Comments by Garic

Comment #139934 by Garic on March 6, 2008 at 6:58 pm

There is a move afoot to have all the candidates debate science. Not sure that debate will ever happen. From what I have read so far, a number of them would NOT come out in favour of evolution, unless they were to say creationism/intelligent design should be taught along side.

It would be nice if they believed in evolution, but I think you are too optimistic.

Yeah, it's sad, but rod-the-farmer is right. The general voter in the United States isn't going to go all doe-eyed over a candidate who openly/clearly states their support of evolutionary theory over the supposed alternative of creationism/intelligent design. I'd bet any organized debate over scientific issues in the coming months will gloss over this topic. And, honestly, I don't think we want politicians (lawyers and business types) framing this important scientific issue in the minds of the American public on network television...that could be UGLY...

2. Lords Approve Abolition Of Blasphemy

Comment #139924 by Garic on March 6, 2008 at 6:46 pm

MPhil,

Is the religious education in Deutschland done with a historical slant or with intent to make "believers" out of the children? I think more of a religious history approach to things may have some positive aspects... maybe that religious education is related someway to your society being highly secular?

(Trying to give you some reason to hope... is it helping?...If not, may I suggest kicking back a Paulaner Hefe-Weizen? That always makes me feel better!)

3. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #135352 by Garic on February 28, 2008 at 9:21 pm

A few years ago my "born again" uncle in Texas appealed to me to read Lee Strobel's "A Case for Faith" when he heard that I didn't accept Jesus as my personal Savior. Since I enjoy reading, I took him up on this little challenge. And what was my impression? -- Don't waste your time. Strobel's hard-hitting investigation involved interviews with PhDs in philosophy and theology (several of whom either attended seminary or currently teach at places with names like the Talbot School of Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Southern Evangelical Seminary). Needless to say, perhaps, is that Strobel and his "experts" only considered faith in one particular god(s) - Yahweh/Jesus/Holy Spirit. Nothing is mentioned about the merits of other faith traditions because, let's face it, that wouldn't sell many books to evangelicals here in the United States.

His conclusions are quite predictable to any of us familiar with this endless debate:

1. The universe began to exist and therefore the universe has a cause (God)
2. Life on our planet is balanced on a "razor's edge" so this must mean that there is an Intelligent Designer behind creation
3. We know deep down that objective moral values do exist and, therefore, this means God exists
4. Darwinism offers no credible theory for how life could have emerged naturally from nonliving chemicals so, of course, the "God did it" theory is obviously our best explanation
5. The Bible's "divine origin" has been confirmed by the fulfillment of ancient prophecies (Note: latching onto "Biblical authority" is a major part of what feeds this ignorance in the U.S. When you can pretend you have all the answers from some ancient text, why bother to study or read anything else??)
6. If God does not exist this life is futile. If the God of the Bible does exist, then life is meaningful
7. For good measure he throws in Pascal's Wager but seems to give no thought to how one should select which god to choose… it's either Jesus Christ or non-belief

So, should we heed this caller's advice for Professor Dawkins and read Strobel's "A Case for Christ"? A book so convincing to her that she couldn't recall a single piece of important evidence in a book supposedly "full of evidence"?

No.