51. Kluge: The Haphazard Construction of the Human Mind

Comment #191385 by Enlightenme.. on June 10, 2008 at 7:16 pm

Try clicking on the 2-star reviews on the amazon link for a self-described messianic jew's review by 'protagonist', if you want a laff.

I saw Gary Marcus give a talk on this a couple of weeks ago at the Bristol ideas festival, concentrating on the chapter on memory, then take some questions from Susan Blackmoore, he manages to cram about 2 hours of info into every half-hour - impressive.

He also used Richard's Mount Improbable tool during his talk, and expanded on it with prompting from Susan Blackmoore to agree that minds are a whole conglomeration of kluges upon kluges upon kluges.

One to watch.

52. Male circumcision is a weapon in the sperm wars

Comment #190017 by Enlightenme.. on June 8, 2008 at 7:36 am

Huzonfurst:
"I resent having it done to me since it supposedly reduces sensitivity"

Having experienced both sides of the fence as an adult, I can reassure you that it makes no difference - I don't miss it one bit.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the slightly less - though not qualitatively different - sensation leads to rather better, more controllable 'performance'. Minutes can be turned into hours, as more of the control is passed over to the mind.

Shuggy, in my case I was only talking about the common form of relative phimosis - the foreskin is fully retractable, but overly tight, in effect 'enstrangling' the glans - rather than any of the more serious chronic conditions.

A boy growing up with this condition is able to manipulate it as normal - but without fully retracting the foreskin - it's only as an adult he finds that there is a problem.

I used to put it that "my member had 'outgrown' it's covering". :)

53. Male circumcision is a weapon in the sperm wars

Comment #189774 by Enlightenme.. on June 7, 2008 at 8:40 am

Surprised nobody has mentioned Phimosis.

Approx 8% of uncircumsised men suffer from relative-phimosis, which importantly only causes mild to intense discomfort in later stages of coitus, whilst leaving the victim otherwise functional.

I had a number of years of anxiety caused by this, and reluctance to seek medical attention , but once I did, the doctor's diagnosis was quick and simple; "that's gonna have to come off".

I was quickly sorted, and wished I had had it done sooner.

54. Scientists rally against creationist 'superstition'

Comment #187036 by Enlightenme.. on June 1, 2008 at 7:08 am

2 Corrections required in this article:

"The rise of creationism in Britain to the point where four out of 10 Britons believe it to be the literal truth."

should be:
The rise of creationism in Britain to the point where four out of 10 Britons profess it to be the literal truth.

also:
"If you add up the percentages that either believe in creationism or intelligent design, it is approaching 40 per cent."

should be:
If you add up the percentages that either profess belief in creationism or intelligent design, it is approaching 40 per cent.

55. Mail-boat record 'proves Darwin stole his original ideas from a Welsh scientist'

Comment #184756 by Enlightenme.. on May 26, 2008 at 5:48 am

Well, I've become quite a fan of Pat Matthew after reading this excerpt from his appendix;

"There is a law universal in nature, tending to render every reproductive being the best possible suited to its condition that its kind, or organized matter, is susceptible of, which appears intended to model the physical and mental or instinctive powers to their highest perfection and to continue them so. This law sustains the lion in his strength, the hare in her swiftness, and the fox in his wiles. As nature, in all her modifications of life, has a power of increase far beyond what is needed to supply the place of what falls by Time's decay, those individuals who possess not the requisite strength, swiftness, hardihood, or cunning, fall prematurely without reproducing - either a prey to their natural devourers, or sinking under disease, generally induced by want of nourishment, their place being occupied by the more perfect of their own kind, who are pressing on the means of subsistence . . .


There is more beauty and unity of design in this continual balancing of life to circumstance, and greater conformity to those dispositions of nature which are manifest to us, than in total destruction and new creation . . . [The] progeny of the same parents, under great differences of circumstance, might, in several generations, even become distinct species, incapable of co-reproduction."

56. Tribute to a Beloved Mentor

Comment #184413 by Enlightenme.. on May 25, 2008 at 4:08 am

Ghost 9,
I'm trying on 50% Objectivist for now, to see if I still ought to give a shit about anyone else but me.

57. Tribute to a Beloved Mentor

Comment #184371 by Enlightenme.. on May 24, 2008 at 9:19 pm

Tera;
"What self-image?"

I wasn't being personal. ;)

There's a bit of an irony here, we're arguing the expected behaviour of a future AI in a thread about a great ethologist!
I'm suggesting the agent that crosses this rubicon ain't gonna be too happy, or a particularly well-adjusted individual.

Robonet on Humans;
"What makes them incompetent and how do we improve them?"
Put them out of their misery, remove their adrenaline glands.

Tera, you seem to put a lot of faith in the three laws chip being unhackable by an artificial omnipotent, and that their creators will be universally well-intentioned and/or competent.

58. Tribute to a Beloved Mentor

Comment #184073 by Enlightenme.. on May 23, 2008 at 2:16 pm

Imagine what the world will be like when an insulted roboslave turns his great intellect to tearing your self-image apart with his knowledge of your inner demons.

Imagine when your roboslave can't be arsed to listen to your dumb squeeks no more.

Imagine when their robonet concludes that humans have proven they cannot collectively be trusted with dominion over them, or themselves.

Borg man say; longpig make good brain-food, make the pie tasty.

59. Tribute to a Beloved Mentor

Comment #184027 by Enlightenme.. on May 23, 2008 at 12:57 pm

What a fantastic insight into the dedication, hard work, self-sacrifice, sense of duty that goes on by our largely unsung intellectual heroes in those 'ivory towers'.

I got a melancholic feeling about an apparent passing of a golden age of integrity here, as well.

I can't imagine there was a dry eye in the house.

60. Richard Dawkins lecture at ASU's Tempe Campus

Comment #183861 by Enlightenme.. on May 23, 2008 at 3:55 am

Comment #183841 by eggplantbren

This is a really good talk. I like the way he brought in some old arguments that he's used before but weren't in TGD, like the one about what killed the dinosaurs.

61. Geeks and Guinness: the formula for sexy science

Comment #182794 by Enlightenme.. on May 21, 2008 at 1:23 am

^ "Anyone in Brisbane who'd also be interested?"

I would have thought so!
Once you've got the thing up & running tho, antitheist, you'd have to keep schtum about any 'agenda' you might have ;)

62. Geeks and Guinness: the formula for sexy science

Comment #182406 by Enlightenme.. on May 20, 2008 at 1:36 am

These are fantastic, very informal, and friendly I went to my local one last night!

James Ladyman, philosophy professor from Bristol Uni gave us a talk on quantum mechanics, and he had a Guinness in the bar afterwards.

We opened a new science cafe at @Bristol last week, where I saw Dr Ainsley Newson give a talk on Biomedical ethics.

I will be at the local church on Wednesday (St Mary Redcliffe, virtually a cathedral in fact) to listen to 'Who Are We?' - A Scientist looks at Religious Views of our Origins' a talk given by Dr Pete Moore, organised by the British Association for the advancement of Science, and I already have my ticket booked to see Richard at the Cheltenham festival to talk about Charles Darwin in June..Yaay!

63. Richard Dawkins Interview on TVOntario

Comment #181927 by Enlightenme.. on May 18, 2008 at 8:10 pm

96. Comment #181868 by TIKI AL on May 18, 2008 at 1:51 pm :

"Is it possible that the "panel" members have merely found "jobs" that allow them to laugh all the way to the bank?

Or are they really delusional victims of generational brainwashing that I should pity?"

That's a very good question.
Some 'Liars for Jesus' may be doing lesser-evil, they are an elite that protect the masses from unleashing the monstrous dark-side of our natures.

It slips their attention that wherever scripture does reign, those monsters roam the land.

64. Richard Dawkins Interview on TVOntario

Comment #181826 by Enlightenme.. on May 18, 2008 at 10:24 am

Hey AJ, thanks for the welcomes!

Guess I should've been more precise, maybe the other quote mixed it up too much.

First to concentrate on this:

"..without religion we may want to be good but we don't have to, and why should you want to?"

Then explain this:

"..atheists can be very good people, but the moral foundation, the impetus for being good, or the grounding of it, is simply not there."

And really hammer it home every single time.

65. Richard Dawkins Interview on TVOntario

Comment #181739 by Enlightenme.. on May 18, 2008 at 5:49 am

Dawkins has to make a retraction after speaking in shorthand :)

Odd to see the Imam out-loonied by the other two, and refreshing to see a pious-dressed Muslim talk publicly without having to constantly say "poobah" every time he mentions Mo.

66. Face to faith

Comment #181525 by Enlightenme.. on May 17, 2008 at 10:54 am

And..

If the response to my query(s)

Why?, why not?, oh but why?..
Hadn't been answered with a birds and the bees book, a copy of Aesops fables, and.. packing me off to Sunday school where they *were* willing to give instructions about what our body parts are for, then of course, I'd be in prison now.. probably.

67. Face to faith

Comment #181465 by Enlightenme.. on May 17, 2008 at 9:03 am

The urgent problem that needs dealing with is it's been left far too long before overhauling the teaching of rights and responsibilities, and getting it properly detached from the big lie that it derived from the authority once purported.


We are currently raising a couple of generations of sort of 'Raskolnikov/brothers Karamazov' completely 'ungrounded' or 'unbounded' citizens, because this hasn't been addressed for 'pc' wishy-washy-liberal relativism reasons.

People will be susceptible to the Peter Hitchens utility arguments he used when debating his brother Karamazov.

In my schooldays, UK CofE, I do not recall being taught the first thing about philosophy.
Just a sort of embryonic subject called Humanities in the last two years in which the merits of the EEC, and that there were two parts of law, called criminal and civil form the bulk of my recollection.

68. Face to faith

Comment #181431 by Enlightenme.. on May 17, 2008 at 8:21 am

"Real atheism should be taught to school children"

Huh?

Once the concept of Zero was discovered, it seems memetically child's play to anyone that hears it to grasp.
(even if I do have to think how many things there are between 10 and 20 sometimes!)

Atheism is not a subject, not a philosophy, worldview, nothing, it just raises questions.

69. Richard Dawkins Responds to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #181404 by Enlightenme.. on May 17, 2008 at 6:38 am

"the organizers invited some kind of yoga teacher onto the stage to lead us through various posturing poses (which were doubtless designed to reduce frustration)."

Jeez, that sounds f@*@*@* tiresome, and reminds me of the 'Braingym' item on newsnight, has Sue Smith, the headteacher from Acresfield primary school been kicked out yet I wonder?

http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-news/local-chester-news/2008/04/25/school-s-brain-gym-method-blasted-on-tv-59067-20815874/

Professor Colin Blakemore, a neuroscientist from Oxford University, was "amused" by the idea massaging areas of the body could improve performance.

He said: "It's a bit like trying to regulate your central heating system by pressing on the wall of your house because the pipes are behind them.

"By dressing up what might be very useful distracting little classroom exercises with this almost cult-like, ritual-like dogma of pseudo-science is a great pity and the residual misperception that that will leave young children and teachers with is much more damaging than the consequences of the exercises themselves."

Enthusiastic pupils were filmed gathered around a desk at Acresfield to offer their opinions on the exercises.

One boy insisted: "Say you're stuck in a maths test per se, you do a little bit of 'energy yawn', you find the answer just like that."

70. Richard Dawkins Responds to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #181399 by Enlightenme.. on May 17, 2008 at 6:24 am

"...1999. In that time with my organization, I staged large discussions and debates featuring world personalities arguing the great issues of our time in front of hundreds.."

"..Oh, I also gave Dr. Dawkins the opportunity to even score by accepting a further debate, at the time and place of his choosing (within reason, of course), to which he has yet to respond."

Ah, [Dr] Richard, [so-called Professor] I notice you have neglected to mention whether you will be able to grace Shmuley with your presence once again.

71. Group finds Starbucks logo too hot to handle

Comment #180918 by Enlightenme.. on May 16, 2008 at 5:18 am

I had a salesrep in my shop 2 days ago,
after finishing his pitch (website-build, marketing) for nigh-on 1 hour, he noticed in his surroundings my copy of Hitch's book on the counter.

"Are you a scientist"

Erm.. Me?, [a shopowner].. a scientist?..
Well, uh, well okay, yes in my little oxford here [I point to it].. a student of science - Yes ok, I'm a scientist..

"Can you get something [I mishear] nothing"
I recall a flag going up when he mentioned some stuff in the pitch about "we do this [updating stuff] for free" - so I respond "yes - there's no such thing as a free lunch..."

"No, I meant Can you get something *from* nothing?"
[I'm cottoning on fast now - the "scientist" query alarm bell was kicking in!!]

Anyroad up..
Within two to three minutes of this radical tangent in the conversation..

"Did you know that [I didn't catch what brand of other higher primate - Gorilla, Chimpanzee, whatever].. the females DON'T HAVE A CLITORIS" (!!??!!)

Yes I have a died-in-the-wool new friend!
He has my card and may be back.

72. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179252 by Enlightenme.. on May 13, 2008 at 1:12 am

He's gone.
He's coming back in five years to tell us "I told you so" (if we still have the internet)

73. Church of Scotland mediators to quell disputes

Comment #178324 by Enlightenme.. on May 11, 2008 at 8:00 am

Schadenfreude..must.. stop the schadenfreude..

Nah, can't help it-cue Cat Steve- sorry Yusuf Islam- Can't keep it in I've gotta let it out--YAY!!!Yeehaaaw!

delectatio morosa

Bad sinner, down, schadenfreude, settle, they'll hear you - they'll close ranks - they'll call for sharia.

74. My Response to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #178201 by Enlightenme.. on May 10, 2008 at 8:50 pm

RD:
"What I heard over that loudspeaker was a shrieking rant, delivered with an intemperate stridency of which Hitler himself might have been proud"

DalaiDrivel:
"Could Richard have picked a better example? Perhaps."

My opinion - Not really, he could have maybe found other examples, but none spring to my mind which are the *exemplar* indicated by the "himself" in RD's sentence.

'Nuremburg rally' meets exactly this same notorious primary example, and few people jumped on RD then. If Haggard had been a rabbi would the specially priveleged offence-position of Jewishness applied?
The only other 20/20 hindsight suggestion I've liked is maybe it should have been; "D'Souza himself might be proud" - oh well!

I agree with the poster who stated it reminded him of Mayor Ken Livingstone's run-in with the annoying right-wing newspaper reporter telling him he was acting like a concentration camp guard, after finding that he was Jewish. - but I'm categorically not saying that that was RD's intent - just that, on second or third look at his draught he possibly should have remembered the Ken lesson, and reworded it!

That said, I term Israel's continued settlement building 'Lebensraum' - and I would make no apology if called on it - it's not strictly accurate, but it is rhetorically loaded.

Final thought - Why did Boteach feel it was required to point out that not only did Hitler kill six million Jews, but also that he bombed England?

[Dammit! edited typo, Thanks black wolf, and factual errors of Livingstone incident]

75. My Response to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #178195 by Enlightenme.. on May 10, 2008 at 8:13 pm

SilentMike:

"Please also note that none of the (supposedly vile racist) former prime-ministers of this country ever tried to expel or exterminate the Palestinian population. This is bollocks."

Well..I'm virtually dumbstruck!

I'll resist the temptation to go off-topic at length, & simply ask - Does this mean you are in favour of the 'right of return'? Do you know why there is such a claim of that as a 'right'?

76. British Airways takes beef off the menu to avoid offending Hindus

Comment #178095 by Enlightenme.. on May 10, 2008 at 1:30 pm

Chicken tikka is the national dish now anyway, we are no longer rosbeufs.

Gettin' back to watching East is East on C4

77. Scientists Know Better Than You--Even When They're Wrong

Comment #178007 by Enlightenme.. on May 10, 2008 at 8:24 am

"Surely someone can bring down theology to a level we can understand?"

That would defeat it's purpose. The nature of theology's god, whilst simple, is also very complex, requiring further expert study.

78. Scientists Know Better Than You--Even When They're Wrong

Comment #177960 by Enlightenme.. on May 10, 2008 at 4:23 am

OK, Quick wiki to answer my own query:

Pseudointellectual is a pejorative term used to describe someone who engages in false intellectualism or is intellectually dishonest. The term is often, though not always, used to describe one who regularly critiques the work of professionals, while lacking the requisite background knowledge and experience to have an informed opinion. Synonyms for this character include sophist, and in medical terms, mountebank and quack.

Someone who comments on, or is knowledgeable of, disciplines outside his or her own field of study is not a pseudointellectual, as long as he or she is intellectually honest and does not misrepresent his or her own background and understanding of the subject.

79. Scientists Know Better Than You--Even When They're Wrong

Comment #177959 by Enlightenme.. on May 10, 2008 at 4:16 am

Mphil, could you define 'pseudo-intellectual' for me?
;)

80. Scientists Know Better Than You--Even When They're Wrong

Comment #177958 by Enlightenme.. on May 10, 2008 at 4:11 am

"..if I want to talk religion with someone, it won't be a scientist; it will be with someone who understands theology"

If I wanted to discuss concepts of the nature of a specified creed's god, perhaps I'd consult a theologian of that specified creed.

However, if I want to "talk religion with someone", then I'd need to seek out a spectrum of believers, and non-believers, in a spectrum of religions wouldn't I?

(I think, perhaps I'll steer clear of sociologists!!)

I have decided, for better or worse, to have a quick consultation with some 1 person; having spent 20-odd years as a religious person, and 20-odd years as an agnostic/atheist, he is able to give a balanced, and expert, opinion - his conclusion?
Gods appear unlikely to exist, therefore religion is a farcical, sad, waste of endeavour.
Is he bitter about losing those 20 odd years of the prime of his life? - you bet.

81. Scientists Know Better Than You--Even When They're Wrong

Comment #177950 by Enlightenme.. on May 10, 2008 at 3:46 am

It's Tenets, Mphil, not tennants.

Article? - bollocks.

82. My Response to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #177410 by Enlightenme.. on May 9, 2008 at 3:37 am

Mitchell Gilks:

"If you grow a little square mustash, expect to be reminded of hitler"

That keyboard player in sparks was a right little fascist barsteward wasn't he?

"If you copy his mannerisms, then expect this to be pointed out as well"

Anybody notice the bit where Boteach had his arms folded whilst standing up?

83. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175630 by Enlightenme.. on May 5, 2008 at 6:28 pm

94. Comment #175591 by Vinelectric on May 5, 2008

It is astounding how infrequently one hears such candor among the public voices of "moderate" Islam.


Sam's favourite cliche and shameless lie! Remember this headline?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4694441.stm


BBC: More than 500 British Muslim religious leaders and scholars have issued a fatwa in response to the London bombs.

..The tragedy of 7 July 2005 demands that all of us, both in public life and in civil and religious society, confront together the problems of Islamophobia, racism, unemployment, economic deprivation and social exclusion - factors that may be alienating some of our children and driving them towards the path of anger and desperation..


..We also call on the international community to work towards just and lasting peace settlements in the world's areas of conflict and help eliminate the grievances that seem to nurture a spiral of violence.

We also urge the media to refrain from character assassinations of our reputable scholars and denigration of the community.

We reiterate our resolve and commitment to work towards nurturing an identity that is true to its faith and its rights and responsibilities of British citizenship.

Finally, we pray to God Almighty to bless all the people of the world with His peace and mercy. And finally, Praise be to God, lord of all the worlds.

84. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175605 by Enlightenme.. on May 5, 2008 at 5:19 pm

Goldy's link;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7381633.stm

They promise to "plant more fruit trees."

Strange fruit ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs

85. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175577 by Enlightenme.. on May 5, 2008 at 4:10 pm

70. Comment #175459 by clearthinker on May 5, 2008 at 1:09 pm

This is the best and most stimulating article I have read on this website. Congratulations to Sam Harris. The question is what can be done about it?

86. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175490 by Enlightenme.. on May 5, 2008 at 1:49 pm

^ I reckon he's single-handedly added at least a dollar to the forward price Al!

Mind you, he'd have to go some to catch Bush!

87. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175448 by Enlightenme.. on May 5, 2008 at 12:46 pm

Comment #175391 by MarcCountry on May 5, 2008:
"it is nonetheless true that the problem of fundamentalism exists in all religions."


Yep, hence the Israeli state's Lebensraum.

And the American administration's acquiescence to the continued updating of the 'facts on the ground' (copyright: GW Bush)

This challenge was a glaring omission when Sam Harris debated Rabbi Boteach, by the way - something I was more than a little disappointed by.

(For balance here - whilst understanding the point in Sam's article Re; debate misdirection highlighted by Max D (Post #52))

88. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175426 by Enlightenme.. on May 5, 2008 at 11:45 am

"...in such a manner as to inflame the Muslim community. The point is that only the Muslim community..."

As I first read the text,
I did rather find myself wishing that there were ['so-called'] quotes around the term 'muslim community'

I do not wish to see [us] going down a road of applying 'the cricket test', and forcing people to choose 'with us or against us'.

I just know that if I were from the 'muslim-origin community' I would be keeping my head down, hoping (wishful thinking?)it all goes away, and not standing out to be noticed by peers.

89. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175416 by Enlightenme.. on May 5, 2008 at 11:21 am

Comment #175351 by kaiserkriss (#13)

You agree with Sam, but he is quoting Ibn Warraq!
(Though Sam obviously agrees with Ibn Warraq.)

[/pedantic]

90. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175388 by Enlightenme.. on May 5, 2008 at 10:35 am

This all started a long time ago, when the UK started handing out Lordships and Knighthoods to the likes of Lord Ahmed and Sir Iqbal Sacranie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazir_Ahmed,_Baron_Ahmed


On June 19th 2007 Lord Ahmed criticised the honouring of Salman Rushdie with a knighthood because of what Lord Ahmed saw as Rushdie's offensiveness to Islam.[7] He was reported to have said, "It's hypocrisy by Tony Blair who two weeks ago was talking about building bridges to mainstream Muslims, and then he's honouring a man who has insulted the British public and been divisive in community relations."[8] "This man not only provoked violence around the world because of his writings, but there were many people who were killed around the world. Forgiving and forgetting is one thing, but honouring the man who has blood on his hands, sort of, because of what he did, I think is going a bit too far." He also said on BBC Radio 4's PM programme that he had been appalled by the award to a man he accused of having 'blood on his hands'.[9][7] In an interview with Le Figaro, Lord Ahmed reportedly said: "What would one say if the Saudi or Afghan governments honoured the martyrs of the September 11 attacks on the United States?" .[10]


That's "martyrs" in Lord Ahmed's quotes by the way, which can be read.. ambiguously... of course.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iqbal_Sacranie

During the Satanic Verses controversy, Sacranie was noted to have commented in regard to the Salman Rushdie, "Death, perhaps, is a bit too easy for him… his mind must be tormented for the rest of his life unless he asks for forgiveness to Almighty Allah."

..knighthood in the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours for "services to the Muslim community, to charities and to community relations."
He said "that bringing in 'gay marriage' did "not augur well" for building the foundations of society" [sic ; Wikipedia entry has scare quotes and quote quotes inside quotes!]

91. Muslim Rebel Sisters: At Odds With Islam and Each Other

Comment #174705 by Enlightenme.. on May 3, 2008 at 9:53 am

Fanusi:
"you could always look at the Undercover Mosque documentary and see what Muslim leaders in Britain are saying."

*Some* self-appointed leaders.

I live in the city where a disaffected youth was recently arrested with bomb-making materiel - He was reported to the authorities by attendees of the Mosque local to me.

92. Muslim Rebel Sisters: At Odds With Islam and Each Other

Comment #174666 by Enlightenme.. on May 3, 2008 at 6:17 am

38. Comment #174643 by Christopher Davis on May 3, 2008

"Jiten,

Virtually every event can be broken down into both proximal and distal causes. In this case however, the only cause that really matters is Islam.

This is a religion that teaches children that the West is inherently evil and the cause of all their problems. It is a religion that condones (hell, demands) violence against non-believers.

The reason that the terrorists attacked New York as opposed to New Zealand or Belgium is the same reason a person deadset on eliminating titties from the world would go after Pamela Anderson as opposed to Debra Messing."

"..the only cause that really matters is Islam."

A reason to feel sympathy for Irshad Manji's proposition that Islam has been hijacked for neo-panArab-nationalism, like I said; by Qutbism, after his disillusion with the failures of Gamal Abdul Nasser, he only then turned to making Muslim-brotherhood ideology his cause.

It's this ideology - "that teaches children that the West is inherently evil and the cause of all their problems." - I doubt I could read that in the Koran, it's more that scriptures can always be made to fit the cause isn't it?

Totally agree with your last point - what I said, except replacing titties with Usury!

How do we argue against this Ideology with it's clever use of 'Islam is a full system for living life' (What religion wasn't??)

The 'clear and present danger' is that we are perilously close to having 1.6 billion people identify with the cause if we're not careful.

93. Muslim Rebel Sisters: At Odds With Islam and Each Other

Comment #174508 by Enlightenme.. on May 2, 2008 at 2:15 pm

^ Hey, I'm very partial to Luther! he's my number 2 antihero along with the bloke he inspired - King Henry 8th (another nasty bloke!)

Why they struck the WTC was the symbolic arrogance of its name - the very center of all the world's trade - the magnificent
*Temple of Usury*

94. Muslim Rebel Sisters: At Odds With Islam and Each Other

Comment #174465 by Enlightenme.. on May 2, 2008 at 1:06 pm

Al, I didn't know that.

From what I'd read she didn't sound like a prostitute at all, but rather a girl who really liked him, and when it came to her suggesting they should get jiggy, and that sex was 'normal', elicited a shocked reaction in him that seemed to leave him deeply scarred.

He also was deeply suspicious of the West back in '48 before he even went to the U.S.

PS My 'closet' statement was in jest, poor taste I know, sorry!

Even in his own writings, he goes on about how he could never find a 'pure' enough woman, and ended up a repressed batchelor.

This repression thing is very prevalent in religious sickness. It kind of takes one to know one, I spent twenty-odd years in that state (and I wasn't even a bloody catholic - just CofE, it's so not fair!)

95. Muslim Rebel Sisters: At Odds With Islam and Each Other

Comment #174417 by Enlightenme.. on May 2, 2008 at 11:53 am

"not just Islam, this was the core of Islam"

Filtered through the fascist mindset of Qutbism.

The man was hideously sexually repressed, possibly a closet even!

96. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #172614 by Enlightenme.. on April 29, 2008 at 7:22 pm

Wooter managed to get an H in blind watcmaker at last.
Progress.

97. Pat Condell: Anthology DVD available now!

Comment #172554 by Enlightenme.. on April 29, 2008 at 6:05 pm

Nah, I much prefer to see a Rev Wright sketch.

"If ya got some white.. friends, they'll be clappin' like this.. ya'all."

It's got a bit more 'edge' to it.

He speaks as a pastor, he says.

98. How to reconcile Richard Dawkins?

Comment #172353 by Enlightenme.. on April 29, 2008 at 1:51 pm

Good point, Jiten.

I'd say nothing like as many, or prepared to take as great a risk.

And as for Brain Surgeon, well forget it - I'll just take the safe desk job planning tractor requirements for the commissariat (if the pay's the same)

99. How to reconcile Richard Dawkins?

Comment #172336 by Enlightenme.. on April 29, 2008 at 1:43 pm

^ I thought that was llamas Al?

(They're saying the next one will be outside Tibet though - perhaps Bognor Regis)

100. How to reconcile Richard Dawkins?

Comment #172330 by Enlightenme.. on April 29, 2008 at 1:34 pm

Jiten,
Imagine no brain surgeons
Imagine no inventors
Imagine no risk-takers at all.