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[atuanui]

Hi lol,

This thread seems a bit like a circular loop.

[code]
#!/bin/bash
for (( ; ; ))
do
echo " Faith"
done
[/code]

Also the Hindu deity Krishna's birthday was/is December 25. Funny coincidence.

cheers atuanui

[Goldenmane]

Originally Posted by Darwinsbulldog

More than a good point, u iz owned!

Actually, my admirable Doggy, I left that there as a bookmark, because you brought something up that I think is very much worth pursuing.

Actually, I reckon we could get some mileage out of it for an article for the magazine, if you were inclined to do a little collaboration. But I digress.

In retrospect Newton's attempts at alchemy were [perhaps] not so dumb-he just did not have access to the necessary tools, like a nuclear reactor. How was he to know that his experiments in optics for example, would be more sucessful than his exploration of alchemy, a priori ??
Considering what was known in his time playing with alchemy might be just as logical as messing with prisms. Thus I do not accept you claim that "...he was into a lot of bullshit". Certain investigations in science were easier than others, and dependent on the technology available at the time. The phenomena that were easier to test using the available technology, were the ones he had more success with. This is true even today. You need summat like a LHC to even think about practical testing for Higgs Bosons. Yesterday 08:09 AM

Firstly, I'll qualify something: Alchemy and numerology and all that is still bullshit. It was bullshit at the time, and it is bullshit now.

However, you make an excellent point. Indeed, it could be argued that without brilliant minds like Newton's working on such things as alchemy, we might not know quite so well just how bullshit they are. Newton developed the calculus and his Laws of Motion, the foundations for so much of physics... he didn't exactly have at his fingertips the technological and scientific history we do today. Someone, after all, has to get there first.

So, yes, extremely important point, and I'm fucking glad you brought it up.

I think I tend to use Newton as an example because everyone has heard of him, and Christians so often use him in the 'X was a Christian, are you saying you're smarter than X?' argument. It's almost a reflex, now. "Probably not smarter than Newton, no, but I know how to split an atom, and that poor benighted cunt was still muddling around looking for the philosopher's stone."

[Plankton]

Originally Posted by atuanui

Hi lol,

This thread seems a bit like a circular loop.

[code]
#!/bin/bash
for (( ; ; ))
do
echo " Faith"
done
[/code]

Also the Hindu deity Krishna's birthday was/is December 25. Funny coincidence.

cheers atuanui

How is it December 25 when they use a different calendar?

[Goldenmane]

Originally Posted by Plankton

How is it December 25 when they use a different calendar?

I like you.

Stick around.

[Darwinsbulldog]

@ Goldenmane: Sounds like a plan! Of course, for the atheist mag, we will not have to dumb down our argument too much.