26 (edited by jerome.oneil 2011-12-15 17:43:14)

Re: Heron

bunbun wrote:
jerome.oneil wrote:

Science should bring us closer to understanding, not farther from it.

Therein lies the rub: How often has man's progress been hampered by religion? Not by God but religion? Algebra and writing evolved in the Middle East. The Fertile Crescent of Iraq (between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to be specific) was the "Cradle of Civilization" and brought us the aforementioned sciences and others too! Yet how many great minds have come out of that region in the past 100 years or even longer?

I don't think that is an issue with Islam so much as it is an issue with modern cultures colliding with third world cultures.   Most of the negative things we associate with Islam aren't really part of Islam at all, they are part of Arab culture.  Remember that the largest population of Muslims in the world isn't in the middle east, it's in Indonesia, which is a pretty stable democratic republic.

The Americas and western Europe have had the benefit of six hundred years to think about the outcomes of the renascence, and form our society around those ideas.   The people living in Afghanistan and other emerging nations haven't.   The life they live is very similar to the life that they would have led three or four hundred years ago.    The Arabian peninsula a hundred years ago was populated by Bedouin travelers and that is about it.   It wasn't until after WWI that demand for oil in the west brought in massive amounts of money, and the western influence that follows it.   The result is a people that are barely a generation removed from a life that their great great great great grandfathers would have found familiar with immediate access to 1st world ideas and technology.  It shouldn't surprise anyone that they have difficulty absorbing it.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

Re: Heron

following on to what jerome said above, the first time i went on holiday to turkey was one big eye-opener for me. this was about 15 years ago and after getting off the plane at dalaman airport (which is  or was a military airport) and travelling for 4 hours in a rickety old bus, all i remember is the poverty, the broken down homes, cars that were left overs from the american bases and were falling apart, but mainly how friendly these people were. i'd never had any contact with muslims before and i was very apprehensive as to the welcome we'd get. apart from watching the men so they'd leave the wife's bum alone they were great, we made friends and when we returned the following year they'd actually remember us even our names. i've had holidays since in spain and greece and felt like something they cleaned off their shoes. one of my fondest memories was walking down the main street in kusadasi and seeing an ox cart with the farmers wife pulling the ox, the cart full of water mellons and the farmer sitting with the reins in one hand and his mobile phone (cell phone) in the other! at that time i didn't even have one my-self!

i thought i'd share this cos the religious theme has overtaken the thread somewhat.

to finish off, i think we are all religious in one way or another, even pagans. god may have been invented to explain how we got here, to give laws and teach how to live in peace. unfortunately theses ideals have been used and abused by the religious hiarchy for their own ends. governments would have us all illiterate and innumerate if they could. they got away with it for hundreds of years, a time we call the dark ages. the poor only get dangerous when they have a little knowledge and can think for themselves. then we would stop being cannon fodder for the rich, powerful and royal.

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

28 (edited by Russell_Harding 2011-12-16 04:16:29)

Re: Heron

I for one dont mind an exchange of beliefs or isms as long as they are peaceful and so far I like the diversity of ideas and thoughts expressed I'm sure Heron would appreciate it also smile

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Re: Heron

back too genius minds,if you got some time check out popular science magizines. They have some new inventions,Ideas etc. every month,and in almost every field,we do have alot of smart people around us.I get Subscribe to the magizine yearly for $10.00 ( senior rate ) It is well worth it.

my papy said son your going too drive me too drinking if you dont stop driving that   Hot  Rod  Lincoln!! Cmdr cody and his lost planet airman