Mopologetics and the Sending of Emails

[_Some Schmo]

Ray, I wouldn't worry too much about Shermer's performance against Dan in a debate (if, in fact, they even will debate). I've seen Shermer debate, and without any effort, he will easily make dannyboy look like the supernatural believing, bogus-history believing fool he is. Shermer doesn't need any preparation for that. Not too many people would, really.

Danny'll play the part of Kent Hovind and just come out looking mentally challenged (and the funny thing is, like Hovind, he'll somehow manage to convince himself he did well). And you'll be able to tell by the look on Shermer's face that he thinks it was a mistake to ever get in the same room with these wingnuts because it only gives them more credibility that they deserve (that's how he looked against Hovind, too).

It occurs to me that I pretty much regard Dannyboy as a "doctor" in the same way I regard Hovind a "doctor." LOL

Man, I wish I could watch it.

[_Some Schmo]

I do not believe DCP lives to hurt or destroy people. I think that, like all human beings, he engages in behavior that he feels is morally justified.

If someone really believes the LDS church is the "one true church", and the best thing that any human being could do, in terms of the future, is to accept the truth of that proposition, then anyone who fights against it is really doing Satan's work - deliberately or not. So it's morally justified to do all one can to fight against Satan's work - even if a few people get hurt in the process. It's a righteous war.

DCP loves amateur mind-reading of this sort. It's so wrong-headed, DCP observes, and yet so charmingly earnest.

Yeah, beastie, I have to agree with dannyboy here. I don't think your reasons are (at least, completely) correct. I think he lashes out because he's a hurting, insecure little boy inside, and he wants to share his pain with those he perceives as his enemies.

I don't think there's really a need to over-analyze it.

[_Ray A]

I think you're right, Schmo. I decided to do a search to see if I could find any comments Shermer has made about Mormonism. I found one:

In the past 10,000 years, the Martian anthropologist discovers after doing his research that this one species had devised roughly 100,000 religions based on roughly 2,500 gods. So, the only difference between me and the believers in the audience was that I am skeptical of 2,500 gods whereas they are skeptical of 2,499 gods. We're only one God away from total agreement. I then read from the Book of Mormon (it was in my hotel room next to the Gideon Bible), talked about the golden plates, the 11 witnesses to the plates and Smith's testimony, etc., and inquired how many believed it. Not one Mormon in the group. Why not? I then launched into a discussion of how obvious it is that religion and belief in God is socially constructed, historically contingent, and psychologically driven. David Koresh, L. Ron Hubbard, Joseph Smith, Jesus, Moses, what's the difference? They were all egomaniacal, delusional characters who developed fanatical followers who exaggerated their claims, mythologized their lives, and canonized their words. (I mentioned the new L. Ron Hubbard museum on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, and the new WHAT IS SCIENTOLOGY? book, all directed toward exaggerating, mythologizing, and canonizing Elron for posterity.)

The God Debate - Michael Shermer.

[_harmony]

The fruits of apostasy:

I wonder how many LDS make it past 100? Surely more Mormons are 100+ than any other religion, or lack thererof? Should we, statistically, be the oldest people on the planet? And if we aren't, why is that so?

[_Ray A]

I wonder how many LDS make it past 100? Surely more Mormons are 100+ than any other religion, or lack thererof? Should we, statistically, be the oldest people on the planet? And if we aren't, why is that so?

I don't know about Mormons, but according to The Age.

The latest comparative study of the nation's overall health by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) - the government body responsible for compiling health statistics - shows that a baby born in Australia today can expect to live for 81.4 years, with men expected to live for 79 years and women for almost 84. Australians' life expectancy is bettered only by the Japanese at 82.2 years.

.

[_gramps]

I wonder how many LDS make it past 100? Surely more Mormons are 100+ than any other religion, or lack thererof? Should we, statistically, be the oldest people on the planet? And if we aren't, why is that so?

I don't know about Mormons, but according to The Age.

The latest comparative study of the nation's overall health by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) - the government body responsible for compiling health statistics - shows that a baby born in Australia today can expect to live for 81.4 years, with men expected to live for 79 years and women for almost 84. Australians' life expectancy is bettered only by the Japanese at 82.2 years.

.

And the Japanese drink so much tea to boot. What's up with that?

[_Ray A]

And the Japanese drink so much tea to boot. What's up with that?

Not sure, gramps, but maybe we can call them tea-totalers.

I think they consume a lot of fish oils too.

[_gramps]

And the Japanese drink so much tea to boot. What's up with that?

Not sure, gramps, but maybe we can call them tea-totalers.

I think they consume a lot of fish oils too.

I guess it is the green tea, rice and fish. They smoke tobacco like banshees, as well.

[_harmony]

And the Japanese drink so much tea to boot. What's up with that?

The health benefits of green tea are pretty well established. But Joseph didn't have access to that information back in the day, so Mormons aren't allowed to access it now. Except in the cases of medical necessity (which in the case of my husband's grandfather--a bishop, high councilman, and overall church leader--meant he was entitled to a hot toddy every night and after lunch on Sunday).

[_Ray A]

They smoke tobacco like banshees, as well.

They do. Here's something that might interest you:

THE WORLD'S OLDEST: ALL SMOKERS.