20 replies to this topic

[maineman]

I am certainly not a constitutional scholar, so forgive me if I don't know all the nuance... My simple, baby-boom, post WW2 public school upbringing led me to believe that we were free to practice the religion of our choice. Others were free to practice no relgion. It was all tolerated. It was felt to be a private issue. Religion was a personal, family issue. Tolerance was advocated, at least in my northeast USA environment. In the post-holocaust world I grew up in, it seemed to be a no-brainer. John F. Kennedy cemented the idea by diffusing the "fear" the evangelical christians had. They were afraid of his Catholicism. He summarily put the issue to rest by stressing the private side of his religion and the separate public side of his political role. Perhaps you are bothered by my choice of words. I have tremendous "faith" in the goodness of mankind and hope that there are no more Inquisitions, fatwas, Hitlers, etc in our future. I would hope that people can see the greater good and stop trying to impose ideology on each other. It hasn't worked for the past couple of thousand years...why do some people think it will work tomorrow? mm

[Rogerdodger]

Well Doc, I think we agree more than you realize.
It's the "trying to impose ideology on each other" that we both dislike disdane.
That was my point above.
Religion has been used and abused and in many cases prostituted itself.
But so has "science".
And the imposition of ideology comes from both sides.

Now, in the "age of enlightenment" some are calling for inquisition-like trials for skeptics of man-made global warming, "heretics" if you will.
"Indulgences" are even being sold, in the form of carbon credits.

That's what I find so fascinating about us humans.
We change the words but it's the same old tune and the same old dance steps.

Edited by Rogerdodger, 30 September 2007 - 11:13 PM.

[maineman]

Individual scientists have made bad choices or "sold out" along the way, but "Science" has never intimidated, rounded up, murdered, subjugated, terrorized or excluded the way "religion" has. The ability to say "I don't know" is the hallmark of a good person, a good researcher, a good clinician, etc. Beware the person who, without proof, says "I believe, therefore it must be so..." mm

[Doug]

Individual scientists have made bad choices or "sold out" along the way, but "Science" has never intimidated, rounded up, murdered, subjugated, terrorized or excluded the way "religion" has.

The ability to say "I don't know" is the hallmark of a good person, a good researcher, a good clinician, etc.

Beware the person who, without proof, says "I believe, therefore it must be so..."

mm

Be careful in your overgenrealization. Science has 'almost' always "intimidated, rounded up, murdered, subjugated, terrorized or excluded" from Darwinism to Fascism to Radical environmentalism - you either toe the line or risk your job, reputation and even your hard won credentials.

Regards,

[maineman]

No, no, no, no and no. Pleae don't lump. Dogma, whether it is religious or political is dogma and ultimately destructive. Fascism is a political dogma. Democracy, as outlined by our founding fathers, is inclusive. "Darwinism" is nothing... and certainly innocent people have not been rounded up and shot in the name of "Darwin". He was a scientist, tested some models, published ideas. Opened them up for debate. "Radical Environmentalists" ? You are losing me there... Are you comparing a tree hugger who tries to save an obscure owl, to the Spanish Inquisition? mm

[SemiBizz]

I move this thread be deleted. COMPLETELY OUT OF BOUNDS... No Politics. No religion. What the hell does this have to do with health... and/or sanity?

[Doug]

I move this thread be deleted. COMPLETELY OUT OF BOUNDS...

No Politics. No religion.

What the hell does this have to do with health... and/or sanity?

It started quite innocently, with an article about CFC's and there 'non-effect' on ozone. Those of us old enough to remember know the massive ECONOMIC impact and MARKET ramifications of this psuedo-science.
Others went chasing rabbit trails.




Many Regards,

[SemiBizz]

Just what we need here on TT. A religious war. Great idea this "health and sanity" thread, but it's detracting from the theme now. Seems like there's a constant pissing contest going on here, Either police this thing like you do the regular board or get rid of it !!

[maineman]

I am guilty of melodrama and exuberance over issues I am passionate about. Like freedom of speech.

mm


Yes it did start out as a thread about environmental issues, sort of, but this is the part that got my goat:

"Of course, I DO believe in God, I find that the same problem always exists as it has from the beginning. Man gets frightened because he cannot see his Creator and cannot explain the things he does see so he makes the creation (something he can see) his god and worships it.

I studied architecture and did my graduate work on chaos theory. The universe did not come into being by accident."

Edited by maineman, 01 October 2007 - 09:51 AM.

[SemiBizz]

The site operators either control the content here or not... They opened pandora's box with this board and now we're seeing the (constant) results of it. I move it be closed... this is not "Oprah". But if you do decide to keep it then the standards applied to the "pertinent" content should be applied.