Should we invent a new definition of 'god?

Fernapple comments on May 12, 2020:

God a a synonym for 'nothing much'. No I don't think so, thank you. I think that the term 'nothing much', has served me very well all though life so far, and I see no reason to be disloyal.

Fernapple replies on May 13, 2020:

@Storm1752 That is very true, but you have to be aware of the, 'proving my father was a fish', type of fallacy.

To be able to say how much you love is to love but little. - Petrarch

brentan comments on May 13, 2020:

I think Shakespeare stole that one too. I think Antony says it to Cleopatra at the start of the play.

Fernapple replies on May 13, 2020:

It great fun spotting Shakespeare's borrowings, he plagiarized like mad, but as you know, it was not seen as a crime in those days, rather it was seen as showing respect to the collective culture.

AZTEC KINGS HAD RULES FOR PLAGUES, INCLUDING ‘DO NOT BE A FOOL’ [zocalopublicsquare.

Fernapple comments on May 12, 2020:

No one uses the plague word now, for contemporary events. Are we becoming over sensitive, or do we in our pride, think that we are too superior to the peoples of the past to share an experience with them.

Fernapple replies on May 12, 2020:

@RoboGraham Think that is probably true.

The Finger Lakes Region of NY can re-open on Friday, says the governor.

Fernapple comments on May 11, 2020:

I would stay home until the numbers go down, not level out. If, and it is a big 'if' , your state puts in enough regulations to get the 'R' number below one. Then instead of exponential growth, you will get exponential shrinking, and as the death rate, which is what most people follow, trails ...

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

@Spinliesel Smart move. When it is all over, there may be a lot of people who have changed their tune along the way.

This came up on another post.

Lorajay comments on May 11, 2020:

I think I do it because I think the icon should actually look like how the person looks at the current time.

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

Can look like anything you wish, but I do think that there is something to be said for consistency. Personally mine is me aged eleven as painted by the village postman.

This came up on another post.

skado comments on May 11, 2020:

I’m a visually oriented person so I like easy recognition of the person I’m responding to, but I guess some people may be more verbally oriented, so they pay more attention to names, or maybe some people don’t even care who they’re responding to - I don’t know. I appreciate people who ...

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

Yes me too, I often go just by a quick glance at the photo. That is why I raised the question.

The first five days after the weekend are always the hardest.

Omnedon comments on May 11, 2020:

Did you know that 40% of sick days are taken on Mondays and Fridays?

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

@Omnedon Sorry I did the math and was looking for a deeper trick, which was also a mistake.

Except Jesus in a potato. Those are legit

Fernapple comments on May 11, 2020:

For interest. Many nineteenth century photos, are very detailed and pin sharp, because they used huge lenses, and big plates. It meant they had very poor depth of focus and the cameras were nearly immovable, but one thing they could do was pin sharp.

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

@LucyLoohoo They had to use a really big lens that grabbed a lot of light to get the expossure time down, take ten photos to get one good one, and use a saucer of very expensive fish paste. Sometimes they cheated and killed the cat first.

"All you have to do is look around you and see the beauty of god's creation!" It's like you've ...

JeffMesser comments on May 11, 2020:

it's the absolute dumbest "reason" that the churchies give me and it makes me laugh. the beauty just makes me appreciate nature ... not some man in the sky who judges me. now if they wish to admit that their precious buy-bull is NOT to be taken literally then we can talk.

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

@JeffMesser Yes but then if you said that, god is just a black box, then they could not have a special exclusive relationship with it, and then they would be just like everybody else. That's why I have always called myself a broad church skeptic and respect deism. Because the differences between deist, agnostic, atheist humanist etc, are tiny when compared to those who think that they have an excusive relationship with god/gods and understand its mind. Because when you think that you are superior and entitled. As the 'good' books say you can dash their babies brains out against the rocks, stone them for not respecting your holy day, and cut their heads off for even surgesting you may not know what god thinks.

The first five days after the weekend are always the hardest.

Omnedon comments on May 11, 2020:

Did you know that 40% of sick days are taken on Mondays and Fridays?

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

@Omnedon 40% on a Monday and 40% on a Friday.

"All you have to do is look around you and see the beauty of god's creation!" It's like you've ...

JeffMesser comments on May 11, 2020:

it's the absolute dumbest "reason" that the churchies give me and it makes me laugh. the beauty just makes me appreciate nature ... not some man in the sky who judges me. now if they wish to admit that their precious buy-bull is NOT to be taken literally then we can talk.

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

He's is just not as good as his supposed creation. And according to his supposed book, bats are birds, so he must have lost his notes somewhere.

The first five days after the weekend are always the hardest.

Omnedon comments on May 11, 2020:

Did you know that 40% of sick days are taken on Mondays and Fridays?

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

@Omnedon Did your comment mean, 'on' a Monday **and** a Friday.

In Search of God’s Perfect Proofs

Storm1752 comments on May 11, 2020:

I don't see the mathematical logic. You'd think it'd be the other way around.

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

@Storm1752 No not the bible, the book on popular maths the article is promoting. You did not read the link idi you, don't worry you are not the only one to comment on a post with out reading it, especially one that looks wooy. Guilt myself. LOL

The first five days after the weekend are always the hardest.

Omnedon comments on May 11, 2020:

Did you know that 40% of sick days are taken on Mondays and Fridays?

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

Surprised its not more than that. LOL

This came up on another post.

bobwjr comments on May 11, 2020:

People like to change things it's normal

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

Shortest reply and perhaps the most profound.

This came up on another post.

Bierbasstard comments on May 11, 2020:

The only thing constant in life is change.

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

Amen. I can live with that.

This came up on another post.

Allamanda comments on May 11, 2020:

'Messaging' in essence - eg. I used a photo with a mask, to signal that we ought to be wearing them. Now I figure we all know that so I can go back to a recognisable photo, and in my case my chin is particularly important as it indicates a degree of stubbornness I would be foolish to hide.

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

Yes that is a genuine good reason. To make a topical point in the short term, understandable.

“It has been said that man is a rational animal.

Fernapple comments on May 11, 2020:

Not sure who he was talking about when he said that, maybe its dated, I do not think that, humans being rational is a view that many hold to today.

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

@Marionville Yes and even he was writing in the past tense. Though I suspect that there were still at that time many fundamentalists, who still held it as doctrine, (It used to be part of the humans are special, and therefore given souls argument.) so he was perhaps being a little contentious.

Nothing quite like the gift of being able to produce ATP.

Fernapple comments on May 10, 2020:

Mitochondria, you would not get far without them. ( Hope I spilled that right.)

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

@Word Yes I saw an article about that too, though I think that it is thought to be rare. Can't remember where I saw it now.

In Search of God’s Perfect Proofs

Storm1752 comments on May 11, 2020:

I don't see the mathematical logic. You'd think it'd be the other way around.

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

My reading of the article is that the 'god' is a purely metaphorical one, just an artistic outline to frame the ideas into a group. The book sounds like a really interesting read.

In Search of God’s Perfect Proofs

LucyLoohoo comments on May 10, 2020:

Well...good for you. How can one be an atheist and still believe in a ''book'' created by that god?

Fernapple replies on May 11, 2020:

My reading of the article is that the 'god' is a purely metaphorical one, just an artistic outline to frame the ideas into a group. The book sounds like a really interesting read.

Nothing quite like the gift of being able to produce ATP.

Petter comments on May 10, 2020:

Yep! I'll drink to that. All we pathetic males can give to our descendants are X and Y characteristics of the cell nucleus. Mothers supply the essential bricks and mortar, including mitochondrial DNA. So here's to mothers and their daughters everywhere. P.S. Good to see you back.

Fernapple replies on May 10, 2020:

And you only borrowed the X bit from grandmom, anyway.

Nothing quite like the gift of being able to produce ATP.

Fernapple comments on May 10, 2020:

Mitochondria, you would not get far without them. ( Hope I spilled that right.)

Fernapple replies on May 10, 2020:

@Amzungu2 Thank you. No but it may be rude of me to say, that I typo'ed the word 'spelled' deliberately, pitty Americans don't do irony.

I see that the vegan-guilt-trip posts now appear in the main feed, under 'Family and Parenting'.

Cutiebeauty comments on May 10, 2020:

Anyone can post in the public forums.

Fernapple replies on May 10, 2020:

@Allamanda If when you post in a group, you click on the option of choose a catagory then your post appears in the main feed as well, under that listing. That is why some fools, not naming any in particular, end up with the same post appearing several times.

Morals.

RiverRick comments on May 10, 2020:

Just treat others as you wish to be treated. (Unless you like to be tied up and spanked!)

Fernapple replies on May 10, 2020:

OR YOUR FRIEND LIKES TO BE TIED UP AND SPANKED.

Patience rewarded on both sides. [youtube.com]

Allamanda comments on May 10, 2020:

Is this a good thing? I've always believed habituating wold animals to human contact, plus unsuitable foods etc. can cause problems... Foxes already represent an urban pest in some places and are treated badly.

Fernapple replies on May 10, 2020:

No I do not think it is a good thing, I am working on the assumption that these are exceptional circumstances and that no one will be stupid enough to emulate them.

Whether to laugh or cry?

Fernapple comments on May 10, 2020:

Post needs more work.

Fernapple replies on May 10, 2020:

@Allamanda More introduction, and some explaination of the US cultural background.

Religion its real good or bad ?

barjoe comments on May 9, 2020:

Deja Vu all over again.

Fernapple replies on May 10, 2020:

Deja Vu comes round regularly on this site.

COUNTRIES BEATING COVID-19 and those that aren't quite there yet.

JayOleck38 comments on May 9, 2020:

Spoilers: we in the US are in the "not good" category.

Fernapple replies on May 10, 2020:

Another big surprise, we in the UK arn't either.

Ginormous Coneflower, or tiny cat? Who can say? 😜 All i know for sure is it is sideways.

RavenCT comments on May 9, 2020:

@Admin @developer this sideways thing is still happening - can you fix the issue? Thanks! (L)

Fernapple replies on May 10, 2020:

@MikeInBatonRouge You could try taking a much wider photo, and then cropping it down to shape in a photo editor , that could perhaps fool the site. But perhaps not worth the bother, maybe it will get fixed.

“Judge nothing, you will be happy.

Fernapple comments on May 9, 2020:

That's a big hard ask. I think that I would add, 'try to', to those lines. Then it would perhaps be more in line with what real humans can manage.

Fernapple replies on May 9, 2020:

@Robecology I like a bit of failure, it makes me feel at home with all the other creatures. LOL

Thoughts?

David1955 comments on May 8, 2020:

Well, I take this as a kind of rejection of agnosticism, implied anyway. Being a strident atheist, I broadly agree here, though I see atheism not merely as a proposition but a statement that there is not a scrap of evidence that any god exists. Anyone got any evidence, then give us a call. I note...

Fernapple replies on May 9, 2020:

Good point about gods in the plural. This site especially tends to be post christian and USA centric, so that god singular tends to be the default. But that is just allowing imperial chritianity to dictate the terms.

CW: Whoa.

prometheus comments on May 9, 2020:

I don't get it... "If he really believed all of it he wouldn't have killed himself." I'm pretty certain if many Christians truly believed in the after life they would commit suicide in droves just like in that recent TV show on the subject. Sure some religions inserted some rules in their rule ...

Fernapple replies on May 9, 2020:

Most christian theology forbids suicide. It is usually termed self murder, and deemed to be against the, "thou shalt not kill," commandment. Some christian sects, including I think, Roman Catholic, consider it to be the worst of all sins, because the suicide can not repent before death. Dante had a special circle of hell reserved for suicides.

“By three methods we may find wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by ...

Fernapple comments on May 9, 2020:

Great quote, though someone did post it before about two days ago.

Fernapple replies on May 9, 2020:

@Marionville Don't be sorry it happens to everyone. Just one of those things. Quite fun really.

Today's hike: Can bicyclists share the trail with hikers?

t1nick comments on May 9, 2020:

Any of the participants involved in adrenaline sports involving speed (often called extreme) tend to be self-centered, tactless, and discourteous. Whether it is mountain biking snowboarding, skiing, snow mobilizing, motocross, atv, etc. They tend to have the same personality flaws even if their ...

Fernapple replies on May 9, 2020:

Especially so of cyclists, who have been told, ( not entirely without some truth ) that they are saving the planet. You tell people they are virtuous, a lot of them get arrogant, look at religious people.

“You see a lot of smart guys with dumb women, but you hardly ever see a smart woman with a dumb ...

Fernapple comments on May 8, 2020:

Maybe women have more taste. Having said that, there are for example a couple in the White House, and well smart may be an overstatement, but........

Fernapple replies on May 8, 2020:

@MarkWD Yes, but I am told that she was opposed to him running for president. So if one of them does have a brain cell, or even two of them to rub together and make a spark, then I would guess, based on that evidence, that it is the female of the species.

The mind is the the only thing that has developed to name, or label itself?

Fernapple comments on May 8, 2020:

Near to profound. Not quite. "I think therefore I am." But close.

Fernapple replies on May 8, 2020:

@Word Thank you for the background, interesting. Though sadly I have changed my mind about profound, a little given some reflection, it is still clever. But since. "The mind is the the only thing that has developed to name, or label itself? " Is a substatement of the simpler and more general. The mind is the the only thing that has developed to name, or label. It does I think after all fall a little short.

FIRST, I am very much aware of the honeybee crisis and take every precaution in my life to protect ...

LucyLoohoo comments on May 8, 2020:

Maybe we could give them teeeeeeny lil' AK47s?

Fernapple replies on May 8, 2020:

Oh, they have got those. One of them shot me once, and my whole arm swelled up, very painful.

Lying Christian Pastor: It’s “Scientifically Impossible to Be an Atheist” | Hemant Mehta | ...

MissKathleen comments on May 6, 2020:

Aren’t all clergy delusional liars?

Fernapple replies on May 7, 2020:

They are certainly either one or the other, and sometimes both.

Is there any Arabs here ?

Fernapple comments on May 7, 2020:

Hello and welcome. There are a few but they tend not to make it plain, there is a map app. on the site which shows roughly where people live.

Fernapple replies on May 7, 2020:

@Word Look under members.

The many variations of cardinals.

Novelty comments on May 7, 2020:

Here’s a few more... 💋

Fernapple replies on May 7, 2020:

They are not that variable, they all think and act alike.

Safety versus freedom. Make of that what you will. Any thoughts?

Fernapple comments on May 6, 2020:

The dead are not going anywhere or doing anything, thats a pretty big reduction in freedom. Some people gain a little freedom, some people get to have none at all.

Fernapple replies on May 7, 2020:

@Metahuman That's interesting. Do you have a quote ?

How are we going to really get rid of the grip of this virus?

Fernapple comments on May 6, 2020:

All very true. Like you and a lot of people I like to qualify 'Survival of the fittest.' which was not Darwin's originally and the one I go for is. 'Survival of the best fitted, in the short term.' 'Survival, of the quickest adapting, in the long term.'

Fernapple replies on May 6, 2020:

@Mcflewster I think that part of the problem is that the meaning of the words 'fit' and 'fittest' has changed since Darwin's day. In those days it certainly probably had more of the, peg the same shape as the hole, meaning than it does today, after a century of misuse by those who misunderstood Darwin, and promoted the idea that it meant strong, they are bound to have affected the way we understand the word.

Can we declare 'war' on social media postings proclaiming that the only solution to the Corona virus...

anglophone comments on May 6, 2020:

Why declare war on those who flaunt their own cognitive failures and delight the rest of us with their magnificent absurdities?

Fernapple replies on May 6, 2020:

Well they may infect you. And not with faith, something nearly as nasty.

“Compared to what we ought to be, we are half awake.” — William James

TCorCM comments on May 6, 2020:

What did he mean by that?

Fernapple replies on May 6, 2020:

Yep, could mean dozens of metaphorical ways, so vague it is almost meaningless.

I just had a look at my calendar, and it seems I got home and started my quarantine 6 weeks ago, so ...

Fernapple comments on May 5, 2020:

Looks like the dream of a tropic garden.

Fernapple replies on May 6, 2020:

@Allamanda No its the fact that it is untidy that makes it dream like.

As a diversion from my recent posts about human evolution, I’d like to get opinions on a literary ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 28, 2020:

I am sorry to say that, nature does not have intent or purpose. Nemesis is just a human invention, like all the other gods.

Fernapple replies on May 5, 2020:

@Aristippus No I am saying that it never existed in either sense, justice is just an idea in the minds of a few species of social animals including us, it does not exist as a diety or as an abstract law of nature, big nature is purely thoughtless.

Sitting here watching the world burn, it's sad that through doing so I finally have some hope for ...

Fernapple comments on May 4, 2020:

You have certainly diagnosed the true disease OK. But I think that the cure may kill the patient.

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

@Allamanda The link was not that important deleted. Thanks.

Where do you think we are, on the slide to fascism? [johnpavlovitz.com]

Bakunin comments on May 4, 2020:

tRump is a poor example of a fascist because he is soooo self centered that he lacks the necessary self discipline shown in classic 20th century examples like Franco and Mussolini. But tRump is a 21st century fascist. 20th century fascists were nationalists. 21st century fascists are ...

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

tRump I think, especially makes one big mistake that better fascists (sic) never did, Hitler, Mussolini, and even little ones like Blair, all knew that if you stand for nothing, then you can appear to stand for whatever your audience wants to hear. You talk to the employers about controling unions, and you tell the workers about protecting their rights, etc. But tRump ( love the way you caps. that.) Is a bit too dumb for that , and seems to think it enough that his followers cheer. Sadly that however may not be fatal to his chances.

How much will it matter whoever gets the vaccine first ?

MsAl comments on May 4, 2020:

The way it sounds vaccines arent in the near future anyway. Especially with the way people keep getting reinfected after recovery.. And any experts I hear talk about it say it's a minimum of a few years even if one is possible.

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

@greyeyed123 Yep, that is what the mainstream news services and the government has been saying in the UK.

Not many left who remember WWII, but we do need old people.

Fernapple comments on May 4, 2020:

I wonder if culture really changes with the generations that much, or will today's young start to develop those same habits as they grow older and mellow.

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

@MissKathleen Because of course, everyone who wants to sell you something, wants to tell you that if you buy this, ( including political and religious ideals, ) then it does everything, gives you everything and you don't even have to make the effort or obey the rules.

If you think that religion is a bad thing today, then I am sorry to say that I have a very sad ...

1of5 comments on May 4, 2020:

That brings us back to the age old question: does religion create the hatred in its followers or just release it?

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

Now that is just the question I started to ask, indeed the even simpler question, why is there such a strong association between religion and intolerant extreme political views. I then suddenly thought of this, which I think goes some way at least to explaining it.

What if a vaccine is not able to be developed for COVID 19? [cnn.com]

bobwjr comments on May 3, 2020:

We will survive like the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 it will be costly

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

@JackPedigo Like the metaphor.

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

JeffMesser comments on May 4, 2020:

@fernapple as for your comment ... I understand your complaint about the static model being discussed/used. I likewise agree that trying to measure something that doesn't exist objectively in a static environment is pointless and a crappy means or standard for proving something. That's why I asked ...

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

@JeffMesser Fair enough.

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

JeffMesser comments on May 4, 2020:

@fernapple as for your comment ... I understand your complaint about the static model being discussed/used. I likewise agree that trying to measure something that doesn't exist objectively in a static environment is pointless and a crappy means or standard for proving something. That's why I asked ...

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

Thank you that clarifies the situation, thanks, it is always fun on your posts. Though I think you are being a little hard on Anglophile, since I think that most of his motivation was in good humour and well intended, sometimes you get carried away in the excitment of debate.

Is the word 'assault rifle' a synonym for the term red nose.

Cyklone comments on May 4, 2020:

I'm not sure what you mean by red nose. Is that the same as redneck? There seems to be some affinity between those groups.

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

Thanks for the humour. No I meant, as in clown, maybe it does not translate across the Atlantic so well, perhaps you don't use Red Nose as yet another synonym for clown like we do in the UK.

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

anglophone comments on May 3, 2020:

What the double-slit experiment and Schrödinger's cat tell me is that "intuitive" models of the natural world built around particles and waves are really *really* poor models, and we need better models.

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

@JeffMesser OK that's fine. So if you won't answer my question fine. Can we at least recap, by saying that your original, point was that Schrodinger's cat thought experiment, and then the double slit experiment, provide evidence that there is a field of awareness ?

Hi ya all.

Fernapple comments on May 4, 2020:

It is Pulmonaria or Lung Wort, which means the same thing in English, also sometimes called soldiers and sailors, because the flowers come in both pink and blue, like the old English army and navy uniforms. Lung wort comes from the idea that the spots on the leaves were like diseased lungs.

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

@OwlInASack No, I am talking about the first photo, not the last.

Robbery with violence, sometimes life is just not fair. [youtube.com]

Mark013 comments on May 3, 2020:

Reminds me of in line at an all you can eat buffet.

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

Wonderful observation.

Taken May 3rd, 2020 at Norfolk Botanical Gardens

Fernapple comments on May 4, 2020:

You are a month ahead of us here, thank you a nice reminder of what is coming.

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

@HumanistJohn No that is very true.

Why Religion Is Not Going Away and Science Will Not Destroy It

Fernapple comments on May 1, 2020:

The religion ver. science, so called conflict, is a straw-man argument anyway. Religion is not directly anti-science, and many religions have meshed well with many parts of science. What religion is, for the greater part, is anti -education, not merely science, but history, philosophy, economics, ...

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I learn for anyone I can, even science fiction authors, though if you think that Wells was only a science fiction author, then you are badly misinformed. Diversity of learning from many sources is generally better than living in an apologists echo chamber with as small group of revisionist historians pedaling a narrow predetermined agenda. Yes, you could argue that science was deeply entrenched in European university life, though I think that would be a subjective, but universities and the church were the only grounds available for intellectual life at the time, and that fact that Darwin and many scientists of the Newton, Darwin era were clergy, (Buckland, Maskelyne etc.) only justifies the point. Science was seen as a fringe activety. My point about anti-education is not merely that it disputes with genuine education, the overworked science/ religion debate, but that it works by bulk, filling up the space and time, wasting resources and creating an illusion of education where there is none. But it hardly matters just exactly what the ratio between science and religion was, because the point is that religion was dominant, and even more importantly that that dominance has declined. That is the trend, and my whole point was, that as religions dominance in the world of mainstream thought has declined so has its role as the champion of extremism and fascism grown. That is its direction and its destiny. Thank you for informing me that you are going to leave the conversation to me, but it was hardly needful, since it was expected. Having met you on this site on several times before, I am well familiar with your habit of running away. I therefore make these last two comments for the unlikely benefit of anyone else.

Why Religion Is Not Going Away and Science Will Not Destroy It

Fernapple comments on May 1, 2020:

The religion ver. science, so called conflict, is a straw-man argument anyway. Religion is not directly anti-science, and many religions have meshed well with many parts of science. What religion is, for the greater part, is anti -education, not merely science, but history, philosophy, economics, ...

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Darwin did not have to take a class in religion, he had to study religion, total, because that was all that was on offer. Science was only a part time activety for an interested few. That is the whole point. With very few scientific seats, even by Darwins time let alone in Newtons day. Newton did not have any publishing woes, the whole technical story of the publication is irrelievant. The point is, that without Halley there would have most likely been no attempt to even publish, because in the intellectual culture of the time, generated by the universities, such things were not seen as valuable as possible publications even by Newton himself.

Is the word 'assault rifle' a synonym for the term red nose.

Metahuman comments on May 4, 2020:

That's two words...

Fernapple replies on May 4, 2020:

I love a pedant.

Do you feel you are a middle-income, middle-class person? That is unlikely. [ted.com]

Blackatheist1985 comments on May 3, 2020:

I'm more in the working class bracket

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@Allamanda Yep me too.

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

anglophone comments on May 3, 2020:

What the double-slit experiment and Schrödinger's cat tell me is that "intuitive" models of the natural world built around particles and waves are really *really* poor models, and we need better models.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@anglophone, @JeffMesser I do not have my answer yet. So I am not ready to go on.

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

anglophone comments on May 3, 2020:

What the double-slit experiment and Schrödinger's cat tell me is that "intuitive" models of the natural world built around particles and waves are really *really* poor models, and we need better models.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@anglophone Good night sleep well.

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

anglophone comments on May 3, 2020:

What the double-slit experiment and Schrödinger's cat tell me is that "intuitive" models of the natural world built around particles and waves are really *really* poor models, and we need better models.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@anglophone Sorry yes that should have been universal awareness. I just want to get a yes or no answer out of jeffmesser which I know is a big ask. But you will see why in a min.

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

anglophone comments on May 3, 2020:

What the double-slit experiment and Schrödinger's cat tell me is that "intuitive" models of the natural world built around particles and waves are really *really* poor models, and we need better models.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@JeffMesser I don't know, you have the list of your meters.

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

anglophone comments on May 3, 2020:

What the double-slit experiment and Schrödinger's cat tell me is that "intuitive" models of the natural world built around particles and waves are really *really* poor models, and we need better models.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@JeffMesser So are you saying that physics does not have a meter to measure awareness?

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

anglophone comments on May 3, 2020:

What the double-slit experiment and Schrödinger's cat tell me is that "intuitive" models of the natural world built around particles and waves are really *really* poor models, and we need better models.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@JeffMesser So how do you measure awareness ?

What are the most effective ways adults are recruited to religion and how do we stop them?

Fernapple comments on May 3, 2020:

I do not think that they do recruit many.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@Allamanda Some people do have that nature. And it is sad, because it seems that they are in the same relation to the world of ideas, that some people are to, for example, the place where they live. Always moving house and /or buying a bigger better house, because they think that there is a magic location that will solve all their problems and make them happy. Of course it never does.

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

anglophone comments on May 3, 2020:

What the double-slit experiment and Schrödinger's cat tell me is that "intuitive" models of the natural world built around particles and waves are really *really* poor models, and we need better models.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@JeffMesser If the, "entire universe is already contained within awareness" as you say. Then how would you know that the laws of physics apply at all to that which contains the universe, since the laws of physics only apply to the observable universe.

What are the most effective ways adults are recruited to religion and how do we stop them?

Fernapple comments on May 3, 2020:

I do not think that they do recruit many.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@Allamanda That is true yes, but I suspect that a lot of the people who fall in to New Age woo, come to it from theocratic religion. Especially they see some of what is wrong with that, but do not make the full leap to the rejection of belief.

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

anglophone comments on May 3, 2020:

What the double-slit experiment and Schrödinger's cat tell me is that "intuitive" models of the natural world built around particles and waves are really *really* poor models, and we need better models.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@JeffMesser, @anglophone Sorry not with you this time, please enlarge.

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

anglophone comments on May 3, 2020:

What the double-slit experiment and Schrödinger's cat tell me is that "intuitive" models of the natural world built around particles and waves are really *really* poor models, and we need better models.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@JeffMesser The limits of their application.

Revisiting a little theoretical physics: what does the double slit experiment tell us?

anglophone comments on May 3, 2020:

What the double-slit experiment and Schrödinger's cat tell me is that "intuitive" models of the natural world built around particles and waves are really *really* poor models, and we need better models.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@JeffMesser No what he is saying is that you have misunderstood the laws of physics.

Alice Walker

Pralina1 comments on May 3, 2020:

Nah . There are big bears in the woods .

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

Yes but the bear is only going to eat you, and will probably kill you quite quickly. It is not going to throw you into a pit of fire, where you will burn forever and ever. In fact, if the bear knew you personallly, it may even empathise with you and want to pull you out of the fire, bears can do empathy, unlike many in the churches.

Laura Ingram says masks are a liberal plot

bingst comments on May 3, 2020:

Laura Ingraham is a constant reminder that stupid ignorant people are a rampant plague on society. Rush Limbaugh as well.

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

Yep. Combine virus with stupid and you could have the perfect storm.

Laura Ingram says masks are a liberal plot

resserts comments on May 2, 2020:

Yes, it's a plot that the entire global medical community is in on. My dentist has been wearing a mask for many years to bring about this maniacal liberal agenda. 🙄

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

Jesus ! Your dentist sounds really frightening. LOL

Why Religion Is Not Going Away and Science Will Not Destroy It

Fernapple comments on May 1, 2020:

The religion ver. science, so called conflict, is a straw-man argument anyway. Religion is not directly anti-science, and many religions have meshed well with many parts of science. What religion is, for the greater part, is anti -education, not merely science, but history, philosophy, economics, ...

Fernapple replies on May 3, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Maybe, to some degree all institutions are anti-education, and that is why I hated it. Certainly the main reason I did hate it was because, I felt that in a Church of England dominated, school, and being a child addicted to reading books, I did feel that I was being cheated. The high point of which was when I was told by a teacher, not to read the classical authors, since they had been completely supperceeded by modern and Christian thinking. He then made several remarks about the classics, from which it became obvious later that he had not read any of them himself and was only parroting what he had been taught to say by others. So naturally, being twelve years old, and being told not to do something, I went out and read Plato, Aristotle and some others, and found much in them that was good and useful, even if I agree with little of it now. I love this though. "Ummmm.... science was dominating in the university since the time of Newton. Maxwell, Joule, Celcius, and others were all members of religious universities (and religious men themselves) way before the 20th century" Can you not see that there is a complete contradiction in that, or like all apologists are you so lost in Cognitive dissonance that contradition has become meaningless. Science certainly did not come to dominate in the universities before at least the middle of the twentieth century, except perhaps in the minds of revisionist historians with hidden agendas. Here is a direct quote from a person, H.G. Wells, who was a science professor, at just such a university in the first half of the 20th century. "The early developement of British science went on , therefore, in spite of the formal educational organization, and in the teeth of of the bitter hosility of the teaching and clerical professions." "after the Refformation the English universities ceased to be organs of the general intellectual life, and shrank to be merely the educational preserves of the arisocracy and the church. Jews, Roman Catholics, Disenters, Sceptics, and all forms of interllectual activity were carefully barred out from those almost extinguished lamps of learning. Their mathmatical work was poor, a series of exercises in mere patience games and forulae-writing of lower mathematics; science they despised and excluded, " Even Darwin had to take a degree in theology, due to the simple fact that apart for medicine there was no science based course availlable to him. A prime example is one of the ones you quoted, Newton. Whose scientific work would never have been published and would have been completely lost, had not Halley and one or two others, and a dispute with Leibniz, rescued it and Newtons thinking, even to a degree Newton himself, from the strangle hold of Cambridge University. ...

Why Religion Is Not Going Away and Science Will Not Destroy It

Fernapple comments on May 1, 2020:

The religion ver. science, so called conflict, is a straw-man argument anyway. Religion is not directly anti-science, and many religions have meshed well with many parts of science. What religion is, for the greater part, is anti -education, not merely science, but history, philosophy, economics, ...

Fernapple replies on May 2, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I am tempted to say that. Well of course they would say that, most of them have and do work in those universities, so if anyone had a vested interest in promoting that lie, they would. But that is a cheap shot even if true. But the more important point, which you seem to have overlooked, I hope not deliberately, is that I said "until the middle of the last century," by which time genuine academic study and even science was begining to dominate the universities indeed. Even though most of those you list still have subjects such as theology on the lists, and still to to this day promote anti-education to a degree, while there is no doubt that in their origins, there was little intention to do anything else. The only area available to religion now is the dark. Religion lives by providing an alternative to the mainstream secular education and thought. In the dark ages when mainstream culture meant, the culture of vicious warlords, no doubt the alternative did seem like a wonder of light and joy. But in the renaissance secular culture chose to follow the path of light and truth, and later of humanity and human rights. What does that leave to religion, and what is the alternative to truth, light and humanity ? As with a game of chess if one player takes the white, then the other can only take the black. Religion can now only turn into the dark, because that is the only territory available to an alternative now, apart from a few nebullus areas around issues of meaning etc. only of interest to the privileged few who often find what they need elsewhere anyway, without the costs of religion. And that is what we observe, the only growth area for religion, is on the dark far right. There is a lot of religious growth in some areas, such as islamic states and the evangelical Christianity of the west, but they are only on the far and inhuman fascist right, while moderate religion fades fast, because the fascist right is now the main alternative to mainstream culture, and therefore it is the only place that religion being an alternative can go. Like it or not the future of religion is to become increasingly the champion of evil, simple because the is no other place for it to go, and even the most superficial observer will see that happening.

Why Religion Is Not Going Away and Science Will Not Destroy It

Fernapple comments on May 1, 2020:

The religion ver. science, so called conflict, is a straw-man argument anyway. Religion is not directly anti-science, and many religions have meshed well with many parts of science. What religion is, for the greater part, is anti -education, not merely science, but history, philosophy, economics, ...

Fernapple replies on May 2, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Now perhaps I would go back and drop the 'for the greater part' bit and say that religions is simply another word for anti-education. It is a little like the common saying about alternative medicine. "There is no alternative medicine, because if it works it is just called medicine." If it is education it is just called education, the fact that it is called something else, 'religion' simply means that it is not education but anti-education. Yes of course religions love to claim that they had a role in founding universities, but what better way is there to promote the cause of anti-education, than to fill the world with fake educational establishments pedaling anti-education as hard as they can, to suppress real learning, by squeezing it out with just the size and volume of their output. And certainly for a thousand years until at least the middle of the last century, and still to a degree today, few things have so successfully stood in the way of education than the clergy dominated universities.

Does anybody know the median fatality age for Covid-19?

Fernapple comments on Apr 30, 2020:

No, but it should not be hard to work out. Just take any of the commonly available samples of ages at death and average the result. Heres a link. Should not take more than five mins with a calculator. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/

Fernapple replies on Apr 30, 2020:

@barjoe You could take the middle of each age range. It will only give you a rough aprox. though.

“If God isn’t real, what's the point of living at all when one day you’re just going to ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 30, 2020:

Very good great overview. I would however say that the line. "Fear of the end was not eliminated, but it was alleviated to some extent." Is perhaps less than half the story. Since you could also add. "Fear of the end was also exacerbated to a large extent." Those who pretend to control the ...

Fernapple replies on Apr 30, 2020:

@evidentialist No don't be sorry, only happy to contribute a bit.

In the absence of theism what are the big questions in life you contemplate?

Fernapple comments on Apr 19, 2020:

I wonder about many of the 'big' questions sometimes, but I think that the biggest thing that it is possible to do, is to learn to be comfortable with, I don't know, as an answer. And also to know the difference between knowing and speculating. Since speculation is a fine servant and entertainer, ...

Fernapple replies on Apr 30, 2020:

@prometheus Which of course it does by, making people think that they know everything.

What can we talk about aside from religion or Trump?

Omnedon comments on Apr 30, 2020:

Trump, the Pope and a horse walk into a bar...

Fernapple replies on Apr 30, 2020:

Three of them walk into a bar. That must be an old joke.

The following member has just joined g:1151.

Fernapple comments on Apr 22, 2020:

Members do come back after a year or more, and they sometimes become really active again, and they may have good reasons for being away, it would be hard for some who has spent months in hospital seriously ill to come back and find their account deleted. I am with you that keeping dead accounts is ...

Fernapple replies on Apr 30, 2020:

@Bierbasstard Yes that is a good idea, make the length of time an inactive account is kept live depend on the level reached. Makes sense, so it probably won't happen.

Nearby woodland

Lorajay comments on Apr 29, 2020:

Lovely,do you know the name of the blue flowers? Leaves look like spider wort but flowers don't unless they are a regional variety.

Fernapple replies on Apr 30, 2020:

Bluebells, Hyacinthus. There are many sorts and hybrids, but these look very like the true Bluebell, which you can tell by the hanging nodding head.

The garlic mustard is just coming into flower in the rough hedge bottom adjoining my neighbors ...

AnneWimsey comments on Apr 28, 2020:

Cooking tips please? Blanch & saute, or steam, or chop finely & use raw...? And put on or in what?

Fernapple replies on Apr 29, 2020:

Chopped fine in mixed salads, or added to soups and pies etc. as a green garlic flavour leaf.

Thought that this would go here as well as on the garden group.

Allamanda comments on Apr 28, 2020:

Is it peppery?

Fernapple replies on Apr 28, 2020:

@Allamanda No seasonal treat in temperate climes, and could be an ecological problem where introduced.

“Life is often not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand ...

Fernapple comments on Apr 28, 2020:

Or sometimes you start with a wonderful hand, and play it rubbish.

Fernapple replies on Apr 28, 2020:

@Marionville I was going to add coments about large orange persons for fun. But then I thought I would spare the US members that, they have enough on without English people being sarky.

Thought that this would go here as well as on the garden group.

Allamanda comments on Apr 28, 2020:

Is it peppery?

Fernapple replies on Apr 28, 2020:

A little, but mainly garlic, with a slight leaf/spinach flavour. Great for an onion/garlic tone in mixed salads etc.

apologize in advance if anyone posted this quote. But in light of disinfectant injections....

Marionville comments on Apr 28, 2020:

How on earth did such a dangerous imbecile ever become the President of the USA? I saw three of his supporters interviewed after his latest moronic utterances regarding disinfectant, and unbelievably 2 of the three (both women) still support him and say he was being misrepresented by the media in...

Fernapple replies on Apr 28, 2020:

It would mean, that they would have to force themselves to admit, that they had been stupid to ever believe in him in the first place. That would mean turning their whole world on its head, its a big ask, especially for people who may have never taken personal responsiblity for their own world view before. PS. Glad to hear you are recovering.

Something very far away but very strange. [youtube.com]

Robecology comments on Apr 27, 2020:

NBD...we have to stop even being concerned about these. The nearest star with planets is 4.5 light years away. If we could go one thousandth the speed of light...186,000 miles per hour - - that would be 3,100 miles per second.... we wouldn't reach the nearest star...for 4,500 years....

Fernapple replies on Apr 27, 2020:

Why do you have to go there, for it to be interesting. Lets face it we will be lucky if we ever get as far as the Kuiper Belt, but I am still interested in what is out there.

Always glad to not waste money.

Fernapple comments on Apr 26, 2020:

I filled mine in. 1st Stay home. 2nd Stay home. 3rd Stay home. 4th Stay home. 5th Stay home. Etc.

Fernapple replies on Apr 27, 2020:

@MissKathleen Not till the lock down is over.

Always glad to not waste money.

Fernapple comments on Apr 26, 2020:

I filled mine in. 1st Stay home. 2nd Stay home. 3rd Stay home. 4th Stay home. 5th Stay home. Etc.

Fernapple replies on Apr 26, 2020:

@MissKathleen I save those treats for special days, or when I need to cheer myself up. Besides I am not a planner. PS. Did laundry today, it being a Sunday, and I wanted to thumb my nose at superstition.

Would you like to understand reality?

Fernapple comments on Apr 26, 2020:

At a certain level of physics it is held, by many people very expert in atomic physics etc., that matter and information are the same thing, and that our perception of things effects their existence, yes. But that effects nothing in our lives or futures, since we, our lives and everything in the ...

Fernapple replies on Apr 26, 2020:

@JeffMesser No, that is, silly way to get to the obvious.

Gnostic Atheist, Agnostic Atheist, Agnostic Theist, or Gnostic Theist?

HerbertNewsam comments on Apr 25, 2020:

Labels labels labels, i am just an atheist. None of them can produce a god no matter what belief system. I consider atheism a non belief. Labels. Ugh, it is kinda like different groups that have a base of inequality because they think it is a better way to believe. A way to say believe what i am ...

Fernapple replies on Apr 25, 2020:

@PondartIncbendog Defined or not still worthless.

A sort of little photo essay, its the oil seed season and the patterns it makes in the country.

HumanistJohn comments on Apr 24, 2020:

Beautiful photos, beautiful framing. I suppose it's just a matter of personal taste, but I'd adjust the brightness/contrast some to make them even more beautiful.

Fernapple replies on Apr 25, 2020:

Yes should have done, I was a bit hasty.

A sort of little photo essay, its the oil seed season and the patterns it makes in the country.

Heidi68 comments on Apr 24, 2020:

We also have 'fields of yellow. Here are a couple of shots I took a couple of years ago. We just don't have a cute village, only woods in the background.

Fernapple replies on Apr 25, 2020:

Nothing wrong with woods, our nearest big woods are sadly about five miles away, so not good for an evening strole without getting the car out.