Actually, much of the industrial revolution began in the US, not to mention some great political contributions. While Egypt and present day Iraq were where some of the earliest advanced civilizations began, "most" scientific progress up to the crusades came from Greece and Rome. Yes, Algebra was advanced in the Middle East, and early Egypt offered incredible things thousands of years ago, but if you are going to quantify where "most" scientific advancements came from up to the crusades, I don't see how you can credit anyone more than the Greeks (not Christian then of course) and Romans (who for the majority of their great ancient history were also not Christian).
Don't forget that the UN, among others, has offered reports that demonstrate that democracy, and even teh appreciation of democracy and human rights, is greatly lacking in the Islamic world. This means that even developing numerous STABLE democracies in this region will be extremely difficult and likely to fail.
All your points (except that above) were astute and incredibly well put. Many were on my mind as well, although I could never have offered them nearly as well as you. That said, otherwise intelligent people, even en masse, often do and believe stupid things. There is groupthink, there is the generally known insanity of crowds (trading floors, for example, where otherwise intelligent people get carried away emotionally and do stupid things). And there are examples such as Nazi Europe, where many otherwise intelligent people accepted obviously flawed (abolutely stupid for that matter) and amazingly evil arguments. So, while all your other points were excellent, your ad populum fallacy is not.
Perhaps this was a better way of stating it. iPerhaps this was a better way of stating it. I do think, however, that his other points were relevant and meaningful, if not comprehensive n addressing the issues being debated.
I was going to wait longer to point this out, but this is probably a good time to do it given your post. Gecko, Axeman are guilty of being fooled by Guardian Angel. It is extremely clear from his arguments and writing style and that Guardian Angel is Thunderbolt from last year, and it was clear then that he does not trade. So you guys have been duped into wasting many, many precious minutes rehashing the exact same argument with the same close-minded idiot from last year (with ElCubana chiming in occasionally, as he is now too). The only difference is that at least last year Darkhorse was active during most of the discussion.
The failed theist is often angry due to his failure with the practice of faith. Rather than simply conclude that his former faith didn't work for him, he feels a need to prove that his failure with faith was not his failure, but that the practice of faith is categorically wrong as it relates to knowing God. The need extends beyond his own life, as a means of self defense and denial of his failure with faith. He must necessarily project his current belief systems about theism on to others. This is commonly known as a sour grapes mentality. Anyone can see your anger, which is irrational and not based in real time events. It is baggage from your past. "It is for that reason that I frankly dont give a crap about what I can only assume is your imagination." Yes, you can only assume, as you don't have knowledge of my experience as being valid and true or not. Were you able to let go of your anger and resentments toward theism due to your own personal failure, you could simply live and let live. All you need to do is admit that you were a failure with faith....as clearly you were not a success with the practice and discipline of faith, and then you can let go of the rage you feel toward those who do have success with faith.
How is he being hypocritical? And are you saying that to be smart one must know the origins of the universe? If so, you have invented a definition that would prove that no human is, or even could be, "smart." And you are making the stupid assertion that if someone accepts their limitations, but does not accept explanations that seem to them fanciful, that they are lost or are hypocrites. So if I can't find my keys and don't know where they are, but I don't accept that aliens flew down and took them, does that mean I am not "smart" because I don't know where my keys are and that I am a hypocrite because I don't accept the alien explanation?
You are so completely clueless, and your argument so obviously flawed, I wonder why I even take a minute to reply. You seem incapable of learning, but I will state once again, in hopes that this will sink into your head for once: I do NOT believe faith is flawed simply because it did NOT work for me. OK?!?!?! Comprende??? This is not a sour grapes issue. You like to believe this because it makes you feel better or something. The REASON I think your faith is a complete joke is NOT because it didnt work for me 777, but because you have been CONSISTENTLY incapable of providing even the most miniscule shred of evidence that your faith works at all, OUTSIDE of your own imagination. It simply is not testable, falsifiable or verifiable by ANYONE outside of yourself, and therefore no better than a childhood invisible friend. So stop pretending already that this has ANYTHING to do with my failure with faith. It simply is not relevant. Im sure you will go right back to your favorite fallacy of poisoning the well, and will continue to falsely claim that I simply believe faith is bullshit because it didnt work for ME. LOL ( As if you can read my mind! LOL ) But then again... I dont expect much from you anyway There...enough time wasted with silly theists. Time for some TV and hitting the sack. Cutten is doing such a wonderful job of slaughtering the theists here, I am no longer needed. Bye bye 777. Sleep tight with your magical power fantasies and your invisible friends peace axeman
LMAOO!!!!! Well put! It takes intellectual honesty to ADMIT you dont know every answer to the universe. apparently, SOME theists, MUST have an answer to everything no matter how ridiculous it is. Ok...gotta get to bed Missed the Boat....but your posts are too funny. peace axeman
Funny stuff! The poster made one mistake though. He said that Longshot's penis was the size of a skinny man's pinky. What would his point be then? I thought his penis was supposed to be small.