Brazzil

Football, TheAmazon, Rio and Liberation Theology.....it is the only positive expression of religion

The merger of idiots!!!!!!....

Papa Bento? O nome dele e benedito. Sao Benedito era de cor. Sera que mudaram o nome pra Bento so pro Papa nao ser negro?
Pape BENEDITO nao Papa Bento.
Why Pope Bento? It should be POPE BENEDITO! Think about it. That's his real name. Benedict. Not Bento. Freaky.

The real reason Betty Ratzinger chose Brazil was a along awaited honey moon with his secretary Georg.
http://www.ratzingerbenedettox...georg.jpg

The Godless Brazilian have chosen self gratification, crime and pverty over religon. Everything they see or read now is secular. The Catholic Church in particular has been ineffective in Brazil for the last decade, worrying about running their worldwide PR campain to the deflect the damage of pedofile priests. Therefore they have neglected the one region were they mantain their largest level of membership, they problem with Brazil and the rest of South and Latin America is they can not fill the couifers.

I think the same thing is happening in Brazil, that has happened in the US. While the US has not turned seculur, it has turned toward Christianity, over 70% on Americans believe in God. But the growing faiths believe that you do not have pray through a saint or an man (priest or pope) to have a relationship with God, but you can pray and have a relationship directly with God. These are the churches that are feeding the poor, churches were member tithe, taking care of unwed mothers offering another option to abortion and attracting the largest donations, The largest church donators are no longer Catholic, but Christians, both New Hope and Evangelical. The Catholic Churc is literaly bankrupt here, lawsuits from abused children still being heard and settled. While I believe the Catholic Popes, both the current and the last are honorable believers in their faith, I also believe that they are and where just men who enjoy their power but are unable to save their tradition. Mexico City voting to allow abortion, the decedence of Brazil...it's to late, the Catholic Churh is dying and will soon be dead.

It is easier to say a thing than do a thing. I was flabbergasted to learn that Brazil was the largest Catholic population on the world, and yet had the worst crime, poverty, violence. Of what use is this church or the declaration that you are Catholic if you allow the inhumanity. Faith without deeds being death and all. It is in a way a kind of recrudescent wedding cake. Nothing to eat. Form without substance. That is not to say that if Catholics would practice Catholicism Brazil would not change. But it is not practiced. It is only talked about. Where is the justice? In the pockets of the unjust, just offshore.

Nice post there GTY. Aren’t you the same "Good X-tian" that exploits illegals in the US, flies in the face of four of the 7 heavenly sins, and has openly advocated the genocide of populations in the Middle-East? Sorry silly Sally, you’re morally rudderless to discuss problems anywhere in the world under the “god loving” X-tian banner you have flying, so keep your trap shut.

the Catholic Churh is dying and will soon be dead.

Here´s where I hope your right, now we need to rid this planet of Islam, Christianity, Scientology and the Great Spaghetti Monster (may graded parmaggion cheese be upon her) and then finally we’ll be able to reclaim this planet from nutbars.

You keep up your caustic hateful posts flowing, and keep calling yourself a “Good x-tian” and eventually most will see the hypocrisies of religious institutions for what they are, and just maybe, MAYBE, humanity will start believing again in “itself” instead of some nairy-fairy supernatural being threatening us all with eternal damnation.

Perhaps you are correct, but you are arguing as an atheist , the last thing Brazil needs is anarcey. The Church is dying in Brazil and the new evangelical and protestant movements are benefiting from it. I have been the Brazilian Church Services twice this year here in Florida, one, a Catholic First Communion for a friends child, it was sad, taken place in an old Elks Lodge with a couple of dozen poor Brazilians from Minas and a priest who spoke Spanish. One the other had, the other was a Evangelical Church, packed with Brazilians, speaking in tounges and rolling around and all praying for Green Cards...what fun. At least there were some very nice cars in the parking lot.

Right now the US has to be the Lion, Brazil continues to be the rabbit.

Perhaps I am typical, the exploiter of those that need and want to be expolited, but I attend a Christian mega church here in South Florida, tithe my 10%, which by the way, based on my income is not insignificant. I help out when I can and I provide my children with a soild spirtual base from which they can make up their own minds regarding religion when they get older.

Genocide is a little strong, but back in the days when we could win a war quickly, we didn't hesiate to bomb Dresden, Stuttgart or Tokyo. Now we worry about hitting a Mosque or a hospital, or a village. Now we are going to have to help Brazil clean out the Hezzbolla that have found their way into the Brazilian Triangle. The Middle Eastern World is now controlled by a minority radical group that want to stay in the stoneage and wants to see you and me dead...as well as our children, all this while you worry about football and carnaval...pathetic, they rule by fear and deception, there culture is to lie and everything is slight of hand. Even their own governments shake in fear of them, all because the believe in a religous law that sees you and me dead.. A few small nukes in the right caves might wake people up again, they would do it to us if they could, you too righ after us, I am sure the Mullas would just love to take a stroll down Copacabana. No Joao, my want to be a Gringo friend...it is they, not me who advocates genocide.

And you have been spending to much time with your hippie friends, "humanity believing in itself again", what drivel, you can only survive and thrive by believing in your self, not humanity, there is none left and it's never coming back. Something Brazil gave up a long time ago. There is a saying here "the strong survive, the fast eat the slow" it is the preadetary code and in this world, being at the top of the food chain is the only way to ensure survival.

GTY, evangelical christians are a plague on the United States. To hell with your religion!

No Joao, my want to be a Gringo friend...it is they, not me who advocates genocide. And you have been spending to much time with your hippie friends,

Gary, dont drag me into your war against Vatican. The post was made by Mr.Pinga and not me.As usual you dont pay any attention to what others say.

btw, how was your hitchhiking trip to CA and back?

Perhaps you are correct, but you are arguing as an atheist , the last thing Brazil needs is anarcey.

What the HELL is anarcey? You’d think with all “yer good ole x-tian charities”, there would be at least one focused on literacy for aging rabid fools. Actually that whole sentence makes no sense at all. Try again.

But I don’t expect education to be a priority for bible-thumpers, when you wittingly give 10% to an organization that is actually trying to further DUMB down America by introducing fairy tales into biological text books. GTY, you’re the typical angry Christian (angry religious zealot actually). Your book reads love; your pastor preaches peace, and you practice hate and bigotry. If your GAWD does actually exist, it looks like you’re going to be burning in hell for a good long time there Billy-bob; and it only cost you 10% of your earnings for the pleasure. What a deal.

And you have been spending to much time with your hippie friends, "humanity believing in itself again", what drivel, you can only survive and thrive by believing in your self, not humanity.

Hippy? What exactly is a hippy Billy-Bob? If it is someone that has faith in humans and not in fairy tales, then sure, whatever floats your boat. Call me a hippy. But take religion from the equation and you could end terrorism tomorrow. Think about it.

I’d rather believe in my neighbor to help me build a deck or create a better community, then pray to some old imaginary fart in the sky for nirvana. Actually, you Christian folks don’t even really care about this life or those that live here, because it’s the after life where you get your rewards. What are they again? 72 virgins? or is that the other nutbar religion? I dunno, it’s too hard to tell them apart at times.

I prefer folks getting together and getting things done, as opposed to kneeling and looking to the sky asking for some mystical being for help? Who’s the real hippy?

Your justification for war and more bombing is little more than genocide appeasement. Face it. Your government got everything wrong on Iraq, and you still want to “bomb to glass” (I think was your phraseology on one post) other nations in the region? You do know that Good Ole X-tian, Georgy Bush, lied to you and other devoted “live and let live x-tians” about just how bad Iraq was? It’s a good thing that GAWD is helping you out there.

There is a saying here "the strong survive, the fast eat the slow" it is the preadetary code and in this world, being at the top of the food chain is the only way to ensure survival.

What the hell are you on about? Food chain? You eat people? I thought Christians only ate the flesh of Christ? And yes, the “predatory code” is certainly working in your Nation’s favour in Iraq.

I prefer folks getting together and getting things done, as opposed to kneeling and looking to the sky asking for some mystical being for help?

Quote of the week,mate.Thanks.

Too late...at least for Brazil
written by GTY, 2007-05-14 08:42:15
The Godless Brazilian have chosen self gratification, crime and pverty over religon. Everything they see or read now is secular. The Catholic Church in particular has been ineffective in Brazil for the last decade, worrying about running their worldwide PR campain to the deflect the damage of pedofile priests. Therefore they have neglected the one region were they mantain their largest level of membership, they problem with Brazil and the rest of South and Latin America is they can not fill the couifers.

The Catholic Church within the United States and Western Europe provides a lot of money to the Catholic Church in Latin America. But the issue of respect - John Paul II's great esteem for Mexico aside - is multilayered. In my personal opinion one of those layers is and has been racial. Conservative U.S. Catholics in particular feel more connected to Europe than they do to Latin America (whom they perceive as "brown" and uncivilized).


continued...

Too late...at least for Brazil
written by GTY, 2007-05-14 08:42:15

I think the same thing is happening in Brazil, that has happened in the US. While the US has not turned seculur, it has turned toward Christianity, over 70% on Americans believe in God. But the growing faiths believe that you do not have pray through a saint or an man (priest or pope) to have a relationship with God, but you can pray and have a relationship directly with God. These are the churches that are feeding the poor, churches were member tithe, taking care of unwed mothers offering another option to abortion and attracting the largest donations, The largest church donators are no longer Catholic, but Christians, both New Hope and Evangelical. The Catholic Churc is literaly bankrupt here, lawsuits from abused children still being heard and settled. While I believe the Catholic Popes, both the current and the last are honorable believers in their faith, I also believe that they are and where just men who enjoy their power but are unable to save their tradition. Mexico City voting to allow abortion, the decedence of Brazil...it's to late, the Catholic Churh is dying and will soon be dead.

The largest Christian body in the United States is the Catholic Church, in fact it is growing in the United States due to so many Latinos and especially Mexican immigrants. Having been to a Mexican parish (one where the Mass is said in Spanish not English) I can tell you they are as robust in showing and respect for the Priests (whom most young women kiss on the cheek as they leave) as Black Baptists Churches were several decades ago in the United States. The problem is, many Mexican immigrants give little money to the Church (they are a struggling people economically).

The Catholic Church is growing in Africa and Asia - it is the largest in those regions in terms of a single body - but not as a "group" (e.g. tens of thousands of Protestant groups combined are larger in those regions). Every age has claimed the Catholic Church was going to die out. The communist empire has claimed it would obliterate the Catholic Church from the world. Yet the Catholic Church remains around to see every empire and ideology come and go since here beginning.

I live in a predominate black area, within an a U.S. city, so the "store front" churches abound. These Protestant "non-denomination" (which is an oxymoron on both a historical and theological level) churches are growing fast and you can have one, two, or three on one block and they intake a lot of the disposable pay perhaps from many in the small congregations, but they have nothing of the political power the traditional black Baptist churches had, plus their biblical theology is often immature and they are often led by fairly uneducated peoples (as opposed to Baptist ministers or Catholic Priests. To be a Catholic Priest requires 4 years of college and 5 years of seminary training). However, larger Evangelical churches are growing fast and these "mega-churches" are the fastest growing.

The Catholic Church may die out in Brazil and most or all of Latin America. The issue to why would itself be multilayered again.

I personally feel, regarding religion, the issue to becoming essential to the life of people in Latina America is less to do about "giving a person a fish" than it is to "teaching the person to fish" so to speak, and to utilize an old parable. Plus I think the overall issue of "security" is the most important issue - that being, food, shelter, safety. The Pope issuing an internationally public warning to Latin American drug cartels while in Brazil was in my opinion monumental in socio-politics related to religious authority. It was not so far away from the Pope speak centuries ago of a massive cloud spreading across the Christian West in the form of Islamic Turks and Moors. Like the Islamic Turks and Moors the narcotic cartels are economically wealthy empires. And like the Islamic Turks the narcotic cartels are ruthless killers - I don't doubt Dracula would agree.

Through hospitals and the many, many, universities of higher education the Catholic Church will keep itself a player (however minor) in the future of world affairs - even if the Catholic Church will be very small.

It should be noted, atheism failed to erase corruption, murder, and mayhem from Russia most especially after communism fell. So atheism itself as a belief system, is no proof of civic order and overall security given onto man.

To:João.Pinga
written by João da Silva, 2007-05-14 14:06:15

Juan on Juan, just like a Mexican Basketball game, I like it!

I never saw I two year old that did not believe in himself. We are taught not to believe in ourselves. How not to love, how valueless our lives our. GTY the expression for your edification and you are, GOD knows, in such need of it, there are 'two kinds of people in the world the quick and the hungry'. And I thought the U.S. was an Eagle not a lion, lions don't eat rabbits. You are a religious dilitante, a cog, a ten percenter, why not give twenty percent, or all of it, have you ever given everything you own away? You are disciple of Mamon, not Christ. Was the pastor of your New church found whore mongering, pederastery, drug taking? Relisious quackery and you are a duck of the first magnitude. How do you go from Catholicism to Neo theocracy. You are a perfunctory Christian. An apostate. Yeh I liked Dresden, we are obsessed with the guilt of those we have killed. Paralyzed to stupidity. You cannot fight a more 'gentler' war. Draft the motherf**ker's. Do it now. Your three son's should be of age when the draft is reinstated. The Florida Air National Guard is a good way to go. Or 101st Airborne, or maybe Canada. I wonder if you will flee to Brazil with your family when your children's lives are on the line. Time will tell. When push comes to shove, when rhetoric ends, and your flesh and blood must 'join the fray' to protect your boat, your church, your things. For ironically they are the cause of it all. Peace and Love, and nuke em back to the stoneage.

E-harmony writes:

It should be noted, atheism failed to erase corruption, murder, and mayhem from Russia most especially after communism fell. So atheism itself as a belief system, is no proof of civic order and overall security given onto man.

Atheism is not a “belief” in anything, rather the lack of a belief in a deity. You can measure one’s religious conviction (some fools even give 10% of their wages), you cannot measure “how atheist” someone is. Don’t be a fool. It’s not a belief system. How can you believe NOT to believe in something? It’s redundant.

Regarding the Ruskies, you are joking right? For starters, the USSR (not Russia) forbade religion (you were not forced to be an atheist, you were forbidden to publicly worship a God in an institution) and crime during the old communist regime (I’m not talking about crimes committed by the state) was far less that what it is today under a free democratic, believe in what you wish, nation. Trust me, I’m not defending the former commie regime, nor the current corrupt administration, just correcting your understanding of history in this part of the world.

But more importantly, atheism cannot be forced on individuals like what is often done with religion. Atheism naturally comes from education, it’s not “spread by the sword” nor do we have funded missions into developing nations to “save souls”. Get yourself a good education, and the pieaces usually fall into place.

The nations with the highest levels of education have the lowest levels of violence, crime and of course fewer people believing in Santa Clause. Sweden, Norway, Finland, Canada et.al all fall into this camp – there are more. The higher a nation’s religious conviction, the higher the levels of crime and poverty; I don´t know if there is a correlation or not, but at least it’s a good to know that your LORD is looking out for ya´ll.

Actually, as I noted in an earlier post; we are ALL atheists in terms of the Gods (plural) we don’t believe in. I just happen to go ONE God further than most.

"The largest Christian body in the United States is the Catholic Church, in fact it is growing in the United States due to so many Latinos and especially Mexican immigrants. Having been to a Mexican parish (one where the Mass is said in Spanish not English) I can tell you they are as robust in showing and respect for the Priests (whom most young women kiss on the cheek as they leave) as Black Baptists Churches were several decades ago in the United States. The problem is, many Mexican immigrants give little money to the Church (they are a struggling people economically)."

OK, maybe the Catholic Church is growing in numbers, but surely not financialy, the largest archdioses have all filed for bankruptcy, because it all came back to the faggot priests that joined the church to bugger little boys, I am sure that is still the case in the hispanic community, Africa or what ever s**thole they now target. They big buck donors are Christians now, they provide the relief organizations with workers and cash not the Catholics. At least in Brazil, there are still plenty of little boy (and men in your cases) to give up their asses.

I'm not a bible thumper either, but I can't believe the number to religon hating zelots that surfaced in this blog. Where did that hate come from, funny, its always the secular left that shows so much hate and disdain for the people who live their lives the way they want to, not the way you want them to. This is very interesting, I like to get on this blog say some s**t to piss everyone off and get a big laugh, then disappear until I get bored and do it again. But you are all serious, man, get lives.

Hey AES, didn't you say you served in the Guard during Vietnam, I served for 10 as a US Army Infantryman, 1st Divison, Big Red One, 3bn 15th Infantry, a Desert Storm 1 Vet, and yes I saw lots of dead Arabs in the desert, didn't bother me one bit, in fact, used to run the track treads right over em to hear them crunch, they were trying to kill us, guess what, we killed them, it was a f**king cake walk, you read about US casulties now, but never the tens of thousands of dead Arabs. We could win this war if they let us, then move on to Iran, Russia, Brazil or where ever else we needed to to protect our people and economy. That's right, I will admit an uninterupted supply of oil is worth going to war for, f**k Michael Moore. I will agree with one thing the war has been waged by morons, we lack real leadership, people willing to make the same decisions made in the past, like nuking cities or bombing factories while civilans where working. Did someone say we had guilt regarding this, bulls**t, we are proud of it. But let the bastards come here again, here, where every other household has a weapon in it..do it again and watch Muslims get dragged out of the cabs they are driving, or the gas stations they are running, and see what happens if it happened here again. Yes, please do bring the war between Christianty and Islam to the streets of the US we are ready. Europe is not, they are out numbered, out gunned. Your women will all be wearing the burka and some one will be slicing off your daughters clit, its in their sick holy book.

My oldest by the way, is a Marine on his second tour, college grad too, my 17 year old is talking about enlistment, my 9 year old is just worried about getting to soccer practice. And you kids, are they junkies yet, perhaps piss there pants when they think about serving there country in any capacity...the MTV culture? Don't lecture me pinhead, you all stay down there safe in your comfortable s**thole and we will continue to do all the dirty work...and you right, the majority of Americans just don't give a s**t about you passport carrying pussys, living meaningless lives, nor the country you all call home now. It's just a place to have some fun and get laid, no one takes it seriously.

Joao...waht the f**k do you mean by hitchhiking from CA??

OK, maybe the Catholic Church is growing in numbers, but surely not financialy, the largest archdioses have all filed for bankruptcy, because it all came back to the faggot priests that joined the church to bugger little boys, I am sure that is still the case in the hispanic community, Africa or what ever s**thole they now target. They big buck donors are Christians now, they provide the relief organizations with workers and cash not the Catholics. At least in Brazil, there are still plenty of little boy (and men in your cases) to give up their asses.

Where did that hate come from

You tell us Billy-Bob

Are you going to tell us what "anarcey" is?

This is very interesting, I like to get on this blog say some s**t to piss everyone off and get a big laugh, then disappear until I get bored and do it again

Gary O, I also like to see you making an arse of yourself on this blog.

I liked your new nick name,Billy Bob

I don't think the catholic church will die out any time soon. Catholicism still is the greatest religion of the world (in terms of numbers), and still dominant in Brazil.

What we see in Brazil is a growth of evangelical churches, but, in my opinion, it has to do more with social aspects than with religious "benefits". Those churches often sell pieces of heaven, offer group praying for financial success, "cures" and all kinds of vulgar things. They are very pragmatic, what they want is money, what they promise are tangible things people will see in this life and their strategy is to control people through superstitions. In the mind of some poor individuals this is "better" than the catholic church that promises benefits only in the after life and is closer to what sane human beings would call normal.

Their "churches" look almost like shopping malls and have many businesses, like TV channels and stores. I think they are more connected with todays culture of consumerism.

The evangelical TV channel (Rede Record) passes some very funny programs like "sessão do descarrego", something like "discharge session", because they teach their followers that "evil spirits" are sent by their "enemies" (enemies not in an epic manner, but in very small and ridiculous things, like the ex-wife of your boyfriend). So it's common to hear from them that someone made a "trabalho" (it is "work" literally, but it means "to cast a spell" or "summon devils") and that is the cause of all their problems. So in this TV show they receive phone calls from their followers and guess what... all explanations are because some "evil spirit".

Billy-Bob,

My answer to your temper tantrum is:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nmwpR5_49uk&mode=related&search=

You are becoming Alzheimeresque. I joined the guard in '63 before nam, before the draft. I joined because it was a requirement of citizenship. I told you I have to sons in the Navy, one a submariner and the other in Helos. I congratulate you on the service of your son. I agree we are fighting stupid, I have no tolerance for stupidity. If you have the weapons use them. Their f**king around with Pakistan. They better hurry because if that regime is overthrown the f**ks own the nukes. http://profile.myspace.com/ind...d=85954642

Sorry AES, old age I guess, you should be proud of your sons and service. Now I'm a Mexican American called Billy Bob, my friends should get a kick out of that. By the way, I also agree with the Brazilian, not so much about the Catholic church, but about the Evangelicals in Brazil. I have seen the churches in some of the poorest Barrios where I have some clients with offices, they really are expoliting the poor in the name of God. It's similar to the Evangilical movement in the South during the 1800's, and later in the 90's, but most people here are smart enough to see a false prophet when he is in front of them Brazilians on the other hand are so hopeless with their lives they grasp at anything, including evil. It's similar to Lula's election, so many promises for so many years and they finally elect a Leftist to try something new, anything new, because it can't be worse. Same with the Catholic Church, who would have ever thought only 150,000 would show up in Brazili to see the Pope...amazing.

There are some on the blog that try and shame people of faith, I won't do that. But I will speak out when people justify violence in the name of there religion. The Evangelicals and Protestants in Brazil are not yet teaching their children how to fire AK47's and strap bombs on themselves. Christians are not beheading Muslims. There is a day of reckoning right around the corner, you can call it what you will, Christians believe its is the end of days, others just read about it and hope "we can all get along", Got some news, its not going to happen, the dike has broke and we need to be ready to not only defend ourselves, but be as brutal as they are, some turn their heads, but you can bet it's coming. It's what your sons are training for, to and standing to prevent, God bless then and hopefully they can serve under better leadership in the future. Where have all the great ones gone? We are now left with Bush, Guliani, Clinton and Obama, that's friggen scary.

written by João PInga, 2007-05-14 15:53:13

E-harmony writes:

It should be noted, atheism failed to erase corruption, murder, and mayhem from Russia most especially after communism fell. So atheism itself as a belief system, is no proof of civic order and overall security given onto man.



Atheism is not a “belief” in anything, rather the lack of a belief in a deity. You can measure one’s religious conviction (some fools even give 10% of their wages), you cannot measure “how atheist” someone is. Don’t be a fool. It’s not a belief system. How can you believe NOT to believe in something? It’s redundant.

@ bold: you realize you just contradicted yourself in the very first sentence of your post?

Atheism is predicated upon a belief. But I will grant you perhaps I should not have referred to it as a belief system.

Regarding the Ruskies, you are joking right? For starters, the USSR (not Russia) forbade religion (you were not forced to be an atheist, you were forbidden to publicly worship a God in an institution) and crime during the old communist regime (I’m not talking about crimes committed by the state) was far less that what it is today under a free democratic, believe in what you wish, nation. Trust me, I’m not defending the former commie regime, nor the current corrupt administration, just correcting your understanding of history in this part of the world.

Post communist Russia was very atheist. The Russian Orthodox Church has been feuding for more than a decade with the Catholic Church of the West with doing missionary work in Russia with regards to her large atheist population. This is one of the reasons the Russian Patriarch did not want Pope John Paul II to visit Russia. Though John Paul II was invited by President Putin he humbly declined and said he would not step foot into Russia until invited by her Patriarch.

But more importantly, atheism cannot be forced on individuals like what is often done with religion. Atheism naturally comes from education, it’s not “spread by the sword” nor do we have funded missions into developing nations to “save souls”. Get yourself a good education, and the pieaces usually fall into place.

I'm currently finishing up a 5 credit biology class at a secular community college within the United States. There has not been one mention of God - though there has been of Gregor Mendel - and from looking through a microscope at mold on bread to learning about the ice on top of water insulating and protecting aquatic life (rather than freezing over completely) during winter to a human body that is a million times superior to computers (computers can't box, they don't create keratin waterproof skin, and they can't sexually or non-sexually reproduce themselves)... my belief in God went up not down.

The nations with the highest levels of education have the lowest levels of violence, crime and of course fewer people believing in Santa Clause. Sweden, Norway, Finland, Canada et.al all fall into this camp – there are more. The higher a nation’s religious conviction, the higher the levels of crime and poverty; I don´t know if there is a correlation or not, but at least it’s a good to know that your LORD is looking out for ya´ll.

As noted earlier, post communist Russia has a very large population of atheists. Moscow, Russia and Helsinki, Finland had the highest homicide rates of European nation during the late 1990's (source: www.benbest.com/lifeext/murder.html)

As for Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Canada how large are the populations of these nations? China has better primary level education for her urban children (not rural) than the USA does but that does not stop the Chinese from harvesting human organs from people put into prisons. At the time of WWII, Germany not only had a great military, but it was one of if not the most educated nations on earth, not only that but many of those in the upper echlons of the Nazi party were educated artists. Please, given the fact that the educated have ruled to world for quite a long time, spare me the lie "education = morality." In the 19th century scientist were convinced white Northern Europeans were superior to all others. In fact a British scientist made a tobacco pouch out of the last Tazmanian (sp?) man. Educated people the world over use their "education" to manipulate others and secure their own personal fortunes. There is not one plumber working in President Bushe's cabinet - they all have college degrees. The educated rule just about every nation on earth - I would not hold my breath in the educated bringing paradise onto earth any time soon.

Now I'm a Mexican American called Billy Bob, my friends should get a kick out of that

Billy-Bob is a cute name for you,Gary O.I know how hard to be a Mexican American in Southern Florida, waiting for your home to be invaded by the wimpy Cubans.I am sure that with your nuclear arsenol, you would be able to thwart their attmpts. After all, you are the real Rambo who fought in the Gulf War 1, killing all the the towel heads. A pity that you didnt volunteer for the sequel.

Where have all the great ones gone? We are now left with Bush, Guliani, Clinton and Obama, that's friggen scary.

The great ones are 6 feet underground and I agree that it is quite scary. May be you should run for the Presidency in 2008. I am sure you will win with a thumping majority.Billy-Bob for the next President of U.S.of A. It is an interesting prospect.

Are you going to tell us what "anarcey" is?

Billy-Bob, I am still waiting for your answer to this question. What exactly is ANARCEY?. Remember I am a wannabe Gringo from Southern Brazil, uneducated,poor and ride the mule for work in the morning.

I really enjoy your tongue in check humor, but your racism seems to boil out of you on every occasion possible. Now you can clear it all up for your Gringo gone Brazilian friends, does the fact that I am American born, to a Mexican mother and German father make you...a better person. How about a black Brazilian, does the color of their skin make them any less a person than you. Or perhaps your the typical mixed light skinned Brazilian who scorns people of different color at every possible occasion.

We have a name for folks like you up here...it's Billy Bob, so lets turn the table and call a spade a spade (I'll bet you like that), it's the perfect Gringo name for you...Billy Bob da Silva, hahahahahahaha! I love it.

E- Harmony, I tithe 10% and give even more when I can and I have been blessed with more than any one man could ever deserve. You say your finishing your biology degree in some s**thole community college (what happened to you that you had to attend a community college, too much crack?), you say examining living things has given you more faith in God, then you need to better understand who God really is and what he did for your, if you understand that completly, then you might think that 10% or "first fruits" as stated in the good Book, is really not that much. Good luck in earning your AA degree, Home Depot should hire you, if night the night Manager Position at Walmart should pay you 30 grand.

Hey AES, didn't you say you served in the Guard during Vietnam, I served for 10 as a US Army Infantryman, 1st Divison, Big Red One, 3bn 15th Infantry, a Desert Storm 1 Vet, and yes I saw lots of dead Arabs in the desert, didn't bother me one bit, in fact, used to run the track treads right over em to hear them crunch, they were trying to kill us, guess what, we killed them, it was a f**king cake walk, you read about US casulties now, but never the tens of thousands of dead Arabs.

Congratulation that paragraph was one long Fu*king sentence!

used to run the track treads right over em to hear them crunch

Now this is noteworthy "they go crunch" I wonder what kind of dreams you have?
Do you eat Arabic Crunch, instead of frosted flakes? or is it Captain Crunch for your breakfast?
There is a twang of the Appalachians in your writing BTW, so Billy-Bob does seems appropriate, however I think you should be called Captain Crunch, consider this a promotion Pvt.!

Remember I am a wannabe Gringo from Southern Brazil, uneducated,poor and ride the mule for work in the morning.

Better to keep your ASS out of they street, you might get run-over.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...ch-box.png

I really enjoy your tongue in check humor, but your racism seems to boil out of you on every occasion possible.

Gary O, it is NOT "Tongue in Check humor".It is "Tongue in CHEEK humour".No wonder John Pinga is waiting for you to explain to us what exactly you meant by "anarcey".I understood your miss spelling,but he being a Cape Towner couldnt (or pretended that he didnt)

As for my racism,you are right.It oozes out of my pores.As a matter of fact, your dad being a German should have taught you how to be a racist,but there again, you are a slow learner and probably dont like him.

btw,are you giving prim and proper maintanance to your Space Shuttle?

however I think you should be called Captain Crunch, consider this a promotion Pvt.!

You cant promote a Pvt Zero to a Captain, outright.You may call him Corporal.Crunch (a.k,a. Billy-Bob)

Better to keep your ASS out of they street, you might get run-over.

Thanks for your concern. My Ass is trained to gallop on the side walk.No worries,mate.

but most people here are smart enough to see a false prophet when he is in front of them Brazilians on the other hand are so hopeless with their lives they grasp at anything, including evil.

I remember I saw something on the news about a sect in the US whose leader claimed to be Jesus reincarnated, and ended up putting the house their were staying on fire with everyone inside. There was another one that believed that the comet (?) would take them away, and convinced everyone to comit suicide.

I am suspicious of any group, religious or not, that promotes an identity or a belief system that inevitably will lead to an identity. It works similarly to what the crazies from Al Qaeda do, how can they brainwash some young person to the point he wishes to blow himself up? If you see history you will find lots of cases like that, of sects, Nazis, fake prophets, black americans (hehe), football fans.

Those groups try to replace the role of the family of the individual, he ends up having some kind of bond with them. And then with a bunch of brainwashed people together they gain the courage to do things they wouldn't if they were alone. In Brazil there are some groups that go to football games and then they beat each other up after the match or vandalize the city, they usually are small to medium groups with one leader that incites the violence but doesn't participate in it.

It's for that reason that I think it's a good thing to have laws outlawing things like racism. One Nazi is harmless, hundreds of nazis is trouble. The same applies for black groups, unfortunately Luladrão and his gang are letting black racism to run rampant, because we are all equals before the law, but some are more equal than others.

You cant promote a Pvt Zero to a Captain, outright.You may call him Corporal.Crunch (a.k,a. Billy-Bob)

Roger that, I was trying to build up his self esteem, I exceeded my authority. Corporal Crunch it is, when Admiral Forrest returns from his Peruvian frog hunting expedition in the Andes, then we can get a final decision as to his worthiness as an officer.
Nice to hear that your ASS can Gallop on the sidewalk, I bet he puffs on the way back! (Referring to the other thread; Post: "How do I know my youth has been spent?")
Over.

written by GTY, 2007-05-14 21:07:23
E- Harmony, I tithe 10% and give even more when I can and I have been blessed with more than any one man could ever deserve.

I don't think I ever made any comment about how much you tithe.

You say your finishing your biology degree in some s**thole community college (what happened to you that you had to attend a community college, too much crack?)...

I said I was finishing up a five credit biology class. The semester is almost up (will be this week), I said nothing about working on a degree in biology. You do realize, your crack about community colleges rings rather ironic given the mistake you made in your reading comprehension. And for the record, community colleges help people differentiate between your and you're.

you say examining living things has given you more faith in God, then you need to better understand who God really is and what he did for your, if you understand that completly, then you might think that 10% or "first fruits" as stated in the good Book, is really not that much. Good luck in earning your AA degree, Home Depot should hire you, if night the night Manager Position at Walmart should pay you 30 grand.

Does your Christian charity include that "well wishing" you gave me? I think you might be mistaking me with someone else with this "tithe" issue because I don't care what people do with their money. I have no problem with people giving money to their church, mosque, temple, club, girlfriend, or to some stranger down on his or her luck.

I think you might be mistaking me with someone else with this "tithe" issue because I don't care what people do with their money.

You missed Corporal Crunches overt intention as to say he has money to give, because he has money, in fact he gives 10 percent and above, owns a (Cuban) Yacht, frequents various Islands for business purposes paying with his Corporate credit card. He eats Stone Crab (stoned crabs) in excess, at $8.00 a claw without financial worry. He pulls his (Cuban) Yacht with a Hummer. His wife is imported, he hires illegal aliens to clean his pool, mow his yard, clip his Petunias, etc.

e harmony apparently you have not seen his prior post! So let me lay it out for you just say to him, Gee Wow Corp. Crunch if I had your money I would burn mine!
Bow three times to the East ,West, South, North and say to GOD, GOD why did you make me so poor and why do you make me go this College of poverty.

Your correct Professor! 100% right on. By the way, you never did tell us what you are a professor of? Did you know that the title is one of respect, why did you pull that name out of your ass. Actually...I like Captain Crunch, but Seargent Crunch would be more accurate. You didn't say were and when you served, we would be interested to know...Canada? You and Gilligan (Joao) and the Skipper (Forest) always send me off into Miami traffic with a giant laugh. Stuck in Brazil for God only knows what reason to live a life of obscurity, how romantic. Never said I had a yacht, can't afford one, but do have the tricked out Contender, from which I fished a Billfish Tourney in Jupiter last week. My wife was born in Brazil, but I met her here, she is now an American citizen who has lived here for over 20 years, still has a great body though, so do her friends that hang around my pool every weekend...God I'm blessed. You are imported one Professor Impotado and I am sure your married to some teenaged Indian women who couldn't find a Brazilian to marry, so went for the first Gringo willing. I am a little bummed today, Stone Crab season ended, guess I'll just have to move to lobsters.

I hire and fire illegal aliens with impunity, they have no business being here, so I have no guilt in using them as cheap labor. I am here, you are there, why? IRS have your number, police have a pedophile charge for you, I know there is no extradition. I am always suspicous of Gringos who decide the live in Brazil, some have legitamate reasons like Bo, but I believe most are there because you can hire a 10 year old to keep you company.

OH, I'm sure if you burnt ALL your money, it would be a very small fire indeed. Dollar Skols, subsidized beans and rice, low rent in some s**thole barrio...you Professor or whatever you are, probably more like Freeloader, are really living large. s**t, it's already 7:30 and I have to fill up the Beamer, wife is driving the Hummer today, she looks sssooo hot in it...if it wasn't for the women, what would Brazil be good for?

E-Harmony, nothing wrong with a community college, it will look great on your resume while you look for the landscaping job.

@ bold: you realize you just contradicted yourself in the very first sentence of your post?

Show me where the contradiction is. I doubt you would ever ponder the existence of the Easter bunny, Thor or Ganesh, does that mean your dismissal of them as religious icons is a belief?

Post communist Russia was very atheist.

I’ve already addressed this. You cannot force Atheism on populations (educated or not); they’ll find what ever little fairly-tales to worship regardless of how oppressive the State can be if that is their longing. So many under Stalin would have called themselves atheists, to save them from the whims of a madman, but it does not mean that they didn’t worship a lord in the closet.

Regardless, POST Soviet Russia is not very atheist at all. Over 80% of the population now self-identity with the Russian Orthodox Church and although a good portion of those don’t attend regular religious love-fests (kneel, sing, kneel, sing), only 4% consider themselves atheists. 4% is a far cry from say Denmark’s 70% and Sweden’s 60%. Don’t you think? Actually, after reading the rest of your post it should be obvious to all: you don’t think.

I'm currently finishing up a 5 credit biology class at a secular community college within the United States.

I’m sorry Mr. Dawkins, or should I refer to you as Stephen Hawkings? Eddy O Wilson maybe? I didn’t know your educational curriculum for biology was so impressive. A 5 credit course in college biology you say? Sorry, my bad.

However, we’re not talking about inmate college courses or even real universities. The Christian right has been even more insidious in their attempts at infiltrating the teachings of biology by targeting it at the high-school level: a more impressionable level for students, and more controllable through the board. Or maybe you missed the whole Intelligent Design court challenges that raged through various “middle America” --cough cough -- school districts?

As noted earlier, post communist Russia has a very large population of atheists. Moscow, Russia and Helsinki, Finland had the highest homicide rates of European nation during the late 1990's (source: www.benbest.com/lifeext/murder.html)

Highest rates of homicide for any “European Nation”? You’re joking right? So, if I get a C in biology with a bell curve grading system at Harvard that makes me a moron?

Move along halfwit.

As for Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Canada how large are the populations of these nations?

What does this have to do with anything? You didn’t finish your thought (que supresa, né Einstein?). However, I’ll play along, they have the same populations as say Somalia, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone and Uganda, respectively. E dei?

China has better primary level education for her urban children (not rural) than the USA does but that does not stop the Chinese from harvesting human organs from people put into prisons.

What are you on about? Do you have any idea at all how to follow a line of thought? Organ harvesting? Are you for real?

Please, given the fact that the educated have ruled to world for quite a long time, spare me the lie "education = morality."

My my, your community college education is shinning brightly through. I said nothing about Education and morality. Nothing at all. Unless, you wittingly substituted “morality” for “religion” as so many zealots often do. And I mockingly question your assertion that the “educated have ruled the world for a very long time”. That actually, cracked me up. That’s my third laugh reading your post, thanks for the entertainment.

Back to the point: I drew no direct correlations other than that the better the level of education in a nation, the more atheists are found (easy peasy, verifibale and indisp**able), and I then went on to reflect, more interestingly enough, about how these same nations have less crime and violence. I drew no conclusions, I asked “YA, LL” to do that. At that point I laughed and jested “your GOD doesn’t seem to pay too much attention to his most devout”.

If you’d like I could scribble all that out for you in crayon if you think it would help?

There is not one plumber working in President Bushe's cabinet - they all have college degrees.

Most of Dubya’s cabinet are X-tians, like Good Ole Billy-Bob here. Nice God you folkies have.

You and Gilligan (Joao) and the Skipper (Forest) always send me off into Miami traffic with a giant laugh.

Are you insinuating that we are contributing to your homicidal tendencies:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/...index.html
Miami is the epicenter of road rage in the U.S.

It also seems that your that your brother in Debauchery (Miami Home-boy) is expanding his Corp. Empire.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/new...etail.html
San Diego's 666

Nothing like Living Large in Miami.

Ah theism, deism, atheism, agnosticism, rationalism. There is no word 'yawey' is not a word. It is an anogram like NASA. It stands for Yod Hay Vov Hay. I am that I am. It is an enigma. It is if there was a word it would be the phenomenon of AWE. As scientific, rational, intellectuals, masters of the universe we have ceased to see, to be, to be in awe. Be in awe of the pictures of the Hubble, be in awe of the birth of a child. There is no thought you can have no thing you can make that is equal to the wonder that exists. Did you create existence through your intellection, through your thinking, through speech, through your constructions? There is a difference between thinking and being. Music, art is not about thinking it is about being. Love, acts of love are about being not thinking. It is not so much that Religion is the opiate of the people, but science and rationality is the opiate of the people. In Zen it is the stopping of the mind, that leads to the awakening of ultimate consciousness. Man is born conscious, he is forced, coerced into sublimating his natural self for what ever intellectual or parental morass he has come through to. We have made science and rationality our saviors, we fear life, because we fear non existence. We did not nor do we cause our existence. The universe is was and always will be, time is infiite, if only you were capable of stopping your mind. We are no longer in AWE we are blinded by thought. We no longer live, but dream, in a sea of thought, thinking, conclusions. We wake from this dream at our deaths, and then with regret rue that we have not lived. Death is the end of thought and the return to the Infinite, the cause of us all.
'There are no atheists in a foxhole'. Be in Awe, be very in Awe.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/new...ail.html
San Diego's 666

No wonder Corp.Crunch a.k.a Billy Bob commutes so much between Miami and San Diego.

Thanks for the info.No further promotion to him.

faith made manifest, atheism is an intellectual sophistry

Be in Awe, be very in Awe.

Well spoken.
Always love seeing the battle between Christian and Christian, Christian and Atheist, Atheist and Athiest, Science and Creationism, etc. vs. etc.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, "I am" looks on, tending his word, cultivating the seeds, fertilizing the ground and harvesting.
The I am (Humanity) is incapable of seeing the "I am" (creator), for the I am, to see the "I am" he must die.

As Illustrated in this explanation:

(John 3) 1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again!' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

9"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. 10"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man [that is, the Messiah]. 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

The cancer of Marxism seeks out the religious movement of S.A.evangelical,s ,...When they strip the clothes off of these false prophets, ..you will find common criminals....

Your comment on Al Jazeera and Bandeirantes is very thought provoking.No wonder you were well received by the Thais,Sri Lankans and other nationalities.I liked,though I couldnt make out if you are talking about the border fence between U.S and Mexico.

Hi Billy-Bob

Never said I had a yacht, can't afford one, but do have the tricked out Contender, from which I fished a Billfish Tourney in Jupiter last week

If you dont contribute the 10% of your wages to your church, probably you can aim to buy an yatch.Always thought you had an Yatch. Is U.S.S Contender a rusting Nuclear Sub you bought from the Ruskies? What kind of a vessel is it? Regardless,I hope you are maintaining it well. I certainly wouldnt like to see you getting drowned while smuggling the Haitians into FL. or meet the same fate of Gilligan. I hope the day was good and you did lots of Chemical trading with your suppliers in the Golden Triangle.

I fished a Billfish Tourney in Jupiter last week

Having a Billyfish Tourney in Uranus this week?

Variety is the spice of life!

E Harmony
written by João PInga, 2007-05-15 09:06:10

@ bold: you realize you just contradicted yourself in the very first sentence of your post?



Show me where the contradiction is. I doubt you would ever ponder the existence of the Easter bunny, Thor or Ganesh, does that mean your dismissal of them as religious icons is a belief?

You stated: "Atheism is not a “belief” in anything, rather the lack of a belief in a deity." The lack of a belief in a deity is a belief held within itself. Atheism does not assert it has no opinion if God is factual or not it assert (per belief) that God does not exist.

I’m sorry Mr. Dawkins, or should I refer to you as Stephen Hawkings? Eddy O Wilson maybe? I didn’t know your educational curriculum for biology was so impressive. A 5 credit course in college biology you say? Sorry, my bad.

And all that rambling of implied insult is to say what? [rolls eyes] If you are going to lean on intellectualism and or science as the foundation for why you (or anyone else for that matter) are certain God does not exist then it would be wise to argue in the manner of an educated and objective individual rather than arguing like a child, angered, and putting forth emotionally charged responses.

However, we’re not talking about inmate college courses or even real universities. The Christian right has been even more insidious in their attempts at infiltrating the teachings of biology by targeting it at the high-school level: a more impressionable level for students, and more controllable through the board. Or maybe you missed the whole Intelligent Design court challenges that raged through various “middle America” --cough cough -- school districts?

I went to Catholic high school in the Midwest and we were taught the theory of evolution - nada on Intelligent Design. The person who came up with the Big Bang theory was a Catholic Priest just as Gregor Mendel (the "father of genetics") was a Catholic monk. So Christians have not been absent in shaping our thoughts in modern science. I personally believe in evolution, yet to be 100% objective I must recognize and admit it is in the scientific community what they term a theory and not a law. Yes, scientific theory is not like a philosophic theory, a theory in science is above an hypothesis and requires the rigor of critique by peers. Perhaps one day, given greater technological tools, evolution can be proven and raised up to a law. Perhaps not. Science in any age is only as good as its tools within that time period. This is what makes monks like Gregor Mendel so fascinating, for with out the advantage of a tool like the electron microscope we have today, he understood or envision dimly "genetics."

Human intelligence has nothing to do with whether someone is Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Atheist, Agnostic, or practices one of the "Afro-Brazilian" religions. Of course I will cede that religious conviction can blind even very intellectually gifted men and women from seeing certain scientific concepts with clarity and through objective lenses.

Pope John Paul II was a man gifted with great intellect. He loved science and I believe he spoke something like 13 different languages. Even this current Pope, whom I'm not always sure about, is I can objectively admit, a very intelligent man. I'm not sure what his IQ is, but I would not be surprised if it was very high.

If there is no time, that is the division of Eternity, means minutes , hours, days, millenia, are but antropomorphic projections on an essentially static state universe, and by consequence there is no evolution as there is no movement. It is a kind of light show, strobiscopic phenomenology. Everything is happening, has happened already, not happening, happened. We are just blinking moments of consciousness seeing snippets in this most intelligent of designs, but that is presumption. For if it is not intelligent, which you may substitute the anathematic word God, then it is unintelligent. And if it were unintelligent, or non intelligent, how would you know. So let us assume that the universe, that which is and will be as well as what was, is a manifestation of intelligent design: and the parcing of it into speciation, or process is for a fish to conceive of an existence in New York City, or the reading of a book. Your mockery is a sham of a sham of a mockery of a sham, and if you go to any community college and achieve high marks, especially in courses like chemestry, biology, physics, English, calculus, all undergraduate lower division courses, then any university ie Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA will welcome you with open arms; as most undergraduates are idiots with the intellectual where with all of small mamalia. The drop out and failure rate at American institutions of higher learning is of such staggering numbers, the students being so ill prepared, that it is recommended that one get one's intellectual and academic feet wet at a community college and learn how to learn, before attempting to learn. It is so easy to be arrogant when one is obviously Phi Beta Kappa having graduated Summa Magna Cum Laude,from Harvard, but even the friends I have who have, pale, in your beratement of e harmony and her community college. You get out of a Universtity what you put in. And as for the Jesuits, 'God bless them'. I think they established 42 Universities in the U.S. including Georgetown in D.C.. And while were at it 'God Bless Tiny Tim'.

in Uranus this week?

Do I know this guy? I dont think so. He must be a business partner of Pvt.Crunch (demoted to his original rank)

e harmony
written by Professor, 2007-05-15 00:16:01

I think you might be mistaking me with someone else with this "tithe" issue because I don't care what people do with their money.


You missed Corporal Crunches overt intention as to say he has money to give, because he has money, in fact he gives 10 percent and above, owns a (Cuban) Yacht, frequents various Islands for business purposes paying with his Corporate credit card. He eats Stone Crab (stoned crabs) in excess, at $8.00 a claw without financial worry. He pulls his (Cuban) Yacht with a Hummer. His wife is imported, he hires illegal aliens to clean his pool, mow his yard, clip his Petunias, etc.

e harmony apparently you have not seen his prior post! So let me lay it out for you just say to him, Gee Wow Corp. Crunch if I had your money I would burn mine!
Bow three times to the East ,West, South, North and say to GOD, GOD why did you make me so poor and why do you make me go this College of poverty.

I hear what you're saying Professor. I was only pointing out to him that I never made any negative comments about him giving money. Personally I'm not so sure GTY has all that kind of money he talks about - but then again maybe he does. But whatever...

I hear what you're saying Professor. I was only pointing out to him that I never made any negative comments about him giving money. Personally I'm not so sure GTY has all that kind of money he talks about - but then again maybe he does. But whatever...

If I were you, I wouldnt worry about our Rambo Pvt.Crunch. He is a great kid. But just think about having a brother-in-law living off your back. GTY has one and he shows his bitterness towards others.His reaction is very normal.The best thing about him is that he acknowledges that he is an obnoxious person.I am a sort of grandpa figure to him and I understand him well.So quit worrying.

I hope he made it back to his house in that dreadful traffic in Miami.

Torof
written by João da Silva, 2007-05-15 20:48:59

in Uranus this week?

Do I know this guy? I dont think so. He must be a business partner of Pvt.Crunch (demoted to his original rank)

You might recognize him if you see him John. (see #3 on the list)

Uranus could be a number of things to a number of people such as:

1. It is the seventh planet from the Sun.
2. In Greek mythology Uranus is personified as the son and husband of Gaia, Mother Earth.
3. It is the southbound end of a northbound mule.
4. The Uranus bar in Miami http://www.uranusbar.com/
5. It is the southbound end of a northbound Corp. Crunch.

Thanks for the explanation #3 & #5.

I really thought you were calling Crunch " UR AN ANUS",in your Queen´s English and I am relieved that you didnt mean to offend that wretched fellow.

Torof
written by João da Silva, 2007-05-15 21:54:39

Thanks for the explanation #3 & #5.

I really thought you were calling Crunch " UR AN ANUS",in your Queen´s English and I am relieved that you didnt mean to offend that wretched fellow.

Close John but no banana! It is YOUR (possessive) anus, but your version could be an option considering a different application.
I see you demoted Corp. Crunch to Pvt. Crunch you are not the forgiving Grandfather type I assumed you to be.

Close John but no banana! It is YOUR (possessive) anus, but your version could be an option considering a different application.

What difference does it make to Crunch. His grammar and spelling are not up to the standards of Eton or Harrow.

I see you demoted Corp. Crunch to Pvt. Crunch you are not the forgiving Grandfather type I assumed you to be.

Never forgive.I am trying to turn a bebezão like him into a real fighting machine and deploy him in the Redlight zone in Kabul,so that his Mom-in-Law would be proud of him and also bring honor to his Grandpa.(and I hope he doesnt any social deseases while on deployment)

(and I hope he doesnt any social deseases while on deployment)

Sorry, I meant to say "I hope he doesnt CATCH any social deseases while on deployment"

or process is for a fish to conceive of an existence in New York City, or the reading of a book.

Existence of God

"I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing."
"But," says Man, "the Babel fish is a dead giveaway isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves that you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. Q.E.D."

"Oh dear," says God, "I hadn't thought of that," and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic.

"Oh, that was easy," says Man, and for an encore goes on to prove that black is white and white is black and gets himself killed on the next zebra crossing. While most leading theologians believe this argument to be a load of dingo's kidneys, that didn't stop Oolon Colluphid making a small fortune when he used it as the central theme of his best-selling book, Well That About Wraps It Up For God.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babel_fish
Stolen from Wikipedia Pargaraph: Existence of God

Torof
written by João da Silva, 2007-05-15 22:42:06

(and I hope he doesnt any social deseases while on deployment)

Sorry, I meant to say "I hope he doesnt CATCH any social deseases while on deployment"

Unfortunately catching a social desease is one of the major drawbacks of Billyfishing in Uranus.
The normal lifespan of a Billyfisher is quit low in comparison to a Gerbil Spelunker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4iIo1tUtW0

The fallacy of course is the premise that anything so extraordinary as the Bable fish could have come into existence by chance. . .yes it can. There is no reason given other than it was the conclusion of the greatest of thinkers, whom everybody knows can know the The mutual exclusion of knowing both the Ultimate Question and the Ultimate Answer mimics counter-intuitive principles of quantum mechanics like the Pauli exclusion principle and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. And besides the number 42 brings us back to Monty Python, or at least some of the players and that Art by definition includes everything whether it is intended or not. Not to mention 'string theory'. Multo Obrigado

The query "the answer to life, the universe, and everything" into Google (without the quote marks), produces the answer 42 by Google calculator

http://www.google.com/search?s...everything

written by João PInga, 2007-05-15 09:06:10

Highest rates of homicide for any “European Nation”? You’re joking right? So, if I get a C in biology with a bell curve grading system at Harvard that makes me a moron?

Move along halfwit.

That I gave both cities along with there nations it could be easily recognized it was a typo. Not only that but I provided the source and link. I meant to state "European cities" and not "European nations."

What does this have to do with anything? You didn’t finish your thought (que supresa, né Einstein?). However, I’ll play along, they have the same populations as say Somalia, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone and Uganda, respectively. E dei?

The question is fair. You were speaking of some statistical facts of a few nations so I queried to their population size. If you don't like questions or critique to your points, propositions, or statistical assertions then you better stay away from both the natural and social sciences because in both the scientific process requires putting forth all those things (your propositions, findings, and so forth) before others for rigorous questioning and critique.

My my, your community college education is shinning brightly through. I said nothing about Education and morality. Nothing at all. Unless, you wittingly substituted “morality” for “religion” as so many zealots often do. And I mockingly question your assertion that the “educated have ruled the world for a very long time”. That actually, cracked me up. That’s my third laugh reading your post, thanks for the entertainment.

Back to the point: I drew no direct correlations other than that the better the level of education in a nation, the more atheists are found (easy peasy, verifibale and indisp**able), and I then went on to reflect, more interestingly enough, about how these same nations have less crime and violence. I drew no conclusions, I asked “YA, LL” to do that. At that point I laughed and jested “your GOD doesn’t seem to pay too much attention to his most devout”.

If you’d like I could scribble all that out for you in crayon if you think it would help?

Your commentary in tone and diction implied an issue of morality. English 201 will teach all students that a proposition or point can be implied through diction and tone. So you make a logical error in your rebuttal and flight from what your point really meant to make. Apparently my community college education outclasses whatever institute it was that granted you a degree. Your college degree didn't happen to be scribbled in crayon did it?

Most of Dubya’s cabinet are X-tians, like Good Ole Billy-Bob here. Nice God you folkies have.

Be that the case or not they are college educated individuals and well paid no doubt. I believe George Bush graduated from Yale also. The educated rule the world and generally manipulate the masses. One of their favorite techniques is to use persuasive arguments rather than logical arguments. I'll note most your responses to me were of the emotive based "persuasive argument."

persuasive arguments = a brute force attack
Long live the empire!

THEORY: you know it all, but nothing works. PRACTICE: all is working, but you don't know why. THEORY plus PRACTICE: nothing works and you don't know why

Joao Pinga: With tongue in check, 'nolo contendere'.
written by aes, 2007-05-15 20:47:38
If there is no time, that is the division of Eternity, means minutes , hours, days, millenia, are but antropomorphic projections on an essentially static state universe, and by consequence there is no evolution as there is no movement. It is a kind of light show, strobiscopic phenomenology. Everything is happening, has happened already, not happening, happened. We are just blinking moments of consciousness seeing snippets in this most intelligent of designs, but that is presumption. For if it is not intelligent, which you may substitute the anathematic word God, then it is unintelligent. And if it were unintelligent, or non intelligent, how would you know. So let us assume that the universe, that which is and will be as well as what was, is a manifestation of intelligent design: and the parcing of it into speciation, or process is for a fish to conceive of an existence in New York City, or the reading of a book. Your mockery is a sham of a sham of a mockery of a sham, and if you go to any community college and achieve high marks, especially in courses like chemestry, biology, physics, English, calculus, all undergraduate lower division courses, then any university ie Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA will welcome you with open arms; as most undergraduates are idiots with the intellectual where with all of small mamalia. The drop out and failure rate at American institutions of higher learning is of such staggering numbers, the students being so ill prepared, that it is recommended that one get one's intellectual and academic feet wet at a community college and learn how to learn, before attempting to learn. It is so easy to be arrogant when one is obviously Phi Beta Kappa having graduated Summa Magna Cum Laude,from Harvard, but even the friends I have who have, pale, in your beratement of e harmony and her community college. You get out of a Universtity what you put in. And as for the Jesuits, 'God bless them'. I think they established 42 Universities in the U.S. including Georgetown in D.C.. And while were at it 'God Bless Tiny Tim'.

Thanks, AES. For the record I'm a he and not a she.

A two year community college also offers a financial benefit. I had a teacher in one class who said he could not believe how much the cost of going to college has went up. I think he said in the 1970's each of his classes at the same community college only cost him $6 a class. So, a two year college can reduce the price of a persons education before transferring over to a 4 year college or university. For me I also needed to get my feet wet back in school first.

'easy peasy'

Adjective: easy-peasy
Usage: Brit

(informal) very easy

Now you are a very queer duck. Who the f**k in the U.S. uses an expression like 'easy peasy'?

'And I mockingly question your assertion that the “educated have ruled the world for a very long time”.'
You pandering pimp. The educated have ruled the world for a very long time under the employment of the very wealthy. It is fallacious to conclude that just because you are educated you have not ruled the world for a very long time, you dont have to be poor to be stupid.

Money buys information, ie Oppenheimer, Ford, Getty, Einstein, Boeing, Microsoft. Now you dont have to be smart to acquire money, but you do have to be educated enough to realize that education is a commodity like any other that may be acquired, purchased and used like any other tool for any other purpose, ie 'rulling the world'. It seems that if you could denegrate those that rule the world to the species of uneducated Yahoos you could justify your apparent incapacity to 'rule your world', I assume to cause effective change; regardless of your education. But you are teaching one community college student at a time, one crayola at a time. It appears you majored in wax.

You stated: "Atheism is not a “belief” in anything, rather the lack of a belief in a deity." The lack of a belief in a deity is a belief held within itself.

No. no. no. Only theists jumble up what atheism is or isn’t. Atheism is NOT a "belief." Atheism is derived from the Greek word “atheos”, simply meaning: "away from the belief in gods." It is fraudulent to assume that the belief in supernatural entities is, somehow, equivalent to the "non-belief" in those same fairy-tales. Is your dismissal of the existence of a tooth fairy a belief?

are certain God does not exist then it would be wise to argue in the manner of an educated and objective individual rather than arguing like a child, angered, and putting forth emotionally charged responses.

Sorry, E, but I’m not the one bringing up personal anecdotal events, as uninteresting as they are, to argue bigger picture issues. My line of reasoning was and always has been; with your more learned individuals and nations you’ll find a higher concentration of atheists. I’ve said this 4 times now, and it still has not sunk in with you yet.

As to my poking fun at community colleges which seems to have struck too close to home for AES, I argued Atheism cannot be forced; it comes naturally through higher education and critical analysis. This is where you jumped in saying “well, heck, I’m in community college and doing a 5 credit course in biology, and I still believe in God”. So, who really has the child-like responses? You deserved to be ridiculed after that.

I went to Catholic high school in the Midwest and we were taught the theory of evolution - nada on Intelligent Design.

Here we go again.

Please refrain from rewriting history through your personal narrative. I don’t care what you were taught in Catholic school, it doesn’t make the fact go away that there was a rather hostile concerted attempt by the rabid right (you know, the MORAL majority in the ole USofA) to supplant science teachings with religious googlygook and mumbojumbo in life science courses. What you were taught in the Midwest, and what I ate for breakfast yesterday, doesn’t change that.

So Christians have not been absent in shaping our thoughts in modern science. I personally believe in evolution, yet to be 100% objective I must recognize and admit it is in the scientific community what they term a theory and not a law. [...] Perhaps one day, given greater technological tools, evolution can be proven and raised up to a law.

Please get your scientific definitions straight. “Scientific Laws” and “scientific theories” are quite similar in that both are accepted to be true as a whole, they differ in that a theory is much more complex. A “law” governs a single action (apple falls on head), whereas a “theory” explains a group of related phenomena.

There is no graduating from a "theory" to a "law", if you think this, you should not be graduating from your college. PLEASE demand the basics from your science teacher.

And also, I didn’t say Christians (or whatever religiou you choose) didn’t help shape science. Here again, you are reading far too much into my words and not concentrating on the stated facts. You’re not trying to understand the text I’ve written on the page, you’re creating your own narrative. It’s impossible to keep you on track.

My line of reasoning was and always has been; with your more learned individuals and nations you’ll find a higher concentration of atheists.

I am a little curious Mr. Pinga, what information do you base your assumption on?

That I gave both cities along with there nations it could be easily recognized it was a typo. Not only that but I provided the source and link. I meant to state "European cities" and not "European nations."

Again, you missed the whole point. What a surprise. You stated that Helsinki had the highest homicide rate in EUROPE. That’s far from an accurate GLOBAL picture, wouldn’t you say? And, also, I couldn’t care less about your typos, at least you use paragraphs (please educated AES on this).

Looking at your link again. Yes, Helsinki Finland had one of the 10 worst murder rates for CITIES in EUROPE in the 1990s but if you scrolled up more, you would have seen that the COUNTRY Finland was in the list of the 10 SAFEST cities on Earth. "There are three typesof lies..There are lies, damn lies and then there are stastistics." Mark Twain.

The question is fair. You were speaking of some statistical facts of a few nations so I queried to their population size. If you don't like questions or critique to your points, propositions, or statistical assertions then you better stay away from both the natural and social sciences because in both the scientific process requires putting forth all those things (your propositions, findings, and so forth) before others for rigorous questioning and critique.

What was the critique? Again, if you’ re going to run around here bragging about your community college education at least get the very basic in definitions down. You made no "critique" with that question. I was merely asking for clarification. There was no avoidance. Throwing in a “what is the population of those countries” without relevance is FAR from "rigorous questioning". Again, you need to start getting more bang for you buck from that educational institution you are at.

Your commentary in tone and diction implied an issue of morality.

You can barely read what is on the page, let alone read INTO anything I am writing. If I wanted to say morality I would have said MORALITY. Stick to what’s on the page, Sherlock.

Your mockery is a sham of a sham of a mockery of a sham,

I see no problem with courses or facilities that teach basket weaving, however if someone jumps to the fore stating, “I’m educated in biology”, and backs it up with a 5 credit course from a community college (and hasn’t even finished yet) then damn, I’m going to take a poke at him. E Harmony’s usage of anecdotal experiences is just plain annouying. Regardless, E Hamrony is also a big boy, and he can hold his own and really doesn’t need any help from the forum’s resident grammar butcher.

You pandering pimp. The educated have ruled the world for a very long time under the employment of the very wealthy.

Maybe I should have placed a smiling face icon after that sentence. I’m surprised that those here claiming the ability to read “tone” and “diction” couldn’t pull THAT one off. [Place rolling eyes icony-thingy here]. I guess it wasn’t EASY-PEASY. ANd you´re quit right, you don´t hear that a lot in theUS, you usually hear UGH-HU..

Although I was being sardonic in that instance, there is some truth in what I said. If you consider these war mongering nation leaders, corrupt politicians, and morally bankrupt multinational CEOs to be intelligent (you know, the ones that led us through one of the worst centuries of war ever), then so be it. I’d like to see the bar raised a bit higher in terms of who is allowed access to the helm. Maybe it is just me, but I feel that if this planet were truly run by Educated individuals, things would look quite differently today.

I am a little curious Mr. Pinga, what information do you base your assumption on?

There was a good deal written about it in the “God Delusion”, Richard Dawkin’s newest master piece. Dawkins cites research conducted by the good folks at MENSA, and their research purports a correlation between IQ and religious beliefs. Of course there is a difference between IQ, EQ and education, but that is neatly addressed too.

You can spelunk around the net and find the data, and read of course the problems with gathering such data, but it does exist. The book also makes use of the argument I did, that the more emphasis placed on quality education by countries in a secular environment (money invested per individual etc.) the higher the levels of atheism. Globally though, you have no worries; we are still the minority, but here none the less. You folks have been quoting one of the most famous, sadly deceased, atheists that ever existed. Douglas Adams.

Ah the "good folks at MENSA". If MENSA were only rulling the world, there would be a thousand years of piece and order.

For such a wit you are naive as to 'the way of the world', ( no reference to Congreve intended). The world, all grammar aside, is run directly by low brows and indirectly, that is to say over time, a hundred years, a thousand years, by Hawking or Dawkins or by Plato or Moses or John the Baptist, (and by the way, having been to the Jordan it is far less a wasteland than the Sinai).

Angor Wat was an interesting manifestation of intelligence rulling. But intelligence has no interest in things, Mamon, greed; and the 'benevolent dictator' though Platonic and therefore self evidently the 'sine qua non' of all things thought, is more part of the Allegory of the Cave than some treatise of the Republic.

Intelligence is to either own the monestary or live in it. I owned a 100 acer monestary. I am philosophically a Naturalist, a Transcendentalist, and an ardent fan of 'Live Free or Die' and do not give (in the vernacular) a 'rat's ass as to the butchery of grammar. Thoughts come as they come, outside the lines of coloring books.

The sure-est way to kill the creative in a child is to make it color inside the lines. I am more interested in a "stream of consciousness' than the rigidity of the opinion of a grammarian.

Save yourself, move to the coast of Oregon or Washington and relearn the art of being.

Rule yourself, the 'burning monk' is certainly iconic as to the mastery of the self. You may know about 'mastering the self', but Le Duc 'really knows' about the mastery of the self. There is a difference between merely knowing a nd really knowing. You know what you do, you think you know everything else. There is a difference between belief and knowing. We believe the world is round, we believe that the Earth is not in the center of the universe. Ironically the Earth is actually in the center of the universe and every point in the universe is equally the center of the universe. (I think this is astro physics, everything is moving away from everything at the same rate of speed, equally).

Which brings us to the fallacy of 'atheism' But in its broadest definition, atheism is the absence of belief in deities. Now C.J. Jung would probably contend that the bielief system is hardwired into the organism.

Now Huxley and 'The Doors of Perception' would put the THEISM back into your 'atheism'. I suggest the Tibetan Book Of The Dead.

I prefer to think of Gravity as the 'cause celebre' and you can be as 'agravity' as you like, you have convinced yourself of the inconvinceable.

The proving of the not of that which by your definition is not. If it is not, than what is it that is not. It is like a group of people that are 'apinkelephantists'.

Kindest regards, the Butcher of Grammar.

Grammar: A normative or prescriptive set of rules setting forth the current standard of usage for pedagogical or reference purposes.
Pedagogue: One who instructs in a pedantic or dogmatic manner

Lord spare me from the pedagogue.

I’d like to see the bar raised a bit higher in terms of who is allowed access to the helm.Maybe it is just me, but I feel that if this planet were truly run by Educated individuals, things would look quite differently today

John, another fascinating statement from you. I really dont want to get involved in discussions about relgion,atheism,etc; I have just two questions for you a) How are we going acccomplish the goal of setting the bar higher for the ones at the helm? b) Are you saying that the ex-executives of Enron or more recently the President of the World bank are not "truly educated"?.

You know that our President does not have formal education and he is at the helm of the government,but surrounded by many "educated" ministers. What scares me is the possibility that they are not going to accomplish much and the truly educated citizens will become a minority. Unfortunately, everything is pointing to this direction.

There was a good deal written about it in the “God Delusion”, Richard Dawkin´s newest master piece. Dawkins cites research conducted by the good folks at MENSA, and their research purports a correlation between IQ and religious beliefs. Of course there is a difference between IQ, EQ and education, but that is neatly addressed too.

It goes without saying that I have not read ANY of his books, and if I had I probably would not accept it, or the research as Gospel. Now I could go spelunk on the net for a more unbiased base of facts, but I must admit I am all Spelunked out with the wealth of information at hand these days. What perks my interest is, the numerous quotations in the Bible (a bit older than Mr. Dawkins' book) that refers to things you are citing, moreover, the thoughts of carnal man. The same thoughts you are proposing in relation to the Atheist believe or non believe, whichever you prefer.

I would site some passages from the Bible as examples, but I assume if you are keen to read Mr. Dawkins' book/s, then you probably have read the Bible which holds more value, that is if you can understand it. Now I imagine a good Atheist, if one exist, or if one can be classified as such, might argue that the Bible is a book thoroughly out-of-date, and more recent Authors are more authoritative and disregard any attempt at reading such.

Now the Atheist, as now being classified as more intelligent/educated (according to those who quote this theory) than those of less intelligence/uneducated who believe
in a Creator (GOD), have all read and understand the bible and can quote it, and quote the logic and prove that it is illogical.

I say this because if one professes his self to be wiser than an others, and does not research the opposing argument (or lacks the ability to comprehend it) well then he is just more or less preaching his own Gospel.

Considering how humanity has progressed in knowledge, even after having believed the Earth was flat, it is incredible, how man has reversed engineered
the universe and mankind to such a point that is can create its own"Bible" is just wonderfully amazing. What we are left here with is, the creature is more intelligent than if there had been a creator or the creature is now more intelligent than the creator or the answer to life, the universe, and everything is 42.

An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing.

my, my
written by João Pinga, 2007-05-16 10:15:46

Sorry, E, but I’m not the one bringing up personal anecdotal events, as uninteresting as they are, to argue bigger picture issues. My line of reasoning was and always has been; with your more learned individuals and nations you’ll find a higher concentration of atheists. I’ve said this 4 times now, and it still has not sunk in with you yet.

As to my poking fun at community colleges which seems to have struck too close to home for AES, I argued Atheism cannot be forced; it comes naturally through higher education and critical analysis. This is where you jumped in saying “well, heck, I’m in community college and doing a 5 credit course in biology, and I still believe in God”. So, who really has the child-like responses? You deserved to be ridiculed after that.

I'm done arguing with you. You make up a false quote of me (you evidently have no problem in libel) and you are pretentious enough to imply you are a greater mind (scientifically and otherwise) than people like Gregor Mendel simply because they have taken religious vows or hold religious beliefs.

Another thing, there is nothing wrong at all in the education at community colleges. I have been told by more than one person that many of them are equal or better than quite a number of state universities. In fact I recall one teacher of a history class of mine stating that it would be unlikely we would be taking any essay tests (in history) if and when we go to a big university, that the tests would likely be fill-in-the-blank and ran through a computer, because the classes are so large. There is nothing wrong with smaller colleges that have smaller class sizes. You can push your rep**ation b*lls**t to someone else.

But before I finish I'll respond to your comment on "theory" vs "law" in another post.

Please get your scientific definitions straight. “Scientific Laws” and “scientific theories” are quite similar in that both are accepted to be true as a whole, they differ in that a theory is much more complex. A “law” governs a single action (apple falls on head), whereas a “theory” explains a group of related phenomena.

There is no graduating from a "theory" to a "law", if you think this, you should not be graduating from your college. PLEASE demand the basics from your science teacher.

And also, I didn’t say Christians (or whatever religiou you choose) didn’t help shape science. Here again, you are reading far too much into my words and not concentrating on the stated facts. You’re not trying to understand the text I’ve written on the page, you’re creating your own narrative. It’s impossible to keep you on track.

No, I think you need to get your definitions straight. A scientific law can indeed refer to a single action but it does not have to. The word "law" or "principle" is used by scientists to also refer to a graduation from "theory" to a more assumed accuracy of fact.

Source: Biology, Ninth Edition, by Sylvia S. Mader. Published by McGraw-Hill. New York, New York. Copyright 2007. With significant contributions by Murray P. Pendarvis, Southeastern Louisiana University.

Pages 11-12.
"The ultimate goal of science is to understand the natural world in terms of scientific theories, which are concepts that join together well-supported and related hypotheses. In ordinary speech, the word theory refers to a speculative idea. In contrast, a scientific theory is supported by a broad range of observations, experiments, and data often from a variety of disciplines. Some of the basic theories of biology are..." The book goes on to list cell; homeostasis; gene; ecosystem; evolution. "The theory of evolution is the unifying concept of biology because it pertains to many different aspects of living things. For example, the theory of evolution enables scientists to understand the history of life, the diversity of living things, and the anatomy, physiology, and embryological development of organisms...

"The theory of evolution has been a fruitful scientific theory, meaning that it has helped scientists generate new hypotheses. Because this theory has been supported by so many observations and experiments for over 100 years, some biologist refer to the principle of evolution, a term sometimes used for theories that are generally accepted by an overwhelming number of scientists. The term law instead of principle is preferred by some. For instance, in a subsequent chapter concerning energy relationships, we will examine the laws of thermodynamics."

Those words emphasis in bold, within the quotes, are those of the book and not mine.

Basically, as in your example, the law of gravity can be proven by the apple falling on the head. Even a 2 year old can readily observe this action. Any concept that can be proven (beyond reasonable doubt) is likely to be referred to as a "law." Concepts that have strong and significant evidence supporting them may or may not be referred to as a "law" depending on the amount of acceptance or doubts behind them. Evolution as a concept can not be as easily proven as gravity per an apple falling on someones head. If Gregor Mendel had had then benefit of the electron microscope then his hypothesis or theory of "traits" (I believe he called them?) could have been given greater support by the discovery of alleles.

What you fail to internalize, is that true acceptance of the scientific process and method allows for self corrections, as more is learned and discovered and concepts become proven or disproven. True scientific thinking is more fluid in this regard than theology and philosophy. Any person that becomes rigid and subjective in their thinking patterns regarding scientific concepts unproven essentially becomes no more than a conservative theologian or philosopher in the way he or she thinks.

The tools of an age bear ability on the scientific knowledge and understanding of an era. In other words, we can say science is only as good as the tools it has.

You know that our President does not have formal education and he is at the helm of the government,but surrounded by many "educated" ministers.

An uneducated thief uses a gun, he is called a robber. An educated thief wears a suit and uses his education, he is called smart.
Lula is an ethanol hybrid.

An uneducated thief uses a gun, he is called a robber. An educated thief wears a suit and uses his education, he is called smart.
Lula is an ethanol hybrid.

You are a truly educated officer,gentleman and a scholar to have come out with this quote

Sorry,Prof, Lula is smarter than ya all think. He is a Flex.

Which country do you think that Mr.Pinga comes from?. He has already given plenty of clues.

An uneducated thief uses a gun, he is called a robber. An educated thief wears a suit and is called a politician.

An educated thief wears a suit and is called a politician.

Today you are in a nasty mood,AES.

I am as Dawkins would agree an Einsteinian theologian. If you discect a butterfly, take its wings apart, remove the irridescent scales, sever its antennae, amp**ate its legs, cut out its eyes and the myriad nerves that connect the infinite prisims, disect the brain, remove its exo skeleton, split its abdomen open and discect its digestive, reproductive, excretory tracts, remove its tongue, if you do all this where is the butterfly, what hve you learned, only that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That life is greater than the sum of its parts. And this phenomenon is the AWE of which Einstein and Dawkins speak as Einsteinian Theologia.

Which country do you think that Mr.Pinga comes from?.

The U.S. but I think he might be Mrs. Corp. Crunches Brother-in-law.

People are promoted not by what they can do, but what people think they can do.

Prof wrote:

It goes without saying that I have not read ANY of his books, and if I had I probably would not accept it

That’s a shame, he is only one of the most important and influential scientists today in the UK, and his books such as the Blind Watcher Maker and the Selfish Gene (apart from being fascinating journeys of discovery) are required reading in many University settings depending on, of course, the discipline. The fact that many outside of university find his writings interesting too is a testament that science can be written informatively and entertainingly. Dawkin´s has only really tackled God in his latest prose.

I don’t censor myself with my reading, but I do question those who do (that whole beware of the man who reads but one book, thang). And yes, I’ve read both the Old and the New Testament (my, oh my, your deity was certainly a nasty old bugger in the Old Testament, how many genocides did he cause? I digress). I’ve also read the Koran, and believe it or not, while bored silly traveling between airports for two days on a super long jaunt across the globe, I even picked up and gobbled down Dianetics by Ron. L. Hubbard. I’m open to understanding religions. But I still don’t believe in the existence of a deity or deities.

I’ve not even mocked religion here that much other than to poke a little fun at Ole Billy-bob for being a self proclaimed “good” God-fearin X-tian that enjoys exploiting migrant workers, gluttony and greed, and is a cheerleading the nuclear annihilation of the middle East.

You can be intelligent and still be a believer, as a few scientists do (Ken Miller comes to mind), I only stated that in groups or nations where better education is present you find more atheists. I think I’ve written that now 6 times, although I’m sure E Harmony will still have problems understanding it.

for AES:
Ya, thanks for the paragraphs, but, um, err, ahhh, between coloring books and flaming monks, you lost me again. Did I say I appreciated the paragraphs?

Meu irmão João

a)How are we going acccomplish the goal of setting the bar higher for the ones at the helm? b) Are you saying that the ex-executives of Enron or more recently the President of the World bank are not "truly educated"?.

A. I have no idea, and B. You know that in Portuguese the word Educação has various meanings. “Seja educado quando falar com o senhor” ou seja “Ele falta educação” with both these examples, educação doesn’t signify education in the formal sense of the word, it means, loosely, being polite or respectful of others. Education, in my books at least and more specifically in reference to my sardonic remark at the idea that those ruling the planet were educated, was as such. The slimy Wolfowitz and Kenneth Lay (please don’t RIP) are prime examples of people running (or were running) this planet who are educated in the formal sense (probably a few degrees here and there), but not in the other. Yes they went to school, but I roll my eyes when I hear people calling them edumacated.

OK one last time before I head out for a Bohemia.

I'm done arguing with you. You make up a false quote of me (you evidently have no problem in libel) and you are pretentious enough to imply you are a greater mind (scientifically and otherwise) than people like Gregor Mendel simply because they have taken religious vows or hold religious beliefs.

Firstly, your understanding of law is worse than your science. LIBEL? For starters, I don’t know who you are and neither soes anyone else. So, right off the top you cannot be libeled and or slandered. You’re an anonymous nic in cyberspace, not someone of interest or of rep**able stature that can be harmed through slanderous speak.

Secondly, it was obvious that I was MOCKING you. Thicken that skin up.

And where did I imply I had a greater mind than people like Mendel? I’ve not even typed his name until now. I’ve not even implied I have a greater mind than you. I’ve have implied your not very smart, but I’ve not implied that I am any smarter. But if you’re that much of a child about things, and will huff and puff like a schoolyard sissy, be gone with you then.

In fact I recall one teacher of a history class of mine stating….

You just don’t get it do you… LMAO

But before I go, I´ll give you a little sciencelesson, becasue GOD knows you're not getting it at your college.

No, I think you need to get your definitions straight. A scientific law can indeed refer to a single action but it does not have to. The word "law" or "principle" is used by scientists to also refer to a graduation from "theory" to a more assumed accuracy of fact.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laws and theories connote different meanings, depending on the discipline and although both are based on tested hypotheses and both are supported by a large body of empirical data and both are widely accepted by the vast majority (if not all) scientists within a discipline, the slight difference which is lost on many a layman is that laws usually describes WHAT nature does under certain conditions, and theories explain WHY. You can generally tell the two apart with the use of mathematics. Most laws use math which explains why physics has lots of laws. In biology, ecology, evolutionary biology (all theories) etc it is very difficult to describe all the complexities of life within mathematical terms, hence most are theories. I´ll conced that there is ome debate on these.

But although many scientists may argue the super fine subtleties and nuances between what a “law” is and what a “theory” is, one thing that is NOT in dispute is that a THEORY IS NOT A TRANSITORY LAW or a LAW in waiting. There is NO hierarchy. One doesn´tprogress into another. There is no debate here. Full stop. Now go ask for a refund on that science course of yours. LMAO

OK one last time before I head out for a Bohemia.

I suggest that we all follow Mr.Pinga´s example and have some cold refreshments and continue our discussion.I am sure that there is no dispute about his plan of action.

and you dont forget to have some stoned crab with your Boehmia.Mind you, it is a favourite dish of Billy-Bob

'apart from being fascinating journeys of discovery'. Are you serious, 'fascinating journeys of discovery' I think i read that on the book jacket
'the “God Delusion”, Richard Dawkin’s newest master piece'. "Newest masterpiece, I think was written in the New York Times Book Review Section

"On a super long jaunt across the globe" Yawn, oh please, 'a super long jaunt across the globe'

You have a penchant for the obviouse, if only the bar were raised and the people that RULE the Earth were bettter educated and aethists and not Jesuits, oh how wonderful things would be. Well Nazi Germany was ruled by some of the most highly intellectual, ie high IQ's et all. And they came up with the conclusion that if you raised the bar high enough and killed those that were shorter you could create the Uber Mench. 7 million dead people later these intellectual leaders surrendered.

'There are no athiests in a foxhole' that was an old saw that came out of WWII. You seem to neither understand it or recognize it.

Sardonic, you like that word, it is in another word sarcasm. I had a professor of The Age Of Reason he was from Princeton, and had no tolerance for self indulgent self proclaimed intellectuals, and in the middle of the asses exercise at wit interrupted him and informed him that 'sarcasm was the lowest form of wit', not that you care because you enjoy being 'sardonic'.

I wonder if your children think outside the box or have been made sure to color within the lines.

Yawn, o hum, ugg, roll the eyes, there is a profound lack of poetry in yours soul. Do athiests have souls?

How many athiestic Danes can stand on the head of a pin?

written by João Pinga, 2007-05-16 17:45:52
LIBEL? For starters, I don’t know who you are and neither soes anyone else. So, right off the top you cannot be libeled and or slandered. You’re an anonymous nic in cyberspace, not someone of interest or of rep**able stature that can be harmed through slanderous speak.

As I said, I'm done arguing with you, but I'm going to address this so I can give some clarification to the reader.

I never stated or implied that you libeled me. What I stated in so many words was that you provided a false quote of me then in parentheses I stated you have no problem with libel - by that I meant you have no problem with yourself or other libeling others.

Libel is the written defamation of a person (or even business). Slander on the other hand is the verbal equivalent. A person does not have to be "someone of interest" or of "rep**able stature" to be libeled or slandered. A person does not even have to have their proper name mentioned to be libeled or slandered - if it is understood who was implied, the courts (in the U.S. at least) still consider that libeling or slandering someone. However, you are correct that my proper identity would have to be known for me to be libeled by someone in such a thing as an internet board (plus I would have to prove it caused damage to me financially, psychologically, or otherwise)

Why I say you have no problem with libel (or even as you add: slander) is because you evidently have no problem putting up false quotes of people (in this case me).

There’s actually a formula posted somewhere on the net about how long your typical on-line forum topic can run until someone calls the other a Nazi, or makes connections to Nazi Germany. I don’t think you have broken any records here but your little meltdown has proven that you can never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.

FUI!

I was using 1935-1945 Germany as an example of a highly intellectual country, whole rulers were well educated German erudites. For example Einstein, or Von Braun, or Max Plank, or Freud, or Goethe, I did not use the term Nazi to be provocative, merely factual. Call it Germany in the mid thirties to mid forties. Nazi pejoration is a projection of yours not mine. Now if you can think of a country in the twentieth century that manifested rule by intellection, please illucidate. German society was a society of intellectualism, of Freud, Kant, Engle, Plank, Von Braun, it was at this time period one of the highest IQed civilizations on the planet. The mere point being that intellegence does not equate to an end of human suffering. And thinking of the intellectual, philosophical, and scientific genius that was present in Germany at that time I leapt to the conclusion that there is not an a priori connection between a country governed by intellects and the consequential benefits to mankind.

Dumbass said:

I'm currently finishing up a 5 credit biology class at a secular community college within the United States. There has not been one mention of God - though there has been of Gregor Mendel - and from looking through a microscope at mold on bread to learning about the ice on top of water insulating and protecting aquatic life (rather than freezing over completely) during winter to a human body that is a million times superior to computers (computers can't box, they don't create keratin waterproof skin, and they can't sexually or non-sexually reproduce themselves)... my belief in God went up not down.

Pinga paraphrased and mocked:

This is where you jumped in saying “well, heck, I’m in community college and doing a 5 credit course in biology, and I still believe in God”

You're grasping at straws and boring me now. Run along.

But first:

Dumbass whines:

I never stated or implied that you libeled me. What I stated in so many words was that you provided a false quote of me then in parentheses I stated you have no problem with libel - by that I meant you have no problem with yourself or other libeling others.

//

Pinga, in the lead role FURTHER mocking dumbass responds:
But....but....but..... your "tone" and "diction". It was IMPLIED. (qwa qwa) I talked with my school teacher from 20 years ago who was a catholic and taught law later in life, and he lived next to someone who produces school books about biology, and ate captain crunch for breakfast, and he said that I will always be right and E-Harmony will always be wrong. LMAOFOTL

No. no. no. Only theists jumble up what atheism is or isn’t. Atheism is NOT a "belief." Atheism is derived from the Greek word “atheos”, simply meaning: "away from the belief in gods." It is fraudulent to assume that the belief in supernatural entities is, somehow, equivalent to the "non-belief" in those same fairy-tales. Is your dismissal of the existence of a tooth fairy a belief?

This one was funny because your brain can't analyze phrases! Are you able to distinguish between a verb and a noun? Since you can't prove God doesn't exist, and therefore can't rule out the existence of God, you believe that God doesn't exist. That's an act of believing.

The noun "belief" could be interpreted in the sense of "religious belief", but a more agile brain would see the act of believing, i.e., trusting in the truthfulness of an assertion without any evidence, as a belief.

I have the impression you consider "belief" to be a synonym for "religion" or "christianity" only, and that's incorrect.

You can barely read what is on the page, let alone read INTO anything I am writing.

That's coming from someone who has proven many times over that can't read and understand a text.

There was a good deal written about it in the “God Delusion”, Richard Dawkin´s newest master piece. Dawkins cites research conducted by the good folks at MENSA, and their research purports a correlation between IQ and religious beliefs.

Richards Dawkins is an idiot who is appreciated only by clowns like you. What he says is simply logically incorrect or incorrectly interepreted in order to support his theories and appease his fans. He wouldn't last 10 seconds in a debate with a properly educated philosopher. Not only because of the skills in the ancient art of rethoric, but because many people across the time have produced knowledge about God, where the possibility is explored rationally.

I recently visited the site of a brazilian philosopher and saw some texts about a discussion of a guy very similar to you, that believed to have all the answers, and he was humiliated. It was funny in a way, but I also felt sorry for the guy. If he wasn't using a nickname in his messages then bad for him, because he was truly humiliated. The url for his site is: http://www.olavodecarvalho.org/

If you think that religion is for the stupid then I suggest you send an e-mail to that guy challenging him about that topic. He is living in the US right now and has a weekly radio show.

About the IQ part. Atheism is a belief system that stablishes a scale of values just like christianity. In this case people like you placed at the top of the pyramid as "the righteous". How? Just read the texts you have proudly written again and the text I quoted.

Intelligent people hasn't ruled the world for a long time? So, are you saying that in the middle ages the peasant was more educated than kings? Are you saying that the political elite of the US doesn't have access to the best schools and colleges and the average Joe is better educated than them? Brazil is an exception to the rule since we are ruled by the idiots, see Lula and PT, but that's recent, the older parties and elites in power also had good education.

From all people I have seen in this forum I can surely tell you are the stupidest one. Ch.c is intentionally an a*****e, AES seems to be writing poetry instead of forum messages, Professor loves grammar, but you... you are definitely stupid. And seem to link "name calling" to "intelligence". I haven't found any sign of intelligence[/n] in any of your posts, except regurgitating a few "facts" about your favorite writer (and that's because you don't like people of a single book).

Oe last time, and then I really need a beer.

Nazi Germany is the knee-jerk reaction to just about any subject in lieu of anything else interesting to add. It is the defeatist’s position and is called as such by most moderators. Of course it is provocative. It doesn’t matter if the discussion is political, religious, intellectual, or about madmen with funny moustaches a major of forums always end up here. THANX!

I could turn this around and say: You do know that Hitler was a Christian don’t you? But again, what would it add to the discussion on atheism and education? Hitler also had a Dog, he was also a vegetarian, and studied art. Does it mean all Dog loving Christian Vegetarians with an eye for art are going to lead an army against the world? Grow up.

Oe last time, and then I really need a beer.

So, do I. Vai fundo,irmão. Dont get intimidated by A Brazilian,AES,Prof or for that matter Billy-Bob (or that hated figure Bo). In Maple Syrup, we trust (provided it doesnt contain chemicals provided by Billy-Bob).

Btw,you are in an excellent company.

Will have another beer (Skol) and moderate this forum.

Is your dismissal of the existence of a tooth fairy a belief?

Philosophers throughout the times have wondered about the possibility of the existence of God, but why? Is it God an arbitrary creation, such as a "tooth fairy", or is something different? Why do some men feel the need of transcendence, of believing there's something beyond his known surroundings? God is not an absurditity created for some silly reason, but instead a valid possibility based on the simple and logical conclusion that every effect has a cause. If this world was created then who started the process? Who created it?

Do you even realize the size of the problem? So your question demonstrated, once again, your inability to even understand the problem. You created a simple syllogism:

- I can't prove that God exists;
- I think that God doesn't exist;
- Therefore what I think is a "belief";

- I can't prove that the tooth fairy exists;
- I think that the tooth fairy doesn't exist;
- Therefore what I think is a "belief"; (And you consider yourself to be smart?)

Usually the image of God depicted by the believers of Atheism is a very childish one, that doesn't match the view of the Vatican or of intelligent christians at all. It even seems you refuse yourselves to rationally analyze the problem in order to be able to claim fantastic things like the "tooth fairy" example, that you probably copied from of the crappy books you love.

Professor loves grammar

Jesus Christ! (I say that as a compliment) I think this is the first time I have read
one of your post and actually enjoyed it! You were clearly articulate!
I feel like I am watching American Idol, and in saying so AB, I think you deserve a place in the finals!

I digress to an amoebic form and disappear in a puff of denial, into the Godless netherworld.

To:AES/Prof
written by João da Silva, 2007-05-16 18:23:48

OK one last time before I head out for a Bohemia.

I suggest that we all follow Mr.Pinga´s example and have some cold refreshments and continue our discussion.I am sure that there is no dispute about his plan of action.

Ok, João break is over, off your arse and back to work!

Ok, João break is over, off your arse and back to work!

If ya all promise to behave yourselves, shall obey your order. I still think that you blew your job as a CIA agent in identifying Mr.Pinga's nationality.Adml.Forrest could have easily done it.It is like the Movie "Saving of Private Ryan", where every private (like Billy-Bo) wanted to know what exactly Tom Hanks was doing back in the good ole U.S. of A.

I dare say that good ole Pinga is not a Brazilian and nor from U.S. (though you would love to claim that he is from Arizona). You keep track of this debate and dont let AES get too excited.

Great. Now we have the resident knuckle dragger chiming in. Let me guess? You are a “prays be to him” Christian too? Why else would you openly cheer at the deaths of 111 people like you did in the other discussion? Do you have a "The Pope Visited Brazil and all I got was this Stupid T-shirt" T-shirt?

Crikies, you jumped out of a discussion yesterday, tail between your legs, after a good ole intellectual ass-whooping and you’re back for more?

But like BO pointed out, you really don’t need to debate a Brazilian, I´ll just feed you enough rope and you’ll soon hang yourself.

Richards Dawkins is an idiot who is appreciated only by clowns like you.

An idiot? Richard Dawkins? Idiot? He’s an evolutionary biologist, and one of the worlds’s most acclaimed. He’s in good company with E.O Wilson and Jay Gould. Have you read ANYTHING he’s written? Do you even believe in evolution? or do you still think that “I dreamed of Jennie” twitched her nose and presto, Adam boinked Eve?

Richard Dawkin´s is hated only by sky-worshiping primates like yourself because he puts into question, using science, all that gobblygock and bulls**t in that book you surface level thinkers clutch to your chest. I have no problem with folks believing in what they want. Heck, I think Ganesh is a pretty funky God myself, Thor is a pretty cool story too. But why do you bible thumpers fear a different point of view?

What he says is simply logically incorrect or incorrectly interepreted in order to support his theories and appease his fans.

You tell me what he says A Brazilian that is so LOGICALLY INCORRECT? And I’ll not let this go. You have NO idea what so ever what he has ever written. So, again…What does he say that is INCORRECT? I’ll be waiting, Poindexter.

I recently visited the site of a brazilian philosopher

I'm actually entertained by Olavo although he´s a columnist and NOT a philosopher. He is the Bill O’Rielly of Brazil (without a radio and or TV show) He’s quite entertaining, like Billy-Boy. I’ll have a look. I’m not offended with differing points of view.

If you think that religion is for the stupid then I suggest you send an e-mail to that guy challenging him about that topic. He is living in the US right now and has a weekly radio show.

Groan...sigh....I never said that you predicable ape-like cave dweller. I’ve already praised, albeit quickly, Ken Miller from Brown University who has written most of the university level text books on biology and evolution, and he’s also a Catholic. I’ve said, and this will now have been written 7 times that: in populations where there is a better quality of education you’ll find more atheists. I’m truly amazed at just how this little piece of information, confirmed through studies, can upset so many people and be read so differently. AMAZING. But God does work in mysterious ways. He he he.

About the IQ part. Atheism is a belief system that stablishes a scale of values just like christianity. In this case people like you placed at the top of the pyramid as "the righteous". How? Just read the texts you have proudly written again and the text I quoted.

That was worse then AES drunk... try again. But explain to me this system of values that atheists have.

So, are you saying that in the middle ages the peasant was more educated than kings?

I’ve already taken this up with the amicably open-minded barriga verde in the forum. Try actually reading through the entire thread, and don´t just plunk your fat ass in because you saw my nic, and saw I was atheist. Most of your rubbish has already been addressed, Poindexter. So shut up and read.

From all people I have seen in this forum I can surely tell you are the stupidest one.

OK Poindexter. I’m the stupidest one. LMAO Now answermy questions.

Well expressed. The syllogism of the atheist.

But the premise that every effect requires a cause: would require a cause for God. The universe is was and always will be, it is a manifestation of God. Why would God require a cause? God is its own cause. Gravity exists, it is not created and yet is the first cause. It exists by its nature.

I’ve already taken this up with the amicably open-minded barriga verde in the forum

How the f**k did you know that I am a Barriga Verde?

Hitler also had a Dog, he was also a vegetarian, and studied art.

When I read the above quote I almost believed you were saying the Dog was a vegetarian, and studied art. Which is cool because Dogs should participate more in society instead of lying around and farting etc.!

You do know that Hitler was a Christian don’t you?

Even if that statement was true, it would not necessarily make him a Christian even if he had claimed to be so.
One can call himself a Christian or even think he is a Christian, but according to the book of life, completed before the foundation of the Earth, the final judgement is made. Depending on my dimensional point of view, I might actually see you as a Christian, even, at the time you said: I am a an Atheist.

Reasonable men adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable men adapt the world to themselves. That's why all progress depends on unreasonable men.

TO:J.Pinga
written by João da Silva, 2007-05-16 20:48:41

I’ve already taken this up with the amicably open-minded barriga verde in the forum
How the f**k did you know that I am a Barriga Verde?

Hand up in the air!! Probably because you do not demonstrate the qualities of a Gaucho??

sky-worshiping primates

Has this to do with evolution?

The missing link between apes and humans has been found: it's us.

Hand up in the air!! Probably because you do not demonstrate the qualities of a Gaucho??

No Prof., I am not a gaucho and a real Barriga Verde. Also an Islander.There is a saying in the South that says " The God put one foot in RS and another in PR and peed (xixi) on SC". I do resent this saying . As Pinga said, we the Barriga Verdes are open minded and dont mess with us. (like dont mess with Texas).Probably Pinga lives on the Island also.

Torof
written by João da Silva, 2007-05-16 21:42:32

Hand up in the air!! Probably because you do not demonstrate the qualities of a Gaucho??


No Prof., I am not a gaucho and a real Barriga Verde. Also an Islander.There is a saying in the South that says " The God put one foot in RS and another in PR and peed (xixi) on SC". I do resent this saying . As Pinga said, we the Barriga Verdes are open minded and dont mess with us. (like dont mess with Texas).Probably Pinga lives on the Island also.

Considering GOD theoretically has better range, he could have turned around and hit, Junior in the Boca (referring to Boca Junior, AR).
Keep up the Good fight Big John, don't let them Co*cksuckers in RS & PR piss all over you!
Sir Pinga, knows some of the Queen's English as well! probably infected by all that British psychobabble he has been reading.

Ya all heard from Pvt.Crunch (a.k.a Billy-Bob)? Ya think he was jailed after being arrested for S.U.I?. I want a complete report about our missing G.I.

Sir Pinga, knows some of the Queen's English as well! probably infected by all that British psychobabble he has been reading.

Sir.Pinga is really our man on the Arctic circle and I dont think he gives a flying f**k about Queen´s English and worse still,he disobeys Her Majesty by driving on the right side of the road.

Keep up the Good fight Big John, don't let them Co*cksuckers in RS & PR piss all over you!

Thanks Prof. We could always use the help of some Yanks,Canucks,Kiwis,Ossies and Limeys.Not to forget some turn coat insurgents from RS and PR

To: Dear all
written by João da Silva, 2007-05-16 22:07:45

Ya all heard from Pvt.Crunch (a.k.a Billy-Bob)? Ya think he was jailed after being arrested for S.U.I?. I want a complete report about our missing G.I.

My guess, is that he packed up the family and headed for the hills to where all other Billy-Bobs go, because Hurricane season starts in two-weeks. Another possibility, he might be having a Billy-fish BBQ on his (Cuban) Yacht, smoking a "El Rey Del Mundo " and doing the Cha-Cha.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism

For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism

You misquoting Sir.Isaac Newton?

Dawkins thinks belief in God is an utterly irrational belief – like believing in a teapot orbiting the sun. McGrath says this is a flawed analogy since nobody actually believes such nonsense as this and that it's another example of Dawkins systematically mocking, misrepresenting, and demonising competing worldviews. He argues that "there is a much deeper question here, What is the difference between a worldview and a religion? and criticises Dawkins for failing to offer a definition of "religion" and for relying on Sir James Frazer’s Golden Bough – "a highly impressionistic early work of anthropology, first published in 1890". The McGraths ask whether we are psychologically primed for religion? They consider this an important question, which clearly requires a psychological answer, and say "It soon becomes clear that Dawkins is not qualified to give one."

McGrath suggests that the virus of the mind idea simply implodes, falling victim to his own subjective judgement of what is rational and true.
McGrath agrees that we should not base our lives on delusions, and that we all need to examine our beliefs, but disagrees that faith is infantile, saying many thinkers came to believe in God as adults. He argues that faith is not irrational, suggesting that Dawkins's presentation of the pathological as if it were normal is neither acceptable nor scientific and abandons even the pretence of rigorous evidence-based scholarship: "Anecdote is substituted for evidence; selective internet trawling for quotes displaces rigorous and comprehensive engagement with primary sources."

He agrees with Dawkins on Paley's arguments from Design, but suggests that on other 'arguments' he is clearly out of his depth and superficial. He states that Aquinas never speaks of “proofs” for God’s existence; rather they are demonstrations of the inner coherence of belief in God, and that our beliefs may be shown to be justifiable, without thereby demonstrating that they are proven. He claims that Dawkins's "Argument from improbability" is a poorly structured expansion of the 'who made God then?' question, and that if these "brash and simplistic" arguments carried weight, the scientific quest for a Grand Unified Theory could be dismissed with “what explains the explainer”? He also suggests that a leap from complexity to improbability is highly problematic. Why is something complex improbable? A “theory of everything” may well be more complex than the lesser theories that it explains. He cites Richard Swinburne as one of many writers to argue that the capacity of science to explain itself requires explanation – and that the most economical and reliable account of this explanatory capacity lies in the notion of a creator God.
McGrath says he has the same background as Dawkins, and has often wondered how they could draw such totally different conclusions on the basis of reflecting long and hard on substantially the same world. He suggests that one possibility might be that he is deranged, deluded and hijacked by an infectious, malignant God-virus, but that the same ridiculous nonsense could be repeated applying it to Dawkins. He commends Stephen Jay Gould, who, though an atheist, "was absolutely clear that the natural sciences – including evolutionary theory – were consistent with both atheism and conventional religious belief and compares Dawkins's "total dogmatic conviction of correctness" to "a religious fundamentalism which refuses to allow its ideas to be examined or challenged. McGrath suggests that rather a lot of scientists do believe in God (including 40% of American scientists). He points out that Owen Gingerich, Francis Collins and Paul Davies had produced theistic books in the same year as The God Delusion and claims that "Dawkins clearly has no mandate whatsoever to speak for the scientific community at this point or on this topic. There is a massive observational discrepancy between the number of scientists that Dawkins believes should be atheists, and those who are so in practice....Dawkins is clearly entrenched in his own peculiar version of a fundamentalist dualism". McGrath also criticises what he terms Dawkins's suggestions of insincerity on the part of Freeman Dyson, Steven Jay Gould, Michael Ruse and John Paul II.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dawkins_Delusion?

the popes couldn't catch me. I fled from his flight to Rio that night and stayed in Parati. As his theater waned I returned again. What's new nearer to Bangu? So strange and exciting to find a motel is not like a hotel (although both are for no tell). With the novellas the popes replays interfere, so finally some respite. Makes time for a dip in the pool and to taste some cherry liquere. After a bit of food and a bottle of champagne there's not much left of the road weary pain. What to do what to do but to play cards for pay or foreplay til the hips come unglued.

Eu roubado mais proximo favela Jacare dupla vez. The moto tour cost R$2 to go but R$3 to get back, meanstwhile the car was leveraged and the money left in a hat tucked in the back seat disappeared. I want the hat back!

is a poorly structured expansion of the 'who made God then?' question

I have the answer to this question.

Torof
written by João da Silva, 2007-05-16 22:30:29

For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism

You misquoting Sir.Isaac Newton?

Of course my horse! Nothing like quoting another wonderful Bloke, in Blokedom!

Thanks Prof. We could always use the help of some Yanks,Canucks,Kiwis,Ossies and Limeys.Not to forget some turn coat insurgents from RS and PR

We are hereby known as the "Green Belly" mercenaries, for a nominal fee (we like SC, girls 18-25 years old) we are at your service!!
Long live the Republic!

I have no doubt that you do.

Do you even believe in evolution? or do you still think that “I dreamed of Jennie” twitched her nose and presto, Adam boinked Eve?

Is this the best you can do? Discussing with Atheists will never lead anywhere, because they don't even bother studying the matter and will only accept arguments in the narrow and simplistic terms they define. Since when to believe in God is like anything you have written?

I'm actually entertained by Olavo although he´s a columnist and NOT a philosopher. He is the Bill O’Rielly of Brazil (without a radio and or TV show) He’s quite entertaining, like Billy-Boy. I’ll have a look. I’m not offended with differing points of view.

The fact is that the guy taught and teaches philosophy. But if you have any doubts about his qualifications then you should ask him if he is indeed a philosopher or just a guy that teaches philosophy and participate in debates with other philosophers but it's not one.

I’m truly amazed at just how this little piece of information, confirmed through studies, can upset so many people and be read so differently.

You aren't upsetting anyone, this is just wrong. The most intelligent people have been in power for a long time and still they did the most terrible things. Intelligence without good ethics and values can be harmful.

Sir.Pinga is really our man on the Arctic circle and I dont think he gives a flying f**k about Queen´s English and worse still,he disobeys Her Majesty by driving on the right side of the road.

What chutzpah the Gall of this Gual!

João

I am not a gaucho and a real Barriga Verde. Also an Islander.

Ó-lho-lhó expia... Então tu és um verdadeiro manezinho da ilha, né? Fala ilhéu? Tá frio hoje, né.

AES

Dawkins thinks belief in God is an utterly irrational belief – like believing in a teapot orbiting the sun.

Of course. He’s a scientist and religion makes no sense when yo scrutinize it scientifically (like we do everything elese). Dawkin´s takes on the most widely circulated arguments for the existence of God such as Thomas Aquinas 5 proofs for the existence of God, the ontological argument, the argument from beauty, from personal experience, from scripture, Pascal’s wager and the ole bulls**t line “without religion there would be no morality” and smashes them to pieaces with scientific analysis. Sure he comes off as a bit belligerent and very condescending, but so what? He also comes off as quite funny, too. I suggest you read the book, and not just seek out reviews on wiki, Not that I think it will change your mind or challenge your faith, but because it’s written well and if you are going to take time out talking ABOUT it you might as well READ IT. Seems people are afraid to open it for some reason, Dawkin´s certainly wasn't afraid of studying the GOOD BOOK (first and second editions)

Another of Dawkin´s questions is: why does putting the concept of a deity up to the rigors of scientific testing create such animosity and scorn among so many of the “live and let live” faithful? If YA´LL GOTS NUDDIN TO BE FRAID OFF, WHY NOTS?

George Bush Sr. basically called atheists UNAMERCAN and traitors for having views contrary to the teachings of Christianity and Dawkin´s questions whether or not this climate is conducive to a society for the free flow and exchange of ideas. Could you imagine publishing a book called the “Allah Delusion” in Iran?

The simple fact that so many are willing reject Dawkins ideas outright without even reading them, OR WORSE, can easily write-off 30 years of his highly acclaimed and credited career in biology because his ideas TODAY rub-folks the wrong way only proves his argument about how faith blinds fools.

Look to Dumbass “A Brazilian”, probably the fella with the most loosely myelinated neurons here. His faith has so blinded him that he simply calls Dawkins an “idiot”, dismisses his research (although he still has not specified what part of Dawkin’s 30 years of research) as illogical and incorrect WITHOUT EVER HAVING CRACKED OPEN A BOOK OF HIS, and looks to a fairly unknown (in international circles) right-wing political pundit to provide his reasoning for the existence of Yahweh. That’s just plain pathetic. But we’ve come to expect that from a Nationalistic “dumbass” like A Brazilian.

DumbASS pontificates:

God is not an absurditity created for some silly reason, but instead a valid possibility based on the simple and logical conclusion that every effect has a cause. If this world was created then who started the process? Who created it?

Allah? Ganesh? Thor? Yahweh? The flying spaghetti monster? Just because there is no scientific answer to the origins of everything, that shouldn’t give idiots like you license to create whatever fairy tales you wish to fill in the logic gap. And like what was already stated above: If that is your line of reasoning then WHO CREATED GOD? Every effect has a cause ya know….LMAO

And more importantly WHICH GOD was created? Should I believe you or folkies from the House of Saud? And I’m still waiting for you to tell me which part of the Dawkin´s 30 years of research is logically incorrect.

DUMBASS…

As a Biologist at UCLA working in neruphysiology in invertebrate zoology I wa doing micro disection of the ganglia of the Aplesia. That was back in '61. Since then I have moved into the fields of philosophy, and transcendental, Jungian, mysticism. The mystical eperience is as old as man, Huxley and others give great expression to the experience. As the experience is universally experienced by every society it cannot be dismissed as dilusion. The shamanic experience, or the experience of epiphany cannot be refuted by rhetoric or polemics.

I like Dawkins, as well as Hawkings, as well as Einsteinian Theology. Which is essentially the perception of the overwhelming Awe that the universe from the microcosm to the macrocosm evokes. It is only to the living dead, the spiritually bankrupt that do not see Awe.

I am fine with Dawkins, I intend to read him. I researched those that chose to academically criticize him, to help give me perspective on where he was perceived at fault.

I have long ago written of the things that Dawkins postulates. The biological necessity for 'moral behavior', the genetic inclination to develope non socio pathic behaviors that enable the individual to benefit as a consequence to such moral behavior.

I have no interest in religiosity or their political constructions. Though to stand in Notre Dame Cathedral is a transcendent experience, it is an architectural construction for the transcendence of the soul.

I am a transcendent metaphysical Darwinist. We are so arrogant and limiting in our perception of existence.

The Hubble telescope and the electron scanning microscope, should put the Awe back into anyone.

It is the wars about Gods that have killed more people than all the wars in the history of man.

I am an ascetic and have walked in the wilderness, literally, in the Negev Desert where Christ goes into the wilderness. I went to see for myself what is true. Moses parted the Yam ha souf, the Reed sea, not the Red sea.

And the name Moses comes from ma ose, from the reeds, as he was ostensibly found in the reeds.

Einstein was in Awe of existence. It is through Awe that one enters Huxley's ' The Gates of Perception'.

Not to be flippant but the Hitchikers Guide to the Gallaxy is as equally profound as Dawkins, though Hawkings is perhaps the most brilliant of them all.

I suppose the purpose of learning is to teach how toeperceive, that it is an active not a passive processs.

That was one of the most interesting and thought-provoking posts I’ve read from you yet, (actually it was the best post on this particular blog – I bow to your wisdom, now that I can understand you) and noting the date of your studies at UCLA I’d calculate that you have about 20-25 years on me and I’m no young spring chicken. I apologize if I’ve offended you in anyway.

The fact of the matter is, with what you have written, other than our faiths or lackthereof, we have much more in common than you might think. This is how that dividing concept of “which book do you subscribe too” muddles much of what could otherwise be a pretty decent planet with folkies talking about things in which brings them together as opposed to squabbling about what sets them apart. Your mention of wars rings true, and don’t think for a second Mr. Dawkin´s overlooked it either, although he also addresses Stalin who was a staunch Atheist and not a very nice man.

You mentioned the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. I almost left my last post with a quote from Douglas Adams, a man whom I interestingly enough MET once 2 decades ago. I’ll not bore anyone with the details; it was an uneventful moment for him, but one I’ll always remember. He has always been and always will be one of my favorite authors, and modern day thinkers.

The dedication in Dawkin´s book the God Delusion, ironically enough, is also made out to Mr. Adams.

Since you mentioned also Einsteinian Theology, I’ll leave you with this because I’m certain you’ll appreciate it, regardless of our differing views on “you know who” . One can be a non believer and need not be "spiritually bankrupt" in terms of appreciating nature and complexity for what it is:

I don’t try to imagine a personal God; it suffices to stand in awe at the structure of the world, insofar as it allows our inadequate senses to appreciate it. – Albert Einstein.

Ó-lho-lhó expia... Então tu és um verdadeiro manezinho da ilha, né? Fala ilhéu? Tá frio hoje, né.

Tu acertastes certinho cara. Vai fundo com AES/Prof/A Brazilian/Bo/Skipper/Billy-Bob.etc,

I apologize if I’ve offended you in anyway.

That is another great expression and thanks.Funny this afternoon, my wife and I were discussing about this.We have forgotten to say "Sorry","Excuse me" and she gave a big laugh and agreed with me.

Good ole Dalai Lama said "Assume your responsibility and live dangerously and apologize when you muck up".

written by A brazilian, 2007-05-16 20:09:05

Is your dismissal of the existence of a tooth fairy a belief?



Philosophers throughout the times have wondered about the possibility of the existence of God, but why? Is it God an arbitrary creation, such as a "tooth fairy", or is something different? Why do some men feel the need of transcendence, of believing there's something beyond his known surroundings? God is not an absurditity created for some silly reason, but instead a valid possibility based on the simple and logical conclusion that every effect has a cause. If this world was created then who started the process? Who created it?


...Usually the image of God depicted by the believers of Atheism is a very childish one, that doesn't match the view of the Vatican or of intelligent christians at all. It even seems you refuse yourselves to rationally analyze the problem in order to be able to claim fantastic things like the "tooth fairy" example, that you probably copied from of the crappy books you love.

I'll be the first one to point out I'm no scientist, h*ll I'm in a Liberal Arts program and not a science program, but as in all education one continues to grow and learn or even further develop more questions as they take on more classes and new challenges. So in that respect, I of course will draw from a biology course if I have taken one, not to speak as an expert but to try and utilize one's learning (which I would hope is the purpose of learning).

As in any subject, science and all it's various disciplines, is not something one man can know everything in. This is apparent and inherent in the grading system of drawing on a scale from an A to an F. Even A students will likely never know or be right within regards to the subject(s) they study. Just like there is not a medical doctor on this earth that knows everything regarding medicine and the medical field. It's impossible! Likewise, no student of biology or even of all scientific subjects overall can properly know and comprehend. I think this is important to understand.

Like you, my thoughts regarding "God" was not in the same light as the "Tooth Fairy," when I asked my biology teacher as to what mathematical chance it was that ice covering a lake acted as an insulator to protect aquatic life - just by chance - along with all this other complexity and order of organisms and inanimate objects we call "life"? (in the vernacular use of "life" and not in the biological definition of "life" [and viruses I believe contradict the biological definition of life - if I remember correctly])

I believe in evolutionary theory, but organisms are given the chance to adapt and evolve in a large part because the earths waters do not all freeze over and through completely. Totally opposite, the ice on top of waters works as an insulator protecting life beneath it. Granted there are small bodies of water that can and do freeze completely through and kill any fish that may be in them. But the food chain exists because of life in water. Why does a cell go through cellular respiration? I question that not per its biological reasons per se but as to why the single cell came about in the first place... to the extent human life would eventually come about... and that within 32 days of human life at the embryonic level, cells unite and a "heart beat" forms for what will become cardiac tissue, all much it seems to for just "chance" or the "roll of the dice." To me if something become mathematically unlikely within the scale of chance, then to believe in it becomes a leap of faith. And faith it seems to me is less a matter of "observable science" and more a matter of art like religious devotion or a sculpture by Michelangelo. African Americans in the U.S. South created the genre of music called the "Blues." Many African Americans from the South decades ago would say I bet, that they could understand from the Blues. "Science" which relies on man and technological tools is but only one way to seek to understand.

So I agree with you with regards to "God."

Edit to say:

As in any subject, science and all it's various disciplines, is not something one man can know everything in. This is apparent and inherent in the grading system of drawing on a scale from an A to an F. Even A students will likely never know or be right about everything with regards to the subject(s) they study. Just like there is not a medical doctor on this earth that knows everything regarding medicine and the medical field. It's impossible! smilies/smiley.gif Likewise, no student of biology or even of all scientific subjects overall, can properly know and comprehend everything in science. I think this is important to understand.

I’m sure I’ll revisit my lack of beliefs when and if ever I find myself in a foxhole or situation similar

Enjoy your lack of belief and learn from it, in the event that God decides to reveal himself to you in a way more suitable to his good pleasure, you can then enter into his rest and better see the roundness in the round around you.
I say this fear nothing, because there is nothing to fear except fear itself.

As for me, I will relax and enjoy a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster!

Prof., AES and I have been confronting Ch.c and no support from anybody

Torof
written by João da Silva, 2007-05-17 21:38:21

Prof., AES and I have been confronting Ch.c and no support from anybody

I tried to come to your aid, but mysterious forces were preventing me from accessing the battlefield, by the time I arrived, It appeared you both had him hog-tied and neutered!
Heats the skillet ma, we's gots bacon fur breakfas!

"We are The Borg, lower your shields and surrender your minds. Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance Is Futile."

"We are The Ch,c's, lower your pants and surrender your orifice. Your biological and musical distinctiveness will be added to our own. Your Cú will adapt to service us. Resistance Is Futilely sexy."

You are preparing an ambush at the wrong place.Go back to "Brazil's Voracity for Soy Is Breeding Unemployment and Prostitution".Order Pvt.Crunch guard this ridge (as well as his arse).

You are preparing an ambush at the wrong place.Go back to "Brazil's Voracity for Soy Is Breeding Unemployment and Prostitution".Order Pvt.Crunch guard this ridge (as well as his arse).

My prior posts here were only a decoy, Pvt. Crunch has been shirking his sworn duty to Uncle Sam and is off on a tour of Debauchery. If his performance does no improve will have to demote him to Carnal Crunch!

If his performance does no improve will have to demote him to Carnal Crunch!

Never mind about demotion. Just shoot him and dont bother about court martial. Pvts are expendable.

Never mind about demotion. Just shoot him and dont bother about court martial. Pvts are expendable.

Summary Execution, primitive but effective! Good thinking!
Then we can call him Pvt. Parts.

Then we can call him Pvt. Parts.

You are authorised to call him so,unless Ch.c has already "harvested" his private parts.Give Crunch another chance and warn him to guard his rear end.We have some nasty fighting going on in Switzerland and may be forced to call in Admiral.Forrest to fly in his Hovercraft to Lake Geneva to take care of our flanks.

btw, ask crunch to stop giving 10% of his pay to the church and start investing in the Bordels of Switzerland.He may be able to buy his Yatch,finally.

Pinga's profound
I is pronoun
GTY is absent

Silva's a site manager
Harmony's near
Itaipava's cheap (R$2.20 por garraffa em Parati)
Tai Chi is not a form of worship

SO WHAT'LL YA' HAVE - pig s**t (I prefer Blatz).

Religion sucks!! It was responsible for September 11 and all the evils of the world from the dawn of human civilization. This should be the age of reason and science, yet it has become the age of darkness because of this stupid institution.