Irrational beliefs

YOU CAN'T PROVE A NEGATIVE

Scientists have long been frustrated with religious beliefs because the very concept of “faith” requires believing something regardless of “evidence”. No matter how much evidence is presented regarding the gradual evolution of species from common ancestry, science cannot prove to bible believers that there is no God. It's a little like the problems with proving that there is no life on Mars to scientists … even landing a robot to send back live pictures will not satisfy those who truly “believe.” If they have found no evidence, it must be because the robot is not sensitive enough so another robot will have to be designed. Or perhaps the whole concept of life-form will have to be redefined! The truth is that a negative statement cannot be proved – only doubted or believed. This is the reason that humans can be deceived over and over and over again. Anyone can claim the existence of the most bizarre imagination and no one can prove them wrong.

Reality, on the other hand, exists regardless of belief or doubt. Science itself is a constant investigation of physical reality, using impartial evidence and rigorous testing of any theory before it is commonly accepted, much like what is supposed to happen in a courtroom trial. What truly exists, what truly happens, and what truly causes the myriad interactions in the universe adds up to Reality, and there can be seven billion different opinions about what is true, but the truth doesn't change. In my opinion, false and misleading statements are the root of all human confusion, and people who rewrite history, lie under oath, teach absurdity to innocent minds or use others as scapegoats to hide their own avarice and greed should be convicted and silenced. The whole concept of free speech is to allow everyone access to information and understanding, and people who have quiet wisdom to share are being drowned out by the noise of gibberish and hate.

The world today is being threatened by a financial system that is trying to borrow its way out of debt, governments that insist on peace by military conquest, nuclear power regulators that claim that Fukushima is under control (no harm done), and a host of religious peacocks strutting the stage and anticipating a triumphant appearance of a savior. I think that they are all wrong, but there is no way to prove a negative.

Quebec takes on Religious Hypocrisy

QUEBEC TAKES ON RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY

The purpose of the new legislation that prohibits Quebec government employees from wearing obvious forms of religious paraphernalia is to guarantee a safe and rational base for society, free from artificial social barriers and the radicalized foment of religious sects. The founders of the religions themselves would probably support the new law enthusiastically, and remind their followers that devotion can't be demonstrated by wearing any kind of uniform or symbol, but by an inner purity and character that cannot be seen on the outside like an identity tattoo. If religious teachers had any reverence for the likes of Moses, Jesus, the prophet Mohammed, or even the Buddha, they would be teaching their followers the difference between real and pretend faith. Otherwise, we might end up with violent conflicts between Protestant and Catholic “christians”, Zionist and Orthodox “jews”, Shia and Sunni “muslims” etc., and thinking people would probably turn to Atheism or Hedonism in revolt.

What seems dubious to me is the posturing of the Parti Quebecois as an authority on bringing people together in peace, and protecting the gullible from separatist religious organizations that seek to sew division in a secular world. The strength of democratic government is an educated and sensible voting public, but all of the existing “parties” are guilty of repetitive fear mongering and emotional rabble rousing, and while the media focuses attention on silly headlines, the entire globe is being threatened by a collapse of the financial system, the explosion of nuclear fuel rods, the effects of fossil fuel pollution, and the constant threat of atomic, biological and conventional warfare at the whim of unstable human beings. These problems should be bringing the world together to find a solution, but our attention is riveted on the staged antics of both elected officials and religious leaders while the real issues are ignored. Hopefully, their time is running out.