Think about it… or get irrational?

A headnote: This author is a busy person and is not often available and randomly reappears.

For some time now, I have had a good christian friend, born-again even, and we get along well. Anyway, like any born-again, he tries to convert me whenever he spends time alone with me (which is very rare in my life arrangement). Read more

Atheist and Christian Spouses

Can it ever be?

This post is not so informative as it is a simple question. It is a question that has dogged me for some time. The two philosophies, on opposing sides, can they allow love between them?

I’ve heard stories of success, of an atheist and a Christian able to set aside their differences and love each other. They’ve been able to raise their children successfully. How do they do it?

I’ve also heard of how difficult it is, to do this. Be it from the Christian being told to hate the atheist, and their families and companions shunning the atheist. Or from the atheist being incapable of tolerating the folly of the Christian, or something of that nature.

Or perhaps it is little details of religion that separate them. Such as death/the afterlife, issues like abortion, even some details of politics.

What can be done?

The Theory of God: Obsolete

So, this is my first submission. I tend to move from one subject to another in the course of an essay(I guess that is the best term to describe the work here.), but for the sake of convenience, will try to limit myself to one topic per essay. Read more

Homebrew Excorism Gone bad

Can you perform an Excorism without a priest? Perhaps they took a home study course! The following was reported from Google News.

Man dies after police stun gun him performing exorcism

Grandfather performs exorcism then chokes girl before being stun-gunned by police Read more

Evolution And Universal Principles

Evolution is often attacked as “just a theory.” Despite the plethora of scientific evidence to the contrary, the criticism (wrongly, I think) persists. By explaining why we evolve in the context of the universal principles that gave rise to atoms, galaxies, and planets, we can, I hope, dispense with the attack on evolution as “just a theory.”

By analyzing the emergence of life in the context of universal laws (which are fixed and objective) we can draw conclusions about evolution, morality, and life’s meaning and purpose that are rational and incontrovertible. If we explore how these laws affect the shape and form of inanimate matter (particles, galaxies, solar systems and planets) we can establish a connection between life as a form of existence and the existence of the material universe.

Before life emerged the universe consisted entirely of inanimate material — dust, rocks, gases, dozens of elements in varying proportions. Matter exists because its form is persistent. This is not tautological! Many forms of matter do not persist (radioactive isotopes) and therefore exist in vanishingly small quantities. The material universe consists overwhelmingly of elements and forms that are persistent. This observation applies to macroscopic as well as microscopic material forms (planetary systems as well as hydrogen gas atoms). It is objectively true and provable; in our universe, where existence is governed by the laws of space, time and causality, things that persist tend to exist in greater quantities than things that don’t persist.

How does this apply to life and to evolution? All living things comprise matter, but can we really say that the meaning and purpose of a marmot relates to the form of a rock?

However, even though life is a more complex form of existence than inanimate matter, it must abide by universal laws and principles. The living form is a form of existence. It persists by sustaining itself and reproducing itself. With life, though, the form persists rather than the material instance of the form. Life goes on, even though the individual dies or the species becomes extinct. The living form evolves not through some quirk or fluke, but because evolution reflects the natural influence of the laws of space, time, and causality.

Evolution then is a phenomenon governed by universal laws that are rational, unchanging and complete.

Why Reason Is Not A Matter of Faith

I’ve often encountered the argument that a rational or scientific worldview requires the same kind of faith as a theist worldview. The premise being that the theories and evidence of the scientific method are not conclusive and don’t rule out the possibility that everything around us is the design and creation of a divine being… If reason requires faith, the theory goes, then this pulls the rug out from under the atheist perspective. Read more

What has caused more harm to humanity, religion or science?

I ask this question for a particular reason. The basis and the pursuit of religious and scientific endeavors is based on the same false promise of a deeper understanding and knowledge of the universe. We have people in both the religious and scientific communities each scratching their heads over how the other is approaching the promise and failing.

While both religion and science offer the same promise, they do it very differently. Religion offers a promise of a better way of life that will ultimately end in being “saved”. The problem with the religious promise is twofold. First it’s difficult to tell if they really keep it, second, it has spawned all sorts of fanatics that have killed millions in the past centuries. We don’t need to look to far to find a religious conflict, there is one in every country costing people their lives. Science on the other hand offers a better way of life right now and unlike religion it actually produces answers. The problem is the answer usually brings up more questions which will only be solved by more science, etc. We all know what a bounty it was for humans to unlock the secrets of the atom providing nearly unlimited access to power. Unfortunately, like pandora’s box, it also unleashed an unlimited amount of destruction and death to millions through nuclear war, not to mention countless waste that we still really don’t have an answer for. As science looks for answers they continually produce more problems.

It is clear to me that unless people realize the promise is false we are ultimately doomed.