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I never denied it, Sabro. But that is not really in the scope of this discussion, which if I understand correctly is about methods, not motives. The methods used in a religion based hospital and a secular hospital are pretty much the same (and both are based on medical science).

Can you cite one new theory that wasn't based on logic? I see this kind of attempt to universalize a personal need as a dishonest method of self-assurance. After all, the easiest way to justify a personal weakness is to pretend that everyone else has the same weakness, with no exceptions. I...

I know. I'm not saying it's impossible for someone to believe in something unproven scientifically, I'm arguing that this kind of belief is false. Citing Sen. Patrick Moynihan: "You're entitled to your own opinion, but you're not entitled to your own facts". Some people will see evidence for God...

You seem to be forgetting one fundamental step of the scientific method-- experimentation. Taking your example, we could set up a experiment having half the patients receive prayers from their families and medical care, while the other half receive only regular medical care. The results will...

Of course you could consider both ways of thinking equally valid, but when you compare how many lives were saved by medical science, which is based on "sceptical biased" evidence, and how many people were cured by prayer, based on "faith biased" evidence, it's easy to see which "bias" has a...

Not really. It's more like "since there's no evidence of any God, it's both illogical, because it would require inductive reasoning (and a baseless assumption), and useless, because there's no material to work with, to study it". No assumptions made at all.

Sabro, for centuries hundreds of philosophers have tried to create a logic system where inductive reasoning was allowed-- they have all failed miserably. It's pretty much an abandoned idea by now. And I can't see how reverse engineering is related to inductive reasoning... of course reverse...

That's not how it works, Sabro... You need to look at the evidence and then reach a conclusion, not the other way around.... Anyway, I wouldn't really call that a "hole". I think this "hole" is more likely just one of our brain's abilities - abstract thinking- which can be used for many things...

I think using Pat Robertson as a guard dog would be more effective! :(

Related article: http://www.csicop.org/si/2000-11/beliefs.html Basically, it seems a belief in God is an attempt to provide reasons and answers we can't otherwise obtain through direct sensory contact to our "reality map", thus serving as a tool to our own survival. I wouldn't call that an...

And you base this opinion on what exactly? Also known as blasphemy laws. Maybe our Egyptian friend Tolerant can find something for us. I can't read arabic, and I couldn't find anything in english. I base my opinion on the simple fact that I'm yet to see any Muslim who doesn't want blasphemy...

So, do you agree that the majority of Muslims wants blasphemy laws especifically for Islam (thus obviously violating freedom of speech) or not? I know very well that violent demonstrators are a minority. That's not my concern at all. What I'm concerned about is Muslims trying to push their...

"Angry Muslims" are the minority? Ok, prove it. If you show me an opinion poll taken on a Muslim country where people who wants blasphemy laws imposed on Europe are on the minority, then I might agree with you. Until then your opinion is as much of a generalization as mine.

So everyone in Karachi condemns the publication of the cartoons...Am I supposed to be surprised? Ridiculous ideas are prone to being ridiculized. Ridiculous religions are prone to being ridiculized. If you don't want to be ridiculized, stop being ridiculous. If you want to be respected, be...

Just furthering my point: There is not much of a difference between a emotional and a "physical" reward. After all, all material possessions serves ultimately to make you happy (emotional reward), they are of no use by themselves. I would say that doing something because it makes you feel good...

Kinsao, you forgot one explanation: f) Mary is a made-up allegoric character who never got pregnant or even existed in the first place.

Altruism is not just about being generous and kind; it demands more than that: it demands sacrifice. In most cases, helping other people is both a generous and a egoistic act. There is always some kind of benefit from helping people, even if it is a long term one, simply feeling good about...

"They" refers to Europeans or Muslims? The first case seems more likely to happen...

I think Karma is a useful concept for some people, in that it makes them be more responsible for their lives, since they expect a "luck reward" for their deeds. We can say this is not much different from how Christians think, since they also expect a reward for their good deeds (both now and in...

While this might be very desirable, religious buildings are still private property and can't be simply torn down like that. What I think is absurd, though, is the government giving tax exemption to religious activities, which ultimately promotes the construction of even more completely...