| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Iain" |
| Date: |
13 Jan 2005 09:21:01 AM |
| Object: |
My first creationist |
There is a wierd lad standing outside the university, in the cold, with
a schooldesk full of leaflets about creationism. On closer inspection,
many of the books seemed to be about arcane mythology and prophecies.
This was quite reassuring, because it seems as if creationism isn't
standing on it's own feet, but instead is camouflaged and supported by
this other stuff. It seems quite benign, and debate seems quite futile.
Anyone who stands around a blustery Scottish street for that long
January, getting no attention, is probably too [something] to be
reasoned with. He may be exploiting the fact that this is a mediocre
technical college and that no biology is taught here.
This is the first creationist I've seen, apart from really eld people
who one suspects might be creationists but isn't sure. They seem to
have come from America carrying crosses, burned the Saxon villages and
breached Hadrian's Wall.
~Iain
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| User: "Little Me" |
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| Title: Re: My first creationist |
13 Jan 2005 09:42:07 AM |
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There is a wierd lad standing outside the university, in the cold, with
a schooldesk full of leaflets about creationism. On closer inspection,
many of the books seemed to be about arcane mythology and prophecies.
This was quite reassuring, because it seems as if creationism isn't
standing on it's own feet, but instead is camouflaged and supported by
this other stuff. It seems quite benign, and debate seems quite futile.
Anyone who stands around a blustery Scottish street for that long
January, getting no attention, is probably too [something] to be
reasoned with. He may be exploiting the fact that this is a mediocre
technical college and that no biology is taught here.
Well, there's not explanation for being stupid - of course in Dukes case
there is, he's Catholic - seems like all the answers we need . ;-)
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| User: "*nemo*" |
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| Title: Re: My first creationist |
14 Jan 2005 08:50:57 PM |
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In article <1105629661.720655.168960@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
"Iain" <iain_inkster@hotmail.com> wrote:
There is a wierd lad standing outside the university, in the cold, with
a schooldesk full of leaflets about creationism. On closer inspection,
many of the books seemed to be about arcane mythology and prophecies.
This was quite reassuring, because it seems as if creationism isn't
standing on it's own feet, but instead is camouflaged and supported by
this other stuff. It seems quite benign, and debate seems quite futile.
Well, I'll tell you, it ain't "benign." Creationists here in America
tend to target school children, and start the brainwashing process as
early as they can. By the time such kids get into the universities, it's
too late... they have no clue what science is about and they aren't
interested in learning. What's worse, they end up voting for neo-con
goose-steppers who make a point of saying "I'm on GAWD'S side" at every
opportunity.
If England has an ounce of sense left, they'll laugh the creationists
out of town, rather than allow them to gain the slightest toe-hold of
respectability in the public square. Give them that, and it'll only be a
matter of time before Britain becomes as rock stupid as our Bible Belt.
--
Nemo - EAC Commissioner for Bible Belt Underwater Operations.
Atheist #1331 (the Palindrome of doom!)
BAAWA Knight! - One of those warm Southern Knights, y'all!
Charter member, SMASH!!
http://home.earthlink.net/~jehdjh/Relpg.html
Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
Quotemeister since March 2002
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: My first creationist |
18 Jan 2005 06:59:28 PM |
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On 13 Jan 2005 07:21:01 -0800, "Iain" <iain_inkster@hotmail.com>
wrote:
There is a wierd lad standing outside the university, in the cold, with
a schooldesk full of leaflets about creationism. On closer inspection,
many of the books seemed to be about arcane mythology and prophecies.
This was quite reassuring, because it seems as if creationism isn't
standing on it's own feet, but instead is camouflaged and supported by
this other stuff. It seems quite benign, and debate seems quite futile.
Anyone who stands around a blustery Scottish street for that long
January, getting no attention, is probably too [something] to be
reasoned with. He may be exploiting the fact that this is a mediocre
technical college and that no biology is taught here.
This is the first creationist I've seen, apart from really eld people
who one suspects might be creationists but isn't sure. They seem to
have come from America carrying crosses, burned the Saxon villages and
breached Hadrian's Wall.
That's to be expected from Britain's sending their nutcases to the
colonies where they've got a whole continent to breed with nothing to
keep their numbers in check.
~Iain
--
Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
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| User: "Tom Morris" |
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| Title: Re: My first creationist |
18 Jan 2005 07:42:16 PM |
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stoney wrote:
On 13 Jan 2005 07:21:01 -0800, "Iain" <iain_inkster@hotmail.com>
wrote:
There is a wierd lad standing outside the university, in the cold, with
a schooldesk full of leaflets about creationism. On closer inspection,
many of the books seemed to be about arcane mythology and prophecies.
This was quite reassuring, because it seems as if creationism isn't
standing on it's own feet, but instead is camouflaged and supported by
this other stuff. It seems quite benign, and debate seems quite futile.
Anyone who stands around a blustery Scottish street for that long
January, getting no attention, is probably too [something] to be
reasoned with. He may be exploiting the fact that this is a mediocre
technical college and that no biology is taught here.
This is the first creationist I've seen, apart from really eld people
who one suspects might be creationists but isn't sure. They seem to
have come from America carrying crosses, burned the Saxon villages and
breached Hadrian's Wall.
That's to be expected from Britain's sending their nutcases to the
colonies where they've got a whole continent to breed with nothing to
keep their numbers in check.
Yeah, we have nutcases. But I never thought creationists would be among
them. I've had a few emails from British creationists, and they seem even
nuttier (in a "I'm a scientist the establishment is trying to clamp down
on!" manner) than their American counterparts.
Actually, I've only had two interactions with creationists.
1. Having a chat with a guy in a London pub who was scheduled to take part
in a debate on creationism (but later chickened out because most of the
people in the audience didn't share his delusions - the audience was mostly
people of a scientific or medical background with a few philosophy types
like me thrown in for good measure).
2. Seeing an advert up on the student noticeboard for a talk by John Mackay
(of creationresearch.net). I think one of my associates may have put it
there as a joke. At least that's what I hope happened. To be studying in
the same college as a YEC. The shame.
--
Tom Morris
http://www.freethoughtfilter.com
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: My first creationist |
19 Jan 2005 03:53:35 PM |
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On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 01:42:16 +0000, Tom Morris <bbtommorris@gmail.com>
wrote:
stoney wrote:
On 13 Jan 2005 07:21:01 -0800, "Iain" <iain_inkster@hotmail.com>
wrote:
[]
This is the first creationist I've seen, apart from really eld people
who one suspects might be creationists but isn't sure. They seem to
have come from America carrying crosses, burned the Saxon villages and
breached Hadrian's Wall.
That's to be expected from Britain's sending their nutcases to the
colonies where they've got a whole continent to breed with nothing to
keep their numbers in check.
Yeah, we have nutcases.
Sure, but not having whole states and the US government run by the
brainless ones.
But I never thought creationists would be among
them. I've had a few emails from British creationists, and they seem even
nuttier (in a "I'm a scientist the establishment is trying to clamp down
on!" manner) than their American counterparts.
Is that possible?
Actually, I've only had two interactions with creationists.
1. Having a chat with a guy in a London pub who was scheduled to take part
in a debate on creationism (but later chickened out because most of the
people in the audience didn't share his delusions - the audience was mostly
people of a scientific or medical background with a few philosophy types
like me thrown in for good measure).
<chuckling> That isn't a surprise. They don't like educated
audiences.
2. Seeing an advert up on the student noticeboard for a talk by John Mackay
(of creationresearch.net). I think one of my associates may have put it
there as a joke. At least that's what I hope happened. To be studying in
the same college as a YEC. The shame.
Shame? Maybe. Why not look at it as 'jester evaluation' or what
superstition does to a, presumably, once functioning mind?
--
Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
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| User: "Jos Flachs" |
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| Title: Re: My first creationist |
13 Jan 2005 08:51:18 PM |
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On 13 Jan 2005 07:21:01 -0800, "Iain" <iain_inkster@hotmail.com>
wrote:
There is a wierd lad standing outside the university, in the cold, with
a schooldesk full of leaflets about creationism.
My first experience was a bit more terrifying:
I was flying from LAX to BKK. I talked with the person sitting next to
me. He was a fundy. Young Earth, the bible being true for each word,
the works.
He was a pilot, for a major US airline. I was profoundly glad he
wasn't flying us!
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| User: "Iain" |
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| Title: Re: My first creationist |
13 Jan 2005 09:26:01 AM |
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P.S. -- Is there truly anything I as a true friend of science should
say or do about this?
~Iain
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| User: "Mike Painter" |
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| Title: Re: My first creationist |
13 Jan 2005 01:24:00 PM |
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Iain wrote:
P.S. -- Is there truly anything I as a true friend of science should
say or do about this?
Wait until he starts to leave for the day and start a long conversation.
Do this every day until he starts closing a bit early to avoid you.
Sooner or later he'll close before he opens.
Or you could tell him that we Americans need saving and that North Dakota is
warm in winter.
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| User: "J Forbes" |
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| Title: Re: My first creationist |
13 Jan 2005 04:20:07 PM |
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Mike Painter wrote:
Or you could tell him that we Americans need saving and that North Dakota is
warm in winter.
When comapared to Scotland, that's not so far-fetched....
ok, it is far-fetched.
--
Jim
Visit the Selectric Typewriter Museum!
http://www.selectric.org
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| User: "JTEM" |
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| Title: Re: My first creationist |
13 Jan 2005 06:50:12 PM |
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"J Forbes" <jforbspam@fastmail.fm> wrote
Mike Painter wrote:
Or you could tell him that we Americans need saving
and that North Dakota is warm in winter.
When comapared to Scotland, that's not so far-fetched....
ok, it is far-fetched.
For some reason this reminds me of the story about the old
man in Maine. He spent a quiet life in a small home off in
the corner of the state until one day when some surveyors
arrived at his door.
"Excuse me, sir," they said, "But we have some news to
share with you. We noticed your address is listed in Maine,
but we just finished surveying this entire area, and we thought
you'd like to know that your home is actually located on the
Vermont side of the border.
"Thank goodness," the old man said. "At my age I didn't think
I could take another Maine winter."
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| User: "Mike Painter" |
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| Title: Re: My first creationist |
13 Jan 2005 06:28:42 PM |
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J Forbes wrote:
Mike Painter wrote:
Or you could tell him that we Americans need saving and that North
Dakota is warm in winter.
When comapared to Scotland, that's not so far-fetched....
ok, it is far-fetched.
I was going to point out it is currently -19 with a high of -10 and a low
of -32 there.
Tonight: Bitterly cold. A few passing clouds. Dangerous wind chills may
approach -60F. Low -32F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
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| User: "none" |
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| Title: Re: My first creationist |
13 Jan 2005 09:41:39 AM |
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On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 07:26:01 -0800, Iain wrote:
P.S. -- Is there truly anything I as a true friend of science should say
or do about this?
perhaps, though certainly not to the poor benighted blighter himself. as
you stated, debate with _him_ would certainly be futile.
that doesn't mean his garbage is necessarily benign, however. you may wish
to present a counterpoint for the public at large, lest anyone should
listen to him and think "since nobody's bothering to call this gentleman
wrong, he must be right". i know, it seems unlikely, but in any large
enough group of people there statistically will be _someone_ that
impressionable. a few web searches should unearth the, ahem, more
*evangelical* branches of atheism for you; some of those folk have
actually written up pamphlets of their own you can print out.
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