Quote of the day
posted at 10:30 pm on July 27, 2009 by Allahpundit
“Dr. Collins insists that our moral intuitions attest to God’s existence, to his perfectly moral character and to his desire to have fellowship with every member of our species. But when our moral intuitions recoil at the casual destruction of innocents by, say, a tidal wave or earthquake, Dr. Collins assures us that our time-bound notions of good and evil can’t be trusted and that God’s will is a mystery.
Most scientists who study the human mind are convinced that minds are the products of brains, and brains are the products of evolution. Dr. Collins takes a different approach: he insists that at some moment in the development of our species God inserted crucial components — including an immortal soul, free will, the moral law, spiritual hunger, genuine altruism, etc.
As someone who believes that our understanding of human nature can be derived from neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science and behavioral economics, among others, I am troubled by Dr. Collins’s line of thinking. I also believe it would seriously undercut fields like neuroscience and our growing understanding of the human mind.”
Blowback
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Pogrom of all Doctors with a baptism certificate.
Limerick on July 27, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Lizard chasers vs. sky gazers; ready…..GO!
Bishop on July 27, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Another fine scientific suggestion from the folks that invented eugenics, forced abortions, and population control
Ok Atheists— you get one more chance!
battleoflepanto1571 on July 27, 2009 at 10:33 PM
I totally called this as QOTD. To myself, but still.
I’m not sure if that’s worthy of a self-back-patting or a sign that I need to cut back on my blog reading.
Siobhan on July 27, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Agnostic roll call, to annoy both sides!
MadisonConservative on July 27, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Well, what about us lizard astronomer big bang spirit people?
Limerick on July 27, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Allah…Where’s the beef?
Purgy.
purgatory on July 27, 2009 at 10:35 PM
What could go wrong…….?
Seven Percent Solution on July 27, 2009 at 10:35 PM
I thought this was a news-oriented site. Who cares what he thinks?
jgapinoy on July 27, 2009 at 10:36 PM
There’s one position I think is even more illogical than atheism… and that’s Theistic Evolution.
mankai on July 27, 2009 at 10:37 PM
If God made man in his own image then what image did he use to make everything else?
Limerick on July 27, 2009 at 10:39 PM
You get to juggle two Bibles and an Indian dream catcher for my amusement.
Bishop on July 27, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Am I at Little Green Footballs?
Charles, is that you?
Knucklehead on July 27, 2009 at 10:40 PM
If minds are products of brains,
and brains are products of molecular biology,
and molecular biology is a product of chemistry,
and chemistry is a product of physics…
why the middle man?
Why is all science not simply physics?
Atheists to the head of the line. Answers?
jeff_from_mpls on July 27, 2009 at 10:41 PM
God created our world(s) and everything in them. Science is our way of trying to puzzle out how He did it.
Scientists who reject divinity do so at their own peril. Personally, I never trust any scientist who doesn’t believe in a God or Gods of some sort. They’re simply not worth the time to listen to.
AW1 Tim on July 27, 2009 at 10:41 PM
I know where he got the idea for Klingons.
Don’t ban me!
Bishop on July 27, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Well, I know that amphibions were inspired by Al Franken. Or was it vice versa? Either way, they are slimy Ewwww.
alohapundit on July 27, 2009 at 10:42 PM
C’Mahhhhhn.
Dude, you work really hard. Sometimes, a good nap is in order. This is one of those times.
Saltysam on July 27, 2009 at 10:42 PM
We gave up the Botax story for this?
genso on July 27, 2009 at 10:43 PM
*amphibions = amphibians
alohapundit on July 27, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Honestly, I’m more worried about Atheists who believe that people are nothing more than a highly developed machines.
29Victor on July 27, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Anybody?
Give us a teaser. How do you get from quarks to a society?
It just seems queer that atheists can be so certain that immaterial facts like cultures and societies are completely reducible to physics, and yet not have the slightest clue what that reduction might look like.
We give them a pass, and that’s queer too.
It’s like the Steve Martin joke: how to become a millionaire. First, you get a million dollars.
jeff_from_mpls on July 27, 2009 at 10:50 PM
The QOTD couldn’t be the recently discovered audio clips of Barack Ogabe lamenting in 2004 that bill’s related to Dubya’s administration weren’t being sufficiently read and critiqued.
Bishop on July 27, 2009 at 10:50 PM
What did he use to make this?
fogw on July 27, 2009 at 10:51 PM
Without that this place would just be a big petting zoo.
NeoKong on July 27, 2009 at 10:51 PM
Of course not, we’re losing neuroscience by the nanosecond.
Saltysam on July 27, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Wait, upon further review I should have asked a pertinent qulifying question: are we talking alpha or beta men?
alohapundit on July 27, 2009 at 10:53 PM
Wow! Interesting quote.
Commenters have an interesting choice tonight:
1) Defend the Obama appointee;
or
2)Attack the person attacking the Obama appointee
jimmy the notable on July 27, 2009 at 10:53 PM
There goes the neighborhood.
Limerick on July 27, 2009 at 10:53 PM
I’ll try again ….
What did he use to make this
fogw on July 27, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Oh I’ll just go ahead and fill in the atheist thought process.
See, there’s this gene with a “G” on it, literally, there’s a “G” impressed on the gene, and see, that’s the “God” gene, and when a certain molecule or something stimulates it, the carrier of the gene believes in Jesus and stuff.
It’s very scientific.
Actually it’s not. But it sells, because we Americans will believe anything.
Sad.
jeff_from_mpls on July 27, 2009 at 10:55 PM
It is not nice to humiliate Pelosi before Botox.
Limerick on July 27, 2009 at 10:55 PM
By gum, you could be right, and here I thought it was about ginning-up a last attempt for raising the daily hit count.
Bishop on July 27, 2009 at 10:55 PM
We gave up the Botax story for this?
genso on July 27, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Winner!
catlady on July 27, 2009 at 10:56 PM
present
blatantblue on July 27, 2009 at 10:58 PM
What meat? Is that a plastic advertising prop steak?
I’m gonna sleep and rest up for the next Cuda thread.
Sapwolf on July 27, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Where is the fun in that?
Americannodash on July 27, 2009 at 11:00 PM
ehh, being an atheist is so 2008. I don’t believe people exist. Top that.
trubble on July 27, 2009 at 11:00 PM
I just finished cooking a burger about an hour ago. How likely is it that the steer was an atheist?
Limerick on July 27, 2009 at 11:00 PM
By that reasoning Universities could save a butt load of money by closing down the Philosophy departments. Cut these f’ers off from Foucault, Derrida and Nietzche and then see what real societal deconstruction does to the other sciences.
BrideOfRove on July 27, 2009 at 11:01 PM
I don’t believe AP exists!
He’s a pentagon project
“Self Awareness Complexity and Autonomous Authorship System”
SACAAS
blatantblue on July 27, 2009 at 11:03 PM
Yeah, looks like Morrisey has the big post of the day at 600+.
Saltysam on July 27, 2009 at 11:04 PM
Not even 100 hits for this baby; pretty sad.
Bishop on July 27, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Sad, indeed.
genso on July 27, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Pffft. Ha! COLLINS is “controversial”? Michael Jackson’s doctor must be giving Sam Harris “medicine” as well.
Collins is SO mainstream that I daresay that he is the quintessential (but truly unremarkable) example of a dull, boring, timid, and tedious Bill Nye the science guy type nerd/geek that we ALL recognize as the stereotypical modern scientist. Let’s face it, when it comes to controversy, the poor guy is best described by the phrases “predictably lacking in initiative”, “irrepressibly drab”, and “insufferably awful”. There is virtually NOTHING controversial about the guy. His book The Language of God put me to sleep. Just talking about it is making me..me… *yawn* Zzzzzzzz.
My collie says:
CyberCipher on July 27, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Er … why would he be troubled by someone else’s theory? That’s weird. Not a great thinker, this guy.
progressoverpeace on July 27, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Have him read “The Bridge of San Luis Rey” and call me in the morning.
tool
bbz123 on July 27, 2009 at 11:13 PM
I think people lose the thread at this point
“brains are the products of evolution”
It just flies in the face of all that we know given the results of that last election. It’s Einstein in a string theory, quantum mechanics, crazy assed particle world. There’s Obama, screwing up every current theory of how brains evolve and then everyone who voted for him. It’s like breeding for breaks in tulips, eventualy the flaw in the flower guarantees extinction. Nothing to discuss, really.
BrideOfRove on July 27, 2009 at 11:14 PM
yeah–bad vibes. Anybody who says Anything Wrong gets flushed
How about, “God created evolution”? Isn’t that what the Catholic Church is saying. more or less………….?
Janos Hunyadi on July 27, 2009 at 11:18 PM
Not even 100 hits for this baby; pretty sad.
Bishop on July 27, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Not even 100 hits for this baby; pretty sad.
Bishop on July 27, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Sad, indeed.
genso on July 27, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Bishop and Genso: It really,really sad!!
canopfor on July 27, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Ugh! I double copied Bishop,and forgot Genso,stupid
copy/paste system!!
canopfor on July 27, 2009 at 11:21 PM
Ever heard of Ben Carson?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Carson
Pediatric neurosurgeon (not quite the neuroscientist referred to here), but operates on 300+ kids per year. Doesn’t seem to have a lot of conflict between his evangelical (Seventh-Day Adventist) faith and understanding the brain’s structure and function.
And as someone noted in headlines, there is that “no religious test” clause in the Constitution. Can’t discriminate against him for a govt. position on the basis of his faith. Unconstitutional.
cs89 on July 27, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Has this one paid his taxes ?
elgeneralisimo on July 27, 2009 at 11:29 PM
Kind of a sloppy, poorly thought out thread anyway. You need something better to really get your mind into.
genso on July 27, 2009 at 11:30 PM
When Skynet becomes self aware, will it believe in God?
Speakup on July 27, 2009 at 11:32 PM
When the other team’s defense can’t stop your running game, guess what you should do?
Run on them some more.
Translation:
Cuda threads aplenty.
Sapwolf on July 27, 2009 at 11:32 PM
lol I love these threads. Most people realize that believing that mythology is real is absurd. That is as long as its not their own mythology. If it is, we insist on pretending and playing make- believe. You guys are a hoot, never change.
Ars Moriendi on July 27, 2009 at 11:33 PM
You realize Allahpundit, this is the kind of thing that makes Americans hate Atheists.
It always seems like the loudest atheists have a poorly concealed desire to rule over the rest of us. It’s almost as if they think… dare I say it, that they have a divine right to rule- because of their superior intellect. Which is of course proven by their atheism.
Frankly AP, I’m surprised you didn’t make a comment about how idiotic you thought this statement was. I try to not to assume all atheists have this kind of attitude, but usually I expect them not to go highlighting it when other atheists say stuff like this.
Sackett on July 27, 2009 at 11:37 PM
Belief is a personal thing. It should stay that way. If you believe there is a heaven, then no one else can acquire it for you. If you believe in nothing, then no one can create something to disprove you. All surprises after death…and there will be a lot of them….are for each person to experience.
genso on July 27, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Not if Amazon deletes the upload.
Limerick on July 27, 2009 at 11:41 PM
For the platypus, I DON’T WANT TO KNOW!!!
Rightwingguy on July 27, 2009 at 11:42 PM
LOL, but God would make it read only.
Speakup on July 27, 2009 at 11:44 PM
No atheists are not the most intelligent people in the world. For the record, I am the most intelligent person in the world. There, discussion resolved, I win.
Rightwingguy on July 27, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Hitler!
(credit to Lorien)
theCork on July 27, 2009 at 11:47 PM
I’m a bit confused as to what the heck he believes. Evolution is just plain stupid. Lightning hits mud and poof you get a human being. Riiiight.
Theistic evolution is just chickensh%# creationism. Either God made it or He didn’t. Either He’s real or He’s not. No nuance, no middle ground.
“There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is always evil.”
Mojave Mark on July 27, 2009 at 11:49 PM
So then you must only talk with God, so you aren’t even here.
Speakup on July 27, 2009 at 11:49 PM
Despite sweeping over the different theories in the above bolded fields of inquiry, Mr. Harris suggests that minds can be derived from physical, naturalistic processes. Mr. Harris is an atheist, and he is being consistent with his atheistic worldview.
Yet one thorny problem for the atheistic world view is the issue of rational inference.
Brains (read: c-fibers firing) cannot even begin to answer why my mind (and not my physicalistic brain) knows why true propositions are true, why rational inference is valid, and why mankind is different from the animals.
Yet, our atheist friends act as if they do know that humans have immaterial minds (for example, when right-of-center atheists argue for free market economics by appealing to true propositional truth-claims that are rooted in Evidence, instead of pulling out a gun), and that human minds can know that true propositions (or concepts, if you prefer) are valid, and that false propositions should be rationally rejected, and that mankind is fundamentally different from the animal kingdom.
Rational Inference, though undeniable by our everyday practice, is incoherent and contradictory given the sweeping claims of Darwinism’s nature being “Red in tooth and claw.”
The fact of Rational Inference is true for all humans, because all humans are made in the Image of God.
An atheist may indeed use the laws of logic and rational inference. That happens daily. But their worldview cannot justify their usage. In effect, an atheist is simply writing philosophical checks that “bounce back” from their empty, materialistic checking account of “nature, red in tooth and claw.”
A solution to a bankrupt checking account is to become a theist.
ColtsFan on July 27, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Apparently atheists haven’t heard of a dude named C.S. Lewis……
Rightwingguy on July 27, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Saddening.
FontanaConservative on July 27, 2009 at 11:51 PM
Actually, I’m here and everywhere at the same time.
Rightwingguy on July 27, 2009 at 11:51 PM
Ugh! I double copied Bishop,and forgot Genso,stupid
copy/paste system!!
canopfor on July 27, 2009 at 11:21 PM
Kind of a sloppy, poorly thought out thread anyway. You need something better to really get your mind into.
genso on July 27, 2009 at 11:30 PM
genso:I tried to copy Bishop,and the yours separately,and
in doing so,I kabotched my attempt at some humour!:)
canopfor on July 27, 2009 at 11:52 PM
It’s funnier this way.
genso on July 27, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Well…. lightning hits mud and chains of organic molecules are formed…. then those combine to form longer chains….THEN poof, you get a human.
Rightwingguy on July 27, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Looks like this line of thinking is from the Dinosaur wing of science. Here is a link to some scientists talking about Quantum Mechanics,titled “Quantum physics and Consciousness … connected?” which was taken from the docudrama, Whatthebleep?… It is a little deep but these are cutting edge scientists explaining their concept of the connection between God and (our) Consciousness. It sounds like there are some scientists that are really beginning to question what they learned from the old science professor when they went to school.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqJOIQWkfWA
DL13 on July 27, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Dude….dinosaurs did exist…or did I miss something?
Rightwingguy on July 27, 2009 at 11:55 PM
O rather, did you mean to say, the evolutionary branch of scientists?
Rightwingguy on July 27, 2009 at 11:56 PM
Why? Are you saying that either creationists or atheists have the inside track to God? No room for God made the big bang and let the slot machine roll?
Limerick on July 27, 2009 at 11:56 PM
Saddening.
FontanaConservative on July 27, 2009 at 11:51 PM
FontanaConservative:
Your telling me,I should of stayed old school,write down
said comment,then type it out,instead of this copy/paste
namby/pamby system,its my first grand screw-up!!:)
canopfor on July 27, 2009 at 11:56 PM
Allah needs a “Touched by an Angel” moment.
Rightwingguy on July 27, 2009 at 11:57 PM
God created our world(s) and everything in them. Science is our way of trying to puzzle out how He did it.
Scientists who reject divinity do so at their own peril. Personally, I never trust any scientist who doesn’t believe in a God or Gods of some sort. They’re simply not worth the time to listen to.
AW1 Tim on July 27, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Surely you jest, Albert Einstein not woth listening to? It is truly an ignorant mind that suggests that the only people worth listening to agree with them. You sir should probably avoid africans of the Shuar tribes with a head that large.
Archimedes on July 27, 2009 at 11:57 PM
But no one can see you.
CS became just as lost as anyone who reinserts themselves into the Matrix.
Speakup on July 27, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Every now and then.
Americannodash on July 27, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Its funnier this way.
genso on July 27,2009 at 11:53PM.
genso:Ya,I suppose!:)
canopfor on July 27, 2009 at 11:58 PM
Perhaps he made it in a competition with another God. Hope our Universe is winning.
dedalus on July 28, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Ahh. So you disengaged from the Matrix, huh? How’s Zion?
Rightwingguy on July 28, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Zion threw me out too.
Speakup on July 28, 2009 at 12:02 AM
Everybody just loves you then, huh?
Rightwingguy on July 28, 2009 at 12:03 AM
@ Rightwingguy on July 27, 2009 at 11:55 PM
They existed alright, Jesus and friends rode them.
thphilli on July 28, 2009 at 12:04 AM
Yeah, I know. Alongside Adam and Eve.
Rightwingguy on July 28, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Just FYI, Einstein believed in God.
jazz_piano on July 28, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Okay,I thought there was this theory out there called
Panspermia,where the planet got seeded!
That must of been some night,seeds across the universe,
so,at lightspeed,plus the original load,that must of been
one helleva(censored)and lasted all night!!
canopfor on July 28, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Nope, you should ask around.
Speakup on July 28, 2009 at 12:05 AM
@ Rightwingguy on July 28, 2009 at 12:05 AM
And their two sons who mysteriously got married to all of those other people who existed somehow even though God never created them.
thphilli on July 28, 2009 at 12:06 AM
Awww.
Rightwingguy on July 28, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Archimedes of Syracuse?
If side A=3, side B=4 then what is the hypotenuse of this right triangle?
Americannodash on July 28, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Could be some big surprises for you too if you chose the wrong deity. But I am sure you are not concerned about that and honestly you shouldn’t be. The chances of any religion being correct about the supposed afterlife are negligible.
Ars Moriendi on July 28, 2009 at 12:08 AM
I take it that you intensely dislike C. S. Lewis.
jazz_piano on July 28, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Hey, just because the Bible censored a lot of stuff doesn’t hide the fact that Adam and Eve got really “busy”…and created the rest of mankind. Does this have to be a biology lesson too?
Rightwingguy on July 28, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Pity? Makes me shiver and gag.
Speakup on July 28, 2009 at 12:08 AM
No. According to Speakup, he rejoined the Matrix when he decided being an atheist was stupid.
Rightwingguy on July 28, 2009 at 12:09 AM
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