1. My Response to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #177562 by G M Becker on May 9, 2008 at 10:02 am

I'm sorry, is there a link to this debate where Boteach 'beats' Dawkins in a debate?

I find it difficult to believe....

2. The Neanderthal Debate

Comment #175187 by G M Becker on May 4, 2008 at 7:09 pm

The black squirrel is a genetic mutation -

Frankensquirrel!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/apr/26/endangeredspecies

Really interesting video I wonder how the existence of a rival species such as this would have entered our collective consciousness, perhaps this is the origin of ideas like trolls and ogres?

3. A Conversation with Expelled's Associate Producer Mark Mathis

Comment #165270 by G M Becker on April 21, 2008 at 9:24 am

Scary, not that these people should be allowed to say these these things, but that they should be able to speak with so much apparent authenticity.

It makes me mad.

4. The simple falsehood at the heart of Expelled

Comment #158897 by G M Becker on April 11, 2008 at 6:41 am

Guys, guys

Lets not round on iBELIEVEinJESUS because he's shown himself to be christian. We can sit here and pick holes and point out the problems but that's really not going to get anyone anywhere.

This person came onto this site in order to find out what non believers think so lets help him do that.

Let's be a little open minded here.

5. The simple falsehood at the heart of Expelled

Comment #158700 by G M Becker on April 11, 2008 at 1:08 am

"However, your specific assertion that "Intelligent people are just as likely to have undesirable traits or be murderers or worse" is not true."

You are right there, my language was certainly incorrect. Saying 'just as likely' may well not be true, although I like your idea that the stats may be skewed by smart killers who get away with it!

So to restate I think that we can agree that positing a general genetically engineered rise in intelligence does not mean that we would see consistent positive results as even the intelligent can be prone to negative personality traits, mental disorders and or crime.

6. The simple falsehood at the heart of Expelled

Comment #158696 by G M Becker on April 11, 2008 at 12:55 am

By the way all respect to iBELIEVEinGOD for making the effort to think about these kind of issues.

There is a lot of good literature out there on this subject. Even Mr Dawkins good friend (ha ha) Mary Midgley has a couple of books on the subject.

7. The simple falsehood at the heart of Expelled

Comment #158684 by G M Becker on April 11, 2008 at 12:17 am

"Who would be harmed if we for example bred for higher intelligence in a baby by genetic manipulation(if we had the technology)?"

Really this is a very flawed question, and I agree with the above post, what about the rest of us when the superbabies come?

But just in terms of the question itself, how can we define intelligence? The human psyche is not greatly understood and even if we defined intelligence as narrowly as IQ ignoring things like imagination and sensibility how could we be sure sure that increasing that one factor would benefit the being as a whole without a corresponding increase in say, empathy or any other factor to which this undefinable idea of 'intelligence' is attached. Genetic engineering may be perceived as a means to an end but the fact remains that no-one can realistically postulate what that 'end' should be.

Indeed, how can we be sure that any genetic 'boost' in mental attributes will produce desirable outcomes? Intelligent people are just as likely to have undesirable traits or be murderers or worse.