Comments on: Beware the evangelicals http://synapses.co.za/beware-evangelicals/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beware-evangelicals one neuron at a time is better than nothing Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:14:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Killing gays may not be helpful | Synapseshttp://synapses.co.za/beware-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-218 Killing gays may not be helpful | Synapses Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:32:53 +0000 http://synapses.co.za/?p=263#comment-218 [...] reported in a previous post, Uganda is currently considering a bill that would impose the death penalty or life sentences on [...] [...] reported in a previous post, Uganda is currently considering a bill that would impose the death penalty or life sentences on [...]

]]> By: JPRhttp://synapses.co.za/beware-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-206 JPR Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:21:57 +0000 http://synapses.co.za/?p=263#comment-206 Germane in a general fashion, particular to America: "Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge'." — Isaac Asimov Germane in a general fashion, particular to America:
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge’.” — Isaac Asimov

]]> By: Michael Meadonhttp://synapses.co.za/beware-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-205 Michael Meadon Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:07:24 +0000 http://synapses.co.za/?p=263#comment-205 I'm rather suspicious of claims about trends of this kind: it's suspiciously old-fogeyish "back in MY day...". I'd certainly like to see data about trends in bad epistemology before I'd form an opinion either way. It seems to me that people have always been stupid (or, more charitably, epistemologically confused) and probably always will be. I’m rather suspicious of claims about trends of this kind: it’s suspiciously old-fogeyish “back in MY day…”. I’d certainly like to see data about trends in bad epistemology before I’d form an opinion either way. It seems to me that people have always been stupid (or, more charitably, epistemologically confused) and probably always will be.

]]> By: Jacqueshttp://synapses.co.za/beware-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-204 Jacques Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:58:00 +0000 http://synapses.co.za/?p=263#comment-204 Thanks for that link, Michael. As to your question, we don't <em>know</em> that earlier generations of Christians knew more, I suppose. But until the age of 20 or so, I was quite heavily involved with the church, and I certainly remember a more considered and nuanced discource being prevalent then. Bad evidence for all sorts of reasons, I know, but perhaps we can say that they are likely to be more ignorant and superficial in their theology now, on the grounds that people are in general more ill-disciplined, epistemologically (cf. attention economy and the like)? Thanks for that link, Michael. As to your question, we don’t know that earlier generations of Christians knew more, I suppose. But until the age of 20 or so, I was quite heavily involved with the church, and I certainly remember a more considered and nuanced discource being prevalent then. Bad evidence for all sorts of reasons, I know, but perhaps we can say that they are likely to be more ignorant and superficial in their theology now, on the grounds that people are in general more ill-disciplined, epistemologically (cf. attention economy and the like)?

]]> By: Michael Meadonhttp://synapses.co.za/beware-evangelicals/comment-page-1/#comment-201 Michael Meadon Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:10:18 +0000 http://synapses.co.za/?p=263#comment-201 Wow. I didn't know they were THIS stupid. But it makes sense in light of: http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/11/creating_god_in_ones_own_image.php I'm not so sure, though, that you can talk of a trend of greater ignorance. Do we know previous generations of Christians knew more about their religion? Wow. I didn’t know they were THIS stupid. But it makes sense in light of: http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/11/creating_god_in_ones_own_image.php

I’m not so sure, though, that you can talk of a trend of greater ignorance. Do we know previous generations of Christians knew more about their religion?

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