Sunday, 13 January 2008
-
For Michelle (and others)
At the request of my good friend and LIFE partner Michelle, I am keeping this one short.
Found in a fundamentalist Christian forum (by way of a top 100 list of such, found on Digg):
One of the most basic laws in the universe is the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This states that as time goes by, entropy in an environment will increase. Evolution argues differently against a law that is accepted everywhere by everyone. Evolution says that we started out simple, and over time became more complex. That just isn't possible: unless there is a giant outside source of energy supplying the Earth with huge amounts of energy. If there were such a source, scientists would certainly know about it. - awesomestnerd, SmashBoards
I couldn't agree more.
grr@the.world
Monday, 17 December 2007
-
Political Philosophy
Would you give up some of your Liberty to preserve your Security, or would you give up some of your Security to preserve your Liberty?
I would give up some of my Security to preserve my Liberty.
I think Liberty is of greater value than Security. For one, what value can being safe have if in that Security, you are not free? Is not the Pursuit of Happiness a God-given right of man, along with Life and Liberty, in this country?
Political Philosophy counts this issue as one of its focal points. Is the purpose of Government to ensure Security or Liberty? And, is it acceptable that one Right should be protected at the cost of the other? More generally, what IS the proper role of Government? My Political Philosophy is decidedly Libertarian. For me, the proper role of Government is to protect the Liberty of the People. That Government is Best which governs Least, as Thomas Paine said.
What I want to know from anyone that should care to respond is the answer to the question I posed at the very beginning. And, if you also care to elaborate, I would like to know why.
grr@the.world
Thursday, 29 November 2007
-
Deserved Mockery
A beautiful and intelligent woman has told me on several occasions that I should watch my tongue when I speak or write about religion. Well, I don't often talk to mirrors and I rarely use my tongue when typing so watching it has proven quite difficult. Instead, I have held it. But, now it is eager for a encore. I have decided that I shall not watch my tongue, literally or figuratively. Sometimes one must put one's foot down and say, this has gone on too long and I shall not stand idly by and let it go on any longer! And that is precisely what I have done and will continue to do.
Religions have enjoyed an undeserved untouchable status for far too long. We have all been told that polite dinner conversation does not include politics or religion. If you ask me, polite dinner conversation is flat out boring. Why is religion on it's pedestal? Why is it expected that one should respect the establishments of religion? Our own constitution says it quite plainly, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. Either in support or condemnation thereof, is what respecting means in that respect (Oh, what great fun it is to play with words!). But, it also says Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. Which means, while Congress' tongue may be tied, mine has the right to say whatever it wants, or I want since my tongue so far lacks a mind of it's own.
So, obviously, I am free to defame and mock you and your religion. But should I? Is this a question of morals? Is it right and just to mock others for thier beliefs? I would contend that while it is certainly not kind, there is nothing morally wrong with it. But, then again, what am I but a heathen atheist? I am, by nature, immoral, am I not? I do not intend for this to be an expose on the nature of morality. I care only to address the matter of speaking one's mind on the topic of religion. I should think that any case made for one topic could be similarly made for any other topic and by a form of induction, one could make an argument for the morality of whole classes of topics. But all that must wait for another day and another Phil. Today, this Phil just wants to push your buttons.
I'll go ahead and concede that it is not the case that I should mock religion. And you will hopefully concede that, likewise, it is also not the case that I should not mock religion. In other words, I think we can both agree that the decision whether to mock religion or not is not a question of morality. It is simply a question of personal taste. Do I want to mock religion and risk alienating my friends who, for some reason, feel obligated to feel insulted on thier god and religion's behalf? Would you attack a belief system that you knew to be dangerous? Well, religion is dangerous, just look to the hundreds of millions who have lost thier lives to the physical and mental brutality of religion. It's like organized crime, only the mobsters know they're the bad guys.
Not only is religion dangerous. It's ass backwards and obscene. It's adherents are mentally subjugated. Rational inquiry is discouraged. Knowledge about the world is shunned. It's a disgusting state of affairs.
Look, I have no problem with you being optimistic and kind and generous. I have huge problem with you standing in the way of progress. Embryonic stem cell research, gay rights, sex education, science curriculums... You are hurting people!
There is something you and I SHOULD agree about: Liberty. You should believe your god gave it to you and it should be preserved at all cost. I should believe that I have it and it should be preserved at all costs. We should agree that each of us is basically free and that our liberties should be preserved no matter the cost. Do you believe that? Our founding fathers did. They fought to protect that belief and our liberty. Would we do the same?
Your belief system stands diametrically opposed to individual liberty. Somewhere along the way, free will and liberty became a problem. Religions seek to control people, but free will and free thought are not conducive to the totalitarian theocratic society they desire.
Wake Up! Who are you!? What is your most basic belief, the one which comes before any and all other things. For Descartes, it was that, I think, therefore I am. Thought and existence. You should find that out and then ask yourself if religion is the right choice for you.
I'll leave you with this: Man did not create Religion, Religion created Man. It's a great truth and you'll benefit greatly by understanding it.
Saturday, 10 November 2007
-
Re:Re: On Subjectivity
In response to 'On Subjectivity' I received this comment:
First - can we objectively prove God's existence? To say yes, would mean that God is scientifically measurable as an apple is. So, in that sense, certainly not. But, there are arguments for God's existence that are rational and objective in a philosophical sense. Not, that we prove God's existence beyond a shadow of a doubt or that we prove it in the way science proves the existence of the apple, but rather we can show that a belief in God's existence is rational and true. To scientifically prove God would make God into less than God.
Second - is our concept of God subjective? In a certain sense it is and in a certain sense it is not. Each of us experiences life as an individual subject. But, this subjectivism does not mean that there can therefore be no objective knowledge. If this is the case, then there is no universal truth. Yet, for Christians, we believe that God objectively reveals Himself to us through His Son Jesus Christ - who is The Truth.
Truth is independent of our conceptualization of it or our experience/knowledge of it. Truth is.
It seems your friend has been reading quite a bit of Kant or Hume. The problem with there agnosticism is that they deny truth or our ability to know it. But, for a Christian, we would argue for the simple law of non-contradiction. Not all religions can be true if they contradict one another. How can Christianity / Islam / Judaism all be the same when we have exclusive claims about the nature of God. Jesus is or isn't divine. The truth about Him cannot be both. In examining the evidence surrounding Christ, I believe Him to be the Truth itself - a divine truth revaled to us objectively.
-----------------------------------------------------------
So, I will respond in kind. Only without any tact whatsoever. So, not really in kind at all.
First - There are arguments for God's non-existence which are rational and objective, too. I think you are dead wrong about objective confirmation of God's real existence lessening God. That's simply not possible, first of all. If God really exists, then he exists as the same thing whether his existence is shown or not. Second, relativity theory is not less for being objectively confirmed through experiment and observation. Is God less reliable than Science? Of course you can show that people actually believe in God (which, I assume, is what you mean by true belief). But that's not interesting or meaningful. You cannot show that the belief is true. Nor can you show that faith is rational. If I am wrong, please correct me, because I would rather not go on perpetuating a lie. Perhaps I am mistaken on what Faith and Rationality are. Perhaps, you can teach me?
Second - Oh No!!! No universal truth!? I wouldn't EVER want that, would I!? Either you expect me to think that there is such a thing as universal truth or you expect that I want universal truth to be the case. In both cases, you are wrong. I do not. So, the threat that if what I say is true, then universal truth is a myth is empty. What is truth? What does it mean for a statement to be true. If you know, I'd like to learn, because it's something I have struggled with lately.
How do you decide if proposition P is true? P = "The sky is blue." Is P true? How do you know P is true? What does it mean to know Q = "P is true."? Do you know Q? Any ideas?
You mean the problem with agnosticism is that agnostics believe that we cannot know? Wow, and all along I thought the problem with atheists and theists was that they believe that we can know (and each knows the truth, of course). What makes you think you know or that you can know? What makes an agnostic think that we cannot?
You really want to argue for non-contradiction!? The bible contains more than a few contradictions. (Go wild, here's a list I found).
Have you REALLY examined the evidence regarding Jesus? I mean, honestly? Because I have, too. And we have come to quite opposing positions on the matter. I may be wrong. Might you be wrong? If you've done the research, can you point me to the sources I missed? What evidence did I fail to consider?
You believe Jesus was The Truth objectively revealed to us? O RLY? Just tell me how this truth is objectively revealed to us, today. Let me guess, subjective experience.
I wish I had been reading Hume or Kant lately… sadly, I have not been. I make it up as I go along, a sort of divine inspiration, if you will. But, I have read them, so of course you’ll find traces of both in my thinking, especially Hume. Like most people, I can’t think on Kant’s level.
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
-
Don't Jinx Me
I'm really rather frustrated lately. I wish I had more time to spend on everything. I like what I'm doing, but without enough time I never get to do anything useful with it. And impending deadlines and projects falling apart is stressful. And my body has not been handling stress all that well this year. And so on...
I decided to put my computer away before I threw it across the room. I'm frustrated with myself, not the computer. The computer just displays my shortcomings in relentless 1024 x 768 resolution.
I hate deadlines. 3 fellowships applications have a 1 November deadline. How am I supposed to get reference letters and essays written by then? I can't. And that cuts my fellowship candidacy field in half. And that's really bad for business. It's frustrating.
I'm entering a vicious cycle and I need to break it. I need to say enough is enough and take a time out for me. In the middle of everything else I am supposed to be doing, I have to not do anything or else I will be unable to do anything ever again. Sacrifice a little now to save the rest of my life. But it feels like I have to give up so much right now. The future is so undetermined. Nobody even knows how long they have left to live, unless you're lucky enough to have a doctor who knows whats wrong with you and can tell you from experience that you have only a few months left to live. I'm sure I just guaranteed myself a swift death tomorrow so this posting can serve as a haunting reminder of the irony of life. But, I'll hope for the best.
I need a break and now is the worst time of the semester to take one.
grr@the.world
Saturday, 20 October 2007
-
Infinite Loop
Have you seen Will? He was just here a moment ago, and now I seem to have lost him. I'm not quite sure what to do. I'm never quite sure what to do in situations like these. Oh, I'm moving, this is nice. We may get somewhere yet! Where am I going? It seems I am headed for the railway station. How do I know that? The station is across town, how do I expect to get there by walking? Oh, I've summoned a taxi. When did that happen? Oh, this is all so very odd! Will has gone and I seem to be going off on some sort of adventure. I've been in this taxi for quite some time now, we should have arrived at the station by now. Where is the driver taking me? And why am I singing along to that dreadful noise coming from the radio? I must stop this at once, I'm tone deaf and I can hear that I sound more dreadful than the song. But I'm not stopping. The driver turned up the volume, perhaps to drown me out. Oh, we have arrived, but not at the station. It's the cinema. But, I'm already in the cinema. How did I get outside? Oh, and there's Will right beside me. We walk up to the ticket counter. "Two for the matinee, please" Will is paying. I remember this. We enter the theater, and take our seats. We're seeing a foreign film, as we always do when we come to the cinema. The show has begun. "Free and Determined" splash on the silver screen in big, bold letters. On screen, a man is sitting in a theater about to watch a movie, just as the movie begins, though, he gets up. I think he has lost his friend. Where did Will go?
Monday, 15 October 2007
-
Quick, Before They Catch Us!
Consider this you Creationist Scum:
Life on other planets. Eat it! Creationism DOES NOT and CANNOT predict life on other planets. So, if there is life on other planets, or anywhere else in the whole universe for that matter, your 'theory' dies (if it wasn't dead enough already).
And Bacteria! Creationism DOES NOT predict the existence of bacteria who rule the world. It could have, but it didn't.
EAT IT.
grr@the.world
Friday, 05 October 2007
-
Luck
You are driving on the highway. There is a logging truck ahead of you. Suddenly, one of the logs rolls off of the top of the pile, bounces once and smashes into your car, killing you instantly.
I think most people can agree this constitutes a very unlucky state of affairs for you. But, what if you claim not to believe in luck? What if, because you wish your faith to be consistent with an omniscient imaginary friend, you deny that such a thing as chance exists. Then, this circumstance has been determined. You were screwed all along. Was it cruel of your friend to send make it so that you would die by log? What if the log impaled your empty passenger seat and you survived unscathed? Then, was it kind of your friend to spare you? To be consistent, these situations are equivalent. Both being equally determined to occur before the universe began.
Anyways, where I wanted to take this was here: wishing someone good luck. I, for one, recognize the role chance plays in our world. But I know that wishing someone to have good luck is akin to wishing someone have a third arm. It is functionally useless. People don't have a quality of luck. You cannot measure luck. Luck, in any meaningful sense, does not exist. But chance does. Luck is the subjective experience of chance. To be hit by that log is much luckier than to not be hit, albeit bad luck. The chances of being struck are much lower than the chances of not being struck.
Wishing someone good luck does feel like a nice thing to do, though, even if we recognize that it has no effect. It is simply a way of expressing our optimism than chance will turn out in the favor of a friend. I think any world view which excludes chance is severely lacking. In fact, it is provably so. Or is it? I just tried thinking about it, and I can actually imagine the case that all events are determined. But that reality would sap all the meaning out of existence. And that is simply not consistent with the world views which espouse such things as determinism. So, if they are right, then they are wrong. Thus, any world view which does not include chance and still wishes to retain meaning for existence is internally inconsistent.
Well, it's time for bed. I have the GRE:CS in the morning. Wish me luck! =P
grr@the.world
Wednesday, 26 September 2007
-
On Subjectivity
I claim that no two people believe in the same god. Given two people who profess to believe in the same god, I think it is quite certain that they will disagree on at least one property of the god they both profess to believe in. If one thinks god has red hair and the other thinks he has brown then they clearly do not have the same imaginary friend.
Let's jump right on in and get this show on the road. You may wish to explain away these differences as subjective matters. But isn't that all god is? A god's existence would ideally be an objective matter, but it's just not. Ask any Christian, Muslim, Jew or Hindu if they can objectively demonstrate the existence of their god. They cannot. It's that whole 'it's impossible to prove or disprove the existence of a god' thing. Quick side note: break yourself of the habit of using God as a proper noun. When I say God, which god (whose imaginary friend) do I mean? But, when I say "a god" it is clear I mean any deity. Unless you know a god's name, you are wrong to use the word 'god' as a proper noun. Anyways, as I was saying, it's impossible to prove the existence of a supernatural entity (deity, god, call it what you will... it's imaginary). So you see now that aside from one's subjective experience of a god, there is nothing else by which to base one's conception of that god. In general, this is the case for everything. Think of an apple on the table. You and your friend both see the apple. You will never be able to describe it exactly the same way because you both experience the apple differently. But, you protest, we still understand that there is only one apple there, how is god any different? Why should it be that we can differ on our perception of the apple yet still both be talking about the same apple and not both be talking about the same god? Well, I can think of two reasons. First, I can measure the apple. It's existence can be objectively shown, more or less whereas a god's existence cannot. Second, the physical apple is the same, but the conception and perception is different. In the case of a god, there is no physical substance, all there is to the idea of a god is just that, an idea. Your conception of god is limited to your own perception and subjective experience. Which in a few years you will understand is a function of your brain chemistry. And as you no doubt suspect by now, your specific brain chemistry, like your DNA, is unique to you. No one will ever share your same subjective experience of the world. The fact that we can agree on certain things known to be completely subjective is testament to the similarity of our nervous systems. We also agree with our cousin, the Chimp, on a lot of things, too.
Since there is nothing to a god but the individual conceptions of it, then it follows from the individuality of humans that no two people believe in the same god. They may have similar imaginary friends, but not the same. Just like you and I have similar ideas about that apple on the table, they are only similar, not the same. The most obvious difference is that my ideas are mine and yours are yours.
If you think you have a way around that, you are mistaken. You will only prove my point. Try it. How would you get around it? First, you would claim I am wrong. That I simply don't understand the nature of your god. Oh? And you do? Sorry, that doesn't work unless you're ready to admit your god is your very own imaginary friend and then you're agreeing with me and my point is proved. Next you would try to bring up some property of your god that I overlooked that you think skirts the issue at hand. But, then you are forgetting about MY imaginary friend, the Flying Spaghetti Monster who, like your god, is man made (only much more recently, he has all the latest high performance upgrades... think of FSM as a Rolls Royce Phantom and your god as a Ford Model T). You'll have proved my point if you try this, too, by imagining a new friend who is impervious to logic.
I'm not saying no god exists. I'm just saying that no two people believe in the same god. Hell, you could all be right, except for that annoying little caveat you all stick into your faith, that your god is the only god. Which means that either only one of you is right or none of you are. Do the math. You're betting on something with odds of one in several billion, I'm betting on something with odds one minus one in several billion, or effectively one. Even Pascal would make the same bet.
grr@the.world
Saturday, 04 August 2007
-
I don't want to give away the punch line
Assume for a moment that you are deluded enough to believe that life begins at conception. That the soul enters the cell at the moment when the sperm gets inside the egg. One cell, one soul. Assume further that you believe that Mary was actually a virgin. Thus, Mary's the egg that eventually would become Jesus was never fertilized. No conception occurred. Therefore, you believe that Jesus had no soul. He was soulless. This would explain some of his more uncharacteristic behavior, like thinking up the concept of hell and cursing people and even fig trees for not doing as he said.
If god put souls in eggs then every month, ladies, your body is aborting another soul.
But seriously, if you think Mary was a virgin and that life begins at conception, you must then believe that Mary underwent the process of parthenogenesis (virgin birth) and that Jesus was never actually conceived. Jesus was a soulless Mary clone. Mary was a man, or Jesus was a woman...
Actually, it doesn't matter, because it never happened. If Jesus ever did exist, his mother was not a virgin. Simple fact of biology. Virgin birth is contradictory to the story of Jesus.
Another contradiction here: Jesus was descended from kings, right? This lineage was on Joseph's side of the family. I think he was related to King David... right? Well, if Mary was a virgin, then Joseph was not Jesus' real father and the blood that ran through Jesus' veins was not of the line of King David. Jesus, if he was immaculately conceived, could not have been truthfully said to be descended from kings. Yet, that is precisely what is claimed (for the purpose of prophecy fulfillment). Yet again, another contradiction in the myth of Jesus.
One day I will write an essay on: How Evolution Destroys Judaism, Christianity and Islam (along with most other religions).
Finished Christopher Hitchens, what should I read next?
grr@the.world
- browse entries:
- older »
PiKo
-
- Name: Philip
- Country: United States
- State: Texas
- Metro: College Station
- Birthday: 6/26/1985
- Gender: Male
- Member Since: 12/27/2001


Chatboard (2)