Posted on 01/19/2006 2:12:48 PM PST by Zionist Conspirator
> Too bad for you, and that someone else, we have the Constitution to stop both of you at your words.
Honestly: what *are* you talking about? I said: "The sort of peopel who honestly believe that atheism equates to 'nothing matters" are *exactly* the sort of people who society needs to have some sort of control over." If you can keep a psychopath under control by instilling in him the fear of eternal damnation... well, I guess it's effective, given the number of Freepers who have suggested that the only thing keeping *them* in line is that fear of God.
Society *needs* for such people to be kept in check. But it would be a mistake to assume that without those controls, everyone - or even a substantial fraction - would turn into rapists and murderers.
Or are you suggesting the the Constitution somehow prohibits telling psychos that God's watching 'em? I must say, I've not come across that interpretation before.
Someone needs to re-make that commercial. But with a difference. 3/4 of the way through, the "What's in your wallet?" barbarians need to storm the field.
I don't know what they'd be selling, but you can bet I'd watch...
> They just plain don't get it that normal folk don't want to run around raping, stealing, killing etc.
Well said. Pity I didn't read that far ahead before I posted my latest blather.
The great majority of everybody is relatively non-violent under normal circumstances, and thus they don't *need* fear of divine or secular retribution. But some people *are* so inclinded, and we've several levels of such fear built into society. Even if you evade the cops and the vengeful family, God'll still getcha.
Quite.
It's the old the universe aint what you thought, American ain't so great; in fact it sucks, there is no God, now please burn some flags and send some funds to Nancy Pelosi schtik.
Which does make me wonder: Maybe we should just clam up about this? :-)
I'm sure your business didn't happen by accident - although I'm also sure your current business plan looks a lot different than it did when you started. But I'm very certain that nobody actually designed or even controls, let alone predicts very well, the structure & direction of the economy as a whole.
It's the Communists who believed you could rationally plan out - intelligently design - an economy. But in a highly interactive environment filled with goal-seeking actors, we only have any significant control over our own businesses & our own careers. The order & trajectory of an industry or of the economy as a whole is something we can only try to keep up with, not intentionally design.
I really have no idea what you're talking about.
Right. That's because Communists think they are God. In fact, it's the elevation of the state as God.
During the Roman Empire, there was a competition for worship between Caesar and Jesus. They didn't mind christians worshipping Jesus, they had a problem with their refusal to worship Caesar.
Same with Pharaoh- for that matter, it goes all the way back to Babel.
The US Constitution is exactly the opposite. It keeps the government in it's proper role of civil servitude to the individual, so that it doesn't interfere with the individual's service to God. We have, unfortunately, allowed our government to become more godlike in recent decades.
But back to the economic model- I don't desire to control the entire economy, or plan it. I do, however, think that I have a right and responsibility to care for my portion of it. If I don't, 'spontaneous order' isn't going to happen.
Do you mean, do I believe the human brain evolved? Of course.
Nice discovery.
"I've known quite a number of happy atheists who would not dream of violent behavior. "
That is because they are not very bright atheists. They don't understand the ultimate meaning and end to such a belief. You see, it IS either psychopathic, or just dull thinking.
> That is because they are not very bright atheists.
Yawn. Your insults are as lame as they are ignorant. Fortunately, I know enough *good* theists to know that you are not representative.
Science should restrict itself to only uplifting findings? What a bunch of crappola!
"You use the word nonplussed. I do not think it means what you think it means."
That's inconceivable!
Actually, I do stretch the meaning of the word when I use it. Within the context of my sentence I could have used a better word. Fact is, a few years ago it fit better than it does now.
************
Correct.
The "fellows" at that distinguished [**snicker**] institute are on the verge of making their very first discovery -- that changing the name of creationism to ID and then lying about it doesn't fool very many people.
What about the Jesuits?!?
Meh...
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