From: john@johnweeks.com   
      
   In article ,   
    "BogusID"  wrote:   
      
   > In the context of our discussion neither ET life or religious basis have   
   > been conclusively proven as fact, so elements of faith and conviction are   
   > involved in our pursuits for truth. This being the difference between a   
   > hypothesis, a theory and statement of fact.   
      
   I still don't think you get it.  The degree of difference between these   
   things is so vast that they cannot be compared that way.  How about an   
   analogy.  How about I say that it takes the same faith to believe that   
   gold is an electrical conductor, and Twinkies reproduce in vending   
   machines.   
      
   In the first case, we know that gold exists, and that gold is a metal.   
   Most metals are conductors.  We can devise a test using a meter to show   
   that gold is a conductor.  All we have to do is build or buy such a   
   meter, and obtain some gold.   
      
   In the second case, there is no observations of twinkies reproducing,   
   nor is there any evidence that they mate in vending machines.  We have   
   all kinds of observations that twinkies are put in the vending machines   
   by outside forces (vending companies), and that twinkies are seen coming   
   out of twinkie factories.  As a result, there is nothing to suggest that   
   twinkies do in fact breed and have offsprings inside of vending machines.   
      
   The two are not comparable.  One is plausable, and just needs a bit of   
   work to prove.  The other is absurd, and there is nothing behind it.   
   That is the same as ET vrs religion.  ET is plausible, and we need just   
   one or two more bits of info.  Religion, on the other hand, is clearly   
   made up, and there is no evidence anywhere to support anything that   
   religion says.  It isn't faith, it is cool-aid.   
      
   > Would you agree that religion is counter productive to society and not a   
   > true basis of morality?   
      
   In my opinion, morality comes from natural law and the social contract.   
   The fact that religion has hijacked morality does not mean that religion   
   has anything to contribute.  After all, the NAZI's were well organized   
   and had low crime, but that doesn't mean that they were good folks.   
      
   -john-   
      
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   John A. Weeks III           952-432-2708            john@johnweeks.com   
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