










501. Against the grain: There are questions that science cannot answer
Comment #71932 by mmurray on September 20, 2007 at 12:51 am
Also, there is no such thing as a "believing scientist" as to believe in God betrays the whole nature of scientific method and investigation. However, there is such thing as an uneducated, misinformed and misguided pseudo-scientist who should not be taken seriously.
502. Religious education
Comment #71546 by mmurray on September 19, 2007 at 2:31 am
"Use some optical illusions to establish the idea that there are different ways of seeing the same thing."
Comment #70349 by mmurray on September 15, 2007 at 2:57 am
"His title - Darwin's Angel - is robust enough."
What is so robust about it? Dawkins did not name himself "Darwin's Rottweiler" (which no doubt the title of Cornwell's book toys with), it was given to him.
Evolution's first great advocate, 1860s biologist Thomas Henry Huxley, earned the nickname "Darwin's bulldog" from his fellow Victorians. In our own less decorous day, Dawkins deserves an even stronger epithet: "Darwin's Rottweiler, perhaps," Simonyi suggests. Now, thanks to Simonyi's gift of £1.5 million sterling to England's venerable Oxford University, the Rottweiler is unleashed.
Comment #70284 by mmurray on September 14, 2007 at 5:50 pm
20. Comment #70185 by Steven Mading on September 14, 2007 at 9:25 am
Comment #70282 by mmurray on September 14, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Although I actually think that most people go to church not to hear a priest read from the Bible but rather to see and talk with their friends and neighbors (or attend whatever fun and entertaining activity the church is putting on that week)."
506. San Diego Diocese Settles Lawsuit for $200 Million
Comment #68878 by mmurray on September 9, 2007 at 2:15 am
Can you imagine any other organisation being allowed to continue to be involved in the education of children after this appalling record?
Michael
507. The smallest signs of retreat
Comment #68643 by mmurray on September 8, 2007 at 1:56 am
Will one of you Brits fill us Yanks in on who this silly Miss Bunting woman is?
508. In God we doubt
Comment #67770 by mmurray on September 4, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Following on from NorthernBrights second excellent post... I've wondered more of late if we shouldn't be taking more seriously the line about `that's not my God you are rejecting'. While I'm sure a lot of the time it is a debating tactic I also suspect there are a lot of people out there who call themselves Christians who are not signed up believers in all the rules of some particular denomination. Coming from a Catholic background I always found this strange because I figured if you don't believe all of it you are out. But for many people this seems not to be an issue. So when we say `how can you believe in the Virgin Mary' they will just say `off course I don't'. A dialogue with people like this has to be more than just pointing out that things they have already rejected are silly.
Does anyone know if there is reliable survey data on what people of various religions really believe? Something with more detail than `they ticked the box Catholic so they must believe in ... ' Obviously it might vary are lot by country, socio-economic background etc.
My other thought is that we set up a `safe questions' section in the forum. Somewhere someone can asks questions of an atheist without getting heavily criticised. It would need careful moderating of course not least to remove the people who were trolling not asking.
Michael
509. In God we doubt
Comment #67767 by mmurray on September 4, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Yorker has the right idea, an occasional swear word, used at the right time makes life interesting by emphasizing a specific point. However, overuse of swearing ultimately dulls the senses and the actual point is lost. jcw
510. In God we doubt
Comment #67526 by mmurray on September 3, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Thanks for the post NorthernBright it was very interesting. I overheard a conversation the other day between two people that I thought was very telling. One I expect was a Buddhist the other I think probably felt they were Spiritual in a modern western style. What interested me was the level of `magical thinking' epitomised by them refering to a difficult job they had had to take on as `things don't arrive till you are ready for them'. There is a clear need for a lot of people to feel there is a purpose in the universe. I can sympathise but I don't think it is true. I don't know how you get across to such people as they are not going to want to be told that they are not special or not being looked after. I think they will reject science with the `scientists are always changing their mind' type or argument. This is particularly true of medicine where a lot of scientific debate gets into the media without all the careful caveats and so it seems medical opinion is oscillating widely.
A couple of people refer to their first read of TDG. Count me into the group who cheered and punched the air (metaphorically). I am really tired of the social convention Richard is trying to challenge that says I can't criticise someone for saying something stupid if the stupid thing is religious. I wonder how much of the fervour of the ill-informed attack on TDG from people you might think were allies is because he has challenged that social convention?
Michael
511. In God we doubt
Comment #67523 by mmurray on September 3, 2007 at 5:23 pm
I thought we had been through all this science has no soul stuff back in the early 90's with books like
Understanding the Present: Science and the Soul of Modern Man. by Bryan Appleyard 1992
Interesting to note it's reissue in 2004 had a new title
Understanding the Present: An Alternative History of Science
The style of the complaints seem very similiar.
Michael
512. What do these atheists understand of religion?
Comment #67520 by mmurray on September 3, 2007 at 5:09 pm
My favourite Feynman quote:
"To those who do not know mathematics it is difficult to get across a real feeling as to the beauty, the deepest beauty, of nature."
Richard Feynman. The Character of Physical Law
513. Review of Darwin's Angel: An Angelic Response to the God Delusion
Comment #67282 by mmurray on September 3, 2007 at 2:32 am
The same as when the opposing camp say things like "They're so, um, unscientific" or "Dawkins is almost religious in his convictions" or "The God Delusion has become the holy book for atheists" or any other variation on the theme.
For me the irritation is tempered by amusement at the thought that each person using this technique is clearly quite convinced that they're the first to do so and that they're terribly clever to have thought of it!
514. What do these atheists understand of religion?
Comment #67262 by mmurray on September 3, 2007 at 1:38 am
Some aspects of our nature are not susceptible to scientific enquiry, cannot be dissected, categorised and validated in terms that would satisfy the "rational" disbelievers, whose intellect is colossal but imagination puny.
515. What do these atheists understand of religion?
Comment #67257 by mmurray on September 3, 2007 at 1:35 am
Of the most awesome creations made my man, most were inspired by God – the pyramids, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the temples of India, St Paul's Cathedral and the works of Michelangelo.
516. Review of Darwin's Angel: An Angelic Response to the God Delusion
Comment #67115 by mmurray on September 2, 2007 at 2:32 am
I'm glad to note that The Times at last has put my comments are up - but I notice that Professor Dawkins' are not. I'm a little confused I put my comment on after Professor Dawkins posted here to say he'd commented. I suppose they are checking the identity of the poster but I'd have thought they would prioritise this.
517. Review of Darwin's Angel: An Angelic Response to the God Delusion
Comment #67094 by mmurray on September 1, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Is this Salley Vickers the author ?
http://www.salleyvickers.com
Michael
EDIT: Yes. Sorry I missed the earlier post that pointed this out.
518. Review of Darwin's Angel: An Angelic Response to the God Delusion
Comment #67086 by mmurray on September 1, 2007 at 7:28 pm
There are only 12 comments on the Times site.
Michael
519. Review of Darwin's Angel: An Angelic Response to the God Delusion
Comment #67085 by mmurray on September 1, 2007 at 7:26 pm
How do I send a bottle of something tasty to Dawkins? I'm not going to the thing in DC, but maybe there's a hotel that could receive and hold a small gift?
520. Scientists should unite against threat from religion
Comment #65582 by mmurray on August 25, 2007 at 1:26 am
Chastity can and does go a long way in enhancing trust and strengthening bonds between people in a committed personal relationship.
Also it is a better guard against unwanted pregnancy and STDs. If good health is an issue, chastity can be a virtue.
so even in a world without religion, chastity can still be a marketable idea, probably creating a small dedicated fan base, like Apple computers or something.
521. A hole lot of nothing found by astronomers
Comment #65532 by mmurray on August 24, 2007 at 3:48 pm
What do Astrophysicists mean when they say "Nothing"?
Yes, void of "matter"... but there's a big freaking space... surely there's "something" filling the space... otherwise there wouldn't be any space there.
522. Scientists Induce Out-of-Body Sensation
Comment #65377 by mmurray on August 24, 2007 at 1:11 am
After reading about the experiment, it seemed to me that at best, the results demonstrate that it is possible to simulate the sensations and perceptions associated with an OBE. How does it even begin to directly demonstrate that OBEs are 'just in the head' and not associated with a 'soul'. I can see the headlines twisting things to make it seem like more of a breakthrough than this really is. Thoughts?
523. Send In the Clergy!
Comment #65339 by mmurray on August 23, 2007 at 5:15 pm
In one video game (Age of Empires I think) you can use priests to convert the opposition troops to your side. So my kids and their friends started to use a a new verb `to priest'
Michael
524. Scientists Induce Out-of-Body Sensation
Comment #65322 by mmurray on August 23, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Thanks for the other links. I thought that this had been done before using magnetic fields to scramble parts of the brain.
This isn't about God existing or not existing but about whether OBE's show there is a `soul' or something that can separate from the body.
Michael
525. Scientists should unite against threat from religion
Comment #65109 by mmurray on August 22, 2007 at 11:22 pm
I am simply arguing that abstinence is much more effective at curbing the spread of STD's than condoms are. Is that true or isn't it?
526. Artificial Life Likely in 3 to 10 Years
Comment #64404 by mmurray on August 20, 2007 at 1:52 am
"When these things are created, they're going to be so weak, it'll be a huge achievement if you can keep them alive for an hour in the lab," he said. "But them getting out and taking over, never in our imagination could this happen."
527. Interview with Richard Dawkins about 'The Enemies of Reason'
Comment #63909 by mmurray on August 16, 2007 at 5:16 pm
At the risk of bringing us back on topic the actual Enemies of Reason show is available as
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8669488783707640763&hl=en-GB
It is also downloadable as a torrent if you search a bit.
Michael
528. Good luck, Dawkins!
Comment #63809 by mmurray on August 16, 2007 at 1:18 am
My memory might be going, but didnt Sue rip Richard a new one for criticising the falsehoods and irrationality of religion?
529. Atheists and believers have got religion wrong
Comment #63605 by mmurray on August 15, 2007 at 4:04 am
For those who haven't heard of Mark Steel,he is a comedian and his articles are meant to make you laugh whilst making serious points.
530. Interview with Richard Dawkins about 'The Enemies of Reason'
Comment #63413 by mmurray on August 14, 2007 at 5:07 am
Don't you think your avatar, 'the eye of Sauron' looks like a sort of cosmic vagina? Maybe it could be the basis of a new religious cult. Anyone?
531. The vanishing jihad exposés
Comment #63276 by mmurray on August 13, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Regarding the topic (sort off), I don't understand why western countries are allowing (big) mosques being built in their countries with Saudi money and accept that Saudi Arabia closes their border not only to churches, temples etc. but even to non-islamic religious literature (not only sale, but also possession). One-way multiculturalism indeed.
532. Interview with Richard Dawkins about 'The Enemies of Reason'
Comment #63257 by mmurray on August 13, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Thanks for the link to channel 4 online but it doesn't seem to work outside UK/Eire. It also doesn't work on the officially approved Dawkins brand of computer :-) I will have to get teenager to show me how to tune into Channel BitTorrent.
Am I confused or was this a Channel 4 programme (Richard and Judy) advertising a Channel 4 programme (Enemies of Reason) ? Just wondering if maybe RD wasn't Judy's first choice of interviewee but it was a higher up decision.
Michael
533. The vanishing jihad exposés
Comment #63010 by mmurray on August 12, 2007 at 10:00 pm
If you have a WindowsPC, Palm, PocketPC or some Smart Phones grab a copy here
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/ebooks/bookdetails.asp?BookID=56971
Michael
534. 'Delusion' Revisits Faith Vs. Reason Debate
Comment #63008 by mmurray on August 12, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Surely if Dawkins is being criticized for not being up to date with the latest thinking on theology the same must apply to James who died in 1910.
Michael
535. Why Richard Dawkins is right on alternative medicine - but not when it comes to religion
Comment #62655 by mmurray on August 10, 2007 at 3:56 pm
I guess someone forgot to tell the Bishop of Carlisle
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/01/nflood201.xml
that the CofE has gone all warm and fuzzy. He seems to think the floods in the UK are a punishment from God for their immoral lifestyles.
Michael
536. Curriculum for Baptist School
Comment #62410 by mmurray on August 9, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Everybody should have a look at the links as the extracts given above are a bit short. For example the all important test:
BIOLOGY
Students will study the physical life of God's creation. They will continue to develop skills in the use of the scientific method. The students will learn methods and techniques of scientific study, general attributes of the cell and its processes, characteristics of the wide spectrum of living organisms, the classification, similarities and differences of the five kingdoms, evolutionary models and the creation model, the mechanics of inheritance, disease and disorders, and the workings of the human body. Students will gain experience in manipulating the conditions of a laboratory investigation and in evaluating the applications of biological principles in everyday life.
537. Curriculum for Baptist School
Comment #62409 by mmurray on August 9, 2007 at 4:27 pm
SCHOOL VERSE:
"But those who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength. They will soar on wings of eagles,
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Isaiah 40:31 NIV
538. New age therapies cause 'retreat from reason'
Comment #62100 by mmurray on August 8, 2007 at 6:51 am
because I have never seen a Harry Potter movie,
539. Arrogance, dogma and why science - not faith - is the new enemy of reason
540. Philip Kitcher - Living with Darwin
Comment #60154 by mmurray on August 1, 2007 at 6:49 am
And in general wouldn't be nice if people used the General Forum for starting new trains of thought, rather than de-railing existing ones with irrelevancies (or, since I seem to be in carping mood, with those private exchanges between pairs of individuals that really belong in private e-mails)?
541. Richard Dawkins on Hardtalk
Comment #59071 by mmurray on July 27, 2007 at 7:40 am
The problem we face is that almost all private schools in Australia are faith based
542. Richard Dawkins on Hardtalk
Comment #58530 by mmurray on July 25, 2007 at 6:11 am
the_assayer that link doesn't work. I assume you mean
http://theassayer.org/
?? Michael
543. Richard Dawkins on Hardtalk
Comment #58523 by mmurray on July 25, 2007 at 5:09 am
I haven't called my son a Christian on here (yet), I've refered to him as a child of faith. The evidence for this is that he chooses to pray (and says he enjoys it) and prayer is something only people of faith or people who want faith seem to do.
544. Religion beat became a test of faith
Comment #57898 by mmurray on July 22, 2007 at 4:05 am
To read this is to feel a strong sense of empathy for a decent human being struggling to reconcile the irreconcilable, yet also to wonder why anyone would ever let their beliefs be determined by such vacuous crap. He drifts into religious belief with no evidence, and drifts out again with no coherence.
545. Face to faith
Comment #57777 by mmurray on July 21, 2007 at 1:48 am
I wish one of these complainers would write the book they think Dawkins, Dennett et al should have written. I would be genuinely interested in reading it.
Michael
546. Using the 'Beauties of Physics' to Conquer Science Illiteracy
Comment #56977 by mmurray on July 18, 2007 at 2:49 am
I refuse to memorize anything by rote.
547. Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Comment #56903 by mmurray on July 17, 2007 at 7:15 pm
For example, it's a left-wing position to criticise America's diplomatic and military support of the repressive theocratic House of Saud with all their abuses of women, dissidents, etc.
548. A force for good?
Comment #55174 by mmurray on July 10, 2007 at 7:38 am
but the Department of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford - a secular body -
Following an initiative by the Society of Friends the Department of Peace Studies was established in 1973
549. Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature
Comment #55055 by mmurray on July 9, 2007 at 10:38 pm
What a load of rubbish.
Michael K. Murray Ph.D.
550. Genetic Engineers Who Don't Just Tinker
Comment #54707 by mmurray on July 8, 2007 at 3:50 pm
... or to have said hardwiring drastically reduced or eliminated biologically and thus lack the need for conscious rejection?