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There are things more important than the truth sometimes. You are in a terrible position as an apathetic non-believer to understand the importance of that, I suppose. There is evidence that faith protects against mental illness; surely that's a signal that religion is good for the soul, excuse the pun?
Oh, did I mention that I'm beyond middle age, which also seriously damages my chances.
To me thinking "those starving people really need a solar powered bible" is, at best, unscientific. This is a science website so I'm going to carry on bashing them just as I will bash the people who think snake oil cures malaria or who reckon that we never went to the moon.
Yes, this is a science website. However, that does not mean science can be used to guide our actions when it comes to social situations. Science is reductionist & looks at one variable - trying to make out that religious belief in the way you define it as one variable is a massive oversimplification. Racism, was (& I guess still is) based on observations (i.e black slaves were not intelligent, for example), and was also justified by science. Don't make the mistake of thinking that scientific conclusions are free of the influence of their culture - or that observations themselves are free of those influences, & the conclusions that scientists make. I mean, there is no objective, scientific testability of the truth to value claims, & that's what racism is - a claim that one race is worth less or more than another.Unfortunately, as wonderful as science is in testing claims, it is not a magical solution to world problems.
Is it just me or is it (at best) the height of poor taste to say "Come and worship the ever loving God! i.e. the entity that just wiped out about quarter of a million of your friends and neighbours"?
While you are at it, could you ask them why they think it's aporopriate to worship an entity that capriciously decides to wipe out all those people and condemn many others to untold misery?No doubt they will have a stock answer- it's hardly a new question.
I have mixed feelings about this. When the victims of this earthquake were pulled out of the rubble of their homes and places of work, what did most of them do? They sang hymns. They are quite a religious nation. The trapped people drew the strength to survive from their faith. I think that some of them may need the crutch that religion offers at this time. I can't see that this particular object (solar bible) would be useful to them as I'm sure people can still come together and practise their religion without it. I doubt it would be allowed into the aerport as a priority.What I do object to is the religious groups that get people to donate cash or shoeboxes of items to help the victims and then add bibles and evangelical materials. These boxes are then sent to all people of all religions, in order to recruit new Christians. This really shows a lack of respect for those peoples beliefs. I know that operation Christmas child (Samaritans purse) do this at Christmas time. They also force recipients to attend bible rallies. They never mention this in their literature. Charity with hidden ends....terrible.
"First things first, these audio Bibles are NOT displacing ANY essential aid to these people who have suffered so much"Yes they are. It doesn't matter how they are transported; that transport route could be used for something useful.Incidentally, this is a science forum so things like this "Our non-profit believes the people of Haiti are that nation’s most precious resource and we desire to empower them with the Scriptures"will get queried.
If all the people who took part in WWII had formed performing arts groups instead the world might well have been a better place. If a few more army chaplains had remembered the bit about "Thou shalt not kill" it would have helped to.(BTW, Geezer, that's another hypocrite group to add to those due for a bashing)There really is a difference between making bibles available for those who want them; and using space on relief transport for luxuries rather than necessities.
Okay scientists, here’s the real deal --- a Proclaimer Bible is the size of a cigar box! So, 600 units would require about a 6-foot cube of space.