Why we ignore the religious right

[whirlpoolzend]

What do you think are the best ways to counter the promulgation of obvious bullshit?

[bobomcgraw]

@whirlpoolzend Either ignore it if it is an obvious lone nut, or mass education if it is someone trying to change laws etc.

[DavidL999]

Haha, that paper makes it's way into my house too, it's absolutely ridiculous!!

[bobomcgraw]

@DavidL999 I read it just to see what crap they'll come up with this time.

I can't imagine why anyone would read it to stay informed.

[jiganashi]

This is seen across all arguements, someone looking to prove they have half an iota inside their head instead of a hampster on a wheel. People refer to their statement to back up their previously said statement all the time. Ask them to give you three good well thought out reasons, and if they hesitate, throw them out of it, they obviously haven't an inkling of whats going on.

I agree to an extent. I have nothing against religion in itself, but there are some really mindless people out there.

[andrewl5201]

Theres a lot of ways you can look at this, the logical standpoint or the moral standpoint. Does it bug you that much. If they try to force it down your throat. just tell em to fuck off. But I don't see the harm in religion seeing that most of it just teaches good life principles and morals, religion isn't going to make a sane man kill someone, well at least in christianity. Not even gonna get into Islam..lol.

[bobomcgraw]

You get extremists in every religion, and out of them too.

Religion shouldn't make rational people behave in an irrational manner, unfortunately there are a hell of a lot of irrational people in the world.

Look at the Westboro Baptists (admittedly they are a rather extreme example).

[andrewl5201]

yeah that's very true. I guess I just never see them yuh know

[bobomcgraw]

Then you are lucky.

[andrewl5201]

well westboro is like a church of 100+ people 80% family. I think those are just a bunch of nutcases looking for publicity. I wouldn't really label them extremists, just stupid.

[sakib1990]

@andrewl5201 Extremism exist with or without religion. END OF. Most wars have hardly anything to do with religion but instead people going against their religion in pursuit of power. If there was no religion there'd be extremism and warfare but rather than religion being the mask people wear it'd be another mask

[MaybeYouCould]

I agree with you. I don't have anything against religious people, I have a problem with the way they justify the deity or whatever, of their religion. 'I believe in God'. Okay, why? 'Because it says he exists in the bible.' But why do you believe it? 'Because it's in the bible.' It really is quite infuriating.

[bobomcgraw]

I'm pretty much the same about everything, I don't really care what people do I only care about their rationalisation.

If someone told me the believe in god because it gives them comfort, I would accept that as it is about as good a reason as you can get.

But the circular logic they use with that bible example, that I will never accept.

[29keyser]

The problem with the religious right is that for them bllindly believing in something that can not be proved is a sign of moral strenght, or virtue. For the rest of us that is just stupid. There is not enough scientific arguments in the world to change their minds.

[bobomcgraw]

That is true.

[metalmusi]

Have read anything from michel serrer?, have read anything about the history of science, how do you thing any advance science came to be?, any modern philosopher has to have on account science, and actually in a very heavy way, i get your part of philosophy not being science in many topics, but gotta be more informed dude,.

[bobomcgraw]

Science is not philosophy and philosphy is not science, telling me that a scientist should know a little philosophy is not telling me that they are the same thing.

[metalmusi]

well, i think that you are confusing philosophic knowledge and philosophic thought, which is not the same, all science came from philosophic thought, our studies in science definetly reflect a philosophic thought, I do agree that the outcomes have diferent purposes.

[bobomcgraw]

The scientific method may have originated from a philosophical background, but that does not make science a philosophy.

The difference is basically science concerns itself with the acquisition of knowledge whereas philosophy is all about wisdom.

[metalmusi]

that´s why i say that their outcomes have different purposes, and yeah science is not a philosophy to one point, but It certainly is to a higher understanding and expanded wisdom.

[bobomcgraw]

It sounds like you're telling me they're two different things but they're the same thing.

I don't understand what you're trying to say.

[metalmusi]

that´s the tricky part. To be more clear, some philosophic thought is necessary to understand scientific reason, and a expanded philosophy is greatly enhanced by scientific knowledge, by our terms a scientist is not a philosopher and vice versa, but in a person both flow from the same desire.

[bobomcgraw]

Sometimes but not always, science is based on evidence whereas philosophy doesn't always follow the same rigid rules that science does.

As for both flowing from the same desire, that's kind of half true, the desire is one of accumulation but they both seek two different things, as I said previously, knowledge and wisdom.

[WolfLord5]

You sir, are the bomb.

[leiapeison]

the christian right has basically taken over american govt. seperation of church and state isnt explicitly stated in our constitution, but it is pretty standard. the ban on gay marriage is headed by the mormons and the catholic church, as is bans on teaching sex ed in school and national healthcare. i go as far to say that religious influence is the single greatest threat to american liberty. many of our voters vote solely on religious belief.

[bobomcgraw]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

It's a pretty good point.

I know, many people would not vote for an atheist for some reason.

[marksiwel]

boyo, come to Texas, we need more like you. I'll take you to the gun range, and buy you a drink

[MokongX3M]

the complete ignorance of religion towards sceince and "facts" can be highly distressing somethings. If their so happy to live in their own little bubble fair enough, just don't come out of that bubble and start trying to force everyone back in with you :-P

[bobomcgraw]

If they have a problem with science then they should keep away from all science.

Creationists using Youtube to promote an anti-science agenda just reeks of rusted irony.

[miiwiiplay]

I think it would be interesting on your opinion on why so many people believe in religions. social stigma, fear of hell, ect. You should make a video on it =P

[bobomcgraw]

It's a cultural thing, you were raised in a religion, by people of that religion so you normally stick with it.

It's not too common for people to abandon religion or for them to convert to another one.

[NeoSamuel]

Funny, I live in America and everynow and then I see an Awake booklet. I take a look sometimes and for anything besides moral philopy its not worth much.

[bobomcgraw]

The moral philosophy in this one isn't worth much, but then it's Roman Catholic so it's all guilt and martyring oneself.

[ladyofthewood]

I do agree with you on the part of before you make an arguement, any argument for that matter, you should at least have a good grasp on the subject matter and if you don't you shouldn't write anything about it.

[bobomcgraw]

They can write it, but they should not expect to be taken seriously.

[miiwiiplay]

5 stars, favorite

[miiwiiplay]

youtube is the next english class eh?

[bobomcgraw]

Someone needs to educate them and it's obvious they are in need of it.

[citizenkong]

They confuse faith with reason. It is frustrating.

[bobomcgraw]

I just get annoyed when they try to argue with me but they end up constantly redefining words to suit their own ends.

It's like they will go on about science, or faith or whatever and I'm just left there screaming "That is not what the word means!".

[citizenkong]

I know. . . Those people need to study the dictionary.

It comes from them parroting words without fully grasping meaning. Or in their case, the lack of meaning.

[bobomcgraw]

I think I mentioned this before but one thing that gets me is when they swap 'evolution' with 'the theory of evolution' thought he two are completely different things, like 'gravity' and the 'the theory of gravity' are two separate things.

[rozeboosje]

well said, btw

[rozeboosje]

Long time no see

[bobomcgraw]

I'm always lurking, creepy as that sounds.