Stephen Hawking: Heaven Is A Myth

[mmhmm]

May 17, 2011 10:02:33 GMT -5 swamp said:

May 17, 2011 10:01:41 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Then, hand your target the bible, or the Qur'an (in English, if that's the language they can read) and allow that person to form their own opinions based on the teachings therein. You can lead a horse to water ... the book will do that. Whether or not that horse drinks will depend on whether or not the horse is thirsty.

I didn't say I agreed with the sentiment, just offering an explanation.

Hee! I'm aware of your stance, swamp, from reading your posts over time. My post wasn't directed at your stance as much as at the sentiment itself.

[mmhmm]

As an aside, I believe Hawking was speaking of "value" in the mathematical sense. The number 10 has a higher value than the number 2. That doesn't mean it's considered a "better number". It's a mathematical concept, not a philosophical one. Being a physicist, he appeared to be thinking along mathematical lines and used that word in that sense, not realizing it would be interpreted in another way entirely. That's just my read on it, for what it's worth.

[ed1066]

May 17, 2011 0:24:20 GMT -5 @lakhota said:

May 17, 2011 0:07:47 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

Doctrinal Christianity is based on the tenets of charity, reciprocity (i.e. the golden rule), humility, chastity, and outgoing concern for all human beings regardless of race.

Survival of the fittest is survival of the fittest. Literally: the ends justify the means. Might makes right.

You can moan and gripe about the horrible atrocities committed in the name of Christianity if you're in need of some foundation to base your viewpoint, but defining morality by Mr. Hawkins' stated view (admittedly, subject to interpretation) has yielded far more dire consequences.

Social Darwinism is one of those slow-acting poisons that has crept into numerous ideologies. I highly doubt that Hawkins espouses it, but we might as well add it as one data point in our assessment of the man's views.

Hitler Was a Christian: The Holocaust was caused by Christian fundamentalism

www.evilbible.com/hitler_was_christian.htm

Your bigotry is ruining your credibility...

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Being a physicist, he appeared to be thinking along mathematical lines and used that word in that sense, not realizing it would be interpreted in another way entirely. That's just my read on it, for what it's worth.

People like Hawkings operate on a totally different wavelength than the rest of us. Also when you are that scary smart you often don't have the best social skills.

That is my take on what he said too based on people I know who are as scary smart as he is. They really don't have a clue how their words are interpreted by people who don't operate on the same level they do.

[mmhmm]

My father was one of those people, dramaq. I had the experience of dealing with that issue for nearly 80 years.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I am not scary smart, but sometimes I'll use words from work that mean one thing to me but end up totally twisted when I use them in daily conversation because I mean X, but people who don't do what I do for a living hear Y. It's been interesting sometimes.

[Deleted]

I dated a genius for 5 years. He often embarrassed me in public. NO social skills at all. Turned out to be hiding a serious mental illness underneath it, too.

[mmhmm]

Heh. My father often embarrassed my mother to near tears in social situations. Still, he was a good man and loved her, and my brother and I very much. He was a good father, and a good husband. He just lived in a different world and we accepted that (for the most part).

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I am oblivious to a lot of subtle social cues, drives DH batty sometimes but he's come to accept it. I've gotten better over time because some people took it upon themselves to point out how oblivious I am, but I can still have my moments.

[mmhmm]

I think a lot of us do have "those moments", dramaq.

[ty]

This crazy woman has the last word. What ever the hell she said.

[shelby]

My oldest son has aspergers often times associated with high intelligence but most always very socially awkward. I don't know if he is a genius smart but not genius he is only 9 but obsessed over science and loves Stephen Hawking. Can talk about the cosmos with pretty good understanding for his age. He is pretty blunt and makes statements of truth that others could take offense to and social norms have taught us to avoid saying. When he was a kid he would ask questions that were so off the wall and complex we had no way of answering them and sometimes even understanding the question in any context. Just on a different wave length and thinking on a different plain many of us cannot understand.

[ty]

If you haven't seen the film Religulous, do rent it, watch it. Great film, very informative about religions and where and how it came to be, and funny as hell.

The part I thought was hilarious was when the weird lady said that when she dies, she's going to heaven and was going to ride back down to earth on a white horse. lol If you are in heaven, why the hell would you be flying back down to earth on a white horse in the first place.

A lot of ignorant people that preach religion and god were debunked. Really sad seeing the ignorant people feeding ignorant people religious stuff that they have no idea on what they are even talking about, but that offering plate does more work than the preacher him/herself.

[handyman2]

Everyone must chose for themselves. Einstein was a brilliant person but he believed there was a far superior intellect that created the universe although he did not call it God.

[Deleted]

The genius I dated also had aspergers. Type of high functioning autism, isn't it? (BTW, that is NOT what I refer to when I mentioned he had, or developed, a mental illness later in life.) I was pretty close to his Mom. Lots of challenges raising a kid like that. Good luck.

[swamp]

May 17, 2011 11:40:10 GMT -5 @krickitt said:

The genius I dated also had aspergers. Type of high functioning autism, isn't it?

Yes.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Lots of scientists believe in god or some sort of higher power. Science doesn't have all the answers, that is where religion fills in the gaps.

Not all of us are Richard Dawkins and crew. Bunch of arrogant assholes.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

The fool hath said in his heart, 'there is no god'. This is yet another fulfillment of prophecy concerning this generation- "...professing themselves to be wise, they became fools...ever learning, but unable to come to the knowledge of the truth".

[Politically_Incorrect12]

May 17, 2011 11:16:18 GMT -5 @ty said:

Really sad seeing the ignorant people feeding ignorant people religious stuff that they have no idea on what they are even talking about

Sounds like you are describing your stance on the subject pretty well...although in your case it would be teaching a lack of religious stuff.

[Mad Dawg Wiccan]

My religious beliefs harm no one. If there is an afterlife, I will find that out when I die and my beliefs will still have harmed no one. Hawking can believe whatever he wants, means nothing to me.

[Mad Dawg Wiccan]

May 17, 2011 11:42:27 GMT -5 Politically_Incorrect12 said:

May 17, 2011 11:16:18 GMT -5 @ty said:

Really sad seeing the ignorant people feeding ignorant people religious stuff that they have no idea on what they are even talking about

Sounds like you are describing your stance on the subject pretty well...although in your case it would be teaching a lack of religious stuff.

[mmhmm]

May 17, 2011 11:46:59 GMT -5 Mad Dawg Wiccan said:

My religious beliefs harm no one. If there is an afterlife, I will find that out when I die and my beliefs will still have harmed no one. Hawking can believe whatever he wants, means nothing to me.

That, Wiccan, is the crux of the matter, as far as I'm concerned. Another person's spirituality is no business of mine; nor, is my spirituality the business of anyone else. Why this is so difficult for some to grasp is just beyond me.

[shelby]

"The fool hath said in his heart, 'there is no god'. This is yet another fulfillment of prophecy concerning this generation- "...professing themselves to be wise, they became fools...ever learning, but unable to come to the knowledge of the truth".

maybe is Christians would not put down others that believe different they would have more respect for them, and not do the same thing back. Cannot expect others to respect your views when you do not respect theirs.

[shelby]

Thank you Krick for the wishes.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

May 17, 2011 11:58:32 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

May 17, 2011 11:46:59 GMT -5 Mad Dawg Wiccan said:

My religious beliefs harm no one. If there is an afterlife, I will find that out when I die and my beliefs will still have harmed no one. Hawking can believe whatever he wants, means nothing to me.

That, Wiccan, is the crux of the matter, as far as I'm concerned. Another person's spirituality is no business of mine; nor, is my spirituality the business of anyone else. Why this is so difficult for some to grasp is just beyond me.

Some of us know the truth and we care. It's that simple. If we were in a building that was on fire, and I knew a way out-- should I:

a) Start pointing the way out

or

b) Try not to 'offend' anyone by yelling and screaming that the place is on fire, and this is how you get out



Hebrews 9:12 says that it is appointed unto man once to die and after this, the judgment.

Revelation 20:12-15

12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books.

13And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to what they had done.

14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire;

15and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

[shelby]

Paul it is YOUR truth not THE truth. You will never convince anyone by reading scriptures either.

[ty]

Oh well, we all need to make a sacrifice here and there to save the all others.

[Deleted]

Paul may not change anyone's mind, but do note-- he did not start this thread, and Christians are obliged to tell their truths when the question pops up. If anyone does not like Paul, or anyone else's POV-- take it up with Lak for starting another Christian bashing thread.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

May 17, 2011 12:34:26 GMT -5 shelby said:

Paul it is YOUR truth not THE truth. You will never convince anyone by reading scriptures either.

Actually, that's exactly how people are convinced of the truth. The Bible says that "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17)

and Romans 10:9 describes simply how to avoid the judgment to come: If you conefess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Everyone that calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Easy peasy.

I didn't start this thread about religion on the politics and markets board. It doesn't belong here, but as long as there is someone giving their perspective on it here, I'm going to participate in the discussion from MY perspctive. Which is THE TRUTH.

You don't have to like it, but I'm obligated to say it.

[shelby]

See Krick that is the problem if others have a different point of view they are Christian bashing. But Christians are bound to tell everyone else they are wrong. Is it in the bible to be a hypocrite?