1. School bars same-sex partners at formals

Comment #161755 by yussel123 on April 15, 2008 at 4:02 pm

If the school gets any public money, then the school should follow the community standards. If the law in Australia forbids discrimination against gays, then the schools should follow that policy (religious or not). That's one advantage of the US system. Religious schools are private and in public schools, they couldn't get away with stuff like this.

2. Religious education as a part of literary culture

Comment #161450 by yussel123 on April 15, 2008 at 10:00 am

"religion and faith are the essence of this life"

What, exactly, does that statement mean? And why "this life"? What other life do we live? If there are other lives, what is the essence of those lives?

Even from the perspective of a religious person, I find it hard to understand why God would send our souls here just to earn a place in the world where the souls came from in the first place. Seems like such a waste of good time in paradise.

3. Religious education as a part of literary culture

Comment #160977 by yussel123 on April 14, 2008 at 3:57 pm

To Cartomancer:

I agree. The point I wanted to make, however, is that to extent you (or your culture) do not make use of the primary sources, your understanding and, therefore, appreciation of the Bible is lacking. The effect it has on your culture is derivative, as it does not result from first-hand knowledge.

4. Religious education as a part of literary culture

Comment #160893 by yussel123 on April 14, 2008 at 2:22 pm

Dear Professor Dawkins:

I am also taken aback by the ignorance of those educated in recent decades (or even earlier) with regard to the Bible. A true appreciation of the Bible requires one to be able to read it in the Hebrew/Aramaic in which it was written. The english translations used in the Christian world are colored by theological prejudices. A really good understanding of the Bible would not only require knowledge of the original languages, but would also require familiarity with the Talmud, Midrashim and the principal medieval commentaries (Rashi, Rashbam, Nachmanides, to name three)

5. The Art of Creating Controversy Where None Existed

Comment #160488 by yussel123 on April 14, 2008 at 6:43 am

To Dr. Benway, Keith and Christopher Davis:

Thank you for your thoughtful and helpful replies.

Yussel

6. The Art of Creating Controversy Where None Existed

Comment #160451 by yussel123 on April 14, 2008 at 5:46 am

So where are the scientists who are supposed to reach out to the public. I've been sending e-mails with requests for information to this website, to Dawkins' oxford address, just to name to places, and NEVER recieve a reply. If the scholars abandon those of us who call out for information to our ignorance, then don't be shocked when we feel we can't trust you.

7. The Art of Creating Controversy Where None Existed

Comment #160441 by yussel123 on April 14, 2008 at 5:31 am

Question for #40 Christopher Davis:

I am scientifically illiterate. I have been trying to find an explanation (in layman's terms) for the idea the natural selection is not random but is also not teleological. I noticed that you made reference to the non-random aspect of natural selection. Do you know of any books or articles that explain that in simple, non-technical terms?

8. Richard Dawkins' secular army must be stopped. God is behind some of our greatest art

Comment #160401 by yussel123 on April 14, 2008 at 3:21 am

Not relevant but saw this on another site. Shmuley Boteach claims Dawkins denies he ever debated him. Boteach claims he has footage of the debate. See the attached:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1207650002231&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

9. The Art of Creating Controversy Where None Existed

Comment #159928 by yussel123 on April 13, 2008 at 12:19 pm

If I may add a comment from a theistic (orhtodox jewish) perspective:

The orthodox community (right wing) believes that scientists are all in a conspiracy to destroy religion. I can state for a fact, that anybody within the community who even suggests that there might be something valid about evolution is treated as a pariah. I don't see how there could be hope of getting any invitations to volunteers who want to "better inform people about evolution".

I am one of those within the community who are curious enough to seek out information. Within the jewish tradition, there are avenues of thought which are more open to the scientific outlook. The problem seems to be overcoming the idea that if you open yourself to new ideas, then you will automatically end up trashing the whole thing.

(The above may seem a bit rambling and incoherent, but it's the best I can do under the circumstances)

10. The Art of Creating Controversy Where None Existed

Comment #159835 by yussel123 on April 13, 2008 at 8:17 am

I have a question which is not really relevant, but it bother's me anyway:

Would a scientist, Dawkins for example, ever support an effort to halt scientific research in a given area because of the terrible consequences that would follow? Ex, what possible good came from the research that developed napalm? What about those scientists who engaged in the reasearch and development of the killing machines for the Nazi concentration/death camps?

Is there ever a moral consideration that justifies halting scientific research?

11. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #159782 by yussel123 on April 13, 2008 at 6:22 am

I like Dawkins, but that tie he's wearing is God-awful.

12. 'Expelled' ripped off Harvard's 'Inner Life of the Cell' animation

Comment #159058 by yussel123 on April 11, 2008 at 11:39 am

Dr. Benway:

Thank you

13. The List: The World's Worst Religious Leaders

Comment #159056 by yussel123 on April 11, 2008 at 11:38 am

With regard to Dov Lior:

I doubt he is Hassidic. Chassidim in general are hostile to the founding of the State of Israel and don't generally move to the West Bank. He is part of the Religious Zionist movement, which is poles apart from Chassidism

14. 'Expelled' ripped off Harvard's 'Inner Life of the Cell' animation

Comment #159038 by yussel123 on April 11, 2008 at 11:13 am

#16

Don't be a wise guy. I'm to old to go back to school for an education. What do I do now?

15. 'Expelled' ripped off Harvard's 'Inner Life of the Cell' animation

Comment #159019 by yussel123 on April 11, 2008 at 10:49 am

I'm scientifically illiterate, so I really didn't understand the technical language in the e-mail. I think, however, I understand enough to conclude that I will not waste any of my money on this film.

My problem is that I'm equally suspicious of the ID people and the non-ID people because any charlatan could manipulate the evidence, and I don't know enough to be able to detect when I'm being lied to. What shold I do?

16. Inadequate, private and late apology with grotesquely inadequate excuse

Comment #159012 by yussel123 on April 11, 2008 at 10:40 am

Did she rant on anybody else while she was having a bad day? Why did she pick on the atheist?

17. Reviews of Expelled

Comment #158118 by yussel123 on April 10, 2008 at 4:57 am

Comment #158117

You are correct. The Pope, Pius XI, made a pact with Germany because of his fear of the Communists. He never stopped to think if perhaps the cure was worse than the disease.

18. Reviews of Expelled

Comment #158058 by yussel123 on April 10, 2008 at 3:16 am

If I may ask the following question:

If Hitler's version of Evolution was bad science, why did the scientists in Nazi Germany go along with it?

19. Reviews of Expelled

Comment #158049 by yussel123 on April 10, 2008 at 3:01 am

The claim that Darwin's theory of evolution combined with natural selection gave us the gas chambers of the Nazis is not worthy of serious consideration.

Hatred of Jews which culminated in the Holocaust was a direct result of 1500 or more years of indoctrination BY THE CHURCH. The religious people, who supposedly believed in the Jesus as the Prince of Peace and the Son of God, fanned the fires of Jew hatred. There is a direct line that goes from the Jew-hatred printed in "Der Sturmer" to Luther's writings on the Jews, to say nothing of the writings of the Church Fathers.

20. German Church admits aiding Nazis

Comment #157899 by yussel123 on April 9, 2008 at 5:42 pm

The Catholic Church made a pact with Germany because it was afraid of the Communists. The church failed to realize that their cure was worse than the disease.

the Church is only interested in protecting their institutions. It will make friends with any dictator who promises to let the church operate freely. Maybe, if the institution of the church was not able to sufficiently civilize Europe to prevent it from sliding down into the barbarity of the Third Reich, then the institution was no longer worth protecting.

21. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #157613 by yussel123 on April 9, 2008 at 10:40 am

Is it safe to come back now?

22. A Letter From Hell

Comment #157439 by yussel123 on April 9, 2008 at 5:16 am

I can't believe this. This is sick.

23. Anti-evolution bill clears another hurdle

Comment #157380 by yussel123 on April 9, 2008 at 2:52 am

Braxton Bragg was incompetent. R.E. Lee was obsessed with attacking at a time when he ought to have allowed the Union to chase him and attack on ground of Lee's choosing.

24. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #157154 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 3:37 pm

Vadjong,

I don't understand your comment

25. Anti-evolution bill clears another hurdle

Comment #157153 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 3:36 pm

Elles,

They certainly had nicer uniforms :) Too bad they didn't have better generals.

26. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #157109 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 2:57 pm

Goldy,

They will tell you that God's hand directed the doctor. Yet they will also leave no stone unturned to find the "top doctor". I want to know why. Why can't God direct an average doctor to say you?

27. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #157098 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 2:51 pm

Goldy,

I meant to say that there is room for discussion because there are sources within the tradition that support more than one view. I didn't mean to suggest that those sources get a fair hearing today.

28. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #157095 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 2:50 pm

Religious people, who do not hesitate to go to doctors, use the phone, fly in airplanes, drive cars, use computers, etc., will tell you with a straight face that science is unreliable.

How can you argue with them?

29. Anti-evolution bill clears another hurdle

Comment #157092 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 2:48 pm

#5

Florida tried to leave the Union and we forced them to come back. I guess we are stuck with them.

30. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #157080 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 2:39 pm

When did the UN declare that a person shouldn't criticize religion?

31. Anti-evolution bill clears another hurdle

Comment #157066 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 2:26 pm

I'm sick and tired of the forces of religion claiming that they are being "persecuted". It reminds me of the Claude Raines character in "Casablanca" who reacts with "shock, to find out there's gambling going on here". Whenever religious forces get into positions of power, those forces brutally persecute anybody who dares to disagree. If the proponents of evolution are a bit on the offensive, then the religious have nobody to blame but themselves.

32. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #157063 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 2:21 pm

I mean to say that even WITHIN religious traditions, there is room for open discussion based on sane principles. The reason that seems hard to believe is that religion, at least Jewish orthodoxy, has been hijacked by reactionary forces. I keep my own thoughts on these matters pretty much to myself because there are so few people I can share them with.

33. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #157043 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 1:59 pm

My experience comes from living in a religious Jewish community in America. I find that most of the people I talk to have never examined what they were taught in elementary school regarding their religion. There is a centuries old tradition of debate and discussion about the fundamentals of the religion which seems to have ground to a halt somewhere in the 14th or 15th century.

The ironic thing is that the discussion of the realtion of science to the teachings of religion goes way back. There are insights contained in the teachings of Rambam (Maimonides) which would be helpful to clarifying some of the issues. However, Maimonides (at least his philosophy) is NEVER taught in religious schools because it would lead the students to question the literalist interpretation they are forced to accept. The studenst don't even realize that there are other ways of looking at certain issues within their own tradition.

34. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #157000 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 1:22 pm

I know I'm a new-comer here so please forgive my presumption, but what does this exchange have to do with the increase in the belief in creation among British school children?

35. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156978 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 1:01 pm

"Look up the definition of lie"

A liar is a person who knowingly mis-places his ontological predicates.

36. The Atheist Next Door

Comment #156950 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 12:31 pm

#16

Your question about my age is a non-sequitur.

I'll grant you that my comment was something of an over-statement. Forgive me.

37. The Atheist Next Door

Comment #156912 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 11:42 am

There is NO family in America all of whose members are rational. I would wager that there are few, if any, who have even 1 rational member

38. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156893 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 11:21 am

I'm an only child. An so is my sister.

39. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156764 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 8:32 am

Styrer:

I don't exist? That's the best news I've had all year!!!!!!!

40. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156757 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 8:27 am

I'm not making any headway with you people. I'm going to drink a beer and take some LSD :)

41. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156746 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 8:17 am

#176

What?

Are you suggesting that drug use is NOT harmful and that it is not motivated by a desire to escape reality? What other explanation would you give for the fact that people intentionally alter their minds and suffer irreparable harm ?

42. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156742 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 8:13 am

Styrer:

"Old son"? Let's not get personal here :)


I am going to have to think about your point. I don't believe I am HUGELY mistaken. I think (i've used the words "think" and "believe" interchangably, but I do recognize a difference between them) we are raised to crave a release from this world of cold, heartless cause and effect. If the release is not religion, then it's something else, and it's not good for us.

But I will be giving lots of thought to this point.

Jay

43. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156733 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 8:04 am

Comment #170:

My evidence is the state of the world. My evidence is the number of people who run to psycho-therapy because they can't deal with the real world on it's own terms. My evidence is alcoholism, drug use, just to name a few things.

These are all symptoms of a world of people who hate life and don't want to deal with it. I don't agree that this can all be blamed on religion. We are raised to believe that somewhere there is a paradise; either religious, or of some other nature (a world where we get what we want, bad people lose, we never have any troubles, etc.)

So yes, fantasies can be damaging, no matter how presented.

44. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156726 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 7:45 am

Styrer:

I THINK you missed my point.

People grow up refusing to face reality. From the time they are children, they are fed a steady of diet of fantasies, religion being one among many. Fairy-stories, movies, sports, just to name a few, contribute to this. Adults spend their time thinking about how they can divert their attention from reality (i.e.: where will I go tonight after work; what's on TV; where will I go for my next vacation; what new, exciting experience can I indulge in) Nobody wants to live in THIS world. Religion is not alone in doing this.

You wake up!

45. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156720 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 7:31 am

Quetz:

I recognize the difference, however, you would have to distinguish between religious teachings that include burning in hell and those that don't.

I also think that, at least in the Jewish community with which I am familiar, teaching little children about burning in "Gehinnom" (hell) would be considered abuse and no responsible parent would do that.

46. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156710 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 7:13 am

Quetzalcoatl:

I'm not sure my example is entire off the mark.

Telling children fairy-tales, lays the groundwork for a certain mindset that, perhaps on an unconscious level, still inhabits the world of fairy-tales well into adulthood. I cite the popularity of Harry Potter as evidence. Adults love to escape into fantasy because, secretly, in their sub-conscious, they want to escape the real world with which they are bitterly disappointed.

Children raised on fairy-tales grow into adults who don't want to accept the real world.

47. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156702 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 7:02 am

Irate_athiest:

Children have to be taught SOMETHING, don't they? Do you advocate leaving children on their own to let them learn things randomly? We teach them all sorts of things. The hope is that as they grow, they will replace the childish things they learn for more mature understandings.

Example: We read bed-time stories to our children. Should we stop because they are not exact, scientific descriptions of the world, that would stand up to the scrutiny we use to test scientific theories? Is it "child abuse" to tell a three or four year old a story about "Mother Goose"?

48. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156696 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 6:50 am

Styrer,

I agree.

However, Dawkins is not the first person to do this. My question only relates to his intentional use of provocative language, such as calling belief in God "delusional" and accusing religious people of "child-abuse".

49. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156690 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 6:35 am

Personally, I don't care what people believe. I start to care when they tell me I have to join them or DIE.

50. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156687 by yussel123 on April 8, 2008 at 6:31 am

I won't self-immolate unless God tells me to, and then I'd say "you first".