My first thoughts? - Bury him (or at least throw the keys away)

Forums › Off topic › My first thoughts? - Bury him (or at least throw the keys away)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

160 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 61
Inactive user

#1579463 24-Jun-2016 11:50

Geektastic:

We should make religion a recognised mental illness.

It really is high time in the 21st century that people stopped trying to please a variety of imaginary constructs. The sheer levels of mental and physical energy wasted on religion that could be better used in other ways is mind boggling.

I thought the same a long time ago.

I have smugly witnessed the decline of religion in NZ and I have observed the rise of it's replacement - narcissism.

The horror has unfolded before my eyes as I come into contact with with these more and more of these people, within these hallowed forums included, where they preach the good word - themselves. They are easily recognizable - they are easily offended, they speak in absolutes and take everything personally, mostly on subjects and topics they were not referenced in. They will frequently use the words 'my home' or 'my child' and will sit around judging and sticking their beaks into other peoples business. This new religion transcends all political boundaries.

I look back at my smug self from time to time and realize that I would much prefer religion to it's replacement.

MikeAqua

8031 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3820

#1579487 24-Jun-2016 12:41

Science and religion are very different, but have one thing in common.

As people we are hard-wired to develop ideas about why things happen. This need drives us to develop scientific theory and religious ideology. Some quite famous scientists have been religious.

It's how ideas are treated that is different.

In religion certain ideas are accepted as dogma. Ordinary humans can't disprove religious ideologies and it can be life threatening to question them.

In science an idea is rejected unless it is falsifiable - i.e. there is a way to feasibly prove it wrong. ideas are wrong by default and it's expected that scientists attack each others' theories. Absolutely core theories can be replaced or rejected.

Mike

alasta

6891 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3365

Trusted

Subscriber

#1579790 24-Jun-2016 19:42

I assume that this guy is being prosecuted purely for possession of objectionable material, and not for his personal beliefs. It would be incredibly naive for the courts to think that they can change peoples' personal beliefs by brute force.

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3317

Trusted

#1579803 24-Jun-2016 20:04

Since he professes to loving ISIS so much, I'd be happy to chip in to send him to Syria and see how long he lasts in that hell hole.

dejadeadnz

2394 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2287
Inactive user

#1579918 25-Jun-2016 02:00

DarthKermit:

Since he professes to loving ISIS so much, I'd be happy to chip in to send him to Syria and see how long he lasts in that hell hole.

Yes - because this kind of charming and enlightened thought is fully in comport with our social values. And deliberately deporting someone to a place where he is at risk of torture or execution is so allowed under our laws. Sometimes I seriously wonder whether some posters on here really live in this country.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1579928 25-Jun-2016 07:40

JWR:

Scientific theories are falsifiable i.e. they can potentially be proved to be false as new evidence is found.

It is ridiculous to say that the Big Bang can't be true because you can't reproduce the Big Bang itself.

There is a considerable amount of evidence, that shows the Universe started from a hot, compact, low-entropy beginning and is expanding and cooling.

If you have the knowledge and equipment, you can verify the evidence yourself.

Umm the big bang cannot be proven. Most people call it now the big expansion (of space-time).

There are some assumptions and problems to explain ridiculously small calculated fractions of things that must happen

and a new theory (I don't think it's by any means widely accepted, but a new theory nonetheless

http://www.iflscience.com/physics/quantum-equations-dispute-big-bang/

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

Batman

Mad Scientist
30014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1579929 25-Jun-2016 07:43

Geektastic:

We should make religion a recognised mental illness.

It really is high time in the 21st century that people stopped trying to please a variety of imaginary constructs. The sheer levels of mental and physical energy wasted on religion that could be better used in other ways is mind boggling.

You mean the Brexit? I fully agree. Better ban it before they start building a wall.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

#1580173 25-Jun-2016 15:37

michael001:

Geektastic:

We should make religion a recognised mental illness.

It really is high time in the 21st century that people stopped trying to please a variety of imaginary constructs. The sheer levels of mental and physical energy wasted on religion that could be better used in other ways is mind boggling.

I thought the same a long time ago.

I have smugly witnessed the decline of religion in NZ and I have observed the rise of it's replacement - narcissism.

The horror has unfolded before my eyes as I come into contact with with these more and more of these people, within these hallowed forums included, where they preach the good word - themselves. They are easily recognizable - they are easily offended, they speak in absolutes and take everything personally, mostly on subjects and topics they were not referenced in. They will frequently use the words 'my home' or 'my child' and will sit around judging and sticking their beaks into other peoples business. This new religion transcends all political boundaries.

I look back at my smug self from time to time and realize that I would much prefer religion to it's replacement.

Narcissism isn't a "replacement for" religion. Churches may have ascetics (monastic, monks, nuns) but there are plenty of narcissists draped in finery, be they bishops or members of the congregation who have their "Sunday best".

I struggle to think of anything more narcissistic than a priest believing that as he has been appointed to, or has assumed the position, he's genuinely able to absolve the sins of (presumably lesser in the church's mind) mortals.

Encouraging ascetic values has been and still is used by churches to lower expectations for the comforts that material things offer, as a political tool to suppress dissent with the lousy lot they've been cast, extending that to encourage donation from those who can least afford it, for the "glory of God" (or more particularly - God's often self-appointed representatives).

I'm not disputing the apparent growth of narcissism, combined with a general acceptance that capitalism requires greed to function effectively, and how that may have resulted from a loss of ascetic values imposed by the churches.

Just saying that if a replacement is needed (some kind of belief structure), then religion might not be the right answer.

The growth of atheism may roughly correlate with growth in narcissism, but I dispute that loss of interest/belief in religion is the direct cause.

SaltyNZ

8870 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9554

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#1580229 25-Jun-2016 17:17

Fred99:

I struggle to think of anything more narcissistic than a priest believing that as he has been appointed to, or has assumed the position, he's genuinely able to absolve the sins of (presumably lesser in the church's mind) mortals.

Well, any priest who believes he or she can absolve any sins has by definition missed the point.

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1580432 26-Jun-2016 09:52

michael001:

Geektastic:

We should make religion a recognised mental illness.

It really is high time in the 21st century that people stopped trying to please a variety of imaginary constructs. The sheer levels of mental and physical energy wasted on religion that could be better used in other ways is mind boggling.

I thought the same a long time ago.

I have smugly witnessed the decline of religion in NZ and I have observed the rise of it's replacement - narcissism.

The horror has unfolded before my eyes as I come into contact with with these more and more of these people, within these hallowed forums included, where they preach the good word - themselves. They are easily recognizable - they are easily offended, they speak in absolutes and take everything personally, mostly on subjects and topics they were not referenced in. They will frequently use the words 'my home' or 'my child' and will sit around judging and sticking their beaks into other peoples business. This new religion transcends all political boundaries.

I look back at my smug self from time to time and realize that I would much prefer religion to it's replacement.

Not sure that is not more the fault of banal 'social media'....

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1580433 26-Jun-2016 09:52

joker97:

Geektastic:

We should make religion a recognised mental illness.

It really is high time in the 21st century that people stopped trying to please a variety of imaginary constructs. The sheer levels of mental and physical energy wasted on religion that could be better used in other ways is mind boggling.

You mean the Brexit? I fully agree. Better ban it before they start building a wall.

If I had meant that, I would have said that...!

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

JWR

821 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 272

#1580821 27-Jun-2016 03:47

joker97:

JWR:

Scientific theories are falsifiable i.e. they can potentially be proved to be false as new evidence is found.

It is ridiculous to say that the Big Bang can't be true because you can't reproduce the Big Bang itself.

There is a considerable amount of evidence, that shows the Universe of evidence, that shows the Universe started from a hot, compact, low-entropy beginning and is expanding and cooling.

If you have the knowledge and equipment, you can verify the evidence yourself.

Umm the big bang cannot be proven. Most people call it now the big expansion (of space-time).

There are some assumptions and problems to explain ridiculously small calculated fractions of things that must happen

and a new theory (I don't think it's by any means widely accepted, but a new theory nonetheless

http://www.iflscience.com/physics/quantum-equations-dispute-big-bang/

OK. Off topic.. but anyway..

Science can't prove anything.

Proofs only really exist in Mathematics and Logic.

Science deals with evidence and theories. If an idea gathers enough evidence it becomes a theory. But any theory can be shown to be wrong from new evidence.

In 500 or 1,000 years how many current theories will remain?

I would put a little money on 'Evolution by natural selection' and Boltzmann's version of the second law - if you want an opinion.

This will probably sound very unsettling to people who like absolutes.

But, the application of Science has made the modern World because it works!

---

OK.

The whole 'Big Bang' idea is complicated.

Some theories (supported by evidence), some hypotheses and some informed speculation.

I think there is good evidence that shows the Universe (we can see) started around 13.7 billion years from a hot, compact, low-entropy beginning and is expanding/accelerating.

But, there is a lot to learn.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19071 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16318

Lifetime subscriber

#1580863 27-Jun-2016 08:41

I would accept that ultimately, science and religion are both matters of faith. But on the small, everyday scale, science can be shown to work and it has real utility. Religion, it can be argued, does not. It may well provide spiritual solace and placebo healing, but these are effects of belief in itself, not belief in any particular thing. Science can be tested. Religion can not. Science makes things like cell phones and medicine. Religion does not. Until angels actually do appear or god speaks up, I choose to put my faith in science.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 759
Inactive user

#1580864 27-Jun-2016 08:59

Rikkitic:

I would accept that ultimately, science and religion are both matters of faith. [snip]

Until angels actually do appear or god speaks up, I choose to put my faith in science.

Rikkitic:I reject your reality and substitute my own. - Adam Savage

Unfortunately, by the time the angels "show up" for you it will be too late to do anything about it?

michael001

160 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 61
Inactive user

#1580886 27-Jun-2016 09:03

PhantomNVD:

Rikkitic:

I would accept that ultimately, science and religion are both matters of faith. [snip]

Until angels actually do appear or god speaks up, I choose to put my faith in science.

Rikkitic:I reject your reality and substitute my own. - Adam Savage

Unfortunately, by the time the angels "show up" for you it will be too late to do anything about it?

Further evidence of this! I stopped believing in Santa and the bugger stopped dropping off presents at Christmas too :(

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5