Quote from: 40hz on August 29, 2012, 04:03 PM

(Please don't ask me what I consider to be the the most dangerous books ever written. )

There's two of them, isn't there? (Perhaps three, if you consider the first book to consist of and old and a new part).

Bibles don't kill people, people kill people...

..... I consider those books extremely dangerous  ....

I've seen a number of like minded comments in other threads by other board members over the last few months but I've not said anything.
40hz, don't take this reply a personal affront, it is not specifically aimed at you.
Perhaps we need a new thread for this where things can be discussed civilly.
Not that there are not enough other discussion boards on this subject where one could have a field day, so perhaps not.

Much wrong is done in the name of "religion" when what was done has no relevance with regard to the fundamentals of the actual faith.
I'm speaking only of the Christian faith (religion is an obnoxious term, so I don't use it). 
People are flawed - always have been, always will be.
We're all well aware of the depths of depravity to which people (anyone and everyone) could descend, right.
Even the most seemingly civilized person.

Perhaps you want to read something like this (Atheism and Mass Murder) when you refer to dangerous.

As for delusion, unfortunately Richard Dawkins at the end of his life will discover to his eternal horror how deluded he really was.
The same comment applies to those who believe similarly.

@NigelH - no affront taken. But I think you might be misunderstanding what I'm actually saying here...

Quote from: 40hz on August 30, 2012, 11:13 PM

..... I consider those books extremely dangerous  ....

I've seen a number of like minded comments in other threads by other board members over the last few months but I've not said anything.
40hz, don't take this reply a personal affront, it is not specifically aimed at you.
Perhaps we need a new thread for this where things can be discussed civilly.
Not that there are not enough other discussion boards on this subject where one could have a field day, so perhaps not.

Much wrong is done in the name of "religion" when what was done has no relevance with regard to the fundamentals of the actual faith.

My point has nothing to do with the fundamentals of faith - or what constitutes the notion of "actual" in that regard.

Not being a trained theologian, I do not feel qualified to enter into that sort of discussion, despite sixteen years (eight with Jesuits) of what may be considered "religious education." If I have learned anything from that experience, I have learned that theology, as a science, is not a polite intellectual parlor game - or an excuse to indulge in wordplay. Theological discussion and debate, in actual practice, is something best left to professionals.

What I am talking about is human behavior and how it may be manipulated through the use of certain books which are held in especial regard, and afforded a high degree of credibility, because they are considered (by their adherent faiths) to be divinely inspired. And because these books, and the words they contain, are so frequently and successfully employed for dubious purposes, I therefor consider them - as books - to be dangerous.

As far as the underlying truths contained within them (or the lack thereof) you'll need to find someone far more academically qualified and spiritually gifted than I am to comment on them.

I hope that clarifies for you what I'm actually talking about.

I happen to agree with your stance, NigelH, as seen here, but you will discover as I have that our metaphysical views are a distinct minority here. Still, I congratulate you for standing up for our faith.

@k - While it may be laudable to "stand up" for what one believes, in this particular thread I can't see where there was anything that needed to be stood up against considering nothing was being said that in any way challenged a belief, a faith, or some variety of revealed truth. (See my above comment to Nigel.)  

in a world that has largely lost faith.

That much I think we can all agree is a problem, regardless of our degree of belief or which form it may take.

In an effort to reduce the number of books around the abode, trying (again) to get through the following:

• The Fabric of the Cosmos
• de Bono's Thinking Course, Revised Edition
• The Second Brain

They are all turning out to be more interesting this time through...

As for "Theological discussion and debate, in actual practice, is something best left to professionals.", that is a disastrous assumption to make.

Hardly an assumption by any stretch. It is my conclusion after much serious thought and consideration.

Again, I'm referring only to the Bible.
There is no other divinely inspired book.

I will neither agree nor disagree.

And perhaps it's best if we let it rest here.

As Mouser has previously pointed out, DoCo's forum is generally not an appropriate place for ongoing discussions or debates about political or religious subjects. Let's get back to talking about books as simply things to read. And maybe leave the issue of divine or inspired authorship for another place and day?

(The same goes for you folks on the other side of the aisle. )

Good chatting. Best!

Perhaps you want to read something like this (Atheism and Mass Murder)*conservepedia when you refer to dangerous.As for delusion, unfortunately Richard Dawkins at the end of his life will discover to his eternal horror how deluded he really was.

Conservepedia and typical death-bed threat delusion?

The same comment applies to those who believe similarly.

Divine threat or something?

There is no other divinely inspired book.

*sigh* this is book reading list thread for galactus sake. Let's move on.

Just finished - Getting Good with GIT - Andrew burgess.

In an effort to reduce the number of books around the abode, trying (again) to get through the following:

• The Fabric of the Cosmos
• de Bono's Thinking Course, Revised Edition
• The Second Brain

They are all turning out to be more interesting this time through...

Unfortunately, the Number Of Books In The Abode increases like Fibonacci, while (mine at least) reading powers only manage between 4-7 per year in my current weakened state.

As Mouser has previously pointed out, DoCo's forum is generally not an appropriate place for ongoing discussions or debates about political or religious subjects.

+1.

Agreed. That's why I asserted here that such discussions belong in emails, Skype, PMs, or other venues. At the very least, it would be better were they confined to The Basement thread.

Now, since we seem to have gotten off-topic, I'm currently reading Legacy the third in Greg Bear's Eon trilogy.



Very good reads, all three books! Any sci-fi buffs who haven't enjoyed these delicacies are encouraged to sample them...

Just finished reading the graphic novel style book on economics called "Economix":



http://economixcomix.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Economix-Economy-Works-Doesnt-Pictures/dp/0810988399

I enjoyed it quite a bit, and recommend it, but a few comments:

• It's really short on the details of economic theory (it introduces lots of good theory but i was constantly hoping it would go into more detail and do a better job of explaining the theories; really thought he should have done a much better and more elaborate job of explaining some of the basic theories).
• What it lacks in theory details, it makes up for with a focus on history.  The focus on history (mostly US history in the second half) is quite nice.
• It is heavy on progressive and left-leaning political explanations of economic problems and solutions, and takes a very strong political advocacy standpoint in the second half of the book.  Now I happen to almost entirely agree with his political explanations and suggestions, so I think this is a good thing, but you should be warned that if you are a conservative, you are either going to find this book an eye-opening education, or you are going to be very unhappy and disapointed (though the classic economic conservatives like Hayek come away looking quite reasonable compared to modern ones).
• Spoiler alert, giving away the ending: The super-rich and powerful have always found a myriad of creative ways to rig the system and bend the government to ensure that the system remains pervasively, destructively, massively rigged in their favor, and create entire industries of propaganda in order to rationalize their actions, and that's unlikely to change any time soon.
• If you aren't familiar with terms like "Regulatory Capture", or don't understand why the US Federal Reserve manipulates interest rates, this would be a nice gentle introduction to economics.

If you liked Economix, checkout Steven E. Landsberg's sly collection of essays: The Armchair Economist: Economics and Everyday Life.

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Half way through Dean Koontz' Odd Apocalypse:

^^

So true!  Shh!!  You're not supposed to say it out loud!!