another thing. really puzzles me. we are talking about african hunger and you try to make a point about my social life? is this kind of hidden compliment like "oh this guy writes complicated arguments, but probably he has a small one, he he". is that the logic behind this? funny kid. well maybe not really funny. but at least real kid.
Lest this thread get too far off track, let's get back to metaphysics shall we? (Gosh, you don't see THAT statement too often.) Here is the ironic thing, as evidenced by recent back and forth: Those who profess belief in God seem to assume that, because He has regard for the suffering children, they aren't required to have any. Whereas those who accept the reality of a hard, impersonal universe take an opposite tack. The universe itself may care nothing for life--as all available evidence suggests--but that doesn't preclude humans from caring. It is also possible to have empathy for the starving child, even while realizing that little can be done personally. If I had an extra million dollars to send to Sally Struthers tomorrow, would it be money well spent? Probably not. Most of the aid money sent by well-meaning westerners winds up in the pockets of thugs. If anything, ill-considered charity just makes things worse. Clothing donations, for example, result in a glut of American t-shirts being sold on the black market... consequently smothering any hope of a local textile industry. And so on. Of course, some really are making a difference -- like these guys. Note, too, that the difference makers have a laser-like focus on delivering real solutions to real problems. They aren't distracted by the selfish imperative of handing out bibles. Which in turn begs the question: who is truly more compassionate? The heathens who give with no thought of cosmic gain? Or the believers who give with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads?
How can you make that decision when you can't even prove existence or not ? Just because you have not seen them, others say that they have. Now sure you won't believe someone elses account, and that is fine because as traders we usually question everything.
dear archimedes, don't think you will necessarily care, but you entered my goodGuy list. i like your way of argument as much as your responsible attitude. peace g
For some inexplicable reason, that consideration never seems to enter the minds of the holier-than-thou crowd.
Yes, but someone should advise these nice people that there is anti-psychotic medication available for them. Operators are standing by.
So far in this thread we have shown that God does not answer prayer and that religion is nothing more than superstition. Even so i still get believers who say "even if it isn't true religion is a moral guide that keeps mans evil tenancies in check". If this were true we should be able to see it in the statistics. Christians should be more moral as a group. It just so happens that there is data available. The US prison system keeps records of religious affiliation of the inmates. Guess which group is the worst? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Qb56uFD2I