[alancalverd]

The definition of a country is a geographical area with a border defended by a military system answerable to one government. Immigration is at the discretion of the said government.

[Bored chemist]

The definition of a country is a geographical area with a border defended by a military system answerable to one government. Immigration is at the discretion of the said government.

Good luck explaining that to the Scots and the Welsh.

[alancalverd]

I'm looking forward to Scottish independence. Patrolling half the mainland coastline and lots of islands is an expensive business for the English taxpayer, but Hadrian's Wall can be secured by ground troops and a couple of helicopters (did you know the Romans had helicopters?)

Offa's Dyke has been very quiet lately. Has she retired?

[Petrochemicals]

I'm looking forward to Scottish independence. Patrolling half the mainland coastline and lots of islands is an expensive business for the English taxpayer, but Hadrian's Wall can be secured by ground troops and a couple of helicopters (did you know the Romans had helicopters?)

Offa's Dyke has been very quiet lately. Has she retired?

The Romans still do today, April the 1st eh?

[scientist940]

In my opinion it would be helpful, to have a better sex education. Worldwide. So young people would have more information on how to prevent pregnancy. This would reduce the number of accidental pregnancies, and thereby also the population.

[miaturner95]

how about something in the lines of the 'one child policy' that China adopted in the near past?

[alancalverd]

In my opinion it would be helpful, to have a better sex education. Worldwide. So young people would have more information on how to prevent pregnancy. This would reduce the number of accidental pregnancies, and thereby also the population.

The major part of the problem isn't unwanted or accidental pregnancies, of which most women rarely have more than one, but intentional ones.

[Bored chemist]

It takes two to tango, and a big part of the problem is men.

[Colin2B]

In my opinion it would be helpful, to have a better sex education. Worldwide.

Interestingly there is clear evidence worldwide that just educating girls has a significant effect on birthrate, they tend to have smaller families. In some cases that will include sex education, but in many places it is limited by religion.

[alancalverd]

It takes two to tango, and a big part of the problem is men.

I think the term you are looking for is "small but significant".

[alancalverd]

In some cases that will include sex education, but in many places it is limited by religion.

The world's greatest problems would be quickly solved if we could ban religion. 

[charles1948]

In some cases that will include sex education, but in many places it is limited by religion.

The world's greatest problems would be quickly solved if we could ban religion.

I agree.  Religion has been a kind of "first attempt" at understanding how the Universe works.
But the problem with Religion is that it relies entirely on "Faith".  Not on experimental evidence.

Experimental evidence has in recent times been gathered, and incorporated into a new way of looking at the Universe.  Called, as we know,  "Science".

Science has a great advantage over Religion, in that it always works, and produces demonstrable results.
In the form of things like flying machines, steamships, cars, trains, electric light, telephones , televisions, and many other things.

These things should make us see "Science" as demonstrably superior to  outmoded "Religion".  And  therefore "get rid" of Religion, as you say.   Consign it to the dustbin of history, in the famous phrase.

Yet we don't.  Religion is still around today.  Is that because our brains are naturally "wired" to readily accept Religion, but not Science?

I think that must be it. Science is difficult, and requires hard analytical "thinking".
Whereas Religion is easy, and requires no real thinking, only "faith."

Sorted!

[alancalverd]

Religion has been a kind of "first attempt" at understanding how the Universe works.

No. Religion consists of arbitrary statements which have nothing to do with understanding. Indeed the current best-seller in the western hemisphere relies on the Holy Trinity being inherently mysterious.

Religion is a disgrace to the human intellect, but is more profitable than pornography and illegal drugs because there is no risk, no capital outlay,and no mechanism for complaining if the product doesn't work. Worse, it is actually protected by law.

[charles1948]

Religion has been a kind of "first attempt" at understanding how the Universe works.

No. Religion consists of arbitrary statements which have nothing to do with understanding.

I think you're perhaps going too far, Alan, in dismissing the role played by Religion.

As I said earlier, Religion was a "first attempt" to create an explanation of how the Universe operates - without relying on the mere "arbitrary statements" that you refer to in your post.

For example,  to take the question: "Why does rain fall from the sky?"
An arbitrary answer might be - well who knows.  Rain falls when it wants to.  It has no cause. It just happens.

This is not a satisfying answer.  Because It offends against the human instinct to find a "reason" for why it happens.

One reason was suggested in ancient Greek religion - that rain is caused by an almighty sky-god "Zeus", who urinates through a sieve onto the Earth, to show his contempt for earthly beings such as humans.

You may not agree with that.  But it was a least a "reason".

And it provided a spur to look for better and more satisfactory explanations  Which culminated in modern Science.











.

[alancalverd]

It has been argued that Christianity promoted scientific thinking because it presumes order and consistency in the universe. Problem is that whenever anyone pointed out that the official model was not orderly or consistent, he was punished instead of respected. And it turns out that if the universe were indeed orderly and consistent, it wouldn't exist.

[charles1948]

It has been argued that Christianity promoted scientific thinking because it presumes order and consistency in the universe. Problem is that whenever anyone pointed out that the official model was not orderly or consistent, he was punished instead of respected. And it turns out that if the universe were indeed orderly and consistent, it wouldn't exist.

Yes, I think the concept of "One God" presiding over everything, as in Christianity, did help to to promote the idea of a Universe governed by a single set of laws.

Unlike the earlier concept of multiple gods, more or less doing their own things, according to their own whims and desires.  Like in the ancient Greek religion, which had multiple gods.

I've sometimes wondered whether that was why the Greeks never developed real Science. 

It was, obviously,  partly because of the vagueness and lack of precision in the Greek language.  Accompanied by their failure to devise a proper system of numerals.  Which gravely hampered their mathematics.

But most of all perhaps, it was because in their "polytheistic" religious system, there was no single, central authority to "lay down the law", so to speak, and establish Universal Truth.

[Petrochemicals]

It has been argued that Christianity promoted scientific thinking because it presumes order and consistency in the universe. Problem is that whenever anyone pointed out that the official model was not orderly or consistent, he was punished instead of respected. And it turns out that if the universe were indeed orderly and consistent, it wouldn't exist.

I would strongly disagree. Islam was at one stage quite an outward look g religion full of science. They where astronomers whilst vicars stoned the heliocentricists. I don't know where the problem arose, most likely in politics in the ottoman mongol or Persian empires, always the way, look at the wars of power using religion as a pretex fought in Europe.

[alancalverd]

"It has been argued that" is pretty standard code, similar to "with the greatest respect" and means "the next [last] statement is bullshit".

Anyway Islam seems to have followed Christianity by descending into intolerance and murderous sects, as expected. And now we have peaceloving Buddhists killing Muslims.

[acsinuk (OP)]

We are drifting off the main point.  Over population can only be controlled by making people feel secure thus needing fewer children.   Wars and oppression will cause population explosions and hence the need to look after and educate everyone regardless of their gender, creed or colour.

[alancalverd]

Throughout history, those most secure (royalty and prime ministers) have fornicated and bred like pigs. Populations tend to explode after wars, when returning soldiers feel secure. The birthrate in concentration camps is pretty low.