Why do ppl like Stephen Hawking so much

Well I have to admit that even though you consistently rally to the defense of the supernaturalists, I'm not sure you've ever explicitly stated your own beliefs. So if I have characterized them incorrectly I apologize. But perhaps in the future you could be a little more forthcoming so we actually know where you stand. Standing up for a community and presenting their own arguments in their defense isn't exactly the most noble way to argue--if you are now telling us that this is indeed what you have been doing, that these are not actually your beliefs.

The essence of religion is supernaturalism, and the essence of supernaturalism is that supernatural creatures and other forces exist that are capable of popping in and out, whimsically and often petulantly, to disrupt the functioning of the natural universe. If this is not your premise, you'll have to excuse me (and others apparently) for assuming that it is since you consistently side with the religionists. The easiest way to dispel this honest confusion is to state what you actually do believe.

Again, you consistently and enthusiastically defend the religionists. Perhaps you've never claimed membership in that community, but one might say that you have carefully planted the idea in our heads.

When one creates one's own strawman by clever and devious arguing, one cannot hold others responsible for the consequences. As I said, the best way to repair this confusion is to simply tell us what it is that you personally believe.

I have never once made that assertion. Once again, you are committing the error that you so often accuse others of: putting words in our mouths.

I have never actually been diagnosed with cancer but I have lost my job at the worst possible moment (after the company assured me that I could relocate to a rural area with no local economy because my telecommuting job with them was secure) and I've been dreadfully sick (although perhaps not quite tethered to the bed) and I've suffered other grievous losses such as my wife running off with my best friend and my beloved pet being assassinated by a jackass with a gun. In each case I found it very comforting to put my tiny little life in perspective, contemplate the inexorable progress of civilization, and be proud of my own tiny little contribution to it.

One can never predict how one will react in a situation that is qualitatively different from any previous experience, but I have no reason to guess that I'll react any differently to my impending death, especially considering that Mrs. Fraggle and I are at an age when we're doing estate planning and frantically looking for the right place to live where end-of-life issues can be handled compassionately instead of bureaucratically.

BTW, I don't appreciate your helium reference. We had a thread on that subject a couple of months ago, coincidentally after a long interview with an M.D. who specializes in those issues appeared in the Washington Post. Speaking for the moderators I decided not to divulge the specific means he recommended, on the grounds that SciForums does not wish to be called into court if someone reads about them here and uses them. If someone tracks down the article his family can blame the newspaper.

So, thanks for nothing.

Well, for starters, that's a rather selfish view of life. We are, after all, a social species and we have an instinct that directs us to contribute to the good of the pack and to rejoice in the prosperity of the pack--which today is arguably the whole human race, judging from the heart-warming spectacle of Americans weeping over the death of Neda Agha Soltan in the streets of a country our politicians insist that we're supposed to hate. So anything you can do for the advancement (or at least maintenance) of civilization should make you feel at least slightly proud of yourself, regardless of the straits you happen to be in personally at the moment.

Second, I don't know if you are once again putting words in my mouth or simply claiming to speak for all non-religionists (a bizarre attempt since you seem to not understand us at all), but I don't understand why you think that our understanding of how the universe works, how civilization works, and our own place in those grand schemes, could not be comforting.

Because of the work Mrs. Fraggle and I have done with Lhasa Apsos, dozens of families have devoted, healthy, reasonably sane (Lhasas are a little mentally challenged) companions in their homes. Because of all the classes I've taught and all the courses I've designed, hundreds or perhaps thousands of people speak better English, write better English, know how to read program dumps and design databases, have clearly written manuals for the information systems they use every day, and know that working overtime invariably causes such a decrease in work quality that you're worse off than you started. Because of my other activities, another contingent of them have a few nights to remember of hearing fabulous live music with a hot bassist, and/or have learned a few things on SciForums.

I'm quite pleased with myself for having contributed all of that to civilization and this brings me joy whenever I have reason to feel otherwise.

Yeah but we worked that out like civilized human beings so it's done and forgotten. Would that all arguments on this website could be handled as well. You might start by dialing it back with Bells; that thread has become 99% personal argument between the two of you and 1% information and rational discussion. Remember, "It all started when he hit me back" is absolutely true. You have more to gain by ignoring an insult or other attack and letting the attacker stand there looking like a fool, than by responding. And yes, I told her the same thing.

Somewhere in here I lost the reference to prayer. Yes we all know that prayer releases endorphins in people who believe in it. That doesn't make it right. Beating the crap out of women, children, people of another race, religion or sexual preference, etc., releases endorphins in the people who do those things.

 

As I pointed out in an earlier post, you seem to think that we all misinterpret your words. You bear considerable responsibility for this by being cagey and often not speaking directly, so we have to infer what you believe vs. what you're tossing out to get a rise.

Frankly you give a strong impression that you don't really want anyone to know you very well. That's your business, but you can't then turn around and gripe when it turns out that by golly we actually don't know you very well.

Be more forthcoming, or stop complaining. We're doing the best we can with what little you give us to work with.