Well,
Mathguy, to your question: "How did this thread get to be 56 pages long?" And also, to your welcomed comments about your dog and wall...
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuSuSushi
I'm betting the dog AND the wall would have better, more intelligent thoughts on the subject.  |
True. Sadly true, SSS!
One part of the answer: See my new thread 'bout the inability to concede by those who MUST retain their particular beliefs to retain their fragile sanity: R&P forum; "Spiritual Desperation"
"Full Speed Ahead, and Damn The Truth, Men!"
The thread seeks to sidestep all the stuff about which Ark is The Ark, which dino bone came from which caveman's home, which patently obvious and easily countable (and hence
"fraudulent!") "varve" geochronology is
"obviously a hoax!" Of course, predictably, some combative flaming
IDTs* (see below) cannot control themselves...
Ergo, this thread here goes round''round'n'round'n'round. rnrnrnrnr AOAOAI......
Having my own personal pet, Dottie The Wonder Cat, here by my side, commenting, with obvious concern for my long-term mental health, on my own pointless dialog with "walls", I'm well aware of the solemn elegance concerned pets can bring to such discussions. They are far more kind-hearted, and open to change, than
IDTs.
Can you get your thoughtful dog on line somehow,
Mathguy?
BTW, I had a VERY interesting discussion last night with a good friend who is also a thoughtful, calm and very intelligent Catholic priest. He has provided spiritual and personal counselling for distraught or questioning and curious students at our local college for over 18 years. He's heard it all.
He assured my worried mind that Churches
of all denominations recognize the "problem" that overly devout intransigent, fundamentailist, literalist members of their congregations bring to the party, and how they can really hamper rational thoughtful discussion. He's seen them stomp their little feet and leave the room, crying their eyes out. This would be adult males! Meeting with other Christians for bible study, etc.
PS: Webster's definition: intransigent-
1. adj.: refusing to agree or compromise; uncompromising; inflexible.
2. n: a person who refuses to agree or compromise, as in politics or religion.
Hence, these
Intransigent Dogmo-Theists (*IDTs*) actually think that this sort of endless circular, nonsensical, openly combative argument furthers the validity of their "world" and is somehow convincing to dispassionate readers. Rather, I'd say it likely invokes pity.
He assured me that The Church (most Churches, really) also fully realize that the bible is an allegory, and that The Catholic Church, for which he could speak accurately, fully realizes that Evolution is,
of course, how the wide array of species came to be, and that it happened over "millions and millions" (
thanks, Carl!) of years.
(He was also very interested in the recent Lenski
et al,
2008, proof of speciation through accumulated but reproduced DNA transcription errors. He intends to teach it to his Christian students, because,
voila, it's true and proved.)
I mean, the Catholic Church didn't get to be the most powerful organization in the world by being stupid and intransigent, now did they?
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I also have a wall you can debate with...although it isn't brick.
"Nyah!" No, "Nyah Nyah!" "No, Neeener neener!"
