What single work of creation would you remove from the world?

[Profpointy]

and as for free market economics....

Once it is treated as a moral imperetive rather than merely a way of structuring finance and trade.

Neo-liberalism maybe a stronger case

 

[derrick]

...by concocting a new set of religions.

. Even atheists feel moved to recreate some of the artefacts of religion in their own form.

No they don't.

 

[Dirk]

Even atheists feel moved to recreate some of the artefacts of religion in their own form.

Really? Such as?

 

[nickyboy]

Noooo!
Chewing gum is an essential part of my working-life! After a day in the lab or factory it's a life-saver, freshening the breath, cleaning the mouth, removing the residues of that fried food taste. Nothing else cuts-it like chewing gum.

Couldn't you make do with a mint imperial? For the good of the planet after all

 

[derrick]

I have decided, on one thing that could be safely removed without negative consequences, and obvious benefits. Chewing gum.

Then this song would never have been sung

View: https://youtu.be/x6bFTVi0hHs

 

[srw]

No they don't.

Really? Such as?

The most obvious: https://cosmicshambles.com/ninelessons and https://www.sundayassembly.com/story. Explicit attempts to recreate "church" without God.

Going away from the obvious (for those of us who live in a country with a Christian-based culture) - most religions have prophets and holy texts, and a priesthood who are the only people with the arcane knowledge necessary to interpret those texts - and usually ways for the ordinary person to attain that knowledge. They often also have founding figures who had the initial revelation, a shared set of stories - often ones about the founding figures which the founding figures might find a little surprising, and foundations and institutions set up to spread the word. All of this contributes towards a sense of community, either expressed through regular meetings or through self-definition as different from other groups of believers.

Prophets: Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchins, Daniel Dennett
Holy Texts: The Origin of Species, The Blind Watchmaker, The God Delusion, God is not Great, Why God does not Exist
Priesthood: Anyone with a PhD in a science-based subject who is willing to stand up and talk about religion, often without a great deal of knowledge of the subject.
Ways to attain that knowledge: degrees in science
Founding figures: Galileo Galilei, Charles Darwin
Stories: "Eppur si muove", Darwin delaying publication of Origin of Species, supposed silencing of atheists, "Religion is the source of all evil", "Religious wars have been deadly"
Foundations: Dawkins foundation, Humanist associations, Rationalist association, Secular Society
Self-definition as different: I refer the honourable members to the refrain throughout the thread...

 

[Fab Foodie]

Do you gob it out on the pavement? If not, you can have some on prescription.

Never. Always disposed of responsibly.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Couldn't you make do with a mint imperial? For the good of the planet after all

Mint Imperials whilst lovely (along with many other mints), just lack the cleansing ability of gum.

 

[Dirk]

The most obvious: https://cosmicshambles.com/ninelessons and https://www.sundayassembly.com/story. Explicit attempts to recreate "church" without God.

Going away from the obvious (for those of us who live in a country with a Christian-based culture) - most religions have prophets and holy texts, and a priesthood who are the only people with the arcane knowledge necessary to interpret those texts - and usually ways for the ordinary person to attain that knowledge. They often also have founding figures who had the initial revelation, a shared set of stories - often ones about the founding figures which the founding figures might find a little surprising, and foundations and institutions set up to spread the word. All of this contributes towards a sense of community, either expressed through regular meetings or through self-definition as different from other groups of believers.

Prophets: Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchins, Daniel Dennett
Holy Texts: The Origin of Species, The Blind Watchmaker, The God Delusion, God is not Great, Why God does not Exist
Priesthood: Anyone with a PhD in a science-based subject who is willing to stand up and talk about religion, often without a great deal of knowledge of the subject.
Ways to attain that knowledge: degrees in science
Founding figures: Galileo Galilei, Charles Darwin
Stories: "Eppur si muove", Darwin delaying publication of Origin of Species, supposed silencing of atheists, "Religion is the source of all evil", "Religious wars have been deadly"
Foundations: Dawkins foundation, Humanist associations, Rationalist association, Secular Society
Self-definition as different: I refer the honourable members to the refrain throughout the thread...

That sounds like the sort of response I'd have got from a Jehovah's Witness I used to work with.

 

[srw]

That sounds like the sort of response I'd have got from a Jehovah's Witness I used to work with.

I hope your response to him had rather more content than "that sounds like the sort of response I'd have got from a bloke off the internet."

Feel free to provide a substantive answer.

 

[Dirk]

I hope your response to him had rather more content than "that sounds like the sort of response I'd have got from a bloke off the internet."

I just laughed at him and shook my head.

 

[srw]

I just laughed at him and shook my head.

Feel free to provide a substantive answer.

 

[Dirk]

Feel free to provide a substantive answer.

That was all the answer he warranted.

 

[Tenacious Sloth]

I have decided, on one thing that could be safely removed without negative consequences, and obvious benefits. Chewing gum.

Without the option of endlessly chewing gum Alex Ferguson may have been unable to control his foul temper most of the time.

This may have affected David Beckham’s development as a footballer who may not have become as famous.

Which may have meant that he never would have had the opportunity to meet Posh Spice.

Which means she wouldn’t have been distracted by him and the Spice Girls would never have broke up.

Which means the Spice Girls would still be together and releasing records.

DO YOU WANT THAT ON YOUR CONSCIENCE??!!



I thought not.

Remind me never to let you have a go in my time machine. Too dangerous.

Graham

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Remind me never to let you have a go in my time machine. Too dangerous.

Graham

You reminded him next month, remember?