>> ^Lodurr: There are lots of unique examples of altruism in nature, but not every animal or living thing displays altruism. The only ones that display altruism do so because it benefits the species in the long run. Just because altruism can exist without manmade laws doesn't mean it always does.
If you took a step farther back, you would see that religion and laws are a part of nature in the sense that they're a part of culture, and we require culture to survive. Of course that's very different than saying any of the religions are right.
It's more strange to suggest that religion was unnecessary for our survival. If it wasn't necessary, it would not have existed (and persisted). Whether it's necessary for our future survival is another topic. It's not yet as vestigial as our tailbones, and in any case, it needs to shrink naturally just as our tailbones did while we adapt to its absence.
Just because something is beneficial doesn't mean it will develop in every species. Adding gills to humans would certainly benefit us, for example. Not having gills wasn't enough of a problem to wipe us out, is all.
Religion's existence doesn't prove its necessity, either. As a form of control it might have been beneficial to society in general. You can do something illegal and potentially get away with it, but you can't hide from God so it's a more effective deterrent than any legal system. That doesn't guarantee that we wouldn't have made it with just laws, though.
Reagan is not the Republican to be emulating. Reagan was the start of the modern Republican party. The Republican party needs to get back to what they used to stand for: small government and economic conservatism.
The only differences between the Democrats and the Republicans now is the source of the money they burn. Democrats live off taxes and Republicans live off loans from China. Neither party delivers on any of their promises.
I also enjoyed his message and candor. I could probably listen to and appreciate one of his sermons. He's delivering a positive message even if it's flawed and that's more than I can say for most preachers I've ever heard.
Howard Stern Hates Kirk Cameron
Check your MSNBC clips... (Election08 Talk Post)
Skydiving with a Peregrine Falcon
Natural Morality
There are lots of unique examples of altruism in nature, but not every animal or living thing displays altruism. The only ones that display altruism do so because it benefits the species in the long run. Just because altruism can exist without manmade laws doesn't mean it always does.
If you took a step farther back, you would see that religion and laws are a part of nature in the sense that they're a part of culture, and we require culture to survive. Of course that's very different than saying any of the religions are right.
It's more strange to suggest that religion was unnecessary for our survival. If it wasn't necessary, it would not have existed (and persisted). Whether it's necessary for our future survival is another topic. It's not yet as vestigial as our tailbones, and in any case, it needs to shrink naturally just as our tailbones did while we adapt to its absence.
Just because something is beneficial doesn't mean it will develop in every species. Adding gills to humans would certainly benefit us, for example. Not having gills wasn't enough of a problem to wipe us out, is all.
Religion's existence doesn't prove its necessity, either. As a form of control it might have been beneficial to society in general. You can do something illegal and potentially get away with it, but you can't hide from God so it's a more effective deterrent than any legal system. That doesn't guarantee that we wouldn't have made it with just laws, though.
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Not that anyone suggested it would work, it clearly says Android and iPhone above, but figured I'd give it a shot.
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The only differences between the Democrats and the Republicans now is the source of the money they burn. Democrats live off taxes and Republicans live off loans from China. Neither party delivers on any of their promises.
This preacher is going to burn in hell !