But, let's not ball up the entirety of Creation into under the category of anti-intellectualism.

"Creation" does not equal "anti-intellectualism." Belief in creation does not mean you don't try to understand and learn things.

Alright, let me explain further. I am talking creation in it's purist form. I am talking about spiritual creation, not necessarily about an all powerful bearded god. This doesn't rule out a Christian god, however. We are talking about the origin of "all," the "spark" that set everything in motion, and the "spark" that still drives things. We are talking about that spark that exists in all of us, the ability to create.

Spirituality is as real to some people as is their physical body. The spirit is evident with experiences like "OOBEs," past lives, and ghostly phenomena. "Aunt Velma's" body died a long time ago, but why does Aunt Velma still walk the halls of her old house? Her body is buried in some cemetery.

Belief in spirituality and creation is very far from anti-intellectualism, or a more crude term like stupidity. Knowing that there is a spiritual side to life is actually opposite of stupidity, it is actually a deeper understanding of things, than just the physical universe.

Think about this; would that cheese sandwich have created itself had you not been there to think about it, and make it (create it)?

Troy

[edit on 29-10-2008 by cybertroy]

I agree with everyone that says creation theory, spirituality, and other esoteric principles are not necessarily anti-intellectual.

It depends. Strict Creationism is anti-intellectual because it is in direct contrast to scientific reasoning in many respects. But an intelligent rational man can experience esoteric and mystical things and explore it with a rational and intelligent mind.

Well I was a fundamentalist christian for more than a decade so I'm going to answer your questions.

Are you a relative of an orangutan?
Yes

Are you more than an animal?
No

Are you just a survival–of-the-fittest-kinda-guy?
Survival of the fittest is an awful interpretation of evolution/NS/Adaptation.

Are you someone’s fertilizer when you die?
Somethings anyway.

Is this frail existence…it?
Yep.

I know these answers to be accurate except for the last one as it is only speculation, the rest are verified by the evidence, which John 10 has not. Nobody even knows who wrote "John".

It's all bent. The Catholic Church is gay. If if not gay, a bunch of paedophiles. The two groups overlap incidentally.

The Catholic church does not want us to think for ourselves, the Catholic Church wants control over what we can debate and maybe more critically, how. Of course the 'creationist' lobby do not respect the creation of the big bang, they do not want us understanding it, rather follow them when they get their big willies into little girls and boys.

Hey OT ^_^ not seen you about for a bit maybe we are just missing each other or im so busy jumping on the crazies i didint notice a sane person in the corner

Originally posted by OldThinker
Please don’t answer…please don’t…I DARE YOU TO NOT!!!!!

sorry i just gotta


OT’s got a question for you….

Are you a relative of an orangutan?

you have deffinatley met my dad if your asking this, yes he looks like a white orangutan just with shorter arms

yes they are a distant relatives as are all animals, but chimps and banoboes are closer

Are you more than an animal?

no, we are animals

we are capable of things many other animals are not, we can think in ways other animals cant(as far as we know although there is some evidence higher primates has an understanding of self). this doesnt put us above animals it only makes it part of what the human animal is capable of

Are you just a survival–of-the-fittest-kinda-guy?

i feel the desire or need to procreate to protect those that need protecting teach those willing to learn help those who need help nurture those that need it yes i fit perfectly with the survival of the fitest principles of mutual survivability displayed by group living animals

Are you someone’s fertilizer when you die?

my body? sure im worm food unless i get cremated then im plant fertaliser only or really annoying if i get blown in someones face

Is this frail existence…it?

tell ya when i get to the end of it and find out my self, ill with hold judgment until i die or someone finds some evidence

Just think about these questions…please put some time on it….watch…let life bring to you what it does, ok?

i have thought about it, ive been an atheist(or at the very least agnostic) for 16 years ive understood exactly what that meant to me for about 13 of those

i dont think a couple more hundred days will change that but hey you never know till it happens i guess

Unfortunately, the agenda to put Creationism and I.D. on par with Evolution is the epitome of anti-intellectuallism. The simple fact one is a complete guess, based on tradition and mythology, and the other is supported by questioning, research, and substanciated data . . . is all that needs to really be said. The fact that there is not ONE experiment or set of data that points to Creationism or I.D., is at the very heart of the OP.

I would like the myth of Santa Claus taught in schools (in science and sociology) because that's where I tell my 5yr old that presents come from, as well as, millions of other adults. This theory has stood the test of time and is widely taught, therefore must have some truth to it. Furthermore, no one has ever found me a suitable theory (without holes) where all of the toys come from and why some kids don't get presents. Sure, I know about manufacturing, supply and demand, and corporate brainwashing . . . but, that doesn't explain how it all started or why I feel so strongly that he is guiding my purchases to taylor to my son's wish list.

Next . . . take C/ID's arguments . . . they can't argue FOR their side without invoking the name of the supernatural . . . which immediately moves the debate to philosophy (which has no business being taught in science class) . . . so, they can only show what evolution and abiogenesis DON'T prove or their holes/questions. Whether it is by reducing "What is Theory" to an argument of semantics (even when the definition has remained unchanged for years) or pointing out "holes" in the fossil record. Unfortunately, for them, this just shows their ignorance of the the scientific method, it's terminology, and nature's processes.

Faith-based structures are by definition (of faith) anti-intellectual pursuits. You are meant to believe, in spite of physical evidence to the contrary. I, myself, have no problem with religious people choosing to believe in fairy tales or believing something because they were brought up to believe. However, I do have an issue with religions sticking their nose into science and trying to hi-jack it to further their antiquated agenda and dwindling influence. The religious simply have changed tactics . . . where in the past the would have tortured, demonized, or supressed those that think this way . . . now they are trying to join. Unfortunately, you can't join the scientific community until you move past hypothesis and into theory. A guess based on tradition and holes in another "competing" theory . . . is not a theory.

So . . . where are the links to research done by proponents of I.D.? Without those I.D./Creationism, isn't even a theory . . . so this shouldn't even be a debate. AND . . . the fact that it is a debate, amongst so many, shows the C/ID legacy of anti-intellectuallism in the movement. Science must follow method . . . belief alone doesn't equate to science or a theory.

Originally posted by redled
It's all bent. The Catholic Church is gay. If if not gay, a bunch of paedophiles. The two groups overlap incidentally.

The Catholic church does not want us to think for ourselves, the Catholic Church wants control over what we can debate and maybe more critically, how. Of course the 'creationist' lobby do not respect the creation of the big bang, they do not want us understanding it, rather follow them when they get their big willies into little girls and boys.

-_- yes thanks for that .........


you do realise the catholic church agrees with Evolution?
that it was a catholic priest that gave us the big bang(and i mean the universe creation one)?

yes homosexual and pedophile over lap the same as hetrosexual and pedophile over lap

there are homosexuals and hetrosexuals that does not make them pedophiles, only bieng a pedophile makes you a pedophile ..... and only the pedophile group of those three are bad people