StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Your basic lines of argument should be: - The bible contradicts itself, which already makes it unreliable. Oh, I should have mentioned, I'm asking for things about the Bible's credibility BESIDES the book's obvious flaws and inconsistencies--religious people are too good at figuring out ways to try...

Sorry, but I need more help again. I'm still arguing with this crazy Christian guy, who's still claiming that "all things have causes, therefore the universe must have a Cause," which I think I can debate effectively, but now we're moving into Bible credibility and I have to admit I don't ...

Also, there's always the belief (supported by Carl Sagan and many other scientists) that the universe may be infinitely old, so no creator is necessary. It may even be in an expanding-contracting state, which is closer to what the Hindu believe, but it depends how much matter is in the universe, whi...

I would suggest exposing him to some of the works of Carl Sagan if you can do so - at the very least you'll be able to find some good clips on YouTube. Carl Sagan is awesome--no doubt about it--but if you really want some of the fundamental facts and evidence for evolution, you should try Richard D...

If anything must have a cause, what caused god? What caused the cause of god, and what caused that one, etc. pp. Well, he claims that since God is outside of any physical laws (convenient, isn't it?) he doesn't need a creator. By definition, God was the first, and only, thing. Before the creation o...

I was impressed that a woman, Patricia Maisch, grabbed at the gunman's magazine as he attempted to reload. Although the people who wrestled him to the ground were men, it goes to show you that physical strength is not the only measure of heroism.

Hi, everyone. I'm not a big important scientist or quantum physicist, so I was hoping someone like that could help me out here. I'm in a debate with someone (a Christian) about the origins of the universe. He claims that since effects always follow causes, something must have initiated time and matt...

These pictures are really neat! I love the one of the guy with the bike. And the haughty cat.
In that first picture, forgive my ignorance, but what is that big stick the guy has? Is it his staff?

I would have to say Isaac Asimov's Foundation series is the most minimalist one I've come across. Trantor, a planet-spanning city is said to have only forty billion people and it is mentioned that less than ten ships of the line were needed by Cleon II's father to conquer much of the Galaxy from hi...

I like the drips on the fox picture. Is that the baby's beer? That's a lot of... you know what, I don't even know what kind of dogs those are. Look like big fluffy Pekingeses, perhaps. Cute! Ambush photography! That picture of the sweeping guy reminds me of the snapshot taken of J.D. Salinger while ...

If done well, game music can be an integral part of a great game. Kind of like movie music, I think. Visual effects are foremost, but the music can inspire emotions--certain kinds of music have certain kinds of associations. For instance, in Zelda 64: Ocarina of Time (one of my favorite game scores)...

The notion that science must provide a fundamental understanding of reality is a claim reminiscent of the ancient atomists and most thoroughly pronounced in Renaissance mechanism. I just want to take a quick jump in here and say that this is wrong. Science is based on reality, which is the world as...

I don't understand. I thought it was already established that Sarah Palin is a fool. Why are people still talking about her and putting her in the spotlight so much?

A lot of people may disagree with me on this one, but I've always thought Grease was somewhat reprehensible. Its message seems to be, "Don't be shy and a good student; go wild in high school and drink and do drugs. Conform to everyone else, and you will be happy." At least, it seems to me ...

This means that, as a fundamentalist growing up, I was always very afraid that I hadn't meant the prayer. I prayed it again and again over the years, always afraid that I might not actually have faith, even as I did believe in it wholeheartedly and never doubted that it was true. I think almost all...

On sex education, he said: "A lot of people want basic good morality taught and marriage being the bedrock of society, but not in any indoctrinating way." If you teach what you consider "good" morality and "good" marriage constantly to young students, then it is indoct...

I don't know how old these teachers are, but they may be untrained when it comes to dealing with ELLs. I think that's only recently been added to the Education curriculum (I'm actually taking it now). Still, to fire all the teachers just because some were demanding high pay? It seems too drastic to ...

Well, I don't have a lot of smart things to say like Simplicius, but I would like to say that I think these pictures are intricate and beautiful! Would it be okay if I used one on my desktop? Or is that some kind of copyright infringement? I think I like "The Hive" the best. Something abou...

Blayne, where on earth did you find the Elfen Lied opening? I've looked everywhere for that! I'm also impressed that you found "Hare Hare Yukai" in Russian. I have a lot of songs, but my current favorite playing list looks like this: "April is in my Mistress' Face"--Sir Thomas Mo...

I really, hope, that was sarcasm. Given that this is about an experience where I felt angered, and he felt bad afterwards, the fact that your initial response is that I immediately turn around and then subject him to similar treatment is simply staggering. Again, I hope that was sarcasm, because if...

"It's a symbol of the subjugation of women and the banner of extremist fundamentalism." I'm not sure I understand. How do veils subjugate women? Are all Muslim women extremists (or rather, their husbands)? If they want to pass a law against Muslim men physically abusing their wives, I'm f...

Then you do not really go to many concerts, at least six or eight times a year one of the orchestras I frequent play modern music. And Clara Schumann at least is very well known and well played in germany, even on classical radio. Well, in any case, my point was that I think most of these musical g...

Older composers are far more obscure than these guys. If you are a regular concert goer, you often hear music from them. However, how often have you heard of Boccherini, though his music is fantastic? Well, there are a lot of prolific and unknown Baroque composers, I will admit, but at least many o...

Forget older composers, how about modern composers? I have no appreciation for twelve-tone music, I'm afraid, but surely composers such as Gunther Schuller (composer/conductor/French hornist/writer), David Bruce, Aaron Copland, Morten Lauridsen... there are a whole bunch of contemporary composers th...

I'm not sure "does not bear fruit" is equivalent to lazy. I think the purpose of that metaphor would be that if you don't produce good works, you won't be saved. Of course, since the relationship of good works and salvation is one of the longest-running debates in all of Christianity, man...