Religion IS crazy!

[MrBurns]

If the Universe is truly infinite, then infinite variety of life forms must also exist. Also, infinite worlds, infinite different planes of existence and so on and so on. But this is just word play in one sense, because the mind is not capable of understanding the word 'infinite'. When the mind tries to really understand it, it always fails because the very next thought will be "but where is the edge of infinity? and if there's an edge then what's beyond that?...". The mind can't cope with infinity, instead it just has this concept of it.

Infinity has always fascinated me, the mind cant really comprehend it, the mind must see ends to things structures, the concept of never ending space cant be truly imagined.
It must go on forever, otherwise there must be an end ...but what would be beyond that, there cant be a wall ....there cant be an end.

( I think I just repeated what you said)

 

[Gringotts Bank]

Infinity has always fascinated me, the mind cant really comprehend it, the mind must see ends to things structures, the concept of never ending space cant be truly imagined.
It must go on forever, otherwise there must be an end ...but what would be beyond that, there cant be a wall ....there cant be an end.

( I think I just repeated what you said)

Yeh exactly, you begin to see just how restricted the mind is. All it can do is conceptualize (as opposed to realize).

 

[MrBurns]

Yeh exactly, you begin to see just how restricted the mind is. All it can do is conceptualize (as opposed to realize).

You could go many times the speed of light forever and never reach the end.

 

[DB008]

Religious Police ?!?!?!? ....what kind of a f**ked up country is Saudi?

Saudis tweet anger at religious police following car chase death

The death of a young Saudi during a car chase by the country’s religious police has stirred uproar on the social media, especially after it became known that the involved members of the Saudi religious police fled the scene of the accident.

The news of the crash went viral when a witness first uploaded a video of the car chase, which took place Tuesday in the capital Riyadh, on his twitter account with the hashtag “The commission killed two men on national day.”

Reactions appeared to be tense but divided between those who supported the religious authority, commonly known as the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, and those opposed it.

The authority is also referred to in Arabic simply as “the Haia” meaning “the committee.”

A Twitter user named @talal tweeted: “The religious police had killed people in al-Madina, and killed in Tabuk, and Baljurashi and today they killed in Al-Riyadh and on National Day. The Haia are blood thirsty.”


http://english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/2013/09/27/Saudis-tweet-anger-at-religious-police-following-car-chase-death.html

 

[Ruby]

Man, If only I had a proper adjudicated face to face debate with you. I would have a field day and rip you to shreds!!!

No, you wouldn't, Pav, because you don't have anything to debate with. You keep saying the same thing over and over again and you have not a shred of evidence to back up your claims (the bible is not "evidence" of a deity who orders our lives) whereas the body of evidence supporting evolution is staggeringly huge - and growing all the time.

Such a debate would be embarrassing in the extreme - for you!

 

[DB008]

The religion of peace strikes again!

NIGERIA: MILITANTS KILL STUDENTS IN COLLEGE ATTACK

POTISKUM, Nigeria (AP) ”” Suspected Islamic extremists attacked an agricultural college in the dead of night, gunning down dozens of students as they slept in dormitories and torching classrooms, the school's provost said ”” the latest violence in northeastern Nigeria's ongoing Islamic uprising.

Idi Mato said as many as 50 students may have been killed in the assault that began at about 1 a.m. Sunday in rural Gujba. "They attacked our students while they were sleeping in their hostels. They opened fire at them," he said, adding that most victims were aged between 18 and 22.

Soldiers recovered 42 bodies and transported 18 wounded students to Damaturu Specialist Hospital, 40 kilometers (25) miles north, said a military intelligence official who insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/nigeria-militants-kill-students-college-attack

 

[burglar]

Infinity has always fascinated me, the mind cant really comprehend it, the mind must see ends to things structures, the concept of never ending space cant be truly imagined.
It must go on forever, otherwise there must be an end ...but what would be beyond that, there cant be a wall ....there cant be an end.

( I think I just repeated what you said)

Careful ...

You'll give yourself a "mental hernia"!! :

 

[DB008]

What are your views on this?

My view, if he doesn't want to get the blood transfusion, so be it....



Jehovah's Witness teen loses appeal over life-saving transfusion

A 17 year-old Jehovah's Witness who was fighting a court order to have a life-saving blood transfusion has lost an appeal just four months shy of his 18th birthday.

The religious teenager, who is being treated for Hodgkin's Lymphoma at The Sydney Children's Hospital, had threatened to rip the IV needle from his arm and said it would be akin to rape if he was given a blood transfusion while under anaesthetic.

A Supreme Court judge ruled in April that the boy, known as X for legal reasons, had to have the transfusion but his family appealed it, arguing that he was "highly intelligent" and his maturity and competency should be enough to override the court's power.

Justice John Basten rejected the appeal on Friday morning but said the order would be removed when X turned 18 in January, allowing him to make the potentially life-or-death decision for himself.

His doctor, Professor Glenn Marshall, told the court earlier this year that X had an 80 per cent chance of dying from anaemia if he didn't have the transfusion.

"The interest of the state is in keeping him alive until that time, after which he will be free to make his own decisions as to medical treatment," Justice Basten said in his judgement.

"The interest of the state in preserving life is at its highest with respect to children and young persons who are inherently vulnerable, in varying degrees."

X has had three unsuccessful rounds of chemotherapy at a lower dose than Professor Marshall advised.

After some initial success, the cancer in his lymph nodes spread to his lungs and spleen in November last year.

X was advised to have more intense chemotherapy but, because that treatment was likely to lead to a blood transfusion, he and his parents refused.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/jehovahs-witness-teen-loses-appeal-over-lifesaving-transfusion-20130927-2uib6.html#ixzz2gPm1tQcs

 

[Julia]

I don't envy anyone making a judgement on this. If he were an adult I'd be right on his side. But at 17 he has a lot of maturing to do, and is likely very much influenced by his family. Tough on them too. Hard to imagine that any family will choose their religion over a chance of their child living.

 

[Whiskers]

What are your views on this?

My view, if he doesn't want to get the blood transfusion, so be it....



Jehovah's Witness teen loses appeal over life-saving transfusion





http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/jehovahs-witness-teen-loses-appeal-over-lifesaving-transfusion-20130927-2uib6.html#ixzz2gPm1tQcs

At the end of the day an adult has the right to refuse a transfusion or any other medical procedure. However, by virtue of the fact that one goes to a medical professional for help implies a duty of care on the health professional to keep him alive.

I reckon the doctrine could be worked to establish child abuse in cases like this. The gist of the JW reasoning is based in religious grounds, but based on long out dated interpretation of the ancient texts, antiquated science and medical procedures.

Child abuse could be established if the court was satisfied the parents religious beliefs, which as I understand are based on incorrect interpretation of ancient text and antiquated medical procedures... ie that their belief is ignorant of those facts as they are better understood today and therefore negligent.

It seems to me that whereas a conscientious objection is more on the grounds of freedom of belief, JW religious objection is likely more grounded in false belief from those texts and antiquated medical information, which could open the door for child abuse.

The distinction is subtle but potentially significant in terms of a child abuse or neglect.

 

[bunyip]

What are your views on this?

My view, if he doesn't want to get the blood transfusion, so be it....



Jehovah's Witness teen loses appeal over life-saving transfusion





http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/jehovahs-witness-teen-loses-appeal-over-lifesaving-transfusion-20130927-2uib6.html#ixzz2gPm1tQcs

He has the right to refuse a blood transfusion.
Anyone who refuses a life-saving blood transfusion on religious grounds has been so brainwashed by religion that he/she is not thinking rationally. Ditto for anyone who on religious grounds regards a life-saving blood transfusion as ‘akin to rape’.
Maybe if the bloke knew what it was like to be raped (I don’t, incidentally) he would never have made such a bloody silly statement.

This JW practice of refusing blood transfusions is about as ridiculous as the formerly Amish bloke I saw on an ABC docco today. He’s given away the Amish religion and changed over to some other religious crowd who are almost as fanatical as the Amish.
He and his pals in his new religion were demolishing a perfectly good house with the intention of rebuilding, because apparently the bible says that if a house that’s been locked up for ten days develops mould inside, it’s unclean and must be torn down and replaced.

Religion sure does make some people develop absurd attitudes and do some crazy things.

 

[burglar]

!!!

 

[Whiskers]

View attachment 54698

!!!

Apparently the Celtic meaning of Arthur is: Strong as a bear!

 

[Chris45]

Infinity has always fascinated me, the mind cant really comprehend it, the mind must see ends to things structures, the concept of never ending space cant be truly imagined.
It must go on forever, otherwise there must be an end ...but what would be beyond that, there cant be a wall ....there cant be an end.

I know this discussion is ancient history now, but anyway ...

Empty space can be infinite, that concept is not too difficult to understand.

But if we accept the Big Bang, and assuming space is linear, then the region occupied by matter is probably not infinite. There should be furthermost stars, dust particles, whatever, which would define the outer limits of occupied space in our universe.

Then again, if space is curved in on itself like a sphere, I dunno what happens then.

What is more intriguing is that the really smart boys are now suggesting that hard, solid matter is made up of strings of energy ... which begs the question ... what is energy made up of???

And, instead of just one universe, they're suggesting that there are many universes, interwoven with each other in dimensions (outside of the four that we know and love) that we can't yet even comprehend!

If they're correct, then the "planes of existence that non-earthly beings populate" that GB talked about become a distinct possibility.

And if there's a universe where energy strings have combined differently to make intelligent life forms (that we think of as "spirits" or "souls"), then maybe there is a hierarchy with a supreme leader ... God.

Since we know so little about our own universe, and there are possibly many unknown unknowns, it's worth keeping an open mind on this stuff. But when GB starts talking about reality being imaginary, etc, my brain starts to hurt!

 

[FxTrader]

Since we know so little about our own universe, and there are possibly many unknown unknowns, it's worth keeping an open mind on this stuff.

Where scientists may form many a hypothesis about existence and the universe, the religious postulate that not only does a sky God exist but that their particular version of this imagined God is the only correct one. The penalty for not believing this faith based nonsense is some version of eternal hell and perhaps even death for blasphemy in this life.

If you're suggesting that the religious should be more "open-minded" about the possibility their magic books on mythology are fiction then that would mean they must be open to questioning their faith. For most that's just to much to ask since to do so in earnest is just to confronting once they come to recognize that the core of what they believe constitutes nothing more than wishing thinking and a grand deception that enslaves the minds of millions of gullible worshipers.

There is no comparing the pursuit of knowledge by application of reason and the scientific method to the dictates of religion. One produces human progress while the other only the establishment of dogma and metaphysical nonsense masquerading as knowledge. Hitchens was right, religion is poison for human society.

 

[Chris45]

There is no comparing the pursuit of knowledge by application of reason and the scientific method to the dictates of religion.

I agree with some of what you said, but I disagree with your generally harsh view of religion!

I agree that some of the teachings of the established religions are rubbish, and certain religions are worse than others and I certainly don't endorse everything that the churches/mosques/etc. teach ...



But religions are businesses, and they need customers, so some of their rules are designed to increase their market share. But that doesn't necessarily mean all religions are completely rubbish.

Many people gain significant peace of mind and comfort from their religion and it helps them deal with life's tribulations and maintain their optimism.

Most people want a simple explanation for what life is all about and are not interested in, or can't cope with, anything too sciencey. Religions attempt to provide simple explanations that such people can accept, unfortunately not always successfully, and I think even God might say to them, "Look, I gave you a brain, now USE the bloody thing!".

Some "humans" behave barely above animal level and need simple-to-understand rules to keep them in line. Religions provide simple rules to live by, many of which you would probably agree with, unless you think that murdering, stealing, adultery, cruelty, etc is acceptable human behaviour. Some religions are better in this regard than others!

Much excellent charitable work is done by religious people, more than by atheists, and many unfortunate beings have food in their stomachs and beds to sleep in because of religions. Hitchens is wrong! He is the poison.

But my point was that our universe/universes seems much more complex than most people have been led to believe and they should not rule certain things out just because they sound ridiculous. We don't have all of the answers yet, in fact, we know very, very little. I suspect that many people believe: Big Bang -> stars -> planets -> pond slime -> US! ... all questions answered! ... Wrong!!!

 

[MrBurns]

I've seen other reports detailing some of this case and it would turn your stomach. There is no punishment strong enough for this maggot and I would support releasing an appropriate grade nuclear bomb on these people to try to eliminate them from the face of the earth.

Saudi preacher jailed for 8 years for raping, killing daughter


A Saudi court has sentenced a preacher convicted of raping his five-year-old daughter and torturing her to death to eight years in prison and 800 lashes, a lawyer says.

In a case that drew widespread public condemnation in the kingdom and abroad, the court on Tuesday also ordered Fayhan al-Ghamdi to pay his ex-wife, the girl's mother, one million riyals ($282,000) in "blood money," lawyer Turki al-Rasheed said.

Blood money is compensation for the next of kin under Islamic law.

The girl's mother had demanded 10 million riyals ($2.8 million).

Ghamdi's second wife, accused of taking part in the crime, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and 150 lashes, said Rasheed, who is lawyer for the girl's mother.

Ghamdi was convicted of "raping and killing his five-year-old daughter Lama," he added.

The girl was admitted to hospital on December 25, 2011 with multiple injuries, including a crushed skull, broken ribs and left arm, extensive bruising and burns, activists said. She died several months later.

Ghamdi, a regular guest on Muslim television networks despite not being an authorised cleric in Saudi Arabia, had confessed to having used cables and a cane to inflict the injuries, human rights activists said earlier this year.

Randa al-Kaleeb, a social worker from the hospital where Lama was admitted, said the girl's back was broken and that she had been raped "everywhere".

Reportedly, Ghamdi had doubted his daughter's virginity.

Rights activists in the kingdom had been campaigning for harsher punishment of Ghamdi when reports emerged in January that the court would only give him a short jail term and order him to pay blood money to the mother.

In ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia, where rape and murder are among several crimes punishable by death, a father cannot be executed for murdering his children, nor can husbands be executed for murdering their wives.

Such crimes carry a jail sentence between five to 12 years

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-...d-8-years-for-raping-killing-daughter/5010380

 

[DB008]

Saudi Arabia's Women Driving Ban: Doctor Dismisses Cleric's Claim That Driving Hurts Ovaries

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- A Saudi doctor has gone on-air to dismiss claims made by a well-known cleric who caused a stir when he said medical studies show driving affects a woman's ovaries.

In comments aired over the weekend by the privately owned Rotana channel, gynecologist Mohammed Baknah says scientific studies have not proven that driving has adverse effects on women's reproductive health.

He was addressing remarks by Sheik Saleh Saad el-Leheidan who said that women who drive suffer from having the pelvis forced upward. His remarks were published Saturday in an interview with the website el-Sabq.

Hard-line clerics have opposed a campaign scheduled for October 26 calling on women to drive in defiance of a ban in the ultraconservative kingdom.

Another cleric this month called on people to harass women who drive.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/30/saudi-driving-ban-ovaries_n_4016957.html

 

[sydboy007]

Saudi Arabia's Women Driving Ban: Doctor Dismisses Cleric's Claim That Driving Hurts Ovaries

And there i thought it was the increasing levels of literacy and education that was causing the western world to have declining birth rates, when it was women getting behind a car wheel. :car:

I wonder what the cleric thinks driving does to a man's testes :dunno:

 

[DB008]

And there i thought it was the increasing levels of literacy and education that was causing the western world to have declining birth rates, when it was women getting behind a car wheel. :car:

I wonder what the cleric thinks driving does to a man's testes :dunno:

Or a women passenger?

Saudi - still in the dark ages