Wise Words

Fernapple comments on Jul 24, 2021:

Yes but which one ?

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

@FrayedBear No its my shirt. And some like me to wear it one way and some the other. They say things like. "It makes your belly look better that way." or "It does not look smart." And confussing things like that.

Who is paying?

Fernapple comments on Jul 24, 2021:

Yep vaccinations are dirt cheap in real terms.

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

@nicknotes Quite. In my country the tax payer pays, and of course since they are long term and intensive that comes to a lot of money, I would say that from the tax payers point of view, the vacs is a bargin.

In 1860, William Henry Burr produced a list of 4 self-contradictions in the Bible.

273kelvin comments on Jul 24, 2021:

The problem with a literal interpretation of the bible is not only its absurdity but that it throws the baby out with the bathwater. Whatever good messages the book might contain is obscured by an all or nothing approach. It antagonises the atheist, agnostic and vaguely spiritual alike. Now if you ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

@Gwendolyn2018 Yes literal interpretations can make it worse.

Wise Words

Fernapple comments on Jul 24, 2021:

Yes but which one ?

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

@Spinliesel No the UK.

In 1860, William Henry Burr produced a list of 4 self-contradictions in the Bible.

273kelvin comments on Jul 24, 2021:

The problem with a literal interpretation of the bible is not only its absurdity but that it throws the baby out with the bathwater. Whatever good messages the book might contain is obscured by an all or nothing approach. It antagonises the atheist, agnostic and vaguely spiritual alike. Now if you ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

True. The Old Testament is "a chronicle of a peoples transition from a nomadic existence to an agricultural one", but it is also the story of how that was achieved by ultra nationalism, racism, warfare, land theft and the genocide of the existing agriculturalists. Taking the literal god belief out of it does not redeem it completely, or make it a good example. Nor does it prevent people of criminal intent cherry picking it to justify their evil intentions, by claiming those cherry picked parts to be justified by tradition and to be grand archetypical metaphors of their own interpretation of human nature. The ancient Greek and Roman stories were used in just that way, to justify many of the most horrible aspects of European imperialism, including slavery, misogyny and racism, despite the fact that they were not believed literally by any Europeans since the five hundreds.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, ...

mcgeo52 comments on Jul 24, 2021:

With all due respect, I have to disagree. Technology has done more to change the world, for better and worse, than almost any small group of thoughtful, committed citizens. Indeed, technology has created a greater need for small groups of thoughtful, committed citizens.

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

Yes and technology is the product of hundreds of thousands of people, across a hundred or more centuries, all moving forward together, even when some of them did not want to.

Wise Words

Fernapple comments on Jul 24, 2021:

Yes but which one ?

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

@Spinliesel Thats a good plan, yes. Except that they tend to pull in different directions on some issues. ( Like if you should have your shirt in or out of your pants, when not wearing a jacket. ) Has got me into all sorts of trouble has that one.

This Meme is going places

FrayedBear comments on Jul 23, 2021:

1000 year old real estate agent's lies.

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

Someone knows his history.

I changed a light bulb.

powder comments on Jul 23, 2021:

How many dyslexics does it take to change an leciterc blub?

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

Dog knows !

Having a debate, would love for you to weigh in: If a singer/artist/actor you used to love turns ...

Fernapple comments on Jul 24, 2021:

Would depend if I can access the art free, in which case I am not providing any money which could be used to support things I do not approve of.

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

@NYTrink Scandal would not have any effect, in fact, it is not something I would even take enough of an interest in to even know most of the time.

Remember when you are feeling low or very happy, you can always get on here and vent.

Fernapple comments on Jul 24, 2021:

As long as you are not boring. (Thats my job.)

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

@anglophone I have acheived that nivana like state of self awareness in only 64 years. Not wishing to belittle your own acheivement, since you are probably not quite as boring as me, takes a little longer to get there.

What are your goals for 2021?

Julie808 comments on Jul 23, 2021:

My goal this year is to get my house clean enough for company again. After 18 months of not allowing anyone in, I've let it get cluttered. Housekeeping is not my favorite thing and I get bored with it after 15 minutes per day, so it will take a while! In the mean time, I'm hoping to keep my life ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

Yep that is my plan as well.

So here we are again, more rainy, gray days.

Fernapple comments on Jul 23, 2021:

In the UK, the government placed us all under virtual house arrest because of the virus. I have got cabin fever, if I could get out I would just run and run rain or not.

Fernapple replies on Jul 24, 2021:

@Jolanta Thank you, I am doing. And if I go out it is somewhere where I can be quite alone.

Googling

hankster comments on Jul 22, 2021:

lots better than the old stone tablet days.

Fernapple replies on Jul 23, 2021:

I don't know, but I will take an old guys word any day. I only go back as far as scrolls, still don't really get on with these folding flippity paged books thinks yet, give me something I can roll out properly.

Googling

holdenc98 comments on Jul 22, 2021:

am i the only one who finds google crap compared to a good library? all google is, is easy.

Fernapple replies on Jul 23, 2021:

I find them complimentary, I like having both.

Among Mormon Women, Frank Talk About Sacred Underclothes

CuddyCruiser comments on Jul 22, 2021:

Oh let me guess…….men who wear pink are “Evil” and women who wear black are “whores”. These people probably believe Doctor Seuss was a brain surgeon.

Fernapple replies on Jul 22, 2021:

No, it is even crazier and funnier than that. They have to wear special long pants and vests, a lot like winter thermals all year round. They are supposed to be sacred temple garments, so that they are in the temple all the time.

Dating site gives "final warning" to man who criticized me for being atheist.

Fernapple comments on Jul 21, 2021:

Everyone has some beliefs which they hold to be true even though they are not supported by evidence. And I don't believe he has a B.S in anything, especially not Biology.

Fernapple replies on Jul 21, 2021:

@Sierra4 That I can believe.

What evolutionary advantages might there be, if any, of the currently observable level of stupidity ...

Fernapple comments on Jul 21, 2021:

Since agriculture came along and gave us abundant free food without having to hunt for it. The most stupid have taken the opportunity to breed as fast as they could, and the human brain which had been growing up until then has been shrinking ever since, the last five/ten thousand year or so, because...

Fernapple replies on Jul 21, 2021:

@yvilletom Yes certainly metaphore, just to illustrate the point about foresight. You have to be very careful though, really the story is rubbish in that although factually correct, it needs so many qualifications and nuances added, to make it even approach being a respectical comment on science, that it would go on for pages, or be open to willful misunderstanding. But fortunately most of the people on here are relatively science savay, so I content myself with just saying "not fully objective science" at the start.

One of my very good friends is very angry with me because I do not believe that covid is just a hoax...

Fernapple comments on Jul 21, 2021:

Someone who wants you to change to suit their needs, is not your friend to start with. Sorry, you may be fond of this person, but that is the truth, she does not love you the person, but only the thing she wants you to be in her life.

Fernapple replies on Jul 21, 2021:

@Jolanta Sometimes you have to be a little forgiving. You never know to what extent the church may be manipulating them. I have a friend who is quite elderly, nearly ninety. She had a best friend who she went to school with, and they were pals all their lives, never out of touch. But sadly her friend was born into a family with JW links and they got sucked ever more deeply into a fundi sub section of an extreme type. A couple of years ago, just before the pandemic, my friends old school friend passed away. But the family and the church closed ranks, and all non JW people including my friend were kept from the bed side, and of course from the funeral. My poor friend who is quite frail and grew up largely secular, and therefore innocent of the ways of churches, found it all impossible to understand. Becoming convinced that they had had a rift for some reason she could not fathom. There were storms of tears, and questions asked like. "Why is she doing this, I wanted more than anything to see her before she died ?" If the churches never did anything worse than keeping two frail and eldery people apart, to die more alone than they had to by nature, it would be more than crime enough.

Should there be a word for people who have rejected Covid-19 vaccination and later regretted it?

Marionville comments on Jul 21, 2021:

Damascene converts!

Fernapple replies on Jul 21, 2021:

That is a very polite one yes.

Christianity is collapsing | Freedom From Religion Foundation

domos comments on Jul 21, 2021:

Christianity is not going anywhere or falling apart. Institutionalized Christianity is just being reformed... Probably splitting between explicit white supremacy and a more progressive norm of classism... White supremacy light-ish. Institutional religion that's kind of taking a hit around the ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 21, 2021:

It can will and does reinvent itself endlessly. The Christianity of the second century A.D. was a completely different thing from that of the first, and that was another thing entirely from that of the post Roman dark ages, whose people would in turn not understand the medieval version, post reformation the Roman church and the new churches were both different again, and they changed again in the nineteenth century, then it reinvented itself many times in modern times. If you have a good label you keep sticking it on. If the man in the shop selling fake reproductions, made in a third world sweat shop last week, has a good label which says. "Genuine antique." He sticks it on every new thing that comes out of the back room.

Glenn Kirschner - Trump Associate Tom Barrack Indicted for 7 Felony Crimes, Unlawfully Acted as ...

Charlene comments on Jul 20, 2021:

Wonder if Trumpo will pay for his lawyers..😂😂😂😂😂

Fernapple replies on Jul 21, 2021:

Trumps lawers have already decided how they are going to carve up all of Trumps estates, there is nothing left, not already spoken for. LOL

My yellow poinciana is blooming and covered in bees.

MizJ comments on Jul 20, 2021:

Apologies that it loaded sideways

Fernapple replies on Jul 21, 2021:

Yes, but getting the bees to fly on their sides is really clever, we are impressed.

IFixit CEO names and shames tech giants for right to repair obstruction iFixit chief Kyle Wiens ...

FearlessFly comments on Jul 20, 2021:

The "right to modify", being inseparable from the right to own, is inalienable by definition. And the ability to modify is strongly correlated with the ability to repair.

Fernapple replies on Jul 20, 2021:

Sadly the right to own is in decline. Everything is getting more complicated, with the right to own being limited and restricted and your contracts when you buy saying that you can only have limited ownership of certain parts of things for certain uses at certain times in certain ways, and and up to certain points. The one thing that is certain is, is that none of the changes are for the consummers benefit.

Some thoughts I have after chatting with a friend about some exploitative patterns in relationships.

Fernapple comments on Jul 20, 2021:

I think that if you have reached the point, where you are starting to think about making rules and plans for a relationship, then it is probably not going anywhere anyway.

Fernapple replies on Jul 20, 2021:

@domos Understanding your partner is the maimn part of doing your best, and if they want to lay down rules for you that is fine and they are best respected, the problem comes when you start trying to invent rules to cover over conflicts. It is just about attitude.

Some thoughts I have after chatting with a friend about some exploitative patterns in relationships.

Fernapple comments on Jul 20, 2021:

I think that if you have reached the point, where you are starting to think about making rules and plans for a relationship, then it is probably not going anywhere anyway.

Fernapple replies on Jul 20, 2021:

@domos I always observed just one rule, which was. If doing my best all the time for this other persons happiness is not at the top of my mind all the time, then I need a new relationship because this is not workable, or I am an asshole who does not deserve it.

So it appears mandatory vaccine passports are becoming a thing in France.

Fernapple comments on Jul 19, 2021:

People have a right to choose, but if that comes with a cost to them, I have a perfect right to withhold help and say, pay the cost. In most countries you can not drive a car without you, first take a test and get a license, that is a restriction of freedom, but it is there to protect others, ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 20, 2021:

@bbyrd009 The cost here in the UK was trivial, especialy when compared to the other costs of the virus. If you Americans got ripped off, ( Which given the competence of your then leader seems likely. )that is your concern, and does not affect the big picture, especially as we are here talking about France.

Our resident numerologist and girl with the crunchiest numbers has inadvertently alerted us to a ...

Fernapple comments on Jul 19, 2021:

To the nearest one percent, 100%, or all of them. As the numbers get larger, more and more of them will contain a two, until a point is reached where virtually every one contains a two, certainly more than ninety nine out of a hundred, and given that you are talking about an infinite series the ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 19, 2021:

@anglophone No the number can never be exactly zero, since for example 378951 there you go, even if there was only that one, the count would be short of 100%, and there is a number which does not contain 2 and there must be an infinite number of them, since I can write an infinite number of numbers just using the first digit alone, 3, 33, 333, 3333, 33333....... The problem is that when you try to bring limits into the game along with several other things, you could try, then like most people who try to curb and manage the bejumme which is infinity, you are no longer talking about infinity, it is the same problem all those creationists etc. hit.

What do you think is the biggest problem in the world and how would you solve it?

anglophone comments on Jul 17, 2021:

The biggest problem in the world? Willful stupidity and willful ignorance. There is no known solution.

Fernapple replies on Jul 18, 2021:

@Julie808 Yes I think that there is such a thing as willfully stupid. Since yes, though there are people who lack brain power, but I think they are few, and that by far the greatest amount of stupidity is caused by laziness and fear, because people are unwilling to engage with education, even when it is freely available, because it may demand something from them, or it is not comforting. So they would rather go to a preacher, for example, (There are other sources. ) who will provide easy , comforting nonsense confirming what the inner child wants to hear, than take down a text book or think things through. Even though they may well know that that is not the best way to address or research the issues.

Just as is the case today, in Galileo’s time there was no quarrel between science and religion.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 17, 2021:

I recall Steven Jay Gould proposing that there is no real conflict science and religion because they are "non-overlapping magisteria." I cannot say that I agree. If people are guided by their religions, or even their mistaken interpretations of their religions, to deny facts that science has ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 18, 2021:

@Flyingsaucesir Yes it is true that literal belief has been at the bottom of the problem , and I perhaps should have included it in the list. Though it has to be said that some religions such as Maoist personality cult, which helped to kill millions, and the Nazi cult which used exactly those sorts of interpretations of both Christianity and North European paganism, plus the Hitler personality cult, did not rely on a literal theist god very much, if at all.

Just as is the case today, in Galileo’s time there was no quarrel between science and religion.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 17, 2021:

I recall Steven Jay Gould proposing that there is no real conflict science and religion because they are "non-overlapping magisteria." I cannot say that I agree. If people are guided by their religions, or even their mistaken interpretations of their religions, to deny facts that science has ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 17, 2021:

@Flyingsaucesir The hammer anology does not work, it is in fact a typical example of why metaphor usually fails, since an artificial world can always be created where anything may be made to work metaphorically. A better way to look at it, using the same flawed method , (Fight fire with fire.) would be to say that once people believed, that the disease Malaria was caused by the bad air in swamps, literally "mal- air ". We now know, of course, that it is caused by a parasite carried by insects which live in swamps. The fact that swamps however do not cause malaria does not mean that swamps are safe places to go , or that you are not more likely to catch malaria near a swamp, because that is where it lives. Thus moderate religion creates the swamp which is the natural home of the extremist, by normalizing beliefs not supported by logic, or evidence and by normallizing faith alone as a souse of belief and as a justification for action and morality, moderate religion creates the perfect environment for the extremist to live in.

Just as is the case today, in Galileo’s time there was no quarrel between science and religion.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 17, 2021:

I recall Steven Jay Gould proposing that there is no real conflict science and religion because they are "non-overlapping magisteria." I cannot say that I agree. If people are guided by their religions, or even their mistaken interpretations of their religions, to deny facts that science has ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 17, 2021:

@Flyingsaucesir Exactly. The idea that religion can be recovered and made good simply by leaving out the supernatural, is nonsense, the literal belief in the supernatural is probably the least harmful and silliest bit of religion, and certainly not the source of its evil. The real defining quality of religion is the awarding of fake authority to things which do nothing to earn that authority. Whether that be religious tradition, religious social groups, religious texts, religious leaders or religious metaphore. Which definition of religion covers all the main bases, and if there are elements of religion outside of that they are trivial and unimportant. The important point being, that for those people who want to promote truth, there are plenty of ways to do it and plenty of ways to justify truth, from empirical science to philosophy, spheres where authority can be questioned and earned. The only people who want fake authority and have any real use for it, are people who wish to promote untruths, often things they know to be untrue, that is the only use it has. In the past it is true that religion was often the only game in town, when it came to issues such as morality, cosmology, etc. but those days are long since gone. Which is why religions can only increasingly in the future find a place in the market place of ideas, by appealing to the criminal, and becoming the home of organized crime. That is its future if not its past.

‘The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges,...

zeuser comments on Jul 17, 2021:

Regardless of what the law says, the rich get away with it lots more than the poor.

Fernapple replies on Jul 17, 2021:

Yes, I think that A. F. was putting the best spin on it, to make his point about how even fair and equal laws, do not really deliver true justice, even more strongly.

‘The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges,...

bobwjr comments on Jul 17, 2021:

Sure but the rich don't have to

Fernapple replies on Jul 17, 2021:

Yes I think that is the point.

“Life - the way it really is today - is a battle not between Bad and Good but between Bad and ...

Diogenes comments on Jul 17, 2021:

That is just about where I am right now; between a bad legal situation and one that is unbelievable. No I am not the criminal; I am the victim. Ontario's legal system is like a weird walk through some mysterious wonderland. When I look south of the border it is even worse. Donald John Trump is ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 17, 2021:

There are no legal systems which do not provide everyone with a "weird walk". Remember that the lawyers and judges make their livings by guiding people along those walks, yet the funny thing is that the people who earn money from the difficulties of the path, are also the people who a responsible for designing the paths. The perfect "Catch 22". See also. https://agnostic.com/group/FavoriteQuotes/discussion/610022/the-law-in-its-majestic-equality-forbids-the-rich-as-well-as-the-poor-to-sleep-under-bridges

Just as is the case today, in Galileo’s time there was no quarrel between science and religion.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 17, 2021:

I recall Steven Jay Gould proposing that there is no real conflict science and religion because they are "non-overlapping magisteria." I cannot say that I agree. If people are guided by their religions, or even their mistaken interpretations of their religions, to deny facts that science has ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 17, 2021:

I did view the video, and that is not really the issue it addresses, it seems more likely that Skado did not view the video, at least not with an open mind. First. The conflict between Galileo and the church, (Not religion sadly because he was very devout, and failed to see through it.) occurred because the church had bought into some very bad pseudoscience, that of Plato and Ptolemy etc. which may once have been science in its day, but which was way out of date by then. The church then tried to use its fake authority, ( Not even justified by the Bible which hardly mentions it. ) to keep the old science alive in order to promote the idea of its own infallibility, thereby putting it in conflict with Galileo. Which is exactly the problem with religion, since religion is in fact simply the fallacy of proof by authority. Which is not something that those wishing to promote truth would ever wish to use, since there are many better tests of veracity such as logic, the experimental method, etc. even the ad populum fallacy is better sometimes. And therefore religion is almost invariably only the resort of those which to promote the untrue, which puts it in conflict with all sources of truth not merely science. Secondly. The video is only one short extract from a much longer one, much of which is in strong contrast with the extracts as presented. Cherry picking. Thirdly. The opinion expressed is only and opinion of one man's interpretation of another opinions, and is therefore very questionable. Fourthly. Einstein made many statements on religion and god many of which are much more strongly in conflict with its ideas. Cherry picking again.

It's really that simple

skado comments on Jul 13, 2021:

It’s almost that simple, I agree. If the meme could be modified to say *literal* god. But when it says *any* god, that would include metaphorical gods, and I’m convinced Clapton is real. 😎

Fernapple replies on Jul 15, 2021:

@skado PS. Don't forget you are talking to a Brit. We may not have been the first people to weaponize irrony, (ancient Greeks probably as usual) but we were certainly the first to use it a our main front line arm. Now rise to my expectation and give a considered, serious, sparkling response to my sad little jest.

[bbc.co.uk] Just right for a four year old to see on a table

Fernapple comments on Jul 14, 2021:

Still missing the puke emoji.

Fernapple replies on Jul 15, 2021:

@webspider555 Now get Admin to put it back on the page menu, and I will think you are even more brilliant.

Why do the perpetually stupid think everything terrible is all a hoax?

RichCC comments on Jul 15, 2021:

You answered your own question. They're desperately grasping for causes for the calamities they're seeing but they aren't smart enough to reason out legitimate answers -- they have to make stuff up.

Fernapple replies on Jul 15, 2021:

Oh I think they are, "smart enough to reason out legitimate answers", they just don't want to. Most of it is self chosen wilfully stupid. Especially choosing to remain forever in the child like state, of refusing to accept that, I want, is not the same as, its true. And in doing so they get plenty of help, since to churches and marketing companies, perminant spoiled demanding children, are exactly the audience they want, since they will buy into any promise this week, and when that fails, be ready to buy another one next week. It is much more about maturity than brain power I think.

It's really that simple

skado comments on Jul 13, 2021:

It’s almost that simple, I agree. If the meme could be modified to say *literal* god. But when it says *any* god, that would include metaphorical gods, and I’m convinced Clapton is real. 😎

Fernapple replies on Jul 15, 2021:

@skado Yes quite well, but mine is serious humour.

It's really that simple

skado comments on Jul 13, 2021:

It’s almost that simple, I agree. If the meme could be modified to say *literal* god. But when it says *any* god, that would include metaphorical gods, and I’m convinced Clapton is real. 😎

Fernapple replies on Jul 14, 2021:

@skado Me too and this is humour as well.

It's really that simple

skado comments on Jul 13, 2021:

It’s almost that simple, I agree. If the meme could be modified to say *literal* god. But when it says *any* god, that would include metaphorical gods, and I’m convinced Clapton is real. 😎

Fernapple replies on Jul 14, 2021:

@skado Can't you recognize a joke when you see it ? Boy, talk about lost in your own little world. But even so, there is, as with all logical paradoxes, some truth to be found there. To be a metaphorical atheist would be pointless and silly. And probably not logically sound, as the existence of metaphorical gods is empirically evident anyway, even to the believer in literal gods. As in the old atheist saying. "Believers are atheists, to nearly all gods that ever existed, I just go one god more." But you would be hard pressed to find, for example, a Christian literalist, who would refuse to recognize that Odin, Zeus and Apollo did not, and could not, exist as metaphorical objects. Therefore an atheist is by definition only a literal atheist, or at least you would be hard pressed to find a metaphorical one I would think. And don't tell me that you thought that I was one, there being a big difference between metaphorical gods and metaphor as religion.

It's really that simple

skado comments on Jul 13, 2021:

It’s almost that simple, I agree. If the meme could be modified to say *literal* god. But when it says *any* god, that would include metaphorical gods, and I’m convinced Clapton is real. 😎

Fernapple replies on Jul 14, 2021:

Maybe he is a metaphorical atheist.

Anthropologists of Jesus Christ and Devils, and Satans, and Atheists

Fernapple comments on Jul 13, 2021:

Yep. Fundamentalist fence sitting leaves you with a green line across your bum, which prolongs the flight paths of migrating owls driving sales of credit card interest up.

Fernapple replies on Jul 13, 2021:

@FreethoughtKaty That is even better.

Novel plastic disintegrates in a week in sunlight and oxygen [newatlas.com]

FearlessFly comments on Jul 13, 2021:

Uses : Drinking straws Disposable medical stuff (syringes, pads, etc...) Shopping bags Food and Product packaging

Fernapple replies on Jul 13, 2021:

Being very old, I can remember that in my youth, drinking straws were made of waxed paper. It would bio-degrade very well. But guess what ? You sucked and the juice came up, just the same as the plastic ones !!!

Great song from 1956 movie The Girl Can’t Help It….

Fernapple comments on Jul 13, 2021:

Did not know that film or version, but remember it well from when it was used as the almost perfect title sequence for the TV series "Taggart".

Fernapple replies on Jul 13, 2021:

@Marionville You are probably correct I am on expert.

The thPeople on the far political right, about 30 percent of our population, are constant throwing ...

Fernapple comments on Jul 12, 2021:

Witches never existed either, in any real or meaningful sense, certainly not as worshipers of a non existent devil, or creators of black magic. But it was nice to have someone you could torture, hang, burn, and above all blame for all the problems, so that you did not have to make the effort to face...

Fernapple replies on Jul 13, 2021:

@Willow_Wisp You cast your spell over me long ago.

Ten Thought Patterns That Trip Up Former Bible Believers

Sticks48 comments on Jul 12, 2021:

She left out the lack of ability for critical thinking.

Fernapple replies on Jul 12, 2021:

I think that is the whole thing. That is why I think Christians etc. often seem so dishonest. In order to make it work, they have to fool themselves, and set a low standard of truth for themselves, and when you spend your whole life training yourself to be inwardly dishonest, and set low inward standards, it is only natural that that training should effect the way you approach and deal with everything else. That is the real danger of religion, perhaps, the corrosive effect it has on the personality.

Is religious belief natural or man made?

Rossy92 comments on Jul 3, 2021:

The framing is overly simplistic. It's natural, absent education and development of critical thinking skills, to believe all sorts of superstitions. To believe in the specifics of a particular religion requires indoctrination.

Fernapple replies on Jul 11, 2021:

@Rossy92 Yes that is why I published my alternate poll, which strangely seemed to get the exact oposite results, for basically the same question. Odd that. https://agnostic.com/post/608231/do-you-think-that-human-genetics-which-gave-us-higher-levels-of-abstract-thought-and-language-also

Is religious belief natural or man made?

Matias comments on Jul 3, 2021:

Are we "born atheists" , as some people claim? It is certainly true that babies are born without any specific religious faith, but does that make them "born atheists"? I do not think so. First: Not every being that does not belief in God is an atheist. Nobody would argue that insects or sharks...

Fernapple replies on Jul 11, 2021:

@Poseidon Yes I wholy agree. Except that we do of course label people for pointing out stupidity, we also call them, honest, forthright, insightful, public spirited, and lots of other good things.

So many bunnies. I wonder how they survive.

PondartIncbendog comments on Jul 11, 2021:

They learned to be friendly when the food ran out but the tourists didn't.

Fernapple replies on Jul 11, 2021:

Shoot tourists and cure the rabbit problem. Good thinking.

Is religious belief natural or man made?

Rossy92 comments on Jul 3, 2021:

The framing is overly simplistic. It's natural, absent education and development of critical thinking skills, to believe all sorts of superstitions. To believe in the specifics of a particular religion requires indoctrination.

Fernapple replies on Jul 11, 2021:

The trick being used is to offer you two correct answers, but put one first and make it sound more appealing. Then when people ignore the second it can be claimed falsely as proof of their prejudices, and failing to understand the second, which will then probably be published elswhere on other sites or on paper, without of course mentioning how the result was acheived.

Is religious belief natural or man made?

Matias comments on Jul 3, 2021:

Are we "born atheists" , as some people claim? It is certainly true that babies are born without any specific religious faith, but does that make them "born atheists"? I do not think so. First: Not every being that does not belief in God is an atheist. Nobody would argue that insects or sharks...

Fernapple replies on Jul 11, 2021:

@Poseidon Yes, but we do use "non-smoker", "non-driver", and "non-drinker" I think that it is usual to use a "non" "A" term when there are/were large numbers, perhaps historically more than half of the people who do a thing. But you are quite correct that when the "nons" reach the majority then you could perhaps should change "non" to "normal", or some other such term.

Is religious belief natural or man made?

Hominid comments on Jul 7, 2021:

Though I voted the first choice, I've read that there is sufficient anthropological evidence that humans tend to want to worship something, be it the cliché sun and thunder gods, etc. and that this tendency evolved around the same time as language did. Again, that's just shit I've read, but it ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 11, 2021:

The trick being used is to offer you two correct answers, but put one first and make it sound more appealing. Then when people ignore the second it can be claimed falsely as proof of their prejudices, and failing to understand the second, which will then probably be published elswhere on other sites or on paper, without of course mentioning how the result was acheived.

10th July 1040…English history: Lady Godiva rides naked on horseback through the streets of ...

BD66 comments on Jul 10, 2021:

I wish the wives of Democratic politicians would do the same!

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

Not really. Most politicians have already tried selling their wives virtue, and it did not work, so that is why they turned to politics.

The Evolution of the God Gene by Nicholas Wade “This and other research is pointing to...

Fernapple comments on Jul 10, 2021:

I do not see why atheists (or agnostics ) should feel it is not a "welcome thought". Since most atheists do not generally feel the need for the existence of any theistic style free will. And therefore do not generally have a problem with the idea of genetic determinism, and that all things in human ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

@skado Ok, I will go further on your video and say that. Deceit by omission even partial omission or under emphasis is no better morally than deceit by misrepresentation.

The Evolution of the God Gene by Nicholas Wade “This and other research is pointing to...

Fernapple comments on Jul 10, 2021:

I do not see why atheists (or agnostics ) should feel it is not a "welcome thought". Since most atheists do not generally feel the need for the existence of any theistic style free will. And therefore do not generally have a problem with the idea of genetic determinism, and that all things in human ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

@skado Your video person was certainly propounding that. Do not forget that it is a point where it is very needful to avoid misinterpretation by the literalists, which they will do at the drop of a hat, even a failing to propound the difference between belief and religion as the main point is dangerous. The only other objections which I still have to all of these is as said the misrepresentation of atheists, and the usual fake revissionist claim that the science is new, when even I can trace the hypothesis back to the seventies.

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

RussRAB comments on Jul 10, 2021:

Human being seem to have a need or desire to find explanactions for events around them. Michael Shermer discusses in one of his books about how humans are pattern seeking creatures. Experiments have shown that humans find patterns in sequences that are intentionally randomized with no patterns ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

Yes that is a very good short overview. Thank you.

A common ‘belief’ among atheists is that humans are born atheists, and come to religion only ...

Fernapple comments on Jul 1, 2021:

I thought that that was more or less what most atheists did think. Certainly there is nothing new to this one. Stop strawmanning atheists.

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

@skado Really that. I can't believe that you resort to questioning basic math and logic. The. I am too stupid to understand it, therefore it can't be true, falacy. Really is the last resort of the lost apologist.

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

Ryo1 comments on Jul 10, 2021:

Since you mention "genetics", about 10 years ago, an interesting study was carried out on morality in babies and toddlers by Yale University. The study concluded with a strong suggestion that humans are born with hard-wired morality. I take that babies are born atheists but are vulnerable to ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

@Ryo1 Interesting video.

A common ‘belief’ among atheists is that humans are born atheists, and come to religion only ...

Fernapple comments on Jul 1, 2021:

I thought that that was more or less what most atheists did think. Certainly there is nothing new to this one. Stop strawmanning atheists.

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

@skado If you are in a hole, stop digging. Bye

A common ‘belief’ among atheists is that humans are born atheists, and come to religion only ...

Fernapple comments on Jul 1, 2021:

I thought that that was more or less what most atheists did think. Certainly there is nothing new to this one. Stop strawmanning atheists.

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

@skado Yes.

A common ‘belief’ among atheists is that humans are born atheists, and come to religion only ...

Fernapple comments on Jul 1, 2021:

I thought that that was more or less what most atheists did think. Certainly there is nothing new to this one. Stop strawmanning atheists.

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

@skado I never assume, I am content to point things out, members may judge for themselves..

A common ‘belief’ among atheists is that humans are born atheists, and come to religion only ...

Fernapple comments on Jul 1, 2021:

I thought that that was more or less what most atheists did think. Certainly there is nothing new to this one. Stop strawmanning atheists.

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

@skado better look again.

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

ChestRockfield comments on Jul 9, 2021:

I can't understand why anyone would say no to this. Genetics are responsible for everything, no?

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

@JeffMurray Exactly. I could not explain ahead of time because it would bias the results, but it was to discover if members appreciated the difference between belief in general, and the specific sub-set of culturally created beliefs called religion, which I would hold are not inevitable and natural, even though belief may be. A few members I think did not understand because I deliberately made the wording difficult, in order to stop any wish to please bias, but the members are a smart lot. It was a response to these joint postings, and some now deleted comments. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

anglophone comments on Jul 9, 2021:

My no vote comes from my semantic analysis of your question.

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

I could not explain ahead of time because it would bias the results, but it was to discover if members appreciated the difference between belief in general, and the specific sub-set of culturally created beliefs called religion, which I would hold are not inevitable and natural, even though belief may be. A few members I think did not understand because I deliberately made the wording difficult, in order to stop any wish to please bias, but the members are a smart lot. It was a response to these joint postings, and some now deleted comments. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

guntis comments on Jul 9, 2021:

It's our ability to see patterns even where they are misleading. Rational thinking may help to compensate this bug/feature, but only to a certain extent. I think so...

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

Yes you hit it on the head. I could not explain ahead of time because it would bias the results, but it was to discover if members appreciated the difference between belief in general, and the specific sub-set of culturally created beliefs called religion, which I would hold are not inevitable and natural, even though belief may be. A few members I think did not understand because I deliberately made the wording difficult, in order to stop any wish to please bias, but the members are a smart lot. It was a response to these joint postings, and some now deleted comments. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

William_Mary comments on Jul 9, 2021:

The question is contradictory to abstract thought theory, as indoctrination, a proven mental weakness within humanity, especially within the political arena among citizenship. With the world citizenship under a constant 24 hour programing of negative propaganda towards conditioning to manage our ...

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

Exactly that. I could not explain ahead of time because it would bias the results, but it was to discover if members appreciated the difference between belief in general, and the specific sub-set of culturally created beliefs called religion, which I would hold are not inevitable and natural, even though belief may be. A few members I think did not understand because I deliberately made the wording difficult, in order to stop any wish to please bias, but the members are a smart lot. It was a response to these joint postings, and some now deleted comments. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

Davekp comments on Jul 9, 2021:

Maybe, for the benefit of us without the dictionary gene the question can be posed as, "Can you be genetically "stupid"? lol

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

Exactly. I could not explain ahead of time because it would bias the results, but it was to discover if members appreciated the difference between belief in general, and the specific sub-set of culturally created beliefs called religion, which I would hold are not inevitable and natural, even though belief may be. A few members I think did not understand because I deliberately made the wording difficult, in order to stop any wish to please bias, but the members are a smart lot. It was a response to these joint postings, and some now deleted comments. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

MrDragon comments on Jul 9, 2021:

I think it's only obvious.

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

I could not explain ahead of time because it would bias the results, but it was to discover if members appreciated the difference between belief in general, and the specific sub-set of culturally created beliefs called religion, which I would hold are not inevitable and natural, even though belief may be. A few members I think did not understand because I deliberately made the wording difficult, in order to stop any wish to please bias, but the members are a smart lot. It was a response to these joint postings, and some now deleted comments. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

Krish55 comments on Jul 9, 2021:

The sun is similarly responsible for rainy days…

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

I could not explain ahead of time because it would bias the results, but it was to discover if members appreciated the difference between belief in general, and the specific sub-set of culturally created beliefs called religion, which I would hold are not inevitable and natural, even though belief may be. A few members I think did not understand because I deliberately made the wording difficult, in order to stop any wish to please bias, but the members are a smart lot. It was a response to these joint postings, and some now deleted comments. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

snytiger6 comments on Jul 9, 2021:

I think irrational beliefs that result i religion are instinctual hold overs from our past. To fear change and the unfamiliar was once a part of our survival instincts.

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

That is the point exactly. I could not explain ahead of time because it would bias the results, but it was to discover if members appreciated the difference between belief in general, and the specific sub-set of culturally created beliefs called religion, which I would hold are not inevitable and natural, even though belief may be. A few members I think did not understand because I deliberately made the wording difficult, in order to stop any wish to please bias, but the members are a smart lot. It was a response to these joint postings, and some now deleted comments. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

CuddyCruiser comments on Jul 9, 2021:

What it boils down to is this…….YOU control your own mind. You make the efforts by studying or by memorizing certain things that shape your thoughts. Nothing or nobody else does….. unless your weak and allow others to do so.

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

I could not explain ahead of time because it would bias the results, but it was to discover if members appreciated the difference between belief in general, and the specific sub-set of culturally created beliefs called religion, which I would hold are not inevitable and natural, even though belief may be. A few members I think did not understand because I deliberately made the wording difficult, in order to stop any wish to please bias, but the members are a smart lot. It was a response to these joint postings, and some now deleted comments. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

QuidamOutrepont comments on Jul 9, 2021:

Genetics?!

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

I could not explain ahead of time because it would bias the results, but it was to discover if members appreciated the difference between belief in general, and the specific sub-set of culturally created beliefs called religion, which I would hold are not inevitable and natural, even though belief may be. A few members I think did not understand because I deliberately made the wording difficult, in order to stop any wish to please bias, but the members are a smart lot. It was a response to these joint postings, and some now deleted comments. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

Robecology comments on Jul 9, 2021:

The question isn't clear. Genetics is the science that explains natural selection and evolution. Can some families select behaviors that make them more "vulnerable to indoctrination by irrational beliefs' - as in becoming religious or superstitious? Sure. But these behaviors - while leading...

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

I could not explain ahead of time because it would bias the results, but it was to discover if members appreciated the difference between belief in general, and the specific sub-set of culturally created beliefs called religion, which I would hold are not inevitable and natural, even though belief may be. A few members I think did not understand because I deliberately made the wording difficult, in order to stop any wish to please bias, but the members are a smart lot. It was a response to these joint postings, and some now deleted comments. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Jul 9, 2021:

Yes, but there are large cultural effects, as well.

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

That is the point exactly. I could not explain ahead of time because it would bias the results, but it was to discover if members appreciated the difference between belief in general, and the specific sub-set of culturally created beliefs called religion, which I would hold are not inevitable and natural, even though belief may be. A few members I think did not understand because I deliberately made the wording difficult, in order to stop any wish to please bias, but the members are a smart lot. It was a response to these joint postings, and some now deleted comments. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

Butch79 comments on Jul 10, 2021:

Isn't what ur really asking " does being smarter make us dumber?"?

Fernapple replies on Jul 10, 2021:

Yes almost.

“If a man would follow, today, the teachings of the (old) Testament, he would be a criminal.

barjoe comments on Jul 8, 2021:

What about being a moron?

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

I am trying my best but it is not easy.

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

waitingforgodo comments on Jul 9, 2021:

Hahahaha. To contend, as another poster did, that opinion polls offer evidential support for a genetic predisposition towards belief in god(s) is as risible as the resurrection. The pursuit of knowledge and understanding is one of the motives behind inventive explanations of reality.

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

@skado I am taking the two in context.

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

waitingforgodo comments on Jul 9, 2021:

Hahahaha. To contend, as another poster did, that opinion polls offer evidential support for a genetic predisposition towards belief in god(s) is as risible as the resurrection. The pursuit of knowledge and understanding is one of the motives behind inventive explanations of reality.

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

@skado Not opinion polls no, that would be very silly. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

indirect76 comments on Jul 9, 2021:

It’s like asking if having eyes makes us susceptible to mirages… uh yeah.

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

@skado It is not that easy to evade. You have to understand the two in context of one another. https://agnostic.com/discussion/606800/is-religious-belief-natural-or-man-made https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

A common ‘belief’ among atheists is that humans are born atheists, and come to religion only ...

Fernapple comments on Jul 1, 2021:

I thought that that was more or less what most atheists did think. Certainly there is nothing new to this one. Stop strawmanning atheists.

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

@skado I ran the same poll and got much more than the exact reverse results, simply by changing the word religion, for irrational beliefs. It would seem that most of the atheists here understand the science well enough, but also understand the difference between beliefs even irrational beliefs and the specific sub set of beliefs called religion, which the maker of the video seems not to be able to manage, in their sleazy interpretation of the science.

I have decided that I am a fairly happy nihilist.

Fernapple comments on Jul 8, 2021:

Good. You can join the gloomy optimists, angry pacifists, vague rationalists and dull humourists who seem to dominate this site.

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

@Gwendolyn2018 Yes of course. It was only a light hearted jest.

Here's one of my favorite places to get away from the noise and hassle of my little "home town" of ...

Fernapple comments on Jul 9, 2021:

I love the chirp of sparrows, it was the background soundtrack to summer in my childhood. But sadly their population has taken a nose dive here in the UK and they are now quite rare.

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

@fishline79 No they habve recovered a little lately but they are nothing like what they were. Some people say that it is down to the treatment of seed and grain.

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

QuidamOutrepont comments on Jul 9, 2021:

Genetics?!

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

As sellected by evolution yes.

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

Robecology comments on Jul 9, 2021:

The question isn't clear. Genetics is the science that explains natural selection and evolution. Can some families select behaviors that make them more "vulnerable to indoctrination by irrational beliefs' - as in becoming religious or superstitious? Sure. But these behaviors - while leading...

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

Yes my thoughts exactly. Genetics creates general trends but not specific occurences.

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

indirect76 comments on Jul 9, 2021:

It’s like asking if having eyes makes us susceptible to mirages… uh yeah.

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

Exactly yes. It is a response to a poll by another member which tried to prove that in effect, not only does having eyes make us susceptible to mirages, but that it makes us susceptible to specific mirages, such as seeing cats eyes in bowls of soup. In other words the claim that having language and abstact thinking compels religion.

[heritagedaily.com] Look at Neanderthal cognitive abilities

barjoe comments on Jul 9, 2021:

Neanderthals weren't just hominids, they were people.

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

They are still here, especially if you are white european, you are probably about 3% Neanderthal.

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

ChestRockfield comments on Jul 9, 2021:

I can't understand why anyone would say no to this. Genetics are responsible for everything, no?

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

@Davekp No but intelligence in its many forms , is perhaps controlled by a suite of genes.

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

waitingforgodo comments on Jul 9, 2021:

Hahahaha. To contend, as another poster did, that opinion polls offer evidential support for a genetic predisposition towards belief in god(s) is as risible as the resurrection. The pursuit of knowledge and understanding is one of the motives behind inventive explanations of reality.

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

My thoughts exactly

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

SnowyOwl comments on Jul 9, 2021:

You need to have an imagination before you can have an imaginary friend. So Yes

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

@anglophone Yes quite so. I started this poll. Which may not be very well worded, because of an on going dispute with a member who claims that the members here are too ignorant of science to understand that.

Do you think that human genetics which gave us higher levels of abstract thought and language, also ...

SnowyOwl comments on Jul 9, 2021:

You need to have an imagination before you can have an imaginary friend. So Yes

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

Yes, at an even more basic level the question is little more than, do genetics have any effect on the way we think and behave.

A common ‘belief’ among atheists is that humans are born atheists, and come to religion only ...

Fernapple comments on Jul 1, 2021:

I thought that that was more or less what most atheists did think. Certainly there is nothing new to this one. Stop strawmanning atheists.

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

@skado No because religion and belief are not remotely the same thing. Belief may well be a human biological need, but it is possible to place belief in many things, even things which are empirically true, whereas religion is a specific cultural construct. ( The narrator in the video goes way beyond anything the science she quotes says, indeed the conclutions have nothing to do with it. )

I have decided that I am a fairly happy nihilist.

Fernapple comments on Jul 8, 2021:

Good. You can join the gloomy optimists, angry pacifists, vague rationalists and dull humourists who seem to dominate this site.

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

@Gwendolyn2018 Because surely, happiness is one of the things, a nihilist does not believe exists.

The garden opening season continues, and it was my turn to open for charity this weekend.

tinkercreek comments on Jul 8, 2021:

What a great program, and good on you for participating - your garden looks splendid!

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

Yes it is very famous in the UK, they publish a book each year called the Yellow Book, which lists and gives dates of all the open gardens across the country. It was really nice to be asked, as not every garden gets in.

The garden opening season continues, and it was my turn to open for charity this weekend.

RussRAB comments on Jul 8, 2021:

What a Great Program!

Fernapple replies on Jul 9, 2021:

Yes it is very famous in the UK, they publish a book each year called the Yellow Book, which lists and gives dates of all the open gardens across the country. It was really nice to be asked, as not every garden gets in.

Change my mind.

waitingforgodo comments on Jul 8, 2021:

To paraphrase your stance: theists, agnostics and atheists are not comfortable with science beyond its ability to fight the other isms. If you want opinions on that you could take a poll to garner more evidential support for the contention.

Fernapple replies on Jul 8, 2021:

It is not science that the members rejected, but only Sakdo and on other interpreter's subjective interpretation of some science, which among many other things makes an entirely false equivalence between belief on the one hand and religion on the other. Like this. To prove that there is a genetic basis for the game of golf. 1. Science proves that all creatures need to manage their energy usage, because over extravagant use of it would be punished by natural selection, resulting in lower survival and breeding success. 2. This creates genetic instinctive inclinations towards resting and lazy behaviour, since under certain circumstances inactivity is the most economic strategy. 3. Golf is a much less energetic game than Basket Ball. 4. Therefore golf is genetically determined, and built into our DNA. Also, the actual science, and the honest part of its interpretation, is actually based on Dawkins work and not in any way at odds with it. https://agnostic.com/group/ReligiousNaturalism/discussion/606562/a-common-belief-among-atheists-is-that-humans-are-born-atheists-and-come-to-religion-only-thr

The complex patterns that genes and proteins form, expressing themselves in so many ways.

Boomtarat03 comments on Jul 8, 2021:

🙄 I am living in a different world in which I only understand some things about this video 😅 jesus! My brain is resting 😅 Sorry @Fernapple I like you coz you are nice but I don't like the video you put up 😅 ✌️ 😉

Fernapple replies on Jul 8, 2021:

That is OK, I don't expect everyone to like everything I do. Hope you like my next post better. Have not seen you on the site for a while, hope you are good ?

Change my mind.

Fernapple comments on Jul 7, 2021:

Things are more complicated than that. End of story. Wisdom is about nuance, always beware people who are trying to sell an oversimplified view, they are never trying to point out the truth.

Fernapple replies on Jul 8, 2021:

@MsKathleen I don't agree. If you want to know why, message me.

“When someone would mistreat, misinform, misuse, misguide, mishandle, mislead …or any other ...

Diogenes comments on Jul 8, 2021:

You are up early. I just don't sleep

Fernapple replies on Jul 8, 2021:

We are five to eight hours in front of you over here.