Comments for Doc Ott's Apologia Blog http://docott.com/apologia Musings about life and the world Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:39:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 Comment on Jesus Camp - evidence of brainwashing kids by Cody Porter http://docott.com/apologia/2006/12/04/jesus-camp-evidence-of-brainwashing-kids/#comment-1195 Cody Porter Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:19:00 +0000 http://docott.com/apologia/2006/12/04/jesus-camp-evidence-of-brainwashing-kids/#comment-1195 This is a prime example of the child abuse that Richard Dawkins speaks of with regards to the labeling of children under the religion of their parents. He points to the fact that you wouldn't call a child with racist parents a racist child, just like you wouldn't call a child under secular-humanist parents a secular-humanist child, therefore, why in the hell would you label a child with Catholic parents a Catholic child? Certainly, the child has a greater chance of following the religious, political and social ideals of his parents, but by labeling him or her at such a young age, you leave them virtually (as some will perhaps convert) no chance of a lifestyle that they themselves consciously chose. This is a prime example of the child abuse that Richard Dawkins speaks of with regards to the labeling of children under the religion of their parents. He points to the fact that you wouldn’t call a child with racist parents a racist child, just like you wouldn’t call a child under secular-humanist parents a secular-humanist child, therefore, why in the hell would you label a child with Catholic parents a Catholic child? Certainly, the child has a greater chance of following the religious, political and social ideals of his parents, but by labeling him or her at such a young age, you leave them virtually (as some will perhaps convert) no chance of a lifestyle that they themselves consciously chose.

]]> Comment on Humans need a natural predator by Scottrich http://docott.com/apologia/2005/10/20/humans-need-a-natural-predator/#comment-1170 Scottrich Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:27:35 +0000 http://docott.com/apologia/2005/10/20/humans-need-a-natural-predator/#comment-1170 I do agree with you on some points. However, what if a predator only selected those who were smart and fast (stay with me here for a second) and left all of the fat stupid people. Yes, in theory the smarter gene pool should be able to overcome such perils, but that's assuming that all the scary movies about dinosaurs and meteors attacking the planet are true (we can't always win). Life as a cycle is all about procreation and consumption, when we are gone something will take our place. The only problem with your logic is that mankind in all his wisdom unfortunately retains the capacity for empathy, and moral values. Would you be able to kill your kids in order to save one million people? If not, then how can you justify such a proposal. It would be tragic, and it would merely slow the process because the smart and fast people would eventually re-populate the planet, and once safe would again dirty the gene pool with the fat and stupid people. The only alternative is to accept life knowing that you can't have the good without the bad. As rudimentary as it sounds, the law of universalizability is true on many levels. I do agree with you on some points. However, what if a predator only selected those who were smart and fast (stay with me here for a second) and left all of the fat stupid people. Yes, in theory the smarter gene pool should be able to overcome such perils, but that’s assuming that all the scary movies about dinosaurs and meteors attacking the planet are true (we can’t always win). Life as a cycle is all about procreation and consumption, when we are gone something will take our place. The only problem with your logic is that mankind in all his wisdom unfortunately retains the capacity for empathy, and moral values. Would you be able to kill your kids in order to save one million people? If not, then how can you justify such a proposal. It would be tragic, and it would merely slow the process because the smart and fast people would eventually re-populate the planet, and once safe would again dirty the gene pool with the fat and stupid people. The only alternative is to accept life knowing that you can’t have the good without the bad. As rudimentary as it sounds, the law of universalizability is true on many levels.

]]> Comment on Atheist Links and Articles by Joel http://docott.com/apologia/2006/10/23/atheist-links-and-articles/#comment-1161 Joel Sat, 24 Nov 2007 05:40:37 +0000 http://docott.com/apologia/2006/10/23/atheist-links-and-articles/#comment-1161 I think the title you use in the link to the Enstein article is misleading. What about the following information taken from the very same site? http://www.einsteinandreligion.com/atheism.html I think the title you use in the link to the Enstein article is misleading. What about the following information taken from the very same site?

http://www.einsteinandreligion.com/atheism.html

]]> Comment on Jesus Camp - evidence of brainwashing kids by Nicholas Snow http://docott.com/apologia/2006/12/04/jesus-camp-evidence-of-brainwashing-kids/#comment-1149 Nicholas Snow Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:37:35 +0000 http://docott.com/apologia/2006/12/04/jesus-camp-evidence-of-brainwashing-kids/#comment-1149 I watched that movie about a month ago. Even though the movie is shot under a "draw your own conclusions" style it is pretty hard to see it from the evangelicals point of view. Some of the extremes they take their belief is almost scary. The kid who preaches and is only 10 or 11 frightens me. The parents are forcing these kids to believe a religion right out of the uterus and less and less are the kids making the decision for themselves. They are brought up knowing only what the church tells them. I feel that many kids today who follow some sort of organized religion are a sort of Christian Borg. All tied to a central computer. Thats what I think about 'Jesus Camp' I watched that movie about a month ago. Even though the movie is shot under a “draw your own conclusions” style it is pretty hard to see it from the evangelicals point of view. Some of the extremes they take their belief is almost scary. The kid who preaches and is only 10 or 11 frightens me. The parents are forcing these kids to believe a religion right out of the uterus and less and less are the kids making the decision for themselves. They are brought up knowing only what the church tells them. I feel that many kids today who follow some sort of organized religion are a sort of Christian Borg. All tied to a central computer. Thats what I think about ‘Jesus Camp’

]]> Comment on Humans need a natural predator by Bryce Wade http://docott.com/apologia/2005/10/20/humans-need-a-natural-predator/#comment-322 Bryce Wade Sat, 09 Dec 2006 23:07:09 +0000 http://docott.com/apologia/2005/10/20/humans-need-a-natural-predator/#comment-322 i have to agree with you on some level. humans love to think that just because their smarter than other creatures that they get to do whatever the heck they want. only problem is that humans are too good at adapting when their lives are in danger. any creature that could kill us, regardless of how strong it is, would be killed by us eventually (humans are only resourceful when they have to be). but you made a valid point in lecture that mother nature seems to be killing us every time we start living longer. for humans, i guess the only thing stronger than us is the planet itself. i have to agree with you on some level. humans love to think that just because their smarter than other creatures that they get to do whatever the heck they want. only problem is that humans are too good at adapting when their lives are in danger. any creature that could kill us, regardless of how strong it is, would be killed by us eventually (humans are only resourceful when they have to be). but you made a valid point in lecture that mother nature seems to be killing us every time we start living longer. for humans, i guess the only thing stronger than us is the planet itself.

]]> Comment on Humans need a natural predator by J. Kennedy http://docott.com/apologia/2005/10/20/humans-need-a-natural-predator/#comment-317 J. Kennedy Mon, 04 Dec 2006 21:42:59 +0000 http://docott.com/apologia/2005/10/20/humans-need-a-natural-predator/#comment-317 I totally agree with this, only i will take it one step further. We wonder why all of these things are happening to us that when we look back into history there are many fewer cases of such things. We have been slowly killing this planet. Now the planet is taking revenge. Every time we find a cure for something two new diseases pop up that we've never heard of and can't fix right away. The planet is our new natural predator. We've been trying to kill it for a hundred years and we have just recently seen the effects. The planets retribution will come much more swiftly. I totally agree with this, only i will take it one step further. We wonder why all of these things are happening to us that when we look back into history there are many fewer cases of such things. We have been slowly killing this planet. Now the planet is taking revenge. Every time we find a cure for something two new diseases pop up that we’ve never heard of and can’t fix right away. The planet is our new natural predator. We’ve been trying to kill it for a hundred years and we have just recently seen the effects. The planets retribution will come much more swiftly.

]]> Comment on Reduce stress. Put all problems into 1 of 4 groups by CHermione1 http://docott.com/apologia/2006/01/11/all-problems-can-be-grouped-into-1-of-4-categories/#comment-112 CHermione1 Wed, 21 Jun 2006 15:21:17 +0000 http://docott.com/apologia/2006/01/11/all-problems-can-be-grouped-into-1-of-4-categories/#comment-112 Thank you for giving voice to my new - found philosophy. As difficult as it has been for this hard head , challenge-driven girl to admit, even knowing everything, or most of everything, has not made it necessary or wise to respond as such. Chronic health problems have taught me not to try to be so tough. We are still all just animals and should remember that eating, drinking enough liquids, care and maintainence of ourselves is a huge chore not to be taken lightly. Our own Country's response to the Iraqi's should be a good enough analogy of why 'do-gooders' should all be done away with . . . before we all kill each other with ' kindness '. Thank you for giving voice to my new - found philosophy. As difficult as it has been for this hard head , challenge-driven girl to admit, even knowing everything, or most of everything, has not made it necessary or wise to respond as such. Chronic health problems have taught me not to try to be so tough. We are still all just animals and should remember that eating, drinking enough liquids, care and maintainence of ourselves is a huge chore not to be taken lightly. Our own Country’s response to the Iraqi’s should be a good enough analogy of why ‘do-gooders’ should all be done away with . . . before we all kill each other with ‘ kindness ‘.

]]> Comment on Losing the Taste for Leadership by CHermione1 http://docott.com/apologia/2006/01/26/losing-the-taste-for-leadership/#comment-111 CHermione1 Wed, 21 Jun 2006 15:12:38 +0000 http://docott.com/apologia/2006/01/26/losing-the-taste-for-leadership/#comment-111 There is outer and there is inner. Welcome to the 'way of the sages'. Without inner , the outer loses its depth. Hence , the allure of the ocean and the beach. True wisdom requires us to spend time on all the various shores , depths, levels of consciousness. Dream on, brother! ENTP believer in the Everlasting Nature of the Thinking Process There is outer and there is inner. Welcome to the ‘way of the sages’. Without inner , the outer loses its depth. Hence , the allure of the ocean and the beach. True wisdom requires us to spend time on all the various shores , depths, levels of consciousness. Dream on, brother! ENTP believer in the Everlasting Nature of the Thinking Process

]]> Comment on I need a bumper sticker with this on it by George Ott http://docott.com/apologia/2005/11/18/i-need-a-bumper-sticker-with-this-on-it/#comment-107 George Ott Mon, 05 Jun 2006 18:47:28 +0000 http://docott.com/apologia/2005/11/18/i-need-a-bumper-sticker-with-this-on-it/#comment-107 Hmmm... A little long for a bumper sticker unless A. It was a really big bumper (back of a dump truck?) or B. It used a really small font. Hmmm…
A little long for a bumper sticker unless

A. It was a really big bumper (back of a dump truck?) or
B. It used a really small font.

]]> Comment on Adult ADD Strengths - Top 10 Advantages of ADD in a High Tech Career by Scott Young http://docott.com/apologia/2006/02/12/adult-add-strengths-top-10-advantages-of-add-in-a-high-tech-career/#comment-25 Scott Young Sun, 12 Mar 2006 00:55:34 +0000 http://docott.com/apologia/2006/02/12/adult-add-strengths-top-10-advantages-of-add-in-a-high-tech-career/#comment-25 While I think that it is great that we can recognize things like ADD, it makes me wonder what happens when you just label someone with ADD as having a 'disorder'. I think our society tries to classify everyone as abnormal or normal, that it makes it hard for anyone who simply does things differently not to feel inferior. Its good to see some word being given that isn't always negative. While I think that it is great that we can recognize things like ADD, it makes me wonder what happens when you just label someone with ADD as having a ‘disorder’.

I think our society tries to classify everyone as abnormal or normal, that it makes it hard for anyone who simply does things differently not to feel inferior.

Its good to see some word being given that isn’t always negative.

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