Nathan

International Court of Justice, Security Council, or Chair of a general assembly?

I disagree with teaching about creationism in public schools, I have no problem with it in private schools though. For two reasons.

1. If you teach creationism and name the creator then you are moving from the realms of science into those of faith

2. If you do not name the creator then you are trying to pass off an effect without a cause.

What is your opinion of this reasoning?

I can understand if you don't accept the laws of the Old Testament because they were not directly preached by Jesus. However if you are merely rejecting these barbaric laws because of where they are in your book, then what do you think of the equally barbaric laws that are in the New Testament?

For Example this passage from the Book of Timothy

"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

"Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatists to prove them. This is, of course, a mistake. If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time."

-Bertrand Russell

I am unsure of the original speaker but the quote reads "Religion does not give you the answers; it just stops asking the question"

This crocodile cannot be seen, heard, smelt, tasted, touched, or interacted with in any other way. Yet I know it is there because my 3000 year old "Book of the Crocodile" said so.

As many of you seem fond of saying Checkmate.

Repent now and he may forgive you

I have a magical invisible crocodile, you can't see him touch him hear him smell him or interact with him in any way but he is there. Are you able to prove he does not exist?

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?

Then he is not omnipotent.

Is he able, but not willing?

Then he is malevolent.

Is he both able and willing?

Then whence cometh evil?

Is he neither able nor willing?

Then why call him God?”

-Epicurus

That Rick Santorum just released the most idiotic campaign ad of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDGORiD82rQ

That were thought of as immoral in their time. I need to prepare for a debate and I am having a bit of difficulty finding examples other than evolution and the earth being round. Are there any other examples that would be relevant?

Also in case it helps the topic of the debate is whether of not it is ok to play god and I am taking the position that it is ok.

And before you chew me out for putting this in religion, this is the most active place and there seem to be debates about questions similar to this quite often.

So bad at chess? I mean look at all of the questions where they say Checkmate even when their arguments are terrible. Do you think we should start a chess club or something to teach them to be better?

Which logical fallacy do you see abused in R&S the most?

I notice some of you cite logical fallacies within your arguments, I have always been interested in the study of logic and I am wondering where you get your information from?

I have seen theists say atheists are bad because of Russia, North Korea, or Vietnam (not sure where that came from but I saw it). They fail to realize that 73% of Russians are Orthodox, 85% of Vietnamese people are Buddhist, and no one knows what is going on in North Korea. Is this just a willful ignorance of facts or are these people really this ignorant?

Sources I provide two for each to give more validity

Russia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Russi...

http://www.sras.org/library_religion_russia

Vietnam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Vietn...

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world...

According to you, your God created everything in the universe

That of course means he must have made me and many others an atheist.

Why do you question his divine plan?

Since you believe your god created everything in the universe, doesn't that mean he made me to be an atheist.

Who are you to question his divine plan?