Darwin, Humanism and Science: Michael Schmidt-Saloman

[nymphrenic]

My favorite part was when he asserted that humanists don't have dogmas, and then closed with a dogma that humanists must hold to. rofl.

My second favorite was all of his bold assertions about the state of religion, it was nice of him to bring red meat for the clapping seals in the crowd.

[jrwilson98]

@lizazoon YOu asked for a contradiction of religion. You stated that if you die without God he will send you from his sight, because he never knew you. But Christians believe God knows everything about everyone; he keeps a record of every deed, every word, every thought, whether awake or asleep. Christians believe God cares about what you eat, who you fuck, and what position you fuck in, but you said God will not know you after you die, so how then can he judge me. You make no sense.

[JeanySullivan]

lol it's cute how he can't pronounce "truth".

[JeanySullivan]

awww if I had known, i would have loved to go too. :-(

But thanks so much for posting it, that's great!

[geheimerbesen]

Good answer,gronkar66 =D

Great to see MSS giving a speach in England.

[Patferr]

This guy is clueless. Darwinism, humanism, and evolution is just as much a religion as Christianity or any other religion. Science cannot prove any of his claims. He can slam religion all he wants, but what he believes takes more faith than any religion. Believing that a tornado can rage through a junk yard, and create a 747 takes quite a leap of faith, which is religion, not scientific fact, since according to Francis Bacon, evolution cannot be proven.

[gronkar66]

@Patferr

Wow. You know, I really don't care if you reject the theory of evolution. But that junk yard analogy clearly shows that you have never even tried to understand what the theory of evolution actually states. To preface your comment with the words "this guy is clueless" is amazingly ironic. Reject anything you like, but at least know what is that you're rejecting. And btw, Francis Bacon died more than 200 years before Darwin wrote his book. Or do you mean F. Bacon, the painter?

[Patferr]

@gronkar66 Well, the "theory" of evolution expects you to believe that all the intracacies of the Universe just "happened", boom, and it was an accident by this "big bang" that just happened to set everything in motion by accident. If you even had a clue of all the things scientists can't explain, so they just made this shit up and expect everyone to believe it. It's just as much a religion as Christianity, but it takes more faith to believe in Evolution than it does Christianity. Deal wit it.

[gronkar66]

@Patferr

Thanks for involuntarily prooving my point.

[guitarsly111]

@Patferr the theory of evolution does not expect you to believe. (evolution is not the big bang). Evolution is the cause of natural selection, obviously a tiger that can run faster is going to kill more animals for food than a tiger that has short legs and is slow. The one that is slow dies, and the animal that can run fast lives, and reproduces and passes on its good genes. Science doesn't claim to explain everything, it explains what can be investigated.

[guitarsly111]

@Patferr If you knew what a scientist has to do to propose something like this, you wouldn't say it was 'faith'. They require evidence and proof, with a written report showing how their 'hypothesis' is put forward. Please don't disregard science, because the concepts are at first hard to grasp. I encourage you to learn for yourself what evolution and natural selection is, it may change your aspect on the world. I am very sorry that you failed to understand evolution the first time.

[nietscho999]

Michael Schmidt-Salomon is great. i´d like to see his books translated from german into englisch in order to receive his good news worldwide. Indeed, the world is full of "religioten"!!Greets

[gooner090]

And why would he make some people not believe in Him and others did.

[gooner090]

You people know that Darwinism does not say we are descendants of apes. It is that a long time ago we had a common ancestor that split into to branches. Us on one side, the Great Apes on the other.

[shrikechan]

@gooner090 Humans are apes. The other ape species are our closest "cousins" despite the many differences. So yes, of course we are not descended from them. You can`t be your cousin`s grand child.

[Mr88playmaker]

(A) Information is: the communication or reception of knowledge or intelligence.

(B) Information exist independent of its medium.

(the same information can be stored in one's mind, expressed verbally, written on paper, typed on a computer etc.)

(C) Code = Language. Language originates in a MIND.

There ore only two types of language known to man: (1) That of human mind origin (2) DNA code.

Information is not matter or energy.

Language is not matter or energy.

[rispaljemusic]

this is all so rediculous. you can't put God on a science table sure. but you can test the bible and see if it is a reliable source of history. can some one explain to me bible prophecy? how can men predict events that would occure hundreds of years later?? and them actually taking place? thats hard to deny. just look at the human body? no one on this planet has the same finger print as me..!! are bodys are sooo complex as well. I think atheist have more faith then the christian.

[schitzo89]

i think you fail to understand science..

[rispaljemusic]

I think your gambling with your soul. If Im wrong I have nothing to lose. if your wrong you have EVERYTHING to lose.. just think about it... with out science for a second...

[TurboDally]

"If Im wrong I have nothing to lose. if your wrong you have EVERYTHING to lose"

IF there is a being, who knows all, understands all, surely such a being would be able to understand my views? Why assume that this being values faith over reasoning? Isn't this a sign of an irrational silly being? Why would I want to worship a being who values blind faith and cowardice instead of honesty and integrity? Why assume that such a being is an ass? :D

[TheAbacus42]

@rispaljemusic

That is a real coward argumentation. Are you absolutely sure, that you have nothing to loose, if you build your life on wrong beliefs?

[TurboDally]

There are other books which claim "word of god". The abrahamic texts are pathetic, they paint a picture of a being that has every sign of being manmade.

"how can men predict events that would occure hundreds of years later??"

Have you ever heard of self fulfilling prophecy?

Prophecies are only useful for a while.

"are bodys are sooo complex as well"

A rock is also complex with all that structure, trillions of atoms arranged the way they are.

[lizazoon]

rispaljemusic:-- how can men predict events that would occure hundreds of years later??__ Eevn if they could? take Isaiah 700 years before christ. If I predict something extraordinary today for the year 2710, do you think anybody is going to give a sh.. ? A prophecy without a purpose is probably nonsense.

[rispaljemusic]

@lizazoon - then explain why this whole world revolves around the nation of Israel? If you studied the bible you would clearly see that the bibles revolves its self around the nation of Israel. its not a coincident my friend, and far from a "prophecy with out a purpose"..

[lizazoon]

@rispaljemusic; My world does not revolve around Israel at all. The bible of course has it`s origin in Jewish religious books. But he bible is NO history book. The OT is complete nonsense. Israel is just a tiny nation in the Middle-East. THAT`S ALL.

[rispaljemusic]

@lizazoon Israel is a tiny nation, then why is the world over so much termoil over getting rid of them? Will you please read the bible, and ask God to open your eyes. Will it hurt you to do this?... I mean you really have nothing to lose right? except your life, when you find out at the end of it when you stand before the living God who created the heavens and the earth and he says to you depart from me, I never knew you.

[rispaljemusic]

@lizazoon What do you have to lose by seeking the living God? your pride? Id rather lose my pride and turn to God then him to cast me into outter darkness where theres weeping a gnashing of teeth, forEVER. Your lifes on the line, and obviously the subject sparks an interest in you, because you ARE searching for truth. Theres one Truth not many truths, and that truth is Jesus Christ. why would you say that the old testemant is bull? are you saying that the new testemant isn't?

[rispaljemusic]

@lizazoon and that Jesus was a real man who died upon the cross? If you read the WHOLE bible God paints a Huge picture for us. How to cling to him. "wouldn't it be pretty messed up of you if you created something know one has ever seen before, or even knows anything about the product you just made. it would be, therefore you would right an instruction manual to give out along with the product

[rispaljemusic]

@lizazoon -Well my friend thats what Gods done, not only has he written the laws on our hearts, hint-thats why we know wrong from right, but he's given us his words in the Bible. can I ask you, can you prove to me that the bible is wrong? actual proof some thing.. maybe even a contridiction? and when you do find this let me know. Blessings

[lizazoon]

@rispaljemusic Israel is a tiny nation in the Middle east, created by the UN. That`s it. Unfortunately is the craddle of three religions and religions have a history to not getting along too well.

[lizazoon]

@rispaljemusic-- can some one explain to me bible prophecy?-- Yes: BULLSHIT

A prediction without exact, irrefutable data is not a prophecy but an horoscope. Now give me ONE bible prophecy with EXACT data,. Data that are not open to a myriad of interpretations.

[sergeant333]

Pekka-Eric Auvinen, a Finnish schoolboy who murdered eight people at his high school in November 2007, wrote on his blog that "stupid, weak-minded people are reproducing ... faster than the intelligent, strong-minded" ones. Auvinen thought through the philosophical implications of Darwin's work and came to the conclusion that human life is like every other type of animal life: it has no extraordinary value.

[isamelbou]

The theory of evolution is a sound theory with an extraordinary amount of evidence supporting it.The question is not whether we should teach it or not.The question is how to guide societies not to extrapolate evil meanings from it.If we hide this scientific truth from the general public. We will end up with two tiers societies: Those who know and those who don't . This will have the effect of fracturing humanity even further

[sergeant333]

One of Columbine killers Eric Harris, wore a "Natural Selection" shirt on the day of the massacre. These are examples of how easily Darwin's writings can lead to very disturbed ways of thinking.

[MrAfar11]

Dr. A.E. Wilder-Smith (Creationist-3 Doctorates and a 3-star NATO General)

The late Dr. Arthur E.Wilder-Smith, an honored scientist with an amazing three earned doctorates. He held many distinguished positions. A former Evolutionist, Dr. Wilder-Smith debated various leading scientists on the subject throughout the world. In his opinion, the Evolution model did not fit as well with the established facts of science as did the Creation model of intelligent design.

[TurboDally]

"Dr. A.E. Wilder-Smith (Creationist-3 Doctorates and a 3-star NATO General)"

1 man vs an army of scientists, many of whom are christians and see no problem with evolution? Looking at his books....I think I smell a rat....

[xolesa]

hehe me and my husband got married on the 6th of June :)

[revupreview]

Will we be getting any more of these "Darwin, Humanism and Science" talks? For instance the one Richard Dawkins opened the day with?

[KingRadbadical1988]

I believe in evolution but FUCK Darwinism, I'd rather be surrounded by GIVING weaklings who put something INTO this world.

Strong, evil people are INFERIOR because nothing good comes from them. If we "evolve" into a world full of assholes shooting at each other and blowing each other up, what good does that do us?

At the same time I believe in PASSIVE eugenics. I have mood problems and thus refuse to have kids with anyone except REALLY stable women, but I am mentally and physically strong.

[smallGatsby]

good to see that Schmidt-Salomon has been invited to the UK. - However he should have asked someone else to proofread his speech; the impact could have been so much better.

[GermanStraight1]

well ...

as bad as his english is ,

one thing is obvious , the man knows WHAT he is talking about !!!

Morality was there before man invented GODS as to explain how and why the world works the way it does , the world works fine without Gods !

Besides , there are so many of them ... lol

Brgds

GSO

[SangsungMeansToCome]

He should beware of quote mining. They will quote "The theory of evolution is beyond good and evil." out of context and thus Schmidt-Salomon confirms all the prejudices with it.

[Funaru]

Notice that it's actually Schmidt-Salomon himself who sings the evolution-song!

[EqualAndFree]

Christians claim that the only alternative to their 'morality' is the amorality of the 'survival of the fittest' that we see in nature. Humanists, however, base their morality on human reason - not on deriving an 'ought' from nature's 'is'.

Humanist morality aims for social contracts that realize the most beneficial social consequences - the greatest good of the greatest number. Christian 'morality', in contrast, is based upon blind obedience to tradition - whatever the moral consequences.

[vicritt23]

I have been wondering(call me stupid if you will) what came first? Man or plants? Either way it seems Darwinism should apply to both. Why would a plant grow to only be harvested by man. Wouldn't they grow to avoid being consumed in order to sustain their longevity of that species as plant? Survival of the fittest right?This is just a vague interpretation of what is turnin the ole gears in my noggin at the moment.

[kurtilein3]

"Why would a plant grow to only be harvested by man."

because its an incredibly successful strategy. those plants that got domesticated or that turned out to be useful for us now cover most of the surface of this planet. its not about longevity of the individual, its about continued existence of the whole species in question. the domestication of the sheep would be another great example; they sacrificed free mating and most of their mental fitness to acquire shepherds and grow in population.

[EqualAndFree]

vicritt23 - Plants came much earlier. They evolved not for us but for their own benefit. This is why the wild precursors of our modern crops were spiny, somewhat poisonous and virtually inedible - the varieties that survived were the ones that best protected themselves from being eaten. Except for their fruits - which were designed to be eaten to spread their seeds. Our ape ancestors and relatives mainly ate fruit for this reason. It took us centuries of breeding to make other crops pleasant.

[GermanStraight1]

well ...

like Dawkins AND Hitchens AND Harris AND Dennet AND ... countless others already said , over and over again and again , do not be scared by the "believers" there are more of US then you think !

Keep up the good work ... :-)

Brgds

GSO

[Cartera357]

I found Michael's lecture brilliant; I would love to here more from our European partner's in the future.

[VeroniqueCG]

I also have to say that Michael's lecture was full of quotable quotes that we should all use (and credit, of course) wherever and whenever we can.

The more this is memed out into the public sphere, the better.

Just wonderful!!

[VeroniqueCG]

What a great lecture! Thanks BHA!! I hadn't heard this fellow before - love his sense of humour and his clarity.

The more people with scientific standing who talk like this 'loud and clear' are more than welcome in the world and are needed to ensure that religions do not 'exceed their use-by date' by very much longer.

Bravo!!

[thepigabitcha]

Religion tries to destroy mans integrity by never giving him credit for the good things he does.

It's always god that made the good things happen and the innate evil in man that causes the bad.

Without the good men that we have got and had throughout history we would not have made it here.

[AlwaysReadTheLabel]

Great stuff!

[Melvin6566842]

Michael Schmidt-Salomon, so humble!

[WillSKB88]

Horray for humans and, well, not so much for rocking-out Darwin... he was a bit strange :D

W :-)