me (by the lack of surprise) to see that They have nothing new to challenge the mind.

17. Physicist Claims First Real Demonstration of Cold Fusion

Comment #187757 by entheogensmurf on June 2, 2008 at 2:37 pm

I'd like to see a tally of how many times people have been told something is not possible or at least realistically coming about within an acceptable time frame (1000 years from now ain't gonna help) and then... succeeding.

Still, I won't hop into the believer cart until there's more data. The sheer delight in the removal of oil from the list of fuels for the majority of the planet is rather strong. Think of the devastation to the countries which depend on this resource as their primary means of wealth :) Talk about a nice way to remove their power.

18. God and Science Collide in Nation's Capital

Comment #181747 by entheogensmurf on May 18, 2008 at 6:22 am

Scientists hate God.

Or find God very disturbing.

In fact, modern science has found no evidence of God and so it's stupid anymore to think God exists.

In other words, he suggests that we can get around the divide between science and God if we come up with a new concept for God that focuses on the wonders of nature , among other things.

19. Richard Dawkins Interview on TVOntario

Comment #181291 by entheogensmurf on May 16, 2008 at 9:03 pm

These are the interviews that I like, where there's enough time (although more is always nice) for someone such as RD to respond to a question in more than one breath.

I'd recommend to those panel members to read up on at least some of RD's literature.

I don't think that I heard one valid point from the panel :)

As usual, thank you Prof. Richard Dawkins for your efforts.

20. Scientists take drugs to boost brain power: study

Comment #159419 by entheogensmurf on April 12, 2008 at 6:55 am

Nootropics/performance-enhancing drugs is the next logical step.

That is, once we can verify they aren't destroying the very thing we are enhancing or ruining the body.

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

Comment #150506 by entheogensmurf on March 27, 2008 at 3:15 am

Now lets take another gander:
Imagine if "atheists," some form of nonbelievers of a personal god or believers of a god from Roman Empire (the list of other gods is just too great) days had used hope or prayer, resulting in this outcome. What then would they be saying? I'd wager they would lose their other kids and face stiffer charges.

22. Religion 'linked to happy life'

Comment #148083 by entheogensmurf on March 22, 2008 at 2:08 am

Well hmm I'm an atheist and I seem to not suffer from unhappiness --- and oddly enough I deal with "hardships" without any real difficulty.

I think the "saddest" thing to me are the people who give into delusions as a way to escape.

Perhaps it's how we are taught to deal with dilemmas in general, that being more of the core issue at hand. That's assuming anything has been taught at all...

I do know that it's not uncommon to seek god (a higher power) in desperation; to release mortal hardships at the cost of being honest.

"Life is just a ride" :)

Blah blah.

23. Are Darwin's Theories Fact or Faith Issues?

Comment #120579 by entheogensmurf on February 2, 2008 at 3:48 am

I was rather surprised that the "it's only a theory" was used. Wait a minute! Nevermind, IDers always use that routine :)

Danek PZ.
While I respect the people who will NOT debate with a IDers, we need people to stamp them out. Those little fires can lead to a complete destruction of a forest.

No respect or quarter should be given to IDers, among many others.

24. This Week's Flea

Comment #100537 by entheogensmurf on December 18, 2007 at 8:45 pm

I wonder how much money they have made off of Richard Dawkins, Sammy Harris, Christopher Hitchens.

25. CBC News: Sunday - Richard Dawkins

Comment #100109 by entheogensmurf on December 18, 2007 at 8:46 am

The interviews duration was not long enough. However, Prof. Dawkins explained the concepts well enough within the permitted time.

Thanks for the posting of this video.

26. 2007 Audiobook Download of the Year: The God Delusion

Comment #98877 by entheogensmurf on December 14, 2007 at 7:58 pm

The content, the author and the readers made it an easy best seller.

If any of you have yet to read The Ancestor's Tale, check it out and/or buy the audio book.

27. Bad Faith Awards: Vote for the winner now

Comment #94686 by entheogensmurf on December 6, 2007 at 8:59 am

I can't imagine Westboro Baptist Church "winning." They are following what the word of God teaches in their holy book.

"The magazine for free thinkers"
Heh.

28. Mitt the Mormon

Comment #91264 by entheogensmurf on November 27, 2007 at 8:48 pm

If a candidate was Muslim I think we ought to know. Therefor they must be required to divulge any information requested.

He only said un-American four times but it felt like many more.