Ugh. It’s already tourist season. Oops…. I mean fucking tourist season.

Fernapple comments on Apr 21, 2022:

Well if the tourists consent, and they are of age, and someone wants to have sex with tourists, then that is their business, and if you find it repulsive, then nobody is forcing you to take part.

Is there any appreciable difference between a cult and a religion or are all religions cults ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 21, 2022:

A religion, is any cult which has gained enough popularity, age, money, power or respectability, to demand consideration from government, and therefore influence political choices. While a cult is any religion weak enough for politicians to kick when they need a scape goat.

About time.

Fernapple comments on Apr 20, 2022:

M. Thatcher started the downward spiral, when it was plain that reform was needed even back then. But instead of well thought through reform of course , she went for cheap money saving stunts called "Care in the community." which opened the doors to all forms of cuts, and money saving spins.

Oddly enough, the 'talking heads' from our public health agencies never once advocated for proper ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 20, 2022:

Because they have been advocating that for so long it is a given.

...and before you know it you are flashing your zucchini?

Fernapple comments on Apr 20, 2022:

No, that was what I used to do when I, was, young hip and carefree. Now I am old enough to know that nobody is interested in the size of my veg.

REGARDING THE RECENT ARCANE DIALOG ABOUT NEAR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN EUROPEAN MYTHOLOGY.

Fernapple comments on Apr 20, 2022:

"White entitlement" is not an example of Orwellian "new thought", but quite real. I know this for the very simple reason, if for no other reason than, that, being white, I have enjoyed the benefits of it though my whole life. Since I am confident that I would certainly not have enjoyed my limited success, if I had been exactly the same person, but with a darker skin coloration. That is only a single example, based upon no more than personal experience, so it is technically a very weak argument, if you wish to dismiss it, you are welcome. Where people are unable to enjoy equal levels of entitlement, then it naturally follows, that they will suffer higher levels of, "criminality and social disintegration", both in real terms and in the biased judgments that the entitled pass upon them. But that is a symptom of the injustice caused by false entitlement, probably even a proof of that entitlements existence, and the very opposite of a proof of any natural trend towards "criminality and social disintegration ". And now to the "ad hominem" part of the argument, so that you can dismiss me cheaply. Which is to say that I do not really know why I wasted time on this, and so far as it goes, I am quite content that my argument is based on the weak, generalization from the particular, fallacy, and no better than that. Because if you can dismiss the good clear points made by TheMiddleWay, towkneed and before being goaded into it Flyingsaucesir, below as mere ad hominem attacks, then I am sure that you can find spurious reasons to dismiss any argument, and I am therefore quite content to have only given a second rate statement.

I need to remind myself of this often.

Fernapple comments on Apr 20, 2022:

Life only truly begins when you mature. Sadly many never make it. You I think are one of the lucky ones.

My nearby woods are beginning to look like this.

Fernapple comments on Apr 19, 2022:

Under threat from the Spanish Hyacinth, and now from the introduced deer. Not for much longer to wake the spring woods beneath the duvet of blue.

You know what?

Fernapple comments on Apr 19, 2022:

I always thought that mask wearing in public, which is commonplace in much of Asia, was a good idea, even before Covid. There are a lot more nasty diseases out there, plus pollution particulates and other stuff like pollen. Besides which, I have a big nose, and it helps to keep it warm in winter and out of the sun in summer.

Gaze at the photo.

Fernapple comments on Apr 18, 2022:

The two may not be mutually exclusive, in fact, I find that the two are mutually dependent.

A pic you can taste

Fernapple comments on Apr 18, 2022:

Warm, funny, friendly and wise memes just like always. But just a point of fact, 2020, 2021, 2022 were bad, but they did not have a sound track by Yoko Ono.

I have realized there are some illogical atheist that believe some theist trolls are running around ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 18, 2022:

Trolls exist. Just go look under any bridge in Norway. ( But theist trolls, now that is quite a different matter. )

I know most of you hate Facebook.

Fernapple comments on Apr 18, 2022:

Yep, this is one of the reasons for hating FB.

Questions for the Christians who loudly sang worship music on a plane

Fernapple comments on Apr 18, 2022:

As the shot shows, there is a world of wonder and beauty just to be seen outside the window, for no more price than just turning your head. " But we prefer to spend time with our god. Because our god is a little god, a small insular god, who invites us to hide inside the church with him and his mother, who he still lives with, and avoid the great big, scary, grown up world outside. "

Well …… [vm.tiktok.com]

Fernapple comments on Apr 18, 2022:

Its when they get to the bit about, he never did any housework and spent almost all his spare time on line that I start to worry.

Happy Easter! I would say that Easter is one of the most misunderstood holidays, but in ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 17, 2022:

Whoa Gwen. In spring Persephone rises and smiles, indulgently on lovers, in her wild gardens. A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread-and Gwen Beside me singing in the Wilderness- O, Wilderness were Paradise enow! Apos. Edward Fitzgerald

Just thought it funny.

Fernapple comments on Apr 17, 2022:

You feed them too well, nobody wants to leave when they are well fed.

Happy Easter! I would say that Easter is one of the most misunderstood holidays, but in ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 17, 2022:

Very good.

It remains a mystery to me why every year people celebrate 'Passover', since it is obviously the ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 17, 2022:

Hello and welcome. Yes it does seem quite immoral does it not, they also don't seem to notice, that god sent a "Satan" to do the deed. Which raises the two other questions. When did Satan become singular, and stop being "a" satan, as in one of many, and when did he stop taking orders ? And if he was still taking orders in the Egyptian Passover, why do some people think that he was the same person as the snake in the garden of Eden, and if, as some think, the snake was only a snake and was only persuading them to do what god wanted anyway, then why was the snake punished ? Does any of this make sense to you ? LOL

I recently attended a memorial service also attended by the children and grandchildren of the ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 17, 2022:

Maybe there is a lot of truth in that. But there is a lot of evidence and history which indicates that it was, in the main, much more brutally simple than that. The South European cultures especially the Roman and Greek simply had a cultural history of colonization, knew how to do it well, and when the Roman Empire failed as a military power, the churches, both Greek and Roman, simply carried on with the cultural imperialism. They could do that in part because of the prestige of the former empire, was seen as both a military and national ideal, and also as a prize to be won, by many they wished to colonize. Which made the conquest easy, since the ruling classes were all too willing to be colonized, and then to force their adopted culture on to the much more reluctant, and slower to uptake, people. Especially since the Southern cultures still enjoyed the better climate, plus access to the trading routes of the Mediterranean sea etc.. And many think that you win the cultural wars, by adopting the most prestigious culture as well as its trade for yourself, often the reverse of a military conquest. So that the mythology of the Norse, Germanic and Slavic, were simply the ones who lost the culture wars and got colonized, by the imperial churches. In part because the leaders of the of those lands were willing to sell out their gods for silks, wines, some fancy titles and paintings.

[abolt.newsweek.com] Tombs of Irish Kings

Fernapple comments on Apr 17, 2022:

I think the story which follows it, about the ancient butter surviving into modern times intact, is even more interesting.

I am currently trying to get rid of ivy growing in my courtyard trying to overtake everything.

Fernapple comments on Apr 17, 2022:

You could try a systemic weedkiller, but you will have to add lots of washing-up liquid to the mix, since the wax on ivy leaves resists take up. But perhaps the best way is to put weedkiller in bowls, cut the stem ends and pin them down so that they are in the bowls of weedkiller. That will get them to take it up and transport it through the whole plant.

Why do men on dating sites think that a photo of them holding a dead fish might be just the thing ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 16, 2022:

How do you know the fish is dead ?

In the bible, Jesus is put to death on Good Friday.

Fernapple comments on Apr 16, 2022:

I think the bible actually is usually translated as. "On the third day." Not. "After three days." Depends of course on the translation edition you use of course. But, on the third day, would be the Sunday if you counted Friday as day one. Perhaps therefore it is not so clear cut.

Irrefutable Godly Contact?

Fernapple comments on Apr 16, 2022:

Hello and welcome. The other thing that you have to factor in, is that if there is a creator god, how do you know that the god, does not prefer atheists anyway. After all they do not set up false gods in its name, use its name and supposed authority to exploit others, claim to have a special relationship denied to others with it, claim to understand its mind, or tell it what to do. In fact atheists must be the most god friendly people on the planet.

The Cherry Picker's Bible.

Fernapple comments on Apr 16, 2022:

That is what made Christianity popular, it can be anything you want it to be. The more muddled the book the better the cherry picking. And when you have parts of more than fifty books, by hundreds of authors and editors, cobbled together over two thousand years or more, well then you have one muddled s##t pile.

Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

Fernapple comments on Apr 15, 2022:

Groan. That is an old one. Thanks for bringing the kids up to date. LOL

I agree with this Catholic.

Fernapple comments on Apr 15, 2022:

Sounds like the Archbishop has been reading too much conspiracy theory claptrap.

Happy human sacrifice day everybody!! Think I'll go to the local temple to drink some blood and eat...

Fernapple comments on Apr 15, 2022:

The portions are just not big enough for me.

You know you’re visiting New Orleans when the real estate signs specify whether a place is ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 15, 2022:

Only in America. In Europe, they would put. "Said to be haunted !!!" As a positive.

Apparently the Russian Navy was tired of the Russian Army getting all of the attention.

Fernapple comments on Apr 15, 2022:

That sounds like the official Russian news output certainly. I wonder if they have plans to increase their submarine fleet even more ?

There's going to be quite a show in the sky this summer THE PLANETS ARE PREPPING FOR AN EPIC ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 15, 2022:

Sadly in the middle of summer, when the nights are short and not very dark, at least in my part of the world.

I had to laugh, but I love the way she thinks.

Fernapple comments on Apr 14, 2022:

Once asked for galvanized screws. The young man in the hardware store said they did not stock those. "So what do you have." "Well we have zinc."

Wonder if South Park covered this,

Fernapple comments on Apr 14, 2022:

"Perhaps at the start, you should have written it down in your own words, instead of letting your editors put out four different versions."

First, a little background you need: I hate textspeak.

Fernapple comments on Apr 14, 2022:

The other thing that people should remember, at least here on this site, is that this is an international site, used by English speakers across the world, as well as many for whom English is a second language. Neither of those groups will share the same conventions and quirks of text speak or local quirks. For that reason it is best and polite to stick with plain English.

” Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 14, 2022:

No, it is despising anyone who does not go to your church, that makes you a Christian.

Fun Came across some puzzles and thought I’d share.

Fernapple comments on Apr 13, 2022:

Nobody knows. The narrator says that only the narrator was going to St. Ives, but not if any other people were going there too. Therefore the traditional answer of "one" is no more likely to be correct than the fourth power of seven, plus, the first second, third power the narrator and the unnamed man.

A couple more ‘hard’ questions: 1. What is correct: 9 and 7 is 15 or 9and 7 are 15?

Fernapple comments on Apr 13, 2022:

What animals are the Canary Islands named after ? How long did the Hundred Years War last ? Under traditional Jewish law, if there is a train crash, how long do you have before you must bury the survivors ? Is a lizard a reptile or a quadruped ?

Shared post. Too funny!

Fernapple comments on Apr 12, 2022:

Plus they celebrate his birth at the winter equinox, and call three astrologers who attended because they followed a star, "three wise men".

What was the point?

Fernapple comments on Apr 12, 2022:

Hello and welcome. I don't think that everyone ever does, and being an agnostic atheist is quite a common and perfectly logical position.

”God is the only being who does not have to exist in order to Reign” Charles Baudelaire

Fernapple comments on Apr 12, 2022:

God exists only in the minds of those who want him to back up their own rule.

“The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men”……………..Plato

Fernapple comments on Apr 12, 2022:

1. As the old saying goes. The people get the government they earn. Just as the worst farmer always has the worst weeds in his fields. 2. Yet you inherit your farm from your parents, and you also inherit their government. And it is hard to quickly eradicate tough weeds, especially when they are well established. 3. There is no doubt that the Russians, who are the topical example I am sure you are thinking of, get their dictators because they believe that effective leadership needs a strong man who is anti democratic. But if you never want to grow up and take responsibility for yourself, then do not be surprised if daddy is still telling you what to do when you are middle aged. There is no doubt a level of immaturity in the Russian character, which favours the Putins of this world. There you go, sort those three out.

Have you taken photos of birds or butterflies?

Fernapple comments on Apr 10, 2022:

Yes all the time. Peacock on Buddllia

Be well, people!

Fernapple comments on Apr 9, 2022:

We don't get Fox news here. Am I missing something ?

Yeah, I hate it when that happens

Fernapple comments on Apr 9, 2022:

Boy you like to live dangerously.

Russia's fallen soldiers left behind as death toll mounts, families grieve - The Washington Post

Fernapple comments on Apr 9, 2022:

Of course if it ever comes out in Russia, Putin will point to the death toll and say. " You see the Ukrainians could not have done that. It is plainly the work of western fascist armies who were there to crush the Ukraine."

Serious Warning! first of all this account is fake ( pics belong to a Lebanese journalist: Jad...

Fernapple comments on Apr 9, 2022:

I have just seen another duplicate post, this time by a new member Daniel001, it may be just a coincidence, since it is a copy of an online joke, but it is happening a lot.

Makes you reflect

Fernapple comments on Apr 9, 2022:

No, I think the only real value of money in that sense, is that, you can buy education, other than that it affect nothing. Though it is not that easy to buy good education, or that popular.

Serious Warning! first of all this account is fake ( pics belong to a Lebanese journalist: Jad...

Fernapple comments on Apr 9, 2022:

Yes that happened to me too, one of my posts was immediately reposted, as if it was someone else's. I don't see the point of that, unless it is a robot, doing it automatically, and it is set up to do it on platforms like FB where people would not spot a duplicate like the smaller community here would. In which case it may well be something to be very wary of, certainly don't follow any links.

If we are created in the likeness of "gawd", how come I'm not invisible?

Fernapple comments on Apr 9, 2022:

You put on too many pounds.

I want this guy back in office.

Fernapple comments on Apr 9, 2022:

He lives, he breaths, some people would say, that is two things two many.

Hey Everyone, I am now fewer than 1,000 points away from Level 8! Please forgive my shameless ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 8, 2022:

Don't look and it will happen.

Facts are clear

Fernapple comments on Apr 8, 2022:

True. Though perhaps a little overstated, since you could hardly call Malaria eradicated yet, eased, partially prevented in some places, and much better treated, but not eradicated.

I reckon that Putin has thrown down a challenge to philosophers.

Fernapple comments on Apr 8, 2022:

Philosophy long ago proved that there are no absolutes. And there are many types of trees, some cast a heavy shade and some tend to let the light through. The terms democracy and tyranny are measures of light and shade, not a typology of trees.

Why algorithms are called algorithms | BBC Ideas [youtube.com]

Fernapple comments on Apr 7, 2022:

Yes hard to believe that it is basically a personal name, it sound so like a made up Greek/Latin scientific term.

New video of Trump driving around one of his golf courses. [youtube.com]

Fernapple comments on Apr 7, 2022:

No. Come on ! She's a 'LOT' better looking than Trump, and probably smarter too, how could you even make the comparison, that is so insulting. What did she ever do to you ? LOL

Putin's murderous rabble was let loose on Bucha.

Fernapple comments on Apr 7, 2022:

His fate should be left to the international courts. The rest of the world should not be dragged down to his level, that would be giving him and the fascists like him a moral victory. Given that he is such an megalomaniac, just losing power and being treated like a common criminal would be totally destructive to his ego anyway. As it happens though his fate will probably be decided by those who, if they can, overthrow him. And the Russians are not usually kind to failed leaders.

It was statements like this, by Joseph Campbell, that inspired me to begin a project, years ago, ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 6, 2022:

The new Mythos is growing and hopefully will continue to do so, as long as the old ones do not crush it, which sadly they yet could, since they still have a lot of vital power left. But I always feel that whenever the tide began to turn it was inexorable, history does not ever go backwards. Every person who contributes even a small amount to the new Mythos, of the planet, is helping, and even if you do not make a best seller it all helps to add a little to the growth.

A whole bunch of memes for your pleasure?

Fernapple comments on Apr 5, 2022:

They are a bit small, hard to read.

A little rudeness and disrespect can add meaning to an otherwise dull day.

Fernapple comments on Apr 4, 2022:

Yep, you tell some big fibs, I know how you got that black eye. Got quite a swing her husband.

I'm presently driving around France and England.

Fernapple comments on Apr 4, 2022:

Only if you can get the fuel. LOL

Massive software updates are my nemesis. How about you?

Fernapple comments on Apr 4, 2022:

It is best to use a desktop, for most of the complicated stuff, since they usually cope with updates far better, and the worst thing that happens is that they slow down for a bit. I used to have a card swipe machine, to take payments in the business, and every few days, it would crash completely for an hour or more when an update came through. Always of course, when you were serving a customer. Very embarrassing.

A few pictures from the Great Northern Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland, Canada. Summer 2021.

Fernapple comments on Apr 4, 2022:

Great photos, it looks wonderful.

Russia is pushing back against the sanctions in many ways.

Fernapple comments on Apr 3, 2022:

Broken link sorry.

Oh my goodness, I made Level 9. Yeah! Will there be cake? I think I'll have a shot of gin.

Fernapple comments on Apr 3, 2022:

Well done, shows commitment. But sorry I don't think there will be cake, unless you bake it yourself. ( You may get the invoice though. LOL ) But I will give you the happy heart eyed emoji.

My sentiments exactly... 5 Reasons to Avoid Ad Hominem Arguments [fee.org] .

Fernapple comments on Apr 2, 2022:

Yep, I can live with those five. Seven reasons to always keep ad hominen in mind. 1. While you should not attack facts by ad hom, it can sometimes be useful in judging opinions. 2. If you know someone is dishonest and untruthful, it is best to leave and ignore on the grounds of ad hom, but sometimes it is a moral duty to try and hold up a mirror for their benefit. (Not likely to work, but you have to do it.) 3. But if you know that someone is dishonest, there may be a moral duty to advice others of your ad hom assessment. 4. If someones ideas are so poor they can not even be addressed, you may be driven to it. They pull you down to their level. Fortunately that is so rare it has only ever happened to me with one person. 5. The possibility of hidden agendas and corruption should always be considered, and made plain for the benefit of others. 6. If you have a strong commitment to truth you may be prepared to risk looking stupid or corrupt yourself, if it opens a chance to show the truth where needed. 7. But most of all, sometimes ideas can be judged by the sort of human beings they attract or produce.

OK, here's my pick for the strangest web site I've seen in 2022.

Fernapple comments on Apr 2, 2022:

Well there is this site I go to now and again called, Agnostic.com. but no, I think yours still wins.

Signs of the times.

Fernapple comments on Apr 2, 2022:

At least they are being honest about it. LOL

My scrotum was sent to a mental asylum. It was a total nutcase.

Fernapple comments on Apr 2, 2022:

Nice to have something in common with your genitalia.

“Somewhere in the world there is a defeat for everyone.

Fernapple comments on Apr 2, 2022:

"If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same;" "If" By Rudyard Kipling

Drinking tea and coffee will help staving off dementia.

Fernapple comments on Apr 2, 2022:

Good news. Since I like tea and fruit and veg, more than anything, that is not a hard ask.

"Cognitive-dissonance is just one of many biases that work in our everyday lives.

Fernapple comments on Apr 2, 2022:

Yes I have noticed even on this site that some are prone to that, that Skado fellow, now he is probably the prime example. See my last. https://agnostic.com/discussion/658460/the-evolution-of-belief-https-agnostic-com-group-religiousnaturalism-discussion-658459-how-di?cid=2025766

See?

Fernapple comments on Apr 1, 2022:

But did they pass it on before they died ?

The joy of flying over the mountains. Three years ago today.

Fernapple comments on Apr 1, 2022:

I have never flown over mountains in a light aircraft sadly. But I do remember the alps seen twice from an airliner, all white peaks and fluffy clouds, they looked like an exotic ice cream and cream desert.

How offensive is the word "cunt"?

Fernapple comments on Apr 1, 2022:

I will vote for the last one. Because I am convinced by one well known, sadly now gone, feminists arguments. (Sorry about the quality of the video, but it is very old.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDJutaFuVD0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN0oGWNzNxo

“You cannot do kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 1, 2022:

How very true. And you can never make the most of your friends too soon, or tell them how much you value them, for exactly the same reason.

I was accused of using sodium hydroxide to get rid of a body. But it was all a lye.

Fernapple comments on Apr 1, 2022:

Groan.

Hospitality… [facebook.com]

Fernapple comments on Apr 1, 2022:

Link gone.

Really disgusted by a friend.

Fernapple comments on Apr 1, 2022:

They had to follow the script to get their pay. That's why its called acting.

I've opened a restaurant called: "Peace And Quiet..." Kids meals: Only $150.

Fernapple comments on Mar 31, 2022:

I wonder why, I have not seen a post get that many likes in ages.

Does your memory get worse as you get older?

Fernapple comments on Mar 31, 2022:

Yes I keep remembering worse and worse things, until I think. "If I was such a jerk back then, am I any better now ?"

I'd be willing to lay carpet, it's been such a long time...

Fernapple comments on Mar 31, 2022:

You have to earn the carpets respect first. You can't lay it properly if you have already walked all over it, shown it no care, and made a disrespectful mess of it. And if you are not on the same level, you have got no chance.

Hello everyone, I am excited to announce the arrival of my great granddaughter Ruby Louise.

Fernapple comments on Mar 31, 2022:

Congratulations, you know what they say. "If I had known that grandchildren were this much fun, I would have had them first." But great grandchildren, that is a whole new game.

After all, they believe their god blesses perverts! Proposed GOP bill eliminates age ...

Fernapple comments on Mar 31, 2022:

Well I guess, they want to bring Tennessee into line with all the backward, primitive, underdeveloped, immoral, intellectually bankrupt and undereducated theocracies in the world, with which they feel they have so much in common. ( I know that this is a USA based site, so as a foreigner I feel it is best to bite my tongue sometimes, and try not to sound too critical, especially as you seem to do quite a good job yourselves anyway. But really, are you retrograding back into the dark ages or something over there ?)

The Evolution of Belief [agnostic.com] .

Fernapple comments on Mar 31, 2022:

Good article.

Why is it that anyone who needs money to research something that may help many people cannot get the...

Fernapple comments on Mar 31, 2022:

In part, its market place economics. If you care, then you are in the majority. And most people do care how they earn their money, and they like to feel their working lives are useful, at least to some degree. There are however, a few people, who will do anything, however harmful, to earn money, and the market favours them, simply because they are rare and the market pays a premium for what is in short supply, as long as there is some demand. So harmful products earn their producers the most. That's not by any means all the reasons, but it is part of it.

As many of you are aware, I had Covid twice, I developed a worsening lung problem with several spots...

Fernapple comments on Mar 30, 2022:

Good to hear it.

This whole superyacht business seems sketchy to me.

Fernapple comments on Mar 30, 2022:

Not that easy, since part of their reason for existing is not just as holiday homes, but mainly as ways of laundering money through movable solid assets, which are internationally free, and hiding who they belong to, is in part part of their purpose. Having said that, I do think that a lot of the super-yacht fuss, is just gesture politics. In that they are not that important to their owners, and the owners may often not be especially strong supporters of Putin. But they do make good headlines, and while the press and public are distracted by the yachts, you can still, quietly, keep on doing business as usual and let the owners move their dirty money through your state banks, etc., with no questions asked.

Sapolsky/Wilson [youtu.be]

Fernapple comments on Mar 30, 2022:

Very good talk. I think that what makes conscious evolutionary development and evolutionary policy difficult for many people to accept, is to a large extent the fact that, in many minds, they are still associated with the idea of eugenics, which is regarded by many as morally unacceptable, and still tainted by many cruel human rights abuses which took place in the past.

So sad.....

Fernapple comments on Mar 29, 2022:

The Bronze Age sword and chariot were game changing weapons. Not so much, just because they were so effective, though they were, but also because for the first time there existed weapons which were so expensive, only the rich could afford them. And new words like, aristocracy, and class entered the words languages, to signify that there would never be a simple egalitarian society again, ( Except for priest and king of course.) Because killing was now a rich mans sport and the poor died more.

Since moving to this small rural community a few years ago, I have been occasionally vexxed ( at ...

Fernapple comments on Mar 29, 2022:

Great letter, especially for the child who is the only one you may have a hope of reaching. I like the fact that you have included lots of quotes, since religion is in many ways basically the same thing as the fallacy of "proof by authority", religious people are predisposed to look for authority. If there was an addition to make then after your, "religion so far, has offered only unsupported speculation" I would add. "Because, if it was supported, then it would cease to be religion, but become science or philosophy, since religion is the name we give to the unsupported." But that would probably be too long winded, so I just include it for your amusement.

Does the Cognitive Science of Religion legitimize the validity of religious behavior as a positive ...

Fernapple comments on Mar 29, 2022:

That seems like a very shambolic poll. Firstly. If you wish to ask questions about religion, you should start by defining "religion". since the answer will depend very much on the definition. As the answers below show, people have used several definitions. Secondly. Science does not deal in terms such as "legitimize" and "validity", If you mean, does it indicate that such things may have occurred in the past, present or are likely to in the future, then that is what you should ask, and each separately please. Thirdly. Several of the answers are about fact and several are about opinion, the poll is either an opinion poll, or a fact based poll about knowledge, it should not try to be both please. Four. Number three is ambiguous, since it is possible to have both legitimate science and sham science in the same field at the same time. And indeed, it is very unlikely that you will not have both. Five. Number five is two answers/questions in one: Is it based on "cherry picked facts"? And also. Is it "irrelevant" ? While I have to ask, "irrelevant" to what, reproductive fitness in the past, reproductive fitness now, or our understanding of religion ? How is it possible to tick or not tick this one with any degree of honest understanding ? Six. The last is also two statements in one, and therefore ambiguous, since it is perfectly possible to agree with one and not the other. If I did not know better, I would assume that this was a poll made up by someone, to deliberately produce muddled results, which would allow the maximum amount of reinterpretation to be placed on them. But then, I would not expect such low behavior on this site, so I can only assume that I have misunderstood. So I will tick number one, WTF, not as a comment on the science or its interpretation but only my incomprehension of the poll.

Love letter from a passionate and persistent admirer…

Fernapple comments on Mar 29, 2022:

That is rather rude yes, but it was private, you don't have to share it.

The Great Irony ….

Fernapple comments on Mar 28, 2022:

Not at all true, I for one atheist, have no problem at all with CSR. And like, I suspect, most atheists, I accept that there is obviously an evolutionary basis for everything. Stop the strawmaning.

A friend called yesterday with a title idea: God is Sexy, or God is Sex-Ease.

Fernapple comments on Mar 28, 2022:

I fail to see how the second half relates to the first half, except in the most banal of ways. Perhaps you could enlarge. Just a little.

A Bouncy Castle in the Clouds but you don't get to play or even jump up and down, on your knees for ...

Fernapple comments on Mar 28, 2022:

Pascal's Wager rebooted. If there is a god, how do you know that it does not prefer atheists anyway ? After all: we do not waste the short lives it gave us in useless ritual, we do not set up the, at least, ten thousand other fake gods in its name, we do not tell it what we believe it should do and think, and we do not use its name to justify exploiting and abusing other people or the planet and its life, and we do not arrogantly claim to have a special relationship with it that others don't. You got to figure, why would god not just LOVE an atheist. Almost makes me wish there was a god.

A little Beau. [youtu.be]

Fernapple comments on Mar 28, 2022:

Yep. It used to be pink for boys, because that was the colour the army wore, and blue for girls, because that was the virgin Mary's colour. And that was just the English speaking world and not so long ago.

Scientists discover microplastics in human blood for the first time

Fernapple comments on Mar 28, 2022:

Interesting article but a bit short.

With Eye to China Investment, Taliban Now Preserve Buddhas

Fernapple comments on Mar 28, 2022:

Everything is for sale at a price, even devout faith.

Marriage, Relationships and Religion

Fernapple comments on Mar 27, 2022:

The main question you have to answer, is. Will the differences lessen or get deeper when once you are married ? Because if, as I suspect, reading what you write, they will grow, then however hard it may be, you have to make the break and walk away now. It is not a good idea to marry at all if you have any doubts. You may have, by now, invested a lot of time in this man, but although you do not state your age, I suspect that you will probably be quite young, and although it may seem that you will be giving up a major chance in life, life is a surprisingly long thing, and often offers far more opportunities that the young think it ever will. And now I will say something with a strong sexual bias. Which is that, neither marriage nor religion are noted for being especially kind to women, and generally speaking if anything goes wrong, it is the woman who suffers most. Therefore, do what you think is good and be brave, but do think long and deep, including asking yourself, what this man's true motives for his religion are, and how he expects you to behave towards it after you are married. Simply ask him, and you may get an answer you like, which is fine, but if you don't, or you get a vague or evasive answer, then go. There is no risk in asking him because, it is better to find out now, while you still can part easily, than later.