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"...and if you don't like that one, I've got others." - Groucho Marx, I think.
People want to speak authoritatively on matters. I'm reminded of a Jack Handey quote: “Probably the saddest thing you'll ever see is a mosquito sucking on a mummy. Forget it, little friend." ;)
"Last night I shot an elephant in my pajamas...what he was doing in my pajamas, I don't know.." GrouchoQuote:
Originally Posted by Varenne Rodin
Hahaha. Gotta love Groucho!Quote:
Originally Posted by BienvenuJDC
I don't see how the knocking of Einstein, for the zealot that he obviously was, is somehow a threat to the security of secularism. In actual fact I thought that it would somewhat reverse the slow decline into dumb tyranny that is so evident in America and other places.
Einstein is not an obvious target of the religious right. At any rate, the religious right is virtually toothless in the face of severe opposition.
Also, I love Groucho too.
I've known at least one person in my life who disliked Einstein because he was Jewish. I don't know if this is why G L Wilson dislikes him, but without more specific information, anti-semitism is as good an explanation as any other.Quote:
Originally Posted by Varenne Rodin
What is "dominionism"?
Dominionism is when Christians attempt to seize control of secular civil government and basically start biblical rule. It's also known as subjectivism, or Christian Reconstructionism. It's a movement that's been gaining ground with the growing number of American evangelicals. They don't specifically attack Einstein, but they do attempt to make scientists out to be fanatical "believers," and they have taken the stance that science is "scientism." The goal being to have science reduced or removed from public schools, throwing out evolution in favor of creationism. There's more to it, and I'm probably not the best person to describe it. It's long and involved and has much to do with interpreting biblical scripture in ways that I think are dangerous to women, minorities, gays, and poor people.
I'm not saying G L is a dominionist at all, I was just noting that demeaning a scientist and attaching dogma to science is a similar philosophy and is of no help to secular people trying to escape that type of stigma.
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R e m i n d e r
Please keep in mind that this forum welcomes members of all ages with different social, cultural and religious backgrounds from all over the world.
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Who cares if Einstein was Jewish? Science is a region of doubt, not conviction.
If you're anti-religion, and anti-science, do you fancy yourself a Nihilist?Quote:
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
Who said that I was anti-science? I am anti-scientism. And as for the accusation that I am anti-semitic, the accusation is plainly ridiculous. I don't believe in having convictions, for they are plainly ridiculous. Therefore, I guess that I am a bit of a nihilist.Quote:
Originally Posted by Varenne Rodin
That one didn't come from me, man. I don't really think about racism.
I say a few critical things about Jews and the next minute I'm an anti-semite. Are Jews a protected species or something? Are they above all criticism? Really, it is beneath contempt.Quote:
Originally Posted by Varenne Rodin
Hmmm. You say that you're not anti-semitic. So, what then is your problem with Einstein?Quote:
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
Why is Einstein "the zealot that he obviously was"? What is this "dumb tyranny that is so evident in America and other places" anyway and what does it have to do with Einstein assuming it exists? Or do you believe in things now that don't exist?
Just a reminder, the Romans killed Jesus, not the Jews. Just let it go. You don't have to take it out on them.
You are the dumb tyranny. There's nothing worse than a whiney Jew and his defender aka Woody Allen and sycophant.Quote:
Originally Posted by YesNo
Hm. Yeah. I still don't see the problem with Einstein.
Can I be the tooth fairy as well?Quote:
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
So, back to topic, what is your problem with Einstein?
Nothing worse than a whiney Jew? Wow. I didn't see what people disliked about you before now, G L. Hating an ethnic background is one of the most ridiculous things people do.Quote:
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
God. "He is only one who understands me." Boo hoo.Quote:
Originally Posted by YesNo
I hate everyone. I am not prejudiced.Quote:
Originally Posted by Varenne Rodin
The attacks on me recently have been unreasonable, and I have reacted unreasonably, I apologise.
I battle with ideas every day, not people.
Is it not a prejudice to hate everyone before you know everyone?Quote:
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
It's not his first display of anti-semitism on the forum either.Quote:
Originally Posted by Varenne Rodin
I'm reading Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding http://18th.eserver.org/hume-enquiry.html as a result of your recommendation.Quote:
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
I would not have thought about reading Hume if it weren't for this thread. Thanks!
I don't think that it is anti-semitism to call a person a whiney Jew. To say that Einstein was a brilliant scientist and not much of a philosopher is not saying very much at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by OrphanPip
You didn't call one person a whiney Jew, you said there's nothing worse than a whiney Jew. If I said there's nothing worse than a swimming dolphin, would you think I was talking about one specific dolphin? Of course not. Besides, I love dolphins.Quote:
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
Racism doesn't feel good when it's directed at you. I don't know if you have ever felt it, but I have. It's stupid. Try not to be stupid.
I am rarely stupid; but when I am stupid, it is rarely over race.Quote:
Originally Posted by Varenne Rodin
Maybe it would be fairer to say that any whiney person, especially one who whines about being victimized, is irritating?
What I meant by the remark is that culture marks a man consciously or unconsciously with deep conviction.Quote:
Originally Posted by cl154576
Which makes his whiney pleas that he isn't anti-Semitic even more ridiculous because this is the second time.Quote:
Originally Posted by OrphanPip
If you look on the internet or real life you will rarely find anyone who actually admits that what they said is racist, unless they're a neo-Nazi and take pride in the fact that they're racist. Even when what they said was clearly racist or homophobic or anti-Semitic or whatever.
Wondering about your basis for this. I think he was an atheist but is often mistaken for a deist because of the "God doesn't play dice with . . ." comment, which was metaphorical.Quote:
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
Yes he was a drag on physics just as Kepler was a drag on astronomy and Darwin was a drag on the life sciences and Beethoven was a drag on music.
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
Einstein was a deist, a determinist and a drag on physics in the end.
You're rather implying that GL should expand on that statement, in order to give the rest of us some considered insight into what the hell he meant. GL doesn't do that. He expects us to divine the truth encapsulated in his cryptic Delphic utterances, and if we can't, it's our failure and our loss.Quote:
Originally Posted by WyattGwyon
Einstein was such a dumb dogmatist in the end, he was a drag.
Yes Mark, to respond at all was a mistake, obviously. It would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic: In a lapse of judgment you kick a dog and then realize it is willing to suffer any indignity for the sake of the attention it craves.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkBastable
We are so privileged to have you here.Quote:
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
The rest of us, poor deluded lot that we are, probably agree with Time magazine's estimation of Einstein as the Man of the entire 20th Century, when in fact, he was just another dunce.
Was that the same magazine that had Adolf Hitler as man of the year once?Quote:
Originally Posted by The Atheist
Yes, and Stalin twice.Quote:
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
Maybe you would like to be on their cover as well?
No, thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by cl154576
Godwined.Quote:
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
A quote attributed to Einstein springs to mind:
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity."
"And I'm not sure about the the universe."
Godwin's Law is a silly law made even sillier by the Internet.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Atheist