Comments by Gregg Townsend

Comment #202443 by Gregg Townsend on July 1, 2008 at 1:47 pm

36. Comment #202436 by Oystein Elgaroy

I am glad I don't have to try to square this circle anymore.

Oyestein,

I'm extremely grateful you don't have to, too (to many tos?).

Your posts have been the bright spot in reading this site over the past month. I'm learning slowly, and it's great fun.

552. Can't Darwin and God get along?

Comment #202424 by Gregg Townsend on July 1, 2008 at 1:24 pm

17. Comment #202381 by Misael

I don't understand what it is you don't understand.

Misael, I was probably wasn't very specific:

And then, some months later, a baby is born, and child psychologists debate about exactly when self-awareness occurs, but at some point before the age of 3, you've got a conscious human being.

I was wondering about who the psychologists were, when was their debate, what makes 3 the cut-off date, what is their definition of conscious, etc.

I'm not trying to be overly critical; I'm just genuinely curious about the claim and think it would make fascinating study. I'll have to google around myself, I suppose.

553. It can be right to discriminate against the religious

Comment #202377 by Gregg Townsend on July 1, 2008 at 12:07 pm

I once had a business partner who used the term "fitness for purpose" in hiring. It's a good rule of thumb and leaves no logical room for bigotry.

If a religion forbids handling of material that is essential to the business, the religious adherent isn't fit for the job.

554. Can't Darwin and God get along?

Comment #202374 by Gregg Townsend on July 1, 2008 at 12:01 pm

Quetz,

I found that a curious statement as well. Uuuu, I get up, poor a cup-a-joe (hail Quetz), shit, shower, shave, drive to work, turn on my computer, check RD.net, etc...

What's not to know?

555. Can't Darwin and God get along?

Comment #202364 by Gregg Townsend on July 1, 2008 at 11:36 am

Consciousness emerges in the development of an embryo. We have a fertilized egg and there's no consciousness there, and it's not that consciousness is present but is really small, it just isn't there. And then, some months later, a baby is born, and child psychologists debate about exactly when self-awareness occurs, but at some point before the age of 3, you've got a conscious human being.

Does anyone know if he's referring to any kind of study with this statement or just offering speculation? I've never heard this before and my knee-jerk reaction was, "How do you know that Mr. Wizard?"

556. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201816 by Gregg Townsend on June 30, 2008 at 9:38 am

395. Comment #201808 by Robert O'Brien

This is not difficult. I obviously do not believe the FSM meets the criteria.

It seems you are hand waving away your own argument. I obviously do not believe Yaweh meets the criteria. Does that help?

557. Faith schools undermined by 'Government witch hunt'

Comment #201752 by Gregg Townsend on June 30, 2008 at 8:03 am

Elephant,

Ok. Perfectly clear now. [rolls eyes]

558. Faith schools undermined by 'Government witch hunt'

Comment #201747 by Gregg Townsend on June 30, 2008 at 7:57 am

I'm totally dense to this faith school issue in the UK. If all schools must follow a national curriculum and are required to have open admission, and they loose public funding for violations; what's the point in having a Catholic, Muslim, or Baptist school if they are in essence identical to secular schools? Is the difference in 'elective' courses?

559. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201734 by Gregg Townsend on June 30, 2008 at 7:49 am

Because of the conversations with theists recently and all the weird assertions they spout on this website I was thinking that I've never heard these bizarre 'rationalizations' from the Mormons I grew up around. You might be interested to know that I've never heard a Mormon deny evolution for instance or support the idea of a young earth.

This weekend I asked my wife how Mormons view their god in relationship to the observable universe (in her twenties she was a missionary). I was surprised when she said they believe God is subject to the laws of the universe and the universe existed prior to God! She said she can't quote the exact doctrine, but in essence they believe God's knowledge of the universe (technology?) allows him to achieve results that seem miraculous to us lower life forms.

I'm amazed at the lengths theists will go to either deny the evidence in front of us all OR to adjust their theology to fit the evidence. I think I'll try to look up the Mormon doctrine that supports a view of god as 'Wiley Coyote--Super Genius'.

-- Gregg

560. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201451 by Gregg Townsend on June 29, 2008 at 4:55 pm

289. Comment #201442 by decius

That is truly a mystery and I suppose it's different for each one. It seemed that RtG was showing off for members of his bible group...but who knows with txpiper, wooter, clearmind, and others. It sounds to me like Robert is well on his way to agnosticism since he admits to not taking the bible very seriously. And he's been trying to work out how the myths could be accomplished with modern knowledge.

561. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201418 by Gregg Townsend on June 29, 2008 at 4:20 pm

271. Comment #201414 by Robert O'Brien

Thank you for the response, I have some concerns about it but all this trivia can be settled better by answering Brian's post above.

264. Comment #201402 by Brian English

562. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201407 by Gregg Townsend on June 29, 2008 at 4:11 pm

Yes, I withdraw my stupid questions and await a reply to Brian.

563. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201403 by Gregg Townsend on June 29, 2008 at 4:09 pm

Robert,

Let me see if I have this right...

Yaweh got Joseph to provide a specimen then he injected Mary with one of the little swimmers from Joseph in order to fertilize Mary's egg?
Did Yaweh send Gabriel to collect the specimen? Did he use modern equipment to fertilize the egg or did he use his invisible magic syringe? How do you know what method Yaweh used? Do you have a special way of knowing these things that no one else does?

The last question is the one I'm most interested in.

564. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201336 by Gregg Townsend on June 29, 2008 at 3:27 pm

199. Comment #201330 by Robert O'Brien

Joseph was a fertility doctor?!

Oh man, this is better than the famous 'Ice Canopy'.

irate,

Come check this out!

565. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201309 by Gregg Townsend on June 29, 2008 at 3:09 pm

Robert,

Is it fair to say that you accept the OT as stories (myth), but the NT is infallible?

566. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201299 by Gregg Townsend on June 29, 2008 at 3:02 pm

158. Comment #201281 by Robert O'Brien

Fascinating.

159. Comment #201282 by mordacious1

Mord,

We are now 'the Artist formerly known as Podaar'! [laugh]

567. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201249 by Gregg Townsend on June 29, 2008 at 1:35 pm

Robert,

Your right about Mormonism...it's stupid and the civilizations the book of mormon describes have no basis in archeology.

To what degree to you consider the old and new testaments to be just stories. Is any of it fact? Is all of it fact?

Are you aware of the evidence for the existence of the town Nazareth? If so, how do you reconcile the evidence with the New Testaments' account?

Outside of the bible, what other sources can you list for the existence of Jesus and especially the miracles he is reported to have performed?

Was Eve tempted by a talking snake?

Was [edit]Lot's wife[/edit] really turned into a pillar of salt?

When did the global flood of Noah happen?

Isn't it clear there are more questions in the bible than answers? If you don't think so, perhaps you can concede that without faith (like most visitors here) it's reasonable to question these stories. Yes?

568. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201239 by Gregg Townsend on June 29, 2008 at 1:17 pm

131. Comment #201221 by Robert O'Brien

Mormonism is bastardized Christianity.

Oh my; that's hardly a condemnation is it? Christianity is simply bastardized Judaism.
Seems religion has created a few bastards yes?

-- Gregg

569. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201228 by Gregg Townsend on June 29, 2008 at 12:56 pm

130. Comment #201218 by Robert O'Brien

Christianity is rooted in history.

Christianity is rooted in a second hand account of fantasy story telling by people in bondage to romans. Mormons add on a fantasy from a first hand telling by a lunatic with a black rock in his hat.

Mord,

Wasn't he a lineman for the LA Raiders? I think he had a better tan than me as well. :)

570. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201217 by Gregg Townsend on June 29, 2008 at 12:52 pm

127. Comment #201213 by the great teapot

Mormons are christians. To quote Sam Harris:

Mormonism, it seems to me, is--objectively--just a little more idiotic than Christianity is. It has to be: because it is Christianity plus some very stupid ideas.

571. Stop distorting young minds!

Comment #200277 by Gregg Townsend on June 27, 2008 at 8:24 am

All,

Podaar is an acronym taken from lyrics to a Frank Zappa song titled "The Adventures of Gregory Peccary".

In the song, Frank describes Gregory as, "A nocturnal gregarious wild swine. A Peccary Of Destiny Adventure And Romance." The last sentence was shortened by my 'pot-smoking pals' to PODAAR.

That's it.

Well I'm off for a weekend of desert hiking with my family. Have a great weekend all!!!

-- Gregg

572. Stop distorting young minds!

Comment #200263 by Gregg Townsend on June 27, 2008 at 7:48 am

Thanks Decius,

I've regretted not using my real name ever since I arrived here. I've had the nickname Podaar ever since I was 17 and have used it widely over the internet...but, obviously, I'm not 17 anymore and it's time to just be me :)

Besides, I'm happy to call myself atheist so no need for anonymity anyway.

-- Gregg

[edit]Apathy, Thanks for reply. Very enlightening! I appreciate it.[/edit]

573. Stop distorting young minds!

Comment #200257 by Gregg Townsend on June 27, 2008 at 7:37 am

HE or epeeist (or anyone who knows),

I've been thinking--shocking I know--but wouldn't it be possible for a government funded Baptist School in the UK to just insert ID into the science class as a counterpoint? What mechanism is there in the education system that prevents them from doing that?

-- Gregg

574. Stop distorting young minds!

Comment #200236 by Gregg Townsend on June 27, 2008 at 6:28 am

ForestMist,

but having a society where people will never hear anything religious is a bit scary isn't it?

Not to you and me it isn't. :)

To be clear, I think religious studies (mythology studies?) should be part of education. Most literature goes down the toilet with out knowing about religion. Religious indoctrinating that insulates students from reality or scientific fact is what I'd be apposed to.

Elephant and epeeist,

Thanks for your comments.

-- Gregg (the artist formerly known as Podaar)

575. Stop distorting young minds!

Comment #200219 by Gregg Townsend on June 27, 2008 at 5:25 am

114. Comment #200215 by ForestMist

Going to a religious school is not necessarily going to make you religious. Going to a secular school is not necessarily going to make you an atheist.

I hear this argument on this site way more than I hear it talking to people face to face. It's true that the people who frequent this site probably had an easier time with breaking away from the bullshit. And while it's true for a great deal of people, I'm not buying it as universal.
I know too many people like txpiper who would have benefitted from never hearing a religious word in their life. If reality would have been his only reality maybe he could have a decent conversation with the rest of us.

576. Stop distorting young minds!

Comment #200214 by Gregg Townsend on June 27, 2008 at 5:18 am

103. Comment #200191 by hungarianelephant

But we will find it very difficult to defend an argument that faith schools should receive no public money simply because they are associated with faith.

I find this a curious statement; why would it be 'difficult' to defend? Government isn't in the business of advocating for faith. In my mind, this should be an easy argument. Is this just a cultural thing for the UK and Europe (MPhil has a lengthy lament to a similar situation in Germany)?

Clodhopper and Phil,

http://mphil.livejournal.com/3557.html#cutid1

577. A War On Science

Comment #200013 by Gregg Townsend on June 26, 2008 at 3:51 pm

171. Comment #200010 by Steve Zara

Especially if this site keeps attracting people like me who don't really have anything to say, yet still enjoy saying it.

578. PZ Myers - Science and Atheism in the Blogosphere

Comment #199872 by Gregg Townsend on June 26, 2008 at 12:54 pm