Why Thank God for Human Actions?
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- Created on Wednesday, 06 February 2013 06:41
- Published on Wednesday, 06 February 2013 06:41
- Written by John Draper
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Why do Christians say grace before meals? Why thank god when you survive a plane crash? Why thank god that a loved one survived a medical emergency or an operation? First, we know why atheists don't - there's no one to thank. But assuming for the moment that there is an almighty all-powerful god who listens to what his "creations" say, it still does not make sense. Let's take these one at a time. When I was growing up, my parents would sometimes remember to say a prayer before a meal. Even today, I have adult friends who do the same thing. The prayer would thank god for "providing". But he didn't provide - someone earned money that paid for it; someone also cooked it and put it on the table. About all God did was not stop this happening. He didn't make it easy or hard to earn the money or do the cooking. He didn't help with shopping at the supermarket. I can see some thanks being needed when you grew your own food - maybe he managed the weather so helped the crop be good. Maybe he stopped a flood or fire that could have wiped you out. I think grace is a relic and now is just a way a Christian has of talking to their god regularly. A reminder to god that the Christian accepts that he's subservient and dependent.
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Will Religion survive the Internet?
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- Created on Monday, 04 February 2013 06:27
- Published on Monday, 04 February 2013 06:27
- Written by John Draper
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When religion was invented, many thousands of years ago, there was no science. There were many things that could not be explained and the only way to find answers was to think about them. Even the Greek philosophers did that. There were few experiments to test ideas. If it "made sense" it was probably true. Then later, when religions spread, there was no way to question if it was right. Not only that, but anyone questioning what the priests said was likely to be burned at the stake as a heretic. The first serious questioning was done in Luther's time which just so happened to be at the time of the printing press. He managed to get the word out using handbills before the Pope heard about it and demanded he stop. Too late - by then many were thinking the same as Luther. They were not questioning the existence of a God - just questioning the collection of add-ons put out by the Catholic Church.
God and Science are Incompatible
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- Created on Saturday, 02 February 2013 06:36
- Published on Saturday, 02 February 2013 06:36
- Written by John Draper
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There was an article on June 26, 2009 in the Wall Street Journal by Lawrence M. Krauss that is headed God and Science Don't Mix . The idea was first published in 1934 by J.B.S. Haldane in "Fact and Faith" and is quoted as follows:
My practice as a scientist is atheistic. That is to say, when I set up an experiment I assume that no god, angel or devil is going to interfere with its course; and this assumption has been justified by such success as I have achieved in my professional career. I should therefore be intellectually dishonest if I were not also atheistic in the affairs of the world.
Yet many scientists say that they are Christians or believe in some other Religion. How can that be?
Scientology - book by Lawrence Wright
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- Created on Thursday, 31 January 2013 06:50
- Published on Thursday, 31 January 2013 06:50
- Written by John Draper
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CBC's Neil Macdonald reviewed a book by Lawrence Wright: Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief. My first reaction is that both Macdonald and Wright should now be afraid - if not of violence then of being hounded by Scientology lawyers. The leaders of Scientology don't like the truth about them being said in public. Macdonald focuses on the fact that the classification of Scientology as a religion gives it a degree of immunity from Government and the law - much like the Catholic Church has not had its leaders prosecuted for the abuse by its priests. But it's important to spread the word on the facts about the vicious cult of Scientology so below are some extracts from Macdonald's review.
Why hell?
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- Created on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 07:02
- Published on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 07:02
- Written by John Draper
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Some Christians and Muslims really believe in hell as a real place where their merciful, good god sends people after they die. Others say it's simply an absence of god - and they believe that this would be unpleasant - although I can't imagine why. Both versions require that there be a life after death. If you think about it, like many Christians seems to have, it doesn't make sense that the God they preach about would be so cruel as to subject all who reject him, knowingly or unknowingly, to pain for all eternity. But if you are gullible or sadistic, and you still believe in a literal hell, then maybe the problems with the concept have not been properly explained. With the help of an article in the Economist, let me try.
Islam and Science
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- Created on Friday, 25 January 2013 07:01
- Published on Friday, 25 January 2013 07:01
- Written by John Draper
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The Muslim world often points to their history of scientific and mathematical achievements - but that was between the eighth and 13th centuries when Christianity suppressed western progress. They invented the number system we use today along with algebra and understood astronomy better than anyone in the west. But in this century, they are way behind. According to The Economist, "in 2005 Harvard University produced more scientific papers than 17 Arabic-speaking countries combined. The world's 1.6 billion Muslims have produced only two Nobel laureates in chemistry and physics. Both moved to the West. By contrast Jews, outnumbered 100 to one by Muslims, have won 79. The 57 countries in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference spend a puny 0.81% of GDP on research and development, about a third of the world average. The U.S., which has the world's biggest science budget, spends 2.9%; Israel lavishes 4.4%."
Theology - Dan Dennett tells it like it is
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- Created on Sunday, 27 January 2013 07:06
- Published on Sunday, 27 January 2013 07:06
- Written by John Draper
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Dan Dennett is an expert on the human mind and how we think. He can explain why the human mind gets sidetracked and misled into believing in gods. He spoke about The Evolution of Confusion at the Atheist Alliance International 2009 Convention in Burbank, California in October 2009 but one of the best parts of his talk has been extracted into a clip where he focuses on theology.
We all wonder how pastors are able to explain difficult passages in the bible and other theological conundrums. Dan explains this and more - in just 6 minutes!
Ricky Gervais and Noah
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- Created on Wednesday, 23 January 2013 06:41
- Published on Wednesday, 23 January 2013 06:41
- Written by John Draper
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When Ricky was little, he was sent to Sunday school - and Sunday schools of course tell stories that capture the imagination. Because he was a good kid (!), Ricky was presented with a copy of one of the Books that were used for teaching the stories. It was about Noah and the Ark. Although "based on the bible", it was embellished somewhat - so it makes great material for him. Unless you believe in the story of Noah literally (yes I know, there are some who do), you will find this funny.
