Cycling UK Forum

Michael R wrote:

Jeckyll_n_Snyde wrote:

skrx wrote:It's religion, it's not supposed to make sense!

ditto

Just two points

1. Much religion does make sense.

The foundation of most religion makes no sense -- gods, afterlife, the supernatural, prayer, sins, rituals (inc. fasting), etc.

Some things do make sense, but in every case the theism is unnecessary. "Don't harm another person" is a good moral guideline, but as far as I'm concerned "Don't harm another person because you're less likely to be harmed yourself" is much better reasoning than "Don't harm another person because the sky daddy doesn't like it", especially when that becomes "Don't harm another person because the sky daddy doesn't like it, except it's OK to hurt the people who don't think the sky daddy exist.".

2. Few evolutionary scientists worth their salt call themselves Darwinists.

Agreed. Scientists don't go round declaring that they believe in gravity either. Most Christians in the UK seem quite happy with the theory of evolution too.

The Darwin exhibition at the Natural History Museum is worth a visit if you live in London (I don't think it's worth a trip into London, unless you've not been to the NHM before anyway).

I look forward to the day the LHC comes back online and works it's magic(1) and once and for all proves that there's no such thing as "Deities" etc. etc. , but hey all the thumpers of the "good-book" will just change the goalposts, re-word their interpretations and re-hash it with "Well it's *ods way of showing/proving.......yada yada yada, etc. etc. etc." as they just wont accept the facts, and the world will still continue with this "unnecessary" waste of time/money/loss of lives (due to MOST wars) etc. etc. that comes with "believing"
If on the other hand the LHC does go in favor of the "believers" and the evidence proves the existence of a deity, then i for one shall seek out my ex-priest (yes i was religious at one time (2)....but no more) and ask for forgivness. No doubt i'll be punished for my sins; but hey i shall bend over and take it like a man (or is that like a choirboy)

(1) all scientists will burn in Hell for undertaking such blasphemous work
(2) i'm now 10% wealthier as well

Jeckyll_n_Snyde wrote:I look forward to the day the LHC comes back online and works it's magic(1) and once and for all proves that there's no such thing as "Deities" etc. etc. , but hey all the thumpers of the "good-book" will just change the goalposts, re-word their interpretations and re-hash it with "Well it's *ods way of showing/proving.......yada yada yada, etc. etc. etc." as they just wont accept the facts, and the world will still continue with this "unnecessary" waste of time/money/loss of lives (due to MOST wars) etc. etc. that comes with "believing"
If on the other hand the LHC does go in favor of the "believers" and the evidence proves the existence of a deity, then i for one shall seek out my ex-priest (yes i was religious at one time (2)....but no more) and ask for forgivness. No doubt i'll be punished for my sins; but hey i shall bend over and take it like a man (or is that like a choirboy)

(1) all scientists will burn in Hell for undertaking such blasphemous work
(2) i'm now 10% wealthier as well

What are you rambling on about with all your winks and rolls.?

What blasphemous work are scientists doing? I wasnt aware of any. I never came across any in my scientific studies at university or in my work as a scientist nor since with all my varied contacts with scientists Or Harvard evolutionary biologists!!

I will look extra hard this year with all my involvement in academic Darwin celebrations and publications - only four so far in scientific books

Your comments on the LHC just made me laugh .

Are you an atheist with severe doubts?

Michael R wrote:What blasphemous work are scientists doing? I wasnt aware of any. I never came across any in my scientific studies at university or in my work as a scientist nor since with all my varied contacts with scientists Or Harvard evolutionary biologists!!

Depending what kind of Christian you ask (try an American Baptist...) things from stem cell research to evolution to genetics.

eileithyia wrote:So if I can celebrate on "feast" days can my birthday be included as a feast day? It always falls either in lent or just at Easter, means if I give up alcohol or chocolate I can't indulge on my birthday!!!!

Hey, Lent doesn't stop my Irish friends celebrating St Paddy's day! I'll be joinin' them this year! woop woop!

Michael R wrote:

Hector's House wrote:...it starts tomorrow!

No it starts on Ash wednesday

Moot point.

Nae harm in starting early!

pigman wrote:Whats the point ? What does it prove?

Giving up something for the sake of it proves nothing. Is the idea some form of self-torture?

the very short article thatkwkirby02 posted may be found here. I agree fully with the reasoning in the article. I fully agree with you: there's no poing in giving up something for the sake of it. In the six years I've been a Christian this is only the second time I've properly practised lent. Mind you, most years it was because I forgot about it , but the first time I did it, it was a natural thing to do. That year I gave up CDs, because it was an adiction, and like all adictions, it was a problem. It gave me a chance to stop and realise that I didn't need them, and therefore what I did need in my life...

Facebook has been causing me problems for a myriad of reasons, so it's the perfect thing to give up - again, realising that I don't need fb - it's just a want


The only flaw in this is that fairly soon I will have to write an assingment on the relative merits and drawbacks on... facebook. I can't wait till I tell my lecturer that I can't go to the site because I've given it up for lent... (fortunately the assignment's due in after Easter...)

Hector's House wrote:That year I gave up CDs

Buying? Reviewing? Listening to? Or is this some kind of CD other than a Compact Disc?

This year I'm giving up buying bicycles for Lent, but that's mostly because I need the money for new skates

I don't see why something should be given up for Lent. Doesn't that make it likely you'll take it up again after Lent?

If I think I'm doing something wrong (too much time on Facebook, too much money on something, too much drinking, whatever) I'll give it up. No need to wait for Lent!

skrx wrote:I don't see why something should be given up for Lent. Doesn't that make it likely you'll take it up again after Lent?

Well, yes.

But in healthier doses.

skrx wrote:If I think I'm doing something wrong (too much time on Facebook, too much money on something, too much drinking, whatever) I'll give it up. No need to wait for Lent!

I assume from this post that you are some sort of super-being quite unlike myself, who is human, and occasionally needs a kick up the rear end!


dan_b, i gave up buying CDs... I couldn't manage to give up listening to music. That would provide me with more harm than good. Infact i don't believe any good would come out of me abstaining from listening to music...

Michael R wrote:What are you rambling on about with all your winks and rolls.?

Ooops sorry, my idea of sarcasm, obviously wasted and obviously different from yours, but i do beg your forgiveness (sends blowing kiss emoticon)

Michael R wrote:What blasphemous work are scientists doing?

skrx put it better than i could with a reply to to same question.

Michael R wrote:Your comments on the LHC just made me laugh

Did they really? glad to be of service, we aim to please.

Michael R wrote:Are you an atheist with severe doubts?

I could be........ and does it really matter?

p.s. do you not like my "signature" ?

Michael R wrote:2. Few evolutionary scientists worth their salt call themselves Darwinists

.... if so i'll change it to something of your liking, suggestions greatfully accepted.
In the meantime i'll say a prayer for you. (refrains from adding emoticons)

No , your signature just adds to your bluster.

Still at least what Darwin wrote was coherent even if his writing is at times illegible.

I am still trying to work out what you are saying about the LHC.

Between Darwin & Thatcher there's no longer any need to worry about hell. If it exists Saint Margaret will shut it down - the furnaces are uneconomic.

Michael R wrote:I am still trying to work out what you are saying about the LHC.

dont worry, youre one ahead of me. I am still trying to work out what the LHC is ??

pigman wrote:

Michael R wrote:I am still trying to work out what you are saying about the LHC.

dont worry, youre one ahead of me. I am still trying to work out what the LHC is ??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider
There's a bit about the public's fear (well, media's making up of stories) of the black holes destroying the planet.

Unfortunately the militant end of atheism - as opposed to private certainties - insists organised religion is intent on spreading pernicious mischief and needs to be countered wherever its found.
I can't remember a single poster telling me or anyone else on this board we were going to hell but recall many saying people's faith was noxious nonsense and they were confused or foolish.

I may be a bit thick on these things but have never thought evolution was incompatible with belief in one or more deities. The admirable focus required of science gets twisted knickers when it applies genetics to Genesis.
Neither have I found belief in or against a God was much use as a gauge to how splendid a cyclist was or charming their company but I'd give zealots on either side a wide berth.

skrx wrote:

pigman wrote:

Michael R wrote:I am still trying to work out what you are saying about the LHC.

dont worry, youre one ahead of me. I am still trying to work out what the LHC is ??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider
There's a bit about the public's fear (well, media's making up of stories) of the black holes destroying the planet.

I am trying to decide whehter I would rather collide with a 50 ton lorry